Trends in Global Vegetation Activity and Climatic Drivers Indicate a Decoupled Response to Climate Change.

PubMed

Schut, Antonius G T; Ivits, Eva; Conijn, Jacob G; Ten Brink, Ben; Fensholt, Rasmus

2015-01-01

Detailed understanding of a possible decoupling between climatic drivers of plant productivity and the response of ecosystems vegetation is required. We compared trends in six NDVI metrics (1982-2010) derived from the GIMMS3g dataset with modelled biomass productivity and assessed uncertainty in trend estimates. Annual total biomass weight (TBW) was calculated with the LINPAC model. Trends were determined using a simple linear regression, a Thiel-Sen medium slope and a piecewise regression (PWR) with two segments. Values of NDVI metrics were related to Net Primary Production (MODIS-NPP) and TBW per biome and land-use type. The simple linear and Thiel-Sen trends did not differ much whereas PWR increased the fraction of explained variation, depending on the NDVI metric considered. A positive trend in TBW indicating more favorable climatic conditions was found for 24% of pixels on land, and for 5% a negative trend. A decoupled trend, indicating positive TBW trends and monotonic negative or segmented and negative NDVI trends, was observed for 17-36% of all productive areas depending on the NDVI metric used. For only 1-2% of all pixels in productive areas, a diverging and greening trend was found despite a strong negative trend in TBW. The choice of NDVI metric used strongly affected outcomes on regional scales and differences in the fraction of explained variation in MODIS-NPP between biomes were large, and a combination of NDVI metrics is recommended for global studies. We have found an increasing difference between trends in climatic drivers and observed NDVI for large parts of the globe. Our findings suggest that future scenarios must consider impacts of constraints on plant growth such as extremes in weather and nutrient availability to predict changes in NPP and CO2 sequestration capacity.

Transverse-rapidity yt dependence of the nonjet azimuth quadrupole from 62- and 200-GeV Au-Au collisions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kettler, David T.; Prindle, Duncan J.; Trainor, Thomas A.

2015-06-01

Previous measurements of a quadrupole component of azimuth correlations denoted by symbol v2 have been interpreted to represent elliptic flow, a hydrodynamic phenomenon conjectured to play a major role in noncentral nucleus-nucleus collisions. v2 measurements provide the main support for conclusions that a "perfect liquid" is formed in heavy-ion collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. However, conventional v2 methods based on one-dimensional (1D) azimuth correlations give inconsistent results and may include a jet contribution. In some cases the data trends appear to be inconsistent with hydrodynamic interpretations. In this study we distinguish several components of 2D angular correlations and isolate a nonjet (NJ) azimuth quadrupole denoted by v2{2D} . We establish systematic variations of the NJ quadrupole on yt, centrality, and collision energy. We adopt transverse-rapidity yt as both a velocity measure and a logarithmic alternative to transverse momentum pt. Based on NJ-quadrupole trends, we derive a completely factorized universal parametrization of quantity v2{2D} (yt,b ,√{sN N}) which describes the centrality, yt, and energy dependence. From yt-differential v2(yt) data we isolate a quadrupole spectrum and infer a quadrupole source boost having unexpected properties. NJ quadrupole v2 trends obtained with 2D model fits are remarkably simple. The centrality trend appears to be uncorrelated with a sharp transition in jet-related structure that may indicate rapid change of Au-Au medium properties. The lack of correspondence suggests that the NJ quadrupole may be insensitive to such a medium. Several quadrupole trends have interesting implications for hydro interpretations.

Methodology and results of calculating central California surface temperature trends: Evidence of human-induced climate change?

USGS Publications Warehouse

Christy, J.R.; Norris, W.B.; Redmond, K.; Gallo, K.P.

2006-01-01

A procedure is described to construct time series of regional surface temperatures and is then applied to interior central California stations to test the hypothesis that century-scale trend differences between irrigated and nonirrigated regions may be identified. The procedure requires documentation of every point in time at which a discontinuity in a station record may have occurred through (a) the examination of metadata forms (e.g., station moves) and (b) simple statistical tests. From this "homogeneous segments" of temperature records for each station are defined. Biases are determined for each segment relative to all others through a method employing mathematical graph theory. The debiased segments are then merged, forming a complete regional time series. Time series of daily maximum and minimum temperatures for stations in the irrigated San Joaquin Valley (Valley) and nearby nonirrigated Sierra Nevada (Sierra) were generated for 1910-2003. Results show that twentieth-century Valley minimum temperatures are warming at a highly significant rate in all seasons, being greatest in summer and fall (> +0.25??C decade-1). The Valley trend of annual mean temperatures is +0.07?? ?? 0.07??C decade-1. Sierra summer and fall minimum temperatures appear to be cooling, but at a less significant rate, while the trend of annual mean Sierra temperatures is an unremarkable -0.02?? ?? 0.10??C decade-1. A working hypothesis is that the relative positive trends in Valley minus Sierra minima (>0.4??C decade-1 for summer and fall) are related to the altered surface environment brought about by the growth of irrigated agriculture, essentially changing a high-albedo desert into a darker, moister, vegetated plain. ?? 2006 American Meteorological Society.

Foam rheology at large deformation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Géminard, J.-C.; Pastenes, J. C.; Melo, F.

2018-04-01

Large deformations are prone to cause irreversible changes in materials structure, generally leading to either material hardening or softening. Aqueous foam is a metastable disordered structure of densely packed gas bubbles. We report on the mechanical response of a foam layer subjected to quasistatic periodic shear at large amplitude. We observe that, upon increasing shear, the shear stress follows a universal curve that is nearly exponential and tends to an asymptotic stress value interpreted as the critical yield stress at which the foam structure is completely remodeled. Relevant trends of the foam mechanical response to cycling are mathematically reproduced through a simple law accounting for the amount of plastic deformation upon increasing stress. This view provides a natural interpretation to stress hardening in foams, demonstrating that plastic effects are present in this material even for minute deformation.

ChemCalc: a building block for tomorrow's chemical infrastructure.

PubMed

Patiny, Luc; Borel, Alain

2013-05-24

Web services, as an aspect of cloud computing, are becoming an important part of the general IT infrastructure, and scientific computing is no exception to this trend. We propose a simple approach to develop chemical Web services, through which servers could expose the essential data manipulation functionality that students and researchers need for chemical calculations. These services return their results as JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) objects, which facilitates their use for Web applications. The ChemCalc project http://www.chemcalc.org demonstrates this approach: we present three Web services related with mass spectrometry, namely isotopic distribution simulation, peptide fragmentation simulation, and molecular formula determination. We also developed a complete Web application based on these three Web services, taking advantage of modern HTML5 and JavaScript libraries (ChemDoodle and jQuery).

VET Program Completion Rates: An Evaluation of the Current Method. Occasional Paper

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), 2016

2016-01-01

This work asks one simple question: "how reliable is the method used by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) to estimate projected rates of VET program completion?" In other words, how well do early projections align with actual completion rates some years later? Completion rates are simple to calculate with a…

Simple sugar intake and hepatocellular carcinoma: epidemiological and mechanistic insight.

PubMed

Laguna, Juan Carlos; Alegret, Marta; Roglans, Núria

2014-12-22

Sugar intake has dramatically increased during the last few decades. Specifically, there has been a clear trend towards higher consumption of fructose and high fructose corn syrup, which are the most common added sugars in processed food, soft drinks and other sweetened beverages. Although still controversial, this rising trend in simple sugar consumption has been positively associated with weight gain and obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Interestingly, all of these metabolic alterations have also been related to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. The purpose of this review is to discuss the evidence coming from epidemiological studies and data from animal models relating the consumption of simple sugars, and specifically fructose, with an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and to gain insight into the putative molecular mechanisms involved.

Trends in Global Vegetation Activity and Climatic Drivers Indicate a Decoupled Response to Climate Change

PubMed Central

Schut, Antonius G. T.; Ivits, Eva; Conijn, Jacob G.; ten Brink, Ben; Fensholt, Rasmus

2015-01-01

Detailed understanding of a possible decoupling between climatic drivers of plant productivity and the response of ecosystems vegetation is required. We compared trends in six NDVI metrics (1982–2010) derived from the GIMMS3g dataset with modelled biomass productivity and assessed uncertainty in trend estimates. Annual total biomass weight (TBW) was calculated with the LINPAC model. Trends were determined using a simple linear regression, a Thiel-Sen medium slope and a piecewise regression (PWR) with two segments. Values of NDVI metrics were related to Net Primary Production (MODIS-NPP) and TBW per biome and land-use type. The simple linear and Thiel-Sen trends did not differ much whereas PWR increased the fraction of explained variation, depending on the NDVI metric considered. A positive trend in TBW indicating more favorable climatic conditions was found for 24% of pixels on land, and for 5% a negative trend. A decoupled trend, indicating positive TBW trends and monotonic negative or segmented and negative NDVI trends, was observed for 17–36% of all productive areas depending on the NDVI metric used. For only 1–2% of all pixels in productive areas, a diverging and greening trend was found despite a strong negative trend in TBW. The choice of NDVI metric used strongly affected outcomes on regional scales and differences in the fraction of explained variation in MODIS-NPP between biomes were large, and a combination of NDVI metrics is recommended for global studies. We have found an increasing difference between trends in climatic drivers and observed NDVI for large parts of the globe. Our findings suggest that future scenarios must consider impacts of constraints on plant growth such as extremes in weather and nutrient availability to predict changes in NPP and CO2 sequestration capacity. PMID:26466347

Trends in High School Dropout and Completion Rates in the United States: 1972-2012. Compendium Report. NCES 2015-015

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stark, Patrick; Noel, Amber M.

2015-01-01

This report builds upon a series of National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports on high school dropout and completion rates that began in 1988. It presents estimates of rates in 2012, provides data about trends in dropout and completion rates over the last four decades (1972-2012), and examines the characteristics of high school…

Winter wheat quality monitoring and forecasting system based on remote sensing and environmental factors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haiyang, Yu; Yanmei, Liu; Guijun, Yang; Xiaodong, Yang; Dong, Ren; Chenwei, Nie

2014-03-01

To achieve dynamic winter wheat quality monitoring and forecasting in larger scale regions, the objective of this study was to design and develop a winter wheat quality monitoring and forecasting system by using a remote sensing index and environmental factors. The winter wheat quality trend was forecasted before the harvest and quality was monitored after the harvest, respectively. The traditional quality-vegetation index from remote sensing monitoring and forecasting models were improved. Combining with latitude information, the vegetation index was used to estimate agronomy parameters which were related with winter wheat quality in the early stages for forecasting the quality trend. A combination of rainfall in May, temperature in May, illumination at later May, the soil available nitrogen content and other environmental factors established the quality monitoring model. Compared with a simple quality-vegetation index, the remote sensing monitoring and forecasting model used in this system get greatly improved accuracy. Winter wheat quality was monitored and forecasted based on the above models, and this system was completed based on WebGIS technology. Finally, in 2010 the operation process of winter wheat quality monitoring system was presented in Beijing, the monitoring and forecasting results was outputted as thematic maps.

Image Formation in Lenses and Mirrors, a Complete Representation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bartlett, Albert A.

1976-01-01

Provides tables and graphs that give a complete and simple picture of the relationships of image distance, object distance, and magnification in all formations of images by simple lenses and mirrors. (CP)

Trends in High School Dropout and Completion Rates in the United States: 1972-2008. Compendium Report. NCES 2011-012

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chapman, Chris; Laird, Jennifer; KewalRamani, Angelina

2010-01-01

This report builds upon a series of National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports on high school dropout and completion rates that began in 1988. It presents estimates of rates in 2008, provides data about trends in dropout and completion rates over the last three and a half decades (1972-2008), and examines the characteristics of high…

Two-Pendulum Model of Propellant Slosh in Europa Clipper PMD Tank

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ng, Wanyi; Benson, David

2017-01-01

The objective of this fluids analysis is to model propellant slosh for the Europa Clipper mission using a two-pendulum model, such that controls engineers can predict slosh behavior during the mission. Propellant slosh causes shifts in center of mass and exerts forces and torques on the spacecraft which, if not adequately controlled, can lead to mission failure. The two-pendulum model provides a computationally simple model that can be used to predict slosh for the Europa Clipper tank geometry. The Europa Clipper tank is cylindrical with a domed top and bottom and includes a propellant management device (PMD). Due to the lack of experimental data in low gravity environments, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation results were used as 'real' slosh behavior for two propellants at three fill fractions. Key pendulum parameters were derived that allow the pendulum model's center of mass, forces, and moments to closely match the CFD data. The parameter trends were examined as a function of tank fill fraction and compared with solutions to analytic equations that describe the frequency of slosh in tanks with simple geometries. The trends were monotonic as expected, and parameters resembled analytical predictions; any differences could be explained by the specific differences in the geometry of the tank. This paper summarizes the new method developed at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) for deriving pendulum parameters for two-pendulum equivalent sloshing models. It presents the results of this method and discusses the validity of the results. This analysis is at a completed stage and will be applied in the immediate future to the evolving tank geometry as Europa Clipper moves past its preliminary design review (PDR) phase.

Market inefficiency identified by both single and multiple currency trends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tokár, T.; Horváth, D.

2012-11-01

Many studies have shown that there are good reasons to claim very low predictability of currency returns; nevertheless, the deviations from true randomness exist which have potential predictive and prognostic power [J. James, Simple trend-following strategies in currency trading, Quantitative finance 3 (2003) C75-C77]. We analyze the local trends which are of the main focus of the technical analysis. In this article we introduced various statistical quantities examining role of single temporal discretized trend or multitude of grouped trends corresponding to different time delays. Our specific analysis based predominantly on Euro-dollar currency pair data at the one minute frequency suggests the importance of cumulative nonrandom effect of trends on the potential forecasting performance.

Trends in Community College Enrollment and Completion Data, 2015

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Juszkiewicz, Jolanta

2015-01-01

This is the second of a series of reports on trends in national community college enrollments. National community college enrollments continue to decrease, with variations at the state and local levels. The report also examines completion rates published by the U.S. Department of Education (ED) based on institutional level reporting, and those…

A Simple Microsoft Excel Method to Predict Antibiotic Outbreaks and Underutilization.

PubMed

Miglis, Cristina; Rhodes, Nathaniel J; Avedissian, Sean N; Zembower, Teresa R; Postelnick, Michael; Wunderink, Richard G; Sutton, Sarah H; Scheetz, Marc H

2017-07-01

Benchmarking strategies are needed to promote the appropriate use of antibiotics. We have adapted a simple regressive method in Microsoft Excel that is easily implementable and creates predictive indices. This method trends consumption over time and can identify periods of over- and underuse at the hospital level. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:860-862.

Forest statistics for Central Georgia, 1982

Treesearch

Raymond M. Sheffield; John B. Tansey

1982-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fifth forest survey of Central Georgia. Fieldwork began in October 1981 and was completed in June 1982. Four previous surveys, completed in 1936, 1952, 1961, and 1972, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 46 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on the changes and trends since...

Forest statistics for South Florida, 1995

Treesearch

Michael T. Thompson

1996-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the seventh forest survey of South Florida. Field work began in September 1994 and was completed in November 1994. Six previous surveys, completed in 1936, 1949, 1959, 1970, 1980, and 1988 provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 59 years. This report primarily emphasizes the changes and trends...

Forest statistics for Central Georgia, 1997

Treesearch

Michael T. Thompson

1998-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the seventh forest survey of Central Georgia. Field work began in November 1996 and was completed in August 1997. Six previous surveys, completed in 1936, 1952, 1961, 1972, 1982, and 1989 provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 61 years. This report primarily emphasizes the changes and trends...

Forest statistics for Central Florida - 1995

Treesearch

Mark J. Brown

1996-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the seventh forest survey of Central Florida. Field work began in February 1995 and was completed in May 1995. Six previous surveys, completed in 1936, 1949, 1959, 1970, 1960, and 1988 provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 59 years. This report primarily emphasizes the changes and trends since...

Forest statistics for Southwest Georgia, 1996

Treesearch

Raymond M. Sheffield; Michael T. Thompson

1997-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the seventh forest survey of Southwest Georgia. Field work began in June 1995 and was completed in November 1995. Six previous surveys, completed in 1934, 1951, 1960, 1971, 1981, and 1988 provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 62 years. This report primarily emphasizes the changes and trends...

Forest statistics for Northeast Florida, 1980

Treesearch

Raymond M. Sheffield

1981-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fifth forest survey of Northeast Florida. Fieldwork began in June 1979 and was completed in December 1979. Four previous surveys, completed in 1934, 1949, 1959, and 1970, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 46 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on the changes and trends since...

Forest statistics for Virginia, 1992

Treesearch

Tony G. Johnson

1992-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the sixth forest survey of Virginia. Field work began in October 1990 and was completed in January 1992. Five previous surveys, completed in 1940, 1957, 1966, 1977, and 1986, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 52 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on the changes and trends since...

Forest statistics for Northeast Florida, 1987

Treesearch

Mark J. Brown

1987-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the sixth forest survey of Northeast Florida. Field work began in January 1987 and was completed in July 1987. Five previous surveys, completed in 1934, 1949, 1959, 1970, and 1980, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 53 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on the changes and trends...

Forest statistics for Northwest Florida, 1979

Treesearch

Raymond M. Sheffield

1979-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fifth forest survey of Northwest Florida. Fieldwork began in September 1978 and was completed in June 1979. Four previous surveys, completed in 1934, 1949, 1959, and 1969, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 45 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on the changes and trends since...

Forest statistics for North Georgia, 1983

Treesearch

John B. Tansey

1983-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fifth forest survey of North Georgia. Fieldwork began in September 1982 and was completed in January 1983. Four previous surveys, completed in 1936, 1953, 1961, and 1972, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 47 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on the changes and trends since...

Forest statistics for North Carolina, 1984

Treesearch

William A. Bechtold

1984-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fifth forest survey of North Carolina, Fieldwork began in November 1982 and was completed in September 1984, Four previous surveys, completed in 1938, 1956, 1964, and 1974, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 46 years, The primary emphasis in this report is on the changes and trends...

Forest statistics for North Central Georgia, 1983

Treesearch

John B. Tansey

1983-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fifth forest survey of North Central Georgia. Fieldwork began in May 1982 and was completed in September 1982. Four previous surveys, completed in 1936, 1953, 1961, and 1972, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 47 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on the changes and trends...

Forest statistics for Southeast Georgia, 1981

Treesearch

Raymond M. Sheffield

1982-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fifth forest survey of Southeast Georgia, Fieldwork began in November 1980 and was completed in October 1981. Four previous surveys, completed in 1934, 1952, 1960, and 1971, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 47 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on the changes and trends...

Forest statistics for Virginia, 1986

Treesearch

Mark J. Brown

1986-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fifth forest survey of Virginia. Fieldwork began in September 1984 and was completed in November 1985. Four previous surveys, completed in 1940, 1957, 1966, and 1977, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 46 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on the changes and trends since 1977...

Forest statistics for Southwest Georgia, 1981

Treesearch

Raymond M. Sheffield

1981-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fifth forest survey of southwest Georgia, Fieldwork began in May 1980 and was completed in November 1980. Four previous surveys, completed in 1938, 1951, 1960, 1971, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 47 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on the changes and trends since 1971...

Forest statistics for Central Florida - 1980

Treesearch

Raymond M. Sheffield

1981-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fifth forest survey of Central Florida. Fieldwork began in December 1979 and was completed in March 1980. Four previous surveys, completed in 1936, 1949, 1959, and 1970, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 44 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on the changes and trends since...

Forest statistics for Central Florida - 1988

Treesearch

Mark J. Brown

1988-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the sixth forest survey of Central Florida. Field work began in July 1987 and was completed in September 1987. Five previous surveys, completed in 1936, 1949, 1959, 1970, and 1980, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 52 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on the changes and trends...

When are genetic methods useful for estimating contemporary abundance and detecting population trends?

Treesearch

David A. Tallmon; Dave Gregovich; Robin S. Waples; C. Scott Baker; Jennifer Jackson; Barbara L. Taylor; Eric Archer; Karen K. Martien; Fred W. Allendorf; Michael K. Schwartz

2010-01-01

The utility of microsatellite markers for inferring population size and trend has not been rigorously examined, even though these markers are commonly used to monitor the demography of natural populations. We assessed the ability of a linkage disequilibrium estimator of effective population size (Ne) and a simple capture-recapture estimator of abundance (N) to quantify...

Chemical experiments with superheavy elements.

PubMed

Türler, Andreas

2010-01-01

Unnoticed by many chemists, the Periodic Table of the Elements has been extended significantly in the last couple of years and the 7th period has very recently been completed with eka-Rn (element 118) currently being the heaviest element whose synthesis has been reported. These 'superheavy' elements (also called transactinides with atomic number > or = 104 (Rf)) have been artificially synthesized in fusion reactions at accelerators in minute quantities of a few single atoms. In addition, all isotopes of the transactinide elements are radioactive and decay with rather short half-lives. Nevertheless, it has been possible in some cases to investigate experimentally chemical properties of transactinide elements and even synthesize simple compounds. The experimental investigation of superheavy elements is especially intriguing, since theoretical calculations predict significant deviations from periodic trends due to the influence of strong relativistic effects. In this contribution first experiments with hassium (Hs, atomic number 108), copernicium (Cn, atomic number 112) and element 114 (eka-Pb) are reviewed.

Simple stochastic order-book model of swarm behavior in continuous double auction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ichiki, Shingo; Nishinari, Katsuhiro

2015-02-01

In this study, we present a simple stochastic order-book model for investors' swarm behaviors seen in the continuous double auction mechanism, which is employed by major global exchanges. Our study shows a characteristic called 'fat tail' seen in the data obtained from our model that incorporates the investors' swarm behaviors. Our model captures two swarm behaviors: one is investors' behavior to follow a trend in the historical price movement, and another is investors' behavior to send orders that contradict a trend in the historical price movement. In order to capture the features of influence by the swarm behaviors, from price data derived from our simulations using these models, we analyzed the price movement range, that is, how much the price is moved when it is continuously moved in a single direction. Depending on the type of swarm behavior, we saw a difference in the cumulative frequency distribution of this price movement range. In particular, for the model of investors who followed a trend in the historical price movement, we saw the power law in the tail of the cumulative frequency distribution of this price movement range. In addition, we analyzed the shape of the tail of the cumulative frequency distribution. The result demonstrated that one of the reasons the trend following of price occurs is that orders temporarily swarm on the order book in accordance with past price trends.

Forest statistics for Florida, 1980

Treesearch

William A. Bechtold; Raymond M. Sheffield

1981-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fifth inventory of Florida’s forests. Fieldwork began in September 1978 and was completed in May 1980. Four previous surveys, completed in 1936, 1949, 1959, and 1970, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 44 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on the changes and trends since 1970...

Forest statistics for South Florida, 1980

Treesearch

Raymond M. Sheffield; William A. Bechtold

1981-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fifth inventory of Florida’s forests. Fieldwork began in September 1978 and was completed in May 1980. Four previous surveys, completed in 1936, 1949, 1959, and 1970, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 44 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on the changes and trends since 1970...

Washington State's alcohol ignition interlock law: effects on recidivism among first-time DUI offenders.

PubMed

McCartt, Anne T; Leaf, William A; Farmer, Charles M; Eichelberger, Angela H

2013-01-01

To examine the effects of changes to Washington State's ignition interlock laws: moving issuance of interlock orders from courts to the driver licensing department in July 2003 and extending the interlock order requirement to first-time offenders with blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) below 0.15 percent ("first simple driving under the influence [DUI]") in June 2004. Trends in conviction types, interlock installation rates, and 2-year cumulative recidivism rates were examined for first-time convictions (simple, high-BAC, test refusal DUI; deferred prosecution; alcohol-related negligent driving) stemming from DUI arrests between January 1999 and June 2006. Regression analyses examined recidivism effects of the law changes and interlock installation rates. To examine general deterrent effects, trends in single-vehicle late-night crashes in Washington were compared with trends in California and Oregon. After the 2004 law change, the proportion of simple DUIs declined somewhat, though the proportion of negligent driving convictions (no interlock order requirement) continued an upward trend. Interlock installation rates for first simple DUIs were 3 to 6 percent in the year before the law change and one third after. Recidivism declined by an estimated 12 percent (e.g., expected 10.6% without law change vs. 9.3% among offenders arrested between April and June 2006, the last study quarter) among first simple DUI offenders and an estimated 11 percent (expected 10.2% vs. 9.1%) among all first-time offenders. There was an estimated 0.06 percentage point decrease in the recidivism rate for each percentage point increase in the proportion of first simple DUI offenders with interlocks. If installation rates had been 100 vs. 34 percent for first simple DUI offenders arrested between April and June 2006, and if the linear relationship between rates of recidivism and installations continued, recidivism could have been reduced from 9.3 to 5.3 percent. With installation rates of 100 vs. 24 percent for all first offenders, their recidivism rate could have fallen from 9.1 to 3.2 percent. Although installation rates increased somewhat after the 2003 law change, recidivism rates were not significantly affected, perhaps due to the short follow-up period before the 2004 law change. The 2004 law change was associated with an 8.3 percent reduction in single-vehicle late-night crash risk. Mandating interlock orders for all first DUI convictions was associated with reductions in recidivism, even with low interlock use rates, and reductions in crashes. Additional gains are likely achievable with higher rates. Jurisdictions should seek to increase use rates and reconsider permitting reductions in DUI charges to other traffic offenses without interlock order requirements.

Pre-Launch Tasks Proposed in our Contract of December 1991

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1998-01-01

We propose, during the pre-EOS phase to: (1) develop, with other MODIS Team Members, a means of discriminating different major biome types with NDVI and other AVHRR-based data; (2) develop a simple ecosystem process model for each of these biomes, BIOME-BGC; (3) relate the seasonal trend of weekly composite NDVI to vegetation phenology and temperature limits to develop a satellite defined growing season for vegetation; and (4) define physiologically based energy to mass conversion factors for carbon and water for each biome. Our final core at-launch product will be simplified, completely satellite driven biome specific models for net primary production. We will build these biome specific satellite driven algorithms using a family of simple ecosystem process models as calibration models, collectively called BIOME-BGC, and establish coordination with an existing network of ecological study sites in order to test and validate these products. Field datasets will then be available for both BIOME-BGC development and testing, use for algorithm developments of other MODIS Team Members, and ultimately be our first test point for MODIS land vegetation products upon launch. We will use field sites from the National Science Foundation Long-Term Ecological Research network, and develop Glacier National Park as a major site for intensive validation.

Pre-Launch Tasks Proposed in our Contract of December 1991

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Running, Steven W.; Nemani, Ramakrishna R.; Glassy, Joseph

1997-01-01

We propose, during the pre-EOS phase to: (1) develop, with other MODIS Team Members, a means of discriminating different major biome types with NDVI and other AVHRR-based data. (2) develop a simple ecosystem process model for each of these biomes, BIOME-BGC (3) relate the seasonal trend of weekly composite NDVI to vegetation phenology and temperature limits to develop a satellite defined growing season for vegetation; and (4) define physiologically based energy to mass conversion factors for carbon and water for each biome. Our final core at-launch product will be simplified, completely satellite driven biome specific models for net primary production. We will build these biome specific satellite driven algorithms using a family of simple ecosystem process models as calibration models, collectively called BIOME-BGC, and establish coordination with an existing network of ecological study sites in order to test and validate these products. Field datasets will then be available for both BIOME-BGC development and testing, use for algorithm developments of other MODIS Team Members, and ultimately be our first test point for MODIS land vegetation products upon launch. We will use field sites from the National Science Foundation Long-Term Ecological Research network, and develop Glacier National Park as a major site for intensive validation.

Methods for Evaluating Respondent Attrition in Web-Based Surveys

PubMed Central

Sabo, Roy T; Krist, Alex H; Day, Teresa; Cyrus, John; Woolf, Steven H

2016-01-01

Background Electronic surveys are convenient, cost effective, and increasingly popular tools for collecting information. While the online platform allows researchers to recruit and enroll more participants, there is an increased risk of participant dropout in Web-based research. Often, these dropout trends are simply reported, adjusted for, or ignored altogether. Objective To propose a conceptual framework that analyzes respondent attrition and demonstrates the utility of these methods with existing survey data. Methods First, we suggest visualization of attrition trends using bar charts and survival curves. Next, we propose a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) to detect or confirm significant attrition points. Finally, we suggest applications of existing statistical methods to investigate the effect of internal survey characteristics and patient characteristics on dropout. In order to apply this framework, we conducted a case study; a seventeen-item Informed Decision-Making (IDM) module addressing how and why patients make decisions about cancer screening. Results Using the framework, we were able to find significant attrition points at Questions 4, 6, 7, and 9, and were also able to identify participant responses and characteristics associated with dropout at these points and overall. Conclusions When these methods were applied to survey data, significant attrition trends were revealed, both visually and empirically, that can inspire researchers to investigate the factors associated with survey dropout, address whether survey completion is associated with health outcomes, and compare attrition patterns between groups. The framework can be used to extract information beyond simple responses, can be useful during survey development, and can help determine the external validity of survey results. PMID:27876687

On summary measure analysis of linear trend repeated measures data: performance comparison with two competing methods.

PubMed

Vossoughi, Mehrdad; Ayatollahi, S M T; Towhidi, Mina; Ketabchi, Farzaneh

2012-03-22

The summary measure approach (SMA) is sometimes the only applicable tool for the analysis of repeated measurements in medical research, especially when the number of measurements is relatively large. This study aimed to describe techniques based on summary measures for the analysis of linear trend repeated measures data and then to compare performances of SMA, linear mixed model (LMM), and unstructured multivariate approach (UMA). Practical guidelines based on the least squares regression slope and mean of response over time for each subject were provided to test time, group, and interaction effects. Through Monte Carlo simulation studies, the efficacy of SMA vs. LMM and traditional UMA, under different types of covariance structures, was illustrated. All the methods were also employed to analyze two real data examples. Based on the simulation and example results, it was found that the SMA completely dominated the traditional UMA and performed convincingly close to the best-fitting LMM in testing all the effects. However, the LMM was not often robust and led to non-sensible results when the covariance structure for errors was misspecified. The results emphasized discarding the UMA which often yielded extremely conservative inferences as to such data. It was shown that summary measure is a simple, safe and powerful approach in which the loss of efficiency compared to the best-fitting LMM was generally negligible. The SMA is recommended as the first choice to reliably analyze the linear trend data with a moderate to large number of measurements and/or small to moderate sample sizes.

The differential impact of the financial crisis on Health in Ireland and Greece: A quasi-experimental approach

PubMed Central

Hessel, P; Vandoros, S; Avendano, M

2015-01-01

Objectives Greece and Ireland suffered an economic recession of similar magnitude, but whether their health has deteriorated as a result has not yet been well established. Study design Based on five waves (2006-2010) of the European Union Statistics of Income and Living Conditions (EU-SILC) survey we implemented a difference-in-differences (DID) approach that compared trends in self-rated health in Greece and Ireland before and after the crisis with trends in a control population (Poland) that did not experience a recession and had health trends comparable to both countries before the crisis. Methods Logistic regression using a difference-in-differences (DID) approach. Results A simple examination of trends suggests that there was no significant change in health in Greece or Ireland following the onset of the financial crisis. However, DID estimates that incorporated a control population suggest an increase in the prevalence of poor-self rated health in Greece (OR=1.216; CI=1.11 - 1.32). Effects were most pronounced for older individuals and those living in high-density areas, but effects in Greece were overwhelmingly consistent in different population sub-groups. In contrast, DID estimates revealed no effect of the financial crisis in Ireland (OR=0.97; CI=0.81-1.16). Conclusions Contradicting results from a simple comparison of single-country trends, DID estimates suggest that the financial crisis has led to deterioration of population health trends in Greece but not in Ireland, where policies may have prevented a worsening of health as a result of the recent economic crisis. PMID:25369355

47 CFR 52.35 - Porting Intervals.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... telephone numbers must complete a simple wireline-to-wireline or simple intermodal port request within one... work week of Monday through Friday represents mandatory business days and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. represents... complete Local Service Request (LSR) must be received by the current service provider between 8 a.m. and 1...

47 CFR 52.35 - Porting Intervals.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... telephone numbers must complete a simple wireline-to-wireline or simple intermodal port request within one... work week of Monday through Friday represents mandatory business days and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. represents... complete Local Service Request (LSR) must be received by the current service provider between 8 a.m. and 1...

75 FR 5013 - Local Number Portability Porting Interval and Validation Requirements; Telephone Number Portability

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-01

... proposals submitted to the Commission regarding what data fields are necessary in order to complete simple...), and other interested parties on or before April 2, 2010. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments... information fields are necessary for completing simple ports. On November 2, 2009, the North American...

Relationship between the Arctic oscillation and surface air temperature in multi-decadal time-scale

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanaka, Hiroshi L.; Tamura, Mina

2016-09-01

In this study, a simple energy balance model (EBM) was integrated in time, considering a hypothetical long-term variability in ice-albedo feedback mimicking the observed multi-decadal temperature variability. A natural variability was superimposed on a linear warming trend due to the increasing radiative forcing of CO2. The result demonstrates that the superposition of the natural variability and the background linear trend can offset with each other to show the warming hiatus for some period. It is also stressed that the rapid warming during 1970-2000 can be explained by the superposition of the natural variability and the background linear trend at least within the simple model. The key process of the fluctuating planetary albedo in multi-decadal time scale is investigated using the JRA-55 reanalysis data. It is found that the planetary albedo increased for 1958-1970, decreased for 1970-2000, and increased for 2000-2012, as expected by the simple EBM experiments. The multi-decadal variability in the planetary albedo is compared with the time series of the AO mode and Barents Sea mode of surface air temperature. It is shown that the recent AO negative pattern showing warm Arctic and cold mid-latitudes is in good agreement with planetary albedo change indicating negative anomaly in high latitudes and positive anomaly in mid-latitudes. Moreover, the Barents Sea mode with the warm Barents Sea and cold mid-latitudes shows long-term variability similar to planetary albedo change. Although further studies are needed, the natural variabilities of both the AO mode and Barents Sea mode indicate some possible link to the planetary albedo as suggested by the simple EBM to cause the warming hiatus in recent years.

Evaluating the impact and use of Transparent Reporting of Evaluations with Non-randomised Designs (TREND) reporting guidelines

PubMed Central

Fuller, Thomas; Pearson, Mark; Peters, Jaime L; Anderson, Rob

2012-01-01

Introduction Accurate and full reporting of evaluation of interventions in health research is needed for evidence synthesis and informed decision-making. Evidence suggests that biases and incomplete reporting affect the assessment of study validity and the ability to include this data in secondary research. The Transparent Reporting of Evaluations with Non-randomised Designs (TREND) reporting guideline was developed to improve the transparency and accuracy of the reporting of behavioural and public health evaluations with non-randomised designs. Evaluations of reporting guidelines have shown that they can be effective in improving reporting completeness. Although TREND occupies a niche within reporting guidelines, and despite it being 8 years since publication, no study yet has assessed its impact on reporting completeness or investigated what factors affect its use by authors and journal editors. This protocol describes two studies that aim to redress this. Methods and analysis Study 1 will use an observational design to examine the uptake and use of TREND by authors, and by journals in their instructions to authors. A comparison of reporting completeness and study quality of papers that do and do not use TREND to inform reporting will be made. Study 2 will use a cross-sectional survey to investigate what factors inhibit or facilitate authors’ and journal editors’ use of TREND. Semistructured interviews will also be conducted with a subset of authors and editors to explore findings from study 1 and the surveys in greater depth. Ethics and dissemination These studies will generate evidence of how implementation and dissemination of the TREND guideline has affected reporting completeness in studies with experimental, non-randomised designs within behavioural and public health research. The project has received ethics approval from the Research Ethics Committee of the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, Universities of Exeter and Plymouth. PMID:23257774

SDG and qualitative trend based model multiple scale validation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Dong; Xu, Xin; Yin, Jianjin; Zhang, Hongyu; Zhang, Beike

2017-09-01

Verification, Validation and Accreditation (VV&A) is key technology of simulation and modelling. For the traditional model validation methods, the completeness is weak; it is carried out in one scale; it depends on human experience. The SDG (Signed Directed Graph) and qualitative trend based multiple scale validation is proposed. First the SDG model is built and qualitative trends are added to the model. And then complete testing scenarios are produced by positive inference. The multiple scale validation is carried out by comparing the testing scenarios with outputs of simulation model in different scales. Finally, the effectiveness is proved by carrying out validation for a reactor model.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring and Trend Accuracy

PubMed Central

Gottlieb, Rebecca; Le Compte, Aaron; Chase, J. Geoffrey

2014-01-01

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices are being increasingly used to monitor glycemia in people with diabetes. One advantage with CGM is the ability to monitor the trend of sensor glucose (SG) over time. However, there are few metrics available for assessing the trend accuracy of CGM devices. The aim of this study was to develop an easy to interpret tool for assessing trend accuracy of CGM data. SG data from CGM were compared to hourly blood glucose (BG) measurements and trend accuracy was quantified using the dot product. Trend accuracy results are displayed on the Trend Compass, which depicts trend accuracy as a function of BG. A trend performance table and Trend Index (TI) metric are also proposed. The Trend Compass was tested using simulated CGM data with varying levels of error and variability, as well as real clinical CGM data. The results show that the Trend Compass is an effective tool for differentiating good trend accuracy from poor trend accuracy, independent of glycemic variability. Furthermore, the real clinical data show that the Trend Compass assesses trend accuracy independent of point bias error. Finally, the importance of assessing trend accuracy as a function of BG level is highlighted in a case example of low and falling BG data, with corresponding rising SG data. This study developed a simple to use tool for quantifying trend accuracy. The resulting trend accuracy is easily interpreted on the Trend Compass plot, and if required, performance table and TI metric. PMID:24876437

Ink dating part II: Interpretation of results in a legal perspective.

PubMed

Koenig, Agnès; Weyermann, Céline

2018-01-01

The development of an ink dating method requires an important investment of resources in order to step from the monitoring of ink ageing on paper to the determination of the actual age of a questioned ink entry. This article aimed at developing and evaluating the potential of three interpretation models to date ink entries in a legal perspective: (1) the threshold model comparing analytical results to tabulated values in order to determine the maximal possible age of an ink entry, (2) the trend tests that focusing on the "ageing status" of an ink entry, and (3) the likelihood ratio calculation comparing the probabilities to observe the results under at least two alternative hypotheses. This is the first report showing ink dating interpretation results on a ballpoint be ink reference population. In the first part of this paper three ageing parameters were selected as promising from the population of 25 ink entries aged during 4 to 304days: the quantity of phenoxyethanol (PE), the difference between the PE quantities contained in a naturally aged sample and an artificially aged sample (R NORM ) and the solvent loss ratio (R%). In the current part, each model was tested using the three selected ageing parameters. Results showed that threshold definition remains a simple model easily applicable in practice, but that the risk of false positive cannot be completely avoided without reducing significantly the feasibility of the ink dating approaches. The trend tests from the literature showed unreliable results and an alternative had to be developed yielding encouraging results. The likelihood ratio calculation introduced a degree of certainty to the ink dating conclusion in comparison to the threshold approach. The proposed model remains quite simple to apply in practice, but should be further developed in order to yield reliable results in practice. Copyright © 2017 The Chartered Society of Forensic Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Theory and modelling of light-matter interactions in photonic crystal cavity systems coupled to quantum dot ensembles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cartar, William K.

Photonic crystal microcavity quantum dot lasers show promise as high quality-factor, low threshold lasers, that can be integrated on-chip, with tunable room temperature opera- tions. However, such semiconductor microcavity lasers are notoriously difficult to model in a self-consistent way and are primarily modelled by simplified rate equation approxima- tions, typically fit to experimental data, which limits investigations of their optimization and fundamental light-matter interaction processes. Moreover, simple cavity mode optical theory and rate equations have recently been shown to fail in explaining lasing threshold trends in triangular lattice photonic crystal cavities as a function of cavity size, and the potential impact of fabrication disorder is not well understood. In this thesis, we develop a simple but powerful numerical scheme for modelling the quantum dot active layer used for lasing in these photonic crystal cavity structures, as an ensemble of randomly posi- tioned artificial two-level atoms. Each two-level atom is defined by optical Bloch equations solved by a quantum master equation that includes phenomenological pure dephasing and an incoherent pump rate that effectively models a multi-level gain system. Light-matter in- teractions of both passive and lasing structures are analyzed using simulation defined tools and post-simulation Green function techniques. We implement an active layer ensemble of up to 24,000 statistically unique quantum dots in photonic crystal cavity simulations, using a self-consistent finite-difference time-domain method. This method has the distinct advantage of capturing effects such as dipole-dipole coupling and radiative decay, without the need for any phenomenological terms, since the time-domain solution self-consistently captures these effects. Our analysis demonstrates a powerful ability to connect with recent experimental trends, while remaining completely general in its set-up; for example, we do not invoke common approximations such as the rotating-wave or slowly-varying envelope approximations, and solve dynamics with zero a priori knowledge.

Measuring U-series Disequilibrium in Weathering Rinds to Study the Influence of Environmental Factors to Weathering Rates in Tropical Basse-Terre Island (French Guadeloupe)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guo, J.; Ma, L.; Sak, P. B.; Gaillardet, J.; Chabaux, F. J.; Brantley, S. L.

2015-12-01

Chemical weathering is a critical process to global CO2 consumption, river/ocean chemistry, and nutrient import to biosphere. Weathering rinds experience minimal physical erosion and provide a well-constrained system to study the chemical weathering process. Here, we applied U-series disequilibrium dating method to study weathering advance rates on the wet side of Basse-Terre Island, French Guadeloupe, aiming to understand the role of the precipitation in controlling weathering rates and elucidate the behavior and immobilization mechanisms of U-series isotopes during rind formation. Six weathering clasts from 5 watersheds with mean annual precipitation varying from 2000 to 3000 mm/yr were measured for U-series isotope ratios and major element compositions on linear core-to-rind transects. One sample experienced complete core-to-rind transformation, while the rest clasts contain both rinds and unweathered cores. Our results show that the unweathered cores are under U-series secular equilibrium, while all the rind materials show significant U-series disequilibrium. For most rinds, linear core-to-rind increases of (230Th/232Th) activity ratios suggest a simple continuous U addition history. However, (234U/238U) and (238U/232Th) trends in several clasts show evidences of remobilization of Uranium besides the U addition, complicating the use of U-series dating method. The similarity between U/Th ratios and major elements trends like Fe, Al, P in some transects and the ongoing leaching experiments suggest that redox and organic colloids could control the mobilization of U-series isotopes in the rinds. Rind formation ages and weathering advance rate (0.07-0.29mm/kyr) were calculated for those rinds with a simple U-addition history. Our preliminary results show that local precipitation gradient significantly influenced the weathering advance rate, revealing the potential of estimating weathering advance rates at a large spatial scale using the U-series dating method.

Analytical Tools Interface for Landscape Assessments

EPA Science Inventory

Environmental management practices are trending away from simple, local-scale assessments toward complex, multiple-stressor regional assessments. Landscape ecology provides the theory behind these assessments while geographic information systems (GIS) supply the tools to implemen...

Models for forecasting hospital bed requirements in the acute sector.

PubMed Central

Farmer, R D; Emami, J

1990-01-01

STUDY OBJECTIVE--The aim was to evaluate the current approach to forecasting hospital bed requirements. DESIGN--The study was a time series and regression analysis. The time series for mean duration of stay for general surgery in the age group 15-44 years (1969-1982) was used in the evaluation of different methods of forecasting future values of mean duration of stay and its subsequent use in the formation of hospital bed requirements. RESULTS--It has been suggested that the simple trend fitting approach suffers from model specification error and imposes unjustified restrictions on the data. Time series approach (Box-Jenkins method) was shown to be a more appropriate way of modelling the data. CONCLUSION--The simple trend fitting approach is inferior to the time series approach in modelling hospital bed requirements. PMID:2277253

Trends in Simple Prostatectomy for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

PubMed

Pariser, Joseph J; Packiam, Vignesh T; Adamsky, Melanie A; Bales, Gregory T

2016-08-01

The definitive treatment for symptomatic large volume (>80 mL) benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is simple prostatectomy (SP). This can be performed by utilizing a retropubic, suprapubic, or a combined approach. The latter two approaches allow for the management of concomitant bladder diverticulum or stones through the same incision. Each approach affords unique technical strengths and weaknesses that must be considered in light of patient characteristics and concomitant pathology. SP allows for removal of the entire prostatic adenoma while obviating some of the neurovascular and continence issues that can arise from radical prostatectomy. Concerns with SP include its relatively high perioperative morbidity, notably bleeding. Therefore, there is increasing interest in less invasive options, including enucleation procedures and minimally invasive SP. This review presents an update regarding trends and outcomes of SP, as well as the effectiveness and popularity of alternative treatments.

Damage and strength of composite materials: Trends, predictions, and challenges

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Obrien, T. Kevin

1994-01-01

Research on damage mechanisms and ultimate strength of composite materials relevant to scaling issues will be addressed in this viewgraph presentation. The use of fracture mechanics and Weibull statistics to predict scaling effects for the onset of isolated damage mechanisms will be highlighted. The ability of simple fracture mechanics models to predict trends that are useful in parametric or preliminary designs studies will be reviewed. The limitations of these simple models for complex loading conditions will also be noted. The difficulty in developing generic criteria for the growth of these mechanisms needed in progressive damage models to predict strength will be addressed. A specific example for a problem where failure is a direct consequence of progressive delamination will be explored. A damage threshold/fail-safety concept for addressing composite damage tolerance will be discussed.

Time-series analysis of delta13C from tree rings. I. Time trends and autocorrelation.

PubMed

Monserud, R A; Marshall, J D

2001-09-01

Univariate time-series analyses were conducted on stable carbon isotope ratios obtained from tree-ring cellulose. We looked for the presence and structure of autocorrelation. Significant autocorrelation violates the statistical independence assumption and biases hypothesis tests. Its presence would indicate the existence of lagged physiological effects that persist for longer than the current year. We analyzed data from 28 trees (60-85 years old; mean = 73 years) of western white pine (Pinus monticola Dougl.), ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Laws.), and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco var. glauca) growing in northern Idaho. Material was obtained by the stem analysis method from rings laid down in the upper portion of the crown throughout each tree's life. The sampling protocol minimized variation caused by changing light regimes within each tree. Autoregressive moving average (ARMA) models were used to describe the autocorrelation structure over time. Three time series were analyzed for each tree: the stable carbon isotope ratio (delta(13)C); discrimination (delta); and the difference between ambient and internal CO(2) concentrations (c(a) - c(i)). The effect of converting from ring cellulose to whole-leaf tissue did not affect the analysis because it was almost completely removed by the detrending that precedes time-series analysis. A simple linear or quadratic model adequately described the time trend. The residuals from the trend had a constant mean and variance, thus ensuring stationarity, a requirement for autocorrelation analysis. The trend over time for c(a) - c(i) was particularly strong (R(2) = 0.29-0.84). Autoregressive moving average analyses of the residuals from these trends indicated that two-thirds of the individual tree series contained significant autocorrelation, whereas the remaining third were random (white noise) over time. We were unable to distinguish between individuals with and without significant autocorrelation beforehand. Significant ARMA models were all of low order, with either first- or second-order (i.e., lagged 1 or 2 years, respectively) models performing well. A simple autoregressive (AR(1)), model was the most common. The most useful generalization was that the same ARMA model holds for each of the three series (delta(13)C, delta, c(a) - c(i)) for an individual tree, if the time trend has been properly removed for each series. The mean series for the two pine species were described by first-order ARMA models (1-year lags), whereas the Douglas-fir mean series were described by second-order models (2-year lags) with negligible first-order effects. Apparently, the process of constructing a mean time series for a species preserves an underlying signal related to delta(13)C while canceling some of the random individual tree variation. Furthermore, the best model for the overall mean series (e.g., for a species) cannot be inferred from a consensus of the individual tree model forms, nor can its parameters be estimated reliably from the mean of the individual tree parameters. Because two-thirds of the individual tree time series contained significant autocorrelation, the normal assumption of a random structure over time is unwarranted, even after accounting for the time trend. The residuals of an appropriate ARMA model satisfy the independence assumption, and can be used to make hypothesis tests.

The Evolution of El Nino-Precipitation Relationships from Satellites and Gauges

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Curtis, Scott; Adler, Robert F.; Starr, David OC (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

This study uses a twenty-three year (1979-2001) satellite-gauge merged community data set to further describe the relationship between El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and precipitation. The globally complete precipitation fields reveal coherent bands of anomalies that extend from the tropics to the polar regions. Also, ENSO-precipitation relationships were analyzed during the six strongest El Ninos from 1979 to 2001. Seasons of evolution, Pre-onset, Onset, Peak, Decay, and Post-decay, were identified based on the strength of the El Nino. Then two simple and independent models, first order harmonic and linear, were fit to the monthly time series of normalized precipitation anomalies for each grid block. The sinusoidal model represents a three-phase evolution of precipitation, either dry-wet-dry or wet-dry-wet. This model is also highly correlated with the evolution of sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific. The linear model represents a two-phase evolution of precipitation, either dry-wet or wet-dry. These models combine to account for over 50% of the precipitation variability for over half the globe during El Nino. Most regions, especially away from the Equator, favor the linear model. Areas that show the largest trend from dry to wet are southeastern Australia, eastern Indian Ocean, southern Japan, and off the coast of Peru. The northern tropical Pacific and Southeast Asia show the opposite trend.

The 2005 RPA timber assessment update.

Treesearch

Richard W. Haynes; Darius M. Adams; Ralph J. Alig; Peter J. Ince; John R. Mills; Xiaoping. Zhou

2007-01-01

This update reports changes in the Nation's timber resource since the Analysis of the Timber Situation in the United States was completed in 2003. Prospective trends in demands for and supplies of timber, and the factors that affect these trends are examined. These trends include changes in the U.S. economy, increased salvage of British Columbia beetle-killed...

Methods for Evaluating Respondent Attrition in Web-Based Surveys.

PubMed

Hochheimer, Camille J; Sabo, Roy T; Krist, Alex H; Day, Teresa; Cyrus, John; Woolf, Steven H

2016-11-22

Electronic surveys are convenient, cost effective, and increasingly popular tools for collecting information. While the online platform allows researchers to recruit and enroll more participants, there is an increased risk of participant dropout in Web-based research. Often, these dropout trends are simply reported, adjusted for, or ignored altogether. To propose a conceptual framework that analyzes respondent attrition and demonstrates the utility of these methods with existing survey data. First, we suggest visualization of attrition trends using bar charts and survival curves. Next, we propose a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) to detect or confirm significant attrition points. Finally, we suggest applications of existing statistical methods to investigate the effect of internal survey characteristics and patient characteristics on dropout. In order to apply this framework, we conducted a case study; a seventeen-item Informed Decision-Making (IDM) module addressing how and why patients make decisions about cancer screening. Using the framework, we were able to find significant attrition points at Questions 4, 6, 7, and 9, and were also able to identify participant responses and characteristics associated with dropout at these points and overall. When these methods were applied to survey data, significant attrition trends were revealed, both visually and empirically, that can inspire researchers to investigate the factors associated with survey dropout, address whether survey completion is associated with health outcomes, and compare attrition patterns between groups. The framework can be used to extract information beyond simple responses, can be useful during survey development, and can help determine the external validity of survey results. ©Camille J Hochheimer, Roy T Sabo, Alex H Krist, Teresa Day, John Cyrus, Steven H Woolf. Originally published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research (http://www.jmir.org), 22.11.2016.

Remote Sensing Image Analysis Without Expert Knowledge - A Web-Based Classification Tool On Top of Taverna Workflow Management System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Selsam, Peter; Schwartze, Christian

2016-10-01

Providing software solutions via internet has been known for quite some time and is now an increasing trend marketed as "software as a service". A lot of business units accept the new methods and streamlined IT strategies by offering web-based infrastructures for external software usage - but geospatial applications featuring very specialized services or functionalities on demand are still rare. Originally applied in desktop environments, the ILMSimage tool for remote sensing image analysis and classification was modified in its communicating structures and enabled for running on a high-power server and benefiting from Tavema software. On top, a GIS-like and web-based user interface guides the user through the different steps in ILMSimage. ILMSimage combines object oriented image segmentation with pattern recognition features. Basic image elements form a construction set to model for large image objects with diverse and complex appearance. There is no need for the user to set up detailed object definitions. Training is done by delineating one or more typical examples (templates) of the desired object using a simple vector polygon. The template can be large and does not need to be homogeneous. The template is completely independent from the segmentation. The object definition is done completely by the software.

Adolescent and caregiver perception of family functioning: relation to suicide ideation and attempts.

