Sample records for year growth velocity

  1. Growth velocity in constitutional delay of growth and development.

    PubMed

    Butenandt, Otfrid; Kunze, Detlef

    2010-01-01

    Growth velocity was determined in 121 boys and 58 girls with constitutional delay of growth and development (CDGD) of familial origin. No data were included from patients suffering from growth hormone insufficiency (i.e. neurosecretory dysfunction for growth hormone) or any disease. From 479 values obtained in boys and 230 values obtained in girls the 25th, 50th and 75th percentiles were calculated. The mean growth velocity in children and adolescents with CDGD before the beginning of puberty was lower than the mean growth velocity of other European (British, German or Swiss) standards. Specific data of growth velocity should be used in patients with CDGD since population-based data may underestimate the normal growth velocity of these patients.

  2. Using growth velocity to predict child mortality.

    PubMed

    Schwinger, Catherine; Fadnes, Lars T; Van den Broeck, Jan

    2016-03-01

    Growth assessment based on the WHO child growth velocity standards can potentially be used to predict adverse health outcomes. Nevertheless, there are very few studies on growth velocity to predict mortality. We aimed to determine the ability of various growth velocity measures to predict child death within 3 mo and to compare it with those of attained growth measures. Data from 5657 children <5 y old who were enrolled in a cohort study in the Democratic Republic of Congo were used. Children were measured up to 6 times in 3-mo intervals, and 246 (4.3%) children died during the study period. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models informed the mortality risk within 3 mo for weight and length velocity z scores and 3-mo changes in midupper arm circumference (MUAC). We used receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to present balance in sensitivity and specificity to predict child death. GEE models showed that children had an exponential increase in the risk of dying with decreasing growth velocity in all 4 indexes (1.2- to 2.4-fold for every unit decrease). A length and weight velocity z score of <-3 was associated with an 11.8- and a 7.9-fold increase, respectively, in the RR of death in the subsequent 3-mo period (95% CIs: 3.9, 35.5, and 3.9, 16.2, respectively). Weight and length velocity z scores had better predictive abilities [area under the ROC curves (AUCs) of 0.67 and 0.69] than did weight-for-age (AUC: 0.57) and length-for-age (AUC: 0.52) z scores. Among wasted children (weight-for-height z score <-2), the AUC of weight velocity z scores was 0.87. Absolute MUAC performed best among the attained indexes (AUC: 0.63), but longitudinal assessment of MUAC-based indexes did not increase the predictive value. Although repeated growth measures are slightly more complex to implement, their superiority in mortality-predictive abilities suggests that these could be used more for identifying children at increased risk of death.

  3. Crystal growth velocity in deeply undercooled Ni-Si alloys

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lü, Y. J.

    2012-02-01

    The crystal growth velocity of Ni95Si5 and Ni90Si10 alloys as a function of undercooling is investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. The modified imbedded atom method potential yields the equilibrium liquidus temperatures T L ≈ 1505 and 1387 K for Ni95Si5 and Ni90Si10 alloys, respectively. From the liquidus temperatures down to the deeply undercooled region, the crystal growth velocities of both the alloys rise to the maximum with increasing undercooling and then drop slowly, whereas the athermal growth process presented in elemental Ni is not observed in Ni-Si alloys. Instead, the undercooling dependence of the growth velocity can be well-described by the diffusion-limited model, furthermore, the activation energy associated with the diffusion from melt to interface increases as the concentration increases from 5 to 10 at.% Si, resulting in the remarkable decrease of growth velocity.

  4. Measurements of Dendritic Growth Velocities in Undercooled Melts of Pure Nickel Under Static Magnetic Fields

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Gao, Jianrong; Zhang, Zongning; Zhang, Yingjie

    2012-01-01

    Dendritic growth velocities in undercooled melts of pure Ni have been intensively studied over the past fifty years. However, the literature data are at marked variance with the prediction of the widely accepted model for rapid dendritic growth both at small and at large undercoolings. In the present work, bulk melts of pure Ni samples of high purity were undercooled by glass fluxing treatment under a static magnetic field. The recalescence processes of the samples at different undercoolings were recorded using a high-speed camera, and were modeled using a software to determine the dendritic growth velocities. The present data confirmed the effect of melt flow on dendritic growth velocities at undercoolings below 100 K. A comparison of the present data with previous measurements on a lower purity material suggested an effect of impurities on dendritic growth velocities at undercoolings larger than 200 K as well.

  5. Potential effects of valproate and oxcarbazepine on growth velocity and bone metabolism in epileptic children- a medical center experience.

    PubMed

    Lin, Chien-Ming; Fan, Hueng-Chuen; Chao, Tsu-Yi; Chu, Der-Ming; Lai, Chi-Chieh; Wang, Chih-Chien; Chen, Shyi-Jou

    2016-05-03

    Children with longstanding use of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) are susceptible to developing low bone mineral density and an increased fracture risk. However, the literature regarding the effects of AEDs on growth in epileptic children is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential effects of valproate (VPA) and/or oxcarbazepine (OXC) therapy on growth velocity and bone metabolism. Seventy-three ambulatory children (40 boys and 33 girls) with epilepsy, aged between 1 and 18 years (mean age 9.8 ± 4.1 years), were evaluated for growth velocity before and for 1 year after VPA and/or OXC treatment. The bone resorption marker serum tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRAcP5b) and the bone formation marker serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP) were measured post-AEDs therapy for 1 year. The difference in growth velocity (ΔHt) and body weight change (ΔWt) between pre- and post-AEDs treatment were -1.0 ± 2.8 cm/year (P < 0.05) and 0.1 ± 3.9 kg/year (P = 0.84), respectively. The study population had serum TRAcP5b-SDS of -1.6 ± 1.2 and BAP-SDS of 1.7 ± 3.7 compared with sex- and age-matched healthy children. Significant correlation between serum TRAcP 5b and BAP activities was noted (r = 0.60, p < 0.001). There was a positive correlation between growth velocity and serum TRAcP 5b activity after AED treatment (r = 0.42, p < 0.01). No correlation was found between ΔHt, ΔWt, serum TRAcP 5b, BAP activity and types of AEDs. Growth velocity was significantly decreased in epileptic children after 1 year of VPA and/or OXC treatment. The effect of VPA and/or OXC therapy on dysregulation of bone metabolism might play a crucial role in physical growth.

  6. The effect of Helicobacter pylori infection on growth velocity in young children from poor urban communities in Ecuador.

    PubMed

    Egorov, Andrey I; Sempértegui, Fernando; Estrella, Bertha; Egas, Josefina; Naumova, Elena N; Griffiths, Jeffrey K

    2010-09-01

    To characterize the potential effects of Helicobacter infections on growth velocity in low socioeconomic status young children in a developing country. Children were recruited in poor suburbs of Quito, Ecuador. Normally nourished, mildly and substantially malnourished children (defined using weight-for-age Z-scores at recruitment) formed equal strata. Six height and weight measurements were collected during one year. Enrollment and exit serum samples were analyzed for anti-Helicobacter IgG and exit non-diarrheal feces tested for Helicobacter antigen. Among 124 participants (enrollment age 19 ± 9 months), 76 (61%) excreted fecal antigen at exit (were infected). Of these, 44 were seropositive at least once (chronic infections) and 32 tested seronegative both times (new or acute phase infections). The adjusted linear growth velocity during follow-up in children with new infections was reduced by 9.7 (3.8, 15.6) mm/year compared to uninfected controls and 6.4 (0.0, 12.9) mm/year compared to children with chronic infections. The effects of Helicobacter infections on ponderal growth were not significant. These results suggest that linear growth velocity is reduced in young children during the initial phase of Helicobacter infection. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

  7. Velocity locking and pulsed invasions of fragmented habitats with seasonal growth

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Korolev, Kirill; Wang, Ching-Hao

    From crystal growth to epidemics, spatial spreading is a common mechanism of change in nature. Typically, spreading results from two processes: growth and dispersal in ecology or chemical reactions and diffusion in physics. These two processes combine to produce a reaction-diffusion wave, an invasion front advancing at a constant velocity. We show that the properties of these waves are remarkably different depending whether space and time are continuous, as they are for a chemical reaction, or discrete, as they are for a pest invading a patchy habitat in seasonal climates. For discrete space and time, we report a new type of expansions with velocities that can lock into specific values and become insensitive to changes in dispersal and growth, i.e. the dependence of the velocity on model parameters exhibits plateaus or pauses. As a result, the evolution and response to perturbations in locked expansions can be markedly different compared to the expectations based on continuous models. The phenomenon of velocity locking requires cooperative growth and does not occur when per capita growth rate decline monotonically with population density. We obtain both numerical and analytical results describing highly non-analytic properties of locked expansions.

  8. Feeding Practices and Infant Growth: Quantifying the Effects of Breastfeeding Termination and Complementary Food Introduction on BMI z-Score Growth Velocity through Growth Curve Models.

    PubMed

    Horodynski, Mildred A; Pierce, Steven J; Reyes-Gastelum, David; Olson, Beth; Shattuck, Mackenzie

    2017-12-01

    Infant feeding practices are a focus of early obesity prevention. We tested whether infant growth velocity increased after breastfeeding termination and complementary food introduction. Our secondary analysis included a sample of 547 mother-infant dyads from a longitudinal randomized controlled trial conducted in Michigan and Colorado. Infant anthropometrics at birth, baseline, and 6- and 12-month follow-up were standardized to BMI-for-age z-score (ZBMI) according to World Health Organization (WHO) growth charts. We used growth curve models with time-varying predictors to quantify effects of breastfeeding termination and timing of complementary food introduction on growth velocity. Median breastfeeding duration was 2.0 months [confidence interval (CI) = 2.0-2.5]; median introduction of complementary foods occurred at 3.0 months (CI = 2.8-3.2). Breastfed infants not yet introduced to complementary foods had an average ZBMI growth velocity of 0.050 (CI = -0.013 to 0.113) z-score units per month [zpm], not significantly faster than WHO growth trajectory (p = 0.118) defined as 0 zpm. Breastfeeding termination had negligible effect on ZBMI growth velocity (γ 11  = 0.001, CI = -0.027 to 0.030, p = 0.927). Introduction of complementary foods increased ZBMI growth velocity relative to an average child in the sample, but not significantly (γ 12  = 0.033, CI = -0.034 to 0.100, p = 0.334). Growth velocities for infants receiving complementary foods both before and after breastfeeding termination were significantly faster than the WHO growth trajectory (0.083 zpm, CI = 0.052-0.114, and 0.084 zpm, CI = 0.064-0.105, respectively, p's < 0.001). Average postcomplementary food introduction growth velocity was significantly higher than WHO growth trajectory, but did not differ from the sample's initial average trajectory. Growth curve models can accurately estimate effects of feeding practices on infant growth to direct

  9. Conditional random slope: A new approach for estimating individual child growth velocity in epidemiological research.

    PubMed

    Leung, Michael; Bassani, Diego G; Racine-Poon, Amy; Goldenberg, Anna; Ali, Syed Asad; Kang, Gagandeep; Premkumar, Prasanna S; Roth, Daniel E

    2017-09-10

    Conditioning child growth measures on baseline accounts for regression to the mean (RTM). Here, we present the "conditional random slope" (CRS) model, based on a linear-mixed effects model that incorporates a baseline-time interaction term that can accommodate multiple data points for a child while also directly accounting for RTM. In two birth cohorts, we applied five approaches to estimate child growth velocities from 0 to 12 months to assess the effect of increasing data density (number of measures per child) on the magnitude of RTM of unconditional estimates, and the correlation and concordance between the CRS and four alternative metrics. Further, we demonstrated the differential effect of the choice of velocity metric on the magnitude of the association between infant growth and stunting at 2 years. RTM was minimally attenuated by increasing data density for unconditional growth modeling approaches. CRS and classical conditional models gave nearly identical estimates with two measures per child. Compared to the CRS estimates, unconditional metrics had moderate correlation (r = 0.65-0.91), but poor agreement in the classification of infants with relatively slow growth (kappa = 0.38-0.78). Estimates of the velocity-stunting association were the same for CRS and classical conditional models but differed substantially between conditional versus unconditional metrics. The CRS can leverage the flexibility of linear mixed models while addressing RTM in longitudinal analyses. © 2017 The Authors American Journal of Human Biology Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  10. Simple indicator to identify the environmental soundness of growth of consumption and technology: "eco-velocity of consumption".

    PubMed

    Nansai, Keisuke; Kagawa, Shigemi; Suh, Sangwon; Inaba, Rokuta; Moriguchi, Yuichi

    2007-02-15

    Today's material welfare has been achieved at the expense of consumption of finite resources and generation of environmental burdens. Over the past few decades the volume of global consumption has grown dramatically, while at the same time technological advances have enabled products with greater efficiencies. These two directions of change, consumption growth and technological advance, are the foci of the present paper. Using quantitative measures for these two factors, we define a new indicator, "eco-velocity of consumption", analogous to velocity in physics. The indicator not only identifies the environmental soundness of consumption growth and technological advance but also indicates whether and to what extent our society is shifting toward sustainable consumption. This study demonstrates the practicability of the indicator through a case study in which we calculate the eco-velocities of Japanese household consumption in 2 years: 1995 and 2000. The rate of technological advance during the periods concerned is quantified in terms of the embodied carbon dioxide emission per yen of product. The results show that the current growth rate of Japanese household consumption is greater than the rate of technological advance to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions. The eco-velocities at the level of individual commodity groups are also examined, and the sources of changes in eco-velocity for each commodity are identified using structural decomposition analysis.

  11. Spontaneous growth in growth hormone deficiency from birth until 7 years of age: development of disease-specific growth curves.

    PubMed

    Mayer, M; Schmitt, K; Kapelari, K; Frisch, H; Köstl, G; Voigt, M

    2010-01-01

    Little is known about spontaneous growth of growth hormone (GH)-deficient children during infancy and childhood. Retrospectively, we calculated disease-specific pretreatment percentiles for height, weight, BMI and growth velocity of 113 GH-deficient boys and 41 GH-deficient girls from birth until 7 years of age, by mean and standard deviation. Infants with idiopathic GH deficiency (GHD) grow in disease-specific percentile channels. There is a significant difference in length and weight from birth onward compared to regional reference (p<0.001). Boys' birth length was 48.7+/-2.9 cm (p<0.001; -1.31+/-1.11 SDS), birth weight was 3.09+/-0.61 kg (p<0.01; -0.92+/-1.19 SDS), and BMI at birth was 12.9+/-1.7. Girls' birth length was 48.1+/-3.4 cm (p<0.05; -1.17+/-1.51 SDS), birth weight was 2.92+/-0.60 kg (p=0.05; -1.08+/-1.19 SDS), and BMI at birth was 12.6+/-2.2. There was a continuous loss of growth velocity, despite a wide variance in the first years, so height deficit became more evident with increasing age. GHD is a congenital disease no matter when height deficit becomes clinically evident, because GH-deficient children grow in disease-specific percentile channels with a highly significantly reduced length and weight, which demonstrates that GH is essential for adequate growth in infancy and early childhood. Copyright (c) 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  12. Presentation of growth velocities of rural Haitian children using smoothing spline techniques.

    PubMed

    Waternaux, C; Hebert, J R; Dawson, R; Berggren, G G

    1987-01-01

    The examination of monthly (or quarterly) increments in weight or length is important for assessing the nutritional and health status of children. Growth velocities are widely thought to be more important than actual weight or length measurements per se. However, there are no standards by which clinicians, researchers, or parents can gauge a child's growth. This paper describes a method for computing growth velocities (monthly increments) for physical growth measurements with substantial measurement error and irregular spacing over time. These features are characteristic of data collected in the field where conditions are less than ideal. The technique of smoothing by splines provides a powerful tool to deal with the variability and irregularity of the measurements. The technique consists of approximating the observed data by a smooth curve as a clinician might have drawn on the child's growth chart. Spline functions are particularly appropriate to describe bio-physical processes such as growth, for which no model can be postulated a priori. This paper describes how the technique was used for the analysis of a large data base collected on pre-school aged children in rural Haiti. The sex-specific length and weight velocities derived from the spline-smoothed data are presented as reference data for researchers and others interested in longitudinal growth of children in the Third World.

  13. Mental and Motor Growth Patterns and Growth Velocity of Indian Babies. (Longitudinal Growth of Indian Children). Research Report No. 4.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Phatak, Pramila; And Others

    This study reports various aspects of the analyses carried out on the longitudinal data reported in a previous study (PS 007 345) for determining the general growth patterns and growth velocity of mental and motor development. Preliminary analyses focused on the selection of the growth curve, its evaluation in the 208 individual cases, and the…

  14. Reference curve for the first-year growth response to growth hormone treatment in prepubertal children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency: validation of the KIGS first-year growth response curve using the Belgian Register for the Study of Growth and Puberty Problems.

    PubMed

    Straetemans, Saartje; Roelants, Mathieu; Thomas, Muriel; Rooman, Raoul; De Schepper, Jean

    2014-01-01

    Comparing observed and expected growth after first-year growth hormone (GH) therapy is useful for identifying a poor growth response to GH. To generate a first-year, age-specific growth response reference curve for prepubertal Belgian children with idiopathic growth hormone deficiency (iGHD) treated with a standard weight-adjusted GH dose and to compare this national reference with the response references derived from KIGS. First-year height data of 357 prepubertal children (240 males) with iGHD were analyzed. Smooth reference curves of first-year height velocity (HV) in relation to age were created. Differences with the KIGS targets were evaluated after z-score transformation. The observed first-year HVs were log-normal distributed by age and decreased significantly with age (p<0.001). No GH dose or gender effect was observed (p=0.5). Distance to target height, severity of GHD and occurrence of multiple pituitary hormone deficiencies had a positive effect (p<0.01) on the calculated HV SDS. When applying the KIGS targets for severe iGHD, mean HV SDS was close to zero (-0.09±0.84). The developed age-specific growth response curves enable rapid identification of poor response to first-year GH treatment in prepubertal iGHD children. Our results validate the published growth targets derived from the KIGS database. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  15. Intermediate Diastolic Velocity as a Parameter of Cardiac Dysfunction in Growth-Restricted Fetuses.

    PubMed

    Tang, Xiangna; Hernandez-Andrade, Edgar; Ahn, Hyunyoung; Garcia, Maynor; Saker, Homam; Korzeniewski, Steven J; Tarca, Adi L; Yeo, Lami; Hassan, Sonia S; Romero, Roberto

    2016-01-01

    To evaluate the intermediate intracardiac diastolic velocities in fetuses with growth restriction. Doppler waveforms of the two atrioventricular valves were obtained. Peak velocities of the E (early) and A (atrial) components, and the lowest intermediate velocity (IDV) between them, were measured in 400 normally grown and in 100 growth-restricted fetuses. The prevalence of abnormal IDV, E/IDV, and A/IDV ratios in fetuses presenting with perinatal death or acidemia at birth (pH ≤7.1) was estimated. IDV was significantly lower and E/IDV ratios significantly higher in the two ventricles of growth-restricted fetuses with reduced diastolic velocities in the umbilical artery (p < 0.05). In 13 fetuses presenting with perinatal death or acidemia at birth, 11 (85%) had either an E/IDV or A/IDV ratio >95th percentile, whereas 5 (38%) showed absent or reversed atrial velocities in the ductus venosus (DV-ARAV; p < 0.04). Fetuses without DV-ARAV but with elevated E/IDV ratios in either ventricle were nearly 7-fold more likely to have perinatal demise or acidemia at birth (OR 6.9, 95% CI 1.4-34) than those with E/IDV ratios <95th percentile. The E/IDV and A/IDV ratios in the two cardiac ventricles might provide information about the risk of perinatal demise or acidemia in growth-restricted fetuses. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  16. Child Weight Growth Trajectory and its Determinants in a Sample of Iranian Children from Birth until 2 Years of Age

    PubMed Central

    Hosseini, Sayed-Mohsen; Maracy, Mohamad-Reza; Sarrafzade, Sheida; Kelishadi, Roya

    2014-01-01

    Background: Growth is one of the most important indices in child health. The best and most effective way to investigate child health is measuring the physical growth indices such as weight, height and head circumference. Among these measures, weight growth is the simplest and the most effective way to determine child growth status. Weight trend at a given age is the result of cumulative growth experience, whereas growth velocity represents what is happening at the time. Methods: This longitudinal study was conducted among 606 children repeatedly measured from birth until 2 years of age. We used linear mixed model to analyze repeated measures and to determine factors affecting the growth trajectory. LOWESS smooth curve was used to draw velocity curves. Results: Gender, child rank, birth status and feeding mode had a significant effect on weight trajectory. Boys had higher weight during the study. Infants with exclusive breast feeding had higher weight than other infants. Boys had higher growth velocity up to age 6 month. Breast fed infants had higher growth velocity up to 6 month, but thereafter the velocity was higher in other infants. Conclusions: Many of the studies have investigated child growth, but most of them used cross-sectional design. In this study, we used longitudinal method to determine effective factors on weight trend in children from birth until 2-year-old. The effects of perinatal factors on further growth should be considered for prevention of growth disorders and their late complications. PMID:24829720

  17. Nutritional practices and growth velocity in the first month of life in extremely low gestational age newborns

    PubMed Central

    Martin, Camilia R.; Brown, Yolanda F.; Ehrenkranz, Richard A.; O'Shea, T. Michael; Allred, Elizabeth N.; Belfort, Mandy B.; McCormick, Marie C.; Leviton, Alan

    2010-01-01

    OBJECTIVES The goals of this study were to describe nutritional practices in the first month of life for a large cohort of extremely low gestational age newborns and to determine the impact of these nutritional practices on growth velocity over the same period. METHODS The sample included 1187 infants born at 23 weeks to 27 weeks of gestation, at 14 institutions, between 2002 and 2004. Inclusion criteria included survival until day 28 and weight information for both day 7 and day 28. Growth velocity, expressed as grams per kilogram per day (g/kg/day), was calculated for the interval between days 7 and 28. Nutritional practices during the first week and on days 14, 21, and 28 were compared to current nutritional guidelines in the literature. Multivariable logistic regression models estimated the contribution of limited nutrition to limited growth velocity. RESULTS Protein and fat delivery approximated current nutritional recommendations while carbohydrate and total caloric delivery did not. Despite this, growth velocity of our study infants exceeded the current guideline of 15 g/kg/day. Nevertheless, we found extrauterine growth restriction (i.e., weight for gestational age below the 10th centile) in 75% of infants at 28 days, as compared to only 18% at birth. A growth velocity of 20-30 g/kg/day was associated with infants' maintaining or exceeding their birth weight Z-score, with rates in the upper range for the gestationally youngest infants. Early (day 7) nutritional practices were positively associated with growth velocity measured between days 7 and 28. CONCLUSION The early provision of nutrients is an important determinant of postnatal growth. Extrauterine growth restriction remains high in extremely premature infants even when they achieve a growth velocity rate within current guidelines. PMID:19651583

  18. Different Indices of Fetal Growth Predict Bone Size and Volumetric Density at 4 Years of Age

    PubMed Central

    Harvey, Nicholas C; Mahon, Pamela A; Robinson, Sian M; Nisbet, Corrine E; Javaid, M Kassim; Crozier, Sarah R; Inskip, Hazel M; Godfrey, Keith M; Arden, Nigel K; Dennison, Elaine M; Cooper, Cyrus

    2011-01-01

    We have demonstrated previously that higher birth weight is associated with greater peak and later-life bone mineral content and that maternal body build, diet, and lifestyle influence prenatal bone mineral accrual. To examine prenatal influences on bone health further, we related ultrasound measures of fetal growth to childhood bone size and density. We derived Z-scores for fetal femur length and abdominal circumference and conditional growth velocity from 19 to 34 weeks’ gestation from ultrasound measurements in participants in the Southampton Women’s Survey. A total of 380 of the offspring underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) at age 4 years [whole body minus head bone area (BA), bone mineral content (BMC), areal bone mineral density (aBMD), and estimated volumetric BMD (vBMD)]. Volumetric bone mineral density was estimated using BMC adjusted for BA, height, and weight. A higher velocity of 19- to 34-week fetal femur growth was strongly associated with greater childhood skeletal size (BA: r = 0.30, p < .0001) but not with volumetric density (vBMD: r = 0.03, p = .51). Conversely, a higher velocity of 19- to 34-week fetal abdominal growth was associated with greater childhood volumetric density (vBMD: r = 0.15, p = .004) but not with skeletal size (BA: r = 0.06, p = .21). Both fetal measurements were positively associated with BMC and aBMD, indices influenced by both size and density. The velocity of fetal femur length growth from 19 to 34 weeks’ gestation predicted childhood skeletal size at age 4 years, whereas the velocity of abdominal growth (a measure of liver volume and adiposity) predicted volumetric density. These results suggest a discordance between influences on skeletal size and volumetric density. PMID:20437610

  19. [Relationship between breast milk composition and weight growth velocity of infants fed with exclusive breast milk].

    PubMed

    Huang, Li-Li; Xiong, Fei; Yang, Fan

    2016-10-01

    To study the effect of breast milk composition on weight growth velocity of infants fed with exclusive breast milk. One hundred and thirty-eight full-term singleton infants who received regular follow-up visits and fed with exclusive breast milk and their mothers were recruited. Body height, weight and head circumference of these infants were measured at regular visits. Z scores were used to evaluate growth velocity. The subjects were classified into a failure to thrive group (ΔZ scores≤-0.67), a poor growth group (-0.67<ΔZ scores<0) and a normal control group (ΔZ scores≥0). The samples of mature breast milk were collected for composition analysis. The differences in the levels of the protein, fats, energy, carbohydrates and minerals in breast milk were compared among the three groups. ΔZ scores for weight in the failure to thrive and poor growth groups were lower than in the normal control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the levels of protein, fats and energy in breast milk among the failure to thrive, poor growth and normal control groups. However, the levels of carbohydrates and minerals in both the failure to thrive and poor growth groups were lower than in the normal control group (P<0.05). Weight growth velocity of infants can be affected by the composition of breast milk to a certain degree in a short period. In order to maintain a good weight growth velocity of infants, mothers should have a balanced diet to improve the quality of breast milk.

