Extreme air pollution events in Hokkaido, Japan, traced back to early snowmelt and large-scale wildfires over East Eurasia: Case studies.

PubMed

Yasunari, Teppei J; Kim, Kyu-Myong; da Silva, Arlindo M; Hayasaki, Masamitsu; Akiyama, Masayuki; Murao, Naoto

2018-04-25

To identify the unusual climate conditions and their connections to air pollutions in a remote area due to wildfires, we examine three anomalous large-scale wildfires in May 2003, April 2008, and July 2014 over East Eurasia, as well as how products of those wildfires reached an urban city, Sapporo, in the northern part of Japan (Hokkaido), significantly affecting the air quality. NASA's MERRA-2 (the Modern-Era Retrospective analysis for Research and Applications, Version 2) aerosol re-analysis data closely reproduced the PM 2.5 variations in Sapporo for the case of smoke arrival in July 2014. Results show that all three cases featured unusually early snowmelt in East Eurasia, accompanied by warmer and drier surface conditions in the months leading to the fires, inducing long-lasting soil dryness and producing climate and environmental conditions conducive to active wildfires. Due to prevailing anomalous synoptic-scale atmospheric motions, smoke from those fires eventually reached a remote area, Hokkaido, and worsened the air quality in Sapporo. In future studies, continuous monitoring of the timing of Eurasian snowmelt and the air quality from the source regions to remote regions, coupled with the analysis of atmospheric and surface conditions, may be essential in more accurately predicting the effects of wildfires on air quality.

Complex Morphological Variability in Complex Evaporitic Systems: Thermal Spring Snails from the Chihuahuan Desert, Mexico

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tang, Carol M.; Roopnarine, Peter D.

2003-11-01

Thermal springs in evaporitic environments provide a unique biological laboratory in which to study natural selection and evolutionary diversification. These isolated systems may be an analogue for conditions in early Earth or Mars history. One modern example of such a system can be found in the Chihuahuan Desert of north-central Mexico. The Cuatro Cienegas basin hosts a series of thermal springs that form a complex of aquatic ecosystems under a range of environmental conditions. Using landmark-based morphometric techniques, we have quantified an unusually high level of morphological variability in the endemic gastropod Mexipyrgus from Cuatro Cienegas. The differentiation is seen both within and between hydrological systems. Our results suggest that this type of environmental system is capable of producing and maintaining a high level of morphological diversity on small spatial scales, and thus should be a target for future astrobiological research.

Biological Diversity Comprising Microbial Structures of Antarctic Ice Covered Lakes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matys, E. D.

2015-12-01

Analysis of microbial membrane lipids is a rapid and non-selective method for evaluating the composition of microbial communities. To fully realise the diagnostic potential of these lipids, we must first understand their structural diversity, biological sources, physiological functions, and pathways of preservation. Particular environmental conditions likely prompt the production of different membrane lipid structures. Antarctica's McMurdo Dry Valleys host numerous ice-covered lakes with sharp chemical gradients that vary in illumination, geochemical structure, and benthic mat morphologies that are structured by nutrient availability and water chemistry. The lipid contents of these benthic mats have not received extensive study nor have the communities yet been thoroughly characterized. Accordingly, a combination of lipid biomarker and nucleic acid sequence data provides the means of assessing species diversity and environmental controls on the composition and diversity of membrane lipid assemblages. We investigated the richness and diversity of benthic microbial communities and accumulated organic matter in Lake Vanda of the McMurdo Dry Valleys. We have identified diverse glycolipids, aminolipids, and phospholipids in addition to many unknown compounds that may be specific to these particular environments. Light levels fluctuate seasonally, favoring low-light-tolerant cyanobacteria and specific lipid assemblages. Adaptations to nutrient limitations are reflected in contrasting intact polar lipid assemblages. For example, under P-limiting conditions, phospholipids are subsidiary to membrane-forming lipids that do not contain P (i.e. ornithine, betaine, and sulfolipids). The bacteriohopanepolyol (BHP) composition is dominated by bacteriohopanetetrol (BHT), a ubiquitous BHP, and 2-methylhopanoids. The relative abundance of 2-methylhopanoids is unprecedented and may reflect the unusual seasonal light regime of this polar environment. By establishing correlations between environmental conditions, microbial community composition and the lipid assemblages of microbial structures in ice-covered lakes of Antarctica's McMurdo Dry Valleys, our data provides important ecological and evolutionary insights into these unusual environments.

78 FR 68775 - Special Conditions: Airbus, Model A350-900 Series Airplane; Composite Fuselage In-Flight Fire...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-11-15

... Model A350-900 series airplanes. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design features associated... Model A350-900 series because of a novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed... Airbus Model A350-900 series airplane will incorporate the following novel or unusual design features...

78 FR 76980 - Special Conditions: Airbus, A350-900 Series Airplane; Interaction of Systems and Structures

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-20

... series airplanes. These airplanes will have novel or unusual design features when compared to the state...-900 series because of a novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed under Sec...)(2). Novel or Unusual Design Features The Airbus Model A350-900 series will incorporate the following...

Influence of near-bottom environmental conditions on the structure of bathyal macrobenthic crustacean assemblages from the Capbreton canyon (Bay of Biscay, NE Atlantic)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marquiegui, Mikel A.; Sorbe, Jean Claude

1999-07-01

Sled and box-corer samplings were performed at two sites in the Capbreton canyon in order to appreciate the influence of near-bottom environmental conditions on the structure of their macrobenthic communities (crustaceans). Although located at similar depths (ca. 1 000 m), these two sites were characterised by different physicochemical conditions at the sediment-water interface, probably related with the morphology of the submarine valley (reduced environment, oxygen depletion and stagnation of bottom water at site A; normal oceanic conditions on the near-bottom environment of site B). The analysis of the collected fauna revealed a low similarity between the two sites, mainly due to the unusual dominance of three epibenthic species in sled samples from site A: the amphipod Bonnierella abyssorum, the tanaid Apseudes spinosus and the isopod Arcturopsis giardi. Due to their apparent rarity or absence in adjacent non-canyon communities, such epibenthic crustaceans may be considered as `canyon indicator species' able to exhibit abundant populations within the peculiar confinement area of this canyon.

An astrobiological perspective on Meridiani Planum

USGS Publications Warehouse

Knoll, A.H.; Carr, M.; Clark, B.; Des Marais, D.J.; Farmer, J.D.; Fischer, W.W.; Grotzinger, J.P.; McLennan, S.M.; Malin, M.; Schroder, C.; Squyres, S.; Tosca, N.J.; Wdowiak, T.

2005-01-01

Sedimentary rocks exposed in the Meridiani Planum region of Mars record aqueous and eolian deposition in ancient dune and interdune playa-like environments that were arid, acidic, and oxidizing. On Earth, microbial populations have repeatedly adapted to low pH and both episodic and chronic water limitation, suggesting that, to a first approximation, the Meridiani plain may have been habitable during at least part of the interval when deposition and early diagenesis took place. On the other hand, the environmental conditions inferred for Meridiani deposition would have posed a challenge for prebiotic chemical reactions thought to have played a role in the origin of life on Earth. Orbital observations suggest that the combination of sulfate minerals and hematite found in Meridiani rocks may be unusual on the martian surface; however, there is reason to believe that acidity, aridity, and oxidizing conditions were broadly distributed on ancient Mars. When these conditions were established and how much environmental heterogeneity existed on early Mars remain to be determined. Because sulfates and iron oxides can preserve detailed geochemical records of environmental history as well as chemical, textural and microfossil signatures of biological activity, Meridiani Planum is an attractive candidate for Mars sample return. ?? 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

77 FR 64023 - Special Conditions: Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 Series Airplanes; Design Roll...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-10-18

... airplanes with modification 160023 (Sharklet). These airplanes will have novel or unusual design features..., A320, and A321 series airplanes because of a novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are... model that incorporates the same novel or unusual design feature, or should any other model already...

Marine netpen farming leads to infections with some unusual parasites.

PubMed

Kent, M L

2000-03-01

Marine netpen farming of salmonid fishes is a rapidly growing industry in several countries. With this relatively recent industry, new or unusual infections by parasitic pathogens have been observed. This is due to different hosts being reared in new geographic areas, or by indigenous species being reared in a different environmental condition, i.e. the marine netpen. Examples of the former include Kudoa thyrsites (Myxozoa) and Hemobaphes disphaerocephalus (Copepoda) infections in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) reared in the Pacific Northwest, Ceratothoa gaudichaudii (Isopoda) infections in Atlantic salmon reared in Chile, Neoparamoeba (=Paramoeba) sp. (Sacromastigophora) from salmonids reared in Tasmania, and Stephanostomum tenue (Digenea) infections in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) reared in Atlantic Canada. Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) reared in its native region, the Pacific Northwest, provides some examples of unusual or more severe infections than those normally seen in wild or freshwater reared chinook salmon. These include infections by Loma salmonae (Microsporidia), Gilguina squali (Cestoda) and the rosette agent, an undescribed fungus-like organism related to choanoflagellates. As the industry continues to expand, it is certain that more novel host-parasite relationships will be observed, providing challenges for fish farmers and parasitologists.

Integration of World Knowledge and Temporary Information about Changes in an Object's Environmental Location during Different Stages of Sentence Comprehension

PubMed Central

Chen, Xuqian; Yang, Wei; Ma, Lijun; Li, Jiaxin

2018-01-01

Recent findings have shown that information about changes in an object's environmental location in the context of discourse is stored in working memory during sentence comprehension. However, in these studies, changes in the object's location were always consistent with world knowledge (e.g., in “The writer picked up the pen from the floor and moved it to the desk,” the floor and the desk are both common locations for a pen). How do people accomplish comprehension when the object-location information in working memory is inconsistent with world knowledge (e.g., a pen being moved from the floor to the bathtub)? In two visual world experiments, with a “look-and-listen” task, we used eye-tracking data to investigate comprehension of sentences that described location changes under different conditions of appropriateness (i.e., the object and its location were typically vs. unusually coexistent, based on world knowledge) and antecedent context (i.e., contextual information that did vs. did not temporarily normalize unusual coexistence between object and location). Results showed that listeners' retrieval of the critical location was affected by both world knowledge and working memory, and the effect of world knowledge was reduced when the antecedent context normalized unusual coexistence of object and location. More importantly, activation of world knowledge and working memory seemed to change during the comprehension process. These results are important because they demonstrate that interference between world knowledge and information in working memory, appears to be activated dynamically during sentence comprehension. PMID:29520249

Integration of World Knowledge and Temporary Information about Changes in an Object's Environmental Location during Different Stages of Sentence Comprehension.

PubMed

Chen, Xuqian; Yang, Wei; Ma, Lijun; Li, Jiaxin

2018-01-01

Recent findings have shown that information about changes in an object's environmental location in the context of discourse is stored in working memory during sentence comprehension. However, in these studies, changes in the object's location were always consistent with world knowledge (e.g., in "The writer picked up the pen from the floor and moved it to the desk," the floor and the desk are both common locations for a pen). How do people accomplish comprehension when the object-location information in working memory is inconsistent with world knowledge (e.g., a pen being moved from the floor to the bathtub)? In two visual world experiments, with a "look-and-listen" task, we used eye-tracking data to investigate comprehension of sentences that described location changes under different conditions of appropriateness (i.e., the object and its location were typically vs. unusually coexistent, based on world knowledge) and antecedent context (i.e., contextual information that did vs. did not temporarily normalize unusual coexistence between object and location). Results showed that listeners' retrieval of the critical location was affected by both world knowledge and working memory, and the effect of world knowledge was reduced when the antecedent context normalized unusual coexistence of object and location. More importantly, activation of world knowledge and working memory seemed to change during the comprehension process. These results are important because they demonstrate that interference between world knowledge and information in working memory, appears to be activated dynamically during sentence comprehension.

Were multiple stressors a 'perfect storm' for northern Gulf of Mexico bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in 2011?

PubMed

Carmichael, Ruth H; Graham, William M; Aven, Allen; Worthy, Graham; Howden, Stephan

2012-01-01

An unusual number of near term and neonatal bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) mortalities occurred in the northern Gulf of Mexico (nGOM) in 2011, during the first calving season after two well documented environmental perturbations; sustained cold weather in 2010 and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill (DWHOS). Preceding the stranding event, large volumes of cold freshwater entered the nGOM due to unusually large snowmelt on the adjacent watershed, providing a third potential stressor. We consider the possibility that this extreme cold and freshwater event contributed to the pattern of perinatal dolphin strandings along the nGOM coast. During the 4-month period starting January 2011, 186 bottlenose dolphins, including 46% perinatal calves (nearly double the percentage for the same time period from 2003-2010) washed ashore from Louisiana to western Florida. Comparison of the frequency distribution of strandings to flow rates and water temperature at a monitoring buoy outside Mobile Bay, Alabama (the 4(th) largest freshwater drainage in the U.S.) and along the nGOM coast showed that dolphin strandings peaked in Julian weeks 5, 8, and 12 (February and March), following water temperature minima by 2-3 weeks. If dolphin condition was already poor due to depleted food resources, bacterial infection, or other factors, it is plausible that the spring freshet contributed to the timing and location of the unique stranding event in early 2011. These data provide strong observational evidence to assess links between the timing of the DWHOS, other local environmental stressors, and mortality of a top local predator. Targeted analyses of tissues from stranded dolphins will be essential to define a cause of death, and our findings highlight the importance of considering environmental data along with biological samples to interpret stranding patterns during and after an unusual mortality event.

7 CFR 1945.20 - Making EM loans available.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... weather condition or natural phenomenon has substantially affected farmers, causing qualifying severe... § 1945.6(c)(3)(iii) on the basis of the same unusual and adverse weather condition or natural phenomenon... chapter. (2) When a series of unusual and adverse weather conditions or natural phenomena occur in a...

Ambient intelligence application based on environmental measurements performed with an assistant mobile robot.

PubMed

Martinez, Dani; Teixidó, Mercè; Font, Davinia; Moreno, Javier; Tresanchez, Marcel; Marco, Santiago; Palacín, Jordi

2014-03-27

This paper proposes the use of an autonomous assistant mobile robot in order to monitor the environmental conditions of a large indoor area and develop an ambient intelligence application. The mobile robot uses single high performance embedded sensors in order to collect and geo-reference environmental information such as ambient temperature, air velocity and orientation and gas concentration. The data collected with the assistant mobile robot is analyzed in order to detect unusual measurements or discrepancies and develop focused corrective ambient actions. This paper shows an example of the measurements performed in a research facility which have enabled the detection and location of an uncomfortable temperature profile inside an office of the research facility. The ambient intelligent application has been developed by performing some localized ambient measurements that have been analyzed in order to propose some ambient actuations to correct the uncomfortable temperature profile.

Ambient Intelligence Application Based on Environmental Measurements Performed with an Assistant Mobile Robot

PubMed Central

Martinez, Dani; Teixidó, Mercè; Font, Davinia; Moreno, Javier; Tresanchez, Marcel; Marco, Santiago; Palacín, Jordi

2014-01-01

This paper proposes the use of an autonomous assistant mobile robot in order to monitor the environmental conditions of a large indoor area and develop an ambient intelligence application. The mobile robot uses single high performance embedded sensors in order to collect and geo-reference environmental information such as ambient temperature, air velocity and orientation and gas concentration. The data collected with the assistant mobile robot is analyzed in order to detect unusual measurements or discrepancies and develop focused corrective ambient actions. This paper shows an example of the measurements performed in a research facility which have enabled the detection and location of an uncomfortable temperature profile inside an office of the research facility. The ambient intelligent application has been developed by performing some localized ambient measurements that have been analyzed in order to propose some ambient actuations to correct the uncomfortable temperature profile. PMID:24681671

76 FR 10482 - Special Conditions: Boeing Model 787-8 Airplane; Overhead Flightcrew-Rest Compartment Occupiable...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-25

... Boeing Model 787-8 airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features associated with an... standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the... airworthiness standards. Additional special conditions will be issued for other novel or unusual design features...

78 FR 64415 - Special Conditions: Airbus, Model A350-900 Series Airplane; Ground Pivoting Loads

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-10-29

... series because of a novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed under Sec. 21.16... A350-900 series airplane will incorporate the following novel or unusual design features: a braking...-0890; Notice No. 25-13-10-SC] Special Conditions: Airbus, Model A350-900 Series Airplane; Ground...

78 FR 48734 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX BX, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-09

... market conditions. The text of the proposed rule change is attached as Exhibit 5.\\3\\ \\3\\ The Commission... event of unusual market conditions. This is a competitive filing that is based on two recently approved... expiration if unusual market conditions exist. The exchanges amended their rules to permit the opening of...

Genetic and phenotypic characteristics of baker's yeast: relevance to baking.

PubMed

Randez-Gil, Francisca; Córcoles-Sáez, Isaac; Prieto, José A

2013-01-01

Yeasts rarely encounter ideal physiological conditions during their industrial life span; therefore, their ability to adapt to changing conditions determines their usefulness and applicability. This is especially true for baking strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The success of this yeast in the ancient art of bread making is based on its capacity to rapidly transform carbohydrates into CO2 rather than its unusual resistance to environmental stresses. Moreover, baker's yeast must exhibit efficient respiratory metabolism during yeast manufacturing, which determines biomass yield. However, optimal growth conditions often have negative consequences in other commercially important aspects, such as fermentative power or stress tolerance. This article reviews the genetic and physiological characteristics of baking yeast strains, emphasizing the activation of regulatory mechanisms in response to carbon source and stress signaling and their importance in defining targets for strain selection and improvement.

Sibling species in Montastraea annularis, coral bleaching, and the coral climate record

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

Knowlton, N.; Weil, E.; Weigt, L.A.

1992-01-17

Measures of growth and skeletal isotopic ratios in the Caribbean coral Montastraea annularis are fundamental to many studies of paleoceanography, environmental degradation, and global climate change. This taxon is shown to consist of at least three sibling species in shallow water. The two most commonly studied of these show highly significant differences in growth rate and oxygen isotopic ratios, parameters routinely used to estimate past climatic conditions; unusual coloration in the third may have confused research on coral bleaching. Interpretation or comparison of past and current studies can be jeopardized by ignoring these species boundaries.

External Surface Changes Observed on the International Space Station (ISS) Through 2012

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Golden, Johnny L.

2012-01-01

As the International Space Station (ISS) surpasses 13 years of on-orbit operation, 11 of those years continuously inhabited, external surfaces of the vehicle have shown a wide variety of visible environmental effects. Throughout, the ISS program has maintained a significant effort to routinely document the vehicle external surface condition and to monitor those changes with time. The impacts of micrometeoroids and orbital debris, surface changes from molecular contamination of various sources, and the effects of ultraviolet radiation and atomic oxygen have all been noted. The tremendous size and complexity of the ISS vehicle has yielded a wide variety of observations of interest to the spacecraft materials engineer concerning long-term, low earth orbit (LEO) space environmental effects (SEE). In addition, inadvertent materials substitutions have been identified because of these environmental effects, as well as inadequate contamination control practices likely occurring during hardware manufacture and assembly. Some of the observations from our photography are purely artifacts of the unusual lighting conditions and environments that exist in space. A compilation of ISS on-orbit photography representing all of these aspects is presented, demonstrating the various SEE and their impacts as a function of time in LEO, including interpretations of those effects.

78 FR 41176 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; NASDAQ OMX PHLX LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-09

... market conditions. The text of the proposed rule change is available on the Exchange's Web site at http... business day prior to a monthly expiration in the event of unusual market conditions. This is a competitive... expiration if unusual market conditions exist. NYSE MKT, NYSE Arca, and CBOE amended their rules to permit...

Indoor environmental and air quality characteristics, building-related health symptoms, and worker productivity in a federal government building complex.

PubMed

Lukcso, David; Guidotti, Tee Lamont; Franklin, Donald E; Burt, Allan

2016-01-01

Building Health Sciences, Inc. (BHS), investigated environmental conditions by many modalities in 71 discreet areas of 12 buildings in a government building complex that had experienced persistent occupant complaints despite correction of deficiencies following a prior survey. An online health survey was completed by 7,637 building occupants (49% response rate), a subset of whom voluntarily wore personal sampling apparatus and underwent medical evaluation. Building environmental measures were within current standards and guidelines, with few outliers. Four environmental factors were consistently associated with group-level building-related health complaints: physical comfort/discomfort, odor, job stress, and glare. Several other factors were frequently commented on by participants, including cleanliness, renovation and construction activities, and noise. Low relative humidity was significantly associated with lower respiratory and "sick building syndrome"-type symptoms. No other environmental conditions (including formaldehyde, PM10 [particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <10 μm], or mold levels, which were tested by 7 parameters) correlated directly with individual health symptoms. Indicators of atopy or allergy (sinusitis, allergies, and asthma), when present singly, in combinations of 2 conditions, or together, were hierarchically associated with the following: increased absence, increased presenteeism (presence at work but at reduced capacity), and increase in reported symptom-days, including symptoms not related to respiratory disease. We found that in buildings without unusual hazards and with environmental and air quality indicators within the range of acceptable indoor air quality standards, there is an identifiable population of occupants with a high prevalence of asthma and allergic disease who disproportionately report discomfort and lost productivity due to symptoms and that in "normal" buildings these outcome indicators are more closely associated with host factors than with environmental conditions. We concluded from the experience of this study that building-related health complaints should be investigated at the work-area level and not at a building-wide level. An occupant-centric medical evaluation should guide environmental investigations, especially when screening results of building indoor environmental and air quality measurements show that the building and its work areas are within regulatory standards and industry guidelines.

Non-ureolytic calcium carbonate precipitation by Lysinibacillus sp. YS11 isolated from the rhizosphere of Miscanthus sacchariflorus.

PubMed

Lee, Yun Suk; Kim, Hyun Jung; Park, Woojun

2017-06-01

Although microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) through ureolysis has been widely studied in environmental engineering fields, urea utilization might cause environmental problems as a result of ammonia and nitrate production. In this study, many non-ureolytic calcium carbonate-precipitating bacteria that induced an alkaline environment were isolated from the rhizosphere of Miscanthus sacchariflorus near an artificial stream and their ability to precipitate calcium carbonate minerals with the absence of urea was investigated. MICP was observed using a phase-contrast microscope and ion-selective electrode. Only Lysinibacillus sp. YS11 showed MICP in aerobic conditions. Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry and X-ray diffraction confirmed the presence of calcium carbonate. Field emission scanning electron microscopy analysis indicated the formation of morphologically distinct minerals around cells under these conditions. Monitoring of bacterial growth, pH changes, and Ca 2+ concentrations under aerobic, hypoxia, and anaerobic conditions suggested that strain YS11 could induce alkaline conditions up to a pH of 8.9 and utilize 95% of free Ca 2+ only under aerobic conditions. Unusual Ca 2+ binding and its release from cells were observed under hypoxia conditions. Biofilm and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) formation were enhanced during MICP. Strain YS11 has resistance at high pH and in high salt concentrations, as well as its spore-forming ability, which supports its potential application for self-healing concrete.

Identification of new TSGA10 transcript variants in human testis with conserved regulatory RNA elements in 5'untranslated region and distinct expression in breast cancer.

PubMed

Salehipour, Pouya; Nematzadeh, Mahsa; Mobasheri, Maryam Beigom; Afsharpad, Mandana; Mansouri, Kamran; Modarressi, Mohammad Hossein

2017-09-01

Testis specific gene antigen 10 (TSGA10) is a cancer testis antigen involved in the process of spermatogenesis. TSGA10 could also play an important role in the inhibition of angiogenesis by preventing nuclear localization of HIF-1α. Although it has been shown that TSGA10 messenger RNA (mRNA) is mainly expressed in testis and some tumors, the transcription pattern and regulatory mechanisms of this gene remain largely unknown. Here, we report that human TSGA10 comprises at least 22 exons and generates four different transcript variants. It was identified that using two distinct promoters and splicing of exons 4 and 7 produced these transcript variants, which have the same coding sequence, but the sequence of 5'untanslated region (5'UTR) is different between them. This is significant because conserved regulatory RNA elements like upstream open reading frame (uORF) and putative internal ribosome entry site (IRES) were found in this region which have different combinations in each transcript variant and it may influence translational efficiency of them in normal or unusual environmental conditions like hypoxia. To indicate the transcription pattern of TSGA10 in breast cancer, expression of identified transcript variants was analyzed in 62 breast cancer samples. We found that TSGA10 tends to express variants with shorter 5'UTR and fewer uORF elements in breast cancer tissues. Our study demonstrates for the first time the expression of different TSGA10 transcript variants in testis and breast cancer tissues and provides a first clue to a role of TSGA10 5'UTR in regulation of translation in unusual environmental conditions like hypoxia. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

78 FR 36084 - Special Conditions: The Boeing Company, Model 717-200 Series Airplanes; Seats With Inflatable...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-06-17

... 717- 200 series airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature [[Page 36085... series airplanes will incorporate the following novel or unusual design features: inflatable lapbelts on... certain novel or unusual design features on one model series of airplanes. It is not a rule of general...

Conditional Anomaly Detection with Soft Harmonic Functions

PubMed Central

Valko, Michal; Kveton, Branislav; Valizadegan, Hamed; Cooper, Gregory F.; Hauskrecht, Milos

2012-01-01

In this paper, we consider the problem of conditional anomaly detection that aims to identify data instances with an unusual response or a class label. We develop a new non-parametric approach for conditional anomaly detection based on the soft harmonic solution, with which we estimate the confidence of the label to detect anomalous mislabeling. We further regularize the solution to avoid the detection of isolated examples and examples on the boundary of the distribution support. We demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed method on several synthetic and UCI ML datasets in detecting unusual labels when compared to several baseline approaches. We also evaluate the performance of our method on a real-world electronic health record dataset where we seek to identify unusual patient-management decisions. PMID:25309142

Conditional Anomaly Detection with Soft Harmonic Functions.

PubMed

Valko, Michal; Kveton, Branislav; Valizadegan, Hamed; Cooper, Gregory F; Hauskrecht, Milos

2011-01-01

In this paper, we consider the problem of conditional anomaly detection that aims to identify data instances with an unusual response or a class label. We develop a new non-parametric approach for conditional anomaly detection based on the soft harmonic solution, with which we estimate the confidence of the label to detect anomalous mislabeling. We further regularize the solution to avoid the detection of isolated examples and examples on the boundary of the distribution support. We demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed method on several synthetic and UCI ML datasets in detecting unusual labels when compared to several baseline approaches. We also evaluate the performance of our method on a real-world electronic health record dataset where we seek to identify unusual patient-management decisions.

Extremophilic and extremotolerant actinomycetes in different soil types

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zenova, G. M.; Manucharova, N. A.; Zvyagintsev, D. G.

2011-04-01

Problems on the resistance of soil actinomycetes to various environmental factors (pH, salinity, temperature, and moisture) are discussed. Actinomycetes as a special group of prokaryotes were revealed to have a greater range of tolerance to these factors than was thought earlier. The regularities of the distribution of extremophilic and extremotolerant actinomycetes developing in unusual for mycelial bacteria conditions, their structural-functional characteristics, and their taxonomic composition were determined. The predominance of acidophilic representatives of the Micromonospora genus in acid soils (typical peat, soddy-podzolic, and taiga podzol) and the haloalkaliphilic Streptomyces pluricilirescens and S. prunicolor species in desert saline soils are shown. The specific features of the actinomycete complexes on thermal fields of the weakly developed stratified volcanic soils are described. In these complexes, the thermophilic forms were represented only by species of the Micromonospora genus; and the mesophilic forms, by Microbispora species. In the periodically heated desert soils, among the thermophilic actinomycetes, representatives of rare Actinomadura, Saccharopolyspora and Streptosporangium genera along with Streptomyces species were indicated. The mechanisms of the resistance of the actinomycetes to the extreme environmental conditions are discussed.

Airborne irritant contact dermatitis due to synthetic fibres from an air-conditioning filter.

PubMed

Patiwael, Jiska A; Wintzen, Marjolein; Rustemeyer, Thomas; Bruynzeel, Derk P

2005-03-01

We describe 8 cases of occupational airborne irritant contact dermatitis in intensive care unit (ICU) employees caused by synthetic (polypropylene and polyethylene) fibres from an air-conditioning filter. Not until a workplace investigation was conducted, was it possible to clarify the unusual sequence of events. High filter pressure in the intensive care air-conditioning system, maintained to establish an outward airflow and prevent microorganisms from entering the ward, probably caused fibres from the filter to become airborne. Upon contact with air-exposed skin, fibres subsequently provoked skin irritation. Test periods in the ICU with varying filter pressures, in an attempt to improve environmental conditions, led to even higher filter pressure levels and more complaints. The sometimes-very-low humidity might have contributed to development of skin irritation. The fact that most patients recovered quickly after treatment with emollients and changing the filters made it most likely that the airborne dermatitis was of an irritant nature.

The phenomenon of claimed memories of previous lives: possible interpretations and importance.

PubMed

Stevenson, I

2000-04-01

Several disorders or abnormalities observed in medicine and psychology are not explicable (or not fully explicable) by genetics and environmental influences, either alone or together. These include phobias and philias observed in early infancy, unusual play in childhood, homosexuality, gender identity disorder, a child's idea of having parents other than its own, differences in temperament manifested soon after birth, unusual birthmarks and their correspondence with wounds on a deceased person, unusual birth defects, and differences (physical and behavioral) between monozygotic twins. The hypothesis of previous lives can contribute to the further understanding of these phenomena. Copyright 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.

78 FR 21037 - Special Conditions: Airbus Model A330-200 Airplanes; Bulk Cargo Lower Deck Crew Rest Compartments

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-09

... A330- 200 airplane. This airplane as modified by TTF Aerospace LLC will have a novel or unusual design... airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These... novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are prescribed under the provisions of Sec. 21.16...

Survival and Energy Producing Strategies of Alkane Degraders Under Extreme Conditions and Their Biotechnological Potential.

PubMed

Park, Chulwoo; Park, Woojun

2018-01-01

Many petroleum-polluted areas are considered as extreme environments because of co-occurrence of low and high temperatures, high salt, and acidic and anaerobic conditions. Alkanes, which are major constituents of crude oils, can be degraded under extreme conditions, both aerobically and anaerobically by bacteria and archaea of different phyla. Alkane degraders possess exclusive metabolic pathways and survival strategies, which involve the use of protein and RNA chaperones, compatible solutes, biosurfactants, and exopolysaccharide production for self-protection during harsh environmental conditions such as oxidative and osmotic stress, and ionic nutrient-shortage. Recent findings suggest that the thermophilic sulfate-reducing archaeon Archaeoglobus fulgidus uses a novel alkylsuccinate synthase for long-chain alkane degradation, and the thermophilic Candidatus Syntrophoarchaeum butanivorans anaerobically oxidizes butane via alkyl-coenzyme M formation. In addition, gene expression data suggest that extremophiles produce energy via the glyoxylate shunt and the Pta-AckA pathway when grown on a diverse range of alkanes under stress conditions. Alkane degraders possess biotechnological potential for bioremediation because of their unusual characteristics. This review will provide genomic and molecular insights on alkane degraders under extreme conditions.

Effect of changes in milking routine on milking related behaviour and milk removal in Tunisian dairy dromedary camels.

PubMed

Atigui, Moufida; Marnet, Pierre-Guy; Ayeb, Naziha; Khorchani, Touhami; Hammadi, Mohamed

2014-11-01

We studied the effects of changes in the milking routine (lack or presence of 30-s prestimulation, 0 or 1, 2 or 4-min delay between preparation and cluster attachment) and environmental perturbation (unusual loud sounds capable of frightening animals just after stall entry or during the course of milking) on milk removal and milking-related behaviour in dairy dromedary camels. A 30-s prestimulation decreased incidence of bimodal milk flow curves and increased occurrence of the best milk ejection patterns with higher milk flow but had limited effect on milk production in our well-trained animals within a good machine milking setting. However, unusual sounds heard from the beginning of milking or even after milk ejection caused inhibition or disruption of milk removal and modification of camels' behaviour. Milk ejection was significantly delayed (1·58±0·17 min), residual milk increased over 40% of total milk yield and average and peak milk flow rates were significantly lowered when unusual noises were heard from the beginning of milking. These environmental perturbations increased signs of vigilance and the number of attempts to escape the milking parlour. Delaying cluster attachment for over 1 min after the end of udder preparation caused serious milk losses. Up to 62% of total milk was withheld in the udder when the delay reached 4 min. Average and peak milk flow rates also decreased significantly with delayed milking. Signs of vigilance and attempts to escape from the milking parlour appeared when camels waited for over 2 min. After a 4-min delay, camels showed signs of acute stress. Defaecation prior to milk ejection (solid faeces) and rumination during milking can be used to assess camels' milk ejection during milking. Animal welfare and milking efficiency can be ensured when camels are pre-stimulated, milked in calm conditions and with cluster attachment within a maximum of a 1-min delay after stimulation.

Conditional anomaly detection methods for patient–management alert systems

PubMed Central

Valko, Michal; Cooper, Gregory; Seybert, Amy; Visweswaran, Shyam; Saul, Melissa; Hauskrecht, Milos

2010-01-01

Anomaly detection methods can be very useful in identifying unusual or interesting patterns in data. A recently proposed conditional anomaly detection framework extends anomaly detection to the problem of identifying anomalous patterns on a subset of attributes in the data. The anomaly always depends (is conditioned) on the value of remaining attributes. The work presented in this paper focuses on instance–based methods for detecting conditional anomalies. The methods rely on the distance metric to identify examples in the dataset that are most critical for detecting the anomaly. We investigate various metrics and metric learning methods to optimize the performance of the instance–based anomaly detection methods. We show the benefits of the instance–based methods on two real–world detection problems: detection of unusual admission decisions for patients with the community–acquired pneumonia and detection of unusual orders of an HPF4 test that is used to confirm Heparin induced thrombocytopenia — a life–threatening condition caused by the Heparin therapy. PMID:25392850

Genotype-by-environment effect on bioactive compounds in strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.).

PubMed

Palmieri, Luisa; Masuero, Domenico; Martinatti, Paolo; Baratto, Giuseppe; Martens, Stefan; Vrhovsek, Urska

2017-09-01

The assessment of the relative contribution of genotype, environment and the genotype-by-environmental (G × E) interaction to the performance of varieties is necessary when determining adaptation capacity. The influence of temperature, ultraviolet (UV)-irradiation and sunshine duration on the quality and the composition of fruits was investigated in nine strawberry cultivars grown at three different altitudes. The UV-radiation intensity affected both pH and sugar content, which were higher for most of the varieties at low altitudes, whereas total titratable acidity was less. Fruits from plants grown at low elevation generally had a higher benzoic acid derivative content. A significant correlation was found between phenylpropanoid content and UV-radiation and sunshine duration. The flavone class appeared to be affected most by the variety effect, in contrast to flavonols and ellagitannins, which were highly affected by the environment. The accumulation of a number of secondary metabolites in strawberry fruits grown in an unusual environmental condition highlighted the acclimation effects in terms of the response of plants to abiotic stress. Finally, the genetic factor only appears to be more influential for the varieties 'Sveva' and 'Marmolada' with respect to all of the parameters considered. A 'plant environmental metabolomics' approach has been used successfully to assess the phenotypic plasticity of varieties that showed different magnitudes with respect to the relationship between environmental conditions and the accumulation of healthy compounds. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Environmental Science: Activities with Plants of the Southwest.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hackley, Sharon; Hackley, Mike

In this book for students of all ages, the author introduces unusual recipe ideas for the prickly, odd, and pestiferous plants of the American southwestern desert. Students are involved in cooking activities designed to spark interest in ecology, trigger logical thinking, utilize math skills, and build sound environmental concepts. Care was taken…

[Guidelines on asthma in extreme environmental conditions].

PubMed

Drobnic, Franchek; Borderías Clau, Luis

2009-01-01

Asthma is a highly prevalent chronic disease which, if not properly controlled, can limit the patient's activities and lifestyle. In recent decades, owing to the diffusion of educational materials, the application of clinical guidelines and, most importantly, the availability of effective pharmacological treatment, most patients with asthma are now able to lead normal lives. Significant social changes have also taken place during the same period, including more widespread pursuit of sporting activities and tourism. As a result of these changes, individuals with asthma can now participate in certain activities that were inconceivable for these patients only a few years ago, including winter sports, underwater activities, air flight, and travel to remote places with unusual environmental conditions (deserts, high mountain environments, and tropical regions). In spite of the publication of several studies on this subject, our understanding of the effects of these situations on patients with asthma is still limited. The Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) has decided to publish these recommendations based on the available evidence and expert opinion in order to provide information on this topic to both doctors and patients and to avert potentially dangerous situations that could endanger the lives of these patients.

23 CFR 668.103 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... remaining facilities, or (3) Restoring essential traffic. External cause. An outside force or phenomenon... occasionally unusual natural conditions or occurrences. It includes work at a site required as a direct result..., emergency or contingency program. Natural disaster. A sudden and unusual natural occurrence, including but...

The life-history basis of behavioural innovations

PubMed Central

Sol, Daniel; Sayol, Ferran; Ducatez, Simon; Lefebvre, Louis

2016-01-01

The evolutionary origin of innovativeness remains puzzling because innovating means responding to novel or unusual problems and hence is unlikely to be selected by itself. A plausible alternative is considering innovativeness as a co-opted product of traits that have evolved for other functions yet together predispose individuals to solve problems by adopting novel behaviours. However, this raises the question of why these adaptations should evolve together in an animal. Here, we develop the argument that the adaptations enabling animals to innovate evolve together because they are jointly part of a life-history strategy for coping with environmental changes. In support of this claim, we present comparative evidence showing that in birds, (i) innovative propensity is linked to life histories that prioritize future over current reproduction, (ii) the link is in part explained by differences in brain size, and (iii) innovative propensity and life-history traits may evolve together in generalist species that frequently expose themselves to novel or unusual conditions. Combined with previous evidence, these findings suggest that innovativeness is not a specialized adaptation but more likely part of a broader general adaptive system to cope with changes in the environment. PMID:26926277

Relationship Between Unusual High-Temperature Fatigue Crack Growth Threshold Behavior in Superalloys and Sudden Failure Mode Transitions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Telesman, J.; Smith, T. M.; Gabb, T. P.; Ring, A. J.

2017-01-01

An investigation of high temperature cyclic fatigue crack growth (FCG) threshold behavior of two advanced nickel disk alloys was conducted. The focus of the study was the unusual crossover effect in the near-threshold region of these type of alloys where conditions which produce higher crack growth rates in the Paris regime, produce higher resistance to crack growth in the near threshold regime. It was shown that this crossover effect is associated with a sudden change in the fatigue failure mode from a predominant transgranular mode in the Paris regime to fully intergranular mode in the threshold fatigue crack growth region. This type of a sudden change in the fracture mechanisms has not been previously reported and is surprising considering that intergranular failure is typically associated with faster crack growth rates and not the slow FCG rates of the near-threshold regime. By characterizing this behavior as a function of test temperature, environment and cyclic frequency, it was determined that both the crossover effect and the onset of intergranular failure are caused by environmentally driven mechanisms which have not as yet been fully identified. A plausible explanation for the observed behavior is proposed.

Can We Teach the Environmental History of the Holocaust?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Morgan, Verity

2017-01-01

Verity Morgan took an unusual approach to the challenge of teaching the Holocaust, coming to it through the lens of environmental history. She shares here the practical means and resources she used to engage pupils with this current trend in historiography, and its associated concepts. Reflecting on her pupils' responses, Morgan makes a case for…

Global drought watch from space at work: Crop losses and food security

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kogan, F.

2012-12-01

Drought is one of the most adverse environmental disasters. It affects countries economies, environment a very large number of people in the world. Only in the USA drought costs taxpayers nearly $6 billion each year. Drought is a very unusual phenomenon because unlike other environmental disaster it starts unnoticeably, develop cumulatively, the impact is also cumulative and by the time when the effect of drought is observable it is too late to mitigate the consequences. Therefore, it is difficult to mitigate droughts using in situ data. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) developed new method for drought detection and monitoring from reflectance measured by the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer flown on NOAA polar-orbiting operational environmental satellites. The method calculates Vegetation Health (VH) indices, which estimate vegetation condition (health) on a scale from extreme stress to favorable conditions based on intensity of greenness, vigor and thermal condition of vegetation canopy. The VH is estimated every week for each 4 by 4 km earth surface and is delivered to the NOAA/NESDIS web site in digital and color-coded form. The web site address is the following http://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/smcd/emb/vci/VH/index.php In addition to drought and vegetation health monitoring, the VH indices are applied in agriculture, forestry, mosquito-borne diseases, climate, invasive species and others. During the first seven months of 2009, drought was observed in the southern US (especially Texas), Argentina (very intensive drought), some of the countries of sub-Sahara Africa, India (central and eastern), Kazakhstan and Australia.

A reassessment of the budget of formic and acetic acids in the boundary layer at Dumont d'Urville (coastal Antarctica): The role of penguin emissions on the budget of several oxygenated volatile organic compounds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Legrand, Michel; Gros, ValéRie; Preunkert, Susanne; Sarda-EstèVe, Roland; Thierry, Anne-Mathilde; PéPy, Guillaume; Jourdain, B.

2012-03-01

Initiated in 1997, the year-round study of formic and acetic acids was maintained until 2011 at the coastal Antarctic site of Dumont d'Urville. The records show that formic and acetic acids are rather abundant in summer with typical mixing ratios of 200 pptv and 700 pptv, respectively. With the aim to constrain their budget, investigations of their potential marine precursors like short-chain alkenes and acetaldehyde were initiated in 2011. Acetic acid levels in December 2010 were four times higher than those observed over summers back to 1997. These unusually high levels were accompanied by unusually high levels of ammonia, and by an enrichment of oxalate in aerosols. These observations suggest that the guano decomposition in the large penguin colonies present at the site was particularly strong under weather conditions encountered in spring 2010 (important snow storms followed by sunny days with mild temperatures). Although being dependent on environmental conditions, this process greatly impacts the local atmospheric budget of acetic acid, acetaldehyde, and acetone during the entire summer season. Present at levels as high as 500 pptv, acetaldehyde may represent the major precursor of acetic acid, alkene-ozone reactions remaining insignificant sources. Far less influenced by penguin emissions, the budget of formic acid remains not fully understood even if alkene-ozone reactions contribute significantly.

Development and pilot validation of a sensory reactivity scale for adults with high functioning autism spectrum conditions: Sensory Reactivity in Autism Spectrum (SR-AS).

PubMed

Elwin, Marie; Schröder, Agneta; Ek, Lena; Kjellin, Lars

2016-01-01

Unusual reactions to sensory stimuli are experienced by 90-95% of people with an autism spectrum condition (ASC). Self-reported sensory reactivity in ASC has mainly been measured with generic questionnaires developed and validated on data from the general population. Interest in sensory reactivity in ASC increased after the inclusion of hyper- and hypo-reactivity together with unusual sensory interest as diagnostic markers of ASC in the DSM-5. To develop and pilot validate a self-report questionnaire designed from first-hand descriptions of the target group of adults diagnosed with high functioning ASC. Psychometric properties of the questionnaire were evaluated on a sample of participants with ASC diagnoses (N = 71) and a random sample from the general population (N = 162). The Sensory Reactivity in Autism Spectrum (SR-AS is intended to be used as a screening tool in diagnostic processes with adults and for support in adapting compensating strategies and environmental adjustments. The internal consistency was high for both the SR-AS and its subscales. The total scale Cronbach's alpha was 0.96 and the subscales alphas were ≥ 0.80. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) showed best fit for a four-factor model of inter-correlated factors: hyper and hypo-reactivity, strong sensory interest and a sensory/motor factor. The questionnaire discriminated well between ASC-diagnosed participants and participants from the general population. The SR-AS displayed good internal consistency and discriminatory power and promising factorial validity.

Synergies between climate anomalies and hydrological modifications facilitate estuarine biotic invasions.

PubMed

Winder, Monika; Jassby, Alan D; Mac Nally, Ralph

2011-08-01

Environmental perturbation, climate change and international commerce are important drivers for biological invasions. Climate anomalies can further increase levels of habitat disturbance and act synergistically to elevate invasion risk. Herein, we use a historical data set from the upper San Francisco Estuary to provide the first empirical evidence for facilitation of invasions by climate extremes. Invasive zooplankton species did not become established in this estuary until the 1970s when increasing propagule pressure from Asia coincided with extended drought periods. Hydrological management exacerbated the effects of post-1960 droughts and reduced freshwater inflow even further, increasing drought severity and allowing unusually extreme salinity intrusions. Native zooplankton experienced unprecedented conditions of high salinity and intensified benthic grazing, and life history attributes of invasive zooplankton were advantageous enough during droughts to outcompete native species and colonise the system. Extreme climatic events can therefore act synergistically with environmental perturbation to facilitate the establishment of invasive species. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd/CNRS.

National Program for Inspection of Non-Federal Dams. Powdermill Brook Detention Dam (MA 00605) Connecticut River Basin, Westfield, Massachusetts. Phase I Inspection Report.

DTIC Science & Technology

1978-08-01

Date Not Known Surface Cracks None observed Pavement Condition No Pavement Movement or Settlement of Crest None observed Lateral Movement None...Protection - Riprap Failures No riprapp ap • .• Unusual Movement or Cracking at or None observed near Toes Unusual Embankment or Downstream None...Seepage or Efflorescence None observed Joint Alignment Good Unusual Seepage or Leaks in Gate Chamber Cracks None observed . Rusting or Corrosion of

Shrinking pleuritis with lobar atelectasis, a morphologic variant of round atelectasis

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

Chung-Park, M.; Tomashefski, J.F. Jr.; Cohen, A.M.

1989-04-01

Round atelectasis (shrinking pleuritis) is typically a localized process characterized by focal pleural scarring and subjacent peripheral atelectasis. We report three patients, studied at autopsy, with an unusual variant of round atelectasis, termed shrinking pleuritis with lobar atelectasis, which is characterized by lobar atelectasis, visceral pleural fibrosis involving multiple lobes, interlobar fibrous cords, pleural effusion, and nonspecific, persistent infiltrates on chest radiogram. The possible causes of shrinking pleuritis with lobar atelectasis in our patients were multiple and included environmental dust exposure, infection, uremia, and recurrent pleural effusions. Our findings support both the folding (pleural effusion) and fibrosing (pleural injury) theoriesmore » of pathogenesis of round atelectasis and emphasize the spectrum of morphologic variability in this condition.« less

Penetrating radiation: applications at Los Alamos National Laboratory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Watson, Scott; Hunter, James; Morris, Christopher

2013-09-01

Los Alamos has used penetrating radiography extensively throughout its history dating back to the Manhattan Project where imaging dense, imploding objects was the subject of intense interest. This interest continues today as major facilities like DARHT1 have become the mainstay of the US Stockpile Stewardship Program2 and the cornerstone of nuclear weapons certification. Meanwhile, emerging threats to national security from cargo containers and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) have invigorated inspection efforts using muon tomography, and compact x-ray radiography. Additionally, unusual environmental threats, like those from underwater oil spills and nuclear power plant accidents, have caused renewed interest in fielding radiography in severe operating conditions. We review the history of penetrating radiography at Los Alamos and survey technologies as presently applied to these important problems.

Evaluation of Drugs for Prevention of Hyperthermia in Rats Exposed to Microwave Irradiation.

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-03-04

is deficient in antidiuretic hormone (ADH) and has diabetes insipidus (DI). The latter condition causes unusually high water intake and urine...ADH) and consequently has diabetes ihsipidus (DI). A DI-rat, also known as Brattleboro rat, has both unusually high water intake and rate of

76 FR 36863 - Special Conditions: Gulfstream Model GVI Airplane; Electronic Systems Security Protection From...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-23

... airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features associated with the architecture and... incorporate the following novel or unusual design features: Digital systems architecture composed of several connected networks. The proposed architecture and network configuration may be used for, or interfaced with...

78 FR 68986 - Special Conditions: Boeing Model 777-200, -300, and -300ER Series Airplanes; Aircraft Electronic...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-11-18

... The Boeing Company, will have novel or unusual design features associated with the architecture and... proposed architecture is novel or unusual for commercial transport airplanes by enabling connection to... system architecture or electronic access to aircraft systems. Furthermore, regulations and current system...

Forced flow evaporator for unusual gravity conditions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Niggemann, Richard E. (Inventor); Ellis, Wilbert E. (Inventor)

1987-01-01

Low efficiency heat transfer in evaporators subject to unusual gravitational conditions is avoided through the use of a spiral evaporator conduit 12 receiving at an inlet 14 a vaporizable coolant at least partly in the liquid phase. Flow of the coolant through the conduit 12 demists the coolant by centrifuging the liquid phase against a pressurre wall 44 of the conduit 12. Vapor flow 40 induces counterrotating vortices 46, 48 which circulate the liquid phase coolant around the interior of the conduit 12 to wet all surfaces thereof.

Nuclear Forensics and Radiochemistry: Chemistry

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

Rundberg, Robert S.

