Linear optical properties of the monoclinic bismuth borate BiB3O6

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hellwig, H.; Liebertz, J.; Bohatý, L.

2000-07-01

New materials for nonlinear optical (NLO) applications are still of great interest. The monoclinic BiB3O6 (BIBO) shows exceptionally large NLO coefficients. In this article we will present the linear optical properties in the wavelength range between 350 and 2400 nm, the phase matching conditions calculated for second harmonic generation, and optical parametric oscillation. Angular bandwidth data are also given. The wide tuning range of phase matched directions together with the monoclinic symmetry allow a broad variety of applications. The laser damage threshold is comparable to high quality lithium triborate.

Mesoporous Germanium Anode Materials for Lithium-Ion Battery with Exceptional Cycling Stability in Wide Temperature Range.

PubMed

Choi, Sinho; Cho, Yoon-Gyo; Kim, Jieun; Choi, Nam-Soon; Song, Hyun-Kon; Wang, Guoxiu; Park, Soojin

2017-04-01

Porous structured materials have unique architectures and are promising for lithium-ion batteries to enhance performances. In particular, mesoporous materials have many advantages including a high surface area and large void spaces which can increase reactivity and accessibility of lithium ions. This study reports a synthesis of newly developed mesoporous germanium (Ge) particles prepared by a zincothermic reduction at a mild temperature for high performance lithium-ion batteries which can operate in a wide temperature range. The optimized Ge battery anodes with the mesoporous structure exhibit outstanding electrochemical properties in a wide temperature ranging from -20 to 60 °C. Ge anodes exhibit a stable cycling retention at various temperatures (capacity retention of 99% after 100 cycles at 25 °C, 84% after 300 cycles at 60 °C, and 50% after 50 cycles at -20 °C). Furthermore, full cells consisting of the mesoporous Ge anode and an LiFePO 4 cathode show an excellent cyclability at -20 and 25 °C. Mesoporous Ge materials synthesized by the zincothermic reduction can be potentially applied as high performance anode materials for practical lithium-ion batteries. © 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

The oxidative stress theory of aging: embattled or invincible? Insights from non-traditional model organisms

PubMed Central

Edrey, Yael H.; Yang, Ting; Mele, James

2008-01-01

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), inevitable byproducts of aerobic metabolism, are known to cause oxidative damage to cells and molecules. This, in turn, is widely accepted as a pivotal determinant of both lifespan and health span. While studies in a wide range of species support the role of ROS in many age-related diseases, its role in aging per se is questioned. Comparative data from a wide range of endotherms offer equivocal support for this theory, with many exceptions and inconclusive findings as to whether or not oxidative stress is either a correlate or a determinant of maximum species lifespan. Available data do not support the premise that metabolic rate and in vivo ROS production are determinants of lifespan, or that superior antioxidant defense contributes to species longevity. Rather, published studies often show either a negative associate or lack of correlation with species longevity. Furthermore, many long-living species such as birds, bats and mole-rats exhibit high levels of oxidative damage even at young ages. Similarly genetic manipulations altering expression of key antioxidants do not necessarily show an impact on lifespan, even though oxidative damage levels may be affected. While it is possible that these multiple exceptions to straightforward predictions of the free radical theory of aging all reflect species-specific, “private” mechanisms of aging, the preponderance of contrary data nevertheless present a challenge to this august theory. Therefore, contrary to accepted dogma, the role of oxidative stress as a determinant of longevity is still open to question. PMID:19424860

Adaptive and freeze-tolerant heteronetwork organohydrogels with enhanced mechanical stability over a wide temperature range

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Hainan; Zhao, Ziguang; Cai, Yudong; Zhou, Jiajia; Hua, Wenda; Chen, Lie; Wang, Li; Zhang, Jianqi; Han, Dong; Liu, Mingjie; Jiang, Lei

2017-06-01

Many biological organisms with exceptional freezing tolerance can resist the damages to cells from extra-/intracellular ice crystals and thus maintain their mechanical stability at subzero temperatures. Inspired by the freezing tolerance mechanisms found in nature, here we report a strategy of combining hydrophilic/oleophilic heteronetworks to produce self-adaptive, freeze-tolerant and mechanically stable organohydrogels. The organohydrogels can simultaneously use water and oil as a dispersion medium, and quickly switch between hydrogel- and organogel-like behaviours in response to the nature of the surrounding phase. Accordingly, their surfaces display unusual adaptive dual superlyophobic in oil/water system (that is, they are superhydrophobic under oil and superoleophobic under water). Moreover, the organogel component can inhibit the ice crystallization of the hydrogel component, thus enhancing the mechanical stability of organohydrogel over a wide temperature range (-78 to 80 °C). The organohydrogels may have promising applications in complex and harsh environments.

Developing a School-Based Training Program to Address Parental Loss and Grief in Elementary School Students Using the Integration of Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Positive Psychology

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brown, Gerald B.

2016-01-01

Grief is widely defined and covers a plethora of losses that involves a range of sometimes easily discernible emotions. While grief can be the result of loss in general, it can be either prolonged or temporary and indiscriminate of age or gender. Children are no exception. When considering the loss of a significant individual such as a parent…

Do wealth disparities contribute to health disparities within racial/ethnic groups?

PubMed

Pollack, Craig Evan; Cubbin, Catherine; Sania, Ayesha; Hayward, Mark; Vallone, Donna; Flaherty, Brian; Braveman, Paula A

2013-05-01

Though wide disparities in wealth have been documented across racial/ethnic groups, it is largely unknown whether differences in wealth are associated with health disparities within racial/ethnic groups. Data from the Survey of Consumer Finances (2004, ages 25-64) and the Health and Retirement Survey (2004, ages 50+), containing a wide range of assets and debts variables, were used to calculate net worth (a standard measure of wealth). Among non-Hispanic black, Hispanic and non-Hispanic white populations, we tested whether wealth was associated with self-reported poor/fair health status after accounting for income and education. Except among the younger Hispanic population, net worth was significantly associated with poor/fair health status within each racial/ethnic group in both data sets. Adding net worth attenuated the association between education and poor/fair health (in all racial/ethnic groups) and between income and poor/fair health (except among older Hispanics). The results add to the literature indicating the importance of including measures of wealth in health research for what they may reveal about disparities not only between but also within different racial/ethnic groups.

Multiple interactions and rapidity gap survival

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Khoze, V. A.; Martin, A. D.; Ryskin, M. G.

2018-05-01

Observations of rare processes containing large rapidity gaps at high energy colliders may be exceptionally informative. However the cross sections of these events are small in comparison with that for the inclusive processes since there is a large probability that the gaps may be filled by secondary particles arising from additional soft interactions or from gluon radiation. Here we review the calculations of the probability that the gaps survive population by particles from these effects for a wide range of different processes.

Applying precision medicine to the active surveillance of prostate cancer

PubMed Central

Reichard, Chad A.; Stephenson, Andrew J.

2015-01-01

The recent introduction of a variety of molecular tests will potentially reshape the care of patients with prostate cancer. These tests may make more accurate management decisions possible for those patients who have been “overdiagnosed” with biologically indolent disease, which represents an exceptionally small mortality risk. There is a wide range of possible applications of these tests to different clinical scenarios in patient populations managed with active surveillance. Cancer 2015;121:3435–43. © 2015 American Cancer Society. PMID:26149066

Phenotypic characteristics of Alzheimer patients carrying an ABCA7 mutation.

PubMed

Van den Bossche, Tobi; Sleegers, Kristel; Cuyvers, Elise; Engelborghs, Sebastiaan; Sieben, Anne; De Roeck, Arne; Van Cauwenberghe, Caroline; Vermeulen, Steven; Van den Broeck, Marleen; Laureys, Annelies; Peeters, Karin; Mattheijssens, Maria; Vandenbulcke, Mathieu; Vandenberghe, Rik; Martin, Jean-Jacques; De Deyn, Peter P; Cras, Patrick; Van Broeckhoven, Christine

2016-06-07

To generate a clinical and pathologic phenotype of patients carrying rare loss-of-function mutations in ABCA7, identified in a Belgian Alzheimer patient cohort and in an autosomal dominant family. We performed a retrospective review of available data records, medical records, results of CSF analyses and neuroimaging studies, and neuropathology data. The mean onset age of the mutation carriers (n = 22) was 73.4 ± 8.4 years with a wide age range of 36 (54-90) years, which was independent of APOE genotype and cerebrovascular disease. The mean disease duration was 5.7 ± 3.0 years (range 2-12 years). A positive family history was recorded for 10 carriers (45.5%). All patient carriers except one presented with memory complaints. The 4 autopsied brains showed typical immunohistochemical changes of late-onset Alzheimer disease. All patients carrying a loss-of-function mutation in ABCA7 exhibited a classical Alzheimer disease phenotype, though with a striking wide onset age range, suggesting the influence of unknown modifying factors. © 2016 American Academy of Neurology.

Phenotypic characteristics of Alzheimer patients carrying an ABCA7 mutation

PubMed Central

Van den Bossche, Tobi; Sleegers, Kristel; Cuyvers, Elise; Engelborghs, Sebastiaan; Sieben, Anne; De Roeck, Arne; Van Cauwenberghe, Caroline; Vermeulen, Steven; Van den Broeck, Marleen; Laureys, Annelies; Peeters, Karin; Mattheijssens, Maria; Vandenbulcke, Mathieu; Vandenberghe, Rik; Martin, Jean-Jacques; De Deyn, Peter P.; Cras, Patrick

2016-01-01

Objective: To generate a clinical and pathologic phenotype of patients carrying rare loss-of-function mutations in ABCA7, identified in a Belgian Alzheimer patient cohort and in an autosomal dominant family. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of available data records, medical records, results of CSF analyses and neuroimaging studies, and neuropathology data. Results: The mean onset age of the mutation carriers (n = 22) was 73.4 ± 8.4 years with a wide age range of 36 (54–90) years, which was independent of APOE genotype and cerebrovascular disease. The mean disease duration was 5.7 ± 3.0 years (range 2–12 years). A positive family history was recorded for 10 carriers (45.5%). All patient carriers except one presented with memory complaints. The 4 autopsied brains showed typical immunohistochemical changes of late-onset Alzheimer disease. Conclusions: All patients carrying a loss-of-function mutation in ABCA7 exhibited a classical Alzheimer disease phenotype, though with a striking wide onset age range, suggesting the influence of unknown modifying factors. PMID:27037232

Analysis of exceptionally large tremors in two gold mining districts of South Africa

USGS Publications Warehouse

McGarr, A.; Bicknell, J.; Sembera, E.; Green, R.W.E.

1989-01-01

An investigation of ground motion, recorded using broad-band, wide dynamic-range digital seismographs, of large mine tremors from two South African mining districts with different geologic settings, reveals some essential differences in both seismic source and ground motion parameters. In the Klerksdorp district where the strata are offset by major throughgoing normal faults, the largest tremors, with magnitudes ranging as high as 5.2, tend to be associated with slip on these pre-existing faults. Moreover, the seismic source and ground motion parameters are quite similar to those of natural crustal earthquakes. In the Carletonville district, by contrast, where substantial faults do not exist, the large-magnitude tremors appear to result from the failure of relatively intact rock and cause seismic stress drops and ground motion parameters higher than normally observed for natural shocks. Additionally, there appears to be an upper magnitude limit of about 4 in the Carletonville district. Detailed analyses of an exceptionally large event recorded locally from each of these districts serve to highlight these contrasts. ?? 1989 Birkha??user Verlag.

Nothing Exceptional: Against Agamben

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Colatrella, Steven

2011-01-01

Giorgio Agamben's work has become widely influential as a guide to explaining the extra-constitutional powers assumed by governments under the rubric of the War on Terror. His formulations, such as Homo Sacer and State of Exception, have been extended to apply to a wide variety of experiences of repression of liberties or social control, including…

On the optimality of a universal noiseless coder

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yeh, Pen-Shu; Rice, Robert F.; Miller, Warner H.

1993-01-01

Rice developed a universal noiseless coding structure that provides efficient performance over an extremely broad range of source entropy. This is accomplished by adaptively selecting the best of several easily implemented variable length coding algorithms. Variations of such noiseless coders have been used in many NASA applications. Custom VLSI coder and decoder modules capable of processing over 50 million samples per second have been fabricated and tested. In this study, the first of the code options used in this module development is shown to be equivalent to a class of Huffman code under the Humblet condition, for source symbol sets having a Laplacian distribution. Except for the default option, other options are shown to be equivalent to the Huffman codes of a modified Laplacian symbol set, at specified symbol entropy values. Simulation results are obtained on actual aerial imagery over a wide entropy range, and they confirm the optimality of the scheme. Comparison with other known techniques are performed on several widely used images and the results further validate the coder's optimality.

Genome-Wide Divergence and Linkage Disequilibrium Analyses for Capsicum baccatum Revealed by Genome-Anchored Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms

PubMed Central

Nimmakayala, Padma; Abburi, Venkata L.; Saminathan, Thangasamy; Almeida, Aldo; Davenport, Brittany; Davidson, Joshua; Reddy, C. V. Chandra Mohan; Hankins, Gerald; Ebert, Andreas; Choi, Doil; Stommel, John; Reddy, Umesh K.

2016-01-01

Principal component analysis (PCA) with 36,621 polymorphic genome-anchored single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified collectively for Capsicum annuum and Capsicum baccatum was used to characterize population structure and species domestication of these two important incompatible cultivated pepper species. Estimated mean nucleotide diversity (π) and Tajima's D across various chromosomes revealed biased distribution toward negative values on all chromosomes (except for chromosome 4) in cultivated C. baccatum, indicating a population bottleneck during domestication of C. baccatum. In contrast, C. annuum chromosomes showed positive π and Tajima's D on all chromosomes except chromosome 8, which may be because of domestication at multiple sites contributing to wider genetic diversity. For C. baccatum, 13,129 SNPs were available, with minor allele frequency (MAF) ≥0.05; PCA of the SNPs revealed 283 C. baccatum accessions grouped into 3 distinct clusters, for strong population structure. The fixation index (FST) between domesticated C. annuum and C. baccatum was 0.78, which indicates genome-wide divergence. We conducted extensive linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis of C. baccatum var. pendulum cultivars on all adjacent SNP pairs within a chromosome to identify regions of high and low LD interspersed with a genome-wide average LD block size of 99.1 kb. We characterized 1742 haplotypes containing 4420 SNPs (range 9–2 SNPs per haplotype). Genome-wide association study (GWAS) of peduncle length, a trait that differentiates wild and domesticated C. baccatum types, revealed 36 significantly associated genome-wide SNPs. Population structure, identity by state (IBS) and LD patterns across the genome will be of potential use for future GWAS of economically important traits in C. baccatum peppers. PMID:27857720

Genome-Wide Divergence and Linkage Disequilibrium Analyses for Capsicum baccatum Revealed by Genome-Anchored Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms.

PubMed

Nimmakayala, Padma; Abburi, Venkata L; Saminathan, Thangasamy; Almeida, Aldo; Davenport, Brittany; Davidson, Joshua; Reddy, C V Chandra Mohan; Hankins, Gerald; Ebert, Andreas; Choi, Doil; Stommel, John; Reddy, Umesh K

2016-01-01

Principal component analysis (PCA) with 36,621 polymorphic genome-anchored single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified collectively for Capsicum annuum and Capsicum baccatum was used to characterize population structure and species domestication of these two important incompatible cultivated pepper species. Estimated mean nucleotide diversity (π) and Tajima's D across various chromosomes revealed biased distribution toward negative values on all chromosomes (except for chromosome 4) in cultivated C. baccatum , indicating a population bottleneck during domestication of C. baccatum . In contrast, C. annuum chromosomes showed positive π and Tajima's D on all chromosomes except chromosome 8, which may be because of domestication at multiple sites contributing to wider genetic diversity. For C. baccatum , 13,129 SNPs were available, with minor allele frequency (MAF) ≥0.05; PCA of the SNPs revealed 283 C. baccatum accessions grouped into 3 distinct clusters, for strong population structure. The fixation index ( F ST ) between domesticated C. annuum and C. baccatum was 0.78, which indicates genome-wide divergence. We conducted extensive linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis of C. baccatum var. pendulum cultivars on all adjacent SNP pairs within a chromosome to identify regions of high and low LD interspersed with a genome-wide average LD block size of 99.1 kb. We characterized 1742 haplotypes containing 4420 SNPs (range 9-2 SNPs per haplotype). Genome-wide association study (GWAS) of peduncle length, a trait that differentiates wild and domesticated C. baccatum types, revealed 36 significantly associated genome-wide SNPs. Population structure, identity by state (IBS) and LD patterns across the genome will be of potential use for future GWAS of economically important traits in C. baccatum peppers.

Safety and Performance Advantages of Nitrous Oxide Fuel Blends (NOFBX) Propellants for Manned and Unmanned Spaceflight Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Taylor, R.

2012-01-01

Hydrazine, N2H4, is the current workhorse monopropellant in the spacecraft industry. Although widely used since the 1960's, hydrazine is highly toxic and its specific impulse (ISP) performance of ~230s is far lower than bipropellants and solid motors. NOFBX™ monopropellants were originally developed under NASA's Mars Advanced Technology program (2004-2007) for deep space Mars missions. This work focused on characterizing various Nitrous Oxide Fuel Blend (NOFB) monopropellants which exhibited many favorable attributes to include: (1) Mono-propulsion, (2) Isp > 320s, (3) Non-toxic constituents, (4) Non-toxic effluents, (5) Low Cost, (6) High Density Specific Impulse, (7) Non-cryogenic, (8) Wide Storable Temperature Range, (9) Deeply throttlable [between 5 - 100lbs], (10) Self Pressurizing, (11) Wide Range of materials compatibility, along with many, many other benefits. All rocket propellants carry with them a history or stigma associated with either the development or implementation of that propellant and NOFBX™ is no exception. This paper examines the benefits of NOFBX™ propellants while addressing or dispelling a number of critiques N2O based propellants acquired through the decades of rocket propellant testing.

Compressed glassy carbon: An ultrastrong and elastic interpenetrating graphene network

PubMed Central

Hu, Meng; He, Julong; Zhao, Zhisheng; Strobel, Timothy A.; Hu, Wentao; Yu, Dongli; Sun, Hao; Liu, Lingyu; Li, Zihe; Ma, Mengdong; Kono, Yoshio; Shu, Jinfu; Mao, Ho-kwang; Fei, Yingwei; Shen, Guoyin; Wang, Yanbin; Juhl, Stephen J.; Huang, Jian Yu; Liu, Zhongyuan; Xu, Bo; Tian, Yongjun

2017-01-01

Carbon’s unique ability to have both sp2 and sp3 bonding states gives rise to a range of physical attributes, including excellent mechanical and electrical properties. We show that a series of lightweight, ultrastrong, hard, elastic, and conductive carbons are recovered after compressing sp2-hybridized glassy carbon at various temperatures. Compression induces the local buckling of graphene sheets through sp3 nodes to form interpenetrating graphene networks with long-range disorder and short-range order on the nanometer scale. The compressed glassy carbons have extraordinary specific compressive strengths—more than two times that of commonly used ceramics—and simultaneously exhibit robust elastic recovery in response to local deformations. This type of carbon is an optimal ultralight, ultrastrong material for a wide range of multifunctional applications, and the synthesis methodology demonstrates potential to access entirely new metastable materials with exceptional properties. PMID:28630918

Survival and growth of wildlife shrubs and trees on acid mine spoil

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

Fowler, D.K.; Adkisson, L.F.

1980-01-01

The purpose of this study was to assess the survival and growth of selected wildlife plants over a wide range of acid mine spoil conditions and to identify species suitable for surface mine reclamation. A major criterion in selection of study sites was inclusion of a wide range of spoil acidity conditions. The Ollis Creek (Study Area A) and Farrell (Study Area B) coal surface mines located in Campbell and Scott Counties, Tennessee, were selected for study. Seven plant species, all of which had been used in past reclamation demonstrations, were introduced on the 22 plots during March 1972. Autumnmore » olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) was included as a control plant. Ten additional plant species were introduced during March 1973. With the exception of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum var.). European filbert (Corylus avellana), and red maple (Acer rubrum), these species had not been used in TVA reclamation demonstrations. To assess the effects of spoil pH on the plants, the plots were grouped into seven pH categories, and mean percent survival and growth for each species were calculated. Results indicate that autumn olive, elaeagnus cherry, arnot locust, sawtooth oak, red maple, and Toringo crabapple are suitable for quick improvement of surface mine habitat over a wide range of spoil acidity in the Appalachian coalfield. Bessey cherry and European filbert need further study before a decision can be made regarding their reclamation utility. Species that are not recommended for quick habitat improvement over a wide range of surface mine spoil pH conditions include bush honeysuckle, barberry, Siberian crabapple, Manchu cherry, American beautyberry, bear oak, blueberry, rem-red honeysuckle, and redcedar.« less

Fat embolism syndrome

PubMed Central

George, Jacob; George, Reeba; Dixit, R.; Gupta, R. C.; Gupta, N.

2013-01-01

Fat embolism syndrome is an often overlooked cause of breathlessness in trauma wards. Presenting in a wide range of clinical signs of varying severity, fat embolism is usually diagnosed by a physician who keeps a high degree of suspicion. The clinical background, chronology of symptoms and corroborative laboratory findings are instrumental in a diagnosis of fat embolism syndrome. There are a few diagnostic criteria which are helpful in making a diagnosis of fat embolism syndrome. Management is mainly prevention of fat embolism syndrome, and organ supportive care. Except in fulminant fat embolism syndrome, the prognosis is usually good. PMID:23661916

Why are so many networks disassortative?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnson, Samuel; Torres, Joaquín J.; Marro, J.; Muñoz, Miguel A.

2011-03-01

A wide range of empirical networks—whether biological, technological, information-related or linguistic—generically exhibit important degree-degree anticorrelations (i.e., they are disassortative), the only exceptions being social ones, which tend to be positively correlated (assortative). Using an information-theory approach, we show that the equilibrium state of highly heterogeneous (scale-free) random networks is disassortative. This not only gives a parsimonious explanation to a long-standing question, but also provides a neutral model against which to compare experimental data and ascertain whether a given system is being driven from equilibrium by correlating mechanisms.

High order filtering methods for approximating hyperbolic systems of conservation laws

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lafon, F.; Osher, S.

1991-01-01

The essentially nonoscillatory (ENO) schemes, while potentially useful in the computation of discontinuous solutions of hyperbolic conservation-law systems, are computationally costly relative to simple central-difference methods. A filtering technique is presented which employs central differencing of arbitrarily high-order accuracy except where a local test detects the presence of spurious oscillations and calls upon the full ENO apparatus to remove them. A factor-of-three speedup is thus obtained over the full-ENO method for a wide range of problems, with high-order accuracy in regions of smooth flow.

Current distribution on a cylindrical antenna with parallel orientation in a lossy magnetoplasma

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Klein, C. A.; Klock, P. W.; Deschamps, G. A.

1972-01-01

The current distribution and impedance of a thin cylindrical antenna with parallel orientation to the static magnetic field of a lossy magnetoplasma is calculated with the method of moments. The electric field produced by an infinitesimal current source is first derived. Results are presented for a wide range of plasma parameters. Reasonable answers are obtained for all cases except for the overdense hyperbolic case. A discussion of the numerical stability is included which not only applies to this problem but other applications of the method of moments.

Equilibrium dynamics of the sub-Ohmic spin-boson model under bias

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Da-Chuan; Tong, Ning-Hua

2017-06-01

Using the bosonic numerical renormalization group method, we studied the equilibrium dynamical correlation function C(ω) of the spin operator σ z for the biased sub-Ohmic spin-boson model. The small-ω behavior C(ω )\\propto {ω }s is found to be universal and independent of the bias ɛ and the coupling strength α (except at the quantum critical point α ={α }{{c}} and ɛ = 0). Our NRG data also show C(ω )\\propto {χ }2{ω }s for a wide range of parameters, including the biased strong coupling regime (\\varepsilon \

Wavelength interrogation of fiber Bragg grating sensors based on crossed optical Gaussian filters.

PubMed

Cheng, Rui; Xia, Li; Zhou, Jiaao; Liu, Deming

2015-04-15

Conventional intensity-modulated measurements require to be operated in linear range of filter or interferometric response to ensure a linear detection. Here, we present a wavelength interrogation system for fiber Bragg grating sensors where the linear transition is achieved with crossed Gaussian transmissions. This unique filtering characteristic makes the responses of the two branch detections follow Gaussian functions with the same parameters except for a delay. The substraction of these two delayed Gaussian responses (in dB) ultimately leads to a linear behavior, which is exploited for the sensor wavelength determination. Beside its flexibility and inherently power insensitivity, the proposal also shows a potential of a much wider operational range. Interrogation of a strain-tuned grating was accomplished, with a wide sensitivity tuning range from 2.56 to 8.7 dB/nm achieved.

Exceptional Portable Sundials at Harvard

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schechner, Sara

2014-06-01

The Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments at Harvard University has the largest assemblage of sundials in North America. The dials date from the 16th to the 19th centuries, and most are designed to be carried in one’s pocket or put on a window sill. They take advantage of the sun’s changing altitude, azimuth, hour angle, or a combination of the foregoing in order to find the time. Many are also usable at a wide range of latitudes, and therefore are suitable tools for travelers. Fashioned of wood, paper, ivory, brass, and silver, the sundials combine mathematical projections of the sun’s apparent motion with artistry, fashion, and exquisite craftsmanship. This paper will explore the wide variety of sundials and what they tell us about the people who made and used them.

Protection of mammal diversity in Central America

USGS Publications Warehouse

Jenkins, Clinton N.; Giri, Chandra

2008-01-01

Central America is exceptionally rich in biodiversity, but varies widely in the attention its countries devote to conservation. Protected areas, widely considered the cornerstone of conservation, were not always created with the intent of conserving that biodiversity. We assessed how well the protected-area system of Central America includes the region's mammal diversity. This first required a refinement of existing range maps to reduce their extensive errors of commission (i.e., predicted presences in places where species do not occur). For this refinement, we used the ecological limits of each species to identify and remove unsuitable areas from the range. We then compared these maps with the locations of protected areas to measure the habitat protected for each of the region's 250 endemic mammals. The species most vulnerable to extinction—those with small ranges—were largely outside protected areas. Nevertheless, the most strictly protected areas tended toward areas with many small-ranged species. To improve the protection coverage of mammal diversity in the region, we identified a set of priority sites that would best complement the existing protected areas. Protecting these new sites would require a relatively small increase in the total area protected, but could greatly enhance mammal conservation.

Functional supramolecular polymers for biomedical applications.

PubMed

Dong, Ruijiao; Zhou, Yongfeng; Huang, Xiaohua; Zhu, Xinyuan; Lu, Yunfeng; Shen, Jian

2015-01-21

As a novel class of dynamic and non-covalent polymers, supramolecular polymers not only display specific structural and physicochemical properties, but also have the ability to undergo reversible changes of structure, shape, and function in response to diverse external stimuli, making them promising candidates for widespread applications ranging from academic research to industrial fields. By an elegant combination of dynamic/reversible structures with exceptional functions, functional supramolecular polymers are attracting increasing attention in various fields. In particular, functional supramolecular polymers offer several unique advantages, including inherent degradable polymer backbones, smart responsiveness to various biological stimuli, and the ease for the incorporation of multiple biofunctionalities (e.g., targeting and bioactivity), thereby showing great potential for a wide range of applications in the biomedical field. In this Review, the trends and representative achievements in the design and synthesis of supramolecular polymers with specific functions are summarized, as well as their wide-ranging biomedical applications such as drug delivery, gene transfection, protein delivery, bio-imaging and diagnosis, tissue engineering, and biomimetic chemistry. These achievements further inspire persistent efforts in an emerging interdisciplin-ary research area of supramolecular chemistry, polymer science, material science, biomedical engineering, and nanotechnology. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

32 CFR Appendix A to Part 110 - Climatic Zones Used To Determine Rates of Commutation Allowance

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

.... Louisiana 11. Mississippi 12. New Mexico, only 100 mile-wide belt along south border 13. North Carolina 14.... Montana 22. Nebraska 23. Nevada 24. New Hampshire 25. New Jersey 26. New Mexico, except a 100 mile-wide belt along south border 27. New York 28. North Dakota 29. Ohio 30. Oklahoma, except the southeast...

Parametric instability of optical non-Hermitian systems near the exceptional point

PubMed Central

Zyablovsky, A. A.; Andrianov, E. S.; Pukhov, A. A.

2016-01-01

In contrast to Hermitian systems, the modes of non-Hermitian systems are generally nonorthogonal. As a result, the power of the system signal depends not only on the mode amplitudes but also on the phase shift between them. In this work, we show that it is possible to increase the mode amplitudes without increasing the power of the signal. Moreover, we demonstrate that when the system is at the exceptional point, any infinitesimally small change in the system parameters increases the mode amplitudes. As a result, the system becomes unstable with respect to such perturbation. We show such instability by using the example of two coupled waveguides in which loss prevails over gain and all modes are decaying. This phenomenon enables compensation for losses in dissipative systems and opens a wide range of applications in optics, plasmonics, and optoelectronics, in which loss is an inevitable problem and plays a crucial role. PMID:27405541

7 CFR 319.37-2 - Prohibited articles.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... disease. Erianthus spp. (plumegrass) All Puccinia melanocephala H. Syd. & P. Syd. (Sugarcane rust.... (strawberry) not meeting the conditions for importation in § 319.37-5(h) All except Canada Phytophthora... (vegetative parts of all grains and grasses, except species of Bambuseae) All except Canada A wide diversity...

A CPW-fed circular wide-slot UWB antenna with wide tunable and flexible reconfigurable dual notch bands.

PubMed

Li, Yingsong; Li, Wenxing; Ye, Qiubo

2013-01-01

A coplanar waveguide (CPW)-fed circular slot antenna with wide tunable dual band-notched function and frequency reconfigurable characteristic is designed, and its performance is verified experimentally for ultra-wideband (UWB) communication applications. The dual band-notched function is achieved by using a T-shaped stepped impedance resonator (T-SIR) inserted inside the circular ring radiation patch and by etching a parallel stub loaded resonator (PSLR) in the CPW transmission line, while the wide tunable bands can be implemented by adjusting the dimensions of the T-SIR and the PSLR. The notch band reconfigurable characteristic is realized by integrating three switches into the T-SIR and the PSLR. The numerical and experimental results show that the proposed antenna has a wide bandwidth ranging from 2.7 GHz to 12 GHz with voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) less than 2, except for the two notch bands operating at 3.8-5.9 GHz and 7.7-9.2 GHz, respectively. In addition, the proposed antenna has been optimized to a compact size and can provide omnidirectional radiation patterns, which are suitable for UWB communication applications.

A CPW-Fed Circular Wide-Slot UWB Antenna with Wide Tunable and Flexible Reconfigurable Dual Notch Bands

PubMed Central

Li, Yingsong; Li, Wenxing; Ye, Qiubo

2013-01-01

A coplanar waveguide (CPW)-fed circular slot antenna with wide tunable dual band-notched function and frequency reconfigurable characteristic is designed, and its performance is verified experimentally for ultra-wideband (UWB) communication applications. The dual band-notched function is achieved by using a T-shaped stepped impedance resonator (T-SIR) inserted inside the circular ring radiation patch and by etching a parallel stub loaded resonator (PSLR) in the CPW transmission line, while the wide tunable bands can be implemented by adjusting the dimensions of the T-SIR and the PSLR. The notch band reconfigurable characteristic is realized by integrating three switches into the T-SIR and the PSLR. The numerical and experimental results show that the proposed antenna has a wide bandwidth ranging from 2.7 GHz to 12 GHz with voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) less than 2, except for the two notch bands operating at 3.8–5.9 GHz and 7.7–9.2 GHz, respectively. In addition, the proposed antenna has been optimized to a compact size and can provide omnidirectional radiation patterns, which are suitable for UWB communication applications. PMID:24222733

Is there a species spectrum within the world-wide leaf economics spectrum? Major variations in leaf functional traits in the Mediterranean sclerophyll Quercus ilex.

PubMed

Niinemets, Ulo

2015-01-01

The leaf economics spectrum is a general concept describing coordinated variation in foliage structural, chemical and physiological traits across resource gradients. Yet, within this concept,the role of within-species variation, including ecotypic and plastic variation components, has been largely neglected. This study hypothesized that there is a within-species economics spectrum within the general spectrum in the evergreen sclerophyll Quercus ilex which dominates low resource ecosystems over an exceptionally wide range. An extensive database of foliage traits covering the full species range was constructed, and improved filtering algorithms were developed. Standardized data filtering was deemed absolutely essential as additional variation sources can result in trait variation of 10–300%,blurring the broad relationships. Strong trait variation, c. two-fold for most traits to up to almost an order of magnitude, was uncovered.Although the Q. ilex spectrum is part of the general spectrum, within-species trait and climatic relationships in this species partly differed from the overall spectrum. Contrary to world-wide trends, Q. ilex does not necessarily have a low nitrogen content per mass and can increase photosynthetic capacity with increasing foliage robustness. This study argues that the within-species economics spectrum needs to be considered in regional- to biome-level analyses.

Electrostatic Spectrograph with a Wide Range of Simultaneously Recorded Energies Composed of Two Coaxial Electrodes with Closed End Faces and a Discrete Combined External Electrode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fishkova, T. Ya.

2018-01-01

An optimal set of geometric and electrical parameters of a high-aperture electrostatic charged-particle spectrograph with a range of simultaneously recorded energies of E/ E min = 1-50 has been found by computer simulation, which is especially important for the energy analysis of charged particles during fast processes in various materials. The spectrograph consists of two coaxial electrodes with end faces closed by flat electrodes. The external electrode with a conical-cylindrical form is cut into parts with potentials that increase linearly, except for the last cylindrical part, which is electrically connected to the rear end electrode. The internal cylindrical electrode and the front end electrode are grounded. In the entire energy range, the system is sharply focused on the internal cylindrical electrode, which provides an energy resolution of no worse than 3 × 10-3.

The Subcellular Origin of Bioluminescence in Noctiluca miliaris

PubMed Central

Eckert, Roger; Reynolds, George T.

1967-01-01

The light emitted by Noctiluca has its origin in 1 to 5 x 104 organelles ("microsources") which are scattered throughout the perivacuolar cytoplasm, and which appear to be the elementary functional units of bioluminescence. Microscopical techniques, image intensification, and microphotometry were employed in their investigation. Microsources are fluorescent, strongly phase-retarding, and range widely in diameter below 1.5 microns. The number of quanta emitted in a flash from a microsource ("microflash") is of the order of 105 photons. However, microflashes show a wide range of intensities, which are correlated with the size of the organelles from which they arise. Each organelle responds repetitively and with reproducible time course to a succession of invading triggering potentials. Reversible changes in the intensity of the flash emitted by the whole cell ("macroflash") occur because of graduations in intensity of microflashes rather than as a result of changes in the number of responsive organelles. The shape of the flash emitted by individual microsources resembles that of the macroflash except for slightly shorter rise and decay times. It is concluded that the macroflash results from somewhat asynchronous, but otherwise parallel summation of microflashes. PMID:5340466

A Sm-Nd and Pb isotope study of Archaean greenstone belts in the southern Kaapvaal Craton, South Africa

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wilson, A. H.; Carlson, R. W.

1989-01-01

An Sm-Nd and Pb study on a wide variety of lithologies in Archaean greenstone belt fragments in the southern Kaapvaal Craton reveals a complex petrogenetic history. The fragments are important because they represent a 350 km transect through the craton south of Barberton to its southern margin. The Commondale greenstone belt yields a precise Sm-Nd age of 3334 + or - 18 Ma on an exceptionally well preserved peridotite suite of komatiitic affinity. The wide range of Sm/Nd from 0.6 to 1.0 is attributed to the unusual occurrence of orthopyroxene in the spinifex-bearing rocks. A considerably younger age of about 3.2 Ga is suggested for the Nondweni greenstone belt close to the southern margin of the craton on the basis of separate Sm-Nd isochrons on individual lithologies ranging from komatiite, through komatiitic basalt and basalt to felsic volcanic rocks. On the basis of the present study the greenstone belts appear to have been emplaced at progressively younger ages toward the southern margin of the craton.

Universality away from critical points in a thermostatistical model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lapilli, C. M.; Wexler, C.; Pfeifer, P.

Nature uses phase transitions as powerful regulators of processes ranging from climate to the alteration of phase behavior of cell membranes to protect cells from cold, building on the fact that thermodynamic properties of a solid, liquid, or gas are sensitive fingerprints of intermolecular interactions. The only known exceptions from this sensitivity are critical points. At a critical point, two phases become indistinguishable and thermodynamic properties exhibit universal behavior: systems with widely different intermolecular interactions behave identically. Here we report a major counterexample. We show that different members of a family of two-dimensional systems —the discrete p-state clock model— with different Hamiltonians describing different microscopic interactions between molecules or spins, may exhibit identical thermodynamic behavior over a wide range of temperatures. The results generate a comprehensive map of the phase diagram of the model and, by virtue of the discrete rotors behaving like continuous rotors, an emergent symmetry, not present in the Hamiltonian. This symmetry, or many-to-one map of intermolecular interactions onto thermodynamic states, demonstrates previously unknown limits for macroscopic distinguishability of different microscopic interactions.

[Nutrient content and adequacy of roughage for horse nutrition: an investigation under Swiss conditions].

PubMed

Nater, S; Wanner, M; Wichert, B

2007-03-01

For horses no special tables related to nutrients for Swiss roughage exist. For this reason samples of hay, straw, silage/haylage and green forage were taken from 46 horse keeping farms in 22 cantons. The samples were judged by sense and following the nutrient--and macromineral--content as well as the content of fructans were analysed. Regarding its quality no sample was totally inadequate for horses. The mean contents of crude protein in Swiss hay for horses were clearly lower than in hay for ruminants and in German hay for horses. The mineral contents (calcium, magnesium, phosphorus) showed a wide range. On average they were also lower than the values provided in tables for ruminants. Except for one sample the silages/haylages showed a dry matter content of more than 40 %. No nutrient tables for silage or haylage, which are such high in dry matter contents, were found in the literature. The contents offructans in silage/haylage and green forage also showed a wide range with a maximum of 94 g/kg DM fructan.

Theoretical Modeling of (99)Tc NMR Chemical Shifts.

PubMed

Hall, Gabriel B; Andersen, Amity; Washton, Nancy M; Chatterjee, Sayandev; Levitskaia, Tatiana G

2016-09-06

Technetium-99 (Tc) displays a rich chemistry due to its wide range of accessible oxidation states (from -I to +VII) and ability to form coordination compounds. Determination of Tc speciation in complex mixtures is a major challenge, and (99)Tc nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is widely used to probe chemical environments of Tc in odd oxidation states. However, interpretation of (99)Tc NMR data is hindered by the lack of reference compounds. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations can help to fill this gap, but to date few computational studies have focused on (99)Tc NMR of compounds and complexes. This work evaluates the effectiveness of both pure generalized gradient approximation and their corresponding hybrid functionals, both with and without the inclusion of scalar relativistic effects, to model the (99)Tc NMR spectra of Tc(I) carbonyl compounds. With the exception of BLYP, which performed exceptionally well overall, hybrid functionals with inclusion of scalar relativistic effects are found to be necessary to accurately calculate (99)Tc NMR spectra. The computational method developed was used to tentatively assign an experimentally observed (99)Tc NMR peak at -1204 ppm to fac-Tc(CO)3(OH)3(2-). This study examines the effectiveness of DFT computations for interpretation of the (99)Tc NMR spectra of Tc(I) coordination compounds in high salt alkaline solutions.

Applications of Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance (FT-ICR) and Orbitrap Based High Resolution Mass Spectrometry in Metabolomics and Lipidomics.

PubMed

Ghaste, Manoj; Mistrik, Robert; Shulaev, Vladimir

2016-05-25

Metabolomics, along with other "omics" approaches, is rapidly becoming one of the major approaches aimed at understanding the organization and dynamics of metabolic networks. Mass spectrometry is often a technique of choice for metabolomics studies due to its high sensitivity, reproducibility and wide dynamic range. High resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) is a widely practiced technique in analytical and bioanalytical sciences. It offers exceptionally high resolution and the highest degree of structural confirmation. Many metabolomics studies have been conducted using HRMS over the past decade. In this review, we will explore the latest developments in Fourier transform mass spectrometry (FTMS) and Orbitrap based metabolomics technology, its advantages and drawbacks for using in metabolomics and lipidomics studies, and development of novel approaches for processing HRMS data.

Applications of Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance (FT-ICR) and Orbitrap Based High Resolution Mass Spectrometry in Metabolomics and Lipidomics

PubMed Central

Ghaste, Manoj; Mistrik, Robert; Shulaev, Vladimir

2016-01-01

Metabolomics, along with other “omics” approaches, is rapidly becoming one of the major approaches aimed at understanding the organization and dynamics of metabolic networks. Mass spectrometry is often a technique of choice for metabolomics studies due to its high sensitivity, reproducibility and wide dynamic range. High resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) is a widely practiced technique in analytical and bioanalytical sciences. It offers exceptionally high resolution and the highest degree of structural confirmation. Many metabolomics studies have been conducted using HRMS over the past decade. In this review, we will explore the latest developments in Fourier transform mass spectrometry (FTMS) and Orbitrap based metabolomics technology, its advantages and drawbacks for using in metabolomics and lipidomics studies, and development of novel approaches for processing HRMS data. PMID:27231903

Biomechanics of cellular solids.

PubMed

Gibson, Lorna J

2005-03-01

Materials with a cellular structure are widespread in nature and include wood, cork, plant parenchyma and trabecular bone. Natural cellular materials are often mechanically efficient: the honeycomb-like microstructure of wood, for instance, gives it an exceptionally high performance index for resisting bending and buckling. Here we review the mechanics of a wide range of natural cellular materials and examine their role in lightweight natural sandwich structures (e.g. iris leaves) and natural tubular structures (e.g. plant stems or animal quills). We also describe two examples of engineered biomaterials with a cellular structure, designed to replace or regenerate tissue in the body.

Durable silver mirror with ultra-violet thru far infra-red reflection

DOEpatents

Wolfe, Jesse D.

2010-11-23

A durable highly reflective silver mirror characterized by high reflectance in a broad spectral range of about 300 nm in the UV to the far infrared (.about.10000 nm), as well as exceptional environmental durability. A high absorptivity metal underlayer is used which prevents the formation of a galvanic cell with a silver layer while increasing the reflectance of the silver layer. Environmentally durable overcoat layers are provided to enhance mechanical and chemical durability and protect the silver layer from corrosion and tarnishing, for use in a wide variety of surroundings or climates, including harsh or extreme environments.

Phenomenally High Transduction Air/gas Transducers for Practical Non-Contact Ultrasonic Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhardwaj, Mahesh C.

2009-03-01

Based on novel acoustic impedance matching layers and high coupling piezoelectric materials this paper describes exceptionally high air/gas transduction ultrasonic transducers. By providing applications oriented performance of these transducers we also usher in the era of much desired Non-Contact Ultrasound (NCU) testing and analysis of a wide range of materials including early stage formation of materials such as uncured composite prepregs, green ceramics and powder metals, plastics, elastomers, porous, hygroscopic, chemically bonded and other materials. Besides quality control, ultimately NCU offers timely opportunities for cost-effective materials production, energy savings, and environment protection.

Nanodiamonds as platforms for biology and medicine.

PubMed

Man, Han B; Ho, Dean

2013-02-01

Nanoparticles possess a wide range of exceptional properties applicable to biology and medicine. In particular, nanodiamonds (NDs) are being studied extensively because they possess unique characteristics that make them suitable as platforms for diagnostics and therapeutics. This carbon-based material (2-8 nm) is medically relevant because it unites several key properties necessary for clinical applications, such as stability and compatibility in biological environments, and scalability in production. Research by the Ho group and others has yielded ND particles with a variety of capabilities ranging from delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs to targeted labeling and uptake studies. In addition, encouraging new findings have demonstrated the ability for NDs to effectively treat chemoresistant tumors in vivo. In this review, we highlight the progress made toward bringing nanodiamonds from the bench to the bedside.

University Exceptional Admission during the Republic of China

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tao, Li

2014-01-01

The stories of many universities' exceptive admission during the republic period of China were widely circulated. The typical example of these universities' exceptional admission was the very product of special historical condition, which had its own characteristics, but also conforms to the general rule, so it can be cited. To select special…

Accuracy evaluation of contour next compared with five blood glucose monitoring systems across a wide range of blood glucose concentrations occurring in a clinical research setting.

PubMed

Klaff, Leslie J; Brazg, Ronald; Hughes, Kristen; Tideman, Ann M; Schachner, Holly C; Stenger, Patricia; Pardo, Scott; Dunne, Nancy; Parkes, Joan Lee

2015-01-01

This study evaluated the accuracy of Contour(®) Next (CN; Bayer HealthCare LLC, Diabetes Care, Whippany, NJ) compared with five blood glucose monitoring systems (BGMSs) across a wide range of clinically occurring blood glucose levels. Subjects (n=146) were ≥ 18 years and had type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Subjects' glucose levels were safely lowered or raised to provide a wide range of glucose values. Capillary blood samples were tested on six BGMSs and a YSI glucose analyzer (YSI Life Sciences, Inc., Yellow Springs, OH) as the reference. Extreme glucose values were achieved by glucose modification of the blood sample. System accuracy was assessed by mean absolute difference (MAD) and mean absolute relative difference (MARD) across several glucose ranges, with <70 mg/dL evaluated by MAD as the primary end point. In the low glucose range (<70 mg/dL), MAD values were as follows: Accu-Chek(®) Aviva Nano (Roche Diagnostics, Indianapolis, IN), 3.34 mg/dL; CN, 2.03 mg/dL; FreeStyle Lite(®) (FSL; Abbott Diabetes Care, Inc., Alameda, CA), 2.77 mg/dL; OneTouch(®) Ultra(®) 2 (LifeScan, Inc., Milpitas, CA), 10.20 mg/dL; OneTouch(®) Verio(®) Pro (LifeScan, Inc.), 4.53 mg/dL; and Truetrack(®) (Nipro Diagnostics, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, FL), 11.08 mg/dL. The lowest MAD in the low glucose range, from CN, was statistically significantly lower than those of the other BGMSs with the exception of the FSL. CN also had a statistically significantly lower MARD than all other BGMSs in the low glucose range. In the overall glucose range (21-496 mg/dL), CN yielded the lowest MAD and MARD values, which were statistically significantly lower in comparison with the other BGMSs. When compared with other BGMSs, CN demonstrated the lowest mean deviation from the reference value (by MAD and MARD) across multiple glucose ranges.

Widely tunable, all-polarization maintaining, monolithic mid-infrared radiation source based on differential frequency generation in PPLN crystal

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Krzempek, Karol; Sobon, Grzegorz; Sotor, Jaroslaw; Dudzik, Grzegorz; Abramski, Krzysztof M.

2014-10-01

We present a difference frequency generation based (DFG) mid-infrared (mid-IR) laser source using an all-polarization-maintaining-fiber (all-PM) amplifier capable of simultaneous amplification of 1064 nm and 1550 nm signals. The amplifier incorporates a single piece of a standard erbium:ytterbium (Er:Yb) co-doped double-clad (DC) active fiber and a limited number of off-the-shelf fiber-based components. Excited by a single 9 W multimode pump, the amplifier delivered over 12.1 dB and 17.8 dB gain at 1 µm and 1.55 µm, respectively. Due to an all-PM configuration, the amplifier was exceptionally convenient for DFG of mid-IR radiation in periodically polled lithium niobate (PPLN) crystal, yielding an output power of ~200 µW in a wide spectral range spanning from 3300 to 3470 nm.

Investing in Prospective Cohorts for Etiologic Study of Occupational Exposures

PubMed Central

Blair, A.; Hines, C.J.; Thomas, K.W.; Alavanja, M.C.R.; Beane Freeman, L.E.; Hoppin, J.A.; Kamel, F.; Lynch, C.F.; Lubin, J.H.; Silverman, D.T.; Whelan, E.; Zahm, S. H.; Sandler, D. P.

2015-01-01

Prospective cohorts have played a major role in understanding the contribution of diet, physical activity, medical conditions, and genes to the development of many diseases, but have not been widely used for occupational exposures. Studies in agriculture are an exception. We draw upon our experience using this design to study agricultural workers to identify conditions that might foster use of prospective cohorts to study other occupational settings. Prospective cohort studies are perceived by many as the strongest epidemiologic design. It allows updating of information on exposure and other factors, collection of biologic samples before disease diagnosis for biomarker studies, assessment of effect modification by genes, lifestyle, and other occupational exposures, and evaluation of a wide range of health outcomes. Increased use of prospective cohorts would be beneficial in identifying hazardous exposures in the workplace. Occupational epidemiologists should seek opportunities to initiate prospective cohorts to investigate high priority, occupational exposures. PMID:25603935

Ecology of red maple swamps in the glaciated northeast: A community profile

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

Golet, F.C.; Calhoun, A.J.K.; DeRagon, W.R.

1993-06-01

In many areas of the glaciated northeastern United States, forested wetlands dominated by red maple (Acer rubrum) cover more of the landscape than all other nontidal wetland types combined. Yet surprisingly little of their ecology, functions, or social significance has been documented. Bogs, salt marshes, Atlantic white cedar swamps, and other less common types of wetlands have received considerable attention from scientists, but, except for botanical surveys, red maple swamps have been largely ignored. The report conveys what is known about these common wetlands and identifies topics most in need of investigation. Red maple swamps are so abundant and somore » widely distributed in the Northeast that their physical, chemical, and biological properties range widely as well, and their values to society are diverse. The central focus of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service community profile series is the plant and animal communities of wetlands and deepwater habitats.« less

Multiple-length-scale deformation analysis in a thermoplastic polyurethane

PubMed Central

Sui, Tan; Baimpas, Nikolaos; Dolbnya, Igor P.; Prisacariu, Cristina; Korsunsky, Alexander M.

2015-01-01

Thermoplastic polyurethane elastomers enjoy an exceptionally wide range of applications due to their remarkable versatility. These block co-polymers are used here as an example of a structurally inhomogeneous composite containing nano-scale gradients, whose internal strain differs depending on the length scale of consideration. Here we present a combined experimental and modelling approach to the hierarchical characterization of block co-polymer deformation. Synchrotron-based small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering and radiography are used for strain evaluation across the scales. Transmission electron microscopy image-based finite element modelling and fast Fourier transform analysis are used to develop a multi-phase numerical model that achieves agreement with the combined experimental data using a minimal number of adjustable structural parameters. The results highlight the importance of fuzzy interfaces, that is, regions of nanometre-scale structure and property gradients, in determining the mechanical properties of hierarchical composites across the scales. PMID:25758945

Maria Goeppert Mayer and the Nobel Prize

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnson, Karen E.

2013-04-01

When Maria Goeppert Mayer was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1963, she was only the second woman to receive that award and there have been no additional female physics laureates since. Mayer was uniquely prepared to carry out her prize-winning work on the nuclear shell model. Furthermore, she worked with some of the most well-known figures in mid-twentieth century physics, and her award came at a time when American science was in ascendance. Why, then, is her name so little known beyond the physics community? There are several possible answers to this question, ranging from the personal (her modest reaction to public acclaim) and the scientific (the mathematically abstract nature of her prize-winning work), to the national (the nature of the issues commanding public attention in the 1960s). In this talk I will present an overview of the circumstances that enabled Mayer to make exceptional contributions to nuclear physics, and then examine some of the possible reasons why her exceptional status is not more widely known.

Plutonium, curium, and other radionuclide uptake by the rice plant from a naturally weathered, contaminated soil

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

Adriano, D.C.; McLeod, K.W.; Ciravolo, T.G.

1981-07-01

A greenhouse study using three United States rice varieties (Belle Patna, Nato, and Starbonnet) varying in maturity period and a widely used Asian variety (IR-1561) indicates that, with the exception of /sup 137/Cs, no significant differences were obtained among varieties in the foliage uptake of selected gamma-emitters. On the average, /sup 137/Cs and /sup 40/K were translocated less to the grain than to the foliage. The concentration ratio (CR) values for the gamma-emitters, with the exception of /sup 40/K, were approximately one order of magnitude higher than those for subterranean crops grown in experimental plots adjacent to a chemical separationsmore » facility at the Savannah River Plant. The CR values for /sup 238/Pu and /sup 244/Cm are within the range of values published in the open literature. The CR values for /sup 239/ /sup 240/Pu, however, were higher than the normally reported values for plants grown in nonamended soils.« less

Light Stops at Exceptional Points

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goldzak, Tamar; Mailybaev, Alexei A.; Moiseyev, Nimrod

2018-01-01

Almost twenty years ago, light was slowed down to less than 10-7 of its vacuum speed in a cloud of ultracold atoms of sodium. Upon a sudden turn-off of the coupling laser, a slow light pulse can be imprinted on cold atoms such that it can be read out and converted into a photon again. In this process, the light is stopped by absorbing it and storing its shape within the atomic ensemble. Alternatively, the light can be stopped at the band edge in photonic-crystal waveguides, where the group speed vanishes. Here, we extend the phenomenon of stopped light to the new field of parity-time (P T ) symmetric systems. We show that zero group speed in P T symmetric optical waveguides can be achieved if the system is prepared at an exceptional point, where two optical modes coalesce. This effect can be tuned for optical pulses in a wide range of frequencies and bandwidths, as we demonstrate in a system of coupled waveguides with gain and loss.

[Prostatic granulomas revealing a peripheral T-cell lymphoma].

PubMed

Foguem, C; Curlier, E; Rouamba, M-M; Regent, A; Philippe, P

2009-02-01

The presence of granulomas on tissue biopsie has been reported in a wide range of disorders. The clinical presentation and the diagnostic work-up of granulomatosis can be difficult as it is illustrated in the following report. A 59-year-old patient was referred in 2002 for a granulomatous prostatitis. Physical examination was normal. Except for the increase of prostate-specific antigen (which motivated a biopsy), the laboratory results were normal. Thoracic CT-scan disclosed mediastinal lymph nodes. A minor salivary gland biopsy was consistent with the diagnosis of sarcoidosis. In 2004, the patient presented an epidermal necrolysis, and in 2005 the deterioration of general status raised suspicion of a lymphoproliferative disorder. Liver and bone marrow biopsies revealed a granulomatous process. Despite steroid therapy, the patient died. Autopsy discloses a anaplasic T cell lymphoma. This report illustrates the relationship between sarcoidosis and lymphoma as a mode of presentation, a complication, or an accidental but misleading association? The association between anaplastic lymphoma and sarcoidosis is exceptional.

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers of sea cucumber Stichopus horrens.

PubMed

Li, Z B; Dai, G; Shangguan, J B; Ning, Y F; Li, Y Y; Chen, R B; Yuan, Y; Huang, Y S

2015-07-28

Curry fish (Stichopus horrens) is a tropical holothurian species and is widely distributed in the India-West Pacific. In the present study, 9 polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized for S. horrens. These loci were tested in 30 individuals from Hainan Island in China. The number of alleles ranged from 2 to 5. The polymorphism information content ranged from 0.348-0.584. The levels of observed and expected heterozygosities varied from 0.1500-0.8000 and from 0.2014-0.5000, respectively. Most loci were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, except HCS1-27 and HCS2-7, after sequential Bonferroni's correction, and no significant linkage disequilibrium was detected for any pairwise combination of loci. These polymorphic microsatellite loci will be useful for studying population structure and conservation strategy design for S. horrens.

HOX Genes as Potential Markers of Circulating Tumour Cells.

PubMed

Morgan, R; El-Tanani, M

2016-01-01

Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) have significant diagnostic potential as they can reflect both the presence and recurrence of a wide range of cancers. However, this potential continues to be limited by the lack of robust and accessible isolation technologies. An alternative to isolation might be their direct detection amongst other peripheral blood cells, although this would require markers that allow them to be distinguished from an exceptionally high background signal. This review assesses the potential role of HOX genes, a family of homeodomain containing transcription factors with key roles in both embryonic development and oncogenesis, as unique and possibly disease specific markers of CTCs.

Core noise measurements on a YF-102 turbofan engine

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Reshotko, M.; Karchmer, A. M.; Penko, P. F.; Mcardle, J. G.

1977-01-01

Core noise from a YF-102 high bypass ratio turbofan engine was investigated through the use of simultaneous measurements of internal fluctuating pressures and far field noise. Acoustic waveguide probes, located in the engine at the compressor exit, in the combustor, at the turbine exit, and in the core nozzle, were employed to measure internal fluctuating pressures. Spectra showed that the internal signals were free of tones, except at high frequency where machinery noise was present. Data obtained over a wide range of engine conditions suggest that below 60% of maximum fan speed the low frequency core noise contributes significantly to the far field noise.

A comparison of time domain boundary conditions for acoustic waves in wave guides

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Banks, H. T.; Propst, G.; Silcox, R. J.

1991-01-01

Researchers consider several types of boundary conditions in the context of time domain models for acoustic waves. Experiments with four different duct terminations (hard wall, free radiation, foam, and wedge) were carried out in a wave duct from which reflection coefficients over a wide frequency range were measured. These reflection coefficients were used to estimate parameters in the time domain boundary conditions. A comparison of the relative merits of the models in describing the data is presented. Boundary conditions which yield a good fit of the model to the experimental data were found for all duct terminations except the wedge.

Luminosity limits for liquid argon calorimetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

J, Rutherfoord; B, Walker R.

2012-12-01

We have irradiated liquid argon ionization chambers with betas using high-activity Strontium-90 sources. The radiation environment is comparable to that in the liquid argon calorimeters which are part of the ATLAS detector installed at CERN's Large Hadron Collider. We measure the ionization current over a wide range of applied potential for two different source activities and for three different chamber gaps. These studies provide operating experience at exceptionally high ionization rates. We can operate these chambers either in the normal mode or in the space-charge limited regime and thereby determine the transition point between the two. From the transition point we indirectly extract the positive argon ion mobility.

Direct Laser Writing-Based Programmable Transfer Printing via Bioinspired Shape Memory Reversible Adhesive.

PubMed

Huang, Yin; Zheng, Ning; Cheng, Zhiqiang; Chen, Ying; Lu, Bingwei; Xie, Tao; Feng, Xue

2016-12-28

Flexible and stretchable electronics offer a wide range of unprecedented opportunities beyond conventional rigid electronics. Despite their vast promise, a significant bottleneck lies in the availability of a transfer printing technique to manufacture such devices in a highly controllable and scalable manner. Current technologies usually rely on manual stick-and-place and do not offer feasible mechanisms for precise and quantitative process control, especially when scalability is taken into account. Here, we demonstrate a spatioselective and programmable transfer strategy to print electronic microelements onto a soft substrate. The method takes advantage of automated direct laser writing to trigger localized heating of a micropatterned shape memory polymer adhesive stamp, allowing highly controlled and spatioselective switching of the interfacial adhesion. This, coupled to the proper tuning of the stamp properties, enables printing with perfect yield. The wide range adhesion switchability further allows printing of hybrid electronic elements, which is otherwise challenging given the complex interfacial manipulation involved. Our temperature-controlled transfer printing technique shows its critical importance and obvious advantages in the potential scale-up of device manufacturing. Our strategy opens a route to manufacturing flexible electronics with exceptional versatility and potential scalability.

Facile Quantification and Identification Techniques for Reducing Gases over a Wide Concentration Range Using a MOS Sensor in Temperature-Cycled Operation.

PubMed

Schultealbert, Caroline; Baur, Tobias; Schütze, Andreas; Sauerwald, Tilman

2018-03-01

Dedicated methods for quantification and identification of reducing gases based on model-based temperature-cycled operation (TCO) using a single commercial MOS gas sensor are presented. During high temperature phases the sensor surface is highly oxidized, yielding a significant sensitivity increase after switching to lower temperatures (differential surface reduction, DSR). For low concentrations, the slope of the logarithmic conductance during this low-temperature phase is evaluated and can directly be used for quantification. For higher concentrations, the time constant for reaching a stable conductance during the same low-temperature phase is evaluated. Both signals represent the reaction rate of the reducing gas on the strongly oxidized surface at this low temperature and provide a linear calibration curve, which is exceptional for MOS sensors. By determining these reaction rates on different low-temperature plateaus and applying pattern recognition, the resulting footprint can be used for identification of different gases. All methods are tested over a wide concentration range from 10 ppb to 100 ppm (4 orders of magnitude) for four different reducing gases (CO, H₂, ammonia and benzene) using randomized gas exposures.

Facile Quantification and Identification Techniques for Reducing Gases over a Wide Concentration Range Using a MOS Sensor in Temperature-Cycled Operation

PubMed Central

Schultealbert, Caroline; Baur, Tobias; Schütze, Andreas; Sauerwald, Tilman

2018-01-01

Dedicated methods for quantification and identification of reducing gases based on model-based temperature-cycled operation (TCO) using a single commercial MOS gas sensor are presented. During high temperature phases the sensor surface is highly oxidized, yielding a significant sensitivity increase after switching to lower temperatures (differential surface reduction, DSR). For low concentrations, the slope of the logarithmic conductance during this low-temperature phase is evaluated and can directly be used for quantification. For higher concentrations, the time constant for reaching a stable conductance during the same low-temperature phase is evaluated. Both signals represent the reaction rate of the reducing gas on the strongly oxidized surface at this low temperature and provide a linear calibration curve, which is exceptional for MOS sensors. By determining these reaction rates on different low-temperature plateaus and applying pattern recognition, the resulting footprint can be used for identification of different gases. All methods are tested over a wide concentration range from 10 ppb to 100 ppm (4 orders of magnitude) for four different reducing gases (CO, H2, ammonia and benzene) using randomized gas exposures. PMID:29494545

Characterizing interactions in online social networks during exceptional events

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Omodei, Elisa; De Domenico, Manlio; Arenas, Alex

2015-08-01

Nowadays, millions of people interact on a daily basis on online social media like Facebook and Twitter, where they share and discuss information about a wide variety of topics. In this paper, we focus on a specific online social network, Twitter, and we analyze multiple datasets each one consisting of individuals' online activity before, during and after an exceptional event in terms of volume of the communications registered. We consider important events that occurred in different arenas that range from policy to culture or science. For each dataset, the users' online activities are modeled by a multilayer network in which each layer conveys a different kind of interaction, specifically: retweeting, mentioning and replying. This representation allows us to unveil that these distinct types of interaction produce networks with different statistical properties, in particular concerning the degree distribution and the clustering structure. These results suggests that models of online activity cannot discard the information carried by this multilayer representation of the system, and should account for the different processes generated by the different kinds of interactions. Secondly, our analysis unveils the presence of statistical regularities among the different events, suggesting that the non-trivial topological patterns that we observe may represent universal features of the social dynamics on online social networks during exceptional events.

Three-dimensional formulation of dislocation climb

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gu, Yejun; Xiang, Yang; Quek, Siu Sin; Srolovitz, David J.

2015-10-01

We derive a Green's function formulation for the climb of curved dislocations and multiple dislocations in three-dimensions. In this new dislocation climb formulation, the dislocation climb velocity is determined from the Peach-Koehler force on dislocations through vacancy diffusion in a non-local manner. The long-range contribution to the dislocation climb velocity is associated with vacancy diffusion rather than from the climb component of the well-known, long-range elastic effects captured in the Peach-Koehler force. Both long-range effects are important in determining the climb velocity of dislocations. Analytical and numerical examples show that the widely used local climb formula, based on straight infinite dislocations, is not generally applicable, except for a small set of special cases. We also present a numerical discretization method of this Green's function formulation appropriate for implementation in discrete dislocation dynamics (DDD) simulations. In DDD implementations, the long-range Peach-Koehler force is calculated as is commonly done, then a linear system is solved for the climb velocity using these forces. This is also done within the same order of computational cost as existing discrete dislocation dynamics methods.

Range use and movements of California condors

USGS Publications Warehouse

Meretsky, V.J.; Snyder, N.F.R.

1992-01-01

Between 1982 and 1987, photographic and telemetric tracking of California Condors (Gymnogyps californianus) yielded information on use of the last known range of the species by 23 individual birds. Except for yearlings, most and possibly all individuals in the population used all major foraging zones. Use of the foraging zones was not uniform among individuals, however. Breeding pairs tended to forage most frequently in zones close to their nests (usually within 70 km, occasionally as far away as 180 km). Immatures (at least older immatures), unpaired birds, and paired birds that were not breeding foraged more widely. Male and female adults used the foraging range in a similar manner. Although most portions of the foraging range received some condor use throughout the year, use varied seasonally in accord with recent and historical patterns of food availability. Nesting areas were separated from foraging zones and were visited much less freely than foraging zones. Paired birds tended strongly to visit only their own and immediately adjacent nesting areas. Their nesting areas remained stable over the years. Unpaired adults and immatures ranged more widely among nesting areas. Condors were sometimes documented flying more than 200 km and traversing the entire range of the species during a day. Birds were variably social in movements. Pair members tended to stay together during long-distance travels. Immatures and unpaired birds sometimes traveled with other condors but often moved singly. In years when the population still included many breeders, the largest observed aggregations included one-half to two-thirds of the total population. The comparative strengths and weaknesses of photographic and telemetric methods are described for tracking and other research endeavors.

A study on the suitability of the PTW microDiamond detector for kilovoltage x-ray beam dosimetry.