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

    PubMed

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

    2014-11-01

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

  1. An Attempt to Standardize the Calculation of Growth Velocity of Preterm Infants-Evaluation of Practical Bedside Methods.

    PubMed

    Fenton, Tanis R; Anderson, Diane; Groh-Wargo, Sharon; Hoyos, Angela; Ehrenkranz, Richard A; Senterre, Thibault

    2018-05-01

    To examine how well growth velocity recommendations for preterm infants fit with current growth references: Fenton 2013, Olsen 2010, INTERGROWTH 2015, and the World Health Organization Growth Standard 2006. The Average (2-point), Exponential (2-point), Early (1-point) method weight-gains were calculated for 1,4,8,12, and 16-week time-periods. Growth references' weekly velocities (g/kg/d, gram/day and cm/week) were illustrated graphically with frequently-quoted 15 g/kg/d, 10-30 grams/day and 1 cm/week rates superimposed. The 15 g/kg/d and 1 cm/week growth velocity rates were calculated from 24-50 weeks, superimposed on the Fenton and Olsen preterm growth charts. The Average and Exponential g/kg/d estimates showed close agreement for all ages (range 5.0-18.9 g/kg/d), while the Early method yielded values as high as 41 g/kg/d. All 3 preterm growth references were similar to 15 g/kg/d rate at 34 weeks, but rates were higher prior and lower at older ages. For gram/day, the growth references changed from 10 to 30 grams/day for 24-33 weeks. Head growth rates generally fit the 1 cm/week velocity for 23-30 weeks, and length growth rates fit for 37-40 weeks. The calculated g/kg/d curves deviated from the growth charts, first downward, then steeply crossed the median curves near term. Human growth is not constant through gestation and early infancy. The frequently-quoted 15 g/kg/d, 10-30 gram/day and 1 cm/week only fit current growth references for limited time periods. Rates of 15-20 g/kg/d (calculated using average or exponential methods) are a reasonable goal for infants 23-36 weeks, but not beyond. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  2. The Missing Link Coupling the Foreshock to the Magnetosphere?: Impact of the Magnetosheath Velocity Fluctuations on the Growth of the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nykyri, K.; Dimmock, A. P.; Pulkkinen, T. I.; Otto, A.; Ma, X.

    2014-12-01

    Our statistical study of magnetosheath velocity fluctuations using 6+ years of THEMIS spacecraft measurements in Magnetosheath InterPlanetary Medium (MIPM) reference frame show that amplitudes of the velocity fluctuations are enhanced in the magnetosheath downstream of the quasi-parallel shock. The fluctuation amplitudes can be substantial and frequencies of these flcutuations can vary. We have examined the role of the i) amplitude, ii) frequency, iii) number of the modes, iv) as well as mode combinations of magnetosheath velocity fluctuations on the growth of Kelvin-Helmholtz Instability (KHI) using high-resolution macro-scale MHD simulations in magnetospheric inertial frame. The results show that even for the same magnetic field and plasma parameters across the magnetopause there can be major differences due to 'magnetosheath fluctuation state' on the growth and dynamical evolution of the KHI. This may provide the missing link how foreshock fluctuations couple to the magnetosphere and into the ionosphere

  3. Contaminant concentration versus flow velocity: drivers of biodegradation and microbial growth in groundwater model systems.

    PubMed

    Grösbacher, Michael; Eckert, Dominik; Cirpka, Olaf A; Griebler, Christian

    2018-06-01

    Aromatic hydrocarbons belong to the most abundant contaminants in groundwater systems. They can serve as carbon and energy source for a multitude of indigenous microorganisms. Predictions of contaminant biodegradation and microbial growth in contaminated aquifers are often vague because the parameters of microbial activity in the mathematical models used for predictions are typically derived from batch experiments, which don't represent conditions in the field. In order to improve our understanding of key drivers of natural attenuation and the accuracy of predictive models, we conducted comparative experiments in batch and sediment flow-through systems with varying concentrations of contaminant in the inflow and flow velocities applying the aerobic Pseudomonas putida strain F1 and the denitrifying Aromatoleum aromaticum strain EbN1. We followed toluene degradation and bacterial growth by measuring toluene and oxygen concentrations and by direct cell counts. In the sediment columns, the total amount of toluene degraded by P. putida F1 increased with increasing source concentration and flow velocity, while toluene removal efficiency gradually decreased. Results point at mass transfer limitation being an important process controlling toluene biodegradation that cannot be assessed with batch experiments. We also observed a decrease in the maximum specific growth rate with increasing source concentration and flow velocity. At low toluene concentrations, the efficiencies in carbon assimilation within the flow-through systems exceeded those in the batch systems. In all column experiments the number of attached cells plateaued after an initial growth phase indicating a specific "carrying capacity" depending on contaminant concentration and flow velocity. Moreover, in all cases, cells attached to the sediment dominated over those in suspension, and toluene degradation was performed practically by attached cells only. The observed effects of varying contaminant inflow

  4. Fetal growth velocity and body proportion in the assessment of growth.

    PubMed

    Hiersch, Liran; Melamed, Nir

    2018-02-01

    Fetal growth restriction implies failure of a fetus to meet its growth potential and is associated with increased perinatal mortality and morbidity. Therefore, antenatal detection of fetal growth restriction is of major importance in an attempt to deliver improved clinical outcomes. The most commonly used approach towards screening for fetal growth restriction is by means of sonographic fetal weight estimation, to detect fetuses small for gestational age, defined by an estimated fetal weight <10th percentile for gestational age. However, the predictive accuracy of this approach is limited both by suboptimal detection rate (as it may overlook non-small-for-gestational-age growth-restricted fetuses) and by a high false-positive rate (as most small-for-gestational-age fetuses are not growth restricted). Here, we review 2 strategies that may improve the diagnostic accuracy of sonographic fetal biometry for fetal growth restriction. The first strategy involves serial ultrasound evaluations of fetal biometry. The information obtained through these serial assessments can be interpreted using several different approaches including fetal growth velocity, conditional percentiles, projection-based methods, and individualized growth assessment that can be viewed as mathematical techniques to quantify any decrease in estimated fetal weight percentile, a phenomenon that many care providers assess and monitor routinely in a qualitative manner. This strategy appears promising in high-risk pregnancies where it seems to improve the detection of growth-restricted fetuses at increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes and, at the same time, decrease the risk of falsely diagnosing healthy constitutionally small-for-gestational-age fetuses as growth restricted. Further studies are needed to determine the utility of this strategy in low-risk pregnancies as well as to optimize its performance by determining the optimal timing and interval between exams. The second strategy refers to the

  5. [Pubertal growth of 1,453 healthy children according to age at pubertal growth spurt onset. The Barcelona longitudinal growth study].

    PubMed

    Carrascosa, Antonio; Yeste, Diego; Moreno-Galdó, Antonio; Gussinyé, Miquel; Ferrández, Ángel; Clemente, María; Fernández-Cancio, Mónica

    2018-02-20

    Pubertal growth pattern differs according to age at pubertal growth spurt onset which occurs over a five years period (girls: 8-13 years, boys: 10-15 years). The need for more than one pubertal reference pattern has been proposed. We aimed to obtain five 1-year-age-interval pubertal patterns. Longitudinal (6 years of age-adult height) growth study of 1,453 healthy children to evaluate height-for-age, growth velocity-for-age and weight-for-age values. According to age at pubertal growth spurt onset girls were considered: very-early matures (8-9 years, n=119), early matures (9-10 years, n=157), intermediate matures (10-11 years, n=238), late matures (11-12 years, n=127) and very-late matures (12-13 years, n=102), and boys: very-early matures (10-11 years, n=110), early matures (11-12 years, n=139), intermediate matures (12-13 years, n=225), late matures (13-14 years, n=133) and very-late matures (14-15 years, n=103). Age at menarche and growth up to adult height were recorded. In both sexes, statistically-significant (P<.0001) and clinically-pertinent differences in pubertal growth pattern (mean height-for-age, mean growth velocity-for-age and mean pubertal height gain, values) were found among the five pubertal maturity groups and between each group and the whole population, despite similar adult height values. The same occurred for age at menarche and growth from menarche to adult height (P<.05). In both sexes, pubertal growth spurt onset is a critical milestone determining pubertal growth and sexual development. The contribution of our data to better clinical evaluation of growth according to the pubertal maturity tempo of each child will obviate the mistakes made when only one pubertal growth reference is used. Copyright © 2018. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U.

  6. Clinical longitudinal standards for height, weight, height velocity, weight velocity, and stages of puberty.

    PubMed Central

    Tanner, J M; Whitehouse, R H

    1976-01-01

    New charts for height, weight, height velocity, and weight velocity are presented for clinical (as opposed to population survey) use. They are based on longitudinal-type growth curves, using the same data as in the British 1965 growth standards. In the velocity standards centiles are given for children who are early- and late-maturing as well as for those who mature at the average age (thus extending the use of the previous charts). Limits of normality for the age of occurrence of the adolescent growth spurt are given and also for the successive stages of penis, testes, and pubic hair development in boys, and for stages of breast and pubic hair development in girls. PMID:952550

  7. [Human growth hormone and Turner syndrome].

    PubMed

    Sánchez Marco, Silvia Beatriz; de Arriba Muñoz, Antonio; Ferrer Lozano, Marta; Labarta Aizpún, José Ignacio; Garagorri Otero, Jesús María

    2017-02-01

    The evaluation of clinical and analytical parameters as predictors of the final growth response in Turner syndrome patients treated with growth hormone. A retrospective study was performed on 25 girls with Turner syndrome (17 treated with growth hormone), followed-up until adult height. Auxological, analytical, genetic and pharmacological parameters were collected. A descriptive and analytical study was conducted to evaluate short (12 months) and long term response to treatment with growth hormone. A favourable treatment response was shown during the first year of treatment in terms of height velocity gain in 66.6% of cases (height-gain velocity >3cm/year). A favourable long-term treatment response was also observed in terms of adult height, which increased by 42.82±21.23cm (1.25±0.76 SDS), with an adult height gain of 9.59±5.39cm (1.68±1.51 SDS). Predictors of good response to growth hormone treatment are: A) initial growth hormone dose, B) time on growth hormone treatment until starting oestrogen therapy, C) increased IGF1 and IGFBP-3 levels in the first year of treatment, and D) height gain velocity in the first year of treatment. Copyright © 2015 Asociación Española de Pediatría. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

  8. Effects on growth and body composition of growth hormone treatment in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis requiring steroid therapy.

    PubMed

    Simon, Dominique; Lucidarme, Nadine; Prieur, Anne-Marie; Ruiz, Jean Charles; Czernichow, Paul

    2003-11-01

    Decreased growth velocity and abnormal body composition including severe osteoporosis are common in glucocorticoid-treated patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). We evaluated the effects of recombinant human growth hormone (GH) given for 3 years on growth velocity, height standard deviation score (SDS), and body composition, together with potential adverse effects on glucose tolerance. Thirteen patients received GH (0.46 mg/kg/week) for 3 years. Body composition was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and glucose tolerance by annual oral glucose tolerance tests. Median growth velocity increased from 2.1 to 6.0 cm/year (p = 0.002) in the first year and remained higher than baseline in the second year of treatment. Height SDS did not change significantly (-4.6 SDS at baseline vs -4.3 SDS at study completion), but the growth response varied markedly across patients. Compared with baseline, lean mass increased by 33%, fat mass remained stable, and lumbar bone mineral density increased by 36.6%. Transient glucose intolerance developed in 6 patients, but glycosylated hemoglobin concentrations did not change significantly and diabetes mellitus did not occur. Treatment with GH restored linear growth without inducing catch-up growth, significantly improved body composition, and prevented further bone loss. Prolonged followup is needed to assess the benefits of GH and longterm consequences of hyperinsulinism.

  9. Pubertal Gynecomastia Coincides with Peak Height Velocity

    PubMed Central

    Limony, Yehuda; Friger, Michael; Hochberg, Ze’ev

    2013-01-01

    Objective: Pubertal gynecomastia (PG) occurs in up to 65% of adolescent boys. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the ages at which PG and peak height velocity occur in pubertal boys. Methods: This was a prospective study that was designed to detect PG within three months of its emergence. We examined one hundred and six boys who were followed for short stature and/or delayed puberty at three month intervals, and gynecomastia was observed in 43 of these boys (40.5%). Results: PG occurred in the 43 boys within a year of their peak height velocity, and most of these boys were at Tanner stage 3 for pubic hair and had testicular volumes between 8-10 mL. Conclusion: It is recommended that evaluation of height growth be included in the diagnostic approach to PG in boys with short stature and/or delayed puberty. The coincidence of age of peak height velocity and PG suggests a causal relationship between the two events and a role of insulin-like growth factor-1. Conflict of interest:None declared. PMID:24072080

  10. Effect of hospital nutrition support on growth velocity and nutritional status of low birth weight infants.

    PubMed

    Azzeh, Firas S; Alazzeh, Awfa Y; Dabbour, Ibrahim R; Jazar, Abdelelah S; Obeidat, Ahmed A

    2014-10-01

    Infants with low birth weights are provided with hospital nutrition support to enhance their survivability and body weights. However, different hospitals have different nutrition support formulas. Therefore, the effectiveness of these nutrition support formulas should be investigated. To assess the effect of hospital nutrition support on growth velocity and nutritional status of low birth weight infants at Al-Noor hospital, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted between October, 2010 and December, 2012. Three hundred newborns were recruited from Al-Noor Hospital in Makkah city, Saudi Arabia. Infants were selected according to their birth weights and were divided equally into three groups; (i) Low Birth Weight (LBW) infants (1501- 2500 g birth weight), (ii) Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) infants (1001-1500 g birth weight) and (iii) Extremely Low Birth Weight (ELBW) infants (< 1000 g birth weight). Data were collected at birth and at discharged. Infants' weights were recorded and growth velocity was calculated. Some biochemical tests and mineral levels were measured. Body mass index values of VLBW and ELBW groups were lower (p < 0.05) than LBW group. The growth velocity of infants in all groups ranged between 8.7 to 10.2 g/kg/d with no differences (p > 0.05) were observed among groups. Serum calcium, phosphorus and potassium levels at discharge were higher (p < 0.05) than that at birth for ELBW and VLBW groups; while sodium level decreased in ELBW group to be within normal ranges. Albumin level was improved (p < 0.05) in ELBW group. Health care management for low birth weight infants in Al-Noor Hospital was not sufficient to achieve normal growth rate for low birth weight infants, while biochemical indicators were remarkably improved in all groups. Copyright AULA MEDICA EDICIONES 2014. Published by AULA MEDICA. All rights reserved.

  11. Velocities of Bone Mineral Accrual in Black and White American Children

    PubMed Central

    Hui, Siu L; Perkins, Anthony J; Harezlak, Jaroslaw; Peacock, Munro; McClintock, Cindy L; Johnston, C Conrad

    2010-01-01

    Black adults have higher bone mass than whites in the United States, but it is not clear when black children gain bone mineral faster than white children. We performed a cohort study to compare the growth velocity of total-body bone mineral content (TBMC) between black and white children of the same sex at different ages and stages of sexual maturity. TBMC and total-body area were measured in a cohort of 188 black and white boys and girls aged 5 to 15 years annually for up to 4 years. Rates of change in TBMC and area were found to vary with age and with Tanner stage. For both TBMC and area, growth velocities between black and white children differed significantly across Tanner stages. Age-specific velocities were higher in black children during prepuberty and initial entry into puberty but reversed in subsequent Tanner stages. Despite earlier entry into each Tanner stage, black children spent only an average of only 0.2 year longer in Tanner stages II through IV, and total gain in TBMC from age 5 to 15 was not higher in whites. In conclusion, the higher bone mass in black adults compared with whites cannot be attributed to faster accrual during puberty. It is due to black children's higher rate of bone mineral accrual in prepuberty and plausibly in postpuberty. Most of the racial difference in TBMC velocity can be explained by growth in size. © 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research. PMID:20200959

  12. In-vivo visualization of melanoma tumor microvessels and blood flow velocity changes accompanying tumor growth

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ishida, Hiroki; Hachiga, Tadashi; Andoh, Tsugunobu; Akiguchi, Shunsuke

    2012-11-01

    We demonstrate that using micro multipoint laser Doppler velocimetry (μ-MLDV) for noninvasive in-vivo imaging of blood vessels is useful for diagnosing malignant melanomas by comparison with visual diagnosis by dermoscopy. The blood flow velocity in microvessels varied during growth of melanomas transplanted in mouse ears. Mouse ears were observed by μ-MLDV up to 16 days after transplantation. The blood flow velocity in the tumor increased with increasing time and reached maximum of 4.5 mm/s at 9 days, which is more than twice that prior to transplantation. After 12 days, when the lesion had grown to an area of 6.6 mm2, we observed the formation of new blood vessels in the tumor. Finally, when the lesion had an area of 18 mm2 after 16 days, the flow velocity in the tumor decreased to approximately 3.2 mm/s.

  13. The Physics of Protoplanetary Dust Agglomerates. X. High-velocity Collisions between Small and Large Dust Agglomerates as a Growth Barrier

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schräpler, Rainer; Blum, Jürgen; Krijt, Sebastiaan; Raabe, Jan-Hendrik

    2018-01-01

    In a protoplanetary disk, dust aggregates in the μm to mm size range possess mean collision velocities of 10–60 m s‑1 with respect to dm- to m-sized bodies. We performed laboratory collision experiments to explore this parameter regime and found a size- and velocity-dependent threshold between erosion and growth. By using a local Monte Carlo coagulation calculation and along with a simple semi-analytical timescale approach, we show that erosion considerably limits particle growth in protoplanetary disks and leads to a steady-state dust-size distribution from μm- to dm-sized particles.

  14. Growth responses of male broilers subjected to increasing air velocities at high ambient temperatures and a high dew point.

    PubMed

    Dozier, W A; Lott, B D; Branton, S L

    2005-06-01

    This study examined live performance responses of male broilers to increasing air velocity of 120 and 180 m/min reared under high cyclic temperatures (25-35-25 degrees C) with a 23 degrees C dew point from 21 to 49 d. Birds were reared in an environmental facility containing 2 wind tunnels (4 pens/tunnel) and 6 floor pens (control). At 21 d, 53 birds were placed in each pen of the wind tunnels and control group, respectively, and growth performance was determined weekly. Increasing air velocity from 120 to 180 m/min improved BW and BW gain from 29 to 35, 36 to 42, and 43 to 49 d of age leading to a cumulative advantage of 287 g in BW gain and a 10-point difference in feed conversion from 21 to 49 d of age. Subjecting birds to air velocity improved growth rate, feed consumption, and feed conversion at each weekly interval from 28 to 49 d over the control birds. These results indicate that male broilers approximating 2.0 to 3.0 kg respond to an air velocity of 180 m/min when exposed to high cyclic temperatures.

  15. The velocity field of growing ear cartilage.

    PubMed Central

    Cox, R W; Peacock, M A

    1978-01-01

    The velocity vector field of the growing rabbit ear cartilage has been investigated between 12 and 299 days. Empirical curves have been computed for path lines and for velocities between 12 and 87 days. The tissue movement has been found to behave as an irrotational flow of material. Stream lines and velocity equipotential lines have been calculated and provide akinematic description of the changes during growth. The importance of a knowledge of the velocity vector in physical descriptions of growth and morphological differentiation at the tissue and cellular levels is emphasized. PMID:689993

  16. Differential nongenetic impact of birth weight versus third-trimester growth velocity on glucose metabolism and magnetic resonance imaging abdominal obesity in young healthy twins.

    PubMed

    Pilgaard, Kasper; Hammershaimb Mosbech, Thomas; Grunnet, Louise; Eiberg, Hans; Van Hall, Gerrit; Fallentin, Eva; Larsen, Torben; Larsen, Rasmus; Poulsen, Pernille; Vaag, Allan

    2011-09-01

    Low birth weight is associated with type 2 diabetes, which to some extent may be mediated via abdominal adiposity and insulin resistance. Fetal growth velocity is high during the third trimester, constituting a potential critical window for organ programming. Intra-pair differences among monozygotic twins are instrumental in determining nongenetic associations between early environment and adult metabolic phenotype. Our objective was to investigate the relationship between size at birth and third-trimester growth velocity on adult body composition and glucose metabolism using intra-pair differences in young healthy twins. Fifty-eight healthy twins (42 monozygotic/16 dizygotic) aged 18-24 yr participated. Insulin sensitivity was assessed using hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps. Whole-body fat was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scan, whereas abdominal visceral and sc fat (L1-L4) were assessed by magnetic resonance imaging. Third-trimester growth velocity was determined by repeated ultrasound examinations. Size at birth was nongenetically inversely associated with adult visceral and sc fat accumulation but unrelated to adult insulin action. In contrast, fetal growth velocity during third trimester was not associated with adult visceral or sc fat accumulation. Interestingly, third-trimester growth was associated with insulin action in a paradoxical inverse manner. Abdominal adiposity including accumulation of both sc and visceral fat may constitute primary nongenetic factors associated with low birth weight and reduced fetal growth before the third trimester. Reduced fetal growth during vs. before the third trimester may define distinct adult trajectories of metabolic and anthropometric characteristics influencing risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

  17. Dietary arginine and linear growth: the Copenhagen School Child Intervention Study.

    PubMed

    van Vught, Anneke J A H; Dagnelie, Pieter C; Arts, Ilja C W; Froberg, Karsten; Andersen, Lars B; El-Naaman, Bianca; Bugge, Anna; Nielsen, Birgit M; Heitman, Berit L

    2013-03-28

    The amino acid arginine is a well-known growth hormone (GH) stimulator and GH is an important modulator of linear growth. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of dietary arginine on growth velocity in children between 7 and 13 years of age. Data from the Copenhagen School Child Intervention Study during 2001-2 (baseline), and at 3-year and 7-year follow-up, were used. Arginine intake was estimated via a 7 d precoded food diary at baseline and 3-year follow-up. Data were analysed in a multilevel structure in which children were embedded within schools. Random intercept and slopes were defined to estimate the association between arginine intake and growth velocity, including the following covariates: sex; age; baseline height; energy intake; puberty stage at 7-year follow-up and intervention/control group. The association between arginine intake and growth velocity was significant for the third and fourth quintile of arginine intake (2.5-2.8 and 2.8-3.2 g/d, respectively) compared with the first quintile ( < 2.2 g/d) (P for trend = 0.04). Protein intake (excluding arginine) was significantly associated with growth velocity; however, the association was weaker than the association between arginine intake and growth velocity (P for trend = 0.14). The results of the present study suggest a dose-dependent physiological role of habitual protein intake, and specifically arginine intake, on linear growth in normally growing children. However, since the study was designed in healthy children, we cannot firmly conclude whether arginine supplementation represents a relevant clinical strategy. Further research is needed to investigate whether dietary arginine may represent a nutritional strategy potentially advantageous for the prevention and treatment of short stature.

  18. Treatment of achondroplasia with growth hormone: six years of experience.

    PubMed

    Ramaswami, U; Rumsby, G; Spoudeas, H A; Hindmarsh, P C; Brook, C G

    1999-10-01

    We describe the effects of recombinant hGH (r-hGH) therapy for up to 6 y on stature and body proportions of 35 children with achondroplasia (Ach). Consecutive height (Ht) measurements were plotted on disease-specific Ach growth curves, but age and sex SD scores (SDS) of Ht, sitting Ht, subischial leg length, and Ht velocity were made with respect to Tanner normal standards. r-hGH was administered by daily subcutaneous injections at a median (range) dose of 30 (15.8-40) U/m2 per week [0.06 (0.04-0.08) mg.kg(-1).24 h(-1)]. Patients were treated for 3 (1-6) y from age 2.25 (1.2-9.3) y. Before treatment, Ht SDS was -4.6 (-6.5 to -3.24). Treatment caused a significant increase in Ht SDS year to year until y 4 (ANOVA F = 46.94; p < 0.01) that was subsequently sustained with no significant further change (y 5 and 6 versus y 4, p > 0.05). When the response to r-hGH was also expressed as a change in Ht velocity, there was a significant increase in the first year of therapy that was maintained over subsequent treatment years (ANOVA = 4.28, p = 0.001). Age was the most important variable accounting for the first-year response in Ht SDS (r2 = 0.41, p < 0.001), and dose of r-hGH did not influence this. Increments in sitting Ht SDS were greater than subischial leg length SDS (F = 26.25, p < 0.001; F = 9.04, p < 0.001, respectively). r-hGH treatment improved the Ht position of Ach children relative to their normal and Ach peers without obvious side effects. A young age at initiation of therapy prevented the characteristic Ht deficit from accumulating. The greater increase in spinal Ht accentuated the existing disproportion. The addition of later surgical leg lengthening could offer the possibility of proportionate adult stature just within the normal range.

  19. Slow Crack Growth of Brittle Materials With Exponential Crack-Velocity Formulation. Part 2; Constant Stress Rate Experiments

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Choi, Sung R.; Nemeth, Noel N.; Gyekenyesi, John P.