PubMed

Lipschitz, Jessica M; Yen, Shirley; Weinstock, Lauren M; Spirito, Anthony

2012-12-30

This study assessed the relationship between perceived family functioning and two indicators of suicidality in an adolescent sample. A total of 103 adolescents psychiatrically hospitalized for suicidal ideation and/or behavior completed a battery of self-report questionnaires assessing family functioning, negative affectivity, suicidal ideation in the past week assessed by Beck's Scale for Suicide Ideation (BSS; Beck et al., 1979), and past suicide attempts. Participants' primary caregivers also completed a questionnaire on family functioning. A paired samples t-test evaluated overall discrepancy between adolescent- and caregiver-reported family functioning. Linear and logistic regression models were used to evaluate the simple associations between perceived family functioning and suicidal indicators (BSS and previous attempt status), as well as the associations between perceived family functioning and suicidal indicators after controlling for negative affect. Results indicated that adolescents' ratings of family functioning were significantly worse than caregivers' ratings, and positively associated with BSS scores and a history of suicide attempt. When negative affect was controlled for, adolescent-reported family functioning was significantly associated with BSS, but only trended toward significance with attempt status. Findings suggest that adolescents' perceptions of family functioning may be a key contributing factor to suicidal ideation in adolescents with psychiatric disorders. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

By their words ye shall know them: Evidence of genetic selection against general intelligence and concurrent environmental enrichment in vocabulary usage since the mid 19th century

PubMed Central

Menie, Michael A. Woodley of; Fernandes, Heitor B. F.; José Figueredo, Aurelio; Meisenberg, Gerhard

2015-01-01

It has been theorized that declines in general intelligence (g) due to genetic selection stemming from the inverse association between completed fertility and IQ and the Flynn effect co-occur, with the effects of the latter being concentrated on less heritable non-g sources of intelligence variance. Evidence for this comes from the observation that 19th century populations were more intellectually productive, and also exhibited faster simple reaction times than modern ones, suggesting greater information-processing ability and therefore higher g. This co-occurrence model is tested via examination of historical changes in the utilization frequencies of words from the highly g-loaded WORDSUM test across 5.9 million texts spanning the period 1850–2005. Consistent with predictions, words with higher difficulties (δ parameters from Item Response Theory) and stronger negative correlations between pass rates and completed fertility declined in use over time whereas less difficult and less strongly selected words, increased in use over time, consistent with a Flynn effect stemming in part from the vocabulary enriching effects of increases in population literacy. These findings persisted when explicitly controlled for word age, changing literacy rates and temporal autocorrelation. These trends constitute compelling evidence for the co-occurrence model. PMID:25954211

Climate variability, vulnerability, and coping mechanism in Alaknanda catchment, Central Himalaya, India.

PubMed

Kumar, Kireet; Joshi, Sneh; Joshi, Varun

2008-06-01

A study was carried out to discover trends in the rainfall and temperature pattern of the Alaknanda catchment in the Central Himalaya. Data on the annual rainfall, monsoon rainfall for the last decade, and average annual temperatures over the last few decades were analyzed. Nonparametric methods (Mann-Kendall and Sen's method) were employed to identify trends. The Mann-Kendall test shows a decline in rainfall and rise in temperature, and these trends were found to be statistically significant at the 95% confidence level for both transects. Sen's method also confirms this trend. This aspect has to be considered seriously for the simple reason that if the same trend continues in the future, more chances of drought are expected. The impact of climate change has been well perceived by the people of the catchment, and a coping mechanism has been developed at the local level.

Improvements in Spectrum's fit to program data tool.

PubMed

Mahiane, Severin G; Marsh, Kimberly; Grantham, Kelsey; Crichlow, Shawna; Caceres, Karen; Stover, John

2017-04-01

The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS-supported Spectrum software package (Glastonbury, Connecticut, USA) is used by most countries worldwide to monitor the HIV epidemic. In Spectrum, HIV incidence trends among adults (aged 15-49 years) are derived by either fitting to seroprevalence surveillance and survey data or generating curves consistent with program and vital registration data, such as historical trends in the number of newly diagnosed infections or people living with HIV and AIDS related deaths. This article describes development and application of the fit to program data (FPD) tool in Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS' 2016 estimates round. In the FPD tool, HIV incidence trends are described as a simple or double logistic function. Function parameters are estimated from historical program data on newly reported HIV cases, people living with HIV or AIDS-related deaths. Inputs can be adjusted for proportions undiagnosed or misclassified deaths. Maximum likelihood estimation or minimum chi-squared distance methods are used to identify the best fitting curve. Asymptotic properties of the estimators from these fits are used to estimate uncertainty. The FPD tool was used to fit incidence for 62 countries in 2016. Maximum likelihood and minimum chi-squared distance methods gave similar results. A double logistic curve adequately described observed trends in all but four countries where a simple logistic curve performed better. Robust HIV-related program and vital registration data are routinely available in many middle-income and high-income countries, whereas HIV seroprevalence surveillance and survey data may be scarce. In these countries, the FPD tool offers a simpler, improved approach to estimating HIV incidence trends.

Trends in record-breaking temperatures for the conterminous United States

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rowe, Clinton M.; Derry, Logan E.

2012-08-01

In an unchanging climate, record-breaking temperatures are expected to decrease in frequency over time, as established records become increasingly more difficult to surpass. This inherent trend in the number of record-breaking events confounds the interpretation of actual trends in the presence of any underlying climate change. Here, a simple technique to remove the inherent trend is introduced so that any remaining trend can be examined separately for evidence of a climate change. As this technique does not use the standard definition of a broken record, our records* are differentiated by an asterisk. Results for the period 1961-2010 indicate that the number of record* low daily minimum temperatures has been significantly and steadily decreasing nearly everywhere across the United States while the number of record* high daily minimum temperatures has been predominantly increasing. Trends in record* low and record* high daily maximum temperatures are generally weaker and more spatially mixed in sign. These results are consistent with other studies examining changes expected in a warming climate.

Recent trends in ionic liquid (IL) tolerant enzymes and microorganisms for biomass conversion.

PubMed

Portillo, Maria Del Carmen; Saadeddin, Anas

2015-01-01

Second generation biofuel production depends on lignocellulosic (LC) biomass transformation into simple sugars and their subsequent fermentation into alcohols. However, the main obstacle in this process is the efficient breakdown of the recalcitrant cellulose to sugar monomers. Hence, efficient feedstock pretreatment and hydrolysis are necessary to produce a cost effective biofuel. Recently, ionic liquids (ILs) have been recognized as a promising solvent able to dissolve different biomass feedstocks, providing higher sugar yields. However, most of the hydrolytic enzymes and microorganisms are inactivated, completely or partially, in the presence of even low concentrations of IL, making necessary the discovery of novel hydrolytic enzymes and fermentative microorganisms that are tolerant to ILs. In this review, the current state and the challenges of using ILs as a pretreatment of LC biomass was evaluated, underlining the advances in the discovery and identification of new IL-tolerant enzymes and microorganisms that could improve the bioprocessing of biomass to fuels and chemicals.

Injuries of the head from backface deformation of ballistic protective helmets under ballistic impact.

PubMed

Rafaels, Karin A; Cutcliffe, Hattie C; Salzar, Robert S; Davis, Martin; Boggess, Brian; Bush, Bryan; Harris, Robert; Rountree, Mark Steve; Sanderson, Ellory; Campman, Steven; Koch, Spencer; Dale Bass, Cameron R

2015-01-01

Modern ballistic helmets defeat penetrating bullets by energy transfer from the projectile to the helmet, producing helmet deformation. This deformation may cause severe injuries without completely perforating the helmet, termed "behind armor blunt trauma" (BABT). As helmets become lighter, the likelihood of larger helmet backface deformation under ballistic impact increases. To characterize the potential for BABT, seven postmortem human head/neck specimens wearing a ballistic protective helmet were exposed to nonperforating impact, using a 9 mm, full metal jacket, 124 grain bullet with velocities of 400-460 m/s. An increasing trend of injury severity was observed, ranging from simple linear fractures to combinations of linear and depressed fractures. Overall, the ability to identify skull fractures resulting from BABT can be used in forensic investigations. Our results demonstrate a high risk of skull fracture due to BABT and necessitate the prevention of BABT as a design factor in future generations of protective gear. © 2014 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Particle-Size-Exclusion Clogging Regimes in Porous Media

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gerber, G.; Rodts, S.; Aimedieu, P.; Faure, P.; Coussot, P.

2018-04-01

From observations of the progressive deposition of noncolloidal particles by geometrical exclusion effects inside a 3D model porous medium, we get a complete dynamic view of particle deposits over a full range of regimes from transport over a long distance to clogging and caking. We show that clogging essentially occurs in the form of an accumulation of elements in pore size clusters, which ultimately constitute regions avoided by the flow. The clusters are dispersed in the medium, and their concentration (number per volume) decreases with the distance from the entrance; caking is associated with the final stage of this effect (for a critical cluster concentration at the entrance). A simple probabilistic model, taking into account the impact of clogging on particle transport, allows us to quantitatively predict all these trends up to a large cluster concentration, based on a single parameter: the clogging probability, which is a function of the confinement ratio. This opens the route towards a unification of the different fields of particle transport, clogging, caking, and filtration.

Quantifying stratospheric ozone trends: Complications due to stratospheric cooling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McLinden, C. A.; Fioletov, V.

2011-02-01

Recent studies suggest that ozone turnaround (the second stage of ozone recovery) is near. Determining precisely when this occurs, however, will be complicated by greenhouse gas-induced stratospheric cooling as ozone trends derived from profile data in different units and/or vertical co-ordinates will not agree. Stratospheric cooling leads to simultaneous trends in air density and layer thicknesses, confounding the interpretation of ozone trends. A simple model suggests that instruments measuring ozone in different units may differ as to the onset of turnaround by a decade, with some indicting a continued decline while others an increase. This concept was illustrated by examining the long-term (1979-2005) ozone trends in the SAGE (Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment) and SBUV (Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet) time series. Trends from SAGE, which measures number density as a function of altitude, and SBUV, which measures partial column as a function of pressure, are known to differ by 4-6%/decade in the upper stratosphere. It is shown that this long-standing difference can be reconciled to within 2%/decade when the trend in temperature is properly accounted for.

Beware! A simple renal cyst could be a hydatid cyst.

PubMed

Sehgal, Nidhi; Priyadarshi, Vinod

2017-01-01

Kidney is one of the most common sites for the cyst formation in the body, and the management of simple cysts is required entirely for its symptoms and complications. Surgical decortication is an established treatment for a large and symptomatic simple renal cyst. On the other hand, hydatid cysts of the kidney are usually multiloculated complex or calcified cysts and are quite rare. Their surgical treatment also differs and requires complete excision with pericystectomy or partial/complete nephrectomy depending upon residual functional parenchyma, using extreme caution to avoid spillage, recurrence or development of severe anaphylactic shock. A simple cyst harboring a hydatid cyst is highly uncommon and quite dangerous; as if not diagnosed preoperatively, it can create huge trouble for both the patient and the operating surgeon which happened in the present case.

Current trends for customized biomedical software tools.

PubMed

Khan, Haseeb Ahmad

2017-01-01

In the past, biomedical scientists were solely dependent on expensive commercial software packages for various applications. However, the advent of user-friendly programming languages and open source platforms has revolutionized the development of simple and efficient customized software tools for solving specific biomedical problems. Many of these tools are designed and developed by biomedical scientists independently or with the support of computer experts and often made freely available for the benefit of scientific community. The current trends for customized biomedical software tools are highlighted in this short review.

National Trends of Simple Prostatectomy for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia With an Analysis of Risk Factors for Adverse Perioperative Outcomes.

PubMed

Pariser, Joseph J; Pearce, Shane M; Patel, Sanjay G; Bales, Gregory T

2015-10-01

To examine the national trends of simple prostatectomy (SP) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) focusing on perioperative outcomes and risk factors for complications. The National Inpatient Sample (2002-2012) was utilized to identify patients with BPH undergoing SP. Analysis included demographics, hospital details, associated procedures, and operative approach (open, robotic, or laparoscopic). Outcomes included complications, length of stay, charges, and mortality. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the risk factors for perioperative complications. Linear regression was used to assess the trends in the national annual utilization of SP. The study population included 35,171 patients. Median length of stay was 4 days (interquartile range 3-6). Cystolithotomy was performed concurrently in 6041 patients (17%). The overall complication rate was 28%, with bleeding occurring most commonly. In total, 148 (0.4%) patients experienced in-hospital mortality. On multivariate analysis, older age, black race, and overall comorbidity were associated with greater risk of complications while the use of a minimally invasive approach and concurrent cystolithotomy had a decreased risk. Over the study period, the national use of simple prostatectomy decreased, on average, by 145 cases per year (P = .002). By 2012, 135/2580 procedures (5%) were performed using a minimally invasive approach. The nationwide utilization of SP for BPH has decreased. Bleeding complications are common, but perioperative mortality is low. Patients who are older, black race, or have multiple comorbidities are at higher risk of complications. Minimally invasive approaches, which are becoming increasingly utilized, may reduce perioperative morbidity. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Analysis of AS112 Traffic

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-06-01

UPDATEs • TCP UPDATEs 9© 2007 Carnegie Mellon University A queries • Clients asking blackhole -1 and blackhole -2 for prisoner • Results are not cached...Clients requesting the DNS name of an RFC1918 address • Simple queries sent to blackhole -1 and blackhole -2 • Uniformity makes trending very easy...dns.qry.type == 0x000c • Clients requesting the DNS name of an RFC1918 address • Simple queries sent to blackhole -1 and blackhole -2 • Uniformity makes

Nanotechnology Research

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-10-01

expected as new nanomaterial capabilities as well as new nanoscale-centric circuit architectures are developed. However, the emerging trend in IT-focused...was eventually achieved. Proceeding from LRS to HRS afterwards shows a similar trend : several pulses are needed to completely switch the device from...resulted in unstable switching behavior. Similar trends were observed by Vallee, et al. for HfOx-based devices in which the switching behavior for Pt TEs

A simple dynamic engine model for use in a real-time aircraft simulation with thrust vectoring

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, Steven A.

1990-01-01

A simple dynamic engine model was developed at the NASA Ames Research Center, Dryden Flight Research Facility, for use in thrust vectoring control law development and real-time aircraft simulation. The simple dynamic engine model of the F404-GE-400 engine (General Electric, Lynn, Massachusetts) operates within the aircraft simulator. It was developed using tabular data generated from a complete nonlinear dynamic engine model supplied by the manufacturer. Engine dynamics were simulated using a throttle rate limiter and low-pass filter. Included is a description of a method to account for axial thrust loss resulting from thrust vectoring. In addition, the development of the simple dynamic engine model and its incorporation into the F-18 high alpha research vehicle (HARV) thrust vectoring simulation. The simple dynamic engine model was evaluated at Mach 0.2, 35,000 ft altitude and at Mach 0.7, 35,000 ft altitude. The simple dynamic engine model is within 3 percent of the steady state response, and within 25 percent of the transient response of the complete nonlinear dynamic engine model.

The bark of the branches of holm oak (Quercus ilex L.) for a retrospective study of trace elements in the atmosphere

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

Drava, Giuliana, E-mail: drava@difar.unige.it; Bri

Tree bark has proved to be a useful bioindicator for trace elements in the atmosphere, however it reflects an exposure occurring during an unidentified period of time, so it provides spatial information about the distribution of contaminants in a certain area, but it cannot be used to detect temporal changes or trends, which is an important achievement in environmental studies. In order to obtain information about a known period of time, the bark collected from the annual segments of tree branches can be used, allowing analyses going back 10–15 years with annual resolution. In the present study, the concentrations ofmore » As, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn were measured by atomic emission spectrometry in a series of samples covering the period from 2001 to 2013 in an urban environment. Downward time trends were significant for Cd, Pb and Zn. The only trace element showing an upward time trend was V. The concentrations of the remaining six trace elements were constant over time, showing that their presence in bark is not simply proportional to the duration of exposure. This approach, which is simple, reliable and widely applicable at a low cost, allows the “a posteriori” reconstruction of atmospheric trace element deposition when or where no monitoring programme is in progress and no other natural archives are available. - Highlights: • Branch bark allows the historical reconstruction of atmospheric trace elements. • This approach is simple, reliable, widely applicable and “a posteriori”. • Downward time trends were found for Cd, Pb and Zn; upward trend for V.« less

Physical characteristics and evolutionary trends of continental rifts

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ramberg, I. B.; Morgan, P.

1984-01-01

Rifts may be defined as zones beneath which the entire lithosphere has ruptured in extension. They are widespread and occur in a variety of tectonic settings, and range up to 2,600 m.y. in age. The object of this review is to highlight characteristic features of modern and ancient rifts, to emphasize differences and similarities in order to help characterize evolutionary trends, to identify physical conditions favorable for initiation as well as termination of rifting, and to provide constraints for future modeling studies of rifting. Rifts are characterized on the basis of their structural, geomorphic, magmatic and geophysical features and the diverse character of these features and their evolutionary trends through time are discussed. Mechanisms of rifting are critically examined in terms of the physical characteristics and evolutionary trends of rifts, and it is concluded that while simple models can give valuable insight into specific processes of rifting, individual rifts can rarely, if ever, be characterized by well defined trends predicted by these models. More data are required to clearly define evolutionary trends, and the models require development to incorporate the effects of lithospheric heterogeneities and complex geologic histories.

Why has the tropical lower stratosphere stopped cooling since 1997?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Polvani, Lorenzo; Wang, Lei; Aquila, Valentina; Waugh, Darryn

2017-04-01

The impact of ozone depleting substances on global lower stratospheric temperature trends is widely recognized. In the tropics, however, understanding lower stratospheric temperature trends has proven more challenging. While the tropical lower stratospheric cooling observed from 1979 to 1997 has been linked to tropical ozone decreases, those ozone trends cannot be of chemical origin, as active chlorine is not abundant in the tropical lower stratosphere. The 1979-1997 tropical ozone trends are believed to originate from enhanced upwelling which, it is often stated, would be driven by increasing concentrations of well-mixed greenhouse gases. Using simple arguments based on observational evidence after 1997, combined with model integrations with incrementally added single forcings, we argue that ozone depleting substances, not well-mixed greenhouse gases, have been the primary driver of temperature and ozone trends in the tropical lower stratosphere until 1997, and this has occurred because ozone depleting substances are key drivers of tropical upwelling and of the entire Brewer-Dobson circulation.

Completeness relations for Maass Laplacians and heat kernels on the super Poincaré upper half-plane

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oshima, Kazuto

1990-12-01

Simple completeness relations are proposed for Maass Laplacians. With the help of these completeness relations, correct heat kernels of (super) Maass Laplacians are derived on the (super) Poincaré upper half-plane.

Automating Access Control Logics in Simple Type Theory with LEO-II

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Benzmüller, Christoph

Garg and Abadi recently proved that prominent access control logics can be translated in a sound and complete way into modal logic S4. We have previously outlined how normal multimodal logics, including monomodal logics K and S4, can be embedded in simple type theory and we have demonstrated that the higher-order theorem prover LEO-II can automate reasoning in and about them. In this paper we combine these results and describe a sound (and complete) embedding of different access control logics in simple type theory. Employing this framework we show that the off the shelf theorem prover LEO-II can be applied to automate reasoning in and about prominent access control logics.

Analysis options for estimating status and trends in long-term monitoring

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bart, Jonathan; Beyer, Hawthorne L.

2012-01-01

This chapter describes methods for estimating long-term trends in ecological parameters. Other chapters in this volume discuss more advanced methods for analyzing monitoring data, but these methods may be relatively inaccessible to some readers. Therefore, this chapter provides an introduction to trend analysis for managers and biologists while also discussing general issues relevant to trend assessment in any long-term monitoring program. For simplicity, we focus on temporal trends in population size across years. We refer to the survey results for each year as the “annual means” (e.g. mean per transect, per plot, per time period). The methods apply with little or no modification, however, to formal estimates of population size, other temporal units (e.g. a month), to spatial or other dimensions such as elevation or a north–south gradient, and to other quantities such as chemical or geological parameters. The chapter primarily discusses methods for estimating population-wide parameters rather than studying variation in trend within the population, which can be examined using methods presented in other chapters (e.g. Chapters 7, 12, 20). We begin by reviewing key concepts related to trend analysis. We then describe how to evaluate potential bias in trend estimates. An overview of the statistical models used to quantify trends is then presented. We conclude by showing ways to estimate trends using simple methods that can be implemented with spreadsheets.

The swindon foot and ankle questionnaire: is a picture worth a thousand words?

PubMed

Waller, Rosemary; Manuel, Peter; Williamson, Lyn

2012-01-01

Objectives. Despite increased awareness of the high prevalence and significance of foot and ankle problems in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), feet remain neglected. Reasons may include the perception that feet are difficult to assess, they are not included in the DAS28, and lack of freely available foot screening tools specific for RA. Methods. The Swindon Foot and Ankle Questionnaire (SFAQ) is a simply worded 10-point foot and ankle screening questionnaire with diagrams of feet and ankles for use in general rheumatology outpatients. All RA patients on our electronic database were invited to complete the questionnaire and attend clinic for assessment. Patients assessed clinically were scored out of 10 using the parameters from the questionnaire. The SFAQ was compared to the Manchester Foot Pain and Disability Index (MFPDI), DAS28, HAQ, HAD, and OSRA scores. Results. 597 questionnaires were sent, 301 (50%) returned, and 137 seen in clinic. There was good correlation between the postal SFAQ score, clinic score (r = 0.63), and the MFPDI (r = 0.65). Neither of the foot scores correlated with other RA disease outcome measures. 75% patients completed the picture. 73% corresponded to clinical findings. 45% of patients required an intervention following clinical review and trended towards higher scores. Conclusions. The SFAQ was quick to complete and correlated with the MFPDI. Lack of association with standard RA outcome measures suggests that relying on these scores alone may miss foot pathology. The diagrams were a useful complement. This simple screening tool could aid identification of RA foot and ankle problems.

Calibrating the ECCO ocean general circulation model using Green's functions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Menemenlis, D.; Fu, L. L.; Lee, T.; Fukumori, I.

2002-01-01

Green's functions provide a simple, yet effective, method to test and calibrate General-Circulation-Model(GCM) parameterizations, to study and quantify model and data errors, to correct model biases and trends, and to blend estimates from different solutions and data products.

AR(p) -based detrended fluctuation analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alvarez-Ramirez, J.; Rodriguez, E.

2018-07-01

Autoregressive models are commonly used for modeling time-series from nature, economics and finance. This work explored simple autoregressive AR(p) models to remove long-term trends in detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA). Crude oil prices and bitcoin exchange rate were considered, with the former corresponding to a mature market and the latter to an emergent market. Results showed that AR(p) -based DFA performs similar to traditional DFA. However, the former DFA provides information on stability of long-term trends, which is valuable for understanding and quantifying the dynamics of complex time series from financial systems.

Student Campus Technology Trends: 2001 versus 2006

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Crews, Tena B.; Brown, Herbert F.; Bray, Sandra; Pringle, Ernest M.

2007-01-01

Since 1999, students who reside in campus housing at the University of South Carolina have completed an annual residence hall computer and technology survey. More than 2,800 students completed surveys during the fall 2001 semester, and approximately 1,800 completed the survey in 2006. The survey has changed over the years to include questions…

Recruiting Trends 1996-97. A National Study of Job Market Trends for New College Graduates among 508 Businesses, Industries, and Governmental Agencies. Twenty-Sixth Edition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Scheetz, L. Patrick

This study examined recruiting trends of business, industry, and government among new college graduates. Questionnaires were mailed to 4,890 employers, of which 489 returned complete responses. The survey found that new college graduates of 1996-97 can expect growth in job opportunities. An increase of 6.2 percent in job prospects and an increase…

The Feasibility of Real-Time Intraoperative Performance Assessment With SIMPL (System for Improving and Measuring Procedural Learning): Early Experience From a Multi-institutional Trial.

PubMed

Bohnen, Jordan D; George, Brian C; Williams, Reed G; Schuller, Mary C; DaRosa, Debra A; Torbeck, Laura; Mullen, John T; Meyerson, Shari L; Auyang, Edward D; Chipman, Jeffrey G; Choi, Jennifer N; Choti, Michael A; Endean, Eric D; Foley, Eugene F; Mandell, Samuel P; Meier, Andreas H; Smink, Douglas S; Terhune, Kyla P; Wise, Paul E; Soper, Nathaniel J; Zwischenberger, Joseph B; Lillemoe, Keith D; Dunnington, Gary L; Fryer, Jonathan P

Intraoperative performance assessment of residents is of growing interest to trainees, faculty, and accreditors. Current approaches to collect such assessments are limited by low participation rates and long delays between procedure and evaluation. We deployed an innovative, smartphone-based tool, SIMPL (System for Improving and Measuring Procedural Learning), to make real-time intraoperative performance assessment feasible for every case in which surgical trainees participate, and hypothesized that SIMPL could be feasibly integrated into surgical training programs. Between September 1, 2015 and February 29, 2016, 15 U.S. general surgery residency programs were enrolled in an institutional review board-approved trial. SIMPL was made available after 70% of faculty and residents completed a 1-hour training session. Descriptive and univariate statistics analyzed multiple dimensions of feasibility, including training rates, volume of assessments, response rates/times, and dictation rates. The 20 most active residents and attendings were evaluated in greater detail. A total of 90% of eligible users (1267/1412) completed training. Further, 13/15 programs began using SIMPL. Totally, 6024 assessments were completed by 254 categorical general surgery residents (n = 3555 assessments) and 259 attendings (n = 2469 assessments), and 3762 unique operations were assessed. There was significant heterogeneity in participation within and between programs. Mean percentage (range) of users who completed ≥1, 5, and 20 assessments were 62% (21%-96%), 34% (5%-75%), and 10% (0%-32%) across all programs, and 96%, 75%, and 32% in the most active program. Overall, response rate was 70%, dictation rate was 24%, and mean response time was 12 hours. Assessments increased from 357 (September 2015) to 1146 (February 2016). The 20 most active residents each received mean 46 assessments by 10 attendings for 20 different procedures. SIMPL can be feasibly integrated into surgical training programs to enhance the frequency and timeliness of intraoperative performance assessment. We believe SIMPL could help facilitate a national competency-based surgical training system, although local and systemic challenges still need to be addressed. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Recruiting Trends, 2009-2010

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Collegiate Employment Research Institute (NJ3), 2010

2010-01-01

This paper presents the recruiting trends for 2009-2010. This year's report is based on over 2,500 respondents, of which approximately 2,259 provided useable information with 1,846 including complete hiring figures used for the projections. The researchers continued their focus on fast-growth companies and expanded their efforts to ensure a…

What Influences Medical Students to Apply or Not to Apply for Dermatology Residency Programs?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Matheny, Pamela M.

2016-01-01

Medical students apply for dermatology residency program acceptance and, after completing training, become eligible to take the American Board of Dermatology examination. Some recent dermatologist practice trends concern dermatology leaders in academia. Changing the workforce trends may begin with changing the workforce. Academic dermatology…

Spanish-English Speech Perception in Children and Adults: Developmental Trends

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brice, Alejandro E.; Gorman, Brenda K.; Leung, Cynthia B.

2013-01-01

This study explored the developmental trends and phonetic category formation in bilingual children and adults. Participants included 30 fluent Spanish-English bilingual children, aged 8-11, and bilingual adults, aged 18-40. All completed gating tasks that incorporated code-mixed Spanish-English stimuli. There were significant differences in…

A Novel Approach for Evaluation of Water Quality Trends in Gulf Coast Estuaries

EPA Science Inventory

Water quality data form the backbone of management programs aimed at protecting environmental resources. The increasing availability of long-term monitoring data for estuaries can improve detection of temporal and spatial changes in water quality. However, the relatively simple...

Soil mechanics: breaking ground.

PubMed

Einav, Itai

2007-12-15

In soil mechanics, student's models are classified as simple models that teach us unexplained elements of behaviour; an example is the Cam clay constitutive models of critical state soil mechanics (CSSM). 'Engineer's models' are models that elaborate the theory to fit more behavioural trends; this is usually done by adding fitting parameters to the student's models. Can currently unexplained behavioural trends of soil be explained without adding fitting parameters to CSSM models, by developing alternative student's models based on modern theories?Here I apply an alternative theory to CSSM, called 'breakage mechanics', and develop a simple student's model for sand. Its unique and distinctive feature is the use of an energy balance equation that connects grain size reduction to consumption of energy, which enables us to predict how grain size distribution (gsd) evolves-an unprecedented capability in constitutive modelling. With only four parameters, the model is physically clarifying what CSSM cannot for sand: the dependency of yielding and critical state on the initial gsd and void ratio.

Comparison of Recent Modeled and Observed Trends in Total Column Ozone

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Andersen, S. B.; Weatherhead, E. C.; Stevermer, A.; Austin, J.; Bruehl, C.; Fleming, E. L.; deGrandpre, J.; Grewe, V.; Isaksen, I.; Pitari, G.;

Comparison of recent modeled and observed trends in total column ozone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andersen, S. B.; Weatherhead, E. C.; Stevermer, A.; Austin, J.; Brühl, C.; Fleming, E. L.; de Grandpré, J.; Grewe, V.; Isaksen, I.; Pitari, G.; Portmann, R. W.; Rognerud, B.; Rosenfield, J. E.; Smyshlyaev, S.; Nagashima, T.; Velders, G. J. M.; Weisenstein, D. K.; Xia, J.

2006-01-01

We present a comparison of trends in total column ozone from 10 two-dimensional and 4 three-dimensional models and solar backscatter ultraviolet-2 (SBUV/2) satellite observations from the period 1979-2003. Trends for the past (1979-2000), the recent 7 years (1996-2003), and the future (2000-2050) are compared. We have analyzed the data using both simple linear trends and linear trends derived with a hockey stick method including a turnaround point in 1996. If the last 7 years, 1996-2003, are analyzed in isolation, the SBUV/2 observations show no increase in ozone, and most of the models predict continued depletion, although at a lesser rate. In sharp contrast to this, the recent data show positive trends for the Northern and the Southern Hemispheres if the hockey stick method with a turnaround point in 1996 is employed for the models and observations. The analysis shows that the observed positive trends in both hemispheres in the recent 7-year period are much larger than what is predicted by the models. The trends derived with the hockey stick method are very dependent on the values just before the turnaround point. The analysis of the recent data therefore depends greatly on these years being representative of the overall trend. Most models underestimate the past trends at middle and high latitudes. This is particularly pronounced in the Northern Hemisphere. Quantitatively, there is much disagreement among the models concerning future trends. However, the models agree that future trends are expected to be positive and less than half the magnitude of the past downward trends. Examination of the model projections shows that there is virtually no correlation between the past and future trends from the individual models.

Valuing lives and allocating resources: a defense of the modified youngest first principle of scarce resource distribution.

PubMed

Tallman, Ruth

2014-06-01

In this paper, I argue that the 'modified youngest first' principle provides a morally appropriate criterion for making decisions regarding the distribution of scarce medical resources, and that it is morally preferable to the simple 'youngest first' principle. Based on the complete lives system's goal of maximizing complete lives rather than individual life episodes, I argue that essential to the value we see in complete lives is the first person value attributed by the experiencer of that life. For a life to be 'complete' or 'incomplete,' the subject of that life must be able to understand the concept of a complete life, to have started goals and projects, and to know what it would be for that life to be complete. As the very young are not able to do this, it can reasonably be said that their characteristically human lives have not yet begun, giving those accepting a complete lives approach good reason to accept the modified youngest first principle over a simple 'youngest first' approach. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The Significance of Interactions: Understanding Gender, Ethnicity/Race, and Socioeconomic Status as Related to the Likelihood of Bachelor's Degree Completion

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lundy, Valerie Cyrina

2010-01-01

Although access to a postsecondary education has increased exponentially since 1970, access to a bachelor's degree has not grown as swiftly. Moreover, while national longitudinal trend data highlight improvements in bachelor's degree completion in the aggregate, they disguise important disparities in bachelor's degree completion across groups.…

ANALYTICAL TOOL INTERFACE FOR LANDSCAPE ASSESSMENTS (ATIILA): AN ARCVIEW EXTENSION FOR THE ANALYSIS OF LANDSCAPE PATTERNS, COMPOSITION, AND STRUCTURE

EPA Science Inventory

Environmental management practices are trending away from simple, local- scale assessments toward complex, multiple-stressor regional assessments. Landscape ecology provides the theory behind these assessments while geographic information systems (GIS) supply the tools to impleme...

Laser-acoustic transcutaneous drug delivery: A new trend in administration of drugs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zharov, Vladimir P.; Latyshev, Alexei S.

1999-03-01

This work deals with the principles of transcutaneous drug delivery technique which uses optoacoustic (OA) effect. Laser OA impregnation, enhanced laser OA impregnation, simple laser and laser OA injections are presented. Drug impregnation mathematical model and preliminary experiments on laser injection are described.

Boom Time.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Agron, Joe

1998-01-01

Examines building-cost trend data for educational facilities from the American School & University's 24th annual Official Education Construction Report for 1997. Data tables list education construction by projects completed; by projected spending; institution type; type of spending; projects projected for completion; and how construction costs…

SEEG initiative estimates of Brazilian greenhouse gas emissions from 1970 to 2015.

PubMed

de Azevedo, Tasso Rezende; Costa Junior, Ciniro; Brandão Junior, Amintas; Cremer, Marcelo Dos Santos; Piatto, Marina; Tsai, David Shiling; Barreto, Paulo; Martins, Heron; Sales, Márcio; Galuchi, Tharic; Rodrigues, Alessandro; Morgado, Renato; Ferreira, André Luis; Barcellos E Silva, Felipe; Viscondi, Gabriel de Freitas; Dos Santos, Karoline Costal; Cunha, Kamyla Borges da; Manetti, Andrea; Coluna, Iris Moura Esteves; Albuquerque, Igor Reis de; Junior, Shigueo Watanabe; Leite, Clauber; Kishinami, Roberto

2018-05-29

This work presents the SEEG platform, a 46-year long dataset of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in Brazil (1970-2015) providing more than 2 million data records for the Agriculture, Energy, Industry, Waste and Land Use Change Sectors at national and subnational levels. The SEEG dataset was developed by the Climate Observatory, a Brazilian civil society initiative, based on the IPCC guidelines and Brazilian National Inventories embedded with country specific emission factors and processes, raw data from multiple official and non-official sources, and organized together with social and economic indicators. Once completed, the SEEG dataset was converted into a spreadsheet format and shared via web-platform that, by means of simple queries, allows users to search data by emission sources and country and state activities. Because of its effectiveness in producing and making available data on a consistent and accessible basis, SEEG may significantly increase the capacity of civil society, scientists and stakeholders to understand and anticipate trends related to GHG emissions as well as its implications to public policies in Brazil.

Why has energy consumption increased. An energy and society approach to the American case

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

Lacy, M.G.

1981-01-01

The general intellectual debate over energy issues has not exhausted the possibilities for sociological work. Sociology can improve on such previous work by providing an empirical-analytic moment, attending to meaning adequacy, recognizing process, assessing the materially determinative character of energy, and by being critical. However, if these several dimensions are taken as prescriptive criteria, even the strictly sociological literature on energy and society has numerous errors and omissions. Based on the findings of that critical examination of the sociological energy literature, a simple formal theory is developed to attack a particular substantive problem: Why has energy consumption increased in themore » United States during the twentieth century. This formalism requires that we begin by regarding energy consumption as completely determined by population, affluence, and technology. The results of the first empirical analysis using that formalism show that rising affluence, rather than deteriorating technology, is the culprit. However, the urge to praise technology is too hasty, since a second analysis shows that there actually have been two trends in energy technology, only one of which tended to hold down energy consumption.« less

Development of dense glass-ceramic from recycled soda-lime-silicate glass and fly ash for tiling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mustaffar, Mohd Idham; Mahmud, Mohamad Haniza; Hassan, Mahadi Abu

2017-12-01

Dense glass-ceramics were prepared by sinter-crystallization process from a combination of soda-lime-silicate glass waste and fly ash. Bentonite clay that acted as a binder was also added in a prepared formulation. The powder mixture of soda-lime glass, fly ash and bentonite clay were compacted by using uniaxial hydraulic press machine and sintered at six (6) various temperatures namely 750, 800, 850, 900, 950 and 1000 °C. The heating rate and sintering time were set at 5 °C/min and 30 minutes respectively. The results revealed that modulus of rupture (MOR), density and linear shrinkage increase first from 750 to 800 °C but decrease later after 800 to 1000 °C. In the meantime, water absorption was showing completely an opposite trend. The glass-ceramic sintered at 800 °C was found to have the best combination of physical-mechanical properties and has the potential to be applied in the construction industry particularly as floor and wall tiles because of the simple manufacturing process at low temperature.

Combined Dielectrophoresis and Impedance Systems for Bacteria Analysis in Microfluidic On-Chip Platforms

PubMed Central

Páez-Avilés, Cristina; Juanola-Feliu, Esteve; Punter-Villagrasa, Jaime; del Moral Zamora, Beatriz; Homs-Corbera, Antoni; Colomer-Farrarons, Jordi; Miribel-Català, Pere Lluís; Samitier, Josep

2016-01-01

Bacteria concentration and detection is time-consuming in regular microbiology procedures aimed to facilitate the detection and analysis of these cells at very low concentrations. Traditional methods are effective but often require several days to complete. This scenario results in low bioanalytical and diagnostic methodologies with associated increased costs and complexity. In recent years, the exploitation of the intrinsic electrical properties of cells has emerged as an appealing alternative approach for concentrating and detecting bacteria. The combination of dielectrophoresis (DEP) and impedance analysis (IA) in microfluidic on-chip platforms could be key to develop rapid, accurate, portable, simple-to-use and cost-effective microfluidic devices with a promising impact in medicine, public health, agricultural, food control and environmental areas. The present document reviews recent DEP and IA combined approaches and the latest relevant improvements focusing on bacteria concentration and detection, including selectivity, sensitivity, detection time, and conductivity variation enhancements. Furthermore, this review analyses future trends and challenges which need to be addressed in order to successfully commercialize these platforms resulting in an adequate social return of public-funded investments. PMID:27649201

Performance and scalability of Fourier domain optical coherence tomography acceleration using graphics processing units.

PubMed

Li, Jian; Bloch, Pavel; Xu, Jing; Sarunic, Marinko V; Shannon, Lesley

2011-05-01

Fourier domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) provides faster line rates, better resolution, and higher sensitivity for noninvasive, in vivo biomedical imaging compared to traditional time domain OCT (TD-OCT). However, because the signal processing for FD-OCT is computationally intensive, real-time FD-OCT applications demand powerful computing platforms to deliver acceptable performance. Graphics processing units (GPUs) have been used as coprocessors to accelerate FD-OCT by leveraging their relatively simple programming model to exploit thread-level parallelism. Unfortunately, GPUs do not "share" memory with their host processors, requiring additional data transfers between the GPU and CPU. In this paper, we implement a complete FD-OCT accelerator on a consumer grade GPU/CPU platform. Our data acquisition system uses spectrometer-based detection and a dual-arm interferometer topology with numerical dispersion compensation for retinal imaging. We demonstrate that the maximum line rate is dictated by the memory transfer time and not the processing time due to the GPU platform's memory model. Finally, we discuss how the performance trends of GPU-based accelerators compare to the expected future requirements of FD-OCT data rates.

Kinetics of devolatilization and oxidation of a pulverized biomass in an entrained flow reactor under realistic combustion conditions

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

Jimenez, Santiago; Remacha, Pilar; Ballester, Javier

2008-03-15

In this paper the results of a complete set of devolatilization and combustion experiments performed with pulverized ({proportional_to}500 {mu}m) biomass in an entrained flow reactor under realistic combustion conditions are presented. The data obtained are used to derive the kinetic parameters that best fit the observed behaviors, according to a simple model of particle combustion (one-step devolatilization, apparent oxidation kinetics, thermally thin particles). The model is found to adequately reproduce the experimental trends regarding both volatile release and char oxidation rates for the range of particle sizes and combustion conditions explored. The experimental and numerical procedures, similar to those recentlymore » proposed for the combustion of pulverized coal [J. Ballester, S. Jimenez, Combust. Flame 142 (2005) 210-222], have been designed to derive the parameters required for the analysis of biomass combustion in practical pulverized fuel configurations and allow a reliable characterization of any finely pulverized biomass. Additionally, the results of a limited study on the release rate of nitrogen from the biomass particle along combustion are shown. (author)« less

SEEG initiative estimates of Brazilian greenhouse gas emissions from 1970 to 2015

PubMed Central

de Azevedo, Tasso Rezende; Costa Junior, Ciniro; Brandão Junior, Amintas; Cremer, Marcelo dos Santos; Piatto, Marina; Tsai, David Shiling; Barreto, Paulo; Martins, Heron; Sales, Márcio; Galuchi, Tharic; Rodrigues, Alessandro; Morgado, Renato; Ferreira, André Luis; Barcellos e Silva, Felipe; Viscondi, Gabriel de Freitas; dos Santos, Karoline Costal; Cunha, Kamyla Borges da; Manetti, Andrea; Coluna, Iris Moura Esteves; Albuquerque, Igor Reis de; Junior, Shigueo Watanabe; Leite, Clauber; Kishinami, Roberto

2018-01-01

This work presents the SEEG platform, a 46-year long dataset of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in Brazil (1970–2015) providing more than 2 million data records for the Agriculture, Energy, Industry, Waste and Land Use Change Sectors at national and subnational levels. The SEEG dataset was developed by the Climate Observatory, a Brazilian civil society initiative, based on the IPCC guidelines and Brazilian National Inventories embedded with country specific emission factors and processes, raw data from multiple official and non-official sources, and organized together with social and economic indicators. Once completed, the SEEG dataset was converted into a spreadsheet format and shared via web-platform that, by means of simple queries, allows users to search data by emission sources and country and state activities. Because of its effectiveness in producing and making available data on a consistent and accessible basis, SEEG may significantly increase the capacity of civil society, scientists and stakeholders to understand and anticipate trends related to GHG emissions as well as its implications to public policies in Brazil. PMID:29809176

Forest health monitoring: national status, trends, and analysis 2013

Treesearch

Kevin M. Potter; Barbara L. Conkling

2015-01-01

The annual national report of the Forest Health Monitoring (FHM) Program of the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, presents forest health status and trends from a national or multi-State regional perspective using a variety of sources, introduces new techniques for analyzing forest health data, and summarizes results of recently completed Evaluation...

Forest health monitoring: National status, trends, and analysis 2012

Treesearch

Kevin M. Potter; Barbara L. Conkling

2014-01-01

The annual national report of the Forest Health Monitoring Program of the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, presents forest health status and trends from a national or multi-State regional perspective using a variety of sources, introduces new techniques for analyzing forest health data, and summarizes results of recently completed Evaluation Monitoring...

Forest Health Monitoring: national status, trends, and analysis 2014

Treesearch

Kevin M. Potter; Barbara L. Conkling

2015-01-01

The annual national report of the Forest Health Monitoring (FHM) Program of the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, presents forest health status and trends from a national or multi-State regional perspective using a variety of sources, introduces new techniques for analyzing forest health data, and summarizes results of recently completed Evaluation...

Forest health monitoring: national status, trends, and analysis 2011

Treesearch

Kevin M. Potter; Barbara L. Conkling

2013-01-01

The annual national report of the Forest Health Monitoring Program of the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, presents forest health status and trends from a national or multi-State regional perspective using a variety of sources, introduces new techniques for analyzing forest health data, and summarizes results of recently completed Evaluation Monitoring...

Forest health monitoring: national status, trends, and analysis 2016

Treesearch

Kevin M. Potter; Barbara L. Conkling

2017-01-01

The annual national report of the Forest Health Monitoring (FHM) Program of the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, presents forest health status and trends from a national or multi-State regional perspective using a variety of sources, introducesnew techniques for analyzing forest health data, and summarizes results of recently completed...

Forest Health Monitoring: national status, trends, and analysis 2010

Treesearch

Kevin M. Potter; Barbara L. Conkling

2013-01-01

The annual national report of the Forest Health Monitoring Program of the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, presents forest health status and trends from a national or multi-State regional perspective using a variety of sources, introduces new techniques for analyzing forest health data, and summarizes results of recently completed Evaluation Monitoring...

Forest health monitoring: national status, trends, and analysis 2017

Treesearch

Kevin M. Potter; Barbara L. Conkling

2018-01-01

The annual national report of the Forest Health Monitoring (FHM) Program of the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, presents forest health status and trends from a national or multi-State regional perspective using a variety of sources, introduces new techniques for analyzing forest health data, and summarizes results of recently completed Evaluation...

Alternative Scenarios of the American Future: 1980-2000.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Glover, Robert

This report is a summary of the findings of the societal trends survey completed at the National Forum on Learning and The American Future, which focused on factors influencing the future of adult learning. The survey questionnaire and results consist of 120 societal trend statements organized into sixteen different content areas: demography;…

National Profile of Community Colleges: Trends and Statistics, 4th Edition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Phillippe, Kent A.; Sullivan, Leila Gonzalez

2005-01-01

This book offers a national view of trends and statistics related to today's community colleges. The new edition includes completely revised text as well as updates to charts and tables on topics such as enrollment, student outcomes, population, curriculum, faculty, workforce, and financial aid. Informative narrative introduces and provides…

Recruiting Trends, 2010-2011. 40th Anniversary Edition

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gardner, Phil

2011-01-01

This paper presents the recruiting trends for 2010-2011. This year's report is based on nearly 5,800 respondents, of which approximately 4,600 provided useable information, and 3,714 included complete hiring figures used for the projections. Despite the gloomy national labor market situation, the college segment of the market is poised to rebound…

Application of Seasonal Trend Loess to GPS data in Cascadia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bal, A.; Bartlow, N. M.

2016-12-01

Plate Boundary Observatory GPS stations provide crucial data for the study of slow slip events and volcanic hazards in the Cascadia region. However, these GPS stations also record seasonal changes in deformation caused by hydrologic, atmospheric, and other seasonal loading. Removing these signals is necessary for accurately modeling the tectonic sources of deformation. Traditionally, seasonal trends in data been accounted for by fitting and removing sine curves from the data. However, not all seasonal trends follow a sinusoidal shape. Seasonal Trend Loess, or STL, is a filtering procedure for a decomposing a time series into trend, seasonal, and remainder components (Cleveland et. al, Journal of Official Statistics, 1990). STL has a simple design that consists of a sequence of applications of the loess smoother which allows for fast computation of large amounts of trend and seasonal smoothing. STL allows for non-sinusoidal shapes in seasonal deformation signals, and allows for evolution of seasonal signals over time. We applied Seasonal Trend Loess to GPS data from the Cascadia region. We compared our results to a traditional sine wave fit for seasonal removal at selected stations, including stations with slow slip event and volcanic signals. We hope that the STL method may be able to more accurately differentiate seasonal and tectonic deformation signals.

Modelling the complete operation of a free-piston shock tunnel for a low enthalpy condition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McGilvray, M.; Dann, A. G.; Jacobs, P. A.

2013-07-01

Only a limited number of free-stream flow properties can be measured in hypersonic impulse facilities at the nozzle exit. This poses challenges for experimenters when subsequently analysing experimental data obtained from these facilities. Typically in a reflected shock tunnel, a simple analysis that requires small amounts of computational resources is used to calculate quasi-steady gas properties. This simple analysis requires initial fill conditions and experimental measurements in analytical calculations of each major flow process, using forward coupling with minor corrections to include processes that are not directly modeled. However, this simplistic approach leads to an unknown level of discrepancy to the true flow properties. To explore the simple modelling techniques accuracy, this paper details the use of transient one and two-dimensional numerical simulations of a complete facility to obtain more refined free-stream flow properties from a free-piston reflected shock tunnel operating at low-enthalpy conditions. These calculations were verified by comparison to experimental data obtained from the facility. For the condition and facility investigated, the test conditions at nozzle exit produced with the simple modelling technique agree with the time and space averaged results from the complete facility calculations to within the accuracy of the experimental measurements.

Tall trends: quantifying the skyscraper phenomenon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gabel, Jason

2018-03-01

The world continues to witness an explosion of growth in the number of 200-plus-meter skyscrapers, with three straight years of record-breaking completions (from 2014 to 2016) and a 441 percent increase on the total number of such towers in the 21st century, from 265 in 2000 to 1,168 at the end of 2016. Fueled largely by strong economic performance, much of this activity is centered in Asia and the Middle East, upending longstanding geopolitical trends. China in particular has dominated worldwide skyscraper construction, accounting for two-thirds of all completions in the last calendar year (2016). Further, the traditional role of the skyscraper has diversified, with residential and mixed-use buildings accounting for a greater share of 200-plus-meter buildings. This paper explores these interconnected trends in detail and analyzes both the causes and impacts of an evolving skyscraper industry.

The Impact of Ozone Depleting Substances on Tropical Upwelling, as Revealed by the Absence of Lower Stratospheric Cooling since the Late 1990s

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Polvani, L. M.; Wang, L.; Aquila, V.; Waugh, D.

2016-12-01

The impact of ozone depleting substances on global lower stratospheric temperature trends is widely recognized. In the tropics, however, understanding lower stratospheric temperature trends has proven more challenging. While the tropical lower stratospheric cooling observed from 1979 to 1997 has also been shown to result almost entirely from ozone decreases, those ozone trends cannot be of chemical origin, as active chlorine is not abundant in the tropical lower stratosphere. The 1979-1997 tropical ozone trends are believed to originate from enhanced upwelling which, it is often stated, would be driven by increasing concentrations of well mixed greenhouse gases. In this study, using simple arguments based on observational evidence after 1997, combined with model integrations with incrementally added single forcings, we argue that ozone depleting substances, not well mixed greenhouse gases, have been the primary driver of temperature and ozone trends in the tropical lower stratosphere until 1997, and this has occurred because ozone depleting substances affect tropical upwelling and the entire Brewer-Dobson circulation.

Following a trend with an exponential moving average: Analytical results for a Gaussian model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grebenkov, Denis S.; Serror, Jeremy

2014-01-01

We investigate how price variations of a stock are transformed into profits and losses (P&Ls) of a trend following strategy. In the frame of a Gaussian model, we derive the probability distribution of P&Ls and analyze its moments (mean, variance, skewness and kurtosis) and asymptotic behavior (quantiles). We show that the asymmetry of the distribution (with often small losses and less frequent but significant profits) is reminiscent to trend following strategies and less dependent on peculiarities of price variations. At short times, trend following strategies admit larger losses than one may anticipate from standard Gaussian estimates, while smaller losses are ensured at longer times. Simple explicit formulas characterizing the distribution of P&Ls illustrate the basic mechanisms of momentum trading, while general matrix representations can be applied to arbitrary Gaussian models. We also compute explicitly annualized risk adjusted P&L and strategy turnover to account for transaction costs. We deduce the trend following optimal timescale and its dependence on both auto-correlation level and transaction costs. Theoretical results are illustrated on the Dow Jones index.

Recent trends in counts of migrant hawks from northeastern North America

USGS Publications Warehouse

Titus, K.; Fuller, M.R.

1990-01-01

Using simple regression, pooled-sites route-regression, and nonparametric rank-trend analyses, we evaluated trends in counts of hawks migrating past 6 eastern hawk lookouts from 1972 to 1987. The indexing variable was the total count for a season. Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus), merlin (F. columbarius), osprey (Pandion haliaetus), and Cooper's hawk (Accipiter cooperii) counts increased using route-regression and nonparametric methods (P 0.10). We found no consistent trends (P > 0.10) in counts of sharp-shinned hawks (A. striatus), northern goshawks (A. gentilis) red-shouldered hawks (Buteo lineatus), red-tailed hawks (B. jamaicensis), rough-legged hawsk (B. lagopus), and American kestrels (F. sparverius). Broad-winged hawk (B. platypterus) counts declined (P < 0.05) based on the route-regression method. Empirical comparisons of our results with those for well-studied species such as the peregrine falcon, bald eagle, and osprey indicated agreement with nesting surveys. We suggest that counts of migrant hawks are a useful and economical method for detecting long-term trends in species across regions, particularly for species that otherwise cannot be easily surveyed.

The ABCs of Privacy Practices for Educators

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dark, Melissa J.; McPherson, Clewin; Troutner, Joanne

2008-01-01

Over the last year, the number of reported cases of confidential information lost because of stolen laptops, lost USB flash drives, misplaced PDAs, and simple human error has significantly increased. These trends have school districts concerned with issues of violating private information. Laws such as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act…

The Evolution of Organization Analysis in ASQ, 1959-1979.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Daft, Richard L.

1980-01-01

During the period 1959-1979, a sharp trend toward low-variety statistical languages has taken place, which may represent an organizational mapping phase in which simple, quantifiable relationships have been formally defined and measured. A broader scope of research languages will be needed in the future. (Author/IRT)

Some Questions Concerning the Standards of External Examinations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kahn, Michael J.

1990-01-01

Variance as a function of time is described for the Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate's examination standards, with emphasis on the performance of candidates from Botswana and Zimbabwe. Results demonstrate the value of simple linear modeling in extracting performance trends for a range of subjects over time across six countries. (TJH)

Computer-assisted design in perceptual-motor skills research

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rogers, C. A., Jr.