The chemical behavior of radioactive elements can differ from conventional wisdom because the number of atoms can be unusually small. Kinetic effects and unusual oxidation states are phenomena that make radiochemistry different from conventional analytic chemistry. The procedures developed at Los Alamos are designed to minimize these effects and provide reproducible results over a wide range of sample types. The analysis of nuclear debris has the additional complication of chemical fractionation and the incorporation of environmental contaminants. These are dealt with through the use of three component isotope ratios and the use of appropriate end members.

Harmful Algal Bloom Hotspots Really Are Hot: A Case Study from Monterey Bay, California

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kudela, R. M.; Anderson, C.; Birch, J. M.; Bowers, H.; Caron, D. A.; Chao, Y.; Doucette, G.; Farrara, J. D.; Gellene, A. G.; Negrey, K.; Howard, M. D.; Ryan, J. P.; Scholin, C. A.; Smith, J.; Sukhatme, G.

2015-12-01

Monterey Bay, California is one of several recognized hotspots for harmful algal blooms along the US west coast, particularly for the toxigenic diatom Pseudo-nitzschia, which produces domoic acid and is responsible for Amnesic Shellfish Poisoning. Historical observations have linked bloom activity to anomalously warm conditions with weak and sporadic upwelling. In particular, blooms appear to be associated with El Niño conditions. Monterey, as with much of the US west coast, experienced unusual warm conditions in spring and summer 2014, leading to multiple ecosystem effects including massive algal blooms, concentration of apex predators nearshore, and unusually high levels of domoic acid. As the warm anomalies continued and strengthened into 2015, Monterey (and much of the west coast) has been experiencing the largest and most toxic algal bloom recorded in the last 15 years, as well as unprecedented coccolithophore blooms associated with warm, nutrient-depleted waters. With the strengthening El Niño conditions developing in summer 2015, it is possible that 2016 will result in a third consecutive year of unusually toxic algal blooms. Using a combination of historical observations, intensive field studies, and predictive models we explore the hypothesis that these warm anomalies lead to shifts in the typical upwelling-dominated food web leading to a collapse of the ecosystem towards the coast, unusual algal blooms, and enhanced trophic transfer of toxins, resulting in magnified negative impacts to wildlife and, potentially, humans.

78 FR 68985 - Special Conditions: Boeing Model 777-200, -300, and -300ER Series Airplanes; Aircraft Electronic...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-11-18

... modified by the Boeing Company, will have novel or unusual design features associated with the architecture..., and fiber-optic avionics networks. The proposed architecture is novel or unusual for commercial... material did not anticipate this type of system architecture or electronic access to aircraft systems...

78 FR 75287 - Special Conditions: Bombardier Inc., Models BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 Series Airplanes; Flight...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-11

... appropriate safety standards for the C-series airplanes because of a novel or unusual design feature, special... Features The C-series airplanes will incorporate the following novel or unusual design features: new... Series Airplanes; Flight Envelope Protection: General Limiting Requirements AGENCY: Federal Aviation...

77 FR 64025 - Special Conditions: Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 Series Airplanes; Interaction of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-10-18

... series airplanes with modification 160023 (Sharklet). These airplanes will have novel or unusual design... novel or unusual design features on the model series of airplanes listed above. It is not a rule of... Series Airplanes; Interaction of Systems and Structures AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA...

Large and unexpected runup events and their relation to the incident wave field

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, C.; Ozkan-Haller, H. T.; Garcia-Medina, G.; Holman, R. A.; Ruggiero, P.

2016-12-01

Unusually large runup events are important for the prediction of dune erosion, inundation and coastal flooding during storms and lie at the tail of swash maxima probability distributions. We also distinguish a unique type of large runup event that is sudden and unexpected even if the landward reach of the runup is not a statistical extreme. These unusual runup events are anecdotally reported to be more prevalent on dissipative beaches and are the leading cause of death by drowning along the U.S. Pacific Northwest (northern California, Oregon, and Washington). Herein we examine the environmental conditions that are conducive to large and unexpected runup events and begin to forecast their potential occurrence, validating these predictions with ongoing observations. We explore and compare the statistics of large runup events on two beach types, a dissipative beach at Agate Beach, OR, and the intermediate/reflective site at Duck, NC. Video-based runup observations along with incident wave information from offshore instrumentation are used to assess how frequently large or unexpected runup events occur, how the statistics of these runup events relate to the incident wave characteristics (e.g. height, period, narrow-bandedness), and whether or not these events are indeed more prevalent on dissipative beaches.

A combination of body condition measurements is more informative than conventional condition indices: temporal variation in body condition and corticosterone in brown tree snakes (Boiga irregularis).

PubMed

Waye, Heather L; Mason, Robert T

2008-02-01

The body condition index is a common method for quantifying the energy reserves of individual animals. Because good body condition is necessary for reproduction in many species, body condition indices can indicate the potential reproductive output of a population. Body condition is related to glucocorticoid production, in that low body condition is correlated to high concentrations of corticosterone in reptiles. We compared the body condition index and plasma corticosterone levels of brown tree snakes on Guam in 2003 to those collected in 1992/1993 to determine whether that population still showed the chronic stress and poor condition apparent in the earlier study. We also examined the relationship between fat mass, body condition and plasma corticosterone concentrations as indicators of physiological condition of individuals in the population. Body condition was significantly higher in 2003 than in the earlier sample for mature male and female snakes, but not for juveniles. The significantly lower levels of corticosterone in all three groups in 2003 suggests that although juveniles did not have significantly improved energy stores they, along with the mature males and females, were no longer under chronic levels of stress. Although the wet season of 2002 was unusually rainy, low baseline levels of corticosterone measured in 2000 indicate that the improved body condition of snakes in 2003 is likely the result of long-term changes in prey populations rather than annual variation in response to environmental conditions.

Environmental control on water quality; cases studies from Battle Mountain mining district, north-central Nevada. Chapter A.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Tuttle, Michele L.W.; Wanty, Richard B.; Berger, Byron R.; Stillings, Lisa L.

2003-01-01

The environmental controls on water quality were the focus of our study in a portion of the Battle Mountain mining district, north-central Nevada. Samples representing areas outside known mineralized areas, in undisturbed mineralized areas, and in mined areas were chemically and isotopically analyzed. The results are related to geologic, hydrologic, and climatic data. Streams in background areas outside the mineralized zones reflect normal weathering of volcanically derived rocks. The waters are generally dilute, slightly alkaline in pH, and very low in metals. As these streams flow into mineralized zones, their character changes. In undisturbed mineralized areas, discharge into streams of ground water through hydrologically conductive fractures can be traced with chemistry and, even more effectively, with sulfur isotopic composition of dissolved sulfate. Generally, these tracers are much more subtle than in those areas where mining has produced adits and mine-waste piles. The influence of drainage from these mining relicts on water quality is often dramatic, especially in unusually wet conditions. In one heavily mined area, we were able to show that the unusually wet weather in the winter and spring greatly degraded water quality. Addition of calcite to the acid, metalrich mine drainage raised the stream pH and nearly quantitatively removed the metals through coprecipitation and (or) adsorption onto oxyhydroxides. This paper is divided into four case studies used to demonstrate our results. Each addresses the role of geology, hydrology, mining activity and (or) local climate on water quality. Collectively, they provide a comprehensive look at the important factors affecting water quality in this portion of the Battle Mountain mining district.

The Involvement of Hydrogen-producing and ATP-dependent NADPH-consuming Pathways in Setting the Redox Poise in the Chloroplast of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in Anoxia

PubMed Central

Clowez, Sophie; Godaux, Damien; Cardol, Pierre; Wollman, Francis-André; Rappaport, Fabrice

2015-01-01

Photosynthetic microalgae are exposed to changing environmental conditions. In particular, microbes found in ponds or soils often face hypoxia or even anoxia, and this severely impacts their physiology. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is one among such photosynthetic microorganisms recognized for its unusual wealth of fermentative pathways and the extensive remodeling of its metabolism upon the switch to anaerobic conditions. As regards the photosynthetic electron transfer, this remodeling encompasses a strong limitation of the electron flow downstream of photosystem I. Here, we further characterize the origin of this limitation. We show that it stems from the strong reducing pressure that builds up upon the onset of anoxia, and this pressure can be relieved either by the light-induced synthesis of ATP, which promotes the consumption of reducing equivalents, or by the progressive activation of the hydrogenase pathway, which provides an electron transfer pathway alternative to the CO2 fixation cycle. PMID:25691575

Transcriptional Control in Marine Copiotrophic and Oligotrophic Bacteria with Streamlined Genomes.

PubMed

Cottrell, Matthew T; Kirchman, David L

2016-10-01

Bacteria often respond to environmental stimuli using transcriptional control, but this may not be the case for marine bacteria such as "Candidatus Pelagibacter ubique," a cultivated representative of the SAR11 clade, the most abundant organism in the ocean. This bacterium has a small, streamlined genome and an unusually low number of transcriptional regulators, suggesting that transcriptional control is low in Pelagibacter and limits its response to environmental conditions. Transcriptome sequencing during batch culture growth revealed that only 0.1% of protein-encoding genes appear to be under transcriptional control in Pelagibacter and in another oligotroph (SAR92) whereas >10% of genes were under transcriptional control in the copiotrophs Polaribacter sp. strain MED152 and Ruegeria pomeroyi When growth levels changed, transcript levels remained steady in Pelagibacter and SAR92 but shifted in MED152 and R. pomeroyi Transcript abundances per cell, determined using an internal RNA sequencing standard, were low (<1 transcript per cell) for all but a few of the most highly transcribed genes in all four taxa, and there was no correlation between transcript abundances per cell and shifts in the levels of transcription. These results suggest that low transcriptional control contributes to the success of Pelagibacter and possibly other oligotrophic microbes that dominate microbial communities in the oceans. Diverse heterotrophic bacteria drive biogeochemical cycling in the ocean. The most abundant types of marine bacteria are oligotrophs with small, streamlined genomes. The metabolic controls that regulate the response of oligotrophic bacteria to environmental conditions remain unclear. Our results reveal that transcriptional control is lower in marine oligotrophic bacteria than in marine copiotrophic bacteria. Although responses of bacteria to environmental conditions are commonly regulated at the level of transcription, metabolism in the most abundant bacteria in the ocean appears to be regulated by other mechanisms. Copyright © 2016, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Myxomatosis on the Western Plains of Victoria.

PubMed Central

Tighe, F. G.; Edmonds, J. W.; Nolan, I. F.; Shepherd, R. C.; Gocs, A.

1977-01-01

Myxomatosis on the Western Plains is an enzootic disease in contrast with the epizootic pattern which is general in eastern Australia. The most unusual aspects are the presence of significant numbers of diseased rabbits throughout the winter and the continuously low percentage of rabbits with antibodies to myxoma virus. Climatic and topographic conditions are unsuited to the production of the high densities of mosquitoes necessary for widespread epizootics. Under these conditions the effects of less efficient methods of myxomatosis transmission are apparent. The unusual epidemiology of myxomatosis has resulted in selection for virulence of the virus similar to that which has occurred under summer epizootic conditions. All field strains are now in the mid range of virulence. PMID:20473

Myxomatosis on the Western Plains of Victoria.

PubMed

Tighe, F G; Edmonds, J W; Nolan, I F; Shepherd, R C; Gocs, A

1977-10-01

Myxomatosis on the Western Plains is an enzootic disease in contrast with the epizootic pattern which is general in eastern Australia. The most unusual aspects are the presence of significant numbers of diseased rabbits throughout the winter and the continuously low percentage of rabbits with antibodies to myxoma virus. Climatic and topographic conditions are unsuited to the production of the high densities of mosquitoes necessary for widespread epizootics. Under these conditions the effects of less efficient methods of myxomatosis transmission are apparent. The unusual epidemiology of myxomatosis has resulted in selection for virulence of the virus similar to that which has occurred under summer epizootic conditions. All field strains are now in the mid range of virulence.

Nail Scabies: An Unusual Presentation Often Overlooked and Mistreated.

PubMed

Tempark, Therdpong; Lekwuttikarn, Ramrada; Chatproedprai, Susheera; Wananukul, Siriwan

2017-04-01

Nail scabies is an interesting clinical presentation of scabies. Although it is usually found concomitant with characteristic dermatologic manifestations, it may present as an isolated finding in the immunocompromised host. This condition is commonly mistaken with other diseases such as nail dystrophy, nail psoriasis and onychomycosis. We report two cases of unusual nail presentations that provide clues to diagnosis. Also, literature on unusual nail and dermatologic presentations was reviewed to recognize dermatologist consideration for appropriate treatment options. © The Author [2016]. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

14 CFR 139.327 - Self-inspection program.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

...; (2) When required by any unusual condition, such as construction activities or meteorological conditions, that may affect safe air carrier operations; and (3) Immediately after an accident or incident...

New dates for the north China Mesolithic

USGS Publications Warehouse

Elston, R.G.; Xu, C.; Madsen, D.B.; Zhong, K.; Bettinger, R.L.; Li, Ji; Brantingham, P.J.; Wang, Hongfang; Yu, J.

1997-01-01

The Mesolithic - as the 'time in between' - raises issues of definition, the more so as chronology is refined and the abruptness of environmental change at the end of the glaciation becomes clearer. This clarification of an unusual regional sequence is an instance.

Congenital Limb Deficiency Associated with Intellectual Disability: Unusual Presentation in Two Subjects.

PubMed

Raza, Muhammad Ummear; Ullah, Waheed; Malik, Sajid

2016-09-01

Congenital constriction ring (CCR) and symbrachydactyly are two distinct, rare, and heterogeneous limb deficiency conditions which affect the digits. Here, we report on two different individuals with an unusual presentation of limb deficiency accompanying intellectual disability (ID) and certain other malformations. In the first index female, CCR occurred with mild ID, squint eyes, obesity, and metatarsus adductus. The second index male was presented with symbrachydactyly, profound ID, and speech/hearing impairments. The association of limb deficiency conditions with these anomalies is very rare. Differential diagnosis and literature survey have been offered to establish the rarity of these entities.

A survey of cellular reactions to environmental stress and disease in Caribbean scleractinian corals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peters, Esther C.

1984-03-01

Despite growing concern about the demise of coral reefs in many areas of the world, few studies have investigated the possibility that bacteria- or virus-caused diseases may be important agents in the disappearance of living coral tissue from reefs, and that their occurrence and transmission may be influenced by natural or man-made changes in water quality, particularly increased sedimentation and turbidity. One forereef site off St. Croix, U. S. Virgin Islands, and three shallow-water reef sites off Puerto Rico were examined for variations in coral composition, local environmental conditions, and the presence of possible diseases in the stony corals. Visual observations were supplemented with standard histopathological examination under the light microscope of tissues from 257 specimens (representing 9 genera and 13 species), along with additional samples obtained from the Netherlands Antilles, the Grenadines, the Florida Keys and the Smithsonian Coral Reef Microcosm. This procedure proved to be necessary to accurately determine the condition of the colony, to detect the presence of microorganisms, and to correlate tissue health and microparasite infestations with apparent symptoms. These lesions varied with the species and the site. For example, off Guayanilla Bay, three species showed increased or decreased mucosecretory cell development, and another exhibited an unusual microparasite, which may be related to the chronic sedimentation at this site. Although colonies of several species showed signs of “white band disease” at five locations, bacterial colonies composed of Gram-negative rods were present only in acroporid tissues from the relatively pristine St. Croix site and the Netherlands Antilles. The distribution and possible mode of occurrence of these and other diseases and microparasite infestations suggest that acute changes in microhabitat conditions or injuries to individual colonies may be as important to the development of some of these lesions as are chronic adverse environmental conditions over a particular reef.

Factors associated with high-rise evacuation: qualitative results from the World Trade Center Evacuation Study.

PubMed

Gershon, Robyn R M; Qureshi, Kristine A; Rubin, Marcie S; Raveis, Victoria H

2007-01-01

Due to the fact that most high-rise structures (i.e., >75 feet high, or eight to ten stories) are constructed with extensive and redundant fire safety features, current fire safety procedures typically only involve limited evacuation during minor to moderate fire emergencies. Therefore, full-scale evacuation of high-rise buildings is highly unusual and consequently, little is known about how readily and rapidly high-rise structures can be evacuated fully. Factors that either facilitate or inhibit the evacuation process remain under-studied. This paper presents results from the qualitative phase of the World Trade Center Evacuation Study, a three-year, five-phase study designed to improve our understanding of the individual, organizational, and environmental factors that helped or hindered evacuation from the World Trade Center (WTC) Towers 1 and 2, on 11 September 2001. Qualitative data from semi-structured, in-depth interviews and focus groups involving WTC evacuees were collected and analyzed. On the individual level, factors that affected evacuation included perception of risk (formed largely by sensory cues), preparedness training, degree of familiarity with the building, physical condition, health status, and footwear. Individual behavior also was affected by group behavior and leadership. At the organizational level, evacuation was affected by worksite preparedness planning, including the training and education of building occupants, and risk communication. The environmental conditions affecting evacuation included smoke, flames, debris, general condition and degree of crowdedness on staircases, and communication infrastructure systems (e.g., public address, landline, cellular and fire warden's telephones). Various factors at the individual, organizational, and environmental levels were identified that affected evacuation. Interventions that address the barriers to evacuation may improve the full-scale evacuation of other high-rise buildings under extreme conditions. Further studies should focus on the development and evaluation of targeted interventions, including model emergency preparedness planning for high-rise occupancies.

Shifting from clonal to sexual reproduction in aphids: physiological and developmental aspects.

PubMed

Le Trionnaire, Gaël; Hardie, Jim; Jaubert-Possamai, Stéphanie; Simon, Jean-Christophe; Tagu, Denis

2008-08-01

Developmental biology is one of the fastest growing and fascinating research fields in life sciences. Among the wide range of embryonic development, a fundamental difference exists between organisms with sexual or asexual development. Aphids are unusual organisms which display alternative pathways of sexual and asexual development, the orientation of the pathway being determined by environmental conditions. These insects offer an adapted system in which to study developmental plasticity, because a side-by-side comparison of sexual and asexual development can be made in individuals with the same genotype. In this review, we describe the developmental mechanisms that have evolved in aphids for alternative sexual and asexual reproduction. In particular, we discuss how environmental cues orientate the reproductive mode of aphids from signal perception to endocrine regulation, and propose a comparative analysis of sexual and asexual gametogenesis and embryogenesis, which has been possible due to the development of molecular methods. As a result of the recent development of genomic resources in aphids, we expect these species will permit major advances in the study of the genomic basis underlying the choice of developmental fate and multiple reproduction strategies.

Long-term passive restoration following fluvial deposition of sulphidic copper tailings: nature filters out the solutions.

PubMed

Nikolic, Nina; Böcker, Reinhard; Nikolic, Miroslav

2016-07-01

Despite the growing popularity of ecological restoration approach, data on primary succession on toxic post-mining substrates, under site environmental conditions which considerably differ from the surrounding environment, are still scarce. Here, we studied the spontaneous vegetation development on an unusual locality created by long-term and large-scale fluvial deposition of sulphidic tailings from a copper mine in a pronouncedly xerothermic, calcareous surrounding. We performed multivariate analyses of soil samples (20 physical and chemical parameters) and vegetation samples (floristic and structural parameters in three types of occurring forests), collected along the pollution gradients throughout the affected floodplain. The nature can cope with two types of imposed constraints: (a) excessive Cu concentrations and (b) very low pH, combined with nutrient deficiency. The former will still allow convergence to the original vegetation, while the latter will result in novel, depauperate assemblages of species typical for cooler and moister climate. Our results for the first time demonstrate that with the increasing severity of environmental filtering, the relative importance of the surrounding vegetation for primary succession strongly decreases.

A Non-canonical Melanin Biosynthesis Pathway Protects Aspergillus terreus Conidia from Environmental Stress.

PubMed

Geib, Elena; Gressler, Markus; Viediernikova, Iuliia; Hillmann, Falk; Jacobsen, Ilse D; Nietzsche, Sandor; Hertweck, Christian; Brock, Matthias

2016-05-19

Melanins are ubiquitous pigments found in all kingdoms of life. Most organisms use them for protection from environmental stress, although some fungi employ melanins as virulence determinants. The human pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus and related Ascomycetes produce dihydroxynaphthalene- (DHN) melanin in their spores, the conidia, and use it to inhibit phagolysosome acidification. However, biosynthetic origin of melanin in a related fungus, Aspergillus terreus, has remained a mystery because A. terreus lacks genes for synthesis of DHN-melanin. Here we identify genes coding for an unusual NRPS-like enzyme (MelA) and a tyrosinase (TyrP) that A. terreus expressed under conidiation conditions. We demonstrate that MelA produces aspulvinone E, which is activated for polymerization by TyrP. Functional studies reveal that this new pigment, Asp-melanin, confers resistance against UV light and hampers phagocytosis by soil amoeba. Unexpectedly, Asp-melanin does not inhibit acidification of phagolysosomes, thus likely contributing specifically to survival of A. terreus conidia in acidic environments. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Response of the Pre-Oriented Goal-Directed Attention to Usual and Unusual Distractors: A Preliminary Study

PubMed Central

Baghdadi, Golnaz; Towhidkhah, Farzad; Rostami, Reza; Raza, Mohsen

2017-01-01

Introduction: In this study, we investigated the distraction power of the unusual and usual images on the attention of 20 healthy primary school children. Methods: Our study was different from previous ones in that the participants were asked to fix the initial position of their attention on a predefined location after being presented with unusual images as distractors. The goals were presented in locations, which were far from the attraction basin of distractors. We expected that the pre-orienting of the attention to the position of targets would reduce the attractive effect of unusual images compared to the usual ones. The percentage of correct responses and the reaction time were measured as behavioral indicators of attention performance. Results: Results showed that using the goal-directed attention, subjects ignored both kinds of distractors nearly the same way. Conclusion: With regard to previous reports about more attraction towards the unusual images, it is suggested that the dynamics of the visual attention system be sensitive to the initial condition. That is, changing the initial position of the attention can lead to the decrement of the unusual images effects. However, several other possibilities such as a probable delay in processing unusual features could explain this observation, too. PMID:28540000

Eco-Friendly Magnetic Iron Oxide Pillared Montmorillonite for Advanced Catalytic Degradation of Dichlorophenol

EPA Science Inventory

Eco-friendly pillared montmorillonites, in which the pillars consist of iron oxide are expected to have interesting and unusual magnetic properties that are applicable for environmental decontamination. Completely “green” and effective composite was synthesized using mild reactio...

GENOME ANALYSIS OF BURKHOLDERIA CEPACIA AC1100

EPA Science Inventory

Burkholderia cepacia is an important organism in bioremediation of environmental pollutants and it is also of increasing interest as a human pathogen. The genomic organization of B. cepacia is being studied in order to better understand its unusual adaptive capacity and genome pl...

Climate, not conflict, explains extreme Middle East dust storm

DOE PAGES

Parolari, Anthony J.; Li, Dan; Bou-Zeid, Elie; ...

2016-11-08

The recent dust storm in the Middle East (Sepember 2015) was publicized in the media as a sign of an impending 'Dust Bowl.' Its severity, demonstrated by extreme aerosol optical depth in the atmosphere in the 99th percentile compared to historical data, was attributed to the ongoing regional conflict. However, surface meteorological and remote sensing data, as well as regional climate model simulations, support an alternative hypothesis: the historically unprecedented aridity played a more prominent role, as evidenced by unusual climatic and meteorological conditions prior to and during the storm. Remotely sensed normalized difference vegetation index demonstrates that vegetation covermore » was high in 2015 relative to the prior drought and conflict periods, suggesting that agricultural activity was not diminished during that year, thus negating the media narrative. Instead, meteorological simulations using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model show that the storm was associated with a cyclone and 'Shamal' winds, typical for dust storm generation in this region, that were immediately followed by an unusual wind reversal at low levels that spread dust west to the Mediterranean Coast. These unusual meteorological conditions were aided by a significant reduction in the critical shear stress due to extreme dry and hot conditions, thereby enhancing dust availability for erosion during this storm. Concluding, unusual aridity, combined with unique synoptic weather patterns, enhanced dust emission and westward long-range transport across the region, thus generating the extreme storm.« less

Climate, not conflict, explains extreme Middle East dust storm

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

Parolari, Anthony J.; Li, Dan; Bou-Zeid, Elie

The recent dust storm in the Middle East (Sepember 2015) was publicized in the media as a sign of an impending 'Dust Bowl.' Its severity, demonstrated by extreme aerosol optical depth in the atmosphere in the 99th percentile compared to historical data, was attributed to the ongoing regional conflict. However, surface meteorological and remote sensing data, as well as regional climate model simulations, support an alternative hypothesis: the historically unprecedented aridity played a more prominent role, as evidenced by unusual climatic and meteorological conditions prior to and during the storm. Remotely sensed normalized difference vegetation index demonstrates that vegetation covermore » was high in 2015 relative to the prior drought and conflict periods, suggesting that agricultural activity was not diminished during that year, thus negating the media narrative. Instead, meteorological simulations using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model show that the storm was associated with a cyclone and 'Shamal' winds, typical for dust storm generation in this region, that were immediately followed by an unusual wind reversal at low levels that spread dust west to the Mediterranean Coast. These unusual meteorological conditions were aided by a significant reduction in the critical shear stress due to extreme dry and hot conditions, thereby enhancing dust availability for erosion during this storm. Concluding, unusual aridity, combined with unique synoptic weather patterns, enhanced dust emission and westward long-range transport across the region, thus generating the extreme storm.« less

78 FR 75511 - Special Conditions: Bombardier Inc., Models BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 Series Airplanes...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-12

... Design Features The C-series airplanes will incorporate the following novel or unusual design features: A.... Conclusion This action affects only certain novel or unusual design features on two model series of airplanes... Inc., Models BD-500-1A10 and BD- 500-1A11 Series Airplanes; Electronic Flight Control System: Control...

77 FR 64029 - Special Conditions: Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 Series Airplanes; Design Dive Speed

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-10-18

... Series Airplanes; Design Dive Speed AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final... Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes because of a novel or unusual design feature, special... Unusual Design Features The Airbus Model A318, A319, and A320 series airplanes with modification 160500...

14 CFR 11.19 - What is a special condition?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... special conditions when we find that the airworthiness regulations for an aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller design do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards, because of a novel or unusual...

14 CFR 11.19 - What is a special condition?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... special conditions when we find that the airworthiness regulations for an aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller design do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards, because of a novel or unusual...

14 CFR 11.19 - What is a special condition?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... special conditions when we find that the airworthiness regulations for an aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller design do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards, because of a novel or unusual...

14 CFR 11.19 - What is a special condition?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... special conditions when we find that the airworthiness regulations for an aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller design do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards, because of a novel or unusual...

14 CFR 11.19 - What is a special condition?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... special conditions when we find that the airworthiness regulations for an aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller design do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards, because of a novel or unusual...

The Arctic Vortex in March 2011: A Dynamical Perspective

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hurwitz, Margaret M.; Newman, Paul A.; Garfinkel,Chaim I.

2011-01-01

Despite the record ozone loss observed in March 2011, dynamical conditions in the Arctic stratosphere were unusual but not unprecedented. Weak planetary wave driving in February preceded cold anomalies in t he polar lower stratosphere in March and a relatively late breakup of the Arctic vortex in April. La Nina conditions and the westerly phas e of the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) were observed in March 201 1. Though these conditions are generally associated with a stronger vortex in mid-winter, the respective cold anomalies do not persist t hrough March. Therefore, the La Nina and QBO-westerly conditions cannot explain the observed cold anomalies in March 2011. In contrast, po sitive sea surface temperature anomalies in the North Pacific may ha ve contributed to the unusually weak tropospheric wave driving and s trong Arctic vortex in late winter 2011.

Further Studies on the Prevalence of Isolated Sleep Paralysis in Black Subjects

PubMed Central

Bell, Carl C.; Dixie-Bell, Dora D.; Thompson, Belinda

1986-01-01

In a previous study, one of the authors (C.C.B.) found isolated sleep paralysis was common in blacks. In this study, conducted by interviews, a recurrent pattern (one or more episodes per month) of isolated sleep paralysis episodes in blacks was described by at least 25 percent of the afflicted sample studied. Frequent episodes were associated with stress, and subjects with isolated sleep paralysis had an unusually high prevalence of panic disorder (15.5 percent). The genetic transmission of sleep paralysis was studied in a large black family, and in addition to stressful environmental factors being associated with the condition, there appears to be a dominant genetic factor associated with the predisposition for developing sleep paralysis. The implications of these findings for stress, anxiety, sleep, and psychophysiologic disorders are discussed. PMID:3746934

Unusual sex differences in tuberculosis notifications across Pakistan and the role of environmental factors.

PubMed

Khan, M S; Khan, M S; Hasan, R; Godfrey-Faussett, P

2013-09-01

In developing countries, only one-third of new tuberculosis cases notified are from women. It is not clear whether tuberculosis incidence is lower in women than men, or whether notification figures reflect under-detection of tuberculosis in women. Pakistan, however, presents an unusual pattern of sex differences in tuberculosis notifications. While 2 of the 4 provinces (Sindh and Punjab) report more notifications from men (female to male ratios 0.81 and 0.89 respectively in 2009), the other 2 provinces (Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan) consistently report higher numbers of smear-positive tuberculosis notifications from women than men (1.37 and 1.40). No other country is known to have such a large variation in the sex ratios of notifications across regions. Large variations in female to male smear-positive notification ratios in different settings across a single country may indicate that environmental factors, rather than endogenous biological factors, are important in influencing the observed sex differences in tuberculosis notifications.

An unusual case of hematemesis and epistaxis caused by a pheochromocytoma.

PubMed

Ugur, Kader; Girgin, Mustafa; Bahcecioglu, İbrahim Halil; Artas, Hakan; Selcuk Simsek, Fikri; Aydin, Suleyman

2018-01-01

Pheochromocytoma is a rare catecholamine-secreting neoplasm that is the cause of hypertension in <0.2% of patients with hypertension. We encountered an unusual case of pheochromocytoma involving hematemesis and epistaxis episodes with accompanying hypertensive attacks. Venous ectasia was detected in the esophagus. Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging revealed an adenoma in the left adrenal region. The present case illustrates that pheochromocytoma can mimic different clinical conditions.

Ruptured intracranial dermoid: an unusual cause of headache in an older patient.

PubMed

Rajapakse, Anoja; Diack, Alison

2008-02-01

A 76-year-old woman with a history of migraine presented with worsening headache. Computerized tomography brain scan and magnetic resonance imaging brain scan showed the presence of fat globules in the cerebrospinal fluid space. This appearance was suggestive of ruptured intracranial dermoid. She recovered spontaneously. While headache is a known presentation of ruptured intracranial dermoid, the condition is unusual to present in older people.

78 FR 55629 - Special Conditions: Cirrus Design Corporation, Model SF50; Inflatable Three-Point Restraint...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-09-11

...-0781; Special Conditions No. 23-261-SC] Special Conditions: Cirrus Design Corporation, Model SF50... conditions are issued for the Cirrus Design Corporation (Cirrus), model SF50. This airplane will have novel and unusual design features associated with installation of an inflatable three-point restraint safety...

Cold-induced mortality of invasive Burmese pythons in south Florida

USGS Publications Warehouse

Mazzotti, Frank J.; Cherkiss, Michael S.; Hart, Kristen M.; Snow, Ray W.; Rochford, Michael R.; Dorcas, Michael E.; Reed, Robert N.

2011-01-01

A recent record cold spell in southern Florida (2–11 January 2010) provided an opportunity to evaluate responses of an established population of Burmese pythons (Python molurus bivittatus) to a prolonged period of unusually cold weather. We observed behavior, characterized thermal biology, determined fate of radio-telemetered (n = 10) and non-telemetered (n = 104) Burmese pythons, and analyzed habitat and environmental conditions experienced by pythons during and after a historic cold spell. Telemetered pythons had been implanted with radio-transmitters and temperature-recording data loggers prior to the cold snap. Only one of 10 telemetered pythons survived the cold snap, whereas 59 of 99 (60%) non-telemetered pythons for which we determined fate survived. Body temperatures of eight dead telemetered pythons fluctuated regularly prior to 9 January 2010, then declined substantially during the cold period (9–11 January) and exhibited no further evidence of active thermoregulation indicating they were likely dead. Unusually cold temperatures in January 2010 were clearly associated with mortality of Burmese pythons in the Everglades. Some radio-telemetered pythons appeared to exhibit maladaptive behavior during the cold spell, including attempting to bask instead of retreating to sheltered refugia. We discuss implications of our findings for persistence and spread of introduced Burmese pythons in the United States and for maximizing their rate of removal.

A Haloalkane Dehalogenase from a Marine Microbial Consortium Possessing Exceptionally Broad Substrate Specificity.

PubMed

Buryska, Tomas; Babkova, Petra; Vavra, Ondrej; Damborsky, Jiri; Prokop, Zbynek

2018-01-15

The haloalkane dehalogenase enzyme DmmA was identified by marine metagenomic screening. Determination of its crystal structure revealed an unusually large active site compared to those of previously characterized haloalkane dehalogenases. Here we present a biochemical characterization of this interesting enzyme with emphasis on its structure-function relationships. DmmA exhibited an exceptionally broad substrate specificity and degraded several halogenated environmental pollutants that are resistant to other members of this enzyme family. In addition to having this unique substrate specificity, the enzyme was highly tolerant to organic cosolvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide, methanol, and acetone. Its broad substrate specificity, high overexpression yield (200 mg of protein per liter of cultivation medium; 50% of total protein), good tolerance to organic cosolvents, and a broad pH range make DmmA an attractive biocatalyst for various biotechnological applications. IMPORTANCE We present a thorough biochemical characterization of the haloalkane dehalogenase DmmA from a marine metagenome. This enzyme with an unusually large active site shows remarkably broad substrate specificity, high overexpression, significant tolerance to organic cosolvents, and activity under a broad range of pH conditions. DmmA is an attractive catalyst for sustainable biotechnology applications, e.g., biocatalysis, biosensing, and biodegradation of halogenated pollutants. We also report its ability to convert multiple halogenated compounds to corresponding polyalcohols. Copyright © 2018 American Society for Microbiology.

A preliminary look at AVE-SESAME 5 conducted on 20-21 May 1979

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

July, M.; Turner, R. E.

1981-01-01

Information on data collected, synoptic conditions, and severe and unusual weather reported during the period are presented. Records of the synoptic conditions include synoptic charts, radar charts, satellite photographs, and rainfall observations.

Preschoolers' encoding of rational actions: the role of task features and verbal information.

PubMed

Pfeifer, Caroline; Elsner, Birgit

2013-10-01

In the current study, we first investigated whether preschoolers imitate selectively across three imitation tasks. Second, we examined whether preschoolers' selective imitation is influenced by differences in the modeled actions and/or by the situational context. Finally, we investigated how verbal cues given by the model affect preschoolers' imitation. Participants (3- to 5-year-olds) watched an adult performing an unusual action in three imitation tasks (touch light, house, and obstacle). In two conditions, the model either was or was not restricted by situational constraints. In addition, the model verbalized either the goal that was to be achieved, the movement, or none of the action components. Preschoolers always acted on the objects without constraints. Results revealed differences in preschoolers' selective imitation across the tasks. In the house task, they showed the selective imitation pattern that has been interpreted as rational, imitating the unusual action more often in the no-constraint condition than in the constraint condition. In contrast, in the touch light task, preschoolers imitated the unusual head touch irrespective of the model's constraints or of the verbal cues that had been presented. Finally, in the obstacle task, children mostly emulated the observed goal irrespective of the presence of the constraint, but they increased their imitation of the unusual action when the movement had been emphasized. Overall, our data suggest that preschoolers adjust their imitative behavior to context-specific information about objects, actions, and their interpretations of the model's intention to teach something. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The unusual canangafruticosides A-E: five monoterpene glucosides, two monoterpenes and a monoterpene glucoside diester of the aryldihydronaphthalene lignan dicarboxylic acid from leaves of Cananga odorata var. fruticosa.

PubMed

Nagashima, Jiro; Matsunami, Katsuyoshi; Otsuka, Hideaki; Lhieochaiphant, Duangporn; Lhieochaiphant, Sorasak

2010-09-01

From the leaves of Cananga odorata var. fruticosa, five unusual monoterpene glucosides, named canangafruticosides A-E (1-5), along with two unusual non-glucosidic monoterpenes (6, 7) were isolated. An aryldihydronaphthalene-type lignan dicarboxylate (8) was also isolated, with two moles of canangafruticoside A (1) on its ester moiety. This lignan also showed strong blue fluorescence emission under basic conditions. The structures of these compounds were elucidated by means of spectroscopic methods, with their absolute configurations determined by application of the modified Mosher's method to a compound chemically derived from canangafruticoside E. (c) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Epigenetic Differentiation of Natural Populations of Lilium bosniacum Associated with Contrasting Habitat Conditions.

PubMed

Zoldoš, Vlatka; Biruš, Ivan; Muratovic, Edina; Šatovic, Zlatko; Vojta, Aleksandar; Robin, Odile; Pustahija, Fatima; Bogunic, Faruk; Vicic Bockor, Vedrana; Siljak-Yakovlev, Sonja

2018-01-01

Epigenetic variation in natural populations with contrasting habitats might be an important element, in addition to the genetic variation, in plant adaptation to environmental stress. Here, we assessed genetic, epigenetic, and cytogenetic structure of the three Lilium bosniacum populations growing on distinct habitats. One population was growing under habitual ecological conditions for this species and the other two were growing under stress associated with high altitude and serpentine soil. Amplified fragment length polymorphism and methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphism analyses revealed that the three populations did not differentiate genetically, but were clearly separated in three distinct clusters according to DNA methylation profiles. Principal coordinate analysis showed that overall epigenetic variation was closely related to habitat conditions. A new methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphism scoring approach allowed identification of mainly unmethylated (φST = 0.190) and fully CpG methylated (φST = 0.118) subepiloci playing a role in overall population differentiation, in comparison with hemimethylated sites (φST = 0.073). In addition, unusual rDNA repatterning and the presence of B chromosomes bearing 5S rDNA loci were recorded in the population growing on serpentine soil, suggesting dynamic chromosome rearrangements probably linked to global genome demethylation, which might have reactivated some mobile elements. We discuss our results considering our earlier data on morphology and leaf anatomy of several L. bosniacum populations, and suggest a possible role of epigenetics as a key element in population differentiation associated with environmental stress in these particular lily populations. © The Author(s) 2018. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution.

76 FR 10528 - Special Conditions: Gulfstream Model GVI Airplane; Electronic Systems Security Isolation or...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-25

... conditions for the Gulfstream GVI airplane. This airplane may have novel or unusual design features... standards for these design features. These proposed special conditions contain the additional safety... transport airplane with an executive cabin interior. The maximum takeoff weight will be 99,600 pounds, with...

Method of operator safety assessment for underground mobile mining equipment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Działak, Paulina; Karliński, Jacek; Rusiński, Eugeniusz

2018-01-01

The paper presents a method of assessing the safety of operators of mobile mining equipment (MME), which is adapted to current and future geological and mining conditions. The authors focused on underground mines, with special consideration of copper mines (KGHM). As extraction reaches into deeper layers of the deposit it can activate natural hazards, which, thus far, have been considered unusual and whose range and intensity are different depending on the field of operation. One of the main hazards that affect work safety and can become the main barrier in the exploitation of deposits at greater depths is climate threat. The authors have analysed the phenomena which may impact the safety of MME operators, with consideration of accidents that have not yet been studied and are not covered by the current safety standards for this group of miners. An attempt was made to develop a method for assessing the safety of MME operators, which takes into account the mentioned natural hazards and which is adapted to current and future environmental conditions in underground mines.

Reduced Mu Power in Response to Unusual Actions Is Context-Dependent in 1-Year-Olds

PubMed Central

Langeloh, Miriam; Buttelmann, David; Matthes, Daniel; Grassmann, Susanne; Pauen, Sabina; Hoehl, Stefanie

2018-01-01

During social interactions infants predict and evaluate other people’s actions. Previous behavioral research found that infants’ imitation of others’ actions depends on these evaluations and is context-dependent: 1-year-olds predominantly imitated an unusual action (turning on a lamp with one’s forehead) when the model’s hands were free compared to when the model’s hands were occupied or restrained. In the present study, we adapted this behavioral paradigm to a neurophysiological study measuring infants’ brain activity while observing usual and unusual actions via electroencephalography. In particular, we measured differences in mu power (6 – 8 Hz) associated with motor activation. In a between-subjects design, 12- to 14-month-old infants watched videos of adult models demonstrating that their hands were either free or restrained. Subsequent test frames showed the models turning on a lamp or a soundbox by using their head or their hand. Results in the hands-free condition revealed that 12- to 14-month-olds displayed a reduction of mu power in frontal regions in response to unusual and thus unexpected actions (head touch) compared to usual and expected actions (hand touch). This may be explained by increased motor activation required for updating prior action predictions in response to unusual actions though alternative explanations in terms of general attention or cognitive control processes may also be considered. In the hands-restrained condition, responses in mu frequency band did not differ between action outcomes. This implies that unusual head-touch actions compared to hand-touch actions do not necessarily evoke a reduction of mu power. Thus, we conclude that reduction of mu frequency power is context-dependent during infants’ action perception. Our results are interpreted in terms of motor system activity measured via changes in mu frequency band as being one important neural mechanism involved in action prediction and evaluation from early on. PMID:29441034

Conditional Outlier Detection for Clinical Alerting

PubMed Central

Hauskrecht, Milos; Valko, Michal; Batal, Iyad; Clermont, Gilles; Visweswaran, Shyam; Cooper, Gregory F.

2010-01-01

We develop and evaluate a data-driven approach for detecting unusual (anomalous) patient-management actions using past patient cases stored in an electronic health record (EHR) system. Our hypothesis is that patient-management actions that are unusual with respect to past patients may be due to a potential error and that it is worthwhile to raise an alert if such a condition is encountered. We evaluate this hypothesis using data obtained from the electronic health records of 4,486 post-cardiac surgical patients. We base the evaluation on the opinions of a panel of experts. The results support that anomaly-based alerting can have reasonably low false alert rates and that stronger anomalies are correlated with higher alert rates. PMID:21346986

Conditional outlier detection for clinical alerting.

PubMed

Hauskrecht, Milos; Valko, Michal; Batal, Iyad; Clermont, Gilles; Visweswaran, Shyam; Cooper, Gregory F

2010-11-13

We develop and evaluate a data-driven approach for detecting unusual (anomalous) patient-management actions using past patient cases stored in an electronic health record (EHR) system. Our hypothesis is that patient-management actions that are unusual with respect to past patients may be due to a potential error and that it is worthwhile to raise an alert if such a condition is encountered. We evaluate this hypothesis using data obtained from the electronic health records of 4,486 post-cardiac surgical patients. We base the evaluation on the opinions of a panel of experts. The results support that anomaly-based alerting can have reasonably low false alert rates and that stronger anomalies are correlated with higher alert rates.

A preliminary look at AVE-SESAME 2 conducted on 19-20 April 1979

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Williams, S. F.; Horvath, N.; Turner, R. E.

1980-01-01

Preliminary information on data collected, synoptic conditions, and severe and unusual weather reported during the AVE-SESAME 2 period is presented. The information provides researchers a preliminary look at conditions during the AVE-SESAME 2 period.

Cadmium and zinc isotopes of organic-rich marine sediments during Oceanic Anoxic Event 2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sweere, T.; Dickson, A. J.; Jenkyns, H. C.; Porcelli, D.; Henderson, G. M.; van den Boorn, S.

2017-12-01

Mesozoic Oceanic Anoxic Events (OAEs) are characterized by widespread deposition of organic-rich sediments and the spread of low-oxygen marine environments. To drive and sustain unusually efficient carbon-burial during these events requires high export productivity rates, which has to be supported by an abundance of nutrients in the surface ocean. The presence of redox-sensitive bio-essential micronutrients may be particularly important, and potentially bio-limiting, during such events as they may be drawn down into sediment under low-oxygen conditions. Cadmium and zinc isotopes have potential as tracers for past (micro)nutrient dynamics considering their nutrient-like distribution in the modern ocean and isotope fractionation with uptake by primary producers. The modern deep ocean is generally well mixed for Cd and Zn while short-term cycling of these elements in the surface ocean imposes regional variation. Additional regional variation may be caused by sulfide formation and associated isotope fractionation in euxinic environments. The impact of such regional environmental conditions on the Cd- and Zn-isotope composition of the sediment therefore needs to be addressed in order to explore the use of these elements as a proxy for past nutrient conditions. Here we present an extensive dataset of cadmium- and zinc-isotope compositions of organic-rich marine sediments from different basins deposited during OAE 2 (Late Cretaceous). This comparison highlights regional differences in Cd- and Zn-isotope compositions. However, despite regional environmental controls, a correlation between δ114Cd and δ66Zn across the different sites is observed, which implies a largely similar control on the two isotope systems. When regional environmental controls are accounted for, the data may provide insight in the δ66Zn and δ114Cd evolution of global seawater during OAE 2 as well as information on the global cycling of redox-sensitive micronutrients during the event

Biogeochemistry: Hexadecane decay by methanogenesis

USGS Publications Warehouse

Anderson, Robert T.; Lovely, Derek R.

2000-01-01

The potential for the biological conversion of long-chain saturated hydrocarbons to methane under anaerobic conditions has been demonstrated by using an enrichment culture of bacteria to degrade pure-phase hexadecane1. The formation of methane in hydrocarbon-rich subsurface zones could be explained if a similar conversion of long-chain alkanes to methane were to take place in subsurface environments. If this process could be stimulated in the subsurface, it could be used to enhance hydrocarbon recovery from petroleum reserves1, 2. Parkes2, however, questions the environmental significance of the enrichment-culture results1 on the grounds that alkane conversion to methane is very slow and because sulphate-reducing and methanogenic bacteria might both be necessary for even this slow process to occur, restricting the conversion to specialized, unusual zones in sediments. Here we show that, on the contrary, subsurface bacteria can adapt to convert hexadecane to methane rapidly and in the absence of sulphate-reducing bacteria.

Neoproterozoic 'snowball Earth' simulations with a coupled climate/ice-sheet model.

PubMed

Hyde, W T; Crowley, T J; Baum, S K; Peltier, W R

2000-05-25

Ice sheets may have reached the Equator in the late Proterozoic era (600-800 Myr ago), according to geological and palaeomagnetic studies, possibly resulting in a 'snowball Earth'. But this period was a critical time in the evolution of multicellular animals, posing the question of how early life survived under such environmental stress. Here we present computer simulations of this unusual climate stage with a coupled climate/ice-sheet model. To simulate a snowball Earth, we use only a reduction in the solar constant compared to present-day conditions and we keep atmospheric CO2 concentrations near present levels. We find rapid transitions into and out of full glaciation that are consistent with the geological evidence. When we combine these results with a general circulation model, some of the simulations result in an equatorial belt of open water that may have provided a refugium for multicellular animals.

Extinction phase transitions in a model of ecological and evolutionary dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barghathi, Hatem; Tackkett, Skye; Vojta, Thomas

2017-07-01

We study the non-equilibrium phase transition between survival and extinction of spatially extended biological populations using an agent-based model. We especially focus on the effects of global temporal fluctuations of the environmental conditions, i.e., temporal disorder. Using large-scale Monte-Carlo simulations of up to 3 × 107 organisms and 105 generations, we find the extinction transition in time-independent environments to be in the well-known directed percolation universality class. In contrast, temporal disorder leads to a highly unusual extinction transition characterized by logarithmically slow population decay and enormous fluctuations even for large populations. The simulations provide strong evidence for this transition to be of exotic infinite-noise type, as recently predicted by a renormalization group theory. The transition is accompanied by temporal Griffiths phases featuring a power-law dependence of the life time on the population size.

Effects of geomagnetic activity and atmospheric power variations on quantitative measures of brain activity: Replication of the Azerbaijani studies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mulligan, Bryce P.; Hunter, Mathew D.; Persinger, Michael A.

2010-04-01

This study replicates and extends the observations by Babayev and Allahveriyeva that changes in right hemispheric electroencephalographic activity are correlated with increases in geomagnetic activity. During the geomagnetically quiet interface between solar cycle 23 and 24 quantitative electroencephalographic (QEEG) measurements were completed for normal young adults in three separate experiments involving about 120 samples over 1.5 years. The most consistent, moderate strength correlations occurred for the changes in power within the gamma and theta ranges over the right frontal lobe. Real-time measures of atmospheric power obtained from polar orbiting satellites showed similar effects. The preferential involvement of the right frontal lobe and the regions subject to its inhibition with environmental energetic changes are consistent with the behavioural correlations historically associated with these conditions. They include increased incidence of emotional lability, erroneous reconstruction of experiences, social confrontations, and unusual perceptions.

76 FR 71865 - Special Conditions: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Model GVI Airplane; Windshield Coating in...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-21

...; Special Conditions No. 25-452-SC] Special Conditions: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Model GVI Airplane... Aerospace Corporation Model GVI airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature(s..., Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation (GAC) applied for an FAA type certificate for its new Model GVI passenger...