    2002-01-01

    The previously determined life prediction analysis based on an exponential crack-velocity formulation was examined using a variety of experimental data on glass and advanced structural ceramics in constant stress rate and preload testing at ambient and elevated temperatures. The data fit to the relation of strength versus the log of the stress rate was very reasonable for most of the materials. Also, the preloading technique was determined equally applicable to the case of slow-crack-growth (SCG) parameter n greater than 30 for both the power-law and exponential formulations. The major limitation in the exponential crack-velocity formulation, however, was that the inert strength of a material must be known a priori to evaluate the important SCG parameter n, a significant drawback as compared with the conventional power-law crack-velocity formulation.

  20. Cognitive ability in adolescents born small for gestational age: Associations with fetal growth velocity, head circumference and postnatal growth.

    PubMed

    Jensen, Rikke Beck; Juul, Anders; Larsen, Torben; Mortensen, Erik Lykke; Greisen, Gorm

    2015-12-01

    Small size at birth may be associated with impaired cognitive ability later in life. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of being born small for gestational age (SGA), with or without intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) on cognitive ability in late adolescence. A follow-up study of a former cohort included 123 participants (52 males); 47 born SGA and 76 born appropriate for gestational age (AGA). Fetal growth velocity (FGV) was determined by serial ultrasound measurements during the third trimester. A control group matched for age and birthplace was included. The original Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) was administered, and verbal, performance and full-scale Intelligence Quotient (IQ) scores were calculated. There was no difference in IQ between adolescents born SGA and AGA. FGV or IUGR during the third trimester did not influence cognitive ability in late adolescence. Full-scale IQ was positively related to head circumference (HC) in adolescence (B: 1.30, 95% CI: 0.32-2.28, p=0.01). HC at birth and three months was positively associated with full-scale IQ. Catch-up growth in the group of SGA children was associated with a significantly increased height, larger HC, increased levels of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and increased full-scale IQ compared to those born SGA without catch-up growth. SGA and IUGR may not be harmful for adult cognitive ability, at least not in individuals born at near-term. However, known risk factors of impaired fetal growth may explain the link between early growth and cognitive ability in adulthood. Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

  1. Growth hormone regimens in Australia: analysis of the first 3 years of treatment for idiopathic growth hormone deficiency and idiopathic short stature.

    PubMed

    Hughes, Ian P; Harris, Mark; Choong, Catherine S; Ambler, Geoff; Cutfield, Wayne; Hofman, Paul; Cowell, Chris T; Werther, George; Cotterill, Andrew; Davies, Peter S W

    2012-07-01

    To investigate response to growth hormone (GH) in the first, second and third years of treatment for all idiopathic GH-deficient (GHD) and idiopathic short stature (ISS) patients in Australia. Eligibility for subsidized GH treatment in Australia is determined on auxological criteria for the indication of Short Stature and Slow Growth (SSSG), which includes ISS (SSSG-ISS). The biochemical GHD (BGHD, peak GH < 10 mU/l) and SSSG indications are treated similarly: starting dose of 4·5 mg/m(2)/week with provision for incremental dosing. Some ISS patients were specifically diagnosed with familial short stature (SSSG-FSS). Responses for each year of treatment for BGHD, SSSG-ISS and SSSG-FSS cohorts were compared in relation to influencing variables and with international benchmarks. The effect of incremental dosing was assessed. Australian BGHD, SSSG-ISS and SSSG-FSS patients who had completed 1, 2, or 3 years of treatment and were currently receiving GH. Growth hormone dose, change in height-standard deviation score (ΔSDS) and growth velocity (GV). First-year response was 2-3 times greater than that in subsequent years: ΔSDS(1st year) = 0·92, 0·50 and 0·46 for BGHD, SSSG-ISS and SSSG-FSS, respectively. Responses were similar to international reports and inversely related to age at commencement of GH. First-year GV-for-age for BGHD patients was similar to international standards for idiopathic GHD. However, girls had an inferior response to boys when treatment commenced at <6 years of age. First-year GV-for-age for SSSG-ISS/FSS patients was less than ISS standards. Dose increments attenuated the first- to second-year decline in response to BGHD but marginally improved the responses for SSSG-ISS/FSS. The Australian auxology-based GH programme produces comparable responses to international programmes. A lower starting dose is offset by the initiation of treatment at younger ages. Incremental dosing does not appear optimal. A first-year dose of 6·4-6·9 mg/m(2)/week

  2. The effect of growth hormone treatment on height in children with idiopathic short stature.

    PubMed

    Jeong, Hwal Rim; Shim, Young Seok; Lee, Hae Sang; Hwang, Jin Soon

    2014-07-01

    Idiopathic short stature (ISS) is short stature of unknown cause. In 2003, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of growth hormone (GH) for ISS. Several studies have evaluated the effect of GH in children with ISS, in whom improved growth velocities and height standard deviation scores (SDS) have been reported. However, clinical variables influence the height improvement. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of GH treatment on ISS and to analyze clinical factors associated with growth velocity. This study was conducted retrospectively. Subjects diagnosed with ISS at Ajou University Hospital were divided into two groups, an ISS with GH-treatment group (n=34) and an ISS control group (n=36). All children were prepubertal, and aged <10 years. We reviewed their auxological data, laboratory findings, and bone age. Growth velocity of the GH-treatment group exceeded that of controls by 3.37 cm/year (95% CI, 2.78-3.95). At baseline, the mean SDS for height in the treatment and control groups were equivalent (-2.25 ± 0.29 and -2.22 ± 0.31, respectively). However, after 1 year, the height of the GH-treated group exceeded that of the control group by 0.73 SDS (95% CI, 0.57-0.88). A negative correlation was found between age and growth velocity in the GH-treatment group. GH treatment increased short-term growth velocity and height SDS of Korean children with ISS. Age was identified as the single most important factor correlated with growth velocity in GH treatment.

  3. Measurement of one-way velocity of light and light-year

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Shao-Guang

    For space science and astronomy the fundamentality of one-way velocity of light (OWVL) is selfevident. The measurement of OWVL (distance / interval) and the clock synchronization with light-signal transfer make a logical circulation. This means that OWVL could not be directly measured but only come indirectly from astronomical method (Romer's Io eclipse and Bradley's sidereal aberration). Furthermore, the light-year by definitional OWVL and the trigonometry distance with AU are also un-measurable. In this report two methods of clock synchronization to solve this problem were proposed: The arriving-time difference of longitudinal-transverse wave (Ts - Tp) or ordinary-extraordinary light (Te - To) is measured by single clock at one end of a dual-speed transmission-line, the signal transmission-delay (from sending-end time Tx to receiving-end time Tp or To) calculated with wave-speed ratio is: (Tp -Tx) = (Ts -Tp) / ((Vp / Vs) - 1) or: (To -Tx) = (Te - To) / ((Vo / Ve ) - 1), where (Vp / Vs) = (E / k) 1/2 is Yang's / shear elastic-modulus ratio obtained by comparing two strains at same stress, (Vo / Ve) = (ne / no) is extraordinary/ordinary light refractive-index ratio obtained by comparing two deflection-angles. Then, two clocks at transmission-line two ends can be synchronized directly to measure the one-way velocity of light and light-year, which work as one earthquakestation with single clock measures first-shake-time and the distance to epicenter. The readings Na and Nb of two counters Ca and Cb with distance L are transferred into a computer C by two leads with transmission-delay Tac and Tbc respectively. The computer progressing subtraction operation exports steady value: (Nb - Na) = f (Ta - Tb ) + f (Tac - Tbc ), where f is the frequency of light-wave always passing Ca and Cb, Ta and Tb are the count-start time of Ca and Cb respectively. From the transmission-delay possess the spatial translational and rotational invariability, the computer exports steady value

  4. Association between Prepregnancy Body Mass Index and Gestational Weight Gain with Size, Tempo, and Velocity of Infant Growth: Analysis of the Newborn Epigenetic Study Cohort.

    PubMed

    Fuemmeler, Bernard F; Wang, Lin; Iversen, Edwin S; Maguire, Rachel; Murphy, Susan K; Hoyo, Cathrine

    2016-06-01

    The first 1000 days of life is a critical period of infant growth that has been linked to future adult health. Understanding prenatal factors that contribute to variation in growth during this period could inform successful prevention strategies. Prenatal and maternal characteristics, including prepregnancy obesity and gestational weight gain were evaluated in relation to weight growth trajectories during the first 24 months of life using the SuperImposition by Translation and Rotation (SITAR) method, which provides estimates of infant size, timing to peak velocity, and growth velocity. The study sample included 704 mother-infant dyads from a multiethnic prebirth cohort from the Southeastern United States. The total number of weight measures was 8670 (median number per child = 14). Several prenatal and maternal characteristics were linked with infant growth parameters. The primary findings show that compared to women with a prepregnancy BMI between 18 and 24.9, women with a prepregnancy BMI ≥40 had infants that were 8% larger during the first 24 months, a delayed tempo of around 9 days, and a slower velocity. Mothers who had greater than adequate gestational weight gain had infants that were 5% larger even after controlling for prepregnancy BMI and several other covariates. The findings contribute new data on the associations between gestational weight gain and aspects of early growth using the SITAR method, and support a growing consensus in the literature that both prepregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain relate independently to risk for greater postnatal weight growth.

  5. Growth hormone responsiveness: peak stimulated growth hormone levels and other variables in idiopathic short stature (ISS): data from the National Cooperative Growth Study.

    PubMed

    Moore, Wayne V; Dana, Ken; Frane, James; Lippe, Barbara

    2008-09-01

    In children with idiopathic short stature (ISS), growth hormone (GH) response to a provocative test will be inversely related to the first year response to hGH and be a variable accounting for a degree of responsiveness. Because high levels of GH are a characteristic of GH insensitivity, such as in Laron syndrome, it is possible that a high stimulated GH is associated with a lower first year height velocity among children diagnosed as having ISS. We examined the relationship between the peak stimulated GH levels in 3 ISS groups; GH >10 -<25, 25-40, and >40 ng/mL and the first year growth response to rhGH therapy. We also looked at 8 other predictor variables (age, sex, height SDS, height age, body mass index (BMI), bone age, dose, and SDS deficit from target parental height. Multiple regression analysis with the first year height as the dependent variable and peak stimulated GH was the primary endpoint. The predictive value of adding each of the other variables was then assessed. Mean change in height velocity was similar among the three groups, with a maximum difference among the groups of 0.6 cm/yr. There was a small but statistically significant correlation (r=-0.12) between the stimulated GH and first year height velocity. The small correlation between first year growth response and peak GH is not clinically relevant in defining GH resistance. No cut off level by peak GH could be determined to enhance the usefulness of this measure to predict response. Baseline age was the only clinically significant predictor, R-squared, 6.4%. All other variables contributed less than an additional 2% to the R-squared.

  6. Growth during infancy and early childhood in relation to blood pressure and body fat measures at age 8-18 years of IVF children and spontaneously conceived controls born to subfertile parents.

    PubMed

    Ceelen, Manon; van Weissenbruch, Mirjam M; Prein, Janneke; Smit, Judith J; Vermeiden, Jan P W; Spreeuwenberg, Marieke; van Leeuwen, Flora E; Delemarre-van de Waal, Henriette A

    2009-11-01

    Little is known about post-natal growth in IVF offspring and the effects of rates of early post-natal growth on blood pressure and body fat composition during childhood and adolescence. The follow-up study comprised 233 IVF children aged 8-18 years and 233 spontaneously conceived controls born to subfertile parents. Growth data from birth to 4 years of age, available for 392 children (n = 193 IVF, n = 199 control), were used to study early post-natal growth. Furthermore, early post-natal growth velocity (weight gain) was related to blood pressure and skinfold measurements at follow-up. We found significantly lower weight, height and BMI standard deviation scores (SDSs) at 3 months, and weight SDS at 6 months of age in IVF children compared with controls. Likewise, IVF children demonstrated a greater gain in weight SDS (P < 0.001), height SDS (P = 0.013) and BMI SDS (P = 0.029) during late infancy (3 months to 1 year) versus controls. Weight gain during early childhood (1-3 years) was related to blood pressure in IVF children (P = 0.014 systolic, 0.04 diastolic) but not in controls. Growth during late infancy was not related to skinfold thickness in IVF children, unlike controls (P = 0.002 peripheral sum, 0.003 total sum). Growth during early childhood was related to skinfold thickness in both IVF and controls (P = 0.005 and 0.01 peripheral sum and P = 0.003 and 0.005 total sum, respectively). Late infancy growth velocity of IVF children was significantly higher compared with controls. Nevertheless, early childhood growth instead of infancy growth seemed to predict cardiovascular risk factors in IVF children. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and to follow-up growth and development of IVF children into adulthood.

  7. Twenty Years of Precise Radial Velocities at Keck and Lick Observatories

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Wright, J. T.

    2015-10-01

    The precise radial velocity survey at Keck Observatory began over 20 years ago. Its survey of thousands of stars now has the time baseline to be sensitive to planets with decade-long orbits, including Jupiter analogs. I present several newly-finished orbital solutions for long-period giant planets. Although hot Jupiters are generally ``lonely'' (i.e. they are not part of multiplanet systems), those that are not appear to often have giant companions at 5 AU or beyond. I present two of the highest period-ratios among planets in a two-planet system, and some of the longest orbital periods ever measured for exoplanets. In many cases, combining Keck radial velocities from those from other long-term surveys at Lick Observatory, McDonald Observatory, HARPS, and, of course, OHP spectrographs, produces superior orbital fits, constraining both period and eccentricity better than could be possible with any single set alone. Stellar magnetic activity cycles can masquerade as long-period planets. In most cases this effect is very small, but a loud minority of stars, including, apparently, HD 154345, show very strong RV-activity correlations.

  8. Association between Prepregnancy Body Mass Index and Gestational Weight Gain with Size, Tempo, and Velocity of Infant Growth: Analysis of the Newborn Epigenetic Study Cohort

    PubMed Central

    Wang, Lin; Iversen, Edwin S.; Maguire, Rachel; Murphy, Susan K.; Hoyo, Cathrine

    2016-01-01

    Abstract Background: The first 1000 days of life is a critical period of infant growth that has been linked to future adult health. Understanding prenatal factors that contribute to variation in growth during this period could inform successful prevention strategies. Methods: Prenatal and maternal characteristics, including prepregnancy obesity and gestational weight gain were evaluated in relation to weight growth trajectories during the first 24 months of life using the SuperImposition by Translation and Rotation (SITAR) method, which provides estimates of infant size, timing to peak velocity, and growth velocity. The study sample included 704 mother-infant dyads from a multiethnic prebirth cohort from the Southeastern United States. The total number of weight measures was 8670 (median number per child = 14). Results: Several prenatal and maternal characteristics were linked with infant growth parameters. The primary findings show that compared to women with a prepregnancy BMI between 18 and 24.9, women with a prepregnancy BMI ≥40 had infants that were 8% larger during the first 24 months, a delayed tempo of around 9 days, and a slower velocity. Mothers who had greater than adequate gestational weight gain had infants that were 5% larger even after controlling for prepregnancy BMI and several other covariates. Conclusions: The findings contribute new data on the associations between gestational weight gain and aspects of early growth using the SITAR method, and support a growing consensus in the literature that both prepregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain relate independently to risk for greater postnatal weight growth. PMID:27135650

  9. Growth and Your 2- to 3-Year-Old

    MedlinePlus

    ... for Educators Search English Español Growth and Your 2- to 3-Year-Old KidsHealth / For Parents / Growth and Your 2- to 3-Year-Old Print During the third ... 4 pounds (1.8 kilograms) and grow about 2 to 3 inches (5 to 8 centimeters). They' ...

  10. Impact of carbon dioxide level, water velocity, and feeding regimen on growth and fillet attributes of cultured rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Mazik, Patricia M.; Mazik, P.M.; Kenney, P.B.; Silverstein, J.T

    2016-01-01

    Production and management variables such as carbon dioxide (CO2) level, water velocity, and feeding frequency influence the growth and fillet attributes of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), as well as cost of production. More information is needed to determine the contributions of these variables to growth and fillet attributes to find the right balance between input costs and fish performance. Two studies, of 84 and 90 days duration, were conducted to determine the effects of CO2 level, water velocity, and feed frequency on rainbow trout growth, fillet yield, and fillet quality. In the first study, two CO2levels (30 and 49 mg/L) and two velocity levels (0.5 and 2.0 body lengths/s) were tested. In the second study two CO2 levels (30 and 49 mg/L) and two feeding regimens (fed once daily to satiation or three times daily to satiation) were tested. In the first study, after 84 days, fillet weight from high CO2 tanks was 13.5% lower than the fillet weights of fish from low CO2 tanks. Percent fat of fillets was higher in low CO2 fish (P = 0.05) after 84 days and, fish from the low CO2 treatment were larger (P < 0.01). Both studies had similar results in regards to fat content and weight of fillets in response to elevated CO2levels. Velocity had little affect on either whole wet weight or fillet attributes of rainbow trout in this study. Muscle tissue contained more (P < 0.01) fat when fish were fed three times daily (7.3%; day 90) compared to once daily (5.4%; day 90). Also, fish were larger (P < 0.05) when fed 3 times per day (1079 g; day 90) in comparison to only one daily feeding (792 g; day 90). Fish in high feed/high CO2 tanks were larger and had more fillet fat than fish from low feed/low CO2 tanks. To maximize rainbow trout growth at aquaculture facilities, management strategies should attempt to keep CO2 levels below 30 mg/L when cost efficient. However, feeding 2–3 times daily should reduce production losses if CO2 cannot be minimized. The

  11. Two-stream instability with time-dependent drift velocity

    DOE PAGES

    Qin, Hong; Davidson, Ronald C.

    2014-06-26

    The classical two-stream instability driven by a constant relative drift velocity between two plasma components is extended to the case with time-dependent drift velocity. A solution method is developed to rigorously define and calculate the instability growth rate for linear perturbations relative to the time-dependent unperturbed two-stream motions. The stability diagrams for the oscillating two-stream instability are presented over a large region of parameter space. It is shown that the growth rate for the classical two-stream instability can be significantly reduced by adding an oscillatory component to the relative drift velocity.

  12. The longitudinal sagittal growth changes of maxilla and mandible according to quantitative cervical vertebral maturation.

    PubMed

    Chen, Lili; Lin, Jiuxiang; Xu, Tianmin; Long, Xiaosi

    2009-04-01

    To investigate the longitudinal sagittal growth changes of maxilla and mandible according to the quantitative cervical vertebral maturation (QCVM) for adolescents with normal occlusion, mixed longitudinal data were used. The samples included 87 adolescents aged from 8 to 18 y old with normal occlusion (32 males, 55 females) selected from 901 candidates. Sequential lateral cephalograms and hand-wrist films were taken once a year, lasting for 6 y. The longitudinal sagittal growth changes of maxilla and mandible according to QCVM were measured. There were some significant differences between maxilla and mandible according to QCVM. The sagittal growth change of maxilla showed a trend towards high velocity-->decelerating velocity-->completing velocity from QCVM stage I to stage IV. The sagittal growth change of mandible showed a trend towards accelerating velocity-->high velocity-->decelerating velocity-->completing velocity from QCVM stage I to stage IV. With sagittal relationship, growth magnitude was almost the same between maxilla and mandible at QCVM stage I. At stage II the growth of mandible exceeded that of maxilla and growth in mandible continued at stages III and IV, while the maxilla ceased to grow. Growth magnitude was greater and the growth duration was longer with male mandible. It is concluded that the longitudinal sagittal growth changes of maxilla and mandible on the basis of QCVM is of value in the orthodontic practice.

  13. Slow Crack Growth of Brittle Materials With Exponential Crack-Velocity Formulation. Part 1; Analysis

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Choi, Sung R.; Nemeth, Noel N.; Gyekenyesi, John P.

    2002-01-01

    Extensive slow-crack-growth (SCG) analysis was made using a primary exponential crack-velocity formulation under three widely used load configurations: constant stress rate, constant stress, and cyclic stress. Although the use of the exponential formulation in determining SCG parameters of a material requires somewhat inconvenient numerical procedures, the resulting solutions presented gave almost the same degree of simplicity in both data analysis and experiments as did the power-law formulation. However, the fact that the inert strength of a material should be known in advance to determine the corresponding SCG parameters was a major drawback of the exponential formulation as compared with the power-law formulation.

  14. Catch-up growth in term and preterm infants after surgical closure of ventricular septal defect in the first year of life.

    PubMed

    Correia Martins, Luísa; Lourenço, Rita; Cordeiro, Susana; Carvalho, Nuno; Mendes, Inês; Loureiro, Marisa; Patrício, Miguel; Anjos, Rui

    2016-04-01

    Growth impairment in infants with unrestrictive ventricular septal defects (VSD) is common, and normalisation of growth has been reported after surgical correction. Literature is inconsistent about growth velocity after surgery in term and preterm infants. We aimed to establish the pattern of catch-up growth in term and preterm infants submitted to VSD surgical correction before 1 year of age. Fifty-two infants (41 term, 11 preterm) were studied. Anthropometric data at birth, surgery and 3, 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery were collected retrospectively. Statistic analyses were performed in SPSS® version 21. At the time of surgery, growth was severely impaired in term and preterm infants. Term infants underwent a period of fast growth within the first 6 months after surgery, achieving posteriorly a normal growth pattern, as both weight and height were not significantly different from the reference population at 24 months after surgery. Preterms caught-up later than term infants but with a significant weight gain within 3 months after surgery. Early surgical repair of VSD leads to a significant acceleration of growth within 3 to 6 months after surgery, for both groups. • Growth impairment in infants with unrestrictive ventricular septal defects is well documented in literature. • Surgical correction in the first months of life is the current option for most ventricular septal defects, leading to a more favourable growth pattern. • Rapid growth during infancy may be associated with the development of insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome, obesity and cardiovascular disease later in life. What is New: • Literature is inconsistent about catch-up growth velocities after ventricular correction for term infants. • Preterm infants have never been enrolled in previous studies that aimed to establish a pattern of growth after surgery. • This group of children, who underwent a rapid post-surgery catch-up growth that follows a period of failure to thrive, may be

  15. Inhaled corticosteroids in children with persistent asthma: effects on growth.

    PubMed

    Zhang, Linjie; Prietsch, Sílvio O M; Ducharme, Francine M

    2014-07-17

    the treated child. We included 25 trials involving 8471 (5128 ICS-treated and 3343 control) children with mild to moderate persistent asthma. Six molecules (beclomethasone dipropionate, budesonide, ciclesonide, flunisolide, fluticasone propionate and mometasone furoate) [corrected] given at low or medium daily doses were used during a period of three months to four to six years. Most trials were blinded and over half of the trials had drop out rates of over 20%.Compared with placebo or non-steroidal drugs, ICS produced a statistically significant reduction in linear growth velocity (14 trials with 5717 participants, MD -0.48 cm/y, 95% CI -0.65 to -0.30, moderate quality evidence) and in the change from baseline in height (15 trials with 3275 participants; MD -0.61 cm/y, 95% CI -0.83 to -0.38, moderate quality evidence) during a one-year treatment period.Subgroup analysis showed a statistically significant group difference between six molecules in the mean reduction of linear growth velocity during one-year treatment (Chi² = 26.1, degrees of freedom (df) = 5, P value < 0.0001). The group difference persisted even when analysis was restricted to the trials using doses equivalent to 200 μg/d hydrofluoroalkane (HFA)-beclomethasone. Subgroup analyses did not show a statistically significant impact of daily dose (low vs medium), inhalation device or participant age on the magnitude of ICS-induced suppression of linear growth velocity during a one-year treatment period. However, head-to-head comparisons are needed to assess the effects of different drug molecules, dose, inhalation device or patient age. No statistically significant difference in linear growth velocity was found between participants treated with ICS and controls during the second year of treatment (five trials with 3174 participants; MD -0.19 cm/y, 95% CI -0.48 to 0.11, P value 0.22). Of two trials that reported linear growth velocity in the third year of treatment, one trial involving 667 participants

  16. Growth after thinning in 110-year old Douglas-fir.

    Treesearch

    Vern P. Yerkes

    1960-01-01

    A 6-year record of growth after thinning indicates that 110-year-old Douglas-fir stands on site 111 land have passed the age when growth capacity can be fully transferred to fewer stems through thinning.

  17. Growth hormone treatment of growth failure secondary to total body irradiation and bone marrow transplantation.

    PubMed Central

    Papadimitriou, A; Urena, M; Hamill, G; Stanhope, R; Leiper, A D

    1991-01-01

    Growth hormone was given to 13 children (nine boys, four girls) with acute leukaemia who had undergone treatment with cyclophosphamide and total body irradiation before bone marrow transplantation. Mean age at total body irradiation and bone marrow transplantation was 9.0 years (range 3.7-15.8). Endocrinological investigation was carried out at a mean of 2.0 years (range 0.4-4.0) after bone marrow transplantation. Peak serum growth hormone responses to hypoglycaemia were less than 10.0 micrograms/l (less than 20.0 mU/l) in 10, 10.5 micrograms/l (21.0 mU/l) in one, greater than 16.0 micrograms/l (greater than 32.0 mU/l) in two patients. Mean age of the patients at the start of growth hormone treatment was 12.2 years (range 5.8-18.2). The mean time between total body irradiation and bone marrow transplantation and the start of growth hormone treatment was 3.2 years (range, 1.1-5.0). Height velocity SD score (SD) increased from a mean pretreatment value of -1.27 (0.65) to + 0.22 (0.81) in the first year, +0.16 (1.11) in the second year, and +0.42 (0.71) in the third year of treatment. Height SD score (SD) changed only slightly from -1.52 (0.42) to -1.50 (0.47) in the first year, to -1.50 (0.46) in the second year, and -1.74 (0.92) in the third year. Measurement of segmental proportions showed no significant increase in subischial leg length from -0.87 (0.67) to -0.63 (0.65) in the first year, to -0.58 (0.70) in the second year, and -0.80 (1.14) in the third year of treatment. Our data indicate that children who have undergone total body irradiation and bone marrow transplantation respond to treatment with growth hormone in either of two dose regimens, with an increase in height velocity that is adequate to restore a normal growth rate but not to 'catch up', and that total body irradiation impairs not only spinal but also leg growth, possibly by a direct effect of irradiation on the epiphyses and soft tissues. PMID:2053788

  18. Evaluation of growth hormone release and human growth hormone treatment in children with cranial irradiation-associated short stature

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

    Romshe, C.A.; Zipf, W.B.; Miser, A.