1974-01-01

A categorization was made of independent variables previously found to be potent in simple perceptual-motor tasks. A computer was then used to generate hypothetical factorial designs. These were evaluated in terms of literature trends and pragmatic criteria. Potential side-effects of machine-assisted research strategy were discussed.

Plant Minders

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1988-01-01

Indoor plants are automatically watered by the Aqua Trends watering system. System draws water from building outlets or from pump/reservoir module and distributes it to the plants via a network of tubes and adjustable nozzles. Key element of system is electronic controller programmed to dispense water according to the needs of various plants in an installation. Adjustable nozzle meters out exactly right amount of water at proper time to the plant it's serving. More than 100 Aqua/Trends systems are in service in the USA, from a simple residential system to a large Mirage III system integrated to water all greenery in a large office or apartment building.

Why are earthquakes nudging the pole towards 140°E?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spada, Giorgio

Earthquakes have collectively the tendency to displace the pole of rotation of the earth towards a preferred direction (∼140°E). This trend, which is still unexplained on quantitative grounds, has been revealed by computations of earthquake-induced inertia variations on both a secular and a decade time-scale. Purpose of this letter is to show that the above trend results from the combined effects of the geographical distribution of hypocenters and of the prevailing dip-slip nature of large earthquakes in this century. Our findings are based on the static dislocation theory and on simple geometrical arguments.

The predictive validity of the HERO Scorecard in determining future health care cost and risk trends.

PubMed

Goetzel, Ron Z; Henke, Rachel Mosher; Benevent, Richele; Tabrizi, Maryam J; Kent, Karen B; Smith, Kristyn J; Roemer, Enid Chung; Grossmeier, Jessica; Mason, Shawn T; Gold, Daniel B; Noeldner, Steven P; Anderson, David R

2014-02-01

To determine the ability of the Health Enhancement Research Organization (HERO) Scorecard to predict changes in health care expenditures. Individual employee health care insurance claims data for 33 organizations completing the HERO Scorecard from 2009 to 2011 were linked to employer responses to the Scorecard. Organizations were dichotomized into "high" versus "low" scoring groups and health care cost trends were compared. A secondary analysis examined the tool's ability to predict health risk trends. "High" scorers experienced significant reductions in inflation-adjusted health care costs (averaging an annual trend of -1.6% over 3 years) compared with "low" scorers whose cost trend remained stable. The risk analysis was inconclusive because of the small number of employers scoring "low." The HERO Scorecard predicts health care cost trends among employers. More research is needed to determine how well it predicts health risk trends for employees.

Mortality Trends After a Voluntary Checklist-based Surgical Safety Collaborative.

PubMed

Haynes, Alex B; Edmondson, Lizabeth; Lipsitz, Stuart R; Molina, George; Neville, Bridget A; Singer, Sara J; Moonan, Aunyika T; Childers, Ashley Kay; Foster, Richard; Gibbons, Lorri R; Gawande, Atul A; Berry, William R

2017-12-01

To determine whether completion of a voluntary, checklist-based surgical quality improvement program is associated with reduced 30-day postoperative mortality. Despite evidence of efficacy of team-based surgical safety checklists in improving perioperative outcomes in research trials, effective methods of population-based implementation have been lacking. The Safe Surgery 2015 South Carolina program was designed to foster state-wide engagement of hospitals in a voluntary, collaborative implementation of a checklist program. We compared postoperative mortality rates after inpatient surgery in South Carolina utilizing state-wide all-payer discharge claims from 2008 to 2013, linked with state vital statistics, stratifying hospitals on the basis of completion of the checklist program. Changes in risk-adjusted 30-day mortality were compared between hospitals, using propensity score-adjusted difference-in-differences analysis. Fourteen hospitals completed the program by December 2013. Before program launch, there was no difference in mortality trends between the completion cohort and all others (P = 0.33), but postoperative mortality diverged thereafter (P = 0.021). Risk-adjusted 30-day mortality among completers was 3.38% in 2010 and 2.84% in 2013 (P < 0.00001), whereas mortality among other hospitals (n = 44) was 3.50% in 2010 and 3.71% in 2013 (P = 0.3281), reflecting a 22% difference between the groups on difference-in-differences analysis (P = 0.0021). Despite similar pre-existing rates and trends of postoperative mortality, hospitals in South Carolina completing a voluntary checklist-based surgical quality improvement program had a reduction in deaths after inpatient surgery over the first 3 years of the collaborative compared with other hospitals in the state. This may indicate that effective large-scale implementation of a team-based surgical safety checklist is feasible.

Dropout and Completion Rates in the United States: 2006. Compendium Report. NCES 2008-053

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Laird, Jennifer; Cataldi, Emily Forrest; KewalRamani, Angelina; Chapman, Chris

2008-01-01

This report builds upon a series of National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports on high school dropout and completion rates that began in 1988. It presents estimates of rates in 2006, provides data about trends in dropout and completion rates over the last 3 decades (1972-006), and examines the characteristics of high school dropouts…

Completeness of breast cancer operative reports in a community care setting.

PubMed

Eng, Jordan Lang; Baliski, Christopher Ronald; McGahan, Colleen; Cai, Eric

2017-10-01

The narrative operative report represents the traditional means by which breast cancer surgery has been documented. Previous work has established that omissions occur in narrative operative reports produced in an academic setting. The goal of this study was to determine the completeness of breast cancer narrative operative reports produced in a community care setting and to explore the effect of a surgeon's case volume and years in practice on the completeness of these reports. A standardized retrospective review of operative reports produced over a consecutive 2 year period was performed using a set of procedure-specific elements identified through a review of the relevant literature and work done locally. 772 operative reports were reviewed. 45% of all elements were completely documented. A small positive trend was observed between case volume and completeness while a small negative trend was observed between years in practice and completeness. The dictated narrative report inadequately documents breast cancer surgery irrespective of the recording surgeon's volume or experience. An intervention, such as the implementation of synoptic reporting, should be considered in an effort to maximize the utility of the breast cancer operative report. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

A Simple Proof of an Interesting Fibonacci Generalization. Classroom Notes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Falcon, Sergio

2004-01-01

It is reasonably well known that the ratios of consecutive terms of a Fibonacci series converge to the golden ratio. This note presents a simple, complete proof of an interesting generalization of this result to a whole family of 'precious metal ratios'.

Controls of structural inheritance on orogenic curvature and foreland basin sedimentation: Insights from the Przemyśl area, Western Carpathians

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szaniawski, Rafał; Mazzoli, Stefano; Jankowski, Leszek

2017-10-01

Orogenic curvatures can have various origins and are widely debated worldwide. In the Poland-Ukraine border area, the Outer Western Carpathians are characterized by a marked curvature. The origin of this curvature was analysed by integrating stratigraphic information with structural constraints and anisotropy of the magnetic susceptibility (AMS) data. Hangingwall frontal ramp domains are characterized by a relatively simple deformation dominated by layer-parallel shortening and folding around a regional NW-SE trending axis, recorded by an AMS lineation with a similar trend. On the other hand, the N-S trending hangingwall oblique ramp domain is characterized by maximum AMS axes recording transpressional strain either dominated by simple shear (sub-horizontal AMS lineation) or pure shear (steeply plunging AMS lineation) components. Early Miocene basin inversion with two distinct depocentres created a number of different detachment surfaces and thickness variations for the sedimentary successions involved in thrusting. The main depocentre of the Lower-Middle Miocene foredeep was originally located in the recess area of the curved Carpathian front. On the other hand, the occurrence of a salient to the west resulted in the axial zone of the foreland flexure being filled with allochthonous units, thereby dramatically reducing the accommodation space for foredeep sediments in this area. Our results suggest that thrust-belt geometry was controlled by the inherited Mesozoic extensional basin architecture.

Water-level measurements and chloride concentrations for selected wells in Louisiana, January 1988-October 1997

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lovelace, Wendell M.

2002-01-01

This report presents water-level measurements and chlorideconcentrations in water from selected wells completed in aquifers in Louisiana. The data were collected during the period January1988-October 1997. Water-level data are presented for 109 wells, and chloride data are presented for 45 wells. Hydrographs and summaries of water-level trends are presented for wellscompleted in aquifers throughout the State. Chlorographs and summaries of chloride trends are presented for wells completed in the Mississippi River alluvial and Sparta aquifers; Chicot aquifer system; and Gramercy, Norco, and Gonzales-New Orleans aquifers. Data are presented in graphical and tabular formats.

Note: The Numbering of Postgraduate Research.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wafford, Geoffrey

1984-01-01

Implications of the trend toward funding only graduate research projects that have a high likelihood of completion are discussed, including allocation of funds according to institutions' completion rates, deemphasis on research quality and students' personal development, and overemphasis on producing graduates. A more balanced approach to research…

The black gender gap in educational attainment: historical trends and racial comparisons.

PubMed

McDaniel, Anne; DiPrete, Thomas A; Buchmann, Claudia; Shwed, Uri

2011-08-01

It is often asserted that the gender gap in educational attainment is larger for blacks than whites, but historical trends comparing the black and white gender gap have received surprisingly little attention. Analysis of historical data from the U.S. census IPUMS samples shows that the gender gap in college completion has evolved differently for whites and blacks. Historically, the female advantage in educational attainment among blacks is linked to more favorable labor market opportunities and stronger incentives for employment for educated black women. Blacks, particularly black males, still lag far behind whites in their rates of college completion, but the striking educational gains of white women have caused the racial patterns of gender differences in college completion rates to grow more similar over time. While some have linked the disadvantaged position of black males to their high risk of incarceration, our estimates suggest that incarceration has a relatively small impact on the black gender gap and the racial gap in college completion rates for males in the United States.

Catalytic micromotor generating self-propelled regular motion through random fluctuation.

PubMed

Yamamoto, Daigo; Mukai, Atsushi; Okita, Naoaki; Yoshikawa, Kenichi; Shioi, Akihisa

2013-07-21

Most of the current studies on nano∕microscale motors to generate regular motion have adapted the strategy to fabricate a composite with different materials. In this paper, we report that a simple object solely made of platinum generates regular motion driven by a catalytic chemical reaction with hydrogen peroxide. Depending on the morphological symmetry of the catalytic particles, a rich variety of random and regular motions are observed. The experimental trend is well reproduced by a simple theoretical model by taking into account of the anisotropic viscous effect on the self-propelled active Brownian fluctuation.

Catalytic micromotor generating self-propelled regular motion through random fluctuation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamamoto, Daigo; Mukai, Atsushi; Okita, Naoaki; Yoshikawa, Kenichi; Shioi, Akihisa

2013-07-01

Most of the current studies on nano/microscale motors to generate regular motion have adapted the strategy to fabricate a composite with different materials. In this paper, we report that a simple object solely made of platinum generates regular motion driven by a catalytic chemical reaction with hydrogen peroxide. Depending on the morphological symmetry of the catalytic particles, a rich variety of random and regular motions are observed. The experimental trend is well reproduced by a simple theoretical model by taking into account of the anisotropic viscous effect on the self-propelled active Brownian fluctuation.

Development of Three-Dimensional Completion of Complex Objects

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Soska, Kasey C.; Johnson, Scott P.

2013-01-01

Three-dimensional (3D) object completion, the ability to perceive the backs of objects seen from a single viewpoint, emerges at around 6 months of age. Yet, only relatively simple 3D objects have been used in assessing its development. This study examined infants' 3D object completion when presented with more complex stimuli. Infants…

Procedures for Decomposing a Redox Reaction into Half-Reaction

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fishtik, Ilie; Berka, Ladislav H.

2005-01-01

A simple algorithm for a complete enumeration of the possible ways a redox reaction (RR) might be uniquely decomposed into half-reactions (HRs) using the response reactions (RERs) formalism is presented. A complete enumeration of the possible ways a RR may be decomposed into HRs is equivalent to a complete enumeration of stoichiometrically…

Profinite Completions of Burnside-Type Quotients of Surface Groups

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Funar, Louis; Lochak, Pierre

2018-06-01

Using quantum representations of mapping class groups, we prove that profinite completions of Burnside-type surface group quotients are not virtually prosolvable, in general. Further, we construct infinitely many finite simple characteristic quotients of surface groups.

FUNDAMENTALS OF THRESHOLD LOGIC.

DTIC Science & Technology

These notes on threshold logic are intended as intermediary material between a completely geometric, heuristic presentation and the more formal...source material available in the literature. Basic definitions and simple properties of threshold function are developed, followed by a complete treatment

Trends in Serious Emotional Disturbance among Youths Exposed to Hurricane Katrina

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McLaughlin, Katie A.; Fairbank, John A.; Gruber, Michael J.; Jones, Russell T.; Osofsky, Joy D.; Pfefferbaum, Betty; Sampson, Nancy A.; Kessler, Ronald C.

2010-01-01

Objective: To examine patterns and predictors of trends in "DSM-IV" serious emotional disturbance (SED) among youths exposed to Hurricane Katrina. Method: A probability sample of adult pre-hurricane residents of the areas affected by Katrina completed baseline and follow-up telephone surveys 18 to 27 months post-hurricane and 12 to 18…

Zero Energy Schools--Beyond Platinum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hutton, Paul C.

2011-01-01

One of the fastest growing trends in school design is Net Zero Energy Schools. There are now at least a dozen or more schools completed or in construction that have achieved, or have committed to, this incredible level of energy efficiency. In this article, the author examines this trend and take a brief look at some of the exemplary projects that…

The Integration of Word Processing with Data Processing in an Educational Environment. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Patterson, Lorna; Schlender, Jim

A project examined the Office of the Future and determined trends regarding an integration of word processing and data processing. It then sought to translate those trends into an educational package to develop the potential information specialist. A survey instrument completed by 33 office managers and word processing and data processing…

Trends in For-Profit Postsecondary Education: Enrollment, Prices, Student Aid and Outcomes. Trends in Higher Education Series

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baum, Sandy; Payea, Kathleen

2011-01-01

This policy brief provides data on enrollments, prices, student characteristics, student aid, and completion rates at for-profit postsecondary institutions. The evidence provided in this paper is intended to inform discussions of the rapid growth of the sector in recent years. (Contains 4 tables, 5 figures and 3 endnotes.)

Bariatric surgery trends: an 18-year report from the International Bariatric Surgery Registry.

PubMed

Samuel, Isaac; Mason, Edward E; Renquist, Kathleen E; Huang, Yu-Hui; Zimmerman, M Bridget; Jamal, Mohammad

2006-11-01

The epidemic of morbid obesity has increased bariatric procedures performed. Trend analyses provide important information that may impact individual practices. Patient data from 137 surgeons were examined from 1987 to 2004 (41,860 patients) using Cochran-Armitage Trend test and Generalized Linear Model. Over an 18-year period, surgeon preference for combined restrictive-malabsorptive procedures increased from 33% to 94%, while simple gastric restriction decreased correspondingly (P < .0001). Surgeons per worksite doubled and cases per surgeon increased 71%. Laparoscopic procedures increased to 24%. The percentage of males, mean operative age, and initial body mass index (BMI) increased significantly (P < .0001). Postoperative hospital stay decreased from 5.0 to 3.9 days (P < .0001). The most common procedure in 2004 was Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) (59%). Bariatric surgery patients are now older and heavier, length of stay is shorter, and the laparoscopic approach is more frequent. From 1987 to 2004, the general trend shows a clear preference for combined restrictive-malabsorptive operations.

Including land cover change in analysis of greenness trends using all available Landsat 5, 7, and 8 images: A case study from Guangzhou, China (2000–2014)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Zhu, Zhe; Fu, Yingchun; Woodcock, Curtis; Olofsson, Pontus; Vogelmann, James; Holden, Christopher; Wang, Min; Dai, Shu; Yu, Yang

2016-01-01

An assessment of the consistency of surface reflectance from Landsat 8 with past Landsat sensors indicates biases in the visible bands of Landsat 8, especially the blue band. Landsat 8 NDVI values were found to have a larger bias than the EVI values; therefore, EVI was used in the analysis of greenness trends for Guangzhou. In spite of massive amounts of development in Guangzhou from 2000 to 2014, greenness was found to increase, mostly as a result of gradual change. Comparison of the greening magnitudes estimated from the approach presented here and a Simple Linear Trend (SLT) method indicated large differences for certain time intervals as the SLT method does not include consideration for abrupt land cover changes. Overall, this analysis demonstrates the importance of considering land cover change when analyzing trends in greenness from satellite time series in areas where land cover change is common.

Sub- and super-Maxwellian evaporation of simple gases from liquid water

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

Kann, Z. R.; Skinner, J. L., E-mail: skinner@chem.wisc.edu

2016-04-21

Non-Maxwellian evaporation of light atoms and molecules (particles) such as He and H{sub 2} from liquids has been observed experimentally. In this work, we use simulations to study systematically the evaporation of Lennard-Jones particles from liquid water. We find instances of sub- and super-Maxwellian evaporation, depending on the mass of the particle and the particle-water interaction strength. The observed trends are in qualitative agreement with experiment. We interpret these trends in terms of the potential of mean force and the effectiveness and frequency of collisions during the evaporation process. The angular distribution of evaporating particles is also analyzed, and itmore » is shown that trends in the energy from velocity components tangential and normal to the liquid surface must be understood separately in order to interpret properly the angular distributions.« less

Logging utilization in Idaho: Current and past trends

Treesearch

Eric A. Simmons; Todd A. Morgan; Erik C. Berg; Stanley J. Zarnoch; Steven W. Hayes; Mike T. Thompson

2014-01-01

A study of commercial timber-harvesting activities in Idaho was conducted during 2008 and 2011 to characterize current tree utilization, logging operations, and changes from previous Idaho logging utilization studies. A two-stage simple random sampling design was used to select sites and felled trees for measurement within active logging sites. Thirty-three logging...

Adaptation of a Weighted Regression Approach to Evaluate Water Quality Trends in Tampa Bay, Florida

EPA Science Inventory

The increasing availability of long-term monitoring data can improve resolution of temporal and spatial changes in water quality. In many cases, the fact that changes have occurred is no longer a matter of debate. However, the relatively simple methods that have been used to ev...

Trends in Nanosecond Melanosome Microcavitation Up to 1540 Nanometers

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-09-01

these absorption coeffi- cients are probably due to the high water content and low mela - nin concentration in the RPE layer, as a simple first-order...comparison of radiant exposure thresholds of bovine mela - nosomes as a function of wavelength, on a log scale, from 532 to 1540 nm, at ambient

Executive Financial Reporting: Seven Principles to Use in Developing Effective Reports.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jenkins, William A.; Fischer, Mary

1991-01-01

Higher education institution business officers need to follow principles of presentation, judgment, and measurement in developing effective executive financial reports. Principles include (1) keep the statement simple; (2) be consistent in reporting from year to year; (3) determine user needs and interests; (4) limit data; (5) provide trend lines;…

Beyond Interdisciplinary Teaming: Findings and Implications of the NASSP National Middle Level Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hackmann, Donald G.; Petzko, Vicki N.; Valentine, Jerry W.; Clark, Donald C.; Nori, John R.; Lucas, Stephen E.

2002-01-01

Reports trends and implications of interdisciplinary teaming practices in middle schools, based on findings from a national survey. Noting that nearly 80 percent of schools currently implement teaming, challenges principals and teachers to move beyond simple formation of teams to the creation of an infrastructure that supports high-performing…

Collection Directions: The Evolution of Library Collections and Collecting

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dempsey, Lorcan; Malpas, Constance; Lavoie, Brian

2014-01-01

This article takes a broad view of the evolution of collecting behaviors in a network environment and suggests some future directions based on various simple models. The authors look at the changing dynamics of print collections, at the greater engagement with research and learning behaviors, and at trends in scholarly communication. The goal is…

A Simple Guide to Enhancing Learning through Web 2.0 Technologies

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nichol, David; Hunter, Julie; Yaseen, Jonathan; Prescott-Clements, Linda

2012-01-01

This article describes the potential of new and emerging learning technologies to promote excellence in learning and teaching and further seeks to respond positively to the key trends in learning technologies for the higher education community. Through this article, we hope to positively enrich the student experience with technology-enhanced…

Recent trends in ring opening of epoxides with sulfur nucleophiles.

PubMed

Ahmad, Sajjad; Zahoor, Ameer Fawad; Naqvi, Syed Ali Raza; Akash, Muhammad

2018-02-01

Thiolysis of epoxides offers an efficient and simple synthetic approach to access [Formula: see text]-hydroxy sulfides which are valuable scaffold in the synthesis of various important molecules in medicinal chemistry. This review article presents a recent compilation of the synthetic approaches developed after 2000 for the thiolysis of epoxides.

Patterns of Student Growth in Reasoning about Multivariate Correlational Problems.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ross, John A.; Cousins, J. Bradley

Previous studies of the development of correlational reasoning have focused on the interpretation of relatively simple data sets contained in 2 X 2 tables. In contrast, this study examined age trends in subjects' responses to problems involving more than two continuous variables. The research is part of a multi-year project to conceptualize…

Using Algorithms in Solving Synapse Transmission Problems.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stencel, John E.

1992-01-01

Explains how a simple three-step algorithm can aid college students in solving synapse transmission problems. Reports that all of the students did not completely understand the algorithm. However, many learn a simple working model of synaptic transmission and understand why an impulse will pass across a synapse quantitatively. Students also see…

Effect of Sport Related Concussion on Clinically Measured Simple Reaction Time

PubMed Central

Eckner, James T.; Kutcher, Jeffrey S.; Broglio, Steven P.; Richardson, James K.

2013-01-01

Background Reaction time (RT) is a valuable component of the sport concussion assessment battery. RT is typically measured using computers running specialized software, which limits its applicability in some athletic settings and populations. To address this, we developed a simple clinical test of RT (RTclin) that involves grasping a falling measuring stick. Purpose To determine the effect of concussion on RTclin and its sensitivity and specificity for concussion. Materials and methods Concussed athletes (n=28) and non-concussed control teammates (n=28) completed RTclin assessments at baseline and within 48 hours of injury. Repeated measures ANOVA compared mean baseline and follow-up RTclin values between groups. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated over a range of reliable change confidence levels. Results RTclin differed significantly between groups (p < .001): there was significant prolongation from baseline to post-injury in the concussed group (p= .003), with a trend toward improvement in the control group (p = .058). Sensitivity and specificity were maximized when a critical change value of 0 ms was applied (i.e., any increase in RTclin from baseline was interpreted as abnormal), which corresponded to a sensitivity of 75%, specificity of 68%, and a 65% reliable change confidence level. Conclusions RTclin appears sensitive to the effects of concussion and distinguished concussed and non-concussed athletes with similar sensitivity and specificity to other commonly used concussion assessment tools. Given its simplicity, low cost, and minimal time requirement, RTclin should be considered a viable component of the sports medicine provider’s multifaceted concussion assessment battery. PMID:23314889

The accuracy of matrix population model projections for coniferous trees in the Sierra Nevada, California

USGS Publications Warehouse

van Mantgem, P.J.; Stephenson, N.L.

2005-01-01

1 We assess the use of simple, size-based matrix population models for projecting population trends for six coniferous tree species in the Sierra Nevada, California. We used demographic data from 16 673 trees in 15 permanent plots to create 17 separate time-invariant, density-independent population projection models, and determined differences between trends projected from initial surveys with a 5-year interval and observed data during two subsequent 5-year time steps. 2 We detected departures from the assumptions of the matrix modelling approach in terms of strong growth autocorrelations. We also found evidence of observation errors for measurements of tree growth and, to a more limited degree, recruitment. Loglinear analysis provided evidence of significant temporal variation in demographic rates for only two of the 17 populations. 3 Total population sizes were strongly predicted by model projections, although population dynamics were dominated by carryover from the previous 5-year time step (i.e. there were few cases of recruitment or death). Fractional changes to overall population sizes were less well predicted. Compared with a null model and a simple demographic model lacking size structure, matrix model projections were better able to predict total population sizes, although the differences were not statistically significant. Matrix model projections were also able to predict short-term rates of survival, growth and recruitment. Mortality frequencies were not well predicted. 4 Our results suggest that simple size-structured models can accurately project future short-term changes for some tree populations. However, not all populations were well predicted and these simple models would probably become more inaccurate over longer projection intervals. The predictive ability of these models would also be limited by disturbance or other events that destabilize demographic rates. ?? 2005 British Ecological Society.

The effects of physical exercise on patients with Crohn's disease.

PubMed

Loudon, C P; Corroll, V; Butcher, J; Rawsthorne, P; Bernstein, C N

1999-03-01

Despite the suggested benefits of exercise training in the prevention and management of chronic diseases, few data exist regarding the safety of exercise in Crohn's disease and whether or not exercise may have beneficial effects on patients' health. We performed a pilot study to evaluate the effects of regular light-intensity exercise on sedentary patients with Crohn's disease. Sedentary patients with inactive or mildly active Crohn's disease were eligible for the study. A thrice-weekly, 12-wk walking program was supervised, although if subjects could not attend the group walking sessions they were allowed to walk on their own. Logbooks of performance were maintained, and individual exercise heart rate goals were established. Measures performed at baseline and at study completion included the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Stress Index, the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Quality of Life Score, the Harvey and Bradshaw Simple Index, the Canadian Aerobic Fitness Test, VO2 Max, and body mass index (BMI). Twelve subjects completed the 12-wk exercise program. Subjects walked an average of 2.9 sessions/wk, at an average of 32.6 min/session, and for an average distance of 3.5 km/session. Statistically significant improvements at study end were seen by all measures, with a trend toward reduction in BMI. No patient's disease flared during the study. Sedentary patients with Crohn's disease can tolerate low-intensity exercise of moderate duration without an exacerbation of symptoms. Twelve weeks of walking was adequate to elicit psychological and physical improvements and did not adversely affect disease activity.

Virginia's timber, 1977

Treesearch

Herbert A. Knight; Joe P. McClure

1977-01-01

This report presents the principal findings of the fourth evaluation of Virginia's forest resources. The field inventory was started in February 1975 and completed in March 1977. Three previous Statewide inventories, completed in 1940, 1957, and 1966, provide reference points for measuring changed and trends over the past 37 years. This analysis focuses mainly on...

Incidence and mortality of lung cancer: global trends and association with socioeconomic status.

PubMed

Wong, Martin C S; Lao, Xiang Qian; Ho, Kin-Fai; Goggins, William B; Tse, Shelly L A

2017-10-30

We examined the correlation between lung cancer incidence/mortality and country-specific socioeconomic development, and evaluated its most recent global trends. We retrieved its age-standardized incidence rates from the GLOBOCAN database, and temporal patterns were assessed from global databases. We employed simple linear regression analysis to evaluate their correlations with Human Development Index (HDI) and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita. The average annual percent changes (AAPC) of the trends were evaluated from join-point regression analysis. Country-specific HDI was strongly correlated with age-standardized incidence (r = 0.70) and mortality (r = 0.67), and to a lesser extent GDP (r = 0.24 to 0.55). Among men, 22 and 30 (out of 38 and 36) countries showed declining incidence and mortality trends, respectively; whilst among women, 19 and 16 countries showed increasing incidence and mortality trends, respectively. Among men, the AAPCs ranged from -2.8 to -0.6 (incidence) and -3.6 to -1.1 (mortality) in countries with declining trend, whereas among women the AAPC range was 0.4 to 8.9 (incidence) and 1 to 4.4 (mortality) in countries with increasing trend. Among women, Brazil, Spain and Cyprus had the greatest incidence increase, and all countries in Western, Southern and Eastern Europe reported increasing mortality. These findings highlighted the need for targeted preventive measures.

Trends in Controlled-Release Oxycodone (Oxycontin[R]) Prescribing among Medicaid Recipients in Kentucky, 1998-2002. Research Note

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Havens, Jennifer R.; Talbert, Jeffrey C.; Walker, Robert; Leedham, Cynthia; Leukefeld, Carl G.

2006-01-01

Context: Prescription opioid abuse has emerged as a public health problem, particularly in rural America. Purpose: To examine temporal and geographic trends in rates of controlled-release oxycodone (OxyContin) prescribing for Kentucky Medicaid recipients. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was completed in which the state was divided into 3…

Investigating the Linkage between Intrinsic Motivation and Project Team Satisfaction in Undergraduate Agricultural Leadership Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lamm, Kevan W.; Carter, Hannah S.; Melendez, Marcus W.

2014-01-01

Organizations have increased the amount of work that is completed by project teams over the past several decades. This trend is projected to continue into the foreseeable future. In response to this trend, the academic community has increased the number of project team based learning experiences for students in classes. The challenge has been that…

Relationship between Student Loan Borrowing of Money and Degree Completion for Students at Two-Year Colleges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Easttorp, Karl

2017-01-01

The cost of a college education continues to trend upward and state funding for higher education has trended downward, shifting more of the financial burden to students through student loans. About half of all 2010-2011 financial aid originated from student loans, and total federal student loan borrowing rose 319% between 1990 and 2010.…

Double Play: The Need for 4-H to Partner in Youth Sports

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Martin, Perry D.; Kaufman, Eric K.

2017-01-01

Fewer children in the United States are playing team-based sports, and the trend is making national headlines. While there is no complete agreement as to the predominant reason for this trend, it is clear that a national conversation on this problem has begun, and Cooperative Extension holds the potential for getting kids back in the game. At its…

Rising air and stream-water temperatures in Chesapeake Bay region, USA

USGS Publications Warehouse

Rice, Karen C.; Jastram, John D.

2015-01-01

Monthly mean air temperature (AT) at 85 sites and instantaneous stream-water temperature (WT) at 129 sites for 1960–2010 are examined for the mid-Atlantic region, USA. Temperature anomalies for two periods, 1961–1985 and 1985–2010, relative to the climate normal period of 1971–2000, indicate that the latter period was statistically significantly warmer than the former for both mean AT and WT. Statistically significant temporal trends across the region of 0.023 °C per year for AT and 0.028 °C per year for WT are detected using simple linear regression. Sensitivity analyses show that the irregularly sampled WT data are appropriate for trend analyses, resulting in conservative estimates of trend magnitude. Relations between 190 landscape factors and significant trends in AT-WT relations are examined using principal components analysis. Measures of major dams and deciduous forest are correlated with WT increasing slower than AT, whereas agriculture in the absence of major dams is correlated with WT increasing faster than AT. Increasing WT trends are detected despite increasing trends in streamflow in the northern part of the study area. Continued warming of contributing streams to Chesapeake Bay likely will result in shifts in distributions of aquatic biota and contribute to worsened eutrophic conditions in the bay and its estuaries.

Secular trends in storm-level geomagnetic activity

USGS Publications Warehouse

Love, J.J.

2011-01-01

Analysis is made of K-index data from groups of ground-based geomagnetic observatories in Germany, Britain, and Australia, 1868.0-2009.0, solar cycles 11-23. Methods include nonparametric measures of trends and statistical significance used by the hydrological and climatological research communities. Among the three observatory groups, German K data systematically record the highest disturbance levels, followed by the British and, then, the Australian data. Signals consistently seen in K data from all three observatory groups can be reasonably interpreted as physically meaninginful: (1) geomagnetic activity has generally increased over the past 141 years. However, the detailed secular evolution of geomagnetic activity is not well characterized by either a linear trend nor, even, a monotonic trend. Therefore, simple, phenomenological extrapolations of past trends in solar and geomagnetic activity levels are unlikely to be useful for making quantitative predictions of future trends lasting longer than a solar cycle or so. (2) The well-known tendency for magnetic storms to occur during the declining phase of a sunspot-solar cycles is clearly seen for cycles 14-23; it is not, however, clearly seen for cycles 11-13. Therefore, in addition to an increase in geomagnetic activity, the nature of solar-terrestrial interaction has also apparently changed over the past 141 years. ?? Author(s) 2011.

Preparation and Characterization of a Small Library of Thermally-Labile End-Caps for Variable-Temperature Triggering of Self-Immolative Polymers.

PubMed

Taimoory, S Maryamdokht; Sadraei, S Iraj; Fayoumi, Rose Anne; Nasri, Sarah; Revington, Matthew; Trant, John F

2018-04-20

The reaction between furans and maleimides has increasingly become a method of interest as its reversibility makes it a useful tool for applications ranging from self-healing materials, to self-immolative polymers, to hydrogels for cell culture and for the preparation of bone repair. However, most of these applications have relied on simple monosubstituted furans and simple maleimides and have not extensively evaluated the potential thermal variability inherent in the process that is achievable through simple substrate modification. A small library of cycloadducts suitable for the above applications was prepared, and the temperature dependence of the retro-Diels-Alder processes was determined through in situ 1 H NMR analyses complemented by computational calculations. The practical range of the reported systems ranges from 40 to >110 °C. The cycloreversion reactions are more complex than would be expected based on simple trends expected based on frontier molecular orbital analyses of the materials.

Pseudo-simple heteroclinic cycles in R4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chossat, Pascal; Lohse, Alexander; Podvigina, Olga

2018-06-01

We study pseudo-simple heteroclinic cycles for a Γ-equivariant system in R4 with finite Γ ⊂ O(4) , and their nearby dynamics. In particular, in a first step towards a full classification - analogous to that which exists already for the class of simple cycles - we identify all finite subgroups of O(4) admitting pseudo-simple cycles. To this end we introduce a constructive method to build equivariant dynamical systems possessing a robust heteroclinic cycle. Extending a previous study we also investigate the existence of periodic orbits close to a pseudo-simple cycle, which depends on the symmetry groups of equilibria in the cycle. Moreover, we identify subgroups Γ ⊂ O(4) , Γ ⊄ SO(4) , admitting fragmentarily asymptotically stable pseudo-simple heteroclinic cycles. (It has been previously shown that for Γ ⊂ SO(4) pseudo-simple cycles generically are completely unstable.) Finally, we study a generalized heteroclinic cycle, which involves a pseudo-simple cycle as a subset.

Simple Formulas and Results for Buckling-Resistance and Stiffness Design of Compression-Loaded Laminated-Composite Cylinders

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nemeth, Michael P.; Mikulas, Martin M., Jr.

2009-01-01

Simple formulas for the buckling stress of homogeneous, specially orthotropic, laminated-composite cylinders are presented. The formulas are obtained by using nondimensional parameters and equations that facilitate general validation, and are validated against the exact solution for a wide range of cylinder geometries and laminate constructions. Results are presented that establish the ranges of the nondimensional parameters and coefficients used. General results, given in terms of the nondimensional parameters, are presented that encompass a wide range of geometries and laminate constructions. These general results also illustrate a wide spectrum of behavioral trends. Design-oriented results are also presented that provide a simple, clear indication of laminate composition on critical stress, critical strain, and axial stiffness. An example is provided to demonstrate the application of these results to thin-walled column designs.

A Unified Approach to Teaching Quadratic and Cubic Equations.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ward, A. J. B.

2003-01-01

Presents a simple method for teaching the algebraic solution of cubic equations via completion of the cube. Shows that this method is readily accepted by students already familiar with completion of the square as a method for quadratic equations. (Author/KHR)

Figuring the Acceleration of the Simple Pendulum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lieberherr, Martin

2011-01-01

The centripetal acceleration has been known since Huygens' (1659) and Newton's (1684) time. The physics to calculate the acceleration of a simple pendulum has been around for more than 300 years, and a fairly complete treatise has been given by C. Schwarz in this journal. But sentences like "the acceleration is always directed towards the…

Harmonic and Anharmonic Behaviour of a Simple Oscillator

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

O'Shea, Michael J.

2009-01-01

We consider a simple oscillator that exhibits harmonic and anharmonic regimes and analyse its behaviour over the complete range of possible amplitudes. The oscillator consists of a mass "m" fixed at the midpoint of a horizontal rope. For zero initial rope tension and small amplitude the period of oscillation, tau, varies as tau is approximately…

Determining Salinity by Simple Means.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schlenker, Richard M.

This paper describes the construction and use of a simple salinometer. The salinometer is composed, mainly, of a milliammeter and a battery and uses the measurement of current flow to determine the salinity of water. A complete list of materials is given, as are details of construction and operation of the equipment. The use of the salinometer in…

Score Big! Pinball Project Teaches Simple Machine Basics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Freeman, Matthew K.

2009-01-01

This article presents a design brief for a pinball game. The design brief helps students get a better grasp on the operation and uses of simple machines. It also gives them an opportunity to develop their problem-solving skills and use design skills to complete an interesting, fun product. (Contains 2 tables and 3 photos.)

Fluency of pharmaceutical drug names predicts perceived hazardousness, assumed side effects and willingness to buy.

PubMed

Dohle, Simone; Siegrist, Michael

2014-10-01

The impact of pharmaceutical drug names on people's evaluations and behavioural intentions is still uncertain. According to the representativeness heuristic, evaluations should be more positive for complex drug names; in contrast, fluency theory suggests that evaluations should be more positive for simple drug names. Results of three experimental studies showed that complex drug names were perceived as more hazardous than simple drug names and negatively influenced willingness to buy. The results are of particular importance given the fact that there is a worldwide trend to make more drugs available for self-medication. © The Author(s) 2013.

Causal strength induction from time series data.

PubMed

Soo, Kevin W; Rottman, Benjamin M

2018-04-01

One challenge when inferring the strength of cause-effect relations from time series data is that the cause and/or effect can exhibit temporal trends. If temporal trends are not accounted for, a learner could infer that a causal relation exists when it does not, or even infer that there is a positive causal relation when the relation is negative, or vice versa. We propose that learners use a simple heuristic to control for temporal trends-that they focus not on the states of the cause and effect at a given instant, but on how the cause and effect change from one observation to the next, which we call transitions. Six experiments were conducted to understand how people infer causal strength from time series data. We found that participants indeed use transitions in addition to states, which helps them to reach more accurate causal judgments (Experiments 1A and 1B). Participants use transitions more when the stimuli are presented in a naturalistic visual format than a numerical format (Experiment 2), and the effect of transitions is not driven by primacy or recency effects (Experiment 3). Finally, we found that participants primarily use the direction in which variables change rather than the magnitude of the change for estimating causal strength (Experiments 4 and 5). Collectively, these studies provide evidence that people often use a simple yet effective heuristic for inferring causal strength from time series data. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

International study of expert judgment on therapeutic use of benzodiazepines and other psychotherapeutic medications: VI. Trends in recommendations for the pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders, 1992-1997.

PubMed

Uhlenhuth, E H; Balter, M B; Ban, T A; Yang, K

1999-01-01

To assemble expert clinical experience and judgment regarding the treatment of anxiety disorders in a systematic, quantitative manner, particularly with respect to changes during the preceding five years. A panel of 73 internationally recognized experts in the pharmacotherapy of anxiety and depression was constituted by multistage peer nomination. Sixty-six completed a questionnaire in 1992, and 51 of those completed a follow-up questionnaire in 1997. This report focuses on the experts' responses to questions about therapeutic options relevant to seven vignettes describing typical cases of different anxiety disorders. The preferred initial treatment strategy in 1992 was a combination of medication with a psychological therapy for all vignettes except simple phobia, where a psychological procedure alone was favored. There was little change in 1997, primarily some decrease in the choice of psychological therapy and some increase in the choice of medication for social phobia. Experts recommending a medication in 1992 most often chose as first-line treatment a benzodiazepine anxiolytic (BZ) for panic disorder (PD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), simple phobia, and adjustment disorder. They recommended a beta-blocker most often for social phobia and a tricyclic anti-depressant (TCA) for agoraphobia and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Nearly a fourth chose a combination of medications, usually a TCA plus a BZ. In 1997, the expert panel's most frequent recommendation for agoraphobia, PD, and OCD changed to a specific serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI); and they also recommended these compounds more often for GAD, social phobia, and simple phobia. Fewer experts chose BZs or TCAs. However, in 1997 many again chose a combination of medications, often a BZ plus a SSRI, so that, overall, there was only a small decline in recommendations for BZs. As second-line medications (1997 only), the experts recommended SSRIs most often for most vignettes, but a TCA for PD and GAD. Recommendations for a combination of medications rose substantially for most vignettes, usually a BZ plus an antidepressant. Combined cognitive-behavioral therapy plus medication was highly favored by the experts as the initial treatment strategy for anxiety disorders. During the preceding five years, SSRIs displaced older antidepressants as the experts' first-line choices for the pharmacotherapy of anxiety disorders. In case of an unsatisfactory response, the experts' second-line choices more often were an older antidepressant or a combination of an antidepressant plus a BZ. According to the experts' judgements, the BZs, especially combined with an antidepressant, remain mainstays of pharmacotherapy for anxiety disorders.

Forest health monitoring: national status, trends, and analysis 2015

Treesearch

Kevin M. Potter; Barbara L. Conkling

2016-01-01

The annual national report of the Forest Health Monitoring (FHM) Program of the Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, presents forest health status and trends from a national or multi- State regional perspective using a variety of sources, introduces new techniques for analyzing forest health data, and summarizes results of recently completed Evaluation...

Financing Independent Higher Education in Michigan: A Staff Report Analyzing Recent Enrollment, Cost, and Revenue Trends, with Projections to 1980 and 1985.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Agor, Weston H.

This study focuses exclusively on independent higher education institutions in Michigan. It includes an analysis of recent enrollment, cost, and revenue trends by institution (with comparisons to the public sector) and projections to 1980 and 1985 on a statewide basis. The study was completed using primarily HEGIS data, and some data on…

Effective Contracting: Trends and Lessons-Learned

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-01-25

present a briefing on their current state of medical contracting; covering trends and lessons- learned from over the past 24 months. Their perspective...basing • Future opportunities in the MHS with a focus on strategic sourcing. • SECDEF guidance 2011 MHS Conference HCAA Mission To provide sound...including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing

Trends in Hate-Related Words at School among Students Ages 12 to 18. Data Point. NCES 2016-166

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cidade, Melissa; Lessne, Deborah

2016-01-01

Data from the School Crime Supplement (SCS) to the National Crime Victimization Survey, a nationally representative sample survey of students ages 12 through 18, were used to analyze trends in hate-related words. The SCS study is completed every other year. Data from seven consecutive surveys are included in this report: school years 2000-01,…

Do We Need a National Standards-Based K-12 Deaf Studies Curriculum? An Analytic History of Trends and Discourse in Development of Deaf Studies Curriculum

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zernovoj, Alexander

2007-01-01

This study provides a complete review of discussion and development leading up to the current trends in Deaf Studies curriculum development, and also analyzes existing known curriculum (or curriculum-like) materials to help inform development of an ideal standards-based Deaf Studies curriculum. The common shared arguments identified in this…

Trends in Bullying at School among Students Ages 12 to 18. Data Point. NCES 2016-004

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cidade, Melissa; Lessne, Deborah

2016-01-01

Data from the School Crime Supplement (SCS) to the National Crime Victimization Survey, a nationally representative sample survey of students ages 12 through 18, were used to examine trends in bullying at school. The SCS study is completed every other year. Data from five consecutive surveys are included in this report: school years 2004-05,…

Evaporation And Ignition Of Dense Fuel Sprays

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bellan, Josette; Harstad, Kenneth G.

1988-01-01

Simple theoretical model makes useful predictions of trends. Pair of reports presents theoretical model of evaporation and ignition of sprayed liquid fuel. Developed as part of research in combustion of oil and liquid fuels derived from coal, tar sand, and shale in furnace. Work eventually contributes to increase efficiency of combustion and decrease pollution generated by burning of such fuels.

The CEFR and the Dynamics of Second Language Learning: Trends and Challenges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lowie, Wander

2013-01-01

This paper discusses the pedagogical implications of Dynamic Systems Theory approaches to second language development. The main question addressed is whether it is possible to describe a learner's level of proficiency with a simple and unambiguous label, and if so, whether the CEFR can provide such a label. It is argued that considering the…

Collection Directions: Some Reflections on the Future of Library Collections and Collecting

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dempsey, Lorcan; Malpas, Constance; Lavoie, Brian

2014-01-01

This article takes a broad view of the evolution of collecting behaviors in a network environment and suggests some future directions based on various simple models. The authors look at the changing dynamics of print collections, at the greater engagement with research and learning behaviors, and at trends in scholarly communication. The goal is…

Alternative Methods for Estimating Achievement Trends and School Effects: When Is Simple Good Enough?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Warkentien, Siri; Silver, David

2016-01-01

Public schools with impressive records of serving lower-performing students are often overlooked because their average test scores, even when students are growing quickly, are lower than scores in schools that serve higher-performing students. Schools may appear to be doing poorly either because baseline achievement is not easily accounted for or…

Creating an Atmosphere for STEM Literacy in the Rural South through Student-Collected Weather Data

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Clark, Lynn; Majumdar, Saswati; Bhattacharjee, Joydeep; Hanks, Anne Case

2015-01-01

This paper is an examination of a teacher professional development program in northeast Louisiana, that provided 30 teachers and their students with the technology, skills, and content knowledge to collect data and explore weather trends. Data were collected from both continuous monitoring weather stations and simple school-based weather stations…

Education Today: The Newsletter of UNESCO's Education Sector. Number 16, February-May 2006

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Muller, Anne, Ed.; Yahil, Edna, Ed.

2006-01-01

"Education Today" is a quarterly newsletter on trends and innovations in education, on worldwide efforts towards Education for All and on UNESCO's own education activities. The focus of this issue of "Education Today," is on Education Sustainable Development (ESD) and what it means. This simple answer is as educators, we are…

Evaluating growth performance of young stands

Treesearch

A. L. Roe; R. E. Benson

1966-01-01

A simple procedure for evaluating the diameter growth of young stands in relation to potential growth is described. A comparison technique is developed which contrasts relative diameter of crop trees to the relative diameter growth of the last decade to show the condition and trend of growth in the stand. The method is objective, easy to use, and has several...

Techniques of data analysis and presentation for planners of the metropolitan environment

Treesearch

Joelee Normand

1977-01-01

Relationships between the characteristics of the physical environment of a metropolitan area and the activities of its human inhabitants can be used to predict probable future dynamic trends, both demographic and environmental. Using simple linear regression, we were able to highlight several dynamic features of the metropolitan area of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Computer movies...

Red Rural, Blue Rural: The Geography of Presidential Voting in Rural America

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Scala, Dante J.; Johnson, Kenneth M.

2016-01-01

Political commentators routinely treat rural America as an undifferentiated bastion of strength for Republicans. In fact, rural America is a deceptively simple term describing a remarkably diverse collection of places encompassing nearly 75 percent of the U.S. land area and 50 million people. Voting trends in this vast area are far from…

South Carolina's timber, 1968

Treesearch

Herbert A. Knight; Joe P. McClure

1968-01-01

This report represents the principal findings of the fourth Forest Survey of South Carolina's timber resource. The survey was started in August 1966 and completed in July 1968. Findings of the three previous surveys, completed in 1936, 1947, and 1958, provide the basis for measuring changes that have occurred and trends that have developed over the past 32 years....

Forest statistics for the Piedmont of South Carolina

Treesearch

William H.B. Haines

1967-01-01

This report presents the principal findings of the fourth Forest Survey in the Piedmont of South Carolina, completed in February 1967. Findings of the three earlier surveys, completed in 1936, 1947, and 1958, provide the basis for measuring the changes that have occurred and the trends that have developed over the past 30 years.

Virginia's timber, 1966

Treesearch

Herbert A. Knight; Joe P. McClure

1966-01-01

This report presents the principal findings of the third Forest survey of Virginia's timber resource. The resurvey was started in November 1964 and completed in August 1966. Findings of the two previous surveys, completed in 1940 and 1957, provide the basis for measuring the changes that have been occurred and the trends that have developed during the past 26...

Florida's timber, 1970

Treesearch

Herbert A. Knight; Joe P. McClure

1970-01-01

This report presents the principal findings of the fourth Forest Survey of Florida's timber resource, The survey was started in July 1968 and completed in June 1970. Findings of the three previous surveys, completed in 1936, 1949, and 1959, provide the basis for measuring changes that have occurred and trends that have developed over the past 34 years. In this...

Forest statistics for Southeast Georgia, 1996

Treesearch

Michael T. Thompson; Raymond M. Sheffield

1997-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the seventh forest survey of Southeast Georgia. Field work began in November 1995 and was completed in November 1996. Six previous surveys, completed in 1934, 1952, 1960, 1971, 1981, and 1988 provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 62 years. This report primarily emphasizes the changes and...

Crude childhood vaccination coverage in West Africa: Trends and predictors of completeness.

PubMed

Kazungu, Jacob S; Adetifa, Ifedayo M O

2017-02-15

Background : Africa has the lowest childhood vaccination coverage worldwide. If the full benefits of childhood vaccination programmes are to be enjoyed in sub-Saharan Africa, all countries need to improve on vaccine delivery to achieve and sustain high coverage. In this paper, we review trends in vaccination coverage, dropouts between vaccine doses and explored the country-specific predictors of complete vaccination in West Africa.  Methods : We utilized datasets from the Demographic and Health Surveys Program, available for Benin, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Togo, to obtain coverage for Bacillus Calmette-Guerin, polio, measles, and diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT) vaccines in children aged 12 - 23 months. We also calculated the DPT1-to-DPT3 and DPT1-to-measles dropouts, and proportions of the fully immunised child (FIC). Factors predictive of FIC were explored using Chi-squared tests and multivariable logistic regression.  Results : Overall, there was a trend of increasing vaccination coverage. The proportion of FIC varied significantly by country (range 24.1-81.4%, mean 49%). DPT1-to-DPT3 dropout was high (range 5.1% -33.9%, mean 16.3%). Similarly, DPT1-measles dropout exceeded 10% in all but four countries. Although no single risk factor was consistently associated with FIC across these countries, maternal education, delivery in a health facility, possessing a vaccine card and a recent post delivery visit to a health facility were the key predictors of complete vaccination.  Conclusions : The low numbers of fully immunised children and high dropout between vaccine doses highlights weaknesses and the need to strengthen the healthcare and routine immunization delivery systems in this region. Country-specific correlates of complete vaccination should be explored further to identify interventions required to increase vaccination coverage. Despite the promise of an increasing trend in vaccination coverage in West African countries, more effort is required to attain and maintain global vaccination coverage targets.

Long-term trend of Pacific South Equatorial Current bifurcation over 1950-2010

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhai, Fangguo; Hu, Dunxin; Wang, Qingye; Wang, Fujun

2014-05-01

This study investigates the long-term change of the Pacific South Equatorial Current (SEC) bifurcation latitude (SBL) over 1950-2010 with Simple Ocean Data Assimilation version 2.2.4. Results indicate that the SBL averaged within upper 200 m has migrated southward at 0.020°S yr-1, comparable in magnitude with -0.024°N yr-1 for the North Equatorial Current bifurcation latitude (NBL). The SEC transport into the Coral Sea has increased. Due to the southward SBL migration, most of the increased SEC water was transported equatorward, contributing to the Equatorial Undercurrent intensification. Experiments with a nonlinear 1.5 layer reduced gravity model indicate that the southward migration of SBL is mainly caused by positive Ekman flux divergence trend in the eastern tropical South Pacific, while that of NBL is caused by negative Ekman flux divergence trend in the western tropical North Pacific.

Narrative Abilities in Hearing-Impaired Children: Propositions and Cohesion.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Griffith, Penny L.; And Others

1990-01-01

Two linguistic microstructures (propositions and cohesive devices) were analyzed in story recalls by 11 primary and intermediate level hearing-impaired students. When stories were very simple, students generated mostly complete propositions, however as complexity increased, semantic errors resulted in fewer complete propositions. (Author/DB)

A Review of Numerical Simulation and Analytical Modeling for Medical Devices Safety in MRI

PubMed Central

Kabil, J.; Belguerras, L.; Trattnig, S.; Pasquier, C.; Missoffe, A.