75 FR 20518 - Special Conditions: Cirrus Design Corporation Model SF50 Airplane; Full Authority Digital Engine...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-04-20

...; Special Conditions No. 23-246-SC] Special Conditions: Cirrus Design Corporation Model SF50 Airplane; Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) System AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION... Cirrus Design Corporation model SF50 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature...

75 FR 46838 - Special Conditions: Embraer ERJ 190-100 Series Airplane Seats With Non-Traditional, Large, Non...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-04

...; Special Conditions No. 25-408-SC] Special Conditions: Embraer ERJ 190-100 Series Airplane Seats With Non-Traditional, Large, Non-Metallic Panels AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final... 190- 100 series airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features that include non...

77 FR 16910 - Special Conditions: Boeing Model 787 Series Airplanes; Single-place Side-facing Seats With...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-23

...-0311; Special Conditions No. 25-458-SC] Special Conditions: Boeing Model 787 Series Airplanes; Single... associated with single-place side-facing seats with inflatable lapbelts. The applicable airworthiness... have a novel or unusual design feature associated with single-place side-facing seats with inflatable...

Crenothrix are major methane consumers in stratified lakes.

PubMed

Oswald, Kirsten; Graf, Jon S; Littmann, Sten; Tienken, Daniela; Brand, Andreas; Wehrli, Bernhard; Albertsen, Mads; Daims, Holger; Wagner, Michael; Kuypers, Marcel Mm; Schubert, Carsten J; Milucka, Jana

2017-09-01

Methane-oxidizing bacteria represent a major biological sink for methane and are thus Earth's natural protection against this potent greenhouse gas. Here we show that in two stratified freshwater lakes a substantial part of upward-diffusing methane was oxidized by filamentous gamma-proteobacteria related to Crenothrix polyspora. These filamentous bacteria have been known as contaminants of drinking water supplies since 1870, but their role in the environmental methane removal has remained unclear. While oxidizing methane, these organisms were assigned an 'unusual' methane monooxygenase (MMO), which was only distantly related to 'classical' MMO of gamma-proteobacterial methanotrophs. We now correct this assignment and show that Crenothrix encode a typical gamma-proteobacterial PmoA. Stable isotope labeling in combination swith single-cell imaging mass spectrometry revealed methane-dependent growth of the lacustrine Crenothrix with oxygen as well as under oxygen-deficient conditions. Crenothrix genomes encoded pathways for the respiration of oxygen as well as for the reduction of nitrate to N 2 O. The observed abundance and planktonic growth of Crenothrix suggest that these methanotrophs can act as a relevant biological sink for methane in stratified lakes and should be considered in the context of environmental removal of methane.

Fingernails: Do's and Don'ts for Healthy Nails

MedlinePlus

... you see ridges, dents, or areas of unusual color or shape? Many less than desirable nail conditions can be avoided through proper fingernail care. Others might indicate an underlying condition that needs attention. Your fingernails — composed of laminated layers of a ...

An Evidence-Based Environmental Perspective Of Manufactured Silver Nanoparticle In Syntheses And Applications: A Systematic Review And Critical Appraisal Of Peer-Reviewed Scientific Papers

EPA Science Inventory

Most recently, renewed interest has arisen in manufactured silver nanoparticles because of their unusually enhanced physiochemical properties and biological activities compared to the bulk parent materials. A wide range of applications has emerged in consumer products ranging fr...

"Water and Environmental Systems": Achieving Student-Centered Learning Objectives with an Undergraduate Journal.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Charlesworth, Susanne M.; Foster, Ian D. L.

1996-01-01

Describes and evaluates an unusual and innovative assessment procedure used in an undergraduate hydrology and oceanography class. Working in teams, English students produce research articles published by an in-house, though refereed, academic journal. Professors and students agree that the process stimulates students to perform at their highest…

Restoring native riparian vegetation

Treesearch

Debbie Hughes

1996-01-01

In the lower Pecos Basin, an unusual coalition of conservationists, agriculture producers, business owners, and state agencies have joined together to save what is left of the once-naturally diverse Pecos River ecosystem. This organization is going to show a state-of-the-art, economical, effective, efficient, and environmentally safe method to control salt cedar and...

Controls of Evapotranspiration and CO2 Fluxes from Scots Pine by Surface Conductance and Abiotic Factors

PubMed Central

Zha, Tianshan; Li, Chunyi; Kellomäki, Seppo; Peltola, Heli; Wang, Kai-Yun; Zhang, Yuqing

2013-01-01

Evapotranspiration (E) and CO2 flux (Fc) in the growing season of an unusual dry year were measured continuously over a Scots pine forest in eastern Finland, by eddy covariance techniques. The aims were to gain an understanding of their biological and environmental control processes. As a result, there were obvious diurnal and seasonal changes in E, Fc, surface conductance (gc), and decoupling coefficient (Ω), showing similar trends to those in radiation (PAR) and vapour pressure deficit (δ). The maximum mean daily values (24-h average) for E, Fc, gc, and Ω were 1.78 mmol m−2 s−1, −11.18 µmol m−2 s−1, 6.27 mm s−1, and 0.31, respectively, with seasonal averages of 0.71 mmol m−2 s−1, −4.61 µmol m−2 s−1, 3.3 mm s−1, and 0.16. E and Fc were controlled by combined biological and environmental variables. There was curvilinear dependence of E on gc and Fc on gc. Among the environmental variables, PAR was the most important factor having a positive linear relationship to E and curvilinear relationship to Fc, while vapour pressure deficit was the most important environmental factor affecting gc. Water use efficiency was slightly higher in the dry season, with mean monthly values ranging from 6.67 to 7.48 μmol CO2 (mmol H2O)−1 and a seasonal average of 7.06 μmol CO2 (μmol H2O)−1. Low Ω and its close positive relationship with gc indicate that evapotranspiration was sensitive to surface conductance. Mid summer drought reduced surface conductance and decoupling coefficient, suggesting a more biotic control of evapotranspiration and a physiological acclimation to dry air. Surface conductance remained low and constant under dry condition, supporting that a constant value of surface constant can be used for modelling transpiration under drought condition. PMID:23894401

Controls of evapotranspiration and CO2 fluxes from scots pine by surface conductance and abiotic factors.

PubMed

Zha, Tianshan; Li, Chunyi; Kellomäki, Seppo; Peltola, Heli; Wang, Kai-Yun; Zhang, Yuqing

2013-01-01

Evapotranspiration (E) and CO2 flux (Fc ) in the growing season of an unusual dry year were measured continuously over a Scots pine forest in eastern Finland, by eddy covariance techniques. The aims were to gain an understanding of their biological and environmental control processes. As a result, there were obvious diurnal and seasonal changes in E, Fc , surface conductance (gc ), and decoupling coefficient (Ω), showing similar trends to those in radiation (PAR) and vapour pressure deficit (δ). The maximum mean daily values (24-h average) for E, Fc , gc , and Ω were 1.78 mmol m(-2) s(-1), -11.18 µmol m(-2) s(-1), 6.27 mm s(-1), and 0.31, respectively, with seasonal averages of 0.71 mmol m(-2) s(-1), -4.61 µmol m(-2) s(-1), 3.3 mm s(-1), and 0.16. E and Fc were controlled by combined biological and environmental variables. There was curvilinear dependence of E on gc and Fc on gc . Among the environmental variables, PAR was the most important factor having a positive linear relationship to E and curvilinear relationship to Fc , while vapour pressure deficit was the most important environmental factor affecting gc . Water use efficiency was slightly higher in the dry season, with mean monthly values ranging from 6.67 to 7.48 μmol CO2 (mmol H2O)(-1) and a seasonal average of 7.06 μmol CO2 (μmol H2O)(-1). Low Ω and its close positive relationship with gc indicate that evapotranspiration was sensitive to surface conductance. Mid summer drought reduced surface conductance and decoupling coefficient, suggesting a more biotic control of evapotranspiration and a physiological acclimation to dry air. Surface conductance remained low and constant under dry condition, supporting that a constant value of surface constant can be used for modelling transpiration under drought condition.

14 CFR 21.16 - Special conditions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... standards for an aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller because of a novel or unusual design feature of the aircraft, aircraft engine or propeller, he prescribes special conditions and amendments thereto for the... safety standards for the aircraft, aircraft engine or propeller as the Administrator finds necessary to...

14 CFR 21.16 - Special conditions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... standards for an aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller because of a novel or unusual design feature of the aircraft, aircraft engine or propeller, he prescribes special conditions and amendments thereto for the... safety standards for the aircraft, aircraft engine or propeller as the Administrator finds necessary to...

Collective Traffic-like Movement of Ants on a Trail: Dynamical Phases and Phase Transitions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kunwar, Ambarish; John, Alexander; Nishinari, Katsuhiro; Schadschneider, Andreas; Chowdhury, Debashish

2004-11-01

The traffic-like collective movement of ants on a trail can be described by a stochastic cellular automaton model. We have earlier investigated its unusual flow-density relation by using various mean field approximations and computer simulations. In this paper, we study the model following an alternative approach based on the analogy with the zero range process, which is one of the few known exactly solvable stochastic dynamical models. We show that our theory can quantitatively account for the unusual non-monotonic dependence of the average speed of the ants on their density for finite lattices with periodic boundary conditions. Moreover, we argue that the model exhibits a continuous phase transition at the critial density only in a limiting case. Furthermore, we investigate the phase diagram of the model by replacing the periodic boundary conditions by open boundary conditions.

Almahata Sitta MS-MU-011 and MS-MU-012: Formation Conditions of Two Unusual Rocks From the Ureilite Parent Body

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mikouchi, T.; Takenouchi, A.; Zolensky, M. E.; Hoffmann, V. H.

2018-01-01

Almahata Sitta meteorites are unique polymict breccia, comprising of many different meteorite groups as individual fragments dominated by ureilite lithologies and are considered to be recovered fragments of the asteroid 2008TC3. Recently, two unusual Almahata Sitta samples (MS-MU-011 and MS-MU-012) have been reported that show close petrogenetic relationships to ureilites. MS-MU-011 is a trachyandesite mainly composed of feldspar (plagioclase and anorthoclase) and pyroxene (pigeonite and augite) having ureilitic oxygen isotopic ratios. MS-MU-012 is the first ureilite example (unbrecciated) containing primary plagioclase crystals. The findings of these two rock types are important to better understand formation conditions of ureilites and the evolution of their parent body(s). In this abstract we discuss formation conditions of these ureilite-related rocks using redox state estimate by Fe valence states of plagioclase and olivine cooling rate calculations.

76 FR 63818 - Special Conditions: Boeing Model 767-400ER Series Airplanes; Seats With Inflatable Lapbelts

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-14

... appropriate safety standards for the 767-400ER series airplanes because of a novel or unusual design feature...-1106; Special Conditions No. 25-448-SC] Special Conditions: Boeing Model 767-400ER Series Airplanes...- 400ER series airplane. These airplanes, as modified by Continental Airlines, will have a novel or...

[Environmental lead poisoning from lead-glazed earthenware used for storing drinks].

PubMed

Sabouraud, S; Coppéré, B; Rousseau, C; Testud, F; Pulce, C; Tholly, F; Blanc, M; Culoma, F; Facchin, A; Ninet, J; Chambon, P; Medina, B; Descotes, J

2009-12-01

Current unusual environmental sources of lead exposure mainly include traditional medicines, either ayurvedic remedies or others, traditional cosmetics (kohl, surma), and the use of traditional earthenware, for storage or cooking. We report two cases of lead poisoning in adults initially identified by paroxysmal abdominal pain or anemia. In both cases, the environmental investigation evidenced one main source of lead exposure, namely a lead-glazed earthenware jug in which a drink was stored, "kefir" in the first case, and "kombucha" tea in the second one. It is recommended to search for lead intoxication in patients with unexplained anemia. Environmental sources of lead can be multiple. Their relative importance has to be ranked during the environmental investigation and among these, lead-glazed earthenware must be considered as a source of high lead exposure when drinks are stored inside and thus can soak.

Site specific risk assessment of an energy-from-waste thermal treatment facility in Durham Region, Ontario, Canada. Part A: Human health risk assessment.

PubMed

Ollson, Christopher A; Knopper, Loren D; Whitfield Aslund, Melissa L; Jayasinghe, Ruwan

2014-01-01

The regions of Durham and York in Ontario, Canada have partnered to construct an energy-from-waste thermal treatment facility as part of a long term strategy for the management of their municipal solid waste. This paper presents the results of a comprehensive human health risk assessment for this facility. This assessment was based on extensive sampling of baseline environmental conditions (e.g., collection and analysis of air, soil, water, and biota samples) as well as detailed site specific modeling to predict facility-related emissions of 87 identified contaminants of potential concern. Emissions were estimated for both the approved initial operating design capacity of the facility (140,000 tonnes per year) and for the maximum design capacity (400,000 tonnes per year). For the 140,000 tonnes per year scenario, this assessment indicated that facility-related emissions are unlikely to cause adverse health risks to local residents, farmers, or other receptors (e.g., recreational users). For the 400,000 tonnes per year scenarios, slightly elevated risks were noted with respect to inhalation (hydrogen chloride) and infant consumption of breast milk (dioxins and furans), but only during predicted 'upset conditions' (i.e. facility start-up, shutdown, and loss of air pollution control) that represent unusual and/or transient occurrences. However, current provincial regulations require that additional environmental screening would be mandatory prior to expansion of the facility beyond the initial approved capacity (140,000 tonnes per year). Therefore, the potential risks due to upset conditions for the 400,000 tonnes per year scenario should be more closely investigated if future expansion is pursued. © 2013.

Anachronistic facies from a drowned Lower Triassic carbonate platform: Lower member of the Alwa Formation (Ba'id Exotic), Oman Mountains

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Woods, Adam D.; Baud, Aymon

2008-09-01

The lower member of the Alwa Formation (Lower Olenekian), found within the Ba'id Exotic in the Oman Mountains (Sultanate of Oman), consists of ammonoid-bearing, pelagic limestones that were deposited on an isolated, drowned carbonate platform on the Neotethyan Gondwana margin. The strata contain a variety of unusual carbonate textures and features, including thrombolites, Frutexites-bearing microbialites that contain synsedimentary cements, matrix-free breccias surrounded by isopachous calcite cement, and fissures and cavities filled with large botryoidal cements. Thrombolites are found throughout the study interval, and occur as 0.5-1.0 m thick lenses or beds that contain laterally laterally-linked stromatactis cavities. The Frutexites-bearing microbialites occur less frequently, and also form lenses or beds, up to 30 cm thick; the microbialites may be laminated, and often developed on hardgrounds. In addition, the Frutexites-bearing microbialites also contain synsedimentary calcite cement crusts and botryoids (typically < 1 cm thick) that harbour layers or pockets of what appear to be bacterial sheaths and coccoids, and are indicative of biologically mediated precipitation of the cement bodies. Slumping following lithification led to fracturing of the limestone and the precipitation of large, botryoidal aragonite cements in fissures that cut across the primary fabric. Environmental conditions, specifically palaeoxygenation and the degree of calcium carbonate supersaturation, likely controlled whether the thrombolites (high level of calcium carbonate supersaturation associated with vertical mixing of water masses and dysoxic conditions) or Frutexites-bearing microbialites (low level of calcium carbonate supersaturation associated with anoxic conditions and deposition below a stable chemocline) formed. The results of this study point to continued environmental stress in the region during the Early Triassic that likely contributed to the uneven recovery from the Permian-Triassic mass extinction.

Unusually Large Runup Events

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Garcia-Medina, G.; Ozkan-Haller, H. T.; Holman, R. A.; Ruggiero, P.

2016-02-01

Understanding the primary hydrodynamic processes that cause extreme runup events is important for the prediction of dune erosion and coastal flooding. Large runups may be caused by a superposition of physical and environmental conditions, bore-bore capture, infragravity-short wave interaction, and/or swash-backwash interaction. To investigate the conditions leading to these events we combine optical remote sensing observations (Argus) and state-of-the-art phase resolving numerical modeling (primarily NHWAVE). We evaluate runup time series derived from across-shore transects of pixel intensities in two very different beaches: Agate (Oregon, USA) and Duck (North Carolina, USA). The former is a dissipative beach where the runup is dominated by infragravity energy, whereas the latter is a reflective beach where the runup is dominated by short surface gravity waves. Phase resolving numerical models are implemented to explore an expanded parameter set and identify the mechanisms that control these large runups. Model results are in good qualitative agreement with observations. We also distinguish unexpected runups, which are defined by having an unexpectedly large excursion distance in comparison to the hourly-to-daily local runup conditions and do not necessarily represent a statistical extrema. These events pose significant safety hazards. We evaluate the relative contribution of the dominating physics to extreme and unexpected runup events.

Climate and ecosystem linkages explain widespread declines in North American Atlantic salmon populations.

PubMed

Mills, Katherine E; Pershing, Andrew J; Sheehan, Timothy F; Mountain, David

2013-10-01

North American Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) populations experienced substantial declines in the early 1990s, and many populations have persisted at low abundances in recent years. Abundance and productivity declined in a coherent manner across major regions of North America, and this coherence points toward a potential shift in marine survivorship, rather than local, river-specific factors. The major declines in Atlantic salmon populations occurred against a backdrop of physical and biological shifts in Northwest Atlantic ecosystems. Analyses of changes in climate, physical, and lower trophic level biological factors provide substantial evidence that climate conditions directly and indirectly influence the abundance and productivity of North American Atlantic salmon populations. A major decline in salmon abundance after 1990 was preceded by a series of changes across multiple levels of the ecosystem, and a subsequent population change in 1997, primarily related to salmon productivity, followed an unusually low NAO event. Pairwise correlations further demonstrate that climate and physical conditions are associated with changes in plankton communities and prey availability, which are ultimately linked to Atlantic salmon populations. Results suggest that poor trophic conditions, likely due to climate-driven environmental factors, and warmer ocean temperatures throughout their marine habitat area are constraining the productivity and recovery of North American Atlantic salmon populations. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Effects of Climate Change and Fisheries Bycatch on Shy Albatross (Thalassarche cauta) in Southern Australia

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

The impacts of climate change on marine species are often compounded by other stressors that make direct attribution and prediction difficult. Shy albatrosses (Thalassarche cauta) breeding on Albatross Island, Tasmania, show an unusually restricted foraging range, allowing easier discrimination between the influence of non-climate stressors (fisheries bycatch) and environmental variation. Local environmental conditions (rainfall, air temperature, and sea-surface height, an indicator of upwelling) during the vulnerable chick-rearing stage, have been correlated with breeding success of shy albatrosses. We use an age-, stage- and sex-structured population model to explore potential relationships between local environmental factors and albatross breeding success while accounting for fisheries bycatch by trawl and longline fisheries. The model uses time-series of observed breeding population counts, breeding success, adult and juvenile survival rates and a bycatch mortality observation for trawl fishing to estimate fisheries catchability, environmental influence, natural mortality rate, density dependence, and productivity. Observed at-sea distributions for adult and juvenile birds were coupled with reported fishing effort to estimate vulnerability to incidental bycatch. The inclusion of rainfall, temperature and sea-surface height as explanatory variables for annual chick mortality rate was statistically significant. Global climate models predict little change in future local average rainfall, however, increases are forecast in both temperatures and upwelling, which are predicted to have detrimental and beneficial effects, respectively, on breeding success. The model shows that mitigation of at least 50% of present bycatch is required to offset losses due to future temperature changes, even if upwelling increases substantially. Our results highlight the benefits of using an integrated modeling approach, which uses available demographic as well as environmental data within a single estimation framework, to provide future predictions. Such predictions inform the development of management options in the face of climate change. PMID:26057739

Effects of Climate Change and Fisheries Bycatch on Shy Albatross (Thalassarche cauta) in Southern Australia.

PubMed

Thomson, Robin B; Alderman, Rachael L; Tuck, Geoffrey N; Hobday, Alistair J

2015-01-01

The impacts of climate change on marine species are often compounded by other stressors that make direct attribution and prediction difficult. Shy albatrosses (Thalassarche cauta) breeding on Albatross Island, Tasmania, show an unusually restricted foraging range, allowing easier discrimination between the influence of non-climate stressors (fisheries bycatch) and environmental variation. Local environmental conditions (rainfall, air temperature, and sea-surface height, an indicator of upwelling) during the vulnerable chick-rearing stage, have been correlated with breeding success of shy albatrosses. We use an age-, stage- and sex-structured population model to explore potential relationships between local environmental factors and albatross breeding success while accounting for fisheries bycatch by trawl and longline fisheries. The model uses time-series of observed breeding population counts, breeding success, adult and juvenile survival rates and a bycatch mortality observation for trawl fishing to estimate fisheries catchability, environmental influence, natural mortality rate, density dependence, and productivity. Observed at-sea distributions for adult and juvenile birds were coupled with reported fishing effort to estimate vulnerability to incidental bycatch. The inclusion of rainfall, temperature and sea-surface height as explanatory variables for annual chick mortality rate was statistically significant. Global climate models predict little change in future local average rainfall, however, increases are forecast in both temperatures and upwelling, which are predicted to have detrimental and beneficial effects, respectively, on breeding success. The model shows that mitigation of at least 50% of present bycatch is required to offset losses due to future temperature changes, even if upwelling increases substantially. Our results highlight the benefits of using an integrated modeling approach, which uses available demographic as well as environmental data within a single estimation framework, to provide future predictions. Such predictions inform the development of management options in the face of climate change.

14 CFR 21.16 - Special conditions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller because of a novel or unusual design feature of the aircraft, aircraft engine or propeller, he prescribes special conditions and amendments thereto for the product. The... for the aircraft, aircraft engine or propeller as the FAA finds necessary to establish a level of...

14 CFR 21.16 - Special conditions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller because of a novel or unusual design feature of the aircraft, aircraft engine or propeller, he prescribes special conditions and amendments thereto for the product. The... for the aircraft, aircraft engine or propeller as the FAA finds necessary to establish a level of...

14 CFR 21.16 - Special conditions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... aircraft, aircraft engine, or propeller because of a novel or unusual design feature of the aircraft, aircraft engine or propeller, he prescribes special conditions and amendments thereto for the product. The... for the aircraft, aircraft engine or propeller as the FAA finds necessary to establish a level of...

Intraspecific differences in bacterial responses to modelled reduced gravity

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baker, P. W.; Leff, L. G.

2005-01-01

AIMS: Bacteria are important residents of water systems, including those of space stations which feature specific environmental conditions, such as lowered effects of gravity. The purpose of this study was to compare responses with modelled reduced gravity of space station, water system bacterial isolates with other isolates of the same species. METHODS AND RESULTS: Bacterial isolates, Stenotrophomonas paucimobilis and Acinetobacter radioresistens, originally recovered from the water supply aboard the International Space Station (ISS) were grown in nutrient broth under modelled reduced gravity. Their growth was compared with type strains S. paucimobilis ATCC 10829 and A. radioresistens ATCC 49000. Acinetobacter radioresistens ATCC 49000 and the two ISS isolates showed similar growth profiles under modelled reduced gravity compared with normal gravity, whereas S. paucimobilis ATCC 10829 was negatively affected by modelled reduced gravity. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that microgravity might have selected for bacteria that were able to thrive under this unusual condition. These responses, coupled with impacts of other features (such as radiation resistance and ability to persist under very oligotrophic conditions), may contribute to the success of these water system bacteria. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Water quality is a significant factor in many environments including the ISS. Efforts to remove microbial contaminants are likely to be complicated by the features of these bacteria which allow them to persist under the extreme conditions of the systems.

An investigation into alleged 'hauntings'.

PubMed

Wiseman, Richard; Watt, Caroline; Stevens, Paul; Greening, Emma; O'Keeffe, Ciarán

2003-05-01

In cases of alleged hauntings, a large number of seemingly trustworthy witnesses consistently report experiencing unusual phenomena (e.g. apparitions, sudden changes in temperature, a strong sense of presence) in certain locations. The two studies reported here explored the psychological mechanisms that underlie this apparent evidence of 'ghostly' activity. The experiments took place at two locations that have a considerable reputation for being haunted-Hampton Court Palace (Surrey, England) and the South Bridge Vaults (Edinburgh, Scotland). Both studies involved participants walking around these locations and reporting where they experienced unusual phenomena. Results revealed significantly more reports of unusual experiences in areas that had a reputation for being haunted. This effect was not related to participants' prior knowledge about the reputation of these areas. However, the location of participants' experiences correlated significantly with various environmental factors, including, for example, the variance of local magnetic fields and lighting levels. These findings strongly suggest that alleged hauntings may not necessarily represent evidence for 'ghostly' activity, but could be, at least in part, the result of people responding to 'normal' factors in their surroundings.

40 CFR 86.445-2006 - What temporary provisions address hardship due to unusual circumstances?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... introduce into commerce highway motorcycles that do not comply with emission standards if all the following... quickly as possible. (d) You must give us other relevant information if we ask for it. (e) We may include... or otherwise address the lost environmental benefit or paying fees to offset any economic gain...

78 FR 20690 - Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Draft Habitat Conservation Plan, Draft Programmatic...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-05

.... Background The Fowler Ridge application is unusual in that 355 wind turbines are already in place and have... turbines under Phase IV and operate a maximum of 449 wind turbines and associated facilities (described below) for a period of 22 years in Benton County, Indiana. The project will consist of wind turbines...

Fatigue in U.S. Astronauts Onboard the International Space Station: Environmental factors, Operational Impacts, and Implementation of Countermeasures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Scheuring, R. A.; Moomaw, R. C.; Johnston, S. L.

2015-01-01

Crewmembers have experienced fatigue for reasons similar to military deployments. Astronauts experience psychological stressors such as: heavy workloads, extended duty periods, circadian misalignment, inadequate/ineffective sleep, distracting background noise, unexpected and variable mission schedules, unfavorable thermal control, unusual sleep environment with schedules that impinge on pre-sleep periods.

The Use of Virtual Reality for Creating Unusual Environmental Stimulation to Motivate Students to Explore Creative Ideas

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lau, Kung Wong; Lee, Pui Yuen

2015-01-01

This paper discusses the roles of simulation in creativity education and how to apply immersive virtual environments to enhance students' learning experiences in university, through the provision of interactive simulations. An empirical study of a simulated virtual reality was carried out in order to investigate the effectiveness of providing…

Earthshots: Satellite images of environmental change – Hubbard Glacier, Alaska, USA

USGS Publications Warehouse

Adamson, Thomas

2015-01-01

These Landsat images illustrate an unusual event that was observed twice at the terminus of Hubbard Glacier. Hubbard temporarily blocked Russell Fjord (a long, narrow inlet of the sea) from the rest of Disenchantment Bay and the Gulf of Alaska. It’s even possible that the glacier could one day permanently block the fjord.

Paliperidone

MedlinePlus

Paliperidone is used to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia (a mental illness that causes disturbed or unusual ... every 5 days.Paliperidone controls the symptoms of schizophrenia but does not cure the condition. Continue to ...

Brexpiprazole

MedlinePlus

Brexpiprazole is used to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia (a mental illness that causes disturbed or unusual ... and the side effects you experience.Brexpiprazole controls schizophrenia and depression but does not cure these conditions. ...

76 FR 10476 - Special Conditions: Boeing Model 787-8 Airplane; Overhead Crew-Rest Compartment

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-25

...\\ in interior volume, the design must ensure the ability to contain a fire likely to occur within the... or unusual design features associated with installation of an overhead crew-rest (OCR) compartment... this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the...

76 FR 65103 - Special Conditions: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Model GIV-X Airplane; Aircraft Electronic...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-20

... interior design configuration in the Gulfstream Model GIV-X passenger airplane. The Gulfstream Model GIV-X.... This airplane will have novel or unusual design features associated with the architecture and... appropriate safety standards for these design features. These special conditions contain the additional safety...

78 FR 14005 - Special Conditions: Embraer S.A., Model EMB-550 Airplanes; Flight Envelope Protection: Pitch and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-04

...-1211; Special Conditions No. 25-486-SC] Special Conditions: Embraer S.A., Model EMB-550 Airplanes... Embraer S.A. Model EMB-550 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature associated...: Background On May 14, 2009, Embraer S.A. applied for a type certificate for their new Model EMB-550 airplane...

In-situ characterization of highly reversible phase transformation by synchrotron X-ray Laue microdiffraction

DOE PAGES

Chen, Xian; Tamura, Nobumichi; MacDowell, Alastair; ...

2016-05-23

The alloy Cu 25 Au 30 Zn 45 undergoes a huge first-order phase transformation (6% strain) and shows a high reversibility under thermal cycling and an unusual martensitc microstructure in sharp contrast to its nearby compositions. We discovered this alloy by systematically tuning the composition so that its lattice parameters satisfy the cofactor conditions (i.e., the kinematic conditions of compatibility between phases). It was conjectured that satisfaction of these conditions is responsible for the enhanced reversibility as well as the observed unusual fluid-like microstructure during transformation, but so far, there has been no direct evidence confirming that these observed microstructuresmore » are those predicted by the cofactor conditions. In order to verify this hypothesis, we use synchrotron X-ray Laue microdiffraction to measure the orientations and structural parameters of variants and phases near the austenite/martensite interface. The areas consisting of both austenite and multi-variants of martensite are scanned by microLaue diffraction. The cofactor conditions have been examined from the kinematic relation of lattice vectors across the interface. The continuity condition of the interface is precisely verified from the correspondent lattice vectors between two phases.« less

Temperature Dependence in Heterogeneous Nucleation with Application to the Direct Determination of Cluster Energy on Nearly Molecular Scale

DOE PAGES

McGraw, Robert L.; Winkler, Paul M.; Wagner, Paul E.

2017-12-04

A re-examination of measurements of heterogeneous nucleation of water vapor on silver nanoparticles is presented here using a model-free framework that derives the energy of critical cluster formation directly from measurements of nucleation probability. Temperature dependence is correlated with cluster stabilization by the nanoparticle seed and previously found cases of unusual increasing nucleation onset saturation ratio with increasing temperature are explained. A necessary condition for the unusual positive temperature dependence is identified, namely that the critical cluster be more stable, on a per molecule basis, than the bulk liquid to exhibit the effect. Temperature dependence is next examined in themore » classical Fletcher model, modified here to make the energy of cluster formation explicit in the model. The contact angle used in the Fletcher model is identified as the microscopic contact angle, which can be directly obtained from heterogeneous nucleation experimental data by a recently developed analysis method. Here an equivalent condition, increasing contact angle with temperature, is found necessary for occurrence of unusual temperature dependence. Our findings have immediate applications to atmospheric particle formation and nanoparticle detection in condensation particle counters (CPCs).« less

Temperature Dependence in Heterogeneous Nucleation with Application to the Direct Determination of Cluster Energy on Nearly Molecular Scale.

PubMed

McGraw, Robert L; Winkler, Paul M; Wagner, Paul E

2017-12-04

A re-examination of measurements of heterogeneous nucleation of water vapor on silver nanoparticles is presented here using a model-free framework that derives the energy of critical cluster formation directly from measurements of nucleation probability. Temperature dependence is correlated with cluster stabilization by the nanoparticle seed and previously found cases of unusual increasing nucleation onset saturation ratio with increasing temperature are explained. A necessary condition for the unusual positive temperature dependence is identified, namely that the critical cluster be more stable, on a per molecule basis, than the bulk liquid to exhibit the effect. Temperature dependence is next examined in the classical Fletcher model, modified here to make the energy of cluster formation explicit in the model.  The contact angle used in the Fletcher model is identified as the microscopic contact angle, which can be directly obtained from heterogeneous nucleation experimental data by a recently developed analysis method. Here an equivalent condition, increasing contact angle with temperature, is found necessary for occurrence of unusual temperature dependence. Our findings have immediate applications to atmospheric particle formation and nanoparticle detection in condensation particle counters (CPCs).

Synovial osteochondromatosis involvement in post-traumatic ankle injury.

PubMed

Lee, Daniel K; Louk, Louis; Bell, Bryan L

2008-01-01

Ankle involvement by synovial chondromatosis is unusual. It is unknown whether a post-traumatic event to the ankle induces the formation and development of these lesions. Synovial osteochondromatosis associated with post-traumatic ankle events are rare but suggest trauma to the synovial tissues as being causative, although this has never been statistically confirmed owing to the lack of reports and frequency. We report a case of primary synovial osteochondromatosis involving the tibiotalar joint with painful symptoms after a history of ankle injury, including magnetic resonance imaging findings of this unusual condition.

An unusual case of an immersion hand presentation in a military signaller operating in the jungle in Belize.

PubMed

Forbes, Kirstie E; Foster, P

2017-12-01

Belize, hosting one of the British Army's overseas training areas, provides access to challenging terrain and austere environments, which allows the delivery of training to soldiers on survival and combat within the jungle environment. A 26-year-old infanteer on exercise in Belize presented with progressive bilateral dry, painful, oedematous hands, secondary to the harsh environmental conditions of the jungle and inadequate drying of his hands resulting in his inability to perform his combat duties. The symptoms completely resolved with drying, emollient application and analgesia. While there are no reported cases of immersion hand, comparisons can be made with the well-reported warm weather immersion foot. This case highlights the importance of force preparation and soldier education for units deploying to the jungle. Simple preventive measures, including adequate 'wet-dry' drills and use of emollients can reduce the prevalence of immersion hand, a preventable condition, which can have a significant impact on the overall combat effectiveness of the unit. © Article author(s) (or their employer(s) unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Brief Report: An Unusual Manifestation of Diagnostic Overshadowing of Pervasive Developmental Disorder--Not Otherwise Specified--A Five Year Longitudinal Case Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Meera, S. S.; Kaipa, Ramesh; Thomas, Jaslin; Shivashankar, N.

2013-01-01

Children with communication disorders present with a range of comorbid conditions. Occasionally one of the comorbid conditions manifests so strongly that the primary condition goes unnoticed by the clinician. This tendency to overlook comorbid health problems in the presence of a disability is referred to as diagnostic overshadowing. This is a…

Recurrent parotitis of childhood or juvenile recurrent parotitis--a review and report of two cases.

PubMed

Adeboye, Solape O; Macleod, Iain

2014-01-01

Recurrent parotitis of childhood is an uncommon condition which affects children of variable age. The condition may be misdiagnosed so delaying treatment. These two case reports highlight the variable signs and symptoms of this unusual condition and the value of ultrasound as an aid to diagnosis. This is to improve awareness of recurrent parotitis of childhood and aid early diagnosis.

78 FR 19982 - Special Conditions: Turbomeca Ardiden 3K Turboshaft Engine

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-04-03

... novel or unusual design feature that is a 30-minute all engines operating (AEO) power rating for... appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety... Ardiden 3K engine is the first variant in the new Ardiden 3 series. This engine incorporates a two-stage...

77 FR 19148 - Special Conditions: Airbus, A350-900 Series Airplane; Crew Rest Compartments

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-03-30

...-900 series airplanes. These airplanes will have novel or unusual design features associated with two... standards for this design feature. These proposed special conditions contain the additional safety standards... for FAA type certification to June 28, 2009. The A350-900 series has a conventional layout with twin...

Technology evaluation of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning for MIUS application

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gill, W. L.; Keough, M. B.; Rippey, J. O.

1974-01-01

Potential ways of providing heating, ventilation, and air conditioning for a building complex serviced by a modular integrated utility system (MIUS) are examined. Literature surveys were conducted to investigate both conventional and unusual systems to serve this purpose. The advantages and disadvantages of the systems most compatible with MIUS are discussed.

75 FR 38391 - Special Conditions: Boeing 757-200 With Enhanced Flight Vision System

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-07-02

.... SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the Boeing Model 757- 200 series airplanes. These... system (EFVS). The EFVS is a novel or unusual design feature which consists of a head-up display (HUD... regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special...

78 FR 41684 - Special Conditions: Embraer S.A. Model EMB-550 Airplanes, Sudden Engine Stoppage

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-11

... airplane has novel or unusual design features as compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport-category airplanes. These design features include engine size and the... contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain...

76 FR 36870 - Special Conditions: Gulfstream Model GVI Airplane; Design Roll Maneuver Requirement for...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-23

... airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with an electronic flight control system... load condition at design maneuvering speed (V A ), in which the cockpit roll control is returned to... positive maneuvering factor used in design. In determining the resulting control surface deflections, the...

Abdominal Wall Endometriosis Mimicking Metastases.

PubMed

Nambiar, Rakul; Anoop, T M; Mony, Rari P

2018-06-01

Abdominal wall lesions can be broadly divided into nontumorous and tumorous conditions. Nontumorous lesions include congenital lesion, abdominal wall hernia, inflammation and infection, vascular lesions, and miscellaneous conditions like hematoma. Tumorous lesions include benign and malignant neoplasms. Here, we report an unusual case of abdominal wall endometriosis mimicking metastases in a patient with breast carcinoma.

Multiple idiopathic external apical root resorption: report of four cases.

PubMed

Cholia, S S; Wilson, P H R; Makdissi, J

2005-07-01

Multiple idiopathic external root resorption is an unusual condition that may present in a cervical or an apical form. In this article, we review the published literature relating to multiple idiopathic external apical root resorption and present four clinical cases. We consider the aetiology of this condition and discuss the various treatment options.

Reaction of sorghum lines to zonate leaf spot and rough leaf spot

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Abundant, frequent rains, along with humid and cloudy conditions during the early part of the 2015 growing season, provided conducive conditions for an unusually severe outbreak of zonate leaf spot and rough leaf spot in a block of sorghum lines at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research Farm, Burleson Coun...

77 FR 75066 - Special Conditions: Airbus, A350-900 Series Airplane; Flight Envelope Protection (Icing and Non...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-12-19

... Protection (Icing and Non-Icing Conditions); High Incidence Protection and Alpha-Floor Systems AGENCY... or unusual design features associated with flight envelope protection in icing and non- icing... establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards. DATES...

Biolog(TM) ID as compared to 16S ribosomal RNA ID for environmental isolates from the deep subsurface

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

McKinsey, P.C.

2000-05-05

The U.S. Dept of Energy (DOE) Subsurface Microbial Culture Collection (SMCC) contains nearly 10,000 strains of microorganisms isolated from terrestrial subsurface environments. Many of the aerobic, gram-negative, chemoheterotrophs isolated from the DOE Savannah River Site (SRS) have previously been identified by phylogenetic analysis of 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene nucleotide sequences. These SMCC isolates are currently being examined using Biolog GN Microplates and the Biolog Microstation System in order to gain knowledge of their metabolic capabilities and to compare Biolog IDs with 16S IDs. To accommodate the particular needs of these subsurface isolates, which are often incapable of growing undermore » high-nutrient conditions, Biolog's recommendations for inoculating isolates into Biolog GN Microplates have been altered. The isolates are grown on low nutrient media, sodium thioglycolate (3mM) is added to the culture media to inhibit capsule formation, and a low density of bacteria is inoculated into the microplate. Using these altered inoculation criteria, 60 percent of these SMCC isolates have a Biolog genus ID that matches the 16S rRNA ID. These results indicate that the Biolog System can be a good means of identifying unusual environmental isolates, even when recommended inoculation procedures are altered to accommodate particular isolate needs.« less

21 CFR 740.12 - Feminine deodorant sprays.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... all over the body. (b) The label of a feminine deodorant spray shall bear the following statement... itching skin. Persistent, unusual odor or discharge may indicate conditions for which a physician should...

14 CFR 29.307 - Proof of structure.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... loading condition accounting for the environment to which the structure will be exposed in operation... measurement tests; (5) Landing gear drop tests; and (6) Any additional tests required for new or unusual...

14 CFR 27.307 - Proof of structure.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... loading condition accounting for the environment to which the structure will be exposed in operation... measurement tests; (5) Landing gear drop tests; and (6) Any additional test required for new or unusual design...

Reconstructing the prevailing meteorological and optical environment during the time of the Titanic disaster

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Basu, Sukanta; Nunalee, Christopher G.; He, Ping; Fiorino, Steven T.; Vorontsov, Mikhail A.

2014-10-01

In this paper, we reconstruct the meteorological and optical environment during the time of Titanic's disaster utilizing a state-of-the-art meteorological model, a ray-tracing code, and a unique public-domain dataset called the Twentieth Century Global Reanalysis. With high fidelity, our simulation captured the occurrence of an unusually high Arctic pressure system over the disaster site with calm wind. It also reproduced the movement of a polar cold front through the region bringing a rapid drop in air temperature. The simulated results also suggest that unusual meteorological conditions persisted several hours prior to the Titanic disaster which contributed to super-refraction and intermittent optical turbulence. However, according to the simulations, such anomalous conditions were not present at the time of the collision of Titanic with an iceberg.

Dense pigmentation of the posterior lens capsule associated with the pigment dispersion syndrome.

PubMed

Lin, Danny Y; Volpicelli, Mark; Singh, Kuldev

2003-12-01

To report an unusual case of pigment dispersion syndrome associated with unilateral dense pigmentation of the posterior lens capsule. Case report. A 59-year-old male with bilateral pigment dispersion syndrome presented with progressive decrease in visual acuity in the left eye over the past 10 to 20 years. Clinical examination revealed the typical findings of pigment dispersion syndrome including the presence of bilateral Krunkenberg spindles, iris transillumination defects, and heavy trabecular meshwork pigmentation. Of note, there was remarkably dense pigmentation of the posterior lens capsule in the eye with decreased visual acuity. Pigmentation of the posterior lens capsule may be a rare finding associated with pigment dispersion syndrome. Such a finding suggests that there may be aqueous flow into the retrolental space in some patients with this condition. The optimal treatment of this unusual condition remains undetermined.

Cold, dry air is associated with influenza and pneumonia mortality in Auckland, New Zealand.

PubMed

Davis, Robert E; Dougherty, Erin; McArthur, Colin; Huang, Qiu Sue; Baker, Michael G

2016-07-01

The relationship between weather and influenza and pneumonia mortality was examined retrospectively using daily data from 1980 to 2009 in Auckland, New Zealand, a humid, subtropical location. Mortality events, defined when mortality exceeded 0·95 standard deviation above the mean, followed periods of anomalously cold air (ta.m. = -4·1, P < 0·01; tp.m. = -4·2, P < 0·01) and/or anomalously dry air (ta.m. = -4·1, P < 0·01; tp.m. = -3·8, P < 0·01) by up to 19 days. These results suggest that respiratory infection is enhanced during unusually cold conditions and during conditions with unusually low humidity, even in a subtropical location where humidity is typically high. © 2015 The Authors. Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Remote sensing data acquisition, analysis and archival. Volume 1. Final report

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

Stringer, W.J.; Dean, K.G.; Groves, J.E.

1993-03-25

The project specialized in the acquisition and dissemination of satellite imagery and its utilization for case-specific and statistical analyses of offshore environmental conditions, particularly those involving sea ice. During the duration of this contract, 854 Landsat Multispectral Scanner and 2 Landsat Thematic Mapper scenes, 8,576 Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer images, and 31,000 European, Earth Resources Satellite, Synthetic Aperture Radar images were archived. Direct assistance was provided to eight Minerals Management Service (MMS)-sponsored studies, including analyses of Port Moller circulation, Bowhead whale migration, distribution, population and behavioral studies, Beaufort Sea fisheries, oil spill trajectory model development, and Kasegaluk Lagoon environmentalmore » assessments. In addition, under this Cooperative Agreement several complete studies were undertaken based on analysis of satellite imagery. The topics included: Kasegaluk Lagoon transport, the effect of winter storms on arctic ice, the relationship between ice surface temperatures as measured by buoys and passive microwave imagery, unusual cloud forms following lead-openings, and analyses of Chukchi and Bering sea polynyas.« less

Interaction of mercury and selenium in the larval stage zebrafish vertebrate model.

PubMed

MacDonald, Tracy C; Korbas, Malgorzata; James, Ashley K; Sylvain, Nicole J; Hackett, Mark J; Nehzati, Susan; Krone, Patrick H; George, Graham N; Pickering, Ingrid J

2015-08-01

The compounds of mercury can be more toxic than those of any other non-radioactive heavy element. Despite this, environmental mercury pollution and human exposure to mercury are widespread, and are increasing. While the unusual ability of selenium to cancel the toxicity of mercury compounds has been known for nearly five decades, only recently have some aspects of the molecular mechanisms begun to be understood. We report herein a study of the interaction of mercury and selenium in the larval stage zebrafish, a model vertebrate system, using X-ray fluorescence imaging. Exposure of larval zebrafish to inorganic mercury shows nano-scale structures containing co-localized mercury and selenium. No such co-localization is seen with methylmercury exposure under similar conditions. Micro X-ray absorption spectra support the hypothesis that the co-localized deposits are most likely comprised of highly insoluble mixed chalcogenide HgSxSe(1-x) where x is 0.4-0.9, probably with the cubic zincblende structure.

The Glutaredoxin Gene, grxB, Affects Acid Tolerance, Surface Hydrophobicity, Auto-Aggregation, and Biofilm Formation in Cronobacter sakazakii.

PubMed

Ling, Na; Zhang, Jumei; Li, Chengsi; Zeng, Haiyan; He, Wenjing; Ye, Yingwang; Wu, Qingping

2018-01-01

Cronobacter species are foodborne pathogens that can cause neonatal meningitis, necrotizing enterocolitis, and sepsis; they have unusual abilities to survive in environmental stresses such as acid stress. However, the factors involved in acid stress responses and biofilm formation in Cronobacter species are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the role of grxB on cellular morphology, acid tolerance, surface hydrophobicity, auto-aggregation (AAg), motility, and biofilm formation in Cronobacter sakazakii . The deletion of grxB decreased resistance to acid stresses, and notably led to weaker surface hydrophobicity, AAg, and biofilm formation under normal and acid stress conditions, compared with those of the wild type strain; however, motility was unaffected. Therefore, grxB appears to contribute to the survival of C. sakazakii in acid stresses and biofilm formation. This is the first report to provide valuable evidence for the role of grxB in acid stress responses and biofilm formation in C. sakazakii.

Protons and pleomorphs: aerobic hydrogen production in Azotobacters.

PubMed

Noar, Jesse D; Bruno-Bárcena, José M

2016-02-01

As obligate aerobic soil organisms, the ability of Azotobacter species to fix nitrogen is unusual given that the nitrogenase complex requires a reduced cellular environment. Molecular hydrogen is an unavoidable byproduct of the reduction of dinitrogen; at least one molecule of H2 is produced for each molecule of N2 fixed. This could be considered a fault in nitrogenase efficiency, essentially a waste of energy and reducing equivalents. Wild-type Azotobacter captures this hydrogen and oxidizes it with its membrane-bound uptake hydrogenase complex. Strains lacking an active hydrogenase complex have been investigated for their hydrogen production capacities. What is the role of H2 in the energy metabolism of nitrogen-fixing Azotobacter? Is hydrogen production involved in Azotobacter species' protection from or tolerance to oxygen, or vice versa? What yields of hydrogen can be expected from hydrogen-evolving strains? Can the yield of hydrogen be controlled or increased by changing genetic, environmental, or physiological conditions? We will address these questions in the following mini-review.

Dermanyssus gallinae (chicken mite): an underdiagnosed environmental infestation.

PubMed

Collgros, H; Iglesias-Sancho, M; Aldunce, M J; Expósito-Serrano, V; Fischer, C; Lamas, N; Umbert-Millet, P

2013-06-01

Dermanyssus gallinae is a mite that normally parasitizes small birds but may occasionally bite humans. We report an unusual case of an 82-year-old woman who presented with pruritus and bite-like lesions over her trunk. Other members of the household were also affected. On physical examination, mites < 1 mm in size were found on the patient's body. The family were residing in the city centre and had no pets, but there were pigeon nests in close proximity to the house. Most dermatologists have difficulties identifying ectoparasitosis. In the case of D. gallinae, the small size of the mites and the fact that they leave the host after feeding means that they may not be seen at presentation, thus such infestations are likely to be underdiagnosed. Physicians should be aware that infection with this mite is possible even in patients from urban areas, and it should be included in the differential diagnosis of conditions causing recurrent pruritus unresponsive to standard treatments. © The Author(s) CED © 2013 British Association of Dermatologists.

Asymmetric photoredox transition-metal catalysis activated by visible light.

PubMed

Huo, Haohua; Shen, Xiaodong; Wang, Chuanyong; Zhang, Lilu; Röse, Philipp; Chen, Liang-An; Harms, Klaus; Marsch, Michael; Hilt, Gerhard; Meggers, Eric

2014-11-06

Asymmetric catalysis is seen as one of the most economical strategies to satisfy the growing demand for enantiomerically pure small molecules in the fine chemical and pharmaceutical industries. And visible light has been recognized as an environmentally friendly and sustainable form of energy for triggering chemical transformations and catalytic chemical processes. For these reasons, visible-light-driven catalytic asymmetric chemistry is a subject of enormous current interest. Photoredox catalysis provides the opportunity to generate highly reactive radical ion intermediates with often unusual or unconventional reactivities under surprisingly mild reaction conditions. In such systems, photoactivated sensitizers initiate a single electron transfer from (or to) a closed-shell organic molecule to produce radical cations or radical anions whose reactivities are then exploited for interesting or unusual chemical transformations. However, the high reactivity of photoexcited substrates, intermediate radical ions or radicals, and the low activation barriers for follow-up reactions provide significant hurdles for the development of efficient catalytic photochemical processes that work under stereochemical control and provide chiral molecules in an asymmetric fashion. Here we report a highly efficient asymmetric catalyst that uses visible light for the necessary molecular activation, thereby combining asymmetric catalysis and photocatalysis. We show that a chiral iridium complex can serve as a sensitizer for photoredox catalysis and at the same time provide very effective asymmetric induction for the enantioselective alkylation of 2-acyl imidazoles. This new asymmetric photoredox catalyst, in which the metal centre simultaneously serves as the exclusive source of chirality, the catalytically active Lewis acid centre, and the photoredox centre, offers new opportunities for the 'green' synthesis of non-racemic chiral molecules.