PubMed

Damodar, Joshita; Odgers, David; Pope, Dane; Hill, Robin

2018-05-01

Kilovoltage x-ray beams are widely used in treating skin cancers and in biological irradiators. In this work, we have evaluated four dosimeters (ionization chambers and solid state detectors) in their suitability for relative dosimetry of kilovoltage x-ray beams in the energy range of 50 - 280kVp. The solid state detectors, which have not been investigated with low energy x-rays, were the PTW 60019 microDiamond synthetic diamond detector and the PTW 60012 diode. The two ionization chambers used were the PTW Advanced Markus parallel plate chamber and the PTW PinPoint small volume chamber. For each of the dosimeters, percentage depth doses were measured in water over the full range of x-ray beams and for field sizes ranging from 2cm diameter to 12 × 12cm. In addition, depth doses were measured for a narrow aperture (7mm diameter) using the PTW microDiamond detector. For comparison, the measured data was compared with Monte Carlo calculated doses using the EGSnrc Monte Carlo package. The depth dose results indicate that the Advanced Markus parallel plate and PinPoint ionization chambers were suitable for depth dose measurements in the beam quality range with an uncertainty of less than 3%, including in the regions closer to the surface of the water as compared with Monte Carlo depth dose data for all six energy beams. The response of the PTW Diode E detector was accurate to within 4% for all field sizes in the energy range of 50-125kVp but showed larger variations for higher energies of up to 12% with the 12 × 12cm field size. In comparison, the microDiamond detector had good agreement over all energies for both smaller and larger field sizes generally within 1% as compared to the Advanced Markus chamber field and Monte Carlo calculations. The only exceptions were in measuring the dose at the surface of the water phantom where larger differences were found. For the 7mm diameter field, the agreement between the microDiamond detector and Monte Carlo calculations was good being better than 1% except at the surface. Based on these results, the PTW microDiamond detector has shown to be a suitable detector for relative dosimetry of low energy x-ray beams over a wide range of x-ray beam energies. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Performance comparison for Barnes model 12-1000, Exotech model 100, and Ideas Inc. Biometer Mark 2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Robinson, B. (Principal Investigator)

1981-01-01

Results of tests show that all channels of all instruments, except channel 3 of the Biometer Mark 2, were stable in response to input signals were linear, and were adequately stable in response to temperature changes. The Biometer Mark 2 is labelled with an inappropriate description of the units measured and the dynamic range is a inappropriate for field measurements causing unnecessarily high fractional errors. This instrument is, therefore, quantization limited. The dynamic range and noise performance of the Model 12-1000 are appropriate for remote sensing field research. The field of view and performance of the Model 100A and the Model 12-1000 are satisfactory. The Biometer Mark 2 has not, as yet, been satisfactorily equipped with an acceptable field of view determining device. Neither the widely used aperture plate nor the 24 deg cone are acceptable.

A study of degradation of plates for nickel-cadmium spacecraft cells. [feasibility of coining

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Scott, W. R.

1973-01-01

The relative merits of coining and not coining of sintered nickel-oxide and cadmium plates was investigated. A survey of the industry including cell manufactures and users was made and results summarized. Sample plate materials from most commercial cell suppliers were obtained and characterized for properties that may correlate with the tendency toward physical disintegration during handling and over long periods of time in the cell. Special test methods were developed to obtain comparative data in a short time. A wide range of physical properties and coining thicknesses was observed, resulting in a range of responses. The stronger, less brittle materials resisted loss of sinter better than weaker materials whether or not coined. Coining improved handling and resistance to electrochemical cycling in all materials tested. An apparent exception was found to be due to improper coining of a tapered edge.

Recent progress in the growth and applications of graphene as a smart material: A review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aissa, Brahim; Memon, Nasir; Ali, Adnan; Khraisheh, Marwan

2015-09-01

Innovative breakthroughs in fundamental research and industrial applications of graphene material have made its mass and low-cost production a necessary step toward its real world applications. This one-atom thick crystal of carbon, gathers a set of unique physico-chemical properties, ranging from its extreme mechanical behavior to its exceptional electrical and thermal conductivities, which are making graphene as a serious alternative to replace many conventional materials for various applications. In this review paper, we highlight the most important experimental results on the synthesis of graphene material, its emerging properties with reference to its smart applications. We discuss the possibility to successfully integrating graphene directly into device, enabling thereby the realization of a wide range of applications, including actuation, photovoltaic, thermoelectricity, shape memory, self-healing, electrorheology and space missions. The future outlook of graphene is also considered and discussed.

Energy calibration of CALET onboard the International Space Station

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Asaoka, Y.; Akaike, Y.; Komiya, Y.; Miyata, R.; Torii, S.; Adriani, O.; Asano, K.; Bagliesi, M. G.; Bigongiari, G.; Binns, W. R.; Bonechi, S.; Bongi, M.; Brogi, P.; Buckley, J. H.; Cannady, N.; Castellini, G.; Checchia, C.; Cherry, M. L.; Collazuol, G.; Di Felice, V.; Ebisawa, K.; Fuke, H.; Guzik, T. G.; Hams, T.; Hareyama, M.; Hasebe, N.; Hibino, K.; Ichimura, M.; Ioka, K.; Ishizaki, W.; Israel, M. H.; Javaid, A.; Kasahara, K.; Kataoka, J.; Kataoka, R.; Katayose, Y.; Kato, C.; Kawanaka, N.; Kawakubo, Y.; Kitamura, H.; Krawczynski, H. S.; Krizmanic, J. F.; Kuramata, S.; Lomtadze, T.; Maestro, P.; Marrocchesi, P. S.; Messineo, A. M.; Mitchell, J. W.; Miyake, S.; Mizutani, K.; Moiseev, A. A.; Mori, K.; Mori, M.; Mori, N.; Motz, H. M.; Munakata, K.; Murakami, H.; Nakagawa, Y. E.; Nakahira, S.; Nishimura, J.; Okuno, S.; Ormes, J. F.; Ozawa, S.; Pacini, L.; Palma, F.; Papini, P.; Penacchioni, A. V.; Rauch, B. F.; Ricciarini, S.; Sakai, K.; Sakamoto, T.; Sasaki, M.; Shimizu, Y.; Shiomi, A.; Sparvoli, R.; Spillantini, P.; Stolzi, F.; Takahashi, I.; Takayanagi, M.; Takita, M.; Tamura, T.; Tateyama, N.; Terasawa, T.; Tomida, H.; Tsunesada, Y.; Uchihori, Y.; Ueno, S.; Vannuccini, E.; Wefel, J. P.; Yamaoka, K.; Yanagita, S.; Yoshida, A.; Yoshida, K.; Yuda, T.

2017-05-01

In August 2015, the CALorimetric Electron Telescope (CALET), designed for long exposure observations of high energy cosmic rays, docked with the International Space Station (ISS) and shortly thereafter began to collect data. CALET will measure the cosmic ray electron spectrum over the energy range of 1 GeV to 20 TeV with a very high resolution of 2% above 100 GeV, based on a dedicated instrument incorporating an exceptionally thick 30 radiation-length calorimeter with both total absorption and imaging (TASC and IMC) units. Each TASC readout channel must be carefully calibrated over the extremely wide dynamic range of CALET that spans six orders of magnitude in order to obtain a degree of calibration accuracy matching the resolution of energy measurements. These calibrations consist of calculating the conversion factors between ADC units and energy deposits, ensuring linearity over each gain range, and providing a seamless transition between neighboring gain ranges. This paper describes these calibration methods in detail, along with the resulting data and associated accuracies. The results presented in this paper show that a sufficient accuracy was achieved for the calibrations of each channel in order to obtain a suitable resolution over the entire dynamic range of the electron spectrum measurement.

SU-E-T-308: Systematic Characterization of the Energy Response of Different LiF TLD Crystals for Dosimetry Applications

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

Pena, E; Caprile, P; Sanchez-Nieto, B

Purpose: The thermoluminiscense dosimeters (TLDs) are widely used in personal and clinical dosimetry due to its small size, good sensitivity and tissue equivalence, among other advantages. This study presents the characterization of Lithium Fluoride based TLDs, in terms of their absorbed dose response to successive irradiation cycles in a broad range of beam energies, measured under reference conditions. Methods: Four types of Harshaw TLD chips were used: TLD-100, TLD-600 TLD-700 and 100-H. They were irradiated with 10 photon beams of different energy spectrums, from 28 kVp to 18MV (in 30 consecutive cycles for 6 and 18 MV). Results: It wasmore » found that the response of the dosimetric system was stabilized (less than ±3%) after 10 cycles for TLD-600 and TLD-700. In the case of TLD-100 and TLD-100H this dependence was not observed. A decreased response to increasing beam energy in terms of absorbed dose to water was observed, as expected, except for TLD-100H which showed the opposite behavior. The less energy dependent detector was the TLD-100H exhibiting a maximum deviation of 12%. The highest variation observed was 33% for TLD-100. The study allowed the determination of calibration factors in absorbed dose for a wide range of energies and materials for different dosimetric applications, such as in-vivo dosimetry during imaging and radiotherapy. Conclusion: The study allowed the determination of calibration factors in absorbed dose for a wide range of energies and materials for different dosimetric applications, such as in-vivo dosimetry during imaging and radiotherapy.« less

[Interrater-reliability of the OPD-CA, the axes conflict and structure].

PubMed

Stefini, Annette; Reich, Günter; Horn, Hildegard; Winkelmann, Klaus; Ohmes, Ursula; Frost, Ulrike; Kronmüller, Klaus-Thomas

2013-01-01

The reliability of the meanwhile widely used Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnostics in childhood and adolescence (OPD-CA) is only rarely examined. By means of audiovisual recordings of OPD-CA-interviews with 39 adolescents in the context of a randomized-controlled psychotherapy study for the treatment female adolescents with bulimia nervosa and atypical bulimia nervosa the reliability of the axis conflict and the axis structure were examined. This was carried out by the calculation of Intraklassen-correlations of three raters. The rater agreements ranged from good to excellent, except for impulse control in the axis structure, where the results were satisfactory. The relevance of the results for clinical practice is discussed.

Beta-aminobutyric acid priming of plant defense: the role of ABA and other hormones.

PubMed

Baccelli, Ivan; Mauch-Mani, Brigitte

2016-08-01

Plants are exposed to recurring biotic and abiotic stresses that can, in extreme situations, lead to substantial yield losses. With the changing environment, the stress pressure is likely to increase and sustainable measures to alleviate the effect on our crops are sought. Priming plants for better stress resistance is one of the sustainable possibilities to reach this goal. Here, we report on the effects of beta-aminobutyric acid, a priming agent with an exceptionally wide range of action and describe its way of preparing plants to defend themselves against various attacks, among others through the modulation of their hormonal defense signaling, and highlight the special role of abscisic acid in this process.

Detailed mechanism for oxidation of benzene

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bittker, David A.

1990-01-01

A detailed mechanism for the oxidation of benzene is presented and used to compute experimentally obtained concentration profiles and ignition delay times over a wide range of equivalence ratio and temperature. The computed results agree qualitatively with all the experimental trends. Quantitative agreement is obtained with several of the composition profiles and for the temperature dependence of the ignition delay times. There are indications, however, that some important reactions are as yet undiscovered in this mechanism. Recent literature expressions have been used for the rate coefficients of most important reactions, except for some involving phenol. The discrepancy between the phenol pyrolysis rate coefficient used in this work and a recent literature expression remains to be explained.

Aging and reprogramming: a two-way street

PubMed Central

Mahmoudi, Salah; Brunet, Anne

2012-01-01

Aging is accompanied by the functional decline of cells, tissues, and organs, as well as a striking increase in a wide range of diseases. The reprogramming of somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) opens new avenues for the aging field and has important applications for therapeutic treatments of age-related diseases. Here we review emerging studies on how aging and age-related pathways influence iPSC generation and property. We discuss the exciting possibility that reverting to a pluripotent stem cell stage erases several deficits associated with aging and will provide new strategies for rejuvenation. Finally, we argue that reprogramming provides a unique opportunity to model aging and perhaps exceptional longevity. PMID:23146768

Characters with Exceptionalities Portrayed in Contemporary Canadian Children's Books

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Emmerson, Jean; Brenna, Beverley

2015-01-01

This article examines the ways in which exceptionality is addressed in Canadian children's literature, offering critical literacy as an avenue toward social justice. A content analysis (Berg, 2009) of 134 Canadian children's books offers a wide scope of contemporary titles to include in classrooms. We developed conceptual categories to explore…

48 CFR 3025.7002-2 - Exceptions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... (HSAR) 48 CFR 3025.7002-1, if the Chief Procurement Officer determines that the item grown, reprocessed... Chief Procurement Officer is authorized to make the domestic nonavailability determination. (2) The DHS... exception has been applied on the Government-wide point of entry, which may be combined with any synopsis of...

15 CFR 922.92 - Prohibited or otherwise regulated activities-Sanctuary-wide.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... OCEAN AND COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY PROGRAM REGULATIONS Gray's Reef National... has been collected from the Sanctuary. (6) Using any fishing gear within the Sanctuary except rod and...) Possessing or carrying any fishing gear within the Sanctuary except: (i) Rod and reel, and handline gear; (ii...

15 CFR 922.92 - Prohibited or otherwise regulated activities-Sanctuary-wide.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... OCEAN AND COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY PROGRAM REGULATIONS Gray's Reef National... has been collected from the Sanctuary. (6) Using any fishing gear within the Sanctuary except rod and...) Possessing or carrying any fishing gear within the Sanctuary except: (i) Rod and reel, and handline gear; (ii...

15 CFR 922.92 - Prohibited or otherwise regulated activities-Sanctuary-wide.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... OCEAN AND COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY PROGRAM REGULATIONS Gray's Reef National... has been collected from the Sanctuary. (6) Using any fishing gear within the Sanctuary except rod and...) Possessing or carrying any fishing gear within the Sanctuary except: (i) Rod and reel, and handline gear; (ii...

Femtosecond laser-induced refractive index modification in multicomponent glasses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhardwaj, V. R.; Simova, E.; Corkum, P. B.; Rayner, D. M.; Hnatovsky, C.; Taylor, R. S.; Schreder, B.; Kluge, M.; Zimmer, J.

2005-04-01

We present a comprehensive study on femtosecond laser-induced refractive index modification in a wide variety of multicomponent glasses grouped as borosilicate, aluminum-silicate, and heavy-metal oxide glasses along with lanthanum-borate and sodium-phosphate glasses. By using high-spatial resolution refractive index profiling techniques, we demonstrate that under a wide range of writing conditions the refractive index modification in multicomponent glasses can be positive, negative, or nonuniform, and exhibits a strong dependence on the glass composition. With the exception of some aluminum-silicate glasses all other glasses exhibited a negative/nonuniform index change. We also demonstrate direct writing of waveguides in photosensitive Foturan® glass with a femtosecond laser without initiating crystallization by thermal treatment. Upon ceramization of lithium-aluminum-silicate glasses such as Foturan®, Zerodur®, and Robax® we observe switching of laser-induced refractive index change from being positive to negative. The measured transmission losses in the waveguides at 1550nm agree with the index profile measurements in alkali-free aluminum-silicate glasses.

Ultra-compact Watt-level flat supercontinuum source pumped by noise-like pulse from an all-fiber oscillator.

PubMed

Chen, He; Zhou, Xuanfeng; Chen, Sheng-Ping; Jiang, Zong-Fu; Hou, Jing

2015-12-28

We demonstrate Watt-level flat visible supercontinuum (SC) generation in photonic crystal fibers, which is directly pumped by broadband noise-like pulses from an Yb-doped all-fiber oscillator. The novel SC generator is featured with elegant all-fiber-integrated architecture, high spectral flatness and high efficiency. Wide optical spectrum spanning from 500 nm to 2300 nm with 1.02 W optical power is obtained under the pump of 1.4 W noise-like pulse. The flatness of the spectrum in the range of 700 nm~1600 nm is less than 5 dB (including the pump residue). The exceptional simplicity, economical efficiency and the comparable performances make the noise-like pulse oscillator a competitive candidate to the widely used cascade amplified coherent pulse as the pump source of broadband SC. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of SC generation which is directly pumped by an all-fiber noise-like pulse oscillator.

Reliability and concurrent validity of a Smartphone, bubble inclinometer and motion analysis system for measurement of hip joint range of motion.

PubMed

Charlton, Paula C; Mentiplay, Benjamin F; Pua, Yong-Hao; Clark, Ross A

2015-05-01

Traditional methods of assessing joint range of motion (ROM) involve specialized tools that may not be widely available to clinicians. This study assesses the reliability and validity of a custom Smartphone application for assessing hip joint range of motion. Intra-tester reliability with concurrent validity. Passive hip joint range of motion was recorded for seven different movements in 20 males on two separate occasions. Data from a Smartphone, bubble inclinometer and a three dimensional motion analysis (3DMA) system were collected simultaneously. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs), coefficients of variation (CV) and standard error of measurement (SEM) were used to assess reliability. To assess validity of the Smartphone application and the bubble inclinometer against the three dimensional motion analysis system, intraclass correlation coefficients and fixed and proportional biases were used. The Smartphone demonstrated good to excellent reliability (ICCs>0.75) for four out of the seven movements, and moderate to good reliability for the remaining three movements (ICC=0.63-0.68). Additionally, the Smartphone application displayed comparable reliability to the bubble inclinometer. The Smartphone application displayed excellent validity when compared to the three dimensional motion analysis system for all movements (ICCs>0.88) except one, which displayed moderate to good validity (ICC=0.71). Smartphones are portable and widely available tools that are mostly reliable and valid for assessing passive hip range of motion, with potential for large-scale use when a bubble inclinometer is not available. However, caution must be taken in its implementation as some movement axes demonstrated only moderate reliability. Copyright © 2014 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Simultaneous analysis for water- and fat-soluble vitamins by a novel single chromatography technique unifying supercritical fluid chromatography and liquid chromatography.

PubMed

Taguchi, Kaori; Fukusaki, Eiichiro; Bamba, Takeshi

2014-10-03

Chromatography techniques usually use a single state in the mobile phase, such as liquid, gas, or supercritical fluid. Chromatographers manage one of these techniques for their purpose but are sometimes required to use multiple methods, or even worse, multiple techniques when the target compounds have a wide range of chemical properties. To overcome this challenge, we developed a single method covering a diverse compound range by means of a "unified" chromatography which completely bridges supercritical fluid chromatography and liquid chromatography. In our method, the phase state was continuously changed in the following order; supercritical, subcritical and liquid. Moreover, the gradient of the mobile phase starting at almost 100% CO2 was replaced with 100% methanol at the end completely. As a result, this approach achieved further extension of the polarity range of the mobile phase in a single run, and successfully enabled the simultaneous analysis of fat- and water-soluble vitamins with a wide logP range of -2.11 to 10.12. Furthermore, the 17 vitamins were exceptionally separated in 4min. Our results indicated that the use of dense CO2 and the replacement of CO2 by methanol are practical approaches in unified chromatography covering diverse compounds. Additionally, this is a first report to apply the novel approach to unified chromatography, and can open another door for diverse compound analysis in a single chromatographic technique with single injection, single column and single system. Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Effective inactivation of a wide range of viruses by pasteurization.

PubMed

Gröner, Albrecht; Broumis, Connie; Fang, Randel; Nowak, Thomas; Popp, Birgit; Schäfer, Wolfram; Roth, Nathan J

2018-01-01

Careful selection and testing of plasma reduces the risk of blood-borne viruses in the starting material for plasma-derived products. Furthermore, effective measures such as pasteurization at 60°C for 10 hours have been implemented in the manufacturing process of therapeutic plasma proteins such as human albumin, coagulation factors, immunoglobulins, and enzyme inhibitors to inactivate blood-borne viruses of concern. A comprehensive compilation of the virus reduction capacity of pasteurization is presented including the effect of stabilizers used to protect the therapeutic protein from modifications during heat treatment. The virus inactivation kinetics of pasteurization for a broad range of viruses were evaluated in the relevant intermediates from more than 15 different plasma manufacturing processes. Studies were carried out under the routine manufacturing target variables, such as temperature and product-specific stabilizer composition. Additional studies were also performed under robustness conditions, that is, outside production specifications. The data demonstrate that pasteurization inactivates a wide range of enveloped and nonenveloped viruses of diverse physicochemical characteristics. After a maximum of 6 hours' incubation, no residual infectivity could be detected for the majority of enveloped viruses. Effective inactivation of a range of nonenveloped viruses, with the exception of nonhuman parvoviruses, was documented. Pasteurization is a very robust and reliable virus inactivation method with a broad effectiveness against known blood-borne pathogens and emerging or potentially emerging viruses. Pasteurization has proven itself to be a highly effective step, in combination with other complementary safety measures, toward assuring the virus safety of final product. © 2017 The Authors Transfusion published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of AABB.

Snow water equivalent measured with cosmic-ray neutrons: reviving a little known but highly successful field method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Desilets, D.

2012-12-01

Secondary cosmic-ray neutrons are attenuated strongly by water in either solid or liquid form, suggesting a method for measuring snow water equivalent that has several advantages over alternative technologies. The cosmic-ray attenuation method is passive, portable, highly adaptable, and operates over an exceptionally large range of snow pack thicknesses. But despite promising initial observations made in the 1970s, the technique today remains practically unknown to snow hydrologists. Side-by-side measurements performed over the past several years with a snow pillow and a submerged cosmic-ray probe demonstrate that the cosmic-ray attenuation method merits consideration for a wide range of applications—especially those where alternative methods are made problematic by dense vegetation, rough terrain, deep snowpack or a lack of vehicular access. During the snow-free season, the instrumentation can be used to monitor soil moisture, thus providing another widely sought field measurement. Sandia National Laboratories is a multi-program laboratory managed and operated by Sandia Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Lockheed Martin Corporation, for the U.S. Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration. With main facilities in Albuquerque, N.M., and Livermore, C.A., Sandia has major R&D responsibilities in national security, energy and environmental technologies, and economic competitiveness.

Orbitally shaken shallow fluid layers. I. Regime classification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alpresa, Paola; Sherwin, Spencer; Weinberg, Peter; van Reeuwijk, Maarten

2018-03-01

Orbital shakers are simple devices that provide mixing, aeration, and shear stress at multiple scales and high throughput. For this reason, they are extensively used in a wide range of applications from protein production to bacterial biofilms and endothelial cell experiments. This study focuses on the behaviour of orbitally shaken shallow fluid layers in cylindrical containers. In order to investigate the behaviour over a wide range of different conditions, a significant number of numerical simulations are carried out under different configuration parameters. We demonstrate that potential theory—despite the relatively low Reynolds number of the system—describes the free-surface amplitude well and the velocity field reasonably well, except when the forcing frequency is close to a natural frequency and resonance occurs. By classifying the simulations into non-breaking, breaking, and breaking with part of the bottom uncovered, it is shown that the onset of wave breaking is well described by Δh/(2R) = 0.7Γ, where Δh is the free-surface amplitude, R is the container radius, and Γ is the container aspect ratio; Δh can be well approximated using the potential theory. This result is in agreement with standard wave breaking theories although the significant inertial forcing causes wave breaking at lower amplitudes.

Genome-Wide Identification and Testing of Superior Reference Genes for Transcript Normalization in Arabidopsis1[w

PubMed Central

Czechowski, Tomasz; Stitt, Mark; Altmann, Thomas; Udvardi, Michael K.; Scheible, Wolf-Rüdiger

2005-01-01

Gene transcripts with invariant abundance during development and in the face of environmental stimuli are essential reference points for accurate gene expression analyses, such as RNA gel-blot analysis or quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR). An exceptionally large set of data from Affymetrix ATH1 whole-genome GeneChip studies provided the means to identify a new generation of reference genes with very stable expression levels in the model plant species Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Hundreds of Arabidopsis genes were found that outperform traditional reference genes in terms of expression stability throughout development and under a range of environmental conditions. Most of these were expressed at much lower levels than traditional reference genes, making them very suitable for normalization of gene expression over a wide range of transcript levels. Specific and efficient primers were developed for 22 genes and tested on a diverse set of 20 cDNA samples. Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR confirmed superior expression stability and lower absolute expression levels for many of these genes, including genes encoding a protein phosphatase 2A subunit, a coatomer subunit, and an ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme. The developed PCR primers or hybridization probes for the novel reference genes will enable better normalization and quantification of transcript levels in Arabidopsis in the future. PMID:16166256

Purification and biochemical properties of multiple xylanases from Aspergillus ochraceus tolerant to Hg2+ ion and a wide range of pH.

PubMed

Michelin, Michele; Silva, Tony M; Jorge, João A; Polizeli, Maria de Lourdes T M

2014-09-01

Production of multiple xylanases, in which each enzyme has a specific characteristic, can be one strategy to achieve the effective hydrolysis of xylan. Three xylanases (xyl 1, xyl 2, and xyl 3) from Aspergillus ochraceus were purified by chromatography using diethylaminoethyl (DEAE) cellulose, Biogel P-60, and Sephadex G-100 columns. These enzymes are glycoproteins of low molecular weight with an optimum temperature at 60 °C. The glycosylation presented is apparently not related to thermostability, since xyl 3 (20 % carbohydrate) was more thermostable than xyl 2 (67 % carbohydrate). Xyl 3 was able to retain most of its activity in a wide range of pH (3.5-8.0), while xyl 1 and xyl 2 presented optimum pH of 6.0. Xyl 1 and xyl 2 were activated by 5 and 10 mM MnCl2 and CoCl2, while xyl 3 was activated by 1 mM of the same compounds. Interestingly, xyl 2 presented high tolerance toward mercury ion. Xylanases from A. ochraceus hydrolyzed xylans of different origins, such as birchwood, oat spelt, larchwood, and eucalyptus (around 90 % or more), except xyl 2 and xyl 3 that hydrolyzed with lesser efficiency eucalyptus (66.7 %) and oat spelt (44.8 %) xylans.

Thermodynamic and Transport Properties of Real Air Plasma in Wide Range of Temperature and Pressure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Chunlin; Wu, Yi; Chen, Zhexin; Yang, Fei; Feng, Ying; Rong, Mingzhe; Zhang, Hantian

2016-07-01

Air plasma has been widely applied in industrial manufacture. In this paper, both dry and humid air plasmas' thermodynamic and transport properties are calculated in temperature 300-100000 K and pressure 0.1-100 atm. To build a more precise model of real air plasma, over 70 species are considered for composition. Two different methods, the Gibbs free energy minimization method and the mass action law method, are used to determinate the composition of the air plasma in a different temperature range. For the transport coefficients, the simplified Chapman-Enskog method developed by Devoto has been applied using the most recent collision integrals. It is found that the presence of CO2 has almost no effect on the properties of air plasma. The influence of H2O can be ignored except in low pressure air plasma, in which the saturated vapor pressure is relatively high. The results will serve as credible inputs for computational simulation of air plasma. supported by the National Key Basic Research Program of China (973 Program)(No. 2015CB251002), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51521065, 51577145), the Science and Technology Project Funds of the Grid State Corporation (SGTYHT/13-JS-177), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, and State Grid Corporation Project (GY71-14-004)

The improved electrochemical performance of cross-linked 3D graphene nanoribbon monolith electrodes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vineesh, Thazhe Veettil; Alwarappan, Subbiah; Narayanan, Tharangattu N.

2015-04-01

Technical advancement in the field of ultra-small sensors and devices demands the development of novel micro- or nano-based architectures. Here we report the design and assembly of cross-linked three dimensional graphene nanoribbons (3D GNRs) using solution based covalent binding of individual 2D GNRs and demonstrate its electrochemical application as a 3D electrode. The enhanced performance of 3D GNRs over individual 2D GNRs is established using standard redox probes - [Ru(NH3)6]3+/2+, [Fe(CN)6]3-/4- and important bio-analytes - dopamine and ascorbic acid. 3D GNRs are found to have high double layer capacitance (2482 μF cm-2) and faster electron transfer kinetics; their exceptional electrocatalytic activity towards the oxygen reduction reaction is indicative of their potential over a wide range of electrochemical applications. Moreover, this study opens a new platform for the design of novel point-of-care devices and electrodes for energy devices.Technical advancement in the field of ultra-small sensors and devices demands the development of novel micro- or nano-based architectures. Here we report the design and assembly of cross-linked three dimensional graphene nanoribbons (3D GNRs) using solution based covalent binding of individual 2D GNRs and demonstrate its electrochemical application as a 3D electrode. The enhanced performance of 3D GNRs over individual 2D GNRs is established using standard redox probes - [Ru(NH3)6]3+/2+, [Fe(CN)6]3-/4- and important bio-analytes - dopamine and ascorbic acid. 3D GNRs are found to have high double layer capacitance (2482 μF cm-2) and faster electron transfer kinetics; their exceptional electrocatalytic activity towards the oxygen reduction reaction is indicative of their potential over a wide range of electrochemical applications. Moreover, this study opens a new platform for the design of novel point-of-care devices and electrodes for energy devices. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c4nr07315k

Performance evaluation of Samsung LABGEO(HC10) Hematology Analyzer.

PubMed

Park, Il Joong; Ahn, Sunhyun; Kim, Young In; Kang, Seon Joo; Cho, Sung Ran

2014-08-01

The Samsung LABGEO(HC10) Hematology Analyzer (LABGEO(HC10)) is a recently developed automated hematology analyzer that uses impedance technologies. The analyzer provides 18 parameters including 3-part differential at a maximum rate of 80 samples per hour. To evaluate the performance of the LABGEO(HC10). We evaluated precision, linearity, carryover, and relationship for complete blood cell count parameters between the LABGEO(HC10) and the LH780 (Beckman Coulter Inc) in a university hospital in Korea according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Sample stability and differences due to the anticoagulant used (K₂EDTA versus K₃EDTA) were also evaluated. The LABGEO(HC10) showed linearity over a wide range and minimal carryover (<1%) for white blood cell, hemoglobin, red blood cell, and platelet parameters. Correlation between the LABGEO(HC10) and the LH780 was good for all complete blood cell count parameters (R > 0.92) except for mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. The bias estimated was acceptable for all parameters investigated except for monocyte count. Most parameters were stable until 24 hours both at room temperature and at 4°C. The difference by anticoagulant type was statistically insignificant for all parameters except for a few red cell parameters. The accurate results achievable and simplicity of operation make the unit recommendable for small to medium-sized laboratories.

Measuring risky adolescent cycling behaviour.

PubMed

Feenstra, Hans; Ruiter, Robert A C; Schepers, Jan; Peters, Gjalt-Jorn; Kok, Gerjo

2011-09-01

Adolescents are at a greater risk of being involved in traffic accidents than most other age groups, even before they start driving cars. This article aims to determine the factor structure of a self-report questionnaire measuring adolescent risky cycling behaviour, the ACBQ (Adolescent Cycling Behaviour Questionnaire). The questionnaire's structure was based on the widely used Driver Behaviour Questionnaire (DBQ). A sample of secondary school students (N = 1749; age range: 13-18 years) filled out the questionnaire. Factor analysis revealed a three-factor structure underlying the questionnaire, which was confirmed on two equally large portions of the entire sample. These three underlying factors were identified as errors, common violations and exceptional violations. The ACBQ is a useful instrument for measuring adolescents' risky cycling behaviour.

Infrared observations of metal-deficient stars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arribas, S.; Martinez Roger, C.

1987-09-01

Infrared magnitudes in the J, H, K and L bands for 64 metal-deficient stars spanning a wide range in effective temperature, luminosity and metal content are presented. An accuracy of 0.02 magnitude is obtained for the JHK bands and 0.03 for the L filter. Infrared-infrared and optical-infrared colour-colour diagrams are discussed and compared with the mean intrinsic tracks for Population I stars. It is concluded that infrared colours are not notably dependent on metallicity, with some exceptions for the reddest giants, which can be also interpreted by residual effects in the transformation equations between different systems. The authors also discuss briefly the near infrared photometric system of the Observatorio del Teide, from the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias.

Conference Scene: epigenetics eh! The first formal meeting of the Canadian epigenetics community.

PubMed

Underhill, Alan; Hendzel, Michael J

2011-08-01

In recognition of Canada's longstanding interest in epigenetics - and a particular linguistic interjection - the inaugural 'Epigenetics, Eh!' conference was held between 4-7 May 2011 in London, Ontario. The meeting struck an excellent balance between Canadian and international leaders in epigenetic research while also providing a venue to showcase up-and-coming talent. Almost without exception, presentations touched on the wide-ranging and severe consequences of epigenetic dysfunction, as well as current and emerging therapeutic opportunities. While gaining a deeper understanding of how DNA and histone modifications, together with multiple classes of ncRNAs, act to functionalize our genome, participants were also provided with a glimpse of the astounding complexity of chromatin structure, challenging existing dogma.

Identification of market trends with string and D2-brane maps

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bartoš, Erik; Pinčák, Richard

2017-08-01

The multidimensional string objects are introduced as a new alternative for an application of string models for time series forecasting in trading on financial markets. The objects are represented by open string with 2-endpoints and D2-brane, which are continuous enhancement of 1-endpoint open string model. We show how new object properties can change the statistics of the predictors, which makes them the candidates for modeling a wide range of time series systems. String angular momentum is proposed as another tool to analyze the stability of currency rates except the historical volatility. To show the reliability of our approach with application of string models for time series forecasting we present the results of real demo simulations for four currency exchange pairs.

Natural and synthetic saponin adjuvant QS-21 for vaccines against cancer

PubMed Central

Ragupathi, Govind; Gardner, Jeffrey R; Livingston, Philip O; Gin, David Y

2013-01-01

One of the most widely used and potent immunological adjuvants is a mixture of soluble triterpene glycosides purified from the soap bark tree (Quillaja saponaria). Despite challenges in production, quality control, stability and toxicity, the QS-21 fraction from this extract has exhibited exceptional adjuvant properties for a range of antigens. It possesses an ability to augment clinically significant antibody and T-cell responses to vaccine antigens against a variety of infectious diseases, degenerative disorders and cancers. The recent synthesis of active molecules of QS-21 has provided a robust method to produce this leading vaccine adjuvant in high purity as well as to produce novel synthetic QS-21 congeners designed to induce increased immune responsiveness and decreased toxicity. PMID:21506644

An examination of psychosocial correlates of eating disorders among female collegiate athletes.

PubMed

Petrie, Trent A; Greenleaf, Christy; Reel, Justine J; Carter, Jennifer E

2009-09-01

With female collegiate athletes, we examined the relationship of eating pathology to body image concerns, weight pressures, sociocultural internalization, and mood state. Multivariate analyses revealed that the symptomatic and eating disorder groups were similar on seven of eight weight pressures, three of four mood states, on internalization, and on five of six body image measures; in all instances, these two groups reported more pathological scores than the asymptomatic athletes. Except for pressures from coaches, the psychosocial variables differentiated the groups, correctly classifying 79% of the cases. These findings suggest that athletes symptomatic of eating disorders report similarly high levels of disturbance across a wide range of psychosocial risk factors, and both groups warrant prevention and treatment efforts.

Land Use Withdrawal, McGregor Range, Fort Bliss, Texas

DTIC Science & Technology

1977-08-01

Range by armoured vehicles to existing maneuver areas south of McGregor Range Camp. j. Cease joint training exercises requiring the use of the basin...Maneuvers: Site Avoidance a. Implement all measures called for in Alternative 1 except i. and j., restriction of armoured vehicle use. b. Define...Maneuvers. District Avcidance a. Implement all measures called for in Alternative 1 except i. and j. restriction of armoured vehicle use. b. Define

Empirical calibration of shell chemistry of Cyprideis torosa (Jones, 1850) (Crustacea: Ostracoda)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marco-Barba, J.; Ito, E.; Carbonell, E.; Mesquita-Joanes, F.

2012-09-01

Cyprideis torosa is a species of ostracode that inhabits a wide range of aquatic habitats in which its low Alk/Ca requirement is met. Its fossil remains are widely used in palaeoecological studies of coastal environments and inland salt lakes. We collected C. torosa from 20 water bodies near Valencia, Spain. Temperature, chlorophyll a concentration, electrical conductivity, and the concentration of major ions and oxygen isotopes were measured at each site. Between 2 and 20 live individuals of C. torosa were collected per site, their instar stage and sex determined and their shell chemistry (Mg/Ca, Sr/Ca and carbon and oxygen isotope composition) analyzed. Three of these sites were sampled monthly for one year, and ostracode population structure and shell chemistry (20-40 shells) were analyzed. The water chemistry varied widely between sites. TDS (total dissolved solids) ranged from 0.5 to 71.8 g/L but chloride was always the dominant anion. There is a significant positive relationship between ostracode and water δ18O except at high TDS (>20 g/L) when shell δ18O values are lower than expected. No effect of either temperature or water Mg/Ca is observed on the Mg/Ca in the ostracode calcite in waters with Mg/Ca < 6 (molar ratio). Ostracode shell Sr/Ca is strongly and significantly related to water Sr/Ca. δ13C values in C. torosa shells are ˜2‰ lower than observed δ13CDIC. These results provide new and more accurate quantification tools to reconstruct past hydrochemistry from C. torosa shells.

Memory effect triggered by exceptional event: the Rio Cordon study case

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rainato, Riccardo; Mao, Luca; Picco, Lorenzo; Garcia-Rama, Adriana; Aristide Lenzi, Mario

2016-04-01

In the mountain environment, the steep channels play a key-role in the drainage networks. Notably, the sediment transport processes that here occur, can affect aspects as the geomorphic changes, channel evolution, reservoir management, infrastructure design and hazard assessment. Due to the complex and changeable hydraulic and morphological features that characterize the mountain environment, the steep channels can exhibit fluvial and/or debris-flow transport with magnitude of sediment delivery that, in the same basin, may strongly vary from event to event. In the light of these challenging conditions, appears clear as an accurate monitoring and investigation of sediment dynamics is of critical importance in the steep mountain channels. Such monitoring has even more significance if it is maintained over long-period, enabling to investigate even the role of high magnitude/low frequency events. Using a dataset 29 years-wide, this work aims to investigate the temporal trend of sediment dynamic in the Rio Cordon (Eastern Italian Alps). The Rio Cordon is a steep mountain channel (mean slope = 13%) characterized by step-pool and riffle-pool morphology. The basin (5 km2)exhibits a prevalent nivo-pluvial runoff regime. Since 1986, the catchment is equipped with a monitoring station, that continuously records water discharge, bedload and suspended load (at 1 hr intervals, and 5 min intervals during floods). In September 1994 an exceptional event (RI > 100 years) occurred in the study site, mobilizing about 4000 tons of material. Currently, the structure is managed by ARPA Veneto - Regional Department for Land Safety. In terms of magnitude, the 31 floods recorded by the monitoring station show a wide range of hydraulic forcing (i.e. peak discharge and effective runoff) and amount transported. Specifically, Qpeak ranges within one order of magnitude (1.02 - 10.42 m3 s-1), while the amount of bedload and suspended load varies by more than 3 orders (i.e. 0.9 t < BL < 1541.7 t). The amounts transported by the floods are investigated as a function of Qpeak, using a power-law regression. Bedload (r2= 0.739) and suspended load (r2= 0.565) appear positively correlated with Qpeak, also showing that floods of a certain magnitude transported more sediments after the exceptional 1994 flood. A comparable behavior can be observed by the Qpeak/D50 relationship (r2= 0.688). The ratio between sediment load and effective runoff of the events allowed the temporal trend of transport efficiency to be inferred. The results highlight that nearly a decade with high transport efficiency appears to have occurred subsequently to the September 1994 event. This result confirms that exceptional floods, rarely assessed by short-term monitoring programs, can strongly affect the long-term sediment fluxes. In the case of Rio Cordon, the exceptional event triggered a "memory effect" in the basin, altering the sediment dynamics for roughly 10 years. This research was supported by the Italian Research Project of Relevant Interest PRIN2010-2011, prot. 20104ALME4, ITSE; and by the University of Padova Research Project CPDA149091- WoodAlp.

Parental Attitudes toward Exceptional Children.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Love, Harold D.

Written to aid the professional in understanding parental attitudes toward their exceptional children in counseling, the text could also be used by parents to better understand their children. Described are types of exceptionalities, incidence, psychological assessment and evaluation, and the intelligence range from mentally handicapped to the…

Cell wall reactivity of acidophilic and alkaliphilic bacteria determined by potentiometric titrations and Cd adsorption experiments.

PubMed

Kenney, Janice P L; Fein, Jeremy B

2011-05-15

In this study, we used potentiometric titrations and Cd adsorption experiments to determine the binding capacities of two acidophilic (A. cryptum and A. acidophilum) and two alkaliphilic (B. pseudofirmus and B. circulans) bacterial species in order to determine if any consistent trends could be observed relating bacterial growth environment to proton and Cd binding properties and to compare those binding behaviors to those of neutrophilic bacteria. All of the bacterial species studied exhibited significant proton buffering over the pH range in this study, with the alkaliphiles exhibiting significantly higher acidity constants than the acidophiles as well as the neutrophilic bacterial consortia. The calculated average site concentrations for each of the bacteria in this study are within 2σ experimental error of each other, with the exception of A. cryptum, which has a significantly higher Site 2 concentration than the other species. Despite differing acidity constants between the acidophiles and alkaliphiles, all bacteria except A. cryptum exhibited remarkably similar Cd adsorption behavior to each other, and the observed extent of adsorption was also similar to that predicted from a generalized model derived using neutrophilic bacterial consortia. This study demonstrates that bacteria that grow under extreme conditions exhibit similar proton and metal adsorption behavior to that of previously studied neutrophilic species and that a single set of proton and metal binding constants can be used to model the behavior of bacterial adsorption under a wide range of environmental conditions.

Opioid agonists binding and responses in SH-SY5Y cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Costa, E. M.; Hoffmann, B. B.; Loew, G. H.

1992-01-01

SH-SY5Y (human neuroblastoma) cultured cells, known to have mu-opioid receptors, have been used to assess and compare the ability of eight representative mu-selective compounds from diverse opioid families to recognize and activate these receptors. A wide range of receptor affinities spanning a factor of 10,000 was found between the highest affinity fentanyl analogs (Ki = 0.1nM) and the lowest affinity analog, meperidine (Ki = 1 microM). A similar range was found for inhibition of PGE1-stimulated cAMP accumulation with a rank order of activities that closely paralleled binding affinities. Maximum inhibition of cAMP accumulation by each compound was about 80%. Maximum stimulation of GTPase activity (approximately 50%) was also similar for all compounds except the lowest affinity meperidine. Both effects were naloxone reversible. These results provide further evidence that mu-receptors are coupled to inhibition of adenylate cyclase and that the SH-SY5Y cell line is a good system for assessment of mu-agonists functional responses.

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

Aliprantis, Dionysios; El-Sharkawi, Mohamed; Muljadi, Eduard

The main objective of this special issue is to collect and disseminate publications that highlight recent advances and breakthroughs in the area of renewable energy resources. The use of these resources for production of electricity is increasing rapidly worldwide. As of 2015, a majority of countries have set renewable electricity targets in the 10%-40% range to be achieved by 2020-2030, with a few notable exceptions aiming for 100% generation by renewables. We are experiencing a truly unprecedented transition away from fossil fuels, driven by environmental, energy security, and socio-economic factors.Electric machines can be found in a wide range of renewablemore » energy applications, such as wind turbines, hydropower and hydrokinetic systems, flywheel energy storage devices, and low-power energy harvesting systems. Hence, the design of reliable, efficient, cost-effective, and controllable electric machines is crucial in enabling even higher penetrations of renewable energy systems in the smart grid of the future. In addition, power electronic converter design and control is critical, as they provide essential controllability, flexibility, grid interface, and integration functions.« less

Wetting in Color: Designing a colorometric indicator for wettability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raymond, Kevin; Burgess, Ian B.; Koay, Natalie; Kolle, Mathias; Loncar, Marko; Aizenberg, Joanna

2012-02-01

Colorimetric litmus tests such as pH paper have enjoyed wide commercial success due to their inexpensive production and exceptional ease of use. While such indicators commonly rely on a specific photochemical response to an analyte, we exploit structural color, derived from coherent scattering from wavelength-scale porosity rather than molecular absorption or luminescence, to create a Wetting-in-Color-Kit (WICK). This inexpensive and highly selective colorimetric indicator for organic liquids employs chemically encoded inverse-opal photonic crystals to translate minute differences in liquids' wettability to macroscopically distinct, easy-to-visualize color patterns. The highly symmetric re-entrant inter-pore geometry imparts a highly specific wetting threshold for liquids. We developed surface modification techniques to generate built-in chemistry gradients within the porous network. These let us tailor the wettability threshold to specific liquids across a continuous range. As wetting is a generic fluidic phenomenon, we envision that WICK could be suitable for applications in authentication or identification of unknown liquids across a broad range of industries.

The use of mechanistic descriptions of algal growth and zooplankton grazing in an estuarine eutrophication model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baird, M. E.; Walker, S. J.; Wallace, B. B.; Webster, I. T.; Parslow, J. S.

2003-03-01

A simple model of estuarine eutrophication is built on biomechanical (or mechanistic) descriptions of a number of the key ecological processes in estuaries. Mechanistically described processes include the nutrient uptake and light capture of planktonic and benthic autotrophs, and the encounter rates of planktonic predators and prey. Other more complex processes, such as sediment biogeochemistry, detrital processes and phosphate dynamics, are modelled using empirical descriptions from the Port Phillip Bay Environmental Study (PPBES) ecological model. A comparison is made between the mechanistically determined rates of ecological processes and the analogous empirically determined rates in the PPBES ecological model. The rates generally agree, with a few significant exceptions. Model simulations were run at a range of estuarine depths and nutrient loads, with outputs presented as the annually averaged biomass of autotrophs. The simulations followed a simple conceptual model of eutrophication, suggesting a simple biomechanical understanding of estuarine processes can provide a predictive tool for ecological processes in a wide range of estuarine ecosystems.

A Comparative In Silico Study of the Antioxidant Defense Gene Repertoire of Distinct Lifestyle Trypanosomatid Species

PubMed Central

Beltrame-Botelho, Ingrid Thaís; Talavera-López, Carlos; Andersson, Björn; Grisard, Edmundo Carlos; Stoco, Patricia Hermes

2016-01-01

Kinetoplastids are an ancestral group of protists that contains free-living species and parasites with distinct mechanisms in response to stress. Here, we compared genes involved in antioxidant defense (AD), proposing an evolution model among trypanosomatids. All genes were identified in Bodo saltans, suggesting that AD mechanisms have evolved prior to adaptation for parasitic lifestyles. While most of the monoxenous and dixenous parasites revealed minor differences from B. saltans, the endosymbiont-bearing species have an increased number of genes. The absence of these genes was mainly observed in the extracellular parasites of the genera Phytomonas and Trypanosoma. In trypanosomes, a distinction was observed between stercorarian and salivarian parasites, except for Trypanosoma rangeli. Our analyses indicate that the variability of AD among trypanosomatids at the genomic level is not solely due to the geographical isolation, being mainly related to specific adaptations of their distinct biological cycles within insect vectors and to a parasitism of a wide range of hosts. PMID:27840574

Blue phase liquid crystal: strategies for phase stabilization and device development

PubMed Central

Rahman, M D Asiqur; Mohd Said, Suhana; Balamurugan, S

2015-01-01

The blue phase liquid crystal (BPLC) is a highly ordered liquid crystal (LC) phase found very close to the LC–isotropic transition. The BPLC has demonstrated potential in next-generation display and photonic technology due to its exceptional properties such as sub-millisecond response time and wide viewing angle. However, BPLC is stable in a very small temperature range (0.5–1 °C) and its driving voltage is very high (∼100 V). To overcome these challenges recent research has focused on solutions which incorporate polymers or nanoparticles into the blue phase to widen the temperature range from around few °C to potentially more than 60 °C. In order to reduce the driving voltage, strategies have been attempted by modifying the device structure by introducing protrusion or corrugated electrodes and vertical field switching mechanism has been proposed. In this paper the effectiveness of the proposed solution will be discussed, in order to assess the potential of BPLC in display technology and beyond. PMID:27877782

Neurodevelopmental Variation as a Framework for Thinking about the Twice Exceptional

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gilger, Jeffrey W.; Hynd, George W.

2008-01-01

Developmental exceptionalities span the range of learning abilities and encompass children with both learning disorders and learning gifts. The purpose of this article is to stimulate thinking about these exceptionalities, particularly the complexities and variations within and across people. Investigators tend to view learning disabilities or…

Biomechanical Analysis of Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion Constructs with Various Fixation Options: Based on a Validated Finite Element Model.

PubMed

Zhang, Zhenjun; Fogel, Guy R; Liao, Zhenhua; Sun, Yitao; Liu, Weiqiang

2018-06-01

Lateral lumbar interbody fusion using cage supplemented with fixation has been used widely in the treatment of lumbar disease. A combined fixation (CF) of lateral plate and spinous process plate may provide multiplanar stability similar to that of bilateral pedicle screws (BPS) and may reduce morbidity. The biomechanical influence of the CF on cage subsidence and facet joint stress has not been well described. The aim of this study was to compare biomechanics of various fixation options and to verify biomechanical effects of the CF. The surgical finite element models with various fixation options were constructed based on computed tomography images. The lateral plate and posterior spinous process plate were applied (CF). The 6 motion modes were simulated. Range of motion (ROM), cage stress, endplate stress, and facet joint stress were compared. For the CF model, ROM, cage stress, and endplate stress were the minimum in almost all motion modes. Compared with BPS, the CF reduced ROM, cage stress, and endplate stress in all motion modes. The ROM was reduced by more than 10% in all motion modes except for flexion; cage stress and endplate stress were reduced more than 10% in all motion modes except for rotation-left. After interbody fusion, facet joint stress was reduced substantially compared with the intact conditions in all motion modes except for flexion. The combined plate fixation may offer an alternative to BPS fixation in lateral lumbar interbody fusion. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical, experimental, and morphological evidence for diagenetically altered melanin in exceptionally preserved fossils.

PubMed

Colleary, Caitlin; Dolocan, Andrei; Gardner, James; Singh, Suresh; Wuttke, Michael; Rabenstein, Renate; Habersetzer, Jörg; Schaal, Stephan; Feseha, Mulugeta; Clemens, Matthew; Jacobs, Bonnie F; Currano, Ellen D; Jacobs, Louis L; Sylvestersen, Rene Lyng; Gabbott, Sarah E; Vinther, Jakob

2015-10-13

In living organisms, color patterns, behavior, and ecology are closely linked. Thus, detection of fossil pigments may permit inferences about important aspects of ancient animal ecology and evolution. Melanin-bearing melanosomes were suggested to preserve as organic residues in exceptionally preserved fossils, retaining distinct morphology that is associated with aspects of original color patterns. Nevertheless, these oblong and spherical structures have also been identified as fossilized bacteria. To date, chemical studies have not directly considered the effects of diagenesis on melanin preservation, and how this may influence its identification. Here we use time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry to identify and chemically characterize melanin in a diverse sample of previously unstudied extant and fossil taxa, including fossils with notably different diagenetic histories and geologic ages. We document signatures consistent with melanin preservation in fossils ranging from feathers, to mammals, to amphibians. Using principal component analyses, we characterize putative mixtures of eumelanin and phaeomelanin in both fossil and extant samples. Surprisingly, both extant and fossil amphibians generally exhibit melanosomes with a mixed eumelanin/phaeomelanin composition rather than pure eumelanin, as assumed previously. We argue that experimental maturation of modern melanin samples replicates diagenetic chemical alteration of melanin observed in fossils. This refutes the hypothesis that such fossil microbodies could be bacteria, and demonstrates that melanin is widely responsible for the organic soft tissue outlines in vertebrates found at exceptional fossil localities, thus allowing for the reconstruction of certain aspects of original pigment patterns.

Chemical, experimental, and morphological evidence for diagenetically altered melanin in exceptionally preserved fossils

PubMed Central

Colleary, Caitlin; Dolocan, Andrei; Gardner, James; Singh, Suresh; Wuttke, Michael; Rabenstein, Renate; Habersetzer, Jörg; Schaal, Stephan; Feseha, Mulugeta; Clemens, Matthew; Jacobs, Bonnie F.; Currano, Ellen D.; Jacobs, Louis L.; Sylvestersen, Rene Lyng; Gabbott, Sarah E.; Vinther, Jakob

2015-01-01

In living organisms, color patterns, behavior, and ecology are closely linked. Thus, detection of fossil pigments may permit inferences about important aspects of ancient animal ecology and evolution. Melanin-bearing melanosomes were suggested to preserve as organic residues in exceptionally preserved fossils, retaining distinct morphology that is associated with aspects of original color patterns. Nevertheless, these oblong and spherical structures have also been identified as fossilized bacteria. To date, chemical studies have not directly considered the effects of diagenesis on melanin preservation, and how this may influence its identification. Here we use time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry to identify and chemically characterize melanin in a diverse sample of previously unstudied extant and fossil taxa, including fossils with notably different diagenetic histories and geologic ages. We document signatures consistent with melanin preservation in fossils ranging from feathers, to mammals, to amphibians. Using principal component analyses, we characterize putative mixtures of eumelanin and phaeomelanin in both fossil and extant samples. Surprisingly, both extant and fossil amphibians generally exhibit melanosomes with a mixed eumelanin/phaeomelanin composition rather than pure eumelanin, as assumed previously. We argue that experimental maturation of modern melanin samples replicates diagenetic chemical alteration of melanin observed in fossils. This refutes the hypothesis that such fossil microbodies could be bacteria, and demonstrates that melanin is widely responsible for the organic soft tissue outlines in vertebrates found at exceptional fossil localities, thus allowing for the reconstruction of certain aspects of original pigment patterns. PMID:26417094

Environmental contaminants activate human and polar bear (Ursus maritimus) pregnane X receptors (PXR, NR1I2) differently

PubMed Central

Roger, Lille-Langøy; V, Goldstone Jared; Marte, Rusten; R, Milnes Matthew; Rune, Male; J, Stegeman John; Bruce, Blumberg; Anders, Goksøyr

2015-01-01

BACKGROUND Many persistent organic pollutants (POPs) accumulate readily in polar bears because of their position as apex predators in Arctic food webs. The pregnane X receptor (PXR, formally NR1I2, here proposed to be named promiscuous xenobiotic receptor) is a xenobiotic sensor that is directly involved in metabolizing pathways of a wide range of environmental contaminants. OBJECTIVES In the present study, we comparably assess the ability of 51 selected pharmaceuticals, pesticides and emerging contaminants to activate PXRs from polar bears and humans using an in vitro luciferase reporter gene assay. RESULTS We found that polar bear PXR is activated by a wide range of our test compounds (68%) but has a slightly more narrow ligand specificity than human PXR that was activated by 86% of the 51 test compounds. The majority of the agonists identified (70%) produces a stronger induction of the reporter gene via human PXR than via polar bear PXR, however with some notable and environmentally relevant exceptions. CONCLUSIONS Due to the observed differences in activation of polar bear and human PXRs, exposure of each species to environmental agents is likely to induce biotransformation differently in the two species. Bioinformatics analyses and structural modelling studies suggests that amino acids that are not part of the ligand-binding domain and do not interact with the ligand can modulate receptor activation. PMID:25680588

Environmental contaminants activate human and polar bear (Ursus maritimus) pregnane X receptors (PXR, NR1I2) differently.

PubMed

Lille-Langøy, Roger; Goldstone, Jared V; Rusten, Marte; Milnes, Matthew R; Male, Rune; Stegeman, John J; Blumberg, Bruce; Goksøyr, Anders

2015-04-01

Many persistent organic pollutants (POPs) accumulate readily in polar bears because of their position as apex predators in Arctic food webs. The pregnane X receptor (PXR, formally NR1I2, here proposed to be named promiscuous xenobiotic receptor) is a xenobiotic sensor that is directly involved in metabolizing pathways of a wide range of environmental contaminants. In the present study, we comparably assess the ability of 51 selected pharmaceuticals, pesticides and emerging contaminants to activate PXRs from polar bears and humans using an in vitro luciferase reporter gene assay. We found that polar bear PXR is activated by a wide range of our test compounds (68%) but has a slightly more narrow ligand specificity than human PXR that was activated by 86% of the 51 test compounds. The majority of the agonists identified (70%) produces a stronger induction of the reporter gene via human PXR than via polar bear PXR, however with some notable and environmentally relevant exceptions. Due to the observed differences in activation of polar bear and human PXRs, exposure of each species to environmental agents is likely to induce biotransformation differently in the two species. Bioinformatics analyses and structural modeling studies suggest that amino acids that are not part of the ligand-binding domain and do not interact with the ligand can modulate receptor activation. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Feasibility of a simple laboratory approach for determining temperature influence on SPMD–air partition coefficients of selected compounds

USGS Publications Warehouse

Cicenaite, Aurelija; Huckins, James N.; Alvarez, David A.; Cranor, Walter L.; Gale, Robert W.; Kauneliene, Violeta; Bergqvist, Per-Anders

2007-01-01

Semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) are a widely used passive sampling methodology for both waterborne and airborne hydrophobic organic contaminants. The exchange kinetics and partition coefficients of an analyte in a SPMD are mediated by its physicochemical properties and certain environmental conditions. Controlled laboratory experiments are used for determining the SPMD–air (Ksa's) partition coefficients and the exchange kinetics of organic vapors. This study focused on determining a simple approach for measuring equilibrium Ksa's for naphthalene (Naph), o-chlorophenol (o-CPh) and p-dichlorobenzene (p-DCB) over a wide range of temperatures. SPMDs were exposed to test chemical vapors in small, gas-tight chambers at four different temperatures (−16, −4, 22 and 40 °C). The exposure times ranged from 6 h to 28 d depending on test temperature. Ksa's or non-equilibrium concentrations in SPMDs were determined for all compounds, temperatures and exposure periods with the exception of Naph, which could not be quantified in SPMDs until 4 weeks at the −16 °C temperature. To perform this study the assumption of constant and saturated atmospheric concentrations in test chambers was made. It could influence the results, which suggest that flow through experimental system and performance reference compounds should be used for SPMD calibration.

Nano-biosensor for highly sensitive detection of HER2 positive breast cancer.

PubMed

Salahandish, Razieh; Ghaffarinejad, Ali; Naghib, Seyed Morteza; Majidzadeh-A, Keivan; Zargartalebi, Hossein; Sanati-Nezhad, Amir

2018-05-25

Nanocomposite materials have provided a wide range of conductivity, sensitivity, selectivity and linear response for electrochemical biosensors. However, the detection of rare cells at single cell level requires a new class of nanocomposite-coated electrodes with exceptional sensitivity and specificity. We recently developed a construct of gold nanoparticle-grafted functionalized graphene and nanostructured polyaniline (PANI) for high-performance biosensing within a very wide linear response and selective performance. Further, replacing the expensive gold nanoparticles with low-cost silver nanoparticles as well as optimizing the nanocomposite synthesis and functionalization protocols on the electrode surface in this work enabled us to develop ultrasensitive nanocomposites for label-free detection of breast cancer cells. The sensor presented a fast response time of 30 min within a dynamic range of 10 - 5 × 10 6 cells mL -1 and with a detection limit of 2 cells mL -1 for the detection of SK-BR3 breast cancer cell. The nano-biosensor, for the first time, demonstrated a high efficiency of > 90% for the label-free detection of cancer cells in whole blood sample without any need for sample preparation and cell staining. The results demonstrated that the optimized nanocomposite developed in this work is a promising nanomaterial for electrochemical biosensing and with the potential applications in electro-catalysis and super-capacitances. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Development of a ceramic membrane from a lithian spinel, Li1+xMyMn2-yO4 (M=trivalent or tetravalent cations) for a Li ion-selective electrode

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yoon, H.; Venugopal, N.; Rim, T.; Yang, B.; Chung, K.; Ko, T.

2010-12-01

Recently a few lithium containing ceramics are reported as promising cathodes for application in lithium batteries. Among them, a spinel-type lithium manganate (LM) exhibits an exceptionally high ion selectivity at room temperature. Thus, LM could have a great potential as an ion selective membrane material for screening interfering ions from lithium ion for the determination of lithium ion in salt solution. In this study, we developed an ion-selective electrode based on LM as a membrane material and investigated its lithium ion selectivity by varying the content of M in composition. A sol-gel process was successfully applied for preparing LM films without resorting to calcination at a high temperature. The LM thin film-type membranes exhibit a high selectivity for Li ion over other cations, a wide operation detection range of 10-5 ~ 10-2 M, and a fast response time less than 60 s. Furthermore, our result demonstrates a linear potentiometric response over a wide range of lithium concentration, which is compared to that of a lithium ion-selective electrode based on an ionophore. Acknowledgements: This research was supported by a grant from the Development of Technology for Extraction of Resources Dissolved in Sea Water Program funded by Ministry of Land Transport and Maritime Affairs in Korean Government (2010).

Effect of body size and body mass on δ 13 C and δ 15 N in coastal fishes and cephalopods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vinagre, C.; Máguas, C.; Cabral, H. N.; Costa, M. J.

2011-11-01

Carbon and nitrogen isotopes have been widely used in the investigation of trophic relations, energy pathways, trophic levels and migrations, under the assumption that δ 13C is independent of body size and that variation in δ 15N occurs exclusively due to ontogenetic changes in diet and not body size increase per se. However, several studies have shown that these assumptions are uncertain. Data from food-webs containing an important number of species lack theoretical support on these assumptions because very few species have been tested for δ 13C and δ 15N variation in captivity. However, if sampling comprises a wide range of body sizes from various species, the variation of δ 13C and δ 15N with body size can be investigated. While correlation between body size and δ 13C and δ 15N can be due to ontogenetic diet shifts, stability in such values throughout the size spectrum can be considered an indication that δ 13C and δ 15N in muscle tissues of such species is independent of body size within that size range, and thus the basic assumptions can be applied in the interpretation of such food webs. The present study investigated the variation in muscle δ 13C and δ 15N with body size and body mass of coastal fishes and cephalopods. It was concluded that muscle δ 13C and δ 15N did not vary with body size or mass for all bony fishes with only one exception, the dragonet Callionymus lyra. Muscle δ 13C and δ 15N also did not vary with body size or mass in cartilaginous fishes and cephalopods, meaning that body size/mass per se have no effect on δ 13C or δ 15N, for most species analysed and within the size ranges sampled. The assumption that δ 13C is independent of body size and that variation in δ 15N is not affected by body size increase per se was upheld for most organisms and can be applied to the coastal food web studied taking into account that C. lyra is an exception.

Non-Condon equilibrium Fermi’s golden rule electronic transition rate constants via the linearized semiclassical method

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

Sun, Xiang; Geva, Eitan

2016-06-28

In this paper, we test the accuracy of the linearized semiclassical (LSC) expression for the equilibrium Fermi’s golden rule rate constant for electronic transitions in the presence of non-Condon effects. We do so by performing a comparison with the exact quantum-mechanical result for a model where the donor and acceptor potential energy surfaces are parabolic and identical except for shifts in the equilibrium energy and geometry, and the coupling between them is linear in the nuclear coordinates. Since non-Condon effects may or may not give rise to conical intersections, both possibilities are examined by considering: (1) A modified Garg-Onuchic-Ambegaokar modelmore » for charge transfer in the condensed phase, where the donor-acceptor coupling is linear in the primary mode coordinate, and for which non-Condon effects do not give rise to a conical intersection; (2) the linear vibronic coupling model for electronic transitions in gas phase molecules, where non-Condon effects give rise to conical intersections. We also present a comprehensive comparison between the linearized semiclassical expression and a progression of more approximate expressions. The comparison is performed over a wide range of frictions and temperatures for model (1) and over a wide range of temperatures for model (2). The linearized semiclassical method is found to reproduce the exact quantum-mechanical result remarkably well for both models over the entire range of parameters under consideration. In contrast, more approximate expressions are observed to deviate considerably from the exact result in some regions of parameter space.« less

Chemistry, Nutrition, and Health-Promoting Properties of Hericium erinaceus (Lion's Mane) Mushroom Fruiting Bodies and Mycelia and Their Bioactive Compounds.

PubMed

Friedman, Mendel

2015-08-19

The culinary and medicinal mushroom Hericium erinaceus is widely consumed in Asian countries, but apparently not in the United States, for its nutritional and health benefits. To stimulate broader interest in the reported beneficial properties, this overview surveys and consolidates the widely scattered literature on the chemistry (isolation and structural characterization) of polysaccharides and secondary metabolites such as erinacines, hericerins, hericenones, resorcinols, steroids, mono- and diterpenes, and volatile aroma compounds, nutritional composition, food and industrial uses, and exceptional nutritional and health-promoting aspects of H. erinaceus. The reported health-promoting properties of the mushroom fruit bodies, mycelia, and bioactive pure compounds include antibiotic, anticarcinogenic, antidiabetic, antifatigue, antihypertensive, antihyperlipodemic, antisenescence, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, and neuroprotective properties and improvement of anxiety, cognitive function, and depression. The described anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and immunostimulating properties in cells, animals, and humans seem to be responsible for the multiple health-promoting properties. A wide range of research advances and techniques are described and evaluated. The collated information and suggestion for further research might facilitate and guide further studies to optimize the use of the whole mushrooms and about 70 characterized actual and potential bioactive secondary metabolites to help prevent or treat human chronic, cognitive, and neurological diseases.

Size-dependent reactivity of diamond nanoparticles.

PubMed

Williams, Oliver A; Hees, Jakob; Dieker, Christel; Jäger, Wolfgang; Kirste, Lutz; Nebel, Christoph E

2010-08-24

Photonic active diamond nanoparticles attract increasing attention from a wide community for applications in drug delivery and monitoring experiments as they do not bleach or blink over extended periods of time. To be utilized, the size of these diamond nanoparticles needs to be around 4 nm. Cluster formation is therefore the major problem. In this paper we introduce a new technique to modify the surface of particles with hydrogen, which prevents cluster formation in buffer solution and which is a perfect starting condition for chemical surface modifications. By annealing aggregated nanodiamond powder in hydrogen gas, the large (>100 nm) aggregates are broken down into their core ( approximately 4 nm) particles. Dispersion of these particles into water via high power ultrasound and high speed centrifugation, results in a monodisperse nanodiamond colloid, with exceptional long time stability in a wide range of pH, and with high positive zeta potential (>60 mV). The large change in zeta potential resulting from this gas treatment demonstrates that nanodiamond particle surfaces are able to react with molecular hydrogen at relatively low temperatures, a phenomenon not witnessed with larger (20 nm) diamond particles or bulk diamond surfaces.

Magmatic gas scrubbing: Implications for volcano monitoring

USGS Publications Warehouse

Symonds, R.B.; Gerlach, T.M.; Reed, M.H.

2001-01-01

Despite the abundance of SO2(g) in magmatic gases, precursory increases in magmatic SO2(g) are not always observed prior to volcanic eruption, probably because many terrestrial volcanoes contain abundant groundwater or surface water that scrubs magmatic gases until a dry pathway to the atmosphere is established. To better understand scrubbing and its implications for volcano monitoring, we model thermochemically the reaction of magmatic gases with water. First, we inject a 915??C magmatic gas from Merapi volcano into 25??C air-saturated water (ASW) over a wide range of gas/water mass ratios from 0.0002 to 100 and at a total pressure of 0.1 MPa. Then we model closed-system cooling of the magmatic gas, magmatic gas-ASW mixing at 5.0 MPa, runs with varied temperature and composition of the ASW, a case with a wide range of magmatic-gas compositions, and a reaction of a magmatic gas-ASW mixture with rock. The modeling predicts gas and water compositions, and, in one case, alteration assemblages for a wide range of scrubbing conditions; these results can be compared directly with samples from degassing volcanoes. The modeling suggests that CO2(g) is the main species to monitor when scrubbing exists; another candidate is H2S(g), but it can be affected by reactions with aqueous ferrous iron. In contrast, scrubbing by water will prevent significant SO2(g) and most HCl(g) emissions until dry pathways are established, except for moderate HCl(g) degassing from pH 100 t/d (tons per day) of SO2(g) in addition to CO2(g) and H2S(g) should be taken as a criterion of magma intrusion. Finally, the modeling suggests that the interpretation of gas-ratio data requires a case-by-case evaluation since ratio changes can often be produced by several mechanisms; nevertheless, several gas ratios may provide useful indices for monitoring the drying out of gas pathways. Published by Elsevier Science B.V.