2016-01-01

Summary Objectives To review past and present challenges and ongoing trends in numerical simulation for MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) safety evaluation of medical devices. Methods A wide literature review on numerical and analytical simulation on simple or complex medical devices in MRI electromagnetic fields shows the evolutions through time and a growing concern for MRI safety over the years. Major issues and achievements are described, as well as current trends and perspectives in this research field. Results Numerical simulation of medical devices is constantly evolving, supported by calculation methods now well-established. Implants with simple geometry can often be simulated in a computational human model, but one issue remaining today is the experimental validation of these human models. A great concern is to assess RF heating on implants too complex to be traditionally simulated, like pacemaker leads. Thus, ongoing researches focus on alternative hybrids methods, both numerical and experimental, with for example a transfer function method. For the static field and gradient fields, analytical models can be used for dimensioning simple implants shapes, but limited for complex geometries that cannot be studied with simplifying assumptions. Conclusions Numerical simulation is an essential tool for MRI safety testing of medical devices. The main issues remain the accuracy of simulations compared to real life and the studies of complex devices; but as the research field is constantly evolving, some promising ideas are now under investigation to take up the challenges. PMID:27830244

Practical analysis of tide gauges records from Antarctica

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Galassi, Gaia; Spada, Giorgio

2015-04-01

We have collected and analyzed in a basic way the currently available time series from tide gauges deployed along the coasts of Antarctica. The database of the Permanent Service for Mean Sea Level (PSMSL) holds relative sea level information for 17 stations, which are mostly concentrated in the Antarctic Peninsula (8 out of 17). For 7 of the PSMSL stations, Revised Local Reference (RLR) monthly and yearly observations are available, spanning from year 1957.79 (Almirante Brown) to 2013.95 (Argentine Islands). For the remaining 11 stations, only metric monthly data can be obtained during the time window 1957-2013. The record length of the available time series is not generally exceeding 20 years. Remarkable exceptions are the RLR station of Argentine Island, located in the Antarctic Peninsula (AP) (time span: 1958-2013, record length: 54 years, completeness=98%), and the metric station of Syowa in East Antarctica (1975-2012, 37 years, 92%). The general quality (geographical coverage and length of record) of the time series hinders a coherent geophysical interpretation of the relative sea-level data along the coasts of Antarctica. However, in an attempt to characterize the relative sea level signals available, we have stacked (i.e., averaged) the RLR time series for the AP and for the whole Antarctica. The so obtained time series have been analyzed using simple regression in order to estimate a trend and a possible sea-level acceleration. For the AP, the the trend is 1.8 ± 0.2 mm/yr and for the whole Antarctica it is 2.1 ± 0.1 mm/yr (both during 1957-2013). The modeled values of Glacial Isostatic Adjustment (GIA) obtained with ICE-5G(VM2) using program SELEN, range between -0.7 and -1.6 mm/yr, showing that the sea-level trend recorded by tide gauges is strongly influenced by GIA. Subtracting the average GIA contribution (-1.1 mm/yr) to observed sea-level trend from the two stacks, we obtain 3.2 and 2.9 mm/yr for Antarctica and AP respectively, which are interpreted as the effect of current ice melting and steric ocean contributions. By the Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition method, we have detected different oscillations embedded in the sea-level signals for Antarctica and AP. This confirms previously recognized connections between the sea-level variations in Antarctica and ocean modes like the ENSO.

Development of simplified process for environmentally resistant cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

King, W. J.

1980-01-01

This report describes a program to develop a simple, foolproof, all vacuum solar cell manufacturing process which can be completely automated and which results in medium efficiency cells which are inherently environmentally resistant. All components of the completed cells are integrated into a monolithic structure with no material interfaces. The exposed materials (SI, Al2O3, Al, Ni) are all resistant to atmospheric attack and the junction, per se, is passivated to prevent long term degradation. Such cells are intended to be incorporated into a simple module consisting basically of a press formed metallic superstructure with a separated glass cover for missile, etc., protection.

Trends in High School Dropout and Completion Rates in the United States: 2013. Compendium Report. NCES 2016-117

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McFarland, Joel; Stark, Patrick; Cui, Jiashan

2016-01-01

Dropping out of high school is related to a number of negative outcomes. For example, the median income of persons ages 18 through 67 who had not completed high school was roughly $26,000 in 2013. By comparison, the median income of persons ages 18 through 67 who completed their education with at least a high school credential (i.e., a regular…

Meat and meat-mutagen intake and pancreatic cancer risk in the NIH-AARP cohort.

PubMed

Stolzenberg-Solomon, Rachael Z; Cross, Amanda J; Silverman, Debra T; Schairer, Catherine; Thompson, Frances E; Kipnis, Victor; Subar, Amy F; Hollenbeck, Albert; Schatzkin, Arthur; Sinha, Rashmi

2007-12-01

Meat intake, particularly red meat, has been positively associated with pancreatic cancer in some epidemiologic studies. Detailed meat-cooking methods and related mutagens formed in meat cooked at high temperatures have not been evaluated prospectively as risk factors for this malignancy. We investigated the association between meat, meat-cooking methods, meat-mutagen intake, and exocrine pancreatic cancer in the NIH-American Association of Retired Persons (NIH-AARP) Diet and Health Study cohort of 537,302 individuals, aged 50 to 71 years, with complete baseline dietary data (1995-1996) ascertained from a food frequency questionnaire. A meat-cooking module was completed by 332,913 individuals 6 months after baseline. During 5 years of follow-up, 836 incident pancreatic cancer cases (555 men, 281 women) were identified. Four hundred and fifty-nine cases had complete meat module data. We used Cox proportional hazard models to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Total, red, and high-temperature cooked meat intake was positively associated with pancreatic cancer among men (fifth versus first quintile: HR, 1.41, 95% CI, 1.08-1.83, P trend = 0.001; HR, 1.42, 95% CI, 1.05-1.91, P trend = 0.01; and HR, 1.52, 95% CI, 1.12-2.06, P trend = 0.005, respectively), but not women. Men showed significant 50% increased risks for the highest tertile of grilled/barbecued and broiled meat and significant doubling of risk for the highest quintile of overall meat-mutagenic activity (P trends < 0.01). The fifth quintile of the heterocyclic amine, 2-amino-3,4,8-trimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline intake showed a significant 29% (P trend = 0.006) increased risk in men and women combined. These findings support the hypothesis that meat intake, particularly meat cooked at high temperatures and associated mutagens, may play a role in pancreatic cancer development.

Analysis of five-year trends in self-reported language preference and issues of item non-response among Hispanic persons in a large cross-sectional health survey: implications for the measurement of an ethnic minority population

PubMed Central

2010-01-01

Background Significant differences in health outcomes have been documented among Hispanic persons, the fastest-growing demographic segment of the United States. The objective of this study was to examine trends in population growth and the collection of health data among Hispanic persons, including issues of language preference and survey completion using a national health survey to highlight issues of measurement of an increasingly important demographic segment of the United States. Design Data from the 2003-2007 United States Census and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were used to compare trends in population growth and survey sample size as well as differences in survey response based on language preference among a Hispanic population. Percentages of item non-response on selected survey questions were compared for Hispanic respondents choosing to complete the survey in Spanish and those choosing to complete the survey in English. The mean number of attempts to complete the survey was also compared based on language preference among Hispanic respondents. Results The sample size of Hispanic persons in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System saw little growth compared to the actual growth of the Hispanic population in the United States. Significant differences in survey item non-response for nine of 15 survey questions were seen based on language preference. Hispanic respondents choosing to complete the survey in Spanish had a significantly fewer number of call attempts for survey completion compared to their Hispanic counterparts choosing to communicate in English. Conclusions Including additional measures of acculturation and increasing the sample size of Hispanic persons in a national health survey such as the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System may result in more precise findings that could be used to better target prevention and health care needs for an ethnic minority population. PMID:20412575

Multiple long-term trends and trend reversals dominate environmental conditions in a man-made freshwater reservoir.

PubMed

Znachor, Petr; Nedoma, Jiří; Hejzlar, Josef; Seďa, Jaromír; Kopáček, Jiří; Boukal, David; Mrkvička, Tomáš

2018-05-15

Man-made reservoirs are common across the world and provide a wide range of ecological services. Environmental conditions in riverine reservoirs are affected by the changing climate, catchment-wide processes and manipulations with the water level, and water abstraction from the reservoir. Long-term trends of environmental conditions in reservoirs thus reflect a wider range of drivers in comparison to lakes, which makes the understanding of reservoir dynamics more challenging. We analysed a 32-year time series of 36 environmental variables characterising weather, land use in the catchment, reservoir hydrochemistry, hydrology and light availability in the small, canyon-shaped Římov Reservoir in the Czech Republic to detect underlying trends, trend reversals and regime shifts. To do so, we fitted linear and piecewise linear regression and a regime shift model to the time series of mean annual values of each variable and to principal components produced by Principal Component Analysis. Models were weighted and ranked using Akaike information criterion and the model selection approach. Most environmental variables exhibited temporal changes that included time-varying trends and trend reversals. For instance, dissolved organic carbon showed a linear increasing trend while nitrate concentration or conductivity exemplified trend reversal. All trend reversals and cessations of temporal trends in reservoir hydrochemistry (except total phosphorus concentrations) occurred in the late 1980s and during 1990s as a consequence of dramatic socioeconomic changes. After a series of heavy rains in the late 1990s, an administrative decision to increase the flood-retention volume of the reservoir resulted in a significant regime shift in reservoir hydraulic conditions in 1999. Our analyses also highlight the utility of the model selection framework, based on relatively simple extensions of linear regression, to describe temporal trends in reservoir characteristics. This approach can provide a solid basis for a better understanding of processes in freshwater reservoirs. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Trends of amino acid usage in the proteins from the unicellular parasite Giardia lamblia.

PubMed

Garat, B; Musto, H

2000-12-29

Correspondence analysis of amino acid frequencies was applied to 75 complete coding sequences from the unicellular parasite Giardia lamblia, and it was found that three major factors influence the variability of amino acidic composition of proteins. The first trend strongly correlated with (a) the cysteine content and (b) the mean weight of the amino acids used in each protein. The second trend correlated with the global levels of hydropathy and aromaticity of each protein. Both axes might be related with the defense of the parasite to oxygen free radicals. Finally, the third trend correlated with the expressivity of each gene, indicating that in G. lamblia highly expressed sequences display a tendency to preferentially use a subset of the total amino acids.

Potential health implications of water resources depletion and sewage discharges in the Republic of Macedonia.

PubMed

Hristovski, Kiril D; Pacemska-Atanasova, Tatjana; Olson, Larry W; Markovski, Jasmina; Mitev, Trajce

2016-08-01

Potential health implications of deficient sanitation infrastructure and reduced surface water flows due to climate change are examined in the case study of the Republic of Macedonia. Changes in surface water flows and wastewater discharges over the period 1955-2013 were analyzed to assess potential future surface water contamination trends. Simple model predictions indicated a decline in surface water hydrology over the last half century, which caused the surface waters in Macedonia to be frequently dominated by >50% of untreated sewage discharges. The surface water quality deterioration is further supported by an increasing trend in modeled biochemical oxygen demand trends, which correspond well with the scarce and intermittent water quality data that are available. Facilitated by the climate change trends, the increasing number of severe weather events is already triggering flooding of the sewage-dominated rivers into urban and non-urban areas. If efforts to develop a comprehensive sewage collection and treatment infrastructure are not implemented, such events have the potential to increase public health risks and cause epidemics, as in the 2015 case of a tularemia outbreak.

Role of investment heterogeneity in the cooperation on spatial public goods game.

PubMed

Yuan, Wu-Jie; Xia, Cheng-Yi

2014-01-01

Public cooperation plays a significant role in the survival and maintenance of biological species, to elucidate its origin thus becomes an interesting question from various disciplines. Through long-term development, the public goods game has proven to be a useful tool, where cooperator making contribution can beat again the free-rides. Differentiating from the traditional homogeneous investment, individual trend of making contribution is more likely affected by the investment level of his neighborhood. Based on this fact, we here investigate the impact of heterogeneous investment on public cooperation, where the investment sum is mapped to the proportion of cooperators determined by parameter α. Interestingly, we find, irrespective of interaction networks, that the increment of α (increment of heterogeneous investment) is beneficial for promoting cooperation and even guarantees the complete cooperation dominance under weak replication factor. While this promotion effect can be attributed to the formation of more robust cooperator clusters and shortening END period. Moreover, we find that this simple mechanism can change the potential interaction network, which results in the change of phase diagrams. We hope that our work may shed light on the understanding of the cooperative behavior in other social dilemmas.

Towards completing the cyclopropenylidene cycle: rovibrational analysis of cyclic N3+, CNN, HCNN+, and CNC.

PubMed

Fortenberry, Ryan C; Lee, Timothy J; Huang, Xinchuan

2017-08-30

The simple aromatic hydrocarbon, cyclopropenylidene (c-C 3 H 2 ), is a known, naturally-occurring molecule. The question remains as to whether its isoelectronic, cyclic, fellow aromatics of c-N 3 + , c-CNN, HCNN + , and c-CNC - are as well. Each of these are exciting objects for observation of Titan, and the rotational constants and vibrational frequencies produced here will allow for remote sensing of Titan's atmosphere or other astrophysical or terrestrial sources. None of these four aromatic species are vibrationally strong absorbers/emitters, but the two ions, HCNN + and c-CNC - , have dipole moments of greater than 3 D and 1 D, respectively, making them good targets for rotational spectroscopic observation. Each of these molecules is shown here to exhibit its own, unique vibrational properties, but the general trends put the vibrational behavior for corresponding fundamental modes within close ranges of one another, even producing nearly the same heavy atom, symmetric stretching frequencies for HCNN + and c-C 3 H 2 at 1600 cm -1 . The c-N 3 + cation is confirmed to be fairly unstable and has almost no intensity in its ν 2 fundamental. Hence, it will likely remain difficult to characterize experimentally.

Description and Evaluation of the 2009–2010 Pennsylvania Influenza Sentinel School Monitoring System

PubMed Central

Marriott, Chandra K.; Ostroff, Stephen; Waller, Kirsten

2011-01-01

Objectives. We described and evaluated the 2009–2010 Pennsylvania Influenza Sentinel School Monitoring System, a voluntary sentinel network of schools that report data on school absenteeism and visits to the school nurse for influenza-like illness (ILI). Methods. Participating schools provided daily absenteeism and ILI data on a weekly basis through an online survey. We used participation and weekly response rates to determine acceptability, timeliness, and simplicity. We assessed representativeness by comparing participating schools with nonparticipating schools. We compared monitoring system data with statewide reports of laboratory-confirmed influenza. Results. Of the 3244 Pennsylvania public schools, 367 (11%) enrolled in the system. On average, 79% of enrolled schools completed the survey each week. Although the peak week of elevated absenteeism coincided with the peak of statewide laboratory-confirmed influenza cases, the correlation between absenteeism and state data was nonsignificant (correlation coefficient = 0.10; P = .56). Trends in ILI correlated significantly with state data (correlation coefficient = 0.67; P < .001). Conclusions. The school-based sentinel system is a simple, acceptable, reliable device for tracking absenteeism and ILI in schools. Further analyses are necessary to determine the comparative value of this system and other influenza surveillance systems. PMID:21566024

Debt on graduation, expected place of practice, and career aspirations of Auckland Medical School students.

PubMed

O'Grady, G; Fitzjohn, J

2001-10-26

To determine the debt level that current Auckland medical students expect to graduate with, and evaluate this debt in the context of their career aspirations and intended place of practice. Simple check-box and fill-in-the-blank surveys were distributed to Auckland University medical students in Years 1 through to 5 during their second week of scheduled lectures in March 2000. Students were asked to provide demographic details, then complete sections on debt and career aspirations. 70% of Auckland medical students participated. Average expected debt was between $60000 to $70000. Predicted size of graduation debt was significantly related with plans to practice medicine overseas, and this trend was especially strong among females. In addition, Maori and Polynesian students bear a disproportionate level of the student debt burden compared to Pakeha and Asian groups. 77% of students indicated a preference for working in private or hospital specialty work. Student debt will have major effects on the composition of the New Zealand medical workforce over coming years. More attention must be paid to the national picture of medical student indebtedness if adequate workforce planning is to be possible.

Tuberculous Lymphadenitis and Parotitis.

PubMed

Cataño, Juan Carlos; Robledo, Jaime

2016-12-01

Tuberculous lymphadenitis is the most common extrapulmonary manifestation of disseminated tuberculosis (TB). It is considered to be the local manifestation of the systemic disease that has disseminated to local lymph nodes, but a high index of suspicion is needed for the diagnosis, because there are several infectious and noninfectious diseases that can mimic the same clinical picture. In recent years, different diagnostic methods have been introduced, including fine-needle aspiration cytology, which has emerged as a simple outpatient diagnostic procedure that replaced the complete excisional node biopsy, and a number of molecular methods which have greatly improved diagnostic accuracy. This chapter covers the most actual knowledge in terms of epidemiology, clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, and treatment and emphasizes current trends in diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis. TB parotid gland involvement is extremely rare, even in countries in which TB is endemic. Because of the clinical similarity, parotid malignancy and other forms of parotid inflammatory disease always take priority over the rarely encountered TB parotitis when it comes to differential diagnosis. As a result, clinicians often fail to make a timely diagnosis of TB parotitis when facing a patient with a slowly growing parotid lump. This chapter highlights the most important features of this uncommon disease.

Multi-Scale Observation of Time-Variable Interactions of a Stream and its Valley Bottom During a Storm Event

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hixson, J.; Ward, A. S.; Schmadel, N.

2015-12-01

The exchange of water and solutes across the stream-hyporheic-riparian-hillslope continuum is controlled by the interaction of dynamic hydrological processes with the underlying geological setting. Our current understanding of exchange processes is primarily based on field observations collected during baseflow conditions, with few studies considering time-variable stream-aquifer interactions during storm events. We completed ten sets of four in-stream tracer slug injections during and after a large storm event in a headwater catchment at the H.J. Andrews Experimental Forest, Oregon. The injections were performed in three adjacent 50-meter study reaches, enabling comparison of spatial heterogeneity in transport processes. Reach-scale data demonstrate apparent trends with discharge in both transient storage and long-term storage (commonly "channel water balance"). Comparison of flowpath-scale observations from a network of monitoring wells to reach-scale observations showed that the advective timescale changed with discharge making it difficult to infer process from simple, reach-scale tracer studies. Overall, our results highlight the opportunities and challenges for interpretation of multi-scale solute tracer data along the stream-hyporheic-riparian-hillslope continuum.

Restoration of neurological functions by neuroprosthetic technologies: future prospects and trends towards micro-, nano-, and biohybrid systems.

PubMed

Stieglitz, T

2007-01-01

Today applications of neural prostheses that successfully help patients to increase their activities of daily living and participate in social life again are quite simple implants that yield definite tissue response and are well recognized as foreign body. Latest developments in genetic engineering, nanotechnologies and materials sciences have paved the way to new scenarios towards highly complex systems to interface the human nervous system. Combinations of neural cells with microimplants promise stable biohybrid interfaces. Nanotechnology opens the door to macromolecular landscapes on implants that mimic the biologic topology and surface interaction of biologic cells. Computer sciences dream of technical cognitive systems that act and react due to knowledge-based conclusion mechanisms to a changing or adaptive environment. Different sciences start to interact and discuss the synergies when methods and paradigms from biology, computer sciences and engineering, neurosciences, psychology will be combined. They envision the era of "converging technologies" to completely change the understanding of science and postulate a new vision of humans. In this chapter, these research lines will be discussed on some examples as well as the societal implications and ethical questions that arise from these new opportunities.

Manipulation Capabilities with Simple Hands

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-01-01

allowing it to interpret online kinesthetic data, addressing two objectives: • Grasp classification: Distinguish between successful and unsuccessful...determining the grasp outcome before the grasping process is complete, by using the entire time series or kinesthetic signature of the grasping process. As...the grasp proceeds and additional kinesthetic data accumulates, the confidence also increases. In some cases Manipulation Capabilities with Simple Hands

Radiation/Catalytic Augmented Combustion.

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-05-01

interest to compare the experimental results for the solid bluff body with a thuoretical result. Using simple argtinieiiLs from fluid mechanics " one...responsibility through completion. Dr. A. E. Cerkanowlcz assisted in writing this final report. Experimental studies on catalytic augmented combustion...as well as with other combustion species, lead to ignition and sustained combustion via chain reactions. Simple combustion enhancement without

An Operationally Simple Sonogashira Reaction for an Undergraduate Organic Chemistry Laboratory Class

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cranwell, Philippa B.; Peterson, Alexander M.; Littlefield, Benjamin T. R.; Russell, Andrew T.

2015-01-01

An operationally simple, reliable, and cheap Sonogashira reaction suitable for an undergraduate laboratory class that can be completed within a day-long (8 h) laboratory session has been developed. Cross-coupling is carried out between 2-methyl-3-butyn-2-ol and various aryl iodides using catalytic amounts of bis(triphenylphosphine)palladium(II)…

Variations in extreme precipitation on the Loess Plateau using a high-resolution dataset and their linkages with atmospheric circulation indices

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Guangju; Zhai, Jianqing; Tian, Peng; Zhang, Limei; Mu, Xingmin; An, Zhengfeng; Han, Mengwei

2017-08-01

Assessing regional patterns and trends in extreme precipitation is crucial for facilitating flood control and drought adaptation because extreme climate events have more damaging impacts on society and ecosystems than simple shifts in the mean values. In this study, we employed daily precipitation data from 231 climate stations spanning 1961 to 2014 to explore the changes in precipitation extremes on the Loess Plateau, China. Nine of the 12 extreme precipitation indices suggested decreasing trends, and only the annual total wet-day precipitation (PRCPTOT) and R10 declined significantly: - 0.69 mm/a and - 0.023 days/a at the 95% confidence level. The spatial patterns in all of the extreme precipitation indices indicated mixed trends on the Loess Plateau, with decreasing trends in the precipitation extremes at the majority of the stations examined in the Fen-Wei River valley and high-plain plateau. Most of extreme precipitation indices suggested apparent regional differences, whereas R25 and R20 had spatially similar patterns on the Loess Plateau, with many stations revealing no trends. In addition, we found a potential decreasing trend in rainfall amounts and rainy days and increasing trends in rainfall intensities and storm frequencies in some regions due to increasing precipitation events in recent years. The relationships between extreme rainfall events and atmospheric circulation indices suggest that the weakening trend in the East Asia summer monsoon has limited the northward extension of the rainfall belt to northern China, thereby leading to a decrease in rainfall on the Loess Plateau.

Estimating trends in the global mean temperature record

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Poppick, Andrew; Moyer, Elisabeth J.; Stein, Michael L.

2017-06-01

Given uncertainties in physical theory and numerical climate simulations, the historical temperature record is often used as a source of empirical information about climate change. Many historical trend analyses appear to de-emphasize physical and statistical assumptions: examples include regression models that treat time rather than radiative forcing as the relevant covariate, and time series methods that account for internal variability in nonparametric rather than parametric ways. However, given a limited data record and the presence of internal variability, estimating radiatively forced temperature trends in the historical record necessarily requires some assumptions. Ostensibly empirical methods can also involve an inherent conflict in assumptions: they require data records that are short enough for naive trend models to be applicable, but long enough for long-timescale internal variability to be accounted for. In the context of global mean temperatures, empirical methods that appear to de-emphasize assumptions can therefore produce misleading inferences, because the trend over the twentieth century is complex and the scale of temporal correlation is long relative to the length of the data record. We illustrate here how a simple but physically motivated trend model can provide better-fitting and more broadly applicable trend estimates and can allow for a wider array of questions to be addressed. In particular, the model allows one to distinguish, within a single statistical framework, between uncertainties in the shorter-term vs. longer-term response to radiative forcing, with implications not only on historical trends but also on uncertainties in future projections. We also investigate the consequence on inferred uncertainties of the choice of a statistical description of internal variability. While nonparametric methods may seem to avoid making explicit assumptions, we demonstrate how even misspecified parametric statistical methods, if attuned to the important characteristics of internal variability, can result in more accurate uncertainty statements about trends.

Hydrologic Response to Climate Change: Missing Precipitation Data Matters for Computed Timing Trends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Daniels, B.

2016-12-01

This work demonstrates the derivation of climate timing statistics and applying them to determine resulting hydroclimate impacts. Long-term daily precipitation observations from 50 California stations were used to compute climate trends of precipitation event Intensity, event Duration and Pause between events. Each precipitation event trend was then applied as input to a PRMS hydrology model which showed hydrology changes to recharge, baseflow, streamflow, etc. An important concern was precipitation uncertainty induced by missing observation values and causing errors in quantification of precipitation trends. Many standard statistical techniques such as ARIMA and simple endogenous or even exogenous imputation were applied but failed to help resolve these uncertainties. What helped resolve these uncertainties was use of multiple imputation techniques. This involved fitting of Weibull probability distributions to multiple imputed values for the three precipitation trends.Permutation resampling techniques using Monte Carlo processing were then applied to the multiple imputation values to derive significance p-values for each trend. Significance at the 95% level for Intensity was found for 11 of the 50 stations, Duration from 16 of the 50, and Pause from 19, of which 12 were 99% significant. The significance weighted trends for California are Intensity -4.61% per decade, Duration +3.49% per decade, and Pause +3.58% per decade. Two California basins with PRMS hydrologic models were studied: Feather River in the northern Sierra Nevada mountains and the central coast Soquel-Aptos. Each local trend was changed without changing the other trends or the total precipitation. Feather River Basin's critical supply to Lake Oroville and the State Water Project benefited from a total streamflow increase of 1.5%. The Soquel-Aptos Basin water supply was impacted by a total groundwater recharge decrease of -7.5% and streamflow decrease of -3.2%.

Simple model of hydrophobic hydration.

PubMed

Lukšič, Miha; Urbic, Tomaz; Hribar-Lee, Barbara; Dill, Ken A

2012-05-31

Water is an unusual liquid in its solvation properties. Here, we model the process of transferring a nonpolar solute into water. Our goal was to capture the physical balance between water's hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions in a model that is simple enough to be nearly analytical and not heavily computational. We develop a 2-dimensional Mercedes-Benz-like model of water with which we compute the free energy, enthalpy, entropy, and the heat capacity of transfer as a function of temperature, pressure, and solute size. As validation, we find that this model gives the same trends as Monte Carlo simulations of the underlying 2D model and gives qualitative agreement with experiments. The advantages of this model are that it gives simple insights and that computational time is negligible. It may provide a useful starting point for developing more efficient and more realistic 3D models of aqueous solvation.

An integrated Gaussian process regression for prediction of remaining useful life of slow speed bearings based on acoustic emission

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aye, S. A.; Heyns, P. S.

2017-02-01

This paper proposes an optimal Gaussian process regression (GPR) for the prediction of remaining useful life (RUL) of slow speed bearings based on a novel degradation assessment index obtained from acoustic emission signal. The optimal GPR is obtained from an integration or combination of existing simple mean and covariance functions in order to capture the observed trend of the bearing degradation as well the irregularities in the data. The resulting integrated GPR model provides an excellent fit to the data and improves over the simple GPR models that are based on simple mean and covariance functions. In addition, it achieves a low percentage error prediction of the remaining useful life of slow speed bearings. These findings are robust under varying operating conditions such as loading and speed and can be applied to nonlinear and nonstationary machine response signals useful for effective preventive machine maintenance purposes.

Some Trends and Reforms in the Educational Policy of Norway in the Light of the Concept of Life-Long Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Udjus, Ingelise

An emphasis on planned and completed educational reforms in Norway which reflect the attitude that education is a lifelong process is presented in this document. A study is made of some of the trends in the development of the formal school system which have been influenced by the concept of life-long education. This study includes primary,…

Language Trends 2013/14: The State of Language Learning in Primary and Secondary Schools in England. Executive Summary

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Board, Kathryn; Tinsley, Teresa

2014-01-01

The Language Trends survey 2013/4 is the 12th in a series of annual research exercises charting the health of language teaching and learning in English schools. The findings are based on an online survey completed by teachers in a large sample of secondary schools across the country from both the state and independent sectors. In 2012, and again…

Mountain bikes and metropolitan park districts: issues and trends identified by state parks and state park districts in Ohio

Treesearch

Eric L. Longsdorf; Ruthie Kucharewski

2007-01-01

This study explored selected issues and trends related to mountain biking within Ohio State Parks and Park Districts. A convenience sample of 21 State Parks and 26 Park Districts completed a 24-item survey assessing mountain bike: (a) access, (b) activity levels, (c) planning, and (d) management. Results indicated that 86 percent of State Parks participating in the...

Analysis of Commercial Contract Training for the Marine Corps (Phase 2)

DTIC Science & Technology

1975-06-01

Machines American Telephone & Telegraph Eastman Kodak Company Boeing Company McDonnell Douglas Corporation Coca Cola Company, USA Martin-Marietta...labor market , economic environment, job trends, social programs, and technology trends were included in task study procedures to give a complete picture...costs presents no particular difficulty for those resources to be acquired. In a market economy, the resource prices are usually a reflection of their

Ozone and temperature trends

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stolarski, Richard S.; Fioletov, Vitali; Bishop, Lane; Godin, Sophie; Bojkov, Rumen D.; Kirchhoff, Volker; Chanin, Marie-Lise; Zawodny, Joseph M.; Zerefos, Christos S.; Chu, William

1991-01-01

An update of the extensive reviews of the state of knowledge of measured ozone trends published in the Report of the International Ozone Trends Panel is presented. The update contains a review of progress since these reports, including reviewing of the ozone records, in most cases through March 1991. Also included are some new, unpublished reanalyses of these records including a complete reevaluation of 29 stations located in the former Soviet Union. The major new advance in knowledge of the measured ozone trend is the existence of independently calibrated satellite data records from the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) and Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAG) instruments. These confirm many of the findings, originally derived from the Dobson record, concerning northern mid-latitude changes in ozone. We now have results from several instruments, whereas the previously reported changes were dependent on the calibration of a single instrument. This update will compare the ozone records from many different instruments to determine whether or not they provide a consistent picture of the ozone change that has occurred in the atmosphere. The update also briefly considers the problem of stratospheric temperature change. As in previous reports, this problem received significantly less attention, and the report is not nearly as complete. This area needs more attention in the future.

Using routine diagnostic data as a method of surveillance of arboviral infection in travellers: a comparative analysis with a focus on dengue.

PubMed

Cleton, Natalie; Reusken, Chantal; Murk, Jean-Luc; de Jong, Menno; Reimerink, Johan; van der Eijk, Annemiek; Koopmans, Marion

2014-01-01

In a large part of the developing world, limited infectious disease surveillance is performed. In laboratory information management systems data on diagnostic requests is available and may be amenable to trend analyses. We explored this potential, using DENV diagnostic requests as a model. Test results and anonymised information provided by clinicians were received for 8942 patients from diagnostic centres in the Netherlands from January 2000 to May 2011. The data were evaluated for completeness of a predefined minimal dataset and trends in DENV positive results by travel destination. Population travel data were obtained from a commercial registry, and dengue case notification data by country from WHO DengueNet. Vaccination history was rarely reported (0.4%); travel destination was completed for 42% of requests; trends in diagnostic requests and IgM positive tests for this subset correlated to the WHO DENV notifications for the three main travel destinations, with some discrepancies. Additionally, this approach may provide information on disease outbreaks with other pathogens causing diseases clinically similar to DENV. PCR data proved to be insufficient for trend monitoring by country. This approach is not straightforward, but shows potential for use as a source of additional information for surveillance of disease. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The spectroscopic impact of interactions with the four Gouterman orbitals from peripheral decoration of porphyrins with simple electron withdrawing and donating groups.

PubMed

Zhang, Angel; Kwan, Lydia; Stillman, Martin J

2017-11-07

Tetrapyrroles are of great interest for solar cell and photodynamic therapy applications due to their structural analogy with chlorophyll, a natural photosensitizer. Unsubstituted symmetric porphyrins exhibit weak absorption in the red region which makes them unsuitable for these applications. The push-pull peripheral decoration modifies the energies of the frontier molecular orbitals, which in turn influences the tetrapyrrole's spectroscopic properties. The absorption, magnetic circular dichroism, and emission spectra were measured for four zinc tetratolylporphyrin compounds substituted peripherally with a fused dimethoxybenzo group as an electron withdrawing group (EWG) on one pyrrole and on the opposite pyrrole, a single acetamido (1), a nitro (2), a proton (3), or a benzoylamino (4) substituent. Unusually, the magnetic circular dichroism spectrum of 2 exhibited a negative A term for the lowest energy absorption band (the Q band) and its emission spectrum was also unlike those of 1, 3, and 4. A complete computational analysis was carried out to obtain the energies and electron distribution, shown by electron density surfaces, of the four Gouterman MOs. TD-DFT calculations showed that for 2, ΔLUMO was greater than ΔHOMO, which accounted for the observed negative A term. The trend in the estimated MCD A term magnitudes, normalized to the absorbance as [A/(dipole strength) BM], provides experimental confirmation of the computationally determined ratio of ΔLUMO/ΔHOMO data. The value of ΔHOMO was confirmed by the trend in oscillator strengths. A series of fictive porphyrins (F1-F5) incorporating simple push-pull substituents were designed and their electronic structures were investigated using TD-DFT calculations. The substituents in the five fictive molecules illustrate the differential effect of the donor and acceptor groups in the β-position of the pyrroles on the relative stabilities of the four Gouterman orbitals. NO 2 groups result in the greatest splitting of the LUMO pair. We show that on using strong EWGs, opposite electron donating groups result in a ΔLUMO > 0, which red-shifts the Q band and introduces a strong dipole. With the nitro and formyl EWGs, ΔLUMO becomes greater than ΔHOMO, resulting in a complex electronic structure of the Q band, recognizable by a negative A term suggesting a design objective for future photosensitizers.

Exploring spatial patterns and drivers of forest fires in Portugal (1980-2014).

PubMed

Nunes, A N; Lourenço, L; Meira, A C Castro

2016-12-15

Information on the spatial incidence of fire ignition density and burnt area, trends and drivers of wildfires is vitally important in providing support for environmental and civil protection policies, designing appropriate prevention measures and allocating firefighting resources. The key objectives of this study were to analyse the geographical incidence and temporal trends for wildfires, as well as the main drivers of fire ignition and burnt area in Portugal on a municipal level. The results show that fires are not distributed uniformly throughout Portuguese territory, both in terms of ignition density and burnt area. One spot in the north-western area is well defined, covering 10% of the municipalities where more than one third of the total fire ignitions are concentrated. In >80% of Portuguese municipalities, ignition density has registered a positive trend since the 1980s. With regard to burnt area, 60% of the municipalities had a nil annual trend, 35% showed a positive trend and 5%, located mainly in the central region, revealed negative trends. Geographically weighted regression proved more efficient in identifying the most relevant physical and anthropogenic drivers of municipal wildfires in comparison with simple linear regression models. Topography, density of population, land cover and livestock were found to be significant in both ignition density and burnt area, although considerable variations were observed in municipal explanatory power. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Seasonality in twin birth rates, Denmark, 1936-84.

PubMed

Bonnelykke, B; Søgaard, J; Nielsen, J

1987-12-01

A study was made of seasonality in twin birth rate in Denmark between 1977 and 1984. We studied all twin births (N = 45,550) in all deliveries (N = 3,679,932) during that period. Statistical analysis using a simple harmonic sinusoidal model provided no evidence for seasonality. However, sequential polynomial analysis disclosed a significant fit to a fifth order polynomial curve with peaks in twin birth rates in May-June and December, along with troughs in February and September. A falling trend in twinning rate broke off in Denmark around 1970, and from 1970 to 1984 an increasing trend was found. The results are discussed in terms of possible environmental influences on twinning.

Detecting trends in tree growth: not so simple.

PubMed

Bowman, David M J S; Brienen, Roel J W; Gloor, Emanuel; Phillips, Oliver L; Prior, Lynda D

2013-01-01

Tree biomass influences biogeochemical cycles, climate, and biodiversity across local to global scales. Understanding the environmental control of tree biomass demands consideration of the drivers of individual tree growth over their lifespan. This can be achieved by studies of tree growth in permanent sample plots (prospective studies) and tree ring analyses (retrospective studies). However, identification of growth trends and attribution of their drivers demands statistical control of the axiomatic co-variation of tree size and age, and avoiding sampling biases at the stand, forest, and regional scales. Tracking and predicting the effects of environmental change on tree biomass requires well-designed studies that address the issues that we have reviewed. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The observational case for Jupiter being a typical massive planet.

PubMed

Lineweaver, Charles H; Grether, Daniel

2002-01-01

We identify a subsample of the recently detected extrasolar planets that is minimally affected by the selection effects of the Doppler detection method. With a simple analysis we quantify trends in the surface density of this subsample in the period-Msin(i) plane. A modest extrapolation of these trends puts Jupiter in the most densely occupied region of this parameter space, thus indicating that Jupiter is a typical massive planet rather than an outlier. Our analysis suggests that Jupiter is more typical than indicated by previous analyses. For example, instead of MJup mass exoplanets being twice as common as 2 MJup exoplanets, we find they are three times as common.

Development of an atmospheric N2O isotopocule model and optimization procedure, and application to source estimation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishijima, K.; Takigawa, M.; Sudo, K.; Toyoda, S.; Yoshida, N.; Röckmann, T.; Kaiser, J.; Aoki, S.; Morimoto, S.; Sugawara, S.; Nakazawa, T.

2015-07-01

This paper presents the development of an atmospheric N2O isotopocule model based on a chemistry-coupled atmospheric general circulation model (ACTM). We also describe a simple method to optimize the model and present its use in estimating the isotopic signatures of surface sources at the hemispheric scale. Data obtained from ground-based observations, measurements of firn air, and balloon and aircraft flights were used to optimize the long-term trends, interhemispheric gradients, and photolytic fractionation, respectively, in the model. This optimization successfully reproduced realistic spatial and temporal variations of atmospheric N2O isotopocules throughout the atmosphere from the surface to the stratosphere. The very small gradients associated with vertical profiles through the troposphere and the latitudinal and vertical distributions within each hemisphere were also reasonably simulated. The results of the isotopic characterization of the global total sources were generally consistent with previous one-box model estimates, indicating that the observed atmospheric trend is the dominant factor controlling the source isotopic signature. However, hemispheric estimates were different from those generated by a previous two-box model study, mainly due to the model accounting for the interhemispheric transport and latitudinal and vertical distributions of tropospheric N2O isotopocules. Comparisons of time series of atmospheric N2O isotopocule ratios between our model and observational data from several laboratories revealed the need for a more systematic and elaborate intercalibration of the standard scales used in N2O isotopic measurements in order to capture a more complete and precise picture of the temporal and spatial variations in atmospheric N2O isotopocule ratios. This study highlights the possibility that inverse estimation of surface N2O fluxes, including the isotopic information as additional constraints, could be realized.

Development of an atmospheric N2O isotopocule model and optimization procedure, and application to source estimation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishijima, K.; Takigawa, M.; Sudo, K.; Toyoda, S.; Yoshida, N.; Röckmann, T.; Kaiser, J.; Aoki, S.; Morimoto, S.; Sugawara, S.; Nakazawa, T.

2015-12-01

This work presents the development of an atmospheric N2O isotopocule model based on a chemistry-coupled atmospheric general circulation model (ACTM). We also describe a simple method to optimize the model and present its use in estimating the isotopic signatures of surface sources at the hemispheric scale. Data obtained from ground-based observations, measurements of firn air, and balloon and aircraft flights were used to optimize the long-term trends, interhemispheric gradients, and photolytic fractionation, respectively, in the model. This optimization successfully reproduced realistic spatial and temporal variations of atmospheric N2O isotopocules throughout the atmosphere from the surface to the stratosphere. The very small gradients associated with vertical profiles through the troposphere and the latitudinal and vertical distributions within each hemisphere were also reasonably simulated. The results of the isotopic characterization of the global total sources were generally consistent with previous one-box model estimates, indicating that the observed atmospheric trend is the dominant factor controlling the source isotopic signature. However, hemispheric estimates were different from those generated by a previous two-box model study, mainly due to the model accounting for the interhemispheric transport and latitudinal and vertical distributions of tropospheric N2O isotopocules. Comparisons of time series of atmospheric N2O isotopocule ratios between our model and observational data from several laboratories revealed the need for a more systematic and elaborate intercalibration of the standard scales used in N2O isotopic measurements in order to capture a more complete and precise picture of the temporal and spatial variations in atmospheric N2O isotopocule ratios. This study highlights the possibility that inverse estimation of surface N2O fluxes, including the isotopic information as additional constraints, could be realized.

Current data in Greek children indicate decreasing trends of obesity in the transition from childhood to adolescence; results from the National Action for Children’s Health (EYZHN) program

PubMed Central

TAMBALIS, K.D.; PANAGIOTAKOS, D.B.; PSARRA, G.; SIDOSSIS, L.S.

2018-01-01

Summary Introduction The aim of the study is to present the most recent estimates of obesity (total and central) prevalence in Greek children and associated risk factors. Methods Population data are derived from a yearly, school-based health survey polled in 2015 on 336,014 (51% boys) children aged 4 to 17 years old from almost 40% of all schools of primary and secondary education in Greece. Anthropometric and physical fitness measurements were obtained by trained investigators. Dietary habits, physical activity status, sedentary activities and sleeping hours were assessed through self-completed questionnaires. The gender and age-specific Body Mass Index (BMI) cut-off points were used in order to define BMI groups. Results The prevalence of overweight and obesity in the whole population was 22.2% and 9.0% in boys and 21.6% and 7.5% in girls, respectively. Obesity presented decreasing trends in the transition from childhood to adolescence. Central obesity was diagnosed in 95.3% and 93.5% of the simple obese boys and girls, respectively, in almost two to three of overweight children (68.6% of boys and 64.3% of girls), and in 12% of normal weight children. Age, physical fitness, low adherence to Mediterranean diet, insufficient sleeping hours, inadequate physical activity levels and increased screen time were all associated with higher odds of total and central obesity. Conclusions Serious and urgent actions need to be taken from public health policy makers in order not only to prevent a further increase in obesity rates but, more important, to treat obesity and/or the obesity associated co-morbidities. PMID:29938238

Forest statistics for North Central Georgia, 1998

Treesearch

Michael T. Thompson

1998-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the seventh forest survey of North Central Georgia. Field work began in June 1997 and was completed in November 1997. Six previous surveys, completed in 1936, 1953, 196 1, 1972, 1983, and 1989 provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 6 1 years. This report primarily emphasizes the changes and...

Forest statistics for Northeast Florida 1970

Treesearch

Joe P. McClure

1970-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fourth Forest Survey of the timber resource in Northeast Florida. The survey was started in February 1969 and completed in November 1969. Findings of the three previous surveys, completed in 1934, 1949, and 1959, provide the basis for measuring changes that have occurred and trends that have developed over the...

Forest statistics for Northwest Florida, 1969

Treesearch

Herbert A. Knight

1969-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fourth Forest survey of the timber resource in Northwest Florida. The survey was started in July 19 68 and completed in March 1969. Findings of the three previous surveys, completed in 1934, 1949, and 1959, provide the basis for measuring changes that have occurred and trends that have developed over the past 35...

Forest statistics for South Florida, 1970

Treesearch

Thomas R. Bellamy; Herbert A. Knight

1970-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fourth Forest Survey of the timber resource in South Florida. The survey was started in February 1970 and completed in March 1970. Findings of the three previous surveys, completed in 1936, 1949, and 1959, provide the basis for measuring changes that have occurred and trends that have developed over the past 34...

Effective Aspects of Reengagement and Recovery Programs in Southeastern Wisconsin High Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Litzau, Christopher; Rice, Nancy

2017-01-01

The number of students in the United States who did not complete high school decreased by 27% from 2008 to 2012 (Alliance for Excellent Education, America's Promise Alliance, Civic Enterprises, & The Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University, 2015). This is a positive trend. High schools can help students complete school and…

Forest statistics for the Northern Piedmont of Virginia 1976

Treesearch

Raymond M. Sheffield

1976-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fourth inventory of the timber resource in the Northern Piedmont of Virginia. The inventory was started in March 1976 and completed in August 1976. Three previous inventories, completed in 1940, 1957, and 1965, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 36 years. In this report, the primary...

Forest statistics for the Northern Coastal Plain of South Carolina 1968

Treesearch

Richard L. Welch

1968-01-01

This report presents the principal findings of the fourth Forest Survey in the Piedmont of South Carolina, completed in February 1967. Findings of the three earlier surveys, completed in 1936, 1947, and 1958, provide the basis for measuring the changes that have occurred and the trends that have developed over the past 30 years.

Forest statistics for the Southern Coastal Plain of South Carolina

Treesearch

Noel D. Cost

1968-01-01

This report presents the principal findings of the fourth Forest Survey in the Piedmont of South Carolina, completed in February 1967. Findings of the three earlier surveys, completed in 1936, 1947, and 1958, provide the basis for measuring the changes that have occurred and the trends that have developed over the past 30 years.

Forest statistics for the Coastal Plain of Virginia, 1976

Treesearch

Noel D. Cost

1976-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fourth inventory of the timber resource in the coastal Plain of Virginia. The inventory was started in February 1975 and completed in November 1975. Three previous inventories, completed in 1940, 1956, and 1966, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 36 years. In this report, the primary...

Forest statistics for Northeast Florida, 1995

Treesearch

Raymond M. Sheffield

1995-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the seventh forest survey of Northeast Florida. Field work began in April 1994 and was completed in May 1995. Six previous surveys, completed in 1934, 1949. 1959, 1970, 1980, and 1987 provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 61 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on the changes and...

Forest statistics for South Carolina, 1978

Treesearch

Raymond M. Sheffield

1978-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fifth inventory of South Carolina's forests. Fieldwork began in April 1977 and was completed in August 1978. Four previous statewide inventories, completed in 1936, 1947, 19.58, and 1968, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 42 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on the...

Forest statistics for the Southern Piedmont of Virginia 1976

Treesearch

Raymond M. Sheffield

1976-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fourth inventory of the timber resource in the Southern Piedmont of Virginia. The inventory was started in February 1975 and completed in November 1975. Three previous inventories, completed in 1940, 1956, and 1966, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 36 years. In this report, the...

Doctoral Students' Experiences Leading to Completion or Attrition: A Matter of Sense, Progress and Distress

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Devos, Christelle; Boudrenghien, Gentiane; Van der Linden, Nicolas; Azzi, Assaad; Frenay, Mariane; Galand, Benoit; Klein, Olivier

2017-01-01

A central trend in qualitative studies investigating doctoral students' dropout is to stress the importance of students' integration and socialisation in their working environment. Yet, few of these studies actually compared the experiences of doctoral students who completed or quit their PhD. In order to overcome this limitation and identify the…

Forest statistics for the Northern Mountain region of Virginia 1977

Treesearch

Raymond M. Sheffield

1977-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fourth inventory of timber resources in the Northern Mountain Region of Virginia. The inventory was started in August 1976 and completed in December 1976. Three previous inventories, completed in 1940, 1957 and 1966, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 37 years. In this report, the...

Forest statistics for South Carolina, 1986

Treesearch

John B. Tansey

1986-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the sixth forest survey in South Carolina. Fieldwork began in November 1985 and was completed in September 1986. Five previous surveys, completed in 1936, 1947, 1958, 1968, and 1978, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 50 years, The primary emphasis in this report is on the changes and...

Forest statistics for Southwest Georgia, 1988

Treesearch

Michael T. Thompson

1988-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the sixth forest survey in southwest Georgia. Field work began in October 1987 and was completed in January 1988. Five previous surveys, completed in 1934, 1951, 1960, 1971, and 1981, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 54 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on the changes and...

Teaching Electricity and Engineering with LEDs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Johnstone, Christopher

2014-01-01

When learning about electricity, students are typically asked to complete a simple circuit involving a battery, wire, and lightbulb. This activity can be enhanced by adding discussion and discourse and can take on a unique final form in the case of "The Friendship Detector." In such electrical circuit activities, the completed circuit is…

Changing Trends in the Clinical Presentation and Management of Complete Hydatidiform Mole Among Brazilian Women.

PubMed

Braga, Antonio; Moraes, Valéria; Maestá, Izildinha; Amim Júnior, Joffre; Rezende-Filho, Jorge de; Elias, Kevin; Berkowitz, Ross

2016-06-01

The aim of the study was to evaluate potential changes in the clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic parameters of complete hydatidiform mole in the last 25 years in Brazil. A retrospective cohort study was conducted involving the analysis of 2163 medical records of patients diagnosed with complete hydatidiform mole who received treatment at the Rio de Janeiro Reference Center for Gestational Trophoblastic Disease between January 1988 and December 2012. For the statistical analysis of the natural history of the patients with complete molar pregnancies, time series were evaluated using the Cox-Stuart test and adjusted by linear regression models. A downward linear temporal trend was observed for gestational age of complete hydatidiform mole at diagnosis, which is also reflected in the reduced occurrence of vaginal bleeding, hyperemesis and pre-eclampsia. We also observed an increase in the use of uterine vacuum aspiration to treat molar pregnancy. Although the duration of postmolar follow-up was found to decline, this was not accompanied by any alteration in the time to remission of the disease or its progression to gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. Early diagnosis of complete hydatidiform mole has altered the natural history of molar pregnancy, especially with a reduction in classical clinical symptoms. However, early diagnosis has not resulted in a reduction in the development of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia, a dilemma that still challenges professionals working with gestational trophoblastic disease.

Crossing trend analysis methodology and application for Turkish rainfall records

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Şen, Zekâi

2018-01-01

Trend analyses are the necessary tools for depicting possible general increase or decrease in a given time series. There are many versions of trend identification methodologies such as the Mann-Kendall trend test, Spearman's tau, Sen's slope, regression line, and Şen's innovative trend analysis. The literature has many papers about the use, cons and pros, and comparisons of these methodologies. In this paper, a completely new approach is proposed based on the crossing properties of a time series. It is suggested that the suitable trend from the centroid of the given time series should have the maximum number of crossings (total number of up-crossings or down-crossings). This approach is applicable whether the time series has dependent or independent structure and also without any dependence on the type of the probability distribution function. The validity of this method is presented through extensive Monte Carlo simulation technique and its comparison with other existing trend identification methodologies. The application of the methodology is presented for a set of annual daily extreme rainfall time series from different parts of Turkey and they have physically independent structure.

Climate-induced variations in global wildfire danger from 1979 to 2013

Treesearch

W. Matt Jolly; Mark A. Cochrane; Patrick H. Freeborn; Zachary A. Holden; Timothy J. Brown; Grant J. Williamson; David M. J. S. Bowman

2015-01-01

Climate strongly influences global wildfire activity, and recent wildfire surges may signal fire weather-induced pyrogeographic shifts. Here we use three daily global climate data sets and three fire danger indices to develop a simple annual metric of fire weather season length, and map spatio-temporal trends from 1979 to 2013. We show that fire weather seasons have...

Architectural Specialization for Inter-Iteration Loop Dependence Patterns

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-10-01

Architectural Specialization for Inter-Iteration Loop Dependence Patterns Christopher Batten Computer Systems Laboratory School of Electrical and...Trends in Computer Architecture Transistors (Thousands) Frequency (MHz) Typical Power (W) MIPS R2K Intel P4 DEC Alpha 21264 Data collected by M...T as ks p er Jo ule ) Simple Processor Design Power Constraint High-Performance Architectures Embedded Architectures Design Performance

Historic resource production from USDA Forest Service northern and intermountain region lands.

Treesearch

David Calkin

1999-01-01

This paper presents long-term resource production from National Forests in the Northern and Intermountain Regions, Regions 1 and 4, respectively. A historical data series of timber harvest and grazing levels on National Forests and lumber production and prices for these regions is developed. Significant trends within the data set are examined. A simple model based on...

Why Has the Cost of Fixed-Wing Aircraft Risen? A Macroscopic Examination of the Trends in U.S. Military Aircraft Costs over the Past Several Decades

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-01-01

simple,” is the share of airframe structure that is neither tita - nium nor composite material. Unfortunately, only 49 of the 93 aircraft with...of airframe materials (or as simpler materials decrease), aircraft unit cost increases. Increasing the proportion of tita - nium and composite

Factors affecting the abundance and distribution of European starlings at the San Joaquin Experimental Range

Treesearch

Kathryn L. Purcell; Jared Verner; Sylvia R. Mori

2002-01-01

We examined population trends and factors related to the abundance and presence of European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) at the San Joaquin Experimental Range in the foothills of the western Sierra Nevada, 31 km east of Madera, California. Starlings first appeared there in low numbers in the late 1960s and are now abundant breeders. Simple models...

Connellys' Classroom Cutaway: A Taste of Animation--Part 2

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Connelly, John; Connelly, Marilyn

2008-01-01

In Part 1 ("TechTrends" 52.3), the authors described some of the easier kinds of animation such as Claymation, Pixillation, Cut Outs, People Pix, and FlipBook. Of these, FlipBook has the easiest learning curve. Now, in Part 2, they detail their first simple lesson in animation by describing how an entire classroom of students can create a group…

Skill Acquisition and Use across the Life Course: Current Trends, Future Prospects

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Martin, Bill

2007-01-01

People's life pathways are no longer as predictable as they were in the second half of the 20th century. It is no longer as simple as moving from school to work, probably via tertiary education, to living independently, then getting married and starting a family. Changes in how people combine education with life-course transitions will influence…

New American Undergraduates: Enrollment Trends and Age at Arrival of Immigrant and Second-Generation Students. Stats in Brief. NCES 2017-414

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Arbeit, Caren A.; Staklis, Sandra; Horn, Laura

2016-01-01

Statistics in Brief publications present descriptive data in tabular formats to provide useful information to a broad audience, including members of the general public. They address simple and topical issues and questions. This Statistics in Brief profiles the demographic and enrollment characteristics of undergraduates who are immigrants or…

Simple, Efficient, and Rapid Methods to Determine the Potential for Vapor Intrusion into the Home: Temporal Trends, Vapor Intrusion Forecasting, Sampling Strategies, and Contaminant Migration Routes

EPA Science Inventory

Current practice for evaluating the vapor intrusion pathway involves a multiple line of evidence approach based on direct measurements of volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations in groundwater, external soil gas, subslab soil gas, and/or indoor air. No single line of evide...

Development of Simple Designs of Multitip Probe Diagnostic Systems for RF Plasma Characterization

PubMed Central

Naz, M. Y.; Shukrullah, S.; Ghaffar, A.; Rehman, N. U.