Asymmetric photoredox transition-metal catalysis activated by visible light

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huo, Haohua; Shen, Xiaodong; Wang, Chuanyong; Zhang, Lilu; Röse, Philipp; Chen, Liang-An; Harms, Klaus; Marsch, Michael; Hilt, Gerhard; Meggers, Eric

2014-11-01

Asymmetric catalysis is seen as one of the most economical strategies to satisfy the growing demand for enantiomerically pure small molecules in the fine chemical and pharmaceutical industries. And visible light has been recognized as an environmentally friendly and sustainable form of energy for triggering chemical transformations and catalytic chemical processes. For these reasons, visible-light-driven catalytic asymmetric chemistry is a subject of enormous current interest. Photoredox catalysis provides the opportunity to generate highly reactive radical ion intermediates with often unusual or unconventional reactivities under surprisingly mild reaction conditions. In such systems, photoactivated sensitizers initiate a single electron transfer from (or to) a closed-shell organic molecule to produce radical cations or radical anions whose reactivities are then exploited for interesting or unusual chemical transformations. However, the high reactivity of photoexcited substrates, intermediate radical ions or radicals, and the low activation barriers for follow-up reactions provide significant hurdles for the development of efficient catalytic photochemical processes that work under stereochemical control and provide chiral molecules in an asymmetric fashion. Here we report a highly efficient asymmetric catalyst that uses visible light for the necessary molecular activation, thereby combining asymmetric catalysis and photocatalysis. We show that a chiral iridium complex can serve as a sensitizer for photoredox catalysis and at the same time provide very effective asymmetric induction for the enantioselective alkylation of 2-acyl imidazoles. This new asymmetric photoredox catalyst, in which the metal centre simultaneously serves as the exclusive source of chirality, the catalytically active Lewis acid centre, and the photoredox centre, offers new opportunities for the `green' synthesis of non-racemic chiral molecules.

Synthetic Vision System Commercial Aircraft Flight Deck Display Technologies for Unusual Attitude Recovery

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Prinzel, Lawrence J., III; Ellis, Kyle E.; Arthur, Jarvis J.; Nicholas, Stephanie N.; Kiggins, Daniel

2017-01-01

A Commercial Aviation Safety Team (CAST) study of 18 worldwide loss-of-control accidents and incidents determined that the lack of external visual references was associated with a flight crew's loss of attitude awareness or energy state awareness in 17 of these events. Therefore, CAST recommended development and implementation of virtual day-Visual Meteorological Condition (VMC) display systems, such as synthetic vision systems, which can promote flight crew attitude awareness similar to a day-VMC environment. This paper describes the results of a high-fidelity, large transport aircraft simulation experiment that evaluated virtual day-VMC displays and a "background attitude indicator" concept as an aid to pilots in recovery from unusual attitudes. Twelve commercial airline pilots performed multiple unusual attitude recoveries and both quantitative and qualitative dependent measures were collected. Experimental results and future research directions under this CAST initiative and the NASA "Technologies for Airplane State Awareness" research project are described.

Environmental Impact Analysis Process, Groom Mountain Range, Lincoln County, Nevada

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-10-01

bases clustered around springs, temporary camps, rock shelters , quarries, lithic scatters, rock art, pinyon caches, pot drops, isolates, and historic...include pinyon caches and rock shelters with associated historic artifacts and many of the spring sites. These sites provide an unusual research...Management. (b) Proposed Action: Renewed Withdrawal of Groom Mountain Range Addition to Nellis Air Force Bombing and Gunnery Range, Lincoln County, Nevada. (c

77 FR 70941 - Special Conditions: Embraer S.A., Model EMB-550 Airplane; Interaction of Systems and Structures

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-28

... primary structure is metal with composite empennage and control surfaces. The Model EMB-550 airplane is...., Model EMB-550 Airplane; Interaction of Systems and Structures AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration... conditions for the Embraer S.A. Model EMB-550 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design...

77 FR 1618 - Special Conditions: The Boeing Company, Model 767-300; Seats With Inflatable Lapbelts

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-01-11

... series airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with seats with... standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the....regulations.gov/ at any time. Follow the online instructions for accessing the docket or go to the Docket...

76 FR 63823 - Special Conditions: Gulfstream Aerospace LP (GALP) Model G280 Airplane Pilot-Compartment View...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-14

... DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 25 [Docket No. NM457; Notice No. 25-449-SC] Special Conditions: Gulfstream Aerospace LP (GALP) Model G280 Airplane Pilot... Gulfstream Aerospace LP (GALP) Model G280 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature...

Burnout in the horizontal tubes of a furnace waterwall panel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kamenetskii, B. Ya.

2009-08-01

An experimental study of heat transfer that occurs in tubes nonuniformly heated over the perimeter at low velocities of subcooled water flowing in them is presented. Experiments with unsteady supply of heat made it possible to determine heat fluxes under burnout conditions. Unusually low values of critical heat fluxes were obtained under such conditions.

75 FR 27662 - Special Conditions: Boeing 747-468, Installation of a Medical Lift

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-18

...; Notice No. 25-99-11-SC] Special Conditions: Boeing 747-468, Installation of a Medical Lift AGENCY... Aviation, will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with the installation of a medical lift... modification includes the installation of a medical lift between the main deck and upper deck. The lift allows...

Climate variability and the collapse of a Chinook salmon stock (Invited)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lindley, S.; Mohr, M.; Peterson, W. T.; Grimes, C.; Stein, J.; Anderson, J.; Botsford, L. W.; Bottom, D.; Busack, C.; Collier, T.; Ferguson, J.; Garza, C.; Grover, A.; Hankin, D.; Kope, R.; Lawson, P.; Low, A.; Macfarlane, B.; Moore, K.; Palmer-Zwahlen, M.; Schwing, F. B.; Smith, J.; Tracy, C.; Webb, R. S.; Wells, B.; Williams, T.

2009-12-01

As recently as 2002, nearly 1.5 million Sacrament River fall Chinook (SRFC) were caught in fisheries or returned to the Sacramento River basin to spawn. Only 66,000 spawners returned to natural areas and hatcheries in 2008. As a result of this dramatic decline, fisheries for Chinook salmon off California and Oregon were closed to protect SRFC in 2008 and 2009. In this paper, we show that the proximate cause of this unprecedented collapse was unusual but perhaps not unprecedented oceanographic conditions in the coastal ocean that created poor feeding conditions for juvenile salmon. The ultimate cause of the collapse may be the declining resilience of the Central Valley chinook complex that has been driven by a century and a half of land and water development. A simple conceptual model illustrates how the dynamics of a salmon population supplemented by hatchery production are influenced by trends in freshwater environmental quality, hatchery production, fitness, and climate. The model predicts that SRFC will recover to higher levels of abundance when ocean conditions improve (which may already be happening), only to decline sharply when ocean conditions again turn poor. Improving the sustainability of the Chinook salmon fishery depends on reversing trends in freshwater and estuarine habitat quality and quantity, which should also benefit runs of Chinook protected by the Endangered Species Act. Ecosystem-based management and ecological risk assessment will be required to make progress on these challenging problems, which are being exacerbated by climate change and human development.

A different type of 'glue ear': report of an unusual case of prominent ears.

PubMed

Purcell, Elizabeth M; O'Neill, Ann C; Regan, Padraic J

2003-09-01

Prominent ears is a condition that can cause extreme psychological distress in young people. This cosmetic deformity can be corrected by otoplasty, an outpatient surgical procedure that is associated with a high rate of patient satisfaction. We report the unusual case of a teenage boy who had repeatedly applied cyanoacrylate adhesive ("superglue") to his postauricular skin in an attempt to pin back his prominent ears. This case of "glue ear" was ultimately resolved by successful otoplasty, although the residual effects of the glue resulted in delayed healing of the surgical wound.

Occurrence of Double Monoclonal Bands on Protein Electrophoresis: An Unusual Finding.

PubMed

Srinivasan, Vishrut K; Bhagat, Priyanka; Bansal, Frainey; Chhabra, Seema

2016-06-01

Various techniques of protein electrophoresis are used for detection of monoclonal proteins/paraproteins in serum and/or urine of patients with monoclonal gammopathies. These are detected as the so-called 'M' bands (monoclonal bands) on serum protein electrophoresis and/or immunofixation electrophoresis. In most cases, a single M-band is detected. However, more than one M-band can be detected in the samples of a minor proportion of patients. This condition is termed as 'double gammopathy' or 'biclonal gammopathy'. A knowledge of such an unusual occurrence is essential for recognition and appropriate interpretation of this entity.

Unusual fan shaped ossification in a female fetus with radiological features of boomerang dysplasia

PubMed Central

Odent, S.; Loget, P.; Le Marec, B.; Delezoide, A.; Maroteaux, P.

1999-01-01

We report on a female fetus of 24 weeks whose clinical and radiological findings were compatible with boomerang dysplasia (BD). However, histopathology was unusual with a lateral fan shaped diaphyseal ossification. This has never been described either in typical atelosteogenesis I (AT-I) or in BD. The purpose of this report is to find out if this condition is a separate lethal bone dysplasia or another histological feature of the nosological group of AT-I and BD. 


Keywords: boomerang dysplasia; atelosteogenesis; lethal chondrodysplasia; lethal dwarfism PMID:10227404

More than just consumers: Integrating local observations into drought monitoring to better support decision making

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferguson, D. B.; Masayesva, A.; Meadow, A. M.; Crimmins, M.

2016-12-01

Drought monitoring and drought planning are complex endeavors. Measures of precipitation or streamflow provide little context for understanding how social and environmental systems impacted by drought are responding. In arid and semi-arid regions of the world, this challenge is particularly acute since social-ecological systems are already well-adapted to dry conditions. Understanding what drought means in these regions is an important first step in developing a decision-relevant monitoring system. Traditional drought indices may be of some use, but local observations may ultimately be more relevant for informing difficult decisions in response to unusually dry conditions. This presentation will focus on insights gained from a collaborative project between the University of Arizona and the Hopi Tribe-a Native American community in the U.S. Southwest-to develop a drought information system that is responsive to local needs. The primary goal of the project was to develop a system that: is based on how drought is experienced by Hopi citizens and resource managers, can incorporate local observations of drought impacts as well as conventional indicators, and brings together local expertise with conventional science-based observations. This kind of drought monitoring system can harnesses as much available information as possible to inform resource managers, political leaders, and citizens about drought conditions, but such a system can also engage these local drought stakeholders in observing, thinking about, and helping guide planning for drought.

An Award Winning Design for Downtown Manhattan High School

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Modern Schools, 1974

1974-01-01

New York City's downtown Commercial High School will be completely air conditioned with an unusual all-air, variable air volume system that will keep students and teachers comfortable throughout the year. (Author/MF)

36 CFR 223.5 - Scope of free use granted to individuals.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... immediately adjacent to the National Forest when the available supply is insufficient to meet the total demand... unusual cases where its refusal would cause unwarranted hardship. Where limited supply or other conditions...

49 CFR 192.151 - Tapping.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... of cracks and have good threads; and (2) A 11/4-inch (32 millimeters) tap may be made in a 4-inch... climate, soil, and service conditions may create unusual external stresses on cast iron pipe, unreinforced...

49 CFR 192.151 - Tapping.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... of cracks and have good threads; and (2) A 11/4-inch (32 millimeters) tap may be made in a 4-inch... climate, soil, and service conditions may create unusual external stresses on cast iron pipe, unreinforced...

49 CFR 192.151 - Tapping.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... of cracks and have good threads; and (2) A 11/4-inch (32 millimeters) tap may be made in a 4-inch... climate, soil, and service conditions may create unusual external stresses on cast iron pipe, unreinforced...

49 CFR 192.151 - Tapping.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... of cracks and have good threads; and (2) A 11/4-inch (32 millimeters) tap may be made in a 4-inch... climate, soil, and service conditions may create unusual external stresses on cast iron pipe, unreinforced...

MONITORING EROSION OF STONE SURFACES USING TIME-LAPSE AND PTM PHOTOGRAPHY: FIELD STUDY OF A 14TH CENTURY MONASTERY IN YORKSHIRE

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doehne, E.; Pinchin, S.

2009-12-01

Evaluating stone weathering rates and their relationship to environmental fluctuations is an important challenge in understanding the critical zone and also in efforts to prevent the loss of important cultural heritage in stone, such as monuments, sculpture and archaeological sites. Repeat photography has been widely used to evaluate geological processes such as the retreat of glaciers and the weathering of stone surfaces. However, a fundamental difficulty is that the images are often shot under differing lighting conditions, making the interpretation of stone surface loss particularly challenging. Two developments in photographic documentation show promise for improving the situation. One is the use of digital time-lapse methods to provide more frequent images to correlate stone surface loss with ongoing environmental changes. The other is a relatively new method known as polynomial transform mapping (PTM), which integrates multiple photographs taken at different angles to document more comprehensively the texture of stone surfaces. Using Java-based software, the viewer can control the precise angle of the light source in an interpolated, high-quality image. PTM can produce raking light images from any angle, as well as images with ‘normal’ illumination. We present here results based on several years of macro-photography, time-lapse imaging, and PTM imaging of rapidly eroding stone surfaces at the site of Howden Minster in Yorkshire, UK, which suffers from salt weathering. The images show that surface loss is episodic rather than continuous and in some cases is related to unusual environmental conditions, such as high winds and condensation events. Damage was also found to be synchronous, with surface change (flaking, granular disintegration, and loss of flakes) occurring at the same time in different stone blocks. Crystallization pressure from phase transitions in magnesium sulfate salts appears to be the main cause of the loss of stone surfaces.

Environmental and genetic sources of diversification in the timing of seed germination: implications for the evolution of bet hedging.

PubMed

Simons, Andrew M; Johnston, Mark O

2006-11-01

Environmental variation that is not predictably related to cues is expected to drive the evolution of bet-hedging strategies. The high variance observed in the timing of seed germination has led to it being the most cited diversification strategy in the theoretical bet-hedging literature. Despite this theoretical focus, virtually nothing is known about the mechanisms responsible for the generation of individual-level diversification. Here we report analyses of sources of variation in timing of germination within seasons, germination fraction over two generations and three sequential seasons, and the genetic correlation structure of these traits using almost 10,000 seeds from more than 100 genotypes of the monocarpic perennial Lobelia inflata. Microenvironmental analysis of time to germination suggests that extreme sensitivity to environmental gradients, or microplasticity, even within a homogeneous growth chamber, may act as an effective individual-level diversification mechanism and explains more than 30% of variance in time to germination. The heritability of within-season timing of germination was low (h(2) = 0.07) but significant under homogeneous conditions. Consistent with individual-level diversification, this low h(2) was attributable not to low additive genetic variance, but to an unusually high coefficient of residual variation in time to germination. Despite high power to detect additive genetic variance in within-season diversification, it was low and indistinguishable from zero. Restricted maximum likelihood detected significant genetic variation for germination fraction (h(2) = 0.18) under homogeneous conditions. Unexpectedly, this heritability was positive when measured within a generation by sibling analysis and negative when measured across generations by offspring-on-parent regression. The consistency of dormancy fraction over multiple delays, a major premise of Cohen's classic model, was supported by a strong genetic correlation (r = 0.468) observed for a cohort's germination fraction over two seasons. We discuss implications of the results for the evolution of bet hedging and highlight the need for further empirical study of the causal components of diversification.

Marine mammal strandings and environmental changes: a 15-year study in the St. Lawrence ecosystem.

PubMed

Truchon, Marie-Hélène; Measures, Lena; L'Hérault, Vincent; Brêthes, Jean-Claude; Galbraith, Peter S; Harvey, Michel; Lessard, Sylvie; Starr, Michel; Lecomte, Nicolas

2013-01-01

Understanding the effects of climatic variability on marine mammals is challenging due to the complexity of ecological interactions. We used general linear models to analyze a 15-year database documenting marine mammal strandings (1994-2008; n = 1,193) and nine environmental parameters known to affect marine mammal survival, from regional (sea ice) to continental scales (North Atlantic Oscillation, NAO). Stranding events were more frequent during summer and fall than other seasons, and have increased since 1994. Poor ice conditions observed during the same period may have affected marine mammals either directly, by modulating the availability of habitat for feeding and breeding activities, or indirectly, through changes in water conditions and marine productivity (krill abundance). For most species (75%, n = 6 species), a low volume of ice was correlated with increasing frequency of stranding events (e.g. R(2)adj = 0.59, hooded seal, Cystophora cristata). This likely led to an increase in seal mortality during the breeding period, but also to increase habitat availability for seasonal migratory cetaceans using ice-free areas during winter. We also detected a high frequency of stranding events for mysticete species (minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and resident species (beluga, Delphinapterus leucas), correlated with low krill abundance since 1994. Positive NAO indices were positively correlated with high frequencies of stranding events for resident and seasonal migratory cetaceans, as well as rare species (R(2)adj = 0.53, 0.81 and 0.34, respectively). This contrasts with seal mass stranding numbers, which were negatively correlated with a positive NAO index. In addition, an unusual multiple species mortality event (n = 114, 62% of total annual mortality) in 2008 was caused by a harmful algal bloom. Our findings provide an empirical baseline in understanding marine mammal survival when faced with climatic variability. This is a promising step in integrating stranding records to monitor the consequences of environmental changes in marine ecosystems over long time scales.

Marine Mammal Strandings and Environmental Changes: A 15-Year Study in the St. Lawrence Ecosystem

PubMed Central

Truchon, Marie-Hélène; Measures, Lena; L’Hérault, Vincent; Brêthes, Jean-Claude; Galbraith, Peter S.; Harvey, Michel; Lessard, Sylvie; Starr, Michel; Lecomte, Nicolas

2013-01-01

Understanding the effects of climatic variability on marine mammals is challenging due to the complexity of ecological interactions. We used general linear models to analyze a 15-year database documenting marine mammal strandings (1994–2008; n = 1,193) and nine environmental parameters known to affect marine mammal survival, from regional (sea ice) to continental scales (North Atlantic Oscillation, NAO). Stranding events were more frequent during summer and fall than other seasons, and have increased since 1994. Poor ice conditions observed during the same period may have affected marine mammals either directly, by modulating the availability of habitat for feeding and breeding activities, or indirectly, through changes in water conditions and marine productivity (krill abundance). For most species (75%, n = 6 species), a low volume of ice was correlated with increasing frequency of stranding events (e.g. R2 adj = 0.59, hooded seal, Cystophora cristata). This likely led to an increase in seal mortality during the breeding period, but also to increase habitat availability for seasonal migratory cetaceans using ice-free areas during winter. We also detected a high frequency of stranding events for mysticete species (minke whale, Balaenoptera acutorostrata) and resident species (beluga, Delphinapterus leucas), correlated with low krill abundance since 1994. Positive NAO indices were positively correlated with high frequencies of stranding events for resident and seasonal migratory cetaceans, as well as rare species (R2 adj = 0.53, 0.81 and 0.34, respectively). This contrasts with seal mass stranding numbers, which were negatively correlated with a positive NAO index. In addition, an unusual multiple species mortality event (n = 114, 62% of total annual mortality) in 2008 was caused by a harmful algal bloom. Our findings provide an empirical baseline in understanding marine mammal survival when faced with climatic variability. This is a promising step in integrating stranding records to monitor the consequences of environmental changes in marine ecosystems over long time scales. PMID:23544059

Effects of environmental enrichment on reproductive performance and quantity and morphology of cumulus-oocyte complexes obtained from Rattus norvegicus.

PubMed

Fisch, Joana; Oliveira, Iáskara Vieira de; Fank, Juliana; Paim, Lia Mara Gomes; Zandoná, Marília Remuzzi; Lopes, Eliana Franco; Mello, Fernanda Bastos de; Oliveira, Alexandre Tavares Duarte de

2017-05-01

Several researchers have observed that environmental enrichment (EE) can be effective in reducing stressful conditions and abnormal behavior and may provide better reproductive performance in rodents. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the reproductive performance of Wistar rats reared in three different housing conditions. Animals were separated into breeding pairs, one pair per cage and pairs randomly assigned to three experimental groups (ten couples per group): control group were provided cages without any environmental enrichment; PVC group with PVC pipe; and cardboard roll group with a commercially available cardboard tube. To compare the reproductive performance of the three groups, the following were evaluated: number of pups/litter; number of litters; parturition interval; occurrence of cannibalism; weight gain of offspring; as well as the quantity and quality of cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) obtained after superovulation of the females born from the first, second and last pregnancy in all groups. Moreover, the plasma level of corticosterone in breeding animals was measured. A total of 60 male rats randomly selected from the first- and last-born litters (20 males from each group) were first tested in an elevated plus-maze (EPM) and on the following day, were tested in an open field test (OFT). Significant differences were found in the number and morphological classification of COCs. In the control group, the number of oocytes in grade 4 (unusual shapes and very heterogeneous ooplasm, presenting no layers of surrounding cumulus cells [13]) presented statistically higher rates (225/2535, 8.9%) compared to the other groups, as well as the number of competent oocytes was higher in the enriched groups (p = 0.001). Moreover, we find that the males of cardboard roll group differed significantly in weight gain compared to PVC group (p = 0.008). In addition to this, we did not detect occurrence of cannibalism in this group. Our findings suggest that environmental enrichment provides improvements in reproductive performance of Wistar rats. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Two Species with an Unusual Combination of Traits Dominate Responses of British Grasshoppers and Crickets to Environmental Change.

PubMed

Beckmann, Björn C; Purse, Bethan V; Roy, David B; Roy, Helen E; Sutton, Peter G; Thomas, Chris D

2015-01-01

There are large variations in the responses of species to the environmental changes of recent decades, heightening interest in whether their traits may explain inter-specific differences in range expansions and contractions. Using a long-term distributional dataset, we calculated range changes of grasshoppers and crickets in Britain between the 1980s and the 2000s and assessed whether their traits (resource use, life history, dispersal ability, geographic location) explain relative performance of different species. Our analysis showed large changes in the distributions of some species, and we found a positive relationship between three traits and range change: ranges tended to increase for habitat generalists, species that oviposit in the vegetation above ground, and for those with a southerly distribution. These findings accord well with the nature of environmental changes over this period (climatic warming; reductions in the diversity and increases in the height of vegetation). However, the trait effects applied mainly to just two species, Conocephalus discolor and Metrioptera roeselii, which had shown the greatest range increases. Once they were omitted from the analysis, trait effects were no longer statistically significant. Previous studies on these two species emphasised wing-length dimorphism as the key to their success, resulting in a high phenotypic plasticity of dispersal and evolutionary-ecological feedback at their expanding range margins. This, combined with our results, suggests that an unusual combination of traits have enabled these two species to undertake extremely rapid responses to recent environmental changes. The fact that our results are dominated by two species only became apparent through cautious testing of the results' robustness, not through standard statistical checks. We conclude that trait-based analyses may contribute to the assessment of species responses to environmental change and provide insights into underlying mechanisms, but results need to be interpreted with caution and may have limited predictive power.

Influence of water temperature and salinity on Vibrio vulnificus in Northern Gulf and Atlantic Coast oysters (Crassostrea virginica).

PubMed

Motes, M L; DePaola, A; Cook, D W; Veazey, J E; Hunsucker, J C; Garthright, W E; Blodgett, R J; Chirtel, S J

1998-04-01

This study investigated the temperature and salinity parameters associated with waters and oysters linked to food-borne Vibrio vulnificus infections. V. vulnificus was enumerated in oysters collected at three northern Gulf Coast sites and two Atlantic Coast sites from July 1994 through September 1995. Two of these sites, Black Bay, La., and Apalachicola Bay, Fla., are the source of the majority of the oysters implicated in V. vulnificus cases. Oysters in all Gulf Coast sites exhibited a similar seasonal distribution of V. vulnificus: a consistently large number (median concentration, 2,300 organisms [most probable number] per g of oyster meat) from May through October followed by a gradual reduction during November and December to < or = 10 per g, where it remained from January through mid-March, and a sharp increase in late March and April to summer levels. V. vulnificus was undetectable (< 3 per g) in oysters from the North and South Carolina sites for most of the year. An exception occurred when a late-summer flood caused a drop in salinity in the North Carolina estuary, apparently causing V. vulnificus numbers to increase briefly to Gulf Coast levels. At Gulf Coast sites, V. vulnificus numbers increased with water temperatures up to 26 degrees C and were constant at higher temperatures. High V. vulnificus levels (> 10(3) per g) were typically found in oysters from intermediate salinities (5 to 25 ppt). Smaller V. vulnificus numbers (< 10(2) per g) were found at salinities above 28 ppt, typical of Atlantic Coast sites. On 11 occasions oysters were sampled at times and locations near the source of oysters implicated in 13 V. vulnificus cases; the V. vulnificus levels and environmental parameters associated with these samples were consistent with those of other study samples collected from the Gulf Coast from April through November. These findings suggest that the hazard of V. vulnificus infection is not limited to brief periods of unusual abundance of V. vulnificus in Gulf Coast oysters or to environmental conditions that are unusual to Gulf Coast estuaries.

Influence of Water Temperature and Salinity on Vibrio vulnificus in Northern Gulf and Atlantic Coast Oysters (Crassostrea virginica)

PubMed Central

Motes, M. L.; DePaola, A.; Cook, D. W.; Veazey, J. E.; Hunsucker, J. C.; Garthright, W. E.; Blodgett, R. J.; Chirtel, S. J.

1998-01-01

This study investigated the temperature and salinity parameters associated with waters and oysters linked to food-borne Vibrio vulnificus infections. V. vulnificus was enumerated in oysters collected at three northern Gulf Coast sites and two Atlantic Coast sites from July 1994 through September 1995. Two of these sites, Black Bay, La., and Apalachicola Bay, Fla., are the source of the majority of the oysters implicated in V. vulnificus cases. Oysters in all Gulf Coast sites exhibited a similar seasonal distribution of V. vulnificus: a consistently large number (median concentration, 2,300 organisms [most probable number] per g of oyster meat) from May through October followed by a gradual reduction during November and December to ≤10 per g, where it remained from January through mid-March, and a sharp increase in late March and April to summer levels. V. vulnificus was undetectable (<3 per g) in oysters from the North and South Carolina sites for most of the year. An exception occurred when a late-summer flood caused a drop in salinity in the North Carolina estuary, apparently causing V. vulnificus numbers to increase briefly to Gulf Coast levels. At Gulf Coast sites, V. vulnificus numbers increased with water temperatures up to 26°C and were constant at higher temperatures. High V. vulnificus levels (>103 per g) were typically found in oysters from intermediate salinities (5 to 25 ppt). Smaller V. vulnificus numbers (<102 per g) were found at salinities above 28 ppt, typical of Atlantic Coast sites. On 11 occasions oysters were sampled at times and locations near the source of oysters implicated in 13 V. vulnificus cases; the V. vulnificus levels and environmental parameters associated with these samples were consistent with those of other study samples collected from the Gulf Coast from April through November. These findings suggest that the hazard of V. vulnificus infection is not limited to brief periods of unusual abundance of V. vulnificus in Gulf Coast oysters or to environmental conditions that are unusual to Gulf Coast estuaries. PMID:9546182

Lessons for Physicians from Flint's Water Crisis.

PubMed

Carravallah, Laura A; Reynolds, Lawrence A; Woolford, Susan J

2017-10-01

Physicians form a vital front in recognizing unusual clinical presentations that could herald a health threat. In the Flint water crisis, physicians can be credited with playing critical roles in both uncovering the crisis and providing leadership when government failed to respond effectively. Yet most physicians in Flint were not formally trained in advocacy or leadership and might have recognized the health implications of the crisis more quickly had they received formal environmental health training. Furthermore, connections to other professional disciplines-and to the community-are vital for effective responses to environmental health threats. We explore some lessons learned in Flint that might help expedite resolution of future environmental health crises, particularly those involving aging infrastructure and diminished or dysfunctional regulation or oversight. © 2017 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.

The year without a summer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luterbacher, J.; Pfister, C.

2015-04-01

The 1815 eruption of Tambora caused an unusually cold summer in much of Europe in 1816. The extreme weather led to poor harvests and malnutrition, but also demonstrated the capability of humans to adapt and help others in worse conditions.

Putting the Nation on a Path for Climate Resilience and Preparedness

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Putting current data in a historical context, NOAA publishes the monthly State of the Climate Report that includes analyses of the Nation's recent climate conditions, their unusualness, and their rank within long‐term trends.

Diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus in an unusual presentation: what a primary care physician should know.

PubMed

Pramanik, Bimalendu

2014-01-01

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease affecting millions of people worldwide. It can affect any organ systems of the body. However, all systems may not be involved initially rather than they may be affected gradually, sometimes over years. Diagnosis depends on characteristic clinical features and laboratory test results. Some features such as skin rash, joint symptoms and oral ulcers are common in SLE. But initial presentation of many patients is unusual because either they do not have these common features of the disease or the presentation mimics other illnesses. As a result, delayed diagnosis and misdiagnosis are common. Therefore, high index of initial suspicion of SLE is critical. In clinical practice, SLE should be suspected in any patient presenting with an unexplained disease process involving two or more organ systems. To make a diagnosis in an unusual presentation, thorough clinical evaluation with details history of both present and past illnesses as well as laboratory tests for SLE should be performed. Usually primary-care physicians first evaluate SLE patients; but there is no single article, where all the information on when to suspect SLE in an unusual presentation, is available in an integrated form. In this article, a list of conditions, when SLE should be suspected in an unusual presentation, has been given and some relatively common areas with diagnostic challenges of SLE have been briefly described. To prepare this manuscript, most articles have been identified through 'Pubmed' search using keywords-atypical/ unusual presentation of SLE, case reports on SLE, gastrointestinal manifestations of SLE, neuropsychiatric SLE, diagnostic challenges with SLE, etc. Selected most articles are from currently medline-indexed journals.

Acquired von Willebrand Syndrome Associated to Secondary IgM MGUS Emerging after Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for AL Amyloidosis

PubMed Central

Qamar, Hina; Lee, Adrienne; Valentine, Karen; Skeith, Leslie; Jimenez-Zepeda, Victor H

2017-01-01

Acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AVWS) is a rare hemorrhagic disorder that occurs in patients with no prior personal or family history of bleeding. Here, we describe a case of AVWS occurring after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Interestingly, AVWS developed after bortezomib-based induction and conditioning regimens. Recent evidence suggests that the proximity of the bortezomib therapy to the collection of stem cells with consequent depletion of regulatory T cells after the conditioning regimen could explain some of the unusual autoimmune complications reported in patients receiving bortezomib prior to ASCT. In addition, this patient developed a secondary MGUS post-ASCT, which may have also contributed to the AVWS. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of post-ASCT AVWS reported. Prospective data is needed to better elucidate the mechanisms by which these unusual complications occur in patients receiving bortezomib prior to ASCT. PMID:28512563

Acquired von Willebrand Syndrome Associated to Secondary IgM MGUS Emerging after Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for AL Amyloidosis.

PubMed

Qamar, Hina; Lee, Adrienne; Valentine, Karen; Skeith, Leslie; Jimenez-Zepeda, Victor H

2017-01-01

Acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AVWS) is a rare hemorrhagic disorder that occurs in patients with no prior personal or family history of bleeding. Here, we describe a case of AVWS occurring after autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Interestingly, AVWS developed after bortezomib-based induction and conditioning regimens. Recent evidence suggests that the proximity of the bortezomib therapy to the collection of stem cells with consequent depletion of regulatory T cells after the conditioning regimen could explain some of the unusual autoimmune complications reported in patients receiving bortezomib prior to ASCT. In addition, this patient developed a secondary MGUS post-ASCT, which may have also contributed to the AVWS. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of post-ASCT AVWS reported. Prospective data is needed to better elucidate the mechanisms by which these unusual complications occur in patients receiving bortezomib prior to ASCT.

Sometimes two arms are enough--an unusual life-stage in brittle stars (Echinodermata: Ophiuroidea).

PubMed

Stöhr, Sabine; Alme, Øydis

2015-08-03

Off West Africa (Angola-Morocco), benthos samples were collected in the years 2005-2012. These contained 124 specimens of brittle stars with two long arms and three extremely short or absent arms and an elongated, narrow disc. These unusual brittle stars, as well as 33 specimens with five fully developed arms, were identified as Amphiura ungulata. The specimens with unequal arms were juvenile stages, whereas adults had five equal arms. The large number of specimens with unequal arms suggests that this condition is not the result of damage and regeneration, but a normal growth pattern in this species. This study documents the morphology by SEM, amends the species description, and discusses possible explanations for the evolution of this condition. Although brittle star species with unequal arm growth have been reported, this is an extreme case that was unknown before this study.

Atmospheric conditions related to blowup fires

Treesearch

George M. Byram

1954-01-01

Occasionally a forest fire burns with an intensity that seems far out of proportion to apparent burning conditions. Sometimes it multiplies its rate of energy output many times in a short space of time. Although infrequent, these unusual fires have over a long period of time been responsible for the major loss of life in forest fires and a large part of the losses in...

Cervical spondylodiscitis with spinal epidural abscess caused by Aggregatibacter aphrophilus.

PubMed

Pasqualini, Leonella; Mencacci, Antonella; Scarponi, Anna Maria; Leli, Christian; Fabbriciani, Gianluigi; Callarelli, Laura; Schillaci, Giuseppe; Bistoni, Francesco; Mannarino, Elmo

2008-05-01

Spondylodiscitis caused by Aggregatibacter aphrophilus, formerly known as Haemophilus paraphrophilus, is an unusual condition and can be very difficult to diagnose. We report a case of cervical spondylodiscitis complicated by spinal epidural abscess in a 63-year-old woman, without underlying predisposing conditions. The source of infection was identified as a periodontal infection. The patient was successfully treated with systemic antibiotics.

75 FR 26643 - Special Conditions: Rockwell Collins, Inc., Boeing Model 737-700/-700C/-800/-900 and -900ER...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-12

... -900 ER series airplanes because of a novel or unusual design feature, special conditions are... and -900ER Series Airplanes Equipped With Rockwell HGS- 4000 Head-Up Guidance System With Enhanced.../-700C/-800/-900 and -900ER series airplanes equipped with the Rockwell HGS-4000 Head-Up Guidance System...

Calibration and evaluation of a dispersant application system

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

Shum, J.S.

1987-05-01

The report presents recommended methods for calibrating and operating boat-mounted dispersant application systems. Calibration of one commercially-available system and several unusual problems encountered in calibration are described. Charts and procedures for selecting pump rates and other operating parameters in order to achieve a desired dosage are provided. The calibration was performed at the EPA's Oil and Hazardous Materials Simulated Environmental Test Tank (OHMSETT) facility in Leonardo, New Jersey.

Environmental Assessment: Gulf Power Company Military Point Transmission Line Project

DTIC Science & Technology

2014-05-12

including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson...at or near the project area would include white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), eastern gray squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), other small- and...cypress trees (FFWCC 2003b ), the eagle nest near Military Point is unusual in that it is located in a dead snag (see Photo 4 in Appendix A). Adult eagles

Were jobs more important than health in Sydney?

PubMed Central

Robb, N

1995-01-01

Unusually high cancer rates in Sydney, NS, have finally prompted an epidemiologic study that will look at the interplay of occupational and environmental exposure, smoking and genetic predisposition. The study is part of a $3.6 million healthy communities project, and it may determine the effect of coke-oven emissions on steelworkers and residents. Images p920-a p921-a p921-b p922-a PMID:7697582

Marital Satisfaction and Physical Health: Evidence for an Orchid Effect

PubMed Central

South, Susan C.; Krueger, Robert F.

2013-01-01

Marital distress and conflict are linked to poor physical health. Here, we used behavior genetic modeling to determine the etiology of this association. Biometric moderation models were used to estimate gene-by-environment interaction in the presence of gene-environment correlation between marital satisfaction and self-reported health. Using a sample of 347 married twin pairs from the Midlife in the United States study, we found that genetic influences on the variation in self-reported health were greatest at both high (h2 = .30) and low (h2 = .38) levels of marital satisfaction, with the lowest levels of heritability estimated for participants at the average level of marital satisfaction (h2 = .10). These findings are evidence of the orchid effect: the idea that genetic influences on a phenotype such as physical health are enhanced in nonnormative—both unusually positive and unusually negative—environmental contexts. PMID:23359109

Human olfactory consciousness and cognition: its unusual features may not result from unusual functions but from limited neocortical processing resources

PubMed Central

Stevenson, Richard J.; Attuquayefio, Tuki

2013-01-01

Human and animal olfactory perception is shaped both by functional demands and by various environmental constraints seemingly peculiar to chemical stimuli. These demands and constraints may have generated a sensory system that is cognitively distinct from the major senses. In this article we identify these various functional demands and constraints, and examine whether they can be used to account for olfaction's unique cognitive features on a case-by-case basis. We then use this as grounds to argue that specific conscious processes do have functional value, a finding that naturally emerges when a comparative approach to consciousness across the senses is adopted. More generally, we conclude that certain peculiar features of olfactory cognition may owe more to limited neocortical processing resources, than they do to the challenges faced by perceiving chemical stimuli. PMID:24198808

Maxillary and Mandibular First Premolars Showing Three-Cusp Pattern: An Unusual Presentation

PubMed Central

Kotrashetti, Vijayalakshmi; Nayak, Aarati; Patil, Viraj; Kulkarni, Mayuri; Somannavar, Pradeep

2013-01-01

Dental anatomy is the study of morphology of various teeth in human dentitions. The application of dental anatomy in clinical practice is important, and dentist should have a thorough knowledge regarding the morphology of the teeth. At times as a result of genetic variation, environmental factors, diet of an individual and race, variations in the morphology of the teeth can be observed. These variations have been extensively studied by the researcher in the field of anthropology to define a particular race. The most commonly observed changes include peg-shaped laterals, shovel-shaped incisors, and extra cusp on molar. Common variations documented with regard to maxillary and mandibular first premolars are the variation in the number of roots. But the variations with respect to crown morphology are few. We report a first documented unusual presentation of maxillary and mandibular first premolars with three-cusps pattern in a female patient. PMID:23476817

Analysis of individual- and time-specific covariate effects on survival of Serinus serinus in north-eastern Spain

USGS Publications Warehouse

Conroy, M.J.; Senar, J.C.; Domenech, J.

2002-01-01

We developed models for the analysis of recapture data for 2678 serins (Serinus serinus) ringed in north-eastern Spain since 1985. We investigated several time- and individual-specific factors as potential predictors of overall mortality and dispersal patterns, and of gender and age differences in these patterns. Time-specific covariates included minimum daily temperature, days below freezing, and abundance of a strong competitor, siskins (Carduelis spinus) during winter, and maximum temperature and rainfall during summer. Individual covariates included body mass (i.e. body condition), and wing length (i.e. flying ability), and interactions between body mass and environmental factors. We found little support of a predictive relationship between environmental factors and survival, but good evidence of relationships between body mass and survival, especially for juveniles. Juvenile survival appears to vary in a curvilinear manner with increasing mass, suggesting that there may exist an optimal mass beyond which increases are detrimental. The mass-survival relationship does seem to be influenced by at least one environmental factor, namely the abundance of wintering siskins. When siskins are abundant, increases in body mass appear to relate strongly to increasing survival. When siskin numbers are average or low the relationship is largely reversed, suggesting that the presence of strong competition mitigates the otherwise largely negative aspects of greater body mass. Wing length in juveniles also appears to be related positively to survival, perhaps largely due to the influence of a few unusually large juveniles with adult-like survival. Further work is needed to test these relationships, ideally under experimentation.

Gastric infarction following gastric bypass surgery

PubMed Central

Do, Patrick H; Kang, Young S; Cahill, Peter

2016-01-01

Gastric infarction is an extremely rare occurrence owing to the stomach’s extensive vascular supply. We report an unusual case of gastric infarction following gastric bypass surgery. We describe the imaging findings and discuss possible causes of this condition. PMID:27200168

Genetics Home Reference: intrauterine growth restriction, metaphyseal dysplasia, adrenal hypoplasia congenita, and ...

MedlinePlus

... associated with IMAGe syndrome occur only in affected males. They include an unusually small penis (micropenis), undescended ... The condition has been diagnosed more often in males than in females, probably because females do not ...

Is schizoaffective disorder a distinct categorical diagnosis? A critical review of the literature

PubMed Central

Abrams, Daniel J; Rojas, Donald C; Arciniegas, David B

2008-01-01

Considerable debate surrounds the inclusion of schizoaffective disorder in psychiatric nosology. Schizoaffective disorder may be a variant of schizophrenia in which mood symptoms are unusually prominent but not unusual in type. This condition may instead reflect a severe form of either major depressive or bipolar disorder in which episode-related psychotic symptoms fail to remit completely between mood episodes. Alternatively, schizoaffective disorder may reflect the co-occurrence of two relatively common psychiatric illnesses, schizophrenia and a mood disorder (major depressive or bipolar disorder). Each of these formulations of schizoaffective disorder presents nosological challenges because the signs and symptoms of this condition cross conventional categorical diagnostic boundaries between psychotic disorders and mood disorders. The study, evaluation, and treatment of persons presently diagnosed with schizoaffective may be more usefully informed by a dimensional approach. It is in this context that this article reviews and contrasts the categorical and dimensional approaches to its description, neurobiology, and treatment. Based on this review, an argument for the study and treatment of this condition using a dimensional approach is offered. PMID:19337453

A painful pulsatile abdominal mass in a young man with elevated blood pressures: an unusual presentation of phaeochromocytoma.

PubMed

Lee, B M K; Ti, L K

2002-08-01

We report an unusual presentation of phaeochromocytoma in a young man with a painful, pulsatile abdominal mass and elevated blood pressures. This led to a delay in diagnosis and resulted in the administration of triggers of catecholamine release, possibly causing a catecholamine surge. This caused the development of catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy and multiple organ failure, requiring inotropic and ventilatory support, intra-aortic balloon pump and dialysis. Fortunately, his condition reversed with supportive treatment and alpha-adrenergic blockade. This illustrates the importance of having a high index of suspicion of phaeochromocytoma, especially in young patients with elevated blood pressures.

Endodontic management of an unusual foreign body in a maxillary central incisor.

PubMed

Chand, Keerthi; Joesph, Sam; Varughese, Jolly Mary; Nair, Mali G; Prasanth, Santhosh

2013-09-01

The discovery of foreign bodies in the teeth is often diagnosed accidentally. It is commonly seen in children. These foreign objects may act as a potential source of infection and may later lead to a painful condition. Detailed case history, clinical and radiographic examinations are necessary to come to a conclusion about the nature, size, and location of the foreign body, and the difficulty involved in its retrieval. This paper discusses the types of foreign objects found in and around the teeth and reports an unusual case of a stapler pin in the root canal of a tooth, its retrieval, and associated management of the involved teeth.

Penile herpes zoster: an unusual location for a common disease.

PubMed

Bjekic, Milan; Markovic, Milica; Sipetic, Sandra

2011-01-01

Herpes zoster is a common dermatological condition which affects up to 20% of the population, most frequently involving the thoracic and facial dermatomes with sacral lesions occurring rarely and only a few reported cases of penile shingles. We report two cases of unusual penile clinical presentations of varicella zoster virus infection in immunocompetent men. The patients presented with grouped clusters of vesicles and erythema on the left side of penile shaft and posterior aspect of the left thigh and buttock, involving s2-s4 dermatomes. The lesions resolved quickly upon administration of oral antiviral therapy. Penile herpes zoster should not be overlooked in patients with unilateral vesicular rash.

Wind systems the driving force of evaporation at the Dead Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Metzger, Jutta; Corsmeier, Ulrich; Alpert, Pinhas

2017-04-01

The Dead Sea is a unique place on earth. It is located in the Eastern Mediterranean at the lowest point of the Jordan Rift valley and its water level is currently at 429 m below mean sea level. The region is located in a transition zone of semi-arid to arid climate conditions and endangered by severe environmental problems, especially the rapid lake level decline (>1m/year), causing the shifting of fresh/saline groundwater interfaces and the drying up of the lake. Two key features are relevant for these environmental changes: the evaporation from the water surface and its driving mechanisms. The main driver of evaporation at the Dead Sea is the wind velocity and hence the governing wind systems with different scales in space and time. In the framework of the Virtual Institute DEad SEa Research Venue (DESERVE) an extensive field campaign was conducted to study the governing wind systems in the valley and the energy balance of the water and land surface simultaneously. The combination of several in-situ and remote sensing instruments allowed temporally and spatially high-resolution measurements to investigate the frequency of occurrence of the wind systems, their three-dimensional structure, associated wind velocities and their impact on evaporation. The characteristics of the three local wind systems governing the valley's wind field, as well as their impact on evaporation, will be presented. Mostly decoupled from the large scale flow a local lake breeze determines the conditions during the day. Strong downslope winds drive the evaporation in the afternoon, and down valley flows with wind velocities of over 10 m s-1 dominate during the night causing unusually high evaporation rates after sunset.

How can we estimate natural selection on endocrine traits? Lessons from evolutionary biology

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

An evolutionary perspective can enrich almost any endeavour in biology, providing a deeper understanding of the variation we see in nature. To this end, evolutionary endocrinologists seek to describe the fitness consequences of variation in endocrine traits. Much of the recent work in our field, however, follows a flawed approach to the study of how selection shapes endocrine traits. Briefly, this approach relies on among-individual correlations between endocrine phenotypes (often circulating hormone levels) and fitness metrics to estimate selection on those endocrine traits. Adaptive plasticity in both endocrine and fitness-related traits can drive these correlations, generating patterns that do not accurately reflect natural selection. We illustrate why this approach to studying selection on endocrine traits is problematic, referring to work from evolutionary biologists who, decades ago, described this problem as it relates to a variety of other plastic traits. We extend these arguments to evolutionary endocrinology, where the likelihood that this flaw generates bias in estimates of selection is unusually high due to the exceptional responsiveness of hormones to environmental conditions, and their function to induce adaptive life-history responses to environmental variation. We end with a review of productive approaches for investigating the fitness consequences of variation in endocrine traits that we expect will generate exciting advances in our understanding of endocrine system evolution. PMID:27881753

Central venous catheter-related bacteremia caused by Kocuria kristinae: case report and review of the literature.

PubMed

Dunn, Ryan; Bares, Sara; David, Michael Z

2011-08-24

Kocuria species are unusual human pathogens isolated most commonly from immunocompromised hosts, such as transplant recipients and cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, or from patients with chronic medical conditions. A case of catheter-related bacteremia with pulmonary septic emboli in a pregnant adult female without chronic medical conditions is described. A review of other reported Kocuria infections is provided.

A dangerous seaplane landing condition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Carroll, Thomas

1928-01-01

A peculiar phenomena in seaplane landing is observed and reported. The seaplane having executed a normal fast landing at low incidence, a forward movement of the control stick effected an unusual condition in that the seaplane left the water suddenly in an abnormal attitude. The observations describing this phenomena are offered as a warning against possible accident and as a conjectural cause of seaplane landing accidents of a certain kind.

15 CFR 200.103 - Consulting and advisory services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

...., details of design and construction, operational aspects, unusual or extreme conditions, methods of statistical control of the measurement process, automated acquisition of laboratory data, and data reduction... group seminars on the precision measurement of specific types of physical quantities, offering the...

15 CFR 200.103 - Consulting and advisory services.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

...., details of design and construction, operational aspects, unusual or extreme conditions, methods of statistical control of the measurement process, automated acquisition of laboratory data, and data reduction... group seminars on the precision measurement of specific types of physical quantities, offering the...

The Dynamics of Rapidly Emplaced Terrestrial Lava Flows and Implications for Planetary Volcanism

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Baloga, Stephen; Spudis, Paul D.; Guest, John E.

1995-01-01

The Kaupulehu 1800-1801 lava flow of Hualalai volcano and the 1823 Keaiwa flow from the Great Crack of the Kilauea southwest rift zone had certain unusual and possibly unique properties for terrestrial basaltic lava flows. Both flows apparently had very low viscosities, high effusion rates, and uncommonly rapid rates of advance. Ultramafic xenolith nodules in the 1801 flow form stacks of cobbles with lava rinds of only millimeter thicknesses. The velocity of the lava stream in the 1801 flow was extremely high, at least 10 m/s (more than 40 km/h). Observations and geological evidence suggest similarly high velocities for the 1823 flow. The unusual eruption conditions that produced these lava flows suggest a floodlike mode of emplacement unlike that of most other present-day flows. Although considerable effort has gone into understanding the viscous fluid dynamics and thermal processes that often occur in basaltic flows, the unusual conditions prevalent for the Kaupulehu and Keaiwa flows necessitate different modeling considerations. We propose an elementary flood model for this type of lava emplacement and show that it produces consistent agreement with the overall dimensions of the flow, channel sizes, and other supporting field evidence. The reconstructed dynamics of these rapidly emplaced terrestrial lava flows provide significant insights about the nature of these eruptions and their analogs in planetary volcanism.