    1984-02-01

    We studied nine children who had received cranial irradiation for various malignancies and subsequently experienced decreased growth velocity. Their response to standard growth hormone stimulation and release tests were compared with that in seven children with classic GH deficiency and in 24 short normal control subjects. With arginine and L-dopa stimulation, six of nine patients who received radiation had a normal GH response (greater than 7 ng/ml), whereas by design none of the GH deficient and all of the normal children had a positive response. Only two of nine patients had a normal response to insulin hypoglycemia, with no significantmore » differences in the mean maximal response of the radiation and the GH-deficient groups. Pulsatile secretion was not significantly different in the radiation and GH-deficient groups, but was different in the radiation and normal groups. All subjects in the GH-deficient and radiation groups were given human growth hormone for 1 year. Growth velocity increased in all, with no significant difference in the response of the two groups when comparing the z scores for growth velocity of each subject's bone age. We recommend a 6-month trial of hGH in children who have had cranial radiation and are in prolonged remission with a decreased growth velocity, as there is no completely reliable combination of GH stimulation or release tests to determine their response.« less

  19. Upstream gyrophase bunched ions - A mechanism for creation at the bow shock and the growth of velocity space structure through gyrophase mixing

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Gurgiolo, C.; Parks, G. K.; Mauk, G. H.

    1983-01-01

    The conditions necessary for the production of gyrophase bunched ions at the bow shock are developed. The conditions are applied to the reflection mechanism presented by Paschmann et al. (1980), showing that when in their model a portion of the incident parallel velocity is converted into reflected perpendicular velocity, the reflected particles are gyrophase bunched. The growth of velocity space structure in the gyrophase bunched distribution through gyrophase mixing is also explored. The structure is found to be similar to that reported in diffuse and dispersed ion events. This together with the close correlation of the observation of gyrophase bunched ions with diffuse and dispersed ions has led us to speculate that these two populations may be closely related.

  20. Slow Crack Growth of Brittle Materials With Exponential Crack-Velocity Formulation. Part 3; Constant Stress and Cyclic Stress Experiments

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Choi, Sung R.; Nemeth, Noel N.; Gyekenyesi, John P.

    2002-01-01

    The previously determined life prediction analysis based on an exponential crack-velocity formulation was examined using a variety of experimental data on advanced structural ceramics tested under constant stress and cyclic stress loading at ambient and elevated temperatures. The data fit to the relation between the time to failure and applied stress (or maximum applied stress in cyclic loading) was very reasonable for most of the materials studied. It was also found that life prediction for cyclic stress loading from data of constant stress loading in the exponential formulation was in good agreement with the experimental data, resulting in a similar degree of accuracy as compared with the power-law formulation. The major limitation in the exponential crack-velocity formulation, however, was that the inert strength of a material must be known a priori to evaluate the important slow-crack-growth (SCG) parameter n, a significant drawback as compared with the conventional power-law crack-velocity formulation.

  1. Catch-up growth and growth deficits: Nine-year annual panel child growth for native Amazonians in Bolivia

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Rebecca; Undurraga, Eduardo A.; Zeng, Wu; Reyes-García, Victoria; Tanner, Susan; Leonard, William R.; Behrman, Jere R.; Godoy, Ricardo A.

    2017-01-01

    Background Childhood growth stunting is negatively associated with cognitive and health outcomes, claimed to be irreversible after age 2. Aim To estimate growth rates for children 2 ≤ age ≤ 7 who were stunted (sex-age standardized z-score [HAZ] <−2), marginally-stunted (−2≤ HAZ ≤ −1), or not-stunted (HAZ >−1) at baseline and tracked annually until age 11; frequency of movement among height categories; and variation in height predicted by early childhood height. Participants/methods We used a nine-year annual panel (2002–2010) from a native Amazonian society of horticulturalists-foragers (Tsimane’; n=174 girls; 179 boys at baseline) is used. We used descriptive statistics and random-effect regressions. Results We found some evidence of catch-up growth in HAZ but persistent height deficits. Children stunted at baseline improved 1 HAZ unit by age 11, and had higher annual growth rates than non-stunted children. Marginally-stunted boys had a 0.1 HAZ units higher annual growth rate than non-stunted boys. Despite some catch up, ~80% of marginally-stunted children at baseline remained marginally-stunted by age 11. The height deficit increased from age 2 to11. We found modest year-to-year movement between height categories. Conclusions The prevalence of growth faltering among the Tsimane’ has declined, but hurdles still substantially lock children into height categories. PMID:27251215

  2. Growth references for Tsimane forager-horticulturalists of the Bolivian Amazon

    PubMed Central

    Blackwell, Aaron D.; Urlacher, Samuel S.; Beheim, Bret; von Rueden, Christopher; Jaeggi, Adrian; Stieglitz, Jonathan; Trumble, Benjamin C.; Gurven, Michael; Kaplan, Hillard

    2016-01-01

    Objectives Growth standards and references currently used to assess population and individual health are derived primarily from urban populations, including few individuals from indigenous or subsistence groups. Given environmental and genetic differences, growth may vary in these populations. Thus, there is a need to assess whether international standards are appropriate for all populations, and to produce population specific references if growth differs. Here we present and assess growth references for the Tsimane, an indigenous population of Bolivian forager-horticulturalists. Methods Mixed cross-sectional/longitudinal anthropometrics (9,614 individuals; 30,118 observations; ages 0–29 years) were used to generate centile curves and Lambda-Mu-Sigma (LMS) tables for height-for-age, weight-for-age, body mass index (BMI)-for-age, and weight-for-height (WFH) using Generalized Additive Models for Location Shape and Scale (GAMLSS). Velocity curves were generated using SuperImposition by Translation and Rotation (SITAR). Tsimane ≤5 years were compared World Health Organization (WHO) standards while those >5 years were compared to WHO school age references. All ages were compared to published references for Shuar forager-horticulturalists of the Ecuadorian Amazon. Results Tsimane growth differs from WHO values in height and weight, but is similar for BMI and WFH. Tsimane growth is characterized by slow height velocity in childhood and early adolescent peak height velocity at 11.3 and 13.2 years for girls and boys. Tsimane growth patterns are similar to Shuar, suggesting shared features of growth among indigenous South Americans. Conclusions International references for BMI-for-age and WFH are likely appropriate for Tsimane, but differences in height-for-age and weight-for-age suggest Tsimane specific references may be useful for these measures. PMID:28218400

  3. Growth references for Tsimane forager-horticulturalists of the Bolivian Amazon.

    PubMed

    Blackwell, Aaron D; Urlacher, Samuel S; Beheim, Bret; von Rueden, Christopher; Jaeggi, Adrian; Stieglitz, Jonathan; Trumble, Benjamin C; Gurven, Michael; Kaplan, Hillard

    2017-03-01

    Growth standards and references currently used to assess population and individual health are derived primarily from urban populations, including few individuals from indigenous or subsistence groups. Given environmental and genetic differences, growth may vary in these populations. Thus, there is a need to assess whether international standards are appropriate for all populations, and to produce population specific references if growth differs. Here we present and assess growth references for the Tsimane, an indigenous population of Bolivian forager-horticulturalists. Mixed cross-sectional/longitudinal anthropometrics (9,614 individuals; 30,118 observations; ages 0-29 years) were used to generate centile curves and Lambda-Mu-Sigma (LMS) tables for height-for-age, weight-for-age, body mass index (BMI)-for-age, and weight-for-height (WFH) using Generalized Additive Models for Location Shape and Scale (GAMLSS). Velocity curves were generated using SuperImposition by Translation and Rotation (SITAR). Tsimane ≤5 years were compared to World Health Organization (WHO) standards while those >5 years were compared to WHO school age references. All ages were compared to published references for Shuar forager-horticulturalists of the Ecuadorian Amazon. Tsimane growth differs from WHO values in height and weight, but is similar for BMI and WFH. Tsimane growth is characterized by slow height velocity in childhood and early adolescent peak height velocity at 11.3 and 13.2 years for girls and boys. Tsimane growth patterns are similar to Shuar, suggesting shared features of growth among indigenous South Americans. International references for BMI-for-age and WFH are likely appropriate for Tsimane, but differences in height-for-age and weight-for-age suggest Tsimane specific references may be useful for these measures. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  4. In search of average growth: describing within-year oral reading fluency growth across Grades 1-8.

    PubMed

    Nese, Joseph F T; Biancarosa, Gina; Cummings, Kelli; Kennedy, Patrick; Alonzo, Julie; Tindal, Gerald

    2013-10-01

    Measures of oral reading fluency (ORF) are perhaps the most often used assessment to monitor student progress as part of a response to intervention (RTI) model. Rates of growth in research and aim lines in practice are used to characterize student growth; in either case, growth is generally defined as linear, increasing at a constant rate. Recent research suggests ORF growth follows a nonlinear trajectory, but limitations related to the datasets used in such studies, composed of only three testing occasions, curtails their ability to examine the true functional form of ORF growth. The purpose of this study was to model within-year ORF growth using up to eight testing occasions for 1448 students in Grades 1 to 8 to assess (a) the average growth trajectory for within-year ORF growth, (b) whether students vary significantly in within-year ORF growth, and (c) the extent to which findings are consistent across grades. Results demonstrated that for Grades 1 to 7, a quadratic growth model fit better than either linear or cubic growth models, and for Grade 8, there was no substantial, stable growth. Findings suggest that the expectation for linear growth currently used in practice may be unrealistic. Copyright © 2013 Society for the Study of School Psychology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. Measurement of Hydrodynamic Growth near Peak Velocity in an Inertial Confinement Fusion Capsule Implosion using a Self-Radiography Technique

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Pickworth, L. A.; Hammel, B. A.; Smalyuk, V. A.; MacPhee, A. G.; Scott, H. A.; Robey, H. F.; Landen, O. L.; Barrios, M. A.; Regan, S. P.; Schneider, M. B.; Hoppe, M.; Kohut, T.; Holunga, D.; Walters, C.; Haid, B.; Dayton, M.

    2016-07-01

    First measurements of hydrodynamic growth near peak implosion velocity in an inertial confinement fusion (ICF) implosion at the National Ignition Facility were obtained using a self-radiographing technique and a preimposed Legendre mode 40, λ =140 μ m , sinusoidal perturbation. These are the first measurements of the total growth at the most unstable mode from acceleration Rayleigh-Taylor achieved in any ICF experiment to date, showing growth of the areal density perturbation of ˜7000 × . Measurements were made at convergences of ˜5 to ˜10 × at both the waist and pole of the capsule, demonstrating simultaneous measurements of the growth factors from both lines of sight. The areal density growth factors are an order of magnitude larger than prior experimental measurements and differed by ˜2 × between the waist and the pole, showing asymmetry in the measured growth factors. These new measurements significantly advance our ability to diagnose perturbations detrimental to ICF implosions, uniquely intersecting the change from an accelerating to decelerating shell, with multiple simultaneous angular views.

  6. Measurement of hydrodynamic growth near peak velocity in an inertial confinement fusion capsule implosion using a self-radiography technique

    DOE PAGES

    Pickworth, L. A.; Hammel, B. A.; Smalyuk, V. A.; ...

    2016-07-11

    First measurements of hydrodynamic growth near peak implosion velocity in an inertial confinement fusion (ICF) implosion at the National Ignition Facility were obtained using a self-radiographing technique and a preimposed Legendre mode 40, λ = 140 μm, sinusoidal perturbation. These are the first measurements of the total growth at the most unstable mode from acceleration Rayleigh-Taylor achieved in any ICF experiment to date, showing growth of the areal density perturbation of ~7000×. Measurements were made at convergences of ~5 to ~10× at both the waist and pole of the capsule, demonstrating simultaneous measurements of the growth factors from both linesmore » of sight. The areal density growth factors are an order of magnitude larger than prior experimental measurements and differed by ~2× between the waist and the pole, showing asymmetry in the measured growth factors. As a result, these new measurements significantly advance our ability to diagnose perturbations detrimental to ICF implosions, uniquely intersecting the change from an accelerating to decelerating shell, with multiple simultaneous angular views.« less

  7. The effect of glossopexy on weight velocity in infants with Pierre Robin syndrome.

    PubMed

    Cozzi, Francesco; Totonelli, Giorgia; Frediani, Simone; Zani, Augusto; Spagnol, Lorna; Cozzi, Denis A

    2008-02-01

    In infants with Pierre Robin syndrome (PRS), mandibular distraction may be more advantageous than glossopexy as it not only relieves oropharyngeal airway obstruction but also reverses body growth retardation. Because no data are available on body weight velocity after glossopexy, we assessed longitudinally the body weight velocity in a cohort of children undergoing glossopexy. The records of 48 infants with PRS undergoing glossopexy after unsuccessful nonoperative treatment between 1981 and 2005 were reviewed. Weight measurements were analyzed at 4 time-points: at birth, on admission for glossopexy, on admission for lysis of lip-tongue adhesion (TLA), and at follow-up. Weight velocity was assessed using Tanner's tables. Adhesion dehiscence occurred in 9 patients (18.7%). Lip-tongue adhesion resolved airway compromise in 36 infants (75%). Release of TLA was accomplished in 34 patients. Data on weight velocity from birth to follow-up (mean, 5.57 +/- 0.59 years) were available for 31 patients. After glossopexy, mean body weight increased from the 9.7 +/- 2.6th to the 17.5 +/- 4.6th percentile (P > .05), whereas mean weight velocity increased from the 19.1 +/- 4.9th to the 74.2 +/- 4.7th percentile (P < .001). No temporal correlation was found between glossopexy and oropharyngeal dysphagia. In infants with PRS, glossopexy is a valid alternative to mandibular distraction because it does not cause decline in body growth.

  8. Ten-year growth of planted slash pine after thinnings

    Treesearch

    Hans G. Enghardt; W.F. Mann

    1972-01-01

    volume growth of slash pine between ages 17 and 27 years was directly related to residual basal area per acre after thinning. Diameter growth was inversely related to stand density, and very heavy cutting was required to attain a rate of 3 inches in 10 years.

  9. HMI Measured Doppler Velocity Contamination from the SDO Orbit Velocity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Scherrer, Phil; HMI Team

    2016-10-01

    The Problem: The SDO satellite is in an inclined Geo-sync orbit which allows uninterrupted views of the Sun nearly 98% of the time. This orbit has a velocity of about 3,500 m/s with the solar line-of-sight component varying with time of day and time of year. Due to remaining calibration errors in wavelength filters the orbit velocity leaks into the line-of-sight solar velocity and magnetic field measurements. Since the same model of the filter is used in the Milne-Eddington inversions used to generate the vector magnetic field data, the orbit velocity also contaminates the vector magnetic products. These errors contribute 12h and 24h variations in most HMI data products and are known as the 24-hour problem. Early in the mission we made a patch to the calibration that corrected the disk mean velocity. The resulting LOS velocity has been used for helioseismology with no apparent problems. The velocity signal has about a 1% scale error that varies with time of day and with velocity, i.e. it is non-linear for large velocities. This causes leaks into the LOS field (which is simply the difference between velocity measured in LCP and RCP rescaled for the Zeeman splitting). This poster reviews the measurement process, shows examples of the problem, and describes recent work at resolving the issues. Since the errors are in the filter characterization it makes most sense to work first on the LOS data products since they, unlike the vector products, are directly and simply related to the filter profile without assumptions on the solar atmosphere, filling factors, etc. Therefore this poster is strictly limited to understanding how to better understand the filter profiles as they vary across the field and with time of day and time in years resulting in velocity errors of up to a percent and LOS field estimates with errors up to a few percent (of the standard LOS magnetograph method based on measuring the differences in wavelength of the line centroids in LCP and RCP light). We

  10. Cerebral Palsy and Growth Failure at 6 to 7 Years

    PubMed Central

    Stephens, Bonnie E.; McDonald, Scott A.; Ehrenkranz, Richard A.; Laptook, Abbot R.; Pappas, Athina; Hintz, Susan R.; Shankaran, Seetha; Higgins, Rosemary D.; Das, Abhik

    2013-01-01

    OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between severity of cerebral palsy (CP) and growth to 6 to 7 years of age among children with moderate to severe (Mod/Sev) hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). It was hypothesized that children with Mod/Sev CP would have poorer growth, lower cognitive scores, and increased rehospitalization rates compared with children with no CP (No CP). METHODS: Among 115 of 122 surviving children followed in the hypothermia trial for neonatal HIE, growth parameters and neurodevelopmental status at 18 to 22 months and 6 to 7 years were available. Group comparisons (Mod/Sev CP and No CP) with unadjusted and adjusted analyses for growth <10th percentile and z scores by using Fisher’s exact tests and regression modeling were conducted. RESULTS: Children with Mod/Sev CP had high rates of slow growth and cognitive and motor impairment and rehospitalizations at 18 to 22 months and 6 to 7 years. At 6 to 7 years of age, children with Mod/Sev CP had increased rates of growth parameters <10th percentile compared with those with No CP (weight, 57% vs 3%; height, 70% vs 2%; and head circumference, 82% vs 13%; P < .0001). Increasing severity of slow growth was associated with increasing age (P < .04 for weight, P < .001 for length, and P < .0001 for head circumference). Gastrostomy feeds were associated with better growth. CONCLUSIONS: Term children with HIE who develop Mod/Sev CP have high and increasing rates of growth <10th percentile by 6 to 7 years of age. These findings support the need for close medical and nutrition management of children with HIE who develop CP. PMID:24019415

  11. Coupling between interface and velocity perturbations in the weakly nonlinear Rayleigh-Taylor instability

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

    Wang, L. F.; Ye, W. H.; He, X. T.

    2012-11-15

    Weakly nonlinear (WN) Rayleigh-Taylor instability (RTI) initiated by single-mode cosinusoidal interface and velocity perturbations is investigated analytically up to the third order. Expressions of the temporal evolutions of the amplitudes of the first three harmonics are derived. It is shown that there are coupling between interface and velocity perturbations, which plays a prominent role in the WN growth. When the 'equivalent amplitude' of the initial velocity perturbation, which is normalized by its linear growth rate, is compared to the amplitude of the initial interface perturbation, the coupling between them dominates the WN growth of the RTI. Furthermore, the RTI wouldmore » be mitigated by initiating a velocity perturbation with a relative phase shift against the interface perturbation. More specifically, when the phase shift between the interface perturbation and the velocity perturbation is {pi} and their equivalent amplitudes are equal, the RTI could be completely quenched. If the equivalent amplitude of the initial velocity perturbation is equal to the initial interface perturbation, the difference between the WN growth of the RTI initiated by only an interface perturbation and by only a velocity perturbation is found to be asymptotically negligible. The dependence of the WN growth on the Atwood numbers and the initial perturbation amplitudes is discussed. In particular, we investigate the dependence of the saturation amplitude (time) of the fundamental mode on the Atwood numbers and the initial perturbation amplitudes. It is found that the Atwood numbers and the initial perturbation amplitudes play a crucial role in the WN growth of the RTI. Thus, it should be included in applications where the seeds of the RTI have velocity perturbations, such as inertial confinement fusion implosions and supernova explosions.« less

  12. Fetal growth restriction: relation to growth and obesity at the age of 9 years.

    PubMed

    Chakraborty, Supratik; Joseph, Desaline Veronica; Bankart, Michael John Gordon; Petersen, Stewart A; Wailoo, Michael P

    2007-11-01

    To assess growth patterns of 9-year-old children, some of whom had intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). 75 9-year-old children (41 were IUGR infants) were weighed and measured at birth, at 1 year, at 2 years and at 9 years of age. Using general linear models for continuous data, changes in weight z scores were used to quantify growth rate between birth and 9 years of age. IUGR children were smaller at birth (weight z score -2.1 v 0.2 in normal children; p<0.001) but showed a greater increase in their weight between birth and 9 years (change of weight z score 1.5 v 0.4 in normal children; p = 0.001). At the age of 9 years the weight, height and body mass index (BMI) z scores were lower in IUGR children than the control children (weight z score -0.4 v 0.6, respectively; p<0.001, height z score -0.5 v 0, respectively; p = 0.002, BMI z score -0.2 v 0.7, respectively; p = 0.002). The predictors of these differences were IUGR, birth weight and maternal and paternal heights. IUGR infants grow faster but remain shorter and lighter than their normal counterparts-that is, they fail to fully catch up by 9 years of age.

  13. Influence of temperature oscillations on the interface velocity during Bridgman crystal growth

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Stelian, Carmen; Duffar, Thierry; Santailler, Jean-Louis; Nicoara, Irina

    2002-04-01

    The objective of this work is the study of the effect of thermal oscillations on the interface velocity in the vertical Bridgman configuration. In order to study this effect, a transient numerical simulation of the heat transfer and melt convection is performed in a simplified geometrical model. The relation between the thermal signal amplitude and the amplitude of the velocity oscillations is investigated. When the oscillation period is varied, an asymptotic evolution of the velocity oscillation amplitude, with a cut-off period, is observed. It is shown that latent heat of solidification has a huge effect on the velocity amplitude, but not on the cut-off frequency.

  14. Growth and Your 13-to 18-Year-Old

    MedlinePlus

    ... is a time of dramatic change for both boys and girls. Hormone-driven changes are accompanied by growth spurts ... ages 12 and 15. The growth spurt of boys is, on average, about 2 years later than that of girls. By age 16, most boys have stopped growing, ...

  15. Growth Pattern in Paediatric Crohn Disease Is Related to Inflammatory Status.

    PubMed

    Ley, Delphine; Duhamel, Alain; Behal, Hélène; Vasseur, Francis; Sarter, Hélène; Michaud, Laurent; Gower-Rousseau, Corinne; Turck, Dominique

    2016-12-01

    The respective role of disease activity and steroid therapy in growth impairment in paediatric-onset Crohn disease (CD) is still debated. Our aim was to investigate whether the growth pattern of children with CD was correlated with the inflammatory status during the disease course, regardless the cumulative duration of steroid therapy. One hundred and seven patients with a diagnosis of CD <17 years, followed during ≥2 years and for whom ≥2 height measures were available during follow-up, were identified between 1998 and 2010. Height, C-reactive protein (CRP), orosomucoid, and steroid therapy duration were collected at each visit. The relationship between the evolution of growth velocity and inflammatory status during follow-up was investigated using a linear mixed model with random coefficients. Median age at diagnosis was 11.7 years (Q1-Q3: 9.8-13.5). Mean height for age (H/A) z score was 0.14 ± 1.29 at diagnosis and 0.05 ± 1.23 among the 75 patients who had reached their final height at maximal follow-up (median: 4.9 years; Q1-Q3: 3.8-6.4). Growth failure (H/A z score <-2) was present in 7 (8%) patients at diagnosis and 5 (5%) at maximal follow-up. Growth velocity was negatively correlated with the evolution of CRP (P < 0.0001) and orosomucoid (P < 0.0001) during follow-up. After adjustment for the cumulative duration of steroid therapy, these 2 correlations remained significant (CRP: P = 0.0008; orosomucoid: P < 0.0001). Children with CD with uncontrolled inflammatory status have a lower growth velocity. The inflammatory status should be kept as close to normal as possible in paediatric-onset patients with CD to optimize their growth pattern.

  16. Auxologic parameters and response to 2-year therapy with recombinant human growth hormone in growth hormone deficient children with an ectopic posterior pituitary.

    PubMed

    Kalina, Maria; Kalina-Faska, Barbara; Gruszczyńska, Katarzyna; Baron, Jan; Cisowska, Anita; Morawiec, Karolina; Biel-Lewandowska, Paulina; Małecka-Tendera, Ewa

    2015-01-01

    Structural defects of the hypothalamic-pituitary area in MRI are suggested as being a more accurate marker of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) than laboratory assays. To compare auxological characteristics in GHD children with normal pituitary (NP) function and with ectopic posterior pituitary (EPP), prior to therapy with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH), extending the follow-up to two years following treatment. Eighty-six (86) GHD patients were divided into two groups depending on the pituitary MRI: the EPP (23 children, 3.2-16.8 years old) and the NP group (63 children, 3.3-14.8 years old). Height deficits in the population (hSD) and parents (hSD-mpSD) and the change of hSD and bone/chronological age ratio were assessed before and after 12 and 24 months of rhGH therapy. Height deficits before treatment were significantly greater in EPP compared to NP [median -4.07 (-7.06, -2.75) vs -3.15 (-4.9, -2.35) for hSD, and -3.65 (-7.06, -1.21) vs -1.83 (-4.31, -0.28) for hSD-mpSD; p<0.05]. Bone age was significantly delayed in the EPP group [0.62 (0.27, 0.92) vs 0.75 (0.21, 0.71); p<0.05]; differences remained significant during follow-up. After 12 months of rhGH therapy, EPP showed significantly greater catch-up growth compared to NP [ΔhSD=1.2 (0.42, 2.69) vs 0.74 (0.05, 1.48); p<0.05]. In the 2nd year, height velocity slowed down and was comparable in the two groups. At the conclusion of the study, hSD was similar in both groups, but hSD-mpSD was more deviated in EPP [-1.79 (-3.71, -1.21) vs -1.1 (0.98, -0.07); p<0.05]. The study showed relevant auxologic differences between EPP and NP children, as well as beneficial effects of rhGH therapy in both groups.