Effect of finite-rate chemistry and unequal Schmidt numbers on turbulent non-premixed flames modeled with single-step chemistry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chen, J. H.; Mahalingam, S.; Puri, I. K.; Vervisch, L.

1992-01-01

The interaction between a quasi-laminar flame and a turbulent flowfield is investigated through direct numerical simulations (DNS) of reacting flow in two- and three-dimensional domains. Effects due to finite-rate chemistry are studied using a single step global reaction A (fuel) + B (oxidizer) yields P (product), and by varying a global Damkoehler number, as a result of which the turbulence-chemistry interaction in the flame is found to generate a wide variety of conditions, ranging from near-equilibrium to near-extinction. Differential diffusion effects are studied by changing the Schmidt number of one reactive species to one-half. It is observed that laminar flamelet response is followed within the turbulent flowfield, except in regions where transient effects seem to dominate.

Aging, memory, and nonhierarchical energy landscape of spin jam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Samarakoon, Anjana; Sato, Taku J.; Chen, Tianran; Chern, Gai-Wei; Yang, Junjie; Klich, Israel; Sinclair, Ryan; Zhou, Haidong; Lee, Seung-Hun

2016-10-01

The notion of complex energy landscape underpins the intriguing dynamical behaviors in many complex systems ranging from polymers, to brain activity, to social networks and glass transitions. The spin glass state found in dilute magnetic alloys has been an exceptionally convenient laboratory frame for studying complex dynamics resulting from a hierarchical energy landscape with rugged funnels. Here, we show, by a bulk susceptibility and Monte Carlo simulation study, that densely populated frustrated magnets in a spin jam state exhibit much weaker memory effects than spin glasses, and the characteristic properties can be reproduced by a nonhierarchical landscape with a wide and nearly flat but rough bottom. Our results illustrate that the memory effects can be used to probe different slow dynamics of glassy materials, hence opening a window to explore their distinct energy landscapes.

Method and system for controlling the position of a beam of light

DOEpatents

Steinkraus, Jr., Robert F.; Johnson, Gary W [Livermore, CA; Ruggiero, Anthony J [Livermore, CA

2011-08-09

An method and system for laser beam tracking and pointing is based on a conventional position sensing detector (PSD) or quadrant cell but with the use of amplitude-modulated light. A combination of logarithmic automatic gain control, filtering, and synchronous detection offers high angular precision with exceptional dynamic range and sensitivity, while maintaining wide bandwidth. Use of modulated light enables the tracking of multiple beams simultaneously through the use of different modulation frequencies. It also makes the system resistant to interfering light sources such as ambient light. Beam pointing is accomplished by feeding back errors in the measured beam position to a beam steering element, such as a steering mirror. Closed-loop tracking performance is superior to existing methods, especially under conditions of atmospheric scintillation.

The Autophagic Machinery in Enterovirus Infection

PubMed Central

Lai, Jeffrey K. F.; Sam, I-Ching; Chan, Yoke Fun

2016-01-01

The Enterovirus genus of the Picornaviridae family comprises many important human pathogens, including polioviruses, rhinovirus, enterovirus A71, and enterovirus D68. They cause a wide variety of diseases, ranging from mild to severe life-threatening diseases. Currently, no effective vaccine is available against enteroviruses except for poliovirus. Enteroviruses subvert the autophagic machinery to benefit their assembly, maturation, and exit from host. Some enteroviruses spread between cells via a process described as autophagosome-mediated exit without lysis (AWOL). The early and late phases of autophagy are regulated through various lipids and their metabolizing enzymes. Some of these lipids and enzymes are specifically regulated by enteroviruses. In the present review, we summarize the current understanding of the regulation of autophagic machinery by enteroviruses, and provide updates on recent developments in this field. PMID:26828514

Thread Graphs, Linear Rank-Width and Their Algorithmic Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ganian, Robert

The introduction of tree-width by Robertson and Seymour [7] was a breakthrough in the design of graph algorithms. A lot of research since then has focused on obtaining a width measure which would be more general and still allowed efficient algorithms for a wide range of NP-hard problems on graphs of bounded width. To this end, Oum and Seymour have proposed rank-width, which allows the solution of many such hard problems on a less restricted graph classes (see e.g. [3,4]). But what about problems which are NP-hard even on graphs of bounded tree-width or even on trees? The parameter used most often for these exceptionally hard problems is path-width, however it is extremely restrictive - for example the graphs of path-width 1 are exactly paths.

High order filtering methods for approximating hyberbolic systems of conservation laws

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lafon, F.; Osher, S.

1990-01-01

In the computation of discontinuous solutions of hyperbolic systems of conservation laws, the recently developed essentially non-oscillatory (ENO) schemes appear to be very useful. However, they are computationally costly compared to simple central difference methods. A filtering method which is developed uses simple central differencing of arbitrarily high order accuracy, except when a novel local test indicates the development of spurious oscillations. At these points, the full ENO apparatus is used, maintaining the high order of accuracy, but removing spurious oscillations. Numerical results indicate the success of the method. High order of accuracy was obtained in regions of smooth flow without spurious oscillations for a wide range of problems and a significant speed up of generally a factor of almost three over the full ENO method.

N-silyl oxyketene imines are underused yet highly versatile reagents for catalytic asymmetric synthesis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Denmark, Scott E.; Wilson, Tyler W.

2010-11-01

The reactions of acyl anion equivalents (d1 synthons) with carbonyl electrophiles allow for the construction of a wide range of molecules useful for the synthesis of biologically active compounds, natural products and chiral ligands. Despite their utility, significant challenges still exist for developing catalytic, enantioselective variants of these reactions. For example, the asymmetric benzoin process, arguably the most characteristic reaction of d synthetic equivalents, finds no general solution for reactions involving aliphatic acyl anions. In this Article, we introduce a new class of stable, isolable silyl ketene imines derived from protected cyanohydrins. These nucleophiles serve as acyl anion equivalents in Lewis base catalysed aldol addition reactions and allow for the preparation of cross-benzoin and glycolate-aldol products in high yield and with exceptional diastereo- and enantioselectivities.

The Autophagic Machinery in Enterovirus Infection.

PubMed

Lai, Jeffrey K F; Sam, I-Ching; Chan, Yoke Fun

2016-01-27

The Enterovirus genus of the Picornaviridae family comprises many important human pathogens, including polioviruses, rhinovirus, enterovirus A71, and enterovirus D68. They cause a wide variety of diseases, ranging from mild to severe life-threatening diseases. Currently, no effective vaccine is available against enteroviruses except for poliovirus. Enteroviruses subvert the autophagic machinery to benefit their assembly, maturation, and exit from host. Some enteroviruses spread between cells via a process described as autophagosome-mediated exit without lysis (AWOL). The early and late phases of autophagy are regulated through various lipids and their metabolizing enzymes. Some of these lipids and enzymes are specifically regulated by enteroviruses. In the present review, we summarize the current understanding of the regulation of autophagic machinery by enteroviruses, and provide updates on recent developments in this field.

Superplastic formability of Al-Cu-Li alloy Weldalite (TM) 049

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ma, Bao-Tong; Pickens, Joseph R.

1991-01-01

Extensive research during the past decade shows that several aluminum lithium alloys can be processed to attain a microstructure that enables superplasticity. The high tensile stress of Al-Cu-Li alloy Weldalite (TM) 049 in the T4 and T6 tempers offers tremendous potential for attaining exceptional post-SPF (superplastic formability) properties. The used SPF material is Weldalite, which was shown to induce SPF behavior in other Al-Cu-Li alloys. The superplastic behavior and resulting post-SPF mechanical properties of this alloy, which was designed to be the next major structural alloy for space applications, were evaluated. The results indicate that Weldalite alloy does indeed exhibit excellent superplasticity over a wide range of temperatures and strain rates and excellent post-SPF tensile strength at various potential service temperatures.

Group I introns are widespread in archaea.

PubMed

Nawrocki, Eric P; Jones, Thomas A; Eddy, Sean R

2018-05-18

Group I catalytic introns have been found in bacterial, viral, organellar, and some eukaryotic genomes, but not in archaea. All known archaeal introns are bulge-helix-bulge (BHB) introns, with the exception of a few group II introns. It has been proposed that BHB introns arose from extinct group I intron ancestors, much like eukaryotic spliceosomal introns are thought to have descended from group II introns. However, group I introns have little sequence conservation, making them difficult to detect with standard sequence similarity searches. Taking advantage of recent improvements in a computational homology search method that accounts for both conserved sequence and RNA secondary structure, we have identified 39 group I introns in a wide range of archaeal phyla, including examples of group I introns and BHB introns in the same host gene.

Fluoride geochemistry of thermal waters in Yellowstone National Park: I. Aqueous fluoride speciation

USGS Publications Warehouse

Deng, Y.; Nordstrom, D. Kirk; McCleskey, R. Blaine

2011-01-01

Thermal water samples from Yellowstone National Park (YNP) have a wide range of pH (1–10), temperature, and high concentrations of fluoride (up to 50 mg/l). High fluoride concentrations are found in waters with field pH higher than 6 (except those in Crater Hills) and temperatures higher than 50 °C based on data from more than 750 water samples covering most thermal areas in YNP from 1975 to 2008. In this study, more than 140 water samples from YNP collected in 2006–2009 were analyzed for free-fluoride activity by ion-selective electrode (ISE) method as an independent check on the reliability of fluoride speciation calculations. The free to total fluoride concentration ratio ranged from <1% at low pH values to >99% at high pH. The wide range in fluoride activity can be explained by strong complexing with H+ and Al3+ under acidic conditions and lack of complexing under basic conditions. Differences between the free-fluoride activities calculated with the WATEQ4F code and those measured by ISE were within 0.3–30% for more than 90% of samples at or above 10−6 molar, providing corroboration for chemical speciation models for a wide range of pH and chemistry of YNP thermal waters. Calculated speciation results show that free fluoride, F−, and major complexes (HF(aq)0">HF(aq)0, AlF2+, AlF2+">AlF2+and AlF30">AlF30) account for more than 95% of total fluoride. Occasionally, some complex species like AlF4-">AlF4-, FeF2+, FeF2+">FeF2+, MgF+ and BF2(OH)2-">BF2(OH)2- may comprise 1–10% when the concentrations of the appropriate components are high. According to the simulation results by PHREEQC and calculated results, the ratio of main fluoride species to total fluoride varies as a function of pH and the concentrations and ratios of F and Al.

Optimum moisture levels for biodegradation of mortality composting envelope materials.

PubMed

Ahn, H K; Richard, T L; Glanville, T D

2008-01-01

Moisture affects the physical and biological properties of compost and other solid-state fermentation matrices. Aerobic microbial systems experience different respiration rates (oxygen uptake and CO2 evolution) as a function of moisture content and material type. In this study the microbial respiration rates of 12 mortality composting envelope materials were measured by a pressure sensor method at six different moisture levels. A wide range of respiration (1.6-94.2mg O2/g VS-day) rates were observed for different materials, with alfalfa hay, silage, oat straw, and turkey litter having the highest values. These four envelope materials may be particularly suitable for improving internal temperature and pathogen destruction rates for disease-related mortality composting. Optimum moisture content was determined based on measurements across a range that spans the maximum respiration rate. The optimum moisture content of each material was observed near water holding capacity, which ranged from near 60% to over 80% on a wet basis for all materials except a highly stabilized soil compost blend (optimum around 25% w.b.). The implications of the results for moisture management and process control strategies during mortality composting are discussed.

On the reliability of seasonal climate forecasts.

PubMed

Weisheimer, A; Palmer, T N

2014-07-06

Seasonal climate forecasts are being used increasingly across a range of application sectors. A recent UK governmental report asked: how good are seasonal forecasts on a scale of 1-5 (where 5 is very good), and how good can we expect them to be in 30 years time? Seasonal forecasts are made from ensembles of integrations of numerical models of climate. We argue that 'goodness' should be assessed first and foremost in terms of the probabilistic reliability of these ensemble-based forecasts; reliable inputs are essential for any forecast-based decision-making. We propose that a '5' should be reserved for systems that are not only reliable overall, but where, in particular, small ensemble spread is a reliable indicator of low ensemble forecast error. We study the reliability of regional temperature and precipitation forecasts of the current operational seasonal forecast system of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, universally regarded as one of the world-leading operational institutes producing seasonal climate forecasts. A wide range of 'goodness' rankings, depending on region and variable (with summer forecasts of rainfall over Northern Europe performing exceptionally poorly) is found. Finally, we discuss the prospects of reaching '5' across all regions and variables in 30 years time.

Influence of solution properties in the laser forward transfer of liquids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dinca, V.; Patrascioiu, A.; Fernández-Pradas, J. M.; Morenza, J. L.; Serra, P.

2012-09-01

The influence of the viscosity of the printed solution on the laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) of liquids is investigated. A set of water and glycerol mixtures with different glycerol content are prepared with the aim of having a collection of solutions covering a wide range of viscosities, from 1.9 to 850 mPa s. Arrays of micrometric droplets of those solutions are spotted through LIFT and characterized by means of optical microscopy, revealing that for all the analyzed solutions there always exists a range of laser fluences leading to the formation of regular circular droplets, with that range increasing and widening with viscosity. The dynamics of liquid ejection is investigated through time-resolved imaging with the aim of understanding the role of viscosity in the process, and its influence on the morphology of the deposited droplets. The acquired stop-action movies reveal that liquid transfer proceeds mainly through jetting, with the exception of LIFT at low viscosities and high laser fluences, in which bursting develops. From this study it is concluded that viscosity plays an important role in the stabilization of liquid ejection and transport, which contributes to the uniformity of the deposited droplets.

Pulsed ion beam surface analysis as a means of [ital in] [ital situ] real-time analysis of thin films during growth

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

Krauss, A.R.; Lin, Y.; Auciello, O.

1994-07-01

Low-energy (5--15 keV) pulsed ion beam surface analysis comprises several different surface spectroscopies which possess the ability to provide a remarkably wide range of information directly relevant to the growth of single and multicomponent semiconductor, metal and metal-oxide thin films and layered structures. Ion beam methods have not however, been widely used as an [ital in] [ital situ] monitor of thin film growth because existing commercial instrumentation causes excessive film damage, physically conflicts with the deposition equipment, and requires a chamber pressure [similar to]10[sup [minus]7]--10[sup [minus]8] Torr, i.e., much lower than that associated with most deposition processes ([ge]10[sup [minus]4] Torr).more » We have developed time-of-flight ion scattering and recoil spectroscopy (TOF-SARS) as a nondestructive, [ital in] [ital situ], real-time probe of thin film composition and structure which does not physically interfere with the deposition process. Several TOF-SARS implementations are exceptionally surface specific, yet in a properly designed system can yield high-resolution data at ambient pressures well in excess of 10 mTorr (4--6 orders of magnitude higher than conventional surface analytic methods). Because of the exceptional surface specificity of these methods, TOF-SARS is ideally suited as a means of studying ultrathin layers and atomically abrupt interfaces. TOF-SARS instrumentation designed specifically for use as an [ital in] [ital situ], real-time monitor of growth processes for single and multicomponent thin films and layered structures is described here. Representative data are shown for [ital in] [ital situ] analysis of Pb and Zr layers at room temperature and high vacuum, as well as under conditions appropriate to the growth of Pb(Zr[sub [ital x

40 CFR 170.203 - Exceptions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

...) For mosquito abatement, Mediterranean fruit fly eradication, or similar wide-area public pest control... attractants or repellents in traps. (h) On the harvested portions of agricultural plants or on harvested...

40 CFR 170.203 - Exceptions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

...) For mosquito abatement, Mediterranean fruit fly eradication, or similar wide-area public pest control... attractants or repellents in traps. (h) On the harvested portions of agricultural plants or on harvested...

40 CFR 170.203 - Exceptions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

...) For mosquito abatement, Mediterranean fruit fly eradication, or similar wide-area public pest control... attractants or repellents in traps. (h) On the harvested portions of agricultural plants or on harvested...

40 CFR 170.203 - Exceptions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

...) For mosquito abatement, Mediterranean fruit fly eradication, or similar wide-area public pest control... attractants or repellents in traps. (h) On the harvested portions of agricultural plants or on harvested...

40 CFR 170.203 - Exceptions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

...) For mosquito abatement, Mediterranean fruit fly eradication, or similar wide-area public pest control... attractants or repellents in traps. (h) On the harvested portions of agricultural plants or on harvested...

17 CFR 240.15c3-1g - Conditions for ultimate holding companies of certain brokers or dealers (Appendix G to 17 CFR 240...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... Commission determines, based on a review of the group-wide internal risk management control system and... regulator, all written policies and procedures concerning the group-wide internal risk management control... (as defined in 12 CFR 225, appendix A); (ii) Cumulative and non-cumulative preferred stock, except...

17 CFR 240.15c3-1g - Conditions for ultimate holding companies of certain brokers or dealers (Appendix G to 17 CFR 240...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... Commission determines, based on a review of the group-wide internal risk management control system and... regulator, all written policies and procedures concerning the group-wide internal risk management control... (as defined in 12 CFR 225, appendix A); (ii) Cumulative and non-cumulative preferred stock, except...

14 CFR 29.807 - Passenger emergency exits.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... inches wide by 48 inches high, with corner radii not greater than one-third the width of the exit, in the... might become potential fire hazards in a crash. (2) Type II. This type is the same as Type I, except that the opening must be at least 20 inches wide by 44 inches high. (3) Type III. This type is the same...

14 CFR 29.807 - Passenger emergency exits.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... inches wide by 48 inches high, with corner radii not greater than one-third the width of the exit, in the... might become potential fire hazards in a crash. (2) Type II. This type is the same as Type I, except that the opening must be at least 20 inches wide by 44 inches high. (3) Type III. This type is the same...

14 CFR 29.807 - Passenger emergency exits.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... inches wide by 48 inches high, with corner radii not greater than one-third the width of the exit, in the... might become potential fire hazards in a crash. (2) Type II. This type is the same as Type I, except that the opening must be at least 20 inches wide by 44 inches high. (3) Type III. This type is the same...

14 CFR 29.807 - Passenger emergency exits.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... inches wide by 48 inches high, with corner radii not greater than one-third the width of the exit, in the... might become potential fire hazards in a crash. (2) Type II. This type is the same as Type I, except that the opening must be at least 20 inches wide by 44 inches high. (3) Type III. This type is the same...

Transformational, transactional among physician and laissez-faire leadership among physician executives.

PubMed

Xirasagar, Sudha

2008-01-01

The purpose of this paper is to examine the empirical validity of transformational, transactional and laissez-faire leadership and their sub-scales among physician managers. A nation-wide, anonymous mail survey was carried out in the United States, requesting community health center executive directors to provide ratings of their medical director's leadership behaviors (34 items) and effectiveness (nine items), using the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire 5X-Short, on a five-point Likert scale. The survey response rate was 40.9 percent, for a total 269 responses. Exploratory factor analysis was done, using principal factor extraction, followed by promax rotation). The data yielded a three-factor structure, generally aligned with Bass and Avolio's constructs of transformational, transactional and laissez-faire leadership. Data do not support the factorial independence of their subscales (idealized influence, inspirational motivation, individualized consideration, and intellectual stimulation under transformational leadership; contingent reward, management-by-exception active, and management-by-exception passive under transactional leadership). Two contingent reward items loaded on transformational leadership, and all items of management-by-exception passive loaded on laissez-faire. A key limitation is that supervisors were surveyed for ratings of the medical directors' leadership style. Although past research in other fields has shown that supervisor ratings are strongly correlated with subordinate ratings, further research is needed to validate the findings by surveying physician and other clinical subordinates. Such research will also help to develop appropriate content of leadership training for clinical leaders. This study represents an important step towards establishing the empirical evidence for the full range of leadership constructs among physician leaders.

Bridging the gap between high and low acceleration for planetary escape

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Indrikis, Janis; Preble, Jeffrey C.

With the exception of the often time consuming analysis by numerical optimization, no single orbit transfer analysis technique exists that can be applied over a wide range of accelerations. Using the simple planetary escape (parabolic trajectory) mission some of the more common techniques are considered as the limiting bastions at the high and the extremely low acceleration regimes. The brachistochrone, the minimum time of flight path, is proposed as the technique to bridge the gap between the high and low acceleration regions, providing a smooth bridge over the entire acceleration spectrum. A smooth and continuous velocity requirement is established for the planetary escape mission. By using these results, it becomes possible to determine the effect of finite accelerations on mission performance and target propulsion and power system designs which are consistent with a desired mission objective.

The Legacy of Thomas Hodgkin Is Still Relevant 150 Years After His Death. Nothing of Humanity Was Foreign to Him.

PubMed

Dann, Eldad J

2017-01-30

Current leading figures in medical science usually focus on very specific topics and use cutting-edge technologies to broaden our knowledge in the field. The working environment of the nineteenth century was very different. Medical giants of that time such as Rudolph Virchow and Thomas Hodgkin had a wide-ranging scope of research and humanitarian interests and made enormous contributions to a variety of core areas of medicine and the well-being of mankind. The year 2016 marked the 150th anniversary of the death of Dr Thomas Hodgkin. Even a brief review of his life and work proves the current relevance of the outstanding deeds of this exceptional physician, medical educator, and defender of human rights for the poor and underprivileged; his vision was far ahead of his time.

Susan Lindquist: Visionary scientist and peerless mentor

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

The science universe is dimmer after one of our brightest stars, Susan Lee Lindquist, was taken by cancer on October 27, 2016. Sue was an innovative, creative, out-of-the-box scientific thinker. She had unique biological intuition—an instinct for both the way things worked and the right questions to ask to uncover new research insights. Her wide-ranging career began with the study of protein folding and molecular chaperones, and she went on to show that protein folding can have profound and unexpected biological effects on such diverse processes as cancer, evolution, and neurodegenerative disease. As Sue's laboratory manager, I would like to offer a ground-floor perspective on what made her an exceptional scientist, mentor, and leader. She created a harmonious, collegial environment where collaborative synergy fueled meaningful progress that will impact science for decades to come. PMID:28028126

Susan Lindquist: Visionary scientist and peerless mentor.

PubMed

Bevis, Brooke J

2017-01-02

The science universe is dimmer after one of our brightest stars, Susan Lee Lindquist, was taken by cancer on October 27, 2016. Sue was an innovative, creative, out-of-the-box scientific thinker. She had unique biological intuition-an instinct for both the way things worked and the right questions to ask to uncover new research insights. Her wide-ranging career began with the study of protein folding and molecular chaperones, and she went on to show that protein folding can have profound and unexpected biological effects on such diverse processes as cancer, evolution, and neurodegenerative disease. As Sue's laboratory manager, I would like to offer a ground-floor perspective on what made her an exceptional scientist, mentor, and leader. She created a harmonious, collegial environment where collaborative synergy fueled meaningful progress that will impact science for decades to come. © 2017 Bevis.

Low-Magnetic Magnetars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Turolla, Roberto; Esposito, Paolo

2015-01-01

It is now widely accepted that soft gamma repeaters and anomalous X-ray pulsars are the observational manifestations of magnetars, i.e. sources powered by their own magnetic energy. This view was supported by the fact that these `magnetar candidates' exhibited, without exception, a surface dipole magnetic field (as inferred from the spin-down rate) in excess of the electron critical field (≃4.4 × 1013 G). The recent discovery of fullyqualified magnetars, SGR 0418+5729 and Swift J1822.3-1606, with dipole magnetic field well in the range of ordinary radio pulsars posed a challenge to the standard picture, showing that a very strong field is not necessary for the onset of magnetar activity (chiefly bursts and outbursts). Here we summarise the observational status of the low-magneticfield magnetars and discuss their properties in the context of the mainstream magnetar model and its main alternatives.

Universal formula for baryon spectra in heavy-ion collisions and its implications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hwa, Rudolph C.; Zhu, Lilin

2018-05-01

In an unconventional presentation of the data on the transverse momentum spectra of baryons produced in heavy-ion collisions, regularities are found that make possible the discovery of a universal formula valid for p ,Λ ,Ξ , and Ω . The formula describes the baryon distributions over wide ranges of pT(0.5 ≲ pT≲5 GeV/c ) for 0.06 ≲√{sN N}≲3 TeV, except for very peripheral collisions. Some aspects of their empirical properties are derived in the recombination model, resulting in a revelation of some features of the light and strange quark distributions before hadronization. Interpretation of the inverse slopes of their exponential behavior leads to an implication that cannot accommodate the conventional description of fluid flow. This is mainly a study of phenomenology without detailed model input.

Matrix population models from 20 studies of perennial plant populations

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ellis, Martha M.; Williams, Jennifer L.; Lesica, Peter; Bell, Timothy J.; Bierzychudek, Paulette; Bowles, Marlin; Crone, Elizabeth E.; Doak, Daniel F.; Ehrlen, Johan; Ellis-Adam, Albertine; McEachern, Kathryn; Ganesan, Rengaian; Latham, Penelope; Luijten, Sheila; Kaye, Thomas N.; Knight, Tiffany M.; Menges, Eric S.; Morris, William F.; den Nijs, Hans; Oostermeijer, Gerard; Quintana-Ascencio, Pedro F.; Shelly, J. Stephen; Stanley, Amanda; Thorpe, Andrea; Tamara, Ticktin; Valverde, Teresa; Weekley, Carl W.

2012-01-01

Demographic transition matrices are one of the most commonly applied population models for both basic and applied ecological research. The relatively simple framework of these models and simple, easily interpretable summary statistics they produce have prompted the wide use of these models across an exceptionally broad range of taxa. Here, we provide annual transition matrices and observed stage structures/population sizes for 20 perennial plant species which have been the focal species for long-term demographic monitoring. These data were assembled as part of the "Testing Matrix Models" working group through the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS). In sum, these data represent 82 populations with >460 total population-years of data. It is our hope that making these data available will help promote and improve our ability to monitor and understand plant population dynamics.

Matrix population models from 20 studies of perennial plant populations

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ellis, Martha M.; Williams, Jennifer L.; Lesica, Peter; Bell, Timothy J.; Bierzychudek, Paulette; Bowles, Marlin; Crone, Elizabeth E.; Doak, Daniel F.; Ehrlen, Johan; Ellis-Adam, Albertine; McEachern, Kathryn; Ganesan, Rengaian; Latham, Penelope; Luijten, Sheila; Kaye, Thomas N.; Knight, Tiffany M.; Menges, Eric S.; Morris, William F.; den Nijs, Hans; Oostermeijer, Gerard; Quintana-Ascencio, Pedro F.; Shelly, J. Stephen; Stanley, Amanda; Thorpe, Andrea; Tamara, Ticktin; Valverde, Teresa; Weekley, Carl W.

2012-01-01

Demographic transition matrices are one of the most commonly applied population models for both basic and applied ecological research. The relatively simple framework of these models and simple, easily interpretable summary statistics they produce have prompted the wide use of these models across an exceptionally broad range of taxa. Here, we provide annual transition matrices and observed stage structures/population sizes for 20 perennial plant species which have been the focal species for long-term demographic monitoring. These data were assembled as part of the 'Testing Matrix Models' working group through the National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS). In sum, these data represent 82 populations with >460 total population-years of data. It is our hope that making these data available will help promote and improve our ability to monitor and understand plant population dynamics.

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

Xu, Yishuai; Chiu, Janet; Miao, Lin

Three-dimensional topological insulators are bulk insulators with Z 2 topological electronic order that gives rise to conducting light-like surface states. These surface electrons are exceptionally resistant to localization by non-magnetic disorder, and have been adopted as the basis for a wide range of proposals to achieve new quasiparticle species and device functionality. Recent studies have yielded a surprise by showing that in spite of resisting localization, topological insulator surface electrons can be reshaped by defects into distinctive resonance states. Here we use numerical simulations and scanning tunnelling microscopy data to show that these resonance states have significance well beyond themore » localized regime usually associated with impurity bands. Lastly, at native densities in the model Bi 2X 3 (X=Bi, Te) compounds, defect resonance states are predicted to generate a new quantum basis for an emergent electron gas that supports diffusive electrical transport.« less

Sadness and susceptibility to judgmental bias: the case of anchoring.

PubMed

Bodenhausen, G V; Gabriel, S; Lineberger, M

2000-07-01

In a wide range of empirical paradigms, sadness has been associated with more extensive and detail-oriented thinking than happiness, resulting in reductions in judgmental bias that arise from reliance on stereotypes and other simple decision heuristics. It was hypothesized that anchoring would constitute a significant exception to this general pattern. Recent research on anchoring indicates that an active thought process underlies the emergence of this bias. If sad people are likely to think more actively about the judgmental anchor than their neutral-mood counterparts, their subsequent judgments should be more likely to be assimilated toward this reference point. This prediction was confirmed in two experiments demonstrating that sad people are indeed more susceptible to anchoring bias than are people in a neutral mood. Moreover, this effect generalized over judgments in positive, neutral, and negative content domains.

Aging, memory, and nonhierarchical energy landscape of spin jam

PubMed Central

Samarakoon, Anjana; Sato, Taku J.; Chen, Tianran; Chern, Gai-Wei; Yang, Junjie; Klich, Israel; Sinclair, Ryan; Zhou, Haidong; Lee, Seung-Hun

2016-01-01

The notion of complex energy landscape underpins the intriguing dynamical behaviors in many complex systems ranging from polymers, to brain activity, to social networks and glass transitions. The spin glass state found in dilute magnetic alloys has been an exceptionally convenient laboratory frame for studying complex dynamics resulting from a hierarchical energy landscape with rugged funnels. Here, we show, by a bulk susceptibility and Monte Carlo simulation study, that densely populated frustrated magnets in a spin jam state exhibit much weaker memory effects than spin glasses, and the characteristic properties can be reproduced by a nonhierarchical landscape with a wide and nearly flat but rough bottom. Our results illustrate that the memory effects can be used to probe different slow dynamics of glassy materials, hence opening a window to explore their distinct energy landscapes. PMID:27698141

Twenty-first century learning after school: the case of 4-H.

PubMed

Kress, Cathann

2006-01-01

Founded in the early 1900s, the 4-H Youth Development program can serve as a model for out-of-school programs of the twenty-first century. The 4-H pledge, repeated by its members--over 7 million, ranging in age from five to twenty--articulates its core values: "I pledge: My head to clearer thinking, My heart to greater loyalty, My hands to larger service, and My health to better living for my club, my community, my country, and my world." The 4-H Development movement was created to provide opportunities for rural children, to help them become constructive adults. Through an emphasis on "learning by doing," 4-H teaches children the habits of lifelong learning. Historically, 4-H has tapped into university-level advancements, extending such knowledge to youth and thereby giving them early access to scientific discoveries and technological progress. Members apply this learning in their communities through hands-on projects crossing a wide-range of pertinent topics. Research shows that 4-H members are more successful in school than other children and develop a wide range of skills essential in the twenty-first century. Thus, the author makes the case that the foundation of 4-H is exceptionally relevant in today's complex world, perhaps even more so than a century ago. 4-H is a leader in youth development, making it a natural model for twenty-first century after-school programs. Expanding on the 4-H pledge, the author outlines the principles a successful youth development program would have: an emphasis on leadership skills, a feeling of connection and belonging, a forum for exploring career opportunities, and a component of meaningful community service.

Multiresidue determination and potential risks of emerging pesticides in aquatic products from Northeast China by LC-MS/MS.

PubMed

Fu, Lei; Lu, Xianbo; Tan, Jun; Wang, Longxing; Chen, Jiping

2018-01-01

A simple method for determining 33 pesticides with a wide polarity range (logK ow 0.6-4.5) in aquatic products was developed based on LC-MS/MS. The target analytes included three types of widely used pesticides: insecticides, fungicides and herbicides. Based on the optimization of ultrasonic assisted extraction and GPC clean-up procedures, the matrix effect, extraction recoveries and LOD were improved distinctively. LOQ of this method was below 0.5ng/g for all pesticides, which is superior to values in the literature, and the matrix effect was reduced effectively (-14.7% to 7.5%). The method was successfully applied to investigate the pesticide residue levels of twenty-five samples including seven common kinds of fishes from Northeast China. The results showed that all targeted pesticides were present in the fish samples; however, their levels were low, except for atrazine, linuron, ethoprophos, tetrachlorvinphos, acetochlor and fenthion. Atrazine and linuron caught our attention because the concentrations of atrazine in fish samples from Liaoning province were in the range of 0.5-8ng/g (w/w) with mean concentration of 2.3ng/g, which were far above those of other pesticides. The levels of linuron were in the range of 0.6-6ng/g (mean concentration 2.8ng/g), which were the highest among all targeted pesticides in the Inner Mongolia. This is the first systematic investigation on the characteristics and levels of these pesticides in aquatic products from northeast China. Considering their toxicity and bioaccumulation, the potential risk of atrazine and linuron from consuming aquatic products should be paid more attention. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Internal and temporal reliability estimates for informant ratings of personality using the NEO PI-R and IAS. NEO Personality Inventory. Interpersonal Adjective Scales.

PubMed

Kurtz, J E; Lee, P A; Sherker, J L

1999-06-01

This study examines the internal consistency and temporal stability of informant ratings from two widely used instruments for normal personality assessment, the revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R) and the Interpersonal Adjective Scales (IAS). Well-known adult targets were selected by 109 undergraduate students and rated on two occasions separated by a 6-month interval. With few exceptions, estimates of internal consistency are adequate to good for both instruments. NEO PI-R domain scores yield coefficient alphas ranging from .89 to .96, with a median of .80 for the 30 facet scales. IAS octant scales show coefficient alphas ranging from .83 to .92. Retest Pearson correlations are above .70 for each of the NEO PI-R domain scores and both IAS axis coordinates, and intraclass correlations are above .60 for all scales from both instruments. Score changes were small but statistically significant for three of the five NEO PI-R domains at retest. The retest stability of IAS type classifications varies as a function of the extremity of the associated octant scores.

A physical perspective on cytoplasmic streaming

PubMed Central

Goldstein, Raymond E.; van de Meent, Jan-Willem

2015-01-01

Organisms show a remarkable range of sizes, yet the dimensions of a single cell rarely exceed 100 µm. While the physical and biological origins of this constraint remain poorly understood, exceptions to this rule give valuable insights. A well-known counterexample is the aquatic plant Chara, whose cells can exceed 10 cm in length and 1 mm in diameter. Two spiralling bands of molecular motors at the cell periphery drive the cellular fluid up and down at speeds up to 100 µm s−1, motion that has been hypothesized to mitigate the slowness of metabolite transport on these scales and to aid in homeostasis. This is the most organized instance of a broad class of continuous motions known as ‘cytoplasmic streaming’, found in a wide range of eukaryotic organisms—algae, plants, amoebae, nematodes and flies—often in unusually large cells. In this overview of the physics of this phenomenon, we examine the interplay between streaming, transport and cell size and discuss the possible role of self-organization phenomena in establishing the observed patterns of streaming. PMID:26464789

Micro Fluidic Channel Machining on Fused Silica Glass Using Powder Blasting

PubMed Central

Jang, Ho-Su; Cho, Myeong-Woo; Park, Dong-Sam

2008-01-01

In this study, micro fluid channels are machined on fused silica glass via powder blasting, a mechanical etching process, and the machining characteristics of the channels are experimentally evaluated. In the process, material removal is performed by the collision of micro abrasives injected by highly compressed air on to the target surface. This approach can be characterized as an integration of brittle mode machining based on micro crack propagation. Fused silica glass, a high purity synthetic amorphous silicon dioxide, is selected as a workpiece material. It has a very low thermal expansion coefficient and excellent optical qualities and exceptional transmittance over a wide spectral range, especially in the ultraviolet range. The powder blasting process parameters affecting the machined results are injection pressure, abrasive particle size and density, stand-off distance, number of nozzle scanning, and shape/size of the required patterns. In this study, the influence of the number of nozzle scanning, abrasive particle size, and pattern size on the formation of micro channels is investigated. Machined shapes and surface roughness are measured using a 3-dimensional vision profiler and the results are discussed. PMID:27879730

Robust random telegraph conductivity noise in single crystals of the ferromagnetic insulating manganite La0.86Ca0.14MnO3

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Przybytek, J.; Fink-Finowicki, J.; Puźniak, R.; Shames, A.; Markovich, V.; Mogilyansky, D.; Jung, G.

2017-03-01

Robust random telegraph conductivity fluctuations have been observed in La0.86Ca0.14MnO3 manganite single crystals. At room temperatures, the spectra of conductivity fluctuations are featureless and follow a 1 /f shape in the entire experimental frequency and bias range. Upon lowering the temperature, clear Lorentzian bias-dependent excess noise appears on the 1 /f background and eventually dominates the spectral behavior. In the time domain, fully developed Lorentzian noise appears as pronounced two-level random telegraph noise with a thermally activated switching rate, which does not depend on bias current and applied magnetic field. The telegraph noise is very robust and persists in the exceptionally wide temperature range of more than 50 K. The amplitude of the telegraph noise decreases exponentially with increasing bias current in exactly the same manner as the sample resistance increases with the current, pointing out the dynamic current redistribution between percolation paths dominated by phase-separated clusters with different conductivity as a possible origin of two-level conductivity fluctuations.

Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) for Chemical Sensing Applications of Recognition Layers †

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonators represent some of the most prominent acoustic devices for chemical sensing applications. As their frequency ranges from several hundred MHz to GHz, therefore they can record remarkably diminutive frequency shifts resulting from exceptionally small mass loadings. Their miniaturized design, high thermal stability and possibility of wireless integration make these devices highly competitive. Owing to these special characteristics, they are widely accepted as smart transducers that can be combined with a variety of recognition layers based on host-guest interactions, metal oxide coatings, carbon nanotubes, graphene sheets, functional polymers and biological receptors. As a result of this, there is a broad spectrum of SAW sensors, i.e., having sensing applications ranging from small gas molecules to large bio-analytes or even whole cell structures. This review shall cover from the fundamentals to modern design developments in SAW devices with respect to interfacial receptor coatings for exemplary sensor applications. The related problems and their possible solutions shall also be covered, with a focus on emerging trends and future opportunities for making SAW as established sensing technology. PMID:29186771

Investigation of sources, properties and preparation of distillate test fuels

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bowden, J. N.; Erwin, J.

1983-01-01

Distillate test fuel blends were generated for prescribed variations in composition and physical properties. Fuels covering a wide range in properties and composition which would provide a matrix of fuels for possible use in future combustion research programs were identified. Except for tetralin the blending components were all from typical refinery streams. Property variation blends span a boiling range within 150 C to 335 C, freezing point -23 C to -43 C, aromatic content 20 to 50 volume percent, hydrogen content 11.8 to 14.2 mass percent, viscosity 4 and 11 cSt (-20 C), and naphthalenes 8 and 16 volume percent. Composition variation blends were made with two base stocks, one paraffinic and the other napthenic. To each base stock was added each of three aromatic type fuels (alkyl benzenes, tetralin, and naphthalenes) for assigned initial boiling point, final boiling point, and hydrogen content. The hydrogen content was 13.5 mass percent for the paraffinic base stock blends and 12.5 mass percent and 11.5 mass percent for the naphthenic base stock blends. Sample 5-gallon quantities of all blends were prepared and analyzed.

Rapid phenolic O-glycosylation of small molecules and complex unprotected peptides in aqueous solvent

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wadzinski, Tyler J.; Steinauer, Angela; Hie, Liana; Pelletier, Guillaume; Schepartz, Alanna; Miller, Scott J.

2018-06-01

Glycosylated natural products and synthetic glycopeptides represent a significant and growing source of biochemical probes and therapeutic agents. However, methods that enable the aqueous glycosylation of endogenous amino acid functionality in peptides without the use of protecting groups are scarce. Here, we report a transformation that facilitates the efficient aqueous O-glycosylation of phenolic functionality in a wide range of small molecules, unprotected tyrosine, and tyrosine residues embedded within a range of complex, fully unprotected peptides. The transformation, which uses glycosyl fluoride donors and is promoted by Ca(OH)2, proceeds rapidly at room temperature in water, with good yields and selective formation of unique anomeric products depending on the stereochemistry of the glycosyl donor. High functional group tolerance is observed, and the phenol glycosylation occurs selectively in the presence of virtually all side chains of the proteinogenic amino acids with the singular exception of Cys. This method offers a highly selective, efficient, and operationally simple approach for the protecting-group-free synthesis of O-aryl glycosides and Tyr-O-glycosylated peptides in water.

Chip-scale pattern modification method for equalizing residual layer thickness in nanoimprint lithography

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Youn, Sung-Won; Suzuki, Kenta; Hiroshima, Hiroshi

2018-06-01

A software program for modifying a mold design to obtain a uniform residual layer thickness (RLT) distribution has been developed and its validity was verified by UV-nanoimprint lithography (UV-NIL) simulation. First, the effects of granularity (G) on both residual layer uniformity and filling characteristics were characterized. For a constant complementary pattern depth and a granularity that was sufficiently larger than the minimum pattern width, filling time decreased with the decrease in granularity. For a pattern design with a wide density range and an irregular distribution, the choice of a small granularity was not always a good strategy since the etching depth required for a complementary pattern occasionally exceptionally increased with the decrease in granularity. On basis of the results obtained, the automated method was applied to a chip-scale pattern modification. Simulation results showed a marked improvement in residual layer thickness uniformity for a capacity-equalized (CE) mold. For the given conditions, the standard deviation of RLT decreased in the range from 1/3 to 1/5 in accordance with pattern designs.

Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) for Chemical Sensing Applications of Recognition Layers.

PubMed

Mujahid, Adnan; Dickert, Franz L

2017-11-24

Surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonators represent some of the most prominent acoustic devices for chemical sensing applications. As their frequency ranges from several hundred MHz to GHz, therefore they can record remarkably diminutive frequency shifts resulting from exceptionally small mass loadings. Their miniaturized design, high thermal stability and possibility of wireless integration make these devices highly competitive. Owing to these special characteristics, they are widely accepted as smart transducers that can be combined with a variety of recognition layers based on host-guest interactions, metal oxide coatings, carbon nanotubes, graphene sheets, functional polymers and biological receptors. As a result of this, there is a broad spectrum of SAW sensors, i.e., having sensing applications ranging from small gas molecules to large bio-analytes or even whole cell structures. This review shall cover from the fundamentals to modern design developments in SAW devices with respect to interfacial receptor coatings for exemplary sensor applications. The related problems and their possible solutions shall also be covered, with a focus on emerging trends and future opportunities for making SAW as established sensing technology.

Effect of Multiple Cation Electrolyte Mixtures on Rechargeable Zn–MnO 2 Alkaline Battery

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

Hertzberg, Benjamin J.; Huang, An; Hsieh, Andrew

2016-05-23

A Bi 2O 3 in β-MnO 2 composite cathode material has been synthesized using a simple hydrothermal method and cycled in a mixed KOH–LiOH electrolyte with a range of concentrations. We show that, at a KOH:LiOH molar ratio of 1:3, both proton insertion and lithium insertion occur, allowing access to a higher fraction of the theoretical capacity of the MnO 2 while preventing the formation of ZnMn 2O 4. This enables a capacity of 360 mAh/g for over 60 cycles, with cycling limited more by anode properties than traditional cathodic failure mechanisms. The structural changes occurring during cycling are characterizedmore » using electron microscopy and in situ synchrotron energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDXRD) techniques. This mixed electrolyte shows exceptional cyclability and capacity and can be used as a drop-in replacement for current alkaline batteries, potentially drastically improving their cycle life and creating a wide range of new applications for this energy storage technology.« less

Dosage delivery of sensitive reagents enables glove-box-free synthesis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sather, Aaron C.; Lee, Hong Geun; Colombe, James R.; Zhang, Anni; Buchwald, Stephen L.

2015-08-01

Contemporary organic chemists employ a broad range of catalytic and stoichiometric methods to construct molecules for applications in the material sciences, and as pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and sensors. The utility of a synthetic method may be greatly reduced if it relies on a glove box to enable the use of air- and moisture-sensitive reagents or catalysts. Furthermore, many synthetic chemistry laboratories have numerous containers of partially used reagents that have been spoiled by exposure to the ambient atmosphere. This is exceptionally wasteful from both an environmental and a cost perspective. Here we report an encapsulation method for stabilizing and storing air- and moisture-sensitive compounds. We demonstrate this approach in three contexts, by describing single-use capsules that contain all of the reagents (catalysts, ligands, and bases) necessary for the glove-box-free palladium-catalysed carbon-fluorine, carbon-nitrogen, and carbon-carbon bond-forming reactions. This strategy should reduce the number of error-prone, tedious and time-consuming weighing procedures required for such syntheses and should be applicable to a wide range of reagents, catalysts, and substrate combinations.

Effect of Multiple Cation Electrolyte Mixtures on Rechargeable Zn-MnO 2 Alkaline Battery

DOE PAGES

Hertzberg, Benjamin J.; Huang, An; Hsieh, Andrew; ...

2016-05-23

A Bi 2O 3 in β-MnO 2 composite cathode material has been synthesized using a simple hydrothermal method and cycled in a mixed KOH–LiOH electrolyte with a range of concentrations. We show that, at a KOH:LiOH molar ratio of 1:3, both proton insertion and lithium insertion occur, allowing access to a higher fraction of the theoretical capacity of the MnO 2 while preventing the formation of ZnMn 2O 4. This enables a capacity of 360 mAh/g for over 60 cycles, with cycling limited more by anode properties than traditional cathodic failure mechanisms. The structural changes occurring during cycling are characterizedmore » using electron microscopy and in situ synchrotron energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDXRD) techniques. This mixed electrolyte shows exceptional cyclability and capacity and can be used as a drop-in replacement for current alkaline batteries, potentially drastically improving their cycle life and creating a wide range of new applications for this energy storage technology.« less

Electrodynamics of quantum spin liquids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dressel, Martin; Pustogow, Andrej

2018-05-01

Quantum spin liquids attract great interest due to their exceptional magnetic properties characterized by the absence of long-range order down to low temperatures despite the strong magnetic interaction. Commonly, these compounds are strongly correlated electron systems, and their electrodynamic response is governed by the Mott gap in the excitation spectrum. Here we summarize and discuss the optical properties of several two-dimensional quantum spin liquid candidates. First we consider the inorganic material herbertsmithite ZnCu3(OH)6Cl2 and related compounds, which crystallize in a kagome lattice. Then we turn to the organic compounds -EtMe3Sb[Pd(dmit)2]2, κ-(BEDT-TTF)2Ag2(CN)3 and κ-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu2(CN)3, where the spins are arranged in an almost perfect triangular lattice, leading to strong frustration. Due to differences in bandwidth, the effective correlation strength varies over a wide range, leading to a rather distinct behavior as far as the electrodynamic properties are concerned. We discuss the spinon contributions to the optical conductivity in comparison to metallic quantum fluctuations in the vicinity of the Mott transition.

Accurate atomistic potentials and training sets for boron-nitride nanostructures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tamblyn, Isaac

Boron nitride nanotubes exhibit exceptional structural, mechanical, and thermal properties. They are optically transparent and have high thermal stability, suggesting a wide range of opportunities for structural reinforcement of materials. Modeling can play an important role in determining the optimal approach to integrating nanotubes into a supporting matrix. Developing accurate, atomistic scale models of such nanoscale interfaces embedded within composites is challenging, however, due to the mismatch of length scales involved. Typical nanotube diameters range from 5-50 nm, with a length as large as a micron (i.e. a relevant length-scale for structural reinforcement). Unlike their carbon-based counterparts, well tested and transferable interatomic force fields are not common for BNNT. In light of this, we have developed an extensive training database of BN rich materials, under conditions relevant for BNNT synthesis and composites based on extensive first principles molecular dynamics simulations. Using this data, we have produced an artificial neural network potential capable of reproducing the accuracy of first principles data at significantly reduced computational cost, allowing for accurate simulation at the much larger length scales needed for composite design.

Direct Visualization of Conformation and Dense Packing of DNA-Based Soft Colloids

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Jing; Lettinga, Paul M.; Dhont, Jan K. G.; Stiakakis, Emmanuel

2014-12-01

Soft colloids—such as polymer-coated particles, star polymers, block-copolymer micelles, microgels—constitute a broad class of materials where microscopic properties such as deformability and penetrability of the particle play a key role in tailoring their macroscopic properties which is of interest in many technological areas. The ability to access these microscopic properties is not yet demonstrated despite its great importance. Here we introduce novel DNA-coated colloids with star-shaped architecture that allows accessing the above local structural information by directly visualizing their intramolecular monomer density profile and arm's free-end locations with confocal fluorescent microscopy. Compression experiments on a two-dimensional hexagonal lattice formed by these macromolecular assemblies reveal an exceptional resistance to mutual interpenetration of their charged corona at pressures approaching the MPa range. Furthermore, we find that this lattice, in a close packing configuration, is surprisingly tolerant to particle size variation. We anticipate that these stimuli-responsive materials could aid to get deeper insight in a wide range of problems in soft matter, including the study and design of biomimetic lubricated surfaces.

Predictions of the spontaneous symmetry-breaking theory for visual code completeness and spatial scaling in single-cell learning rules.

PubMed

Webber, C J

2001-05-01

This article shows analytically that single-cell learning rules that give rise to oriented and localized receptive fields, when their synaptic weights are randomly and independently initialized according to a plausible assumption of zero prior information, will generate visual codes that are invariant under two-dimensional translations, rotations, and scale magnifications, provided that the statistics of their training images are sufficiently invariant under these transformations. Such codes span different image locations, orientations, and size scales with equal economy. Thus, single-cell rules could account for the spatial scaling property of the cortical simple-cell code. This prediction is tested computationally by training with natural scenes; it is demonstrated that a single-cell learning rule can give rise to simple-cell receptive fields spanning the full range of orientations, image locations, and spatial frequencies (except at the extreme high and low frequencies at which the scale invariance of the statistics of digitally sampled images must ultimately break down, because of the image boundary and the finite pixel resolution). Thus, no constraint on completeness, or any other coupling between cells, is necessary to induce the visual code to span wide ranges of locations, orientations, and size scales. This prediction is made using the theory of spontaneous symmetry breaking, which we have previously shown can also explain the data-driven self-organization of a wide variety of transformation invariances in neurons' responses, such as the translation invariance of complex cell response.

Non-coding genomic regions possessing enhancer and silencer potential are associated with healthy aging and exceptional survival.

PubMed

Kim, Sangkyu; Welsh, David A; Myers, Leann; Cherry, Katie E; Wyckoff, Jennifer; Jazwinski, S Michal

2015-02-28

We have completed a genome-wide linkage scan for healthy aging using data collected from a family study, followed by fine-mapping by association in a separate population, the first such attempt reported. The family cohort consisted of parents of age 90 or above and their children ranging in age from 50 to 80. As a quantitative measure of healthy aging, we used a frailty index, called FI34, based on 34 health and function variables. The linkage scan found a single significant linkage peak on chromosome 12. Using an independent cohort of unrelated nonagenarians, we carried out a fine-scale association mapping of the region suggestive of linkage and identified three sites associated with healthy aging. These healthy-aging sites (HASs) are located in intergenic regions at 12q13-14. HAS-1 has been previously associated with multiple diseases, and an enhancer was recently mapped and experimentally validated within the site. HAS-2 is a previously uncharacterized site possessing genomic features suggestive of enhancer activity. HAS-3 contains features associated with Polycomb repression. The HASs also contain variants associated with exceptional longevity, based on a separate analysis. Our results provide insight into functional genomic networks involving non-coding regulatory elements that are involved in healthy aging and longevity.

Non-coding genomic regions possessing enhancer and silencer potential are associated with healthy aging and exceptional survival

PubMed Central

Kim, Sangkyu; Welsh, David A.; Myers, Leann; Cherry, Katie E.; Wyckoff, Jennifer; Jazwinski, S. Michal

2015-01-01

We have completed a genome-wide linkage scan for healthy aging using data collected from a family study, followed by fine-mapping by association in a separate population, the first such attempt reported. The family cohort consisted of parents of age 90 or above and their children ranging in age from 50 to 80. As a quantitative measure of healthy aging, we used a frailty index, called FI34, based on 34 health and function variables. The linkage scan found a single significant linkage peak on chromosome 12. Using an independent cohort of unrelated nonagenarians, we carried out a fine-scale association mapping of the region suggestive of linkage and identified three sites associated with healthy aging. These healthy-aging sites (HASs) are located in intergenic regions at 12q13–14. HAS-1 has been previously associated with multiple diseases, and an enhancer was recently mapped and experimentally validated within the site. HAS-2 is a previously uncharacterized site possessing genomic features suggestive of enhancer activity. HAS-3 contains features associated with Polycomb repression. The HASs also contain variants associated with exceptional longevity, based on a separate analysis. Our results provide insight into functional genomic networks involving non-coding regulatory elements that are involved in healthy aging and longevity. PMID:25682868

Noncanonical self-assembly of multifunctional DNA nanoflowers for biomedical applications.

PubMed

Zhu, Guizhi; Hu, Rong; Zhao, Zilong; Chen, Zhuo; Zhang, Xiaobing; Tan, Weihong

2013-11-06

DNA nanotechnology has been extensively explored to assemble various functional nanostructures for versatile applications. Mediated by Watson-Crick base-pairing, these DNA nanostructures have been conventionally assembled through hybridization of many short DNA building blocks. Here we report the noncanonical self-assembly of multifunctional DNA nanostructures, termed as nanoflowers (NFs), and the versatile biomedical applications. These NFs were assembled from long DNA building blocks generated via rolling circle replication (RCR) of a designer template. NF assembly was driven by liquid crystallization and dense packaging of building blocks, without relying on Watson-Crick base-pairing between DNA strands, thereby avoiding the otherwise conventional complicated DNA sequence design. NF sizes were readily tunable in a wide range, by simply adjusting such parameters as assembly time and template sequences. NFs were exceptionally resistant to nuclease degradation, denaturation, or dissociation at extremely low concentration, presumably resulting from the dense DNA packaging in NFs. The exceptional biostability is critical for biomedical applications. By rational design, NFs can be readily incorporated with myriad functional moieties. All these properties make NFs promising for versatile applications. As a proof-of-principle demonstration, in this study, NFs were integrated with aptamers, bioimaging agents, and drug loading sites, and the resultant multifunctional NFs were demonstrated for selective cancer cell recognition, bioimaging, and targeted anticancer drug delivery.

Noncanonical self-assembly of multifunctional DNA nanoflowers for biomedical applications

PubMed Central

Zhu, Guizhi; Hu, Rong; Zhao, Zilong; Chen, Zhuo; Zhang, Xiaobing; Tan, Weihong

2013-01-01

DNA nanotechnology has been extensively explored to assemble various functional nanostructures for versatile applications. Mediated by Watson-Crick base-pairing, these DNA nanostructures have been conventionally assembled through hybridization of many short DNA building blocks. Here we report the noncanonical self-assembly of multifunctional DNA nanostructures, termed as nanoflowers (NFs), and the versatile biomedical applications. These NFs were assembled from long DNA building blocks generated via Rolling Circle Replication (RCR) of a designer template. NF assembly was driven by liquid crystallization and dense packaging of building blocks, without relying on Watson-Crick base-pairing between DNA strands, thereby avoiding the otherwise conventional complicated DNA sequence design. NF sizes were readily tunable in a wide range, by simply adjusting such parameters as assembly time and template sequences. NFs were exceptionally resistant to nuclease degradation, denaturation, or dissociation at extremely low concentration, presumably resulting from the dense DNA packaging in NFs. The exceptional biostability is critical for biomedical applications. By rational design, NFs can be readily incorporated with myriad functional moieties. All these properties make NFs promising for versatile applications. As a proof-of-principle demonstration, in this study, NFs were integrated with aptamers, bioimaging agents, and drug loading sites, and the resultant multifunctional NFs were demonstrated for selective cancer cell recognition, bioimaging, and targeted anticancer drug delivery. PMID:24164620

Coexistence of ferromagnetism and spin glass freezing in the site-disordered kagome ferrite SrSn2Fe4O11

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shlyk, Larysa; Strobel, S.; Farmer, B.; De Long, L. E.; Niewa, R.

2018-05-01

Single-crystal x-ray diffraction refinements indicate SrSn2Fe4O11 crystallizes in the hexagonal R-type ferrite structure with non-centrosymmetric space group P63mc and lattice parameters a = 5.9541(2) Å, c = 13.5761(5) Å, Z = 2 (R(F) = 0.034). Octahedrally coordinated sites are randomly occupied by Sn and Fe; whereas tetrahedrally coordinated sites are exclusively occupied by Fe, whose displacement from ideal trigonal-bipyramidal coordination causes the loss of inversion symmetry. DC magnetization data indicate SrSn2Fe4O11 single crystals undergo ferro- or ferri-magnetic order below a transition temperature TC = 630 K with very low coercive fields Hc ⊥ = 0.27 Oe and Hc// = 1.5 Oe at 300 K, for applied fields perpendicular and parallel to the c-axis, respectively. The value for TC is exceptionally high, and the coercive fields exceptionally low, among the known R-type ferrites. Enhanced coercivity and thermomagnetic hysteresis suggest the onset of short-range, spin glass order occurs below Tf = 35 K. Optical measurements indicate a band gap of 0.8 eV, consistent with wide-gap semiconducting behavior and a previously established empirical correlation between the semiconducting gap and TC for R-type ferrites based upon Ru.

Trends in genome-wide and region-specific genetic diversity in the Dutch-Flemish Holstein-Friesian breeding program from 1986 to 2015.

PubMed

Doekes, Harmen P; Veerkamp, Roel F; Bijma, Piter; Hiemstra, Sipke J; Windig, Jack J

2018-04-11

In recent decades, Holstein-Friesian (HF) selection schemes have undergone profound changes, including the introduction of optimal contribution selection (OCS; around 2000), a major shift in breeding goal composition (around 2000) and the implementation of genomic selection (GS; around 2010). These changes are expected to have influenced genetic diversity trends. Our aim was to evaluate genome-wide and region-specific diversity in HF artificial insemination (AI) bulls in the Dutch-Flemish breeding program from 1986 to 2015. Pedigree and genotype data (~ 75.5 k) of 6280 AI-bulls were used to estimate rates of genome-wide inbreeding and kinship and corresponding effective population sizes. Region-specific inbreeding trends were evaluated using regions of homozygosity (ROH). Changes in observed allele frequencies were compared to those expected under pure drift to identify putative regions under selection. We also investigated the direction of changes in allele frequency over time. Effective population size estimates for the 1986-2015 period ranged from 69 to 102. Two major breakpoints were observed in genome-wide inbreeding and kinship trends. Around 2000, inbreeding and kinship levels temporarily dropped. From 2010 onwards, they steeply increased, with pedigree-based, ROH-based and marker-based inbreeding rates as high as 1.8, 2.1 and 2.8% per generation, respectively. Accumulation of inbreeding varied substantially across the genome. A considerable fraction of markers showed changes in allele frequency that were greater than expected under pure drift. Putative selected regions harboured many quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated to a wide range of traits. In consecutive 5-year periods, allele frequencies changed more often in the same direction than in opposite directions, except when comparing the 1996-2000 and 2001-2005 periods. Genome-wide and region-specific diversity trends reflect major changes in the Dutch-Flemish HF breeding program. Introduction of OCS and the shift in breeding goal were followed by a drop in inbreeding and kinship and a shift in the direction of changes in allele frequency. After introduction of GS, rates of inbreeding and kinship increased substantially while allele frequencies continued to change in the same direction as before GS. These results provide insight in the effect of breeding practices on genomic diversity and emphasize the need for efficient management of genetic diversity in GS schemes.

Flexible Ferroelectric Sensors with Ultrahigh Pressure Sensitivity and Linear Response over Exceptionally Broad Pressure Range.

PubMed

Lee, Youngoh; Park, Jonghwa; Cho, Soowon; Shin, Young-Eun; Lee, Hochan; Kim, Jinyoung; Myoung, Jinyoung; Cho, Seungse; Kang, Saewon; Baig, Chunggi; Ko, Hyunhyub

2018-04-24

Flexible pressure sensors with a high sensitivity over a broad linear range can simplify wearable sensing systems without additional signal processing for the linear output, enabling device miniaturization and low power consumption. Here, we demonstrate a flexible ferroelectric sensor with ultrahigh pressure sensitivity and linear response over an exceptionally broad pressure range based on the material and structural design of ferroelectric composites with a multilayer interlocked microdome geometry. Due to the stress concentration between interlocked microdome arrays and increased contact area in the multilayer design, the flexible ferroelectric sensors could perceive static/dynamic pressure with high sensitivity (47.7 kPa -1 , 1.3 Pa minimum detection). In addition, efficient stress distribution between stacked multilayers enables linear sensing over exceptionally broad pressure range (0.0013-353 kPa) with fast response time (20 ms) and high reliability over 5000 repetitive cycles even at an extremely high pressure of 272 kPa. Our sensor can be used to monitor diverse stimuli from a low to a high pressure range including weak gas flow, acoustic sound, wrist pulse pressure, respiration, and foot pressure with a single device.

Crossing Y-stent technique with dual open-cell stents for coiling of wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms.

PubMed

Ko, Jun Kyeung; Han, In Ho; Cho, Won Ho; Choi, Byung Kwan; Cha, Seung Heon; Choi, Chang Hwa; Lee, Sang Weon; Lee, Tae Hong

2015-05-01

Double stenting in a Y-configuration is a promising therapeutic option for wide-necked cerebral aneurysms not amenable to reconstruction with a single stent. We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy and safety of the crossing Y-stent technique for coiling of wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms. By collecting clinical and radiological data we evaluated from January 2007 through December 2013, 20 wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms. Twelve unruptured and eight ruptured aneurysms in 20 patients were treated with crossing Y-stent-assisted coiling. Aneurysm size and neck size ranged from 3.2 to 28.2mm (mean 7.5mm) and from 1.9 to 9.1mm (mean 4.5mm). A Y-configuration was established successfully in all 20 patients. All aneurysms were treated with a pair of Neuroform stents. The immediate angiographic results were total occlusion in 17 aneurysms, residual neck in two, and residual sac in one. Peri-operative morbidity was only 5%. Fifteen of 18 surviving patients underwent follow-up conventional angiography (mean, 10.9 months). The result showed stable occlusion in all 15 aneurysms and asymptomatic in-stent occlusion in one branch artery. At the end of the observation period (mean, 33.5 months), all 12 patients without subarachnoid hemorrhage had excellent clinical outcomes (mRS 0), except one (mRS 2). Of eight patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage, four remained symptom free (mRS 0), while the other four had were dependent or dead (mRS score, 3-6). In this report on 20 patients, crossing Y-stent technique for coiling of wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms showed a good technical safety and favorable clinical and angiographic outcome. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Hydrologic sections through Lee County and adjacent areas of Hendry and Collier counties, Florida

USGS Publications Warehouse

Boggess, Durward H.; Missimer, T.M.; O'Donnell, T. H.

1981-01-01

The freshwater underlying Lee, western Hendry, and northern Collier Counties occurs within the marine terrace sands, the Fort Thompson, Caloosahatchee, Tamiami, and Hawthorn Formations. These are, respectively, the water-table aquifer, an aquifer in the Tamiami Formation, and an aquifer in the upper part of the Hawthorn Formation. These aquifers are separated by clay, marl, and marly limestone. Wells tapping the water-table aquifer are commonly less than 50 feet deep, with yields ranging from 5 to 500 gallons per minute. The water quality in the aquifer is usually good, except for iron, which generally exceeds 1 milligram per liter, and color, which ranges from 30 to 600 Platinum-Cobalt units. Wells tapping the Tamiami aquifer range in depth from about 60 to 300 feet; most are less than 100 feet deep. Yields range from 20 to 500 gallons per minute. The water quality in the Tamiami aquifer is good, except where affected by leakage from deep artesian wells. Wells tapping the upper Hawthorn aquifer range in depth from about 100 to 300 feet. Yields range from 10 to 500 gallons per minute. The water quality from the upper Hawthorn aquifer is good, except in areas where upward leakage from the deep artesian aquifer has occurred. (USGS)

Continent-wide distribution in mycorrhizal fungi: implications for the biogeography of specialized orchids

PubMed Central

Davis, Belinda J.; Phillips, Ryan D.; Wright, Magali; Linde, Celeste C.; Dixon, Kingsley W.

2015-01-01

Background and Aims Although mycorrhizal associations are predominantly generalist, specialized mycorrhizal interactions have repeatedly evolved in Orchidaceae, suggesting a potential role in limiting the geographical range of orchid species. In particular, the Australian orchid flora is characterized by high mycorrhizal specialization and short-range endemism. This study investigates the mycorrhizae used by Pheladenia deformis, one of the few orchid species to occur across the Australian continent. Specifically, it examines whether P. deformis is widely distributed through using multiple fungi or a single widespread fungus, and if the fungi used by Australian orchids are widespread at the continental scale. Methods Mycorrhizal fungi were isolated from P. deformis populations in eastern and western Australia. Germination trials using seed from western Australian populations were conducted to test if these fungi supported germination, regardless of the region in which they occurred. A phylogenetic analysis was undertaken using isolates from P. deformis and other Australian orchids that use the genus Sebacina to test for the occurrence of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in eastern and western Australia. Key Results With the exception of one isolate, all fungi used by P. deformis belonged to a single fungal OTU of Sebacina. Fungal isolates from eastern and western Australia supported germination of P. deformis. A phylogenetic analysis of Australian Sebacina revealed that all of the OTUs that had been well sampled occurred on both sides of the continent. Conclusions The use of a widespread fungal OTU in P. deformis enables a broad distribution despite high mycorrhizal specificity. The Sebacina OTUs that are used by a range of Australian orchids occur on both sides of the continent, demonstrating that the short-range endemism prevalent in the orchids is not driven by fungal species with narrow distributions. Alternatively, a combination of specific edaphic requirements and a high incidence of pollination by sexual deception may explain biogeographic patterns in southern Australian orchids. PMID:26105186

Mineralogy and composition of matrix and chondrule rims in carbonaceous chondrites

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zolensky, Michael; Barrett, Ruth; Browning, Lauren

1993-01-01

The degree of compositional variation of fine-grained minerals displayed by the members within any carbonaceous chondrite group (i.e., CI, CM, CV, CR) is a direct reflection of the range of aqueous alteration assemblages present. Matrix and fine-grained chondrule rims within any particular carbonaceous chondrite are mineralogically nearly identical to one another, but not necessarily similar in bulk elemental composition, even though they have subsequently experienced postaccretional secondary processing (aqueous alteration) under identical conditions. We propose that CO chondrites experienced parent body conditions of low f(O2), low water/rock ratios, and temperatures below 50 C. CR chondrites experienced higher water/rock ratios, potentially higher temperatures (not above 150 C), and a wide range of f(O2). The alteration mineralogy of CV chondrites indicates water/rock ratios at the high end (at least) of the range for CR chondrites, Essebi, and MAC 87300. CM chondrites experienced temperatures below 50 C, low f(O2) and low water/rock ratios, except EET 83334, which probably experienced relatively higher f(O2), and B-7904 and Y-86720, which experienced postalteration temperatures in the range 500-700 C. Most CI chondrites experienced temperatures between 50 and 150 C, relatively high water/rock ratios, and variable f(O2). Y-82162 witnessed postalteration heating, possibly as high as 400 C.