2014-01-01

Multitip probes are very useful diagnostics for analyzing and controlling the physical phenomena occurring in low temperature discharge plasmas. However, DC biased probes often fail to perform well in processing plasmas. The objective of the work was to deduce simple designs of DC biased multitip probes for parametric study of radio frequency plasmas. For this purpose, symmetric double probe, asymmetric double probe, and symmetric triple probe diagnostic systems and their driving circuits were designed and tested in an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) generated by a 13.56 MHz radio frequency (RF) source. Using I-V characteristics of these probes, electron temperature, electron number density, and ion saturation current was measured as a function of input power and filling gas pressure. An increasing trend was noticed in electron temperature and electron number density for increasing input RF power whilst a decreasing trend was evident in these parameters when measured against filling gas pressure. In addition, the electron energy probability function (EEPF) was also studied by using an asymmetric double probe. These studies confirmed the non-Maxwellian nature of the EEPF and the presence of two groups of the energetic electrons at low filling gas pressures. PMID:24683326

Effect of climate change, CO2 trends, nitrogen addition, and land-cover and management intensity changes on the carbon balance of European grasslands.

PubMed

Chang, Jinfeng; Ciais, Philippe; Viovy, Nicolas; Vuichard, Nicolas; Herrero, Mario; Havlík, Petr; Wang, Xuhui; Sultan, Benjamin; Soussana, Jean-François

2016-01-01

Several lines of evidence point to European managed grassland ecosystems being a sink of carbon. In this study, we apply ORCHIDEE-GM a process-based carbon cycle model that describes specific management practices of pastures and the dynamics of carbon cycling in response to changes in climatic and biogeochemical drivers. The model is used to simulate changes in the carbon balance [i.e., net biome production (NBP)] of European grasslands over 1991-2010 on a 25 km × 25 km grid. The modeled average trend in NBP is 1.8-2.0 g C m(-2)  yr(-2) during the past two decades. Attribution of this trend suggests management intensity as the dominant driver explaining NBP trends in the model (36-43% of the trend due to all drivers). A major change in grassland management intensity has occurred across Europe resulting from reduced livestock numbers. This change has 'inadvertently' enhanced soil C sequestration and reduced N2 O and CH4 emissions by 1.2-1.5 Gt CO2 -equivalent, offsetting more than 7% of greenhouse gas emissions in the whole European agricultural sector during the period 1991-2010. Land-cover change, climate change and rising CO2 also make positive and moderate contributions to the NBP trend (between 24% and 31% of the trend due to all drivers). Changes in nitrogen addition (including fertilization and atmospheric deposition) are found to have only marginal net effect on NBP trends. However, this may not reflect reality because our model has only a very simple parameterization of nitrogen effects on photosynthesis. The sum of NBP trends from each driver is larger than the trend obtained when all drivers are varied together, leaving a residual - nonattributed - term (22-26% of the trend due to all drivers) indicating negative interactions between drivers. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Trending in Probability of Collision Measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

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

2015-01-01

A simple model is proposed to predict the behavior of Probabilities of Collision (P(sub c)) for conjunction events. The model attempts to predict the location and magnitude of the peak P(sub c) value for an event by assuming the progression of P(sub c) values can be modeled to first order by a downward-opening parabola. To incorporate prior information from a large database of past conjunctions, the Bayes paradigm is utilized; and the operating characteristics of the model are established through a large simulation study. Though the model is simple, it performs well in predicting the temporal location of the peak (P(sub c)) and thus shows promise as a decision aid in operational conjunction assessment risk analysis.

A Reversal of Decadal Trends in the Equatorial and North Indian Ocean

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thompson, P. R.; Merrifield, M. A.; McCreary, J. P., Jr.; Firing, E.; Piecuch, C. G.

2016-02-01

Sea level and upper ocean temperature trends in the Equatorial and North Indian Ocean (ENIO) reversed sign shortly after the turn of the century. The trend reversal is spatially coherent and characterized by subsurface cooling during 1993-2002 followed by subsurface warming during 2003-2012. Here we explore the dynamics and forcing of the decadal trend reversal, with a particular emphasis on the role of the Indian Ocean cross-equatorial cell (CEC) and anomalies transmitted from the Pacific basin to the ENIO via the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF). An examination of reanalysis wind-stress fields suggest that forcing of the CEC is enhanced during the cooling phase of the decadal fluctuation, which may account for the cooling trend below 100m in the ENIO during the first decade. In contrast, the subsurface warming during the second decade occurs at thermocline levels, which suggests a deepening of the thermocline during this period. Enhanced Pacific tradewinds since the early 1990s result in a deepening thermocline in the western tropical Pacific (WTP), which may be transmitted to the Indian Ocean basin via the ITF. We present results from simple model experiments that assess the potential for thermocline anomalies originating in the WTP to account for the deepening thermocline in the ENIO during the warming phase of the decadal fluctuation.

Progressive shortfall in open aneurysm experience for vascular surgery trainees with the impact of fenestrated and branched endovascular technology.

PubMed

Dua, Anahita; Koprowski, Steven; Upchurch, Gilbert; Lee, Cheong J; Desai, Sapan S

2017-01-01

In 2014, we published a series of articles in the Journal of Vascular Surgery that detailed the decrease in volume of open aneurysm repair (OAR) completed for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) by vascular surgery trainees. At that time, only data points from 2000 through 2011 were available, and reliable predictions could only be made through 2015. Lack of data on endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) using fenestrated (FEVAR) and branched (BrEVAR) endografts also affected our findings. Despite these limitations, our predictions for OAR completed by vascular trainees were accurate for 2012 to 2014. This report uses updated data points through 2014 in conjunction with data on FEVAR and BrEVAR obtained from industry to predict trends in OAR and how it will affect vascular surgery training through 2020. An S-curve modified logistic function was used to model the effect of introducing new technologies (EVAR, FEVAR, BrEVAR) on the standard management of AAA with OAR starting in the year 2000, similar to the technique that we have previously described. Weighted samples and data from the United States Census Bureau were used in conjunction with volume estimates derived from the National Inpatient Sample, State Inpatient Databases, and industry sources to determine trends in OAR and EVAR. The number of cases completed at teaching hospitals was calculated using the National Inpatient Sample, and Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education case logs were used to forecast the number of cases completed by vascular surgery trainees through 2020. Sensitivity analysis and trend analysis were completed. Approximately 45,000 AAA repairs are completed annually in the United States, but only 15% of these are now completed using OAR compared with >50% just a decade ago. Further, with the accelerating adoption of FEVAR and BrEVAR, and expanding indications for standard EVAR, our model predicts that <3000 OARs will be completed annually by 2020. Because only a subset of these cases are completed at teaching institutions, our model predicts that a vascular surgery trainee in a fellowship program will complete only one to two OARs, whereas trainees in a 0+5 program may complete two to three OARs. Our initial prediction in the 2014 report was that vascular trainees would complete approximately five OARs by 2020. After incorporating new data on BrEVAR, FEVAR, and the accelerating pace of EVAR use between 2012 and 2014, it now appears that vascular trainees will complete one to three OARs during their training. Copyright © 2016 Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Contribution of Temporal Preparation and Processing Speed to Simple Reaction Time in Persons with Alzheimer's Disease and Mild Cognitive Impairment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sylvain-Roy, Stephanie; Bherer, Louis; Belleville, Sylvie

2010-01-01

Temporal preparation was assessed in 15 Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, 20 persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 28 healthy older adults. Participants completed a simple reaction time task in which the preparatory interval duration varied randomly within two blocks (short versus long temporal window). Results indicated that AD and…

Exploring Alternative Conceptions from Newtonian Dynamics and Simple DC Circuits: Links between Item Difficulty and Item Confidence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Planinic, Maja; Boone, William J.; Krsnik, Rudolf; Beilfuss, Meredith L.

2006-01-01

Croatian 1st-year and 3rd-year high-school students (N = 170) completed a conceptual physics test. Students were evaluated with regard to two physics topics: Newtonian dynamics and simple DC circuits. Students answered test items and also indicated their confidence in each answer. Rasch analysis facilitated the calculation of three linear…

Theologies, ideologies and evolutionary biology.

PubMed

Scudo, Francesco M

2010-01-01

Since a century evolution has mostly been interpreted by two simple, "opposite" kinds of "theories" — i.e. as due either to fitness differences among genotypes or to some other simple mechanism — while bona fide, more complex theories were less popular throughout. In particular by far the most complete theories ever produced were suddenly, almost universally abandoned just after World War II, though not as a consequence of major breakthroughs. The causes of this situation are examined by analogy with much earlier developments and their demise by Cartesianism. The down to earth solutions these "complete" theories provide to the problems of "speciation" and the origins of cells are contrasted with the "miraculous" approaches by systemic neo-Darwinists.

Eurodelta-Trends, a Multi-Model Experiment of Air Quality Hindcast in Europe over 1990-2010. Experiment Design and Key Findings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Colette, A.; Ciarelli, G.; Otero, N.; Theobald, M.; Solberg, S.; Andersson, C.; Couvidat, F.; Manders-Groot, A.; Mar, K. A.; Mircea, M.; Pay, M. T.; Raffort, V.; Tsyro, S.; Cuvelier, K.; Adani, M.; Bessagnet, B.; Bergstrom, R.; Briganti, G.; Cappelletti, A.; D'isidoro, M.; Fagerli, H.; Ojha, N.; Roustan, Y.; Vivanco, M. G.

2017-12-01

The Eurodelta-Trends multi-model chemistry-transport experiment has been designed to better understand the evolution of air pollution and its drivers for the period 1990-2010 in Europe. The main objective of the experiment is to assess the efficiency of air pollutant emissions mitigation measures in improving regional scale air quality. The experiment is designed in three tiers with increasing degree of computational demand in order to facilitate the participation of as many modelling teams as possible. The basic experiment consists of simulations for the years 1990, 2000 and 2010. Sensitivity analysis for the same three years using various combinations of (i) anthropogenic emissions, (ii) chemical boundary conditions and (iii) meteorology complements it. The most demanding tier consists in two complete time series from 1990 to 2010, simulated using either time varying emissions for corresponding years or constant emissions. Eight chemistry-transport models have contributed with calculation results to at least one experiment tier, and six models have completed the 21-year trend simulations. The modelling results are publicly available for further use by the scientific community. We assess the skill of the models in capturing observed air pollution trends for the 1990-2010 time period. The average particulate matter relative trends are well captured by the models, even if they display the usual lower bias in reproducing absolute levels. Ozone trends are also well reproduced, yet slightly overestimated in the 1990s. The attribution study emphasizes the efficiency of mitigation measures in reducing air pollution over Europe, although a strong impact of long range transport is pointed out for ozone trends. Meteorological variability is also an important factor in some regions of Europe. The results of the first health and ecosystem impact studies impacts building upon a regional scale multi-model ensemble over a 20yr time period will also be presented.

Monitoring Trends and Burn Severity (MTBS): Monitoring wildfire activity for the past quarter century using landsat data

Treesearch

Mark Finco; Brad Quayle; Yuan Zhang; Jennifer Lecker; Kevin A. Megown; C. Kenneth Brewer

2012-01-01

The Monitoring Trends in Burn Severity (MTBS) project is mapping the extent, size, and severity of all large fires greater than 1,000 acres in the west and 500 acres in the east over the conterminous United States (CONUS), Alaska, and Hawaii. In 2012 the project reached a milestone, completing the mapping for all fires between 1984 and 2010. The MTBS project produces...

Closure of colostomy.

PubMed Central

Beck, P H; Conklin, H B

1975-01-01

We analyzed the records of 77 cases of loop colostomy closure in Vietnam War Casualties. All records were complete from the date of injury to discharge following colostomy closure. Simple of the loop colostomy was performed in 44 patients and resection of the stoma and reanastomosis of bowel segments was performed in 33 patients. Average operating time for simple closure of the loop was 70 minutes compared to 115 minutes for resection and anastomosis. Nasogastric suction was used less frequently and for a shorter time with simple loop closure. The total postoperative complication rate was 9% with simple loop closure as compared to 24% for resection and anastomosis. Simple closure of the loop described in this report is technically easier and as safe as resection of the stoma and reanastomosis. Images Fig. 1. PMID:1094967

Disentangling the driving mechanism of streamflow trends using runoff senstivity to land use and climate change.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Silverman, N. L.; Moore, J. N.; Maneta, M. P.

2014-12-01

The majority of watersheds within the United States have been disturbed by anthropogenic land use change. On top of this, there is strong evidence of (historic and projected) climatic changes that affect earth's hydrologic cycle. Streamflow measurements integrate the effects of land use and climate change on watershed hydrology. Therefore, when temporal trends are present, teasing out the cause is challenging due to the overlying climate and land use signals. In this study, we develop an analytical framework for distinguishing trends in streamflow that are driven by climate change from those that are driven by land use change. This framework is based on the theory that during wetter years runoff is affected more by changes in climate than during drier years. Whereas, the inverse is true for land use change. During wetter years runoff is affected less by land use change than during drier years. This difference can be seen in the quantile regression of the 75th and 25th percentile annual stream flows which represent wetter and drier years, respectively. This creates a defining characteristic in how these two forcing mechanisms manifest within the streamflow record. We empirically test this framework and show that the sensitivity of runoff to climate and land use change is uniquely dependent on the spatiotemporal water and energy limitations of a catchment. Finally we apply the framework using 1,566 watersheds across the contiguous United States. We use gages from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) National Water Information System (NWIS) network. The gages are selected because they have continuous and complete data from the years 1950 to 2009 and represent watersheds which are characterized by a range of disturbances. Our results show that the driving mechanisms of streamflow change across the U.S. are regionally coherent and correspond with land management activities and climate zones. This methodology provides a simple means of classifying watershed to regional scale hydroclimatic change without relying on reference stream gages, complex models, or observational climate networks.

Forest statistics for the Southern Piedmont of Virginia, 1991

Treesearch

Tony G. Johnson

1991-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the sixth forest survey of the Southern Piedmont of Virginia. Field work began in March 1991 and was completed in June 1991. Five previous surveys, completed in 1940, 1957, 1965, 1976, and 1985, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 51 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on the...

Trends in U.S. Oil and Natural Gas Upstream Costs

EIA Publications

2016-01-01

Average 2015 well drilling and completion costs in five onshore areas decline 25% and 30% below their level in 2012 The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) commissioned IHS Global Inc. (IHS) to perform a study of upstream drilling and production costs. The IHS report assesses capital and operating costs associated with drilling, completing, and operating wells and facilities.

Forest statistics for the Northern Mountains of Virginia, 1992

Treesearch

Tony G. Johnson

1992-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the sixth forest survey of the Northern Mountains of Virginia. Field work began in September 1991 and was completed in November 1991. Five previous surveys, completed in 1940, 1957, 1966, 1977, and 1986, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 52 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on...

Forest statistics for the Southern Coastal Plain of North Carolina, 1990

Treesearch

Tony G. Johnson

1990-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the sixth forest survey of the Southern Coastal Plain of North Carolina. Field work began in April 1989 and was completed in September 1989. Five previous surveys, completed in 1937, 1952, 1962, 1973, and 1983, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 53 years. The primary emphasis in this report...

Forest statistics for the Northern Mountains of Virginia, 1986

Treesearch

Mark J. Brown

1986-01-01

This report highlights the findings of the fifth forest survey in the Northern Mountains of Virginia. Fieldwork began in August 1985 and was completed in October 1985. Four previous surveys, completed in 1940, 1957, 1966, and 1977, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 46 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on the changes and...

Forest statistics for the mountains of North Carolina, 1984

Treesearch

Gerald C. Craver

1985-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fifth forest survey in the Mountains of North Carolina. Fieldwork began in April 1984 and was completed in September 1984. Four previous surveys, completed in 1938, 1955, 1964, and 1974, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 46 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on the changes...

Forest statistics for North Central Georgia, 1989

Treesearch

Tony G. Johnson

1989-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the sixth forest survey in North Central Georgia. Field work began in February 1989 and was completed in April 1989. Five previous surveys, completed in 1936, 1953, 1961, 1972, and 1983, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 53 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on the changes and...

Forest statistics for the Piedmont of North Carolina 1975

Treesearch

Richard L. Welch

1975-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fourth inventory of the timber resource in the Piedmont of North Carolina. The inventory was started in May 1964 and completed in January 1975. Three previous inventories, completed in 1937, 1956, and 1964m provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 38 years. In this report, the primary...

Forest statistics for the Northern Coastal Plain of North Carolina, 1984

Treesearch

Edgar L. Davenport

1984-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fifth forest inventory in the Northern Coastal Plain of North Carolina. Fieldwork began in June 1983 and was completed in December 1983. Four previous surveys, completed in 1937, 1955, 1963, and 1974, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 46 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on...

Forest statistics for the Southern Coastal Plain of North Carolina, 1983

Treesearch

John B. Tansey

1984-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fifth forest survey in the southern Coastal Plain of North Carolina. Fieldwork began in November 1982 and was completed in June 1983. Four previous surveys, completed in 1938, 1952, 1962, and 1973, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 46 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on...

Forest statistics for the Piedmont of South Carolina 1977

Treesearch

Nolan L. Snyder

1977-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fifth inventory of the timber resource in the Piedmont of South Carolina. The inventory was started in April 1977 and completed in September 1977. Four previous inventories, completed in 1936, 1947, 1958, and 1967, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 41 years. In this report, the primary...

Forest statistics for the Southern Coastal Plain of South Carolina 1978

Treesearch

Raymond M. Sheffield; Joanne Hutchison

1978-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fifth forest inventory of the Southern Coastal Plain of South Carolina. Fieldwork began in April 1978 and was completed in August 1978. Four previous inventories, completed in 1934, 1947, 1958, and 1968, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 44 years. The primary emphasis in this report is...

Forest statistics for the Northern Piedmont of Virginia, 1986

Treesearch

Mark J. Brown

1986-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fifth forest survey in the Northern Piedmont of Virginia. Fieldwork began in July 1985 and was completed in September 1985. Four previous surveys, completed in 1940, 1957, 1965, and 1976, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 46 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on the changes...

Forest statistics for the Piedmont of North Carolina, 1984

Treesearch

Cecil C. Hutchins

1984-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fifth forest survey in the Piedmont of North Carolina, Fieldwork began in December 1983 and was completed in August 1984, Four previous surveys, completed in 1937, 1956, 1964, and 1975, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 47 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on the changes...

Forest statistics for the Northern Piedmont of Virginia, 1992

Treesearch

Michael T. Thompson

1992-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the sixth forest survey of the Northern Piedmont of Virginia. Field work began in June 1991 and was completed in September 1991. Five previous surveys, completed in 1940, 1957, 1965, 1976, and 1986, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 52 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on the...

Forest statistics for the Southern Coastal Plain of South Carolina, 1987

Treesearch

John B. Tansey

1987-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the sixth forest survey in the Southern Coastal plain of South Carolina. Fieldwork began in June 1986 and was completed in September 1986. Five previous surveys, completed in 1934, 1947, 1958, 1968, and 1978, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 53 years. The primary emphasis in this report...

Forest statistics for the Northern Coastal plain of North Carolina 1974

Treesearch

Richard L. Welch; Herbert A. Knight

1974-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fourth inventory of the timber resource in the Northern Coastal Plain of North Carolina. The inventory was started in July 1973 and completed in May 1974. Three previous inventories, completed in 1937, 1955, and 1963, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 37 years. In this report, the...

Forest statistics for the Coastal Plain of Virginia, 1991

Treesearch

Michael T. Thompson

1991-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the sixth forest survey of the Coastal Plain of Virginia. Field work began in October 1990 and was completed in March 1991. Five previous surveys, completed in 1940, 1956, 1966, 1976, and 1985, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 51 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on the...

Forest statistics for the mountain region of North Carolina 1974

Treesearch

Noel D. Cost

1974-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fourth inventory of the timber resource in the Mountain Region of North Carolina. The inventory was started in May 1974 and completed in September 1974. Three previous inventories, completed in 1938, 1955, and 1964, provide statistic for measuring changes and trends over the past 36 years. In this report, the primary...

Forest statistics for the Southern Piedmont of Virginia, 1985

Treesearch

Mark J. Brown

1985-01-01

This report highlights the pricipal findings of the fifth forest survey in the Southern Piedmont of Virginia. Fieldwork began in March 1985 and was completed in July 1985. Four previous surveys, completed in 1940, 1957, 1965, and 1976, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 45 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on the changes and...

Forest statistics for the mountains of North Carolina, 1990

Treesearch

Tony G. Johnson

1991-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the sixth forest survey of the Mountains of North Carolina. Field work began in August 1990 and was completed in November 1990. Five previous surveys, completed in 1938, 1955, 1964, 1974, and 1984, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 52 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on the...

Forest statistics for the Southern Mountain region of Virginia, 1977

Treesearch

Raymond M. Sheffield

1977-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fourth inventory of the timber resource in the Southern Mountain Region of Virginia. The inventory was started in December 1976 and completed in March 1977. Three previous inventories, completed in 1940, 1957, and 1966, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 37 years. In this report, the...

Forest statistics for the Coastal Plain of Virginia, 1985

Treesearch

Mark J. Brown; Gerald C. Craver

1985-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fifth forest survey in the Coastal Plain of Virginia. Fieldwork began in September 1984 and was completed in February 1985. Four previous surveys, completed in 1940, 1956, 1966, and 1976, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 45 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on the changes...

Getting Girls EX.I.T.E.D about Project Management

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Norstrom, Bjorn; Smith, Carol; Haglund, Annika

2008-01-01

Students are asked to complete projects every day--from a simple PowerPoint presentation to college applications and financial aid forms. Students are expected to complete these projects to certain standards. However, students are often not provided with the tools and skills needed to successfully manage projects, especially complex ones. As…

Improving Course Completions in Distance Education: An Institutional Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Thistoll, Tony; Yates, Anne

2016-01-01

This article reports two studies undertaken at The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand, a vocational distance education (DE) provider, where course completion rates have risen to match those of face-to-face technical institutions. A simple model of student engagement is presented, which reflects the triality between the student, institution, and…

Quantifying trends in disease impact to produce a consistent and reproducible definition of an emerging infectious disease.

PubMed

Funk, Sebastian; Bogich, Tiffany L; Jones, Kate E; Kilpatrick, A Marm; Daszak, Peter

2013-01-01

The proper allocation of public health resources for research and control requires quantification of both a disease's current burden and the trend in its impact. Infectious diseases that have been labeled as "emerging infectious diseases" (EIDs) have received heightened scientific and public attention and resources. However, the label 'emerging' is rarely backed by quantitative analysis and is often used subjectively. This can lead to over-allocation of resources to diseases that are incorrectly labelled "emerging," and insufficient allocation of resources to diseases for which evidence of an increasing or high sustained impact is strong. We suggest a simple quantitative approach, segmented regression, to characterize the trends and emergence of diseases. Segmented regression identifies one or more trends in a time series and determines the most statistically parsimonious split(s) (or joinpoints) in the time series. These joinpoints in the time series indicate time points when a change in trend occurred and may identify periods in which drivers of disease impact change. We illustrate the method by analyzing temporal patterns in incidence data for twelve diseases. This approach provides a way to classify a disease as currently emerging, re-emerging, receding, or stable based on temporal trends, as well as to pinpoint the time when the change in these trends happened. We argue that quantitative approaches to defining emergence based on the trend in impact of a disease can, with appropriate context, be used to prioritize resources for research and control. Implementing this more rigorous definition of an EID will require buy-in and enforcement from scientists, policy makers, peer reviewers and journal editors, but has the potential to improve resource allocation for global health.

Deformation in Neogene sediments of the Sorbas and Vera Basins (SE Spain): constraints on simple-shear deformation and rigid body rotation along major strike-slip faults

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jonk, R.; Biermann, C.

2002-05-01

Detailed structural analyses are presented of the Neogene Sorbas Basin adjacent to the E-W striking Gafarillos fault zone and the Vera Basin adjacent to the 020° striking Palomares fault zone in southeastern Spain. A stress regime with an E-W oriented subhorizontal maximum principal stress ( σ1) existed in pre-Tortonian (>11.3 Ma) time. A strike-slip regime with NW-SE oriented compression during Tortonian and earliest Messinian time caused dextral displacement along the E-W trending Gafarillos fault of approximately 10 km. Structural analysis indicates that most displacement took place in the Early Tortonian. Deformational patterns within the adjacent pull-apart basin reflect a dextral simple shear-zone of at least 500 m width. Kinematical analysis of folds in the Sorbas Basin suggests, however, that rotational effects are largely caused by rigid-body rotation without much internal deformation. Sinistral strike-slip displacements occurred along the Palomares fault zone under the influence of the same stress-regime. An abrupt change in the orientation of the stress field to N-S directed compression in earliest Messinian time (6.5 Ma) caused the termination of displacements along the Gafarillos fault zone, whereas the 020° trending Palomares fault zone continued to accumulate sinistral strike-slip displacements of about 25 km. Volcanism occurred along splays of the fault zone. A wider shear-zone of a few kilometers width evolved, in which considerable anti-clockwise rotation of folds occurred. Kinematic analysis of these folds shows that these rotational effects are again dominantly rigid-body rotations. Assuming rotations are merely caused by simple-shear deformation overestimates the amounts of strain. A better way to deal with simple-shear deformation is to compare observed shortening caused by folding with the magnitude of rotation of fold-hinges.

Zoning vulnerability of climate change in variation of amount and trend of precipitation - Case Study: Great Khorasan province

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Modiri, Ehsan; Modiri, Sadegh

2015-04-01

Climatic hazards have complex nature that many of them are beyond human control. Earth's climate is constantly fluctuating and trying to balance itself. More than 75% of Iran has arid and semi-arid climate thus assessment of climate change induced threats and vulnerabilities is essential. In order to investigate the reason for the changes in amount and trend of precipitation parameter, 17 synoptic stations have been selected in the interval of the establishment time of the station until 2013. These stations are located in three regions: Northern, Razavi and Southern Khorasan. For quality control of data in Monthly, quarterly and annual total precipitation of data were tested and checked by run test. Then probable trends in each of the areas was assessed by Kendall-tau test. Total annual precipitation of each station is the important factor that increase the sensitivity of vulnerability in the area with low rainfall. Annual amount of precipitation moving from north to south has been declining, though in different fields that they have different geomorphologic characteristics controversies occur. But clearly can be observed average of precipitation decline with decreasing latitude. There were positive trends in the annual precipitation in 6 stations, negative trends in 10 stations, as well as one station, has no trend. The remarkable notice is that all stations have a positive trend were in the northern region in the case study. These stations had been in ranging from none to Moderate classification of threats and vulnerability. After the initialization parameters to classify levels of risks and vulnerability, the two measures of mean annual precipitation and the trends of this fluctuation were combined together. This classification was created in five level for stations. Accordingly Golmakan, Ghochan, Torbate heydarieh, Bojnord and Mashhad were in none threat level. Khoor of Birjand and Boshruyeh have had complete stage of the threat level and had the greatest meteorological perspective risk. Finally, after determining the degree of threats, meteorological vulnerability zoning map was produced by kriging interpolation method and utilizing geographic information systems (GIS). It showed most studied areas were in complete level of investigation. Keywords: Vulnerability, Climate threats, GIS, Zoning, Precipitation, Crisis management.

Regional trend analysis of surface ozone observations from monitoring networks in eastern North America, Europe and East Asia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, K. L.; Petropavlovskikh, I. V.; Cooper, O. R.; Schultz, M.; Wang, T.

2017-12-01

Surface ozone is a greenhouse gas and pollutant detrimental to human health and crop and ecosystem productivity. The Tropospheric Ozone Assessment Report (TOAR) is designed to provide the research community with an up-to-date observation-based overview of tropospheric ozone's global distribution and trends. The TOAR Surface Ozone Database contains ozone metrics at thousands of monitoring sites around the world, densely clustered across mid-latitude North America, western Europe and East Asia. Calculating regional ozone trends across these locations is challenging due to the uneven spacing of the monitoring sites across urban and rural areas. To meet this challenge we conducted a spatial and temporal trend analysis of several TOAR ozone metrics across these three regions for summertime (April-September) 2000-2014, using the generalized additive mixed model (GAMM). Our analysis indicates that East Asia has the greatest human and plant exposure to ozone pollution among investigating regions, with increasing ozone levels through 2014. The results also show that ozone mixing ratios continue to decline significantly over eastern North America and Europe, however, there is less evidence for decreases of daytime average ozone at urban sites. The present-day spatial coverage of ozone monitors in East Asia (South Korea and Japan) and eastern North America is adequate for estimating regional trends by simply taking the average of the individual trends at each site. However the European network is more sparsely populated across its northern and eastern regions and therefore a simple average of the individual trends at each site does not yield an accurate regional trend. This analysis demonstrates that the GAMM technique can be used to assess the regional representativeness of existing monitoring networks, indicating those networks for which a regional trend can be obtained by simply averaging the trends of all individual sites and those networks that require a more sophisticated statistical approach.

Dissociations between Expectancy and Performance in Simple and Two-Choice Reaction-Time Tasks: A Test of Associative and Nonassociative Explanations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barrett, Louise C.; Livesey, Evan J.

2010-01-01

Perruchet, Cleeremans, and Destrebecqz (2006) reported a striking dissociation between trends in the conscious expectancy of an event and the speed of a response that is cued by that event. They argued that this indicates the operation of independent processes in human associative learning. However, there remains a strong possibility that this…

Developmental Trends in Simple and Selective Inhibition of Compatible and Incompatible Responses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

van den Wildenberg, Wery P. M.; van der Molen, Maurits W.

2004-01-01

This study examined age-related change in the ability to inhibit responses using two varieties of the stop signal paradigm. Three age groups (29 7-year-olds, 24 10-year-olds, and 28 young adults) performed first on a visual choice reaction task in which the spatial mapping between the go signal and response was varied between blocks. The choice…

Antiparticle cloud temperatures for antihydrogen experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bianconi, A.; Charlton, M.; Lodi Rizzini, E.; Mascagna, V.; Venturelli, L.

2017-07-01

A simple rate-equation description of the heating and cooling of antiparticle clouds under conditions typical of those found in antihydrogen formation experiments is developed and analyzed. We include single-particle collisional, radiative, and cloud expansion effects and, from the modeling calculations, identify typical cooling phenomena and trends and relate these to the underlying physics. Some general rules of thumb of use to experimenters are derived.

Predicting Organic Cation Sorption Coefficients: Accounting for Competition from Sorbed Inorganic Cations Using a Simple Probe Molecule.

PubMed

Jolin, William C; Goyetche, Reaha; Carter, Katherine; Medina, John; Vasudevan, Dharni; MacKay, Allison A

2017-06-06

With the increasing number of emerging contaminants that are cationic at environmentally relevant pH values, there is a need for robust predictive models of organic cation sorption coefficients (K d ). Current predictive models fail to account for the differences in the identity, abundance, and affinity of surface-associated inorganic exchange ions naturally present at negatively charged receptor sites on environmental solids. To better understand how organic cation sorption is influenced by surface-associated inorganic exchange ions, sorption coefficients of 10 organic cations (including eight pharmaceuticals and two simple probe organic amines) were determined for six homoionic forms of the aluminosilicate mineral, montmorillonite. Organic cation sorption coefficients exhibited consistent trends for all compounds across the various homoionic clays with sorption coefficients (K d ) decreasing as follows: K d Na + > K d NH 4 + ≥ K d K + > K d Ca 2+ ≥ K d Mg 2+ > K d Al 3+ . This trend for competition between organic cations and exchangeable inorganic cations is consistent with the inorganic cation selectivity sequence, determined for exchange between inorganic ions. Such consistent trends in competition between organic and inorganic cations suggested that a simple probe cation, such as phenyltrimethylammonium or benzylamine, could capture soil-to-soil variations in native inorganic cation identity and abundance for the prediction of organic cation sorption to soils and soil minerals. Indeed, sorption of two pharmaceutical compounds to 30 soils was better described by phenyltrimethylammonium sorption than by measures of benzylamine sorption, effective cation exchange capacity alone, or a model from the literature (Droge, S., and Goss, K. Environ. Sci. Technol. 2013, 47, 14224). A hybrid approach integrating structural scaling factors derived from this literature model of organic cation sorption, along with phenyltrimethylammonium K d values, allowed for estimation of K d values for more structurally complex organic cations to homoionic montmorillonites and to heteroionic soils (mean absolute error of 0.27 log unit). Accordingly, we concluded that the use of phenyltrimethylammonium as a probe compound was a promising means to account for the identity, affinity, and abundance of natural exchange ions in the prediction of organic cation sorption coefficients for environmental solids.

Trends In Nutrient and Sediment Concentrations and Loads In Major River Basins of the South-Central United States, 1993-2004

USGS Publications Warehouse

Rebich, Richard A.; Demcheck, Dennis K.

2008-01-01

Nutrient and sediment data collected at 115 sites by Federal and State agencies from 1993 to 2004 were analyzed by the U.S. Geological Survey to determine trends in concentrations and loads for selected rivers and streams that drain into the northwestern Gulf of Mexico from the south-central United States, specifically from the Lower Mississippi, Arkansas-White-Red, and Texas-Gulf Basins. Trends observed in the study area were compared to determine potential regional patterns and to determine cause-effect relations with trends in hydrologic and human-induced factors such as nutrient sources, streamflow, and implementation of best management practices. Secondary objectives included calculation of loads and yields for the study period as a basis for comparing the delivery of nutrients and sediment to the northwestern Gulf of Mexico from the various rivers within the study area. In addition, loads were assessed at seven selected sites for the period 1980-2004 to give hydrologic perspective to trends in loads observed during 1993-2004. Most study sites (about 64 percent) either had no trends or decreasing trends in streamflow during the study period. The regional pattern of decreasing trends in streamflow during the study period appeared to correspond to moist conditions at the beginning of the study period and the influence of three drought periods during the study period, of which the most extreme was in 2000. Trend tests were completed for ammonia at 49 sites, for nitrite plus nitrate at 69 sites, and for total nitrogen at 41 sites. For all nitrogen constituents analyzed, no trends were observed at half or more of the sites. No regional trend patterns could be confirmed because there was poor spatial representation of the trend sites. Decreasing trends in flow-adjusted concentrations of ammonia were observed at 25 sites. No increasing trends in concentrations of ammonia were noted at any sites. Flow-adjusted concentrations of nitrite plus nitrate decreased at 7 sites and increased at14 sites. Flow-adjusted concentrations of total nitrogen decreased at 2 sites and increased at 12 sites. Improvements to municipal wastewater treatment facilities contributed to the decline of ammonia concentrations at selected sites. Notable increasing trends in nitrite plus nitrate and total nitrogen at selected study sites were attributed to both point and nonpointsources. Trend patterns in total nitrogen generally followed trend patterns in nitrite plus nitrate, which was understandable given that nitrite plus nitrate loads generally were 70-90 percent of the total nitrogen loads at most sites. Population data were used as a surrogate to understand the relation between changes in point sources and nutrient trends because data from wastewater treatment plants were inconsistent for this study area. Although population increased throughout the study area during the study period, there was no observed relation between increasing trends in nitrogen in study area streams and increasing trends in population. With respect to other nitrogen sources, statistical results did suggest that increasing trends in nitrogen could be related to increasing trends in nitrogen from either commercial fertilizer use and/or land application of manure. Loads of ammonia, nitrite plus nitrate, and total nitrogen decreased during the study period, but some trends in nitrogen loads were part of long-term decreases since 1980. For example, ammonia loads were shown to decrease at nearly all sites over the past decade, but at selected sites, these decreasing trends were part of much longer trends since 1980. The Mississippi and Atchafalaya Rivers contributed the highest nitrogen loads to the northwestern Gulf of Mexico as expected; however, nitrogen yields from smaller rivers had similar or higher yields than yields from the Mississippi River. Trend tests were completed for orthophosphorus at 34 sites and for total phosphorus at 52 sites. No trends were observed in abo

Highly enantioselective reductive amination of simple aryl ketones catalyzed by Ir-f-Binaphane in the presence of titanium(IV) isopropoxide and iodine.

PubMed

Chi, Yongxiang; Zhou, Yong-Gui; Zhang, Xumu

2003-05-16

Using an Ir-f-Binaphane complex as the catalyst, complete conversions and high enantioselectivies (up to 96% ee) were achieved in the asymmetric reductive amination of aryl ketones in the presence of Ti(O(i)()Pr)(4) and I(2). A simple and efficient method of synthesizing chiral primary amines has been realized.

An operational monitoring and display system for phenological observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scheifinger, Helfried; Koch, Elisabeth

2013-04-01

Some national weather services operate a special web interface, where citizens can enter their phenological observations. Such a system opens the opportunity to immediately display the current state of the seasonal vegetation development. Here a few simple tools are introduced to evaluate and display near real time phenological observations with respect to the interannual variability and trends over the last decades. For many phenological phases continuous time series since 1946 are available in Austria, which is a time period sufficiently long to study the climate impact on phenology. Phenological observations can be entered in near real time via the ZAMG web - portal or be digitised after the season from the observer sheets with a considerable time lag. About 30% to 50% of the total phenological data stem from the near real time system, which can be used for near real time monitoring of the phenological season. The minimum number of observations, which must be available for inclusion in the procedure has arbitrarily been set to 12 in order to allow a reasonable height regression. The system installed at the ZAMG produces a nightly update of the statistical analysis and figures, which can then for instance be summarised for a news release. At the moment there is no spatial differentiation possible. All conclusions and figures are based on phenological entry dates over all Austrian observations, which have been standardised to an arbitrary station elevation of 200 m above sea level via height regression. The 2012 Austrian phenological season in relation to 1946 - 2011 The cold period from end of January to beginning of February 2012 in Austria has also left its marks on the phenological season. The early phases like beginning of flowering of snow drop, hazel or willow are to be found in the median position of rank 32 of 67 years since 1946. The remainder of the 2012 season generally shows rather early entry dates. On average the phenological entry dates range at rank 11 of the 67 years since 1946. In other words, the 2012 season belongs to the 15 earliest of the last 67 years. The entry dates have remained at about the same early level during the last decade. Long continuous time series of autumn phases are available only from apple at the moment. Beginning of leaf colouring ranges at rank 45 of 63 years and begin of leaf fall at 60 of 63 years (both since 1950), which is rather late to very late. For trend calculations all phases are included, which possess a complete time series from 1946 to 2012. All 20 selected phases show a trend towards earlier entry dates, 14 of them a significant trend (at the 90% level according to Mann - Kendall). The mean trend over all 20 phenological phases is -4.1 days/decade. During the last 5 to 15 years the trend has remained constant in case of most phases.

Evaluation of the MODIS Collections 005 and 006 for Change Detection of Vegetation Dynamics in North and South America

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heck, E. J.; Owsley, B.; Henebry, G. M.; de Beurs, K.

2017-12-01

Since the beginning of the MODIS data record in 2000, several improvements have been made to all available products. Currently, the MODIS community is in the process of completing the roll out of collection 6. While the community takes great interest in data continuity models, less attention has been given to how the changes that are carried out between collections impact the findings of earlier analyses. Here, we assess differences between change detection results from Collection 005 and 006 of the Nadir BRDF-Adjusted Reflectance product (MCD43), the Gridded Vegetation Indices product (MOD13) and the Land Surface Temperature product (MOD11), all at 0.05-degree resolution across the Western Hemisphere. We applied the non-parametric Seasonal-Kendall trend test to time series from C005 and C006 to identify areas of significant change during the period 2001-2016. We analyzed the significant trends and the differences between collections by country, by IGBP land cover class, and by the Human Impact Index category. Preliminary results from the MOD13 product indicate agreement between C005 and C006 for 65% of the pixels when investigating EVI trends and 74% of the pixels when investigating NDVI trends. Only 1% of the pixels reveal a full disagreement in the signal of the significance trends, e.g. negative trend in C005 paired with a positive trend in C006. Though the percentage of complete reversal is low, there are variations of discrepancies between collections that are consistent between both the MOD13 and MCD43 products. For example, while almost 18% of the pixels revealed a significant browning in C005, only 5.80% of the pixels revealed significant browning in both collections. We found that 11% of the pixels with significant browning in C005, were stable in C006. Vice versa, we found that 19.18% of all pixels revealed a significant positive trend in C006 while these pixels were stable in C005. Even though C006 reveals more than double the percentage of positive trends (from 12% in C005 to 32% in C006), the large clusters of significant trends appear in the same spatial regions. We did not find similar drastic differences between collections when analyzing the trend results based on the Land Surface Temperature product. However, some key areas, such as the Amazon region, reveal significant differences.

Evaluation of the MODIS Collections 005 and 006 for Change Detection of Vegetation Dynamics in North and South America

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heck, E. J.; Owsley, B.; Henebry, G. M.; de Beurs, K.

2016-12-01

Since the beginning of the MODIS data record in 2000, several improvements have been made to all available products. Currently, the MODIS community is in the process of completing the roll out of collection 6. While the community takes great interest in data continuity models, less attention has been given to how the changes that are carried out between collections impact the findings of earlier analyses. Here, we assess differences between change detection results from Collection 005 and 006 of the Nadir BRDF-Adjusted Reflectance product (MCD43), the Gridded Vegetation Indices product (MOD13) and the Land Surface Temperature product (MOD11), all at 0.05-degree resolution across the Western Hemisphere. We applied the non-parametric Seasonal-Kendall trend test to time series from C005 and C006 to identify areas of significant change during the period 2001-2016. We analyzed the significant trends and the differences between collections by country, by IGBP land cover class, and by the Human Impact Index category. Preliminary results from the MOD13 product indicate agreement between C005 and C006 for 65% of the pixels when investigating EVI trends and 74% of the pixels when investigating NDVI trends. Only 1% of the pixels reveal a full disagreement in the signal of the significance trends, e.g. negative trend in C005 paired with a positive trend in C006. Though the percentage of complete reversal is low, there are variations of discrepancies between collections that are consistent between both the MOD13 and MCD43 products. For example, while almost 18% of the pixels revealed a significant browning in C005, only 5.80% of the pixels revealed significant browning in both collections. We found that 11% of the pixels with significant browning in C005, were stable in C006. Vice versa, we found that 19.18% of all pixels revealed a significant positive trend in C006 while these pixels were stable in C005. Even though C006 reveals more than double the percentage of positive trends (from 12% in C005 to 32% in C006), the large clusters of significant trends appear in the same spatial regions. We did not find similar drastic differences between collections when analyzing the trend results based on the Land Surface Temperature product. However, some key areas, such as the Amazon region, reveal significant differences.

Home-based aerobic conditioning for management of symptoms of fibromyalgia: a pilot study.

PubMed

Harden, R Norman; Song, Sharon; Fasen, Jo; Saltz, Samuel L; Nampiaparampil, Devi; Vo, Andrew; Revivo, Gadi

2012-06-01

This pilot study was designed to evaluate the impact of a home-based aerobic conditioning program on symptoms of fibromyalgia and determine if changes in symptoms were related to quantitative changes in aerobic conditioning (VO(2) max). Twenty-six sedentary individuals diagnosed with fibromyalgia syndrome participated in an individualized 12-week home-based aerobic exercise program with the goal of daily aerobic exercise of 30 minutes at 80% of estimated maximum heart rate. The aerobic conditioning took place in the participants' homes, outdoors, or at local fitness clubs at the discretion of the individual under the supervision of a physical therapist. Patients were evaluated at baseline and completion for physiological level of aerobic conditioning (VO(2) max), pain ratings, pain disability, depression, and stress. In this pilot study subjects who successfully completed the 12-week exercise program demonstrated an increase in aerobic conditioning, a trend toward decrease in pain measured by the McGill Pain Questionnaire-Short Form and a weak trend toward improvements in visual analog scale, depression, and perceived stress. Patients who were unable or unwilling to complete this aerobic conditioning program reported significantly greater pain and perceived disability (and a trend toward more depression) at baseline than those who completed the program. Patients suffering from fibromyalgia who can participate in an aerobic conditioning program may experience physiological and psychological benefits, perhaps with improvement in symptoms of fibromyalgia, specifically pain ratings. More definitive trials are needed, and this pilot demonstrates the feasibility of the quantitative VO2 max method. Subjects who experience significant perceived disability and negative affective symptoms are not likely to maintain a home-based conditioning program, and may need a more comprehensive interdisciplinary program offering greater psychological and social support. Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Distributed Control Architecture for Gas Turbine Engine. Chapter 4

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Culley, Dennis; Garg, Sanjay

2009-01-01

The transformation of engine control systems from centralized to distributed architecture is both necessary and enabling for future aeropropulsion applications. The continued growth of adaptive control applications and the trend to smaller, light weight cores is a counter influence on the weight and volume of control system hardware. A distributed engine control system using high temperature electronics and open systems communications will reverse the growing trend of control system weight ratio to total engine weight and also be a major factor in decreasing overall cost of ownership for aeropropulsion systems. The implementation of distributed engine control is not without significant challenges. There are the needs for high temperature electronics, development of simple, robust communications, and power supply for the on-board electronics.

Federal R&D funding: 10-year trends

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bell, Peter M.

Research and development (R&D) funded by the federal government has grown steadily since 1971, according to the National Science Foundation (NSF). The total federal R&D funding gained at an annual rate of 8.6% in actual dollars. Substantial gains, on the order of 15% over 1981, had originally been planned but later revised downward, close to 0%, for the fiscal year 1982. The essential features of the 10-year trend are that federal R&D funding has been mostly directed toward the military—over twice the amount of all other types of R&D funding—and while military research funding is accelerating sharply, other research funding is on the decline. In simple terms, the 10-year increases are only for national defense.

Variability, trends, and teleconnections of stream flows with large-scale climate signals in the Omo-Ghibe River Basin, Ethiopia.

PubMed

Degefu, Mekonnen Adnew; Bewket, Woldeamlak

2017-04-01

This study assesses variability, trends, and teleconnections of stream flow with large-scale climate signals (global sea surface temperatures (SSTs)) for the Omo-Ghibe River Basin of Ethiopia. Fourteen hydrological indices of variability and extremes were defined from daily stream flow data series and analyzed for two common periods, which are 1972-2006 for 5 stations and 1982-2006 for 15 stations. The Mann-Kendall's test was used to detect trends at 0.05 significance level, and simple correlation analysis was applied to evaluate associations between the selected stream flow indices and SSTs. We found weak and mixed (upward and downward) trend signals for annual and wet (Kiremt) season flows. Indices generated for high-flow (flood) magnitudes showed the same weak trend signals. However, trend tests for flood frequencies and low-flow magnitudes showed little evidences of increasing change. It was also found that El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) are the major anomalies affecting stream flow variability in the Omo-Ghibe Basin. The strongest associations are observed between ENSO/Niño3.4 and the stream flow in August and September, mean Kiremt flow (July-September), and flood frequency (peak over threshold on average three peaks per year (POT3_Fre)). The findings of this study provide a general overview on the long-term stream flow variability and predictability of stream flows for the Omo-Ghibe River Basin.

Analysis of water levels in the Frenchman Flat area, Nevada Test Site

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bright, D.J.; Watkins, S.A.; Lisle, B.A.

2001-01-01

Analysis of water levels in 21 wells in the Frenchman Flat area, Nevada Test Site, provides information on the accuracy of hydraulic-head calculations, temporal water-level trends, and potential causes of water-level fluctuations. Accurate hydraulic heads are particularly important in Frenchman Flat where the hydraulic gradients are relatively flat (less than 1 foot per mile) in the alluvial aquifer. Temporal water-level trends with magnitudes near or exceeding the regional hydraulic gradient may have a substantial effect on ground-water flow directions. Water-level measurements can be adjusted for the effects of barometric pressure, formation water density (from water-temperature measurements), borehole deviation, and land-surface altitude in selected wells in the Frenchman Flat area. Water levels in one well were adjusted for the effect of density; this adjustment was significantly greater (about 17 feet) than the adjustment of water levels for barometric pressure, borehole deviation, or land-surface altitude (less than about 4 feet). Water-level measurements from five wells exhibited trends that were statistically and hydrologically significant. Statistically significant water-level trends were observed for three wells completed in the alluvial aquifer (WW-5a, UE-5n, and PW-3), for one well completed in the carbonate aquifer (SM-23), and for one well completed in the quartzite confining unit (Army-6a). Potential causes of water-level fluctuations in wells in the Frenchman Flat area include changes in atmospheric conditions (precipitation and barometric pressure), Earth tides, seismic activity, past underground nuclear testing, and nearby pumping. Periodic water-level measurements in some wells completed in the carbonate aquifer indicate cyclic-type water-level fluctuations that generally correlate with longer term changes (more than 5 years) in precipitation. Ground-water pumping fromthe alluvial aquifer at well WW-5c and pumping and discharge from well RNM-2s appear to cause water-level fluctuations in nearby observation wells. The remaining known sources of water-level fluctuations do not appear to substantially affect water-level changes (seismic activity and underground nuclear testing) or do not affect changes over a period of more than 1 year (barometric pressure and Earth tides) in wells in the Frenchman Flat area.

Change in hippocampal theta activity with transfer from simple discrimination tasks to a simultaneous feature-negative task

PubMed Central

Sakimoto, Yuya; Sakata, Shogo

2014-01-01

It was showed that solving a simple discrimination task (A+, B−) and a simultaneous feature-negative (FN) task (A+, AB−) used the hippocampal-independent strategy. Recently, we showed that the number of sessions required for a rat to completely learn a task differed between the FN and simple discrimination tasks, and there was a difference in hippocampal theta activity between these tasks. These results suggested that solving the FN task relied on a different strategy than the simple discrimination task. In this study, we provided supportive evidence that solving the FN and simple discrimination tasks involved different strategies by examining changes in performance and hippocampal theta activity in the FN task after transfer from the simple discrimination task (A+, B− → A+, AB−). The results of this study showed that performance on the FN task was impaired and there was a difference in hippocampal theta activity between the simple discrimination task and FN task. Thus, we concluded that solving the FN task uses a different strategy than the simple discrimination task. PMID:24917797

TRENDS: A flight test relational database user's guide and reference manual

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bondi, M. J.; Bjorkman, W. S.; Cross, J. L.

1994-01-01

This report is designed to be a user's guide and reference manual for users intending to access rotocraft test data via TRENDS, the relational database system which was developed as a tool for the aeronautical engineer with no programming background. This report has been written to assist novice and experienced TRENDS users. TRENDS is a complete system for retrieving, searching, and analyzing both numerical and narrative data, and for displaying time history and statistical data in graphical and numerical formats. This manual provides a 'guided tour' and a 'user's guide' for the new and intermediate-skilled users. Examples for the use of each menu item within TRENDS is provided in the Menu Reference section of the manual, including full coverage for TIMEHIST, one of the key tools. This manual is written around the XV-15 Tilt Rotor database, but does include an appendix on the UH-60 Blackhawk database. This user's guide and reference manual establishes a referrable source for the research community and augments NASA TM-101025, TRENDS: The Aeronautical Post-Test, Database Management System, Jan. 1990, written by the same authors.

Pathways to Success: Integrating Learning with Life and Work to Increase National College Completion. A Report to the U.S. Congress and Secretary of Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance, 2012

2012-01-01

College completion rates are stagnant or falling today, particularly among young Americans, a trend that threatens to undermine the nation's global competitiveness and further exacerbate inequality in the nation's income distribution. In the past, efforts to ensure academic quality, access, and student success in higher education have produced…

Forest statistics for the Southern Coastal Plain of North Carolina 1973

Treesearch

Noel D. Cost

1973-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the fourth inventory of the timber resource in the Southern Coastal plain of North Carolina. The inventory was s t a r t e d in November 1972 and completed in August 1973. Three previous inventories, completed in 1937, 1952, and 1962, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 36 years. In this...

Trends in High School Dropout and Completion Rates in the United States: 2014. NCES 2018-117

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McFarland, Joel; Cui, Jiashan; Stark, Patrick

2018-01-01

This report draws on an array of nationally representative surveys and administrative datasets to present statistics on high school dropout and completion rates. The report includes estimates of the percentage of students who drop out in a given 12-month period (event dropout rates), the percentage of young people in a specified age range who are…

Forest statistics for the Northern Coastal Plain of South Carolina, 1986

Treesearch

John B. Tansey

1987-01-01

This report highlights the principal findings of the sixth forest survey in the Northern Coastal Plain of South Carolina. Fieldwork began in April 1986 and was completed in July 1986. Five previous surveys, completed in 1936, 1947, 1958, 1968, and 1978, provide statistics for measuring changes and trends over the past 50 years. The primary emphasis in this report is on...

A Post-Hurricane Katrina Examination of Substance Abuse Treatment Discharges With Co-Occurring Psychiatric and Substance Use Disorders.