Quorum Sensing Influences Burkholderia thailandensis Biofilm Development and Matrix Production.

PubMed

Tseng, Boo Shan; Majerczyk, Charlotte D; Passos da Silva, Daniel; Chandler, Josephine R; Greenberg, E Peter; Parsek, Matthew R

2016-10-01

Members of the genus Burkholderia are known to be adept at biofilm formation, which presumably assists in the survival of these organisms in the environment and the host. Biofilm formation has been linked to quorum sensing (QS) in several bacterial species. In this study, we characterized Burkholderia thailandensis biofilm development under flow conditions and sought to determine whether QS contributes to this process. B. thailandensis biofilm formation exhibited an unusual pattern: the cells formed small aggregates and then proceeded to produce mature biofilms characterized by "dome" structures filled with biofilm matrix material. We showed that this process was dependent on QS. B. thailandensis has three acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) QS systems (QS-1, QS-2, and QS-3). An AHL-negative strain produced biofilms consisting of cell aggregates but lacking the matrix-filled dome structures. This phenotype was rescued via exogenous addition of the three AHL signals. Of the three B. thailandensis QS systems, we show that QS-1 is required for proper biofilm development, since a btaR1 mutant, which is defective in QS-1 regulation, forms biofilms without these dome structures. Furthermore, our data show that the wild-type biofilm biomass, as well as the material inside the domes, stains with a fucose-binding lectin. The btaR1 mutant biofilms, however, are negative for fucose staining. This suggests that the QS-1 system regulates the production of a fucose-containing exopolysaccharide in wild-type biofilms. Finally, we present data showing that QS ability during biofilm development produces a biofilm that is resistant to dispersion under stress conditions. The saprophyte Burkholderia thailandensis is a close relative of the pathogenic bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei, the causative agent of melioidosis, which is contracted from its environmental reservoir. Since most bacteria in the environment reside in biofilms, B. thailandensis is an ideal model organism for investigating questions in Burkholderia physiology. In this study, we characterized B. thailandensis biofilm development and sought to determine if quorum sensing (QS) contributes to this process. Our work shows that B. thailandensis produces biofilms with unusual dome structures under flow conditions. Our findings suggest that these dome structures are filled with a QS-regulated, fucose-containing exopolysaccharide that may be involved in the resilience of B. thailandensis biofilms against changes in the nutritional environment. Copyright © 2016, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Unusual very positive enrichment of 13C in carbonate sediments deposited in modern hypersaline environment, Lagoa Salgada, Brazil: Indicator of salinity controlled metabolic processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McKenzie, J. A.; Bovier, C.; Bahniuk, A.; Andersen, M. B.; Vasconcelos, C.

2016-12-01

In the geologic record, prolonged intervals of intense δ13C enrichment (>10‰) in carbonate deposits occurred, in particular during the mid-Palaeoproterozoic (2.3-1.9 Ga) and mid-Neoproterozoic (0.8-0.6 Ga) [1]. These anomalously high δ13C values have been interpreted as a global effect due to enhanced burial of organic matter with depleted δ13C values [2]. An alternate interpretation has been proposed whereby the metabolic activity of specific microbial communities, such as methanogens, may have been the source of the strong carbon isotope fractionation [3]. Although such restricted shallow-water environments where methanogens dominate are not widespread today, a unique hypersaline coastal lagoon system, Lagoa Salgada, Brazil provides ideal conditions to study the modern microbial community and its impact on observed extreme δ13C enrichment (up to 20‰) recorded in both in situ stromatolites and carbonate sediments. Here we present our findings and correlations of geochemical data with changing environmental conditions during the last 2600 cal yr BP. This lagoonal system contains highly evaporated water with highest salinities occurring during the dry season. The positive δ13C anomaly shows high and stable values (>14‰) from about 2100 to 1400 cal yr BP. Similar high δ13C values were recorded for the same time period in stromatolite structures growing around the margin of Lagoa Salgada. We propose that the high salinities inhibit photosynthesis, respiration and nitrogen fixation by osmotic stress and, thus, result in increased methanogenesis. We conclude that the combination of methanogenic metabolisms and extreme evaporative conditions is the key factor promoting the production of very high δ13C values observed throughout the lagoonal system, as recorded in both marginal stromatolites and carbonate sediments deposited in the more distal regions of the lagoon. Such unusual environments may have been more widely distributed during the Proterozoic accounting for the intense δ13C enrichment (>10‰) observed in the sedimentary record. [1] Shields G and Veizer J (2002) Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 3(6): 10.1029 [2] Schidlowski M (1993) In: Organic Geochemistry: Plenum Press, 639-655 [3] Hayes JM and Waldbauer J Jr (2006) Philosophical Trans. Royal Soc. B Biological Sciences 361: 931-950

Enamel Pit Defects and Taurodontism in a Patient with Ring Chromosome 14 and 47,XXX.

PubMed

Townsend, Janice A; Lacour, Letitia; Scheuerle, Angela E

2017-01-15

The purpose of this paper is to describe the clinical findings and management of a case involving a patient with co-occurring ring chromosome 14 syndrome and 47,XXX presenting with enamel pit defects and taurodontism. Ring chromosome 14 syndrome is an unusual condition with uncontrolled seizure disorder as its most significant finding; 47,XXX (trisomy X; triple X) is a more common condition and has characteristic physical and behavioral findings. Neither condition has been associated with enamel pit defects.

38 CFR 39.32 - Plan preparation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... been no changes. Relevant information may then be shown on the site plan. If required, the site survey.... Boundaries of an unusual nature (curvilinear, off-set, or having other change or direction between corners... the design, including climate, soil conditions, site boundaries, topography, views, hydrology...

38 CFR 39.32 - Plan preparation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... been no changes. Relevant information may then be shown on the site plan. If required, the site survey.... Boundaries of an unusual nature (curvilinear, off-set, or having other change or direction between corners... the design, including climate, soil conditions, site boundaries, topography, views, hydrology...

38 CFR 39.32 - Plan preparation.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... been no changes. Relevant information may then be shown on the site plan. If required, the site survey.... Boundaries of an unusual nature (curvilinear, off-set, or having other change or direction between corners... the design, including climate, soil conditions, site boundaries, topography, views, hydrology...

Blinks, saccades, and fixation pauses during vigilance task performance. I., Time on task.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1994-12-01

In the future, operators of complex equipment will spend more time monitoring computer controlled devices rather than having hands on control of such equipment. The operator intervenes in system operation under "unusual" conditions or when there is a...

Trouble with tuna: two cases of scombrotoxin poisoning.

PubMed

Stell, I M

1997-03-01

Two cases of scombrotoxin poisoning after exposure to tuna are described, the second being unusual in that tinned, rather than fresh, tuna was involved. This relatively rare condition needs to be distinguished from an allergic reaction, for which it can easily be mistaken.

Breast abscess due to Actinomyces europaeus.

PubMed

Silva, W A; Pinheiro, A M; Jahns, B; Bögli-Stuber, K; Droz, S; Zimmerli, S

2011-06-01

Actinomyces europaeus was first described in 1997 as a new species causing predominantly skin and soft-tissue infections. Mastitis due to A. europaeus is an unusual condition. This article reports a case of primary breast abscess caused by A. europaeus in a postmenopausal woman.

Genetic variation in the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene is associated with Asperger Syndrome.

PubMed

Di Napoli, Agnese; Warrier, Varun; Baron-Cohen, Simon; Chakrabarti, Bhismadev

2014-01-01

Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC) are a group of neurodevelopmental conditions characterized by impairments in communication and social interaction, alongside unusually repetitive behaviors and narrow interests. ASC are highly heritable and have complex patterns of inheritance where multiple genes are involved, alongside environmental and epigenetic factors. Asperger Syndrome (AS) is a subgroup of these conditions, where there is no history of language or cognitive delay. Animal models suggest a role for oxytocin (OXT) and oxytocin receptor (OXTR) genes in social-emotional behaviors, and several studies indicate that the oxytocin/oxytocin receptor system is altered in individuals with ASC. Previous studies have reported associations between genetic variations in the OXTR gene and ASC. The present study tested for an association between nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the OXTR gene and AS in 530 individuals of Caucasian origin, using SNP association test and haplotype analysis. There was a significant association between rs2268493 in OXTR and AS. Multiple haplotypes that include this SNP (rs2268493-rs2254298, rs2268490-rs2268493-rs2254298, rs2268493-rs2254298-rs53576, rs237885-rs2268490-rs2268493-rs2254298, rs2268490-rs2268493-rs2254298-rs53576) were also associated with AS. rs2268493 has been previously associated with ASC and putatively alters several transcription factor-binding sites and regulates chromatin states, either directly or through other variants in linkage disequilibrium (LD). This study reports a significant association of the sequence variant rs2268493 in the OXTR gene and associated haplotypes with AS.

Central venous catheter-related bacteremia caused by Kocuria kristinae: Case report and review of the literature

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Kocuria species are unusual human pathogens isolated most commonly from immunocompromised hosts, such as transplant recipients and cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, or from patients with chronic medical conditions. A case of catheter-related bacteremia with pulmonary septic emboli in a pregnant adult female without chronic medical conditions is described. A review of other reported Kocuria infections is provided. PMID:21864336

High incidence of cervical ribs indicates vulnerable condition in Late Pleistocene woolly rhinoceroses

PubMed Central

2017-01-01

Mammals as a rule have seven cervical vertebrae, a number that remains remarkably constant. Changes of this number are associated with major congenital abnormalities (pleiotropic effects) that are, at least in humans, strongly selected against. Recently, it was found that Late Pleistocene mammoths (Mammuthus primigenius) from the North Sea have an unusually high incidence of abnormal cervical vertebral numbers, approximately ten times higher than that of extant elephants. Abnormal numbers were due to the presence of large cervical ribs on the seventh vertebra, indicating a homeotic change from a cervical rib-less vertebra into a thoracic rib-bearing vertebra. The high incidence of cervical ribs indicates a vulnerable condition and is thought to be due to inbreeding and adverse conditions that may have impacted early pregnancies in declining populations. In this study we investigated the incidence of cervical ribs in another extinct Late Pleistocene megaherbivore from the North Sea and the Netherlands, the woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis). We show that the incidence of abnormal cervical vertebral numbers in the woolly rhinoceros is unusually high for mammals (15,6%, n = 32) and much higher than in extant Rhinoceratidae (0%, n = 56). This indicates that woolly rhinoceros lived under vulnerable conditions, just like woolly mammoths. The vulnerable condition may well have contributed to their eventual extinction. PMID:28875067

Structure and properties during aging of an ultra-high strength Al-Cu-Li-Ag-Mg alloy

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gayle, Frank W.; Heubaum, Frank H.; Pickens, Joseph R.

1990-01-01

The structure and properties of the strengthening phases formed during aging in an Al-Cu-Li-Ag-Mg alloy (Weldalite 049) were elulcidated, by following the development of the microstructure by means of TEM. The results of observations showed that the Weldalite 049 alloy has a series of unusual and technologically useful combinations of mechanical properties in different aging conditions, such as natural aging without prior cold work to produce high strengths, a reversion temper of lower yield strength and unusually high ductility, a room temperature reaging of the reversion temper eventually leading to the original T4 hardness, and ultrahigh-strength T6 properties.

A different kind of Christmas tree: anomalous origin of the right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ARCAPA).

PubMed

Afolabi-Brown, Olayinka; Witzke, Christian; Moldovan, Raul; Pressman, Gregg

2014-02-01

Anomalous right coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ARCAPA) is a rare congenital coronary anomaly that has an incidence of 0.002%. We report a case of a previously healthy female who presented to our hospital with pneumonia and was incidentally discovered to have ARCAPA. This was initially diagnosed on echocardiography by the unusual echocardiographic finding of multiple color flow Doppler signals around the right ventricular free wall and apex which were subsequently confirmed by angiography to be due to extensive collateral circulation between the left and right coronary arteries. This represents an unusual echocardiographic manifestation of this very rare condition. © 2013, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Endodontic management of an unusual foreign body in a maxillary central incisor

PubMed Central

Chand, Keerthi; Joesph, Sam; Varughese, Jolly Mary; Nair, Mali G; Prasanth, Santhosh

2013-01-01

The discovery of foreign bodies in the teeth is often diagnosed accidentally. It is commonly seen in children. These foreign objects may act as a potential source of infection and may later lead to a painful condition. Detailed case history, clinical and radiographic examinations are necessary to come to a conclusion about the nature, size, and location of the foreign body, and the difficulty involved in its retrieval. This paper discusses the types of foreign objects found in and around the teeth and reports an unusual case of a stapler pin in the root canal of a tooth, its retrieval, and associated management of the involved teeth. PMID:24082582

Attempted DNA extraction from a Rancho La Brea Columbian mammoth (Mammuthus columbi): prospects for ancient DNA from asphalt deposits.

PubMed

Gold, David A; Robinson, Jacqueline; Farrell, Aisling B; Harris, John M; Thalmann, Olaf; Jacobs, David K

2014-02-01

Fossil-bearing asphalt deposits are an understudied and potentially significant source of ancient DNA. Previous attempts to extract DNA from skeletons preserved at the Rancho La Brea tar pits in Los Angeles, California, have proven unsuccessful, but it is unclear whether this is due to a lack of endogenous DNA, or if the problem is caused by asphalt-mediated inhibition. In an attempt to test these hypotheses, a recently recovered Columbian mammoth (Mammuthus columbi) skeleton with an unusual pattern of asphalt impregnation was studied. Ultimately, none of the bone samples tested successfully amplified M. columbi DNA. Our work suggests that reagents typically used to remove asphalt from ancient samples also inhibit DNA extraction. Ultimately, we conclude that the probability of recovering ancient DNA from fossils in asphalt deposits is strongly (perhaps fatally) hindered by the organic compounds that permeate the bones and that at the Rancho La Brea tar pits, environmental conditions might not have been ideal for the general preservation of genetic material.

Abrupt change in food environment induces cloning in plutei of Dendraster excentricus.

PubMed

McDonald, Kathryn A; Vaughn, Dawn

2010-08-01

Asexual reproduction, or cloning, of planktonic echinoderm larvae has been observed in the laboratory and in nature, but little is known about its ecology. Here we examine the effects of algal food density and of a change in food density on the incidence of cloning in larvae of the sand dollar Dendraster excentricus. Results indicate that a change in food concentration can induce cloning in plutei. Cultures transferred from a low to a high algal ration at the time when primary larvae were developing the third (posterodorsal) pair of larval arms showed decreased postoral arm length, unusual morphologies, and increased larval density in culture. These dense cultures of smaller plutei were produced within 48 h of the food pulse. The result is consistent with the occurrence of a burst of cloning, possibly through anterior autotomization. A second feeding experiment demonstrated that anterior autotomization does occur in 4- to 6-arm plutei. Rather than constituting a developmental rarity, cloning may happen early and often in D. excentricus cohorts when environmental conditions favor rapid growth.

Biological Basis for Syphilis

PubMed Central

LaFond, Rebecca E.; Lukehart, Sheila A.

2006-01-01

Syphilis is a chronic sexually transmitted disease caused by Treponema pallidum subsp. pallidum. Clinical manifestations separate the disease into stages; late stages of disease are now uncommon compared to the preantibiotic era. T. pallidum has an unusually small genome and lacks genes that encode many metabolic functions and classical virulence factors. The organism is extremely sensitive to environmental conditions and has not been continuously cultivated in vitro. Nonetheless, T. pallidum is highly infectious and survives for decades in the untreated host. Early syphilis lesions result from the host's immune response to the treponemes. Bacterial clearance and resolution of early lesions results from a delayed hypersensitivity response, although some organisms escape to cause persistent infection. One factor contributing to T. pallidum's chronicity is the paucity of integral outer membrane proteins, rendering intact organisms virtually invisible to the immune system. Antigenic variation of TprK, a putative surface-exposed protein, is likely to contribute to immune evasion. T. pallidum remains exquisitely sensitive to penicillin, but macrolide resistance has recently been identified in a number of geographic regions. The development of a syphilis vaccine, thus far elusive, would have a significant positive impact on global health. PMID:16418521

10 CFR 712.13 - Supervisory review.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... HRP management official. Types of behavior and conditions that would indicate a concern include, but...) Irresponsibility in performing assigned duties; (10) Inability to deal with stress, or the appearance of being under unusual stress; (11) Failure to comply with work directives, hostility or aggression toward fellow...

10 CFR 712.13 - Supervisory review.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... HRP management official. Types of behavior and conditions that would indicate a concern include, but...) Irresponsibility in performing assigned duties; (10) Inability to deal with stress, or the appearance of being under unusual stress; (11) Failure to comply with work directives, hostility or aggression toward fellow...

10 CFR 712.13 - Supervisory review.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... HRP management official. Types of behavior and conditions that would indicate a concern include, but...) Irresponsibility in performing assigned duties; (10) Inability to deal with stress, or the appearance of being under unusual stress; (11) Failure to comply with work directives, hostility or aggression toward fellow...

10 CFR 712.13 - Supervisory review.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... HRP management official. Types of behavior and conditions that would indicate a concern include, but...) Irresponsibility in performing assigned duties; (10) Inability to deal with stress, or the appearance of being under unusual stress; (11) Failure to comply with work directives, hostility or aggression toward fellow...

[Giant idiopathic hydronephrosis: toward a two-step therapeutic approach].

PubMed

Boudhaye, Taher Ismail; Sidimalek, Mohamed; Jdoud, Cheikhani

2017-01-01

Giant hydronephrosis is rare. It is usually caused by ureteropelvic junction syndrome. We here report the unusual case of a patient hospitalized with giant hydronephrosis associated with impaired general condition. Diagnosis was based on CT scan. The patient underwent deferred nephrectomy after percutaneous drainage.

Abdominal Cocoon in Association with Adenomyosis and Leiomyomata of the Uterus and Endometriotic Cyst : Unusual Presentation

PubMed Central

Mohd. Noor, Nor Haznita; Zaki, Nik Mohamed; Kaur, Gurjeet; Naik, Venkatesh R.; Zakaria, Ahmad Zahari

2004-01-01

Abdominal cocoon or sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis is a rare condition. A 46 year old Malay woman with adenomyosis and leiomyomata of the uterus and ovarian endometriotic cyst in association with abdominal cocoon is reported. PMID:22977364

Remote Linkages to Anomalous Winter Atmospheric Ridging over the Northeastern Pacific

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Swain, Daniel L.; Singh, Deepti; Horton, Daniel E.; Mankin, Justin S.; Ballard, Tristan C.; Diffenbaugh, Noah S.

2017-01-01

Severe drought in California between 2013 and 2016 has been linked to the multiyear persistence of anomalously high atmospheric pressure over the northeastern Pacific Ocean, which deflected the Pacific storm track northward and suppressed regional precipitation during California's winter 'rainy season.' Multiple hypotheses have emerged regarding why this high pressure ridge near the west coast of North America was so resilient-including unusual sea surface temperature patterns in the Pacific Ocean, reductions in Arctic sea ice, random atmospheric variability, or some combination thereof. Here we explore relationships between previously documented atmospheric conditions over the North Pacific and several potential remote oceanic and cryospheric influences using both observational data and a large ensemble of climate model simulations. Our results suggest that persistent wintertime atmospheric ridging similar to that implicated in California's 2013-2016 drought can at least partially be linked to unusual Pacific sea surface temperatures, and that Pacific Ocean conditions may offer some degree of cool-season foresight in this region despite the presence of substantial internal variability.

Remote Linkages to Anomalous Winter Atmospheric Ridging Over the Northeastern Pacific

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Swain, Daniel L.; Singh, Deepti; Horton, Daniel E.; Mankin, Justin S.; Ballard, Tristan C.; Diffenbaugh, Noah S.

2017-11-01

Severe drought in California between 2013 and 2016 has been linked to the multiyear persistence of anomalously high atmospheric pressure over the northeastern Pacific Ocean, which deflected the Pacific storm track northward and suppressed regional precipitation during California's winter "rainy season." Multiple hypotheses have emerged regarding why this high pressure ridge near the west coast of North America was so resilient—including unusual sea surface temperature patterns in the Pacific Ocean, reductions in Arctic sea ice, random atmospheric variability, or some combination thereof. Here we explore relationships between previously documented atmospheric conditions over the North Pacific and several potential remote oceanic and cryospheric influences using both observational data and a large ensemble of climate model simulations. Our results suggest that persistent wintertime atmospheric ridging similar to that implicated in California's 2013-2016 drought can at least partially be linked to unusual Pacific sea surface temperatures and that Pacific Ocean conditions may offer some degree of cool-season foresight in this region despite the presence of substantial internal variability.

[Case report. Phenprocoumon (Marcumar, Falithrom) as an unusual reason for coumarin poisoning in a dog].

PubMed

Lutze, G; Römhild, W; Elwert, J; Leppelt, J; Kutschmann, K

2003-01-01

Coumarin poisoning in dogs is not unusual and is in most cases caused by warfarin, a coumarin derivative which is used as a rodenticide. Competitive inhibition of vitamin K with an incomplete synthesis of the coagulation factors II, VII, IX and X can lead to a significant bleeding tendency. We observed a 3-year old male West Highland White Terrier with a reduced general condition and dyspnoea together with a massive haemothorax. Administration of vitamin K1 (3 mg/kg) led to a rapid improvement of the condition. Coagulation analysis revealed a prolonged activated recalcification time (ARCT), prothrombin time (PT) and aPTT with uncharacteristic thrombin time (TT); factor II, VII and X activities were reduced while factor V activity was normal, all of which are characteristic for coumarin poisoning. HPLC did not reveal the presence of warfarin but of phenoprocoumon, a drug used for thromboembolic prophylaxis in humans. This observation has not been described for dogs to date.

Tracking an Unusual Carbapenemase-producing Organism from Drains to Patient Using Whole Genome Sequencing

PubMed Central

Ramsburg, Amanda M; Weingarten, Rebecca A; Conlan, Sean P; Dekker, John P; Michelin, Angela V; Odom, Robin T; Bordner, MaryAnn; Zellmer, Caroline J; Henderson, David K; Segre, Julia A; Frank, Karen M; Palmore, Tara N

2017-01-01

Abstract Background The NIH Clinical Center conducts patient and environmental surveillance for carbapenemase-producing organisms (CPO). Previous investigation revealed that sink drains can become colonized with CPO. Subsequent surveillance targets included potential aqueous reservoirs, such as floor drains of environmental services (EVS) closets. Methods Premoistened swabs were used to culture sink drains, floor drains, and equipment for CPO. Perirectal swabs were ordered monthly for all patients in non-behavioral health wards. Specimens were plated to CRE- and ESBL-selective media, and colonies identified by MALDI-TOF. The presence of the blaKPC gene was confirmed by PCR. When environmental CPO isolates were detected, EVS procedures and practices were reviewed. Results In June 2016, blaKPC+ Leclercia adecarboxylata was isolated from an EVS closet floor drain, and in August 2016, from drains in four additional closets. In the previous 10 years, Leclercia sp. was isolated just once from a clinical culture. In September 2016, routine surveillance revealed new-onset blaKPC+ L. adecarboxylata colonization in a stem cell transplant recipient. Investigation included 33 cultures collected from sink and floor drains, EVS equipment, and other items. EVS equipment, especially mop buckets, were identified as a likely point source due to their use in patient care areas and closets with contaminated floor drains. Among seven mop buckets sampled, one grew blaKPC+ L. adecarboxylata. Whole genome sequencing demonstrated genetic relatedness of the Leclercia isolates. Floor cleaner was changed to a disinfectant solution. Extensive decontamination of 67 EVS closets and equipment was performed urgently. No further patient or environmental cultures have grown blaKPC+ L. adecarboxylata. Conclusion The recovery of a highly unusual organism, rarely found in clinical specimens, that was also carrying a blaKPC+ plasmid, allowed us to detect environmental spread of this organism in the hospital. The ability to track this organism using genome sequencing provided strong evidence of the mode of spread, leading to effective remediation. No evidence-based methods exist for remediating drain contamination, which can serve as a potential reservoir for transmission. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Saigas on the brink: Multidisciplinary analysis of the factors influencing mass mortality events

PubMed Central

Kock, Richard A.; Orynbayev, Mukhit; Robinson, Sarah; Zuther, Steffen; Singh, Navinder J.; Beauvais, Wendy; Morgan, Eric R.; Kerimbayev, Aslan; Khomenko, Sergei; Martineau, Henny M.; Rystaeva, Rashida; Omarova, Zamira; Wolfs, Sara; Hawotte, Florent; Radoux, Julien; Milner-Gulland, Eleanor J.

2018-01-01

In 2015, more than 200,000 saiga antelopes died in 3 weeks in central Kazakhstan. The proximate cause of death is confirmed as hemorrhagic septicemia caused by the bacterium Pasteurella multocida type B, based on multiple strands of evidence. Statistical modeling suggests that there was unusually high relative humidity and temperature in the days leading up to the mortality event; temperature and humidity anomalies were also observed in two previous similar events in the same region. The modeled influence of environmental covariates is consistent with known drivers of hemorrhagic septicemia. Given the saiga population’s vulnerability to mass mortality and the likely exacerbation of climate-related and environmental stressors in the future, management of risks to population viability such as poaching and viral livestock disease is urgently needed, as well as robust ongoing veterinary surveillance. A multidisciplinary approach is needed to research mass mortality events under rapid environmental change. PMID:29376120

Acute melioidosis outbreak in Western Australia.

PubMed Central

Inglis, T. J.; Garrow, S. C.; Adams, C.; Henderson, M.; Mayo, M.; Currie, B. J.

1999-01-01

A cluster of acute melioidosis cases occurred in a remote, coastal community in tropical Western Australia. Molecular typing of Burkholderia pseudomallei isolates from culture-confirmed cases and suspected environmental sources by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of XbaI chromosomal DNA digests showed that a single PFGE type was responsible for five cases of acute infection in a community of around 300 during a 5 week period. This temporal and geographical clustering of acute melioidosis cases provided a unique opportunity to investigate the environmental factors contributing to this disease. B. pseudomallei isolated from a domestic tap at the home of an asymptomatic seroconverter was indistinguishable by PFGE. Possible contributing environmental factors included an unusually acid communal water supply, unrecordable chlorine levels during the probable exposure period, a nearby earth tremor, and gusting winds during the installation of new water and electricity supplies. The possible role of the potable water supply as a source of B. pseudomallei was investigated further. PMID:10694154

Acute melioidosis outbreak in Western Australia.

PubMed

Inglis, T J; Garrow, S C; Adams, C; Henderson, M; Mayo, M; Currie, B J

1999-12-01

A cluster of acute melioidosis cases occurred in a remote, coastal community in tropical Western Australia. Molecular typing of Burkholderia pseudomallei isolates from culture-confirmed cases and suspected environmental sources by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of XbaI chromosomal DNA digests showed that a single PFGE type was responsible for five cases of acute infection in a community of around 300 during a 5 week period. This temporal and geographical clustering of acute melioidosis cases provided a unique opportunity to investigate the environmental factors contributing to this disease. B. pseudomallei isolated from a domestic tap at the home of an asymptomatic seroconverter was indistinguishable by PFGE. Possible contributing environmental factors included an unusually acid communal water supply, unrecordable chlorine levels during the probable exposure period, a nearby earth tremor, and gusting winds during the installation of new water and electricity supplies. The possible role of the potable water supply as a source of B. pseudomallei was investigated further.

Unusual behavior in the reactivity of 5-substituted-1H-tetrazoles in a resistively heated microreactor

PubMed Central

Gutmann, Bernhard; Glasnov, Toma N; Razzaq, Tahseen; Goessler, Walter; Roberge, Dominique M

2011-01-01

Summary The decomposition of 5-benzhydryl-1H-tetrazole in an N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone/acetic acid/water mixture was investigated under a variety of high-temperature reaction conditions. Employing a sealed Pyrex glass vial and batch microwave conditions at 240 °C, the tetrazole is comparatively stable and complete decomposition to diphenylmethane requires more than 8 h. Similar kinetic data were obtained in conductively heated flow devices with either stainless steel or Hastelloy coils in the same temperature region. In contrast, in a flow instrument that utilizes direct electric resistance heating of the reactor coil, tetrazole decomposition was dramatically accelerated with rate constants increased by two orders of magnitude. When 5-benzhydryl-1H-tetrazole was exposed to 220 °C in this type of flow reactor, decomposition to diphenylmethane was complete within 10 min. The mechanism and kinetic parameters of tetrazole decomposition under a variety of reaction conditions were investigated. A number of possible explanations for these highly unusual rate accelerations are presented. In addition, general aspects of reactor degradation, corrosion and contamination effects of importance to continuous flow chemistry are discussed. PMID:21647324

TOPEX/El Niño Watch - Pacific Ocean Conditions are Split: Cold in East, Hot in West, July 27, 1999

NASA Image and Video Library

1999-08-23

The North Pacific Ocean continues to run hot and cold, with abnormally low sea levels and cool waters in the northeastern Pacific contrasting with unusually high sea levels and warm waters in the northwestern Pacific.

Understanding Williams Syndrome: Behavioral Patterns and Interventions.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Semel, Eleanor; Rosner, Sue R.

This guide to Williams syndrome (WS), a congenital disorder characterized by developmental/cognitive limitations but relatively high verbal and social skills, explains the strengths, difficulties and variations found among individuals with the condition and offers guidelines for intervention in the unusual properties of the WS behavioral profile.…

76 FR 36861 - Special Conditions: Gulfstream Model GVI Airplane; Electronic Systems Security Isolation or...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-23

... incorporate the following novel or unusual design features: Digital systems architecture composed of several connected networks. The proposed architecture and network configuration may be used for, or interfaced with... navigation systems (aircraft control domain), 2. Airline business and administrative support (airline...

Limnological Monitoring on the Upper Mississippi River System, 1993-1996: Lake City Field Station

DTIC Science & Technology

1999-10-01

Reports of this type provide a synopsis of the collected data and collection methods, as well as a preliminary report of remarkable or unusual conditions ... conditions . To meet this need, Congress authorized a Long Term Resource Monitoring Program (LTRMP) for the Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS). The LTRMP...primarily for human consumption or regulatory purposes (e.g., chemical oxygen demand, biochemical oxygen demand, total coliform bacteria , fecal coliform

EFFECTS OF EXTREME AND UNUSUAL CONDITIONS ON LANA ALLOYS: INTERIM REPORT, FY14 (U)

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

Shanahan, Kirk L.

2014-04-25

The TTP proposed research aimed at determining: a) the rate at which these changes occurred and the effect of initial conditions, especially in the early phases of Hydrogen Heat Treatment (HHT), b) whether or not different LANA alloys would show similar effects, and c) whether common contaminants/poisons impacted LANA alloy hydride chemistry similarly to what had been found for Pd and Pd-alloy hydride chemistry.

Object recognition with severe spatial deficits in Williams syndrome: sparing and breakdown.

PubMed

Landau, Barbara; Hoffman, James E; Kurz, Nicole

2006-07-01

Williams syndrome (WS) is a rare genetic disorder that results in severe visual-spatial cognitive deficits coupled with relative sparing in language, face recognition, and certain aspects of motion processing. Here, we look for evidence for sparing or impairment in another cognitive system-object recognition. Children with WS, normal mental-age (MA) and chronological age-matched (CA) children, and normal adults viewed pictures of a large range of objects briefly presented under various conditions of degradation, including canonical and unusual orientations, and clear or blurred contours. Objects were shown as either full-color views (Experiment 1) or line drawings (Experiment 2). Across both experiments, WS and MA children performed similarly in all conditions while CA children performed better than both WS group and MA groups with unusual views. This advantage, however, was eliminated when images were also blurred. The error types and relative difficulty of different objects were similar across all participant groups. The results indicate selective sparing of basic mechanisms of object recognition in WS, together with developmental delay or arrest in recognition of objects from unusual viewpoints. These findings are consistent with the growing literature on brain abnormalities in WS which points to selective impairment in the parietal areas of the brain. As a whole, the results lend further support to the growing literature on the functional separability of object recognition mechanisms from other spatial functions, and raise intriguing questions about the link between genetic deficits and cognition.

Stellar Populations and Physical Conditions at 100 pc Resolution in a Lensed Galaxy at z 4

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Berg, Danielle

2015-10-01

Large surveys of star-forming galaxies at high redshift (z > 1.5) have provided us with a broad understanding of how galaxies assemble and evolve, but the spatial and spectral limitations inherent in observing faint, distant objects mean that many of the physical processes regulating this dynamic evolution are poorly constrained. Much of our most detailed knowledge of the physical conditions in distant galaxies comes from careful studies of gravitationally lensed sources, few of which are at z>3.5. FOR J0332-3557 is a gravitationally lensed galaxy at z 4 for which we and other groups have obtained a total of 37.3 hours of VLT spectroscopy. The rest-frame UV spectrum is notable for its unusual combination of both strong emission lines in the rest-frame UV and strong Lya and interstellar absorption, and for the unusual spatial variation seen in the nebular emission lines, which are less extended than the underlying stellar continuum. We propose high spatial resolution imaging of FOR J0332-3557 with four broadband filters on WFC3, taking advantage of both the HST resolution and the lensing magnification to study star formation and extinction on 100 pc scales. Because the interpretation of our unusual rest-frame UV and optical spectra requires an accurate reddening estimate, combining these observations with ground-based spectroscopy will give the most complete picture to date of chemical evolution in a distant galaxy.

Origin of the unusually strong and selective binding of vanadium by polyamidoximes in seawater

DOE PAGES

Ivanov, Alexander S.; Leggett, Christina J.; Parker, Bernard F.; ...

2017-11-16

Amidoxime-functionalized polymeric adsorbents are the current state-of-the-art materials for collecting uranium (U) from seawater. However, marine tests show that vanadium (V) is preferentially extracted over U and many other cations. Here in this paper, we report a complementary and comprehensive investigation integrating ab initio simulations with thermochemical titrations and XAFS spectroscopy to understand the unusually strong and selective binding of V by polyamidoximes. While the open-chain amidoxime functionalities do not bind V, the cyclic imide-dioxime group of the adsorbent forms a peculiar non-oxido V 5+ complex, exhibiting the highest stability constant value ever observed for the V 5+ species. XAFSmore » analysis of adsorbents following deployment in environmental seawater confirms V binding solely by the imide-dioximes. Our fundamental findings offer not only guidance for future optimization of selectivity in amidoxime-based sorbent materials, but may also afford insight to understanding the extensive accumulation of V in some marine organisms.« less

Origin of the unusually strong and selective binding of vanadium by polyamidoximes in seawater

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

Ivanov, Alexander S.; Leggett, Christina J.; Parker, Bernard F.

Amidoxime-functionalized polymeric adsorbents are the current state-of-the-art materials for collecting uranium (U) from seawater. However, marine tests show that vanadium (V) is preferentially extracted over U and many other cations. Here in this paper, we report a complementary and comprehensive investigation integrating ab initio simulations with thermochemical titrations and XAFS spectroscopy to understand the unusually strong and selective binding of V by polyamidoximes. While the open-chain amidoxime functionalities do not bind V, the cyclic imide-dioxime group of the adsorbent forms a peculiar non-oxido V 5+ complex, exhibiting the highest stability constant value ever observed for the V 5+ species. XAFSmore » analysis of adsorbents following deployment in environmental seawater confirms V binding solely by the imide-dioximes. Our fundamental findings offer not only guidance for future optimization of selectivity in amidoxime-based sorbent materials, but may also afford insight to understanding the extensive accumulation of V in some marine organisms.« less

Hoiamide A, a Sodium Channel Activator of Unusual Architecture from a Consortium of Two Papua New Guinea Cyanobacteria

PubMed Central

Pereira, Alban; Cao, Zhengyu; Murray, Thomas F.; Gerwick, William H.

2009-01-01

Summary Hoiamide A, a novel bioactive cyclic depsipeptide, was isolated from an environmental assemblage of the marine cyanobacteria Lyngbya majuscula and Phormidium gracile collected in Papua New Guinea. This stereochemically complex metabolite possesses a highly unusual structure which likely derives from a mixed peptide-polyketide biogenetic origin, and includes a peptidic section featuring an acetate extended and S-adenosyl methionine modified isoleucine moiety, a triheterocyclic fragment bearing two a-methylated thiazolines and one thiazole, as well as a highly oxygenated and methylated C15-polyketide substructure. Pure hoiamide A potently inhibited [3H]batrachotoxin binding to voltage-gated sodium channels (IC50 = 92.8 nM) and activated sodium influx (EC50 = 1.73 μM) in mouse neocortical neurons, as well as exhibited modest cytotoxicity to cancer cells. Further investigation revealed that hoiamide A is a partial agonist of site 2 on the voltage gated sodium channel. PMID:19716479

A Unusual Lightning Death in an Indoor Setting: A Case Report.

PubMed

Ventura, Francesco; Barranco, Rosario; Bonsignore, Alessandro; De Stefano, Francesco

2017-03-01

Death due to lightning strikes is infrequent, above all indoors. Some cases may take on a medical legal interest due to the unusual and uncommon circumstances in which they occur. The authors report an extremely rare case of electrocution occurred inside a house in a rural area. A 53-year-old man was reached by an electrical discharge originating from lightning while he was doing renovation work on a cottage. In this case, the correct interpretation of the autopsy and histological aspects and the attentive analysis of the circumstantial and environmental data led to the correct diagnosis of death and to the reconstruction of the dynamics with which it occurred. It was in fact possible to reconstruct that during a violent thunderstorm, lightning, discharging from the bottom upward formed an electric arc. The victim, who was close to metal objects (sawhorses), was struck on the left foot and the current exited from the right hand passing through the heart causing immediate death.

Coping with Unusual ExperienceS for 12-18 year olds (CUES+): a transdiagnostic randomised controlled trial of the effectiveness of cognitive therapy in reducing distress associated with unusual experiences in adolescent mental health services: study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.

PubMed

Jolley, Suzanne; Browning, Sophie; Corrigall, Richard; Laurens, Kristin R; Hirsch, Colette; Bracegirdle, Karen; Gin, Kimberley; Muccio, Francesca; Stewart, Catherine; Banerjea, Partha; Kuipers, Elizabeth; Garety, Philippa; Byrne, Majella; Onwumere, Juliana; Achilla, Evanthia; McCrone, Paul; Emsley, Richard

2017-12-04

Childhood 'unusual experiences' (such as hearing voices that others cannot, or suspicions of being followed) are common, but can become more distressing during adolescence, especially for young people in contact with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Unusual experiences that are distressing or have adverse life impact (UEDs) are associated with a range of current and future emotional, behavioural and mental health difficulties. Recommendations for psychological intervention are based on evidence from adult studies, with some support from small, pilot, child-specific evaluations. Research is needed to ensure that the recommendations suit children as well as adults. The CUES+ study (Coping with Unusual ExperienceS for 12-18 year olds) aims to find out whether cognitive behaviour therapy for UEDs (CBT-UED) is a helpful and cost-effective addition to usual community care for 12-18 year olds presenting to United Kingdom National Health Service Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in four London boroughs. The CUES+ study is a randomised controlled trial comparing CBT-UED plus routine care to routine care alone. CBT-UED comprises up to 16 sessions, including up to 12 individual and up to four family support meetings, each lasting around 45-60 min, delivered weekly. The primary outcome is emotional distress. Secondary outcomes are change in UEDs, risk events (self-harm, attendance at emergency services, other adverse events) and health economic outcomes. Participants will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio after baseline assessment. Randomisation will be stratified by borough and by severity of mental health presentation: 'severe' (an identified psychotic or bipolar disorder) or any 'other' condition. Outcomes will be assessed by a trained assessor blind to treatment condition at 0, 16 and 24 weeks. Recruitment began in February, 2015 and is ongoing until the end of March, 2017. The CUES+ study will contribute to the currently limited child-specific evidence base for psychological interventions for UEDs occurring in the context of psychosis or any other mental health presentation. International Standard Randomised Controlled Trials, ID: ISRCTN21802136 . Prospectively registered on 12 January 2015. Protocol V3 31 August 2015 with screening amended.

An unusual case of vaginal myiasis

PubMed Central

Jones, Brian L.; Coyne, Michael

2016-01-01

Introduction: Myiasis, a term used to describe the infestation of a live animal by fly larvae, is rarely reported in human subjects. The adult fly lays its eggs on living tissue that progresses to become larvae that feed on living tissue having gone through three developmental stages known as the first, second and third instar. The larvae become pupae before finally developing into adults. Case presentation: We describe an unusual case of a 79-year-old female who collapsed in her garden and lay there for several days before presenting to her local hospital Accident and Emergency department with an infestation of larvae in her vagina labia, identified as those from the Protophormia species northern blowfly. After complete removal of the larvae using tweezers followed by cleansing of the affected area and a course of antibiotics, the patient’s condition improved. A follow-up review by the local gynaecology team revealed no evidence of further infestation. Conclusion: It is our understanding that this is the first highly unusual case of a blowfly larvae infestation to be reported in a human within the UK. PMID:28348792

Determination of Flaw Growth Characteristics of Ti-6Al-4V Sheet in the Solution-Treated and Aged Condition

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hoeppner, David W.; Pettit, Donald E.; Feddersen, Charles E.; Hyler, Walter S.

1968-01-01

The specific experimental investigation undertaken was designed to answer these questions on Ti-6Al-4V in the solution treated and aged condition. The defect growth and fracture characteristics were studied in parent (unwelded) and welded sheet material. The results of the study indicate that cryogenic proof testing will screen smaller size defects than proof testing at ambient conditions. However some unusual crack growth behavior during the proof test simulation suggests that some further study be made of stress and time duration effects.

Intelligent Software Agents: Sensor Integration and Response

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

Kulesz, James J; Lee, Ronald W

2013-01-01

Abstract In a post Macondo world the buzzwords are Integrity Management and Incident Response Management. The twin processes are not new but the opportunity to link the two is novel. Intelligent software agents can be used with sensor networks in distributed and centralized computing systems to enhance real-time monitoring of system integrity as well as manage the follow-on incident response to changing, and potentially hazardous, environmental conditions. The software components are embedded at the sensor network nodes in surveillance systems used for monitoring unusual events. When an event occurs, the software agents establish a new concept of operation at themore » sensing node, post the event status to a blackboard for software agents at other nodes to see , and then react quickly and efficiently to monitor the scale of the event. The technology addresses a current challenge in sensor networks that prevents a rapid and efficient response when a sensor measurement indicates that an event has occurred. By using intelligent software agents - which can be stationary or mobile, interact socially, and adapt to changing situations - the technology offers features that are particularly important when systems need to adapt to active circumstances. For example, when a release is detected, the local software agent collaborates with other agents at the node to exercise the appropriate operation, such as: targeted detection, increased detection frequency, decreased detection frequency for other non-alarming sensors, and determination of environmental conditions so that adjacent nodes can be informed that an event is occurring and when it will arrive. The software agents at the nodes can also post the data in a targeted manner, so that agents at other nodes and the command center can exercise appropriate operations to recalibrate the overall sensor network and associated intelligence systems. The paper describes the concepts and provides examples of real-world implementations including the Threat Detection and Analysis System (TDAS) at the International Port of Memphis and the Biological Warning and Incident Characterization System (BWIC) Environmental Monitoring (EM) Component. Technologies developed for these 24/7 operational systems have applications for improved real-time system integrity awareness as well as provide incident response (as needed) for production and field applications.« less

An Alignment/Transfer Experiment with Low Socioeconomic Level Students.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Elia, June Isaacs

1994-01-01

This study examined the amount of variance explained by alignment of testing to instruction among low socioeconomic level fourth graders, proposing two instructional alignment hypotheses. Results indicated that alignment had an unusually high effect. Low performing low socioeconomic level students achieved high success levels when conditions of…

76 FR 10489 - Special Conditions: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited Model 407 Helicopter, Installation of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-25

... non-critical control functions, since this model helicopter has been certificated to meet the... Canada Limited (Bell) model 407 helicopter. This model helicopter will have novel or unusual design..., Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group (ASW-111), 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137...

43 CFR 3482.3 - Mining operations maps.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-10-01

... and up-to-date maps of the mine, drawn to scales acceptable to the authorized officer. Before a mine... boundary lines; surface buildings; dip of the coal bed(s); true north; map scale; map explanation; location...; geologic conditions as determined from outcrops, drill holes, exploration, or mining; any unusual geologic...

43 CFR 3482.3 - Mining operations maps.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-10-01

... and up-to-date maps of the mine, drawn to scales acceptable to the authorized officer. Before a mine... boundary lines; surface buildings; dip of the coal bed(s); true north; map scale; map explanation; location...; geologic conditions as determined from outcrops, drill holes, exploration, or mining; any unusual geologic...

43 CFR 3482.3 - Mining operations maps.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-10-01

... and up-to-date maps of the mine, drawn to scales acceptable to the authorized officer. Before a mine... boundary lines; surface buildings; dip of the coal bed(s); true north; map scale; map explanation; location...; geologic conditions as determined from outcrops, drill holes, exploration, or mining; any unusual geologic...

Trouble with tuna: two cases of scombrotoxin poisoning.

PubMed Central

Stell, I M

1997-01-01

Two cases of scombrotoxin poisoning after exposure to tuna are described, the second being unusual in that tinned, rather than fresh, tuna was involved. This relatively rare condition needs to be distinguished from an allergic reaction, for which it can easily be mistaken. Images p111-a PMID:9132185

49 CFR 174.20 - Local or carrier restrictions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-10-01

... 49 Transportation 2 2011-10-01 2011-10-01 false Local or carrier restrictions. 174.20 Section 174... General Requirements § 174.20 Local or carrier restrictions. (a) When local conditions make the acceptance, transportation, or delivery of hazardous materials unusually hazardous, local restrictions may be imposed by the...

49 CFR 174.20 - Local or carrier restrictions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 49 Transportation 2 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Local or carrier restrictions. 174.20 Section 174... General Requirements § 174.20 Local or carrier restrictions. (a) When local conditions make the acceptance, transportation, or delivery of hazardous materials unusually hazardous, local restrictions may be imposed by the...

5 CFR 591.304 - Criteria for determining remoteness.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... transportation (e.g., automobile, train, bus) is available on a daily basis and the duty post is 80 kilometers... impractical because the location of the duty post and available transportation are such that agency management... conditions of employment; or (3) Transportation may be accomplished only by boat, aircraft, or unusual...

76 FR 25229 - Special Conditions: Gulfstream Aerospace LP (GALP) Model G250 Airplane, Dynamic Test Requirements...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-04

..., Dynamic Test Requirements for Side-Facing, Single-Occupant Seats AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration... or unusual design feature associated with dynamic test requirements for side-facing, single-occupant..., Aircraft Certification Service, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington 98057- 3356; telephone (425) 227...

76 FR 15798 - Special Conditions: Boeing 747-468, Installation of a Medical Lift

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-22

... a novel or unusual design feature associated with the installation of a medical lift. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These... airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. Type...

76 FR 72087 - Special Conditions: Diamond Aircraft Industries, Model DA-40NG; Electronic Engine Control (EEC...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-11-22

... engine design certification, and the certification requirements for engine control systems are driven by... following novel or unusual design features: Electronic engine control system. Discussion As discussed above...; Electronic Engine Control (EEC) System AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final...

78 FR 33461 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; Miami International Securities Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-06-04

... SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION [Release No. 34-69659; File No. SR-MIAX-2013-22] Self-Regulatory Organizations; Miami International Securities Exchange LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate... the Second Business Day Prior to Expiration in Unusual Market Conditions May 29, 2013. Pursuant to...

Decay, defects and condition of street trees in four Upstate New York cities

Treesearch

Christopher J. Luley; David J. Nowak; Eric J. Greenfield

2009-01-01

Throughout most of New York State, maple species are the most common street tree. It is not unusual for Norway (Acer platanoides), silver (A. saccharinum), sugar (A. saccharum), red (A. rubrum), and other maples species to comprise over 50% of the street tree population in communities...

77 FR 36123 - Special Conditions: Gulfstream Aerospace LP (GALP), Model Gulfstream G280 Airplane; Aircraft...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-06-18

... architecture and connectivity capabilities of the airplane's computer systems and networks, which may allow... an association, business, labor union, etc.). DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement can be found in... or unusual design features: Digital systems architecture composed of several connected networks. The...

75 FR 2433 - Special Conditions: Boeing Model 747-8/-8F Airplanes, Systems and Data Networks Security...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-01-15

... design features associated with the architecture and connectivity capabilities of the airplane's computer... novel or unusual design features: digital systems architecture composed of several connected networks. The architecture and network configuration may be used for, or interfaced with, a diverse set of...

TOPEX/El Niño Watch - Mild La Niña Conditions Developing, November 12, 1999

NASA Image and Video Library

1999-12-01

Unusually warm ocean temperatures off Asia and cool waters in the eastern and equatorial Pacific are signaling La Niña mild return, according to the latest sea-surface heights observed by the joint NASA-French space agency TOPEX/Poseidon satellite.