Comparative phylogeography of two crow species: jungle crow Corvus macrorhynchos and carrion crow Corvus corone.

PubMed

Kryukov, Alexey; Spiridonova, Liudmila; Nakamura, Sumio; Haring, Elisabeth; Suzuki, Hitoshi

2012-08-01

The jungle crow Corvus macrorhynchos Wagler, 1827, and the carrion crow Corvus corone L., 1758, are two closely related species with similar ecological requirements that occupy wide distribution ranges in the Palearctic. We studied patterns of their genetic variation by using sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Corvus macrorhynchos demonstrates a low level of variation and differentiation throughout its range, except for a highly diverged population of Cheju Island (Korea). The haplotype network shows two haplogroups. The island group comprises populations of Sakhalin, Hokkaido, Honshu, and Kyushu, while the haplotypes of Taiwan and Ryukyu Islands proved to be closer to the mainland group, which also includes populations from the Primorye, Khabarovsk, Amur, and Magadan regions in the Russian Far East. This pattern allowed us to develop a phylogeographic hypothesis regarding the two modes of settling of the island populations. Concerning C. corone, the presence of two distinct haplogroups was confirmed within the range of C. c. orientalis. Both haplogroups are found within the same populations in Kamchatka and North Sakhalin, which implies secondary contacts there. Populations of C. corone are found to be rather stable in the western parts of its range, while in the Far East populations experienced recent growth, as was observed for C. macrorhynchos in general. The two species appear to have passed through different evolutionary scenarios.

Moral absolutism and the double-effect exception: reflections on Joseph Boyle's Who is entitled to double effect?

PubMed

Donagan, A

1991-10-01

Joseph Boyle raises important questions about the place of the double-effect exception in absolutist moral theories. His own absolutist theory (held by many, but not all, Catholic moralists), which derives from the principles that fundamental human goods may not be intentionally violated, cannot dispense with such exceptions, although he rightly rejects some widely held views about what they are. By contrast, Kantian absolutist theory, which derives from the principle that lawful freedom must not be violated, has a corollary--that it is a duty, where possible, to coerce those who try to violate lawful freedom--which makes superfluous many of the double-effect exceptions Boyle allows. Other implications of the two theories are contrasted. Inter alia, it is argued that, in Boyle's theory, that a violation of a fundamental human good can be viewed as a cost proportionate to a benefit obtained, cannot yield a double-effect exception to the prohibition of intentionally violating that good, because paying a cost cannot be unintentional.

Dark Murky Clouds in the Bright Milky Way

NASA Image and Video Library

2011-08-24

This infrared image from NASA Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer shows exceptionally cold, dense cloud cores seen in silhouette against the bright diffuse infrared glow of the plane of the Milky Way galaxy.

Reconstructing diet in Napoleon's Grand Army using stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis.

PubMed

Holder, Sammantha; Dupras, Tosha L; Jankauskas, Rimantas; Williams, Lana; Schultz, John

2017-05-01

Historical evidence has provided information regarding disease and mortality in Napoleon Bonaparte's Grand Army, but dietary information beyond individual soldier accounts remains scarce. The purpose of this research is to reconstruct the diets of Napoleon's multiethnic army who were associated with the Russian Campaign of 1812. We conducted stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratio analysis on femoral bone collagen of 78 individuals recovered from a salvage excavation at the mass gravesite of Šiaurės miestelis in Vilnius, Lithuania. These individuals were later discovered to be Napoleonic soldiers and camp followers who participated in the 1812 Russian Campaign. Stable carbon isotope ratios range from -19.2‰ to -11.8‰, with a mean of -17.8‰ ± 1.5‰ (1 σ). Stable nitrogen isotope ratios range from 7.1‰ to 13.6‰, with a mean of 10.5‰ ± 1.4‰ (1 σ). Both δ 13 C and δ 15 N values show a wide range of variation. Stable isotope data indicate considerable dietary variation in this population associated with a multiethnic and socially stratified military population. Diets ranged from predominantly C 3 -based to predominantly C 4 -based, with varying inputs of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine animal protein. Comparison with other European populations further denotes the exceptional range of dietary variation of soldiers and camp followers in Napoleon's army. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Dependence of frictional strength on compositional variations of Hayward fault rock gouges

USGS Publications Warehouse

Morrow, Carolyn A.; Moore, Diane E.; Lockner, David A.

2010-01-01

The northern termination of the locked portion of the Hayward Fault near Berkeley, California, is found to coincide with the transition from strong Franciscan metagraywacke to melange on the western side of the fault. Both of these units are juxtaposed with various serpentinite, gabbro and graywacke units to the east, suggesting that the gouges formed within the Hayward Fault zone may vary widely due to the mixing of adjacent rock units and that the mechanical behavior of the fault would be best modeled by determining the frictional properties of mixtures of the principal rock types. To this end, room temperature, water-saturated, triaxial shearing tests were conducted on binary and ternary mixtures of fine-grained gouges prepared from serpentinite and gabbro from the Coast Range Ophiolite, a Great Valley Sequence graywacke, and three different Franciscan Complex metasedimentary rocks. Friction coefficients ranged from 0.36 for the serpentinite to 0.84 for the gabbro, with four of the rock types having coefficients of friction ranging from 0.67-0.84. The friction coefficients of the mixtures can be predicted reliably by a simple weighted average of the end-member dry-weight percentages and strengths for all samples except those containing serpentinite. For the serpentinite mixtures, a linear trend between end-member values slightly overestimates the coefficients of friction in the midcomposition ranges. The range in strength for these rock admixtures suggests that both theoretical and numerical modeling of the fault should attempt to account for variations in rock and gouge properties.

On the reliability of seasonal climate forecasts

PubMed Central

Weisheimer, A.; Palmer, T. N.

2014-01-01

Seasonal climate forecasts are being used increasingly across a range of application sectors. A recent UK governmental report asked: how good are seasonal forecasts on a scale of 1–5 (where 5 is very good), and how good can we expect them to be in 30 years time? Seasonal forecasts are made from ensembles of integrations of numerical models of climate. We argue that ‘goodness’ should be assessed first and foremost in terms of the probabilistic reliability of these ensemble-based forecasts; reliable inputs are essential for any forecast-based decision-making. We propose that a ‘5’ should be reserved for systems that are not only reliable overall, but where, in particular, small ensemble spread is a reliable indicator of low ensemble forecast error. We study the reliability of regional temperature and precipitation forecasts of the current operational seasonal forecast system of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, universally regarded as one of the world-leading operational institutes producing seasonal climate forecasts. A wide range of ‘goodness’ rankings, depending on region and variable (with summer forecasts of rainfall over Northern Europe performing exceptionally poorly) is found. Finally, we discuss the prospects of reaching ‘5’ across all regions and variables in 30 years time. PMID:24789559

Life strategies of a ubiquitous and abundant subsurface archaeal group Bathyarchaeota

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Y.; Li, M.; Perumal, V.; Feng, X.; Sievert, S. M.; Wang, F.

2015-12-01

Archaea belonging to the Miscellaneous Crenarchaeota Group (MCG, "Candidatus Bathyarchaeota") are widespread and abundant in the deep biosphere, yet their life strategies and ecological roles remain elusive. Metagenomic sequencing of a sample enriched in Bathyarchaeota (up to 74%) that originated from Guaymas Basin deep-sea vent sediments revealed 6 partial to nearly completed Bathyarchaeota genomic bins. ranging ~900kb-3.3Mb. The Bathyarchaeota bin size ranged from approximately 0.9 to 3.3 Mb, with coverage ranging from approximately 10× to 28×. The phylogeny based on 110 concatenated conserved archaeal single copy genes confirmed the placement of Bathyarchaeota into a novel archaeal phylum. Genes encoding for enzymes involved in the degradation of organic polymers such as protein, cellulose, chitin, and aromatic compounds, were identified. In addition, genes encoding glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, beta-oxidation pathways and the tricarboxylic acid cycle (except citrate synthase) were present in all genomic bins highlighting the heterotrophic life style of Bathyarchaeota. The presence of a wide variety of transporters of organic compounds further supports the versatile heterotrophic metabolism of Bathyarchaeota. This study highlights the life strategies of a ubiquitous and abundant subsurface archaeal group that thrives under energy-limited conditions, and expands the metabolic potentials of Archaea that play important roles in carbon cycling in marine sediments.

Trace analysis of pesticides in paddy field water by direct injection using liquid chromatography-quadrupole-linear ion trap-mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Pareja, Lucía; Martínez-Bueno, M J; Cesio, Verónica; Heinzen, Horacio; Fernández-Alba, A R

2011-07-29

A multiresidue method was developed for the quantification and confirmation of 70 pesticides in paddy field water. After its filtration, water was injected directly in a liquid chromatograph coupled to a hybrid triple quadrupole-linear ion trap-mass spectrometer (QqLIT). The list of target analytes included organophosphates, phenylureas, sulfonylureas, carbamates, conazoles, imidazolinones and others compounds widely used in different countries where rice is cropped. Detection and quantification limits achieved were in the range from 0.4 to 80 ng L(-1) and from 2 to 150 ng L(-1), respectively. Correlation coefficients for the calibration curves in the range 0.1-50 μg L(-1) were higher than 0.99 except for diazinon (0.1-25 μg L(-1)). Only 9 pesticides presented more than 20% of signal suppression/enhancement, no matrix effect was observed in the studied conditions for the rest of the target pesticides. The method developed was used to investigate the occurrence of pesticides in 59 water samples collected in paddy fields located in Spain and Uruguay. The study shows the presence of bensulfuron methyl, tricyclazole, carbendazim, imidacloprid, tebuconazole and quinclorac in a concentration range from 0.08 to 7.20 μg L(-1). Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Occurrence and fate of benzotriazoles UV filters in a typical residential wastewater treatment plant in Harbin, China.

PubMed

Zhao, Xue; Zhang, Zi-Feng; Xu, Lei; Liu, Li-Yan; Song, Wei-Wei; Zhu, Fu-Jie; Li, Yi-Fan; Ma, Wan-Li

2017-08-01

Benzotriazoles (BTs) UV filters are widely used as ultraviolet absorbents for our daily products, which received increasing attention in the past decades. Residential wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is both an important sink for wastewater and a key pollution source for receiving water for these chemicals. In this study, pretreatment and gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis method were developed to determine the occurrence and fate of 9 BTs UV filters in wastewater and sludge from the WWTP with anaerobic-oxic treatment process (A/O) and biological aerated filter treatment process (BAF). Totally, 81 wastewater samples and 11 sludge samples were collected in four seasons. In wastewater, UV-326 and UV-329 were frequently detected, while the highest mean concentrations were detected for UV-234 and UV-329. The concentrations were in the range of 85% in A/O process and 60-77% in BAF process except for UV-350, which was more difficult to remove with lower removal efficiencies of 33.3% for both A/O and BAF. All the target chemicals except for UV-320 were detected in sludge samples with the mean concentration ranging from 0.90 ng/g to 303.39 ng/g. There was no significant difference with concentrations and removal efficiency among different seasons. Higher detection frequency and concentration of BTs UV filters in downstream of the receiving water system indicated the contribution of effluent of the WWTP. Compared with other rivers, the lower concentrations in surface water in the Songhua River indicated light pollution status with of BTs UV filters. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A Comparison Between Gravity Wave Momentum Fluxes in Observations and Climate Models

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Geller, Marvin A.; Alexadner, M. Joan; Love, Peter T.; Bacmeister, Julio; Ern, Manfred; Hertzog, Albert; Manzini, Elisa; Preusse, Peter; Sato, Kaoru; Scaife, Adam A.;

Genetic Signatures of Exceptional Longevity in Humans

PubMed Central

Sebastiani, Paola; Solovieff, Nadia; DeWan, Andrew T.; Walsh, Kyle M.; Puca, Annibale; Hartley, Stephen W.; Melista, Efthymia; Andersen, Stacy; Dworkis, Daniel A.; Wilk, Jemma B.; Myers, Richard H.; Steinberg, Martin H.; Montano, Monty; Baldwin, Clinton T.; Hoh, Josephine; Perls, Thomas T.

2012-01-01

Like most complex phenotypes, exceptional longevity is thought to reflect a combined influence of environmental (e.g., lifestyle choices, where we live) and genetic factors. To explore the genetic contribution, we undertook a genome-wide association study of exceptional longevity in 801 centenarians (median age at death 104 years) and 914 genetically matched healthy controls. Using these data, we built a genetic model that includes 281 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and discriminated between cases and controls of the discovery set with 89% sensitivity and specificity, and with 58% specificity and 60% sensitivity in an independent cohort of 341 controls and 253 genetically matched nonagenarians and centenarians (median age 100 years). Consistent with the hypothesis that the genetic contribution is largest with the oldest ages, the sensitivity of the model increased in the independent cohort with older and older ages (71% to classify subjects with an age at death>102 and 85% to classify subjects with an age at death>105). For further validation, we applied the model to an additional, unmatched 60 centenarians (median age 107 years) resulting in 78% sensitivity, and 2863 unmatched controls with 61% specificity. The 281 SNPs include the SNP rs2075650 in TOMM40/APOE that reached irrefutable genome wide significance (posterior probability of association = 1) and replicated in the independent cohort. Removal of this SNP from the model reduced the accuracy by only 1%. Further in-silico analysis suggests that 90% of centenarians can be grouped into clusters characterized by different “genetic signatures” of varying predictive values for exceptional longevity. The correlation between 3 signatures and 3 different life spans was replicated in the combined replication sets. The different signatures may help dissect this complex phenotype into sub-phenotypes of exceptional longevity. PMID:22279548

15 CFR 922.103 - Prohibited or otherwise regulated activities-Sanctuary-wide.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... COMMERCE OCEAN AND COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY PROGRAM REGULATIONS National..., except those listed in paragraph (a)(8) of this section and § 922.105(c). (10) Sand mining, dredging...

15 CFR 922.103 - Prohibited or otherwise regulated activities-Sanctuary-wide.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... COMMERCE OCEAN AND COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY PROGRAM REGULATIONS National..., except those listed in paragraph (a)(8) of this section and § 922.105(c). (10) Sand mining, dredging...

31 CFR 31.216 - Communications with Treasury employees.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... employee with personal or direct responsibility for that procurement. (2) Offer, give, or promise to offer... employee, except as permitted by Government-Wide Ethics Rules, 5 CFR part 2635. (3) Solicit or obtain from...

The heritability of aptitude and exceptional talent across different domains in adolescents and young adults.

PubMed

Vinkhuyzen, Anna A E; van der Sluis, Sophie; Posthuma, Danielle; Boomsma, Dorret I

2009-07-01

The origin of individual differences in aptitude, defined as a domain-specific skill within the normal ability range, and talent, defined as a domain specific skill of exceptional quality, is under debate. The nature of the variation in aptitudes and exceptional talents across different domains was investigated in a population based twin sample. Self-report data from 1,685 twin pairs (12-24 years) were analyzed for Music, Arts, Writing, Language, Chess, Mathematics, Sports, Memory, and Knowledge. The influence of shared environment was small for both aptitude and talent. Additive and non-additive genetic effects explained the major part of the substantial familial clustering in the aptitude measures with heritability estimates ranging between .32 and .71. Heritability estimates for talents were higher and ranged between .50 and .92. In general, the genetic architecture for aptitude and talent was similar in men and women. Genetic factors contribute to a large extent to variation in aptitude and talent across different domains of intellectual, creative, and sports abilities.

Forced Migration as Public Relations Process? Lothar B. Kalinowsky and the Trans-Atlantic Transfer of Electroconvulsive Therapy.

PubMed

Stahnisch, Frank W

2016-01-01

Research in biological psychiatry during the first half of the 20 th century was based upon a wide range of interrelated disciplines, including neurology, neuroanatomy, neuropathology, and experimental biology. The work of German-American psychiatrist and neurologist Lothar B. Kalinowsky (1899-1992) is taken here as an example of how such fields could be combined to produce a highly innovative and multidimensional research program in clinical neuroscience. Kalinowsky functioned exceptionally well in both scientific and clinical cultures despite the marked contextual differences between the Charité in Berlin and his later workplace in New York's Columbia Medical School. The innovative ideas exemplified by Kalinowsky's efforts, however, sometimes amounted to a dubious advantage for émigré clinical neuroscientists: they easily led to incommensurable scientific views, and sometimes even resulted in the marginalization of the innovator from existing research programs.

Einstein Observatory magnitude-limited X-ray survey of late-type giant and supergiant stars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Maggio, A.; Vaiana, G. S.; Haisch, B. M.; Stern, R. A.; Bookbinder, J.

1990-01-01

Results are presented of an extensive X-ray survey of 380 giant and supergiant stars of spectral types from F to M, carried out with the Einstein Observatory. It was found that the observed F giants or subgiants (slightly evolved stars with a mass M less than about 2 solar masses) are X-ray emitters at the same level of main-sequence stars of similar spectral type. The G giants show a range of emissions more than 3 orders of magnitude wide; some single G giants exist with X-ray luminosities comparable to RS CVn systems, while some nearby large G giants have upper limits on the X-ray emission below typical solar values. The K giants have an observed X-ray emission level significantly lower than F and F giants. None of the 29 M giants were detected, except for one spectroscopic binary.

Free-Living Amoebae as Hosts for and Vectors of Intracellular Microorganisms with Public Health Significance.

PubMed

Balczun, Carsten; Scheid, Patrick L

2017-04-01

Free-living amoebae (FLA) are parasites within both humans and animals causing a wide range of symptoms and act as hosts of, and vehicles for phylogenetically diverse microorganisms, called endocytobionts. The interaction of the FLA with sympatric microorganisms leads to an exceptional diversity within FLA. Some of these bacteria, viruses, and even eukaryotes, can live and replicate intracellularly within the FLA. This relationship provides protection to the microorganisms from external interventions and a dispersal mechanism across various habitats. Among those intracellularly-replicating or -residing organisms there are obligate and facultative pathogenic microorganisms affecting the health of humans or animals and are therefore of interest to Public Health Authorities. Mimiviruses, Pandoraviruses, and Pithoviruses are examples for interesting viral endocytobionts within FLA. Future research is expected to reveal further endocytobionts within free-living amoebae and other protozoa through co-cultivation studies, genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic analyses.

Ultra-tiny ZnMn2O4 nanoparticles encapsulated in sandwich-like carbon nanosheets for high-performance supercapacitors.

PubMed

Guan, Yongxin; Feng, Yangyang; Mu, Yanping; Fang, Ling; Zhang, Huijuan; Wang, Yu

2016-11-25

Known as an excellent energy storage material, ZnMn 2 O 4 has a wide range of applications in supercapacitors. In this report, a special sandwich-like structure of ZnMn 2 O 4 /C has been first designed and synthesized via a simple hydrothermal method and subsequent calcinations. The designed special sandwich-like structure can benefit ion exchange and remit the probable volume changes during a mass of electrochemical reactions. Furthermore, the porous carbon nanosheets, derived from low-cost glucose, can effectively increase ion flux. Therefore, the novel sandwich-like ZnMn 2 O 4 nanoparticles encapsulated in carbon nanosheets can undoubtedly demonstrate an exceptional electrochemical performance for SCs. In this work, the composite material with porous sandwich-like structure exhibits excellent cyclic stability for 5000 cycles (∼5% loss) and high specific capacitance of 1786 F g -1 .

Ultra-tiny ZnMn2O4 nanoparticles encapsulated in sandwich-like carbon nanosheets for high-performance supercapacitors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guan, Yongxin; Feng, Yangyang; Mu, Yanping; Fang, Ling; Zhang, Huijuan; Wang, Yu

2016-11-01

Known as an excellent energy storage material, ZnMn2O4 has a wide range of applications in supercapacitors. In this report, a special sandwich-like structure of ZnMn2O4/C has been first designed and synthesized via a simple hydrothermal method and subsequent calcinations. The designed special sandwich-like structure can benefit ion exchange and remit the probable volume changes during a mass of electrochemical reactions. Furthermore, the porous carbon nanosheets, derived from low-cost glucose, can effectively increase ion flux. Therefore, the novel sandwich-like ZnMn2O4 nanoparticles encapsulated in carbon nanosheets can undoubtedly demonstrate an exceptional electrochemical performance for SCs. In this work, the composite material with porous sandwich-like structure exhibits excellent cyclic stability for 5000 cycles (˜5% loss) and high specific capacitance of 1786 F g-1.

Nonlinear cavity optomechanics with nanomechanical thermal fluctuations

PubMed Central

Leijssen, Rick; La Gala, Giada R.; Freisem, Lars; Muhonen, Juha T.; Verhagen, Ewold

2017-01-01

Although the interaction between light and motion in cavity optomechanical systems is inherently nonlinear, experimental demonstrations to date have allowed a linearized description in all except highly driven cases. Here, we demonstrate a nanoscale optomechanical system in which the interaction between light and motion is so large (single-photon cooperativity C0≈103) that thermal motion induces optical frequency fluctuations larger than the intrinsic optical linewidth. The system thereby operates in a fully nonlinear regime, which pronouncedly impacts the optical response, displacement measurement and radiation pressure backaction. Specifically, we measure an apparent optical linewidth that is dominated by thermo-mechanically induced frequency fluctuations over a wide temperature range, and show that in this regime thermal displacement measurements cannot be described by conventional analytical models. We perform a proof-of-concept demonstration of exploiting the nonlinearity to conduct sensitive quadratic readout of nanomechanical displacement. Finally, we explore how backaction in this regime affects the mechanical fluctuation spectra. PMID:28685755

Diatoms: a biotemplating approach to fabricating drug delivery reservoirs.

PubMed

Chao, Joshua T; Biggs, Manus J P; Pandit, Abhay S

2014-11-01

Biotemplating is a rapidly expanding subfield that utilizes nature-inspired systems and structures to create novel functional materials, and it is through these methods that the limitations of current engineering practices may be advanced. The diatom is an exceptional template for drug delivery applications, owing largely to its highly-ordered pores, large surface area, species-specific architecture, and flexibility for surface modifications. Diatoms have been studied in a wide range of biomedical applications and their potential as the next frontier of drug delivery has yet to be fully exploited. In this editorial, the authors aim to review the use of diatoms in the delivery of poorly water-soluble drugs as reported in the literature, discuss the progress and advancements that have been made thus far, identify the shortcomings and limitations in the field, and, lastly, present their expert opinion and convey the future outlook on biotemplating approaches for drug delivery.

Are the O stars in WR+O binaries exceptionally rapid rotators?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reeve, Dominic; Howarth, Ian D.

2018-05-01

We examine claims of strong gravity-darkening effects in the O-star components of WR+O binaries. We generate synthetic spectra for a wide range of parameters, and show that the line-width results are consistent with extensive measurements of O stars that are either single or are members of `normal' binaries. By contrast, the WR+O results are at the extremes of, or outside, the distributions of both models and other observations. Remeasurement of the WR+O spectra shows that they can be reconciled with other results by judicious choice of pseudo-continuum normalization. With this interpretation, the supersynchronous rotation previously noted for the O-star components in the WR+O binaries with the longest orbital periods appears to be unexceptional. Our investigation is therefore consistent with the aphorism that if the title of a paper ends with a question mark, the answer is probably `no'.

Label-Free Electrochemical Detection of Vanillin through Low-Defect Graphene Electrodes Modified with Au Nanoparticles.

PubMed

Gao, Jingyao; Yuan, Qilong; Ye, Chen; Guo, Pei; Du, Shiyu; Lai, Guosong; Yu, Aimin; Jiang, Nan; Fu, Li; Lin, Cheng-Te; Chee, Kuan W A

2018-03-25

Graphene is an excellent modifier for the surface modification of electrochemical electrodes due to its exceptional physical properties and, for the development of graphene-based chemical and biosensors, is usually coated on glassy carbon electrodes (GCEs) via drop casting. However, the ease of aggregation and high defect content of reduced graphene oxides degrade the electrical properties. Here, we fabricated low-defect graphene electrodes by catalytically thermal treatment of HPHT diamond substrate, followed by the electrodeposition of Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) with an average size of ≈60 nm on the electrode surface using cyclic voltammetry. The Au nanoparticle-decorated graphene electrodes show a wide linear response range to vanillin from 0.2 to 40 µM with a low limit of detection of 10 nM. This work demonstrates the potential applications of graphene-based hybrid electrodes for highly sensitive chemical detection.

Simulation of transvertron high power microwave sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sullivan, Donald J.; Walsh, John E.; Arman, M. Joseph; Godfrey, Brendan B.

1989-07-01

The transvertron oscillator or amplifier is a new and efficient type of intense relativistic electron-beam-driven microwave radiation source. In the m = 0 axisymmetric version, it consists of single or multiple cylindrical cavities driven at one of the TM(0np) resonances by a high-voltage, low-impedance electron beam. There is no applied magnetic field, and the oscillatory transverse motion acquired by the axially-injected electron beam is an essential part of the drive mechanism. The transvertron theory was systematically tested for a wide range of parameters and two possible applications. The simulations were designed to verify the theoretical predictions, assess the transvertron as a possible source of intense microwave radiation, and study its potential as a microwave amplifier. Numerical results agree well in all regards with the analytical theory. Simulations were carried out in two dimensions using CCUBE, with the exception of radial loading cases, where the three-dimensional code SOS was required.

A physicochemical investigation of ionic liquid mixtures† †Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c4sc02931c Click here for additional data file.

PubMed Central

Clough, Matthew T.; Crick, Colin R.; Gräsvik, John; Niedermeyer, Heiko; Whitaker, Oliver P.

2015-01-01

Ionic liquids have earned the reputation of being ‘designer solvents’ due to the wide range of accessible properties and the degree of fine-tuning afforded by varying the constituent ions. Mixtures of ionic liquids offer the opportunity for further fine-tuning of properties. A broad selection of common ionic liquid cations and anions are employed to create a sample of binary and reciprocal binary ionic liquid mixtures, which are analysed and described in this paper. Physical properties such as the conductivity, viscosity, density and phase behaviour (glass transition temperatures) are examined. In addition, thermal stabilities of the mixtures are evaluated. The physical properties examined for these formulations are found to generally adhere remarkably closely to ideal mixing laws, with a few consistent exceptions, allowing for the facile prediction and control of properties of ionic liquid mixtures. PMID:29560198

Antioxidants in Greek Virgin Olive Oils

PubMed Central

Kalogeropoulos, Nick; Tsimidou, Maria Z.

2014-01-01

Greece is ranked third after Spain and Italy in virgin olive oil production. The number of Greek olive cultivars—excluding clonal selections—is greater than 40; however, more than 90% of the acreage is cultivated with 20 cultivars, adapted to a wide range of environmental conditions. Greek virgin olive oils, produced mainly with traditional, non-intensive cultivation practices, are mostly of exceptional quality. The benefits of consuming virgin olive oil, originally attributed to its high oleic acid content, are now considered to be the combined result of several nutrient and non-nutrient phytochemicals. The present work summarizes available data regarding natural antioxidants in Greek virgin olive oils (VOO) namely, polar phenolic compounds, tocopherols, squalene, and triterpenic acids. The literature survey indicated gaps in information, which should be filled in the near future so that the intrinsic properties of this major agricultural product of Greece will be substantiated on a solid scientific basis. PMID:26784878

"Consent is Good, Joyous, Sexy": A banner campaign to market consent to college students.

PubMed

Thomas, Kristie A; Sorenson, Susan B; Joshi, Manisha

2016-01-01

This study assessed the recall of, reaction to, and understanding of a brief campus banner campaign promoting consent in sexual relationships, and determined whether campaign exposure was associated with subsequent engagement in activities related to sexual assault education, awareness, and prevention. A stratified random sample of 1,200 undergraduates was recruited during fall of 2010; 628 (52.3%) participated. To account for history and maturation, an experimental research design was employed with an online survey. Direct and indirect campaign exposure was associated with increased action. Students expressed primarily positive reactions to and appeared to understand the consent message. The campaign appealed to and was associated with increased activity among a wide range of students with one exception: a negative effect was observed for business students. Colorful banners with pithy, upbeat messages hold promise for engaging undergraduates in conversations and proactive activities related to sexual assault prevention.

Life cycle assessment of bioenergy systems: state of the art and future challenges.

PubMed

Cherubini, Francesco; Strømman, Anders Hammer

2011-01-01

The use of different input data, functional units, allocation methods, reference systems and other assumptions complicates comparisons of LCA bioenergy studies. In addition, uncertainties and use of specific local factors for indirect effects (like land-use change and N-based soil emissions) may give rise to wide ranges of final results. In order to investigate how these key issues have been addressed so far, this work performs a review of the recent bioenergy LCA literature. The abundance of studies dealing with the different biomass resources, conversion technologies, products and environmental impact categories is summarized and discussed. Afterwards, a qualitative interpretation of the LCA results is depicted, focusing on energy balance, GHG balance and other impact categories. With the exception of a few studies, most LCAs found a significant net reduction in GHG emissions and fossil energy consumption when bioenergy replaces fossil energy. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Low-Magnetic Magnetars

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Turolla, Roberto; Esposito, Paolo

2013-08-01

It is now widely accepted that soft gamma repeaters and anomalous X-ray pulsars are the observational manifestations of magnetars, i.e. sources powered by their own magnetic energy. This view was supported by the fact that these "magnetar candidates" exhibited, without exception, a surface dipole magnetic field (as inferred from the spin-down rate) in excess of the electron critical field (≃ 4.4×1013 G). The recent discovery of fully qualified magnetars, SGR 0418+5729 and Swift J1822.3-1606, with dipole magnetic field well in the range of ordinary radio pulsars posed a challenge to the standard picture, showing that a very strong field is not necessary for the onset of magnetar activity (chiefly bursts and outbursts). Here we summarize the observational status of the low-magnetic-field magnetars and discuss their properties in the context of the mainstream magnetar model and its main alternatives.

Fatigue in neuromuscular disorders: focus on Guillain-Barré syndrome and Pompe disease.

PubMed

de Vries, J M; Hagemans, M L C; Bussmann, J B J; van der Ploeg, A T; van Doorn, P A

2010-03-01

Fatigue accounts for an important part of the burden experienced by patients with neuromuscular disorders. Substantial high prevalence rates of fatigue are reported in a wide range of neuromuscular disorders, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome and Pompe disease. Fatigue can be subdivided into experienced fatigue and physiological fatigue. Physiological fatigue in turn can be of central or peripheral origin. Peripheral fatigue is an important contributor to fatigue in neuromuscular disorders, but in reaction to neuromuscular disease fatigue of central origin can be an important protective mechanism to restrict further damage. In most cases, severity of fatigue seems to be related with disease severity, possibly with the exception of fatigue occurring in a monophasic disorder like Guillain-Barré syndrome. Treatment of fatigue in neuromuscular disease starts with symptomatic treatment of the underlying disease. When symptoms of fatigue persist, non-pharmacological interventions, such as exercise and cognitive behavioral therapy, can be initiated.

Free-Living Amoebae as Hosts for and Vectors of Intracellular Microorganisms with Public Health Significance

PubMed Central

Balczun, Carsten; Scheid, Patrick L.

2017-01-01

Free-living amoebae (FLA) are parasites within both humans and animals causing a wide range of symptoms and act as hosts of, and vehicles for phylogenetically diverse microorganisms, called endocytobionts. The interaction of the FLA with sympatric microorganisms leads to an exceptional diversity within FLA. Some of these bacteria, viruses, and even eukaryotes, can live and replicate intracellularly within the FLA. This relationship provides protection to the microorganisms from external interventions and a dispersal mechanism across various habitats. Among those intracellularly-replicating or -residing organisms there are obligate and facultative pathogenic microorganisms affecting the health of humans or animals and are therefore of interest to Public Health Authorities. Mimiviruses, Pandoraviruses, and Pithoviruses are examples for interesting viral endocytobionts within FLA. Future research is expected to reveal further endocytobionts within free-living amoebae and other protozoa through co-cultivation studies, genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic analyses. PMID:28368313

Sensitivity of the coastal tsunami simulation to the complexity of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake source model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Monnier, Angélique; Loevenbruck, Anne; Gailler, Audrey; Hébert, Hélène

2016-04-01

The 11 March 2011 Tohoku-Oki event, whether earthquake or tsunami, is exceptionally well documented. A wide range of onshore and offshore data has been recorded from seismic, geodetic, ocean-bottom pressure and sea level sensors. Along with these numerous observations, advance in inversion technique and computing facilities have led to many source studies. Rupture parameters inversion such as slip distribution and rupture history permit to estimate the complex coseismic seafloor deformation. From the numerous published seismic source studies, the most relevant coseismic source models are tested. The comparison of the predicted signals generated using both static and cinematic ruptures to the offshore and coastal measurements help determine which source model should be used to obtain the more consistent coastal tsunami simulations. This work is funded by the TANDEM project, reference ANR-11-RSNR-0023-01 of the French Programme Investissements d'Avenir (PIA 2014-2018).

Registration of an on-axis see-through head-mounted display and camera system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, Gang; Rensing, Noa M.; Weststrate, Evan; Peli, Eli

2005-02-01

An optical see-through head-mounted display (HMD) system integrating a miniature camera that is aligned with the user's pupil is developed and tested. Such an HMD system has a potential value in many augmented reality applications, in which registration of the virtual display to the real scene is one of the critical aspects. The camera alignment to the user's pupil results in a simple yet accurate calibration and a low registration error across a wide range of depth. In reality, a small camera-eye misalignment may still occur in such a system due to the inevitable variations of HMD wearing position with respect to the eye. The effects of such errors are measured. Calculation further shows that the registration error as a function of viewing distance behaves nearly the same for different virtual image distances, except for a shift. The impact of prismatic effect of the display lens on registration is also discussed.

Health impact assessment: assessing opportunities and barriers to intersectoral health improvement in an expanded European Union

PubMed Central

Lock, K.; McKee, M.

2005-01-01

On 1 May 2004 the European Union (EU) underwent unprecedented enlargement, from 15 to 25 countries, increasing its population by 20% to over 450 million. Although EU law has limited specific competence in the area of health, its influence on other policy sectors such as agriculture, trade, and employment has wide ranging implications for health. Yet with the exception of provisions on communicable disease control and food safety, public health considerations have played little part in negotiations on EU accession. This paper argues for an intersectoral public health approach in the expanded EU. It reviews the legal basis for assessing the health impacts of policy in the EU and, using health impact assessment as a case study, it examines how well the new member states may be prepared to tackle intersectoral public health action within the constraints imposed by EU policy. PMID:15831682

NMR spectroscopic studies of a TAT-derived model peptide in imidazolium-based ILs: influence on chemical shifts and the cis/trans equilibrium state.

PubMed

Wiedemann, Christoph; Ohlenschläger, Oliver; Mrestani-Klaus, Carmen; Bordusa, Frank

2017-09-13

NMR spectroscopy was used to study systematically the impact of imidazolium-based ionic liquid (IL) solutions on a TAT-derived model peptide containing Xaa-Pro peptide bonds. The selected IL anions cover a wide range of the Hofmeister series of ions. Based on highly resolved one- and two-dimensional NMR spectra individual 1 H and 13 C peptide chemical shift differences were analysed and a classification of IL anions according to the Hofmeister series was derived. The observed chemical shift changes indicate significant interactions between the peptide and the ILs. In addition, we examined the impact of different ILs towards the cis/trans equilibrium state of the Xaa-Pro peptide bonds. In this context, the IL cations appear to be of exceptional importance for inducing an alteration of the native cis/trans equilibrium state of Xaa-Pro bonds in favour of the trans-isomers.

Can the fatty acid selectivity of plant lipases be predicted from the composition of the seed triglyceride?

PubMed

Hellyer, S A; Chandler, I C; Bosley, J A

1999-09-22

To address the question can the fatty acid selectivity of plant lipases be predicted from the composition of the seed triglyceride, we have characterised the selectivity of lipases from a wide range of oilseeds with diverse fatty acid compositions. For this study, a novel hydrolysis assay using a fully randomised oil, was developed. From some seed sources (e.g. Cinnamomum camphora), lipases show high preference for particular fatty acids, whilst from others (e.g. Brassica napus, Theobroma cacao80% saturated or 'unusual' fatty acids may contain lipases which exhibit selectivity. It therefore follows that since the majority of seeds are composed of unsaturated fatty acids, that highly selective lipases will be unusual in nature. However lipases from some species of the Cuphea genera show exceptionally high preference for particular fatty acids. For example, lipase from seeds of Cuphea procumbans has over 20-fold selectivity for C10:0.

Correspondence behavior of classical and quantum dissipative directed transport via thermal noise.

PubMed

Carlo, Gabriel G; Ermann, Leonardo; Rivas, Alejandro M F; Spina, María E

2016-04-01

We systematically study several classical-quantum correspondence properties of the dissipative modified kicked rotator, a paradigmatic ratchet model. We explore the behavior of the asymptotic currents for finite ℏ_{eff} values in a wide range of the parameter space. We find that the correspondence between the classical currents with thermal noise providing fluctuations of size ℏ_{eff} and the quantum ones without it is very good in general with the exception of specific regions. We systematically consider the spectra of the corresponding classical Perron-Frobenius operators and quantum superoperators. By means of an average distance between the classical and quantum sets of eigenvalues we find that the correspondence is unexpectedly quite uniform. This apparent contradiction is solved with the help of the Weyl-Wigner distributions of the equilibrium eigenvectors, which reveal the key role of quantum effects by showing surviving coherences in the asymptotic states.

Photo-generated carriers lose energy during extraction from polymer-fullerene solar cells

PubMed Central

Melianas, Armantas; Etzold, Fabian; Savenije, Tom J.; Laquai, Frédéric; Inganäs, Olle; Kemerink, Martijn

2015-01-01

In photovoltaic devices, the photo-generated charge carriers are typically assumed to be in thermal equilibrium with the lattice. In conventional materials, this assumption is experimentally justified as carrier thermalization completes before any significant carrier transport has occurred. Here, we demonstrate by unifying time-resolved optical and electrical experiments and Monte Carlo simulations over an exceptionally wide dynamic range that in the case of organic photovoltaic devices, this assumption is invalid. As the photo-generated carriers are transported to the electrodes, a substantial amount of their energy is lost by continuous thermalization in the disorder broadened density of states. Since thermalization occurs downward in energy, carrier motion is boosted by this process, leading to a time-dependent carrier mobility as confirmed by direct experiments. We identify the time and distance scales relevant for carrier extraction and show that the photo-generated carriers are extracted from the operating device before reaching thermal equilibrium. PMID:26537357

Strong coupling of a single electron in silicon to a microwave photon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mi, Xiao; Cady, Jeffrey; Zajac, David; Petta, Jason

We demonstrate a hybrid circuit quantum electrodynamics (cQED) architecture in which a single electron in a Si/SiGe double quantum dot is dipole-coupled to the electric field of microwave photons in a superconducting cavity. Vacuum Rabi splitting is observed in the cavity transmission when the transition energy of the single-electron charge qubit matches that of a cavity photon, demonstrating that our device is in the strong coupling regime. The achievement of strong coupling is largely facilitated by an exceptionally low charge decoherence rate of 5 MHz and paves the way toward a wide range of cQED experiments with quantum dots, such as non-local qubit interactions, strong spin-cavity coupling and single photon generation . Research sponsored by ARO Grant No. W911NF-15-1-0149, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation's EPiQS Initiative through Grant GBMF4535, and the NSF (DMR-1409556 and DMR-1420541).

Rarefaction waves, solitons, and holes in a pure electron plasma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moody, J. D.; Driscoll, C. F.

1995-12-01

The propagation of holes, solitons, and rarefaction waves along the axis of a magnetized pure electron plasma column is described. The time dependence of the radially averaged density perturbation produced by the nonlinear waves is measured at several locations along the plasma column for a wide range of plasma parameters. The rarefaction waves are studied by measuring the free expansion of the plasma into a vacuum. A new hydrodynamic theory is described that quantitatively predicts the free expansion measurements. The rarefaction is initially characterized by a self-similar plasma flow, resulting in a perturbed density and velocity without a characteristic length scale. The electron solitons show a small increase in propagation speed with increasing amplitude and exhibit electron bursts. The holes show a decrease in propagation speed with increasing amplitude. Collisions between holes and solitons show that these objects pass through each other undisturbed, except for a small offset.

Disorder enabled band structure engineering of a topological insulator surface

DOE PAGES

Xu, Yishuai; Chiu, Janet; Miao, Lin; ...

2017-02-03

Three-dimensional topological insulators are bulk insulators with Z 2 topological electronic order that gives rise to conducting light-like surface states. These surface electrons are exceptionally resistant to localization by non-magnetic disorder, and have been adopted as the basis for a wide range of proposals to achieve new quasiparticle species and device functionality. Recent studies have yielded a surprise by showing that in spite of resisting localization, topological insulator surface electrons can be reshaped by defects into distinctive resonance states. Here we use numerical simulations and scanning tunnelling microscopy data to show that these resonance states have significance well beyond themore » localized regime usually associated with impurity bands. Lastly, at native densities in the model Bi 2X 3 (X=Bi, Te) compounds, defect resonance states are predicted to generate a new quantum basis for an emergent electron gas that supports diffusive electrical transport.« less

Robust transport signatures of topological superconductivity in topological insulator nanowires.

PubMed

de Juan, Fernando; Ilan, Roni; Bardarson, Jens H

2014-09-05

Finding a clear signature of topological superconductivity in transport experiments remains an outstanding challenge. In this work, we propose exploiting the unique properties of three-dimensional topological insulator nanowires to generate a normal-superconductor junction in the single-mode regime where an exactly quantized 2e2/h zero-bias conductance can be observed over a wide range of realistic system parameters. This is achieved by inducing superconductivity in half of the wire, which can be tuned at will from trivial to topological with a parallel magnetic field, while a perpendicular field is used to gap out the normal part, except for two spatially separated chiral channels. The combination of chiral mode transport and perfect Andreev reflection makes the measurement robust to moderate disorder, and the quantization of conductance survives to much higher temperatures than in tunnel junction experiments. Our proposal may be understood as a variant of a Majorana interferometer which is easily realizable in experiments.

The use of LANDSAT-1 imagery in mapping and managing soil and range resources in the Sand Hills region of Nebraska

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Seevers, P. M. (Principal Investigator); Drew, J. V.

1976-01-01

The author has identified the following significant results. Evaluation of ERTS-1 imagery for the Sand Hills region of Nebraska has shown that the data can be used to effectively measure several parameters of inventory needs. (1) Vegetative biomass can be estimated with a high degree of confidence using computer compatable tape data. (2) Soils can be mapped to the subgroup level with high altitude aircraft color infrared photography and to the association level with multitemporal ERTS-1 imagery. (3) Water quality in Sand Hills lakes can be estimated utilizing computer compatable tape data. (4) Center pivot irrigation can be inventoried from satellite data and can be monitored regarding site selection and relative success of establishment from high altitude aircraft color infrared photography. (5) ERTS-1 data is of exceptional value in wide-area inventory of natural resource data in the Sand Hills region of Nebraska.

Synthesis of Composite Adsorbent from Calcium Carbonate and Cocos Nucifera Carbon Powder Crosslinked with Biopolymer Matrix

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamaruddin, M. A.; Bakri, M. M. A.; Norashiddin, F. A.; Zawawi, M. H.; Zainol, M. R. R. A.

2018-03-01

The use of coconut shell based adsorbent for removing various pollutants from wastewater offers attractive advantages such as exceptional adsorption capacity with larger surface area, low-cost and biocompatibility for a wide range of pollutants. The same goes for calcium carbonate based adsorbent, which provides better removal for metals ions through precipitation method. In fact, recycling of waste material is considered environmentally preferable and is supported by public opinion and government policy. However, because of unit operations mechanisms and effectiveness are different to one another in downstream process, it is quite difficult to provide good adsorbent that exhibits dual attributes of hydrophobic and hydrophilic characters. This paper provides brief process for sintering of composite adsorbent for separation and purification of industrial wastewater application. Characterization was performed by physical and chemical approach. Results prove that the inclusion of biopolymer as composite binder improved mechanical properties of the composite adsorbent.

Quality requirements for veterinary hematology analyzers in small animals-a survey about veterinary experts' requirements and objective evaluation of analyzer performance based on a meta-analysis of method validation studies: bench top hematology analyzer.

PubMed

Cook, Andrea M; Moritz, Andreas; Freeman, Kathleen P; Bauer, Natali

2016-09-01

Scarce information exists about quality requirements and objective evaluation of performance of large veterinary bench top hematology analyzers. The study was aimed at comparing the observed total error (TEobs ) derived from meta-analysis of published method validation data to the total allowable error (TEa ) for veterinary hematology variables in small animals based on experts' opinions. Ideally, TEobs should be < TEa . An online survey was sent to veterinary experts in clinical pathology and small animal internal medicine for providing the maximal allowable deviation from a given result for each variable. Percent of TEa = (allowable median deviation/clinical threshold) * 100%. Second, TEobs for 3 laser-based bench top hematology analyzers (ADVIA 2120; Sysmex XT2000iV, and CellDyn 3500) was calculated based on method validation studies published between 2005 and 2013 (n = 4). The percent TEobs = 2 * CV (%) + bias (%). The CV was derived from published studies except for the ADVIA 2120 (internal data), and bias was estimated from the regression equation. A total of 41 veterinary experts (19 diplomates, 8 residents, 10 postgraduate students, 4 anonymous specialists) responded. The proposed range of TEa was wide, but generally ≤ 20%. The TEobs was < TEa for all variables and analyzers except for canine and feline HGB (high bias, low CV) and platelet counts (high bias, high CV). Overall, veterinary bench top analyzers fulfilled experts' requirements except for HGB due to method-related bias, and platelet counts due to known preanalytic/analytic issues. © 2016 American Society for Veterinary Clinical Pathology.

Population Structure and Historical Demography of the Oriental River Prawn (Macrobrachium nipponense) in Taiwan

PubMed Central

Chu, Ta-Jen; Wang, Daryi; Lee, Ying-Chou; Tzeng, Tzong-Der

2015-01-01

The oriental river prawn (Macrobrachium nipponense) is a non-obligatory amphidromous prawn, and it has a wide distribution covering almost the entire Taiwan. Mitochondrial DNA fragment sequences of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and 16S rRNA were combined and used to elucidate the population structure and historical demography of oriental river prawn in Taiwan. A total of 202 individuals from six reservoirs and three estuaries were separately collected. Nucleotide diversity (π) of all populations was 0.01217, with values ranging from 0.00188 (Shihmen Reservoir, SMR, northern Taiwan) to 0.01425 (Mingte Reservoir, MTR, west-central Taiwan). All 76 haplotypes were divided into 2 lineages: lineage A included individuals from all sampling areas except SMR, and lineage B included specimens from all sampling locations except Chengching Lake Reservoir (CLR) and Liyu Lake Reservoir (LLR). All F ST values among nine populations were significantly different except the one between Jhonggang River Estuary (JGE, west-central Taiwan) and Kaoping River Estuary (KPE, southern Taiwan). UPGMA tree of nine populations showed two main groups: the first group included the SMR and Tamsui River Estuary (TSE) (both located northern Taiwan), and the second one included the other seven populations (west-central, southern and eastern Taiwan). Demographic analyses implied a population expansion occurred during the recent history of the species. The dispersal route of this species might be from China to west-central and west-southern Taiwan, and then the part individuals belonging to lineage A and B dispersed southerly and northerly, respectively. And then part individuals in west-central Taiwan fell back to and stay at estuaries as the sea level rose about 18,000 years ago. PMID:26716687

Population Structure and Historical Demography of the Oriental River Prawn (Macrobrachium nipponense) in Taiwan.

PubMed

Chen, Po-Cheng; Shih, Chun-Han; Chu, Ta-Jen; Wang, Daryi; Lee, Ying-Chou; Tzeng, Tzong-Der

2015-01-01

The oriental river prawn (Macrobrachium nipponense) is a non-obligatory amphidromous prawn, and it has a wide distribution covering almost the entire Taiwan. Mitochondrial DNA fragment sequences of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and 16S rRNA were combined and used to elucidate the population structure and historical demography of oriental river prawn in Taiwan. A total of 202 individuals from six reservoirs and three estuaries were separately collected. Nucleotide diversity (π) of all populations was 0.01217, with values ranging from 0.00188 (Shihmen Reservoir, SMR, northern Taiwan) to 0.01425 (Mingte Reservoir, MTR, west-central Taiwan). All 76 haplotypes were divided into 2 lineages: lineage A included individuals from all sampling areas except SMR, and lineage B included specimens from all sampling locations except Chengching Lake Reservoir (CLR) and Liyu Lake Reservoir (LLR). All FST values among nine populations were significantly different except the one between Jhonggang River Estuary (JGE, west-central Taiwan) and Kaoping River Estuary (KPE, southern Taiwan). UPGMA tree of nine populations showed two main groups: the first group included the SMR and Tamsui River Estuary (TSE) (both located northern Taiwan), and the second one included the other seven populations (west-central, southern and eastern Taiwan). Demographic analyses implied a population expansion occurred during the recent history of the species. The dispersal route of this species might be from China to west-central and west-southern Taiwan, and then the part individuals belonging to lineage A and B dispersed southerly and northerly, respectively. And then part individuals in west-central Taiwan fell back to and stay at estuaries as the sea level rose about 18,000 years ago.

Comparative Wide Temperature Core Loss Characteristics of Two Candidate Ferrites for the NASA/TRW 1500 W PEBB Converter

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Niedra, Janis M.

1999-01-01

High frequency core loss and magnetization properties of commercial type MN8CX and PC40, high resistivity, MnZn based, power ferrites are presented over the temperature range of -l50 C to 150 C, at selected values of peak flux density (B (sub p)). Most of the data is at 100 kHz, with some data extended to 200 and 300 kHz for the MN8CX. Plots of the specific Core loss against temperature exhibit the minimal characteristic of such ferrites. These plots show that the MN8CX is optimized for minimum loss at about 25 C, whereas the PC40 is optimized at about 80 C. At the points of minimum loss and for the same B (sub p), the MN8CX has roughly half the losses of the PC40 at the lower flux densities. This loss ratio continues down to cryogenic temperatures. However, above about 80 C the losses are practically equal. The lowest 100 kHz loss recorded, 50 mW/cm3 for the MNGCX at a B (sub p) of 0.1T, equals that of a very low loss, Co based, transverse magnetically annealed, amorphous ribbon material. Except possibly at lower B (sub p) or much higher frequencies, these ferrites are not competitive for low losses over a wide temperature range with certain specialty amorphous materials. Permeability is computed from a linear model, plots against temperature are presented and again compared to the specialty amorphous materials.

Gut Contents as Direct Indicators for Trophic Relationships in the Cambrian Marine Ecosystem

PubMed Central

Vannier, Jean

2012-01-01

Present-day ecosystems host a huge variety of organisms that interact and transfer mass and energy via a cascade of trophic levels. When and how this complex machinery was established remains largely unknown. Although exceptionally preserved biotas clearly show that Early Cambrian animals had already acquired functionalities that enabled them to exploit a wide range of food resources, there is scant direct evidence concerning their diet and exact trophic relationships. Here I describe the gut contents of Ottoia prolifica, an abundant priapulid worm from the middle Cambrian (Stage 5) Burgess Shale biota. I identify the undigested exoskeletal remains of a wide range of small invertebrates that lived at or near the water sediment interface such as hyolithids, brachiopods, different types of arthropods, polychaetes and wiwaxiids. This set of direct fossil evidence allows the first detailed reconstruction of the diet of a 505-million-year-old animal. Ottoia was a dietary generalist and had no strict feeding regime. It fed on both living individuals and decaying organic matter present in its habitat. The feeding behavior of Ottoia was remarkably simple, reduced to the transit of food through an eversible pharynx and a tubular gut with limited physical breakdown and no storage. The recognition of generalist feeding strategies, exemplified by Ottoia, reveals key-aspects of modern-style trophic complexity in the immediate aftermath of the Cambrian explosion. It also shows that the middle Cambrian ecosystem was already too complex to be understood in terms of simple linear dynamics and unique pathways. PMID:23300612

Depth as a driver of evolution in the deep sea: Insights from grenadiers (Gadiformes: Macrouridae) of the genus Coryphaenoides.

PubMed

Gaither, Michelle R; Violi, Biagio; Gray, Howard W I; Neat, Francis; Drazen, Jeffrey C; Grubbs, R Dean; Roa-Varón, Adela; Sutton, Tracey; Hoelzel, A Rus

2016-11-01

Here we consider the role of depth as a driver of evolution in a genus of deep-sea fishes. We provide a phylogeny for the genus Coryphaenoides (Gadiformes: Macrouridae) that represents the breadth of habitat use and distributions for these species. In our consensus phylogeny species found at abyssal depths (>4000m) form a well-supported lineage, which interestingly also includes two non-abyssal species, C. striaturus and C. murrayi, diverging from the basal node of that lineage. Biogeographic analyses suggest the genus may have originated in the Southern and Pacific Oceans where contemporary species diversity is highest. The abyssal lineage seems to have arisen secondarily and likely originated in the Southern/Pacific Oceans but diversification of this lineage occurred in the Northern Atlantic Ocean. All abyssal species are found in the North Atlantic with the exception of C. yaquinae in the North Pacific and C. filicauda in the Southern Ocean. Abyssal species tend to have broad depth ranges and wide distributions, indicating that the stability of the deep oceans and the ability to live across wide depths may promote population connectivity and facilitate large ranges. We also confirm that morphologically defined subgenera do not agree with our phylogeny and that the Giant grenadier (formerly Albatrossia pectoralis) belongs to Coryphaenoides, indicating that a taxonomic revision of the genus is needed. We discuss the implications of our findings for understanding the radiation and diversification of this genus, and the likely role of adaptation to the abyss. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Repeatability of magnetic resonance fingerprinting T1 and T2 estimates assessed using the ISMRM/NIST MRI system phantom.

PubMed

Jiang, Yun; Ma, Dan; Keenan, Kathryn E; Stupic, Karl F; Gulani, Vikas; Griswold, Mark A

2017-10-01

The purpose of this study was to evaluate accuracy and repeatability of T 1 and T 2 estimates of a MR fingerprinting (MRF) method using the ISMRM/NIST MRI system phantom. The ISMRM/NIST MRI system phantom contains multiple compartments with standardized T 1 , T 2 , and proton density values. Conventional inversion-recovery spin echo and spin echo methods were used to characterize the T 1 and T 2 values in the phantom. The phantom was scanned using the MRF-FISP method over 34 consecutive days. The mean T 1 and T 2 values were compared with the values from the spin echo methods. The repeatability was characterized as the coefficient of variation of the measurements over 34 days. T 1 and T 2 values from MRF-FISP over 34 days showed a strong linear correlation with the measurements from the spin echo methods (R 2  = 0.999 for T 1 ; R 2  = 0.996 for T 2 ). The MRF estimates over the wide ranges of T 1 and T 2 values have less than 5% variation, except for the shortest T 2 relaxation times where the method still maintains less than 8% variation. MRF measurements of T 1 and T 2 are highly repeatable over time and across wide ranges of T 1 and T 2 values. Magn Reson Med 78:1452-1457, 2017. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.

Dike orientations in the late jurassic independence dike swarm and implications for vertical-axis tectonic rotations in eastern California

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hopson, R.F.; Hillhouse, J.W.; Howard, K.A.

2008-01-01

Analysis of the strikes of 3841 dikes in 47 domains in the 500-km-long Late Jurassic Independence dike swarm indicates a distribution that is skewed clockwise from the dominant northwest strike. Independence dike swarm azimuths tend to cluster near 325?? ?? 30??, consistent with initial subparallel intrusion along much of the swarm. Dike azimuths in a quarter of the domains vary widely from the dominant trend. In domains in the essentially unrotated Sierra Nevada block, mean dike azimuths range mostly between 300?? and 320??, with the exception of Mount Goddard (247??). Mean dike azimuths in domains in the Basin and Range Province in the Argus, Inyo, and White Mountains areas range from 291?? to 354?? the mean is 004?? in the El Paso Mountains. In the Mojave Desert, mean dike azimuths range from 318?? to 023??, and in the eastern Transverse Ranges, they range from 316?? to 051??. Restoration for late Cenozoic vertical-axis rotations, suggested by paleodeclinations determined from published studies from nearby Miocene and younger rocks, shifts dike azimuths into better agreement with azimuths measured in the tectonically stable Sierra Nevada. This confirms that vertical-axis tectonic rotations explain some of the dispersion in orientation, especially in the Mojave Desert and eastern Transverse Ranges, and that the dike orientations can be a useful if imperfect guide to tectonic rotations where paleomagnetic data do not exist. Large deviations from the main trend of the swarm may reflect (1) clockwise rotations for which there is no paleomagnetic evidence available, (2) dike intrusions of other ages, (3) crack filling at angles oblique or perpendicular to the main swarm, (4) pre-Miocene rotations, or (5) unrecognized domain boundaries between dike localities and sites with paleomagnetic determinations. ?? 2008 The Geological Society of America.

Borate cross-linked graphene oxide-chitosan as robust and high gas barrier films

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yan, Ning; Capezzuto, Filomena; Lavorgna, Marino; Buonocore, Giovanna G.; Tescione, Fabiana; Xia, Hesheng; Ambrosio, Luigi

2016-05-01

Chitosan (CS) is one of the most promising polymers due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and natural abundance. However, its poor mechanical and barrier properties make it difficult to satisfy a wide range of applications. Herein, borate ions, originating from the hydrolysis of sodium tetraborate decahydrate (borax), have been used to crosslink chitosan and graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposites. Chitosan films consisting of 1.0 wt% boron and 1.0 wt% GO exhibit a significant improvement in both the toughness and oxygen barrier properties compared to pristine chitosan. In particular the tensile strength of the samples after thermal treatment increases by ~160% compared to pristine chitosan, whereas their oxygen permeability reduces by ~90%. This is ascribed to the chemical crosslinking between chitosan and GO nanoplatelets through borate ions, as well as the formation of a layered morphology with graphene nanoplatelets oriented parallel to the sample surface. The exceptional robust and high gas barrier film has promising application in the packaging industry. The borate-crosslinking chemistry represents the potential strategy for improving properties of other polymer nanocomposites.Chitosan (CS) is one of the most promising polymers due to its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and natural abundance. However, its poor mechanical and barrier properties make it difficult to satisfy a wide range of applications. Herein, borate ions, originating from the hydrolysis of sodium tetraborate decahydrate (borax), have been used to crosslink chitosan and graphene oxide (GO) nanocomposites. Chitosan films consisting of 1.0 wt% boron and 1.0 wt% GO exhibit a significant improvement in both the toughness and oxygen barrier properties compared to pristine chitosan. In particular the tensile strength of the samples after thermal treatment increases by ~160% compared to pristine chitosan, whereas their oxygen permeability reduces by ~90%. This is ascribed to the chemical crosslinking between chitosan and GO nanoplatelets through borate ions, as well as the formation of a layered morphology with graphene nanoplatelets oriented parallel to the sample surface. The exceptional robust and high gas barrier film has promising application in the packaging industry. The borate-crosslinking chemistry represents the potential strategy for improving properties of other polymer nanocomposites. Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available: Detailed characterization methods and survey XPS spectra. See DOI: 10.1039/c6nr00377j

32 CFR 525.3 - Criteria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... AUTHORIZATION REGULATION FOR KWAJALEIN MISSILE RANGE § 525.3 Criteria. (a) General. (1) Entry authorizations may... efficiency, capability or effectiveness of any military installation located within Kwajalein Missile Range... area entirely within the borders of Kwajalein Missile Range is not authorized except when such entry...

32 CFR 525.3 - Criteria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... AUTHORIZATION REGULATION FOR KWAJALEIN MISSILE RANGE § 525.3 Criteria. (a) General. (1) Entry authorizations may... efficiency, capability or effectiveness of any military installation located within Kwajalein Missile Range... area entirely within the borders of Kwajalein Missile Range is not authorized except when such entry...

32 CFR 525.3 - Criteria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... AUTHORIZATION REGULATION FOR KWAJALEIN MISSILE RANGE § 525.3 Criteria. (a) General. (1) Entry authorizations may... efficiency, capability or effectiveness of any military installation located within Kwajalein Missile Range... area entirely within the borders of Kwajalein Missile Range is not authorized except when such entry...

32 CFR 525.3 - Criteria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... AUTHORIZATION REGULATION FOR KWAJALEIN MISSILE RANGE § 525.3 Criteria. (a) General. (1) Entry authorizations may... efficiency, capability or effectiveness of any military installation located within Kwajalein Missile Range... area entirely within the borders of Kwajalein Missile Range is not authorized except when such entry...

32 CFR 525.3 - Criteria.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... AUTHORIZATION REGULATION FOR KWAJALEIN MISSILE RANGE § 525.3 Criteria. (a) General. (1) Entry authorizations may... efficiency, capability or effectiveness of any military installation located within Kwajalein Missile Range... area entirely within the borders of Kwajalein Missile Range is not authorized except when such entry...

Compact silicon photonic wavelength-tunable laser diode with ultra-wide wavelength tuning range

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

Kita, Tomohiro, E-mail: tkita@ecei.tohoku.ac.jp; Tang, Rui; Yamada, Hirohito

2015-03-16

We present a wavelength-tunable laser diode with a 99-nm-wide wavelength tuning range. It has a compact wavelength-tunable filter with high wavelength selectivity fabricated using silicon photonics technology. The silicon photonic wavelength-tunable filter with wide wavelength tuning range was realized using two ring resonators and an asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The wavelength-tunable laser diode fabricated by butt-joining a silicon photonic filter and semiconductor optical amplifier shows stable single-mode operation over a wide wavelength range.

The genetics of exceptional longevity: Insights from centenarians.

PubMed

Santos-Lozano, Alejandro; Santamarina, Ana; Pareja-Galeano, Helios; Sanchis-Gomar, Fabian; Fiuza-Luces, Carmen; Cristi-Montero, Carlos; Bernal-Pino, Aranzazu; Lucia, Alejandro; Garatachea, Nuria

2016-08-01

As the world population ages, so the prevalence increases of individuals aged 100 years or more, known as centenarians. Reaching this age has been described as exceptional longevity (EL) and is attributed to both genetic and environmental factors. Many genetic variations known to affect life expectancy exist in centenarians. This review of studies conducted on centenarians and supercentenarians (older than 110 years) updates knowledge of the impacts on longevity of the twenty most widely investigated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Outdoor weathering of facial prosthetic elastomers differing in Durometer hardness.

PubMed

Willett, Emily S; Beatty, Mark W

2015-03-01

Facial prosthetic elastomers with wide ranges in hardness are available, yet material weatherability is unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess color, Durometer hardness, and tensile property changes after 3000 hours of outdoor weathering. Unpigmented elastomers with Durometer hardness 5, 30, 50, 70, and A-2186 were polymerized into dumbbells (ASTM D412) and disks, 34 mm in diameter by 6 mm thick. Materials were subjected to outdoor or time passage environments for 3000 hours. CIELab color (n=5), Durometer hardness (n=5), and tensile mechanical properties (n=10) were measured at 0 and 3000 hours, and group differences were assessed by material and weathering condition (ANOVA/Tukey, α=.05). Except for A-2186, the mean Durometer changes for all materials were 1 unit or less, with no significant differences observed between time passage and weathered groups (P≥.05). Three-thousand-hour tensile mechanical property results demonstrated nonsignificant differences between time passage and weathered materials but significantly changed properties from immediately tested materials (P<.001). Outdoor weathering induced perceptible but acceptable color changes (1.7≤ΔE*≤2.6) for elastomers with Durometer hardness 5 and 30 and A-2186. With a few exceptions, outdoor weathering produced relatively small changes in color, Durometer hardness, or tensile properties compared with time passage. Copyright © 2015 Editorial Council for the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Comparing U.S. Injury Death Estimates from GBD 2015 and CDC WONDER.

PubMed

Wu, Yue; Cheng, Xunjie; Ning, Peishan; Cheng, Peixia; Schwebel, David C; Hu, Guoqing

2018-01-07

Objective : The purpose of the present study was to examine consistency in injury death statistics from the United States CDC Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER) with those from GBD 2015 estimates. Methods : Differences in deaths and the percent difference in deaths between GBD 2015 and CDC WONDER were assessed, as were changes in deaths between 2000 and 2015 for the two datasets. Results : From 2000 to 2015, GBD 2015 estimates for the U.S. injury deaths were somewhat higher than CDC WONDER estimates in most categories, with the exception of deaths from falls and from forces of nature, war, and legal intervention in 2015. Encouragingly, the difference in total injury deaths between the two data sources narrowed from 44,897 (percent difference in deaths = 41%) in 2000 to 34,877 (percent difference in deaths = 25%) in 2015. Differences in deaths and percent difference in deaths between the two data sources varied greatly across injury cause and over the assessment years. The two data sources present consistent changes in direction from 2000 to 2015 for all injury causes except for forces of nature, war, and legal intervention, and adverse effects of medical treatment. Conclusions : We conclude that further studies are warranted to interpret the inconsistencies in data and develop estimation approaches that increase the consistency of the two datasets.

Electrochemical sensor for sensitive detection of paracetamol based on novel multi-walled carbon nanotubes-derived organic-inorganic material.