PubMed

Shuler, Monique; Suzuki, Sumihiro; Podesta, Arwen; Qualls-Hampton, Raquel; Wallington, Sherrie Flynt

2017-01-01

There is increasing literature supporting the adverse effects of disasters on substance use and psychiatric disorders. The co-occurrence of psychiatric disorders with substance use intensifies the challenge of treatment delivery. Thus the aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of substance use, treatment characteristics, and demographics of discharges from substance abuse treatment in New Orleans, post-Hurricane Katrina. Trends associated with discharges that have a co-occurring psychiatric and substance use disorder (COD) were also assessed. The secondary aim of this study was to examine the association of successful substance abuse treatment completion among those with a COD post-Hurricane Katrina. Substance abuse treatment discharge data (N = 16,507) from New Orleans, Louisiana, for years 2006 through 2011 were obtained from the Treatment Episode Data Set-Discharge. Multiple logistic regression analysis was employed to examine the association of discharges with a COD and completion of substance abuse treatment. Demographic, psychiatric, and treatment characteristics of discharges in 2006 were compared to characteristics in 2011. Trends of characteristics were also assessed through the study period. Roughly a third (35.2%) of all discharges in New Orleans from 2006 to 2011 had a COD. After controlling for race, employment, treatment service setting at discharge, primary substance problem, and the discharge's principal source of referral, discharges with a COD were 29% less likely to complete treatment as compared to those with no COD (AOR = 0.71, 95% CI [0.56, 0.90], p = .004). Treatment completion among discharges with a COD has significantly declined from 36.8% in 2006 to 18.7% in 2011 (p < .0001). Notable significant trends in homelessness, criminality, and heroin use were identified among discharges with a COD. Substance abuse treatment undergoes various changes in the event of a natural disaster. These changes may increase challenges for successful treatment completion for vulnerable populations such as those with a COD. Results of this study demonstrate that discharges with a COD are less likely to complete treatment as compared to those with no COD disorder. Unmet treatment needs may also increase odds of criminalization and homelessness.

Evaluation of the national Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System for dengue fever in Taiwan, 2010-2012.

PubMed

McKerr, Caoimhe; Lo, Yi-Chun; Edeghere, Obaghe; Bracebridge, Sam

2015-03-01

In Taiwan, around 1,500 cases of dengue fever are reported annually and incidence has been increasing over time. A national web-based Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NDSS) has been in operation since 1997 to monitor incidence and trends and support case and outbreak management. We present the findings of an evaluation of the NDSS to ascertain the extent to which dengue fever surveillance objectives are being achieved. We extracted the NDSS data on all laboratory-confirmed dengue fever cases reported during 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2012 to assess and describe key system attributes based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention surveillance evaluation guidelines. The system's structure and processes were delineated and operational staff interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Crude and age-adjusted incidence rates were calculated and key demographic variables were summarised to describe reporting activity. Data completeness and validity were described across several variables. Of 5,072 laboratory-confirmed dengue fever cases reported during 2010-2012, 4,740 (93%) were reported during July to December. The system was judged to be simple due to its minimal reporting steps. Data collected on key variables were correctly formatted and usable in > 90% of cases, demonstrating good data completeness and validity. The information collected was considered relevant by users with high acceptability. Adherence to guidelines for 24-hour reporting was 99%. Of 720 cases (14%) recorded as travel-related, 111 (15%) had an onset >14 days after return, highlighting the potential for misclassification. Information on hospitalization was missing for 22% of cases. The calculated PVP was 43%. The NDSS for dengue fever surveillance is a robust, well maintained and acceptable system that supports the collection of complete and valid data needed to achieve the surveillance objectives. The simplicity of the system engenders compliance leading to timely and accurate reporting. Completeness of hospitalization information could be further improved to allow assessment of severity of illness. To minimize misclassification, an algorithm to accurately classify travel cases should be established.

Completeness of birth and death registration in a rural area of South Africa: the Agincourt health and demographic surveillance, 1992–2014

PubMed Central

Garenne, Michel; Collinson, Mark A.; Kabudula, Chodziwadziwa W.; Gómez-Olivé, F. Xavier; Kahn, Kathleen; Tollman, Stephen

2016-01-01

Background Completeness of vital registration remains very low in sub-Saharan Africa, especially in rural areas. Objectives To investigate trends and factors in completeness of birth and death registration in Agincourt, a rural area of South Africa covering a population of about 110,000 persons, under demographic surveillance since 1992. The population belongs to the Shangaan ethnic group and hosts a sizeable community of Mozambican refugees. Design Statistical analysis of birth and death registration over time in a 22-year perspective (1992–2014). Over this period, major efforts were made by the government of South Africa to improve vital registration. Factors associated with completeness of registration were investigated using univariate and multivariate analysis. Results Birth registration was very incomplete at onset (7.8% in 1992) and reached high values at end point (90.5% in 2014). Likewise, death registration was low at onset (51.4% in 1992), also reaching high values at end point (97.1% in 2014). For births, the main factors were mother's age (much lower completeness among births to adolescent mothers), refugee status, and household wealth. For deaths, the major factors were age at death (lower completeness among under-five children), refugee status, and household wealth. Completeness increased for all demographic and socioeconomic categories studied and is likely to approach 100% in the future if trends continue at this speed. Conclusion Reaching high values in the completeness of birth and death registration was achieved by excellent organization of the civil registration and vital statistics, a variety of financial incentives, strong involvement of health personnel, and wide-scale information and advocacy campaigns by the South African government. PMID:27782873

Flowfield computation of entry vehicles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Prabhu, Dinesh K.

1990-01-01

The equations governing the multidimensional flow of a reacting mixture of thermally perfect gasses were derived. The modeling procedures for the various terms of the conservation laws are discussed. A numerical algorithm, based on the finite-volume approach, to solve these conservation equations was developed. The advantages and disadvantages of the present numerical scheme are discussed from the point of view of accuracy, computer time, and memory requirements. A simple one-dimensional model problem was solved to prove the feasibility and accuracy of the algorithm. A computer code implementing the above algorithm was developed and is presently being applied to simple geometries and conditions. Once the code is completely debugged and validated, it will be used to compute the complete unsteady flow field around the Aeroassist Flight Experiment (AFE) body.

The use of a questionnaire and simple exercise test in the preoperative assessment of vascular surgery patients.

PubMed

McGlade, D P; Poon, A B; Davies, M J

2001-10-01

We aimed to assess the reliability of patients as historians in terms of the self assessment of functional capacity and also examined the usefulness of a simple ward exercise tolerance test. One hundred consecutive elective vascular surgery patients were interviewed preoperatively using a modified Duke Activity Status Index (DASI) questionnaire. To test reliability in reference to an independent observer, the questionnaire concerning the patient was also applied to each patient's closest relative who was blinded to the patient's responses. Patients were then asked to walk up two flights of stairs and the time taken to complete the task or the reason for failing to complete the task was recorded. The D

An admissible level \\widehat{osp} ( 1 \\big \\vert 2 ) -model: modular transformations and the Verlinde formula

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Snadden, John; Ridout, David; Wood, Simon

2018-05-01

The modular properties of the simple vertex operator superalgebra associated with the affine Kac-Moody superalgebra \\widehat{{osp}} (1|2) at level -5/4 are investigated. After classifying the relaxed highest-weight modules over this vertex operator superalgebra, the characters and supercharacters of the simple weight modules are computed and their modular transforms are determined. This leads to a complete list of the Grothendieck fusion rules by way of a continuous superalgebraic analog of the Verlinde formula. All Grothendieck fusion coefficients are observed to be non-negative integers. These results indicate that the extension to general admissible levels will follow using the same methodology once the classification of relaxed highest-weight modules is completed.

Diet Measurement in Vietnamese Youth: Concurrent Reliability of a Self-Administered Food Frequency Questionnaire.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wiecha, John M.; And Others

1994-01-01

Vietnamese high school students completed a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and completed daily diet reports for seven weeks. Data from the FFQ were compared to the food reports. The results indicated a few simple FFQ items, particularly for indicator foods such as rice, were reliable for dietary assessment for that population. (SM)

A Complete Set for the Maass Laplacians on the Pseudosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Oshima, K.

1989-02-01

We obtain a completeness relation from eigenfunctions of the Maass laplacians in terms of the pseudospherical polar coordinates. We derive addition theorems of ``generalized'' associated Legendre functions. With the help of the addition theorems, we get a simple path integral picture for a charged particle on the Poincaré upper half plane with a constant magnetic field.

Crystal structure of simple metals at high pressures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Degtyareva, Olga

2010-09-01

The effects of pressure on the crystal structure of simple (or sp-) elements are analysed in terms of changes in coordination number, packing density, and interatomic distances, and general rules are established. In the polyvalent elements from groups 14-17, the covalently bonded structures tend to transform to metallic phases with a gradual increase in coordination number and packing density, a behaviour normally expected under pressure. Group 1 and 2 metallic elements, however, show a reverse trend towards structures with low packing density due to intricate changes in their electronic structure. Complex crystal structures such as host-guest and incommensurately modulated structures found in these elements are given special attention in this review in an attempt to determine their role in the observed phase-transition sequences.

Implications of National Suicide Trends for Social Work Practice with Black Youth

PubMed Central

Joe, Sean

2009-01-01

Although homicide is the leading cause of death for African-Americans aged 15–24, suicide is silently claiming the lives of many African-American youth, males in particular. Given the disproportionate number of African-American adolescents in many of the primary human service institutions, it is important to increase social workers’ understanding of the nature and trends in self-destructive behaviors of this population. This paper presents the descriptive epidemiological trend data on African-American adolescent suicide completion and parasuicidal behavior, reviews current explanatory hypotheses, highlights important risk and protective factors, and outlines several culturally-congruent practice guidelines for working with suicidal African-Americans adolescents. PMID:19562101

Simple process of hybrid white quantum dot/organic light-emitting diodes by using quantum dot plate and fluorescence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, Ho Won; Lee, Ki-Heon; Lee, Jae Woo; Kim, Jong-Hoon; Yang, Heesun; Kim, Young Kwan

2015-02-01

In this work, the simple process of hybrid quantum dot (QD)/organic light-emitting diode (OLED) was proposed to apply a white illumination light by using QD plate and organic fluorescence. Conventional blue fluorescent OLEDs were firstly fabricated and then QD plates of various concentrations, which can be controlled of UV-vis absorption and photoluminescence spectrum, were attached under glass substrate of completed blue devices. The suggested process indicates that we could fabricate the white device through very simple process without any deposition of orange or red organic emitters. Therefore, this work would be demonstrated that the potential simple process for white applications can be applied and also can be extended to additional research on light applications.

United States housing, 2012

Treesearch

Delton Alderman

2013-01-01

Provides current and historical information on housing market in the United States. Information includes trends for housing permits and starts, housing completions for single and multifamily units, and sales and construction. This report will be updated annually.

Changing sources and environmental factors reduce the rates of decline of organochlorine pesticides in the Arctic Atmosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Becker, S.; Halsall, C. J.; Tych, W.; Kallenborn, R.; Schlabach, M.; Manø, S.

2009-01-01

An extensive database of organochlorine (OC) pesticide concentrations measured at the Norwegian Arctic Monitoring Station was analysed to assess longer-term trends in the Arctic atmosphere. Dynamic Harmonic Regression (DHR) is employed to investigate the seasonal and cyclical behaviour of chlordanes, DDTs and hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and to isolate underlying inter-annual trends. Although a simple comparison of annual mean concentrations (1994-2005) suggest a decline for all of the OCs investigated, the longer-term trends identified by DHR only show a significant decline for p,p'-DDT. Indeed, HCB shows an increase from 2003-2005. This is thought to be due to changes in source types and the presence of impurities in current use pesticides, together with retreating sea ice affecting air-water exchange. Changes in source types were revealed by using isomeric ratios for the chlordanes and DDTs. Declining trends in ratios of trans-chlordane/cis-chlordane (TC/CC) indicate a shift from primary sources, to more ''weathered'' secondary sources, whereas an increasing trend in o,p'-DDT/p,p'-DDT ratios indicate a shift from use of technical DDT to dicofol. Continued monitoring of these OC pesticides is required to fully understand the influence of a changing climate on the behaviour and environmental cycling of these chemicals in the Arctic as well as possible impacts from ''new'' sources.

Changing sources and environmental factors reduce the rates of decline of organochlorine pesticides in the Arctic atmosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Becker, S.; Halsall, C. J.; Tych, W.; Kallenborn, R.; Schlabach, M.; Manø, S.

2012-05-01

An extensive database of organochlorine (OC) pesticide concentrations measured at the Norwegian Arctic monitoring station at Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, was analysed to assess longer-term trends in the Arctic atmosphere. Dynamic Harmonic Regression (DHR) is employed to investigate the seasonal and cyclical behaviour of chlordanes, DDTs and hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and to isolate underlying inter-annual trends. Although a simple comparison of annual mean concentrations (1994-2005) suggest a decline for all of the OCs investigated, the longer-term trends identified by DHR only show a significant decline for p,p'-DDT. Indeed, HCB shows an increase from 2003-2005. This is thought to be due to changes in source types and the presence of impurities in current use pesticides, together with retreating sea ice affecting air-water exchange. Changes in source types were revealed by using isomeric ratios for the chlordanes and DDTs. Declining trends in ratios of trans-chlordane/cis-chlordane (TC/CC) indicate a shift from primary sources, to more "weathered" secondary sources, whereas an increasing trend in o,p'-DDT/p,p'-DDT ratios indicate a shift from use of technical DDT to dicofol. Continued monitoring of these OC pesticides is required to fully understand the influence of a changing climate on the behaviour and environmental cycling of these chemicals in the Arctic as well as possible impacts from "new" sources.

Command and Control in a Complex World

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-05-22

definition of command and control does not adequately address changes introduced through technology trends, our understanding of the global operating...processes. The current joint definition of command and control does not adequately address changes introduced through technology trends, our...the problem is actually solved.  There are no  definitive ,  objective solutions to wicked problems.  For a complete  definition  of wicked problems, see

Daily extreme precipitation indices and their impacts on rice yield—A case study over the tropical island in China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Mao-Fen; Luo, Wei; Li, Hailiang; Liu, Enping; Li, Yuping

2018-04-01

Frequent occurrences of extreme precipitation events have significant impacts on agricultural production. Tropical agriculture has been playing an important role in national economy in China. A precise understanding of variability in extreme precipitation indices and their impacts on crop yields are of great value for farmers and policy makers at county level, particularly in tropical China where almost all agriculture is rainfed. This research has studied observed trends in extreme precipitation indices (a total of 10) during 1988-2013 over Hainan island, tropical China. Mann-Kendall nonparametric test was adopted for trend detection and the results showed that most of precipitation indices showed increasing trend. Since rice is the most important staple food in Hainan island, the impacts of extreme precipitation indices on rice yields were also analyzed through simple correlations. In general, the rainy days and rain intensity in late rice growing season showed increasing trend over Hainan island. The rice yield presented ninth-degree polynomial technological trend at all stations and increasing trend for early rice yield. Late rice yield showed a decreasing trend in some parts of Hainan island. Spearman rank correlation coefficient indicated that the correlation was more pronounced between extreme precipitation indices and yields at Haikou site for early rice, and Haikou, Sanya, and Qionghai stations for late rice, respectively. Further results also indicated that there were statistically significant positive trends of R10 and R20 (number of days with precipitation ≥10 mm and precipitation ≥20 mm, respectively) from July to November at Haikou (located in north of Hainan island), and this positive trend may be a disadvantage for late rice yield. The cut-off value of extreme precipitation indices and its correlation with rice yield anomaly indices for Hainan island provided a foundation for vulnerability assessment as well as a contribution to set up contingency program under potential climate change conditions.

Strain pattern represented by scarps formed during the earthquakes of October 2, 1915, Pleasant Valley, Nevada

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wallace, R.E.

1979-01-01

The pattern of scarps developed during the earthquakes of October 2, 1915, in Pleasant Valley, Nevada, may have formed as a result of a modern stress system acting on a set of fractures produced by an earlier stress system which was oriented differently. Four major scarps developed in a right-stepping, en-echelon pattern suggestive of left-lateral slip across the zone and an extension axis oriented approximately S85??W. The trend of the zone is N25??E. However, the orientation of simple dip-slip on most segments trending approximately N20-40?? E and a right-lateral component of displacement on several N- and NW-trending segments of the scarps indicate that the axis of regional extension was oriented between N50?? and 70?? W, normal to the zone. The cumulative length of the scarps is 60 km, average vertical displacement 2 m, and the maximum vertical displacement near the Pearce School site 5.8 m. Almost everywhere the 1915 scarps formed along an older scarp line, and in some places older scarps represent multiple previous events. The most recent displacement event prior to 1915 is interpreted to have occurred more than 6600 years ago, but possibly less than 20,000 years ago. Some faults expressed by older scarps that trend northwest were not reactivated in 1915, possibly because they are oriented at a low angle with respect to the axis of modern regional extension. The 1915 event occurred in an area of overlap of three regional fault trends oriented northwest, north, and northeast and referred to, respectively, as the Oregon-Nevada, Northwest Nevada, and Midas-Battle Moutain trends. Each of these trends may have developed at a different time; the Oregon-Nevada trend was possibly the earliest and developed in Late Miocene time (Stewart et al. 1975). Segments of the 1915 scarps are parallel to each of these trends, suggesting influence by older sets of fractures. ?? 1979.

Simple Algorithms for Distributed Leader Election in Anonymous Synchronous Rings and Complete Networks Inspired by Neural Development in Fruit Flies.

PubMed

Xu, Lei; Jeavons, Peter

2015-11-01

Leader election in anonymous rings and complete networks is a very practical problem in distributed computing. Previous algorithms for this problem are generally designed for a classical message passing model where complex messages are exchanged. However, the need to send and receive complex messages makes such algorithms less practical for some real applications. We present some simple synchronous algorithms for distributed leader election in anonymous rings and complete networks that are inspired by the development of the neural system of the fruit fly. Our leader election algorithms all assume that only one-bit messages are broadcast by nodes in the network and processors are only able to distinguish between silence and the arrival of one or more messages. These restrictions allow implementations to use a simpler message-passing architecture. Even with these harsh restrictions our algorithms are shown to achieve good time and message complexity both analytically and experimentally.

The Need For Dedicated Bifurcation Stents: A Critical Analysis

PubMed Central

Lesiak, Maciej

2016-01-01

There is growing evidence that optimally performed two-stent techniques may provide similar or better results compared with the simple techniques for bifurcation lesions, with an observed trend towards improvements in clinical and/or angiographic outcomes with a two-stent strategy. Yet, provisional stenting remains the treatment of choice. Here, the author discusses the evidence – and controversies – concerning when and how to use complex techniques. PMID:29588719

Open source data reveals connection between online and on-street protest activity.

PubMed

Qi, Hong; Manrique, Pedro; Johnson, Daniela; Restrepo, Elvira; Johnson, Neil F

There is enormous interest in inferring features of human behavior in the real world from potential digital footprints created online - particularly at the collective level, where the sheer volume of online activity may indicate some changing mood within the population regarding a particular topic. Civil unrest is a prime example, involving the spontaneous appearance of large crowds of otherwise unrelated people on the street on a certain day. While indicators of brewing protests might be gleaned from individual online communications or account content (e.g. Twitter, Facebook) societal concerns regarding privacy can make such probing a politically delicate issue. Here we show that instead, a simple low-level indicator of civil unrest can be obtained from online data at the aggregate level through Google Trends or similar tools. Our study covers countries across Latin America during 2011-2014 in which diverse civil unrest events took place. In each case, we find that the combination of the volume and momentum of searches from Google Trends surrounding pairs of simple keywords, tailored for the specific cultural setting, provide good indicators of periods of civil unrest. This proof-of-concept study motivates the search for more geographically specific indicators based on geo-located searches at the urban level.

Estimating population trends with a linear model: Technical comments

USGS Publications Warehouse

Sauer, John R.; Link, William A.; Royle, J. Andrew

2004-01-01

Controversy has sometimes arisen over whether there is a need to accommodate the limitations of survey design in estimating population change from the count data collected in bird surveys. Analyses of surveys such as the North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) can be quite complex; it is natural to ask if the complexity is necessary, or whether the statisticians have run amok. Bart et al. (2003) propose a very simple analysis involving nothing more complicated than simple linear regression, and contrast their approach with model-based procedures. We review the assumptions implicit to their proposed method, and document that these assumptions are unlikely to be valid for surveys such as the BBS. One fundamental limitation of a purely design-based approach is the absence of controls for factors that influence detection of birds at survey sites. We show that failure to model observer effects in survey data leads to substantial bias in estimation of population trends from BBS data for the 20 species that Bart et al. (2003) used as the basis of their simulations. Finally, we note that the simulations presented in Bart et al. (2003) do not provide a useful evaluation of their proposed method, nor do they provide a valid comparison to the estimating- equations alternative they consider.

Power and sample size evaluation for the Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel mean score (Wilcoxon rank sum) test and the Cochran-Armitage test for trend.

PubMed

Lachin, John M

2011-11-10

The power of a chi-square test, and thus the required sample size, are a function of the noncentrality parameter that can be obtained as the limiting expectation of the test statistic under an alternative hypothesis specification. Herein, we apply this principle to derive simple expressions for two tests that are commonly applied to discrete ordinal data. The Wilcoxon rank sum test for the equality of distributions in two groups is algebraically equivalent to the Mann-Whitney test. The Kruskal-Wallis test applies to multiple groups. These tests are equivalent to a Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel mean score test using rank scores for a set of C-discrete categories. Although various authors have assessed the power function of the Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests, herein it is shown that the power of these tests with discrete observations, that is, with tied ranks, is readily provided by the power function of the corresponding Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel mean scores test for two and R > 2 groups. These expressions yield results virtually identical to those derived previously for rank scores and also apply to other score functions. The Cochran-Armitage test for trend assesses whether there is an monotonically increasing or decreasing trend in the proportions with a positive outcome or response over the C-ordered categories of an ordinal independent variable, for example, dose. Herein, it is shown that the power of the test is a function of the slope of the response probabilities over the ordinal scores assigned to the groups that yields simple expressions for the power of the test. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Fractional solubility of aerosol iron: Synthesis of a global-scale data set

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sholkovitz, Edward R.; Sedwick, Peter N.; Church, Thomas M.; Baker, Alexander R.; Powell, Claire F.

2012-07-01

Aerosol deposition provides a major input of the essential micronutrient iron to the open ocean. A critical parameter with respect to biological availability is the proportion of aerosol iron that enters the oceanic dissolved iron pool - the so-called fractional solubility of aerosol iron (%FeS). Here we present a global-scale compilation of total aerosol iron loading (FeT) and estimated %FeS values for ∼1100 samples collected over the open ocean, the coastal ocean, and some continental sites, including a new data set from the Atlantic Ocean. Despite the wide variety of methods that have been used to define 'soluble' aerosol iron, our global-scale compilation reveals a remarkably consistent trend in the fractional solubility of aerosol iron as a function of total aerosol iron loading, with the great bulk of the data defining an hyperbolic trend. The hyperbolic trends that we observe for both global- and regional-scale data are adequately described by a simple two-component mixing model, whereby the fractional solubility of iron in the bulk aerosol reflects the conservative mixing of 'lithogenic' mineral dust (high FeT and low %FeS) and non-lithogenic 'combustion' aerosols (low FeT and high %FeS). An increasing body of empirical and model-based evidence points to anthropogenic fuel combustion as the major source of these non-lithogenic 'combustion' aerosols, implying that human emissions are a major determinant of the fractional solubility of iron in marine aerosols. The robust global-scale relationship between %FeS and FeT provides a simple heuristic method for estimating aerosol iron solubility at the regional to global scale.

Distributed deformation structures in shallow water carbonates subsiding through a simple stress field (Jandaira Formation, NE Brazil)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bertotti, Giovanni; Bisdom, Kevin; Bezerra, Hilario; Reijmer, John; Cazarin, Carol

2016-04-01

Despite the scarcity of major deformation structures such as folds and faults, the flat-lying, post-rift shallow water carbonates of the Jandaira Formation (Potiguar Basin, NE Brazil) display well-organized fracture systems distributed of tens of km2. Structures observed in the outcropping carbonates are sub-vertical, generally N-S trending mode I and hybrid veins and barren fractures, sub-vertical roughly E-W trending stylolites and sub-horizontal stylolites. These features developed during subsidence in a simple and constant stress field characterized by, beside gravity, a significant horizontal stress probably of tectonic origin. The corresponding depth curves have different origin and slopes and, therefore, cross each other resulting in position of the principal stresses which change with depth. As a result, the type and amount of fractures affecting subsiding rocks change despite the fact that the far-field stresses remain constant. Following early diagenesis and porosity elimination in the first 100-200m depth, Jandaira carbonates experienced wholesale fracturing at depths of 400-800m resulting in a network of NNW-NE trending fractures partly organized in conjugate sets with a low interfault angle and a sub-vertical intersection, and sub-vertical stylolites roughly perpendicular to the fractures. Intense fluid circulation was activated as a consequence through the carbonates. With increasing subsidence, sub-horizontal stylolites formed providing calcite which precipitated in the open fractures transforming them in veins. The Jandaira formation lost thereby the permeability it had reached during the previous stage. Because of the lack of major deformation, the outcrops of the Jandaira Formation is an excellent analog for carbonate reservoirs in the Middle East, South Atlantic and elsewhere.

Evaluation of a regional monitoring program's statistical power to detect temporal trends in forest health indicators

USGS Publications Warehouse

Perles, Stephanie J.; Wagner, Tyler; Irwin, Brian J.; Manning, Douglas R.; Callahan, Kristina K.; Marshall, Matthew R.

2014-01-01

Forests are socioeconomically and ecologically important ecosystems that are exposed to a variety of natural and anthropogenic stressors. As such, monitoring forest condition and detecting temporal changes therein remain critical to sound public and private forestland management. The National Parks Service’s Vital Signs monitoring program collects information on many forest health indicators, including species richness, cover by exotics, browse pressure, and forest regeneration. We applied a mixed-model approach to partition variability in data for 30 forest health indicators collected from several national parks in the eastern United States. We then used the estimated variance components in a simulation model to evaluate trend detection capabilities for each indicator. We investigated the extent to which the following factors affected ability to detect trends: (a) sample design: using simple panel versus connected panel design, (b) effect size: increasing trend magnitude, (c) sample size: varying the number of plots sampled each year, and (d) stratified sampling: post-stratifying plots into vegetation domains. Statistical power varied among indicators; however, indicators that measured the proportion of a total yielded higher power when compared to indicators that measured absolute or average values. In addition, the total variability for an indicator appeared to influence power to detect temporal trends more than how total variance was partitioned among spatial and temporal sources. Based on these analyses and the monitoring objectives of theVital Signs program, the current sampling design is likely overly intensive for detecting a 5 % trend·year−1 for all indicators and is appropriate for detecting a 1 % trend·year−1 in most indicators.

Development of A Dust Climate Indicator for the US National Climate Assessment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tong, D.; Wang, J. X. L.; Gill, T. E.; Van Pelt, S.; Kim, D.

2016-12-01

Dust activity is a relatively simple but practical indicator to document the response of dryland ecosystems to climate change, making it an integral part of the National Climate Assessment (NCA). We present here a multi-agency collaboration that aims at developing a suite of dust climate indicators to document and monitor the long-term variability and trend of dust storm activity in the western United States. Recent dust observations have revealed rapid intensification of dust storm activity in the western United States. This trend is also closely correlated with a rapid increase in dust deposition in rainwater and "valley fever" hospitalization in southwestern states. It remains unclear, however, if such a trend, when enhanced by predicted warming and rainfall oscillation in the Southwest, will result in irreversible environmental development such as desertification or even another "Dust Bowl". Based on continuous ground aerosol monitoring, we have reconstructed a long-term dust storm climatology in the western United States. We report here direct evidence of rapid intensification of dust storm activity over US deserts in the past decades (1990 to 2013), in contrast to the decreasing trends in Asia and Africa. The US trend is spatially and temporally correlated with incidences of valley fever, an infectious disease caused by soil-dwelling fungus that has increased eight-fold in the past decade. We further investigate the linkage between dust variations and possible climate drivers and find that the regional dust trends are likely driven by large-scale variations of sea surface temperature in the Pacific Ocean, with the strongest correlation with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). Future study will explore the link between the temporal and spatial trends of increase in dustiness and vegetation change in southwestern semi-arid and arid ecosystems.

Random forest meteorological normalisation models for Swiss PM10 trend analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grange, Stuart K.; Carslaw, David C.; Lewis, Alastair C.; Boleti, Eirini; Hueglin, Christoph

2018-05-01

Meteorological normalisation is a technique which accounts for changes in meteorology over time in an air quality time series. Controlling for such changes helps support robust trend analysis because there is more certainty that the observed trends are due to changes in emissions or chemistry, not changes in meteorology. Predictive random forest models (RF; a decision tree machine learning technique) were grown for 31 air quality monitoring sites in Switzerland using surface meteorological, synoptic scale, boundary layer height, and time variables to explain daily PM10 concentrations. The RF models were used to calculate meteorologically normalised trends which were formally tested and evaluated using the Theil-Sen estimator. Between 1997 and 2016, significantly decreasing normalised PM10 trends ranged between -0.09 and -1.16 µg m-3 yr-1 with urban traffic sites experiencing the greatest mean decrease in PM10 concentrations at -0.77 µg m-3 yr-1. Similar magnitudes have been reported for normalised PM10 trends for earlier time periods in Switzerland which indicates PM10 concentrations are continuing to decrease at similar rates as in the past. The ability for RF models to be interpreted was leveraged using partial dependence plots to explain the observed trends and relevant physical and chemical processes influencing PM10 concentrations. Notably, two regimes were suggested by the models which cause elevated PM10 concentrations in Switzerland: one related to poor dispersion conditions and a second resulting from high rates of secondary PM generation in deep, photochemically active boundary layers. The RF meteorological normalisation process was found to be robust, user friendly and simple to implement, and readily interpretable which suggests the technique could be useful in many air quality exploratory data analysis situations.

Acceptability and initial efficacy of education for teen mothers.

PubMed

Logsdon, M Cynthia; Davis, Deborah Winders; Stikes, Reetta; Ratterman, Rachel; Ryan, Lesa; Myers, John

2015-01-01

Educational materials used by healthcare agencies frequently do not follow national health guidelines for plain talk. Adolescent mothers are a vulnerable population in need of accurate and accessible health information to promote their own health and that of their baby. The aims of our study were to: Determine acceptability of simple, written educational pamphlets to adolescent mothers; Determine efficacy of simple, written educational pamphlets in improving an adolescent mother's knowledge related to breastfeeding, infant care, postpartum depression, and mother-infant relationship; Determine if higher knowledge scores are maintained after a 2-week period; and Determine general parenting health literacy of adolescent mothers. Using a prospective, experimental design, students enrolled in a teen parent program (n = 123) completed a pretest and The Parent Health Literacy Activities Test (PHLAT), read the health educational materials, and completed an immediate posttest of knowledge and acceptability. Two weeks later, the same participants completed a second posttest of knowledge. Adolescent mothers found the intervention (simple, written educational materials) to be acceptable. The intervention was initially effective in improving knowledge scores in all four content areas. However, knowledge was not retained and scores were not significantly different from baseline at the 2-week assessment. The mean health literacy of the adolescent mothers was poor. A booster session may be necessary for knowledge retention. Other methods of education should be studied to evaluate efficacy for adolescent mothers' knowledge retention of important health information.

Trends in Algebra II Completion and Failure Rates for Students Entering Texas Public High Schools. REL 2018-289

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stoker, Ginger; Mellor, Lynn; Sullivan, Kate

2018-01-01

This study examines Algebra II completion and failure rates for students entering Texas public high schools from 2007/08 through 2014/15. This period spans the time when Texas students, beginning with the 2007/08 grade 9 cohort, were required to take four courses each in English, math (including Algebra II), science, and social studies (called the…

Uncertainty estimates of a GRACE inversion modelling technique over Greenland using a simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonin, Jennifer; Chambers, Don

2013-07-01

The low spatial resolution of GRACE causes leakage, where signals in one location spread out into nearby regions. Because of this leakage, using simple techniques such as basin averages may result in an incorrect estimate of the true mass change in a region. A fairly simple least squares inversion technique can be used to more specifically localize mass changes into a pre-determined set of basins of uniform internal mass distribution. However, the accuracy of these higher resolution basin mass amplitudes has not been determined, nor is it known how the distribution of the chosen basins affects the results. We use a simple `truth' model over Greenland as an example case, to estimate the uncertainties of this inversion method and expose those design parameters which may result in an incorrect high-resolution mass distribution. We determine that an appropriate level of smoothing (300-400 km) and process noise (0.30 cm2 of water) gets the best results. The trends of the Greenland internal basins and Iceland can be reasonably estimated with this method, with average systematic errors of 3.5 cm yr-1 per basin. The largest mass losses found from GRACE RL04 occur in the coastal northwest (-19.9 and -33.0 cm yr-1) and southeast (-24.2 and -27.9 cm yr-1), with small mass gains (+1.4 to +7.7 cm yr-1) found across the northern interior. Acceleration of mass change is measurable at the 95 per cent confidence level in four northwestern basins, but not elsewhere in Greenland. Due to an insufficiently detailed distribution of basins across internal Canada, the trend estimates of Baffin and Ellesmere Islands are expected to be incorrect due to systematic errors caused by the inversion technique.

Effects of a simple home-based exercise program on fall prevention in older adults: A 12-month primary care setting, randomized controlled trial.

PubMed

Boongird, Chitima; Keesukphan, Prasit; Phiphadthakusolkul, Soontraporn; Rattanasiri, Sasivimol; Thakkinstian, Ammarin

2017-11-01

To investigate the effects of a simple home-based exercise program on falls, physical functioning, fear of falling and quality of life in a primary care setting. Participants (n = 439), aged ≥65 years with mild-to-moderate balance dysfunction were randomly assigned to an exercise (n = 219) or control (n = 220) group. The program consisted of five combined exercises, which progressed in difficulty, and a walking plan. Controls received fall prevention education. Physical functioning and other outcomes were measured at 3- and 6-month follow-up visits. Falls were monitored with fall diaries and phone interviews at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months respectively. The 12 months of the home-based exercise program showed the incidence of falls was 0.30 falls per person year in the exercise group, compared with 0.40 in the control group. The estimated incidence rate ratio was 0.75 (95% CI 0.55-1.04), which was not statistically significant. The fear of falling (measured by the Thai fall efficacy scale) was significantly lower in the exercise than control group (24.7 vs 27.0, P = 0.003). Also, the trend of program adherence increased in the exercise group. (29.6% to 56.8%). This simple home-based exercise program showed a reduction in fear of falling and a positive trend towards exercise adherence. Further studies should focus on factors associated with exercise adherence, the benefits of increased home visits and should follow participants longer in order to evaluate the effects of the program. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 2157-2163. © 2017 Japan Geriatrics Society.

The next generation of capillary electrophoresis instruments: Performance of CE-SDS protein analysis.

PubMed

Kahle, Julia; Maul, Kai Jorrit; Wätzig, Hermann

2018-01-01

Over the last decade, capillary electrophoresis gained tremendous importance, because it became an indispensible tool for the quality control of biologics, e.g. therapeutic antibodies. Consequently, there has been a continuous development within the CE market. Microchip techniques have been established in the last years. Further trends are complete solutions for specific applications by the usage of reagent kits. Step by step instructions and facilitated handling of the instruments are becoming more common. This work focuses on the sized-based protein analysis with CE-SDS. The instruments CE 7100 by Agilent Technologies, LabChip® GXII Touch HT by PerkinElmer, Maurice S. by Protein Simple and PrinCE NextI870 by Prince Technologies have been evaluated, mainly analyzing protein mixtures of different molecular weights in long series. Published data of the PA 800 plus by SCIEX are also included in the tabled results. Precision, reliability, flexibility, and speed have been identified as the most important performance parameters, others such as resolution, sensitivity, linearity, ease of use and sustainability have also been considered. All tested instruments have shown an excellent performance. Depending on application and necessities, each user can find the most appropriate one. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Real-Time Microscopic Monitoring of Flow, Voltage and Current in the Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzer.

PubMed

Lee, Chi-Yuan; Li, Shih-Chun; Chen, Chia-Hung; Huang, Yen-Ting; Wang, Yu-Syuan

2018-03-15

Looking for alternative energy sources has been an inevitable trend since the oil crisis, and close attentioned has been paid to hydrogen energy. The proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolyzer is characterized by high energy efficiency, high yield, simple system and low operating temperature. The electrolyzer generates hydrogen from water free of any carbon sources (provided the electrons come from renewable sources such as solar and wind), so it is very clean and completely satisfies the environmental requirement. However, in long-term operation of the PEM water electrolyzer, the membrane material durability, catalyst corrosion and nonuniformity of local flow, voltage and current in the electrolyzer can influence the overall performance. It is difficult to measure the internal physical parameters of the PEM water electrolyzer, and the physical parameters are interrelated. Therefore, this study uses micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology to develop a flexible integrated microsensor; internal multiple physical information is extracted to determine the optimal working parameters for the PEM water electrolyzer. The real operational data of local flow, voltage and current in the PEM water electrolyzer are measured simultaneously by the flexible integrated microsensor, so as to enhance the performance of the PEM water electrolyzer and to prolong the service life.

Real-Time Microscopic Monitoring of Flow, Voltage and Current in the Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzer

PubMed Central

Lee, Chi-Yuan; Li, Shih-Chun; Chen, Chia-Hung; Huang, Yen-Ting; Wang, Yu-Syuan

2018-01-01

Looking for alternative energy sources has been an inevitable trend since the oil crisis, and close attentioned has been paid to hydrogen energy. The proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolyzer is characterized by high energy efficiency, high yield, simple system and low operating temperature. The electrolyzer generates hydrogen from water free of any carbon sources (provided the electrons come from renewable sources such as solar and wind), so it is very clean and completely satisfies the environmental requirement. However, in long-term operation of the PEM water electrolyzer, the membrane material durability, catalyst corrosion and nonuniformity of local flow, voltage and current in the electrolyzer can influence the overall performance. It is difficult to measure the internal physical parameters of the PEM water electrolyzer, and the physical parameters are interrelated. Therefore, this study uses micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology to develop a flexible integrated microsensor; internal multiple physical information is extracted to determine the optimal working parameters for the PEM water electrolyzer. The real operational data of local flow, voltage and current in the PEM water electrolyzer are measured simultaneously by the flexible integrated microsensor, so as to enhance the performance of the PEM water electrolyzer and to prolong the service life. PMID:29543734

On the impacts of computing daily temperatures as the average of the daily minimum and maximum temperatures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Villarini, Gabriele; Khouakhi, Abdou; Cunningham, Evan

2017-12-01

Daily temperature values are generally computed as the average of the daily minimum and maximum observations, which can lead to biases in the estimation of daily averaged values. This study examines the impacts of these biases on the calculation of climatology and trends in temperature extremes at 409 sites in North America with at least 25 years of complete hourly records. Our results show that the calculation of daily temperature based on the average of minimum and maximum daily readings leads to an overestimation of the daily values of 10+ % when focusing on extremes and values above (below) high (low) thresholds. Moreover, the effects of the data processing method on trend estimation are generally small, even though the use of the daily minimum and maximum readings reduces the power of trend detection ( 5-10% fewer trends detected in comparison with the reference data).

Significant Weakening of Brewer-Dobson Circulation Trends Over the 21st Century as a Consequence of the Montreal Protocol

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Polvani, Lorenzo M.; Abalos, Marta; Garcia, Rolando; Kinnison, Doug; Randel, William J.

2018-01-01

It is well established that increasing greenhouse gases, notably CO2, will cause an acceleration of the stratospheric Brewer-Dobson circulation (BDC) by the end of this century. We here present compelling new evidence that ozone depleting substances are also key drivers of BDC trends. We do so by analyzing and contrasting small ensembles of "single-forcing" integrations with a stratosphere resolving atmospheric model with interactive chemistry, coupled to fully interactive ocean, land, and sea ice components. First, confirming previous work, we show that increasing concentrations of ozone depleting substances have contributed a large fraction of the BDC trends in the late twentieth century. Second, we show that the phasing out of ozone depleting substances in coming decades—as a consequence of the Montreal Protocol—will cause a considerable reduction in BDC trends until the ozone hole is completely healed, toward the end of the 21st century.

Sector trends and driving forces of global energy use and greenhouse gas emissions: focus in industry and buildings

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

Price, Lynn; Worrell, Ernst; Khrushch, Marta

Disaggregation of sectoral energy use and greenhouse gas emissions trends reveals striking differences between sectors and regions of the world. Understanding key driving forces in the energy end-use sectors provides insights for development of projections of future greenhouse gas emissions. This report examines global and regional historical trends in energy use and carbon emissions in the industrial, buildings, transport, and agriculture sectors, with a more detailed focus on industry and buildings. Activity and economic drivers as well as trends in energy and carbon intensity are evaluated. The authors show that macro-economic indicators, such as GDP, are insufficient for comprehending trendsmore » and driving forces at the sectoral level. These indicators need to be supplemented with sector-specific information for a more complete understanding of future energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.« less

The Reliability and Validity of Using Regression Residuals to Measure Institutional Effectiveness in Promoting Degree Completion

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Horn, Aaron S.; Lee, Giljae

2016-01-01

A relatively simple way of measuring institutional effectiveness in relation to degree completion is to estimate the difference between an actual and predicted graduation rate, but the reliability and validity of this method have not been thoroughly examined. Longitudinal data were obtained from IPEDS for both public and private not-for-profit…

Temporal trends in sperm count: a systematic review and meta-regression analysis.

PubMed

Levine, Hagai; Jørgensen, Niels; Martino-Andrade, Anderson; Mendiola, Jaime; Weksler-Derri, Dan; Mindlis, Irina; Pinotti, Rachel; Swan, Shanna H

2017-11-01

Reported declines in sperm counts remain controversial today and recent trends are unknown. A definitive meta-analysis is critical given the predictive value of sperm count for fertility, morbidity and mortality. To provide a systematic review and meta-regression analysis of recent trends in sperm counts as measured by sperm concentration (SC) and total sperm count (TSC), and their modification by fertility and geographic group. PubMed/MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched for English language studies of human SC published in 1981-2013. Following a predefined protocol 7518 abstracts were screened and 2510 full articles reporting primary data on SC were reviewed. A total of 244 estimates of SC and TSC from 185 studies of 42 935 men who provided semen samples in 1973-2011 were extracted for meta-regression analysis, as well as information on years of sample collection and covariates [fertility group ('Unselected by fertility' versus 'Fertile'), geographic group ('Western', including North America, Europe Australia and New Zealand versus 'Other', including South America, Asia and Africa), age, ejaculation abstinence time, semen collection method, method of measuring SC and semen volume, exclusion criteria and indicators of completeness of covariate data]. The slopes of SC and TSC were estimated as functions of sample collection year using both simple linear regression and weighted meta-regression models and the latter were adjusted for pre-determined covariates and modification by fertility and geographic group. Assumptions were examined using multiple sensitivity analyses and nonlinear models. SC declined significantly between 1973 and 2011 (slope in unadjusted simple regression models -0.70 million/ml/year; 95% CI: -0.72 to -0.69; P < 0.001; slope in adjusted meta-regression models = -0.64; -1.06 to -0.22; P = 0.003). The slopes in the meta-regression model were modified by fertility (P for interaction = 0.064) and geographic group (P for interaction = 0.027). There was a significant decline in SC between 1973 and 2011 among Unselected Western (-1.38; -2.02 to -0.74; P < 0.001) and among Fertile Western (-0.68; -1.31 to -0.05; P = 0.033), while no significant trends were seen among Unselected Other and Fertile Other. Among Unselected Western studies, the mean SC declined, on average, 1.4% per year with an overall decline of 52.4% between 1973 and 2011. Trends for TSC and SC were similar, with a steep decline among Unselected Western (-5.33 million/year, -7.56 to -3.11; P < 0.001), corresponding to an average decline in mean TSC of 1.6% per year and overall decline of 59.3%. Results changed minimally in multiple sensitivity analyses, and there was no statistical support for the use of a nonlinear model. In a model restricted to data post-1995, the slope both for SC and TSC among Unselected Western was similar to that for the entire period (-2.06 million/ml, -3.38 to -0.74; P = 0.004 and -8.12 million, -13.73 to -2.51, P = 0.006, respectively). This comprehensive meta-regression analysis reports a significant decline in sperm counts (as measured by SC and TSC) between 1973 and 2011, driven by a 50-60% decline among men unselected by fertility from North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Because of the significant public health implications of these results, research on the causes of this continuing decline is urgently needed. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com

Forecasting turning trends in knowledge networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Szántó-Várnagy, Ádám; Farkas, Illés J.

2018-10-01

A large portion of our collective human knowledge is in electronic repositories. These repositories range from "hard fact" databases (e.g., scientific publications and patents) to "soft" knowledge such as news portals. The common denominator between them all is that they can be thought of in terms of topics/keywords. The interest in these topics is constantly changing over time. Their frequency occurrence diagrams can be used for effective prediction by the most straightforward simplification. In this paper, we use these diagrams to produce simple and human-readable rules that are able to predict the future trends of the most important keywords in 5 data sets of different types. A thorough analysis of the necessary input variables and parameters and their relation to the success rate is presented, as well.

Trends in immunization completion and disparities in the context of health reforms: the case study of Tanzania.

PubMed

Semali, Innocent A

2010-10-30

Of global concern is the decline in under five children mortality which has reversed in some countries in sub Saharan Africa (SSA) since the early 1990 s which could be due to disparities in access to preventive services including immunization. This paper is aimed at determining the trend in disparities in completion of immunization using Tanzania Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS). DHS studies randomly selected representative households from all regions in Tanzania since 1980 s, is repeated every five years in the same enumeration areas. The last three data sets (1990, 1996 and 2004) were downloaded and analyzed using STATA 9.0. The analysis included all children of between 12-23 months who would have completed all vaccinations required at 12 months. Across the time periods 1990, 1996 to 2004/05 the percentage of children completing vaccination was similar (71.0% in 1990, 72.7% in 1996 and 72.3% in 2005). There was no disparity in completion of immunization with wealth strata in 1990 and 1996 (p > 0.05) but not 2004. In 2004/05 there was marked disparity as most poor experienced significant decline in immunization completion while the least poor had significant increase (p < 0.001). All three periods children from households whose head had low education were less likely to complete immunization (p < 0.01). Equity that existed in 1990 and more pronounced in 1996 regressed to inequity in 2005, thus though at national level immunization coverage did not change, but at sub-group there was significant disparity associated with the changing contexts and reforms. To address sub-group disparities in immunization it is recommended to adopt strategies focused at governance and health system to reach all population groups and most poor.

MX Siting Investigation. Gravity Survey - Southern Snake Valley (Ferguson Desert), Utah.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-03-28

Topographic Center (DMAHTC), head- quartered in Cheyenne, Wyoming. DMAHTC reduces the data to Simple Bouguer Anomaly (see Section A1.4, Appendix Al.0...Valley, Utah . . . . . ......... . . . . . 3 3 Complete Bouguer Anomaly Contours 4 Interpreted Gravity Profile SE-3,4 5 Interpreted Gravity Profile SE...observations and reduced them to Simple Bouguer Anomalies (SBA) for each station as described in Appendix Al.0. Up to three levels of terrain corrections were

The Evolution of Transition Region Loops Using IRIS and AIA

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Winebarger, Amy R.; DePontieu, Bart

2014-01-01

Over the past 50 years, the model for the structure of the solar transition region has evolved from a simple transition layer between the cooler chromosphere to the hotter corona to a complex and diverse region that is dominated by complete loops that never reach coronal temperatures. The IRIS slitjaw images show many complete transition region loops. Several of the "coronal" channels in the SDO AIA instrument include contributions from weak transition region lines. In this work, we combine slitjaw images from IRIS with these channels to determine the evolution of the loops. We develop a simple model for the temperature and density evolution of the loops that can explain the simultaneous observations. Finally, we estimate the percentage of AIA emission that originates in the transition region.

Completion of the 2011 National Land Cover Database for the conterminous United States – Representing a decade of land cover change information

USGS Publications Warehouse

Homer, Collin G.; Dewitz, Jon; Yang, Limin; Jin, Suming; Danielson, Patrick; Xian, George Z.; Coulston, John; Herold, Nathaniel; Wickham, James; Megown, Kevin

2015-01-01

The National Land Cover Database (NLCD) provides nationwide data on land cover and land cover change at the native 30-m spatial resolution of the Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM). The database is designed to provide five-year cyclical updating of United States land cover and associated changes. The recent release of NLCD 2011 products now represents a decade of consistently produced land cover and impervious surface for the Nation across three periods: 2001, 2006, and 2011 (Homer et al., 2007; Fry et al., 2011). Tree canopy cover has also been produced for 2011 (Coluston et al., 2012; Coluston et al., 2013). With the release of NLCD 2011, the database provides the ability to move beyond simple change detection to monitoring and trend assessments. NLCD 2011 represents the latest evolution of NLCD products, continuing its focus on consistency, production, efficiency, and product accuracy. NLCD products are designed for widespread application in biology, climate, education, land management, hydrology, environmental planning, risk and disease analysis, telecommunications and visualization, and are available for no cost at http://www.mrlc.gov. NLCD is produced by a Federal agency consortium called the Multi-Resolution Land Characteristics Consortium (MRLC) (Wickham et al., 2014). In the consortium arrangement, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) leads NLCD land cover and imperviousness production for the bulk of the Nation; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) completes NLCD land cover for the conterminous U.S. (CONUS) coastal zones; and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) designs and produces the NLCD tree canopy cover product. Other MRLC partners collaborate through resource or data contribution to ensure NLCD products meet their respective program needs (Wickham et al., 2014).

Arthroscopic Medial Meniscus Posterior Root Fixation Using a Modified Mason-Allen Stitch.

PubMed

Chung, Kyu Sung; Ha, Jeong Ku; Ra, Ho Jong; Kim, Jin Goo

2016-02-01

A complete radial tear of the meniscus posterior root, which can effectively cause a state of total meniscectomy via loss of hoop tension, requires that the torn root be repaired. Several methods have been used to repair medial meniscus posterior root tears, most of which are based on a simple stitch technique that is known to have stitch-holding strength. We applied a modified version of the Mason-Allen stitch technique, which is recognized as a method for rotator cuff repair surgery because its locking effect overcomes the potential weakness of simple stitches. This article introduces the medial meniscus posterior root tears repair procedure based on a modified Mason-Allen stitch technique in which 2 strands (i.e., 1 simple horizontal and 1 simple vertical stitch) are used.

Decadal trends in global pelagic ocean chlorophyll: A new assessment integrating multiple satellites, in situ data, and models.

PubMed

Gregg, Watson W; Rousseaux, Cécile S

2014-09-01

Quantifying change in ocean biology using satellites is a major scientific objective. We document trends globally for the period 1998-2012 by integrating three diverse methodologies: ocean color data from multiple satellites, bias correction methods based on in situ data, and data assimilation to provide a consistent and complete global representation free of sampling biases. The results indicated no significant trend in global pelagic ocean chlorophyll over the 15 year data record. These results were consistent with previous findings that were based on the first 6 years and first 10 years of the SeaWiFS mission. However, all of the Northern Hemisphere basins (north of 10° latitude), as well as the Equatorial Indian basin, exhibited significant declines in chlorophyll. Trend maps showed the local trends and their change in percent per year. These trend maps were compared with several other previous efforts using only a single sensor (SeaWiFS) and more limited time series, showing remarkable consistency. These results suggested the present effort provides a path forward to quantifying global ocean trends using multiple satellite missions, which is essential if we are to understand the state, variability, and possible changes in the global oceans over longer time scales.

Academic Library Buildings in 1980.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Livingston, Barbara; And Others

1980-01-01

Reports a trend toward the inclusion of academic libraries in building complexes and shared space. Only a handful of construction and remodeling projects completed in the year ending June 30, 1980, have costs in excess of $1 million. (RAA)

Trends of HIV and sexually transmitted infections, estimated HIV incidence, and risky sexual behaviors among gay bathhouse attendees in Taiwan: 2004-2008.

PubMed

Ko, Nai-Ying; Lee, Hsin-Chun; Hung, Chien-Ching; Tseng, Fan-Chen; Chang, Jui-Ling; Lee, Nan-Yao; Chang, Chia-Ming; Lee, Meng-Ping; Chen, Bo-Jie; Wang, Shainn-Wei; Ko, Wen-Chien

2011-02-01

Five serial cross-sectional surveys were done at eight gay bathhouses in Taiwan to investigate the trends of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and estimated HIV incidence between 2004 and 2008. Bathhouse attendees completed a questionnaire and tests for HIV, syphilis, hepatitis C virus, and amoebiasis. Twenty-nine (38.6%) were identified as having recent HIV-1 infections. There was a significant increase in HIV incidence, from 7.8% in 2004 to 15% in 2007 (χ(2) = 17.59, P-trend <0.001). Recreational drug use is the primary risk behavior. Comprehensive screening programs in gay bathhouses for early detection of HIV and STIs are important.

More evidence for trends in the intergenerational transmission of divorce: a completed cohort approach using data from the general social survey.