  17. Acute effects of movement velocity on blood lactate and growth hormone responses after eccentric bench press exercise in resistance-trained men.

    PubMed

    Calixto, Rd; Verlengia, R; Crisp, Ah; Carvalho, Tb; Crepaldi, Md; Pereira, Aa; Yamada, Ak; da Mota, Gr; Lopes, Cr

    2014-12-01

    This study aimed to compare the effects of different velocities of eccentric muscle actions on acute blood lactate and serum growth hormone (GH) concentrations following free weight bench press exercises performed by resistance-trained men. Sixteen healthy men were divided into two groups: slow eccentric velocity (SEV; n = 8) and fast eccentric velocity (FEV; n = 8). Both groups performed four sets of eight eccentric repetitions at an intensity of 70% of their one repetition maximum eccentric (1RMecc) test, with 2-minute rest intervals between sets. The eccentric velocity was controlled to 3 seconds per range of motion for SEV and 0.5 seconds for the FEV group. There was a significant difference (P < 0.001) in the kinetics of blood lactate removal (at 3, 6, 9, 15, and 20 min) and higher mean values for peak blood lactate (P = 0.001) for the SEV group (9.1 ± 0.5 mM) compared to the FEV group (6.1 ± 0.4 mM). Additionally, serum GH concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.001) at 15 minutes after bench press exercise in the SEV group (1.7 ± 0.6 ng · mL(-1)) relative to the FEV group (0.1 ± 0.0 ng · mL(-1)). In conclusion, the velocity of eccentric muscle action influences acute responses following bench press exercises performed by resistance-trained men using a slow velocity resulting in a greater metabolic stress and hormone response.

  18. ACUTE EFFECTS OF MOVEMENT VELOCITY ON BLOOD LACTATE AND GROWTH HORMONE RESPONSES AFTER ECCENTRIC BENCH PRESS EXERCISE IN RESISTANCE-TRAINED MEN

    PubMed Central

    Calixto, RD; Crisp, AH; Carvalho, TB; Crepaldi, MD; Pereira, AA; Yamada, AK; da Mota, GR; Lopes, CR

    2014-01-01

    This study aimed to compare the effects of different velocities of eccentric muscle actions on acute blood lactate and serum growth hormone (GH) concentrations following free weight bench press exercises performed by resistance-trained men. Sixteen healthy men were divided into two groups: slow eccentric velocity (SEV; n = 8) and fast eccentric velocity (FEV; n = 8). Both groups performed four sets of eight eccentric repetitions at an intensity of 70% of their one repetition maximum eccentric (1RMecc) test, with 2-minute rest intervals between sets. The eccentric velocity was controlled to 3 seconds per range of motion for SEV and 0.5 seconds for the FEV group. There was a significant difference (P < 0.001) in the kinetics of blood lactate removal (at 3, 6, 9, 15, and 20 min) and higher mean values for peak blood lactate (P = 0.001) for the SEV group (9.1 ± 0.5 mM) compared to the FEV group (6.1 ± 0.4 mM). Additionally, serum GH concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.001) at 15 minutes after bench press exercise in the SEV group (1.7 ± 0.6 ng · mL−1) relative to the FEV group (0.1 ± 0.0 ng · mL−1). In conclusion, the velocity of eccentric muscle action influences acute responses following bench press exercises performed by resistance-trained men using a slow velocity resulting in a greater metabolic stress and hormone response. PMID:25609886

  19. Quantification of osteoblastic activity in epiphyseal growth plates by quantitative bone SPECT/CT.

    PubMed

    Yamane, Tomohiko; Kuji, Ichiei; Seto, Akira; Matsunari, Ichiro

    2018-06-01

    Quantifying the function of the epiphyseal plate is worthwhile for the management of children with growth disorders. The aim of this retrospective study was to quantify the osteoblastic activity at the epiphyseal plate using the quantitative bone SPECT/CT. We enrolled patients under the age of 20 years who received Tc-99m hydroxymethylene diphosphonate bone scintigraphy acquired by a quantitative SPECT/CT scanner. The images were reconstructed by ordered subset conjugate-gradient minimizer, and the uptake on the distal margin of the femur was quantified by peak standardized uptake value (SUVpeak). A public database of standard body height was used to calculate growth velocities (cm/year). Fifteen patients (6.9-19.7 years, 9 female, 6 male) were enrolled and a total of 25 legs were analyzed. SUVpeak in the epiphyseal plate was 18.9 ± 2.4 (average ± standard deviation) in the subjects under 15 years and decreased gradually by aging. The SUVpeak correlated significantly with the age- and sex-matched growth velocity obtained from the database (R 2  = 0.83, p < 0.0001). The SUV measured by quantitative bone SPECT/CT was increased at the epiphyseal plates of children under the age of 15 years in comparison with the older group, corresponding to higher osteoblastic activity. Moreover, this study suggested a correlation between growth velocity and the SUV. Although this is a small retrospective pilot study, the objective and quantitative values measured by the quantitative bone SPECT/CT has the potential to improve the management of children with growth disorder.

  20. Vibroconvective mixing applied to vertical Bridgman growth

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zawilski, Kevin T.; Claudia, M.; Custodio, C.; DeMattei, Robert C.; Feigelson, Robert S.

    2003-10-01

    A promising method for stirring melts during vertical Bridgman growth is the coupled vibrational stirring (CVS) method. It involves the application of low frequency vibrations to the outside of the growth ampoule and produces strong flows emanating from the fluid surface. Although the technique was pioneered a number of years ago, previous studies have not provided sufficient information to explain how to control CVS generated flows in a particular system. This paper examines both the fluid flow produced by CVS and the effect of these flows on a model oxide growth system. CVS generated flows were studied using tracer particles in a water/glycerin system. The particle velocities were measured as a function of distance from the fluid surface. A large velocity gradient, decreasing from the surface, was found to be present. The velocity profile produced was dependent on the vibrational amplitude and frequency, the crucible diameter, and the fluid viscosity. The effects of CVS flows on the crystal growth interface were studied using NaNO 3 as a model oxide. Under non-growth conditions (i.e. no furnace or crucible translation), the solid-liquid interface position was found to be a strong function of vibrational frequency once CVS generated flows approached the interface. During crystal growth, undesirable growth rate fluctuations were found as the growth interface moved into regions of increasing fluid flow. This data suggests that a control system in which CVS flows are continuously decreased during growth to maintain a constant flow rate in the vicinity of the growth interface is necessary in order to prevent or reduce growth rate fluctuations.

  1. Thoracic Spine Growth Revisited: How Accurate Is the Dimeglio Data?

    PubMed

    Dede, Ozgur; Büyükdoğan, Kadir; Demirkıran, Halil Gökhan; Akpınar, Erhan; Yazici, Muharrem

    2017-06-15

    Cross-sectional descriptive study. To describe the normal rate pattern of thoracic spine growth in children without any spinal deformity. The knowledge of thoracic spine growth and height is important for growing spine treatment and the decision of final fusion. Currently, pediatric spinal deformity is approached as early onset and late onset with an understanding of the fast growth during the first 5 years of life. The growth data that support this classification is often cited but has not been reconfirmed with follow-up studies. Sagittal computed tomography (CT) reformations of thoracic vertebrae were examined in children without spinal deformity. The sagittal CT cut at the widest canal diameter was identified and the measurements were performed on this image. The length of the thoracic spine was measured from the posterosuperior corner of T1 to the posteroinferior corner of the T12. One hundred forty-four thoracic CT scans satisfied the inclusion criteria. The analysis of the data identified two break points in the growth velocity; one at the end of the 4th year of life and the other at the beginning of the 12th year. Specifically, growth rate between 1 and 4 years was 1.71 cm/yr, between 4 and 8 years was 0.55 cm/yr, between 8 and 10 was 0.74 cm/yr, between 10 and 12 was 0.69 cm/yr, and between 12 and 16 was 1.61 cm/yr. The results show that in growing children the thoracic spine demonstrates two major growth spurts. The initial growth spurt is between the birth to the end of the fourth year of life and the second is between the 12 and 16 years of age. Between 4 and 12 years there is a steady but slower increase in thoracic height. The findings show that the fastest growth velocity may be limited to a younger age group than previously believed. This data will help guide growth friendly management strategies. 2.

  2. Molecular genetics of growth hormone deficient children: correlation with auxology and response to first year of growth hormone therapy.

    PubMed

    Khadilkar, Vaman; Phadke, Nikhil; Khatod, Kavita; Ekbote, Veena; Gupte, Supriya Phanse; Nadar, Ruchi; Khadilkar, Anuradha

    2017-05-24

    With the paucity of available literature correlating genetic mutation and response to treatment, we aimed to study the genetic makeup of children with growth hormone (GH) deficiency in Western India and correlate the mutation with auxology and response to GH treatment at end of 1 year. Fifty-three (31 boys and 22 girls) children with severe short stature (height for age z-score <-3) and failed GH stimulation test were studied. Those having concomitant thyroid hormone or cortisol deficiencies were appropriately replaced prior to starting GH treatment. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scan was done in all. Genetic mutations were tested for in GH1, GHRH, LHX3, LHX4 and PROP1, POU1F1 and HESX1 genes. Mean age at presentation was 9.7±5.1 years. Thirty-seven children (Group A) had no genetic mutation detected. Six children (Group B) had mutations in the GH releasing hormone receptor (GHRHR) gene, while eight children (Group C) had mutation in the GH1 gene. In two children, one each had a mutation in PROP1 and LHX3. There was no statistically significant difference in baseline height, weight and BMI for age z-score and height velocity for age z-score (HVZ). HVZ was significantly lower, post 1 year GH treatment in the group with homozygous GH1 deletion than in children with no genetic defect. Response to GH at the end of 1 year was poor in children with the homozygous GH1 deletion as compared to those with GHRHR mutation or without a known mutation.

  3. [Growth in puberty].

    PubMed

    Bierich, J R

    1985-01-01

    During puberty growth velocity increases within 3 years from a prepubertal nadir to a maximum, in male to 9-10 cm/year, in female to 7-9 cm/year. This spurt is triggered by the androgenic steroids, in male mainly by testicular testosterone. In patients with anorchia the pubertal growth spurt is missing. The androgens have a dual effect. 1. As comes forth from observations in hypopituitary dwarfs being treated with constant replacement doses of hGH, these steroids potentiate the growth-stimulatory effect of hGH. In order to continue growing at all, these dwarfs need the additional medication of androgenic or anabolic steroids if they are hypogonadotrophic. 2. As demonstrated by our measurements of the nocturnal hGH secretion, androgenic steroids enhance the spontaneous production of hGH by a factor of 2-3. Biologically active androgens appear to be a conditio sine qua non for longitudinal growth after age 11-12. This is in concordance with the statement that adult male castrates are no giants as has often been claimed. The rather tall eunuchs in Istanbul were no Turks but as a rule Sudanese negroes who are racially much taller than Turks.

  4. Stimulant Treatment over 5 Years: Effects on Growth

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Charach, Alice; Figueroa, Max; Chen, Shirley; Ickowicz, Abel; Schachar, Russell

    2006-01-01

    Objective: Long-term effects of psychostimulants on growth in height and in weight are investigated in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Method: Participants were 79 children, 6 to 12 years of age, with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, who were followed annually for up to 5 years, between the years 1993 and 1994 and…

  5. Growth of A 30-Year Cherrybark Oak Plantation 6 Years After Thinning

    Treesearch

    Wayne K. Clatterbuck

    2002-01-01

    A 24-year cherrybark oak (Quercus falcata var. pagodifolia) plantation in the Coastal Plain of west Tennessee was thinned during the winter of 1994-1995. Growth in the plantation was severely stagnated. Trees were planted at a 9 by 9-foot spacing and survival was 69 percent after 24 years after decreasing from 88 percent at age 15...

  6. Center of pressure velocity reflects body acceleration rather than body velocity during quiet standing.

    PubMed

    Masani, Kei; Vette, Albert H; Abe, Masaki O; Nakazawa, Kimitaka

    2014-03-01

    The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the center of pressure (COP) velocity reflects the center of mass (COM) acceleration due to a large derivative gain in the neural control system during quiet standing. Twenty-seven young (27.2±4.5 years) and twenty-three elderly (66.2±5.0 years) subjects participated in this study. Each subject was requested to stand quietly on a force plate for five trials, each 90 s long. The COP and COM displacements, the COP and COM velocities, and the COM acceleration were acquired via a force plate and a laser displacement sensor. The amount of fluctuation of each variable was quantified using the root mean square. Following the experimental study, a simulation study was executed to investigate the experimental findings. The experimental results revealed that the COP velocity was correlated with the COM velocity, but more highly correlated with the COM acceleration. The equation of motion of the inverted pendulum model, however, accounts only for the correlation between the COP and COM velocities. These experimental results can be meaningfully explained by the simulation study, which indicated that the neural motor command presumably contains a significant portion that is proportional to body velocity. In conclusion, the COP velocity fluctuation reflects the COM acceleration fluctuation rather than the COM velocity fluctuation, implying that the neural motor command controlling quiet standing posture contains a significant portion that is proportional to body velocity. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  7. Global glacier and ice sheet surface velocities derived from 31 years of Landsat imagery

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Gardner, A. S.; Scambos, T. A.; Fahnestock, M. A.

    2016-12-01

    Glaciers and ice sheets are contributing substantial volumes of water to the world's oceans due to enhanced melt resulting from changes in ocean and atmospheric conditions and respective feedbacks. Improving understanding of the processes leading to accelerated rates of ice loss is necessary for reducing uncertainties sea level projections. One key to doing this is to assemble and analyze long records of glacier change that characterize grounded ice response to changes in driving stress, buttressing, and basal conditions. As part of the NASA funded GO_LIVE project we exploit 31 years of Landsat imagery to construct detailed time histories of global glacier velocities. Early exploration of the dataset reveals the diversity of information to be gleaned: sudden tidewater glacier speedups in the Antarctic Peninsula, rifting of Antarctic ice shelves, high variability in velocities near glacier grounding lines, frequent surge activity in the mountainous regions of Alaska and High Mountain Asia, and the slowdown of land-terminating valley glaciers in Arctic Canada and elsewhere.

  8. Eudaimonic growth: Narrative growth goals predict increases in ego development and subjective well-being 3 years later.

    PubMed

    Bauer, Jack J; McAdams, Dan P

    2010-07-01

    We examine (a) the normative course of eudaimonic well-being in emerging adulthood and (b) whether people's narratives of major life goals might prospectively predict eudaimonic growth 3 years later. We define eudaimonic growth as longitudinal increases in eudaimonic well-being, which we define as the combination of psychosocial maturity and subjective well-being (SWB). College freshmen and seniors took measures of ego development (ED; to assess maturity; Loevinger, 1976) and SWB at Time 1 (T1) and again 3 years later (Time 2). ED levels increased longitudinally across that time for men and T1 freshmen, but SWB levels did not change. Participants also wrote narratives of 2 major life goals at T1 that were coded for an explicit emphasis on specific kinds of personal growth. Participants' intellectual-growth goals (especially agentic ones) predicted increases in ED 3 years later, whereas participants' socioemotional-growth goals (especially communal ones) predicted increases in SWB 3 years later. These findings were independent of the effects of Big Five personality traits-notably conscientiousness, which on its own predicted increases in SWB. We discuss (a) emerging adulthood as the last stop for normative eudaimonic growth in modern society and (b) empirical and theoretical issues surrounding the relations among narrative identity, life planning, dispositional traits, eudaimonia, and 2 paths of personal growth.

  9. Robust, automatic GPS station velocities and velocity time series

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Blewitt, G.; Kreemer, C.; Hammond, W. C.

    2014-12-01

    Automation in GPS coordinate time series analysis makes results more objective and reproducible, but not necessarily as robust as the human eye to detect problems. Moreover, it is not a realistic option to manually scan our current load of >20,000 time series per day. This motivates us to find an automatic way to estimate station velocities that is robust to outliers, discontinuities, seasonality, and noise characteristics (e.g., heteroscedasticity). Here we present a non-parametric method based on the Theil-Sen estimator, defined as the median of velocities vij=(xj-xi)/(tj-ti) computed between all pairs (i, j). Theil-Sen estimators produce statistically identical solutions to ordinary least squares for normally distributed data, but they can tolerate up to 29% of data being problematic. To mitigate seasonality, our proposed estimator only uses pairs approximately separated by an integer number of years (N-δt)<(tj-ti )<(N+δt), where δt is chosen to be small enough to capture seasonality, yet large enough to reduce random error. We fix N=1 to maximally protect against discontinuities. In addition to estimating an overall velocity, we also use these pairs to estimate velocity time series. To test our methods, we process real data sets that have already been used with velocities published in the NA12 reference frame. Accuracy can be tested by the scatter of horizontal velocities in the North American plate interior, which is known to be stable to ~0.3 mm/yr. This presents new opportunities for time series interpretation. For example, the pattern of velocity variations at the interannual scale can help separate tectonic from hydrological processes. Without any step detection, velocity estimates prove to be robust for stations affected by the Mw7.2 2010 El Mayor-Cucapah earthquake, and velocity time series show a clear change after the earthquake, without any of the usual parametric constraints, such as relaxation of postseismic velocities to their preseismic values.

  10. The Physics of Protoplanetesimal Dust Agglomerates. V. Multiple Impacts of Dusty Agglomerates at Velocities Above the Fragmentation Threshold

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kothe, Stefan; Güttler, Carsten; Blum, Jürgen

    2010-12-01

    In recent years, a number of new experiments have advanced our knowledge on the early growth phases of protoplanetary dust aggregates. Some of these experiments have shown that collisions between porous and compacted agglomerates at velocities above the fragmentation threshold velocity can lead to growth of the compact body, when the porous collision partner fragments upon impact and transfers mass to the compact agglomerate. To obtain a deeper understanding of this potentially important growth process, we performed laboratory and drop tower experiments to study multiple impacts of small, highly porous dust-aggregate projectiles onto sintered dust targets. The projectile and target consisted of 1.5 μm monodisperse, spherical SiO2 monomers with volume filling factors of 0.15 ± 0.01 and 0.45 ± 0.05, respectively. The fragile projectiles were accelerated by a solenoid magnet and combined with a projectile magazine with which 25 impacts onto the same spot on the target could be performed in vacuum. We measured the mass-accretion efficiency and the volume filling factor for different impact velocities between 1.5 and 6.0 m s^{-1}. The experiments at the lowest impact speeds were performed in the Bremen drop tower under microgravity conditions to allow partial mass transfer also for the lowest adhesion case. Within this velocity range, we found a linear increase of the accretion efficiency with increasing velocity. In the laboratory experiments, the accretion efficiency increases from 0.12 to 0.21 in units of the projectile mass. The recorded images of the impacts showed that the mass transfer from the projectile to the target leads to the growth of a conical structure on the target after less than 100 impacts. From the images, we also measured the volume filling factors of the grown structures, which ranged from 0.15 (uncompacted) to 0.40 (significantly compacted) with increasing impact speed. The velocity dependency of the mass-transfer efficiency and the packing

  11. Longitudinal Growth, Diet, and Physical Activity in Young Children With Cerebral Palsy.

    PubMed

    Oftedal, Stina; Davies, Peter S W; Boyd, Roslyn N; Stevenson, Richard D; Ware, Robert S; Keawutan, Piyapa; Benfer, Katherine A; Bell, Kristie L

    2016-10-01

    To describe the longitudinal relationship between height-for-age z score (HZ), growth velocity z score, energy intake, habitual physical activity (HPA), and sedentary time across Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I to V in preschoolers with cerebral palsy (CP). Children with CP (n = 175 [109 (62.2%) boys]; mean recruitment age 2 years, 10 months [SD 11 months]; GMFCS I = 83 [47.2%], II = 21 [11.9%], III = 28 [15.9%], IV = 19 [10.8%], V = 25 [14.2%]) were assessed 440 times between the age of 18 months and 5 years. Height/length ratio was measured or estimated via knee height. Population-based standards were used to calculate HZ and growth velocity z-score by age and sex categories. Feeding method (oral or tube) and gestational age at birth (GA) were collected from parents. Three-day ActiGraph and food diary data were used to measure HPA/sedentary time ratio and energy intake, respectively. Oropharyngeal dysphagia was rated with the Dysphagia Disorder Survey (part 2, Pediatric). Analysis was undertaken with mixed-effects regression models. For GMFCS level I, height and growth velocity did not differ from population-level growth standards. Children in levels II to V were significantly shorter, and those in levels III to V grew significantly more slowly than those in level I. There was a significant positive association between HZ and GA at all GMFCS levels. Energy intake, HPA, sedentary time, Dysphagia Disorder Survey score, and feeding method were not significantly associated with either height or growth velocity once GMFCS level was accounted for. Functional status and GA should be considered when assessing the growth of a child with CP. Research into interventions aimed at increasing active movement in GMFCS levels III to V and their efficacy in improving growth and health outcomes is warranted. Copyright © 2016 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

  12. Childhood growth and breast cancer.

    PubMed

    De Stavola, B L; dos Santos Silva, I; McCormack, V; Hardy, R J; Kuh, D J; Wadsworth, M E J

    2004-04-01

    Adult height is known to be positively associated with breast cancer risk. The mechanism underlying this association is complex, since adult height is positively correlated with age at menarche, which in turn is negatively associated with breast cancer risk. The authors used prospective data from a British cohort of 2,547 girls followed from birth in 1946 to the end of 1999 to examine breast cancer risk in relation to childhood growth. As expected, adult height was positively associated with age at menarche and breast cancer. In childhood, cases were taller and leaner, on average, than noncases. Significant predictors of breast cancer risk in models containing all components of growth were height velocity at age 4-7 years (for a one-standard-deviation increase, odds ratio (OR) = 1.54, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13, 2.09) and age 11-15 years (OR = 1.29, 95% CI: 0.97, 1.71) and body mass index velocity (weight (kg)/height (m)(2)/year) at age 2-4 years (OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.48, 0.83). The effects of these variables were particularly marked in women with early menarche (age <12.5 years). These findings suggest that women who grow faster in childhood and reach an adult height above the average for their menarche category are at particularly increased risk of breast cancer.

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

    PubMed

    Ashizawa, K; Takahashi, C; Yanagisawa, S

    1978-09-01

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

  14. History Jobs Decline 15% after Years of Growth

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Wilson, Robin

    2009-01-01

    This article reports that a five-year stretch of steady growth in the job market for academic historians is over. The number of job advertisements colleges have posted with the American Historical Association so far this academic year is down 15 percent from last year--the first decline since a slump that occurred in 2001-2002 and 2002-2003. The…

  15. Study on Growth Rhythm of Juveniles Cistolemmys Flavomarginata for One and Two Years Old

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Huang, Bin

    Growth of one and two year old Cistolemmys flavomarginata is studied. In natural temperature and under artificial feeding condition, juvenile turtles grow for 180 days in Xinyang, one year old turtle average body weight increased from 18.1 g to 54.5 g, the relative growth rate is 204.1%, the absolute growth rate is 0.21. two year old turtle average body weight increased from 46.8 g to 101.1 g, the relative growth rate is 115.98%, the absolute growth rate is 0.30. But two year old turtle growth rate is slower than that of one year old turtle. The body weight, carapace length, carapace width, plastron length, plastron width and carapace high are correlated positively to daily age. The body weight growth equations of one and two year old turtles are deduced. Compared with other reptiles, whole growth cycle is grasped systemically by the growth patterns.

  16. The cluster galaxy circular velocity function

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Desai, V.; Dalcanton, J. J.; Mayer, L.; Reed, D.; Quinn, T.; Governato, F.

    2004-06-01

    We present galaxy circular velocity functions (GCVFs) for 34 low-redshift (z<~ 0.15) clusters identified in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), for 15 clusters drawn from dark matter simulations of hierarchical structure growth in a ΛCDM cosmology, and for ~22 000 SDSS field galaxies. We find that the simulations successfully reproduce the shape, amplitude and scatter in the observed distribution of cluster galaxy circular velocities. The power-law slope of the observed cluster GCVF is ~-2.4, independent of cluster velocity dispersion. The average slope of the simulated GCVFs is somewhat steeper, although formally consistent given the errors. We find that the effects of baryons on galaxy rotation curves is to flatten the simulated cluster GCVF into better agreement with observations. The cumulative GCVFs of the simulated clusters are very similar across a wide range of cluster masses, provided individual subhalo circular velocities are scaled by the circular velocities of the parent cluster. The scatter is consistent with that measured in the cumulative, scaled observed cluster GCVF. Finally, the observed field GCVF deviates significantly from a power law, being flatter than the cluster GCVF at circular velocities less than 200 km s-1.

  17. Decreased head circumference velocity as related to developmental deficit in infancy.

    PubMed

    Tal, Galit; Cohen, Ayala; Habib, Sonia; Tirosh, Emanuel

    2012-11-01

    We evaluated the significance of head circumference growth velocity as related to developmental deficits during infancy. Head circumferences, lengths, and developmental diagnoses were retrieved in a standard manner at ≥ 2 time points from 437 infants with developmental deficits, and 3909 normally developing infants. Infants' ages ranged from 1-24 months, with final diagnoses ascertained at age 24 months. Increased velocity during the first 2 months in typical infants was evident in the study group during the period 2-4 months. A differential head circumference growth velocity was observed, and infants diagnosed with motor delay presented decreased velocity between ages 2-4 months, compared with infants receiving other nonmotor developmental diagnoses. These differences remained after controlling for birth weight and length. No significant sex effect was evident. Infants with developmental deficits demonstrate delayed acceleration of head circumference velocity, compared with typical infants in the first 2 months. Infants with motor delay manifest decreased velocity, compared with infants presenting other developmental deficits. These differences may be related to delayed white matter maturation. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  18. Collision velocity of dust grains in self-gravitating protoplanetary discs

    PubMed Central

    Booth, Richard A.; Clarke, Cathie J.