Final Environmental Assessment Eglin Gulf Test and Training Range (EGTTR) Precision Strike Weapons (PSW) Test (5-Year Plan) Eglin Air Force Base, Florida

DTIC Science & Technology

2005-11-01

Bottom Areas near Target Areas in the EGTTR, Florida.......................3-41 Figure 4-1. Safety Footprint Around Target Area...Thus, at many deep-water locations, it is not unusual for the low-frequency noise field to be influenced by contributions from tens or even... field at some range. Oilrigs, on the other hand, produce noise throughout the frequency domain. Recently, economic and political factors have not been

Benefits to the nation from astronomy and astrophysics

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Trimble, Virginia; Bahcall, John N.; Chaisson, Eric; Code, Arthur; Conklin, Edward K.; Cowan, John; Dalgarno, Alexander; Drake, Frank; Elson, Rebecca; Field, George

1991-01-01

It is argued that astronomy makes unexpectantly large contributions to formal and informal science education, given the small number of research astronomers. Technology transfer and spin-offs from astronomy have important applications in medicine, industry, defence, environmental monitoring, and consumer products. Astronomy provides unusually promising opportunities for international cooperation. Other sciences benefit from synergistic interactions with astronomy. A review is given of astronomy education and teacher training. The role of astronomy in medicine, industry, defence, energy technology, the environment, and everyday life is reviewed.

Myeloproliferative neoplasms in five multiple sclerosis patients☆

PubMed Central

Thorsteinsdottir, Sigrun; Bjerrum, Ole Weis; Hasselbalch, Hans Carl

2013-01-01

The concurrence of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) and multiple sclerosis (MS) is unusual. We report five patients from a localized geographic area in Denmark with both MS and MPN; all the patients were diagnosed with MPNs in the years 2007–2012. We describe the patients' history and treatment. A potential link between MS and MPNs has not been previously recognized. This observation calls attention to potential environmental factors and/or previously unrecognized genetic factors predisposing these patients to both MS and MPNs. PMID:24371783

'Snake River (SR)-type' volcanism at the Yellowstone hotspot track: Distinctive products from unusual, high-temperature silicic super-eruptions

USGS Publications Warehouse

Branney, M.J.; Bonnichsen, B.; Andrews, G.D.M.; Ellis, B.; Barry, T.L.; McCurry, M.

2008-01-01

A new category of large-scale volcanism, here termed Snake River (SR)-type volcanism, is defined with reference to a distinctive volcanic facies association displayed by Miocene rocks in the central Snake River Plain area of southern Idaho and northern Nevada, USA. The facies association contrasts with those typical of silicic volcanism elsewhere and records unusual, voluminous and particularly environmentally devastating styles of eruption that remain poorly understood. It includes: (1) large-volume, lithic-poor rhyolitic ignimbrites with scarce pumice lapilli; (2) extensive, parallel-laminated, medium to coarse-grained ashfall deposits with large cuspate shards, crystals and a paucity of pumice lapilli; many are fused to black vitrophyre; (3) unusually extensive, large-volume rhyolite lavas; (4) unusually intense welding, rheomorphism, and widespread development of lava-like facies in the ignimbrites; (5) extensive, fines-rich ash deposits with abundant ash aggregates (pellets and accretionary lapilli); (6) the ashfall layers and ignimbrites contain abundant clasts of dense obsidian and vitrophyre; (7) a bimodal association between the rhyolitic rocks and numerous, coalescing low-profile basalt lava shields; and (8) widespread evidence of emplacement in lacustrine-alluvial environments, as revealed by intercalated lake sediments, ignimbrite peperites, rhyolitic and basaltic hyaloclastites, basalt pillow-lava deltas, rhyolitic and basaltic phreatomagmatic tuffs, alluvial sands and palaeosols. Many rhyolitic eruptions were high mass-flux, large volume and explosive (VEI 6-8), and involved H2O-poor, low-??18O, metaluminous rhyolite magmas with unusually low viscosities, partly due to high magmatic temperatures (900-1,050??C). SR-type volcanism contrasts with silicic volcanism at many other volcanic fields, where the fall deposits are typically Plinian with pumice lapilli, the ignimbrites are low to medium grade (non-welded to eutaxitic) with abundant pumice lapilli or fiamme, and the rhyolite extrusions are small volume silicic domes and coule??es. SR-type volcanism seems to have occurred at numerous times in Earth history, because elements of the facies association occur within some other volcanic fields, including Trans-Pecos Texas, Etendeka-Paran, Lebombo, the English Lake District, the Proterozoic Keewanawan volcanics of Minnesota and the Yardea Dacite of Australia. ?? Springer-Verlag 2007.

Application of a multipurpose unequal probability stream survey in the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ator, S.W.; Olsen, A.R.; Pitchford, A.M.; Denver, J.M.

2003-01-01

A stratified, spatially balanced sample with unequal probability selection was used to design a multipurpose survey of headwater streams in the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Plain. Objectives for the survey include unbiased estimates of regional stream conditions, and adequate coverage of unusual but significant environmental settings to support empirical modeling of the factors affecting those conditions. The design and field application of the survey are discussed in light of these multiple objectives. A probability (random) sample of 175 first-order nontidal streams was selected for synoptic sampling of water chemistry and benthic and riparian ecology during late winter and spring 2000. Twenty-five streams were selected within each of seven hydrogeologic subregions (strata) that were delineated on the basis of physiography and surficial geology. In each subregion, unequal inclusion probabilities were used to provide an approximately even distribution of streams along a gradient of forested to developed (agricultural or urban) land in the contributing watershed. Alternate streams were also selected. Alternates were included in groups of five in each subregion when field reconnaissance demonstrated that primary streams were inaccessible or otherwise unusable. Despite the rejection and replacement of a considerable number of primary streams during reconnaissance (up to 40 percent in one subregion), the desired land use distribution was maintained within each hydrogeologic subregion without sacrificing the probabilistic design.

The subtle role of climate change on population genetic structure in Canada lynx.

PubMed

Row, Jeffrey R; Wilson, Paul J; Gomez, Celine; Koen, Erin L; Bowman, Jeff; Thornton, Daniel; Murray, Dennis L

2014-07-01

Anthropogenically driven climatic change is expected to reshape global patterns of species distribution and abundance. Given recent links between genetic variation and environmental patterns, climate change may similarly impact genetic population structure, but we lack information on the spatial and mechanistic underpinnings of genetic-climate associations. Here, we show that current genetic variability of Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) is strongly correlated with a winter climate gradient (i.e. increasing snow depth and winter precipitation from west-to-east) across the Pacific-North American (PNO) to North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) climatic systems. This relationship was stronger than isolation by distance and not explained by landscape variables or changes in abundance. Thus, these patterns suggest that individuals restricted dispersal across the climate boundary, likely in the absence of changes in habitat quality. We propose habitat imprinting on snow conditions as one possible explanation for this unusual phenomenon. Coupling historical climate data with future projections, we also found increasingly diverging snow conditions between the two climate systems. Based on genetic simulations using projected climate data (2041-2070), we predicted that this divergence could lead to a threefold increase in genetic differentiation, potentially leading to isolated east-west populations of lynx in North America. Our results imply that subtle genetic structure can be governed by current climate and that substantive genetic differentiation and related ecological divergence may arise from changing climate patterns. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

A priori analysis: an application to the estimate of the uncertainty in course grades

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lippi, G. L.

2014-07-01

A priori analysis (APA) is discussed as a tool to assess the reliability of grades in standard curricular courses. This unusual, but striking, application is presented when teaching the section on the data treatment of a laboratory course to illustrate the characteristics of the APA and its potential for widespread use, beyond the traditional physics curriculum. The conditions necessary for this kind of analysis are discussed, the general framework is set out and a specific example is given to illustrate its various aspects. Students are often struck by this unusual application and are more apt to remember the APA. Instructors may also benefit from some of the gathered information, as discussed in the paper.

Endocrine and metabolic changes in payload specialist (L-1)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Matsui, Nobuo

1993-01-01

The endocrine system plays an important role in the adaptation to unusual environments by secreting hormones to control metabolism. Since human beings have long evolved on the surface of the Earth under a gravity environment, the weightless environment must be quite unusual for them. The purpose of this experiment is to study the mechanisms of human adaptation to a weightless environment from endocrine and metabolic changes. Our study plan is focused on four major physiological changes which were reported during past space flights or which may be expected to occur under that condition: (1) hormone and metabolic changes associated with fluid shift; (2) bone demineralization and muscle atrophy; (3) altered circadian rhythm; and (4) stress reaction during space flight.

Photosynthetic responses to altitude: an explanation based on optimality principles

DOE PAGES

Wang, Han; Prentice, I. Colin; Davis, Tyler W.; ...

2016-11-18

Ecophysiologists have long been fascinated by the photosynthetic behaviour of alpine plants, which often have to withstand extreme environmental pressures (Gale, 1972; Friend&Woodward, 1990; Korner, 2003, 2007; Shi et al., 2006). About 8%of the world’s land surface is above 1500 maltitude (Korner, 2007). High altitudes can be climatically unusual, often with (for example) low temperatures, strong winds, and now high rates of warming (Korner, 2003; Pepin &Lundquist, 2008; Rangwala&Miller, 2012). Moreover, the low atmospheric pressure provides a set of environmental conditions unique on Earth (Table 1). There has been extensive speculation about altitudinal effects on photosynthesis and, in particular, howmore » to account for the puzzling – but consistently observed – tendencies towards higher carbon dioxide (CO 2) drawdown (low ratio of leafinternal to ambient CO 2 partial pressures (c i:c a; hereafter, v), resulting in low carbon isotope discrimination) and higher carboxylation capacity (V cmax) with increasing altitude (Gale, 1972; Korner & Diemer, 1987; Friend et al., 1989; Terashima et al., 1995; Bresson et al., 2009; Zhu et al., 2010). At first glance, it might be expected that CO 2 assimilation rates would be reduced at high altitudes due to the low partial pressure of CO 2 (Friend & Woodward, 1990). But, actual measured photosynthetic rates are usually as high as, or even higher than, those at low altitudes (Machler & Nosberger, 1977; Korner & Diemer, 1987; Cordell et al., 1999; Shi et al., 2006).« less

Photosynthetic responses to altitude: an explanation based on optimality principles

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

Wang, Han; Prentice, I. Colin; Davis, Tyler W.

Ecophysiologists have long been fascinated by the photosynthetic behaviour of alpine plants, which often have to withstand extreme environmental pressures (Gale, 1972; Friend&Woodward, 1990; Korner, 2003, 2007; Shi et al., 2006). About 8%of the world’s land surface is above 1500 maltitude (Korner, 2007). High altitudes can be climatically unusual, often with (for example) low temperatures, strong winds, and now high rates of warming (Korner, 2003; Pepin &Lundquist, 2008; Rangwala&Miller, 2012). Moreover, the low atmospheric pressure provides a set of environmental conditions unique on Earth (Table 1). There has been extensive speculation about altitudinal effects on photosynthesis and, in particular, howmore » to account for the puzzling – but consistently observed – tendencies towards higher carbon dioxide (CO 2) drawdown (low ratio of leafinternal to ambient CO 2 partial pressures (c i:c a; hereafter, v), resulting in low carbon isotope discrimination) and higher carboxylation capacity (V cmax) with increasing altitude (Gale, 1972; Korner & Diemer, 1987; Friend et al., 1989; Terashima et al., 1995; Bresson et al., 2009; Zhu et al., 2010). At first glance, it might be expected that CO 2 assimilation rates would be reduced at high altitudes due to the low partial pressure of CO 2 (Friend & Woodward, 1990). But, actual measured photosynthetic rates are usually as high as, or even higher than, those at low altitudes (Machler & Nosberger, 1977; Korner & Diemer, 1987; Cordell et al., 1999; Shi et al., 2006).« less

Off-Design Performance Analysis of a Solid-Oxide Fuel Cell/Gas Turbine Hybrid for Auxiliary Aerospace Power

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Freeh, Joshua E.; Steffen, J., Jr.; Larosiliere, Louis M.

2005-01-01

A solid-oxide fuel cell/gas turbine hybrid system for auxiliary aerospace power is analyzed using 0-D and 1-D system-level models. The system is designed to produce 440 kW of net electrical power, sized for a typical long-range 300-passenger civil airplane, at both sea level and cruise flight level (12,500 m). In addition, a part power level of 250 kW is analyzed at the cruise condition, a requirement of the operating power profile. The challenge of creating a balanced system for the three distinct conditions is presented, along with the compromises necessary for each case. A parametric analysis is described for the cruise part power operating point, in which the system efficiency is maximized by varying the air flow rate. The system is compared to an earlier version that was designed solely for cruise operation. The results show that it is necessary to size the turbomachinery, fuel cell, and heat exchangers at sea level full power rather than cruise full power. The resulting estimated mass of the system is 1912 kg, which is significantly higher than the original cruise design point mass, 1396 kg. The net thermal efficiencies with respect to the fuel LHV are calculated to be 42.4 percent at sea level full power, 72.6 percent at cruise full power, and 72.8 percent at cruise part power. The cruise conditions take advantage of pre-compressed air from the on-board Environmental Control System, which accounts for a portion of the unusually high thermal efficiency at those conditions. These results show that it is necessary to include several operating points in the overall assessment of an aircraft power system due to the variations throughout the operating profile.

Limnological Monitoring on the Upper Mississippi River System, 1993-1996: Long Term Resource Monitoring Program Havana Field Station

DTIC Science & Technology

2002-11-01

synopsis of the collected data and collection methods, as well as a preliminary report of remarkable or unusual conditions in the system. They are intended...resource requires scientific understanding of the ecosystem and of its long-term trends and conditions . To meet this need, Congress authorized a Long...chemical oxygen demand, biochemical oxygen demand, total coliform bacteria , fecal coliform bacteria , fecal streptococcus, heavy metals, pesticides, and

KCA drilling combats freak seas

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

Not Available

1984-08-01

This article describes the unusual sea conditions experienced by the crew of the KCA Drilling Company's positioned drillship, the Polly Bristol. The drilling took place in 1,000 feet of Mediterranean waters off Spain. Solutions are described that were used to quickly combat the turbulence of the waters so the drillship could be operated safely and effectively. The odd condition KCA experienced was caused by what oceanographers refer to as internal wave trains - underwater waves surging against each other from opposite directions.

Satellite and Ocean Model Analysis of Thermal Conditions Affecting Coral Reefs in the Western Indian Ocean

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Perez Delgado, Z.; Ummenhofer, C.; Swales, D. J.

2016-02-01

Corals are thought to be one of the smallest yet most productive ecosystems in the world. They have great economic and ecological value, but are increasingly affected by anthropogenic, biological and physical threats, such as a rise in sea surface temperature (SST) and ocean acidification due to an increase in CO2 in the atmosphere, among other factors. Here, specific events are investigated that likely exerted significant stress on corals, focusing particularly on unusual climatic conditions in the Western Indian Ocean during the 2001 to 2007 period as reflected by anomalies in degree heating weeks, hotspots and SST. Anomalous conditions in subsurface temperatures and mixed layer depth across the Indian Ocean region are also examined. We do this by using monthly, year-to-date, and annual composites of twice-weekly 50-km satellite coral bleaching monitoring products from the NOAA Coral Reef Watch and complementing it with output from a high-resolution global ocean model hindcast (1948-2007) forced with observed atmospheric forcing. Two years stand out in our analysis for the satellite data and model output: 2003 and 2005 exhibit strong warming in the Western Indian Ocean and cooling in the East. To establish the physical mechanisms giving rise to the unusual conditions and hotspot origins in 2003 and 2005 we also evaluate regional circulation changes in the Western Indian Ocean.

Observations of high droplet number concentrations in Southern Ocean boundary layer clouds

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chubb, T.; Huang, Y.; Jensen, J.; Campos, T.; Siems, S.; Manton, M.

2015-09-01

Data from the standard cloud physics payload during the NSF/NCAR High-performance Instrumented Airborne Platform for Environmental Research (HIAPER) Pole-to-Pole Observations (HIPPO) campaigns provide a snapshot of unusual wintertime microphysical conditions in the boundary layer over the Southern Ocean. On 29 June 2011, the HIAPER sampled the boundary layer in a region of pre-frontal warm air advection between 58 and 48° S to the south of Tasmania. Cloud droplet number concentrations were consistent with climatological values in the northernmost profiles but were exceptionally high for wintertime in the Southern Ocean at 100-200 cm-3 in the southernmost profiles. Sub-micron (0.0625 m s-1) were most likely responsible for production of sea spray aerosol which influenced the microphysical properties of the boundary layer clouds. The smaller size and higher number concentration of cloud droplets is inferred to increase the albedo of these clouds, and these conditions occur regularly, and are expected to increase in frequency, over windy parts of the Southern Ocean.

Archaea in aquaria: Investigating the role of environmental influences on TEX86 in long-term culture experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Warren, C.; Pagani, M.

2016-12-01

The TEX86 paleotemperature proxy has experienced a recent rise in application, due in part to its capacity to estimate temperatures above 30°C, and to the ubiquity of the archaeal membrane lipids that comprise it. Studies comparing environmental influences and archaeal lipids - specifically core glycerol dibiphytanyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs) - offer insights into non-temperature influences on TEX86. Here we present environmental measurements and lipid distributions from >200 long-running aquarium systems using source water from North American coastal sites ranging in latitude from 60.12ºN to 24.56ºN. The influence of 32 environmental variables (depth, pH, etc.) was evaluated in the entire dataset, as well as in a subset that limited the influence of community structure. Based on multiple correlation analyses we demonstrate that temperature is the central factor influencing the distribution of core GDGTs in aquarium tanks, with the possible exception of GDGT-1, for which dissolved oxygen concentration is equivocally significant when GDGT-4 is included in the calculation of relative abundances. Temperature was found to have the most significant relationship with TEX86, with neither oxygen concentration nor water density making comparable contributions. Salinity, pH, and community structure have emerged as important, but less significant secondary influences of TEX86. Low salinity (<15 PSU) was consistently associated with TEX86 values that substantially overestimate tank temperature. The presence and abundance of MG-II Euryarchaeota, when considered, do not appear to significantly change the TEX86-temperature relationship. In addition, Illumina MiSeq 16S rDNA sequencing was used to assess whether archaeal communities differed along a spectrum of TEX86 values and environmental conditions. This technique allowed for the assessment of a taxonomically constrained subset of samples (n=54) where the archaeal tank populations were >98% sequences recognized as associated with the genus Nitrosopumilus (cultured ammonia oxidizers). In this dataset the relative abundance of GDGT-0 provided a better estimate of temperature than TEX86, and unusually high nitrite concentrations strongly correlated with underestimates of TEX86-based temperature relative to measured water temperature.

5 CFR 553.201 - Requesting OPM approval for reemployment without reduction or termination of annuity in...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-01-01

... that basis must meet the following criteria: (1) Nature of emergency. Describe the military threat... particular position. Requests submitted on this basis must include a description of the length, breadth, and... limited to, unusual qualification requirements or working conditions, possibility of job reengineering or...

5 CFR 553.201 - Requesting OPM approval for reemployment without reduction or termination of annuity in...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-01-01

... that basis must meet the following criteria: (1) Nature of emergency. Describe the military threat... particular position. Requests submitted on this basis must include a description of the length, breadth, and... limited to, unusual qualification requirements or working conditions, possibility of job reengineering or...

5 CFR 553.201 - Requesting OPM approval for reemployment without reduction or termination of annuity in...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-01-01

... that basis must meet the following criteria: (1) Nature of emergency. Describe the military threat... particular position. Requests submitted on this basis must include a description of the length, breadth, and... limited to, unusual qualification requirements or working conditions, possibility of job reengineering or...

5 CFR 553.201 - Requesting OPM approval for reemployment without reduction or termination of annuity in...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... that basis must meet the following criteria: (1) Nature of emergency. Describe the military threat... particular position. Requests submitted on this basis must include a description of the length, breadth, and... limited to, unusual qualification requirements or working conditions, possibility of job reengineering or...

Myths, Stereotypes and Self-Perception: The Impact of Albinism on Self-Esteem

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Palmer, Carolyn

2007-01-01

Albinism has the potential to affect young people both emotionally and psychologically. Their condition is unique and is surrounded by myths and stereotypes. The unusual appearance of children with oculocutaneous albinism draws attention to them and their vision impairment can impact on their development of social skills and peer relationships. In…

Latino Migrant Parent Influence on Latino Migrant Student University Enrollment

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gonzalez, Alejandro

2013-01-01

Migrant families have long been victims of their unusual lifestyle. High poverty conditions combined with constant mobility in search for agricultural work have contributed to their challenging lifestyle. As a result, Latino migrant students are among the least likely to graduate from high school and pursue a college degree. However, in spite of…

78 FR 65233 - Special Conditions: Bombardier Inc., Models BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 Series Airplanes...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-10-31

... a novel or unusual design feature associated with aluminum-lithium fuselage construction that may... of the Bombardier C-series airplanes will be fabricated using aluminum-lithium construction. Structure fabricated from aluminum-lithium may provide different levels of protection from post-crash fuel...

76 FR 65105 - Special Conditions: Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Model GIV-X Airplane; Isolation or Aircraft...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-20

... supplemental type certificate to install a new interior design configuration in the Gulfstream Model GIV-X... airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features associated with connectivity of the... airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for these design features...

76 FR 10529 - Special Conditions: Gulfstream Model GVI Airplane; Electronic Systems Security Protection From...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-02-25

... Gulfstream GVI airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features associated with the... not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for these design features. These proposed special... will be an all-new, two- engine jet transport airplane with an executive cabin interior. The maximum...

77 FR 28530 - Special Conditions: Tamarack Aerospace Group, Cirrus Model SR22; Active Technology Load...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-05-15

... have a novel or unusual design feature(s) associated with Tamarack Aerospace Group's modification. The... the control system. (b) The design of the load alleviation system or of any other automatic system...) Each detail of the Tamarack Active Control Surface (TACS) must be designed and installed to prevent...

77 FR 42949 - Special Conditions: Tamarack Aerospace Group, Cirrus Model SR22; Active Technology Load...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-07-23

... novel or unusual design feature(s) associated with Tamarack Aerospace Group's modification. The design... not aware of the failure. Warning systems must not activate the control system. (b) The design of the... Active Control Surface (TACS) must be designed and installed to prevent jamming, chafing, and...

76 FR 18130 - Special Conditions: Turbomeca Arriel 2D Turboshaft Engine

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-04-01

... unusual design feature which is a 30-minute power rating. This rating is generally intended to be used for... contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed special... your comments on this proposal, send us a pre-addressed, stamped postcard on which the docket number...

76 FR 14795 - Special Conditions: Gulfstream Model GVI Airplane; Electronic Flight Control System Mode...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-18

...). Novel or Unusual Design Features The GVI will have a fly-by-wire electronic flight control system. This... type certification basis for Gulfstream GVI airplanes. If the design of the flight control system has... Control System Mode Annunciation. AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final...

78 FR 11553 - Special Conditions: Embraer S.A., Model EMB-550 Airplane; Electronic Flight Control System...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-19

... metal with composite empennage and control surfaces. The Model EMB-550 airplane is designed for 8...; Electronic Flight Control System: Control Surface Awareness and Mode Annunciation AGENCY: Federal Aviation... Embraer S.A. Model EMB-550 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature(s...

75 FR 77569 - Special Conditions: Gulfstream Model GVI Airplane; Electronic Flight Control System Mode...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-12-13

... Unusual Design Features The GVI will have a fly-by-wire electronic flight control system. This system... the design of the flight control system has multiple modes of operation, a means must be provided to... Control System Mode Annunciation AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Notice of...

Tasty Non-Words and Neighbours: The Cognitive Roots of Lexical-Gustatory Synaesthesia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Simner, Julia; Haywood, Sarah L.

2009-01-01

For lexical-gustatory synaesthetes, words trigger automatic, associated food sensations (e.g., for JB, the word "slope" tastes of over-ripe melon). Our study tests two claims about this unusual condition: that synaesthetic tastes are associated with abstract levels of word representation (concepts/lemmas), and that the first tastes to crystallise…

WET AND DRY SEASON ECOSYSTEM LEVEL FLUXES OF ISOPRENE AND MONOTERPENES FROM A SOUTHEAST ASIAN SECONDARY FOREST AND RUBBER TREE PLANTATION

EPA Science Inventory

Canopy scale fluxes of isoprene and monoterpenes were investigated in both wet and dry seasons above a rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis)/secondary tropical forest in the Yunnan province of southwestern China. Drought conditions were unusually high during the dry season experiment....

Effects of Irrigating Tree Seedlings with a Nutrient Solution

Treesearch

R. P. Belanger; C. B. Briscoe

1963-01-01

Subsurface irrigation with nutrient solution was found to be biologically feasible under the conditions tested. Growth of seedlings was satisfactory, but not unusually good. On the bases of total height growth, and growth in fresh weight, the various fertilizers tested produced statistically different results. The species tested, members of three different families and...

75 FR 52614 - Special Conditions: Embraer Model ERJ 170-100 SU Series Airplanes; Seats With Non-Traditional...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-27

... that incorporate non-traditional, large, non-metallic panels. To provide a level of safety equivalent... With Non-Traditional, Large, Non-Metallic Panels AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT...., will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with seats that include non-traditional, large...

77 FR 57481 - Special Conditions: Embraer S.A., Models EMB-135 and EMB-145 Series; Airplane Seats with Non...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-18

... Series; Airplane Seats with Non-Traditional, Large, Non-Metallic Panels AGENCY: Federal Aviation... have a novel or unusual design feature associated with the airplane seats that have non-traditional, large, non-metallic panels that would affect survivability during a post-crash fire event. The...

77 FR 67251 - Special Conditions: Boeing Model 757 Series Airplanes; Seats with Non-Traditional, Large, Non...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-09

..., large, non-metallic panels in their designs. In order to provide a level of safety that is equivalent to... with Non-Traditional, Large, Non-Metallic Panels AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT... have novel or unusual design features associated with seats that include non-traditional, large, non...

75 FR 46840 - Special Conditions: Bombardier Inc. Model CL-600-2E25 Series Airplane; Passenger Seats With Non...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-04

... that incorporate non-traditional, large, non-metallic panels. To provide a level of safety equivalent...; Passenger Seats With Non-Traditional, Large, Non-Metallic Panels AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration... novel or unusual design feature associated with seats that include non- traditional, large, non-metallic...

78 FR 76252 - Special Conditions: Airbus, Model A350-900 Series Airplane; Isolation or Protection of the...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-17

..., business, labor union, etc.). DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement can be found in the Federal Register... unusual design feature: an electronics network system architecture which is new and novel for commercial... series architecture is new and novel for commercial transport airplanes because it allows connection to...

Unusual complication of toxic megacolon in typhoid colitis.

PubMed

Arun Babu, Thirunavukkarasu; Ananthakrishnan, Shanthi; Jayakumar, P; Kullu, Poonam

2014-05-01

Colitis is a rare manifestation of enteric fever in children. Toxic megacolon complicating typhoid colitis is even rarer and requires early recognition and aggressive management due to the high mortality associated with this condition. The authors report a rare case of Toxic megacolon secondary to typhoid colitis in a seven-year-old girl.

Effects of a television drama about environmental exposure to toxic substances.

PubMed

Kennedy, May G; Turf, Elizabeth Eustis; Wilson-Genderson, Maureen; Wells, Kristen; Huang, Grace C; Beck, Vicki

2011-01-01

This study assessed short-term outcomes of viewing an episode of a prime-time television drama in which a child developed cancer after environmental exposure to an illegal pesticide. The study explored the effects among viewers of feeling transported into a narrative world. Respondents (n = 2,139) to a post-episode Internet panel survey were asked if they had seen the show and asked questions about their demographic information, their frequency of viewing the television show, the degree to which they had felt transported into a narrative world created by the drama, and their knowledge and beliefs about the health effects of environmental exposure. Conversations with key informants from federal agencies and advocacy groups were also held. Episode viewing and narrative transportation were positively associated with knowledge of toxic exposure effects, and transported viewers reported being more likely to report an unusually high number of cancer cases to authorities. The show also appeared to have prompted a clarification of federal pesticide-testing policy. Entertainment Education is a promising strategy for disseminating key points of information about environmental health.

Effects of a Television Drama about Environmental Exposure to Toxic Substances

PubMed Central

Kennedy, May G.; Eustis Turf, Elizabeth; Wilson-Genderson, Maureen; Wells, Kristen; Huang, Grace C.; Beck, Vicki

2011-01-01

Objective. This study assessed short-term outcomes of viewing an episode of a prime-time television drama in which a child developed cancer after environmental exposure to an illegal pesticide. The study explored the effects among viewers of feeling transported into a narrative world. Methods. Respondents (n=2,139) to a post-episode Internet panel survey were asked if they had seen the show and asked questions about their demographic information, their frequency of viewing the television show, the degree to which they had felt transported into a narrative world created by the drama, and their knowledge and beliefs about the health effects of environmental exposure. Conversations with key informants from federal agencies and advocacy groups were also held. Results. Episode viewing and narrative transportation were positively associated with knowledge of toxic exposure effects, and transported viewers reported being more likely to report an unusually high number of cancer cases to authorities. The show also appeared to have prompted a clarification of federal pesticide-testing policy. Conclusions. Entertainment Education is a promising strategy for disseminating key points of information about environmental health. PMID:21563723

An unusual case of back pain: A large Pheochromocytoma in an 85 year old woman.

PubMed

Karumanchery, Roopa; Nair, Jagdish R; Hakeem, Abdul; Hardy, Robert

2012-01-01

Low back ache is a common complaint in the elderly and in the absence of red flag symptoms can be easily dismissed as benign. Pheochromocytoma presenting as back pain is unusual and to our knowledge, only two previous cases have been reported in the literature with back pain as the 'only' presenting symptom. We illustrate the case of an 85 year-old woman who presented with a 6 month history of back pain due to a very large Pheochromocytoma. This was incidentally picked up during a routine Lumbar spine plain radiograph and was noted to be a large Pheochromocytoma occupying the whole of the left abdomen. She required an open adrenalectomy to remove the large left adrenal tumour weighing 2.3 kg. Pheochromocytoma can present as a mimic of musculoskeletal conditions and hence due care should be exercised in assessing such presentations both in the young and elderly patients. Our patient is different from the other reported cases, as she is an 85 year-old and 'back pain' can be easily dismissed without investigating in such age groups, thereby missing serious conditions.

Optical and Raman microspectroscopy of nitrogen and hydrogen mixtures at high pressures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ciezak, Jennifer; Jenkins, T.; Hemley, R.

2009-06-01

Extended phases of molecular solids formed from simple molecules have led to polymeric materials under extreme conditions with advanced optical, mechanical and energetic properties. Although the existence of extended phases has been demonstrated in N2, CO and CO2, recovery of the materials to ambient conditions has posed considerable difficulty. Recent molecular dynamics simulations have predicted that the addition of hydrogen to nitrogen may increase the stability of the cubic-gauche nitrogen polymer and thereby offer the possibility of synthesis at lower pressures and temperatures. Here we present optical and Raman microspectroscopy measurements performed on nitrogen and hydrogen mixtures to 85 GPa. To pressures of 30 GPa, large deviations in the internal molecular stretching modes of the mixtures relative to those of the pure material reveal unusual phase behavior. After an unusual phase separation near 35 GPa, a phase assemblage of consisting of a phase rich in both nitrogen and hydrogen, a phase of relatively amorphous nitrogen and a mixture of the two is observed. Near this pressure, Raman bands attributed to the N-N single bonded stretch were observed.

Unusual tremor syndromes: know in order to recognise.

PubMed

Ure, Robert J; Dhanju, Sanveer; Lang, Anthony E; Fasano, Alfonso

2016-11-01

Tremor is a common neurological condition in clinical practice; yet, few syndromes are widely recognised and discussed in the literature. As a result, there is an overdiagnosis of well-known causes, such as essential tremor. Many important unusual syndromes should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with tremor. The objective of this review is to provide broad clinical information to aid in the recognition and treatment of various unusual tremor syndromes in the adult and paediatric populations. The review comprised of a comprehensive online search using PubMed, Ovid database and Google Scholar to identify the available literature for each unusual tremor syndrome. The review includes fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome, spinocerebellar ataxia type 12, tremors caused by autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxias, myorhythmia, isolated tongue tremor, Wilson's disease, slow orthostatic tremor, peripheral trauma-induced tremor, tardive tremor and rabbit syndrome, paroxysmal tremors (hereditary chin tremor, bilateral high-frequency synchronous discharges, head tremor, limb-shaking transient ischaemic attack), bobble-head doll syndrome, spasmus nutans and shuddering attacks. Rare tremors generally present with an action tremor and a variable combination of postural and kinetic components with resting tremors less frequently seen. The phenomenology of myorhythmia is still vague and a clinical definition is proposed. The recognition of these entities should facilitate the correct diagnosis and guide the physician to a prompt intervention. Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/.

Pediatric surgery in Bangladesh.

PubMed

Bagwell, C E; Shandling, B

1986-09-01

Bangladesh, although a small country of only 55,000 square miles, is the world's eighth most populous nation, and its 90 million inhabitants occupy a land of harsh economic conditions. One half of this dense population is children, 90% of whom suffer from parasitic infestations, 10% are affected with neonatal tetanus, and one half are severely malnourished. Health care resources are scarce with one physician and hospital bed for about every 10,000 persons. A 1-month stay in Bangladesh at the Dhaka Shishu Hospital, made possible by the Canadian Association of Paediatric Surgeons, afforded an invaluable opportunity to be involved in Pediatric Surgery in such a setting. During the month, over 40 major pediatric surgical procedures were performed, including sequestrectomy, drainage of parietal wall abscess, and resection of massive neoplasms. Many unusual pathologic conditions, not commonly seen in Western countries, were encountered including canker otis, tuberculous ileitis, and ascaris-induced small bowel obstruction. In the setting of widespread malnutrition and limited diagnostic aids, appropriate surgical treatment remains crucial in many serious childhood conditions. Awareness of some of the more unusual infections and parasites seen in Third World nations is of great importance to Western surgeons due to increased travel and immigration and for a perspective on diseases rarely seen in more affluent countries.

Unusual Polar Conditions in Solar Cycle 24 and Their Implications for Cycle 25

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gopalswamy, Nat; Yashiro, Seiji; Akiyama, Sachiko

2016-01-01

We report on the prolonged solar-maximum conditions until late 2015 at the north-polar region of the Sun indicated by the occurrence of high-latitude prominence eruptions (PEs) and microwave brightness temperature close to the quiet-Sun level. These two aspects of solar activity indicate that the polarity reversal was completed by mid-2014 in the south and late 2015 in the north. The microwave brightness in the south-polar region has increased to a level exceeding the level of the Cycle 23/24 minimum, but just started to increase in the north. The northsouth asymmetry in the polarity reversal has switched from that in Cycle 23. These observations lead us to the hypothesis that the onset of Cycle 25 in the northern hemisphere is likely to be delayed with respect to that in the southern hemisphere. We find that the unusual condition in the north is a direct consequence of the arrival of poleward surges of opposite polarity from the active region belt. We also find that multiple rush-to-the-pole episodes were indicated by the PE locations that lined up at the boundary between opposite-polarity surges. The high-latitude PEs occurred in the boundary between the incumbent polar flux and the insurgent flux of opposite polarity.

Unusual Characteristics of the DNA Binding Domain of Epigenetic Regulatory Protein MeCP2 Determine Its Binding Specificity

PubMed Central

2015-01-01

The protein MeCP2 mediates epigenetic regulation by binding methyl-CpG (mCpG) sites on chromatin. MeCP2 consists of six domains of which one, the methyl binding domain (MBD), binds mCpG sites in duplex DNA. We show that solution conditions with physiological or greater salt concentrations or the presence of nonspecific competitor DNA is necessary for the MBD to discriminate mCpG from CpG with high specificity. The specificity for mCpG over CpG is >100-fold under these solution conditions. In contrast, the MBD does not discriminate hydroxymethyl-CpG from CpG. The MBD is unusual among site-specific DNA binding proteins in that (i) specificity is not conferred by the enhanced affinity for the specific site but rather by suppression of its affinity for generic DNA, (ii) its specific binding to mCpG is highly electrostatic, and (iii) it takes up as well as displaces monovalent cations upon DNA binding. The MBD displays an unusually high affinity for single-stranded DNA independent of modification or sequence. In addition, the MBD forms a discrete dimer on DNA via a noncooperative binding pathway. Because the affinity of the second monomer is 1 order of magnitude greater than that of nonspecific binding, the MBD dimer is a unique molecular complex. The significance of these results in the context of neuronal function and development and MeCP2-related developmental disorders such as Rett syndrome is discussed. PMID:24828757

The puzzling spectrum of HD 94509. Sounding out the extremes of Be shell star spectral morphology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cowley, C. R.; Przybilla, N.; Hubrig, S.

2015-06-01

Context. The spectral features of HD 94509 are highly unusual, adding an extreme to the zoo of Be and shell stars. The shell dominates the spectrum, showing lines typical for spectral types mid-A to early-F, while the presence of a late/mid B-type central star is indicated by photospheric hydrogen line wings and helium lines. Numerous metallic absorption lines have broad wings but taper to narrow cores. They cannot be fit by Voigt profiles. Aims: We describe and illustrate unusual spectral features of this star, and make rough calculations to estimate physical conditions and abundances in the shell. Furthermore, the central star is characterized. Methods: We assume mean conditions for the shell. An electron density estimate is made from the Inglis-Teller formula. Excitation temperatures and column densities for Fe i and Fe ii are derived from curves of growth. The neutral H column density is estimated from high Paschen members. The column densities are compared with calculations made with the photoionization code Cloudy. Atmospheric parameters of the central star are constrained employing non-LTE spectrum synthesis. Results: Overall chemical abundances are close to solar. Column densities of the dominant ions of several elements, as well as excitation temperatures and the mean electron density are well accounted for by a simple model. Several features, including the degree of ionization, are less well described. Conclusions: HD 94509 is a Be star with a stable shell, close to the terminal-age main sequence. The dynamical state of the shell and the unusually shaped, but symmetric line profiles, require a separate study.

An unusual case of KBG syndrome with unique oral findings

PubMed Central

Hafiz, Abdul; Mufeed, Abdulla; Ismael, Mohamad; Alam, Mheboob

2015-01-01

KBG syndrome is a condition characterised by macrodontia, neurological disturbance, short stature, a distinct cranio-facial appearance, and skeletal anomalies. The authors describe what appears to be the first case of KBG syndrome reported from the Indian subcontinent. Meticulous evaluation of the dental findings helps to identify such cases which may otherwise remain undiagnosed. Further research is warranted to determine the classic and variant presentations of this condition, with follow-up data providing valuable insights into its natural history and long-term prognosis. PMID:26187867

Macrodystrophia Lipomatosa: An Unusual Cause of Localized Gigantism.

PubMed

Maheswari, S Uma; Sampath, V; Ramesh, A; Manoharan, K

2016-01-01

Macrodystrophia lipomatosa (MDL) is a rare congenital form of localized gigantism characterized by progressive overgrowth of all mesenchymal elements with a disproportionate increase in fibro adipose tissue. Here we report a case of 20 years old male who presented with history of painless gradual enlargement of entire left upper limb since childhood. Magnetic resonance imaging and histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of macrodystrophia lipomatosa. This condition has to be differentiated from other causes of localized gigantism, since these conditions differ in their course, prognosis, complications and treatment.

Affluence and objective environmental conditions: Evidence of differences in environmental concern in metropolitan Brazil

PubMed Central

Nawrotzki, Raphael J.; Guedes, Gilvan; do Carmo, Roberto Luiz

2016-01-01

In an age of climate change, researchers need to form a deepened understanding of the determinants of environmental concern, particularly in countries of emerging economies. This paper provides a region-specific investigation of the impact of socio-economic status (SES) and objective environmental conditions on environmental concern in urban Brazil. We make use of data that were collected from personal interviews of individuals living in the metropolitan areas of Baixada Santista and Campinas, in the larger São Paulo area. Results from multilevel regression models indicate that wealthier households are more environmentally concerned, as suggested by affluence and post-materialist hypotheses. However, we also observe that increasing environmental concern correlates with a decline in objective environmental conditions. Interactions between objective environmental conditions and SES reveal some intriguing relationships: Among poorer individuals, a decline in environmental conditions increases environmental concern as suggested by the objective problems hypothesis, while for the wealthy, a decline in environmental conditions is associated with lower levels of environmental concern. PMID:27594931

Affluence and objective environmental conditions: Evidence of differences in environmental concern in metropolitan Brazil.

PubMed

Nawrotzki, Raphael J; Guedes, Gilvan; do Carmo, Roberto Luiz

2014-04-01

In an age of climate change, researchers need to form a deepened understanding of the determinants of environmental concern, particularly in countries of emerging economies. This paper provides a region-specific investigation of the impact of socio-economic status (SES) and objective environmental conditions on environmental concern in urban Brazil. We make use of data that were collected from personal interviews of individuals living in the metropolitan areas of Baixada Santista and Campinas, in the larger São Paulo area. Results from multilevel regression models indicate that wealthier households are more environmentally concerned, as suggested by affluence and post-materialist hypotheses. However, we also observe that increasing environmental concern correlates with a decline in objective environmental conditions. Interactions between objective environmental conditions and SES reveal some intriguing relationships: Among poorer individuals, a decline in environmental conditions increases environmental concern as suggested by the objective problems hypothesis, while for the wealthy, a decline in environmental conditions is associated with lower levels of environmental concern.

Variability of rRNA Operon Copy Number and Growth Rate Dynamics of Bacillus Isolated from an Extremely Oligotrophic Aquatic Ecosystem

PubMed Central

Valdivia-Anistro, Jorge A.; Eguiarte-Fruns, Luis E.; Delgado-Sapién, Gabriela; Márquez-Zacarías, Pedro; Gasca-Pineda, Jaime; Learned, Jennifer; Elser, James J.; Olmedo-Alvarez, Gabriela; Souza, Valeria

2016-01-01

The ribosomal RNA (rrn) operon is a key suite of genes related to the production of protein synthesis machinery and thus to bacterial growth physiology. Experimental evidence has suggested an intrinsic relationship between the number of copies of this operon and environmental resource availability, especially the availability of phosphorus (P), because bacteria that live in oligotrophic ecosystems usually have few rrn operons and a slow growth rate. The Cuatro Ciénegas Basin (CCB) is a complex aquatic ecosystem that contains an unusually high microbial diversity that is able to persist under highly oligotrophic conditions. These environmental conditions impose a variety of strong selective pressures that shape the genome dynamics of their inhabitants. The genus Bacillus is one of the most abundant cultivable bacterial groups in the CCB and usually possesses a relatively large number of rrn operon copies (6–15 copies). The main goal of this study was to analyze the variation in the number of rrn operon copies of Bacillus in the CCB and to assess their growth-related properties as well as their stoichiometric balance (N and P content). We defined 18 phylogenetic groups within the Bacilli clade and documented a range of from six to 14 copies of the rrn operon. The growth dynamic of these Bacilli was heterogeneous and did not show a direct relation to the number of operon copies. Physiologically, our results were not consistent with the Growth Rate Hypothesis, since the copies of the rrn operon were decoupled from growth rate. However, we speculate that the diversity of the growth properties of these Bacilli as well as the low P content of their cells in an ample range of rrn copy number is an adaptive response to oligotrophy of the CCB and could represent an ecological mechanism that allows these taxa to coexist. These findings increase the knowledge of the variability in the number of copies of the rrn operon in the genus Bacillus and give insights about the physiology of this bacterial group under extreme oligotrophic conditions. PMID:26779143

Hepatobiliary and gallium imaging findings in gallbladder perforation: A case report and review of the literature

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

Yeo, E.; Chen, D.C.; Siegel, M.E.

1989-02-01

Gallbladder perforation is an unusual condition with a high mortality rate. Early detection with prompt surgical intervention can increase the survival rate. Hepatobiliary imaging using Technetium-99m-labeled iminodiacetic acid has been used for the diagnosis of gallbladder perforation. However, the results vary and are somewhat confusing. The authors report a case of gallbladder perforation with hepatobiliary imaging and an unusual gallium image; review the literature; and propose a classification of three different imaging patterns: (1) visualization of the gallbladder with bile leakage, (2) nonvisualization of the gallbladder with a photopenic fluid collection, and (3) nonvisualization of the gallbladder with bile leakage.more » These patterns may provide pathophysiologic information for the surgeon. 27 references.« less

Environmental optimization of chromium recovery from tannery sludge using a life cycle assessment approach.

PubMed

Kiliç, Eylem; Puig, Rita; Baquero, Grau; Font, Joaquim; Colak, Selime; Gürler, Deniz

2011-08-15

Life cycle assessment (LCA) was used to evaluate the environmental impact of an oxidative chromium recovery method from tannery sludge, in comparison with the usual landfilling process. Three improvement options (water reduction, byproduct use and anaerobic sludge digestion) were considered. The results showed that the proposed chromium recovery process would be better environmentally than conventional landfilling in all the evaluated impact categories if the amount of chromium recovered was 43 kg per ton of sludge. This amount could be recovered if the chromium concentration was about 20 times higher than that considered in this study. Alternatively, a lower chromium concentration would produce a better result if the recovery method was optimized and implemented at industrial rather than laboratory scale, and if more accurate data were provided on environmental credits for avoiding the chromium production process. Thus, the recovery method is environmentally beneficial when tannery sludge contains a chromium concentration of about 100,000 ppm. According to the literature, such concentrations are not unusual. The results could serve as the basis for further environmental improvements in chromium recovery and tannery sludge management and should be used in decision-making processes, especially for end-of-pipe treatments. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Elastic Properties of Orthoenstatite at Simultaneous High Pressure-Temperature Conditions and the Implication for the Origin of Low VP/VS Zones in the Mantle Wedge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qian, W.; Wang, W.; Zou, F.; Wu, Z.

2017-12-01

The compositions of the Earth's interiors are critical in understanding the origin and evolution of the Earth and its geodynamics. Orthopyroxene is an important component for the upper mantle both in pyrolite model and in piclogite model. Furthermore, many evidences suggest the local enrichment of opx in the upper mantle. Therefore, its thermodynamic and elastic properties are fundamental for understanding of chemical compositions and dynamics of the upper mantle. We obtain the elastic properties of orthoenstatite (MgSiO3), Mg end-member orthopyroxene with space group Pbca, up to 20 GPa and 2000 K using first principles calculations with local density approximation (LDA). The calculated results are in good agreement with previous available experimental measurements and theoretical results. Both bulk and shear modulus show noticeable nonlinear pressure dependence, and the softening of shear wave velocities is prominent at high pressure. Meanwhile, orthoenstatite exhibits a negative temperature derivate of VP/VS ratios. This is different from other upper mantle minerals, such as olivine, ringwoodite and garnet, whose VP/VS increase with the increasing of the temperature. Compared to other major minerals in the upper mantle, orthoenstatite shows the lowest compressional velocities, shear velocities, and VP/VS (<1.7) ratio up to the depth of 200 km. Recently, many seismic studies have observed unusual low VP/VS (below 1.72) zones in subduction mantle wedge and orthopyroxene has been proposed to be a possible interpretation of this unusual observed. However, this explanation is still under debate because no experimental or calculated elastic data at the conditions of the upper mantle are available before. Our calculations show that VS and VP/VS ratio of orthoenstatite under the mantle wedge conditions (2-3 GPa and 1073-1723 K) are consistent of the unusual seismic observations of VP/VS in subduction mantle wedge. Therefore, the enrichment of orthopyroxene may potentially account for the observed low VP/VS in the mantle wedge.

Unusual Δ7,12,19 C35:3 Alkenone Produced by the Mutant Emiliania huxleyi strain CCMP2758 in Culture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zheng, Y.; Huang, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Dillon, J. T.

2015-12-01

Alkenones with chain length ranging from C37 to C40 are highly specific biomarkers for certain haptophyte algae in ocean and lake sediments and have been widely used for paleoclimate studies. Short chain alkenones (e.g., C35 and C36) have been found in environmental and culture samples but the origin and structures of these compounds are not fully understood. The benchmark marine alkenone producer, Emiliania huxleyi CCMP2758 strain (the mutant of strain CCMP1742, NEPCC55a) was reported to make 35:2 alkenone when cultured at 15 °C (Prahl et al., 2006). Here we show, when this strain is cultured at lower temperatures (e.g., 4°C), CCMP2758 produces large amount of 35:3 alkenone with unusual double bond positions of Δ7,12,19. We determined the double bond positions of the C35:3 methyl ketonee based on GC-MS analysis of cyclobutylimine derivatives and dimethyl disulfide derivatives respectively, and provide the first temperature calibrations based on the unsaturation ratios of C35 alkenones. Previous studies have found 35:2 alkenone with three methylene interruption in the Black Sea sediment, but it is the first time that an alkenone with a mixed three and five methylene interruption is found. The discovery of short chain alkenones with unusual double bond positions may shed new light to alkenone biosynthesis.

Unusual microorganisms and antimicrobial resistances in a group of Syrian migrants: Sentinel surveillance data from an asylum seekers centre in Italy.