PubMed

Hui, Junmin; Li, Wenjuan; Guo, Yanlei; Yang, Zhu; Wang, Yingxiong; Yu, Chao

2014-03-01

A new electrochemical sensor based on a novel organic-inorganic material (PNFCTs) was proposed for detection of paracetamol in this paper. First, PNFCTs were prepared with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) and a derivative of 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTC-NH2) via cross-linking method. Then, PNFCTs were coated onto the surface of the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) to form porous organic conducting polymer films (PNFCTs/GCE), which could not only increase the loading of paracetamol efficiently but also provide an interface with exceptional electrical conductivity for paracetamol. Finally, gold nanoparticles (GNPs) were attached to the electrode surface through electrodepositing method, which obtained GNPs/PNFCTs/GCE electrode. The electrochemical behavior of paracetamol on GNPs/PNFCTs/GCE was explored by cyclic voltammetrys (CVs) and differential pulse voltammograms (DPVs). The results showed that the GNPs/PNFCTs/GCE exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity to paracetamol, which should be attributed to remarkable properties of the new composite nanomaterials with porous nanostructure and exceptional electrical conductivity. The wide liner range and detection limit were 0.3-575 and 0.1 μM, respectively. Finally, it was successfully used to detect paracetamol in dilution human serum and commercial tablets. The sensor shows great promise for simple, sensitive, and selective detection paracetamol and provides a promising approach in paracetamol clinical research and overdose diagnostic applications.

Laser-assisted immobilization of colloid silver nanoparticles on polyethyleneterephthalate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siegel, Jakub; Lyutakov, Oleksiy; Polívková, Markéta; Staszek, Marek; Hubáček, Tomáš; Švorčík, Václav

2017-10-01

Immobilization of nanoobjects on the surface of underlying material belongs to current issues of material science. Such altered materials exhibits completely exceptional properties exploitable in a broad spectrum of industrially important applications ranging from catalysts up to health-care industry. Here we present unique approach for immobilization of electrochemically synthesized silver nanoparticles on polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) foil whose essence lies in physical incorporation of particles into thin polymer surface layer induced by polarized excimer laser light. Changes in chemical composition and surface structure of polymer after particle immobilization were recorded by wide range of analytical techniques such as ARXPS, EDX, RBS, AAS, Raman, ICP-MS, DLS, UV-vis, SEM, TEM, and AFM. Thorough analysis of both nanoparticles entering the immobilization step as well as modified PET surface allowed revealing the mechanism of immobilization process itself. Silver nanoparticles were physically embedded into a thin surface layer of polymer reaching several nanometers beneath the surface rather than chemically bonded to PET macromolecules. Laser-implanted nanoparticles open up new possibilities especially in the development of the next generation cell-conform antimicrobial coatings of polymeric materials, namely due to the considerable immobilization strength which is strong enough to prevent particle release into the surrounding environment.

Milk and serum standard reference materials for monitoring organic contaminants in human samples.

PubMed

Schantz, Michele M; Eppe, Gauthier; Focant, Jean-François; Hamilton, Coreen; Heckert, N Alan; Heltsley, Rebecca M; Hoover, Dale; Keller, Jennifer M; Leigh, Stefan D; Patterson, Donald G; Pintar, Adam L; Sharpless, Katherine E; Sjödin, Andreas; Turner, Wayman E; Vander Pol, Stacy S; Wise, Stephen A

2013-02-01

Four new Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) have been developed to assist in the quality assurance of chemical contaminant measurements required for human biomonitoring studies, SRM 1953 Organic Contaminants in Non-Fortified Human Milk, SRM 1954 Organic Contaminants in Fortified Human Milk, SRM 1957 Organic Contaminants in Non-Fortified Human Serum, and SRM 1958 Organic Contaminants in Fortified Human Serum. These materials were developed as part of a collaboration between the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with both agencies contributing data used in the certification of mass fraction values for a wide range of organic contaminants including polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, chlorinated pesticides, polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners, and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD) and dibenzofuran (PCDF) congeners. The certified mass fractions of the organic contaminants in unfortified samples, SRM 1953 and SRM 1957, ranged from 12 ng/kg to 2200 ng/kg with the exception of 4,4'-DDE in SRM 1953 at 7400 ng/kg with expanded uncertainties generally <14 %. This agreement suggests that there were no significant biases existing among the multiple methods used for analysis.

Milk and serum standard reference materials for monitoring organic contaminants in human samples

PubMed Central

Eppe, Gauthier; Focant, Jean-François; Hamilton, Coreen; Heckert, N. Alan; Heltsley, Rebecca M.; Hoover, Dale; Keller, Jennifer M.; Leigh, Stefan D.; Patterson, Donald G.; Pintar, Adam L.; Sharpless, Katherine E.; Sjödin, Andreas; Turner, Wayman E.; Vander Pol, Stacy S.; Wise, Stephen A.

2016-01-01

Four new Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) have been developed to assist in the quality assurance of chemical contaminant measurements required for human biomonitoring studies, SRM 1953 Organic Contaminants in Non-Fortified Human Milk, SRM 1954 Organic Contaminants in Fortified Human Milk, SRM 1957 Organic Contaminants in Non-Fortified Human Serum, and SRM 1958 Organic Contaminants in Fortified Human Serum. These materials were developed as part of a collaboration between the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with both agencies contributing data used in the certification of mass fraction values for a wide range of organic contaminants including polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, chlorinated pesticides, polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) congeners, and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD) and dibenzofuran (PCDF) congeners. The certified mass fractions of the organic contaminants in unfortified samples, SRM 1953 and SRM 1957, ranged from 12 ng/kg to 2200 ng/kg with the exception of 4,4′-DDE in SRM 1953 at 7400 ng/kg with expanded uncertainties generally <14 %. This agreement suggests that there were no significant biases existing among the multiple methods used for analysis. PMID:23132544

Mechanical properties of dust collected by dust separators in iron ore sinter plants.

PubMed

Lanzerstorfer, Christof

2015-01-01

The flow-related mechanical properties of dusts from the de-dusting systems of several sinter plants were investigated. The mass median diameters of the dusts were in the range from approximately 3 to 100 µm. Also, the bulk density of the dusts varied in a wide range (approximately 400 to 2300 kg/m³). A good correlation between the bulk density and the mass median diameter for most of the dusts was found. In contrast, the angles of repose did not vary very much, only for the coarsest dust a significantly lower value was measured. The angles of internal friction as well as the wall friction angles were lower for coarse dust and higher for fine dust. The shear tests showed that both angles depend considerably on the stress level. At low stress, the angles decreased significantly with increasing values of stress, whereas at higher stress, the dependence was small or even disappeared. The only exception to this behaviour was shown by the finest dust. The flowability decreased with the particle size. The flowability categories suggested by the three flowability indicators were passable only for the coarser dusts. For the finer dusts, the flowability was overestimated by all flowability indicators.

A Highly Stretchable and Robust Non-fluorinated Superhydrophobic Surface.

PubMed

Ju, Jie; Yao, Xi; Hou, Xu; Liu, Qihan; Zhang, Yu Shrike; Khademhosseini, Ali

2017-08-21

Superhydrophobic surface simultaneously possessing exceptional stretchability, robustness, and non-fluorination is highly desirable in applications ranging from wearable devices to artificial skins. While conventional superhydrophobic surfaces typically feature stretchability, robustness, or non-fluorination individually, co-existence of all these features still remains a great challenge. Here we report a multi-performance superhydrophobic surface achieved through incorporating hydrophilic micro-sized particles with pre-stretched silicone elastomer. The commercial silicone elastomer (Ecoflex) endowed the resulting surface with high stretchability; the densely packed micro-sized particles in multi-layers contributed to the preservation of the large surface roughness even under large strains; and the physical encapsulation of the microparticles by silicone elastomer due to the capillary dragging effect and the chemical interaction between the hydrophilic silica and the elastomer gave rise to the robust and non-fluorinated superhydrophobicity. It was demonstrated that the as-prepared fluorine-free surface could preserve the superhydrophobicity under repeated stretching-relaxing cycles. Most importantly, the surface's superhydrophobicity can be well maintained after severe rubbing process, indicating wear-resistance. Our novel superhydrophobic surface integrating multiple key properties, i.e. stretchability, robustness, and non-fluorination, is expected to provide unique advantages for a wide range of applications in biomedicine, energy, and electronics.

Climatology of tropospheric vertical velocity spectra

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ecklund, W. L.; Gage, K. S.; Balsley, B. B.; Carter, D. A.

1986-01-01

Vertical velocity power spectra obtained from Poker Flat, Alaska; Platteville, Colorado; Rhone Delta, France; and Ponape, East Caroline Islands using 50-MHz clear-air radars with vertical beams are given. The spectra were obtained by analyzing the quietest periods from the one-minute-resolution time series for each site. The lengths of available vertical records ranged from as long as 6 months at Poker Flat to about 1 month at Platteville. The quiet-time vertical velocity spectra are shown. Spectral period ranging from 2 minutes to 4 hours is shown on the abscissa and power spectral density is given on the ordinate. The Brunt-Vaisala (B-V) periods (determined from nearby sounding balloons) are indicated. All spectra (except the one from Platteville) exhibit a peak at periods slightly longer than the B-V period, are flat at longer periods, and fall rapidly at periods less than the B-V period. This behavior is expected for a spectrum of internal waves and is very similar to what is observed in the ocean (Eriksen, 1978). The spectral amplitudes vary by only a factor of 2 or 3 about the mean, and show that under quiet conditions vertical velocity spectra from the troposphere are very similar at widely different locations.

Prey depletion as a threat to the world's large carnivores

PubMed Central

Ripple, William J.

2016-01-01

Large terrestrial carnivores are an ecologically important, charismatic and highly endangered group of species. Here, we assess the importance of prey depletion as a driver of large carnivore endangerment globally using lists of prey species for each large carnivore compiled from the literature. We consider spatial variation in prey endangerment, changes in endangerment over time and the causes of prey depletion, finding considerable evidence that loss of prey base is a major and wide-ranging threat among large carnivore species. In particular, the clouded leopard (Neofelis nebulosa), Sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi), tiger (Panthera tigris), dhole (Cuon alpinus) and Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis) all have at least 40% of their prey classified as threatened on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and, along with the leopard (Panethra pardus), all of these species except the Ethiopian wolf have at least 50% of their prey classified as declining. Of the 494 prey species in our analysis, an average of just 6.9% of their ranges overlap protected areas. Together these results show the importance of a holistic approach to conservation that involves protecting both large carnivores directly and the prey upon which they depend. PMID:27853599

Molecular Mobility in Phase Segregated Bottlebrush Block Copolymer Melts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yavitt, Benjamin; Gai, Yue; Song, Dongpo; Winter, H. Henning; Watkins, James

We investigate the linear viscoelastic behavior of poly(styrene)-block-poly(ethylene oxide) (PS-b-PEO) brush block copolymer (BBCP) materials over a range of vol. fractions and with side chain lengths below the entanglement molecular weights. The high chain mobility of the brush architecture results in rapid micro-phase segregation of the brush copolymer segments, which occurs during thermal annealing at mild temperatures. Master curves of the dynamic moduli were obtained by time-temperature superposition. The reduced degree of chain entanglements leads to a unique liquid-like rheology similar to that of bottlebrush homopolymers, even in the phase segregated state. We also explore the alignment of phase segregated domains at exceptionally low strain amplitudes (γ = 0.01) and mild processing temperatures using small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). Domain orientation occurred readily at strains within the linear viscoelastic regime without noticeable effect on the moduli. This interplay of high molecular mobility and rapid phase segregation that are exhibited simultaneously in BBCPs is in contrast to the behavior of conventional linear block copolymer (LBCP) analogs and opens up new possibilities for processing BBCP materials for a wide range of nanotechnology applications. NSF Center for Hierarchical Manufacturing at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (CMMI-1025020).

Reexamining the minimum viable population concept for long-lived species.

PubMed

Shoemaker, Kevin T; Breisch, Alvin R; Jaycox, Jesse W; Gibbs, James P

2013-06-01

For decades conservation biologists have proposed general rules of thumb for minimum viable population size (MVP); typically, they range from hundreds to thousands of individuals. These rules have shifted conservation resources away from small and fragmented populations. We examined whether iteroparous, long-lived species might constitute an exception to general MVP guidelines. On the basis of results from a 10-year capture-recapture study in eastern New York (U.S.A.), we developed a comprehensive demographic model for the globally threatened bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii), which is designated as endangered by the IUCN in 2011. We assessed population viability across a wide range of initial abundances and carrying capacities. Not accounting for inbreeding, our results suggest that bog turtle colonies with as few as 15 breeding females have >90% probability of persisting for >100 years, provided vital rates and environmental variance remain at currently estimated levels. On the basis of our results, we suggest that MVP thresholds may be 1-2 orders of magnitude too high for many long-lived organisms. Consequently, protection of small and fragmented populations may constitute a viable conservation option for such species, especially in a regional or metapopulation context. © 2013 Society for Conservation Biology.

The earth radiation budget experiment: Early validation results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Smith, G. Louis; Barkstrom, Bruce R.; Harrison, Edwin F.

The Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) consists of radiometers on a dedicated spacecraft in a 57° inclination orbit, which has a precessional period of 2 months, and on two NOAA operational meteorological spacecraft in near polar orbits. The radiometers include scanning narrow field-of-view (FOV) and nadir-looking wide and medium FOV radiometers covering the ranges 0.2 to 5 μm and 5 to 50 μm and a solar monitoring channel. This paper describes the validation procedures and preliminary results. Each of the radiometer channels underwent extensive ground calibration, and the instrument packages include in-flight calibration facilities which, to date, show negligible changes of the instruments in orbit, except for gradual degradation of the suprasil dome of the shortwave wide FOV (about 4% per year). Measurements of the solar constant by the solar monitors, wide FOV, and medium FOV radiometers of two spacecraft agree to a fraction of a percent. Intercomparisons of the wide and medium FOV radiometers with the scanning radiometers show agreement of 1 to 4%. The multiple ERBE satellites are acquiring the first global measurements of regional scale diurnal variations in the Earth's radiation budget. These diurnal variations are verified by comparison with high temporal resolution geostationary satellite data. Other principal investigators of the ERBE Science Team are: R. Cess, SUNY, Stoneybrook; J. Coakley, NCAR; C. Duncan, M. King and A Mecherikunnel, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA; A. Gruber and A.J. Miller, NOAA; D. Hartmann, U. Washington; F.B. House, Drexel U.; F.O. Huck, Langley Research Center, NASA; G. Hunt, Imperial College, London U.; R. Kandel and A. Berroir, Laboratory of Dynamic Meteorology, Ecole Polytechique; V. Ramanathan, U. Chicago; E. Raschke, U. of Cologne; W.L. Smith, U. of Wisconsin and T.H. Vonder Haar, Colorado State U.

Geologic evaluation of major Landsat lineaments in Nevada and their relationship to ore districts

USGS Publications Warehouse

Rowan, Lawrence C.; Wetlaufer, Pamela Heald

1979-01-01

Analysis of diverse geologic, geophysical, and geochemical data shows that eight major lineament systems delineated in Landsat images of Nevada are morphological and tonal expressions of substantially broader structural zones. Southern Nevada is dominated by the 175 km-wide northwest-trending Walker Lane, a 150 km-wide zone of east-trending lineament systems consisting of the Pancake Range, Warm Springs, and Timpahute lineament systems, and a 125 km-wide belt of northeast-trending faults termed the Pahranagat lineament system. Northern Nevada is dominated by the northeast-trending 75-200km wide Midas Trench lineament system, which is marked by northeasterly-oriented faults, broad gravity anomalies, and the Battle Mountain heat flow high; this feature appears to extend into central Montana. The Midas Trench system is transected by the Northern Nevada Rift, a relatively narrow zone of north-northwest-trending basaltic dikes that give rise to a series of prominent aeromagnetic highs. The northwest-trending Rye Patch lineament system, situated at the northeast boundary of the Walker Lane, also intersects the Midas Trench system and is characterized by stratigraphic discontinuities and alignment of aeromagnetic anomalies. Field relationships indicate that all the lineament systems except for the Northern Nevada Rift are conjugate shears formed since mid-Miocene time during extension of the Great Basin. Metallization associated with volcanism was widespread along these systems during the 17-6 m.y. period. However, these zones appear to have been established prior to this period, probably as early as Precambr-an time. These lineament systems are interpreted to be old, fundamental, structural zones that have been reactivated episodically as stress conditions !changed in the western United States. Many metal districts are localized within these zones as magma rose along the pre-existing conduits.

A convenient and accurate wide-range parameter relationship between Buckingham and Morse potential energy functions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lim, Teik-Cheng; Dawson, James Alexander

2018-05-01

This study explores the close-range, short-range and long-range relationships between the parameters of the Morse and Buckingham potential energy functions. The results show that the close-range and short-range relationships are valid for bond compression and for very small changes in bond length, respectively, while the long-range relationship is valid for bond stretching. A wide-range relationship is proposed to combine the comparative advantages of the close-range, short-range and long-range parameter relationships. The wide-range relationship is useful for replacing the close-range, short-range and long-range parameter relationships, thereby preventing the undesired effects of potential energy jumps resulting from functional switching between the close-range, short-range and long-range interaction energies.

Ranges of Cervical Intervertebral Disc Deformation During an In Vivo Dynamic Flexion–Extension of the Neck

PubMed Central

Yu, Yan; Mao, Haiqing; Li, Jing-Sheng; Tsai, Tsung-Yuan; Cheng, Liming; Wood, Kirkham B.; Li, Guoan; Cha, Thomas D.

2017-01-01

While abnormal loading is widely believed to cause cervical spine disc diseases, in vivo cervical disc deformation during dynamic neck motion has not been well delineated. This study investigated the range of cervical disc deformation during an in vivo functional flexion–extension of the neck. Ten asymptomatic human subjects were tested using a combined dual fluoroscopic imaging system (DFIS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based three-dimensional (3D) modeling technique. Overall disc deformation was determined using the changes of the space geometry between upper and lower endplates of each intervertebral segment (C3/4, C4/5, C5/6, and C6/7). Five points (anterior, center, posterior, left, and right) of each disc were analyzed to examine the disc deformation distributions. The data indicated that between the functional maximum flexion and extension of the neck, the anterior points of the discs experienced large changes of distraction/compression deformation and shear deformation. The higher level discs experienced higher ranges of disc deformation. No significant difference was found in deformation ranges at posterior points of all the discs. The data indicated that the range of disc deformation is disc level dependent and the anterior region experienced larger changes of deformation than the center and posterior regions, except for the C6/7 disc. The data obtained from this study could serve as baseline knowledge for the understanding of the cervical spine disc biomechanics and for investigation of the biomechanical etiology of disc diseases. These data could also provide insights for development of motion preservation surgeries for cervical spine. PMID:28334358

Ranges of Cervical Intervertebral Disc Deformation During an In Vivo Dynamic Flexion-Extension of the Neck.

PubMed

Yu, Yan; Mao, Haiqing; Li, Jing-Sheng; Tsai, Tsung-Yuan; Cheng, Liming; Wood, Kirkham B; Li, Guoan; Cha, Thomas D

2017-06-01

While abnormal loading is widely believed to cause cervical spine disc diseases, in vivo cervical disc deformation during dynamic neck motion has not been well delineated. This study investigated the range of cervical disc deformation during an in vivo functional flexion-extension of the neck. Ten asymptomatic human subjects were tested using a combined dual fluoroscopic imaging system (DFIS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based three-dimensional (3D) modeling technique. Overall disc deformation was determined using the changes of the space geometry between upper and lower endplates of each intervertebral segment (C3/4, C4/5, C5/6, and C6/7). Five points (anterior, center, posterior, left, and right) of each disc were analyzed to examine the disc deformation distributions. The data indicated that between the functional maximum flexion and extension of the neck, the anterior points of the discs experienced large changes of distraction/compression deformation and shear deformation. The higher level discs experienced higher ranges of disc deformation. No significant difference was found in deformation ranges at posterior points of all the discs. The data indicated that the range of disc deformation is disc level dependent and the anterior region experienced larger changes of deformation than the center and posterior regions, except for the C6/7 disc. The data obtained from this study could serve as baseline knowledge for the understanding of the cervical spine disc biomechanics and for investigation of the biomechanical etiology of disc diseases. These data could also provide insights for development of motion preservation surgeries for cervical spine.

Temporal Stability of the Dutch Version of the Wechsler Memory Scale-Fourth Edition (WMS-IV-NL).

PubMed

Bouman, Zita; Hendriks, Marc P H; Aldenkamp, Albert P; Kessels, Roy P C

2015-01-01

The Wechsler Memory Scale-Fourth Edition (WMS-IV) is one of the most widely used memory batteries. We examined the test-retest reliability, practice effects, and standardized regression-based (SRB) change norms for the Dutch version of the WMS-IV (WMS-IV-NL) after both short and long retest intervals. The WMS-IV-NL was administered twice after either a short (M = 8.48 weeks, SD = 3.40 weeks, range = 3-16) or a long (M = 17.87 months, SD = 3.48, range = 12-24) retest interval in a sample of 234 healthy participants (M = 59.55 years, range = 16-90; 118 completed the Adult Battery; and 116 completed the Older Adult Battery). The test-retest reliability estimates varied across indexes. They were adequate to good after a short retest interval (ranging from .74 to .86), with the exception of the Visual Working Memory Index (r = .59), yet generally lower after a long retest interval (ranging from .56 to .77). Practice effects were only observed after a short retest interval (overall group mean gains up to 11 points), whereas no significant change in performance was found after a long retest interval. Furthermore, practice effect-adjusted SRB change norms were calculated for all WMS-IV-NL index scores. Overall, this study shows that the test-retest reliability of the WMS-IV-NL varied across indexes. Practice effects were observed after a short retest interval, but no evidence was found for practice effects after a long retest interval from one to two years. Finally, the SRB change norms were provided for the WMS-IV-NL.

Empirical estimation of genome-wide significance thresholds based on the 1000 Genomes Project data set.

PubMed

Kanai, Masahiro; Tanaka, Toshihiro; Okada, Yukinori

2016-10-01

To assess the statistical significance of associations between variants and traits, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) should employ an appropriate threshold that accounts for the massive burden of multiple testing in the study. Although most studies in the current literature commonly set a genome-wide significance threshold at the level of P=5.0 × 10 -8 , the adequacy of this value for respective populations has not been fully investigated. To empirically estimate thresholds for different ancestral populations, we conducted GWAS simulations using the 1000 Genomes Phase 3 data set for Africans (AFR), Europeans (EUR), Admixed Americans (AMR), East Asians (EAS) and South Asians (SAS). The estimated empirical genome-wide significance thresholds were P sig =3.24 × 10 -8 (AFR), 9.26 × 10 -8 (EUR), 1.83 × 10 -7 (AMR), 1.61 × 10 -7 (EAS) and 9.46 × 10 -8 (SAS). We additionally conducted trans-ethnic meta-analyses across all populations (ALL) and all populations except for AFR (ΔAFR), which yielded P sig =3.25 × 10 -8 (ALL) and 4.20 × 10 -8 (ΔAFR). Our results indicate that the current threshold (P=5.0 × 10 -8 ) is overly stringent for all ancestral populations except for Africans; however, we should employ a more stringent threshold when conducting a meta-analysis, regardless of the presence of African samples.

Thinking Inclusively about Gifted Education: A Tribute to Judy Lupart

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Porath, Marion

2012-01-01

Dr. Judy Lupart's distinguished career is highlighted by her important contributions to the education of students with exceptional learning needs. The breadth of her vision and the range of exceptional learning needs she considered in her thinking about inclusive education changed the landscape of special education in Canada and elsewhere. Dr.…

Development of a Piagetian Curriculum for Exceptional Children. Final Report.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Garrison, Mortimer, Jr.

A series of discussions are reported concerning the applicability of Piaget's ideas to special education. They are contrasted and compared with other approaches to educating the exceptional child ranging from behavioral modification to the Montessori classroom. Participants included Joachim F. Wohlwill, Francis P. Connor, Donald S. Baer, Thomas J.…

The Effects of Bench Press Variations in Competitive Athletes on Muscle Activity and Performance

PubMed Central

Saeterbakken, Atle Hole; Mo, Dag-André; Scott, Suzanne; Andersen, Vidar

2017-01-01

Abstract The aim of the study was to compare the EMG activity performing 6RM competition style bench press (flat bench-wide grip) with 1) medium and narrow grip widths on a flat bench and 1) inclined and declined bench positions with a wide grip. Twelve bench press athletes competing at national and international level participated in the study. EMG activity was measured in the pectoralis major, anterior and posterior deltoid, biceps brachii, triceps brachii and latissimus dorsi. Non-significant differences in activation were observed between the three bench positions with the exception of 58.5-62.6% lower triceps brachii activation, but 48.3-68.7% greater biceps brachii activation in the inclined bench compared with the flat and declined bench position. Comparing the three grip widths, non-significant differences in activations were observed, with the exception of 25.9-30.5% lower EMG activity in the biceps brachii using a narrow grip, compared to the medium and wide grip conditions. The 6-RM loads were 5.8-11.1% greater using a medium and wide grip compared to narrow grip width and 18.5-21.5% lower in the inclined bench position compared with flat and declined. Comparing the EMG activity during the competition bench press style with either the inclined and declined bench position (wide grip) or using a narrow and medium grip (flat bench), only resulted in different EMG activity in the biceps- and triceps brachii. The 6RM loads varied with each bench press variation and we recommend the use of a wide grip on a flat bench during high load hypertrophy training to bench press athletes. PMID:28713459

The Effects of Bench Press Variations in Competitive Athletes on Muscle Activity and Performance.

PubMed

Saeterbakken, Atle Hole; Mo, Dag-André; Scott, Suzanne; Andersen, Vidar

2017-06-01

The aim of the study was to compare the EMG activity performing 6RM competition style bench press (flat bench-wide grip) with 1) medium and narrow grip widths on a flat bench and 1) inclined and declined bench positions with a wide grip. Twelve bench press athletes competing at national and international level participated in the study. EMG activity was measured in the pectoralis major, anterior and posterior deltoid, biceps brachii, triceps brachii and latissimus dorsi. Non-significant differences in activation were observed between the three bench positions with the exception of 58.5-62.6% lower triceps brachii activation, but 48.3-68.7% greater biceps brachii activation in the inclined bench compared with the flat and declined bench position. Comparing the three grip widths, non-significant differences in activations were observed, with the exception of 25.9-30.5% lower EMG activity in the biceps brachii using a narrow grip, compared to the medium and wide grip conditions. The 6-RM loads were 5.8-11.1% greater using a medium and wide grip compared to narrow grip width and 18.5-21.5% lower in the inclined bench position compared with flat and declined. Comparing the EMG activity during the competition bench press style with either the inclined and declined bench position (wide grip) or using a narrow and medium grip (flat bench), only resulted in different EMG activity in the biceps- and triceps brachii. The 6RM loads varied with each bench press variation and we recommend the use of a wide grip on a flat bench during high load hypertrophy training to bench press athletes.

Microtomography of the Baltic amber tick Ixodes succineus reveals affinities with the modern Asian disease vector Ixodes ovatus

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

Dunlop, Jason A.; Apanaskevich, Dmitry A.; Lehmann, Jens

Background: Fossil ticks are extremely rare, whereby Ixodes succineus Weidner, 1964 from Eocene (ca. 44–49 Ma) Baltic amber is one of the oldest examples of a living hard tick genus (Ixodida: Ixodidae). Previous work suggested it was most closely related to the modern and widespread European sheep tick Ixodes ricinus (Linneaus, 1758). Results: Restudy using phase contrast synchrotron x-ray tomography yielded images of exceptional quality. These confirm the fossil’s referral to Ixodes Latreille, 1795, but the characters resolved here suggest instead affinities with the Asian subgenus Partipalpiger Hoogstraal et al., 1973 and its single living (and medically significant) species Ixodesmore » ovatus Neumann, 1899. We redescribe the amber fossil here as Ixodes (Partipalpiger) succineus. Conclusions: Our data suggest that Ixodes ricinus is unlikely to be directly derived from Weidner’s amber species, but instead reveals that the Partipalpiger lineage was originally more widely distributed across the northern hemisphere. The closeness of Ixodes (P.) succineus to a living vector of a wide range of pathogens offers the potential to correlate its spatial and temporal position (northern Europe, nearly 50 million years ago) with the estimated origination dates of various tick-borne diseases.« less

Ovarian control and monitoring in amphibians.

PubMed

Calatayud, N E; Stoops, M; Durrant, B S

2018-03-15

Amphibian evolution spans over 350 million years, consequently this taxonomic group displays a wide, complex array of physiological adaptations and their diverse modes of reproduction are a prime example. Reproduction can be affected by taxonomy, geographic and altitudinal distribution, and environmental factors. With some exceptions, amphibians can be categorized into discontinuous (strictly seasonal) and continuous breeders. Temperature and its close association with other proximate and genetic factors control reproduction via a tight relationship with circadian rhythms which drive genetic and hormonal responses to the environment. In recent times, the relationship of proximate factors and reproduction has directly or indirectly lead to the decline of this taxonomic group. Conservationists are tackling the rapid loss of species through a wide range of approaches including captive rescue. However, there is still much to be learned about the mechanisms of reproductive control and its requirements in order to fabricate species-appropriate captive environments that address a variety of reproductive strategies. As with other taxonomic groups, assisted reproductive technologies and other reproductive monitoring tools such as ultrasound, hormone analysis and body condition indices can assist conservationists in optimizing captive husbandry and breeding. In this review we discuss some of the mechanisms of ovarian control and the different tools being used to monitor female reproduction. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

[The autumn crocus: two millenniums of actuality].

PubMed

Fabre, André Julien

2005-01-01

Colchicum holds a singular place in the History of Medicine. Many names were given through the ages: "ephemera", "finger of Hermes", "pater noster", "tue-chiens". Modern phytonyms clearly refer to the land of Colchis, a mythical place close to Armenia. Several centuries were needed to understand that, despite a frightening reputation, colchic was an elective treatment for the gout. In its long story, appears famous personages as Theophraste, Paulus Aeginata, Gilbertus Anglicus, the baron Storck and Benjamin Franklin. In modern times, colchicum has received besides gout, a wide array of new indications, among others: Behcet disease, collagen diseases and malignancies. A scarcely known chapter of genetics is the findings in 1889, by B. Pernice, an obscure physician from Palermo, of the major mitoic changes observed on gastric and intestinal mucosa of two dogs which had received large doses of colchicum. In spite of their scientific value, the works of Pernice remained largely ignored until 1949. Recent advances in colchiocotheraphy have shown fascinating new fields for research: thus in the familial Mediterranean fever, close to periodic disease, genetic disorder elective for subjects originated from all over Mediterranean and around Black Sea... the mythical country of Colchis. No other medicinal plant than colchic, except poppy, can give such records of perennial use in such a wide range of disorders.

Full Range Advising: Transforming the Advisor-Advisee Experience

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barbuto, John E., Jr.; Story, Joana S.; Fritz, Susan M.; Schinstock, Jack L.

2011-01-01

Drawing from the leadership literature, a new model for advising is proposed. Full range advising encompasses laissez-faire, management by exception, contingent rewards, and transformational behaviors. The relationships between full range advising and advisees' extra effort, satisfaction with the advisor, and advising effectiveness were examined.…

Large-visual-angle microstructure inspired from quantitative design of Morpho butterflies' lamellae deviation using the FDTD/PSO method.

PubMed

Wang, Wanlin; Zhang, Wang; Chen, Weixin; Gu, Jiajun; Liu, Qinglei; Deng, Tao; Zhang, Di

2013-01-15

The wide angular range of the treelike structure in Morpho butterfly scales was investigated by finite-difference time-domain (FDTD)/particle-swarm-optimization (PSO) analysis. Using the FDTD method, different parameters in the Morpho butterflies' treelike structure were studied and their contributions to the angular dependence were analyzed. Then a wide angular range was realized by the PSO method from quantitatively designing the lamellae deviation (Δy), which was a crucial parameter with angular range. The field map of the wide-range reflection in a large area was given to confirm the wide angular range. The tristimulus values and corresponding color coordinates for various viewing directions were calculated to confirm the blue color in different observation angles. The wide angular range realized by the FDTD/PSO method will assist us in understanding the scientific principles involved and also in designing artificial optical materials.

Determination of chemotherapeutic agents in fish and shellfish by matrix solid-phase dispersion and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

PubMed

Carro, Antonia M; García-Rodríguez, Diego; Gonzalez-Siso, Paula; Lorenzo, Rosa A

2012-11-01

Chemicals are widely used in aquaculture and one of the main recipients of these analytes is the aquatic environment. The aim of this work was to develop and validate a simple and sensitive method for the determination of multiclass chemotherapeutic agents in farmed fish and shellfish using matrix solid-phase dispersion and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Residues of azamethiphos, three avermectins, two carbamates, and two benzoylureas were extracted from samples using silica gel as clean-up adsorbent and 0.5% acetic acid in acetonitrile as elution solvent. The extraction conditions were investigated and optimized using an experimental design. Mass spectrometry detection was carried out in positive electrospray ionization mode with multiple-reaction monitoring scan (except for benzoylurea family). Matrix-matched standards were used for the drugs quantification. Good linearity (R(2) ≥ 0.996) was observed in the range of 5-500 μg kg(-1). Limits of detection were in the range of 1.5-3.7 μg kg(-1). Recoveries from salmon samples spiked with veterinary drugs were in the range 84.9-118%. Precision was satisfactory since relative standard deviations were lower than 10.6%. The method can be successfully applied for the analysis of fish and shellfish from aquaculture. © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

Quantifying Equid Behavior - A Research Ethogram for Free-Roaming Feral Horses

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ransom, Jason I.; Cade, Brian S.

2009-01-01

Feral horses (Equus caballus) are globally distributed in free-roaming populations on all continents except Antarctica and occupy a wide range of habitats including forest, grassland, desert, and montane environments. The largest populations occur in Australia and North America and have been the subject of scientific study for decades, yet guidelines and ethograms for feral horse behavioral research are largely absent in the scientific literature. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Fort Collins Science Center conducted research on the influences of the immunocontraceptive porcine zona pellucida (PZP) on feral horse behavior from 2003-2006 in three discrete populations in the American west. These populations were the Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Range in Colorado, McCullough Peaks Herd Management Area in Wyoming, and Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range in Montana; the research effort included over 1,800 hours of behavioral observations of 317 adult free-roaming feral horses. An ethogram was developed during the course of this study to facilitate accurate scientific data collection on feral horse behavior, which is often challenging to quantify. By developing this set of discrete behavioral definitions and a set of strict research protocols, scientists were better able to address both applied questions, such as behavioral changes related to fertility control, and theoretical questions, such as understanding networks and dominance hierarchies within social groups of equids.

Growth of suppression in humans based on distortion-product otoacoustic emission measurements

PubMed Central

Gorga, Michael P.; Neely, Stephen T.; Kopun, Judy; Tan, Hongyang

2011-01-01

Distortion-product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) were used to describe suppression growth in normal-hearing humans. Data were collected at eight f2 frequencies ranging from 0.5 to 8 kHz for L2 levels ranging from 10 to 60 dB sensation level. For each f2 and L2 combination, suppression was measured for nine or eleven suppressor frequencies (f3) whose levels varied from −20 to 85 dB sound pressure level (SPL). Suppression grew nearly linearly when f3 ≈ f2, grew more rapidly for f3 < f2, and grew more slowly for f3 > f2. These results are consistent with physiological and mechanical data from lower animals, as well as previous DPOAE data from humans, although no previous DPOAE study has described suppression growth for as wide a range of frequencies and levels. These trends were evident for all f2 and L2 combinations; however, some exceptions were noted. Specifically, suppression growth rate was less steep as a function of f3 for f2 frequencies ≤1 kHz. Thus, despite the qualitative similarities across frequency, there were quantitative differences related to f2, suggesting that there may be subtle differences in suppression for frequencies above 1 kHz compared to frequencies below 1 kHz. PMID:21361439

Double-Plate Penetration Equations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hayashida, K. B.; Robinson, J. H.

2000-01-01

This report compares seven double-plate penetration predictor equations for accuracy and effectiveness of a shield design. Three of the seven are the Johnson Space Center original, modified, and new Cour-Palais equations. The other four are the Nysmith, Lundeberg-Stern-Bristow, Burch, and Wilkinson equations. These equations, except the Wilkinson equation, were derived from test results, with the velocities ranging up to 8 km/sec. Spreadsheet software calculated the projectile diameters for various velocities for the different equations. The results were plotted on projectile diameter versus velocity graphs for the expected orbital debris impact velocities ranging from 2 to 15 km/sec. The new Cour-Palais double-plate penetration equation was compared to the modified Cour-Palais single-plate penetration equation. Then the predictions from each of the seven double-plate penetration equations were compared to each other for a chosen shield design. Finally, these results from the equations were compared with test results performed at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. Because the different equations predict a wide range of projectile diameters at any given velocity, it is very difficult to choose the "right" prediction equation for shield configurations other than those exactly used in the equations' development. Although developed for various materials, the penetration equations alone cannot be relied upon to accurately predict the effectiveness of a shield without using hypervelocity impact tests to verify the design.

A Comparative Study on Johnson Cook, Modified Zerilli-Armstrong and Arrhenius-Type Constitutive Models to Predict High-Temperature Flow Behavior of Ti-6Al-4V Alloy in α + β Phase

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cai, Jun; Wang, Kuaishe; Han, Yingying

2016-03-01

True stress and true strain values obtained from isothermal compression tests over a wide temperature range from 1,073 to 1,323 K and a strain rate range from 0.001 to 1 s-1 were employed to establish the constitutive equations based on Johnson Cook, modified Zerilli-Armstrong (ZA) and strain-compensated Arrhenius-type models, respectively, to predict the high-temperature flow behavior of Ti-6Al-4V alloy in α + β phase. Furthermore, a comparative study has been made on the capability of the three models to represent the elevated temperature flow behavior of Ti-6Al-4V alloy. Suitability of the three models was evaluated by comparing both the correlation coefficient R and the average absolute relative error (AARE). The results showed that the Johnson Cook model is inadequate to provide good description of flow behavior of Ti-6Al-4V alloy in α + β phase domain, while the predicted values of modified ZA model and the strain-compensated Arrhenius-type model could agree well with the experimental values except under some deformation conditions. Meanwhile, the modified ZA model could track the deformation behavior more accurately than other model throughout the entire temperature and strain rate range.

Periodic Anderson model with correlated conduction electrons: Variational and exact diagonalization study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hagymási, I.; Itai, K.; Sólyom, J.

2012-06-01

We investigate an extended version of the periodic Anderson model (the so-called periodic Anderson-Hubbard model) with the aim to understand the role of interaction between conduction electrons in the formation of the heavy-fermion and mixed-valence states. Two methods are used: (i) variational calculation with the Gutzwiller wave function optimizing numerically the ground-state energy and (ii) exact diagonalization of the Hamiltonian for short chains. The f-level occupancy and the renormalization factor of the quasiparticles are calculated as a function of the energy of the f orbital for a wide range of the interaction parameters. The results obtained by the two methods are in reasonably good agreement for the periodic Anderson model. The agreement is maintained even when the interaction between band electrons, Ud, is taken into account, except for the half-filled case. This discrepancy can be explained by the difference between the physics of the one- and higher-dimensional models. We find that this interaction shifts and widens the energy range of the bare f level, where heavy-fermion behavior can be observed. For large-enough Ud this range may lie even above the bare conduction band. The Gutzwiller method indicates a robust transition from Kondo insulator to Mott insulator in the half-filled model, while Ud enhances the quasiparticle mass when the filling is close to half filling.

14 CFR 23.175 - Demonstration of static longitudinal stability.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... within a range that is the greater of 15 percent of the trim speed plus the resulting free return speed range, or 40 knots plus the resulting free return speed range, above and below the trim speed, except... curve must have a stable slope at all speeds within a range of 50 knots plus the resulting free return...

Safety belt use laws : evaluation of primary enforcement and other provisions

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1995-10-01

As of January 1995, all states except Maine and New Hampshire had laws requiring safety belt use. These laws vary widely in their enforcement options (primary or secondary), scope of coverage (vehicles covered and seats covered), fine levels, and oth...

Analysis of specular resonance in dielectric bispheres using rigorous and geometrical-optics theories.

PubMed

Miyazaki, Hideki T; Miyazaki, Hiroshi; Miyano, Kenjiro

2003-09-01

We have recently identified the resonant scattering from dielectric bispheres in the specular direction, which has long been known as the specular resonance, to be a type of rainbow (a caustic) and a general phenomenon for bispheres. We discuss the details of the specular resonance on the basis of systematic calculations. In addition to the rigorous theory, which precisely describes the scattering even in the resonance regime, the ray-tracing method, which gives the scattering in the geometrical-optics limit, is used. Specular resonance is explicitly defined as strong scattering in the direction of the specular reflection from the symmetrical axis of the bisphere whose intensity exceeds that of the scattering from noninteracting bispheres. Then the range of parameters for computing a particular specular resonance is specified. This resonance becomes prominent in a wide range of refractive indices (from 1.2 to 2.2) in a wide range of size parameters (from five to infinity) and for an arbitrarily polarized light incident within an angle of 40 degrees to the symmetrical axis. This particular scattering can stay evident even when the spheres are not in contact or the sizes of the spheres are different. Thus specular resonance is a common and robust phenomenon in dielectric bispheres. Furthermore, we demonstrate that various characteristic features in the scattering from bispheres can be explained successfully by using intuitive and simple representations. Most of the significant scatterings other than the specular resonance are also understandable as caustics in geometrical-optics theory. The specular resonance becomes striking at the smallest size parameter among these caustics because its optical trajectory is composed of only the refractions at the surfaces and has an exceptionally large intensity. However, some characteristics are not accounted for by geometrical optics. In particular, the oscillatory behaviors of their scattering intensity are well described by simple two-wave interference models.

Multiple internal standard normalization for improving HS-SPME-GC-MS quantitation in virgin olive oil volatile organic compounds (VOO-VOCs) profile.

PubMed

Fortini, Martina; Migliorini, Marzia; Cherubini, Chiara; Cecchi, Lorenzo; Calamai, Luca

2017-04-01

The commercial value of virgin olive oils (VOOs) strongly depends on their classification, also based on the aroma of the oils, usually evaluated by a panel test. Nowadays, a reliable analytical method is still needed to evaluate the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and support the standard panel test method. To date, the use of HS-SPME sampling coupled to GC-MS is generally accepted for the analysis of VOCs in VOOs. However, VOO is a challenging matrix due to the simultaneous presence of: i) compounds at ppm and ppb concentrations; ii) molecules belonging to different chemical classes and iii) analytes with a wide range of molecular mass. Therefore, HS-SPME-GC-MS quantitation based upon the use of external standard method or of only a single internal standard (ISTD) for data normalization in an internal standard method, may be troublesome. In this work a multiple internal standard normalization is proposed to overcome these problems and improving quantitation of VOO-VOCs. As many as 11 ISTDs were used for quantitation of 71 VOCs. For each of them the most suitable ISTD was selected and a good linearity in a wide range of calibration was obtained. Except for E-2-hexenal, without ISTD or with an unsuitable ISTD, the linear range of calibration was narrower with respect to that obtained by a suitable ISTD, confirming the usefulness of multiple internal standard normalization for the correct quantitation of VOCs profile in VOOs. The method was validated for 71 VOCs, and then applied to a series of lampante virgin olive oils and extra virgin olive oils. In light of our results, we propose the application of this analytical approach for routine quantitative analyses and to support sensorial analysis for the evaluation of positive and negative VOOs attributes. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Antimicrobial and antioxidant activity of kaempferol rhamnoside derivatives from Bryophyllum pinnatum

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Bryophyllum pinnatum (Lank.) Oken (Crassulaceae) is a perennial succulent herb widely used in traditional medicine to treat many ailments. Its wide range of uses in folk medicine justifies its being called "life plant" or "resurrection plant", prompting researchers' interest. We describe here the isolation and structure elucidation of antimicrobial and/or antioxidant components from the EtOAc extract of B. pinnatum. Results The methanol extract displayed both antimicrobial activities with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 32 to 512 μg/ml and antioxidant property with an IC50 value of 52.48 μg/ml. Its partition enhanced the antimicrobial activity in EtOAc extract (MIC = 16-128 μg/ml) and reduced it in hexane extract (MIC = 256-1024 μg/ml). In addition, this process reduced the antioxidant activity in EtOAc and hexane extracts with IC50 values of 78.11 and 90.04 μg/ml respectively. Fractionation of EtOAc extract gave seven kaempferol rhamnosides, including; kaempferitrin (1), kaempferol 3-O-α-L-(2-acetyl)rhamnopyranoside-7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (2), kaempferol 3-O-α-L-(3-acetyl)rhamnopyranoside-7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (3), kaempferol 3-O-α-L-(4-acetyl)rhamnopyranoside-7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (4), kaempferol 3-O-α-D- glucopyranoside-7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (5), afzelin (6) and α-rhamnoisorobin (7). All these compounds, except 6 were isolated from this plant for the first time. Compound 7 was the most active, with MIC values ranging from 1 to 2 μg/ml and its antioxidant activity (IC50 = 0.71 μg/ml) was higher than that of the reference drug (IC50 = 0.96 μg/ml). Conclusion These findings demonstrate that Bryophyllum pinnatum and some of its isolated compounds have interesting antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, and therefore confirming the traditional use of B. pinnatum in the treatment of infectious and free radical damages. PMID:22433844

Exclusion of patients from pay-for-performance targets by English physicians.

PubMed

Doran, Tim; Fullwood, Catherine; Reeves, David; Gravelle, Hugh; Roland, Martin

2008-07-17

In the English pay-for-performance program, physicians use a range of criteria to exclude individual patients from the quality calculations that determine their pay. This process, which is called exception reporting, is intended to safeguard patients against inappropriate treatment by physicians seeking to maximize their income. However, exception reporting may allow physicians to inappropriately exclude patients for whom targets have been missed (a practice known as gaming). We analyzed data extracted automatically from clinical computing systems for 8105 family practices in England (96% of all practices), data from the U.K. Census, and data on practice characteristics from the U.K. Department of Health. We determined the rate of exception reporting for 65 clinical activities and the association between this rate and the characteristics of patients and medical practices. From April 2005 through March 2006, physicians excluded a median of 5.3% of patients (interquartile range, 4.0 to 6.9) from the quality calculations. Physicians were most likely to exclude patients from indicators that were related to providing treatments and achieving target levels of intermediate outcomes; they were least likely to exclude patients from indicators that were related to routine checks and measurements and to offers of treatment. The characteristics of patients and practices explained only 2.7% of the variance in exception reporting. We estimate that exception reporting accounted for approximately 1.5% of the cost of the pay-for-performance program. Exception reporting brings substantial benefits to pay-for-performance programs, providing that the process is used appropriately. In England, rates of exception reporting have generally been low, with little evidence of widespread gaming. 2008 Massachusetts Medical Society

Diatoms can be an important exception to temperature-size rules at species and community levels of organization.

PubMed

Adams, Georgina L; Pichler, Doris E; Cox, Eileen J; O'Gorman, Eoin J; Seeney, Alex; Woodward, Guy; Reuman, Daniel C

2013-11-01

Climate warming has been linked to an apparent general decrease in body sizes of ectotherms, both across and within taxa, especially in aquatic systems. Smaller body size in warmer geographical regions has also been widely observed. Since body size is a fundamental determinant of many biological attributes, climate-warming-related changes in size could ripple across multiple levels of ecological organization. Some recent studies have questioned the ubiquity of temperature-size rules, however, and certain widespread and abundant taxa, such as diatoms, may be important exceptions. We tested the hypothesis that diatoms are smaller at warmer temperatures using a system of geothermally heated streams. There was no consistent relationship between size and temperature at either the population or community level. These field data provide important counterexamples to both James' and Bergmann's temperature-size rules, respectively, undermining the widely held assumption that warming favours the small. This study provides compelling new evidence that diatoms are an important exception to temperature-size rules for three reasons: (i) we use many more species than prior work; (ii) we examine both community and species levels of organization simultaneously; (iii) we work in a natural system with a wide temperature gradient but minimal variation in other factors, to achieve robust tests of hypotheses without relying on laboratory setups, which have limited realism. In addition, we show that interspecific effects were a bigger contributor to whole-community size differences, and are probably more ecologically important than more commonly studied intraspecific effects. These findings highlight the need for multispecies approaches in future studies of climate warming and body size. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Diatoms can be an important exception to temperature–size rules at species and community levels of organization

PubMed Central

Adams, Georgina L; Pichler, Doris E; Cox, Eileen J; O'Gorman, Eoin J; Seeney, Alex; Woodward, Guy; Reuman, Daniel C

2013-01-01

Climate warming has been linked to an apparent general decrease in body sizes of ectotherms, both across and within taxa, especially in aquatic systems. Smaller body size in warmer geographical regions has also been widely observed. Since body size is a fundamental determinant of many biological attributes, climate-warming-related changes in size could ripple across multiple levels of ecological organization. Some recent studies have questioned the ubiquity of temperature–size rules, however, and certain widespread and abundant taxa, such as diatoms, may be important exceptions. We tested the hypothesis that diatoms are smaller at warmer temperatures using a system of geothermally heated streams. There was no consistent relationship between size and temperature at either the population or community level. These field data provide important counterexamples to both James’ and Bergmann's temperature–size rules, respectively, undermining the widely held assumption that warming favours the small. This study provides compelling new evidence that diatoms are an important exception to temperature–size rules for three reasons: (i) we use many more species than prior work; (ii) we examine both community and species levels of organization simultaneously; (iii) we work in a natural system with a wide temperature gradient but minimal variation in other factors, to achieve robust tests of hypotheses without relying on laboratory setups, which have limited realism. In addition, we show that interspecific effects were a bigger contributor to whole-community size differences, and are probably more ecologically important than more commonly studied intraspecific effects. These findings highlight the need for multispecies approaches in future studies of climate warming and body size. PMID:23749600

Summary of International Waste Management Programs (LLNL Input to SNL L3 MS: System-Wide Integration and Site Selection Concepts for Future Disposition Options for HLW)

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

Greenberg, Harris R.; Blink, James A.; Halsey, William G.

2011-08-11

The Used Fuel Disposition Campaign (UFDC) within the Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy (DOE-NE) Fuel Cycle Technology (FCT) program has been tasked with investigating the disposal of the nation’s spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and high-level nuclear waste (HLW) for a range of potential waste forms and geologic environments. This Lessons Learned task is part of a multi-laboratory effort, with this LLNL report providing input to a Level 3 SNL milestone (System-Wide Integration and Site Selection Concepts for Future Disposition Options for HLW). The work package number is: FTLL11UF0328; the work package title is: Technical Bases / Lessons Learned;more » the milestone number is: M41UF032802; and the milestone title is: “LLNL Input to SNL L3 MS: System-Wide Integration and Site Selection Concepts for Future Disposition Options for HLW”. The system-wide integration effort will integrate all aspects of waste management and disposal, integrating the waste generators, interim storage, transportation, and ultimate disposal at a repository site. The review of international experience in these areas is required to support future studies that address all of these components in an integrated manner. Note that this report is a snapshot of nuclear power infrastructure and international waste management programs that is current as of August 2011, with one notable exception. No attempt has been made to discuss the currently evolving world-wide response to the tragic consequences of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan on March 11, 2011, leaving more than 15,000 people dead and more than 8,000 people missing, and severely damaging the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power complex. Continuing efforts in FY 2012 will update the data, and summarize it in an Excel spreadsheet for easy comparison and assist in the knowledge management of the study cases.« less

Volatile concentrations in variably vesicular pyroclasts from the Rotongaio ash (181 AD Taupo eruption): did shallow magma degassing trigger exceptionally violent phreatomagmatic activity?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tuffen, Hugh; Houghton, Bruce F.; Dingwellp, Donald B.; Pinkerton, Harry

2010-05-01

Measurement of dissolved volatile concentrations in pyroclasts has formed the basis of our understanding of the links between magma degassing and the explosivity of silicic eruptions[1]. To date these studies have focussed exclusively on the densest pyroclastic obsidians, which comprise on a tiny proportion of the erupted products, in order to bypass the difficulty of analysing vesicular material. As a consequence, crucial information is missing about how degassing in the densest clasts relates to the behaviour of the bulk of the magma volume. To overcome this shortcoming, the volatile content of variably vesicular pyroclasts from the Rotongaio ash has been analysed using both micro-analytical (SIMS, synchrotron FTIR) and bulk techniques (TGA-MS). The Rotongaio ash was an exceptionally violent phase of phreatomagmatic activity during the 181 AD rhyolitic eruption of Taupo (New Zealand), the most powerful worldwide in the last 5000 years. The Rotongaio phase involved opening of new vents beneath Lake Taupo and the ash is characterised by a wide range of clast vesicularities (<10 to ~80 % by volume). Volatile measurement was challenging due to the high bubble number densities and small clast sizes. The mismatch between the water content of matrix glasses measured using bulk and micro-analytical techniques reflects pervasive post-eruption hydration of vesicle walls, which is most problematic at high vesicularities. Micron-scale maps of water concentration variations around vesicles in 30-50 vol % vesicular samples were acquired using SIMS. They indicate strong hydration within ~5 microns of vesicle walls, with pockets of unhydrated glass remaining in the thickest septa. Analysis of these unhydrated domains allowed robust measurement of water contents in pyroclasts ranging from ~1 to >50 vol % vesicles. Matrix glasses had largely degassed (0.19-0.49 wt % H2O, compared with an initial concentration in melt inclusions of ~3.6 wt %). The water contents measured using SIMS decreased systematically with increasing magma vesicularity. These results are fit well by a simple magma degassing model, in which a batch of magma first undergoes partial open-system degassing to a uniform water concentration of ~0.4 wt % H2O. Vesiculation then occurs with closed-system degassing, creating a negative relationship between vesicle content and the water content remaining in the melt. This model is consistent with the intrusion of a shallow cryptodome beneath Lake Taupo (depth ~100-200 metres) and prolonged stalling of magma at this shallow level. This was then followed by abrupt magma ascent and vesiculation, accompanied by interaction with the overlying lake water. Recent experiments have shown that the most violent interactions between rhyolitic magma and water may occur when the magma is highly viscous and prone to shear failure, as this creates the initial surface area for magma-water contact that results in explosive fuel-coolant interaction. The accumulation of a large volume (~1 km3) of degassed, highly-viscous rhyolitic magma directly beneath Lake Taupo may have therefore caused the exceptionally violent magma-water interaction that occurred during the Rotongaio phase. This reveals new links between magma degassing and the explosivity of eruptions when external water is involved, and illustrates the value of analysing pyroclastic material spanning a wide range of vesicularity in order to better reconstruct degassing systematics. References [1] Newman S. et al. (1988) J. Volcanol. Geotherm. Res. 35, 75-96. [2] Smith RT & Houghton BF (1995) Bull. Volcanol. 57, 432-439. [3] A. Austin-Erickson et al. (2008) J. Geophys. Res., 113, B11201.

Continent-wide distribution in mycorrhizal fungi: implications for the biogeography of specialized orchids.

PubMed

Davis, Belinda J; Phillips, Ryan D; Wright, Magali; Linde, Celeste C; Dixon, Kingsley W

2015-09-01

Although mycorrhizal associations are predominantly generalist, specialized mycorrhizal interactions have repeatedly evolved in Orchidaceae, suggesting a potential role in limiting the geographical range of orchid species. In particular, the Australian orchid flora is characterized by high mycorrhizal specialization and short-range endemism. This study investigates the mycorrhizae used by Pheladenia deformis, one of the few orchid species to occur across the Australian continent. Specifically, it examines whether P. deformis is widely distributed through using multiple fungi or a single widespread fungus, and if the fungi used by Australian orchids are widespread at the continental scale. Mycorrhizal fungi were isolated from P. deformis populations in eastern and western Australia. Germination trials using seed from western Australian populations were conducted to test if these fungi supported germination, regardless of the region in which they occurred. A phylogenetic analysis was undertaken using isolates from P. deformis and other Australian orchids that use the genus Sebacina to test for the occurrence of operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in eastern and western Australia. With the exception of one isolate, all fungi used by P. deformis belonged to a single fungal OTU of Sebacina. Fungal isolates from eastern and western Australia supported germination of P. deformis. A phylogenetic analysis of Australian Sebacina revealed that all of the OTUs that had been well sampled occurred on both sides of the continent. The use of a widespread fungal OTU in P. deformis enables a broad distribution despite high mycorrhizal specificity. The Sebacina OTUs that are used by a range of Australian orchids occur on both sides of the continent, demonstrating that the short-range endemism prevalent in the orchids is not driven by fungal species with narrow distributions. Alternatively, a combination of specific edaphic requirements and a high incidence of pollination by sexual deception may explain biogeographic patterns in southern Australian orchids. © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Flexible working: understanding the locum pharmacist in Great Britain.

PubMed

Shann, Phillip; Hassell, Karen

2006-09-01

There is a growing trend in Great Britain (GB) for pharmacists to work as self-employed "locums" rather than as permanent employees. Despite this trend, little is known about their work patterns or why they choose to pursue nonstandard forms of work. The overall aim of the study was to explore why locums choose self-employment over a permanent contract and to explore a number of issues commonly associated with nonstandard working, such as marginalization and job satisfaction. A qualitative interview study was undertaken. In-depth telephone interviews were conducted with 34 locum pharmacists randomly selected from the GB register of pharmacists. Locums from a range of age groups, different sectors of practice, and with different work patterns were selected to ensure that a wide range of experiences and views were covered. The need or desire for flexibility was the overriding factor for choosing to work as a locum. A wide range and variety of individual personal circumstances were important drivers, but a desire for work-life balance was fundamental to many. A variety of work patterns were found, ranging from those with more ad hoc working arrangements to those who worked in the same store on a regular basis. Avoiding stress, paperwork, and nonprofessional duties were among reasons for choosing to locum. Disadvantages associated with being a locum included being viewed and treated negatively by peers, and having fewer opportunities for training. No conclusive evidence could be found for locums being marginalized, except for the training issues for some pharmacists. The findings do suggest some cause for concern, with some locums selecting places to work on the basis of attitudes not congruent with socially inclusive approaches to public health care. The locum workforce is far from homogenous or uniform. Freelance working of this kind has advantages for the individual: freedom and independence. But there may be risks for the profession if nonstandard work practices become more widespread: isolation, lack of social cohesiveness, and amoral attitudes. Improving working conditions and practices may prevent pharmacists from leaving permanent positions.

32 CFR 179.6 - Procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... achieved, and no further action, except for long-term management and recurring reviews, is required. (iii... long-term management and recurring reviews, is required. (iii) No known or suspected CWM hazard. This... provides a consistent Department-wide approach for evaluating the relative risk to human health and the...

32 CFR 179.6 - Procedures.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... achieved, and no further action, except for long-term management and recurring reviews, is required. (iii... long-term management and recurring reviews, is required. (iii) No known or suspected CWM hazard. This... provides a consistent Department-wide approach for evaluating the relative risk to human health and the...

75 FR 54899 - Buy American Exceptions Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-09-09

... County Housing Authority, in White Hall, IL, for the purchase and installation of 50-amp range... manufactured goods (50-amp range receptacles and thermostats for the conversion from gas to electric...

Multilayer Dielectric Transmissive Optical Phase Modulator

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Keys, Andrew Scott; Fork, Richard Lynn

2004-01-01

A multilayer dielectric device has been fabricated as a prototype of a low-loss, low-distortion, transmissive optical phase modulator that would provide as much as a full cycle of phase change for all frequency components of a transmitted optical pulse over a frequency band as wide as 6.3 THz. Arrays of devices like this one could be an alternative to the arrays of mechanically actuated phase-control optics (adaptive optics) that have heretofore been used to correct for wave-front distortions in highly precise optical systems. Potential applications for these high-speed wave-front-control arrays of devices include agile beam steering, optical communications, optical metrology, optical tracking and targeting, directional optical ranging, and interferometric astronomy. The device concept is based on the same principle as that of band-pass interference filters made of multiple dielectric layers with fractional-wavelength thicknesses, except that here there is an additional focus on obtaining the desired spectral phase profile in addition to the device s spectral transmission profile. The device includes a GaAs substrate, on which there is deposited a stack of GaAs layers alternating with AlAs layers, amounting to a total of 91 layers. The design thicknesses of the layers range from 10 nm to greater than 1 micrometer. The number of layers and the thickness of each layer were chosen in a computational optimization process in which the wavelength dependences of the indices of refraction of GaAs and AlAs were taken into account as the design was iterated to maximize the transmission and minimize the group-velocity dispersion for a wavelength band wide enough to include all significant spectral components of the pulsed optical signal to be phase modulated.

Resolving disputes about toxicological risks during military conflict : the US Gulf War experience.

PubMed

Hyams, Kenneth C; Brown, Mark; White, David S

2005-01-01

In the last 15 years, the US and UK have fought two major wars in the Persian Gulf region. Controversy has arisen over the nature and causes of health problems among military veterans of these two wars. Toxic exposures have been hypothesised to cause the majority of the long-term health problems experienced by veterans of the 1991 Gulf War. The assessment of these toxic exposures and the resolution of controversy about their health effects provide a unique case study for understanding how toxicological disputes are settled in the US. Neither clinical examination of ill war veterans nor scientific research studies have been sufficient to answer contentious questions about toxic exposures. Numerous expert review panels have also been unable to resolve these controversies except for the US National Academy of Sciences Institute of Medicine (IOM). The IOM has conducted exhaustive and independent investigations based on peer-reviewed scientific literature related to potential health risks during the two Gulf Wars. In four recent studies, IOM committees identified a wide range of previously documented illnesses associated with common occupational and environmental exposures after considering thousands of relevant publications; however, they did not identify a new medical syndrome or a specific toxic exposure that caused widespread health problems among Gulf War veterans. These IOM studies have, therefore, added little to our basic knowledge of environmental hazards because most of the health effects were well known. Nevertheless, this expert review process, which is on-going, has been generally acceptable to a wide range of competing interests because the findings of the IOM have been perceived as scientifically credible and independent, and because none of the postulated toxicological risks have been completely ruled-out as possible causes of ill health among veterans.

Validation of the dutch version of the health education impact questionnaire (HEIQ) and comparison of the Dutch translation with the English, German and French HEIQ.

PubMed

Ammerlaan, Judy W; van Os-Medendorp, Harmieke; Sont, Jacob K; Elsworth, Gerald R; Osborne, Richard H

2017-01-31

The Health Education Impact Questionnaire (heiQ) evaluates the effectiveness of health education and self-management programs provided to people dealing with a wide range of conditions. Aim of this study was to translate, culturally adapt and validate the Dutch translation of the heiQ and to compare the results with the English, German and French translations. A systematic translation process was undertaken. Psychometric properties were studied among patients with arthritis, atopic dermatitis, food allergy and asthma (n = 286). Factorial validity using confirmatory factor analysis, item difficulty (D), item remainder correlation and composite reliability were conducted. Stability was tested using the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Items were well understood and only minor language adjustments were required. Confirmatory fit indices were >0.95 and item difficulty was D ≥ 0.65 for all items in scales showing acceptable fit indices, except for the reversed Emotional distress scale. Composite reliability ranged between 0.67 and 0.85. Test-retest reliability (n = 93) ICC varied between 0.61 and 0.84. Comparisons with other translations showed comparable fit indices. A lower ICC on Self-monitoring and insight scale was observed. The Dutch translation of the heiQ was found to be well understood and user friendly by patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, Atopic Dermatitis, Food allergy and asthma and to have robust psychometric properties for evaluating the impact of health education and self-management programs. Given the wide applications of the heiQ and the comparability of the Dutch results with the English, German and French version, the heiQ is a practical and useful questionnaire to evaluate the impact of self-management support programs in different countries and populations with different diseases.

Wide range of body composition measures are associated with cognitive function in community-dwelling older adults.

PubMed

Won, Huiloo; Abdul Manaf, Zahara; Mat Ludin, Arimi Fitri; Shahar, Suzana

2017-04-01

Studies of the association between body composition, both body fat and body muscle, and cognitive function are rarely reported. The aim of the present study was to determine the association between a wide range of body composition measures with cognitive function in older adults. A total of 2322 Malaysian older adults aged 60 years and older were recruited using multistage random sampling in a population-based cross-sectional study. Out of 2322 older adults recruited, 2309 (48% men) completed assessments on cognitive function and body composition. Cognitive functions were assessed using the Malay version of the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Bahasa Malaysia version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Digit Span Test, Digit Symbol Test and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test. Body composition included body mass index, mid-upper arm circumference, waist circumference, calf circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, percentage body fat and skeletal muscle mass. The association between body composition and cognitive functions was analyzed using multiple linear regression. After adjustment for age, education years, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, depression, smoking status and alcohol consumption, we found that calf circumference appeared as a significant predictor for all cognitive tests among both men and women (P < 0.05), except for the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test. Waist-to-hip ratio was detected as a significant predictor for all cognitive tests among women (P < 0.05), but was only a significant predictor for the Bahasa Malaysia version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment among men (P < 0.05). These results suggest that there is a need to maintain muscle mass and lower adipose tissue among older adults for optimal cognitive function. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 554-560. © 2016 Japan Geriatrics Society.

Environmental contaminants activate human and polar bear (Ursus maritimus) pregnane X receptors (PXR, NR1I2) differently

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

Lille-Langøy, Roger, E-mail: Roger.lille-langoy@bio.uib.no; Goldstone, Jared V.; Rusten, Marte

Background: Many persistent organic pollutants (POPs) accumulate readily in polar bears because of their position as apex predators in Arctic food webs. The pregnane X receptor (PXR, formally NR1I2, here proposed to be named promiscuous xenobiotic receptor) is a xenobiotic sensor that is directly involved in metabolizing pathways of a wide range of environmental contaminants. Objectives: In the present study, we comparably assess the ability of 51 selected pharmaceuticals, pesticides and emerging contaminants to activate PXRs from polar bears and humans using an in vitro luciferase reporter gene assay. Results: We found that polar bear PXR is activated by amore » wide range of our test compounds (68%) but has a slightly more narrow ligand specificity than human PXR that was activated by 86% of the 51 test compounds. The majority of the agonists identified (70%) produces a stronger induction of the reporter gene via human PXR than via polar bear PXR, however with some notable and environmentally relevant exceptions. Conclusions: Due to the observed differences in activation of polar bear and human PXRs, exposure of each species to environmental agents is likely to induce biotransformation differently in the two species. Bioinformatics analyses and structural modeling studies suggest that amino acids that are not part of the ligand-binding domain and do not interact with the ligand can modulate receptor activation. - Highlights: • Comparative study of ligand activation of human and polar bear PXRs. • Polar bear PXR is a promiscuous ligand-activated nuclear receptor but less so than human PXR. • Environmental contaminants activate human and polar bear PXRs differently. • Expression and ligand promiscuity indicate that PXR is a xenosensor in polar bears.« less

Toward high fidelity spectral sensing and RF signal processing in silicon photonic and nano-opto-mechanical platforms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Siddiqui, Aleem; Reinke, Charles; Shin, Heedeuk; Jarecki, Robert L.; Starbuck, Andrew L.; Rakich, Peter

2017-05-01

The performance of electronic systems for radio-frequency (RF) spectrum analysis is critical for agile radar and communications systems, ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) operations in challenging electromagnetic (EM) environments, and EM-environment situational awareness. While considerable progress has been made in size, weight, and power (SWaP) and performance metrics in conventional RF technology platforms, fundamental limits make continued improvements increasingly difficult. Alternatively, we propose employing cascaded transduction processes in a chip-scale nano-optomechanical system (NOMS) to achieve a spectral sensor with exceptional signal-linearity, high dynamic range, narrow spectral resolution and ultra-fast sweep times. By leveraging the optimal capabilities of photons and phonons, the system we pursue in this work has performance metrics scalable well beyond the fundamental limitations inherent to all electronic systems. In our device architecture, information processing is performed on wide-bandwidth RF-modulated optical signals by photon-mediated phononic transduction of the modulation to the acoustical-domain for narrow-band filtering, and then back to the optical-domain by phonon-mediated phase modulation (the reverse process). Here, we rely on photonics to efficiently distribute signals for parallel processing, and on phononics for effective and flexible RF-frequency manipulation. This technology is used to create RF-filters that are insensitive to the optical wavelength, with wide center frequency bandwidth selectivity (1-100GHz), ultra-narrow filter bandwidth (1-100MHz), and high dynamic range (70dB), which we will present. Additionally, using this filter as a building block, we will discuss current results and progress toward demonstrating a multichannel-filter with a bandwidth of < 10MHz per channel, while minimizing cumulative optical/acoustic/optical transduced insertion-loss to ideally < 10dB. These proposed metric represent significant improvements over RF-platforms.