    2016-01-01

    We have conducted the first comprehensive numerical investigation of the relative velocity distribution of dust particles in self-gravitating protoplanetary discs with a view to assessing the viability of planetesimal formation via direct collapse in such environments. The viability depends crucially on the large sizes that are preferentially collected in pressure maxima produced by transient spiral features (Stokes numbers, St ∼ 1); growth to these size scales requires that collision velocities remain low enough that grain growth is not reversed by fragmentation. We show that, for a single-sized dust population, velocity driving by the disc's gravitational perturbations is only effective for St > 3, while coupling to the gas velocity dominates otherwise. We develop a criterion for understanding this result in terms of the stopping distance being of the order of the disc scaleheight. Nevertheless, the relative velocities induced by differential radial drift in multi-sized dust populations are too high to allow the growth of silicate dust particles beyond St ∼ 10− 2 or 10−1 (10 cm to m sizes at 30 au), such Stokes numbers being insufficient to allow concentration of solids in spiral features. However, for icy solids (which may survive collisions up to several 10 m s−1), growth to St ∼ 1 (10 m size) may be possible beyond 30 au from the star. Such objects would be concentrated in spiral features and could potentially produce larger icy planetesimals/comets by gravitational collapse. These planetesimals would acquire moderate eccentricities and remain unmodified over the remaining lifetime of the disc. PMID:27346980

  19. The Seismic Velocity In Gas-charged Magma

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sturton, S.; Neuberg, J. W.

    2001-12-01

    Long-period and hybrid events, seen at the Soufrière Hills Volcano, Montserrat, show dominant low frequency content suggesting the seismic wavefield is formed as a result of interface waves at the boundary between a fluid and a solid medium. This wavefield will depend on the impedance contrast between the two media and therefore the difference in seismic velocity. For a gas-charged magma, increasing pressure with depth reduces the volume of gas exsolved, increasing the seismic velocity with depth in the conduit. The seismic radiation pattern along the conduit can then be modelled. Where single events merge into tremor, gliding lines can sometimes be seen in the spectra and indicate either changes in the seismic parameters with time or varying triggering rates of single events.The differential equation describing the time dependence of bubble growth by diffusion is solved numerically for a stationary magma column undergoing a decompression event. The volume of gas is depth dependent and increases with time as the bubbles grow and expand. It is used to calculate the depth and time dependence of the density, pressure and seismic velocity. The effect of different viscosities associated with different magma types and concentration of water in the melt on the rate of bubble growth is explored. Crystal growth, which increases the concentration of water in the melt, affects the amount of gas that can be exsolved.

  20. Body growth and life history in wild mountain gorillas (Gorilla beringei beringei) from Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda.

    PubMed

    Galbany, Jordi; Abavandimwe, Didier; Vakiener, Meagan; Eckardt, Winnie; Mudakikwa, Antoine; Ndagijimana, Felix; Stoinski, Tara S; McFarlin, Shannon C

    2017-07-01

    Great apes show considerable diversity in socioecology and life history, but knowledge of their physical growth in natural settings is scarce. We characterized linear body size growth in wild mountain gorillas from Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda, a population distinguished by its extreme folivory and accelerated life histories. In 131 individuals (0.09-35.26 years), we used non-invasive parallel laser photogrammetry to measure body length, back width, arm length and two head dimensions. Nonparametric LOESS regression was used to characterize cross-sectional distance and velocity growth curves for males and females, and consider links with key life history milestones. Sex differences became evident between 8.5 and 10.0 years of age. Thereafter, female growth velocities declined, while males showed increased growth velocities until 10.0-14.5 years across dimensions. Body dimensions varied in growth; females and males reached 98% of maximum body length at 11.7 and 13.1 years, respectively. Females attained 95.3% of maximum body length by mean age at first birth. Neonates were 31% of maternal size, and doubled in size by mean weaning age. Males reached maximum body and arm length and back width before emigration, but experienced continued growth in head dimensions. While comparable data are scarce, our findings provide preliminary support for the prediction that mountain gorillas reach maximum body size at earlier ages compared to more frugivorous western gorillas. Data from other wild populations are needed to better understand comparative great ape development, and investigate links between trajectories of physical, behavioral, and reproductive maturation. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  1. Peak Weight and Height Velocity to Age 36 Months and Asthma Development: The Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study

    PubMed Central

    Magnus, Maria C.; Stigum, Hein; Håberg, Siri E.; Nafstad, Per; London, Stephanie J.; Nystad, Wenche

    2015-01-01

    Background The immediate postnatal period is the period of the fastest growth in the entire life span and a critical period for lung development. Therefore, it is interesting to examine the association between growth during this period and childhood respiratory disorders. Methods We examined the association of peak weight and height velocity to age 36 months with maternal report of current asthma at 36 months (n = 50,311), recurrent lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) by 36 months (n = 47,905) and current asthma at 7 years (n = 24,827) in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study. Peak weight and height velocity was calculated using the Reed1 model through multilevel mixed-effects linear regression. Multivariable log-binomial regression was used to calculate adjusted relative risks (adj.RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). We also conducted a sibling pair analysis using conditional logistic regression. Results Peak weight velocity was positively associated with current asthma at 36 months [adj.RR 1.22 (95%CI: 1.18, 1.26) per standard deviation (SD) increase], recurrent LRTIs by 36 months [adj.RR 1.14 (1.10, 1.19) per SD increase] and current asthma at 7 years [adj.RR 1.13 (95%CI: 1.07, 1.19) per SD increase]. Peak height velocity was not associated with any of the respiratory disorders. The positive association of peak weight velocity and asthma at 36 months remained in the sibling pair analysis. Conclusions Higher peak weight velocity, achieved during the immediate postnatal period, increased the risk of respiratory disorders. This might be explained by an influence on neonatal lung development, shared genetic/epigenetic mechanisms and/or environmental factors. PMID:25635872

  2. The value of shoe size for prediction of the timing of the pubertal growth spurt

    PubMed Central

    2011-01-01

    Background Knowing the timing of the pubertal growth spurt of the spine, represented by sitting height, is essential for the prognosis and therapy of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. There are several indicators that reflect growth or remaining growth of the patient. For example, distal body parts have their growth spurt earlier in adolescence, and therefore the growth of the foot can be an early indicator for the growth spurt of sitting height. Shoe size is a good alternative for foot length, since patients can remember when they bought new shoes and what size these shoes were. Therefore the clinician already has access to some longitudinal data at the first visit of the patient to the outpatient clinic. The aim of this study was to describe the increase in shoe size during adolescence and to determine whether the timing of the peak increase could be an early indicator for the timing of the peak growth velocity of sitting height. Methods Data concerning shoe sizes of girls and boys were acquired from two large shoe shops from 1991 to 2008. The longitudinal series of 242 girls and 104 boys were analysed for the age of the "peak increase" in shoe size, as well as the age of cessation of foot growth based on shoe size. Results The average peak increase in shoe size occurred at 10.4 years (SD 1.1) in girls and 11.5 years (SD 1.5) in boys. This was on average 1.3 years earlier than the average peak growth velocity of sitting height in girls, and 2.5 years earlier in boys. The increase in shoe size diminishes when the average peak growth velocity of sitting height takes place at respectively 12.0 (SD 0.8) years in girls, and 13.7 (SD 1.0) years in boys. Conclusions Present data suggest that the course of the shoe size of children visiting the outpatient clinic can be a useful first tool for predicting the timing of the pubertal growth spurt of sitting height, as a representative for spinal length. This claim needs verification by direct comparison of individual shoe

  3. The solidification velocity of nickel and titanium alloys

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Altgilbers, Alex Sho

    2002-09-01

    The solidification velocity of several Ni-Ti, Ni-Sn, Ni-Si, Ti-Al and Ti-Ni alloys were measured as a function of undercooling. From these results, a model for alloy solidification was developed that can be used to predict the solidification velocity as a function of undercooling more accurately. During this investigation a phenomenon was observed in the solidification velocity that is a direct result of the addition of the various alloying elements to nickel and titanium. The additions of the alloying elements resulted in an additional solidification velocity plateau at intermediate undercoolings. Past work has shown a solidification velocity plateau at high undercoolings can be attributed to residual oxygen. It is shown that a logistic growth model is a more accurate model for predicting the solidification of alloys. Additionally, a numerical model is developed from simple description of the effect of solute on the solidification velocity, which utilizes a Boltzmann logistic function to predict the plateaus that occur at intermediate undercoolings.

  4. Risk of fetal death in growth-restricted fetuses with umbilical and/or ductus venosus absent or reversed end-diastolic velocities before 34 weeks of gestation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

    PubMed

    Caradeux, J; Martinez-Portilla, R J; Basuki, T R; Kiserud, T; Figueras, F

    2018-02-01

    The objective of the study was to establish the risk of fetal death in early-onset growth-restricted fetuses with absent or reversed end-diastolic velocities in the umbilical artery or ductus venosus. A systematic search was performed to identify relevant studies published in English, Spanish, French, Italian, or German using the databases PubMed, ISI Web of Science, and SCOPUS, without publication time restrictions. The study criteria included observational cohort studies and randomized controlled trials of early-onset growth-restricted fetuses (diagnosed before 34 weeks of gestation), with information on the rate of fetal death occurring before 34 weeks of gestation and absent or reversed end-diastolic velocities in the umbilical artery and/or ductus venosus. For quality assessment, 2 reviewers independently assessed the risk of bias using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for observational studies and the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for randomized trials. For the meta-analysis, odds ratio for both fixed and random-effects models (weighting by inverse of variance) were used. Heterogeneity between studies was assessed using tau 2 , χ2 (Cochrane Q), and I 2 statistics. Publication bias was assessed by a funnel plot for meta-analyses and quantified by the Egger method. A total of 31 studies were included in this meta-analysis. The odds ratios for fetal death (random-effects models) were 3.59 (95% confidence interval, 2.3-5.6), 7.27 (95% confidence interval, 4.6-11.4), and 11.6 (95% confidence interval, 6.3-19.7) for growth-restricted fetuses with umbilical artery absent end-diastolic velocities, umbilical artery reversed end-diastolic velocities, and ductus venosus absent or reversed end-diastolic velocities, respectively. There was no substantial heterogeneity among studies for any of the analyses. Early-onset growth-restricted fetuses with either umbilical artery or ductus venosus absent or reserved end-diastolic velocities are at a substantially increased risk for

  5. Autism with intellectual disability related to dynamics of head circumference growth during early infancy.

    PubMed

    McKeague, Ian W; Brown, Alan S; Bao, Yuanyuan; Hinkka-Yli-Salomäki, Susanna; Huttunen, Jukka; Sourander, Andre

    2015-05-01

    It is not yet definitively known whether dynamic features of head circumference growth are associated with autism. To address this issue, we carried out a nested matched case-control study using data from national well baby clinics in Finland; autism cases were identified from the Finnish Hospital and Outpatient Discharge Registry. A nonparametric Bayesian method was used to construct growth velocity trajectories between birth and 2 years of age in autism cases and matched control subjects (n = 468 in main analyses, 1:1 matched control subjects). Estimates of odds ratios for autism risk in relation to the growth velocities were obtained using conditional logistic regression. Growth velocity of head circumference at 3 months of age, adjusting for gestational age at birth and maternal age, is significantly associated with autism (p = .014); the finding was observed in subjects with comorbid intellectual disability (ID) (p = .025) but not in those without ID (p = .15). Height growth velocity among subjects with autism and without ID is significantly associated with autism at 6 months (p = .007), and weight growth velocity at 18 months without ID (p = .02) and 24 months without ID (p = .042) and with ID (p = .037). Acceleration in head circumference growth is associated with autism with comorbid ID at 3 months but not subsequently. This association is unrelated to acceleration in height and weight, which are not strongly associated with autism until after 6 months. Copyright © 2015 Society of Biological Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  6. Forty-two years of change in an old-growth and second-growth beech-maple forest of north central Ohio

    Treesearch

    Natalie R. Pinheiro; P. Charles Goebel; David M. Hix

    2008-01-01

    Using data collected in 1964 and 2006, we examined changes in the composition and structure of a second-growth and old-growth beech-maple forest of Crall Woods, located in Ashland County of north central Ohio. Over the 42 years, the old-growth forest (estimated to be at least 250 years old) experienced a significant shift in species composition as American beech,...

  7. Velocity distribution of electrons in time-varying low-temperature plasmas: progress in theoretical procedures over the past 70 years

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Makabe, Toshiaki

    2018-03-01

    A time-varying low-temperature plasma sustained by electrical powers with various kinds of fRequencies has played a key role in the historical development of new technologies, such as gas lasers, ozonizers, micro display panels, dry processing of materials, medical care, and so on, since World War II. Electrons in a time-modulated low-temperature plasma have a proper velocity spectrum, i.e. velocity distribution dependent on the microscopic quantum characteristics of the feed gas molecule and on the external field strength and the frequency. In order to solve and evaluate the time-varying velocity distribution, we have mostly two types of theoretical methods based on the classical and linear Boltzmann equations, namely, the expansion method using the orthogonal function and the procedure of non-expansional temporal evolution. Both methods have been developed discontinuously and progressively in synchronization with those technological developments. In this review, we will explore the historical development of the theoretical procedure to evaluate the electron velocity distribution in a time-varying low-temperature plasma over the past 70 years.

  8. Antenatal and postnatal growth and 5-year cognitive outcome in very preterm infants.

    PubMed

    Leppänen, Marika; Lapinleimu, Helena; Lind, Annika; Matomäki, Jaakko; Lehtonen, Liisa; Haataja, Leena; Rautava, Päivi

    2014-01-01

    To study how antenatal growth affects cognitive outcome in very preterm infants and to determine whether there is an association between growth in any particular time period between birth and 5 years of age and cognitive outcome. Small for gestational age (SGA) and non-SGA infants were analyzed separately, because antenatal growth may affect postnatal growth. Very low birth weight (<1501 g) infants born between 2001 and 2006 and infants born at <32 gestational weeks between 2004 and 2006 who were treated at Turku University Hospital (n = 181) were followed. Weight, length, and head circumference (HC) of the infants were measured at 9 time points between birth and 5 years. The growth was determined as a z score change between measurement points. Cognitive development was assessed at 5 years of age with the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scales of Intelligence-Revised. The association between growth and full-scale IQ (FSIQ) was studied. Growth in length and height was not associated with 5-year cognitive outcome. However, weight (r = 0.18, P = .04) and HC growth (r = 0.25, P = .01) between birth and 2 years of corrected age correlated to FSIQ in non-SGA children. In SGA children, HC growth (r = 0.33, P = .03) around term age correlated to FSIQ. Cognitive outcome was similar in SGA and non-SGA very preterm infants. Growth affected cognition positively in both subgroups, but the critical time period was different.

  9. Relationship between cervical vertebral maturation and mandibular growth.

    PubMed

    Ball, Gina; Woodside, Donald; Tompson, Bryan; Hunter, W Stuart; Posluns, James

    2011-05-01

    The cervical vertebrae have been proposed as a method of determining biologic maturity. The purposes of this study were to establish a pattern of mandibular growth and to relate this pattern to the stages of cervical vertebral maturation. Cephalometric radiographs, taken annually from ages 9 to 18 years, were evaluated for 90 boys from the Burlington Growth Center, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Mandibular lengths were measured from articulare to gnathion, and incremental growth was determined. Cervical vertebral maturation stages were assessed by using a 6-stage method. Advanced, average, and delayed maturation groups were established. The prepubertal mandibular growth minimum velocity occurred during cervical stages 1 through 4 (P = 0.7327). Peak mandibular growth velocity occurred most frequently during stage 4 in all 3 maturation groups, with a statistical difference in the average and delayed groups (P <0.0001) and the advanced group (P = 0.0143). The average number of years spent in stage 4 was 3.79 (P <0.0001). The average amount of mandibular growth occurring during stage 4 was 9.40 mm (P <0.0001). The average amount of growth in stages 5 and 6 combined was 7.09 mm. Progression from cervical stages 1 through 6 does not occur annually; time spent in each stage varies depending on the stage and the maturation group. Cervical vertebral maturation stages cannot accurately identify the mandibular prepubertal growth minimum and therefore cannot predict the onset of the peak in mandibular growth. The cervical vertebral maturation stages should be used with other methods of biologic maturity assessment when considering both dentofacial orthopedic treatment and orthognathic surgery. Copyright © 2011 American Association of Orthodontists. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

  10. In Preterm Infants, Length Growth below Expected Growth during Hospital Stay Predicts Poor Neurodevelopment at 2 Years.

    PubMed

    Simon, Laure; Théveniaut, Camille; Flamant, Cyril; Frondas-Chauty, Anne; Darmaun, Dominique; Rozé, Jean-Christophe

    2018-05-30

    In preterm infants, neonatal weight growth is associated with neurodevelopmental outcome but is a poor indicator of growth quality. The aim of this work was to measure the relationship between neonatal length growth and the 2-year neurological outcome in preterm infants. A total of 2,403 infants enrolled in the LIFT cohort with gestational age less than 34 weeks were studied. Neonatal observed length growth (OLG) was calculated as the change in length Z-score between birth and discharge. Expected length growth (ELG) was estimated based on gestational age, birth weight Z-score, birth length Z-score, gender, and observed neonatal weight growth. The difference between OLG and ELG (∆OLG-ELG) was calculated as OLG - ELG, and infants were ranked into 3 classes depending on their ∆OLG-ELG (≤-0.5, -0.49 to 0.49, ≥0.50 Z-score). We explored the relationship between ∆OLG-ELG and 2-year neurodevelopmental outcome (n = 2,036), and, in a subgroup (n = 85), between ∆OLG-ELG and body composition at discharge. ELG was strongly predicted from the above-mentioned parameters (R2 = 0.73, p = 0.001). OLG correlated closely with gestational age (p = 0.001) but ∆OLG-ELG did not (p = 1.0). OLG was not associated with a 2-year nonoptimal outcome after adjustment for gestational age, but ∆OLG-ELG ≤-0.5 was; the crude and adjusted odds ratios were 1.63 and 1.56, respectively. ∆OLG-ELG correlated negatively with fat mass (R2 = 0.29, p = 0.006) before and after adjustment for gestational age. ∆OLG-ELG is a marker of neonatal growth that does not depend on gestational age, and may reflect quality of growth. A ∆OLG-ELG ≤-0.5 Z-score is associated with a higher risk for 2-year nonoptimal neurodevelopmental outcome. © 2018 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  11. Enhanced solution velocity between dark and light areas with horizontal tubes and triangular prism baffles to improve microalgal growth in a flat-panel photo-bioreactor.

    PubMed

    Yang, Zongbo; Cheng, Jun; Xu, Xiaodan; Zhou, Junhu; Cen, Kefa

    2016-07-01

    Novel horizontal tubes and triangular prism (HTTP) baffles that generate flow vortices were developed to increase solution velocity between dark and light areas and thus improve microalgal growth in a flat-panel photo-bioreactor. Solution velocity, mass-transfer coefficient, and mixing time were measured with a particle-imaging velocimeter, dissolved oxygen probes, and pH probes. The solution mass-transfer coefficient increased by 30% and mixing time decreased by 21% when the HTTP baffles were used. The solution velocity between dark and light areas increased from ∼0.9cm/s to ∼3.5cm/s, resulting in a decreased dark-light cycle period to one-fourth. This enhanced flashing light effect with the HTTP baffles dramatically increased microalgae biomass yield by 70% in the flat-panel photo-bioreactor. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  12. The relationship between insulin secretion, the insulin-like growth factor axis and growth in children with cystic fibrosis.

    PubMed

    Ripa, Paulus; Robertson, Ian; Cowley, David; Harris, Margaret; Masters, I Brent; Cotterill, Andrew M

    2002-03-01

    Cystic fibrosis-related diabetes mellitus (CFRD) is an increasingly common complication of cystic fibrosis. CFRD is preceded by a progressive decline in insulin secretion but there is no accepted definition of the prediabetic state in CFRD. This prediabetic state appears to have adverse effects on clinical status, nutrition and lung function, but there is no direct evidence that the impaired glucose homeostasis is the cause of these deteriorations. This study examined the prevalence of glucose intolerance and impaired insulin secretion in a population of children with CF without CFRD. Severe CF lung disease is often associated with poor weight gain and slower growth but the mechanism for this is still unclear. The relationships between the current state of glucose homeostasis, insulin secretion and the insulin-like growth factor axis, height velocity, nutrition status and lung function were therefore studied. Eighteen children with cystic fibrosis aged 9.5-15 years had oral glucose tolerance tests and 14 of these also had intravenous glucose tolerance tests (four refused). Blood samples were collected for insulin, C-peptide, glucose, HbA1c, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, IGF-II, IGF-binding protein (IGFBP)-1 and IGFBP-3. Data on height, weight, puberty status, clinical score (Shwachman score) and lung function were recorded. Height velocity, height and weight standard deviation scores (SDS) were calculated using WHO/CDC data. The mean height SDS (-0.52 +/- 0.17) was less than the normal population (P = 0.007) and the mean height velocity was 4.6 +/- 0.5 cm/year, 39% with a height velocity less than the third percentile for age. The weight SDS and body mass index (BMI) were similar to the normal population. Four children had impaired glucose tolerance. The first-phase insulin response (FPIR) was below the first percentile of normal population values in nine (65%). Impaired FPIR or impaired glucose tolerance did not correlate with the Shwachman score

  13. Does velocity-strengthening to velocity-weakening transition really determine the updip limit of the seismogenic zone in subduction megathrusts?

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shimamoto, T.

    2009-12-01

    Understanding the mechanisms of thrust-type earthquakes in subduction zones is the primary target of seismogenic-zone drilling project in Nankai Trough. Drilling into the upper part of the seismogenic zone is attempted, so that understanding the processes controlling the updip limit of the seismogenic zone is becoming a more specific target. A commonly accepted notion is that the onset of seismic behavior is due to a change in velocity strengthening to velocity weakening property of fault zone (see Saffer & Marone, 2003, EPSL ). Smectite-illite transformation had been a fashionable hypothesis for such a transition because the transformation is likely to occur near the updip limit of the seismogenic zone. However, Saffer & Marone recognized velocity-strengthening behavior of illite gouge questioning the smectite-illite transformation as the primary cause for the updip limit of seismic zone. They explored other possibilities that might cause a change in the velocity dependency of friction. I want to address the problem from a different angle. Progress in high-velocity friction in the last 15 years has demonstrated that nearly all faults exhibit dramatic weakening at high slip rates and large displacements. The weakening is indeed greater than the changes in friction at slow slip rates by more than one order of magnitude, and the slip- and velocity-weakening of faults at high velocities is likely to control the dynamic fault motion during large earthquakes. Thus by combining abundant work on rate-and-state dependent friction at slow slip rates and recent high-velocity friction studies, a possibility emerges in that the rate-and-state friction at slow slip rates controls the earthquake nucleation, whereas intermediate to high-velocity friction dictates the growth processes into a large earthquake. Taiwan Chi-Chi earthquake in 1999 is very interesting in this regard because Tanikawa & Shimamoto (2008, JGR ) recognized velocity-strengthening properties for gouge from the

  14. Changes in Chinese hair growth along a full year.

    PubMed

    Liu, C; Yang, J; Qu, L; Gu, M; Liu, Y; Gao, J; Collaudin, C; Loussouarn, G

    2014-12-01

    To confirm the existence of seasonal hair growth cycle among Chinese subjects and objectivize the seasonal effect of hair loss; the hair growth parameters of Chinese volunteers were followed monthly for an entire year on the same area of vertex. The hair growth parameters of 41 Chinese volunteers (women and men), free from alopecia, were recorded monthly along an entire year using the phototrichogram technique. Results show an increased rate of telogen hairs (growing arrest) around August-September in the study group, as previously reported in European subjects albeit of a lower extent and remaining within the normal range of healthy head hair parameters. The possible effects of latitude and daylight duration are discussed. Data confirm that Chinese hairs present characteristics of the most developed and fast growing terminal fibres, as compared to other non-Asian ethnics. © 2014 Society of Cosmetic Scientists and the Société Française de Cosmétologie.

  15. HYDROCORTISONE THERAPY AND GROWTH TRAJECTORY IN CHILDREN WITH CLASSICAL CONGENITAL ADRENAL HYPERPLASIA.

    PubMed

    Bizzarri, Carla; Improda, Nicola; Maggioli, Chiara; Capalbo, Donatella; Roma, Silvia; Porzio, Ottavia; Salerno, Mariacarolina; Cappa, Marco

    2017-05-01

    Poor linear growth is one of the main concerns in children with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). We aimed to analyze factors affecting growth trajectory in children with classical CAH. Clinical records of children followed from infancy up to the end of growth at two Italian tertiary referral hospitals were reviewed. Fifty-seven patients (31 males), treated with hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone only, were included. Clinical observations were divided into three groups: 0 to 2 years, 172 observations; from 2 years to puberty onset, 813 observations; after puberty onset, 527 observations. Height velocity, pubertal growth spurt, and final height were evaluated as outcomes. Final height standard deviation score (SDS) was lower than target height SDS (-0.74 ± 1.1 versus -0.31 ± 1.01; P<.001). Target-adjusted final height SDS was -0.44 ± 1.8 in males and -0.13 ± 1.1 in females (P = .001). Total pubertal growth was 21.9 ± 7.3 cm in males and 19.2 ± 8.2 cm in females (P = .19). Hydrocortisone dose increased and height-velocity SDS decreased during puberty. At multivariable analysis, height-velocity SDS was adversely affected by hydrocortisone dose (P = .038) and directly related to adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels (P = .023). Target-adjusted final-height SDS was adversely affected by hydrocortisone dose (P<.001) and positively related to mineralocorticoid therapy (P = .001) and ACTH levels (P = .02). Total pubertal growth (cm) was positively related to ACTH levels (P = .01). Height outcome of CAH patients is now better than previously reported. During puberty, the lowest effective dose of hydrocortisone should be used to optimize pubertal growth spurt and final height. 17-OHP = 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone ACTH = adrenocorticotropic hormone BMI = body mass index CAH = congenital adrenal hyperplasia GH = growth hormone HPA = hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal PRA = plasma renin activity SDS = standard deviation score SV = simple virilizing SW = salt-wasting.