PubMed

Angeletti, Silvia; Ceccarelli, Giancarlo; Vita, Serena; Dicuonzo, Giordano; Lopalco, Maurizio; Dedej, Etleva; Blasi, Aletheia; Antonelli, Francesca; Conti, Alessia; De Cesaris, Marina; Farchi, Francesca; Lo Presti, Alessandra; Ciccozzi, Massimo

2016-01-01

Three years of civil war in Syria have caused death and increase of communicable diseases. The suffering population has been forced to migrate creating a fertile condition for epidemic spread of infection within the refugee camps. Forty-eight Syrian migrants, upon their arrival in Italy, were accommodated at the asylum seekers centre of Castelnuovo di Porto. They received a physical examination and were subjected to microbiological surveillance by blood, rectal, pharyngeal and nasal swabs collection and delivering to the Clinical Pathology and Microbiology Laboratory of the University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome. All refugees resulted negative for HBV, HCV and HIV infections. In swabs a large number of unusual gram-negative bacteria species were isolated, such as Pseudomonas putida, Pseudomonas monteilii, Pseudomonas fulva, Pseudomonas moselii, Aeromonas veronii, Aeromonas caviae, Aeromonas hydrophila, Acinteobacter guilloviae, Acinteobacter lowffii; Acinetobacter johnsonii; Acinteobacter tjernbergae; Pantoea agglomerans; Pantoea calida. Among isolates, strains resistant to carbapenems, ESBL producers and methicillin resistant were found. The microbiological surveillance performed represents a useful action to understand refugees health status and to trace unusual microorganisms movement even carriers of antimicrobial resistance during migrants traveling. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Workforce Effects and the Evolution of Complex Sociality in Wild Damaraland Mole Rats.

PubMed

Young, Andrew J; Jarvis, Jennifer U M; Barnaville, James; Bennett, Nigel C

2015-08-01

Explaining the evolution of eusocial and cooperatively breeding societies demands that we understand the effects of workforce size on the reproductive success of breeders. This challenge has yet to be addressed in the family that arguably exhibits the most extreme outcomes of vertebrate social evolution, the African mole rats (Bathyergidae), leaving the ultimate causes of their many unusual adaptations open to debate. Here we report-using a 14-year field study of wild Damaraland mole rats, Fukomys damarensis-that workers appear to have strong but unusual effects on offspring. Groups with larger workforces exhibited substantially higher rates of offspring recruitment while maintaining high juvenile survival rates, relationships that may have favored the evolution of the delayed dispersal, cooperation, morphological specialization, and unusual patterns of longevity that characterize such societies. Offspring reared by larger workforces also showed slower growth, however. That reduced offspring growth in larger groups has also been documented under ad lib. food conditions in the laboratory raises the possibility that this reflects socially induced growth restraint rather than simple constraints on resource availability. Our findings shed new light on the evolution of complex sociality in this enigmatic clade and highlight further departures from the norms reported for other cooperative vertebrates.

Detection of genomic loci associated with environmental variables using generalized linear mixed models.

PubMed

Lobréaux, Stéphane; Melodelima, Christelle

2015-02-01

We tested the use of Generalized Linear Mixed Models to detect associations between genetic loci and environmental variables, taking into account the population structure of sampled individuals. We used a simulation approach to generate datasets under demographically and selectively explicit models. These datasets were used to analyze and optimize GLMM capacity to detect the association between markers and selective coefficients as environmental data in terms of false and true positive rates. Different sampling strategies were tested, maximizing the number of populations sampled, sites sampled per population, or individuals sampled per site, and the effect of different selective intensities on the efficiency of the method was determined. Finally, we apply these models to an Arabidopsis thaliana SNP dataset from different accessions, looking for loci associated with spring minimal temperature. We identified 25 regions that exhibit unusual correlations with the climatic variable and contain genes with functions related to temperature stress. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Assessing the Exoproteome of Marine Bacteria, Lesson from a RTX-Toxin Abundantly Secreted by Phaeobacter Strain DSM 17395

PubMed Central

Durighello, Emie; Christie-Oleza, Joseph Alexander; Armengaud, Jean

2014-01-01

Bacteria from the Roseobacter clade are abundant in surface marine ecosystems as over 10% of bacterial cells in the open ocean and 20% in coastal waters belong to this group. In order to document how these marine bacteria interact with their environment, we analyzed the exoproteome of Phaeobacter strain DSM 17395. We grew the strain in marine medium, collected the exoproteome and catalogued its content with high-throughput nanoLC-MS/MS shotgun proteomics. The major component represented 60% of the total protein content but was refractory to either classical proteomic identification or proteogenomics. We de novo sequenced this abundant protein with high-resolution tandem mass spectra which turned out being the 53 kDa RTX-toxin ZP_02147451. It comprised a peptidase M10 serralysin domain. We explained its recalcitrance to trypsin proteolysis and proteomic identification by its unusual low number of basic residues. We found this is a conserved trait in RTX-toxins from Roseobacter strains which probably explains their persistence in the harsh conditions around bacteria. Comprehensive analysis of exoproteomes from environmental bacteria should take into account this proteolytic recalcitrance. PMID:24586966

Assessing the exoproteome of marine bacteria, lesson from a RTX-toxin abundantly secreted by Phaeobacter strain DSM 17395.

PubMed

Durighello, Emie; Christie-Oleza, Joseph Alexander; Armengaud, Jean

2014-01-01

Bacteria from the Roseobacter clade are abundant in surface marine ecosystems as over 10% of bacterial cells in the open ocean and 20% in coastal waters belong to this group. In order to document how these marine bacteria interact with their environment, we analyzed the exoproteome of Phaeobacter strain DSM 17395. We grew the strain in marine medium, collected the exoproteome and catalogued its content with high-throughput nanoLC-MS/MS shotgun proteomics. The major component represented 60% of the total protein content but was refractory to either classical proteomic identification or proteogenomics. We de novo sequenced this abundant protein with high-resolution tandem mass spectra which turned out being the 53 kDa RTX-toxin ZP_02147451. It comprised a peptidase M10 serralysin domain. We explained its recalcitrance to trypsin proteolysis and proteomic identification by its unusual low number of basic residues. We found this is a conserved trait in RTX-toxins from Roseobacter strains which probably explains their persistence in the harsh conditions around bacteria. Comprehensive analysis of exoproteomes from environmental bacteria should take into account this proteolytic recalcitrance.

A Little Vacation on Mars: Mars Simulation Microbial Challenge Experiments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boston, P.; Todd, P.; Van De Camp, J.; Northup, D.; Spilde, M.

2008-06-01

Communities of microbial organisms isolated from a variety of extreme environments were subjected to 1 to 5 weeks of simulated Martian environmental conditions using the Mars Environment Simulation Chamber at the Techshot, Inc. facility in Greenville, Indiana. The goal of the overall experiment program was to assess survival of test Earth organisms under Mars full spectrum sunlight, low-latitude daily temperature profile and various Mars-atmosphere pressures (~50 mbar to 500 mbar, 100% CO2) and low moisture content. Organisms surviving after 5 weeks at 100 mbar included those from gypsum surface fracture communities in a Permian aged evaporite basin, desert varnish on andesite lavas around a manganese mine, and iron and manganese oxidizing organisms isolated from two caves in Mew Mexico. Phylogenetic DNA analysis revealed strains of cyanobacteria, bacterial genera (present in all surviving communities) Asticacaulis, Achromobacter, Comamonas, Pantoea, Verrucomicrobium, Bacillus, Gemmatimonas, Actinomyces, and others. At least one microcolonial fungal strain from a desert varnish community and at least one strain from Utah survived simulations. Strains related to the unusual cave bacterial group Bacteroidetes are present in survivor communities that resist isolation into pure culture implying that their consortial relationships may be critical to their survival.

A site-specific screening comparison of modeled and monitored air dispersion and deposition for perfluorooctanoate.

PubMed

Barton, Catherine A; Zarzecki, Charles J; Russell, Mark H

2010-04-01

This work assessed the usefulness of a current air quality model (American Meteorological Society/Environmental Protection Agency Regulatory Model [AERMOD]) for predicting air concentrations and deposition of perfluorooctanoate (PFO) near a manufacturing facility. Air quality models play an important role in providing information for verifying permitting conditions and for exposure assessment purposes. It is important to ensure traditional modeling approaches are applicable to perfluorinated compounds, which are known to have unusual properties. Measured field data were compared with modeling predictions to show that AERMOD adequately located the maximum air concentration in the study area, provided representative or conservative air concentration estimates, and demonstrated bias and scatter not significantly different than that reported for other compounds. Surface soil/grass concentrations resulting from modeled deposition flux also showed acceptable bias and scatter compared with measured concentrations of PFO in soil/grass samples. Errors in predictions of air concentrations or deposition may be best explained by meteorological input uncertainty and conservatism in the PRIME algorithm used to account for building downwash. In general, AERMOD was found to be a useful screening tool for modeling the dispersion and deposition of PFO in air near a manufacturing facility.

‘My Virtual Dream’: Collective Neurofeedback in an Immersive Art Environment

PubMed Central

Kovacevic, Natasha; Ritter, Petra; Tays, William; Moreno, Sylvain; McIntosh, Anthony Randal

2015-01-01

While human brains are specialized for complex and variable real world tasks, most neuroscience studies reduce environmental complexity, which limits the range of behaviours that can be explored. Motivated to overcome this limitation, we conducted a large-scale experiment with electroencephalography (EEG) based brain-computer interface (BCI) technology as part of an immersive multi-media science-art installation. Data from 523 participants were collected in a single night. The exploratory experiment was designed as a collective computer game where players manipulated mental states of relaxation and concentration with neurofeedback targeting modulation of relative spectral power in alpha and beta frequency ranges. Besides validating robust time-of-night effects, gender differences and distinct spectral power patterns for the two mental states, our results also show differences in neurofeedback learning outcome. The unusually large sample size allowed us to detect unprecedented speed of learning changes in the power spectrum (~ 1 min). Moreover, we found that participants' baseline brain activity predicted subsequent neurofeedback beta training, indicating state-dependent learning. Besides revealing these training effects, which are relevant for BCI applications, our results validate a novel platform engaging art and science and fostering the understanding of brains under natural conditions. PMID:26154513

Variability in larval gut pH regulation defines sensitivity to ocean acidification in six species of the Ambulacraria superphylum.

PubMed

Hu, Marian; Tseng, Yung-Che; Su, Yi-Hsien; Lein, Etienne; Lee, Hae-Gyeong; Lee, Jay-Ron; Dupont, Sam; Stumpp, Meike

2017-10-11

The unusual rate and extent of environmental changes due to human activities may exceed the capacity of marine organisms to deal with this phenomenon. The identification of physiological systems that set the tolerance limits and their potential for phenotypic buffering in the most vulnerable ontogenetic stages become increasingly important to make large-scale projections. Here, we demonstrate that the differential sensitivity of non-calcifying Ambulacraria (echinoderms and hemichordates) larvae towards simulated ocean acidification is dictated by the physiology of their digestive systems. Gastric pH regulation upon experimental ocean acidification was compared in six species of the superphylum Ambulacraria. We observed a strong correlation between sensitivity to ocean acidification and the ability to regulate gut pH. Surprisingly, species with tightly regulated gastric pH were more sensitive to ocean acidification. This study provides evidence that strict maintenance of highly alkaline conditions in the larval gut of Ambulacraria early life stages may dictate their sensitivity to decreases in seawater pH. These findings highlight the importance of identifying and understanding pH regulatory systems in marine larval stages that may contribute to substantial energetic challenges under near-future ocean acidification scenarios. © 2017 The Author(s).

Dogs and intestinal parasites: a public health problem.

PubMed

Seah, S K; Hucal, G; Law, C

1975-05-17

The stools of 239 stray dogs were examined for intestinal parasites. Of the helminths found, Toxocara canis (43.5%), tapeworms (25.5%), Ascaris species (21.3%) and hookworms (12.5%) were the commonest. Of the protozoans found, Isospora species and Entamoeba coli were the most prevalent. An unusual feature of the present study was the finding of Ascaris species. The importance of the high prevalence of intestinal parasites in dogs, the close contact of humans with dogs' excreta and the possible role of this environmental pollution in the spread of human disease are discussed.

Environmental Impact Research Program and Defense Natural Resources Program: Section 7.5.7, US Army Corps of Engineers Wildlife Resources Management Manual

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-02-01

throated sparrow (Z. albicollis) X X Song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) X X Fox sparrow (Passerella iliaca) X X Mammals Opossum (Didelphis virginiana ) X...cm) and should not be less than 0.38 in. (0.4 cm). When Ellagood is pruned severely, an abundance of new shoots are produced (SCS, undated). Planting...Holes for the plants should be deep enough to take the full root without bending. Unusually long roots and tops may be pruned to 6 in. (15.2 cm) if

Brave New Media World: Science Communication Voyages through the Global Seas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clark, C. L.; Reisewitz, A.

2010-12-01

By leveraging online tools, such as blogs, Twitter, Facebook, Google Earth, flickr, web-based discussion boards, and a bi-monthly electronic magazine for the non-scientist, Scripps Institution of Oceanography is taking science communications out of the static webpage to create interactive journeys that spark social dialogue and helped raise awareness of science-based research on global marine environmental issues. Several new initiatives are being chronicled through popular blogs and expedition web sites as researchers share interesting scientific facts and unusual findings in near real-time.

Non-Engineered Nanoparticles of C60

PubMed Central

Deguchi, Shigeru; Mukai, Sada-atsu; Sakaguchi, Hide; Nonomura, Yoshimune

2013-01-01

We discovered that rubbing bulk solids of C60 between fingertips generates nanoparticles including the ones smaller than 20 nm. Considering the difficulties usually associated with nanoparticle production by pulverisation, formation of nanoparticles by such a mundane method is unprecedented and noteworthy. We also found that nanoparticles of C60 could be generated from bulk solids incidentally without deliberate engineering of any sort. Our findings imply that there exist highly unusual human exposure routes to nanoparticles of C60, and elucidating formation mechanisms of nanoparticles is crucial in assessing their environmental impacts. PMID:23807024

Laparoscopic Finding of Ectopic Adrenocortical Tissue in a 2-Year-Old Boy with Vanishing Testis

PubMed Central

Marte, Antonio

2018-01-01

Ectopic adrenocortical tissue (EAT) along the spermatic cord is an unusual condition in children. The author reports on a 2-year-old boy with impalpable testis. On laparoscopy, EAT was detected along the hypotrophic spermatic vessels and excised. These remnants should be removed to prevent hormone production or malignant transformation. PMID:29326864

Laparoscopic Finding of Ectopic Adrenocortical Tissue in a 2-Year-Old Boy with Vanishing Testis.

PubMed

Marte, Antonio

2018-01-01

Ectopic adrenocortical tissue (EAT) along the spermatic cord is an unusual condition in children. The author reports on a 2-year-old boy with impalpable testis. On laparoscopy, EAT was detected along the hypotrophic spermatic vessels and excised. These remnants should be removed to prevent hormone production or malignant transformation.

76 FR 12274 - Special Conditions: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited Model 206B and 206L Series Helicopters...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-07

..., Type Certificate Number H2SW. This AP/SAS performs non- critical control functions, since this model... helicopters. These model helicopters will have novel or unusual design features when modified by installing..., Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group (ASW-111), 2601 Meacham...

5 CFR 553.201 - Requesting OPM approval for reemployment without reduction or termination of annuity in...

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... Recruiting or Retention Needs § 553.201 Requesting OPM approval for reemployment without reduction or... limited to, unusual qualification requirements or working conditions, possibility of job reengineering or... retention. The agency must show good cause to believe that the employee will retire (or, in the case of an...

78 FR 26280 - Special Conditions: Embraer, S.A., Model EMB-550 Airplane; Side-Facing Seats; Installation of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-05-06

... be active during all dynamic tests conducted to show compliance with Sec. 25.562. (2) The design and... novel or unusual design feature(s) associated with multiple place and single place side- facing seats... not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed special...

78 FR 14155 - Special Conditions: Learjet Inc., Model LJ-200-1A10 Airplane; Use of Automatic Power Reserve (APR...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-03-05

... Automatic Power Reserve (APR), an Automatic Takeoff Thrust Control System (ATTCS), for Go-Around Performance... airplane will have novel or unusual design features associated with utilizing go-around performance credit...: Federal eRegulations Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/ and follow the online instructions for...

Tetralogy of Fallot with pheochromocytoma: an unusual therapeutic challenge.

PubMed

Balakrishnan, Gautam; Ravikumar, Ratnagiri; Rao, Suresh; Balakrishnan, Komarakshi R

2013-08-01

An adult with unoperated tetralogy of Fallot diagnosed simultaneously with pheochromocytoma is extremely rare. This poses obvious diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. A 29-year-old woman with these conditions was successfully operated on for both diseases in the same hospitalization. There is some interesting speculation regarding the association of pheochromocytoma with uncorrected cyanotic congenital heart disease.

76 FR 16698 - Fisheries of the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and South Atlantic; Shrimp Fishery Off the Southern...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-25

... severely depleted by unusually cold weather conditions. DATES: The closure is effective March 22, 2011... shrimp spawning stock that has been severely depleted by cold weather. Consistent with those procedures... time and would potentially further harm the spawning stock that has been impacted due to cold weather...

77 FR 69573 - Special Conditions: Embraer S.A., Model EMB-550 Airplane; Electronic Flight Control System...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-20

... airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature(s) associated with an electronic flight control system... empennage and control surfaces. The Model EMB-550 airplane is designed for 8 passengers, with a maximum of... flight control design feature within the normal operational envelope in which sidestick deflection in the...

78 FR 76248 - Special Conditions: Airbus, Model A350-900 Series Airplane; Side Stick Controller

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-17

... control columns and wheels. This kind of controller is designed for only one-hand operation. The... same subject: For the Airbus Model A350-900 series airplane equipped with stick controls designed for... Airbus Model A350-900 series airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature...

78 FR 76254 - Special Conditions: Airbus, Model A350-900 Series Airplane; Control Surface Awareness and Mode...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-17

... or unusual design features: electronic flight control system providing control surface awareness and... system design must ensure that the flight crew is made suitably aware whenever the primary control means... awareness. 0 b. If the design of the flight control system has multiple modes of operation, a means must be...

78 FR 11560 - Special Conditions: Embraer S.A., Model EMB-550 Airplane; Electronic Flight Control System...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-19

... or unusual design feature(s) associated with an electronic flight control system with respect to... control surfaces. The Model EMB-550 airplane is designed for 8 passengers, with a maximum of 12 passengers... the pilot or copilot sidestick. The Embraer S.A. Model EMB-550 airplane has a flight control design...

78 FR 76734 - Special Conditions: Bombardier Inc., Models BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 Series Airplanes; Seats...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-12-19

... Series Airplanes; Seats With Non-Traditional, Large, Non- Metallic Panels AGENCY: Federal Aviation... airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with seats that include non-traditional, large, non-metallic panels that would affect survivability during a post-crash fire event. The...

What Do Studies of the Brain Tell Us about Learning?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Harlen, Wynne

2010-01-01

Until the 1990s, the inside of the brain was a matter of mystery to all except the few, the brain surgeons, revered for their specialist knowledge. Early work was focused on explaining and attempting to treat unusual behaviours and conditions, but interest now extends to the implications of neuroscience for regular education. Non-intrusive imaging…

Writing for Publication as a Tool in Teacher Development

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rathert, Stefan; Okan, Zühal

2015-01-01

Writing is widely accepted as a tool in the personal and professional development of teachers. Among other forms of teacher writing, writing for publication is rather unusual as it requires courage to share ideas and unfavourable working conditions prevent teachers from finding time and space to write for publication in the first place. In this…

Zachsia zenkewitschi (Teredinidae), a Rare and Unusual Seagrass Boring Bivalve Revisited and Redescribed.

PubMed

Shipway, J R; O'Connor, R; Stein, D; Cragg, S M; Korshunova, T; Martynov, A; Haga, T; Distel, D L

2016-01-01

The sea-grass borer Zachsia zenkewitschi belongs to a group of economically and ecologically important bivalves, commonly referred to as shipworms. The sole recognized representative of the genus Zachsia, this species displays an unusual life history and reproductive strategy that is now understood to include: environmental sex determination of free swimming larvae, extreme sexual and size dimorphism between males and females, internal fertilization, maintenance of often large harems of male dwarfs within a specialized cavity of the female mantle, and complex maternal care of larvae in specialized brood pouches within the gill. It is also the only shipworm species known to burrow in sea grass rhizomes rather than terrestrial wood. Although Z. zenkewitschi is rare and little studied, understanding of its biology and anatomy has evolved substantially, rendering some aspects of its original description inaccurate. Moreover, no existing type specimens are known for this species. In light of these facts, we designate a neotype from among specimens recently collected at the type location, and undertake a re-description of this species, accounting for recent reinterpretation of its life history and functional anatomy.

An unusual mortality event in Johnstone River snapping turtles Elseya irwini (Johnstone) in Far North Queensland, Australia.

PubMed

Ariel, E; Freeman, A B; Elliott, E; Wirth, W; Mashkour, N; Scott, J

2017-10-01

An unusual mortality event in Johnstone River snapping turtles (Elseya irwini) in Far North Queensland, Australia, occurred during the summer months of December 2014 and January 2015. We report the data collected during the mortality event, including counts of sick and dead animals, clinical appearance and one necropsy. Moribund animals appeared lethargic with variable degrees of necrotising dermatitis. Postmortem investigation of one freshly dead animal revealed bacterial and fungal involvement in the skin lesions as well as multifocal fibrinous hepatitis and splenitis and necrotising enteritis with vascular thrombosis. Aeromonas hydrophila was isolated from liver, spleen and skin lesions. All samples tested negative for ranavirus, and water and soil testing for environmental contaminants were negative. All affected E. irwini either died or were euthanased and no other species of animals in the river were affected. Aeromonas hydrophila is ubiquitous in the freshwater environment and although it caused septicaemia in the one individual that was submitted for laboratory diagnosis, the primary aetiology of the outbreak may not have been identified. © 2017 Australian Veterinary Association.

Is NF-1 gene deletion the molecular mechanism of neurofibromatosis type 1 with destinctive facies?

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

Leppig, K.A.; Stephens, K.G.; Viskochill, D.

We have studied a patient with neurofibromatosis type 1 and unusual facial features using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and found that the patient had a deletion that minimially encompasses exon 2-11 of the NF-1 gene. The patient was one of two individuals initially described by Kaplan and Rosenblatt who suggested that another condition aside from neurofibromatosis type 1 may account for the unusual facial features observed in these patients with neurofibromatosis type 1. FISH studies were performed using a P1 clone probe, P1-9, which contains exons 2-11 of the NF-1 gene on chromosomes prepared from the patients. In allmore » 20 metaphase cells analyzed, one of the chromosome 17 homologues was deleted for the P1-9 probe. Therefore, this patient had neurofibromatosis type 1 and unusual facial features as the result of a deletion which minimally includes exons 2-11 of the NF-1 gene. The extent of the deletion is being mapped by FISH and somatic cell hybrid analysis. The patient studied was a 7-year-old male with mild developmental delays, normal growth parameters, and physical findings consistent with neurofibromatosis type 1, including multiple cafe au lait spots, several curaneous neurofibroma, and speckling of the irises. In addition, his unusual facial features consisted of telecanthus, antimongoloid slant of the palpebral fissures, a broad base of the nose, low set and mildly posteriorly rotated ears, thick helices, high arched palate, short and pointed chin, and low posterior hairline. We propose that deletions of the NF-1 gene and/or contiguous genes are the etiology of neurofibromatosis type 1 and unusual facial features. This particular facial appearance was inherited from the patient`s mother and has been described in other individuals with neurofibromatosis type 1. We are using FISH to rapidly screen patients with this phenotype for large deletions involving the NF-1 gene and flanking DNA sequences.« less

Dynamical analysis of the Indian Ocean climate network and its correlation with Australian Millennium Drought

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carpi, Laura; Masoller, Cristina; Díaz-Guilera, Albert; Ravetti, Martín G.

2015-04-01

During the period between the mid-1990s and late 2000s Australia had suffered one of the worst droughts on record. Severe rainfall deficits affected great part of southeast Australia, causing widespread drought conditions and catastrophic bushfires. The "Millennium Drought", as it was called, was unusual in terms of its severity, duration and extent, leaving important environmental and financial damages. One of the most important drivers of Australia climate variability is the Indian Ocean dipole (IOD), that is a coupled ocean and atmosphere phenomenon in the equatorial Indian Ocean. The IOD is measured by an index (DMI) that is the difference between sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies in the western and eastern equatorial Indian Ocean. Its positive phase is characterized by lower than normal sea surface temperatures in the tropical eastern coast, and higher than normal in the tropical western Indian Ocean. Extreme positive IOD (pIOD) events are associated to severe droughts in countries located over the eastern Indian Ocean, and to severe floods in the western tropical ones. Recent research works projected that the frequency of extreme pIOD events will increase significantly over the twenty-first century and consequently, the frequency of extreme climate conditions in the zones affected by it. In this work we study the dynamics of the Indian Ocean for the period of 1979-2014, by using climate networks of skin temperature and humidity (reanalysis data). Annual networks are constructed by creating links when the Pearson correlation coefficient between two nodes is greater than a specific value. The distance distribution Pd(k), that indicates the fraction of pairs of nodes at distance k, is computed to characterize the dynamics of the network by using Information Theory quantifiers. We found a clear change in the Indian Ocean dynamics and an increment in the network's similarities quantified by the Jensen-Shannon divergence in the late 1990s. We speculate that these findings are capturing mean state changes within the Indian Ocean that result in the increase of extreme positive IOD frequency, among other unknown consequences. We show that the unusual characteristics of the Australian Millennium Drought is strongly associated with this new Indian Ocean dynamics showing its relevance in the Australia climate variability.

Higher risks when working unusual times? A cross-validation of the effects on safety, health, and work-life balance.

PubMed

Greubel, Jana; Arlinghaus, Anna; Nachreiner, Friedhelm; Lombardi, David A

2016-11-01

Replication and cross-validation of results on health and safety risks of work at unusual times. Data from two independent surveys (European Working Conditions Surveys 2005 and 2010; EU 2005: n = 23,934 and EU 2010: n = 35,187) were used to examine the relative risks of working at unusual times (evenings, Saturdays, and Sundays) on work-life balance, work-related health complaints, and occupational accidents using logistic regression while controlling for potential confounders such as demographics, work load, and shift work. For the EU 2005 survey, evening work was significantly associated with an increased risk of poor work-life balance (OR 1.69) and work-related health complaints (OR 1.14), Saturday work with poor work-life balance (OR 1.49) and occupational accidents (OR 1.34), and Sunday work with poor work-life balance (OR 1.15) and work-related health complaints (OR 1.17). For EU 2010, evening work was associated with poor work-life balance (OR 1.51) and work-related health complaints (OR 1.12), Saturday work with poor work-life balance (OR 1.60) and occupational accidents (OR 1.19) but a decrease in risk for work-related health complaints (OR 0.86) and Sunday work with work-related health complaints (OR 1.13). Risk estimates in both samples yielded largely similar results with comparable ORs and overlapping confidence intervals. Work at unusual times constitutes a considerable risk to social participation and health and showed structurally consistent effects over time and across samples.

77 FR 56253 - 60th Meeting: RTCA Special Committee 135, Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-12

... 135, Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment AGENCY: Federal Aviation... 135, Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment SUMMARY: The FAA is issuing..., Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment DATES: The meeting will be held November 8...

77 FR 15449 - 59th Meeting: RTCA Special Committee 135, Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for...

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2012-03-15

... 135, Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment AGENCY: Federal Aviation... 135, Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment. SUMMARY: The FAA is issuing..., Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment. DATES: The meeting will be held April 19...

78 FR 43963 - Sixty-Second Meeting: RTCA Special Committee 135, Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-07-22

... Committee 135, Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment AGENCY: Federal Aviation... 135, Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment. SUMMARY: The FAA is issuing..., Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment. DATES: The meeting will be held November 13...

78 FR 7850 - Sixty First Meeting: RTCA Special Committee 135, Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-04

... Committee 135, Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment AGENCY: Federal Aviation... 135, Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment. SUMMARY: The FAA is issuing..., Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment. DATES: The meeting will be held March 21...

MR imaging of ectopic pregnancy with an emphasis on unusual implantation sites.

PubMed

Köroğlu, Mert; Kayhan, Arda; Soylu, Fatma Nur; Erol, Bekir; Schmid-Tannwald, Christine; Gürses, Cemil; Karademir, İbrahim; Ernst, Randy; Yousuf, Ambereen; Oto, Aytekin

2013-02-01

Ectopic pregnancy (EP) is a life-threatening condition and remains the leading cause of death in the first trimester of pregnancy, although the mortality rate has significantly decreased over the past few decades because of earlier diagnoses and great improvements in treatment. EP is most commonly located in the ampullary portion of the fallopian tube and rarely in unusual sites such as the interstitium, cervix, cesarean scar, anomalous rudimentary horn of the uterus and peritoneal abdominal cavity. MRI may confirm or give additional information to ultrasonography, which is the most user-dependent imaging modality. Magnetic resonance imaging can accurately localize the site of abnormal implantation. It could be helpful for EP patient treatment by distinguishing the ruptured and unruptured cases before methotrexate treatment. MRI is quite sensitive to blood and can identify the hemorrhage phase.

Dual pathology: cervicofacial actinomycosis and nicorandil-induced oral ulceration.

PubMed

Cupples, H E V; McGahey, D T

2008-04-01

Oral ulceration has many causes and is a common presenting symptom in otolaryngology. This article presents an unusual case of dual pathology oral ulceration in an elderly patient. Oral malignancy was initially suspected, but the history, examination and investigation showed that the oral ulceration was caused by actinomycosis infection and by nicorandil use. Cervicofacial acinomycosis is a rare, suppurative bacterial disease in which abscesses can form in the tissues and break through the skin, creating pus-discharging lesions. Nicorandil is a potassium channel blocker used in the treatment of ischaemic heart disease. It has been recently recognised as a cause of persistent ulcerative stomatitis. This case highlights the importance of a high index of suspicion for unusual and reversible causes of oral ulceration, and of dual pathology as a cause. Such vigilance enables early recognition and treatment of potentially reversible conditions.

Intellectual disability, unusual facial morphology and hand anomalies in sibs.

PubMed

Sousa, Sérgio B; Venâncio, Margarida; Chanudet, Estelle; Palmer, Rodger; Ramos, Lina; Beales, Philip L; Moore, Gudrun E; Saraiva, Jorge M; Hennekam, Raoul C

2013-10-01

Here we report on a Portuguese family with three sisters who shared moderate intellectual disability, unusual facial morphology (short palpebral fissures; broad nasal tip; thin upper and lower vermillion; broad and pointed chin) and hand anomalies in two of them (short left third and fifth right metacarpals in one case; marked syndactyly between the third and fourth fingers in another). One of the sisters had microcephaly and short stature, and the other two were obese. Obesity and somewhat similar facial features were also present in the otherwise healthy mother. Despite the overlap with several known syndromes (Albright osteodystrophy; Filippi syndrome; Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome; microdeletion 2q37), we suggest this condition is previously unreported, and most likely displays an autosomal recessive pattern of inheritance. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Thermal Analysis of Unusual Local-scale Features on the Surface of Vesta

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tosi, F.; Capria, M. T.; DeSanctis, M. C.; Capaccioni, F.; Palomba, E.; Zambon, F.; Ammannito, E.; Blewett, D. T.; Combe, J.-Ph.; Denevi, B. W.;

Below-Background Ionizing Radiation as an Environmental Cue for Bacteria

DOE PAGES

Castillo, Hugo; Smith, Geoffrey B.

2017-02-14

All organisms on earth grow under the influence of a natural and relatively constant dose of ionizing radiation referred to as background radiation, and so cells have different mechanisms to prevent the accumulation of damage caused by its different components. However, current knowledge of the deleterious effects of radiation on cells is based on the exposure to acute and high or to chronic, above background doses of radiation and therefore is not appropriate to explain the cellular and biochemical mechanisms that cells employ to sense and respond to chronic below-background levels. Studies at below-background radiation doses can provide insight intomore » the biological role of radiation, as suggested by several examples of what appears to be a stress response in cells grown at doses that range from 10 to 79 times lower than background. Here, we discuss some of the technical constraints to shield cells from radiation to below-background levels, as well as different approaches used to detect and measure responses to such unusual environmental conditions. Then, we present data from Shewanella oneidensis and Deinococcus radiodurans experiments that show how two taxonomically distant bacterial species sense and respond to unnaturally low levels of radiation. Finally, in brief, we grew S. oneidensis and D. radiodurans in liquid culture at dose rates of 72.05 (control) and 0.91 (treatment) nGy hr -1 (including radon) for up to 72 h and measured cell density and the expression of stress-related genes. Our results suggest that a stress response is triggered in the absence of normal levels of radiation.« less

Below-Background Ionizing Radiation as an Environmental Cue for Bacteria

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

Castillo, Hugo; Smith, Geoffrey B.

All organisms on earth grow under the influence of a natural and relatively constant dose of ionizing radiation referred to as background radiation, and so cells have different mechanisms to prevent the accumulation of damage caused by its different components. However, current knowledge of the deleterious effects of radiation on cells is based on the exposure to acute and high or to chronic, above background doses of radiation and therefore is not appropriate to explain the cellular and biochemical mechanisms that cells employ to sense and respond to chronic below-background levels. Studies at below-background radiation doses can provide insight intomore » the biological role of radiation, as suggested by several examples of what appears to be a stress response in cells grown at doses that range from 10 to 79 times lower than background. Here, we discuss some of the technical constraints to shield cells from radiation to below-background levels, as well as different approaches used to detect and measure responses to such unusual environmental conditions. Then, we present data from Shewanella oneidensis and Deinococcus radiodurans experiments that show how two taxonomically distant bacterial species sense and respond to unnaturally low levels of radiation. Finally, in brief, we grew S. oneidensis and D. radiodurans in liquid culture at dose rates of 72.05 (control) and 0.91 (treatment) nGy hr -1 (including radon) for up to 72 h and measured cell density and the expression of stress-related genes. Our results suggest that a stress response is triggered in the absence of normal levels of radiation.« less

When is a cell not a cell? A theory relating coenocytic structure to the unusual electrophysiology of Ventricaria ventricosa (Valonia ventricosa).

PubMed

Shepherd, V A; Beilby, M J; Bisson, M A

2004-06-01

Ventricaria ventricosa and its relatives have intrigued cell biologists and electrophysiologists for over a hundred years. Historically, electrophysiologists have regarded V. ventricosa as a large single plant cell with unusual characteristics including a small and positive vacuole-to-outside membrane potential difference. However, V. ventricosa has a coenocytic construction, with an alveolate cytoplasm interpenetrated by a complex vacuole containing sulphated polysaccharides. We present a theory relating the coenocytic structure to the unusual electrophysiology of V. ventricosa. The alveolate cytoplasm of V. ventricosa consists of a collective of uninucleate cytoplasmic domains interconnected by fine cytoplasmic strands containing microtubules. The cytoplasm is capable of disassociating into single cytoplasmic domains or aggregations of domains that can regenerate new coenocytes. The cytoplasmic domains are enclosed by outer (apical) and inner (basolateral) faces of a communal membrane with polarised K(+)-transporting functions, stabilised by microtubules and resembling a tissue such as a polarised epithelium. There is evidence for membrane trafficking through endocytosis and exocytosis and so "plasmalemma" and "tonoplast" do not have fixed identities. Intra- and extracellular polysaccharide mucilage has effects on electrophysiology through reducing the activity of water and through ion exchange. The vacuole-to-outside potential difference, at which the cell membrane conductance is maximal, reverses its sign from positive under hypertonic conditions to negative under hypotonic conditions. The marked mirror symmetry of the characteristics of current as a function of voltage and conductance as a function of voltage is interpreted as a feature of the communal membrane with polarised K(+) transport. The complex inhomogeneous structure of the cytoplasm places in doubt previous measurements of cytoplasm-to-outside potential difference.

An unusual presentation of eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis.

PubMed

Hardman, Joel; Toon, Christopher; Nirmalananda, Arjuna

2017-12-01

Eosinophilic angiocentric fibrosis (EAF) is a rare, benign condition affecting the respiratory mucosa and is generally characterized by a locally destructive growth. We present a case of a lady with a saddle nose deformity that had for many years been treated as granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), of which saddle nose deformity is a classic feature. At the time of surgery, she was found to have subglottic stenosis another classic feature of GPA, however, histology demonstrated EAF. We discuss the difference between the two conditions and highlight the importance of making the correct diagnosis.

Corneal Cross-Linking for the Treatment of Keratoconus in a Patient with Ipsilateral Myelinated Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer

PubMed Central

Leozappa, M.; Ciani, S.; Ferrari, T. Micelli

2011-01-01

Keratoconus associated with myelinated retinal nerve fibers is not frequent and the relationship between the two pathologies is difficult to explain, therefore studies and further investigation are required. The etiology of each condition may suggest the role of genetic factors. Follow-up is important to evaluate the progression of keratoconus and myelination. Here we describe the unusual coexistence of keratoconus and ipsilateral myelinated retinal nerve fiber layer and, for the first time, the corneal cross-linking treatment in this condition. PMID:21475609

Inherited disorders in the Afrikaner population of southern Africa. Part I. Historical and demographic background, cardiovascular, neurological, metabolic and intestinal conditions.

PubMed

Botha, M C; Beighton, P

1983-10-08

Certain genetic disorders occur with unusually high frequency in the Afrikaner population of southern Africa. Conditions of this type (reviewed in Part I of this article) include familial hypercholesterolaemia, progressive familial heart block, Huntington's chorea, porphyria variegata, Gaucher's disease, cystic fibrosis and familial colonic polyposis. This genetic situation is explicable to some extent on the basis of the demographic development of the Afrikaner population during the 14 generations since the arrival of the first immigrants from Holland more than 330 years ago.

Macrodystrophia Lipomatosa: An Unusual Cause of Localized Gigantism

PubMed Central

Maheswari, S Uma; Sampath, V; Ramesh, A; Manoharan, K

2016-01-01

Macrodystrophia lipomatosa (MDL) is a rare congenital form of localized gigantism characterized by progressive overgrowth of all mesenchymal elements with a disproportionate increase in fibro adipose tissue. Here we report a case of 20 years old male who presented with history of painless gradual enlargement of entire left upper limb since childhood. Magnetic resonance imaging and histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of macrodystrophia lipomatosa. This condition has to be differentiated from other causes of localized gigantism, since these conditions differ in their course, prognosis, complications and treatment. PMID:27293271

10 CFR 50.36b - Environmental conditions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... 10 Energy 1 2010-01-01 2010-01-01 false Environmental conditions. 50.36b Section 50.36b Energy... § 50.36b Environmental conditions. (a) Each construction permit under this part, each early site permit... conditions will be derived from information contained in the environmental report submitted pursuant to § 51...

76 FR 5061 - Special Conditions: TTF Aerospace, LLC, Modification to Boeing Model 767-300 Series Airplanes...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-28

..., will have a novel or unusual design features associated with the pilot lower lobe crew rest module (CRM...) for installation of a lower lobe pilot crew rest module (CRM) in Boeing Model 767-300 series airplanes. The CRM will be a one-piece, self-contained unit for installation in the forward portion of the aft...

75 FR 50688 - Special Conditions: Erickson Air-Crane Incorporated S-64E and S-64F Rotorcraft

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-08-17

...) model S-64E and S-64F rotorcraft. These rotorcraft have novel or unusual design features associated with being transport category rotorcraft designed only for use in heavy external-load operations. At the time...) Powerplant Instruments. At the time of original certification, the S-64 had a novel design of being powered...

76 FR 32103 - Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company 310, 320, 340, 401, 402, 411, 414, and 421...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-03

... approach 17 mph (15 knots) in case of an inadvertent encounter with icing. This proposed AD was prompted by... the approach speed in case of an inadvertent encounter with icing. This condition, if not corrected, could result in unusual flight characteristics that could lead to loss of control after flight into...

Neck Pain and Acute Dysphagia.

PubMed

Simões, João; Romão, José; Cunha, Anita; Paiva, Sofia; Miguéis, António

2017-02-01

The acute tendinitis of the longus colli muscle is an unusual diagnosis in the cases of acute dysphagia with cervical pain. Is a self-limiting condition caused by abnormal calcium hydroxyapatite deposition in the prevertebral space and can cause pharyngeal swelling with impaired swallow. It is absolutely critical to make the differential diagnosis with deep cervical infections in order to avoid invasive treatments.

Did Michelangelo (1475-1564) have high-functioning autism?

PubMed

Arshad, Muhammad; Fitzgerald, Michael

2004-05-01

In this paper evidence is presented that Michelangelo met the criteria for Asperger's disorder, or high-functioning autism. The evidence relates to his single-minded work routine, unusual lifestyle, limited interests, poor social and communication skills, and issues of life control. Depression and various medical conditions, including gout, renal colic and renal stones, did not stop his obsessive working habits.

78 FR 49655 - Special Conditions: Embraer, S.A., Model EMB-550 Airplane; Side-Facing Seats; Installation of...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-08-15

.... Discussion The FAA has been conducting research to develop an acceptable method of compliance with Title 14...;to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published #0;under 50 titles pursuant to....A. Model EMB-550 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with...

76 FR 39795 - Special Conditions: Pratt and Whitney Canada Model PT6C-67E Turboshaft Engine

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-07-07

... Whitney Canada (PWC) model PT6C-67E engines. The engine model will have a novel or unusual design feature... regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed... pre-addressed, stamped postcard on which the docket number appears. We will stamp the date on the...

78 FR 11089 - Special Conditions: Bombardier Aerospace, Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500-1A11 Airplanes; Sidestick...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-15

... controller instead of a conventional control column and wheel. This kind of controller is designed for only... following novel or unusual design feature: A sidestick controller instead of a conventional control column... conventional wheel or control stick. This kind of controller is designed to be operated using only one hand...

78 FR 11562 - Special Conditions: Embraer S.A., Model EMB-550 Airplanes; Flight Envelope Protection: High Speed...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2013-02-19

... control surfaces. The Model EMB-550 airplane is designed for 8 passengers, with a maximum of 12 passengers... the pilot or copilot sidestick. The longitudinal control law design of the Embraer S.A. Model EMB- 550... EMB-550 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature, specifically an...

Agreement between Lakeshore Vocational, Technical and Adult Education District Board and Lakeshore Education Association, 1987-1989.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

1987

The agreement between the Lakeshore Vocational, Technical and Adult Education District Board and the Lakeshore Education Association is presented for the period 1987-1989. The articles in the agreement set forth provisions related to: (1) recognition and composition of the bargaining unit; (2) pay variations for various or unusual conditions; (3)…

Are Persons Reporting "Near-Death Experiences" Really Near Death? A Study of Medical Records.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stevenson, Ian; And Others

1990-01-01

Examination of medical records from 40 patients who reported unusual experiences during an illness or injury revealed that only 18 patients were judged to have had serious, life-threatening conditions, while 33 believed they had been dead or near death. Findings suggest that an important precipitator of so-called near-death experience is belief…

Burying beetles (Coleoptera: Silphidae) in the forest canopy: The unusual case of Nicrophorus pustulatus Herschel

Treesearch

Michael D. Ulyshen; James L. Hanula; Scott Horn

2007-01-01

The burying beetle Nicrophorus pustulatus Herschel can reproduce in both large (Trumbo 1992) and small (Robertson 1992) carcasses in the laboratory, but has never been observed using these iiz the wild (Robertson 1992) and comes more readily to lights than to traps baited with carrion (Anderson 1982; Lingafelter 1995). Under natural conditions. this...

75 FR 12965 - Special Conditions: Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 Series Airplanes; Seats With Non...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-03-18

...-traditional, large, non-metallic panels. In order to provide a level of safety that is equivalent to that... Airplanes; Seats With Non-Traditional, Large, Non-Metallic Panels AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration... a novel or unusual design feature(s) associated with seats that include non-traditional, large, non...

Unusual presentation of childhood Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

PubMed Central

Kumar, Sathish; Agarwal, Indira

2007-01-01

Bullous systemic lupus erythematosus is a rare blistering condition with a distinctive combination of clinical, histological and immunopathologic features that together constitute a unique bullous disease phenotype. It is often associated with autoimmunity to type VII collagen. Here we report a child who presented with bullous systemic lupus erythematosus. Rapid resolution of the blisters occurred following treatment with dapsone. PMID:18028550

The performance and capabilities of terrestrial organisms in extreme and unusual gaseous and liquid environments. Performance of fungi in exotic and harsh environments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Siegel, S. M.

1975-01-01

The growth of Penicillium in saline and low temperature conditions during a 15 month incubation period was studied. Data are also given on the potential 1f fungu for modification of the surface geochemistry of the earth and the capacity of these fungi to solubilize and concentrate metals.

General solutions for the oxidation kinetics of polymers

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

Gillen, K.T.; Clough, R.L.; Wise, J.

1996-08-01

The simplest general kinetic schemes applicable to the oxidation of polymers are presented, discussed and analyzed in terms of the underlying kinetic assumptions. For the classic basic autoxidation scheme (BAS), which involves three bimolecular termination steps and is applicable mainly to unstabilized polymers, typical assumptions used singly or in groups include (1) long kinetic chain length, (2) a specific ratio of the termination rate constants and (3) insensitivity to the oxygen concentration (e.g., domination by a single termination step). Steady-state solutions for the rate of oxidation are given in terms of one, two, three, or four parameters, corresponding respectively tomore » three, two, one, or zero kinetic assumptions. The recently derived four-parameter solution predicts conditions yielding unusual dependencies of the oxidation rate on oxygen concentration and on initiation rate, as well as conditions leading to some unusual diffusion-limited oxidation profile shapes. For stabilized polymers, unimolecular termination schemes are typically more appropriate than bimolecular. Kinetics incorporating unimolecular termination reactions are shown to result in very simple oxidation expressions which have been experimentally verified for both radiation-initiated oxidation of an EPDM and thermoxidative degradation of nitrile and chloroprene elastomers.« less

Reconfigurable environmentally adaptive computing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Coxe, Robin L. (Inventor); Galica, Gary E. (Inventor)

2008-01-01

Described are methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for reconfigurable environmentally adaptive computing technology. An environmental signal representative of an external environmental condition is received. A processing configuration is automatically selected, based on the environmental signal, from a plurality of processing configurations. A reconfigurable processing element is reconfigured to operate according to the selected processing configuration. In some examples, the environmental condition is detected and the environmental signal is generated based on the detected condition.

Environmental imperatives reconsidered: demographic crises in western North America during the medieval climatic anomaly.

PubMed

Jones, T L; Brown, G M; Raab, L M; McVickar, J L; Spaulding, W G; Kennett, D J; York, A; Wlaker, P L

1999-04-01

Review of late Holocene paleoenvironmental and cultural sequences from four regions of western North America show striking correlations between drought and changes in subsistence, population, exchange, health, and interpersonal violence during the Medieval Climatic Anomaly (A.D. 800-1350). While ultimate causality is difficult to identify in the archaeological record, synchrony of the environmental and cultural changes and the negative character of many human responses--increased interpersonal violence, deterioration of long-distance exchange relationships, and regional abandonments--suggest widespread demographic crises caused by decreased environmental productivity. The medieval droughts occurred at a unique juncture in the demographic history of western North America when unusually large populations of both hunter-gathers and agriculturalists had evolved highly intensified economies that put them in unprecedented ecological jeopardy. Long-term patterns in the archaeological record are inconsistent with the predicted outcomes of simple adaptation or continuous economic intensification, suggesting that in this instance environmental dynamics played a major role in cultural transformations across a wide expanse of western North America among groups with diverse subsistence strategies. These events suggest that environment should not be overlooked as a potential cause of prehistoric culture change.

Adaptation to Environmental Stimuli within the Host: Two-Component Signal Transduction Systems of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

PubMed Central

Bretl, Daniel J.; Demetriadou, Chrystalla; Zahrt, Thomas C.

2011-01-01

Summary: Pathogenic microorganisms encounter a variety of environmental stresses following infection of their respective hosts. Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the etiological agent of tuberculosis, is an unusual bacterial pathogen in that it is able to establish lifelong infections in individuals within granulomatous lesions that are formed following a productive immune response. Adaptation to this highly dynamic environment is thought to be mediated primarily through transcriptional reprogramming initiated in response to recognition of stimuli, including low-oxygen tension, nutrient depletion, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, altered pH, toxic lipid moieties, cell wall/cell membrane-perturbing agents, and other environmental cues. To survive continued exposure to these potentially adverse factors, M. tuberculosis encodes a variety of regulatory factors, including 11 complete two-component signal transduction systems (TCSSs) and several orphaned response regulators (RRs) and sensor kinases (SKs). This report reviews our current knowledge of the TCSSs present in M. tuberculosis. In particular, we discuss the biochemical and functional characteristics of individual RRs and SKs, the environmental stimuli regulating their activation, the regulons controlled by the various TCSSs, and the known or postulated role(s) of individual TCSSs in the context of M. tuberculosis physiology and/or pathogenesis. PMID:22126994

Neighbourhood-level socio-environmental factors and incidence of first episode psychosis by place at onset in rural Ireland: The Cavan–Monaghan First Episode Psychosis Study [CAMFEPS]☆

PubMed Central

Omer, Sami; Kirkbride, James B.; Pringle, Dennis G.; Russell, Vincent; O'Callaghan, Eadbhard; Waddington, John L.