Biogeochemistry of a temperate forest nitrogen gradient

USGS Publications Warehouse

Perakis, Steven S.; Sinkhorn, Emily R.

2011-01-01

Wide natural gradients of soil nitrogen (N) can be used to examine fundamental relationships between plant–soil–microbial N cycling and hydrologic N loss, and to test N-saturation theory as a general framework for understanding ecosystem N dynamics. We characterized plant production, N uptake and return in litterfall, soil gross and net N mineralization rates, and hydrologic N losses of nine Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) forests across a wide soil N gradient in the Oregon Coast Range (USA). Surface mineral soil N (0–10 cm) ranged nearly three-fold from 0.29% to 0.78% N, and in contrast to predictions of N-saturation theory, was linearly related to 10-fold variation in net N mineralization, from 8 to 82 kg N·ha−1·yr−1. Net N mineralization was unrelated to soil C:N, soil texture, precipitation, and temperature differences among sites. Net nitrification was negatively related to soil pH, and accounted for −1·yr−1. Aboveground net primary production per unit net N mineralization varied inversely with soil N, suggesting progressive saturation of plant N demands at high soil N. Hydrologic N losses were dominated by dissolved organic N at low-N sites, with increased nitrate loss causing a shift to dominance by nitrate at high-N sites, particularly where net nitrification exceeded plant N demands. With the exception of N mineralization patterns, our results broadly support the application of the N-saturation model developed from studies of anthropogenic N deposition to understand N cycling and saturation of plant and microbial sinks along natural soil N gradients. This convergence of behavior in unpolluted and polluted forest N cycles suggests that where future reductions in deposition to polluted sites do occur, symptoms of N saturation are most likely to persist where soil N content remains elevated.

Relevance of genetics for conservation policies: the case of Minorcan cork oaks

PubMed Central

Lorenzo, Zaida; Burgarella, Concetta; de Heredia, Unai López; Lumaret, Roselyne; Petit, Rémy J.; Soto, Álvaro; Gil, Luis

2009-01-01

Background and Aims Marginal populations of widely distributed species can be of high conservation interest when they hold a significant or unique portion of the genetic diversity of the species. However, such genetic information is frequently lacking. Here the relevance of genetic surveys to develop efficient conservation strategies for such populations is illustrated using cork oak (Quercus suber) from Minorca (Balearic Islands, Spain) as a case study. Cork oak is highly endangered on the island, where no more than 67 individuals live in small, isolated stands in siliceous sites. As a consequence, it was recently granted protected status. Methods Two Bayesian clustering approaches were used to analyse the genetic structure of the Minorcan population, on the basis of nuclear microsatellite data. The different groups within the island were also compared with additional island and continental populations surrounding Minorca. Key Results Very high genetic diversity was found, with values comparable with those observed in continental parts of the species' range. Furthermore, the Minorcan oak stands were highly differentiated from one another and were genetically related to different continental populations of France and Spain. Conclusions The high levels of genetic diversity and inter-stands differentiation make Minorcan cork oak eligible for specific conservation efforts. The relationship of Minorcan stands to different continental populations in France and Spain probably reflects multiple colonization events. However, discrepancy between chloroplast DNA- and nuclear DNA-based groups does not support a simple scenario of recent introduction. Gene exchanges between neighbouring cork oak stands and with holm oak have created specific and exceptional genetic combinations. They also constitute a wide range of potential genetic resources for research on adaptation to new environmental conditions. Conservation guidelines that take into account these findings are provided. PMID:19671575

Morphology, Reproduction and Diet in Australian and Papuan Death Adders (Acanthophis, Elapidae)

PubMed Central

Shine, Richard; Spencer, Carol L.; Keogh, J. Scott

2014-01-01

Death adders (genus Acanthophis) differ from most other elapid snakes, and resemble many viperid snakes, in their thickset morphology and ambush foraging mode. Although these snakes are widely distributed through Australia and Papua New Guinea, their basic biology remains poorly known. We report morphological and ecological data based upon dissection of >750 museum specimens drawn from most of the range of the genus. Female death adders grow larger than conspecific males, to about the same extent in all taxa (20% in mean adult snout-vent length,  =  SVL). Most museum specimens were adult rather than juvenile animals, and adult males outnumbered females in all taxa except A. pyrrhus. Females have shorter tails (relative to SVL) than males, and longer narrower heads (relative to head length) in some but not all species. The southern A. antarcticus is wider-bodied (relative to SVL) than the other Australian species. Fecundity of these viviparous snakes was similar among taxa (mean litter sizes 8 to 14). Death adders encompass a broad range of ecological attributes, taking a wide variety of vertebrate prey, mostly lizards (55%), frogs and mammals (each 21%; based on 217 records). Dietary composition differed among species (e.g. frogs were more common in tropical than temperate-zone species), and shifted with snake body size (endotherms were taken by larger snakes) and sex (male death adders took more lizards than did females). Overall, death adders take a broader array of prey types, including active fast-moving taxa such as endotherms and large diurnal skinks, than do most other Australian elapids of similar body sizes. Ambush foraging is the key to capturing such elusive prey. PMID:24718608

Morphology, reproduction and diet in Australian and Papuan death adders (Acanthophis, Elapidae).

PubMed

Shine, Richard; Spencer, Carol L; Keogh, J Scott

2014-01-01

Death adders (genus Acanthophis) differ from most other elapid snakes, and resemble many viperid snakes, in their thickset morphology and ambush foraging mode. Although these snakes are widely distributed through Australia and Papua New Guinea, their basic biology remains poorly known. We report morphological and ecological data based upon dissection of >750 museum specimens drawn from most of the range of the genus. Female death adders grow larger than conspecific males, to about the same extent in all taxa (20% in mean adult snout-vent length,  =  SVL). Most museum specimens were adult rather than juvenile animals, and adult males outnumbered females in all taxa except A. pyrrhus. Females have shorter tails (relative to SVL) than males, and longer narrower heads (relative to head length) in some but not all species. The southern A. antarcticus is wider-bodied (relative to SVL) than the other Australian species. Fecundity of these viviparous snakes was similar among taxa (mean litter sizes 8 to 14). Death adders encompass a broad range of ecological attributes, taking a wide variety of vertebrate prey, mostly lizards (55%), frogs and mammals (each 21%; based on 217 records). Dietary composition differed among species (e.g. frogs were more common in tropical than temperate-zone species), and shifted with snake body size (endotherms were taken by larger snakes) and sex (male death adders took more lizards than did females). Overall, death adders take a broader array of prey types, including active fast-moving taxa such as endotherms and large diurnal skinks, than do most other Australian elapids of similar body sizes. Ambush foraging is the key to capturing such elusive prey.

Absolute Pitch in Boreal Chickadees and Humans: Exceptions that Test a Phylogenetic Rule

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weisman, Ronald G.; Balkwill, Laura-Lee; Hoeschele, Marisa; Moscicki, Michele K.; Bloomfield, Laurie L.; Sturdy, Christopher B.

2010-01-01

This research examined generality of the phylogenetic rule that birds discriminate frequency ranges more accurately than mammals. Human absolute pitch chroma possessors accurately tracked transitions between frequency ranges. Independent tests showed that they used note naming (pitch chroma) to remap the tones into ranges; neither possessors nor…

Effects of degree and configuration of hearing loss on the contribution of high- and low-frequency speech information to bilateral speech understanding

PubMed Central

Hornsby, Benjamin W. Y.; Johnson, Earl E.; Picou, Erin

2011-01-01

Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of degree and configuration of hearing loss on the use of, and benefit from, information in amplified high- and low-frequency speech presented in background noise. Design Sixty-two adults with a wide range of high- and low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss (5–115+ dB HL) participated. To examine the contribution of speech information in different frequency regions, speech understanding in noise was assessed in multiple low- and high-pass filter conditions, as well as a band-pass (713–3534 Hz) and wideband (143–8976 Hz) condition. To increase audibility over a wide frequency range, speech and noise were amplified based on each individual’s hearing loss. A stepwise multiple linear regression approach was used to examine the contribution of several factors to 1) absolute performance in each filter condition and 2) the change in performance with the addition of amplified high- and low-frequency speech components. Results Results from the regression analysis showed that degree of hearing loss was the strongest predictor of absolute performance for low- and high-pass filtered speech materials. In addition, configuration of hearing loss affected both absolute performance for severely low-pass filtered speech and benefit from extending high-frequency (3534–8976 Hz) bandwidth. Specifically, individuals with steeply sloping high-frequency losses made better use of low-pass filtered speech information than individuals with similar low-frequency thresholds but less high-frequency loss. In contrast, given similar high-frequency thresholds, individuals with flat hearing losses received more benefit from extending high-frequency bandwidth than individuals with more sloping losses. Conclusions Consistent with previous work, benefit from speech information in a given frequency region generally decreases as degree of hearing loss in that frequency region increases. However, given a similar degree of loss, the configuration of hearing loss also affects the ability to use speech information in different frequency regions. Except for individuals with steeply sloping high-frequency losses, providing high-frequency amplification (3534–8976 Hz) had either a beneficial effect on, or did not significantly degrade, speech understanding. These findings highlight the importance of extended high-frequency amplification for listeners with a wide range of high-frequency hearing losses, when seeking to maximize intelligibility. PMID:21336138

Command and Control for Joint Air Operations.

DTIC Science & Technology

1994-11-14

publication apply to the throughout the range of military commanders of combatant commands, operations. subunified commands, joint task forces, and...this doctrine (or operations as well as the doctrinal basis JTTP) will be followed except when, in for US military involvement in the judgment of the...commander, multinational and interagency operations. exceptional circumstances dictate It provides military guidance for the otherwise. If conflicts

The Aerodynamic Characteristics of Six Full-Scale Propellers Having Different Airfoil Sections

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Biermann, David; Hartman, Edwin P

1939-01-01

Wind-tunnel tests are reported of six 3-blade 10-foot propellers operated in front of a liquid-cooled engine nacelle. The propellers were identical except for blade airfoil sections, which were: Clark y, R.A.F. 6, NACA 4400, NACA 2400-34, NACA 2rsub200, and NACA 6400. The range of blade angles investigated extended for 15 degrees to 40 degrees for all propellers except the Clark y, for which it extended to 45 degrees. The results showed that the range in maximum efficiency between the highest and lowest values was about 3 percent. The highest efficiencies were for the low-camber sections.

Shoreline erosion rates along barrier islands of the north central gulf of Mexico

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shabica, Stephen V.; Dolan, Robert; May, Suzette; May, Paul

1983-09-01

Rates of shoreline change and overwash penetration distances were calculated for barrier islands along the Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama coasts with the orthogonal grid mapping system (OGMS). Average rates of shoreline change are exceptionally high in Louisiana, being of the order -4.7 to -7.4 m yr-1. Mississippi and Alabama recession rates are lower and range from -2.0 to -3.1 m yr-1 over the period of record. Erosion rates along the shorelines of these islands have remained relatively constant over the period of study with five exceptions in coastal Louisiana and the Chandeleur-Breton Islands Arc, and two exceptions along the Mississippi-Alabama barrier islands where they have accelerated. Mean overwash penetration is greatest along Dauphin Island, Alabama, and Cat Island, Mississippi: 207.6 and 197.9 m, respectively. The Chandeleur-Brenton Islands Arc range from 88.1 m at the central barrier to 180.4 along the flanks. The Mississippi islands range from 105.2 m on Ship Island to 200.5 m along central Horn Island. Mean overwash penetration along the Louisiana barriers is highly variable: 46.3 to 211.4 m.

Review and meta-analysis of genetic polymorphisms associated with exceptional human longevity.

PubMed

Revelas, Mary; Thalamuthu, Anbupalam; Oldmeadow, Christopher; Evans, Tiffany-Jane; Armstrong, Nicola J; Kwok, John B; Brodaty, Henry; Schofield, Peter R; Scott, Rodney J; Sachdev, Perminder S; Attia, John R; Mather, Karen A

2018-06-08

Many factors contribute to exceptional longevity, with genetics playing a significant role. However, to date, genetic studies examining exceptional longevity have been inconclusive. This comprehensive review seeks to determine the genetic variants associated with exceptional longevity by undertaking meta-analyses. Meta-analyses of genetic polymorphisms previously associated with exceptional longevity (85+) were undertaken. For each variant, meta-analyses were performed if there were data from at least three independent studies available, including two unpublished additional cohorts. Five polymorphisms, ACE rs4340, APOE ε2/3/4, FOXO3A rs2802292, KLOTHO KL-VS and IL6 rs1800795 were significantly associated with exceptional longevity, with the pooled effect sizes (odds ratios) ranging from 0.42 (APOE ε4) to 1.45 (FOXO3A males). In general, the observed modest effect sizes of the significant variants suggest many genes of small influence play a role in exceptional longevity, which is consistent with results for other polygenic traits. Our results also suggest that genes related to cardiovascular health may be implicated in exceptional longevity. Future studies should examine the roles of gender and ethnicity and carefully consider study design, including the selection of appropriate controls. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Investing in Prospective Cohorts for Etiologic Study of Occupational Exposures

EPA Science Inventory

Prospective cohorts have played a major role in understanding the role of diet, physical activity, medical conditions, and genes in the development of many diseases, but have not been widely used in the study of occupational exposures. Studies in agriculture are an exception. W...

NSLS-II Preliminary Design Report

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

Dierker, S.

2007-11-01

Following the CD0 approval of the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) during August 2005, Brookhaven National Laboratory prepared a conceptual design for a worldclass user facility for scientific research using synchrotron radiation. DOE SC review of the preliminary baseline in December 2006 led to the subsequent CD1 approval (approval of alternative selection and cost range). This report is the documentation of the preliminary design work for the NSLS-II facility. The preliminary design of the Accelerator Systems (Part 1) was developed mostly based of the Conceptual Design Report, except for the Booster design, which was changed from in-storage-ring tunnel configurationmore » to in external- tunnel configuration. The design of beamlines (Part 2) is based on designs developed by engineering firms in accordance with the specification provided by the Project. The conventional facility design (Part 3) is the Title 1 preliminary design by the AE firm that met the NSLS-II requirements. Last and very important, Part 4 documents the ES&H design and considerations related to this preliminary design. The NSLS-II performance goals are motivated by the recognition that major advances in many important technology problems will require scientific breakthroughs in developing new materials with advanced properties. Achieving this will require the development of new tools that will enable the characterization of the atomic and electronic structure, chemical composition, and magnetic properties of materials, at nanoscale resolution. These tools must be nondestructive, to image and characterize buried structures and interfaces, and they must operate in a wide range of temperatures and harsh environments. The NSLS-II facility will provide ultra high brightness and flux and exceptional beam stability. It will also provide advanced insertion devices, optics, detectors, and robotics, and a suite of scientific instruments designed to maximize the scientific output of the facility. Together these will enable the study of material properties and functions with a spatial resolution of {approx}1 nm, an energy resolution of {approx}0.1 meV, and the ultra high sensitivity required to perform spectroscopy on a single atom. In order to meet this need, NSLS-II has been designed to provide world-leading brightness and flux and exceptional beam stability. The brightness is defined as the number of photons emitted per second, per photon energy bandwidth, per solid angle, and per unit source size. Brightness is important because it determines how efficiently an intense flux of photons can be refocused to a small spot size and a small divergence. It scales as the ring current and the number of total periods of the undulator field (both of which contribute linearly to the total flux), as well as eing nversely proportional to the horizontal and vertical emittances (the product of beam size and divergence) of the electron beam. Raising the current in the storage ring to obtain even brighter beams is ultimately limited by beam-driven, collective instabilities in the accelerator. Thus, to maximize the brightness, the horizontal and vertical emittances must be made as small as possible. With the concept of using damping wigglers, low-field bending magnets, and a large number of lattice cells to achieve ultra small emittance, the performance of NSLS-II will be nearly at the ultimate limit of storage ring light sources, set by the intrinsic properties of the synchrotron radiation process. The facility will produce x-rays more than 10,000 times brighter than those produced at NSLS today. The facility, with various insertion devices, including three-pole-wigglers and low-field dipole radiations, has the capability of covering a broad range of radiation spectra, from hard x-ray to far infra-red. The superlative character and combination of capabilities will have broad impact on a wide range of disciplines and scientific initiatives in the coming decades, including new studies of small crystals in structural biology, a wide range of nanometer-resolution probes for nanoscience, coherent imaging of the structure and dynamics of disordered materials, greatly increased applicability of inelastic x-ray scattering, and properties of materials under extreme conditions. Commissioned in 1982, the existing National Synchrotron Light Source (NSLS) provides essential scientific tools for 2,300 scientists per year from more than 400 academic, industrial, and government institutions. Their myriad research programs produce about 800 publications per year, with more than 130 appearing in premier journals. It was designed in the 1970s and is now in its third decade of service. It has been continually upgraded over the years, with the brightness increasing fully five orders of magnitude. However, it has reached the theoretical limits of performance given its small circumference and small periodicity, and only a small number of insertion devices are possible.« less

A comparison of reflector antenna designs for wide-angle scanning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zimmerman, M.; Lee, S. W.; Houshmand, B.; Rahmatsamii, Y.; Acosta, R. J.

1989-01-01

Conventional reflector antennas are typically designed for up to + or - 20 beamwidths scan. An attempt was made to stretch this scan range to some + or - 300 beamwidths. Six single and dual reflector antennas were compared. It is found that a symmetrical parabolic reflector with f/D = 2 and a single circular waveguide feed has the minimum scan loss (only 0.6 dB at Theta sub 0 = 8 deg, or a 114 beamwidths scan). The scan is achieved by tilting the parabolic reflector by an angle equal to the half-scan angle. The f/D may be shortened if a cluster 7 to 19 elements instead of one element is used for the feed. The cluster excitation is adjusted for each new beam scan direction to compensate for the imperfect field distribution over the reflector aperture. The antenna can be folded into a Cassegrain configuration except that, due to spillover and blockage considerations, the amount of folding achievable is small.

Branding water

PubMed Central

Dolnicar, Sara; Hurlimann, Anna; Grün, Bettina

2014-01-01

Branding is a key strategy widely used in commercial marketing to make products more attractive to consumers. With the exception of bottled water, branding has largely not been adopted in the water context although public acceptance is critical to the implementation of water augmentation projects. Based on responses from 6247 study participants collected between 2009 and 2012, this study shows that (1) different kinds of water – specifically recycled water, desalinated water, tap water and rainwater from personal rainwater tanks – are each perceived very differently by the public, (2) external events out of the control of water managers, such as serious droughts or floods, had a minimal effect on people's perceptions of water, (3) perceptions of water were stable over time, and (4) certain water attributes are anticipated to be more effective to use in public communication campaigns aiming at increasing public acceptance for drinking purposes. The results from this study can be used by a diverse range of water stakeholders to increase public acceptance and adoption of water from alternative sources. PMID:24742528

Bifluoride-catalysed sulfur(VI) fluoride exchange reaction for the synthesis of polysulfates and polysulfonates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gao, Bing; Zhang, Linda; Zheng, Qinheng; Zhou, Feng; Klivansky, Liana M.; Lu, Jianmei; Liu, Yi; Dong, Jiajia; Wu, Peng; Sharpless, K. Barry

2017-11-01

Polysulfates and polysulfonates possess exceptional mechanical properties making them potentially valuable engineering polymers. However, they have been little explored due to a lack of reliable synthetic access. Here we report bifluoride salts (Q+[FHF]-, where Q+ represents a wide range of cations) as powerful catalysts for the sulfur(VI) fluoride exchange (SuFEx) reaction between aryl silyl ethers and aryl fluorosulfates (or alkyl sulfonyl fluorides). The bifluoride salts are significantly more active in catalysing the SuFEx reaction compared to organosuperbases, therefore enabling much lower catalyst-loading (down to 0.05 mol%). Using this chemistry, we are able to prepare polysulfates and polysulfonates with high molecular weight, narrow polydispersity and excellent functional group tolerance. The process is practical with regard to the reduced cost of catalyst, polymer purification and by-product recycling. We have also observed that the process is not sensitive to scale-up, which is essential for its future translation from laboratory research to industrial applications.

Distribution of uranium and some selected trace metals in human scalp hair from Balkans.

PubMed

Zunic, Z S; Tokonami, S; Mishra, S; Arae, H; Kritsananuwat, R; Sahoo, S K

2012-11-01

The possible consequences of the use of depleted uranium (DU) used in Balkan conflicts in 1995 and 1999 for the people and the environment of this reason need attention. The heavy metal content in human hair may serve as a good indicator of dietary, environmental and occupational exposures to the metal compounds. The present work summarises the distribution of uranium and some selected trace metals such as Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Cd and Cs in the scalp hair of inhabitants from Balkans exposed to DU directly and indirectly, i.e. Han Pijesak, Bratoselce and Gornja Stubla areas. Except U and Cs, all other metals were compared with the worldwide reported values of occupationally unexposed persons. Uranium concentrations show a wide variation ranging from 0.9 ± 0.05 to 449 ± 12 µg kg(-1). Although hair samples were collected from Balkan conflict zones, uranium isotopic measurement ((235)U/(238)U) shows a natural origin rather than DU.

Distribution of chaos and periodic spikes in a three-cell population model of cancer. Auto-organization of oscillatory phases in parameter planes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gallas, Michelle R.; Gallas, Marcia R.; Gallas, Jason A. C.

2014-10-01

We study complex oscillations generated by the de Pillis-Radunskaya model of cancer growth, a model including interactions between tumor cells, healthy cells, and activated immune system cells. We report a wide-ranging systematic numerical classification of the oscillatory states and of their relative abundance. The dynamical states of the cell populations are characterized here by two independent and complementary types of stability diagrams: Lyapunov and isospike diagrams. The model is found to display stability phases organized regularly in old and new ways: Apart from the familiar spirals of stability, it displays exceptionally long zig-zag networks and intermixed cascades of two- and three-doubling flanked stability islands previously detected only in feedback systems with delay. In addition, we also characterize the interplay between continuous spike-adding and spike-doubling mechanisms responsible for the unbounded complexification of periodic wave patterns. This article is dedicated to Prof. Hans Jürgen Herrmann on the occasion of his 60th birthday.

Ontogeny of prosocial behavior across diverse societies.

PubMed

House, Bailey R; Silk, Joan B; Henrich, Joseph; Barrett, H Clark; Scelza, Brooke A; Boyette, Adam H; Hewlett, Barry S; McElreath, Richard; Laurence, Stephen

2013-09-03

Humans are an exceptionally cooperative species, but there is substantial variation in the extent of cooperation across societies. Understanding the sources of this variability may provide insights about the forces that sustain cooperation. We examined the ontogeny of prosocial behavior by studying 326 children 3-14 y of age and 120 adults from six societies (age distributions varied across societies). These six societies span a wide range of extant human variation in culture, geography, and subsistence strategies, including foragers, herders, horticulturalists, and urban dwellers across the Americas, Oceania, and Africa. When delivering benefits to others was personally costly, rates of prosocial behavior dropped across all six societies as children approached middle childhood and then rates of prosociality diverged as children tracked toward the behavior of adults in their own societies. When prosocial acts did not require personal sacrifice, prosocial responses increased steadily as children matured with little variation in behavior across societies. Our results are consistent with theories emphasizing the importance of acquired cultural norms in shaping costly forms of cooperation and creating cross-cultural diversity.

Genomic analysis of Bacteroides fragilis reveals extensive DNA inversions regulating cell surface adaptation

PubMed Central

Kuwahara, Tomomi; Yamashita, Atsushi; Hirakawa, Hideki; Nakayama, Haruyuki; Toh, Hidehiro; Okada, Natsumi; Kuhara, Satoru; Hattori, Masahira; Hayashi, Tetsuya; Ohnishi, Yoshinari

2004-01-01

Bacteroides are predominant human colonic commensals, but the principal pathogenic species, Bacteroides fragilis (BF), lives closely associated with the mucosal surface, whereas a second major species, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron (BT), concentrates within the colon. We find corresponding differences in their genomes, based on determination of the genome sequence of BF and comparative analysis with BT. Both species have acquired two mechanisms that contribute to their dominance among the colonic microbiota: an exceptional capability to use a wide range of dietary polysaccharides by gene amplification and the capacity to create variable surface antigenicities by multiple DNA inversion systems. However, the gene amplification for polysaccharide assimilation is more developed in BT, in keeping with its internal localization. In contrast, external antigenic structures can be changed more systematically in BF. Thereby, at the mucosal surface, where microbes encounter continuous attack by host defenses, BF evasion of the immune system is favored, and its colonization and infectious potential are increased. PMID:15466707

Advanced dc motor controller for battery-powered electric vehicles

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Belsterling, C. A.

1981-01-01

A motor generation set is connected to run from the dc source and generate a voltage in the traction motor armature circuit that normally opposes the source voltage. The functional feasibility of the concept is demonstrated with tests on a Proof of Principle System. An analog computer simulation is developed, validated with the results of the tests, applied to predict the performance of a full scale Functional Model dc Controller. The results indicate high efficiencies over wide operating ranges and exceptional recovery of regenerated energy. The new machine integrates both motor and generator on a single two bearing shaft. The control strategy produces a controlled bidirectional plus or minus 48 volts dc output from the generator permitting full control of a 96 volt dc traction motor from a 48 volt battery, was designed to control a 20 hp traction motor. The controller weighs 63.5 kg (140 lb.) and has a peak efficiency of 90% in random driving modes and 96% during the SAE J 227a/D driving cycle.

Ground-Based Phase of Spaceflight Experiment "Biosignal" Using Autonomic Microflurimeter "Fluor-K"

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grigorieva, O. V.; Gal'chuk, S. V.; Rudimov, E. G.; Buravkova, L. B.

2013-02-01

The majority of flight experiments with the use of cell cultures and equipment like KUBIK and CRIOGEM carried out on board of the satellites (Bion, Foton) and ISS only allows the after-flight biosamples to be analyzed. As far as with few exceptions, the real-time cellular parameters registration for a long period is hard to be implemented. We developed the "Fluor-K" equipment - precision, small-sized, autonomous, two-channel, programmed fluorimeter. This device is designed for registration of differential fluorescent signal from organic and non-organic objects of microscale in small volumes (cellular organelles suspensions, animal and human cells, unicellular algae, bacteria, various fluorescent colloid solutions). Beside that, "Fluor-K" allows simultaneous detection of temperature. The ground-based tests of the device proved successful. The developed software can support experimental schedules while real-time data registration with the built-in storage device allows changes in selected parameters to be analyzed using wide range of fluorescent probes.

Independent evolution of baleen whale gigantism linked to Plio-Pleistocene ocean dynamics

PubMed Central

Goldbogen, Jeremy A.

2017-01-01

Vertebrates have evolved to gigantic sizes repeatedly over the past 250 Myr, reaching their extreme in today's baleen whales (Mysticeti). Hypotheses for the evolution of exceptionally large size in mysticetes range from niche partitioning to predator avoidance, but there has been no quantitative examination of body size evolutionary dynamics in this clade and it remains unclear when, why or how gigantism evolved. By fitting phylogenetic macroevolutionary models to a dataset consisting of living and extinct species, we show that mysticetes underwent a clade-wide shift in their mode of body size evolution during the Plio-Pleistocene. This transition, from Brownian motion-like dynamics to a trended random walk towards larger size, is temporally linked to the onset of seasonally intensified upwelling along coastal ecosystems. High prey densities resulting from wind-driven upwelling, rather than abundant resources alone, are the primary determinant of efficient foraging in extant mysticetes and Late Pliocene changes in ocean dynamics may have provided an ecological pathway to gigantism in multiple independent lineages. PMID:28539520

Characterization and antibiotic susceptibility of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from poultry and red meat in Morocco

PubMed Central

Ennaji, Hayat; Timinouni, Mohammed; Ennaji, My Mustapha; Hassar, Mohammed; Cohen, Nozha

2008-01-01

This study was carried out on 426 samples of raw meats collected from butcheries and supermarkets in Casablanca, Morocco. The samples were examined for the occurrence of Listeria species. Strains of Listeria monocytogenes were characterized by several biochemical tests and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). β-hemolytic cultures and nonhemolytic isolates were tested for biochemical properties with the Listeria API test. Among the 43 Listeria species isolates; we identified 10 strains for L. monocytogenes (23.3%), 31 strains for L. innocua (72.1%) and 2 strains for L. welshimeri (4.6%). Strains of L. monocytogenes were separated by multiplex PCR; two serogroups IIb and IVb were thus differentiated. Antibiotic susceptibility of L. monocytogenes to 21 antibiotics was determined by the disk diffusion method. All isolates were susceptible to a wide range of the tested antibiotics with the exception of nalidixic acid, colistine and cephalosporins second and third generation for which they were all resistant. PMID:21694879

Are red mullet efficient as bio-indicators of mercury contamination? A case study from the French Mediterranean.

PubMed

Cresson, P; Bouchoucha, M; Miralles, F; Elleboode, R; Mahé, K; Marusczak, N; Thebault, H; Cossa, D

2015-02-15

Mercury (Hg) is one of the main chemicals currently altering Mediterranean ecosystems. Red mullet (Mullus barbatus and M. surmuletus) have been widely used as quantitative bio-indicators of chemical contamination. In this study, we reassess the ability of these species to be used as efficient bio-indicators of Hg contamination by monitoring during 18 months Hg concentrations in muscle tissue of mullet sampled from 5 French Mediterranean coastal areas. Mean concentrations ranged between 0.23 and 0.78 μg g(-1) dry mass for both species. Values were consistent with expected contamination patterns of all sites except Corsica. Results confirmed that red mullets are efficient bio-indicators of Hg contamination. Nevertheless, the observed variability in Hg concentrations calls for caution regarding the period and the sample size. Attention should be paid to environmental and biologic specificities of each studied site, as they can alter the bioaccumulation of Hg, and lead to inferences about environmental Hg concentrations. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Galantamine-ER for the treatment of mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease

PubMed Central

Seltzer, Ben

2010-01-01

An extended release form of the cholinesterase inhibitor (ChEI) drug galantamine (galantamine-ER) was developed, chiefly to increase adherence to medication regimes in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Except for predicted differences in (Cmax) and tmax, comparable doses of once daily galantamine-ER and regular, immediate release galantamine, (galantamine-IR), are pharmacologically equivalent. A 24-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-and active-controlled, multicenter phase III trial, which compared galantamine-IR, galantamine-ER and placebo in subjects with mild to moderate AD (mini-mental state examination [MMSE] score range, 10 to 24) showed that both formulations of galantamine were significantly better than placebo in terms of cognition, although not with regard to global change. There was no difference in drug-related adverse events between galantamine-ER and galantamine-IR. Since its release onto the market galantamine-ER has enjoyed wide popularity and a recent surveillance study suggests that it has the highest 1-year persistence rate of all the ChEIs. PMID:20169037

UHF Microstrip Antenna Array for Synthetic- Aperture Radar

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thomas, Robert F.; Huang, John

2003-01-01

An ultra-high-frequency microstrippatch antenna has been built for use in airborne synthetic-aperture radar (SAR). The antenna design satisfies requirements specific to the GeoSAR program, which is dedicated to the development of a terrain-mapping SAR system that can provide information on geology, seismicity, vegetation, and other terrain-related topics. One of the requirements is for ultra-wide-band performance: the antenna must be capable of operating with dual linear polarization in the frequency range of 350 plus or minus 80 MHz, with a peak gain of 10 dB at the middle frequency of 350 MHz and a gain of at least 8 dB at the upper and lower ends (270 and 430 MHz) of the band. Another requirement is compactness: the antenna must fit in the wingtip pod of a Gulfstream II airplane. The antenna includes a linear array of microstrip-patch radiating elements supported over square cavities. Each patch is square (except for small corner cuts) and has a small square hole at its center.

The 7th Transgenic Technology meeting: debut for "down under" (http://www.tasq.uq.edu.au/TT2007).

PubMed

Gertsenstein, Marina; Vintersten, Kristina

2007-10-01

The 7th Transgenic Technology meeting was held in Brisbane, Australia on February 12-14, 2007. Not only did this gathering mark a milestone as it was hosted outside the European continent for the first time, but also because it was the initial meeting to be held on behalf of the new International Society for Transgenic Technologies (ISTT, http://www.transtechsociety.org/ ). As in previous years, the topics were aimed towards both a scientific as well as a technical audience. The subjects covered a wide range of cutting edge applications in the field of genetic modifications in animal models, with the focus on (but by no means limited to) mice. True to the meetings tradition, a large emphasis was also laid on discussions about the management of transgenic production units. With the beautiful Australian sun shining over the venue, and a large number of exceptional speakers, this was a most pleasant and informative conference.

Book review: Sandhill and whooping cranes: Ancient voices over America's wetlands

USGS Publications Warehouse

Austin, Jane E.

2011-01-01

Paul Johnsgard has long been captivated by wild cranes and their unique vocalizations, courtship dances, and wide-ranging migrations. As a scientist and an admirer, Johnsgard has watched their migrations and behaviors for decades as hundreds of thousands of cranes staged each spring by the central Platte River, not far from his home in Lincoln, Nebraska. As an artist, he has skilfully captured their courtship dances and other behaviours in his exceptional line drawings. And, as an author, he has written extensively on their ecology in three earlier books: Cranes of the World (1983), Those of the Gray Wind: the Sandhill Crane (1986), and Crane Music: a Natural History of Cranes (1991). Much has happened relative to North American cranes in the 20 years since Johnsgard published Crane Music, including increased crane abundance in many areas and the completion of multiple studies on crane ecology and conservation. This new crane book serves as an update to Crane Music and provides the reader with many useful resources for observing and learning about cranes.

Dynamic Contact Angle at the Nanoscale: A Unified View.

PubMed

Lukyanov, Alex V; Likhtman, Alexei E

2016-06-28

Generation of a dynamic contact angle in the course of wetting is a fundamental phenomenon of nature. Dynamic wetting processes have a direct impact on flows at the nanoscale, and therefore, understanding them is exceptionally important to emerging technologies. Here, we reveal the microscopic mechanism of dynamic contact angle generation. It has been demonstrated using large-scale molecular dynamics simulations of bead-spring model fluids that the main cause of local contact angle variations is the distribution of microscopic force acting at the contact line region. We were able to retrieve this elusive force with high accuracy. It has been directly established that the force distribution can be solely predicted on the basis of a general friction law for liquid flow at solid surfaces by Thompson and Troian. The relationship with the friction law provides both an explanation of the phenomenon of dynamic contact angle and a methodology for future predictions. The mechanism is intrinsically microscopic, universal, and irreducible and is applicable to a wide range of problems associated with wetting phenomena.

Clinical toxicology: a tropical Australian perspective.

PubMed

Currie, B J

2000-02-01

Tropical Australia has an amazing diversity of venomous fauna, from "the world's most venomous creature," the multi-tentacled (chirodropid) box jellyfish Chironex fleckeri, to aggressive spiders whose venom remains to be characterized. All genera of highly venomous Australasian elapid snakes are present, except for tiger snakes. Most notable is the taipan (Oxyuranus scutellatus), with the most efficient "snap-release" biting mechanism of any snake and venom components causing the full constellation of clinical envenoming features: coagulopathy from fibrinogen depletion (procoagulant), neurotoxicity (predominantly presynaptic neurotoxin) and rhabdomyolysis (myotoxin). Brown snakes (Pseudonaja textilis and P. nuchalis) now account for most snake bite fatalities in Australia, as a result of severe coagulopathy and a poorly defined early scenario of collapse, postulated to be caused by profound hypotension caused by transient myocardial dysfunction associated with prothrombin activation. Other venomous entities include paralyzing ticks, the blue-ringed octopus, stone fish and other marine animals with venomous spines, paralyzing cone shells, and a wide range of jellyfish including Carukia barnesi and possibly other four-tentacled (carybdeid) box jellyfish causing the Irukandji syndrome.

A review of current sleep screening applications for smartphones.

PubMed

Behar, Joachim; Roebuck, Aoife; Domingos, João S; Gederi, Elnaz; Clifford, Gari D

2013-07-01

Sleep disorders are a common problem and contribute to a wide range of healthcare issues. The societal and financial costs of sleep disorders are enormous. Sleep-related disorders are often diagnosed with an overnight sleep test called a polysomnogram, or sleep study involving the measurement of brain activity through the electroencephalogram. Other parameters monitored include oxygen saturation, respiratory effort, cardiac activity (through the electrocardiogram), as well as video recording, sound and movement activity. Monitoring can be costly and removes the patients from their normal sleeping environment, preventing repeated unbiased studies. The recent increase in adoption of smartphones, with high quality on-board sensors has led to the proliferation of many sleep screening applications running on the phone. However, with the exception of simple questionnaires, no existing sleep-related application available for smartphones is based on scientific evidence. This paper reviews the existing smartphone applications landscape used in the field of sleep disorders and proposes possible advances to improve screening approaches.

Cell design concepts for aqueous lithium-oxygen batteries: A model-based assessment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grübl, Daniel; Bessler, Wolfgang G.

2015-11-01

Seven cell design concepts for aqueous (alkaline) lithium-oxygen batteries are investigated using a multi-physics continuum model for predicting cell behavior and performance in terms of the specific energy and specific power. Two different silver-based cathode designs (a gas diffusion electrode and a flooded cathode) and three different separator designs (a porous separator, a stirred separator chamber, and a redox-flow separator) are compared. Cathode and separator thicknesses are varied over a wide range (50 μm-20 mm) in order to identify optimum configurations. All designs show a considerable capacity-rate effect due to spatiotemporally inhomogeneous precipitation of solid discharge product LiOH·H2O. In addition, a cell design with flooded cathode and redox-flow separator including oxygen uptake within the external tank is suggested. For this design, the model predicts specific power up to 33 W/kg and specific energy up to 570 Wh/kg (gravimetric values of discharged cell including all cell components and catholyte except housing and piping).

An efficient shutter-less non-uniformity correction method for infrared focal plane arrays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Xiyan; Sui, Xiubao; Zhao, Yao

2017-02-01

The non-uniformity response in infrared focal plane array (IRFPA) detectors has a bad effect on images with fixed pattern noise. At present, it is common to use shutter to prevent from radiation of target and to update the parameters of non-uniformity correction in the infrared imaging system. The use of shutter causes "freezing" image. And inevitably, there exists the problems of the instability and reliability of system, power consumption, and concealment of infrared detection. In this paper, we present an efficient shutter-less non-uniformity correction (NUC) method for infrared focal plane arrays. The infrared imaging system can use the data gaining in thermostat to calculate the incident infrared radiation by shell real-timely. And the primary output of detector except the shell radiation can be corrected by the gain coefficient. This method has been tested in real infrared imaging system, reaching high correction level, reducing fixed pattern noise, adapting wide temperature range.

Heat-induced gelation of casein micelles in aqueous suspensions at different pH.

PubMed

Thomar, Peggy; Nicolai, Taco

2016-10-01

Heat-induced gelation of casein micelles in aqueous solution was investigated between pH 5.2 and pH 6.7 over a wide range of protein concentrations (C=25-160gL(-1)). For C≥40gL(-1) the casein micelles rapidly formed a self-supporting gel above a critical temperature (Tc). At C=160gL(-1), Tc decreased from 90°C at pH 6.5 to 30°C at pH 5.4 and increased with decreasing protein concentration. Oscillatory shear measurements during heating showed that the elastic modulus (Gel) of the gels increased strongly with increasing protein concentration, but was insensitive to the pH and the heating temperature except close to Tc where Gel decreased sharply with decreasing temperature. The microstructure of the gels was observed by confocal scanning laser microscopy. Heat-induced gelation of casein micelles was compared with that of sodium caseinate solutions free of calcium phosphate. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

The lack of effect of low temperature and high turbidity on operational Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis activity against larval black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae).

PubMed

Gray, Elmer W; Wyatt, Roger D; Adler, Peter H; Smink, John; Cox, Julie E; Noblet, Ray

2012-06-01

Black fly suppression programs are conducted across a wide range of environmental conditions, targeting a variety of pest species with diverse life histories. Operational applications of Vectobac 12AS (Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis) were conducted during times characterized by water temperature and turbidity extremes. Applications were conducted in the Yellow River in central Wisconsin targeting Simulium annulus and S. johannseni when water temperatures were 1-2 degrees C. Applications were conducted in the Green River in western North Carolina targeting the S. jenningsi group after a rain event, when portions of the treatment zone experienced turbidities of 276 nephelometric turbidity units. Excellent larvicidal activity was observed in both programs, with 97% mortality or greater being observed at distances over 5 km downstream of a treatment site. Mortality data for larval black flies in 2 operational suppression programs conducted in 2011 demonstrated a negligible effect of near-freezing water temperatures and exceptionally high turbidity on Bti activity.

Independent evolution of baleen whale gigantism linked to Plio-Pleistocene ocean dynamics.

PubMed

Slater, Graham J; Goldbogen, Jeremy A; Pyenson, Nicholas D

2017-05-31

Vertebrates have evolved to gigantic sizes repeatedly over the past 250 Myr, reaching their extreme in today's baleen whales (Mysticeti). Hypotheses for the evolution of exceptionally large size in mysticetes range from niche partitioning to predator avoidance, but there has been no quantitative examination of body size evolutionary dynamics in this clade and it remains unclear when, why or how gigantism evolved. By fitting phylogenetic macroevolutionary models to a dataset consisting of living and extinct species, we show that mysticetes underwent a clade-wide shift in their mode of body size evolution during the Plio-Pleistocene. This transition, from Brownian motion-like dynamics to a trended random walk towards larger size, is temporally linked to the onset of seasonally intensified upwelling along coastal ecosystems. High prey densities resulting from wind-driven upwelling, rather than abundant resources alone, are the primary determinant of efficient foraging in extant mysticetes and Late Pliocene changes in ocean dynamics may have provided an ecological pathway to gigantism in multiple independent lineages. © 2017 The Author(s).

In Vivo Imaging of Flavoprotein Fluorescence During Hypoxia Reveals the Importance of Direct Arterial Oxygen Supply to Cerebral Cortex Tissue.

PubMed

Chisholm, K I; Ida, K K; Davies, A L; Papkovsky, D B; Singer, M; Dyson, A; Tachtsidis, I; Duchen, M R; Smith, K J

2016-01-01

Live imaging of mitochondrial function is crucial to understand the important role played by these organelles in a wide range of diseases. The mitochondrial redox potential is a particularly informative measure of mitochondrial function, and can be monitored using the endogenous green fluorescence of oxidized mitochondrial flavoproteins. Here, we have observed flavoprotein fluorescence in the exposed murine cerebral cortex in vivo using confocal imaging; the mitochondrial origin of the signal was confirmed using agents known to manipulate mitochondrial redox potential. The effects of cerebral oxygenation on flavoprotein fluorescence were determined by manipulating the inspired oxygen concentration. We report that flavoprotein fluorescence is sensitive to reductions in cortical oxygenation, such that reductions in inspired oxygen resulted in loss of flavoprotein fluorescence with the exception of a preserved 'halo' of signal in periarterial regions. The findings are consistent with reports that arteries play an important role in supplying oxygen directly to tissue in the cerebral cortex, maintaining mitochondrial function.

Aharanov-Bohm quantum interference in a reconfigurable electron system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Irvin, P.; Lu, S.; Annadi, A.; Cheng, G.; Tomczyk, M.; Huang, M.; Levy, J.; Lee, J.-W.; Lee, H.; Eom, C.-B.

Aharanov-Bohm (AB) interference can arise in transport experiments when magnetic flux threads through two or more transport channels. The existence of this behavior requires long-range ballistic transport and is typically observed only in exceptionally clean materials. We observe AB interference in wide (w 100 nm) channels created at the LaAlO3/SrTiO3 interface using conductive AFM lithography. Interference occurs above a critical field B 4 T and increases in magnitude with increasing magnetic field. The period of oscillation implies a ballistic length that greatly exceeds the micron-scale length of the channel, consistent with Fabry-Perot interference in 1D channels. The conditions under which AB oscillations are observed will be discussed in the context of the electron pairing mechanism in LaAlO3/SrTiO3. We gratefully acknowledge financial support from AFOSR FA9550-12-1-0342 (CBE), NSF DMR-1234096 (CBE), and ONR N00014-15-1-2847 (JL).

Effects of organizational scheme and labeling on task performance in product-centered and user-centered retail Web sites.

PubMed

Resnick, Marc L; Sanchez, Julian

2004-01-01

As companies increase the quantity of information they provide through their Web sites, it is critical that content is structured with an appropriate architecture. However, resource constraints often limit the ability of companies to apply all Web design principles completely. This study quantifies the effects of two major information architecture principles in a controlled study that isolates the incremental effects of organizational scheme and labeling on user performance and satisfaction. Sixty participants with a wide range of Internet and on-line shopping experience were recruited to complete a series of shopping tasks on a prototype retail shopping Web site. User-centered labels provided a significant benefit in performance and satisfaction over labels obtained through company-centered methods. User-centered organization did not result in improved performance except when the label quality was poor. Significant interactions suggest specific guidelines for allocating resources in Web site design. Applications of this research include the design of Web sites for any commercial application, particularly E-commerce.

Thermodynamic evidence for a nematic phase transition at the onset of the pseudogap in YBa2Cu3Oy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sato, Y.; Kasahara, S.; Murayama, H.; Kasahara, Y.; Moon, E.-G.; Nishizaki, T.; Loew, T.; Porras, J.; Keimer, B.; Shibauchi, T.; Matsuda, Y.

2017-11-01

A long-standing controversial issue in the quest to understand the superconductivity in cuprates is the nature of the enigmatic pseudogap region of the phase diagram. Especially important is whether the pseudogap state is a distinct thermodynamic phase characterized by broken symmetries below the onset temperature T*. Here we report torque-magnetometry measurements of anisotropic susceptibility within the ab planes in orthorhombic YBa2Cu3Oy with exceptionally high precision. The in-plane anisotropy displays a significant increase with a distinct kink at the pseudogap onset temperature T*, showing a remarkable scaling behaviour with respect to T/T* in a wide doping range. Our systematic analysis reveals that the rotational symmetry breaking sets in at T* in the limit where the effect of orthorhombicity is eliminated. These results provide thermodynamic evidence that the pseudogap onset is associated with a second-order nematic phase transition, which differs from the recently reported charge-density-wave transition that accompanies translational symmetry breaking.

Using stable isotopes and functional wood anatomy to identify underlying mechanisms of drought tolerance in different provenances of lodgepole pine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Isaac-Renton, Miriam; Montwé, David; Hamann, Andreas; Spiecker, Heinrich; Cherubini, Paolo; Treydte, Kerstin

2016-04-01

Choosing drought-tolerant seed sources for reforestation may help adapt forests to climate change. By combining dendroecological growth analysis with a long-term provenance trial, we assessed growth and drought tolerance of different populations of a wide-ranging conifer, lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta). This experimental design simulated a climate warming scenario through southward seed transfer, and an exceptional drought also occurred in 2002. We felled over 500 trees, representing 23 seed sources, which were grown for 32 years at three warm, dry sites in southern British Columbia, Canada. Northern populations showed poor growth and drought tolerance. These seed sources therefore appear to be especially at risk under climate change. Before recommending assisted migration of southern seeds towards the north, however, it is important to understand the physiological mechanisms underlying these responses. We combine functional wood anatomy with a dual-isotope approach to evaluate these mechanisms to drought response.

A model of smoldering combustion applied to flexible polyurethane foams

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ohlemiller, T. J.; Rogers, F.; Bellan, J.

1979-01-01

Smoldering combustion, particularly in upholstery and bedding materials, has been proven a serious life hazard. The simplest representation of this hazard situation is one-dimensional downward propagation of a smolder wave against a buoyant upflow (cocurrent smolder); the configuration treated here is identical in all respects to this except for the presence of a forced flow replacing the buoyant one. The complex degradation chemistry of the polyurethanes is here reduced to the two major overall reactions of char formation and char oxidation. The model solutions, which are in reasonable agreement with experimental results, show the smolder process to be oxygen-limited, which leads to some very simple trends. More subtle behavior aspects determine actual propagation velocity, fraction of fuel consumed, and apparent equivalence ratio (all of which are variable). The self-insulating character of the smolder wave makes it viable in a wide-ranging set of conditions if the igniting stimulus is sufficiently long. These results have significant implications regarding the problem of smolder prevention or hindrance.

Effects of age, education, and sex on response bias in a recognition task.

PubMed

Marquié, J C; Baracat, B

2000-09-01

This study examined age-related differences in decision criteria and the extent to which inconsistencies in earlier findings could be due to sampling artifacts, especially the underlying effects of educational level and sex. Male and female participants (N = 3,059) from 4 age groups (32, 42, 52, and 62 years) and a wide range of educational levels performed a word recognition task. Response bias was assessed with a nonparametric index derived from signal detection theory. The analyses revealed no age differences except for the most educated subjects, for whom increased age was associated with stricter decision criteria. Lower levels of education and men as compared with women were associated with a more conservative bias. Controlling for the level of sensitivity did not significantly change this pattern of results. This finding stresses the need for caution in generalizing age differences obtained from samples that are only partly representative or imbalanced with respect to education and sex.

A robust and tuneable mid-infrared optical switch enabled by bulk Dirac fermions.

PubMed

Zhu, Chunhui; Wang, Fengqiu; Meng, Yafei; Yuan, Xiang; Xiu, Faxian; Luo, Hongyu; Wang, Yazhou; Li, Jianfeng; Lv, Xinjie; He, Liang; Xu, Yongbing; Liu, Junfeng; Zhang, Chao; Shi, Yi; Zhang, Rong; Zhu, Shining

2017-01-20

Pulsed lasers operating in the mid-infrared (3-20 μm) are important for a wide range of applications in sensing, spectroscopy, imaging and communications. Despite recent advances with mid-infrared gain platforms, the lack of a capable pulse generation mechanism remains a significant technological challenge. Here we show that bulk Dirac fermions in molecular beam epitaxy grown crystalline Cd 3 As 2 , a three-dimensional topological Dirac semimetal, constitutes an exceptional ultrafast optical switching mechanism for the mid-infrared. Significantly, we show robust and effective tuning of the scattering channels of Dirac fermions via an element doping approach, where photocarrier relaxation times are found flexibly controlled over an order of magnitude (from 8 ps to 800 fs at 4.5 μm). Our findings reveal the strong impact of Cr doping on ultrafast optical properties in Cd 3 As 2 and open up the long sought parameter space crucial for the development of compact and high-performance mid-infrared ultrafast sources.

Graphene: an emerging electronic material.

PubMed

Weiss, Nathan O; Zhou, Hailong; Liao, Lei; Liu, Yuan; Jiang, Shan; Huang, Yu; Duan, Xiangfeng

2012-11-14

Graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms in a honeycomb lattice, offers a number of fundamentally superior qualities that make it a promising material for a wide range of applications, particularly in electronic devices. Its unique form factor and exceptional physical properties have the potential to enable an entirely new generation of technologies beyond the limits of conventional materials. The extraordinarily high carrier mobility and saturation velocity can enable a fast switching speed for radio-frequency analog circuits. Unadulterated graphene is a semi-metal, incapable of a true off-state, which typically precludes its applications in digital logic electronics without bandgap engineering. The versatility of graphene-based devices goes beyond conventional transistor circuits and includes flexible and transparent electronics, optoelectronics, sensors, electromechanical systems, and energy technologies. Many challenges remain before this relatively new material becomes commercially viable, but laboratory prototypes have already shown the numerous advantages and novel functionality that graphene provides. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

A robust and tuneable mid-infrared optical switch enabled by bulk Dirac fermions

PubMed Central

Zhu, Chunhui; Wang, Fengqiu; Meng, Yafei; Yuan, Xiang; Xiu, Faxian; Luo, Hongyu; Wang, Yazhou; Li, Jianfeng; Lv, Xinjie; He, Liang; Xu, Yongbing; Liu, Junfeng; Zhang, Chao; Shi, Yi; Zhang, Rong; Zhu, Shining

2017-01-01

Pulsed lasers operating in the mid-infrared (3–20 μm) are important for a wide range of applications in sensing, spectroscopy, imaging and communications. Despite recent advances with mid-infrared gain platforms, the lack of a capable pulse generation mechanism remains a significant technological challenge. Here we show that bulk Dirac fermions in molecular beam epitaxy grown crystalline Cd3As2, a three-dimensional topological Dirac semimetal, constitutes an exceptional ultrafast optical switching mechanism for the mid-infrared. Significantly, we show robust and effective tuning of the scattering channels of Dirac fermions via an element doping approach, where photocarrier relaxation times are found flexibly controlled over an order of magnitude (from 8 ps to 800 fs at 4.5 μm). Our findings reveal the strong impact of Cr doping on ultrafast optical properties in Cd3As2 and open up the long sought parameter space crucial for the development of compact and high-performance mid-infrared ultrafast sources. PMID:28106037

A robust and tuneable mid-infrared optical switch enabled by bulk Dirac fermions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Chunhui; Wang, Fengqiu; Meng, Yafei; Yuan, Xiang; Xiu, Faxian; Luo, Hongyu; Wang, Yazhou; Li, Jianfeng; Lv, Xinjie; He, Liang; Xu, Yongbing; Liu, Junfeng; Zhang, Chao; Shi, Yi; Zhang, Rong; Zhu, Shining

2017-01-01

Pulsed lasers operating in the mid-infrared (3-20 μm) are important for a wide range of applications in sensing, spectroscopy, imaging and communications. Despite recent advances with mid-infrared gain platforms, the lack of a capable pulse generation mechanism remains a significant technological challenge. Here we show that bulk Dirac fermions in molecular beam epitaxy grown crystalline Cd3As2, a three-dimensional topological Dirac semimetal, constitutes an exceptional ultrafast optical switching mechanism for the mid-infrared. Significantly, we show robust and effective tuning of the scattering channels of Dirac fermions via an element doping approach, where photocarrier relaxation times are found flexibly controlled over an order of magnitude (from 8 ps to 800 fs at 4.5 μm). Our findings reveal the strong impact of Cr doping on ultrafast optical properties in Cd3As2 and open up the long sought parameter space crucial for the development of compact and high-performance mid-infrared ultrafast sources.

Photonics-on-a-chip: recent advances in integrated waveguides as enabling detection elements for real-world, lab-on-a-chip biosensing applications.

PubMed

Washburn, Adam L; Bailey, Ryan C

2011-01-21

By leveraging advances in semiconductor microfabrication technologies, chip-integrated optical biosensors are poised to make an impact as scalable and multiplexable bioanalytical measurement tools for lab-on-a-chip applications. In particular, waveguide-based optical sensing technology appears to be exceptionally amenable to chip integration and miniaturization, and, as a result, the recent literature is replete with examples of chip-integrated waveguide sensing platforms developed to address a wide range of contemporary analytical challenges. As an overview of the most recent advances within this dynamic field, this review highlights work from the last 2-3 years in the areas of grating-coupled, interferometric, photonic crystal, and microresonator waveguide sensors. With a focus towards device integration, particular emphasis is placed on demonstrations of biosensing using these technologies within microfluidically controlled environments. In addition, examples of multiplexed detection and sensing within complex matrices--important features for real-world applicability--are given special attention.

How much for a dime bag? An exploration of youth drug markets.

PubMed

Harrison, Lana D; Erickson, Patricia G; Korf, Dirk J; Brochu, Serge; Benschop, Annemieke

2007-09-01

Relatively little is known about how youth obtain marijuana and other drugs. The Drugs, Alcohol and Violence International (DAVI) study explored youthful drug markets among samples of school students, detained youth, and school dropouts (ages 14-17 years) in the greater metropolitan areas of Philadelphia, Toronto, Montreal, and Amsterdam. Students frequently reported sharing drugs, either getting them from others or giving them to others for free. Sharing was less common among the more drug-involved detainees and dropouts. Marijuana was typically obtained either outdoors or in a house or apartment. Few youth reported getting marijuana at school. In Amsterdam, where marijuana can be purchased in small quantities in coffeeshops, this was the most common place to get marijuana, even though 18 is the legal age for purchase. Alcohol was also most likely to be obtained in stores or restaurants across all the sites, even though none were of legal age except those in Amsterdam age 16 or older. Youth most often reported purchasing marijuana in nickel, dime or other small bags, which are not standardized units. The exception again was Amsterdam, where youth most often reported quantities in grams or joints, which is how it is sold in coffeeshops. The lack of standardization of units makes economic cost estimates suspect. Even standardized units such as alcohol present problems since youth report a wide range of 'typical purchases.' Survey data can, however, more aptly describe drug market characteristics such as general location of purchase, and relationship with the seller.

Psychometrics of the Short Form 36 Health Survey version 2 (SF-36v2) and the Quality of Life Scale for Drug Addicts (QOL-DAv2.0) in Chinese mainland patients with methadone maintenance treatment.

PubMed

Zhou, Kaina; Zhuang, Guihua; Zhang, Hongmei; Liang, Peifeng; Yin, Juan; Kou, Lingling; Hao, Mengmeng; You, Lijuan

2013-01-01

To test psychometrics of the Short Form 36 Health Survey version 2 (SF-36v2) and the Quality of Life Scale for Drug Addicts (QOL-DAv2.0) in Chinese mainland patients with methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). A total of 1,212 patients were recruited from two MMT clinics in Xi'an, China. Reliability was estimated with Cronbach's α and intra-class correlation (ICC). Convergent and discriminant validity was assessed using multitrait-multimethod correlation matrix. Sensitivity was measured with ANOVA and relative efficiency. Responsiveness was evaluated by pre-post paired-samples t-test and standardized response mean based on the patients' health status changes following 6-month period. Cronbach's α of the SF-36v2 physical and mental summary components were 0.80 and 0.86 (eight scales range 0.73-0.92) and the QOL-DAv2.0 was 0.96 (four scales range: 0.80-0.93). ICC of the SF-36v2 two components were 0.86 and 0.85 (eight scales range: 0.72-0.87) and the QOL-DAv2.0 was 0.94 (four scales range: 0.88-0.92). Convergent validity was lower between the two instruments (γ <0.70) while discriminant validity was acceptable within each instrument. Sensitivity was satisfied in self-evaluated health status (both instruments) and average daily methadone dose (SF-36v2 physical functioning and vitality scales; QOL-DAv2.0 except psychology scale). Responsiveness was acceptable in the improved health status change (SF-36v2 except vitality scale; QOL-DAv2.0 except psychology and symptoms scales) and deteriorated health status change (SF-36v2 except vitality, social functioning and mental health scales; QOL-DAv2.0 except society scale). The SF-36v2 and the QOL-DAv2.0 are valid tools and can be used independently or complementary according to different emphases of health-related quality of life evaluation in patients with MMT.

Psychometrics of the Short Form 36 Health Survey Version 2 (SF-36v2) and the Quality of Life Scale for Drug Addicts (QOL-DAv2.0) in Chinese Mainland Patients with Methadone Maintenance Treatment

PubMed Central

Zhou, Kaina; Zhuang, Guihua; Zhang, Hongmei; Liang, Peifeng; Yin, Juan; Kou, Lingling; Hao, Mengmeng; You, Lijuan

2013-01-01

Objective To test psychometrics of the Short Form 36 Health Survey version 2 (SF-36v2) and the Quality of Life Scale for Drug Addicts (QOL-DAv2.0) in Chinese mainland patients with methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). Methods A total of 1,212 patients were recruited from two MMT clinics in Xi’an, China. Reliability was estimated with Cronbach’s α and intra-class correlation (ICC). Convergent and discriminant validity was assessed using multitrait-multimethod correlation matrix. Sensitivity was measured with ANOVA and relative efficiency. Responsiveness was evaluated by pre-post paired-samples t-test and standardized response mean based on the patients’ health status changes following 6-month period. Results Cronbach’s α of the SF-36v2 physical and mental summary components were 0.80 and 0.86 (eight scales range 0.73–0.92) and the QOL-DAv2.0 was 0.96 (four scales range: 0.80–0.93). ICC of the SF-36v2 two components were 0.86 and 0.85 (eight scales range: 0.72–0.87) and the QOL-DAv2.0 was 0.94 (four scales range: 0.88–0.92). Convergent validity was lower between the two instruments (γ <0.70) while discriminant validity was acceptable within each instrument. Sensitivity was satisfied in self-evaluated health status (both instruments) and average daily methadone dose (SF-36v2 physical functioning and vitality scales; QOL-DAv2.0 except psychology scale). Responsiveness was acceptable in the improved health status change (SF-36v2 except vitality scale; QOL-DAv2.0 except psychology and symptoms scales) and deteriorated health status change (SF-36v2 except vitality, social functioning and mental health scales; QOL-DAv2.0 except society scale). Conclusions The SF-36v2 and the QOL-DAv2.0 are valid tools and can be used independently or complementary according to different emphases of health-related quality of life evaluation in patients with MMT. PMID:24278188

Vicariance, long-distance dispersal, and regional extinction-recolonization dynamics explain the disjunct circumpolar distribution of the arctic-alpine plant Silene acaulis.

PubMed

Gussarova, Galina; Allen, Geraldine A; Mikhaylova, Yulia; McCormick, Laurie J; Mirré, Virginia; Marr, Kendrick L; Hebda, Richard J; Brochmann, Christian

2015-10-01

Many arctic-alpine species have vast geographic ranges, but these may encompass substantial gaps whose origins are poorly understood. Here we address the phylogeographic history of Silene acaulis, a perennial cushion plant with a circumpolar distribution except for a large gap in Siberia. We assessed genetic variation in a range-wide sample of 103 populations using plastid DNA (pDNA) sequences and AFLPs (amplified fragment length polymorphisms). We constructed a haplotype network and performed Bayesian phylogenetic analyses based on plastid sequences. We visualized AFLP patterns using principal coordinate analysis, identified genetic groups using the program structure, and estimated genetic diversity and rarity indices by geographic region. The history of the main pDNA lineages was estimated to span several glaciations. AFLP data revealed a distinct division between Beringia/North America and Europe/East Greenland. These two regions shared only one of 17 pDNA haplotypes. Populations on opposite sides of the Siberian range gap (Ural Mountains and Chukotka) were genetically distinct and appear to have resulted from postglacial leading-edge colonizations. We inferred two refugia in North America (Beringia and the southern Rocky Mountains) and two in Europe (central-southern Europe and northern Europe/East Greenland). Patterns in the East Atlantic region suggested transoceanic long-distance dispersal events. Silene acaulis has a highly dynamic history characterized by vicariance, regional extinction, and recolonization, with persistence in at least four refugia. Long-distance dispersal explains patterns across the Atlantic Ocean, but we found no evidence of dispersal across the Siberian range gap. © 2015 Botanical Society of America.

Micromechanics of pressure-induced grain crushing in porous rocks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davis, Daniel M.

1990-01-01

The hydrostatic compaction behavior of a suite of porous sandstones was investigated at confining pressures up to 600 MPa and constant pore pressures ranging up to 50 MPa. These five sandstones (Boise, Kayenta, St. Peter, Berea, and Weber) were selected because of their wide range of porosity (5-35%) and grain size (60-460 μm). We tested the law of effective stress for the porosity change as a function of pressure. Except for Weber sandstone (which has the lowest porosity and smallest grain size), the hydrostat of each sandstone shows an inflection point corresponding to a critical effective pressure beyond which an accelerated, irrecoverable compaction occurs. Our microstructural observations show that brittle grain crushing initiates at this critical pressure. We also observed distributed cleavage cracking in calcite and intensive kinking in mica. The critical pressures for grain crushing in our sandstones range from 75 to 380 MPa. In general, a sandstone with higher porosity and larger grain size has a critical pressure which is lower than that of a sandstone with lower porosity and smaller grain size. We formulate a Hertzian fracture model to analyze the micromechanics of grain crushing. Assuming that the solid grains have preexisting microcracks with dimensions which scale with grain size, we derive an expression for the critical pressure which depends on the porosity, grain size, and fracture toughness of the solid matrix. The theoretical prediction is in reasonable agreement with our experimental data as well as other data from soil and rock mechanics studies for which the critical pressures range over 3 orders of magnitude.

Large-field-of-view wide-spectrum artificial reflecting superposition compound eyes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Chi-Chieh

The study of the imaging principles of natural compound eyes has become an active area of research and has fueled the advancement of modern optics with many attractive design features beyond those available with conventional technologies. Most prominent among all compound eyes is the reflecting superposition compound eyes (RSCEs) found in some decapods. They are extraordinary imaging systems with numerous optical features such as minimum chromatic aberration, wide-angle field of view (FOV), high sensitivity to light and superb acuity to motion. Inspired by their remarkable visual system, we were able to implement the unique lens-free, reflection-based imaging mechanisms into a miniaturized, large-FOV optical imaging device operating at the wide visible spectrum to minimize chromatic aberration without any additional post-image processing. First, two micro-transfer printing methods, a multiple and a shear-assisted transfer printing technique, were studied and discussed to realize life-sized artificial RSCEs. The processes exploited the differential adhesive tendencies of the microstructures formed between a donor and a transfer substrate to accomplish an efficient release and transfer process. These techniques enabled conformal wrapping of three-dimensional (3-D) microstructures, initially fabricated in two-dimensional (2-D) layouts with standard fabrication technology onto a wide range of surfaces with complex and curvilinear shapes. Final part of this dissertation was focused on implementing the key operational features of the natural RSCEs into large-FOV, wide-spectrum artificial RSCEs as an optical imaging device suitable for the wide visible spectrum. Our devices can form real, clear images based on reflection rather than refraction, hence avoiding chromatic aberration due to dispersion by the optical materials. Compared to the performance of conventional refractive lenses of comparable size, our devices demonstrated minimum chromatic aberration, exceptional FOV up to 165o without distortion, modest spherical aberrations and comparable imaging quality without any post-image processing. Together with an augmenting cruciform pattern surrounding each focused image, our devices possessed enhanced, dynamic motion-tracking capability ideal for diverse applications in military, security, search and rescue, night navigation, medical imaging and astronomy. In the future, due to its reflection-based operating principles, it can be further extended into mid- and far-infrared for more demanding applications.