  16. 2MTF - VI. Measuring the velocity power spectrum

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Howlett, Cullan; Staveley-Smith, Lister; Elahi, Pascal J.; Hong, Tao; Jarrett, Tom H.; Jones, D. Heath; Koribalski, Bärbel S.; Macri, Lucas M.; Masters, Karen L.; Springob, Christopher M.

    2017-11-01

    We present measurements of the velocity power spectrum and constraints on the growth rate of structure fσ8, at redshift zero, using the peculiar motions of 2062 galaxies in the completed 2MASS Tully-Fisher survey (2MTF). To accomplish this we introduce a model for fitting the velocity power spectrum including the effects of non-linear redshift space distortions (RSD), allowing us to recover unbiased fits down to scales k = 0.2 h Mpc-1 without the need to smooth or grid the data. Our fitting methods are validated using a set of simulated 2MTF surveys. Using these simulations we also identify that the Gaussian distributed estimator for peculiar velocities of Watkins & Feldman is suitable for measuring the velocity power spectrum, but sub-optimal for the 2MTF data compared to using magnitude fluctuations δm, and that, whilst our fits are robust to a change in fiducial cosmology, future peculiar velocity surveys with more constraining power may have to marginalize over this. We obtain scale-dependent constraints on the growth rate of structure in two bins, finding fσ 8 = [0.55^{+0.16}_{-0.13},0.40^{+0.16}_{-0.17}] in the ranges k = [0.007-0.055, 0.55-0.150] h Mpc-1. We also find consistent results using four bins. Assuming scale-independence we find a value fσ 8 = 0.51^{+0.09}_{-0.08}, a ˜16 per cent measurement of the growth rate. Performing a consistency check of general relativity (GR) and combining our results with cosmic microwave background data only we find γ = 0.45^{+0.10}_{-0.11}, a remarkable constraint considering the small number of galaxies. All of our results are completely independent of the effects of galaxy bias, and fully consistent with the predictions of GR (scale-independent fσ8 and γ ≈ 0.55).

  17. Different long-term response to growth hormone therapy in small- versus appropriate-for-gestational-age children with growth hormone deficiency.

    PubMed

    Meazza, Cristina; Pagani, Sara; Pietra, Benedetta; Tinelli, Carmine; Calcaterra, Valeria; Bozzola, Elena; Bozzola, Mauro

    2013-01-01

    The role of birth weight on growth hormone (GH) therapy response in GH-deficient (GHD) children has not been fully elucidated. Therefore, we examined the growth of 23 small-for-gestational-age GHD children (SGA-GHD, 11 females and 12 males), 26 appropriate-for-gestational-age GHD children (AGA-GHD, 11 females and 15 males) during the first 5 years of GH therapy and that of 22 non-GH-treated SGA children (12 females and 10 males). We collected height and height velocity measurements yearly. In AGA-GHD children, height was always greater than in the SGA groups and significantly increased from the fourth year of treatment. Height velocity was higher (SGA-GHD: 1.72 ± 0.30 standard deviation score, SDS, AGA-GHD: 2.67 ± 0.21 SDS; p = 0.039) in AGA-GHD children during the first year of treatment. The AGA-GHD group showed the highest percentage (52.4%) of subjects surpassing mid-parental height and the greatest height gain after 5 years of follow-up. Our results show that birth size is an important factor affecting the response to GH therapy in GHD children during the first 5 years of treatment. The paediatric endocrinologist should be aware of this factor when planning the management of GHD children born SGA. Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  18. Growth of a Species, an Association, a Science: 80 Years of Growth and Development Research

    PubMed Central

    Sherwood, Richard J.; Duren, Dana L.

    2014-01-01

    Physical anthropological research was codified in the United States with the creation of the American Association of Physical Anthropology (AAPA) in 1929. That same year, a study began in yellow springs, Ohio, with a goal of identifying “what makes people different.” The approach used to answer that question was to study the growth and development of Homo sapiens. The resulting study, the Fels Longitudinal Study, is currently the longest continuous study of human growth and development in the world. Although the AAPA and the Fels Longitudinal Study have existed as separate entities for more than 80 years now, it is not surprising, given the relationship between anatomical and developmental research, there has been considerable overlap between the two. As the field of physical anthropology has blossomed to include subdisciplines such as forensics, genetics, primatology, as well as sophisticated statistical methodologies, the importance of growth and development research has escalated. Although current Fels Longitudinal Study research is largely directed at biomedical questions, virtually all findings are relevant to physical anthropology, providing insights into basic biological processes and life history parameters. Some key milestones from the early years of the AAPA and the Fels Longitudinal Study are highlighted here that address growth and development research in physical anthropology. These are still held as fundamental concepts that underscore the importance of this line of inquiry, not only across the subdisciplines of physical anthropology, but also among anthropological, biological, and biomedical inquiries. PMID:23283658

  19. Growth of a species, an association, a science: 80 years of growth and development research.

    PubMed

    Sherwood, Richard J; Duren, Dana L

    2013-01-01

    Physical anthropological research was codified in the United States with the creation of the American Association of Physical Anthropology (AAPA) in 1929. That same year, a study began in yellow springs, Ohio, with a goal of identifying "what makes people different." The approach used to answer that question was to study the growth and development of Homo sapiens. The resulting study, the Fels Longitudinal Study, is currently the longest continuous study of human growth and development in the world. Although the AAPA and the Fels Longitudinal Study have existed as separate entities for more than 80 years now, it is not surprising, given the relationship between anatomical and developmental research, there has been considerable overlap between the two. As the field of physical anthropology has blossomed to include subdisciplines such as forensics, genetics, primatology, as well as sophisticated statistical methodologies, the importance of growth and development research has escalated. Although current Fels Longitudinal Study research is largely directed at biomedical questions, virtually all findings are relevant to physical anthropology, providing insights into basic biological processes and life history parameters. Some key milestones from the early years of the AAPA and the Fels Longitudinal Study are highlighted here that address growth and development research in physical anthropology. These are still held as fundamental concepts that underscore the importance of this line of inquiry, not only across the subdisciplines of physical anthropology, but also among anthropological, biological, and biomedical inquiries. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  20. Thinning increases growth of 60-year-old cherry-maple stands in West Virginia

    Treesearch

    Neil I. Lamson; Neil I. Lamson

    1985-01-01

    In north-central West Virginia, previously unmanaged 60-year-old cherrymaple stands were thinned to 60 percent relative stand density. Thinning reduced mortality, redistributed growth onto fewer, larger stems, and increased individual tree growth. Five-year periodic basal-area growth per acre was 1.2 times greater in thinned stands than in unthinned stands. Periodic...

  1. Assessing Annual Ice Velocity Fluctuations of Three Lake-terminating Glaciers in Nepal

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Strattman, K.; Haritashya, U. K.; Kargel, J. S.; Shugar, D. H.; Furfaro, R.; Leonard, G. J.

    2017-12-01

    There is no doubt that globally, glaciers are losing mass at varying rates. Himalayan glaciers are no exception, as they are extremely susceptible to climate change and therefore most of them are retreating. The Imja, Lower Barun, and Thulagi Glaciers, located in the Nepal Himalaya, were the focus of this study. As these glaciers retreat, their respective proglacial lakes continue to dramatically increase in area. We used Landsat, ASTER, and Sentinel satellite imagery to study the conditions of these glaciers. Specifically, we assessed interannual changes in surface ice velocity from the early 1990s to present. Our study evaluates both long-term and short-term velocity variations, which indicate that even though these glaciers are in the same region their velocities show significant short-term variations, but also show similar long-term patterns. Furthermore, in the last two decades the lakes have expanded rapidly while large dynamic changes have elapsed in their lower ablation and terminus regions. The three lakes, however, exhibit three contrasting trends of lake growth: Imja Lake has a strong accelerating growth history since the 1960s, Lower Barun a very slow accelerating growth, and Thulagi a decelerating growth, even as the glaciers of all three lakes have thinned. With recent lowering of lake Imja, it is important to evaluate the dynamic natures of other large lakes such as Thulagi and Lower Barun and compare them with current and previous velocity variations at Imja. The result from this study can provide insight into how these glaciers may evolve in the future and respond dynamically under rapid lake growth.

  2. The relationship between salivary insulin-like growth factor I and quantitative cervical maturational stages of skeletal maturity.

    PubMed

    Nayak, Subash; Bhad Patil, Wasundhara A; Doshi, Umal Hiralal

    2014-09-01

    Insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) has been used as an indicator of growth hormone levels and hence can also be used as a marker of growth. The main objective of the study was to quantify salivary IGF-I levels and its secretion rate at different quantitative cervical maturation (QCVM) stages and evaluate a possible role for salivary IGF-I in evaluating skeletal growth. Forty-five subjects (24 female, 21 male) between the ages of 7 and 23 years were included in the study. Each subject had personal information, a lateral cephalogram, and a parotid saliva sample collected on the same day. Salivary IGF-I levels and salivary secretion rates were lowest at QCVM skeletal stages previously associated with the acceleration phase of mandibular growth. Highest levels were found at the high velocity stage. After this there was gradual drop in salivary IGF-I levels and secretion rate at deceleration and completing velocity stages. Relatively high levels in the decelerating velocity stage may be an indication of residual skeletal growth. There was a negative correlation between patient age and levels of IGF-I and its secretion rate, once growth velocity decreased. Salivary IGF-I levels or its secretion rate can be used as an indicator of skeletal growth but longitudinal data are necessary to confirm salivary IGF-I as a marker for skeletal growth prediction and residual mandibular growth. © 2014 British Orthodontic Society.

  3. Recruitment dynamics and first year growth of the coral reef surgeonfish Ctenochaetus striatus, with implications for acanthurid growth models

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Trip, Elizabeth D. L.; Craig, Peter; Green, Alison; Choat, J. Howard

    2014-12-01

    Newly recruited Ctenochaetus striatus were monitored over a 16-month period in American Samoa, 2002-2003. During this period, a mass recruitment of age-0 C. striatus occurred in March 2002 with numbers reaching 22.9 recruits m-2. This program provided an invaluable opportunity to (1) analyze the dynamics of a mass recruitment episode and to assess its significance with respect to more typical patterns of recruitment and (2) establish the pattern of recruit growth during their first year of life. Age-based analysis indicated that the mass recruitment generated about 90 % of annual recruitment, but recruit mortality was high; thus, most recruitment was provided by continuous settlement throughout the year. The mass event appeared to be a short-lived pulse with recruits residing on the reef an average of 14.1 d compared with 161.1 d for other recruits. Recruits grew rapidly, achieving 90 % of their adult size during their first year, and they formed their first otolith annulus after 1 yr, thereby providing a firm basis for otolith interpretation of fish ages during the early life history phase of this species. The extensive age-based documentation of their first year growth in this study validates the distinctive "square" growth pattern exhibited by acanthurids as described in the literature (i.e., long life span with rapid initial growth that quickly reaches an asymptotic size), and it demonstrates the impact that the presence of age-0 fish has when generating growth parameters for populations exhibiting square growth. We found that the parameters from the re-parameterized von Bertalanffy growth function have preferred characteristics when modeling square growth in fish and that fixing age-at-length zero to pelagic larval duration is a preferable method to constrain growth models when lacking age-0 fish.

  4. Actin-mediated bacterial propulsion: comet profile, velocity pulsations.

    PubMed

    Benza, V G

    2008-05-23

    The propulsion of bacteria under the action of an actin gel network is examined in terms of gel concentration dynamics. The model includes the elasticity of the network, the gel-bacterium interaction, the bulk and interface polymerization. A formula for the cruise velocity is obtained where the contributions to bacterial motility arising from elasticity and polymerization are made explicit. Higher velocities correspond to lower concentration peaks and longer tails, in agreement with experimental results. The condition for the onset of motion is explicitly given. The behavior of the system is explored by varying the growth rates and the gel elasticity. At steady state two regimes are found, respectively, of constant and pulsating velocity; in the latter case, the velocity undergoes sudden accelerations and subsequent recoveries. The transition to the pulsating regime is obtained by increasing the elastic response of the gel.

  5. Test of the Constancy - Velocity Hypothesis: Navy Unit Functioning and Performance over 12 Years.

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1988-01-31

    purpose of the United States Government. 17 COSATI CODES 18 SUEJECT T’ERMS C rinue an rev se f necess iy1 f da eao ms een- listment1111 Rate, Change of...38 Velocity, Climate Change , and Upgrade Rate 41 Joint Effects of Culture/Climate and Velocity 43 Conclusions about the Role Played by Velocity 44...which (a) examined change in organizational systems over time, (b) systematically tested different methodological approaches to organizational

  6. Power spectrum, growth velocities and cross-correlations of longitudinal and transverse oscillations of individual Nicotiana tabacum pollen tube.

    PubMed

    Haduch-Sendecka, Aleksandra; Pietruszka, Mariusz; Zajdel, Paweł

    2014-08-01

    We report on our results concerning growth rate and oscillation modes of the individual pollen tube apex. The observed volumetric growth and growth rate periodicity in the longitudinal (axial) direction are accompanied by transverse oscillations with similar frequencies but higher energies than the axial modes. Examination of the time-domain coherence between oscillations in mutually perpendicular directions revealed minimal energy dissipation in the unperturbed (isotonic) case, opposite to the two remaining cases (hypertonic, hypotonic) with notable correlations. We conjecture that the minimal energy loss is therefore optimal in the natural growth conditions. The longitudinal growth velocity is also found to be the fastest in the unperturbed case. As a result, the isolated system (pollen tube tip) is conserving energy by transforming it from elastic potential energy of extending apical wall to the kinetic energy of periodical motion. The energy dissipation is found to be about 20 % smaller in axial direction than in lateral one, indicating that the main energy consumption is dedicated to the elongation. We further observe that the hypertonic spectrum is shifted towards lower and the hypotonic towards higher frequencies with respect to the isotonic spectrum. In consequence, the turgor pressure inside the growing cell influences monotonically the frequency of both modes of oscillations. The calculated power spectrum seen as a measure of the overall energy efficiency of tip growth under hypertonic, hypotonic and isotonic conditions implies that the biochemistry has been fine tuned to be optimal under normal growth conditions, which is the developmental implication of this work. A simple theoretical extension of the Ortega equation is derived and analysed with respect to its contribution to power spectrum. We show that the plastic term, related to the effective turgor pressure, with maximum contribution at frequency f = 0 is responsible for the steady growth. In turn

  7. Malaysian growth centiles for children under six years old.

    PubMed

    Bong, Yiibonn; Shariff, Asma Ahmad; Mohamed, Abdul Majid; Merican, Amir Feisal

    2015-03-01

    Growth references are useful for the screening, assessment and monitoring of individual children as well as for evaluating various growth promoting interventions that could possibly affect a child in early life. To determine the growth centiles of Malaysian children and to establish contemporary cross-sectional growth reference charts for height and weight from birth to 6 years of age based on a representative sample of children from Malaysia. Gender- and age-specific centile curves for height and weight were derived using the Cole's LMS method. Data for this study were retrieved from Malaysian government health clinics using a two-stage stratified random sampling technique. Assessment of nutritional status was done with the SD scores (Z-scores) of WHO 2006 standards. Boys were found to be taller and heavier than girls in this study. The median length of Malaysian children was higher than the WHO 2006 standards and CDC 2000 reference. The overall prevalence of stunting and underweight were 8.3% and 9.3%, respectively. This study presents the first large-scale initiative for local reference charts. The growth reference would enable the growth assessment of a Malaysian child compared to the average growth of children in the country. It is suggested that the use of WHO 2006 Child Growth Standards should be complemented with local reference charts for a more wholesome growth assessment.

  8. A polymorphism in the leptin receptor gene at position 223 is associated with growth hormone replacement therapy responsiveness in idiopathic short stature and growth hormone deficiency patients.

    PubMed

    Su, Pen-Hua; Yang, Shun-Fa; Yu, Ju-Shan; Chen, Suh-Jen; Chen, Jia-Yuh

    2012-12-01

    We hypothesized that responses to growth hormone (GH) therapy by idiopathic short stature (ISS) and growth hormone deficiency (GHD) patients were associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the leptin (LEP) and leptin receptor (LEPR) genes. We retrospectively enrolled ISS (n = 32) and GHD (n = 38) patients and forty healthy age-and gender-matched children. They were genotyped for the LEP promoter at nt.-2548, and LEPR K109R and LEPR Q223R polymorphisms. Clinical and laboratory variables were determined before and after 2 years of GH treatment. ISS patients with G/A or A/A genotypes of the LEPR Q223R SNP had a significantly higher height velocity (cm/y) than ISS patients with the G/G genotype at 2 years after GH treatment. For GHD patients, G/A or A/A genotype of the LEPR K109R SNP was associated with higher body weight, higher BMI, and higher weight velocity than patients with the G/G genotype before GH treatment, but not after GH treatment. G/A or A/A genotype of the LEPR Q223R SNP was associated with a significantly higher body weight, higher height velocity before treatment, but not after GH treatment. G/A or A/A genotype of the LEPR Q223R SNP was associated with a significantly higher weight velocity before treatment, but a significantly lower weight velocity was found at 2 years after GH treatment. These results suggest LEPR Q223R SNP (rs1137101) is associated with outcomes of GH replacement therapy in ISS and GHD patients. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  9. The course of growth response in released white spruce--10-year results

    Treesearch

    Robert M. Frank; Robert M. Frank

    1973-01-01

    Weekly bole measurements at 4.5 feet in height were made on individual codominant white spruce trees released on one, two, three, and four sides, and on untreated controls. Results showed that after 10 years annual circumference growth was still significantly related to the degree of release. The growth trend was established the first year but significant differences...

  10. Seismic Tomography and the Development of a State Velocity Profile

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Marsh, S. J.; Nakata, N.

    2017-12-01

    Earthquakes have been a growing concern in the State of Oklahoma in the last few years and as a result, accurate earthquake location is of utmost importance. This means using a high resolution velocity model with both lateral and vertical variations. Velocity data is determined using ambient noise seismic interferometry and tomography. Passive seismic data was acquired from multiple IRIS networks over the span of eight years (2009-2016) and filtered for earthquake removal to obtain the background ambient noise profile for the state. Seismic Interferometry is applied to simulate ray paths between stations, this is done with each possible station pair for highest resolution. Finally the method of seismic tomography is used to extract the velocity data and develop the state velocity map. The final velocity profile will be a compilation of different network analyses due to changing station availability from year to year. North-Central Oklahoma has a dense seismic network and has been operating for the past few years. The seismic stations are located here because this is the most seismically active region. Other parts of the state have not had consistent coverage from year to year, and as such a reliable and high resolution velocity profile cannot be determined from this network. However, the Transportable Array (TA) passed through Oklahoma in 2014 and provided a much wider and evenly spaced coverage. The goal of this study is to ultimately combine these two arrays over time, and provide a high quality velocity profile for the State of Oklahoma.

  11. First-year growth in children with Noonan syndrome: Associated with feeding problems?

    PubMed

    Croonen, Ellen A; Draaisma, Jos M T; van der Burgt, Ineke; Roeleveld, Nel; Noordam, Cees

    2018-04-01

    Children with Noonan syndrome show rapid decline of growth in the first year of life and feeding problems are present in over 50%. The aim of this study was to explore whether growth decelerates because of feeding problems or other Noonan syndrome-related factors. We performed a retrospective, longitudinal cohort study of clinically and genetically diagnosed subjects with Noonan syndrome (n = 143). Questionnaires about the phenotypic-genotypic profile and reported feeding problems were sent to eligible subjects. Data on first-year growth was obtained from growth charts. Ninety-one participants were excluded because of different criteria. A total of 52 subjects with Noonan syndrome were included. The largest decline in weight and length standard deviation score (SDS) occurred in the first 2.5 months after birth (-1.93 and -1.15, respectively), with feeding problems causing a decline of 0.57 SDS in the remaining months. At 1 year, children with feeding problems were on average 290 g lighter and 0.8 cm shorter than children without feeding problems. Weight gain was also negatively influenced by having a PTPN11 mutation (n = 39) and a higher gestational age, whereas children of parents with Noonan syndrome and with a higher birth weight gained more weight. Growth in length was reduced by having cardiac surgery and a higher gestational age, but positively influenced by birth length and maternal height. Growth in children with Noonan syndrome is impaired right after birth and only partially associated with feeding problems. In addition, several specific Noonan syndrome-related factors seem to influence growth in the first year. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  12. The effect of maturation on adaptations to strength training and detraining in 11-15-year-olds.

    PubMed

    Meylan, C M P; Cronin, J B; Oliver, J L; Hopkins, W G; Contreras, B

    2014-06-01

    To investigate how maturity status modifies the effects of strength training and detraining on performance, we subjected 33 young men to 8 weeks of strength training twice per week followed by 8 weeks without training. Changes in performance tests were analyzed in three maturity groups based on years from/to age of predicted peak height velocity (PHV): pre-PHV (-1.7 ± 0.4 years; n = 10), mid-PHV (-0.2 ± 0.4 years; n = 11), and post-PHV (1.0 ± 0.4 years; n = 12). Mean training effects on one repetition maximum strength (3.6-10.0%), maximum explosive power (11-20%), jump length (6.5-7.4%), and sprint times (-2.1% to -4.7%) ranged from small to large, with generally greater changes in mid- and post-PHV groups. Changes in force-velocity relationships reflected generally greater increases in strength at faster velocities. In the detraining period, the pre-PHV group showed greatest loss of strength and power, the post-PHV group showed some loss of sprint performance, but all groups maintained or improved jump length. Strength training was thus generally less effective before the growth spurt. Maintenance programs are needed for most aspects of explosive performance following strength training before the growth spurt and for sprint speed after the growth spurt. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  13. Illustration of year-to-year variation in wheat spectral profile crop growth curves. [Kansas, Oklahoma, North Dakota and South Dakota

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Gonzalez, P.; Jones, C. (Principal Investigator)

    1980-01-01

    Data previously compiled on the year to year variability of spectral profile crop growth parameters for spring and winter wheat in Kansas, Oklahoma, and the Dakotas were used with a profile model to develop graphs illustrating spectral profile crop growth curves for a number of years and a number of spring and winter wheat segments. These curves show the apparent variability in spectral profiles for wheat from one year to another within the same segment and from one segment to another within the same year.

  14. Phase-field simulations of velocity selection in rapidly solidified binary alloys

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Fan, Jun; Greenwood, Michael; Haataja, Mikko; Provatas, Nikolas

    2006-09-01

    Time-dependent simulations of two-dimensional isothermal Ni-Cu dendrites are simulated using a phase-field model solved with a finite-difference adaptive mesh refinement technique. Dendrite tip velocity selection is examined and found to exhibit a transition between two markedly different regimes as undercooling is increased. At low undercooling, the dendrite tip growth rate is consistent with the kinetics of the classical Stefan problem, where the interface is assume to be in local equilibrium. At high undercooling, the growth velocity selected approaches a linear dependence on melt undercooling, consistent with the continuous growth kinetics of Aziz and with a one-dimensional steady-state phase-field asymptotic analysis of Ahmad [Phys. Rev. E 58, 3436 (1998)]. Our simulations are also consistent with other previously observed behaviors of dendritic growth as undercooling is increased. These include the transition of dendritic morphology to absolute stability and nonequilibrium solute partitioning. Our results show that phase-field models of solidification, which inherently contain a nonzero interface width, can be used to study the dynamics of complex solidification phenomena involving both equilibrium and nonequilibrium interface growth kinetics.

  15. Eudaimonic Growth: Narrative Growth Goals Predict Increases in Ego Development and Subjective Well-Being 3 Years Later

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Bauer, Jack J.; McAdams, Dan P.

    2010-01-01

    We examine (a) the normative course of eudaimonic well-being in emerging adulthood and (b) whether people's narratives of major life goals might prospectively predict eudaimonic growth 3 years later. We define eudaimonic growth as longitudinal increases in eudaimonic well-being, which we define as the combination of psychosocial maturity and…

  16. Multiple joint muscle function with ageing: the force-velocity and power-velocity relationships in young and older men.

    PubMed

    Allison, Sarah J; Brooke-Wavell, Katherine; Folland, Jonathan P

    2013-05-01

    Whilst extensive research has detailed the loss of muscle strength with ageing for isolated single joint actions, there has been little attention to power production during more functionally relevant multiple joint movements. The extent to which force or velocity are responsible for the loss in power with ageing is also equivocal. The aim of this study was to evaluate the contribution of force and velocity to the differences in power with age by comparing the force-velocity and power-velocity relationships in young and older men during a multiple joint leg press movement. Twenty-one older men (66 ± 3 years) and twenty-three young men (24 ± 2 years) completed a series of isometric (maximum and explosive) and dynamic contractions on a leg press dynamometer instrumented to record force and displacement. The force-velocity relationship was lower for the older men as reflected by their 19 % lower maximum isometric strength (p < 0.001). Explosive isometric strength (peak rate of force development) was 21 % lower for the older men (p < 0.05) but was similar between groups when normalised to maximum strength (p = 0.58). The power-velocity relationship was lower for the older men as shown by reduced maximum power (-28 %, p < 0.001) and lower force (-20 %, p < 0.001) and velocity (-11 %, p < 0.05). Whilst force and velocity were lower in older men, the decrement in force was greater and therefore the major explanation for the attenuation of power during a functionally relevant multiple joint movement.