2014-01-01

Background Little is known about associations between the social environment and risk for psychosis within rural settings. This study sought to investigate whether such associations exist within a rural context using a prospective dataset of unusual epidemiological completeness. Method Using the Cavan–Monaghan First Episode Psychosis Study database of people aged 16 years and older, both ecological analyses and multilevel modelling were applied to investigate associations between incidence of psychosis by place at onset and socio-environmental risk factors of material deprivation, social fragmentation and urban–rural classification across electoral divisions. Results The primary finding was an association between more deprived social contexts and higher rates of psychotic disorder, after adjustment for age and sex [all psychoses: incidence rate ratio (IRR) = 1.12, 95% CI (1.03–1.23)]. Conclusions These findings support an association between adverse socio-environmental factors and increase in risk for psychosis by place at onset within a predominantly rural environment. This study suggests that social environmental characteristics may have an impact on risk across the urban–rural gradient. PMID:24342585

Unusual distribution of floating seaweeds in the East China Sea in the early spring of 2012.

PubMed

Komatsu, Teruhisa; Mizuno, Shizuha; Natheer, Alabsi; Kantachumpoo, Attachai; Tanaka, Kiyoshi; Morimoto, Akihiko; Hsiao, Sheng-Tai; Rothäusler, Eva A; Shishidou, Hirotoshi; Aoki, Masakazu; Ajisaka, Tetsuro

2014-01-01

Floating seaweeds play important ecological roles in offshore waters. Recently, large amounts of rafting seaweed have been observed in the East China Sea. In early spring, juveniles of commercially important fish such as yellowtail accompany these seaweed rafts. Because the spatial distributions of seaweed rafts in the spring are poorly understood, research cruises were undertaken to investigate them in 2010, 2011, and 2012. Floating seaweed samples collected from the East China Sea during the three surveys contained only Sargassum horneri . In 2010 and 2011, seaweed rafts were distributed only in the continental shelf and the Kuroshio Front because they had become trapped in the convergence zone of the Kuroshio Front. However, in 2012, seaweed was also distributed in the Kuroshio Current and its outer waters, and massive strandings of seaweed rafts were observed on the northern coast of Taiwan and on Tarama Island in the Ryukyu Archipelago. Environmental data (wind, currents, and sea surface height) were compared among the surveys of 2010, 2011, and 2012. Two factors are speculated to have caused the unusual distribution in 2012. First, a continuous strong north wind produced an Ekman drift current that transported seaweed southwestward to the continental shelf and eventually stranded seaweed rafts on the coast of Taiwan. Second, an anticyclonic eddy covering northeast Taiwan and the Kuroshio Current west of Taiwan generated a geostrophic current that crossed the Kuroshio Current and transported the rafts to the Kuroshio Current and its outer waters. Such unusual seaweed distributions may influence the distribution of fauna accompanying the rafts.

TOPEX/El Nino Watch - La Nina Conditions Likely to Prevail, October 10, 1999

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1999-01-01

A repeat of last year's mild La Nina conditions -- with a stormy winter in the Pacific Northwest and a dry winter in the southwestern United States -- will be the likely outcome of sea-surface heights observed by NASA's TOPEX/Poseidon satellite, scientists say.

TOPEX/Poseidon has detected lower than normal sea-surface heights in the eastern North Pacific and unusually high sea-surface heights in the western and mid-latitude Pacific. The height of the sea surface over a given area is an indicator of ocean temperature and other factors that influence climate.

The latest measurements, taken during a 10-day data cycle October 5-15, are available at http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/elnino . Sea-surface height is shown relative to normal (green) and reveals cooler water (blue and purple) measuring about 14 centimeters (6 inches) lower in the eastern North Pacific, from the Gulf of Alaska to central Alaska, and along the equator. The cooling trend sets the stage for another La Nina this winter.

'A mirror image of that oceanic profile prevails in the western and mid-latitude Pacific Ocean, where higher than normal sea-surface heights (red and white) are currently about 20 centimeters or 8 inches. Unusually warm temperatures (shown in red and white) have persisted and topped last year's temperatures,' said Dr. William Patzert, an oceanographer at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA.

'These unbalanced conditions will undoubtedly exert a very strong influence on climate over North America this fall and winter,' Patzert said. 'Our profile of high sea-surface heights and warm temperatures in the western Pacific Ocean contrasts with low sea-surface heights and cool conditions in the eastern and equatorial Pacific. Those conditions will have a powerful impact on the weather system delivering jet streams out of the North Pacific.'

Conditions are ripe for a stormy, wet winter in the Pacific Northwest and a dry, relatively rainless winter in Southern California and the Southwest, the data show. 'Clearly, these unusual conditions, which have persisted for 2 1/2 years, will not be returning to normal any time soon,' Patzert said. 'This climate imbalance is big and we're definitely going through a decade of wild climatic behavior. But when we look back at the climate record over the past century, we've seen behavior like this before.'

The TOPEX/Poseidon satellite's measurements have provided scientists with a detailed view of the 1997-1999 El Nino/La Nina climate pattern by measuring the changing sea-surface height with unprecedented precision.

For more information, please visit the TOPEX/Poseidon project web page at http://topex-www.jpl.nasa.gov/

The impact of water on dislocation content and slip system activity in olivine constrained by HR-EBSD and visco-plastic self-consistent simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wallis, D.; Hansen, L. N.; Tasaka, M.; Kumamoto, K. M.; Lloyd, G. E.; Parsons, A. J.; Kohlstedt, D. L.; Wilkinson, A. J.

2016-12-01

Changes in concentration of H+ ions in olivine have impacts on its rheological behaviour and therefore on tectonic processes involving mantle deformation. Deformation experiments on aggregates of wet olivine exhibit different evolution of crystal preferred orientations (CPO) and substructure from experiments on dry olivine, suggesting that elevated H+ concentrations impact activity of dislocation slip-systems. We use high angular-resolution electron backscatter diffraction (HR-EBSD) to map densities of different types of geometrically necessary dislocations (GND) in polycrystalline olivine deformed experimentally under wet and dry conditions and also in nature. HR-EBSD provides unprecedented angular resolution, resolving misorientations < 0.01°. We also employ visco-plastic self-consistent (VPSC) simulations to investigate changes in slip-system activity. HR-EBSD maps from experimental samples demonstrate that olivine deformed under hydrous conditions contains higher proportions of (001)[100] and (100)[001] edge dislocations than olivine deformed under anhydrous conditions. Furthermore, maps of wet olivine exhibit more polygonal subgrain boundaries indicative of enhanced recovery by dislocation climb. VPSC simulations with low critical resolved shear stresses for the (001)[100] and (100)[001] slip systems reproduce an unusual CPO with bimodal maxima of both [100] and [001] observed in wet olivine aggregates. Analysis of a mylonitic lherzolite xenolith from Lesotho reveals the same unusual CPO and similar proportions of dislocation types to `wet' experimental samples, supporting the applicability of these findings to natural deformation conditions. These results support suggestions that H+ impacts the flow properties of olivine by altering dislocation activity and climb, while also providing full quantification of GND content. In particular, the relative proportions of dislocation types may provide a basis for identifying olivine deformed under wet and dry conditions.

Sensitivity of ground - water recharge estimates to climate variability and change, Columbia Plateau, Washington

USGS Publications Warehouse

Vaccaro, John J.

1992-01-01

The sensitivity of groundwater recharge estimates was investigated for the semiarid Ellensburg basin, located on the Columbia Plateau, Washington, to historic and projected climatic regimes. Recharge was estimated for predevelopment and current (1980s) land use conditions using a daily energy-soil-water balance model. A synthetic daily weather generator was used to simulate lengthy sequences with parameters estimated from subsets of the historical record that were unusually wet and unusually dry. Comparison of recharge estimates corresponding to relatively wet and dry periods showed that recharge for predevelopment land use varies considerably within the range of climatic conditions observed in the 87-year historical observation period. Recharge variations for present land use conditions were less sensitive to the same range of historical climatic conditions because of irrigation. The estimated recharge based on the 87-year historical climatology was compared with adjustments to the historical precipitation and temperature records for the same record to reflect CO2-doubling climates as projected by general circulation models (GCMs). Two GCM scenarios were considered: an average of conditions for three different GCMs with CO2 doubling, and a most severe “maximum” case. For the average GCM scenario, predevelopment recharge increased, and current recharge decreased. Also considered was the sensitivity of recharge to the variability of climate within the historical and adjusted historical records. Predevelopment and current recharge were less and more sensitive, respectively, to the climate variability for the average GCM scenario as compared to the variability within the historical record. For the maximum GCM scenario, recharge for both predevelopment and current land use decreased, and the sensitivity to the CO2-related climate change was larger than sensitivity to the variability in the historical and adjusted historical climate records.

Pseudomonas fluorescens strain CL145A - a biopesticide for the control of zebra and quagga mussels (Bivalvia: Dreissenidae).

PubMed

Molloy, Daniel P; Mayer, Denise A; Gaylo, Michael J; Morse, John T; Presti, Kathleen T; Sawyko, Paul M; Karatayev, Alexander Y; Burlakova, Lyubov E; Laruelle, Franck; Nishikawa, Kimi C; Griffin, Barbara H

2013-05-01

Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) and quagga mussels (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) are the "poster children" of high-impact aquatic invasive species. In an effort to develop an effective and environmentally acceptable method to control their fouling of raw-water conduits, we have investigated the potential use of bacteria and their natural metabolic products as selective biological control agents. An outcome of this effort was the discovery of Pseudomonas fluorescens strain CL145A - an environmental isolate that kills these dreissenid mussels by intoxication (i.e., not infection). In the present paper, we use molecular methods to reconfirm that CL145A is a strain of the species P. fluorescens, and provide a phylogenetic analysis of the strain in relation to other Pseudomonas spp. We also provide evidence that the natural product lethal to dreissenids is associated with the cell wall of P. fluorescens CL145A, is a heat-labile secondary metabolite, and has degradable toxicity within 24 h when applied to water. CL145A appears to be an unusual strain of P. fluorescens since it was the only one among the ten strains tested to cause high mussel mortality. Pipe trials conducted under once-through conditions indicated: (1) P. fluorescens CL145A cells were efficacious against both zebra and quagga mussels, with high mortalities achieved against both species, and (2) as long as the total quantity of bacterial cells applied during the entire treatment period was the same, similar mussel mortality could be achieved in treatments lasting 1.5-12.0 h, with longer treatment durations achieving lower mortalities. The efficacy data presented herein, in combination with prior demonstration of its low risk of non-target impact, indicate that P. fluorescens CL145A cells have significant promise as an effective and environmentally safe control agent against these invasive mussels. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Environmental, health and economic conditions perceived by 50 rural communities in Bangladesh.

PubMed

Ohtsuka, Ryutaro; Inaoka, Tsukasa; Moji, Kazuhiko; Karim, Enamul; Yoshinaga, Mari

2002-12-01

For randomly selected 50 villages in Bangladesh, an interview survey with a structured questionnaire was conducted to reveal their perception on the environmental, health and economic conditions at present and for the past 10-year change. The eight following items were analyzed in this paper: air pollution and water pollution, which represent environmental conditions with close relation to health conditions, soil degradation and deforestation, which represent environmental conditions with close relation to economic conditions, epidemic diseases and malnutrition, which represent health conditions, and poverty and jobless, which represent economic conditions. Among the 50 villages, deforestation was most frequently perceived serious at present and worsened in the past 10 years. Of the remaining seven items, those related to economic conditions were more seriously perceived than those related to health and environmental conditions. As revealed by the cluster analysis for the inter-item relations, epidemic diseases, which formed the same cluster with the environmental items, were recognized less serious whereas malnutrition, which formed the same cluster with the economic items, was recognized more serious. These findings are useful not only for rural development programs but also for mitigation programs toward health and environmental hazards in Bangladesh.

Late Pliocene/Early Pleistocene environments inferred from the Lake El'gygytgyn pollen record

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andreev, Andrei; Wennrich, Volker; Tarasov, Pavel; Raschke (Morozova), Elena; Brigham-Grette, Julie; Nowaczyk, Norbert; Melles, Martin

2014-05-01

The Arctic is known to play a crucial role within the global climate system. The mid-Pliocene (3-3.5 Ma) is considered to be the most probable scenario of the future climate changes. However, reliable climate projections are hampered by the complexity of the underlying natural variability and feedback mechanisms. An important prerequisite for the validation and improvement of the future projections is a better understanding of the long-term environmental history of the Arctic. Unfortunately, formation of continuous paleoenvironmental records in the Arctic was widely restricted due to repeated glaciations. Continuous sequences that penetrate the entire Quaternary and further into the Pliocene are highly desired and would enable to validate the temperature rise during the mid-Pliocene that was proposed by former studies. Such a record has now become available from Lake El'gygytgyn (67º30'N, 172º05E') located in a meteorite impact crater in north-eastern Siberia. The impact nearly 3.6 Ma ago formed an 18 km wide hole in the ground that then filled with water. The retrieved lake sediments have trapped pollen from a several thousand square-kilometer source area providing reliable insights into regional and over-regional millennial-scale vegetation and climate changes of the Arctic since the Pliocene. The ''El'gygytgyn Drilling Project" of ICDP has completed three holes in the center of the lake, penetrating about 318 m thick lake sediments and about 200 m of the impact rocks below. Because of its unusual origin and high-latitude setting in western Beringia, scientific drilling at Lake El'gygytgyn offered unique opportunities for paleoclimate research, allowing time-continuous climatic and environmental reconstructions back into the Pliocene. Late Pliocene and Early Pleistocene pollen assemblages can be subdivided into 55 pollen zones, which reflect the main environmental fluctuations in the region 3.55-2.15 Ma BP. Pollen-based climate reconstructions show that conditions in the study area were the warmest about 3.55-3.4 Ma BP when spruce-pine-fir-hemlock-larch-Pseudotsuga forests dominated in nowadays tundra area. After ca 3.4 Ma BP dark coniferous taxa gradually disappeared from the vegetation. Very pronounced environmental changes are revealed about ca 3.35-3.275 Ma BP when treeless tundra and steppe habitats dominated. Treeless and shrubby environments are also indicative after ca 2.6 Ma. Dry and cold climate conditions were similar to those during the Late Pleistocene. The Early Pleistocene sediments contain pollen assemblages reflecting alternation of treeless intervals with cold and dry climate and warmer intervals when larch forests with stone pines, shrub alders and birches were also common in the region. Very dry environments are revealed after ca 2.175 Ma BP. High amounts of green algae colonies (Botryococcus) in the studied sediments point to shallow-water conditions ca 2.55, 2.45, and ca 2.175 Ma BP. Thus, pollen studies show that sediments accumulated in Lake El'gygytgyn are an excellent archive of environmental changes since 3.55 Myr BP. The record well reflects main regional paleoenvironmental fluctuations. The further high-resolution palynological study of the core will reveal climate fluctuations inside the main glacial/interglacial intervals and will give the first continuous and detailed scheme of environmental changes for a whole Arctic.

Analysis of dinosaur samples by nuclear microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Xiankang; Orlić, I.; Tang, S. M.; Wang, Yiming; Wang, Xiaohong; Zhu, Jieqing

1997-07-01

Several dinosaur bone and eggshell fossil samples unearthed at different sites in China were analyzed by means of nuclear microscopy. Concentrations and distributions of elements such as Na, Mg, Al, P, S, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, Br, Sr, Y, Ce, Pb and U, etc. were obtained for each sample. The results of quantitative PIXE and RBS analyses show unusually high concentrations of U and Ce in several samples obtained from a period near the K-T boundary (between Cretaceous and Tertiary periods, 65 million years ago), suggesting that some form of environmental pollution could be the cause of dinosaur extinction.

Dogs and intestinal parasites: a public health problem.

PubMed Central

Seah, S. K.; Hucal, G.; Law, C.

1975-01-01

The stools of 239 stray dogs were examined for intestinal parasites. Of the helminths found, Toxocara canis (43.5%), tapeworms (25.5%), Ascaris species (21.3%) and hookworms (12.5%) were the commonest. Of the protozoans found, Isospora species and Entamoeba coli were the most prevalent. An unusual feature of the present study was the finding of Ascaris species. The importance of the high prevalence of intestinal parasites in dogs, the close contact of humans with dogs' excreta and the possible role of this environmental pollution in the spread of human disease are discussed. PMID:1125888

Pseudo-outbreak of Penicillium in an outpatient obstetrics and gynecology clinic.

PubMed

Sood, Geetika; Huber, Kerri; Dam, Lisa; Riedel, Stefan; Grubb, Lisa; Zenilman, Jonathan; Perl, Trish M; Argani, Cynthia

2017-05-01

We report an unusual pseudo-outbreak of Penicillium that occurred in patients seen in an outpatient obstetrics and gynecology clinic. The pseudo-outbreak was detected in late 2012, when the microbiology department reported a series of vaginal cultures positive for Penicillium spp. Our investigation found Penicillium spp in both patient and environmental samples and was potentially associated with the practice of wetting gloves with tap water by a health care worker prior to patient examination. Copyright © 2017 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Paramolar – A supernumerary molar: A case report and an overview

PubMed Central

Nayak, Gurudutt; Shetty, Shashit; Singh, Inderpreet; Pitalia, Deepti

2012-01-01

Paramolar is a supernumerary molar usually small and rudimentary, most commonly situated buccally or palatally to one of the maxillary molars. Paramolar is a developmental anomaly and has been argued to arise from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Reports of this entity are rarely found in the dental literature. This article presents a case report of an unusual occurrence of a paramolar in the maxilla in otherwise a healthy individual. In addition, literature review, prevalence, classification, etiology, complications, diagnosis, and therapeutic strategies that may be adopted when supernumeraries occurs have been discussed. PMID:23559961

Test facility for 6000 hour life test of 30 cm mercury ion thruster

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Caldwell, J. J.

1973-01-01

The environmental and instrumentation requirements for long term testing of electrical propulsion thrusters which impose severe and unusual requirements upon the simulation facility were studied. High speed ions ejected from a mercury thruster erode material from collecting surfaces, which is then scattered and redeposited upon other surfaces, with resultant damage to the chamber and test article. By collecting the thruster plume on a frozen mercury surface damage to the thruster and chamber by back-scattered erosion products was minimized. Provisions for unattended operation, remote data acquisition, personnel safety, and instrumentation for assessing thruster performance are also discussed.

Automated Portable Test (APT) System: overview and prospects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bittner, A. C.; Smith, M. G.; Kennedy, R. S.; Staley, C. F.; Harbeson, M. M.

1985-01-01

The Automated Portable Test (APT) System is a notebook-sized, computer-based, human-performance and subjective-status assessment system. It is now being used in a wide range of environmental studies (e.g., simulator aftereffects, flight tests, drug effects, and hypoxia). Three questionnaires and 15 performance tests have been implemented, and the adaptation of 30 more tests is underway or is planned. The APT System is easily transportable, is inexpensive, and has the breadth of expansion options required for field and laboratory applications. The APT System is a powerful and expandable tool for human assessment in remote and unusual environments.

Atmospheric Fragmentation of the Canyon Diablo Meteoroid

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pierazzo, E.; Artemieva, N. A.

2005-01-01

About 50 kyr ago the impact of an iron meteoroid excavated Meteor Crater, Arizona, the first terrestrial structure widely recognized as a meteorite impact crater. Recent studies of ballistically dispersed impact melts from Meteor Crater indicate a compositionally unusually heterogeneous impact melt with high SiO2 and exceptionally high (10 to 25% on average) levels of projectile contamination. These are observations that must be explained by any theoretical modeling of the impact event. Simple atmospheric entry models for an iron meteorite similar to Canyon Diablo indicate that the surface impact speed should have been around 12 km/s [Melosh, personal comm.], not the 15-20 km/s generally assumed in previous impact models. This may help explaining the unusual characteristics of the impact melt at Meteor Crater. We present alternative initial estimates of the motion in the atmosphere of an iron projectile similar to Canyon Diablo, to constraint the initial conditions of the impact event that generated Meteor Crater.

Meningitis and Riga-Fede disease: an unusual condition.

PubMed

Picciotti, M; DiVece, L; Viviano, M; Giorgio, A; Lorenzini, G

2014-07-01

Riga-Fede disease (RFD) is a benign inflammatory disorder characterised by the appearance of a traumatic ulceration of the oral mucosa. Early detection of RFD and its adequate management are very important. The authors present a an unusual case of RFD with concomitant Staphylococcus aureus meningitis. A 36-day-old female infant was referred to the emergency room of the Hospital of the University of Siena for a 4-day history of high fever. Clinical evaluation revealed the presence of lingual ulceration caused by natal tooth. Few hours later, clinical manifestations were overshadowed by neurological symptoms. The cerebrospinal fluid examination showed the presence of Staphylococcus aureus. The wound healing after extraction of the tooth and the antibiotic therapy have been important for the resolution of this case. A conservative approach is preferable for natal teeth, but in this case the extraction was suggested since a more radical treatment was more likely to avoid major complications.

Review of Research On Guidance for Recovery from Pitch Axis Upsets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harrison, Stephanie J.

2016-01-01

A literature review was conducted to identify past efforts in providing control guidance for aircraft upset recovery including stall recovery. Because guidance is integrally linked to the intended function of aircraft attitude awareness and upset recognition, it is difficult, if not impossible, to consider these issues separately. This literature review covered the aspects of instrumentation and display symbologies for attitude awareness, aircraft upset recognition, upset and stall alerting, and control guidance. Many different forms of symbology have been investigated including, but not limited to, pitch scale depictions, attitude indicator icons, horizon symbology, attitude recovery arrows, and pitch trim indicators. Past research on different visual and alerting strategies that provide advisories, cautions, and warnings to pilots before entering an unusual attitude (UA) are also discussed. Finally, potential control guidance for recovery from upset or unusual attitudes, including approach-to-stall and stall conditions, are reviewed. Recommendations for future research are made.

Method and system for environmentally adaptive fault tolerant computing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Copenhaver, Jason L. (Inventor); Jeremy, Ramos (Inventor); Wolfe, Jeffrey M. (Inventor); Brenner, Dean (Inventor)

2010-01-01

A method and system for adapting fault tolerant computing. The method includes the steps of measuring an environmental condition representative of an environment. An on-board processing system's sensitivity to the measured environmental condition is measured. It is determined whether to reconfigure a fault tolerance of the on-board processing system based in part on the measured environmental condition. The fault tolerance of the on-board processing system may be reconfigured based in part on the measured environmental condition.

48 CFR 1332.114 - Unusual contract financing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 5 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Unusual contract financing... CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS CONTRACT FINANCING Non-Commercial Item Purchase Financing 1332.114 Unusual contract financing. The designee authorized to approve unusual contract financing arrangements is set forth in CAM...

48 CFR 32.114 - Unusual contract financing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 1 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Unusual contract financing... CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS CONTRACT FINANCING Non-Commercial Item Purchase Financing 32.114 Unusual contract financing. Any contract financing arrangement that deviates from this part is unusual contract financing...

48 CFR 432.114 - Unusual contract financing.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-10-01

... 48 Federal Acquisition Regulations System 4 2010-10-01 2010-10-01 false Unusual contract financing... CONTRACTING REQUIREMENTS CONTRACT FINANCING Non-Commercial Item Purchase Financing 432.114 Unusual contract financing. The HCA is authorized to approve unusual contract financing. The signed determination and finding...

33 CFR 148.710 - What environmental conditions must be satisfied?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 2 2014-07-01 2014-07-01 false What environmental conditions... Deepwater Ports § 148.710 What environmental conditions must be satisfied? (a) MARAD may issue a license to construct a deepwater port under the Act, with or without conditions, if certain specified conditions are...

33 CFR 148.710 - What environmental conditions must be satisfied?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 2 2013-07-01 2013-07-01 false What environmental conditions... Deepwater Ports § 148.710 What environmental conditions must be satisfied? (a) MARAD may issue a license to construct a deepwater port under the Act, with or without conditions, if certain specified conditions are...

33 CFR 148.710 - What environmental conditions must be satisfied?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 2 2012-07-01 2012-07-01 false What environmental conditions... Deepwater Ports § 148.710 What environmental conditions must be satisfied? (a) MARAD may issue a license to construct a deepwater port under the Act, with or without conditions, if certain specified conditions are...

33 CFR 148.710 - What environmental conditions must be satisfied?

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... 33 Navigation and Navigable Waters 2 2011-07-01 2011-07-01 false What environmental conditions... Deepwater Ports § 148.710 What environmental conditions must be satisfied? (a) MARAD may issue a license to construct a deepwater port under the Act, with or without conditions, if certain specified conditions are...

Science for Humanity: Giving Generously to Our World

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sparks, R. Stephen J.

2010-09-01

Hardly a week goes by without some reminder that we live in an age of anxiety and a world in environmental crisis. As I write this message, unusual stratospheric wind patterns in the Northern Hemisphere seem to be implicated in tragic floods in Pakistan, landslides in China, and wildfires near Moscow. The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico reminds us of our dependence on oil, the increasing scarcity of natural resources, and the adverse environmental impact of our appetite for these resources. The Haiti earthquake earlier this year demonstrates the vulnerability of human society to the natural world. So does the small volcanic eruption in Iceland that disrupted the travel plans of millions of people and cost the aviation industry billions of dollars. Our vulnerability seems to be increasing as the world's population continues to grow, as globalization and interdependencies advance at a giddy pace, and as human societies strive for economic growth.

Myxococcus xanthus Growth, Development, and Isolation.

PubMed

Vaksman, Zalman; Kaplan, Heidi B

2015-11-03

Myxobacteria are a highly social group among the delta proteobacteria that display unique multicellular behaviors during their complex life cycle and provide a rare opportunity to study the boundary between single cells and multicellularity. These organisms are also unusual as their entire life cycle is surface associated and includes a number of social behaviors: social gliding and rippling motility, 'wolf-pack'-like predation, and self-organizing complex biostructures, termed fruiting bodies, which are filled with differentiated environmentally resistant spores. Here we present methods for the growth, maintenance, and storage of Myxococcus xanthus, the most commonly studied of the myxobacteria. We also include methods to examine various developmental and social behaviors (fruiting body and spore formation, predation, and rippling motility). As the myxobacteria, similar to the streptomycetes, are excellent sources of many characterized and uncharacterized antibiotics and other natural products, we have provided a protocol for obtaining natural isolates from a variety of environmental sources. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Intrinsic Chemiluminescence Generation during Advanced Oxidation of Persistent Halogenated Aromatic Carcinogens.

PubMed

Mao, Li; Liu, Yu-Xiang; Huang, Chun-Hua; Gao, Hui-Ying; Kalyanaraman, Balaraman; Zhu, Ben-Zhan

2015-07-07

The ubiquitous distribution coupled with their carcinogenicity has raised public concerns on the potential risks to both human health and the ecosystem posed by the halogenated aromatic compounds (XAr). Recently, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been increasingly favored as an "environmentally-green" technology for the remediation of such recalcitrant and highly toxic XAr. Here, we show that AOPs-mediated degradation of the priority pollutant pentachlorophenol and all other XAr produces an intrinsic chemiluminescence that directly depends on the generation of the extremely reactive hydroxyl radicals. We propose that the hydroxyl radical-dependent formation of quinoid intermediates and electronically excited carbonyl species is responsible for this unusual chemiluminescence production. A rapid, sensitive, simple, and effective chemiluminescence method was developed to quantify trace amounts of XAr and monitor their real-time degradation kinetics. These findings may have broad biological and environmental implications for future research on this important class of halogenated persistent organic pollutants.

Large-scale factors in tropical and extratropical cyclone transition and extreme weather events.

PubMed

Pezza, Alexandre Bernardes; Simmonds, Ian

2008-12-01

Transition mechanisms characterizing changes from hurricanes to midlatitude cyclones and vice-versa (extratropical and tropical transition) have become a topic of increasing interest, partially because of their association with recent unusual storms that have developed in different ocean basins of both hemispheres. The aim of this work is to discuss some recent cases of transition and highly unusual hurricane developments and to address some of their wider implications for climate science. Frequently those dramatic cyclones are responsible for severe weather, potentially causing significant damage to property and infrastructure. An additional manifestation discussed here is their association with cold surges, a topic that has been very little explored in the literature. In the Southern Hemisphere, the first South Atlantic hurricane, Catarina, developed in March 2004 under very unusual large-scale conditions. That exceptional cyclone is viewed as a case of tropical transition facilitated by a well-developed blocking structure. A new index for monitoring tropical transition in the subtropical South Atlantic is discussed. This "South Atlantic index" is used to show that the unusual flow during and prior to Catarina's genesis can be attributed to tropical/extratropical interaction mechanisms. The "Donald Duck" case in Australia and Vince in the North Atlantic have also been examined and shown to belong to a category of hybrid-transitioning systems that will achieve at least partial tropical transition. While clearly more research is needed on the topic of transition, as we gain further insight, it is becoming increasingly apparent that features of large-scale circulation do play a fundamental role. A complex interaction between an extratropical transition case and an extreme summer cold surge affecting southeastern Australia is discussed as an example of wider climate implications.

The global landslide distribution in the 2015-16 El Nino event

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Petley, D. N.; Froude, M.

2016-12-01

It is commonly perceived that the global landslide distribution is heavily influenced by the El Nino / La Nina cycle, and that strong El Nino events are associated with a higher than average occurrence of landslides in many areas. Thus, for example, the very intense 1997-98 El Nino event coincided with high incidence of landslides in parts of North America and South America, and elsewhere. However, there is comparatively little systematic analysis on a global basis. The 2015-16 El Nino event was the most intense since 1997-98, and had been anticipated to generate significant landslide impacts. The occurrence of landslides worldwide through the 2015-16 El Nino has been examined using the author's landslide fatality database, which has been compiled since 2002. The data indicates that 2015 was a year with an unusually small number of rainfall-induced landslides, significantly below the long term average and with unusually low consequences. This is primarily because of two key factors: first, the South Asian monsoon was anomalously weak, resulting in low landslide impacts in the Himalayas. Second, the occurrence of intense landfalling tropical cyclones across East Asia was also unusually low. The combined effect of these two sets of meteorological conditions was low landslide occurrence across Asia. Landslide occurrence across the Americas was also low. On the other hand, 2016 is proving to be an unusually intense landslide year. In particular, intense rainfall associated with early part of the South Asian monsoon has resulted in very widespread landsliding across South Asia. This paper examines the lessons that can be learnt from an improved understanding the relationship between El Nino events and global landslide impacts, and reflects upon the capability to anticipate the impacts of future large El Nino events.

Meteorology and Wake Vortex Influence on American Airlines FL-587 Accident

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Proctor, Fred H.; Hamilton, David W.; Rutishauser, David K.; Switzer, George F.

2004-01-01

The atmospheric environment surrounding the crash of American Airlines Flight 587 is investigated. Examined are evidence for any unusual atmospheric conditions and the potential for encounters with aircraft wake vortices. Computer simulations are carried out with two different vortex prediction models and a Large Eddy Simulation model. Wind models are proposed for studying aircraft and pilot response to the wake vortex encounter.

A Brief Overview of the Southern United States Fire Situation January - July 1998

Treesearch

Dale D. Wade

1998-01-01

Unusually wet conditions associated with El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) this past winter had a significant negative impact on prescribed burning operations. In spite of the high rainfall, natural resource managers in Florida still succeeded in treating more than 500,000 acres during the first three months of 1998. (In a typical year about 2,000,000 acres are...

Case Report: An Unusual Case of Post-Stroke Psychosis in a 71-Year-Old Lady with a Learning Disability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Leeds, Lesley; Srinivasan, Janaki

2011-01-01

People with a learning disability are just as likely as people in the general population to be at risk of cerebrovascular disease, due to the presence of undetected/undertreated vascular risk factors. When people with a learning disability are presenting with additional cognitive impairment, it is important to consider a range of conditions that…

Effects of the 'Consumer Game' on Learning and Attitudes of Selected Seventh Grade Students in A Target-Area School.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cohen, Karen C.

The following report describes one teacher's use of the Consumer Game in a class of seventh grade students in a target area school. These students were not highly motivated and displayed poor attitudes toward school, and it was hoped that a game experience might interest them. Despite unusual administrative conditions, the game appears to have…

76 FR 35736 - Special Conditions: Gulfstream Aerospace LP (GALP) Model G250 Airplane Automatic Power Reserve...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-06-20

... novel or unusual design feature associated with go-around performance credit for use of Automatic Power... docket in person, go to the address in the ADDRESSES section of this preamble between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m... proposing to use the APR function of the Model G250 airplane during go-around and is requesting approach...

77 FR 56525 - Special Conditions: Bombardier, Model CL-600-2B16 Airplane (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, and CL-604...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-09-13

... and CL- 604. This airplane, as modified by Atlantic Aero, Inc., will have a novel or unusual design... airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These... documents or comments received may be read at http://www.regulations.gov/ at any time. Follow the online...

Asymptomatic multinodular splenoma (splenic hamartoma) in a child with sickle cell anemia

PubMed Central

Elenga, Narcisse; Labbé, Sylvain; Leduc, Nicolas; Sika, Anicet; Cuadro, Emma; Long, Laurence; Njuieyon, Falucar; Kom-Tchameni, Rémi; Basset, Thierry

2017-01-01

Splenoma is a rare and benign malformation usually fortuitously diagnosed during imaging, surgery or, unfortunately, at autopsy. Although splenoma was first described in 1861, its association with hematological pathology is a very unusual condition in children. We report the case of an asymptomatic splenoma in an 8-year-old boy with sickle cell anemia, whose diagnosis was confirmed after conventional splenectomy. PMID:28744165

Verrucous Lichen Planus: A Rare Presentation of a Common Condition

PubMed Central

Audhya, Moutusi; Varughese, Jenny S.; Nakhwa, Yuti C.

2014-01-01

Lichen planus is a chronic papulosquamous dermatoses in which both skin and mucosae are involved. There are various morphological forms of lichen planus. Hypertrophic lichen planus is one of the rare clinical variants. Herein, we report a very unusual presentation of hypertrophic lichen planus. A similar presentation has not been reported in literature yet, to the best of our knowledge. PMID:25386324

Serial Migration and the Assessment of "Extreme and Unusual Psychological Hardship" with Undocumented Latina/o Families

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cervantes, Joseph M.; Mejia, Olga L.; Mena, Amalia Guerrero

2010-01-01

There has been a significant trend among families from Mexico and Central America to immigrate to the United States due to difficult living conditions, financial hardship, and the lack of opportunity. This article addresses the role of serial migration, where one family member immigrates first and then brings the rest of the family at a later…

Influence of Light Conditions on Biology and Chemistry in the Peanut Plant: Flavonoids and Spermidines from Peanut (Arachis hypogaea) Flowers and Studies of the Photoisomerization of Spermidine Conjugates

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Early history and significance of the peanut crop is discussed. Annual world production of peanuts at 30 million tons makes this crop one of the most important agricultural commodities. Unusual physiology, inflorescence, and infructescence of the peanut plant make it an attractive object for scienti...

Universality far from equilibrium: From superfluid Bose gases to heavy-ion collisions

DOE PAGES

Schlichting, S.; Venugopalan, R.; Berges, J.; ...

2015-02-10

Isolated quantum systems in extreme conditions can exhibit unusually large occupancies per mode. In addition, this over-population gives rise to new universality classes of many-body systems far from equilibrium. We present theoretical evidence that important aspects of non-Abelian plasmas in the ultra-relativistic limit admit a dual description in terms of a Bose condensed scalar field theory.

Genetic diversity and virulence potential of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O113:H21 strains isolated from clinical, environmental, and food sources.

PubMed

Feng, Peter C H; Delannoy, Sabine; Lacher, David W; Dos Santos, Luis Fernando; Beutin, Lothar; Fach, Patrick; Rivas, Marta; Hartland, Elizabeth L; Paton, Adrienne W; Guth, Beatriz E C

2014-08-01

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains of serotype O113:H21 have caused severe human diseases, but they are unusual in that they do not produce adherence factors coded by the locus of enterocyte effacement. Here, a PCR microarray was used to characterize 65 O113:H21 strains isolated from the environment, food, and clinical infections from various countries. In comparison to the pathogenic strains that were implicated in hemolytic-uremic syndrome in Australia, there were no clear differences between the pathogens and the environmental strains with respect to the 41 genetic markers tested. Furthermore, all of the strains carried only Shiga toxin subtypes associated with human infections, suggesting that the environmental strains have the potential to cause disease. Most of the O113:H21 strains were closely related and belonged in the same clonal group (ST-223), but CRISPR analysis showed a great degree of genetic diversity among the O113:H21 strains. Copyright © 2014, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

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

None

Research is organized around two major programs: thermal and aquatic stress and mineral cycling. These programs are strengthened by a previously established foundation of basic ecological knowledge. Research in basic ecology continues to be a major component of all SREL environmental programs. Emphasis in all programs has been placed upon field-oriented research relating to regional and local problems having broad ecological significance. For example, extensive research has been conducted in the Par Pond reservoir system and the Savannah River swamp, both of which have received thermal effluent, heavy metals, and low levels of radioisotopes. Furthermore, the availability of low levelsmore » of plutonium and uranium in both terrestrial and aquatic environments on the Savannah River Plant (SRP) has provided an unusual opportunity for field research in this area. The studies seek to document the effects, to determine the extent of local environmental problems, and to establish predictable relationships which have general applicability. In order to accomplish this objective it has been imperative that studies be carried out in the natural, environmentally unaffected areas on the SRP as a vital part of the overall program. Progress is reported in forty-nine studies.« less

Responses of gas-exchange rates and water relations to annual fluctuations of weather in three species of urban street trees.

PubMed

Osone, Yoko; Kawarasaki, Satoko; Ishida, Atsushi; Kikuchi, Satoshi; Shimizu, Akari; Yazaki, Kenichi; Aikawa, Shin-Ichi; Yamaguchi, Masahiro; Izuta, Takeshi; Matsumoto, Genki I

2014-10-01

The frequency of extreme weather has been rising in recent years. A 3-year study of street trees was undertaken in Tokyo to determine whether: (i) street trees suffer from severe water stress in unusually hot summer; (ii) species respond differently to such climatic fluctuations; and (iii) street trees are also affected by nitrogen (N) deficiency, photoinhibition and aerosol pollution. During the study period (2010-12), midsummers of 2010 and 2012 were unusually hot (2.4-2.8 °C higher maximum temperature than the long-term mean) and dry (6-56% precipitation of the mean). In all species, street trees exhibited substantially decreased photosynthetic rate in the extremely hot summer in 2012 compared with the average summer in 2011. However, because of a more conservative stomatal regulation (stomatal closure at higher leaf water potential) in the hot summer, apparent symptoms of hydraulic failure were not observed in street trees even in 2012. Compared with Prunus × yedoensis and Zelkova serrata, Ginkgo biloba, a gymnosperm, was high in stomatal conductance and midday leaf water potential even under street conditions in the unusually hot summer, suggesting that the species had higher drought resistance than the other species and was less susceptible to urban street conditions. This lower susceptibility might be ascribed to the combination of higher soil-to-leaf hydraulic conductance and more conservative water use. Aside from meteorological conditions, N deficiency affected street trees significantly, whereas photoinhibition and aerosol pollution had little effect. The internal CO2 and δ(13)C suggested that both water and N limited the net photosynthetic rate of street trees simultaneously, but water was more limiting. From these results, we concluded that the potential risk of hydraulic failure caused by climatic extremes could be low in urban street trees in temperate regions. However, the size of the safety margin might be different between species. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Elephantiasis nostras verrucosa.

PubMed

Yoho, Robert M; Budny, Adam M; Pea, Anisa S

2006-01-01

Swelling of the leg is a frequent finding in podiatric medicine. Unless the patient draws notice to the condition or the physician is diligent in asking questions and examining the extremity, the condition may be viewed as minor and given little attention. Swelling of the leg can be a clinical sign of certain systemic diseases, lymphatic and venous disorders, or other miscellaneous causes. Dermatologic consequences linked to many of these causes of swelling are well documented. What is not as well chronicled is a dramatic skin alteration associated with chronic lymphedema. This article provides an overview and a case presentation of the unusual and debilitating skin condition related to chronic lymphedema of the lower extremity known as elephantiasis nostras verrucosa.

CADDIS Volume 4. Data Analysis: Predicting Environmental Conditions from Biological Observations (PECBO Appendix)

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

Overview of PECBO Module, using scripts to infer environmental conditions from biological observations, statistically estimating species-environment relationships, methods for inferring environmental conditions, statistical scripts in module.

B-Vitamin Competition: Intracellular and Dissolved B-Vitamins Provide Insight into Marine Microbial Community Dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Suffridge, C.; Gomez-Consarnau, L.; Qu, P.; Tenenbaum, N.; Fu, F.; Hutchins, D. A.; Sanudo-Wilhelmy, S. A.

2016-02-01

The availability of B-vitamins has the ability to directly affect the dynamics of the marine microbial community. Here we show, for the first time, the connection between dissolved and intracellular B-vitamins in a marine environmental community. Two incubation experiments were conducted at a long-term study site (SPOT) in the San Pedro Basin off the coast of Los Angeles, CA. Experiments were conducted in oligotrophic, preupwelling conditions. Due to the 2015 El Niño event, the seasonal upwelling at SPOT did not occur, creating unusually nutrient depleted conditions. Vitamins B1, B7, and B12 were added in addition to macronutrients at concentrations similar to typical SPOT upwelling conditions. Intracellular and dissolved B-vitamin analyses were conducted to determine shifts in cellular B-vitamin requirements as a function of growth rate. We observed a significant bacterioplankton and phytoplankton growth responses with the addition of B-vitamins in a manner that appears to match the enzymatic requirements for these compounds (e.g. B1>B7>B12). Intracellular B-vitamin analysis of T0 samples support this observation, as all four forms of B12 were not detectable within cells, yet multiple forms of B1 and B7 were detected at or near levels previously reported. Treatments with B12 and macronutrients were observed to have the greatest growth rates. This finding, in addition to the apparent lack of intracellular B12 in the initial community, appears to indicate that the initial microbial community was limited by B12. The addition of each vitamin caused a distinct shift in the blooming microbial community. Our results demonstrate that B-vitamins strongly influence not only the growth rate, but also the species composition and species succession of the microbial community as a whole. Large-scale changes to upwelling regimes are predicted in the future ocean; our results indicate that B-vitamins will have a substantial role in controlling microbial community dynamics under these future conditions.

Five domains of environmental quality and infant mortality

EPA Science Inventory

The relationship between environmental conditions and human health varies by environmental media. In order to account for multiple ambient environmental conditions, we constructed an Environmental Quality Index (EQI) for health research. We used U.S. county level data representin...

Environmental quality and infant mortality

EPA Science Inventory

The relationship between environmental conditions and human health varies by environmental media. In order to account for multiple ambient environmental conditions, we constructed an Environmental Quality Index (EQI)for use in health research. We used u.s. county level data repre...

AN INFRARED DIFFUSE CIRCUMSTELLAR BAND? THE UNUSUAL 1.5272 μm DIB IN THE RED SQUARE NEBULA

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

Zasowski, G.; Chojnowski, S. Drew; Whelan, D. G.

The molecular carriers of the ubiquitous absorption features called the diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) have eluded identification for many decades, in part because of the enormous parameter space spanned by the candidates and the limited set of empirical constraints afforded by observations in the diffuse interstellar medium. Detection of these features in circumstellar regions, where the environmental properties are more easily measured, is thus a promising approach to understanding the chemical nature of the carriers themselves. Here, using high-resolution spectra from the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment survey, we present an analysis of the unusually asymmetric 1.5272 μm DIBmore » feature along the sightline to the Red Square Nebula (RSN) and demonstrate the likely circumstellar origin of about half of the DIB absorption in this line of sight. This interpretation is supported both by the velocities of the feature components and by the ratio of foreground to total reddening along the line of sight. The RSN sightline offers the unique opportunity to study the behavior of DIB carriers in a constrained environment and thus to shed new light on the carriers themselves.« less

Age-dependent associations between telomere length and environmental conditions in roe deer.

PubMed

Wilbourn, Rachael V; Froy, Hannah; McManus, Marie-Christina; Cheynel, Louise; Gaillard, Jean-Michel; Gilot-Fromont, Emmanuelle; Regis, Corinne; Rey, Benjamin; Pellerin, Maryline; Lemaître, Jean-François; Nussey, Daniel H

2017-09-01

Telomere length (TL) represents a promising biomarker of overall physiological state and of past environmental experiences, which could help us understand the drivers of life-history variation in natural populations. A growing number of studies in birds suggest that environmental stress or poor environmental conditions are associated with shortened TL, but studies of such relationships in wild mammals are lacking. Here, we compare leucocyte TL from cross-sectional samples collected from two French populations of roe deer which experience different environmental conditions. We found that, as predicted, TL was shorter in the population experiencing poor environmental conditions but that this difference was only significant in older individuals and was independent of sex and body mass. Unexpectedly, the difference was underpinned by a significant increase in TL with age in the population experiencing good environmental conditions, while there was no detectable relationship with age in poor conditions. These results demonstrate both the environmental sensitivity and complexity of telomere dynamics in natural mammal populations, and highlight the importance of longitudinal data to disentangle the within- and among-individual processes that generate them. © 2017 The Authors.

Colitis cystica profunda of the rectum: An unexpected operative finding

PubMed Central

Ayantunde, Abraham A; Strauss, Claire; Sivakkolunthu, Malathi; Malhotra, Anu

2016-01-01

Colitis cystic profunda is a rare entity benign condition of the colon and rectum that can mimic suspicious polyps or malignancy. The commonest sites of affectation are the rectum and the sigmoid colon but it can be unusually widely distributed in the colon. The aetiology of this condition is not fully elucidated and confident diagnosis can only be made on histological features. We hereby describe a patient who presented with significant rectal symptoms and an unexpected finding of a submucosal mucous cyst mimicking a suspicious rectal polyp and highlighted its significance and the review of the literature. PMID:27458593

Colitis cystica profunda of the rectum: An unexpected operative finding.

PubMed

Ayantunde, Abraham A; Strauss, Claire; Sivakkolunthu, Malathi; Malhotra, Anu

2016-07-16

Colitis cystic profunda is a rare entity benign condition of the colon and rectum that can mimic suspicious polyps or malignancy. The commonest sites of affectation are the rectum and the sigmoid colon but it can be unusually widely distributed in the colon. The aetiology of this condition is not fully elucidated and confident diagnosis can only be made on histological features. We hereby describe a patient who presented with significant rectal symptoms and an unexpected finding of a submucosal mucous cyst mimicking a suspicious rectal polyp and highlighted its significance and the review of the literature.

Ice conditions on the Chesapeake Bay as observed from LANDSAT during the winters of 1977, 1978 and 1979

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Foster, J. L.

1980-01-01

The LANDSAT observations during the winters of 1977, 1978 and 1979, which were unusually cold in the northeastern U.S. and in the Chesapeake Bay area, were evaluated. Abnormal atmospheric circulation patterns displaced cold polar air to the south, and as a result, the Chesapeake Bay experienced much greater than normal icing conditions during these 3 years. The LANDSAT observations of the Chesapeake Bay area during these winters demonstrate the satellite's capabilities to monitor ice growth and melt, to detect ice motions, and to measure ice extent.

Atmospheric radiance interpolation for the modeling of hyperspectral data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fuehrer, Perry; Healey, Glenn; Rauch, Brian; Slater, David; Ratkowski, Anthony

2008-04-01

The calibration of data from hyperspectral sensors to spectral radiance enables the use of physical models to predict measured spectra. Since environmental conditions are often unknown, material detection algorithms have emerged that utilize predicted spectra over ranges of environmental conditions. The predicted spectra are typically generated by a radiative transfer (RT) code such as MODTRAN TM. Such techniques require the specification of a set of environmental conditions. This is particularly challenging in the LWIR for which temperature and atmospheric constituent profiles are required as inputs for the RT codes. We have developed an automated method for generating environmental conditions to obtain a desired sampling of spectra in the sensor radiance domain. Our method provides a way of eliminating the usual problems encountered, because sensor radiance spectra depend nonlinearly on the environmental parameters, when model conditions are specified by a uniform sampling of environmental parameters. It uses an initial set of radiance vectors concatenated over a set of conditions to define the mapping from environmental conditions to sensor spectral radiance. This approach enables a given number of model conditions to span the space of desired radiance spectra and improves both the accuracy and efficiency of detection algorithms that rely upon use of predicted spectra.

Urban-rural status affects associations between overall environmental quality and cancer incidence

EPA Science Inventory

The relationship between environmental conditions and human health varies by urbanicity. To estimate ambient environmental conditions, an Environmental Quality Index (EQI) for 2000-2005 was constructed by the Environmental Protection Agency using county-level data representing fi...