Heat transfer and thermal management of electric vehicle batteries with phase change materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramandi, M. Y.; Dincer, I.; Naterer, G. F.

2011-07-01

This paper examines a passive thermal management system for electric vehicle batteries, consisting of encapsulated phase change material (PCM) which melts during a process to absorb the heat generated by a battery. A new configuration for the thermal management system, using double series PCM shells, is analyzed with finite volume simulations. A combination of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and second law analysis is used to evaluate and compare the new system against the single PCM shells. Using a finite volume method, heat transfer in the battery pack is examined and the results are used to analyse the exergy losses. The simulations provide design guidelines for the thermal management system to minimize the size and cost of the system. The thermal conductivity and melting temperature are studied as two important parameters in the configuration of the shells. Heat transfer from the surroundings to the PCM shell in a non-insulated case is found to be infeasible. For a single PCM system, the exergy efficiency is below 50%. For the second case for other combinations, the exergy efficiencies ranged from 30-40%. The second shell content did not have significant influence on the exergy efficiencies. The double PCM shell system showed higher exergy efficiencies than the single PCM shell system (except a case for type PCM-1). With respect to the reference environment, it is found that in all cases the exergy efficiencies decreased, when the dead-state temperatures rises, and the destroyed exergy content increases gradually. For the double shell systems for all dead-state temperatures, the efficiencies were very similar. Except for a dead-state temperature of 302 K, with the other temperatures, the exergy efficiencies for different combinations are well over 50%. The range of exergy efficiencies vary widely between 15 and 85% for a single shell system, and between 30-80% for double shell systems.

Antimicrobials used for surgical prophylaxis by equine veterinary practitioners in Australia.

PubMed

Hardefeldt, L Y; Browning, G F; Thursky, K; Gilkerson, J R; Billman-Jacobe, H; Stevenson, M A; Bailey, K E

2018-01-01

Antimicrobials are widely used in Australian veterinary practices, but no investigation into the classes of antimicrobials used, or the appropriateness of use in horses, has been conducted. The aim of the study was to describe antimicrobial use for surgical prophylaxis in equine practice in Australia. Cross-sectional questionnaire survey. An online questionnaire was used to document antimicrobial usage patterns. Information solicited in the questionnaire included demographic details of the respondents, the frequency with which antimicrobials were used for specific surgical conditions (including the dose, timing and duration of therapy) and practice antimicrobial use policies and sources of information about antimicrobials and their uses. A total of 337 members of the Australian veterinary profession completed the survey. Generally, the choice of antimicrobial was appropriate for the specified equine surgical condition, but the dose and duration of therapy varied greatly. While there was poor optimal compliance with British Equine Veterinary Association guidelines in all scenarios (range 1-15%), except removal of a nonulcerated dermal mass (42%), suboptimal compliance (compliant antimicrobial drug selection but inappropriate timing, dose or duration of therapy) was moderate for all scenarios (range 48-68%), except for an uninfected contaminated wound over the thorax, where both optimal and suboptimal compliance was very poor (1%). Veterinarians practicing at a university hospital had higher odds of compliance than general practice veterinarians (Odds ratio 3.2, 95% CI, 1.1-8.9, P = 0.03). Many survey responses were collected at conferences which may introduce selection bias, as veterinarians attending conferences may be more likely to have been exposed to contemporary antimicrobial prescribing recommendations. Antimicrobial use guidelines need to be developed and promoted to improve the responsible use of antimicrobials in equine practice in Australia. An emphasis should be placed on antimicrobial therapy for wounds and appropriate dosing for procaine penicillin. © 2017 EVJ Ltd.

Infant and young child feeding indicators across nine East and Southeast Asian countries: an analysis of National Survey Data 2000-2005.

PubMed

Dibley, Michael J; Senarath, Upul; Agho, Kingsley E

2010-09-01

To compare infant and young child feeding practices in children aged 0-23 months across nine East and Southeast Asian countries. Secondary analyses of cross-sectional data from available Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS; Indonesia, Philippines, Timor-Leste, Cambodia and Vietnam), Multiple Indicator Country Surveys (Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) and Myanmar) and national nutrition surveys (Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPR Korea) and Mongolia) conducted between 2000 and 2005. Seven countries from Southeast Asia and two from East Asia. Children aged 0-23 months with samples ranging from 826 to 5610 for DHS, and from 477 to 5860 for non-DHS data. More than 93 % of infants were ever breast-fed, and over 75 % were currently breast-fed except in the Philippines. Timely initiation of breast-feeding varied from 32 % in Indonesia to 46 % in Timor-Leste. Exclusive breast-feeding (EBF) rate in infants under 6 months of age ranged from 11 % in Myanmar to 60 % in Cambodia. EBF rates were also low in Vietnam (15.5 %) and Lao PDR (23 %), and varied between 30 % and 40 % in Indonesia, Philippines and Timor-Leste. The proportion of infants under 6 months of age who were given breast milk with non-milk liquids was high except in Indonesia and Timor-Leste. Bottle-feeding rates were lower in DPR Korea (3 %), Lao PDR (6 %) and Myanmar (6 %) and higher in the Philippines (49 %) and Mongolia (31 %). Timely complementary-feeding rate varied widely across countries (6-99 %). All the countries studied should make greater efforts to improve timely initiation of breast-feeding and EBF for 6 months. Measures should be taken to reduce high bottle-feeding rate in the Philippines, Mongolia, Indonesia and Vietnam, and improve complementary-feeding rate in Lao PDR, Myanmar, DPR Korea and Philippines.

Modeling Coastal Vulnerability through Space and Time.

PubMed

Hopper, Thomas; Meixler, Marcia S

2016-01-01

Coastal ecosystems experience a wide range of stressors including wave forces, storm surge, sea-level rise, and anthropogenic modification and are thus vulnerable to erosion. Urban coastal ecosystems are especially important due to the large populations these limited ecosystems serve. However, few studies have addressed the issue of urban coastal vulnerability at the landscape scale with spatial data that are finely resolved. The purpose of this study was to model and map coastal vulnerability and the role of natural habitats in reducing vulnerability in Jamaica Bay, New York, in terms of nine coastal vulnerability metrics (relief, wave exposure, geomorphology, natural habitats, exposure, exposure with no habitat, habitat role, erodible shoreline, and surge) under past (1609), current (2015), and future (2080) scenarios using InVEST 3.2.0. We analyzed vulnerability results both spatially and across all time periods, by stakeholder (ownership) and by distance to damage from Hurricane Sandy. We found significant differences in vulnerability metrics between past, current and future scenarios for all nine metrics except relief and wave exposure. The marsh islands in the center of the bay are currently vulnerable. In the future, these islands will likely be inundated, placing additional areas of the shoreline increasingly at risk. Significant differences in vulnerability exist between stakeholders; the Breezy Point Cooperative and Gateway National Recreation Area had the largest erodible shoreline segments. Significant correlations exist for all vulnerability (exposure/surge) and storm damage combinations except for exposure and distance to artificial debris. Coastal protective features, ranging from storm surge barriers and levees to natural features (e.g. wetlands), have been promoted to decrease future flood risk to communities in coastal areas around the world. Our methods of combining coastal vulnerability results with additional data and across multiple time periods have considerable potential to provide valuable predictions that resource managers can effectively use to identify areas for restoration and protection.

Comments on, Xuan Li, Shanghong Zhao, Zihang Zhu, Bing Gong, Xingchun Chu, Yongjun Li, Jing Zhao and Yun Liu `an optical millimeter-wave generation scheme based on two parallel dual-parallel Mach-Zehnder modulators and polarization multiplexing', Journal of Modern Optics, 2015

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hasan, Mehedi; Hall, Trevor

2016-11-01

In the title paper, Li et al. have presented a scheme for filter-less photonic millimetre-wave (mm-wave) generation based on two polarization multiplexed parallel dual-parallel Mach-Zehnder modulators (DP-MZMs). For frequency octo-tupling, all the harmonics are suppressed except those of order 4l, where l is the integer. The carrier is then suppressed by the polarization multiplexing technique, which is the principal innovative step in their design. Frequency 12-tupling and 16-tupling is also described following a similar method. The two DP-MZM are similarly driven and provide identical outputs for the same RF modulation indices. Consequently, a demerit of their design is the requirement to apply two different RF signal modulation indexes in a particular range and set the polarizer to a precise angle which depends on the pair of modulation indices used in order to suppress the unwanted harmonics (e.g. the carrier) without simultaneously suppressing the wanted harmonics. The aim of this comment is to show that, an adjustment of the RF drive phases with a fixed polarizer angle with the design presented by Li, all harmonics can be suppressed except those of order4l, where l is an odd integer. Hence, a filter-less frequency octo-tupling can be generated whose performance is not limited by the careful adjustment of the RF drive signal, rather it can be operated for a wide range of modulation indexes (m 2.5 → 7.5). If the modulation index is adjusted to suppress 4th harmonics, then the design can be used to perform frequency 24-tupling. Since, the carrier is suppressed by design in the modified architecture, the strict requirement to adjust the RF drive (and polarizer angle) can be avoided without any significant change to the circuit complexity.

Mineralized aplite—pegmatite at Jabal Sa'id, Hijaz region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hackett, Damien

The Jabal Sa'id aplite—pegmatite, located at 23°49'03″N, 40°56'30″E, is part of the Jabal Hadb ash Sharar granite complex and resulted from emplacement of a residual volatile-rich fraction of alkali granite magma dominantly above a chilled carapace. Mineralization is layered, with four peak grades in layers 20-25 m wide, one of which may represent a mineral resource with greater potential than the aplite—pegmatite as a whole. The grades of all elements, except Zr, increase towards the upper part of the body. Chemical composition is extremely variable. Major-oxide data confirm previously determined geochemical characteristics and genetic relationships that suggested this body is an apogranite. However, the abundant new data also show that differences between the aplite—pegmatite and cognate alkali microgranite are not as great as previously reported, except for Na 2O which is extremely depleted in the apogranite. REE data support suggested genetic relationships and indicate that feldspar fractionation was important during crystallization. They also show that the content of HREE is comparatively constant throughout the aplite—pegmatite, and that variations in total REE content are caused by variations in the content of LREE. Bastnaesite and synchysite-(Y) are the principal rare-earth-element minerals, and are accompanied by monazite and synchesite; pyrochlore and thorite are also important ore minerals. Other elements concentrated in the aplite—pegmatite, such as Ta, Sn and U, occur only in solid solution in these minerals. The grain size of the ore minerals is commonly in the range 0.02-0.2 mm, and the grain size of gangue minerals, quartz, microcline and lesser amounts of aegirine and arfvedsonite, is typically in the range 1.0-4.0 mm. The ore minerals occur typically along gangue mineral boundaries. Zoning within the body permits calculation of high- and low-grade reserves which correspond to the upper and lower part of the apogranite.

Modeling Coastal Vulnerability through Space and Time

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Coastal ecosystems experience a wide range of stressors including wave forces, storm surge, sea-level rise, and anthropogenic modification and are thus vulnerable to erosion. Urban coastal ecosystems are especially important due to the large populations these limited ecosystems serve. However, few studies have addressed the issue of urban coastal vulnerability at the landscape scale with spatial data that are finely resolved. The purpose of this study was to model and map coastal vulnerability and the role of natural habitats in reducing vulnerability in Jamaica Bay, New York, in terms of nine coastal vulnerability metrics (relief, wave exposure, geomorphology, natural habitats, exposure, exposure with no habitat, habitat role, erodible shoreline, and surge) under past (1609), current (2015), and future (2080) scenarios using InVEST 3.2.0. We analyzed vulnerability results both spatially and across all time periods, by stakeholder (ownership) and by distance to damage from Hurricane Sandy. We found significant differences in vulnerability metrics between past, current and future scenarios for all nine metrics except relief and wave exposure. The marsh islands in the center of the bay are currently vulnerable. In the future, these islands will likely be inundated, placing additional areas of the shoreline increasingly at risk. Significant differences in vulnerability exist between stakeholders; the Breezy Point Cooperative and Gateway National Recreation Area had the largest erodible shoreline segments. Significant correlations exist for all vulnerability (exposure/surge) and storm damage combinations except for exposure and distance to artificial debris. Coastal protective features, ranging from storm surge barriers and levees to natural features (e.g. wetlands), have been promoted to decrease future flood risk to communities in coastal areas around the world. Our methods of combining coastal vulnerability results with additional data and across multiple time periods have considerable potential to provide valuable predictions that resource managers can effectively use to identify areas for restoration and protection. PMID:27732674

The gender gap among school children in poor rural areas of western China: evidence from a multi-province dataset.

PubMed

Zhou, Hua; Mo, Di; Zhou, Chengchao; Medina, Alexis; Shi, Yaojiang; Zhang, Linxiu; Rozelle, Scott

2016-09-29

The gender gap remains a major impediment in the path towards equality and it is especially wide in low-income countries. Up to the early 2000s, many studies documented extensive inequalities in China: girls had poorer health, less nutrition and less education than their male counterparts. The goal of this study is to examine whether the gender gap persists, given that China is now making the transition into the ranks of upper-middle income countries. We consider educational outcomes, mental and physical health status, as well as non-cognitive outcomes. We draw on a dataset containing 69,565 observations constructed by combining data from 7 different school-level surveys spanning 5 provinces. The surveys were all conducted by the authors between 2008 and 2013 using uniform survey instruments and data collection protocols in randomly selected schools across western provinces in rural China. The sample children range in age from 9 to 14 years (with 79 % of the sample being aged 10 to 12). Our analysis compares rural girls with rural boys in terms of 13 different indicators. With the exception of anemia rates, the health outcomes of girls are equal to those of boys. Girls and boys are statistically identical in terms of weight-for-age, height-for-age, and prevalence of intestinal worm infections. Girls performed better than boys on five of six cognitive and educational performance indicators. Girls performed worse than boys on all mental health indicators. All estimates are robust to the inclusion of different age ranges, controlling for the level of household assets, ethnic minority status, as well as the addition of provincial dummies. Our findings suggest that with the exception of non-cognitive outcomes, anemia and standardized math test scores, the gender gap in our study areas in China appears to be diminishing.

Air-sea Exchange of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs), Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), Organochlorine Pesticides (OCPs) and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs) in the Mediterranean Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lammel, G. P.; Heil, A.; Kukucka, P.; Meixner, F. X.; Mulder, M. D.; Prybilova, P.; Prokes, R.; Rusina, T. S.; Song, G. Z.; Vrana, B.

2015-12-01

The marine atmospheric environment is a receptor for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) which are advected from sources on land, primary, such as biomass burning by-products (PAHs, dioxins), and secondary, such as volatilization from contaminated soils (PCBs, pesticides). Primary sources do not exist in the marine environment, except for PAHs (ship engines) but following previous atmospheric deposition, the sea surface may turn to a secondary source by reversal of diffusive air-sea mass exchange. No monitoring is in place. We studied the vertical fluxes of a wide range of primary and secondary emitted POPs based on measurements in air and surface seawater at a remote coastal site in the eastern Mediterranean (2012). To this end, silicon rubbers were used as passive water samplers, vertical concentration gradients were determined in air and fluxes were quantified based on Eddy covariance. Diffusive air-sea exchange fluxes of hexachlorocyclohexanes (HCHs) and semivolatile PAHs were found close to phase equilibrium, except one PAH, retene, a wood burning tracer, was found seasonally net-volatilisational. Some PCBs, p,p'-DDE, penta- and hexachlorobenzene (PeCB, HCB) were mostly net-depositional, while PBDEs were net-volatilizational. Fluxes determined at a a remote coastal site ranged -33 - +2.4 µg m-2 d-1 for PAHs and -4.0 - +0.3 µg m-2 d-1for halogenated compounds (< 0 means net-deposition, > 0 means net-volatilization). It is concluded that nowadays in open seas more pollutants are undergoing reversal of the direction of air-sea exchange. Recgional fire activity records in combination with box model simulations suggest that deposition of retene during summer is followed by a reversal of air-sea exchange. The seawater surface as secondary source of pollution should be assessed based on flux measurements across seasons and over longer time periods.

5 CFR 2411.4 - Information policy.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... instructions to staff that affect a member of the public (except those establishing internal operating rules... the Internet/World Wide-Web site (http://www.flra.gov/foia/reading_room.html). The Web site containing... Reading Room should be submitted to the FLRA's Office of the Solicitor (mail: Office of the Solicitor...

15 CFR 922.163 - Prohibited activities-Sanctuary-wide.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

..., injury to, or possession of coral or live rock. (i) Moving, removing, taking, harvesting, damaging...) any living or dead coral, or coral formation, or attempting any of these activities, except as... a vessel in such a manner as to strike or otherwise injure coral, seagrass, or any other immobile...

15 CFR 922.163 - Prohibited activities-Sanctuary-wide.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

..., injury to, or possession of coral or live rock. (i) Moving, removing, taking, harvesting, damaging...) any living or dead coral, or coral formation, or attempting any of these activities, except as... in such a manner as to strike or otherwise injure coral, seagrass, or any other immobile organism...

Video Games and the Pedagogy of Place

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hutchison, David

2007-01-01

In this article the author explores the construction of place within virtual worlds and, in particular, in video games that appeal widely to children and youths. With the notable exception of "edutainment" titles, gaming and education have traditionally been viewed as separate pursuits. Yet, after school, millions of children and teens spend…

Genome wide transcriptional profile analysis of Vitis amurensis in response to cold stress

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Grape is one of the most important fruit crops worldwide and is cultivated on all of the continents except Antarctica. However, low temperatures can limit the geographical locations and productivity of grapes. Vitis amurensis is a wild grapevine species with remarkable cold-tolerance, exceeding th...

5 CFR 2634.310 - Trusts, estates, and investment funds.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... fund” means a widely held investment fund (whether a mutual fund, regulated investment company, common... 5 Administrative Personnel 3 2011-01-01 2011-01-01 false Trusts, estates, and investment funds... Reports § 2634.310 Trusts, estates, and investment funds. (a) In general. (1) Except as otherwise provided...

5 CFR 2634.310 - Trusts, estates, and investment funds.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... fund” means a widely held investment fund (whether a mutual fund, regulated investment company, common... 5 Administrative Personnel 3 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Trusts, estates, and investment funds... Reports § 2634.310 Trusts, estates, and investment funds. (a) In general. (1) Except as otherwise provided...

Ecotype variability and edaphic characteristics for cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) populations in Mississippi

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) is a highly invasive perennial grass in the southeastern United States and is found on all continents except Antartica. It has been reported from a wide array of habitats; however, soils from cogongrass populations have never been characterized. Live cogongrass pla...

[Osteoblastoma of the patella (author's transl)].

PubMed

Sicard, A; Touzard, R C; Squalli, S

1979-01-01

Osteoblastoma is a rare bony tumour. Its localisation at the level of the patella seems exceptional. Our case is the third published case. Wide curetage was a failure, and did not permit histological diagnosis. A cure was obtained by patellectomy, after which the diagnosis of the lesion was made without any doubt.

Intrinsic Motivation.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Deci, Edward L.

The paper draws together a wide variety of research which relates to the topic of intrinsic motivation; intrinsically motivated activities are defined as those which a person does for no apparent reward except the activity itself or the feelings which result from the activity. Most of this research was not originally reported within the framework…

49 CFR 38.53 - Doorways.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... accomplished by vehicle air suspension or other suitable means of meeting the requirement. (2) Exception. New... SPECIFICATIONS FOR TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES Rapid Rail Vehicles and Systems § 38.53 Doorways. (a) Clear width. (1) Passenger doorways on vehicle sides shall have clear openings at least 32 inches wide when open. (2) If...

Development of cropland management dataset to support U.S. SWAT assessments

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is a widely used hydrologic/water quality simulation model in the U.S. Process-based models like SWAT require a great deal of data to accurately represent the natural world, including topography, landuse, soils, weather, and management. With the exception ...

Forest vegetation of eastern Washington and northern Idaho

Treesearch

R. Daubenmire; Jean B. Daubenmire

1968-01-01

The forest vegetation of the northern Rocky Mountains is potentially a rather simple mosaic determined by macroclimate, microclimate, soil fertility and soil drainage. In actuality, however, the vegetation consists mainly of a wide variety of intergrading, disturbance-induced communities that are difficult to treat except as developmental series related to...

The Quality Assurance of Degree Education in Canada

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baker, Donald N.; Miosi, Terry

2010-01-01

Under the Canadian constitution, responsibility for education is assigned to the provinces. In some provinces, universities are based in institution-specific statutes, in others, in system-wide legislation. Except for the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia, the provinces leave the quality assurance of academic activities to the…

Occurrence of fibrates and their metabolites in source and drinking water in Shanghai and Zhejiang, China.

PubMed

Ido, Akiko; Hiromori, Youhei; Meng, Liping; Usuda, Haruki; Nagase, Hisamitsu; Yang, Min; Hu, Jianying; Nakanishi, Tsuyoshi

2017-04-12

Fibrates, which are widely used lipidaemic-modulating drugs, are emerging environmental pollutants. However, fibrate concentrations in the environment have not been thoroughly surveyed. Here, we determined concentrations of the most commonly used fibrates and their metabolites in source water and drinking water samples from ten drinking water treatment plants in Shanghai and Zhejiang, China, using solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. All the target compounds were detected in at least some of the source water samples, at concentrations ranging from 0.04 ng/L (fenofibrate) to 1.53 ng/L (gemfibrozil). All the compounds except fenofibrate were also detected in at least some of the drinking water samples, at recoveries ranging from 35.5% to 91.7%, suggesting that these compounds are poorly removed by typical drinking water treatment processes. In a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α agonistic activity assay, the target compounds showed no significant activity at nanogram per litre concentrations; therefore, our results suggest that the fibrate concentrations in drinking water in Shanghai and Zhejiang, China do not significantly affect human health. However, because of the increasing westernization of the Chinese diet, fibrate use may increase, and thus monitoring fibrate concentrations in aquatic environments and drinking water in China will become increasingly important.

Drivers of protogynous sex change differ across spatial scales.

PubMed

Taylor, Brett M

2014-01-22

The influence of social demography on sex change schedules in protogynous reef fishes is well established, yet effects across spatial scales (in particular, the magnitude of natural variation relative to size-selective fishing effects) are poorly understood. Here, I examine variation in timing of sex change for exploited parrotfishes across a range of environmental, anthropogenic and geographical factors. Results were highly dependent on spatial scale. Fishing pressure was the most influential factor determining length at sex change at the within-island scale where a wide range of anthropogenic pressure existed. Sex transition occurred at smaller sizes where fishing pressure was high. Among islands, however, differences were overwhelmingly predicted by reefal-scale structural features, a pattern evident for all species examined. For the most abundant species, Chlorurus spilurus, length at sex change increased at higher overall densities and greater female-to-male sex ratios at all islands except where targeted by fishermen; here the trend was reversed. This implies differing selective pressures on adult individuals can significantly alter sex change dynamics, highlighting the importance of social structure, demography and the selective forces structuring populations. Considerable life-history responses to exploitation were observed, but results suggest potential fishing effects on demography may be obscured by natural variation at biogeographic scales.

Occurrence of fibrates and their metabolites in source and drinking water in Shanghai and Zhejiang, China

PubMed Central

Ido, Akiko; Hiromori, Youhei; Meng, Liping; Usuda, Haruki; Nagase, Hisamitsu; Yang, Min; Hu, Jianying; Nakanishi, Tsuyoshi

2017-01-01

Fibrates, which are widely used lipidaemic-modulating drugs, are emerging environmental pollutants. However, fibrate concentrations in the environment have not been thoroughly surveyed. Here, we determined concentrations of the most commonly used fibrates and their metabolites in source water and drinking water samples from ten drinking water treatment plants in Shanghai and Zhejiang, China, using solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. All the target compounds were detected in at least some of the source water samples, at concentrations ranging from 0.04 ng/L (fenofibrate) to 1.53 ng/L (gemfibrozil). All the compounds except fenofibrate were also detected in at least some of the drinking water samples, at recoveries ranging from 35.5% to 91.7%, suggesting that these compounds are poorly removed by typical drinking water treatment processes. In a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α agonistic activity assay, the target compounds showed no significant activity at nanogram per litre concentrations; therefore, our results suggest that the fibrate concentrations in drinking water in Shanghai and Zhejiang, China do not significantly affect human health. However, because of the increasing westernization of the Chinese diet, fibrate use may increase, and thus monitoring fibrate concentrations in aquatic environments and drinking water in China will become increasingly important. PMID:28401920

Measurement of semi-inclusive π+ electroproduction off the proton

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Osipenko, M.; Ripani, M.; Ricco, G.; Avakian, H.; de Vita, R.; Adams, G.; Amaryan, M. J.; Ambrozewicz, P.; Anghinolfi, M.; Asryan, G.; Bagdasaryan, H.; Baillie, N.; Ball, J. P.; Baltzell, N. A.; Barrow, S.; Battaglieri, M.; Bedlinskiy, I.; Bektasoglu, M.; Bellis, M.; Benmouna, N.; Berman, B. L.; Biselli, A. S.; Blaszczyk, L.; Bonner, B. E.; Bouchigny, S.; Boiarinov, S.; Bradford, R.; Branford, D.; Briscoe, W. J.; Brooks, W. K.; Bültmann, S.; Burkert, V. D.; Butuceanu, C.; Calarco, J. R.; Careccia, S. L.; Carman, D. S.; Cazes, A.; Ceccopieri, F.; Chen, S.; Cole, P. L.; Collins, P.; Coltharp, P.; Corvisiero, P.; Crabb, D.; Crede, V.; Cummings, J. P.; Dashyan, N.; de Masi, R.; de Sanctis, E.; Degtyarenko, P. V.; Denizli, H.; Dennis, L.; Deur, A.; Dharmawardane, K. V.; Dhuga, K. S.; Dickson, R.; Djalali, C.; Dodge, G. E.; Donnelly, J.; Doughty, D.; Drozdov, V.; Dugger, M.; Dytman, S.; Dzyubak, O. P.; Egiyan, H.; Egiyan, K. S.; El Fassi, L.; Elouadrhiri, L.; Eugenio, P.; Fatemi, R.; Fedotov, G.; Feldman, G.; Feuerbach, R. J.; Funsten, H.; Garçon, M.; Gavalian, G.; Gilfoyle, G. P.; Giovanetti, K. L.; Girod, F. X.; Goetz, J. T.; Golovach, E.; Gonenc, A.; Gordon, C. I. O.; Gothe, R. W.; Griffioen, K. A.; Guidal, M.; Guillo, M.; Guler, N.; Guo, L.; Gyurjyan, V.; Hadjidakis, C.; Hafidi, K.; Hakobyan, H.; Hakobyan, R. S.; Hanretty, C.; Hardie, J.; Hassall, N.; Heddle, D.; Hersman, F. W.; Hicks, K.; Hleiqawi, I.; Holtrop, M.; Hyde-Wright, C. E.; Ilieva, Y.; Ilyichev, A.; Ireland, D. G.; Ishkhanov, B. S.; Isupov, E. L.; Ito, M. M.; Jenkins, D.; Jo, H. S.; Joo, K.; Juengst, H. G.; Kalantarians, N.; Kellie, J. D.; Khandaker, M.; Kim, W.; Klein, A.; Klein, F. J.; Klimenko, A. V.; Kossov, M.; Krahn, Z.; Kramer, L. H.; Kubarovsky, V.; Kuhn, J.; Kuhn, S. E.; Kuleshov, S. V.; Lachniet, J.; Laget, J. M.; Langheinrich, J.; Lawrence, D.; Li, Ji; Livingston, K.; Lu, H. Y.; MacCormick, M.; Markov, N.; Mattione, P.; McAleer, S.; McCracken, M.; McKinnon, B.; McNabb, J. W. C.; Mecking, B. A.; Mehrabyan, S.; Melone, J. J.; Mestayer, M. D.; Meyer, C. A.; Mibe, T.; Mikhailov, K.; Minehart, R.; Mirazita, M.; Miskimen, R.; Mokeev, V.; Moriya, K.; Morrow, S. A.; Moteabbed, M.; Mueller, J.; Munevar, E.; Mutchler, G. S.; Nadel-Turonski, P.; Napolitano, J.; Nasseripour, R.; Niccolai, S.; Niculescu, G.; Niculescu, I.; Niczyporuk, B. B.; Niroula, M. R.; Niyazov, R. A.; Nozar, M.; O'Rielly, G. V.; Ostrovidov, A. I.; Park, K.; Pasyuk, E.; Paterson, C.; Pereira, S. Anefalos; Philips, S. A.; Pierce, J.; Pivnyuk, N.; Pocanic, D.; Pogorelko, O.; Polli, E.; Popa, I.; Pozdniakov, S.; Preedom, B. M.; Price, J. W.; Prok, Y.; Protopopescu, D.; Qin, L. M.; Raue, B. A.; Riccardi, G.; Ritchie, B. G.; Rosner, G.; Rossi, P.; Rubin, P. D.; Sabatié, F.; Salamanca, J.; Salgado, C.; Santoro, J. P.; Sapunenko, V.; Schumacher, R. A.; Serov, V. S.; Sharabian, Y. G.; Shvedunov, N. V.; Skabelin, A. V.; Smith, E. S.; Smith, L. C.; Sober, D. I.; Sokhan, D.; Stavinsky, A.; Stepanyan, S. S.; Stepanyan, S.; Stokes, B. E.; Stoler, P.; Strakovsky, I. I.; Strauch, S.; Taiuti, M.; Tedeschi, D. J.; Thoma, U.; Tkabladze, A.; Tkachenko, S.; Todor, L.; Trentadue, L.; Tur, C.; Ungaro, M.; Vineyard, M. F.; Vlassov, A. V.; Watts, D. P.; Weinstein, L. B.; Weygand, D. P.; Williams, M.; Wolin, E.; Wood, M. H.; Yegneswaran, A.; Zana, L.; Zhang, J.; Zhao, B.; Zhao, Z. W.

2009-08-01

Semi-inclusive π+ electroproduction on protons has been measured with the CLAS detector at Jefferson Lab. The measurement was performed on a liquid-hydrogen target using a 5.75 GeV electron beam. The complete five-fold differential cross sections were measured over a wide kinematic range including the complete range of azimuthal angles between hadronic and leptonic planes, ϕ, enabling us to separate the ϕ-dependent terms. Our measurements of the ϕ-independent term of the cross section at low Bjorken x were found to be in fairly good agreement with pQCD calculations. Indeed, the conventional current fragmentation calculation can account for almost all of the observed cross section, even at small π+ momentum. The measured center-of-momentum spectra are in qualitative agreement with high-energy data, which suggests a surprising numerical similarity between the spectator diquark fragmentation in the present reaction and the antiquark fragmentation measured in e+e- collisions. We have observed that the two ϕ-dependent terms of the cross section are small. Within our precision the cos⁡2ϕ term is compatible with zero, except for the low-z region, and the measured cos⁡ϕ term is much smaller in magnitude than the sum of the Cahn and Berger effects.

Toward a Unified View of Black-Hole High-Energy States

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Nowak, Michael A.

1995-01-01

We present here a review of high-energy (greater than 1 keV) observations of seven black-hole candidates, six of which have estimated masses. In this review we focus on two parameters of interest: the ratio of 'nonthermal' to total luminosity as a function of the total luminosity divided by the Eddington luminosity, and the root-mean-square (rms) variability as a function of the nonthermal-to-total luminosity ratio. Below approx. 10% Eddington luminosity, the sources tend to be strictly nonthermal (the so called 'off' and 'low' states). Above this luminosity the sources become mostly thermal (the 'high' state). with the nonthermal component increasing with luminosity (the 'very high' and 'flare' states). There are important exceptions to this behavior, however, and no steady - as opposed to transient - source has been observed over a wide range of parameter space. In addition, the rms variability is positively correlated with the ratio of nonthermal to total luminosity, although there may be a minimum level of variability associated with 'thermal' states. We discuss these results in light of theoretical models and find that currently no single model describes the full range of black-hole high-energy behavior. In fact, the observations are exactly opposite from what one expects based upon simple notions of accretion disk instabilities.

Exploring the Cosmic Dawn, Galaxy Evolution, and Exotic Stellar Deaths with Rapid GRB Follow-Up Observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berger, Edo; Cenko, Stephen; Schmidt, Brian; Perley, Daniel; Berger, Edo; Fox, Derek; Fruchter, Andrew; Bloom, Joshua; Prochaska, Jason X.; Lopez, Sebastian; Cobb, Bethany; Roth, Kathy; Levan, Andrew; Tanvir, Nial; Rapoport, Sharon; Yuan, Fang; Chornock, Ryan; Wen-Fai, Fong; Morgan, Adam; Wiersema, Klaas; Cucchiara, Antonino

2013-08-01

The study of gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglows, host galaxies, and associated supernovae (SNe) sheds light on a wide range of open questions in astrophysics, ranging from the deaths of massive stars to cosmic chemical enrichment and the reionization epoch, and soon, the electromagnetic (EM) counterparts of gravitational wave (GW) sources. Over the past decade, Gemini has played a leading role in all aspects of GRB science through its combination of rapid-response spectroscopy and imaging coupled with deep late-time host galaxy, afterglow, and GRB-SN follow-up. Here, we propose to step forward in our long-standing program of ToO observations, with this proposal focusing on "Rapid ToO" science, observations at t <˜ 1 day. In conjunction with an array of multi-wavelength EM facilities, we focus on three key science topics: (1) Identification, characterization, and exploitation of high-redshift GRBs in order to study the evolving IGM and galaxy populations at these redshifts; (2) Studies of short GRB afterglows and their environments to yield insight into the nature of their progenitor population, for connection with forthcoming GW facilities; and (3) Observation of exceptionally energetic bursts detected by the Fermi-LAT instrument, to test models of burst engines and enable their use as testbeds for quantum gravity effects.

Exploring the Cosmic Dawn, Galaxy Evolution, and Exotic Stellar Deaths with Rapid GRB Follow-Up Observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berger, Edo; Fox, Derek; Chornock, Ryan; Fong, Wen-Fai; Cobb, Bethany; Cenko, Brad; Perley, Daniel; Bloom, Joshua; Prochaska, Jason X.; Morgan, Adam; Cucchiara, Antonino; Levan, Andrew; Tanvir, Nial; Fruchter, Andrew; Lopez, Sebastian; Wiersema, Klaas; Roth, Kathy

2014-02-01

The study of gamma-ray burst (GRB) afterglows, host galaxies, and associated supernovae (SNe) sheds light on a wide range of open questions in astrophysics, ranging from the deaths of massive stars to cosmic chemical enrichment and the reionization epoch, and soon, the electromagnetic (EM) counterparts of gravitational wave (GW) sources. Over the past decade, Gemini has played a leading role in all aspects of GRB science through its combination of rapid-response spectroscopy and imaging coupled with deep late-time host galaxy, afterglow, and GRB-SN follow-up. Here, we propose to step forward in our long-standing program of ToO observations, with this proposal focusing on "Rapid ToO" science, observations at t <˜ 1 day. In conjunction with an array of multi-wavelength EM facilities, we focus on three key science topics: (1) Identification, characterization, and exploitation of high-redshift GRBs in order to study the evolving IGM and galaxy populations at these redshifts; (2) Studies of short GRB afterglows and their environments to yield insight into the nature of their progenitor population, for connection with forthcoming GW facilities; and (3) Observation of exceptionally energetic bursts detected by the Fermi-LAT instrument, to test models of burst engines and enable their use as testbeds for quantum gravity effects.

Lithium aluminosilicate reinforced with carbon nanofiber and alumina for controlled-thermal-expansion materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borrell, Amparo; García-Moreno, Olga; Torrecillas, Ramón; García-Rocha, Victoria; Fernández, Adolfo

2012-02-01

Materials with a very low or tailored thermal expansion have many applications ranging from cookware to the aerospace industry. Among others, lithium aluminosilicates (LAS) are the most studied family with low and negative thermal expansion coefficients. However, LAS materials are electrical insulators and have poor mechanical properties. Nanocomposites using LAS as a matrix are promising in many applications where special properties are achieved by the addition of one or two more phases. The main scope of this work is to study the sinterability of carbon nanofiber (CNFs)/LAS and CNFs/alumina/LAS nanocomposites, and to adjust the ratio among components for obtaining a near-zero or tailored thermal expansion. Spark plasma sintering of nanocomposites, consisting of commercial CNFs and alumina powders and an ad hoc synthesized β-eucryptite phase, is proposed as a solution to improving mechanical and electrical properties compared with the LAS ceramics obtained under the same conditions. X-ray diffraction results on phase compositions and microstructure are discussed together with dilatometry data obtained in a wide temperature range (-150 to 450 °C). The use of a ceramic LAS phase makes it possible to design a nanocomposite with a very low or tailored thermal expansion coefficient and exceptional electrical and mechanical properties.

Severe vision and hearing impairment and successful aging: a multidimensional view.

PubMed

Wahl, Hans-Werner; Heyl, Vera; Drapaniotis, Philipp M; Hörmann, Karl; Jonas, Jost B; Plinkert, Peter K; Rohrschneider, Klaus

2013-12-01

Previous research on psychosocial adaptation of sensory-impaired older adults has focused mainly on only one sensory modality and on a limited number of successful aging outcomes. We considered a broad range of successful aging indicators and compared older adults with vision impairment, hearing impairment, and dual sensory impairments and without sensory impairment. Data came from samples of severely visually impaired (VI; N = 121), severely hearing-impaired (HI; N = 116), dual sensory-impaired (DI; N = 43), and sensory-unimpaired older adults (UI; N = 150). Participants underwent a wide-ranging assessment, covering everyday competence, cognitive functioning, social resources, self-regulation strategies, cognitive and affective well-being, and 4-year survival status (except the DI group). The most pronounced difference among groups was in the area of everyday competence (lowest in VI and DI). Multigroup comparisons in latent space revealed both similar and differing relationship strengths among health, everyday competence, social resources, self-regulation, and overall well-being, depending on sensory status. After 4 years, mortality in VI (29%) and HI (30%) was significantly higher than in UI (20%) at the bivariate level, but not after controlling for confounders in a multivariate analysis. A multidimensional approach to the understanding of sensory impairment and psychosocial adaptation in old age reveals a complex picture of loss and maintenance.

The potential drivers in forming avian biodiversity hotspots in the East Himalaya Mountains of Southwest China.

PubMed

Lei, Fumin; Qu, Yanhua; Song, Gang; Alström, Per; Fjeldså, Jon

2015-03-01

Little has been published to describe or interpret Asian biodiversity hotspots, including those in the East Himalayan Mountains of Southwest China (HMSC), thus making necessary a review of the current knowledge. The Pliocene and Pleistocene geological and glacial histories of the Asian continent differ from those of Europe and North America, suggesting different mechanisms of speciation and extinction, and, thus, different responses to climate changes during the Quaternary glaciations. This short review summarizes potential drivers in shaping and maintaining high species richness and endemism of birds in the HMSC. The geographical location at the junction of different biogeographical realms, the wide range of habitats and climates along the extensive elevational range, the complex topography and the distinct geological history of this region have probably contributed to the evolution of an exceptionally species-rich and endemic-rich, specialized montane avian fauna. The Mountain systems in the HMSC may have provided refugia where species survived during the glacial periods and barriers for preventing species dispersal after the glacial periods. More studies are required to further test this refugia hypothesis by comparing more cold-tolerent and warm-tolerent species. © 2014 International Society of Zoological Sciences, Institute of Zoology/Chinese Academy of Sciences and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd.

Occurrence of fibrates and their metabolites in source and drinking water in Shanghai and Zhejiang, China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ido, Akiko; Hiromori, Youhei; Meng, Liping; Usuda, Haruki; Nagase, Hisamitsu; Yang, Min; Hu, Jianying; Nakanishi, Tsuyoshi

2017-04-01

Fibrates, which are widely used lipidaemic-modulating drugs, are emerging environmental pollutants. However, fibrate concentrations in the environment have not been thoroughly surveyed. Here, we determined concentrations of the most commonly used fibrates and their metabolites in source water and drinking water samples from ten drinking water treatment plants in Shanghai and Zhejiang, China, using solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. All the target compounds were detected in at least some of the source water samples, at concentrations ranging from 0.04 ng/L (fenofibrate) to 1.53 ng/L (gemfibrozil). All the compounds except fenofibrate were also detected in at least some of the drinking water samples, at recoveries ranging from 35.5% to 91.7%, suggesting that these compounds are poorly removed by typical drinking water treatment processes. In a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α agonistic activity assay, the target compounds showed no significant activity at nanogram per litre concentrations; therefore, our results suggest that the fibrate concentrations in drinking water in Shanghai and Zhejiang, China do not significantly affect human health. However, because of the increasing westernization of the Chinese diet, fibrate use may increase, and thus monitoring fibrate concentrations in aquatic environments and drinking water in China will become increasingly important.

Toxic and essential mineral elements content of black tea leaves and their tea infusions consumed in Iran.

PubMed

Salahinejad, Maryam; Aflaki, Fereydoon

2010-04-01

The metal contents of eleven black tea samples, four cultivated in Iran and seven imported, and their tea infusions were determined. Twelve elements consisting toxic metals (Al, As, Pb, Cr, Cd, and Ni) and essential mineral elements (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Ca, and Mg) were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Al, Ca, Mg, and Mn ranged in black tea leaves at mg g(-1) levels, while Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn were at microg g(-1) levels. Analysis of variance showed no statistically significant differences among most elements determined in cultivated and imported black teas in Iran except for Ni and Cu. The extraction efficiency of each element into tea infusions was evaluated. The solubility of measured metals in infusion extracts varied widely and ranged from 0 to 59.3%. Among the studied elements, Cr, Pb, and Cd showed the lowest rates of solubility and Ni had the highest rates of solubility. The amount of toxic metals and essential mineral elements that one may take up through consumption of black tea infusion was estimated. The amount of realizing each element into tea infusions and acceptable daily intake, for safety consumption of black tea, was compared.

Spot the difference: Causal contrasts in scientific diagrams.

PubMed

Scholl, Raphael

2016-12-01

An important function of scientific diagrams is to identify causal relationships. This commonly relies on contrasts that highlight the effects of specific difference-makers. However, causal contrast diagrams are not an obvious and easy to recognize category because they appear in many guises. In this paper, four case studies are presented to examine how causal contrast diagrams appear in a wide range of scientific reports, from experimental to observational and even purely theoretical studies. It is shown that causal contrasts can be expressed in starkly different formats, including photographs of complexly visualized macromolecules as well as line graphs, bar graphs, or plots of state spaces. Despite surface differences, however, there is a measure of conceptual unity among such diagrams. In empirical studies they often serve not only to infer and communicate specific causal claims, but also as evidence for them. The key data of some studies is given nowhere except in the diagrams. Many diagrams show multiple causal contrasts in order to demonstrate both that an effect exists and that the effect is specific - that is, to narrowly circumscribe the phenomenon to be explained. In a large range of scientific reports, causal contrast diagrams reflect the core epistemic claims of the researchers. Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Salmonella prevalence in bovine lymph nodes differs among feedyards.

PubMed

Haneklaus, Ashley N; Harris, Kerri B; Griffin, Davey B; Edrington, Thomas S; Lucia, Lisa M; Savell, Jeffrey W

2012-06-01

Lymphatic tissue, specifically lymph nodes, is commonly incorporated into ground beef products as a component of lean trimmings. Salmonella and other pathogenic bacteria have been identified in bovine lymph nodes, which may impact compliance with the Salmonella performance standards for ground beef established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Although Salmonella prevalence has been examined among lymph nodes between animals, no data are currently available regarding feedyard origin of the cattle and Salmonella prevalence. Bovine lymph nodes (279 superficial cervical plus 28 iliofemoral = 307) were collected from beef carcasses at a commercial beef harvest and processing plant over a 3-month period and examined for the prevalence of Salmonella. Cattle processed were from seven feedyards (A through G). Salmonella prevalence was exceptionally low (0% of samples were positive ) in cattle from feedyard A and high (88.2%) in cattle from feedyard B. Prevalence in the remaining feedyards ranged widely: 40.0% in feedyard C, 4.0% in feedyard D, 24.0% in feedyard E, 42.9% in feedyard F, and 40.0% in feedyard G. These data indicate the range of differences in Salmonella prevalence among feedyards. Such information may be useful for developing interventions to reduce or eliminate Salmonella from bovine lymph nodes, which would assist in the reduction of Salmonella in ground beef.

Micro/Nano Fabricated Solid-State Thermoelectric Generator Devices for Integrated High Voltage Power Sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fleurial, J.-P.; Ryan, M. A.; Snyder, G. J.; Huang, C.-K.; Whitacre, J. F.; Patel, J.; Lim, J.; Borshchevsky, A.

2002-01-01

Deep space missions have a strong need for compact, high power density, reliable and long life electrical power generation and storage under extreme temperature conditions. Except for electrochemical batteries and solar cells, there are currently no available miniaturized power sources. Conventional power generators devices become inefficient in extreme environments (such as encountered in Mars, Venus or outer planet missions) and rechargeable energy storage devices can only be operated in a narrow temperature range thereby limiting mission duration. The planned development of much smaller spacecrafts incorporating a variety of micro/nanodevices and miniature vehicles will require novel, reliable power technologies. It is also expected that such micro power sources could have a wide range of terrestrial applications, in particular when the limited lifetime and environmental limitations of batteries are key factors. Advanced solid-state thermoelectric combined with radioisotope or waste heat sources and low profile energy storage devices are ideally suited for these applications. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory has been actively pursuing the development of thermoelectric micro/nanodevices that can be fabricated using a combination of electrochemical deposition and integrated circuit processing techniques. Some of the technical challenges associated with these micro/nanodevice concepts, their expected level of performance and experimental fabrication and testing results to date are presented and discussed.

Glasses having a low non-linear refractive index for laser applications

DOEpatents

Faulstich, Marga; Jahn, Walter; Krolla, Georg; Neuroth, Norbert

1980-01-01

Glass composition ranges are described which permit the introduction of laser activators into fluorphosphate glass with exceptionally high fluorine content while forming glasses of high crystallization stability and permitting the realization of large melt volumes. The high fluorine content imparts to the glasses an exceptionally low nonlinear refractive index n.sub.2 down to O,4 .times.10.sup.-13 esu.

Effect of Different Parts (Leaf, Stem and Stalk) and Seasons (Summer and Winter) on the Chemical Compositions and Antioxidant Activity of Moringa oleifera

PubMed Central

Shih, Ming-Chih; Chang, Cheng-Ming; Kang, Sue-Ming; Tsai, Min-Lang

2011-01-01

Moringa oleifera, Lam. (Moringaceae) is grown world-wide in the tropics and sub-tropics of Asia and Africa and contains abundant various nutrients. This study describes the effect of different parts (leaf, stem and stalk) and seasons (summer and winter) on the chemical compositions and antioxidant activity of M. oleifera grown in Taiwan. The results showed that the winter samples of Moringa had higher ash (except the stalk part), calcium and phenolic compounds (except the leaf part) and stronger antioxidative activity than summer samples. The methanolic extract of Moringa showed strong scavenging effect of DPPH radicals and reducing power. The trend of antioxidative activity as a function of the part of Moringa was: leaf > stem > stalk for samples from both seasons investigated. The Moringa extract showed strong hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity and high Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) activity except the stalk part. PMID:22016645

VARIABILITY AND CHARACTER ASSOCIATION IN ROSE COLOURED LEADWORT (PLUMBAGO ROSEA Linn.)

PubMed Central

Kurian, Alice; Anitha, C.A.; Nybe, E.V.

2001-01-01

Forty five plumbago rosea accessions collected from different parts of Kerala state were evaluated for variability in morphological and yield related characters and plumbagin content. Highly significant variation was evident for all the characters studied except leaf size indicating wide variability in the accessions. Accessions PR 25 and PR 31 appear to be promising with respect to root yield and high plumbagin content. Character association revelated significant and positive correlation of all the characters except leaf size with yield. Hence, selection of high yielding types could easily be done based on visual characters expressing more vegetative growth but with reduced leaf size. PMID:22557037

A Short-Range Distance Sensor with Exceptional Linearity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Simmons, Steven; Youngquist, Robert

2013-01-01

A sensor has been demonstrated that can measure distance over a total range of about 300 microns to an accuracy of about 0.1 nm (resolution of about 0.01 nm). This represents an exceptionally large dynamic range of operation - over 1,000,000. The sensor is optical in nature, and requires the attachment of a mirror to the object whose distance is being measured. This work resulted from actively developing a white light interferometric system to be used to measure the depths of defects in the Space Shuttle Orbiter windows. The concept was then applied to measuring distance. The concept later expanded to include spectrometer calibration. In summary, broadband (i.e., white) light is launched into a Michelson interferometer, one mirror of which is fixed and one of which is attached to the object whose distance is to be measured. The light emerging from the interferometer has traveled one of two distances: either the distance to the fixed mirror and back, or the distance to the moving mirror and back. These two light beams mix and produce an interference pattern where some wavelengths interfere constructively and some destructively. Sending this light into a spectrometer allows this interference pattern to be analyzed, yielding the net distance difference between the two paths. The unique feature of this distance sensor is its ability to measure accurately distance over a dynamic range of more than one million, the ratio of its range (about 300 microns) to its accuracy (about 0.1 nanometer). Such a large linear operating range is rare and arises here because both amplitude and phase-matching algorithms contribute to the performance. The sensor is limited by the need to attach a mirror of some kind to the object being tracked, and by the fairly small total range, but the exceptional dynamic range should make it of interest.

Efficient Eucalypt Cell Wall Deconstruction and Conversion for Sustainable Lignocellulosic Biofuels.

PubMed

Healey, Adam L; Lee, David J; Furtado, Agnelo; Simmons, Blake A; Henry, Robert J

2015-01-01

In order to meet the world's growing energy demand and reduce the impact of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from fossil fuel combustion, renewable plant-based feedstocks for biofuel production must be considered. The first-generation biofuels, derived from starches of edible feedstocks, such as corn, create competition between food and fuel resources, both for the crop itself and the land on which it is grown. As such, biofuel synthesized from non-edible plant biomass (lignocellulose) generated on marginal agricultural land will help to alleviate this competition. Eucalypts, the broadly defined taxa encompassing over 900 species of Eucalyptus, Corymbia, and Angophora are the most widely planted hardwood tree in the world, harvested mainly for timber, pulp and paper, and biomaterial products. More recently, due to their exceptional growth rate and amenability to grow under a wide range of environmental conditions, eucalypts are a leading option for the development of a sustainable lignocellulosic biofuels. However, efficient conversion of woody biomass into fermentable monomeric sugars is largely dependent on pretreatment of the cell wall, whose formation and complexity lend itself toward natural recalcitrance against its efficient deconstruction. A greater understanding of this complexity within the context of various pretreatments will allow the design of new and effective deconstruction processes for bioenergy production. In this review, we present the various pretreatment options for eucalypts, including research into understanding structure and formation of the eucalypt cell wall.

Biodegradation of plastics: current scenario and future prospects for environmental safety.

PubMed

Ahmed, Temoor; Shahid, Muhammad; Azeem, Farrukh; Rasul, Ijaz; Shah, Asad Ali; Noman, Muhammad; Hameed, Amir; Manzoor, Natasha; Manzoor, Irfan; Muhammad, Sher

2018-03-01

Plastic is a general term used for a wide range of high molecular weight organic polymers obtained mostly from the various hydrocarbon and petroleum derivatives. There is an ever-increasing trend towards the production and consumption of plastics due to their extensive industrial and domestic applications. However, a wide spectrum of these polymers is non-biodegradable with few exceptions. The extensive use of plastics, lack of waste management, and casual community behavior towards their proper disposal pose a significant threat to the environment. This has raised growing concerns among various stakeholders to devise policies and innovative strategies for plastic waste management, use of biodegradable polymers especially in packaging, and educating people for their proper disposal. Current polymer degradation strategies rely on chemical, thermal, photo, and biological procedures. In the presence of proper waste management strategies coupled with industrially controlled biodegradation facilities, the use of biodegradable plastics for some applications such as packaging or health industry is a promising and attractive option for economic, environmental, and health benefits. This review highlights the classification of plastics with special emphasis on biodegradable plastics and their rational use, the identified mechanisms of plastic biodegradation, the microorganisms involved in biodegradation, and the current insights into the research on biodegradable plastics. The review has also identified the research gaps in plastic biodegradation followed by future research directions.

Evolution and dispersal of encephalitic flaviviruses.

PubMed

Gould, E A; Moss, S R; Turner, S L

2004-01-01

There are two major groups of encephalitic flaviviruses, those that infect and are transmitted by ticks, particularly Ixodes spp. and those that infect and are transmitted by mosquitoes, particularly Culex spp. The tick-borne encephalitic flaviviruses exhibit evolutionary characteristics that are largely determined by the protracted life cycle of the tick, its habitat and the prevailing climatic conditions. These viruses appear to have evolved gradually from non-encephalitic viruses that radiated eastwards and north eastwards out of Africa into Asia and the southern islands, then northwards to far east Asia and finally westwards across Eurasia to western Europe, during the past two to four thousand years. Only one of these recognized species has found its way to North America viz. Powassan virus. In contrast, the evolution of the recognized mosquito-borne encephalitic flaviviruses reflects the wide range of mosquito species that they infect. They emerged out of Africa relatively recently and at roughly the same time, i.e., probably during the past few centuries. Although many of these mosquito-borne viruses are geographically widely dispersed, with the exception of West Nile virus, they are found either in the Old World or the New World, never in both, and we are now beginning to understand the reasons. Phylogenetic trees will be used here to describe the evolution, epidemiology and dispersal characteristics of these viruses, taking into account the importance of virus persistence and recombination.

Breeding biology of an afrotropical forest understory bird community in northeastern Tanzania

USGS Publications Warehouse

Mkongewa, Victor J.; Newmark, William D.; Stanley, Thomas R.

2013-01-01

Many aspects of the breeding biology of Afrotropical forest birds are poorly known. Here we provide a description based on the monitoring of 1461 active nests over eight breeding seasons about one or more aspects of the breeding biology for 28 coexisting understory bird species on the Amani Plateau in the East Usambara Mountains, Tanzania. Mean nest height and mean distance of nest from forest edge varied widely among species with most species constructing nests across a broad vertical and forest edge to interior gradient. However, there were important exceptions with all sunbird species and several dove and waxbill species constructing nests in close proximity to the forest edge. For 17 common species for which we recorded two or more active nests, mean clutch size across species was 1.9 eggs per clutch, the lowest site-specific mean clutch size yet reported for a tropical forest bird community. For nine bird species, a subset of the 17 common species, length of breeding season, defined as the difference between the earliest and latest recorded incubation onset date, ranged from 88–139 days. Most of these nine species displayed a unimodal distribution in incubation onset dates across a breeding season which extended from the end of August through middle January. In summary, a wide variation exists in most aspects of the breeding biology within an understory forest bird community in the East Usambara Mountains.

Efficient Eucalypt Cell Wall Deconstruction and Conversion for Sustainable Lignocellulosic Biofuels

PubMed Central

Healey, Adam L.; Lee, David J.; Furtado, Agnelo; Simmons, Blake A.; Henry, Robert J.

2015-01-01

In order to meet the world’s growing energy demand and reduce the impact of greenhouse gas emissions resulting from fossil fuel combustion, renewable plant-based feedstocks for biofuel production must be considered. The first-generation biofuels, derived from starches of edible feedstocks, such as corn, create competition between food and fuel resources, both for the crop itself and the land on which it is grown. As such, biofuel synthesized from non-edible plant biomass (lignocellulose) generated on marginal agricultural land will help to alleviate this competition. Eucalypts, the broadly defined taxa encompassing over 900 species of Eucalyptus, Corymbia, and Angophora are the most widely planted hardwood tree in the world, harvested mainly for timber, pulp and paper, and biomaterial products. More recently, due to their exceptional growth rate and amenability to grow under a wide range of environmental conditions, eucalypts are a leading option for the development of a sustainable lignocellulosic biofuels. However, efficient conversion of woody biomass into fermentable monomeric sugars is largely dependent on pretreatment of the cell wall, whose formation and complexity lend itself toward natural recalcitrance against its efficient deconstruction. A greater understanding of this complexity within the context of various pretreatments will allow the design of new and effective deconstruction processes for bioenergy production. In this review, we present the various pretreatment options for eucalypts, including research into understanding structure and formation of the eucalypt cell wall. PMID:26636077

BASIC PENTACYSTEINE Proteins Mediate MADS Domain Complex Binding to the DNA for Tissue-Specific Expression of Target Genes in Arabidopsis[W

PubMed Central

Simonini, Sara; Roig-Villanova, Irma; Gregis, Veronica; Colombo, Bilitis; Colombo, Lucia; Kater, Martin M.

2012-01-01

BASIC PENTACYSTEINE (BPC) transcription factors have been identified in a large variety of plant species. In Arabidopsis thaliana there are seven BPC genes, which, except for BPC5, are expressed ubiquitously. BPC genes are functionally redundant in a wide range of developmental processes. Recently, we reported that BPC1 binds to guanine and adenine (GA)–rich consensus sequences in the SEEDSTICK (STK) promoter in vitro and induces conformational changes. Here we show by chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments that in vivo BPCs also bind to the consensus boxes, and when these were mutated, expression from the STK promoter was derepressed, resulting in ectopic expression in the inflorescence. We also reveal that SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (SVP) is a direct regulator of STK. SVP is a floral meristem identity gene belonging to the MADS box gene family. The SVP-APETALA1 (AP1) dimer recruits the SEUSS (SEU)-LEUNIG (LUG) transcriptional cosuppressor to repress floral homeotic gene expression in the floral meristem. Interestingly, we found that GA consensus sequences in the STK promoter to which BPCs bind are essential for recruitment of the corepressor complex to this promoter. Our data suggest that we have identified a new regulatory mechanism controlling plant gene expression that is probably generally used, when considering BPCs’ wide expression profile and the frequent presence of consensus binding sites in plant promoters. PMID:23054472

Enormous Li Enhancement Preceding Red Giant Phases in Low-mass Stars in the Milky Way Halo

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, Haining; Aoki, Wako; Matsuno, Tadafumi; Bharat Kumar, Yerra; Shi, Jianrong; Suda, Takuma; Zhao, Gang

2018-01-01

Li abundances in the bulk of low-mass metal-poor stars are well reproduced by stellar evolution models adopting a constant initial abundance. However, a small number of stars have exceptionally high Li abundances, for which no convincing models have been established. We report on the discovery of 12 very metal-poor stars that have large excesses of Li, including an object having more than 100 times higher Li abundance than the values found in usual objects, which is the largest excess in metal-poor stars known to date. The sample is distributed over a wide range of evolutionary stages, including five unevolved stars, showing no clear abundance anomaly in other elements. The results indicate the existence of an efficient process to enrich Li in a small fraction of low-mass stars at the main-sequence or subgiant phase. The wide distribution of Li-rich stars along the red giant branch could be explained by the dilution of surface Li by mixing that occurs when the stars evolve into red giants. Our study narrows down the problem to be solved in order to understand the origins of Li excess found in low-mass stars, suggesting the presence of an unknown process that affects the surface abundances preceding red giant phases. This work is based on data collected at the Subaru Telescope, which is operated by the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan.

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

Tougaard, Sven

The author reports a systematic study of the range of validity of a previously developed algorithm for automated x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis, which takes into account the variation in both peak intensity and the intensity in the background of inelastically scattered electrons. This test was done by first simulating spectra for the Au4d peak with gold atoms distributed in the form of a wide range of nanostructures, which includes overlayers with varying thickness, a 5 A layer of atoms buried at varying depths and a substrate covered with an overlayer of varying thickness. Next, the algorithm was applied to analyzemore » these spectra. The algorithm determines the number of atoms within the outermost 3 {lambda} of the surface. This amount of substance is denoted AOS{sub 3{lambda}} (where {lambda} is the electron inelastic mean free path). In general the determined AOS{sub 3{lambda}} is found to be accurate to within {approx}10-20% depending on the depth distribution of the atoms. The algorithm also determines a characteristic length L, which was found to give unambiguous information on the depth distribution of the atoms for practically all studied cases. A set of rules for this parameter, which relates the value of L to the depths where the atoms are distributed, was tested, and these rules were found to be generally valid with only a few exceptions. The results were found to be rather independent of the spectral energy range (from 20 to 40 eV below the peak energy) used in the analysis.« less

Extensive range overlap between heliconiine sister species: evidence for sympatric speciation in butterflies?

PubMed

Rosser, Neil; Kozak, Krzysztof M; Phillimore, Albert B; Mallet, James

2015-06-30

Sympatric speciation is today generally viewed as plausible, and some well-supported examples exist, but its relative contribution to biodiversity remains to be established. We here quantify geographic overlap of sister species of heliconiine butterflies, and use age-range correlations and spatial simulations of the geography of speciation to infer the frequency of sympatric speciation. We also test whether shifts in mimetic wing colour pattern, host plant use and climate niche play a role in speciation, and whether such shifts are associated with sympatry. Approximately a third of all heliconiine sister species pairs exhibit near complete range overlap, and analyses of the observed patterns of range overlap suggest that sympatric speciation contributes 32%-95% of speciation events. Müllerian mimicry colour patterns and host plant choice are highly labile traits that seem to be associated with speciation, but we find no association between shifts in these traits and range overlap. In contrast, climatic niches of sister species are more conserved. Unlike birds and mammals, sister species of heliconiines are often sympatric and our inferences using the most recent comparative methods suggest that sympatric speciation is common. However, if sister species spread rapidly into sympatry (e.g. due to their similar climatic niches), then assumptions underlying our methods would be violated. Furthermore, although we find some evidence for the role of ecology in speciation, ecological shifts did not show the associations with range overlap expected under sympatric speciation. We delimit species of heliconiines in three different ways, based on "strict and " "relaxed" biological species concepts (BSC), as well as on a surrogate for the widely-used "diagnostic" version of the phylogenetic species concept (PSC). We show that one reason why more sympatric speciation is inferred in heliconiines than in birds may be due to a different culture of species delimitation in the two groups. To establish whether heliconiines are exceptional will require biogeographic comparative studies for a wider range of animal taxa including many more invertebrates.

The use of new facility by means internal balance with sting support for wide range Angle of Attack aircraft

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Subagyo; Daryanto, Yanto; Risnawan, Novan

2018-04-01

The development of facilities for the testing of wide range angle of attack aircraft in the wind tunnel at subsonic regime has done and implemented. Development required to meet the test at an angle of attack from -20 ° to 40 °. Testing the wide range angle of attack aircraft with a wide variation of the angle of attack become important needs. This can be done simply by using the sting support-equipped by internal balance to measure the forces and moments component aerodynamics. The results of development and use on the wide range angle of attack aircraft testing are aerodynamics characteristics in the form of the coefficient three components forces and the three components of the moment. A series of test aircraft was successfully carried out and the results are shown in the form of graphs of characteristic of aerodynamics at wind speed 70 m/s.

Utilisation of joint movement range in arboreal primates compared with human subjects: an evolutionary frame for primary osteoarthritis.

PubMed Central

Alexander, C J

1994-01-01

OBJECTIVE--To determine whether an arboreal lifestyle required full use of movement ranges underutilised in nine joint groups in humans, because under-utilisation of available movement range may be associated with susceptibility to primary osteoarthritis. METHODS--Utilisation of the nine joint groups was studied in two species of primate exercising in a simulated arboreal environment, using 'focal animal' observation techniques supplemented by telephoto photography and by review of archival material from other sources. Fifteen apes were observed over a total observation period of 20.2 man-hours and 152 films were analysed for utilisation of movement range. RESULTS--With one exception, all the movement ranges reported to be under-utilised in humans were fully utilised by the apes in climbing activities. The exception, metacarpophalangeal extension, was an essential component of the chimpanzee ground progression mode of knuckle walking. CONCLUSIONS--The underused movement range in several human joints is explicable as residual capacity from a semiarboreal lifestyle. If the correlation with primary osteoarthritis is confirmed, it suggests that the disease may reflect a disparity between inherited capacity and current need. The significance of the result lies in its implication that primary osteoarthritis may be preventable. Images PMID:7826133

Utilisation of joint movement range in arboreal primates compared with human subjects: an evolutionary frame for primary osteoarthritis.

PubMed

Alexander, C J

1994-11-01

To determine whether an arboreal lifestyle required full use of movement ranges underutilised in nine joint groups in humans, because under-utilisation of available movement range may be associated with susceptibility to primary osteoarthritis. Utilisation of the nine joint groups was studied in two species of primate exercising in a simulated arboreal environment, using 'focal animal' observation techniques supplemented by telephoto photography and by review of archival material from other sources. Fifteen apes were observed over a total observation period of 20.2 man-hours and 152 films were analysed for utilisation of movement range. With one exception, all the movement ranges reported to be under-utilised in humans were fully utilised by the apes in climbing activities. The exception, metacarpophalangeal extension, was an essential component of the chimpanzee ground progression mode of knuckle walking. The underused movement range in several human joints is explicable as residual capacity from a semiarboreal lifestyle. If the correlation with primary osteoarthritis is confirmed, it suggests that the disease may reflect a disparity between inherited capacity and current need. The significance of the result lies in its implication that primary osteoarthritis may be preventable.

Nuclear DNA microsatellites reveal genetic variation but a lack of phylogeographical structure in an endangered species, Fraxinus mandshurica, across North-east China.