PubMed

Wolfinger, Nicholas H

2011-05-01

Many studies have demonstrated that the children of divorce are disproportionately likely to end their own marriages. In previous work, I showed that the transmission of divorce between generations weakened substantially for General Social Survey (GSS) respondents interviewed between 1973 and 1996 (Wolfinger 1999); Li and Wu (2006, 2008) contended that my finding is a methodological artifact of the GSS's lack of marriage duration data. This article presents a completed-cohort approach to studying divorce using the GSS. The results confirm a decline in the probability of divorce transmission that cannot be explained by the right-censoring bias alleged by Li and Wu. This finding contributes to an ongoing debate about trends in the negative consequences of parental divorce, as well as demonstrating a useful approach to right-censored phenomena when event history data are not available.

Spatial and Temporal scales of time-averaged 700 MB height anomalies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gutzler, D.

1981-01-01

The monthly and seasonal forecasting technique is based to a large extent on the extrapolation of trends in the positions of the centers of time averaged geopotential height anomalies. The complete forecasted height pattern is subsequently drawn around the forecasted anomaly centers. The efficacy of this technique was tested and time series of observed monthly mean and 5 day mean 700 mb geopotential heights were examined. Autocorrelation statistics are generated to document the tendency for persistence of anomalies. These statistics are compared to a red noise hypothesis to check for evidence of possible preferred time scales of persistence. Space-time spectral analyses at middle latitudes are checked for evidence of periodicities which could be associated with predictable month-to-month trends. A local measure of the average spatial scale of anomalies is devised for guidance in the completion of the anomaly pattern around the forecasted centers.

Evaluating leadership training in African American HIV prevention organizations.

PubMed

Coleman, Jason D; Dauner, Kim Nichols; Richter, Donna L; Annang, Lucy; Sellers, Denethia B; Lindley, Lisa L

2011-09-01

This article aimed to examine changes in the HIV prevention capacity of HIV prevention program managers who completed the Institute for HIV Prevention Leadership ("Institute") between 2002 and 2004, and who worked in community-based organizations that primarily served African Americans. Participants completed a survey at three points in time, in which they rated the frequency with which they conducted activities related to HIV prevention practice. Participants also rated their confidence in performing activities. Repeated measures ANOVA was conducted to detect differences at three time points (baseline, immediate posttest, and 6 months posttest). A significant overall positive trend was found in the frequency and confidence of participants to perform specific HIV prevention practices and an overall positive trend in the frequency of processes that support HIV prevention practice. Investment in long-term, intensive, capacity-building programs like the Institute is critical to address the increasing incidence of HIV in many African American communities.

Jig For Stereoscopic Photography

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nielsen, David J.

1990-01-01

Separations between views adjusted precisely for best results. Simple jig adjusted to set precisely, distance between right and left positions of camera used to make stereoscopic photographs. Camera slides in slot between extreme positions, where it takes stereoscopic pictures. Distance between extreme positions set reproducibly with micrometer. In view of trend toward very-large-scale integration of electronic circuits, training method and jig used to make training photographs useful to many companies to reduce cost of training manufacturing personnel.

Fort Knox Trend Analysis, Encroachment Study, and Perimeter Expansion Opportunities in Support of Military Training

DTIC Science & Technology

2006-03-01

converters from GIL and many other formats. Other hilites: command line argument parsing, a simple set of routines for de- veloping Xwindows graphical...Ramakrishna Nemani, James E. Vogelmann, V. Ruth Hobson, Benjamin Tuttle, Jeff Safran, Ingrid Nelson. (2001). “Development Sprawl Impacts on the... Sale Prices as a Basis for Farm Land Appraisal,” Technical Bulletin, University of Minnesota. Hosmer, D.W., and S. Lemeshow. (1989). Applied

A proposed method for world weightlifting championships team selection.

PubMed

Chiu, Loren Z F

2009-08-01

The caliber of competitors at the World Weightlifting Championships (WWC) has increased greatly over the past 20 years. As the WWC are the primary qualifiers for Olympic slots (1996 to present), it is imperative for a nation to select team members who will finish with a high placing and score team points. Previous selection methods were based on a simple percentage system. Analysis of the results from the 2006 and 2007 WWC indicates a curvilinear trend in each weight class, suggesting a simple percentage system will not maximize the number of team points earned. To maximize team points, weightlifters should be selected based on their potential to finish in the top 25. A 5-tier ranking system is proposed that should ensure the athletes with the greatest potential to score team points are selected.

Crystal structure of simple metals at high pressures

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

Degtyareva, Olga

2010-10-22

The effects of pressure on the crystal structure of simple (or sp-) elements are analysed in terms of changes in coordination number, packing density, and interatomic distances, and general rules are established. In the polyvalent elements from groups 14-17, the covalently bonded structures tend to transform to metallic phases with a gradual increase in coordination number and packing density, a behaviour normally expected under pressure. Group 1 and 2 metallic elements, however, show a reverse trend towards structures with low packing density due to intricate changes in their electronic structure. Complex crystal structures such as host-guest and incommensurately modulated structuresmore » found in these elements are given special attention in this review in an attempt to determine their role in the observed phase-transition sequences.« less

Is a SIMPLe smartphone application capable of improving biological rhythms in bipolar disorder?

PubMed

Hidalgo-Mazzei, Diego; Reinares, María; Mateu, Ainoa; Juruena, Mario F; Young, Allan H; Pérez-Sola, Víctor; Vieta, Eduard; Colom, Francesc

2017-12-01

Biological rhythms (BR) disturbance has been suggested as a potential mediator of mood episodes in Bipolar Disorder (BD). The Biological Rhythms Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (BRIAN) was designed as an assessment tool to evaluate BR domains comprehensively. In the context of a trial evaluating a smartphone application delivering personalized psychoeducational contents for BD (SIMPLe 1.0), the main aim of this study is to evaluate the potential impact of SIMPLe 1.0 in BR regulation using the BRIAN scale. 51 remitted BD patients were asked to use the application for 3 months. Paired t-test analyses were employed to compare baseline and follow-up BRIAN´s total and domains scores. The sample was divided into completers and non-completers of the study to evaluate differences between groups regarding BRIAN scores using ANCOVA analyses. The BRIAN's mean total score of the whole sample significantly decreased from baseline to post-intervention (35.89 (SD 6.64) vs. 31.18 (SD 6.33), t = 4.29, p = 0.001). At post-intervention, there was a significant difference between groups regarding the total BRIAN mean score (29.47 (SD 6.21) completers vs. 35.92 (SD 3.90) non-completers, t = 2.50, p = 0.02). This difference was maintained after conducting a one-way ANCOVA controlling for pre-intervention BRIAN scores, F (1, 46) = 10.545, p=0.002. A limited sample, pre-post measures, and a short study timeframe could have affected the results. Additional factors affecting BR, such as medication, could not be ruled out. Our results suggest that there are potential positive effects of a psychoeducational smartphone application as an adjunctive to treatment as usual on BD patients' BR. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Comparison of Two Global Ocean Reanalyses, NRL Global Ocean Forecast System (GOFS) and U. Maryland Simple Ocean Data Assimilation (SODA)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Richman, J. G.; Shriver, J. F.; Metzger, E. J.; Hogan, P. J.; Smedstad, O. M.

2017-12-01

The Oceanography Division of the Naval Research Laboratory recently completed a 23-year (1993-2015) coupled ocean-sea ice reanalysis forced by NCEP CFS reanalysis fluxes. The reanalysis uses the Global Ocean Forecast System (GOFS) framework of the HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model (HYCOM) and the Los Alamos Community Ice CodE (CICE) and the Navy Coupled Ocean Data Assimilation 3D Var system (NCODA). The ocean model has 41 layers and an equatorial resolution of 0.08° (8.8 km) on a tri-polar grid with the sea ice model on the same grid that reduces to 3.5 km at the North Pole. Sea surface temperature (SST), sea surface height (SSH) and temperature-salinity profile data are assimilated into the ocean every day. The SSH anomalies are converted into synthetic profiles of temperature and salinity prior to assimilation. Incremental analysis updating of geostrophically balanced increments is performed over a 6-hour insertion window. Sea ice concentration is assimilated into the sea ice model every day. Following the lead of the Ocean Reanalysis Intercomparison Project (ORA-IP), the monthly mean upper ocean heat and salt content from the surface to 300 m, 700m and 1500 m, the mixed layer depth, the depth of the 20°C isotherm, the steric sea surface height and the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation for the GOFS reanalysis and the Simple Ocean Data Assimilation (SODA 3.3.1) eddy-permitting reanalysis have been compared on a global uniform 0.5° grid. The differences between the two ocean reanalyses in heat and salt content increase with increasing integration depth. Globally, GOFS trends to be colder than SODA at all depth. Warming trends are observed at all depths over the 23 year period. The correlation of the upper ocean heat content is significant above 700 m. Prior to 2004, differences in the data assimilated lead to larger biases. The GOFS reanalysis assimilates SSH as profile data, while SODA doesn't. Large differences are found in the Western Boundary Currents, Southern Ocean and equatorial regions. In the Indian Ocean, the Equatorial Counter Current extends to far to the east and the subsurface flow in the thermocline is too weak in GOFS. The 20°C isotherm is biased 2 m shallow in SODA compared to GOFS, but the monthly anomalies in the depth are highly correlated.

High resolution pollutant measurements in complex urban ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Measuring air pollution in real-time using an instrumented vehicle platform has been an emerging strategy to resolve air pollution trends at a very fine spatial scale (10s of meters). Achieving second-by-second data representative of urban air quality trends requires advanced instrumentation, such as a quantum cascade laser utilized to resolve carbon monoxide and real-time optical detection of black carbon. An equally challenging area of development is processing and visualization of complex geospatial air monitoring data to decipher key trends of interest. EPA’s Office of Research and Development staff have applied air monitoring to evaluate community air quality in a variety of environments, including assessing air quality surrounding rail yards, evaluating noise wall or tree stand effects on roadside and on-road air quality, and surveying of traffic-related exposure zones for comparison with land-use regression estimates. ORD has ongoing efforts to improve mobile monitoring data collection and interpretation, including instrumentation testing, evaluating the effect of post-processing algorithms on derived trends, and developing a web-based tool called Real-Time Geospatial Data Viewer (RETIGO) allowing for a simple plug-and-play of mobile monitoring data. Example findings from mobile data sets include an estimated 50% in roadside ultrafine particle levels when immediately downwind of a noise barrier, increases in neighborhood-wide black carbon levels (3

The relative roles of environment, history and local dispersal in controlling the distributions of common tree and shrub species in a tropical forest landscape, Panama

USGS Publications Warehouse

Svenning, J.-C.; Engelbrecht, B.M.J.; Kinner, D.A.; Kursar, T.A.; Stallard, R.F.; Wright, S.J.

2006-01-01

We used regression models and information-theoretic model selection to assess the relative importance of environment, local dispersal and historical contingency as controls of the distributions of 26 common plant species in tropical forest on Barro Colorado Island (BCI), Panama. We censused eighty-eight 0.09-ha plots scattered across the landscape. Environmental control, local dispersal and historical contingency were represented by environmental variables (soil moisture, slope, soil type, distance to shore, old-forest presence), a spatial autoregressive parameter (??), and four spatial trend variables, respectively. We built regression models, representing all combinations of the three hypotheses, for each species. The probability that the best model included the environmental variables, spatial trend variables and ?? averaged 33%, 64% and 50% across the study species, respectively. The environmental variables, spatial trend variables, ??, and a simple intercept model received the strongest support for 4, 15, 5 and 2 species, respectively. Comparing the model results to information on species traits showed that species with strong spatial trends produced few and heavy diaspores, while species with strong soil moisture relationships were particularly drought-sensitive. In conclusion, history and local dispersal appeared to be the dominant controls of the distributions of common plant species on BCI. Copyright ?? 2006 Cambridge University Press.

Reconstruction of March-June precipitation from tree rings in central Liaoning, China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yanchao; Liu, Yu

2017-11-01

A dendrochronological profile was generated from Chinese pines ( Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.) in the Qianshan Mountains in northeastern China. Based on correlation analyses, the pattern of precipitation from March to June ( P 36 ) was reconstructed using a simple linear model, which explained 42.7% of the total variance in observed precipitation from 1951 to 2012. The reconstructed P 36 series revealed a consistently increasing trend in precipitation during the twentieth century in the Qianshan Mountains. The reconstructed data showed trends that were similar to those in the variation in trends for March-June precipitation observed at the Shenyang station, the reconstructed January-May precipitation trends in Shenyang City, and the reconstructed average June-September relative humidity for Yiwulü Mountain. The reconstructed data also showed good agreement with the droughts reported in historical documents and recorded by meteorological stations in Liaoning. Spatial correlation analyses show that the reconstructed data reflect the variability in precipitation that occurs over much of northeastern China. In addition, our reconstruction showed a significant periodicity. The significant correlations between the reconstructed P 36 and the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and sunspot numbers indicate that precipitation variability in the Qianshan Mountain region is probably driven by extensive atmosphere-sea interactions and solar activities.

Bermuda and Appalachian-Labrador rises: Common non-hotspot processes

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

Vogt, P.R.

1991-01-01

Other than the Corner Rise-New England seamounts and associated White Mountains, most postbreakup intraplate igneous activity and topographic uplift in the western North Atlantic and eastern North America do not readily conform to simple hotspot models. For examples, the Bermuda Rise trends normal to its predicted hotspot trace. On continental crust, Cretaceous-Eocene igneous activity is scattered along a northeast-trending belt {approximately}500-1,000 km west of and paralleling the continent-ocean boundary. Corresponding activity in the western Atlantic generated seamounts preferentially clustered in a belt {approximately}1,000 km east of the boundary. The Eocene volcanism on Bermuda is paired with coeval magmatism of themore » Shenandoah igneous province, and both magmatic belts are associated with northeast-trending topographic bulges - the Appalachian-Labrador Rise to the west and the Bermuda Rise (Eocene ) to the east. The above observations suggest the existence of paired asthenosphere upwelling, paralleling and controlled by the deep thermal contrast across the northeast-trending continental margin. Such convection geometry, apparently fixed to the North American plate rather than to hotspots, is consistent with recent convection models by B. Hager. The additional importance of plate-kinematic reorganizations (causing midplate stress enhancement) is suggested by episodic igneous activity ca. 90-100 Ma and 40-45 Ma.« less

46 CFR 95.16-50 - Instructions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... EQUIPMENT Fixed Clean Agent Gas Extinguishing Systems, Details § 95.16-50 Instructions. (a) Simple, complete... agent cylinder storage room. (b) On a system in which extinguishing agent cylinders are stored outside...

46 CFR 95.16-50 - Instructions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... EQUIPMENT Fixed Clean Agent Gas Extinguishing Systems, Details § 95.16-50 Instructions. (a) Simple, complete... agent cylinder storage room. (b) On a system in which extinguishing agent cylinders are stored outside...

46 CFR 95.16-50 - Instructions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... EQUIPMENT Fixed Clean Agent Gas Extinguishing Systems, Details § 95.16-50 Instructions. (a) Simple, complete... agent cylinder storage room. (b) On a system in which extinguishing agent cylinders are stored outside...

ON EDGE CHIPPING TESTING AND SOME PERSONAL PERSPECTIVES ON THE STATE OF THE ART OF MECHANICAL TESTING

PubMed Central

Quinn, G. D.

2014-01-01

Objective The edge chipping test is used to measure the fracture resistance of dental restoration ceramics and resin composites. This paper focuses on the progress of evaluating chipping resistance of these materials and also on the progress of standardization of this test method. This paper also makes observations about the state of the art of mechanical testing of ceramic and composite restorative materials in general. Interlaboratory comparative studies (“round robins”) are recommended. Methods An edge chipping machine was used to evaluate dozens of materials including porcelains, glass ceramics, aluminas, zirconias, filled resin-composites, new hybrid ceramic-resin composites, laminated composite ceramics, and even polymethyl methacrylate based denture materials. Force versus distance data were collected over a broad range with different indenters. Several chipping resistance parameters were quantified. Results Older restorative materials such as feldspathic porcelains and veneering materials had limited chipping resistance, but more modern ceramics and filled composites show significant improvements. A yttria-partially stabilized zirconia had the greatest resistance to chipping. Much of the early work on edge chipping resistance of brittle materials emphasized linear force versus distance trends obtained with relatively blunt Rockwell C indenters. More recently, trends for dental restorative materials with alternative sharper indenters have been nonlinear. A new phenomenological model with a simple quadratic function fits all data exceptionally well. It is loosely based on an energy balance between indenter work and fracture and deformation energies in the chipped material. Significance Although a direct comparison of our laboratory scale tests on idealized simple geometries to clinical outcomes has not yet been done, anecdotal evidence suggests the procedure does produce clinically relevant rankings and outcomes. Despite the variations in the trends and indenters, comparisons between materials can easily be made by chipping convenient block-shaped specimens with sharp conical 120°, Vickers, or Rockwell C indenters at a defined edge distance of 0.5 mm. Broad distance ranges are recommended for trend evaluation. This work has provided important information for standardization. PMID:25244927

Quantifying alluvial fan sensitivity to climate in Death Valley, California, from field observations and numerical models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brooke, Sam; Whittaker, Alexander; Armitage, John; D'Arcy, Mitch; Watkins, Stephen

2017-04-01

A quantitative understanding of landscape sensitivity to climate change remains a key challenge in the Earth Sciences. The stream-flow deposits of coupled catchment-fan systems offer one way to decode past changes in external boundary conditions as they comprise simple, closed systems that can be represented effectively by numerical models. Here we combine the collection and analysis of grain size data on well-dated alluvial fan surfaces in Death Valley, USA, with numerical modelling to address the extent to which sediment routing systems record high-frequency, high-magnitude climate change. We compile a new database of Holocene and Late-Pleistocene grain size trends from 11 alluvial fans in Death Valley, capturing high-resolution grain size data ranging from the Recent to 100 kyr in age. We hypothesise the observed changes in average surface grain size and fining rate over time are a record of landscape response to glacial-interglacial climatic forcing. With this data we are in a unique position to test the predictions of landscape evolution models and evaluate the extent to which climate change has influenced the volume and calibre of sediment deposited on alluvial fans. To gain insight into our field data and study area, we employ an appropriately-scaled catchment-fan model that calculates an eroded volumetric sediment budget to be deposited in a subsiding basin according to mass balance where grain size trends are predicted by a self-similarity fining model. We use the model to compare predicted trends in alluvial fan stratigraphy as a function of boundary condition change for a range of model parameters and input grain size distributions. Subsequently, we perturb our model with a plausible glacial-interglacial magnitude precipitation change to estimate the requisite sediment flux needed to generate observed field grain size trends in Death Valley. Modelled fluxes are then compared with independent measurements of sediment supply over time. Our results constitute one of the first attempts to combine the detailed collection of alluvial fan grain size data in time and space with coupled catchment-fan models, affording us the means to evaluate how well field and model data can be reconciled for simple sediment routing systems.

Coordinating Procedural and Conceptual Knowledge to Make Sense of Word Equations: Understanding the Complexity of a "Simple" Completion Task at the Learner's Resolution

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Taber, Keith S.; Bricheno, Pat

2009-01-01

The present paper discusses the conceptual demands of an apparently straightforward task set to secondary-level students--completing chemical word equations with a single omitted term. Chemical equations are of considerable importance in chemistry, and school students are expected to learn to be able to write and interpret them. However, it is…

MX Siting Investigation Gravity Survey - Ralston Valley, Nevada.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-08-20

Center (DMAHTC), headquartered in Cheyenne. Wyoming. DMAHTC reduces the data to Simple Bouguer Anomaly (see Section A1.4, Appendix Al.0). The Defense...LIST OF DRAWINGS Drawing Number 1 Complete Bouguer Anomaly Contours In Pocket at 2 Depth to Rock - Interpreted from End of Report Gravity Data iv, I I...REDUCTION DMAHTC obtained the basic observations for the new stations and reduced them to Simple Bouguer Anomalies (SBA) as described in Appendix A1.0

Evaluating the Recovery Curve for Clinically Assessed Reaction Time After Concussion.

PubMed

Del Rossi, Gianluca

2017-08-01

  A change in reaction time is one of various clinical measures of neurocognitive function that can be monitored after concussion and has been reported to be among the most sensitive indicators of cognitive impairment.   To determine the timeline for clinically assessed simple reaction time to return to baseline after a concussion in high school athletes.   Observational study.   Athletic training room.   Twenty-one high school-aged volunteers.   Participants completed 8 trials of the ruler-drop test during each session. Along with baseline measures, a total of 6 additional test sessions were completed over the course of 4 weeks after a concussion (days 3, 7, 10, 14, 21, and 28).   The mean reaction times calculated for all participants from each of the 7 test sessions were analyzed to assess the change in reaction time over the 7 time intervals.   After a concussion and compared with baseline, simple reaction time was, on average, 26 milliseconds slower at 48 to 72 hours postinjury (P < .001), almost 18 milliseconds slower on day 7 (P < .001), and about 9 milliseconds slower on day 10 (P < .001). Simple reaction time did not return to baseline levels until day 14 postinjury.   Clinically assessed simple reaction time appeared to return to baseline levels within a timeframe that mirrors other measures of cognitive performance (approximately 14 days).

Uncovering mass segregation with galaxy analogues in dark-matter simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Joshi, Gandhali D.; Parker, Laura C.; Wadsley, James

2016-10-01

We investigate mass segregation in group and cluster environments by identifying galaxy analogues in high-resolution dark-matter simulations. Subhaloes identified by the Amiga's Halo Finder (AHF) and ROCKSTAR halo finders have similar mass functions, independent of resolution, but different radial distributions due to significantly different subhalo hierarchies. We propose a simple way to classify subhaloes as galaxy analogues. The radial distributions of galaxy analogues agree well at large halocentric radii for both AHF and ROCKSTAR but disagree near parent halo centres where the phase-space information used by ROCKSTAR is essential. We see clear mass segregation at small radii (within 0.5 rvir) with average galaxy analogue mass decreasing with radius. Beyond the virial radius, we find a mild trend where the average galaxy analogue mass increases with radius. These mass segregation trends are strongest in small groups and dominated by the segregation of low-mass analogues. The lack of mass segregation in massive galaxy analogues suggests that the observed trends are driven by the complex accretion histories of the parent haloes rather than dynamical friction.

SWMPr: An R Package for Retrieving, Organizing, and ...

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

The System-Wide Monitoring Program (SWMP) was implemented in 1995 by the US National Estuarine Research Reserve System. This program has provided two decades of continuous monitoring data at over 140 fixed stations in 28 estuaries. However, the increasing quantity of data provided by the monitoring network has complicated broad-scale comparisons between systems and, in some cases, prevented simple trend analysis of water quality parameters at individual sites. This article describes the SWMPr package that provides several functions that facilitate data retrieval, organization, andanalysis of time series data in the reserve estuaries. Previously unavailable functions for estuaries are also provided to estimate rates of ecosystem metabolism using the open-water method. The SWMPr package has facilitated a cross-reserve comparison of water quality trends and links quantitative information with analysis tools that have use for more generic applications to environmental time series. The manuscript describes a software package that was recently developed to retrieve, organize, and analyze monitoring data from the National Estuarine Research Reserve System. Functions are explained in detail, including recent applications for trend analysis of ecosystem metabolism.

Comparing trends in cancer rates across overlapping regions.

PubMed

Li, Yi; Tiwari, Ram C

2008-12-01

Monitoring and comparing trends in cancer rates across geographic regions or over different time periods have been major tasks of the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program as it profiles healthcare quality as well as decides healthcare resource allocations within a spatial-temporal framework. A fundamental difficulty, however, arises when such comparisons have to be made for regions or time intervals that overlap, for example, comparing the change in trends of mortality rates in a local area (e.g., the mortality rate of breast cancer in California) with a more global level (i.e., the national mortality rate of breast cancer). In view of sparsity of available methodologies, this article develops a simple corrected Z-test that accounts for such overlapping. The performance of the proposed test over the two-sample "pooled"t-test that assumes independence across comparison groups is assessed via the Pitman asymptotic relative efficiency as well as Monte Carlo simulations and applications to the SEER cancer data. The proposed test will be important for the SEER * STAT software, maintained by the NCI, for the analysis of the SEER data.

Screening the Effect of Water Vapour on Gas Adsorption Performance: Application to CO2 Capture from Flue Gas in Metal-Organic Frameworks.

PubMed

Chanut, Nicolas; Bourrelly, Sandrine; Kuchta, Bogdan; Serre, Christian; Chang, Jong-San; Wright, Paul A; Llewellyn, Philip L

2017-04-10

A simple laboratory-scale protocol that enables the evaluation of the effect of adsorbed water on CO 2 uptake is proposed. 45 metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) were compared against reference zeolites and active carbons. It is possible to classify materials with different trends in CO 2 uptake with varying amounts of pre-adsorbed water, including cases in which an increase in CO 2 uptake is observed for samples with a given amount of pre-adsorbed water. Comparing loss in CO 2 uptake between "wet" and "dry" samples with the Henry constant calculated from the water adsorption isotherm results in a semi-logarithmic trend for the majority of samples allowing predictions to be made. Outliers from this trend may be of particular interest and an explanation for the behaviour for each of the outliers is proposed. This thus leads to propositions for designing or choosing MOFs for CO 2 capture in applications where humidity is present. © 2017 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

United States housing, first quarter 2013

Treesearch

Delton Alderman

2014-01-01

Provides current and historical information on housing market in the United States. Information includes trends for housing permits and starts, housing under construction, and housing completions for single and multifamily units, and sales and construction. This report will be updated regularly.

Exploring the utility of measures of critical thinking dispositions and professional behavior development in an audiology education program.

PubMed

Ng, Stella L; Bartlett, Doreen J; Lucy, S Deborah

2013-05-01

Discussions about professional behaviors are growing increasingly prevalent across health professions, especially as a central component to education programs. A strong critical thinking disposition, paired with critical consciousness, may provide future health professionals with a foundation for solving challenging practice problems through the application of sound technical skill and scientific knowledge without sacrificing sensitive, empathic, client-centered practice. In this article, we describe an approach to monitoring student development of critical thinking dispositions and key professional behaviors as a way to inform faculty members' and clinical supervisors' support of students and ongoing curriculum development. We designed this exploratory study to describe the trajectory of change for a cohort of audiology students' critical thinking dispositions (measured by the California Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory: [CCTDI]) and professional behaviors (using the Comprehensive Professional Behaviors Development Log-Audiology [CPBDL-A]) in an audiology program. Implications for the CCTDI and CPBDL-A in audiology entry-to-practice curricula and professional development will be discussed. This exploratory study involved a cohort of audiology students, studied over a two-year period, using a one-group repeated measures design. Eighteen audiology students (two male and 16 female), began the study. At the third and final data collection point, 15 students completed the CCTDI, and nine students completed the CPBDL-A. The CCTDI and CPBDL-A were each completed at three time points: at the beginning, at the middle, and near the end of the audiology education program. Data are presented descriptively in box plots to examine the trends of development for each critical thinking disposition dimension and each key professional behavior as well as for an overall critical thinking disposition score. For the CCTDI, there was a general downward trend from time point 1 to time point 2 and a general upward trend from time point 2 to time point 3. Students demonstrated upward trends from the initial to final time point for their self-assessed development of professional behaviors as indicated on the CPBDL-A. The CCTDI and CPBDL-A can be used by audiology education programs as mechanisms for inspiring, fostering, and monitoring the development of critical thinking dispositions and key professional behaviors in students. Feedback and mentoring about dispositions and behaviors in conjunction with completion of these measures is recommended for inspiring and fostering these key professional attributes. American Academy of Audiology.

Near-complete teleportation of a superposed coherent state

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

Cheong, Yong Wook; Kim, Hyunjae; Lee, Hai-Woong

2004-09-01

The four Bell-type entangled coherent states, {alpha}>-{alpha}>{+-}-{alpha}>{alpha}> and {alpha}>{alpha}>{+-}-{alpha}>-{alpha}>, can be discriminated with a high probability using only linear optical means, as long as {alpha} is not too small. Based on this observation, we propose a simple scheme to almost completely teleport a superposed coherent state. The nonunitary transformation that is required to complete the teleportation can be achieved by embedding the receiver's field state in a larger Hilbert space consisting of the field and a single atom and performing a unitary transformation on this Hilbert space00.

Magic informationally complete POVMs with permutations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Planat, Michel; Gedik, Zafer

2017-09-01

Eigenstates of permutation gates are either stabilizer states (for gates in the Pauli group) or magic states, thus allowing universal quantum computation (Planat, Rukhsan-Ul-Haq 2017 Adv. Math. Phys. 2017, 5287862 (doi:10.1155/2017/5287862)). We show in this paper that a subset of such magic states, when acting on the generalized Pauli group, define (asymmetric) informationally complete POVMs. Such informationally complete POVMs, investigated in dimensions 2-12, exhibit simple finite geometries in their projector products and, for dimensions 4 and 8 and 9, relate to two-qubit, three-qubit and two-qutrit contextuality.

Trends and patterns of under-5 vaccination in Nigeria, 1990-2008: what manner of progress?

PubMed

Ushie, B A; Fayehun, O A; Ugal, D B

2014-03-01

Despite efforts towards reducing childhood morbidity and mortality, Nigeria ranks among countries with the highest rates of vaccine-preventable diseases including tuberculosis, poliomyelitis, measles, diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus. These efforts include regular rounds of immunization days and routine exercises. The government of Nigeria periodically undertakes National Demographic and Health (NDH) surveys, which tap information on various health indices including vaccination coverage. Limited studies have used the NDHS data to examine the trends in vaccination coverage for the assessment of successes or failures of the immunization efforts. This study used four NDH Surveys datasets between 1990 and 2008, which generated child health information including the proportion that had had any or all basic childhood vaccines. A combined total of 44,071 (weighted) children were involved in the study. The trend and pattern of vaccination over 18 years were examined while selected factors were regressed to obtain predictors of child vaccinations in Nigeria. The most recent survey (2008) reported more complete vaccination apart from 1990, which was said to be inaccurate. In all surveys, children from mothers with higher education, who were delivered in hospitals, lived in urban areas, and whose mothers work outside the home had significantly higher proportions of completed basic vaccination. A lower level of childhood vaccination is observed in the northern parts, while higher rates are observed in the southern parts. More complete vaccination coverage was reported in the 1990 survey, followed by 2008, 1999 and 2003. In addition, children from mothers with higher levels of education, who were delivered in hospitals, who lived in urban areas, and whose mothers work outside the home had significantly higher proportions of completed basic vaccination. Much more work needs to be done if more children are to be covered and thus reduce vaccine-preventable diseases. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Matrix Theory of Small Oscillations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Chavda, L. K.

1978-01-01

A complete matrix formulation of the theory of small oscillations is presented. Simple analytic solutions involving matrix functions are found which clearly exhibit the transients, the damping factors, the Breit-Wigner form for resonances, etc. (BB)

FY2017 Report on NISC Measurements and Detector Simulations

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

Andrews, Madison Theresa; Meierbachtol, Krista Cruse; Jordan, Tyler Alexander

FY17 work focused on automation, both of the measurement analysis and comparison of simulations. The experimental apparatus was relocated and weeks of continuous measurements of the spontaneous fission source 252Cf was performed. Programs were developed to automate the conversion of measurements into ROOT data framework files with a simple terminal input. The complete analysis of the measurement (which includes energy calibration and the identification of correlated counts) can now be completed with a documented process which involves one simple execution line as well. Finally, the hurdles of slow MCNP simulations resulting in low simulation statistics have been overcome with themore » generation of multi-run suites which make use of the highperformance computing resources at LANL. Preliminary comparisons of measurements and simulations have been performed and will be the focus of FY18 work.« less

A single-step simultaneous protein staining procedure for polyacrylamide gels and nitrocellulose membranes by Alta during western blot analysis.

PubMed

Pal, Jayanta K; Berwal, Sunil K; Soni, Rupali N

2012-01-01

A simple method for staining of proteins simultaneously on sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) polyacrylamide gels and nitrocellulose membranes by Alta during western blot analysis is described. A 5% solution of Alta, a commercially available cosmetic preparation, is added in the upper tank buffer during electrophoresis. On completion of electrophoresis, the gel is washed in distilled water and viewed on a white light plate and a transilluminator to photograph the protein profiles. The gel is processed for western blot transfer of proteins onto a nitrocellulose membrane, and upon completion, the protein profiles on the membrane are viewed and photographed as stated above. The membrane can then be processed for immunostaining as per the standard procedure. Thus, the staining procedure using Alta is simple, rapid (without any need of destaining), and cost-effective.

TPS In-Flight Health Monitoring Project Progress Report

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kostyk, Chris; Richards, Lance; Hudston, Larry; Prosser, William

2007-01-01

Progress in the development of new thermal protection systems (TPS) is reported. New approaches use embedded lightweight, sensitive, fiber optic strain and temperature sensors within the TPS. Goals of the program are to develop and demonstrate a prototype TPS health monitoring system, develop a thermal-based damage detection algorithm, characterize limits of sensor/system performance, and develop ea methodology transferable to new designs of TPS health monitoring systems. Tasks completed during the project helped establish confidence in understanding of both test setup and the model and validated system/sensor performance in a simple TPS structure. Other progress included complete initial system testing, commencement of the algorithm development effort, generation of a damaged thermal response characteristics database, initial development of a test plan for integration testing of proven FBG sensors in simple TPS structure, and development of partnerships to apply the technology.

Enhancing self-management in children with sickle cell disease through playing a CD-ROM educational game: a pilot study.

PubMed

Yoon, Saunjoo L; Godwin, Angela

2007-01-01

To determine whether playing a simple CD-ROM educational game (developed specifically for children with sickle cell disease), improved children's knowledge and confidence in selected symptom management and practice. Twenty-two eligible children completed a pretest to determine knowledge and confidence levels, played the Sickle Cell Slime-O-Rama Game, then completed an identical posttest. Significant increases in knowledge (t = 2.828, p =.010) and confidence (t = 3.759, p =.001) levels between pre- and posttests were identified. It is promising that a simple, interacting CD-ROM game allowed children with sickle cell disease to quickly acquire knowledge about the disease and symptom management, and increased their confidence to apply this new knowledge. Results suggest the high utility of this tailored game to foster active self-management behaviors in this population.

Percutaneous Treatment of Renal Cysts with OK-432 Sclerosis

PubMed Central

Cho, Soung Yong; Cho, Kang Su; Lee, Dong Hoon; Lee, Seung Hwan

2007-01-01

Purpose The aim of this study was to demonstrate OK-432 sclerotherapy efficacy for treatment of simple renal cysts. Materials and Methods Twenty patients with 25 symptomatic or large simple cysts were treated by ultrasonography (US)-guided percutaneous aspiration and injection of OK-432 (8 men and 12 women, mean age 63.6 years, SD 9.5). Six patients presented with flank pain, 14 presented with renal mass; renal cyst location was right, left, or bilateral sided in 9, 8, and 8 kidneys, respectively. Patients were evaluated by clinical assessment, US, or CT scan 3 months following the procedure. Complete and partial success was defined as symptom resolution with either total cyst ablation or greater than 70% reduction, respectively. Failure was defined as 30% of cyst size recurrence and/or persistent symptoms. Results Average reduction was 93.0%. Complete and partial resolution occurred in 11 (44.0%) and 13 (52.0%) cysts, respectively. One case was defined as failure, with a 64.2% size reduction from 10.9cm to 3.9cm (volume reduction rate 95.4%). Renal pain improved in all patients, regardless of complete or partial resolution. Minor complications occurred in 3 patients, 2 developed leukocytosis and 1 had mild fever (< 38.5℃) following aspiration and sclerotherapy. Successful treatment was achieved with conservative measures and NSAID therapy. Conclusion Percutaneous treatment of simple renal cysts with OK-432 sclerotherapy was found to be a safe, effective and minimally invasive procedure. PMID:17461526

Assessment of educational games for health professions: a systematic review of trends and outcomes.

PubMed

Abdulmajed, Hind; Park, Yoon Soo; Tekian, Ara

2015-04-01

Traditional lecturing used in teaching has the lowest retention rate; the use of games as part of an instruction method may enhance retention and reinforce learning by creating a dynamic educational environment. This study aims to systematically review the literature on educational games for the health professions to identify trends and investigate assessment tools used to measure its learning outcomes. Seven databases were used in the search: ERIC, Education Research Complete, Medline, Medline Complete, Academic Search Complete, The Cochrane Library and PubMed. The search identified 2865 papers; among them, 1259 were excluded and 22 were evaluated. The selection incorporated five full papers which focused directly on the health professionals. Two studies involved the use of board games and two studies involved card games, crossword puzzles and one study involved a team quiz competition. Overall, studies lacked a strong link between the use of games for both instructional and assessment purposes. Gaming makes a positive impact on the teaching/learning process. However, existing assessment methodologies have been not fully captured the learning that may occur in these games. Robust research is needed to address the use of games that have been assessed objectively.

Economic Analysis of Earning a PhD Degree After Completion of a PharmD Degree

PubMed Central

Murawski, Matthew M.

2011-01-01

Objective To determine the net present value (NPV) and internal rate of return (IRR) for earning a doctor of philosophy (PhD) degree and pursuing careers commonly associated with that degree after completion of a doctor of pharmacy (PharmD) degree compared to entering pharmacy practice directly upon completion of the PharmD degree. Methods Income profiles were constructed based on 2008 annual salary data. NPV and IRR were calculated for careers resulting from the PhD degree and compared to those of the practicing community pharmacist. Trends in IRR also were examined across career paths from 1982 to 2008. A priori assumptions were developed and sensitivity analyses were conducted. Results The NPVs for all careers associated with the PhD degree were negative compared to that of the practicing community pharmacist. IRRs ranged from -1.4% to 1.3% for PhD careers. Longitudinal examination of IRRs indicated a negative trend from 1982 to 2008. Conclusions Economic financial incentives for PharmD graduates to pursue graduate school are lacking. The study illustrates the need to consider financial incentives when developing recruitment methods for PharmD graduates to pharmacy graduate programs. PMID:21451769

Inference for finite-sample trajectories in dynamic multi-state site-occupancy models using hidden Markov model smoothing

USGS Publications Warehouse

Fiske, Ian J.; Royle, J. Andrew; Gross, Kevin

2014-01-01

Ecologists and wildlife biologists increasingly use latent variable models to study patterns of species occurrence when detection is imperfect. These models have recently been generalized to accommodate both a more expansive description of state than simple presence or absence, and Markovian dynamics in the latent state over successive sampling seasons. In this paper, we write these multi-season, multi-state models as hidden Markov models to find both maximum likelihood estimates of model parameters and finite-sample estimators of the trajectory of the latent state over time. These estimators are especially useful for characterizing population trends in species of conservation concern. We also develop parametric bootstrap procedures that allow formal inference about latent trend. We examine model behavior through simulation, and we apply the model to data from the North American Amphibian Monitoring Program.

Mountain Biking Injuries.

PubMed

Ansari, Majid; Nourian, Ruhollah; Khodaee, Morteza

With the increasing popularity of mountain biking, also known as off-road cycling, and the riders pushing the sport into extremes, there has been a corresponding increase in injury. Almost two thirds of acute injuries involve the upper extremities, and a similar proportion of overuse injuries affect the lower extremities. Mountain biking appears to be a high-risk sport for severe spine injuries. New trends of injury patterns are observed with popularity of mountain bike trail parks and freeride cycling. Using protective gear, improving technical proficiency, and physical fitness may somewhat decrease the risk of injuries. Simple modifications in bicycle-rider interface areas and with the bicycle (bike fit) also may decrease some overuse injuries. Bike fit provides the clinician with postural correction during the sport. In this review, we also discuss the importance of race-day management strategies and monitoring the injury trends.

Biocatalysis for Biobased Chemicals

PubMed Central

de Regil, Rubén; Sandoval, Georgina

2013-01-01

The design and development of greener processes that are safe and friendly is an irreversible trend that is driven by sustainable and economic issues. The use of Biocatalysis as part of a manufacturing process fits well in this trend as enzymes are themselves biodegradable, require mild conditions to work and are highly specific and well suited to carry out complex reactions in a simple way. The growth of computational capabilities in the last decades has allowed Biocatalysis to develop sophisticated tools to understand better enzymatic phenomena and to have the power to control not only process conditions but also the enzyme’s own nature. Nowadays, Biocatalysis is behind some important products in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food and bulk chemicals industry. In this review we want to present some of the most representative examples of industrial chemicals produced in vitro through enzymatic catalysis. PMID:24970192

Social Capital, Climate of Prejudice and Discrimination, Environmental Pull, and Academic and Social Integration as Predictive Factors of 6-Year Completion Rates for Minority Undergraduates in Selective Universities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wagner, Jennie M.

2013-01-01

The United States has become more ethnically diverse, and this trend is projected to continue. Despite an increase in minority group enrollment on campus in the United States during the last decade, their rates of degree completion are not keeping pace (NCES, 2007). The question that remains to be answered is: What factors are unique to minority…

Modeling method of time sequence model based grey system theory and application proceedings

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wei, Xuexia; Luo, Yaling; Zhang, Shiqiang

2015-12-01

This article gives a modeling method of grey system GM(1,1) model based on reusing information and the grey system theory. This method not only extremely enhances the fitting and predicting accuracy of GM(1,1) model, but also maintains the conventional routes' merit of simple computation. By this way, we have given one syphilis trend forecast method based on reusing information and the grey system GM(1,1) model.

Electromodulation spectroscopy of excitons in simple cubic TlCl and TlBr

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

McClelland, J.F.; Lynch, D.W.

1979-03-15

Transmission and electromodulated transmission spectra have been measured in the direct Wannier exciton region for TlCl and TlBr. The spectra were obtained at a sample temperature between 5 and 6 K for a range of applied electric fields. The data have been reduced to obtain the electric-field-induced changes in the dielectric function and compared in detail to the calculations of Blossey. The experimental results support the trends predicted by the calculations.

Effect of Winglets on a First-Generation Jet Transport Wing. 2: Pressure and Spanwise Load Distributions for a Semispan Model at High Subsonic Speeds. [in the Langley 8 ft transonic tunnel

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Montoya, L. C.; Flechner, S. G.; Jacobs, P. F.

1977-01-01

Pressure and spanwise load distributions on a first-generation jet transport semispan model at high subsonic speeds are presented for the basic wing and for configurations with an upper winglet only, upper and lower winglets, and a simple wing-tip extension. Selected data are discussed to show the general trends and effects of the various configurations.

Visual Analysis of North Atlantic Hurricane Trends Using Parallel Coordinates and Statistical Techniques

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-07-07

analyzing multivariate data sets. The system was developed using the Java Development Kit (JDK) version 1.5; and it yields interactive performance on a... script and captures output from the MATLAB’s “regress” and “stepwisefit” utilities that perform simple and stepwise regression, respectively. The MATLAB...Statistical Association, vol. 85, no. 411, pp. 664–675, 1990. [9] H. Hauser, F. Ledermann, and H. Doleisch, “ Angular brushing of extended parallel coordinates

Past Trends and Current Status of Self-Reported Incidence and Impact of Disease and Nonbattle Injury in Military Operations in Southwest Asia and the Middle East

PubMed Central

Tribble, David R.; Putnam, Shannon D.; Mostafa, Manal; Brown, Theodore R.; Letizia, Andrew; Armstrong, Adam W.; Sanders, John W.

2008-01-01

Objectives. To evaluate the evolutional changes in disease and nonbattle injury in a long-term deployment setting, we investigated trends of selected disease and nonbattle injury (NBI) incidence among US military personnel deployed in ongoing military operations in Southwest Asia and the Middle East. Methods. Participants completed an anonymous questionnaire concerning diarrhea, acute respiratory illness (ARI), and NBIs. We compared incidence, morbidity, and risk associations of disease and NBI incidence with historical data. We analyzed a clinic screening form to describe trends in diarrhea incidence over a 3-year period. Results. Between April 2006 and March 2007, 3374 troops completed deployment questionnaires. Incidence of diarrhea was higher than that of ARI and NBI (12.1, 7.1, and 2.5 episodes per 100 person-months, respectively), but ARI and NBI resulted in more-frequent health system utilization (both P < .001) and decreased work performance (P < .001 and P = .05, respectively) than did diarrhea. Compared with historical disease and NBI incidence rates, diarrhea and NBI incidence declined over a 4-year period, whereas ARI remained relatively constant. Conclusions. Diarrhea, ARI, and NBI are important health concerns among deployed military personnel. Public health and preventive measures are needed to mitigate this burden. PMID:18923114

A summary of the U.S. Geological Survey National Water-Quality Assessment program

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hirsch, R.M.; Alley, W.M.; Wilber, W.G.

1988-01-01

Beginning in 1986, the Congress appropriated funds for the U.S. Geological Survey to test and refine concepts for a National Water Quality Assessment Program. At present, the program is in a pilot phase with field studies occurring in seven areas around the Nation. In 1990, a committee of the National Academy of Sciences will complete an evaluation of the design and potential utility of the program. A decision about moving to full-scale implementation will be made upon completion of this evaluation. The program is intended to address a wide range of national water quality issues that include chemical contamination, acidification, eutrophication, salinity, sedimentation, and sanitary quality. The goals of the program are to: (1) provide nationally consistent descriptions of current water quality conditions for a large part of the Nation 's water resources; (2) define long-term trends (or lack of trends) in water quality; and (3) identify and describe the relations of both current conditions and trends in water quality to natural and human factors. This information will be provided to water managers, policy makers, and the public to provide an improved scientific basis for evaluating the effectiveness of water quality management programs and for predicting the likely effects of contemplated changes in land- and water-management practices. (USGS)

How to Attain an Ultralow Interfacial Tension and a Three-Phase Behavior with a Surfactant Formulation for Enhanced Oil Recovery: A Review. Part 2. Performance Improvement Trends from Winsor's Premise to Currently Proposed Inter- and Intra-Molecular Mixtures.

PubMed

Salager, Jean-Louis; Forgiarini, Ana M; Márquez, Laura; Manchego, Lisbeth; Bullón, Johnny

2013-01-01

The minimum interfacial tension occurrence along a formulation scan at the so-called optimum formulation is discussed to be related to the interfacial curvature. The attained minimum tension is inversely proportional to the domain size of the bicontinuous microemulsion and to the interfacial layer rigidity, but no accurate prediction is available. The data from a very simple ternary system made of pure products accurately follows the correlation for optimum formulation, and exhibit a linear relationship between the performance index as the logarithm of the minimum tension at optimum, and the formulation variables. This relation is probably too simple when the number of variables is increased as in practical cases. The review of published data for more realistic systems proposed for enhanced oil recovery over the past 30 years indicates a general guidelines following Winsor's basic studies concerning the surfactant-oil-water interfacial interactions. It is well known that the major performance benefits are achieved by blending amphiphilic species at the interface as intermolecular or intramolecular mixtures, sometimes in extremely complex formulations. The complexity is such that a good knowledge of the possible trends and an experienced practical know-how to avoid trial and error are important for the practitioner in enhanced oil recovery.

Analytical Studies on the Synchronization of a Network of Linearly-Coupled Simple Chaotic Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sivaganesh, G.; Arulgnanam, A.; Seethalakshmi, A. N.; Selvaraj, S.

2018-05-01

We present explicit generalized analytical solutions for a network of linearly-coupled simple chaotic systems. Analytical solutions are obtained for the normalized state equations of a network of linearly-coupled systems driven by a common chaotic drive system. Two parameter bifurcation diagrams revealing the various hidden synchronization regions, such as complete, phase and phase-lag synchronization are identified using the analytical results. The synchronization dynamics and their stability are studied using phase portraits and the master stability function, respectively. Further, experimental results for linearly-coupled simple chaotic systems are presented to confirm the analytical results. The synchronization dynamics of a network of chaotic systems studied analytically is reported for the first time.

Convection with a simple chemically reactive passive scalar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Herring, J. R.; Wyngaard, J. C.

Convection between horizontal stress-free perfectly conducting plates is examined in the turbulent regime for air. Results are presented for an additional scalar undergoing simple linear decay. We discuss qualitative aspects of the flow in terms of spectral and three-dimensional contour maps of the velocity and scalar fields. The horizontal mean profiles of scalar gradients and fluxes agree rather well with simple mixing-length concepts. Further, the mean profiles for a range of the destruction-rate parameter are shown to be nearly completely characterized by the boundary fluxes. Finally, we shall use the present numerical data as a basis for exploring a generalization of eddy-diffusion concepts so as to properly incorporate non-local effects.

Successful aspiration and ethanol sclerosis of a large, symptomatic, simple liver cyst: Case presentation and review of the literature

PubMed Central

Blonski, Wojciech C; Campbell, Mical S; Faust, Thomas; Metz, David C

2006-01-01

Simple liver cysts are congenital with a prevalence of 2.5%-4.25%. Imaging, whether by US, CT or MRI, is accurate in distinguishing simple cysts from other etiologies, including parasitic, neoplastic, duct-related, and traumatic cysts. Symptomatic simple liver cysts are rare, and the true frequency of symptoms is not known. Symptomatic simple liver cysts are predominantly large (> 4 cm), right-sided, and more common in women and older patients. The vast majority of simple hepatic cysts require no treatment or follow-up, though large cysts (> 4 cm) may be followed initially with serial imaging to ensure stability. Attribution of symptoms to a large simple cyst should be undertaken with caution, after alternative diagnoses have been excluded. Aspiration may be performed to test whether symptoms are due to the cyst; however, cyst recurrence should be expected. Limited experience with both laparoscopic deroofing and aspiration, followed by instillation of a sclerosing agent has demonstrated promising results for the treatment of symptomatic cysts. Here, we describe a patient with a large, symptomatic, simple liver cyst who experienced complete resolution of symptoms following cyst drainage and alcohol ablation, and we present a comprehensive review of the literature. PMID:16718826

Association of Internet search trends with suicide death in Taipei City, Taiwan, 2004-2009.

PubMed

Yang, Albert C; Tsai, Shi-Jen; Huang, Norden E; Peng, Chung-Kang

2011-07-01

Although Internet has become an important source for affected people seeking suicide information, the connection between Internet searches for suicide information and suicidal death remains largely unknown. This study aims to evaluate the association between suicide and Internet searches trends for 37 suicide-related terms representing major known risks of suicide. This study analyzes suicide death data in Taipei City, Taiwan and corresponding local Internet search trend data provided by Google Insights for Search during the period from January 2004 to December 2009. The investigation uses cross correlation analysis to estimate the temporal relationship between suicide and Internet search trends and multiple linear regression analysis to identify significant factors associated with suicide from a pool of search trend data that either coincides or precedes the suicide death. Results show that a set of suicide-related search terms, the trends of which either temporally coincided or preceded trends of suicide data, were associated with suicide death. These search factors varied among different suicide samples. Searches for "major depression" and "divorce" accounted for, at most, 30.2% of the variance in suicide data. When considering only leading suicide trends, searches for "divorce" and the pro-suicide term "complete guide of suicide," accounted for 22.7% of variance in suicide data. Appropriate filtering and detection of potentially harmful source in keyword-driven search results by search engine providers may be a reasonable strategy to reduce suicide deaths. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Trend analysis of the homogenized total ozone series of Arosa (Switzerland), 1926-1996

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Staehelin, Johannes; Kegel, Rainer; Harris, Neil R. P.

1998-04-01

Total ozone measurements have been made at Arosa, Switzerland (47°N), from 1926 through the present day, forming the longest total ozone series in the world. The record has been recently homogenized. Ozone trends are calculated to be -(2.3±0.6)% per decade for annual means (larger losses are found in winter and spring, approximately -4% per decade for trends in January, February, and March) when a simple linear change from 1970 to 1996 is assumed. In addition, total ozone trends are calculated using multiple regression models involving combinations of explanatory variables for the 11-year solar cycle, local meteorological conditions (the Mount Säntis high-altitude temperature record), stratospheric aerosol loading from volcanoes, and stratospheric chlorine loading. When the terms for the solar cycle, the stratospheric aerosol loading and the high mountain temperature record were included, the annually averaged ozone trends were found to be -(1.9±0.6)% per decade. While a statistically significant relation is found between total ozone and indices of aerosol loadings of the stratosphere, the recent decrease in total ozone cannot be accounted for by the higher average aerosol content in the second half of the century. Finally, the decrease in ozone in the stratosphere is estimated to be approximately 30% larger than that found for total ozone, when a crude estimate of the increase in tropospheric ozone is included. The acceleration observed in total ozone trends between the 1970s and the 1980s over northern midlatitudes [e.g., Harris et al., 1997] might be partially attributed to the larger increase in tropospheric ozone in the 1970s.

Influence of reproductive tract obstruction on expression of epididymal proteins and their restoration after patency.

PubMed

Li, Bing-Kun; Wang, Xiang; Liu, Chun-Xiao; Zheng, Shao-Bo; Li, Hu-Lin; Li, Li-Ping; Xu, A-Bai

2013-01-01

Vasectomy is a simple and reliable method of male contraception. A growing number of men after vasectomy request vasectomy reversal due to various reasons. The pregnancy rate is lower than the patency rate after vasovasostomy and the pregnancy rate is time dependent. In this study, we evaluated the influence of reproductive tract obstruction on expression of epididymal proteins and their restoration after patency. Adult male Wistar rats were studied 30, 60 and 120 days after vasectomy, 30 days after vasovasostomy or after sham operations. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, mass-spectrometric technique, multidatabase search, Western blotting and real-time PCR were used to analyze the expression regulation of epididymal proteins. Total integrated intensity and total spot area of autoradiograms showed a consistent downward trend with time after obstruction, and this trend remained after patency. The intensity of the autoradiographic spots in three patency groups showed three trends: a downward trend, similar intensity and an upward trend compared with the correspondent obstruction group, respectively. Further verified experiments on human epididymis 2 (HE2), fertilization antigen-1 (FA-1), clusterin and PH20 demonstrated that compared with the correspondent obstruction group, the translation levels of HE2 and the mRNA transcription levels of HE2 showed an upward trend in patency groups, especially in the groups of obstruction for 60 days where the expression levels of HE2 were significantly upregulated after patency (P<0.05). Reproductive tract obstruction provokes a disregulation of gene expression in the epididymis and this disregulation remained after patency. Successful reversal may recover some proteins and the recovery is time dependent. Obstruction differentially alters mRNA transcription of different proteins and the content of proteins seemed to be easier to be influenced than the gene transcription.

CHIPPING FRACTURE RESISTANCE OF DENTURE TOOTH MATERIALS

PubMed Central

Quinn, G. D.; Giuseppetti, A. A.; Hoffman, K. H.

2014-01-01

Objective The applicability of the edge chipping method to denture tooth materials was assessed. These are softer materials than those usually tested by edge chipping. The edge chipping fracture resistances of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) based and two filled resin composite denture tooth materials were compared. Methods An edge chipping machine was used to chip rectangular blocks and flattened anterior denture teeth. Force versus edge distance data were collected over a broad range of forces and distances. Between 20 and 65 chips were made per condition depending upon the material, the scatter, and the indenter type. Different indenter types were used including Rockwell C, sharp conical 120°, Knoop, and Vickers. The edge toughness, Te, was evaluated for different indenter types. Results The edge chipping data collected on the blocks matched the data collected from flattened teeth. High scatter, particularly at large distances and loads, meant that many tests (up to 64) were necessary to compare the denture tooth materials and to ascertain the appropriate data trends. A linear force – distance trend analysis was adequate for comparing these materials. A power law trend might be more appropriate, but the large scatter obscured the definitive determination of the precise trend. Different indenters produce different linear trends, with the ranking of: sharp conical 120°, Rockwell C, and Knoop, from lowest to highest edge toughness. Vickers indenter data were extremely scattered and a sensible trend could not be obtained. Edge toughness was inversely correlated to hardness. Significance Edge chipping data collected either from simple laboratory scale test blocks or from actual denture teeth may be used to evaluate denture materials. The edge chipping method’s applicability has been extended to another class of restorative materials. PMID:24674342

Diagenetic overprinting of the sphaerosiderite palaeoclimate proxy: are records of pedogenic groundwater δ18O values preserved?

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ufnar, David F.; Gonzalez, Luis A.; Ludvigson, Greg A.; Brenner, Richard L.; Witzkes, Brian J.

2004-01-01

Meteoric sphaerosiderite lines (MSLs), defined by invariant ??18O and variable ??13C values, are obtained from ancient wetland palaeosol sphaerosiderites (millimetre-scale FeCO3 nodules), and are a stable isotope proxy record of terrestrial meteoric isotopic compositions. The palaeoclimatic utility of sphaerosiderite has been well tested; however, diagenetically altered horizons that do not yield simple MSLs have been encountered. Well-preserved sphaerosiderites typically exhibit smooth exteriors, spherulitic crystalline microstructures and relatively pure (> 95 mol% FeCO3) compositions. Diagenetically altered sphaerosiderites typically exhibit corroded margins, replacement textures and increased crystal lattice substitution of Ca2+, Mg2+ and Mn2+ for Fe2+. Examples of diagenetically altered Cretaceous sphaerosiderite-bearing palaeosols from the Dakota Formation (Kansas), the Swan River Formation (Saskatchewan) and the Success S2 Formation (Saskatchewan) were examined in this study to determine the extent to which original, early diagenetic ??18O and ??13C values are preserved. All three units contain poikilotopic calcite cements with significantly different ??18O and ??13C values from the co-occurring sphaerosiderites. The complete isolation of all carbonate phases is necessary to ensure that inadvertent physical mixing does not affect the isotopic analyses. The Dakota and Swan River samples ultimately yield distinct MSLs for the sphaerosiderites, and MCLs (meteoric calcite lines) for the calcite cements. The Success S2 sample yields a covariant ??18O vs. ??13C trend resulting from precipitation in pore fluids that were mixtures between meteoric and modified marine phreatic waters. The calcite cements in the Success S2 Formation yield meteoric ??18O and ??13C values. A stable isotope mass balance model was used to produce hyperbolic fluid mixing trends between meteoric and modified marine end-member compositions. Modelled hyperbolic fluid mixing curves for the Success S2 Formation suggest precipitation from fluids that were < 25% sea water. ?? 2004 International Association of Sedimentologists.

A simple object-oriented and open-source model for scientific and policy analyses of the global climate system – Hector v1.0

DOE PAGES

Hartin, Corinne A.; Patel, Pralit L.; Schwarber, Adria; ...

2015-04-01

Simple climate models play an integral role in the policy and scientific communities. They are used for climate mitigation scenarios within integrated assessment models, complex climate model emulation, and uncertainty analyses. Here we describe Hector v1.0, an open source, object-oriented, simple global climate carbon-cycle model. This model runs essentially instantaneously while still representing the most critical global-scale earth system processes. Hector has a three-part main carbon cycle: a one-pool atmosphere, land, and ocean. The model's terrestrial carbon cycle includes primary production and respiration fluxes, accommodating arbitrary geographic divisions into, e.g., ecological biomes or political units. Hector actively solves the inorganicmore » carbon system in the surface ocean, directly calculating air–sea fluxes of carbon and ocean pH. Hector reproduces the global historical trends of atmospheric [CO 2], radiative forcing, and surface temperatures. The model simulates all four Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) with equivalent rates of change of key variables over time compared to current observations, MAGICC (a well-known simple climate model), and models from the 5th Coupled Model Intercomparison Project. Hector's flexibility, open-source nature, and modular design will facilitate a broad range of research in various areas.« less

Unimolecular reaction energies for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon ions.

PubMed

West, Brandi; Rodriguez Castillo, Sarah; Sit, Alicia; Mohamad, Sabria; Lowe, Bethany; Joblin, Christine; Bodi, Andras; Mayer, Paul M

2018-03-07

Imaging photoelectron photoion coincidence spectroscopy was employed to explore the unimolecular dissociation of the ionized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) acenaphthylene, fluorene, cyclopenta[d,e,f]phenanthrene, pyrene, perylene, fluoranthene, dibenzo[a,e]pyrene, dibenzo[a,l]pyrene, coronene and corannulene. The primary reaction is always hydrogen atom loss, with the smaller species also exhibiting loss of C 2 H 2 to varying extents. Combined with previous work on smaller PAH ions, trends in the reaction energies (E 0 ) for loss of H from sp 2 -C and sp 3 -C centres, along with hydrocarbon molecule loss were found as a function of the number of carbon atoms in the ionized PAHs ranging in size from naphthalene to coronene. In the case of molecules which possessed at least one sp 3 -C centre, the activation energy for the loss of an H atom from this site was 2.34 eV, with the exception of cyclopenta[d,e,f]phenanthrene (CPP) ions, for which the E 0 was 3.44 ± 0.86 eV due to steric constraints. The hydrogen loss from PAH cations and from their H-loss fragments exhibits two trends, depending on the number of unpaired electrons. For the loss of the first hydrogen atom, the energy is consistently ca. 4.40 eV, while the threshold to lose the second hydrogen atom is much lower at ca. 3.16 eV. The only exception was for the dibenzo[a,l]pyrene cation, which has a unique structure due to steric constraints, resulting in a low H loss reaction energy of 2.85 eV. If C 2 H 2 is lost directly from the precursor cation, the energy required for this dissociation is 4.16 eV. No other fragmentation channels were observed over a large enough sample set for trends to be extrapolated, though data on CH 3 and C 4 H 2 loss obtained in previous studies is included for completeness. The dissociation reactions were also studied by collision induced dissociation after ionization by atmospheric pressure chemical ionization. When modeled with a simple temperature-based theory for the post-collision internal energy distribution, there was reasonable agreement between the two sets of data.

Mapping and spatial-temporal modeling of Bromus tectorum invasion in central Utah

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jin, Zhenyu

Cheatgrass, or Downy Brome, is an exotic winter annual weed native to the Mediterranean region. Since its introduction to the U.S., it has become a significant weed and aggressive invader of sagebrush, pinion-juniper, and other shrub communities, where it can completely out-compete native grasses and shrubs. In this research, remotely sensed data combined with field collected data are used to investigate the distribution of the cheatgrass in Central Utah, to characterize the trend of the NDVI time-series of cheatgrass, and to construct a spatially explicit population-based model to simulate the spatial-temporal dynamics of the cheatgrass. This research proposes a method for mapping the canopy closure of invasive species using remotely sensed data acquired at different dates. Different invasive species have their own distinguished phenologies and the satellite images in different dates could be used to capture the phenology. The results of cheatgrass abundance prediction have a good fit with the field data for both linear regression and regression tree models, although the regression tree model has better performance than the linear regression model. To characterize the trend of NDVI time-series of cheatgrass, a novel smoothing algorithm named RMMEH is presented in this research to overcome some drawbacks of many other algorithms. By comparing the performance of RMMEH in smoothing a 16-day composite of the MODIS NDVI time-series with that of two other methods, which are the 4253EH, twice and the MVI, we have found that RMMEH not only keeps the original valid NDVI points, but also effectively removes the spurious spikes. The reconstructed NDVI time-series of different land covers are of higher quality and have smoother temporal trend. To simulate the spatial-temporal dynamics of cheatgrass, a spatially explicit population-based model is built applying remotely sensed data. The comparison between the model output and the ground truth of cheatgrass closure demonstrates that the model could successfully simulate the spatial-temporal dynamics of cheatgrass in a simple cheatgrass-dominant environment. The simulation of the functional response of different prescribed fire rates also shows that this model is helpful to answer management questions like, "What are the effects of prescribed fire to invasive species?" It demonstrates that a medium fire rate of 10% can successfully prevent cheatgrass invasion.

Temporal trends in symptom experience predict the accuracy of recall PROs

PubMed Central

Schneider, Stefan; Broderick, Joan E.; Junghaenel, Doerte U.; Schwartz, Joseph E.; Stone, Arthur A.

2013-01-01

Objective Patient-reported outcome measures with reporting periods of a week or more are often used to evaluate the change of symptoms over time, but the accuracy of recall in the context of change is not well understood. This study examined whether temporal trends in symptoms that occur during the reporting period impact the accuracy of 7-day recall reports. Methods Women with premenstrual symptoms (n = 95) completed daily reports of anger, depression, fatigue, and pain intensity for 4 weeks, as well as 7-day recall reports at the end of each week. Latent class growth analysis was used to categorize recall periods based on the direction and rate of change in the daily reports. Agreement (level differences and correlations) between 7-day recall and aggregated daily scores was compared for recall periods with different temporal trends. Results Recall periods with positive, negative, and flat temporal trends were identified and they varied in accordance with weeks of the menstrual cycle. Replicating previous research, 7-day recall scores were consistently higher than aggregated daily scores, but this level difference was more pronounced for recall periods involving positive and negative trends compared with flat trends. Moreover, correlations between 7-day recall and aggregated daily scores were lower in the presence of positive and negative trends compared with flat trends. These findings were largely consistent for anger, depression, fatigue, and pain intensity. Conclusion Temporal trends in symptoms can influence the accuracy of recall reports and this should be considered in research designs involving change. PMID:23915773

A 3D Bioprinted Model for the Study of Premalignant Breast Disease

DTIC Science & Technology

2017-05-01

these glands and performed proof-of-principle 3D printing . We have printed simple ductal structures (tubes) and seeded breast epithelial cells. The...performed proof-of-principle 3D printing . We have printed simple ductal structures (tubes) and seeded breast epithelial cells. The next year we will...All of the PN17 reconstruction data from the 5 completed strains has also been sent to the University of Pittsburg for 3D printing . A summary of the

MX Siting Investigation, Gravity Survey - Delamar Valley, Nevada.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-07-20

reduces the data to Simple Bouguer Anomaly (see Section A1.4, Appendix A1.0). The Defense Mapping Agency Aerospace Center (DMAAC), St. Louis, Missouri...DRAWINGS Drawing Number 1 Complete Bouguer Anomaly Contours 2 Depth to Rock -Interpreted from In Pocket at Gravity Data End of Report iv E-TR-33-DM...ErtPX E-TR-3 3-DM 6 2.0 GRAVITY DATA REDUCTION DMAHTC/GSS obtained the basic observations for the new stations and reduced them to Simple Bouguer

A simple technique for correction of relapsed overjet.

PubMed

Kakkirala, Neelima; Saxena, Ruchi

2014-01-01

Class III malocclusions are usually growth related discrepancies, which often become more severe when growth is completed Orthognathic surgery can be a part of the treatment plan, although a good number of cases can be treated non-surgically by camouflage treatment. The purpose of this report is to review the relapse tendency in patients treated non-surgically. A simple technique is described to combat one such post-treatment relapse condition in an adult patient who had undergone orthodontic treatment by extraction of a single lower incisor.

Lateral sesamoid position in hallux valgus: correlation with the conventional radiological assessment.

PubMed

Agrawal, Yuvraj; Desai, Aravind; Mehta, Jaysheel

2011-12-01

We aimed to quantify the severity of the hallux valgus based on the lateral sesamoid position and to establish a correlation of our simple assessment method with the conventional radiological assessments. We reviewed one hundred and twenty two dorso-plantar weight bearing radiographs of feet. The intermetatarsal and hallux valgus angles were measured by the conventional methods; and the position of lateral sesamoid in relation to first metatarsal neck was assessed by our new and simple method. Significant correlation was noted between intermetatarsal angle and lateral sesamoid position (Rho 0.74, p < 0.0001); lateral sesamoid position and hallux valgus angle (Rho 0.56, p < 0.0001). Similar trends were noted in different grades of severity of hallux valgus in all the three methods of assessment. Our method of assessing hallux valgus deformity based on the lateral sesamoid position is simple, less time consuming and has statistically significant correlation with that of the established conventional radiological measurements. Copyright © 2011 European Foot and Ankle Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Liquid-liquid critical point in a simple analytical model of water.

PubMed

Urbic, Tomaz

2016-10-01

A statistical model for a simple three-dimensional Mercedes-Benz model of water was used to study phase diagrams. This model on a simple level describes the thermal and volumetric properties of waterlike molecules. A molecule is presented as a soft sphere with four directions in which hydrogen bonds can be formed. Two neighboring waters can interact through a van der Waals interaction or an orientation-dependent hydrogen-bonding interaction. For pure water, we explored properties such as molar volume, density, heat capacity, thermal expansion coefficient, and isothermal compressibility and found that the volumetric and thermal properties follow the same trends with temperature as in real water and are in good general agreement with Monte Carlo simulations. The model exhibits also two critical points for liquid-gas transition and transition between low-density and high-density fluid. Coexistence curves and a Widom line for the maximum and minimum in thermal expansion coefficient divides the phase space of the model into three parts: in one part we have gas region, in the second a high-density liquid, and the third region contains low-density liquid.

Multivariate geostatistical application for climate characterization of Minas Gerais State, Brazil

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Carvalho, Luiz G.; de Carvalho Alves, Marcelo; de Oliveira, Marcelo S.; Vianello, Rubens L.; Sediyama, Gilberto C.; de Carvalho, Luis M. T.

2010-11-01

The objective of the present study was to assess for Minas Gerais the cokriging methodology, in order to characterize the spatial variability of Thornthwaite annual moisture index, annual rainfall, and average annual air temperature, based on geographical coordinates, altitude, latitude, and longitude. The climatic element data referred to 39 INMET climatic stations located in the state of Minas Gerais and in nearby areas and the covariables altitude, latitude, and longitude to the SRTM digital elevation model. Spatial dependence of data was observed through spherical cross semivariograms and cross covariance models. Box-Cox and log transformation were applied to the positive variables. In these situations, kriged predictions were back-transformed and returned to the same scale as the original data. Trend was removed using global polynomial interpolation. Universal simple cokriging best characterized the climate variables without tendentiousness and with high accuracy and precision when compared to simple cokriging. Considering the satisfactory implementation of universal simple cokriging for the monitoring of climatic elements, this methodology presents enormous potential for the characterization of climate change impact in Minas Gerais state.

Liquid-liquid critical point in a simple analytical model of water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Urbic, Tomaz

2016-10-01

A statistical model for a simple three-dimensional Mercedes-Benz model of water was used to study phase diagrams. This model on a simple level describes the thermal and volumetric properties of waterlike molecules. A molecule is presented as a soft sphere with four directions in which hydrogen bonds can be formed. Two neighboring waters can interact through a van der Waals interaction or an orientation-dependent hydrogen-bonding interaction. For pure water, we explored properties such as molar volume, density, heat capacity, thermal expansion coefficient, and isothermal compressibility and found that the volumetric and thermal properties follow the same trends with temperature as in real water and are in good general agreement with Monte Carlo simulations. The model exhibits also two critical points for liquid-gas transition and transition between low-density and high-density fluid. Coexistence curves and a Widom line for the maximum and minimum in thermal expansion coefficient divides the phase space of the model into three parts: in one part we have gas region, in the second a high-density liquid, and the third region contains low-density liquid.

Characteristics and trends of streamflow and dissolved solids in the upper Colorado River Basin, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming

USGS Publications Warehouse

Liebermann, Timothy D.; Mueller, David K.; Kircher, James E.; Choquette, Anne F.

1989-01-01

Annual and monthly concentrations and loads of dissolved solids and major constituents were estimated for 70 streamflow-gaging stations in the Upper Colorado River Basin. Trends in streamflow, dissolved-solids concentrations, and dissolved-solids loads were identified. Nonparametric trend-analysis techniques were used to determine step trends resulting from human activities upstream and long-term monotonic trends. Results were compared with physical characteristics of the basin and historical water-resource development in the basin to determine source areas of dissolved solids and possible cause of trends. Mean annual dissolved-solids concentration increases from less than 100 milligrams per liter in the headwater streams to more than 500 milligrams per liter in the outflow from the Upper Colorado River Basin. All the major tributaries that have high concentrations of dissolved solids are downstream from extensive areas of irrigated agriculture. However, irrigation predated the period of record for most sites and was not a factor in many identified trends. Significant annual trends were identified for 30 sites. Most of these trends were related to transbasin exports, changes in land use, salinity-control practices, or reservoir development. The primary factor affecting streamflow and dissolved-solids concentration and load has been the construction of large reservoirs. Reservoirs have decreased the seasonal and annual variability of streamflow and dissolved solids in streams that drain the Gunnison and San Juan River basins. Fontenelle and Flaming Gorge Reservoirs have increased the dissolved-solids load in the Green River because of dissolution of mineral salts from the bank material. The largest trends occurred downstream from Lake Powell. However, the period of record since the completion of filling was too short to estimate the long-term effects of that reservoir.

[Treatment of simple snoring by radiofrequency velar coblation].

PubMed

Pessey, J-J; Rose, X; Michenet, F; Calmels, M-N; Lagleyre, S

2005-02-01

Short- and long-term evaluation of the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency velar coblation for simple snoring. From February 2000 to May 2004, 175 patients underwent a single radiofrequency session for velar coblation. All patients suffered from snoring without sleep apnea. They presented modifications of the velo-pharyngeal region but did not have tonsillar or basilingual hypertrophy. Outcome was assessed in terms of pain, changes in snoring, secondary effects and complications at three months and one, two, and three years. Secondary uvulectomy was performed in 28 patients. At three months, snoring had decreased in 82% of patients with complete resolution in 12%. Outcome remained unchanged in 70% of patients at one, two, and three years. After uvulectomy, snoring declined in 96% of patients with complete resolution in 48%. Post-treatment pain lasted less than five days in 68% of patients. Mean duration was three days. Fifteen patients developed pharyngeal paresthesia which regressed at one year. Two patients had a nasal voice and three developed necrosis of the uvula. Velar coblation is a simple treatment for snoring which can be performed in a single session. The best results are achieved in patients whose body mass index is below 25 and after secondary uvulectomy.

Europe experienced a "warming hole" in autumn in the second half of the 20th century

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cahynova, M.; Pokorna, L.; Huth, R.

2012-12-01

Recent global warming has not been ubiquitous - there might be seasons, regions, and time periods with clearly discernible zero or downward air temperature trends. Regions that are not warming or are even cooling - also known as "warming holes" - have been previously detected mainly in autumn in the second half of the 20th century in large parts of North America as well as in central and eastern Europe. In this study we use daily maximum and minimum temperature (TX and TN, respectively) and daily temperature range (DTR) at 136 stations from the ECA&D database in Europe and the Mediterranean in the period 1961-2000 to precisely locate their seasonal and sub-seasonal trends in space and within the course of the year, and to assess the effect of circulation changes on these observed trends. Linear trends are calculated for moving "seasons" of differing lengths (10, 20, 30, 60, and 90 days), each shifted by one day. Thus we obtain 365 values of "moving trends" for each station and each variant of season length. The day-to-day variability of these trends is greatest for short "seasons" of 10 and 20 days. Trends of the 90-day seasons are the most stable throughout the year and also bear the lowest trend magnitudes. Cluster analysis of the annual course of "moving trends" reveals relatively well-defined regions with similar trend behavior. Over most of Europe, the observed warming is greatest in winter, and the highest trend magnitudes are reached by TN in eastern Europe. Two regions stand out of this general picture: in Iceland and the Mediterranean, winter shows almost no trends, while in summer we see a pronounced warming. Significant autumn cooling centered on mid-November was found in eastern and southeastern Europe for both TX and TN; in many other regions trends are close to zero in the same period. Other clearly non-warming (or even cooling) periods occur in western and central Europe in April and June. Trends of DTR are largely inconclusive and no general picture can be drawn. Changes in atmospheric circulation may be one of the factors that influence the observed temperature trends. We use one daily circulation type classification from the European project "COST733", calculated over 11 pre-defined spatial domains, and a simple decomposition method to assess the effect of circulation changes on "moving trends" of temperature and DTR. Our results vary greatly between stations and times of the year; all in all, circulation changes are only responsible for a minor part of the observed trends. At most stations, the only substantial circulation effect is found in winter. Our results suggest that using different time scales apart from the conventional three-month seasons is highly desirable for a proper location of trends within the course of the year.

U.S. international travel and transportation trends : 2006 update

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2006-09-01

This report presents data on international travel to and from the United States. It combines data from a variety of sources (see box) to provide a more complete picture of U.S.-international travel than is available from individual sources. This repo...

Observation of Simple Intransitive Actions: The Effect of Familiarity

PubMed Central

Plata Bello, Julio; Modroño, Cristián; Marcano, Francisco; González–Mora, José Luis

2013-01-01

Introduction Humans are more familiar with index – thumb than with any other finger to thumb grasping. The effect of familiarity has been previously tested with complex, specialized and/or transitive movements, but not with simple intransitive ones. The aim of this study is to evaluate brain activity patterns during the observation of simple and intransitive finger movements with differing degrees of familiarity. Methodology A functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) study was performed using a paradigm consisting of the observation of 4 videos showing a finger opposition task between the thumb and the other fingers (index, middle, ring and little) in a repetitive manner with a fixed frequency (1 Hz). This movement is considered as the pantomime of a precision grasping action. Results Significant activity was identified in the bilateral Inferior Parietal Lobule and premotor regions with the selected level of significance (FDR [False Discovery Rate] = 0.01). The extent of the activation in both regions tended to decrease when the finger that performed the action was further from the thumb. More specifically, this effect showed a linear trend (index>middle>ring>little) in the right parietal and premotor regions. Conclusions The observation of less familiar simple intransitive movements produces less activation of parietal and premotor areas than familiar ones. The most important implication of this study is the identification of differences in brain activity during the observation of simple intransitive movements with different degrees of familiarity. PMID:24073213

Skill execution and sleep deprivation: effects of acute caffeine or creatine supplementation - a randomized placebo-controlled trial

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background We investigated the effects of sleep deprivation with or without acute supplementation of caffeine or creatine on the execution of a repeated rugby passing skill. Method Ten elite rugby players completed 10 trials on a simple rugby passing skill test (20 repeats per trial), following a period of familiarisation. The players had between 7-9 h sleep on 5 of these trials and between 3-5 h sleep (deprivation) on the other 5. At a time of 1.5 h before each trial, they undertook administration of either: placebo tablets, 50 or 100 mg/kg creatine, 1 or 5 mg/kg caffeine. Saliva was collected before each trial and assayed for salivary free cortisol and testosterone. Results Sleep deprivation with placebo application resulted in a significant fall in skill performance accuracy on both the dominant and non-dominant passing sides (p < 0.001). No fall in skill performance was seen with caffeine doses of 1 or 5 mg/kg, and the two doses were not significantly different in effect. Similarly, no deficit was seen with creatine administration at 50 or 100 mg/kg and the performance effects were not significantly different. Salivary testosterone was not affected by sleep deprivation, but trended higher with the 100 mg/kg creatine dose, compared to the placebo treatment (p = 0.067). Salivary cortisol was elevated (p = 0.001) with the 5 mg/kg dose of caffeine (vs. placebo). Conclusion Acute sleep deprivation affects performance of a simple repeat skill in elite athletes and this was ameliorated by a single dose of either caffeine or creatine. Acute creatine use may help to alleviate decrements in skill performance in situations of sleep deprivation, such as transmeridian travel, and caffeine at low doses appears as efficacious as higher doses, at alleviating sleep deprivation deficits in athletes with a history of low caffeine use. Both options are without the side effects of higher dose caffeine use. PMID:21324203

Skill execution and sleep deprivation: effects of acute caffeine or creatine supplementation - a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

PubMed

Cook, Christian J; Crewther, Blair T; Kilduff, Liam P; Drawer, Scott; Gaviglio, Chris M

2011-02-16

We investigated the effects of sleep deprivation with or without acute supplementation of caffeine or creatine on the execution of a repeated rugby passing skill. Ten elite rugby players completed 10 trials on a simple rugby passing skill test (20 repeats per trial), following a period of familiarisation. The players had between 7-9 h sleep on 5 of these trials and between 3-5 h sleep (deprivation) on the other 5. At a time of 1.5 h before each trial, they undertook administration of either: placebo tablets, 50 or 100 mg/kg creatine, 1 or 5 mg/kg caffeine. Saliva was collected before each trial and assayed for salivary free cortisol and testosterone. Sleep deprivation with placebo application resulted in a significant fall in skill performance accuracy on both the dominant and non-dominant passing sides (p < 0.001). No fall in skill performance was seen with caffeine doses of 1 or 5 mg/kg, and the two doses were not significantly different in effect. Similarly, no deficit was seen with creatine administration at 50 or 100 mg/kg and the performance effects were not significantly different. Salivary testosterone was not affected by sleep deprivation, but trended higher with the 100 mg/kg creatine dose, compared to the placebo treatment (p = 0.067). Salivary cortisol was elevated (p = 0.001) with the 5 mg/kg dose of caffeine (vs. placebo). Acute sleep deprivation affects performance of a simple repeat skill in elite athletes and this was ameliorated by a single dose of either caffeine or creatine. Acute creatine use may help to alleviate decrements in skill performance in situations of sleep deprivation, such as transmeridian travel, and caffeine at low doses appears as efficacious as higher doses, at alleviating sleep deprivation deficits in athletes with a history of low caffeine use. Both options are without the side effects of higher dose caffeine use.

Analysis of spatial and temporal rainfall trends in Sicily during the 1921-2012 period

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liuzzo, Lorena; Bono, Enrico; Sammartano, Vincenzo; Freni, Gabriele

2016-10-01

Precipitation patterns worldwide are changing under the effects of global warming. The impacts of these changes could dramatically affect the hydrological cycle and, consequently, the availability of water resources. In order to improve the quality and reliability of forecasting models, it is important to analyse historical precipitation data to account for possible future changes. For these reasons, a large number of studies have recently been carried out with the aim of investigating the existence of statistically significant trends in precipitation at different spatial and temporal scales. In this paper, the existence of statistically significant trends in rainfall from observational datasets, which were measured by 245 rain gauges over Sicily (Italy) during the 1921-2012 period, was investigated. Annual, seasonal and monthly time series were examined using the Mann-Kendall non-parametric statistical test to detect statistically significant trends at local and regional scales, and their significance levels were assessed. Prior to the application of the Mann-Kendall test, the historical dataset was completed using a geostatistical spatial interpolation technique, the residual ordinary kriging, and then processed to remove the influence of serial correlation on the test results, applying the procedure of trend-free pre-whitening. Once the trends at each site were identified, the spatial patterns of the detected trends were examined using spatial interpolation techniques. Furthermore, focusing on the 30 years from 1981 to 2012, the trend analysis was repeated with the aim of detecting short-term trends or possible changes in the direction of the trends. Finally, the effect of climate change on the seasonal distribution of rainfall during the year was investigated by analysing the trend in the precipitation concentration index. The application of the Mann-Kendall test to the rainfall data provided evidence of a general decrease in precipitation in Sicily during the 1921-2012 period. Downward trends frequently occurred during the autumn and winter months. However, an increase in total annual precipitation was detected during the period from 1981 to 2012.

Policy over Procedure: A Look at the School Completion Programme in Ireland. Is This State Led Educational Intervention for Disadvantaged Children Merely Philanthropic and Can Current Global and National Neo Liberal Policy Trends in Education Be Overcome?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

McKenna, Declan

2015-01-01

"An overview of contemporary curriculum discourse shows a worrying drift to the technical; in current curriculum debates, technique is winning out over substance, procedure over principles" (Looney 2001, p.149). As a project worker in the School Completion Programme in Ireland I ask what and who education is for and look at to whom and…

Compilation of 1986 Annual Reports of the Navy ELF (Extremely Low Frequency) Communications System Ecological Monitoring Program. Volume 3. TABS H-J.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-07-01

yearly trends, and the effect of population size and abiotic factors on growth will be completed when the 1984-1986 scales are completed. Fish condition...settling of suspended particles on substrates in its absence. The pumps were powered by a heavy duty marine battery which had to be exchanged and...computer using procedures available in SPSS (Hull and Nie 1981) and programs available in the BIOM statistical package (Rohlf). Sokal and Rohlf (1981

Dry eye disease and work productivity loss in visual display users: the Osaka study.

PubMed

Uchino, Miki; Uchino, Yuichi; Dogru, Murat; Kawashima, Motoko; Yokoi, Norihiko; Komuro, Aoi; Sonomura, Yukiko; Kato, Hiroaki; Kinoshita, Shigeru; Schaumberg, Debra A; Tsubota, Kazuo

2014-02-01

To estimate the impact of dry eye disease (DED) on work performance and productivity in office workers using visual display terminals (VDTs). Cross-sectional study. Six hundred seventy-two Japanese young and middle-aged office workers using VDTs completed a questionnaire that was designed to measured at-work performance deficits and productivity losses using the Japanese version of the Work Limitations Questionnaire, completed by e-mail. Using the Japanese dry eye diagnostic criteria, respondents were classified into 3 groups: definite DED, probable DED, and non DED. Of the 672 office workers, 553 subjects (82.3%), including 366 men and 187 women, completed the questionnaire and underwent clinical evaluation. As for the total workplace productivity loss, the non DED group demonstrated a loss of 3.56%, those with probable DED demonstrated a loss of 4.06%, and those with definite DED demonstrated a loss of 4.82%, indicating significantly worse performance and productivity (P = .014, trend test). For the 4 subscales, DED was associated with significantly lower on-the-job time management (P = .009, trend test) and combined mental performance and interpersonal functioning (P = .011, trend test). After controlling for age, sex, VDT working hours, and diagnosis of DED, time management, physical demands, and mental and interpersonal functioning showed a significant relationship to DED (each P > .05). Annual DED productivity losses were estimated to be $6160 per employee when measured by total production and $1178 per employee calculated by wage. This study indicated that there is a significant impact of DED on the total productivity of Japanese VDT users. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Simple Spectral Lines Data Model Version 1.0

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Osuna, Pedro; Salgado, Jesus; Guainazzi, Matteo; Dubernet, Marie-Lise; Roueff, Evelyne; Osuna, Pedro; Salgado, Jesus

2010-12-01

This document presents a Data Model to describe Spectral Line Transitions in the context of the Simple Line Access Protocol defined by the IVOA (c.f. Ref[13] IVOA Simple Line Access protocol) The main objective of the model is to integrate with and support the Simple Line Access Protocol, with which it forms a compact unit. This integration allows seamless access to Spectral Line Transitions available worldwide in the VO context. This model does not provide a complete description of Atomic and Molecular Physics, which scope is outside of this document. In the astrophysical sense, a line is considered as the result of a transition between two energy levels. Under the basis of this assumption, a whole set of objects and attributes have been derived to define properly the necessary information to describe lines appearing in astrophysical contexts. The document has been written taking into account available information from many different Line data providers (see acknowledgments section).

Large liquid rocket engine transient performance simulation system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mason, J. R.; Southwick, R. D.

1989-01-01

Phase 1 of the Rocket Engine Transient Simulation (ROCETS) program consists of seven technical tasks: architecture; system requirements; component and submodel requirements; submodel implementation; component implementation; submodel testing and verification; and subsystem testing and verification. These tasks were completed. Phase 2 of ROCETS consists of two technical tasks: Technology Test Bed Engine (TTBE) model data generation; and system testing verification. During this period specific coding of the system processors was begun and the engineering representations of Phase 1 were expanded to produce a simple model of the TTBE. As the code was completed, some minor modifications to the system architecture centering on the global variable common, GLOBVAR, were necessary to increase processor efficiency. The engineering modules completed during Phase 2 are listed: INJTOO - main injector; MCHBOO - main chamber; NOZLOO - nozzle thrust calculations; PBRNOO - preburner; PIPE02 - compressible flow without inertia; PUMPOO - polytropic pump; ROTROO - rotor torque balance/speed derivative; and TURBOO - turbine. Detailed documentation of these modules is in the Appendix. In addition to the engineering modules, several submodules were also completed. These submodules include combustion properties, component performance characteristics (maps), and specific utilities. Specific coding was begun on the system configuration processor. All functions necessary for multiple module operation were completed but the SOLVER implementation is still under development. This system, the Verification Checkout Facility (VCF) allows interactive comparison of module results to store data as well as provides an intermediate checkout of the processor code. After validation using the VCF, the engineering modules and submodules were used to build a simple TTBE.

Factors associated with trends in infant and child mortality in developing countries during the 1990s.

PubMed Central

Rutstein, S. O.

2000-01-01

The 1990s have seen a remarkable decrease in mortality among infants and children in most developing countries. In some countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, these declines in mortality among children have slowed and are now increasing again. Internationally comparable data derived from survey programmes, such as the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) programme, are available both to document the changes that have occurred in mortality and to provide insight into some of the factors that may explain these trends in mortality. The factors found in repeated DHS programmes that explain these trends fall into five categories: fertility behaviour; nutritional status, breastfeeding, and infant feeding; the use of health services by mothers and for children; environmental health conditions; and socioeconomic status. Both simple analyses and multivariate analyses of changes in these factors between surveys indicate that all factors affected the mortality trends. However, to explain trends in mortality, the variables themselves had to have changed over time. During the 1990s fertility behaviour, breastfeeding, and infant feeding have changed less than other factors and so would seem to have played a smaller role in mortality trends. This study confirms that trends in mortality during the 1990s were related to more than just a handful of variables. It would, therefore, be a mistake to concentrate policy actions on one or a few of these while forsaking others. Countries with the largest decreases in mortality have had substantial improvements in most of the factors that might be used to explain these changes. In some countries mortality has risen. In part these increases can be explained by the factors included in this study, such as deterioration in seeking medical care for children with fever. Other factors that were not measured, such as the increasing resistance of malaria to drug treatment and the increased prevalence of parental HIV/AIDS, may be contributing to the increase noted. PMID:11100620

Comprehensive evaluation of long-term trends in occupational exposure: Part 1. Description of the database

PubMed Central

Symanski, E.; Kupper, L. L.; Rappaport, S. M.

1998-01-01

OBJECTIVES: To conduct a comprehensive evaluation of long term changes in occupational exposure among a broad cross section of industries worldwide. METHODS: A review of the scientific literature identified studies that reported historical changes in exposure. About 700 sets of data from 119 published and several unpublished sources were compiled. Data were published over a 30 year period in 25 journals that spanned a range of disciplines. For each data set, the average exposure level was compiled for each period and details on the contaminant, the industry and location, changes in the threshold limit value (TLV), as well as the type of sampling method were recorded. Spearman rank correlation coefficients were used to identify monotonic changes in exposure over time and simple linear regression analyses were used to characterise trends in exposure. RESULTS: About 78% of the natural log transformed data showed linear trends towards lower exposure levels whereas 22% indicated increasing trends. (The Spearman rank correlation analyses produced a similar breakdown between exposures monotonically increasing or decreasing over time.) Although the rates of reduction for the data showing downward trends ranged from -1% to -62% per year, most exposures declined at rates between -4% and -14% per year (the interquartile range), with a median value of -8% per year. Exposures seemed to increase at rates that were slightly lower than those of exposures which have declined over time. Data sets that showed downward (versus upward) trends were influenced by several factors including type and carcinogenicity of the contaminant, type of monitoring, historical changes in the threshold limit values (TLVs), and period of sampling. CONCLUSIONS: This review supports the notion that occupational exposures are generally lower today than they were years or decades ago. However, such trends seem to have been affected by factors related to the contaminant, as well as to the period and type of sampling.   PMID:9764107

Pure natural inflation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nomura, Yasunori; Watari, Taizan; Yamazaki, Masahito

2018-01-01

We point out that a simple inflationary model in which the axionic inflaton couples to a pure Yang-Mills theory may give the scalar spectral index (ns) and tensor-to-scalar ratio (r) in complete agreement with the current observational data.

EURODELTA-Trends, a multi-model experiment of air quality hindcast in Europe over 1990-2010

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Colette, Augustin; Andersson, Camilla; Manders, Astrid; Mar, Kathleen; Mircea, Mihaela; Pay, Maria-Teresa; Raffort, Valentin; Tsyro, Svetlana; Cuvelier, Cornelius; Adani, Mario; Bessagnet, Bertrand; Bergström, Robert; Briganti, Gino; Butler, Tim; Cappelletti, Andrea; Couvidat, Florian; D'Isidoro, Massimo; Doumbia, Thierno; Fagerli, Hilde; Granier, Claire; Heyes, Chris; Klimont, Zig; Ojha, Narendra; Otero, Noelia; Schaap, Martijn; Sindelarova, Katarina; Stegehuis, Annemiek I.; Roustan, Yelva; Vautard, Robert; van Meijgaard, Erik; Garcia Vivanco, Marta; Wind, Peter

2017-09-01

The EURODELTA-Trends multi-model chemistry-transport experiment has been designed to facilitate a better understanding of the evolution of air pollution and its drivers for the period 1990-2010 in Europe. The main objective of the experiment is to assess the efficiency of air pollutant emissions mitigation measures in improving regional-scale air quality. The present paper formulates the main scientific questions and policy issues being addressed by the EURODELTA-Trends modelling experiment with an emphasis on how the design and technical features of the modelling experiment answer these questions. The experiment is designed in three tiers, with increasing degrees of computational demand in order to facilitate the participation of as many modelling teams as possible. The basic experiment consists of simulations for the years 1990, 2000, and 2010. Sensitivity analysis for the same three years using various combinations of (i) anthropogenic emissions, (ii) chemical boundary conditions, and (iii) meteorology complements it. The most demanding tier consists of two complete time series from 1990 to 2010, simulated using either time-varying emissions for corresponding years or constant emissions. Eight chemistry-transport models have contributed with calculation results to at least one experiment tier, and five models have - to date - completed the full set of simulations (and 21-year trend calculations have been performed by four models). The modelling results are publicly available for further use by the scientific community. The main expected outcomes are (i) an evaluation of the models' performances for the three reference years, (ii) an evaluation of the skill of the models in capturing observed air pollution trends for the 1990-2010 time period, (iii) attribution analyses of the respective role of driving factors (e.g. emissions, boundary conditions, meteorology), (iv) a dataset based on a multi-model approach, to provide more robust model results for use in impact studies related to human health, ecosystem, and radiative forcing.

Mobile phone-based syndromic surveillance system, Papua New Guinea.

PubMed

Rosewell, Alexander; Ropa, Berry; Randall, Heather; Dagina, Rosheila; Hurim, Samuel; Bieb, Sibauk; Datta, Siddhartha; Ramamurthy, Sundar; Mola, Glen; Zwi, Anthony B; Ray, Pradeep; MacIntyre, C Raina

2013-11-01

The health care system in Papua New Guinea is fragile, and surveillance systems infrequently meet international standards. To strengthen outbreak identification, health authorities piloted a mobile phone-based syndromic surveillance system and used established frameworks to evaluate whether the system was meeting objectives. Stakeholder experience was investigated by using standardized questionnaires and focus groups. Nine sites reported data that included 7 outbreaks and 92 cases of acute watery diarrhea. The new system was more timely (2.4 vs. 84 days), complete (70% vs. 40%), and sensitive (95% vs. 26%) than existing systems. The system was simple, stable, useful, and acceptable; however, feedback and subnational involvement were weak. A simple syndromic surveillance system implemented in a fragile state enabled more timely, complete, and sensitive data reporting for disease risk assessment. Feedback and provincial involvement require improvement. Use of mobile phone technology might improve the timeliness and efficiency of public health surveillance.

Mobile Phone–based Syndromic Surveillance System, Papua New Guinea

PubMed Central

Ropa, Berry; Randall, Heather; Dagina, Rosheila; Hurim, Samuel; Bieb, Sibauk; Datta, Siddhartha; Ramamurthy, Sundar; Mola, Glen; Zwi, Anthony B.; Ray, Pradeep; MacIntyre, C. Raina

2013-01-01

The health care system in Papua New Guinea is fragile, and surveillance systems infrequently meet international standards. To strengthen outbreak identification, health authorities piloted a mobile phone–based syndromic surveillance system and used established frameworks to evaluate whether the system was meeting objectives. Stakeholder experience was investigated by using standardized questionnaires and focus groups. Nine sites reported data that included 7 outbreaks and 92 cases of acute watery diarrhea. The new system was more timely (2.4 vs. 84 days), complete (70% vs. 40%), and sensitive (95% vs. 26%) than existing systems. The system was simple, stable, useful, and acceptable; however, feedback and subnational involvement were weak. A simple syndromic surveillance system implemented in a fragile state enabled more timely, complete, and sensitive data reporting for disease risk assessment. Feedback and provincial involvement require improvement. Use of mobile phone technology might improve the timeliness and efficiency of public health surveillance. PMID:24188144

MX Siting Investigation. Gravity Survey - Sevier Desert Valley, Utah.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-01-24

Cheyenne, Wyoming. DMAHTC reduces the data to Simple Bouguer Anomaly (see Section A1.4, Appendix Al.0). The Defense Mapping Agency Aerospace Center...Desert Valley, Utah ......... 2 2 Topographic Setting - Sevier Desert Valley, Utah . 3 LIST OF DRAWINGS Drawing Number 1 Complete Bouguer Anomaly...gravity stations were distributed throughout the valley at an approxi- mate interval of 1.4 miles (2.3 km). Drawing 1 is a Complete Bouguer Anomaly

High Angle-of-Attack Aerodynamics

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-12-01

CONTRIBUTIONS DE TROIS MOUVEMENTS SIMPLES: UN MOUVEMENT DE BASE CONIQUE ET DES PERTURBATIONS OSCILLATOIRES DE CE MOUVEMENT DE BASE. RECOMMANDATIONS...Completes. Tome 1. 1879, p. CVI. 21. Poincari, H., "Les courbes d6finies par une 6quation dlffer~ntielle." Journal de Math6matigues 3 to 7, 1881, p...profila, ailes en flLche * corps fuselds, primes dWeir, aviona, complete, etc... im~ntrent que lee procidds adoptis aont en meaure de couvrir un domaine

A Simple Approach To Mass Movement Hazard Evaluation In Developing Countries: Example From NW Nicaragua.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pallàs, R.; Vilaplana, J. M.; Guinau, M.; Falgàs, E.; Alemany, X.; Muñoz, A.

Current trends in landslide hazard assessment involve a complex combination of methodologies. In spite of being the most vulnerable and in need of mitigation poli- cies, developing countries lack the general socioeconomic structures and technical facilities for such complex approaches to be implemented. The main difficulties com- monly encountered in those countries are the scarcity of previous topographic, geo- logical, geotechnical, historical and instrumental data, and the unavailability of aerial- photo coverages at suitable times and scales. In consequence, there is a strong need for developing simple methodologies of landslide hazard assessment and mitigation, which can be readily tested and implemented by developing countries themselves. To explore this line of research, we selected an area of about 20 square km severely hit by Hurricane Mitch, at the Departamento de Chinandega (NW Nicaragua). The abun- dant mass movements (mainly debris flows) produced during the Mitch rainfall event were investigated through aerial photographs at 1:60.000 scale (flight of December 1998), while much less conspicuous pre-Mich landslides were detected on 1:40.000 aerial photographs (1996 flight). We mapped over one hundred mass movements at 1:10.000 scale in the field, and recorded information concerning regolith composi- tion and thickness, mass movement dimensions and volumes, failure angle (around 22 degrees) and land use for each movement. We realised that, due to the extreme fragility of antropic structures found in the area, any mass movement is highly destructive whatever its magnitude. On the other hand, we found an almost complete lack of data concerning frequency of landsliding. Thus, the concepts of magnitude and frequency commonly used for hazard evaluation pur- poses were of little help in this case. With these considerations in mind, we found that hazard evaluation and zoning could be approached by combining two main concepts: (1) the observed degree of slope activity (at pre-Mitch, syn-Mitch and/or post-Mitch times) and (2) the susceptibility to landsliding based on the observation that areas sloping around 22 degrees or higher may produce debris flows. The resulting zonation includes four hazard degrees, each one related to specific and simple recommendations concerning settlement policies and land use, and directly addressed to municipalities.

Youth Attitudes and Military Service: Findings from Two Decades of Monitoring the Future National Samples of American Youth

DTIC Science & Technology

2000-06-01

data have focused on drug use and related factors, the study content is much broader (as the title implies) and includes vocational and educational ...over time. The present reporting, in contrast, focuses primarily on trend data and certain subgroup differences, using simple statistics (percentages...report are included on all forms of the 8th and 10th grade surveys. Tests for the statistical significance of mean differences between data collected in

A comparison of self-oscillating phonation models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McPhail, Michael; Campo, Elizabeth; Walters, Gage; Krane, Michael

2017-11-01

This talk presents a comparison of self-oscillating models of phonation. The goal is to assess how well synthetic rubber vocal folds reproduce the gross behavior of phonation. Data from molded rubber folds and a variety of excised mammalian larynges were collected from the literature and from the authors' physical model. Gross trends are discussed and a simple scaling is presented that appears to collapse these data. Finally, comparisons between molded rubber folds and excised larynges are highlighted. Acknowledge support from NIH DC R01005642-11.

What Does an Agile Coach Do?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davies, Rachel; Pullicino, James

The surge in Agile adoption has created a demand for project managers rather than direct their teams. A sign of this trend is the ever-increasing number of people getting certified as scrum masters and agile leaders. Training courses that introduce agile practices are easy to find. But making the transition to coach is not as simple as understanding what agile practices are. Your challenge as an Agile Coach is to support your team in learning how to wield their new Agile tools in creating great software.

Benchmarking the Fundamental Electronic Properties of small TiO 2 Nanoclusters by GW and Coupled Cluster Theory Calculations

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

Berardo, Enrico; Kaplan, Ferdinand; Bhaskaran-Nair, Kiran

We study the vertical ionisation potential, electron affinity, fundamental gap and exciton binding energy values of small bare and hydroxylated TiO 2 nanoclusters to understand how the excited state properties change as a function of size and hydroxylation. In addition, we have employed a range of many-body methods; including G 0 W 0, qs GW, EA/IP-EOM-CCSD and DFT (B3LYP, PBE), to compare the performance and predictions of the different classes of methods. We demonstrate that for bare (i.e. non-hydroxylated) clusters all many-body methods predict the same trend with cluster size. The highest occupied and lowest unoccupied DFT orbitals follow themore » same trends as the electron affinity and ionisation potentials predicted by the many-body methods but are generally far too shallow and deep respectively in absolute terms. In contrast, the ΔDFT method is found to yield values in the correct energy window. However, its predictions depend on the functional used and do not necessarily follow trends based on the many-body methods. The effect of hydroxylation of the clusters is to open up both the optical and fundamental gap. In conclusion, a simple microscopic explanation for the observed trends with cluster size and upon hydroxylation is proposed in terms of the Madelung onsite potential.« less

Long-term forecasting of internet backbone traffic.

PubMed

Papagiannaki, Konstantina; Taft, Nina; Zhang, Zhi-Li; Diot, Christophe

2005-09-01

We introduce a methodology to predict when and where link additions/upgrades have to take place in an Internet protocol (IP) backbone network. Using simple network management protocol (SNMP) statistics, collected continuously since 1999, we compute aggregate demand between any two adjacent points of presence (PoPs) and look at its evolution at time scales larger than 1 h. We show that IP backbone traffic exhibits visible long term trends, strong periodicities, and variability at multiple time scales. Our methodology relies on the wavelet multiresolution analysis (MRA) and linear time series models. Using wavelet MRA, we smooth the collected measurements until we identify the overall long-term trend. The fluctuations around the obtained trend are further analyzed at multiple time scales. We show that the largest amount of variability in the original signal is due to its fluctuations at the 12-h time scale. We model inter-PoP aggregate demand as a multiple linear regression model, consisting of the two identified components. We show that this model accounts for 98% of the total energy in the original signal, while explaining 90% of its variance. Weekly approximations of those components can be accurately modeled with low-order autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models. We show that forecasting the long term trend and the fluctuations of the traffic at the 12-h time scale yields accurate estimates for at least 6 months in the future.

Decadal trends in atmospheric deposition in a high elevation station: Effects of climate and pollution on the long-range flux of metals and trace elements over SW Europe

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Camarero, Lluís; Bacardit, Montserrat; de Diego, Alberto; Arana, Gorka

2017-10-01

Atmospheric deposition collected at remote, high elevation stations is representative of long-range transport of elements. Here we present time-series of Al, Fe, Ti, Mn, Zn, Ni, Cu, As, Cd and Pb deposition sampled in the Central Pyrenees at 2240 m a.s.l, representative of the fluxes of these elements over South West Europe. Trace element deposition did not show a simple trend. Rather, there was statistical evidence of several underlying factors governing the variability of the time-series recorded: seasonal cycles, trends, the effects of the amount of precipitation, climate-controlled export of dust, and changes in anthropogenic emissions. Overall, there were three main modes of variation in deposition. The first mode was related to North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), and affected Al, Fe, Ti, Mn and Pb. We interpret this as changes in the dust export from Northern Africa under the different meteorological conditions that the NAO index indicates. The second mode was an upward trend related to a rise in the frequency of precipitation events (that also lead to an increase in the amount). More frequent events might cause a higher efficiency in the scavenging of aerosols. As, Cu and Ni responded to this. And finally, the third mode of variation was related to changes in anthropogenic emissions of Pb and Zn.

Benchmarking the Fundamental Electronic Properties of small TiO 2 Nanoclusters by GW and Coupled Cluster Theory Calculations

DOE PAGES

Berardo, Enrico; Kaplan, Ferdinand; Bhaskaran-Nair, Kiran; ...

2017-06-19

We study the vertical ionisation potential, electron affinity, fundamental gap and exciton binding energy values of small bare and hydroxylated TiO 2 nanoclusters to understand how the excited state properties change as a function of size and hydroxylation. In addition, we have employed a range of many-body methods; including G 0 W 0, qs GW, EA/IP-EOM-CCSD and DFT (B3LYP, PBE), to compare the performance and predictions of the different classes of methods. We demonstrate that for bare (i.e. non-hydroxylated) clusters all many-body methods predict the same trend with cluster size. The highest occupied and lowest unoccupied DFT orbitals follow themore » same trends as the electron affinity and ionisation potentials predicted by the many-body methods but are generally far too shallow and deep respectively in absolute terms. In contrast, the ΔDFT method is found to yield values in the correct energy window. However, its predictions depend on the functional used and do not necessarily follow trends based on the many-body methods. The effect of hydroxylation of the clusters is to open up both the optical and fundamental gap. In conclusion, a simple microscopic explanation for the observed trends with cluster size and upon hydroxylation is proposed in terms of the Madelung onsite potential.« less