PubMed

Hu, Li-Jiang; Uchiyama, Kentaro; Shen, Hai-Long; Saito, Yoko; Tsuda, Yoshiaki; Ide, Yuji

2008-08-01

The widely accepted paradigm that the modern genetic structure of plant species in the northern hemisphere has been largely determined by recolonization from refugia after the last glacial maximum fails to explain the presence of cold-tolerant species at intermediate latitudes. Another generally accepted paradigm is that mountain ridges act as important barriers causing genetic isolation of species, but this too has been challenged in recent studies. The aims of the work reported here were to determine the genetic diversity and distribution patterns of extant natural populations of an endangered cool temperate species, Faxinus mandshurica, and to examine whether these two paradigms are appropriate when applied to this species over a wide geographical scale. 1435 adult individuals were sampled from 30 natural populations across the main and central range of the species, covering major mountain ranges across North-east China (NEC). Genetic variation was estimated based on nine polymorphic nuclear microsatellite loci. Phylogeographical analyses were employed using various approaches, including Bayesian clustering, spatial analysis of molecular variance, Monmonier's algorithm, neighbor-joining trees, principal co-ordinate analysis and isolation by distance. Genetic diversity within populations was relatively high, and no significant recent bottlenecks were detected in any of the populations. A significant negative correlation between intra-population genetic diversity and latitude was identified. In contrast, genetic differentiation among all the populations examined was extremely low and no clear geographic genetic structure was identified, with the exception of one distinct population. The modern genetic structure in this species can be explained by extensive gene flow, an absence of mountains acting as barriers, and the presence of a wide refuge across NEC rather than multiple small refugia. Intra-population genetic variation along latitudes is probably associated with the systematically northward shifts of forest biomes in eastern China during the mid-Holocene. To determine important genetic patterns and identify resources for conservation, however, it will be necessary to examine differentially inherited genetic markers exposed to selection pressures (e.g. chloroplast DNA) and to investigate different generations.

Genome-Wide Association Studies of a Broad Spectrum of Antisocial Behavior.

PubMed

Tielbeek, Jorim J; Johansson, Ada; Polderman, Tinca J C; Rautiainen, Marja-Riitta; Jansen, Philip; Taylor, Michelle; Tong, Xiaoran; Lu, Qing; Burt, Alexandra S; Tiemeier, Henning; Viding, Essi; Plomin, Robert; Martin, Nicholas G; Heath, Andrew C; Madden, Pamela A F; Montgomery, Grant; Beaver, Kevin M; Waldman, Irwin; Gelernter, Joel; Kranzler, Henry R; Farrer, Lindsay A; Perry, John R B; Munafò, Marcus; LoParo, Devon; Paunio, Tiina; Tiihonen, Jari; Mous, Sabine E; Pappa, Irene; de Leeuw, Christiaan; Watanabe, Kyoko; Hammerschlag, Anke R; Salvatore, Jessica E; Aliev, Fazil; Bigdeli, Tim B; Dick, Danielle; Faraone, Stephen V; Popma, Arne; Medland, Sarah E; Posthuma, Danielle

2017-12-01

Antisocial behavior (ASB) places a large burden on perpetrators, survivors, and society. Twin studies indicate that half of the variation in this trait is genetic. Specific causal genetic variants have, however, not been identified. To estimate the single-nucleotide polymorphism-based heritability of ASB; to identify novel genetic risk variants, genes, or biological pathways; to test for pleiotropic associations with other psychiatric traits; and to reevaluate the candidate gene era data through the Broad Antisocial Behavior Consortium. Genome-wide association data from 5 large population-based cohorts and 3 target samples with genome-wide genotype and ASB data were used for meta-analysis from March 1, 2014, to May 1, 2016. All data sets used quantitative phenotypes, except for the Finnish Crime Study, which applied a case-control design (370 patients and 5850 control individuals). This study adopted relatively broad inclusion criteria to achieve a quantitative measure of ASB derived from multiple measures, maximizing the sample size over different age ranges. The discovery samples comprised 16 400 individuals, whereas the target samples consisted of 9381 individuals (all individuals were of European descent), including child and adult samples (mean age range, 6.7-56.1 years). Three promising loci with sex-discordant associations were found (8535 female individuals, chromosome 1: rs2764450, chromosome 11: rs11215217; 7772 male individuals, chromosome X, rs41456347). Polygenic risk score analyses showed prognostication of antisocial phenotypes in an independent Finnish Crime Study (2536 male individuals and 3684 female individuals) and shared genetic origin with conduct problems in a population-based sample (394 male individuals and 431 female individuals) but not with conduct disorder in a substance-dependent sample (950 male individuals and 1386 female individuals) (R2 = 0.0017 in the most optimal model, P = 0.03). Significant inverse genetic correlation of ASB with educational attainment (r = -0.52, P = .005) was detected. The Broad Antisocial Behavior Consortium entails the largest collaboration to date on the genetic architecture of ASB, and the first results suggest that ASB may be highly polygenic and has potential heterogeneous genetic effects across sex.

Intense Particulate Pollution Events Observed with Lidar over the Paris Megalopolis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chazette, Patrick; Royer, Philippe

2016-06-01

The great particulate pollution event that affected the Paris Megalopolis in March 2014 was due to long-range transport from the northern-northeastern Europe. Although this phenomenon has appeared as exceptional in the media, this is not an exception and similar events have already been observed by lidar measurements. Here we will briefly describe and illustrate the origin of this intense pollution obviously harmful to health.

Reconnaissance of the quality of surface water in the San Rafael River basin, Utah

USGS Publications Warehouse

Mundorff, J.C.; Thompson, Kendall R.

1982-01-01

The water-quality reconnaissance of the San Rafael River basin, Utah, encompassed an area of about 2,300 square miles (5,960 square kilometers). Data were obtained by the U.S. Geological Survey one or more times at 116 sites from June 1977 to September 1978. At 19 other sites visited during the same period, the streams were dry. Precipitation and stream discharge were significantly less than normal during 1977 and ranged from less than to more than normal during 1978. Exposed rocks in the San Rafael River basin range in age from Permian to Holocene. The Carmel Formation of Jurassic age and various members of the Mancos Shale of Cretaceous age are major contributors of dissolved solids to streams in the basin. There are eight major reservoirs having a total usable capacity of 115, 000 acre-feet (142 cubic hectometers); seven are mainly for irrigation supply; one, having a usable capacity of 30,530 acre-feet (38 cubic hectometers), is for power plant water supply. From about April to November, major diversions from Huntington, Cottonwood, and Ferron Creeks nearly deplete the flow downstream; during such periods, downstream flow in these streams and in the San Rafael River is mainly irrigation-return flow and some ground-water seepage. The water at the points of major diversion on Huntington, Cottonwood, and Ferron Creeks is of excellent quality for irrigation; salinity hazard is low to medium, and sodium hazard is low. Dissolved-solids concentrations are less than 500 milligrams per liter. The water at the mouths of Huntington, Cottonwood, and Ferron Creeks has markedly larger dissolved-solids concentrations than does the water upstream from major diversions. The changes in the chemical quality occur in stream reaches that cross a belt of land 10 to 15 miles (16 to 24 kilometers) wide where the Mancos Shale is widely exposed. This also is the area where nearly all the intensive irrigation in the San Rafael River basin is practiced. There are no perennial tributaries to the San Rafael River downstream from Ferron Creek. Except during infrequent short periods of runoff from cloudbursts or snowmelt, the flow in the San Rafael River is composed of the flow that reaches the mouths of Huntington, Cottonwood, and Ferron Creeks. The quality of water in the mainstem of the San Rafael River is largely determined by the major consumptive use of water for irrigation in upstream areas and by the poor quality of irrigation-return flow. During the data-collection periods for this study, dissolved-solids concentrations in the San Rafael River were more than 2,000 milligrams per liter except during snowmelt runoff in June 1978 and during a major flood in August 1977. The concentrations of trace elements, with the exception of strontium, were relatively small; strontium concentrations exceeded 1,500 micrograms per liter at seven sites. Most of the suspended-sediment discharge of the San Rafael River probably occurs during a few days each year and results mainly from cloudburst runoff.

Can States Take Over and Turn Around School Districts? Evidence from Lawrence, Massachusetts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Schueler, Beth E.; Goodman, Joshua S.; Deming, David J.

2017-01-01

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires states to identify and turn around struggling schools, with federal school improvement money required to fund evidence-based policies. Most research on turnarounds has focused on individual schools, whereas studies of district-wide turnarounds have come from relatively exceptional settings and…

The State of the Empirical Research Literature on Stakeholder Involvement in Program Evaluation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Brandon, Paul R.; Fukunaga, Landry L.

2014-01-01

Evaluators widely agree that stakeholder involvement is a central aspect of effective program evaluation. With the exception of articles on collaborative evaluation approaches, however, a systematic review of the breadth and depth of the literature on stakeholder involvement has not been published. In this study, we examine peer-reviewed empirical…

NAICS Impact on Small Business Set-Asides

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-12-01

APPENDIX C. AIRFIELD DEMOLITION SOLICITATION ...............................83 APPENDIX D. HAZARDOUS AND TOXIC WASTE REMOVAL SOLICITATION...Suitability for Transfer GPE government-wide point of entry GSA General Services Administration HTW hazardous and toxic waste HUBZone...Oilseed (except Soybean) Farming $0.75 111130 Dry Pea and Bean Farming $0.75 Subsector 112 – Animal Production 112111 Beef Cattle

Recommender System for Learning SQL Using Hints

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lavbic, Dejan; Matek, Tadej; Zrnec, Aljaž

2017-01-01

Today's software industry requires individuals who are proficient in as many programming languages as possible. Structured query language (SQL), as an adopted standard, is no exception, as it is the most widely used query language to retrieve and manipulate data. However, the process of learning SQL turns out to be challenging. The need for a…

18 CFR 385.2003 - Specifications (Rule 2003).

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... governing timeliness, a document filed via the Internet will be deemed to have been received by the... other word or data processing equipment; (2) Have double-spaced lines with left margins not less than 11/2 inch wide, except that any tariff or rate filing may be single-spaced; (3) Have indented and...

Assessment of genetic differentiation and genetic assignment of commercial rainbow trout strains using a SNP panel

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) is the most widely cultured cold freshwater fish in the world, with production on every continent except Antarctica. Troutlodge, Inc., one of the largest commercial rainbow trout egg producers in the world, has developed four strains (February, May, August and Nov...

Language Helps Children Succeed on a Classic Analogy Task

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Christie, Stella; Gentner, Dedre

2014-01-01

Adult humans show exceptional relational ability relative to other species. In this research, we trace the development of this ability in young children. We used a task widely used in comparative research--the relational match-to-sample task, which requires participants to notice and match the identity relation: for example, AA should match BB…

Wordbank: An Open Repository for Developmental Vocabulary Data

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Frank, Michael C.; Braginsky, Mika; Yurovsky, Daniel; Marchman, Virginia A.

2017-01-01

The MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories (CDIs) are a widely used family of parent-report instruments for easy and inexpensive data-gathering about early language acquisition. CDI data have been used to explore a variety of theoretically important topics, but, with few exceptions, researchers have had to rely on data collected in…

The Exceptional Child in the Regular Classroom: An Educator's Guide.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nielsen, Lee Brattland

This guidebook is intended to provide teachers with basic information on special education legislation and definitions of a wide variety of specific physical and mental disabilities. The first chapter focuses on what educators need to know about Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.…

Distribution and habitat use of Mexican Spotted Owls in Arizona

Treesearch

Joseph L. Ganey; Russell P. Balda

1989-01-01

Distribution and habitat use of Mexican Spotted Owls (Strix occidentalis lucida) in Arizona were studied from 1984-1988. Owls were widely but patchily distributed throughout the state except for the arid southwestern portion. Distribution of the owl corresponded with distribution of forested mountains and canyonlands within the state. Owls occurred...

Minimum Competency Testing In the Dallas Independent School District.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Montgomery, Patricia A.; Arrasmith, Dean G.

The development and implementation of the Dallas Independent School District's Basic Objectives Assessment Test (BOAT) are described. Beginning in 1979, this minimum competency test was administered system-wide to all students in grades 8-12 (except for those enrolled as special education students), and beginning in 1983 it will be used in…

Changes in volatile and non-volatile flavor chemicals of "Valencia" orange juice over the harvest seasons

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Florida ‘Valencia’ oranges have a wide harvest window covering four months after first reaching the commercial maturity. However, the influence of harvest time on juice flavor chemicals is not well documented with the exception of sugars and acids. Therefore, we investigated the major flavor chemica...

Polynomial filter estimation of range and range rate for terminal rendezvous

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Philips, R.

1970-01-01

A study was made of a polynomial filter for computing range rate information from CSM VHF range data. The filter's performance during the terminal phase of the rendezvous is discussed. Two modifications of the filter were also made and tested. A manual terminal rendezvous was simulated and desired accuracies were achieved for vehicles on an intercept trajectory, except for short periods following each braking maneuver when the estimated range rate was initially in error by the magnitude of the burn.

32 CFR 552.103 - Requirements for carrying and use.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... by the most direct route to approved range or to the location where the weapon is to be sold or...., projectiles physically separated from the firearms, not just removed from the chamber), except when actually... on approved firing range when properly authorized). (4) Persons not affiliated with DOD or this...

32 CFR 552.103 - Requirements for carrying and use.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... by the most direct route to approved range or to the location where the weapon is to be sold or...., projectiles physically separated from the firearms, not just removed from the chamber), except when actually... on approved firing range when properly authorized). (4) Persons not affiliated with DOD or this...

32 CFR 552.103 - Requirements for carrying and use.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... by the most direct route to approved range or to the location where the weapon is to be sold or...., projectiles physically separated from the firearms, not just removed from the chamber), except when actually... on approved firing range when properly authorized). (4) Persons not affiliated with DOD or this...

32 CFR 552.103 - Requirements for carrying and use.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... by the most direct route to approved range or to the location where the weapon is to be sold or...., projectiles physically separated from the firearms, not just removed from the chamber), except when actually... on approved firing range when properly authorized). (4) Persons not affiliated with DOD or this...

21 CFR 145.170 - Canned peaches.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... 227 grams (8 ounces) of finished canned peaches. (v) Peach kernels, except in the cases of peeled... pale yellow to rich red orange. (b) White—the varietal types in which the predominant color ranges from white to yellow-white. (c) Red—the varietal types in which the predominant color ranges from pale yellow...

21 CFR 145.170 - Canned peaches.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... 227 grams (8 ounces) of finished canned peaches. (v) Peach kernels, except in the cases of peeled... pale yellow to rich red orange. (b) White—the varietal types in which the predominant color ranges from white to yellow-white. (c) Red—the varietal types in which the predominant color ranges from pale yellow...

21 CFR 145.170 - Canned peaches.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... 227 grams (8 ounces) of finished canned peaches. (v) Peach kernels, except in the cases of peeled... pale yellow to rich red orange. (b) White—the varietal types in which the predominant color ranges from white to yellow-white. (c) Red—the varietal types in which the predominant color ranges from pale yellow...

21 CFR 145.170 - Canned peaches.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... 227 grams (8 ounces) of finished canned peaches. (v) Peach kernels, except in the cases of peeled... pale yellow to rich red orange. (b) White—the varietal types in which the predominant color ranges from white to yellow-white. (c) Red—the varietal types in which the predominant color ranges from pale yellow...

Analysis of ancient-river systems by 3D seismic time-slice technique: A case study in northeast Malay Basin, offshore Terengganu, Malaysia

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

Sulaiman, Noorzamzarina; Hamzah, Umar; Samsudin, Abdul Rahim

2014-09-03

Fluvial sandstones constitute one of the major clastic petroleum reservoir types in many sedimentary basins around the world. This study is based on the analysis of high-resolution, shallow (seabed to 500 m depth) 3D seismic data which generated three-dimensional (3D) time slices that provide exceptional imaging of the geometry, dimension and temporal and spatial distribution of fluvial channels. The study area is in the northeast of Malay Basin about 280 km to the east of Terengganu offshore. The Malay Basin comprises a thick (> 8 km), rift to post-rift Oligo-Miocene to Pliocene basin-fill. The youngest (Miocene to Pliocene), post-rift successionmore » is dominated by a thick (1–5 km), cyclic succession of coastal plain and coastal deposits, which accumulated in a humid-tropical climatic setting. This study focuses on the Pleistocene to Recent (500 m thick) succession, which comprises a range of seismic facies analysis of the two-dimensional (2D) seismic sections, mainly reflecting changes in fluvial channel style and river architecture. The succession has been divided into four seismic units (Unit S1-S4), bounded by basin-wide strata surfaces. Two types of boundaries have been identified: 1) a boundary that is defined by a regionally-extensive erosion surface at the base of a prominent incised valley (S3 and S4); 2) a sequence boundary that is defined by more weakly-incised, straight and low-sinuosity channels which is interpreted as low-stand alluvial bypass channel systems (S1 and S2). Each unit displays a predictable vertical change of the channel pattern and scale, with wide low-sinuosity channels at the base passing gradationally upwards into narrow high-sinuosity channels at the top. The wide variation in channel style and size is interpreted to be controlled mainly by the sea-level fluctuations on the widely flat Sunda land Platform.« less

Analysis of ancient-river systems by 3D seismic time-slice technique: A case study in northeast Malay Basin, offshore Terengganu, Malaysia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sulaiman, Noorzamzarina; Hamzah, Umar; Samsudin, Abdul Rahim

2014-09-01

Fluvial sandstones constitute one of the major clastic petroleum reservoir types in many sedimentary basins around the world. This study is based on the analysis of high-resolution, shallow (seabed to 500 m depth) 3D seismic data which generated three-dimensional (3D) time slices that provide exceptional imaging of the geometry, dimension and temporal and spatial distribution of fluvial channels. The study area is in the northeast of Malay Basin about 280 km to the east of Terengganu offshore. The Malay Basin comprises a thick (> 8 km), rift to post-rift Oligo-Miocene to Pliocene basin-fill. The youngest (Miocene to Pliocene), post-rift succession is dominated by a thick (1-5 km), cyclic succession of coastal plain and coastal deposits, which accumulated in a humid-tropical climatic setting. This study focuses on the Pleistocene to Recent (500 m thick) succession, which comprises a range of seismic facies analysis of the two-dimensional (2D) seismic sections, mainly reflecting changes in fluvial channel style and river architecture. The succession has been divided into four seismic units (Unit S1-S4), bounded by basin-wide strata surfaces. Two types of boundaries have been identified: 1) a boundary that is defined by a regionally-extensive erosion surface at the base of a prominent incised valley (S3 and S4); 2) a sequence boundary that is defined by more weakly-incised, straight and low-sinuosity channels which is interpreted as low-stand alluvial bypass channel systems (S1 and S2). Each unit displays a predictable vertical change of the channel pattern and scale, with wide low-sinuosity channels at the base passing gradationally upwards into narrow high-sinuosity channels at the top. The wide variation in channel style and size is interpreted to be controlled mainly by the sea-level fluctuations on the widely flat Sunda land Platform.

Emerging Cytokine Biosensors with Optical Detection Modalities and Nanomaterial-Enabled Signal Enhancement

PubMed Central

Singh, Manpreet; Truong, Johnson; Reeves, W. Brian; Hahm, Jong-in

2017-01-01

Protein biomarkers, especially cytokines, play a pivotal role in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide spectrum of diseases. Therefore, a critical need for advanced cytokine sensors has been rapidly growing and will continue to expand to promote clinical testing, new biomarker development, and disease studies. In particular, sensors employing transduction principles of various optical modalities have emerged as the most common means of detection. In typical cytokine assays which are based on the binding affinities between the analytes of cytokines and their specific antibodies, optical schemes represent the most widely used mechanisms, with some serving as the gold standard against which all existing and new sensors are benchmarked. With recent advancements in nanoscience and nanotechnology, many of the recently emerging technologies for cytokine detection exploit various forms of nanomaterials for improved sensing capabilities. Nanomaterials have been demonstrated to exhibit exceptional optical properties unique to their reduced dimensionality. Novel sensing approaches based on the newly identified properties of nanomaterials have shown drastically improved performances in both the qualitative and quantitative analyses of cytokines. This article brings together the fundamentals in the literature that are central to different optical modalities developed for cytokine detection. Recent advancements in the applications of novel technologies are also discussed in terms of those that enable highly sensitive and multiplexed cytokine quantification spanning a wide dynamic range. For each highlighted optical technique, its current detection capabilities as well as associated challenges are discussed. Lastly, an outlook for nanomaterial-based cytokine sensors is provided from the perspective of optimizing the technologies for sensitivity and multiplexity as well as promoting widespread adaptations of the emerging optical techniques by lowering high thresholds currently present in the new approaches. PMID:28241443

Satellite laser ranging work at the Goddard Space Flight Center

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mcgunigal, T. E.; Carrion, W. J.; Caudill, L. O.; Grant, C. R.; Johnson, T. S.; Premo, D. A.; Spadin, P. L.; Winston, G. C.

1975-01-01

Laser ranging systems, their range and accuracy capabilities, and planned improvements for future systems are discussed, the systems include one fixed and two mobile lasers ranging systems. They have demonstrated better than 10 cm accuracy both on a carefully surveyed ground range and in regular satellite ranging operations. They are capable of ranging to all currently launched retroreflector equipped satellites with the exception of Timation III. A third mobile system is discussed which will be accurate to better than 5 cm and will be capable of ranging to distant satellites such as Timation III and LAGEOS.

Publications - MIRL Publications Series | Alaska Division of Geological &

Science.gov Websites

Laboratory covering a wide range of research topics associated with mineral, petroleum, and coal resources in Mineral Industry Research Laboratory on results of research on a wide variety of topics. Report - Report a wide range of research topics associated with mining, mineral, petroleum, and coal resources in

Range-wide genetic analysis of Dermacentor variabilis and its Francisella-like endosymbionts demonstrates phylogeographic concordance between both taxa

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Background: The American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, is an important vector of pathogens to humans, wildlife, and domestic animals in North America. Although this tick is widely distributed in the US and Canada, knowledge of its range-wide phylogeographic patterns remains incomplete. Methods:...

Reversing the pump dependence of a laser at an exceptional point

PubMed Central

Brandstetter, M.; Liertzer, M.; Deutsch, C.; Klang, P.; Schöberl, J.; Türeci, H. E.; Strasser, G.; Unterrainer, K.; Rotter, S.

2014-01-01

When two resonant modes in a system with gain or loss coalesce in both their resonance position and their width, a so-called exceptional point occurs, which acts as a source of non-trivial physics in a diverse range of systems. Lasers provide a natural setting to study such non-Hermitian degeneracies, as they feature resonant modes and a gain material as their basic constituents. Here we show that exceptional points can be conveniently induced in a photonic molecule laser by a suitable variation of the applied pump. Using a pair of coupled microdisk quantum cascade lasers, we demonstrate that in the vicinity of these exceptional points the coupled laser shows a characteristic reversal of its pump dependence, including a strongly decreasing intensity of the emitted laser light for increasing pump power. PMID:24925314

The application of a handheld personal digital assistant with camera and mobile phone card (Wellnavi) to the general population in a dietary survey.

PubMed

Kikunaga, Shigeshi; Tin, Tomoe; Ishibashi, Genji; Wang, Da-Hong; Kira, Shohei

2007-04-01

This study was carried out to examine first, the validity of a new dietary assessment method, a handheld personal digital assistant with camera and mobile phone card (Wellnavi), in comparison with a weighed diet record as a reference method and second, the relation between obesity and underreporting in the Wellnavi method in 27 men and 48 women volunteers aged 30-67 y from the general population. On the validity, there were significant correlations (0.32-0.75) between the daily nutrient intakes measured by the Wellnavi method and the weighed diet record method in all the subjects except for some nutrients such as iron, magnesium and vitamin E. Results similar to those from the group of all the subjects were obtained in the men's group and the women's group. In all the subjects and the men's group and the women's group, the differences in the daily nutrient intakes between the two dietary assessment methods were statistically significant. However, good agreement of the differences between the two dietary assessment methods for many daily nutrient intakes was obtained in the nonobese men. The nutrient intakes estimated by the Wellnavi method in all the subjects and the men's group and the women's group were significantly lower than those values estimated by the weighed diet record method except for some nutrients such as sodium, iron and fat-soluble vitamins. With respect to the relation between obesity and underreporting, the obesity in women was not a factor of underreporting in the Wellnavi method, but the presence of this relation was undeniable in the obese men. The reason why the values of daily nutrient intakes in the Wellnavi method were lower than those estimated by the weighed diet record method seemed to be the low quality of the digital photo of the Wellnavi instrument. By improving the digital photo quality of this instrument, the Wellnavi method could become a useful new dietary assessment method to get accurate dietary information from people of a wide range of age and occupation, and a wide variety of physical situations of subjects from the general population.

Carbon dioxide fluxes dynamics comparison in Moscow urban forest and adjacent urban areas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yaroslavtsev, Alexis; Meshalkina, Joulia; Mazirov, Ilya; Vasenev, Ivan

2017-04-01

In the beginning of the 2014 in northern district of Moscow was installed eddy covariance tower on the edge of Timiryazevskiy urban forest and Timiryazevskiy district of Moscow. Tower 34m high was constructed inside the territory of LOD (Lesnaya Opytnaya Dacha) experimental station in the south-eastern part of the forest. Main tree species of urban forest and neighboring urban areas are Acer Plantanoides, Tilia cordata, Betula pendula, Quercus robur, Pinus sylvestris. Forest itself is mixed with some small plots dominated only by deciduous or coniferous species, whether trees in urban areas was mainly deciduous. Mean canopy height is about 30m. in both forest and urban areas. The soil cover of the studied sections is represented by sod-podzolic soils with different degree of development of the humus horizon. All soils have well-developed profile of sod-podzolic soil with low power litter (only in forest area) and developed humus-accumulative horizon with high humus content (3,24%) Carbon dioxide daily fluxes from investigated area was calculated for six months of 2014 (from April till October) utilizing eddy covariance method. Most (90%) of fluxes footprints was no longer than 500m for all wind directions during the time of monitoring. Forest in 500m radius around tower is a zone of active recreation with several roads and wide path network. On the other hand closest to tower urban area characterized by a low-rise buildings (in most cases no more than 5 floors) which are mainly administration ones and have wide green areas around them very few roads and low traffic. As a result difference in calculated fluxes was not so dramatic, as it was expected. Diurnal carbon dioxide fluxes dynamics was pretty the same for all months except August, due to long period without precipitation and higher soil moisture under the forest canopy. Estimated daily fluxes values was higher in forest areas for the whole period of investigation, except August, and ranged from -2 to 8 g C CO2 d-1 m-2 with mean about 2,5 g C CO2 d-1 m-2 .

Improved infiltration series for studying stomatal opening as illustrated with coffee

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

Alvim, P.deT.; Havis, J.R.

1956-01-01

Very satisfactory results have been obtained in estimation of the degree of stomatal opening of several plant species by using infiltration series prepared with Nujol mineral oil diluted with xylol, kerosene, n-dodecane, n-tetradecane, or Bayol-D. All of these materials, except Nujol, infiltrate the leaves when the stomata are only slightly open. Nujol does not penetrate even wide open stomata, except for plants with particularly large stomata. The results with coffee plants show that leaves exposed to direct sunlight decreased their stomatal aperture during periods of strong illumination in the middle of the day (more than about 8000 fc). 9 references,more » 2 figures.« less

Thermal Optical Properties of Lunar Dust Simulants and Their Constituents

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gaier, James R.; Ellis, Shaneise; Hanks, Nichole

2011-01-01

The total reflectance spectra of lunar simulant dusts (< 20 mm particles) were measured in order to determine their integrated solar absorptance (alpha) and their thermal emittance (epsilon) for the purpose of analyzing the effect of dust on the performance of thermal control surfaces. All of the simulants except one had a wavelength-dependent reflectivity (p (lambda)) near 0.10 over the wavelength range of 8 to 25 microns and so are highly emitting at room temperature and lower. The 300 K emittance (epsilon) of all the lunar simulants except one ranged from 0.78 to 0.92. The exception was Minnesota Lunar Simulant 1 (MLS-1), which has little or no glassy component. In all cases the epsilon was lower for the < 20 micron particles than for larger particles reported earlier. There was considerably more variation in the lunar simulant reflectance in the solar spectral range (250 to 2500 nm) than in the thermal infrared. As expected, the lunar highlands simulants were more reflective in this wavelength range than the lunar mare simulants. The integrated solar absorptance (alpha) of the simulants ranged from 0.39 to 0.75. This is lower than values reported earlier for larger particles of the same simulants (0.41 to 0.82), and for representative mare and highlands lunar soils (0.74 to 0.91). Since the of some mare simulants more closely matched that of highlands lunar soils, it is recommended that and values be the criteria for choosing a simulant for assessing the effects of dust on thermal control surfaces, rather than whether a simulant has been formulated as a highlands or a mare simulant.

Thermal Optical Properties of Lunar Dust Simulants and Their Constituents

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gaier, James R.; Ellis, Shaneise; Hanks, Nichole

2011-01-01

The total reflectance spectra of lunar simulant dusts (less than 20 micrometer particles) were measured in order to determine their integrated solar absorptance (alpha) and their thermal emittance (e) for the purpose of analyzing the effect of dust on the performance of thermal control surfaces. All of the simulants except one had a wavelength-dependant reflectivity (p(lambda)) near 0.10 over the wavelength range of 8 to 25 micrometers, and so are highly emitting at room temperature and lower. The 300 K emittance (epsilon) of all the lunar simulants except one ranged from 0.78 to 0.92. The exception was Minnesota Lunar Simulant 1 (MLS-1), which has little or no glassy component. In all cases the epsilon was lower for the less 20 micrometer particles than for larger particles reported earlier. There was considerably more variation in the lunar simulant reflectance in the solar spectral range (250 to 2500 nanometers) than in the thermal infrared. As expected, the lunar highlands simulants were more reflective in this wavelength range than the lunar mare simulants. The integrated solar absorptance (alpha) of the simulants ranged from 0.39 to 0.75. This is lower than values reported earlier for larger particles of the same simulants (0.41 to 0.82), and for representative mare and highlands lunar soils (0.74 to 0.91). Since the alpha of some mare simulants more closely matched that of highlands lunar soils, it is recommended that and values be the criteria for choosing a simulant for assessing the effects of dust on thermal control surfaces, rather than whether a simulant has been formulated as a highlands or a mare simulant.

Antibacterial activity of sphingoid bases and fatty acids against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

PubMed

Fischer, Carol L; Drake, David R; Dawson, Deborah V; Blanchette, Derek R; Brogden, Kim A; Wertz, Philip W

2012-03-01

There is growing evidence that the role of lipids in innate immunity is more important than previously realized. How lipids interact with bacteria to achieve a level of protection, however, is still poorly understood. To begin to address the mechanisms of antibacterial activity, we determined MICs and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of lipids common to the skin and oral cavity--the sphingoid bases D-sphingosine, phytosphingosine, and dihydrosphingosine and the fatty acids sapienic acid and lauric acid--against four Gram-negative bacteria and seven Gram-positive bacteria. Exact Kruskal-Wallis tests of these values showed differences among lipid treatments (P < 0.0001) for each bacterial species except Serratia marcescens and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. D-sphingosine (MBC range, 0.3 to 19.6 μg/ml), dihydrosphingosine (MBC range, 0.6 to 39.1 μg/ml), and phytosphingosine (MBC range, 3.3 to 62.5 μg/ml) were active against all bacteria except S. marcescens and P. aeruginosa (MBC > 500 μg/ml). Sapienic acid (MBC range, 31.3 to 375.0 μg/ml) was active against Streptococcus sanguinis, Streptococcus mitis, and Fusobacterium nucleatum but not active against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, S. marcescens, P. aeruginosa, Corynebacterium bovis, Corynebacterium striatum, and Corynebacterium jeikeium (MBC > 500 μg/ml). Lauric acid (MBC range, 6.8 to 375.0 μg/ml) was active against all bacteria except E. coli, S. marcescens, and P. aeruginosa (MBC > 500 μg/ml). Complete killing was achieved as early as 0.5 h for some lipids but took as long as 24 h for others. Hence, sphingoid bases and fatty acids have different antibacterial activities and may have potential for prophylactic or therapeutic intervention in infection.

The Relationship between Academic Dishonesty and Unethical Business Practices.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sims, Randi L.

1993-01-01

An investigation of the relationship between the range and severity of academic dishonesty during undergraduate studies and that of dishonesty engaged in during employment revealed that subjects (n=60) who admitted to a wide range of academic dishonesty also admitted a wide range of work-related dishonesty. (Author/JOW)

BASC-2 PRS profiles for students with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders.

PubMed

Volker, Martin A; Lopata, Christopher; Smerbeck, Audrey M; Knoll, Valerie A; Thomeer, Marcus L; Toomey, Jennifer A; Rodgers, Jonathan D

2010-02-01

BASC-2 PRS profiles of 62 children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorders (HFASDs) were compared with those of 62 typically-developing children matched by age, gender, and ethnicity. Results indicated that, except for the Somatization, Conduct Problems, and Aggression scales, significant differences were found between the HFASD and typically-developing groups on all PRS scores. Mean HFASD scores were in the clinically significant range on the Behavioral Symptoms Index, Atypicality, Withdrawal, and Developmental Social Disorders scales. At-risk range HFASD means were obtained on the Adaptive Skills composite, all adaptive scales, remaining content scales (except Bullying), and Hyperactivity, Attention Problems, and Depression clinical scales. Screening indices suggested that the Developmental Social Disorders scale was highly effective in differentiating between the two groups.

Passerine migrant stopover duration and spatial behaviour at an urban stopover site

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seewagen, Chad L.; Slayton, Eric J.; Guglielmo, Christopher G.

2010-09-01

Migration routes of many Nearctic-Neotropical landbirds pass through the most urbanized regions of North America. Migrants are known to use urban habitats as stopover sites and often occur in cities at exceptional density; yet knowledge of migrant behaviour and ecology in such places is surprisingly limited. We radio-tracked ovenbirds ( Seiurus aurocapillus) during stopovers in a New York City park to obtain some of the first detailed information on how landbird migrants utilize an urban habitat as a stopover site. We examined fine-scale movement patterns, home range sizes, stopover durations, and how arrival condition affected each of these metrics. During both seasons, most birds moved widely throughout the site upon presumed arrival and then either continued migration that night or settled into a more defined area on subsequent days. Area usage varied markedly among individuals during both seasons, ranging 1-16 ha. Stopover durations averaged 3.0 days (range = 1-10 days) during spring and 2.9 days (range = 1-14 days) during autumn. Spatial behaviours and stopover durations were not influenced by arrival condition during spring, and during autumn only movement rates and displacement distances were significantly (negatively) condition-related. Our findings do not support previous assumptions that urban stopover habitats are only used by migrants briefly in times of urgency when alternatives are unavailable. At least half of the birds we studied stopped over for multiple days during both seasons, and bird movements were indicative of an ability to search for, locate, and occupy suitable micro-sites. Ovenbird behaviour in our study site was similar in many ways to what has been observed in recent telemetry studies of ovenbirds and other passerine migrants at various non-urban stopover sites.

Hydrocarbon fingerprinting for application in forensic geology: Review with case studies

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

Bruce, L.G.; Schmidt, G.W.

1994-11-01

Forensic geology, the application of the science to the law, has required detailed classification, identification, and fingerprinting of hydrocarbons. Currently, the best overall tool for this is a chromatogram derived from capillary column gas chromatography (GC). Just as hardness and cleavage identify rock minerals and x-ray angles help identify clay minerals, retention time on a chromatogram can help identify key hydrocarbons, such as normal paraffins. N-paraffin ranges can be used to classify hydrocarbon mixtures such as gasoline, diesel fuel, or crude oil. Refined and crude petroleum may be distinguished on a chromatogram by the range of n-paraffins in a mixture,more » the shape of the n-paraffin envelope, the presence of absence of olefins, and the presence and relative abundance of certain hydrocarbon additives. Crude oils tend to have a wide range of n-paraffins whose envelope is asymmetric and includes a tail of heavier hydrocarbons. Refined products have a more limited n-paraffin range. With some notable exceptions, such as gasoline, the envelope of most refined products is bell shaped. Olefins are an artifact of the refining process and are not present in crudes. Methylcyclohexane is relatively abundant in gasolines. Isooctane and aromatics are more abundant in premium gasolines than in condensates and crudes. Fuel additives such as tetraethyl lead, methyl tertiary butyl ether, ethyl tertiary butyl alcohol, and ethanol do not exist in crudes. This paper uses case histories to illustrate fingerprinting techniques. Case one matches the fingerprint of a plume to a specific source. Case two eliminates casing-head condensate as the source of a plume and tags processed natural-gas liquids as the probable source. Case three illustrates how other organic compounds may be mistakenly identified as hydrocarbon contamination, and case four differentiates refined products.« less

A longitudinal evaluation of performance of automated BCR-ABL1 quantitation using cartridge-based detection system.

PubMed

Enjeti, Anoop; Granter, Neil; Ashraf, Asma; Fletcher, Linda; Branford, Susan; Rowlings, Philip; Dooley, Susan

2015-10-01

An automated cartridge-based detection system (GeneXpert; Cepheid) is being widely adopted in low throughput laboratories for monitoring BCR-ABL1 transcript in chronic myelogenous leukaemia. This Australian study evaluated the longitudinal performance specific characteristics of the automated system.The automated cartridge-based system was compared prospectively with the manual qRT-PCR-based reference method at SA Pathology, Adelaide, over a period of 2.5 years. A conversion factor determination was followed by four re-validations. Peripheral blood samples (n = 129) with international scale (IS) values within detectable range were selected for assessment. The mean bias, proportion of results within specified fold difference (2-, 3- and 5-fold), the concordance rate of major molecular remission (MMR) and concordance across a range of IS values on paired samples were evaluated.The initial conversion factor for the automated system was determined as 0.43. Except for the second re-validation, where a negative bias of 1.9-fold was detected, all other biases fell within desirable limits. A cartridge-specific conversion factor and efficiency value was introduced and the conversion factor was confirmed to be stable in subsequent re-validation cycles. Concordance with the reference method/laboratory at >0.1-≤10 IS was 78.2% and at ≤0.001 was 80%, compared to 86.8% in the >0.01-≤0.1 IS range. The overall and MMR concordance were 85.7% and 94% respectively, for samples that fell within ± 5-fold of the reference laboratory value over the entire period of study.Conversion factor and performance specific characteristics for the automated system were longitudinally stable in the clinically relevant range, following introduction by the manufacturer of lot specific efficiency values.

High purity polyimide analysis by solid sampling graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Santos, Rafael F.; Carvalho, Gabriel S.; Duarte, Fabio A.; Bolzan, Rodrigo C.; Flores, Erico M. M.

2017-03-01

In this work, Cr, Cu, Mn, Na and Ni were determined in high purity polyimides (99.5%) by solid sampling graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (SS-GFAAS) using Zeeman effect background correction system with variable magnetic field, making possible the simultaneous measurement at high or low sensitivity. The following analytical parameters were evaluated: pyrolysis and atomization temperatures, feasibility of calibration with aqueous solution, linear calibration range, sample mass range and the use of chemical modifier. Calibration with aqueous standard solutions was feasible for all analytes. No under or overestimated results were observed and up to 10 mg sample could be introduced on the platform for the determination of Cr, Cu, Mn, Na and Ni. The relative standard deviation ranged from 3 to 20%. The limits of detection (LODs) achieved using the high sensitivity mode were as low as 7.0, 2.5, 1.7, 17 and 0.12 ng g- 1 for Cr, Cu, Mn, Na and Ni, respectively. No addition of chemical modifier was necessary, except for Mn determination where Pd was required. The accuracy was evaluated by analyte spike and by comparison of the results with those obtained by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry after microwave-assisted digestion in a single reaction chamber system and also by neutron activation analysis. No difference among the results obtained by SS-GFAAS and those obtained by alternative analytical methods using independent techniques. SS-GFAAS method showed some advantages, such as the determination of metallic contaminants in high purity polyimides with practically no sample preparation, very low LODs, calibration with aqueous standards and determination in a wide range of concentration.

First results from the IllustrisTNG simulations: matter and galaxy clustering

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Springel, Volker; Pakmor, Rüdiger; Pillepich, Annalisa; Weinberger, Rainer; Nelson, Dylan; Hernquist, Lars; Vogelsberger, Mark; Genel, Shy; Torrey, Paul; Marinacci, Federico; Naiman, Jill

2018-03-01

Hydrodynamical simulations of galaxy formation have now reached sufficient volume to make precision predictions for clustering on cosmologically relevant scales. Here, we use our new IllustrisTNG simulations to study the non-linear correlation functions and power spectra of baryons, dark matter, galaxies, and haloes over an exceptionally large range of scales. We find that baryonic effects increase the clustering of dark matter on small scales and damp the total matter power spectrum on scales up to k ˜ 10 h Mpc-1 by 20 per cent. The non-linear two-point correlation function of the stellar mass is close to a power-law over a wide range of scales and approximately invariant in time from very high redshift to the present. The two-point correlation function of the simulated galaxies agrees well with Sloan Digital Sky Survey at its mean redshift z ≃ 0.1, both as a function of stellar mass and when split according to galaxy colour, apart from a mild excess in the clustering of red galaxies in the stellar mass range of109-1010 h-2 M⊙. Given this agreement, the TNG simulations can make valuable theoretical predictions for the clustering bias of different galaxy samples. We find that the clustering length of the galaxy autocorrelation function depends strongly on stellar mass and redshift. Its power-law slope γ is nearly invariant with stellar mass, but declines from γ ˜ 1.8 at redshift z = 0 to γ ˜ 1.6 at redshift z ˜ 1, beyond which the slope steepens again. We detect significant scale dependences in the bias of different observational tracers of large-scale structure, extending well into the range of the baryonic acoustic oscillations and causing nominal (yet fortunately correctable) shifts of the acoustic peaks of around ˜ 5 per cent.

Effect of supplementation with flaxseed oil and different doses of fish oil for 2 weeks on plasma phosphatidylcholine fatty acids in young women.

PubMed

Hodson, Leanne; Crowe, Francesca L; McLachlan, Kirsten J; Skeaff, C Murray

2018-06-01

Although assumed, it remains unclear that fatty acid (FA) biomarkers of n-3 long-chain PUFA reflect wide ranges of intake. However, to be utilised as biomarkers, to predict dietary intake, dose-response curves that cover a spectrum of intakes are required. The aim of the study was to investigate whether the FA composition of plasma phosphatidylcholine (PC) is a sensitive biomarker of n-3 FAs from fish oil, across a range of supplementation doses, and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) supplementation, in young, healthy women. A total of 303 young women were randomised to intakes ranging between 0.33 and 4.50 g EPA+DHA/day from fish oil (not all doses used in each year) or flaxseed oil (5.90-6.60 g/d) daily for 14 days in a series of trials, over 5 years. Fasting blood was collected at baseline (day 0) and day 14 and plasma PC FA composition, total and HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations measured. Fourteen days supplementation with fish oil significantly (P < 0.01) increased, in a dose-dependent fashion, plasma PC EPA, DPA and DHA at all doses except 1 and 3 mL/day. For the combined group of women who consumed any fish oil there was a 16% (P < 0.01) decrease in plasma triacylglycerol concentrations after 14 days supplementation. Flaxseed oil supplementation for 14 day resulted in significant (P < 0.01) increases in ALA, EPA and DPA, whilst DHA remained unchanged. Our data demonstrate plasma PC is a sensitive biomarker of n-3 FA intake and reflects changes within 14 days across a range of intakes.

Molecular evolution of the neurohypophysial hormone precursors in mammals: Comparative genomics reveals novel mammalian oxytocin and vasopressin analogues.

PubMed

Wallis, Michael

2012-11-01

Among vertebrates the neurohypophysial hormones show considerable variation. However, in eutherian mammals they have been considered rather conserved, with arginine vasopressin (AVP) and oxytocin (OT) in all species except pig and some relatives, where lysine vasopressin replaces AVP. The availability of genomic data for a wide range of mammals makes it possible to assess whether these peptides and their precursors may be more variable in Eutheria than previously suspected. A survey of these data confirms that AVP and OT occur in most eutherians, but with exceptions. In a New-World monkey (marmoset, Callithrix jacchus) and in tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri), Pro(8)OT replaces OT, confirming a recent report for these species. In armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus) Leu(3)OT replaces OT, while in tenrec (Echinops telfairi) Thr(4)AVP replaces AVP. In these two species there is also evidence for additional genes/pseudogenes, encoding much-modified forms of AVP, but in most other eutherian species there is no evidence for additional neurohypophysial hormone genes. Evolutionary analysis shows that sequences of eutherian neurohypophysial hormone precursors are generally strongly conserved, particularly those regions encoding active peptide and neurophysin. The close association between OT and VP genes has led to frequent gene conversion of sequences encoding neurophysins. A monotreme, platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) has genes for OT and AVP, organized tail-to-tail as in eutherians, but in marsupials 3-4 genes are present for neurohypophysial hormones, organized tail-to-head as in lower vertebrates. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Exceptional marine sand bodies in the Paleozoic of Oklahoma

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

Fritz, R.D.; Kuykendall, M.D.; Hooker, E.O.

Of the wide variety of sandstone reservoirs in Oklahoma, the most unusual types of sand bodies are present in the Atokan Spiro Sandstone, Devonian Misener Sandstone, and Morrowan lower Morrow Sandstone. The common factors are that upon correlation and mapping these units are channel-like (fluvial-deltaic) in geometry, but from petrographic evidence are quartz-rich shallow-marine units, with the exclusion of intraclastic and diagenetic constituents. Stratigraphic mapping of the Spiro Sandstone of the Arkoma basin indicates two types of sand bodies: channel and sheet. The marine channel-like deposits, 10-150 ft thick, probably were deposited on a paleosurface produced by a pre-Atokan unconformity.more » Examination of cores and outcrop indicate that both the channel and sheet Spiro sands contain shallow-marine fossils, limestones, peloidal chamosite, burrows, and bioturbation, all indicative of a shallow-marine setting. The Misener Sandstone of north-central Oklahoma ranges from 10 to 100 ft thick with sharp boundaries. It was deposited in pre-Frisco/Woodford eroded paleochannels. Core evidence for shallow-marine deposition is glauconite, phosphatic fossils and clasts, burrows, and bioturbation. These were probably deposited in an embayed, estuary-like environment. The lower Morrow Sandstone of the Anadarko basin is similar in geometry, except that the sand bodies are multistoried and multilateral and do not appear to be associated with a regional unconformity. The lower Morrow sandstones, usually 30-60 ft thick. commonly are elongated and deposited parallel to the shoreline. Deposition is inferred to be shallow-marine from marine fossils and glauconite.« less

Location tests for biomarker studies: a comparison using simulations for the two-sample case.

PubMed

Scheinhardt, M O; Ziegler, A

2013-01-01

Gene, protein, or metabolite expression levels are often non-normally distributed, heavy tailed and contain outliers. Standard statistical approaches may fail as location tests in this situation. In three Monte-Carlo simulation studies, we aimed at comparing the type I error levels and empirical power of standard location tests and three adaptive tests [O'Gorman, Can J Stat 1997; 25: 269 -279; Keselman et al., Brit J Math Stat Psychol 2007; 60: 267- 293; Szymczak et al., Stat Med 2013; 32: 524 - 537] for a wide range of distributions. We simulated two-sample scenarios using the g-and-k-distribution family to systematically vary tail length and skewness with identical and varying variability between groups. All tests kept the type I error level when groups did not vary in their variability. The standard non-parametric U-test performed well in all simulated scenarios. It was outperformed by the two non-parametric adaptive methods in case of heavy tails or large skewness. Most tests did not keep the type I error level for skewed data in the case of heterogeneous variances. The standard U-test was a powerful and robust location test for most of the simulated scenarios except for very heavy tailed or heavy skewed data, and it is thus to be recommended except for these cases. The non-parametric adaptive tests were powerful for both normal and non-normal distributions under sample variance homogeneity. But when sample variances differed, they did not keep the type I error level. The parametric adaptive test lacks power for skewed and heavy tailed distributions.

Effect of Heating on Turbulent Density Fluctuations and Noise Generation From High Speed Jets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Panda, Jayanta; Seasholtz, Richard G.; Elam, Kristie A.; Mielke, Amy F.; Eck, Dennis G.

2004-01-01

Heated jets in a wide range of temperature ratios (TR), and acoustic Mach numbers (Ma) were investigated experimentally using far field microphones and a molecular Rayleigh scattering technique. The latter provided density fluctuations measurements. Two sets of operating conditions were considered: (1) TR was varied between 0.84 and 2.7 while Ma was fixed at 0.9; (2) Ma was varied between 0.6 and 1.48, while TR was fixed at 2.27. The implementation of the molecular Rayleigh scattering technique required dust removal and usage of a hydrogen combustor to avoid soot particles. Time averaged density measurements in the first set of data showed differences in the peripheral density shear layers between the unheated and heated jets. The nozzle exit shear layer showed increased turbulence level with increased plume temperature. Nevertheless, further downstream the density fluctuations spectra are found to be nearly identical for all Mach number and temperature ratio conditions. To determine noise sources a correlation study between plume density fluctuations and far field sound pressure fluctuations was conducted. For all jets the core region beyond the end of the potential flow was found to be the strongest noise source. Except for an isothermal jet, the correlations did not differ significantly with increasing temperature ratio. The isothermal jet created little density fluctuations. Although the far field noise from this jet did not show any exceptional trend, the flow-sound correlations were very low. This indicated that the density fluctuations only acted as a "tracer parameter" for the noise sources.

Climate sensitivity of reproduction in a mast-seeding boreal conifer across its distributional range from lowland to treeline forests.

PubMed

Roland, Carl A; Schmidt, Joshua H; Johnstone, Jill F

2014-03-01

Mast-seeding conifers such as Picea glauca exhibit synchronous production of large seed crops over wide areas, suggesting climate factors as possible triggers for episodic high seed production. Rapidly changing climatic conditions may thus alter the tempo and spatial pattern of masting of dominant species with potentially far-reaching ecological consequences. Understanding the future reproductive dynamics of ecosystems including boreal forests, which may be dominated by mast-seeding species, requires identifying the specific cues that drive variation in reproductive output across landscape gradients and among years. Here we used annual data collected at three sites spanning an elevation gradient in interior Alaska, USA between 1986 and 2011 to produce the first quantitative models for climate controls over both seedfall and seed viability in P. glauca, a dominant boreal conifer. We identified positive associations between seedfall and increased summer precipitation and decreased summer warmth in all years except for the year prior to seedfall. Seed viability showed a contrasting response, with positive correlations to summer warmth in all years analyzed except for one, and an especially positive response to warm and wet conditions in the seedfall year. Finally, we found substantial reductions in reproductive potential of P. glauca at high elevation due to significantly reduced seed viability there. Our results indicate that major variation in the reproductive potential of this species may occur in different landscape positions in response to warming, with decreasing reproductive success in areas prone to drought stress contrasted with increasing success in higher elevation areas currently limited by cool summer temperatures.

The Earliest Post-Paleozoic Freshwater Bivalves Preserved in Coprolites from the Karoo Basin, South Africa

PubMed Central

Yates, Adam M.; Neumann, Frank H.; Hancox, P. John

2012-01-01

Background Several clades of bivalve molluscs have invaded freshwaters at various times throughout Phanerozoic history. The most successful freshwater clade in the modern world is the Unionoida. Unionoids arose in the Triassic Period, sometime after the major extinction event at the End-Permian boundary and are now widely distributed across all continents except Antarctica. Until now, no freshwater bivalves of any kind were known to exist in the Early Triassic. Principal Findings Here we report on a faunule of two small freshwater bivalve species preserved in vertebrate coprolites from the Olenekian (Lower Triassic) of the Burgersdorp Formation of the Karoo Basin, South Africa. Positive identification of these bivalves is not possible due to the limited material. Nevertheless they do show similarities with Unionoida although they fall below the size range of extant unionoids. Phylogenetic analysis is not possible with such limited material and consequently the assignment remains somewhat speculative. Conclusions Bivalve molluscs re-invaded freshwaters soon after the End-Permian extinction event, during the earliest part of the recovery phase during the Olenekian Stage of the Early Triassic. If the specimens do represent unionoids then these Early Triassic examples may be an example of the Lilliput effect. Since the oldest incontrovertible freshwater unionoids are also from sub-Saharan Africa, it is possible that this subcontinent hosted the initial freshwater radiation of the Unionoida. This find also demonstrates the importance of coprolites as microenvironments of exceptional preservation that contain fossils of organisms that would otherwise have left no trace. PMID:22319562

Body-conscious Shakespeare: sensory disturbances in troubled characters.

PubMed

Heaton, Kenneth W

2011-12-01

It is widely accepted that Shakespeare was unique in the range of his insights into the human mind, but the way his characters reveal their mental states through bodily sensations has not been systematically explored. The author has searched for these phenomena in the 42 major works of Shakespeare and in 46 genre-matched works by his contemporaries, and in this paper the author focuses on sensory changes other than those involving vision, taste, the heart and the alimentary tract (all considered in other papers). Vertigo is experienced by five distressed Shakespearean characters, all men, but not at all by the other writers' characters. Breathlessness, probably representing hyperventilation, occurs eleven times in Shakespeare's works but only twice in the other writers' works. Fatigue, expressing grief, is articulated by several Shakespearean characters including Hamlet. It features less often in the others' works. Deafness at a time of high emotion is mentioned by Shakespeare several times but usually by a character 'turning a deaf ear', consciously or unconsciously. To the other writers, ears show emotion only by burning or itching. Blunting of touch and pain and their opposites of hypersensitivity to touch and pain are all to be found in Shakespeare's works when a character is distressed or excited, but not so with his contemporaries' works. Faint feelings and cold feelings are also more common in the works of Shakespeare. Overall, therefore, Shakespeare was exceptional in his use of sensory disturbances to express emotional upset. This may be a conscious literary device or a sign of exceptional awareness of bodily sensations.

Subglacial Hydrology Model Intercomparison Project (SHMIP)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Werder, Mauro A.; de Fleurian, Basile; Creyts, Timothy T.; Damsgaard, Anders; Delaney, Ian; Dow, Christine F.; Gagliardini, Olivier; Hoffman, Matthew J.; Seguinot, Julien; Sommers, Aleah; Irarrazaval Bustos, Inigo; Downs, Jakob

2017-04-01

The SHMIP project is the first intercomparison project of subglacial drainage models (http://shmip.bitbucket.org). Its synthetic test suites and evaluation were designed such that any subglacial hydrology model producing effective pressure can participate. In contrast to ice deformation, the physical processes of subglacial hydrology (which in turn impacts basal sliding of glaciers) are poorly known. A further complication is that different glacial and geological settings can lead to different drainage physics. The aim of the project is therefore to qualitatively compare the outputs of the participating models for a wide range of water forcings and glacier geometries. This will allow to put existing studies, which use different drainage models, into context and will allow new studies to select the most suitable model for the problem at hand. We present the results from the just completed intercomparison exercise. Twelve models participated: eight 2D and four 1D models; nine include both an efficient and inefficient system, the other three one of the systems; all but two models use R-channels as efficient system, and/or a linked-cavity like inefficient system, one exception uses porous layers with different characteristic for each of the systems, the other exception is based on canals. The main variable used for the comparison is effective pressure, as that is a direct proxy for basal sliding of glaciers. The models produce large differences in the effective pressure fields, in particular for higher water input scenarios. This shows that the selection of a subglacial drainage model will likely impact the conclusions of a study significantly.

The genetic basis of novel water utilisation and drinking behaviour traits and their relationship with biological performance in turkeys.

PubMed

Rusakovica, Julija; Kremer, Valentin D; Plötz, Thomas; Rohlf, Paige; Kyriazakis, Ilias

2017-09-29

There is increasing interest in the definition, measurement and use of traits associated with water use and drinking behaviour, mainly because water is a finite resource and its intake is an important part of animal health and well-being. Analysis of such traits has received little attention, due in part to the lack of appropriate technology to measure drinking behaviour. We exploited novel equipment to collect water intake data in two lines of turkey (A: 27,415 and B: 12,956 birds). The equipment allowed continuous recording of individual visits to the water station in a group environment. Our aim was to identify drinking behaviour traits of biological relevance, to estimate their genetic parameters and their genetic relationships with performance traits, and to identify drinking behaviour strategies among individuals. Visits to the drinkers were clustered into bouts, i.e. time intervals spent in drinking-related activity. Based on this, biologically relevant traits were defined: (1) number of visits per bout, (2) water intake per bout, (3) drinking time per bout, (4) drinking rate, (5) daily bout frequency, (6) daily bout duration, (7) daily drinking time and (8) daily water intake. Heritability estimates for most drinking behaviour traits were moderate to high and the most highly heritable traits were drinking rate (0.49 and 0.50) and daily drinking time (0.35 and 0.46 in lines A and B, respectively). Genetic correlations between drinking behaviour and performance traits were low except for moderate correlations between daily water intake and weight gain (0.46 and 0.47 in lines A and B, respectively). High estimates of breeding values for weight gain were found across the whole range of estimated breeding values for daily water intake, daily drinking time and water intake per bout. We show for the first time that drinking behaviour traits are moderately to highly heritable. Low genetic and phenotypic correlations with performance traits suggest that current breeding goals have not and will not affect normal water drinking behaviour. Birds express a wide range of different drinking behaviour strategies, which can be suitable to a wide range of environments and production systems.

Alaska North Slope regional gas hydrate production modeling forecasts

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wilson, S.J.; Hunter, R.B.; Collett, T.S.; Hancock, S.; Boswell, R.; Anderson, B.J.

2011-01-01

A series of gas hydrate development scenarios were created to assess the range of outcomes predicted for the possible development of the "Eileen" gas hydrate accumulation, North Slope, Alaska. Production forecasts for the "reference case" were built using the 2002 Mallik production tests, mechanistic simulation, and geologic studies conducted by the US Geological Survey. Three additional scenarios were considered: A "downside-scenario" which fails to identify viable production, an "upside-scenario" describes results that are better than expected. To capture the full range of possible outcomes and balance the downside case, an "extreme upside scenario" assumes each well is exceptionally productive.Starting with a representative type-well simulation forecasts, field development timing is applied and the sum of individual well forecasts creating the field-wide production forecast. This technique is commonly used to schedule large-scale resource plays where drilling schedules are complex and production forecasts must account for many changing parameters. The complementary forecasts of rig count, capital investment, and cash flow can be used in a pre-appraisal assessment of potential commercial viability.Since no significant gas sales are currently possible on the North Slope of Alaska, typical parameters were used to create downside, reference, and upside case forecasts that predict from 0 to 71??BM3 (2.5??tcf) of gas may be produced in 20 years and nearly 283??BM3 (10??tcf) ultimate recovery after 100 years.Outlining a range of possible outcomes enables decision makers to visualize the pace and milestones that will be required to evaluate gas hydrate resource development in the Eileen accumulation. Critical values of peak production rate, time to meaningful production volumes, and investments required to rule out a downside case are provided. Upside cases identify potential if both depressurization and thermal stimulation yield positive results. An "extreme upside" case captures the full potential of unconstrained development with widely spaced wells. The results of this study indicate that recoverable gas hydrate resources may exist in the Eileen accumulation and that it represents a good opportunity for continued research. ?? 2010 Elsevier Ltd.

Volatile methyl siloxanes (VMS) concentrations in outdoor air of several Catalan urban areas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gallego, E.; Perales, J. F.; Roca, F. J.; Guardino, X.; Gadea, E.

2017-04-01

Volatile methyl siloxanes (VMS) were evaluated in ten Catalan urban areas with different industrial impacts, such as petrochemical industry, electrical and mechanical equipment, metallurgical and chemical industries, municipal solid waste treatment plant and cement and food industries, during 2013-2015. 24 h samples were taken with LCMA-UPC pump samplers specially designed in our laboratory, with a flow range of 70 ml min-1. A sorbent-based sampling method, successfully developed to collect a wide-range of VOC, was used. The analysis was performed by automatic thermal desorption coupled with capillary gas chromatography/mass spectrometry detector. The presented methodology allows the evaluation of VMS together with a wide range of other VOC, increasing the number of compounds that can be determined in outdoor air quality assessment of urban areas. This aspect is especially relevant as a restriction of several VMS (D4 and D5) in consumer products has been made by the European Chemicals Agency and US EPA is evaluating to include D4 in the Toxic Substances Control Act, regarding the concern of the possible effects of these compounds in human health and the environment. ΣVMS concentrations (L2-L5, D3-D6 and trimethylsilanol) varied between 0.3 ± 0.2 μg m-3 and 18 ± 12 μg m-3, determined in a hotspot area. Observed VMS concentrations were generally of the same order of magnitude than the previously determined in Barcelona, Chicago and Zurich urban areas, but higher than the published from suburban sites and Arctic locations. Cyclic siloxanes concentrations were up to two-three orders of magnitude higher than those of linear siloxanes, accounting for average contributions to the total concentrations of 97 ± 6% for all samples except for the hotspot area, where cyclic VMS accounted for 99.9 ± 0.1%. D5 was the most abundant siloxane in 5 sampling points; however, differing from the generally observed in previous studies, D3 was the most abundant compound in the other 5 sampling points.

Sustainable design and manufacturing of multifunctional polymer nanocomposite coatings: A multiscale systems approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiao, Jie

Polymer nanocomposites have a great potential to be a dominant coating material in a wide range of applications in the automotive, aerospace, ship-making, construction, and pharmaceutical industries. However, how to realize design sustainability of this type of nanostructured materials and how to ensure the true optimality of the product quality and process performance in coating manufacturing remain as a mountaintop area. The major challenges arise from the intrinsic multiscale nature of the material-process-product system and the need to manipulate the high levels of complexity and uncertainty in design and manufacturing processes. This research centers on the development of a comprehensive multiscale computational methodology and a computer-aided tool set that can facilitate multifunctional nanocoating design and application from novel function envisioning and idea refinement, to knowledge discovery and design solution derivation, and further to performance testing in industrial applications and life cycle analysis. The principal idea is to achieve exceptional system performance through concurrent characterization and optimization of materials, product and associated manufacturing processes covering a wide range of length and time scales. Multiscale modeling and simulation techniques ranging from microscopic molecular modeling to classical continuum modeling are seamlessly coupled. The tight integration of different methods and theories at individual scales allows the prediction of macroscopic coating performance from the fundamental molecular behavior. Goal-oriented design is also pursued by integrating additional methods for bio-inspired dynamic optimization and computational task management that can be implemented in a hierarchical computing architecture. Furthermore, multiscale systems methodologies are developed to achieve the best possible material application towards sustainable manufacturing. Automotive coating manufacturing, that involves paint spay and curing, is specifically discussed in this dissertation. Nevertheless, the multiscale considerations for sustainable manufacturing, the novel concept of IPP control, and the new PPDE-based optimization method are applicable to other types of manufacturing, e.g., metal coating development through electroplating. It is demonstrated that the methodological development in this dissertation can greatly facilitate experimentalists in novel material invention and new knowledge discovery. At the same time, they can provide scientific guidance and reveal various new opportunities and effective strategies for sustainable manufacturing.

Measurement of the Solar Absorptance and Thermal Emittance of Lunar Simulants

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gaier, James R.; Street, Kenneth W.; Gutafson, Robert J.

2010-01-01

The first comparative study of the reflectance spectra of lunar simulants is presented. All of the simulants except one had a wavelength-dependant reflectivity ( ( )) near 0.10 over the wavelength range of 8 to 25 m, so they are highly emitting at room temperature and lower. The 300 K emittance ( ) of all the lunar simulants except one ranged from 0.884 to 0.906. The 300 K of JSC Mars-1 simulant was 0.927. There was considerably more variation in the lunar simulant reflectance in the solar spectral range (250 to 2500 nm) than in the thermal infrared. Larger particle size simulants reflected much less than those with smaller particle size. As expected, the lunar highlands simulants were more reflective in this wavelength range than the lunar mare simulants. The integrated solar absorptance ( ) of the simulants ranged from 0.413 to 0.817 for those with smaller particles, and 0.669 to 0.906 for those with larger particles. Although spectral differences were observed, the for the simulants appears to be similar to that of lunar soils (0.65 to 0.88). These data are now available to be used in modeling the effects of dust on thermal control surfaces.

Measurement of the Solar Absorptance and Thermal Emittance of Lunar Simulants

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gaier, James R.; Street, Kenneth W.; Gustafson, Robert J.

2010-01-01

The first comparative study of the reflectance spectra of lunar simulants is presented. All of the simulants except one had a wavelength-dependent reflectivity, rho(lambda), near 0.10 over the wavelength range of 8 to 25 microns, so they are highly emitting at room temperature and lower. The 300 K emittance, epsilon, of all the lunar simulants except one ranged from 0.884 to 0.906. The 300 K epsilon of JSC Mars-1 simulant was 0.927. There was considerably more variation in the lunar simulant reflectance in the solar spectral range (250 to 2500 nm) than in the thermal infrared. Larger particle size simulants reflected much less than those with smaller particle size. As expected, the lunar highlands simulants were more reflective in this wavelength range than the lunar mare simulants. The alpha of the simulants ranged from 0.413 to 0.817 for those with smaller particles and 0.669 to 0.906 for large particles. Although spectral differences were observed, the total integrated alpha for the simulants appears to be similar to that of lunar soils (0.65 to 0.88). These data are now available to be used in modeling the effects of dust on thermal control surfaces.

Validation of the TOEFL as a Canadian University Admissions Requirement

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Simner, Marvin L.; Mitchell, John B.

2007-01-01

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is widely used to screen university applicants for whom English is not their native language. Although the cutoff scores vary, in Ontario those with scores much lower than 550 are rarely admitted to any university. Two exceptions are the University of Western Ontario and its affiliate, Brescia…

14 CFR 45.29 - Size of marks.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... amateur-built aircraft, or a light-sport aircraft when the maximum cruising speed of the aircraft does not... changed. (c) Width. Characters must be two-thirds as wide as they are high, except the number “1”, which... high. (d) Thickness. Characters must be formed by solid lines one-sixth as thick as the character is...

Comparative Critical Discourse Analysis of Student and Teacher Editions of Secondary Christian American Literature Textbooks

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Agiro, Christa Preston

2012-01-01

This article discusses the comparative application of critical discourse analysis to student and teacher editions of the two most widely used high school American literature textbooks by Christian publishers, examining them through the lens of critical theory. The study examined all parts of the student and teacher editions, excepting literary…

Beyond Food Security to Realizing Food Rights in the US

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Anderson, Molly D.

2013-01-01

The right to food is widely accepted by nations, with the notable exception of the United States (US) and four other countries. The US government deals with domestic food insecurity through an array of needs-based food assistance programs instead of rights-based approaches; and administration officials have resisted the right to food for several…

All the President's Math

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Patton, Jessica Rae

2006-01-01

The skies were threatening on the morning we visited Cranberry Station Elementary School in Westminster, MD. It had been raining nearly nonstop for two weeks and today did not look like an exception. Hopeful for a change in forecast, the kids all arrived at school dressed in their gym clothes and ready to participate in the school-wide Fun Run, a…