  17. Infant obesity and severe obesity growth patterns in the first two years of life.

    PubMed

    Gittner, Lisaann S; Ludington-Hoe, Susan M; Haller, Harold S

    2014-04-01

    Distinguishing an obesity growth pattern that originates during infancy is clinically important. Infancy based obesity prevention interventions may be needed while precursors of later health are forming. Infant obesity and severe obesity growth patterns in the first 2-years are described and distinguished from a normal weight growth pattern. A retrospective chart review was conducted. Body mass index (BMI) growth patterns from birth to 2-years are described for children categorized at 5-years as normal weight (n = 61), overweight (n = 47), obese (n = 41) and severely obese (n = 72) cohorts using WHO reference standards. BMI values were calculated at birth, 1-week; 2-, 4-, 6-, 9-, 12-, 15-, 18-months; and 2- and 5-years. Graphs of the longitudinal Analysis of Variance of Means of BMI values identified the earliest significant divergence of a cohort's average BMI pattern from other cohorts' patterns. ANOVA and Pearson Product Moment correlations were also performed. Statistically significant differences in BMI values and differences in growth patterns between cohorts were evident as early as 2-6 months post-birth. Children who were obese or severely obese at 5-years demonstrated a BMI pattern that differed within the first 2-years of life from that of children who were normal weight at 5-years. The earliest significant correlation between early BMI values and 5-year BMI value was at 4-months post-birth. The study fills an important gap by demonstrating early onset of an infant obesity growth pattern in full-term children who were healthy throughout their first 5 years of life.

  18. Two-Year Data from a Long-Term Phase IV Study of Recombinant Human Growth Hormone in Short Children Born Small for Gestational Age.

    PubMed

    Schwarz, Hans-Peter; Walczak, Mieczysław; Birkholz-Walerzak, Dorota; Szalecki, Mieczyslaw; Nanu, Michaela; Woehling, Heike; Schuck, Ellen

    2016-03-01

    This ongoing, prospective, open-label, non-comparative, multicenter phase IV study is evaluating the safety and efficacy of recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH; Omnitrope(®), Sandoz GmbH) in short children born small for gestational age (SGA). Here we report data from patients who have completed 2 years' treatment. Eligibility criteria included prepubertal children born SGA with growth disturbances defined as current height standard deviation score (HSDS) <-2.5 and parental adjusted SDS <-1; birth weight and/or length <-2 SDS; and failure of catch-up growth [height velocity (HV) SDS <0 during the last year] by 4 years of age or later. The primary study objective is to assess the long-term effect of Omnitrope treatment on the development of diabetes in short children born SGA. Secondary objectives include evaluation of efficacy, incidence and severity of adverse events (AEs), occurrence of malignancies during treatment, and detection of anti-rhGH antibodies during treatment. In total, 278 children have been enrolled and received study medication; 249 have completed 2 years of treatment. No child has developed diabetes mellitus during the first 2 years; no fasting glucose or 2-h oral glucose tolerance test value exceeded the pre-defined limits of >126 or >200 mg/dL, respectively. No adverse alterations in body mass were noted. Treatment-emergent AEs were experienced by 211 (76.2%) children; most of these were of mild-to-moderate intensity (99.3%) and considered unrelated to study medication (97.6%). Treatment with Omnitrope was effective; mean HSDS was -3.39 at baseline, -2.57 at 1 year and -2.15 at 2 years of treatment. Mean HVSDS (peak-centered) also improved, from -2.13 at baseline to +4.16 at 1 year and +2.23 at 2 years. In this second interim analysis, short children born SGA were safely and effectively treated with rhGH (Omnitrope), and 2 years' treatment had no major adverse impact on carbohydrate metabolism or body mass. Sandoz.

  19. Growth hormone treatment before the age of 4 years prevents short stature in young girls with Turner syndrome.

    PubMed

    Linglart, A; Cabrol, S; Berlier, P; Stuckens, C; Wagner, K; de Kerdanet, M; Limoni, C; Carel, J-C; Chaussain, J-L

    2011-06-01

    Adult height deficit seen in Turner syndrome (TS) originates, in part, from growth retardation in utero and throughout the first 3 years of life. Earlier diagnosis enables earlier therapeutic intervention, such as with recombinant human GH (r-hGH), which may help to prevent growth retardation. In this open-label, multicentre phase III study, we investigated efficacy and safety in r-hGH treatment in young girls with TS. Girls (n=61) aged <4 years with TS receiving 0.035-0.05 mg/kg per day r-hGH for 4 years were compared with an historical control group (n=51) comprising untreated, age- and height-matched girls with TS. The main outcome measure was change in height SDS (H-SDS). Other measures included changes in height velocity SDS, IGF1 levels and glucose metabolism. After 4 years, a gain in mean H-SDS of 1.0 SDS (from -2.33±0.73 to -1.35±0.86 SDS) was observed with r-hGH treatment, in contrast to the decrease in mean H-SDS of 0.3 SDS in the control group (from -2.09±0.81 to -2.44±0.73 SDS; P<0.0001). r-hGH treatment was the main predictor of H-SDS gain and accounted for 52% of variability (multivariate analysis). r-hGH was well tolerated. As expected, IGF1 levels rose with treatment. A case of transient glucose intolerance resolved after dietary adaptation. Early treatment with r-hGH helps to prevent natural evolution towards short stature in most girls with TS. IGF1 levels and glucose metabolism should be monitored routinely during r-hGH therapy.

  20. Accretion rates of protoplanets. II - Gaussian distributions of planetesimal velocities

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Greenzweig, Yuval; Lissauer, Jack J.

    1992-01-01

    In the present growth-rate calculations for a protoplanet that is embedded in a disk of planetesimals with triaxial Gaussian velocity dispersion and uniform surface density, the protoplanet is on a circular orbit. The accretion rate in the two-body approximation is found to be enhanced by a factor of about 3 relative to the case where all planetesimals' eccentricities and inclinations are equal to the rms values of those disk variables having locally Gaussian velocity dispersion. This accretion-rate enhancement should be incorporated by all models that assume a single random velocity for all planetesimals in lieu of a Gaussian distribution.

  1. Effects of spring defoliation on first-year growth of young loblolly and slash pines

    Treesearch

    David R. Weise; Ragnar W. Johansen; Dale D. Wade

    1987-01-01

    Partial and complete spring defoliation reduced first-year diameter, height, and volume growth of 4-year-old loblolly and slash pines. Early and late growth differed significantly between defoliation levels (P=0.05). However, the number of height growth flushes produced during the 1986 growing season was not affected by defoliation treatments. No mortality occurred...

  2. Effects of Glen Canyon Dam discharges on water velocity and temperatures at the confluence of the Colorado and Little Colorado Rivers and implications for habitat for young-of-year humpback chub (Gila cypha-

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Protiva, Frank R.; Ralston, Barbara E.; Stone, Dennis M.; Kohl, Keith A.; Yard, Michael D.; Haden, G. Allen

    2010-01-01

    Water velocity and temperature are physical variables that affect the growth and survivorship of young-of-year (YOY) fishes. The Little Colorado River, a tributary to the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, is an important spawning ground and warmwater refuge for the endangered humpback chub (Gila cypha) from the colder mainstem Colorado River that is regulated by Glen Canyon Dam. The confluence area of the Little Colorado River and the Colorado River is a site where YOY humpback chub (size 30-90 mm) emerging from the Little Colorado River experience both colder temperatures and higher velocities associated with higher mainstem discharge. We used detailed surveying and mapping techniques in combination with YOY velocity and temperature preferenda (determined from field and lab studies) to compare the areal extent of available habitat for young fishes at the confluence area under four mainstem discharges (227, 368, 504, and 878 m3/s). Comparisons revealed that the areal extent of low-velocity, warm water at the confluence decreased when discharges exceeded 368 m3/s. Furthermore, mainstem fluctuations, depending on the rate of upramp, can affect velocity and temperature dynamics in the confluence area within several hours. The amount of daily fluctuations in discharge can result in the loss of approximately 1.8 hectares of habitat favorable to YOY humpback chub. Consequently, flow fluctuations and the accompanying changes in velocity and temperature at the confluence may diminish the recruitment potential of humpback chub that spawn in the tributary stream. This study illustrates the utility of multiple georeferenced data sources to provide critical information related to the influence of the timing and magnitude of discharge from Glen Canyon Dam on potential rearing environment at the confluence area of the Little Colorado River.

  3. Sixteen year variation of horizontal phase velocity and propagation direction of mesospheric and thermospheric waves in airglow images at Shigaraki, Japan

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Takeo, D.; Shiokawa, K.; Fujinami, H.; Otsuka, Y.; Matsuda, T. S.; Ejiri, M. K.; Nakamura, T.; Yamamoto, M.

    2017-08-01

    We analyzed the horizontal phase velocity of gravity waves and medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs) by using the three-dimensional fast Fourier transform method developed by Matsuda et al. (2014) for 557.7 nm (altitude: 90-100 km) and 630.0 nm (altitude: 200-300 km) airglow images obtained at Shigaraki MU Observatory (34.8°N, 136.1°E, dip angle: 49°) over ˜16 years from 16 March 1999 to 20 February 2015. The analysis of 557.7 nm airglow images shows clear seasonal variation of the propagation direction of gravity waves in the mesopause region. In spring, summer, fall, and winter, the peak directions are northeastward, northeastward, northwestward, and southwestward, respectively. The difference in east-west propagation direction between summer and winter is probably caused by the wind filtering effect due to the zonal mesospheric jet. Comparison with tropospheric reanalysis data shows that the difference in north-south propagation direction between summer and winter is caused by differences in the latitudinal location of wave sources due to convective activity in the troposphere relative to Shigaraki. The analysis of 630.0 nm airglow images shows that the propagation direction of MSTIDs is mainly southwestward with a minor northeastward component throughout the 16 years. A clear negative correlation is seen between the yearly power spectral density of MSTIDs and F10.7 solar flux. This negative correlation with solar activity may be explained by the linear growth rate of the Perkins instability and secondary wave generation of gravity waves in the thermosphere.

  4. Response to long-term growth hormone therapy in patients affected by RASopathies and growth hormone deficiency: Patterns of growth, puberty and final height data.

    PubMed

    Tamburrino, Federica; Gibertoni, Dino; Rossi, Cesare; Scarano, Emanuela; Perri, Annamaria; Montanari, Francesca; Fantini, Maria Pia; Pession, Andrea; Tartaglia, Marco; Mazzanti, Laura

    2015-11-01

    RASopathies are developmental disorders caused by heterozygous germline mutations in genes encoding proteins in the RAS-MAPK signaling pathway. Reduced growth is a common feature. Several studies generated data on growth, final height (FH), and height velocity (HV) after growth hormone (GH) treatment in patients with these disorders, particularly in Noonan syndrome, the most common RASopathy. These studies, however, refer to heterogeneous cohorts in terms of molecular information, GH status, age at start and length of therapy, and GH dosage. This work reports growth data in 88 patients affected by RASopathies with molecularly confirmed diagnosis, together with statistics on body proportions, pubertal pattern, and FH in 33, including 16 treated with GH therapy for proven GH deficiency. Thirty-three patients showed GH deficiency after pharmacological tests, and were GH-treated for an average period of 6.8 ± 4.8 years. Before starting therapy, HV was -2.6 ± 1.3 SDS, and mean basal IGF1 levels were -2.0 ± 1.1 SDS. Long-term GH therapy, starting early during childhood, resulted in a positive height response compared with untreated patients (1.3 SDS in terms of height-gain), normalizing FH for Ranke standards but not for general population and Target Height. Pubertal timing negatively affected pubertal growth spurt and FH, with IGF1 standardized score increased from -2.43 to -0.27 SDS. During GH treatment, no significant change in bone age velocity, body proportions, or cardiovascular function was observed. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  5. A 14-year dataset of in situ glacier surface velocities for a tidewater and a land-terminating glacier in Livingston Island, Antarctica

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Machío, Francisco; Rodríguez-Cielos, Ricardo; Navarro, Francisco; Lapazaran, Javier; Otero, Jaime

    2017-10-01

    We present a 14-year record of in situ glacier surface velocities determined by repeated global navigation satellite system (GNSS) measurements in a dense network of 52 stakes distributed across two glaciers, Johnsons (tidewater) and Hurd (land-terminating), located on Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. The measurements cover the time period 2000-2013 and were collected at the beginning and end of each austral summer season. A second-degree polynomial approximation is fitted to each stake position, which allows estimating the approximate positions and associated velocities at intermediate times. This dataset is useful as input data for numerical models of glacier dynamics or for the calibration and validation of remotely sensed velocities for a region where very scarce in situ glacier surface velocity measurements have been available so far. The link to the data repository is as follows: http://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.846791.

  6. The reliability of isoinertial force-velocity-power profiling and maximal strength assessment in youth.

    PubMed

    Meylan, César M P; Cronin, John B; Oliver, Jon L; Hughes, Michael M G; Jidovtseff, Boris; Pinder, Shane

    2015-03-01

    The purpose of this study was to quantify the inter-session reliability of force-velocity-power profiling and estimated maximal strength in youth. Thirty-six males (11-15 years old) performed a ballistic supine leg press test at five randomized loads (80%, 100%, 120%, 140%, and 160% body mass) on three separate occasions. Peak and mean force, power, velocity, and peak displacement were collected with a linear position transducer attached to the weight stack. Mean values at each load were used to calculate different regression lines and estimate maximal strength, force, velocity, and power. All variables were found reliable (change in the mean [CIM] = - 1 to 14%; coefficient of variation [CV] = 3-18%; intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.74-0.99), but were likely to benefit from a familiarization, apart from the unreliable maximal force/velocity ratio (CIM = 0-3%; CV = 23-25%; ICC = 0.35-0.54) and load at maximal power (CIM = - 1 to 2%; CV = 10-13%; ICC = 0.26-0.61). Isoinertial force-velocity-power profiling and maximal strength in youth can be assessed after a familiarization session. Such profiling may provide valuable insight into neuromuscular capabilities during growth and maturation and may be used to monitor specific training adaptations.

  7. First-year survival and growth of fertilized slash pine in south Alabama

    Treesearch

    Rebecca Barlow; Luben Dimov; Kris Connor; Mark Smith

    2013-01-01

    Early survival and growth rates are critical to the successful establishment of pine stands. Landowners need options to improve first-year growth on pine stands that will help them meet their land management objectives. One way to improve early stand survival and growth is through fertilization. In January 2008, approximately 5 acres of slash pine (Pinus...

  8. Influence of infant feeding patterns over the first year of life on growth from birth to 5 years.

    PubMed

    Betoko, A; Lioret, S; Heude, B; Hankard, R; Carles, S; Forhan, A; Regnault, N; Botton, J; Charles, M A; de Lauzon-Guillain, B

    2017-08-01

    As early-life feeding experiences may influence later health, we aimed to examine relations between feeding patterns over the first year of life and child's growth in the first 5 years of life. Our analysis included 1022 children from the EDEN mother-child cohort. Three feeding patterns were previously identified, i.e. 'Later dairy products introduction and use of ready-prepared baby foods' (pattern-1), 'Long breastfeeding, later main meal food introduction and use of home-made foods' (pattern-2) and 'Use of ready-prepared adult foods' (pattern-3). Associations between the feeding patterns and growth [weight, height and body mass index {BMI}] were analysed by multivariable linear regressions. Anthropometric changes were assessed by the final value adjusted for the initial value. Even though infant feeding patterns were not related to anthropometric measurements at 1, 3 and 5 years, high scores on pattern-1 were associated with higher 1-3 years weight and height changes. High scores on pattern-2 were related to lower 0-1 year weight and height changes, higher 1-5 years weight and height changes but not to BMI changes, after controlling for a wide range of potential confounding variables including parental BMI. Scores on pattern-3 were not significantly related to growth. Additional adjustment for breastfeeding duration reduced the strength of the associations between pattern-2 and growth but not those between pattern-1 and height growth. Our findings emphasize the relevance of considering infant feeding patterns including breastfeeding duration, age of complementary foods introduction as well as type of foods used when examining effects of early infant feeding practices on later health. © 2017 World Obesity Federation. © 2017 World Obesity Federation.

  9. Thumb Ossification Composite Index (TOCI) for Predicting Peripubertal Skeletal Maturity and Peak Height Velocity in Idiopathic Scoliosis

    PubMed Central

    Hung, Alec L.H.; Chau, W.W.; Shi, B.; Chow, Simon K.; Yu, Fiona Y.P.; Lam, T.P.; Ng, Bobby K.W.; Qiu, Y.; Cheng, Jack C.Y.

    2017-01-01

    Background: Accurate skeletal maturity assessment is important to guide clinical evaluation of idiopathic scoliosis, but commonly used methods are inadequate or too complex for rapid clinical use. The objective of the study was to propose a new simplified staging method, called the thumb ossification composite index (TOCI), based on the ossification pattern of the 2 thumb epiphyses and the adductor sesamoid bone; to determine its accuracy in predicting skeletal maturation when compared with the Sanders simplified skeletal maturity system (SSMS); and to validate its interrater and intrarater reliability. Methods: Hand radiographs of 125 girls, acquired when they were newly diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis prior to menarche and during longitudinal follow-up until skeletal maturity (a minimum of 4 years), were scored with the TOCI and SSMS. These scores were compared with digital skeletal age (DSA) and radius, ulna, and small hand bones (RUS) scores; anthropometric data; peak height velocity; and growth-remaining profiles. Correlations were analyzed with the chi-square test, Spearman and Cramer V correlation methods, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Reliability analysis using the intraclass correlation (ICC) was conducted. Results: Six hundred and forty-five hand radiographs (average, 5 of each girl) were scored. The TOCI staging system was highly correlated with the DSA and RUS scores (r = 0.93 and 0.92, p < 0.01). The mean peak height velocity (and standard deviation) was 7.43 ± 1.45 cm/yr and occurred at a mean age of 11.9 ± 0.86 years, with 70.1% and 51.4% of the subjects attaining their peak height velocity at TOCI stage 5 and SSMS stage 3, respectively. The 2 systems predicted peak height velocity with comparable accuracy, with a strong Cramer V association (0.526 and 0.466, respectively; p < 0.01) and similar sensitivity and specificity on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The mean age at menarche was 12.57 ± 1

  10. The growing skull. Part III. Dynamics of growth of the neurocranium.

    PubMed

    Gefferth, C M

    1984-01-01

    The growth characteristic of the neurocranium and the dynamics of its development were studied in 1036 children, 540 boys and 496 girls, from birth to the age of 16 years. Analysis of the individual distances showed differences in the velocity, tendency and extent of growth, maturation, and sex peculiarities. An attempt was made to estimate postpubertal development. Comparison with other authors results revealed some remarkable racial features and environmental effects. By the aid of new constructed lines it was possible to interpret the peculiar growth of the occipital region and of the posterior fossa.

  11. Survival and growth of black walnut families after 7 years in West Virginia

    Treesearch

    G. W. Wendel; Donald E. Dorn; Donald E. Dorn

    1985-01-01

    Average survival, 7-year stem diameter, and stem diameter growth differed significantly among 34 black walnut families planted in West Virginia. Average total height, height growth, and diameter at breast height were not significantly different among families. Families were from seed collected in West Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Tennessee. The 7-year...

  12. Foot length before and during insulin-like growth factor-I treatment of children with laron syndrome compared to human growth hormone treatment of children with isolated growth hormone deficiency.

    PubMed

    Silbergeld, Aviva; Lilos, Pearl; Laron, Zvi

    2007-12-01

    To compare foot length deficits between patients with Laron syndrome (LS) (primary growth hormone [GH] insensitivity) and congenital isolated GH deficiency (IGHD) and their response to replacement therapy with insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and hGH, respectively. Data for the study were collected from the records of nine children with LS (3 M, 6 F) 7.8 +/- 4.8 years old (mean +/- SD), and nine children with IGHD (3 M, 6 F), 3.8 +/- 3.3 years old. Fifteen non-treated adult patients with LS were also included in the study. Measurements of foot length were recorded without treatment and monitored during 9 years of treatment in the children and in the untreated adult patients. For statistical analysis the non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test was used. With almost similar basal values in growth deficit and pre-treatment growth velocities, the achievements towards norms after 9 years of treatment were greater in the patients with IGHD than in the patients with LS: foot length reached -1.4 +/- 0.8 vs. -3.3 +/- 1.0 SDS (mean +/- SD), and body height -2.2 +/- 1.0 vs. -3.9 +/- 0.5 SDS. The difference between the two groups could be due to the initiation of replacement therapy in the patients with IGHD at a younger age. Adult foot size of untreated patients with LS is small but less retarded than the height deficit. Both IGF-I and hGH are potent growth stimulating hormones of linear growth and acrae as exemplified by foot growth.

  13. Revisiting the southern pine growth decline: Where are we 10 years later?

    Treesearch

    Gary L. Gadbury; Michael S. Williams; Hans T. Schreuder

    2004-01-01

    This paper evaluates changes in growth of pine stands in the state of Georgia, U.S.A., using USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) data. In particular, data representing an additional 10-year growth cy-cle has been added to previously published results from two earlier growth cycles. A robust regression procedure is combined with a bootstrap technique...

  14. Computing discharge using the index velocity method

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Levesque, Victor A.; Oberg, Kevin A.

    2012-01-01

    Application of the index velocity method for computing continuous records of discharge has become increasingly common, especially since the introduction of low-cost acoustic Doppler velocity meters (ADVMs) in 1997. Presently (2011), the index velocity method is being used to compute discharge records for approximately 470 gaging stations operated and maintained by the U.S. Geological Survey. The purpose of this report is to document and describe techniques for computing discharge records using the index velocity method. Computing discharge using the index velocity method differs from the traditional stage-discharge method by separating velocity and area into two ratings—the index velocity rating and the stage-area rating. The outputs from each of these ratings, mean channel velocity (V) and cross-sectional area (A), are then multiplied together to compute a discharge. For the index velocity method, V is a function of such parameters as streamwise velocity, stage, cross-stream velocity, and velocity head, and A is a function of stage and cross-section shape. The index velocity method can be used at locations where stage-discharge methods are used, but it is especially appropriate when more than one specific discharge can be measured for a specific stage. After the ADVM is selected, installed, and configured, the stage-area rating and the index velocity rating must be developed. A standard cross section is identified and surveyed in order to develop the stage-area rating. The standard cross section should be surveyed every year for the first 3 years of operation and thereafter at a lesser frequency, depending on the susceptibility of the cross section to change. Periodic measurements of discharge are used to calibrate and validate the index rating for the range of conditions experienced at the gaging station. Data from discharge measurements, ADVMs, and stage sensors are compiled for index-rating analysis. Index ratings are developed by means of regression

  15. The role and future challenges for recombinant growth hormone therapy to promote growth in children after renal transplantation.

    PubMed

    Janjua, Halima S; Mahan, John D

    2011-01-01

    Chronic kidney disease can severely impair linear growth in children. For many children, growth improves after renal transplantation, but for some, growth velocity remains low and for others, catch-up growth is insufficient to compensate for the deficit imparted by renal disease in the preceding years. Inadequate final adult height after renal transplant is multifactorial and can adversely affect the quality of life (QOL), psychosocial development and long term prospects for these children as they grow into adulthood. Growth failure after renal transplant requires thorough evaluation and its management in renal transplant recipients can involve improved nutritional intake, correction of metabolic acidosis, treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism, steroid-sparing immunosuppression and/or use of recombinant human growth hormone (rGH). Treatment with rGH after renal transplant has been evaluated by a limited number of clinical trials suggesting efficacy and safety for this treatment strategy. Several important clinical questions regarding rGH use in children post-renal transplant remain unanswered. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S.

  16. [General growth patterns and simple mathematic models of height and weight of Chinese children].

    PubMed

    Zong, Xin-nan; Li, Hui

    2009-05-01

    To explore the growth patterns and simple mathematic models of height and weight of Chinese children. The original data had been obtained from two national representative cross-sectional surveys which were 2005 National Survey of Physical Development of Children (under 7 years of age) and 2005 Chinese National Survey on Students Constitution and Health (6 - 18 years). Reference curves of height and weight of children under 7 years of age was constructed by LMS method, and data of children from 6 to 18 years of age were smoothed by cubic spline function and transformed by modified LMS procedure. Growth velocity was calculated by smoothed values of height and weight. Simple linear model was fitted for children 1 to 10 years of age, for which smoothed height and weight values were used. (1) Birth length of Chinese children was about 50 cm, average length 61 cm, 67 cm, 76 cm and 88 cm at the 3rd, 6th, 12th and 24th month. Height gain was stable from 2 to 10 years of age, average 6 - 7 cm each year. Birth length doubles by 3.5 years, and triples by 12 years. The formula estimating average height of normal children aged 2 - 10 years was, height (cm) = age (yr) x 6.5 + 76 (cm). (2) Birth weight was about 3.3 kg. Growth velocity was at peak about 1.0 - 1.1 kg/mon in the first 3 months, decreased by half and was about 0.5 - 0.6 kg/mon in the second 3 months, and was reduced by a quarter, which was about 0.25 - 0.30 kg/mon, in the last 6 months of the first year. Body mass was up to doubles, triples and quadruple of birth weight at about the 3rd, 12th and 24th month. Average annual gain was about 2 kg and 3 kg from 1 - 6 years and 7 - 10 years, respectively. The estimated formula for children 1 to 6 years of age was weight (kg) = age (yr) x 2 + 8 (kg), but for those 7 - 10 years old, weight (kg) = age (yr) x 3 + 2 (kg). Growth patterns of height and weight at the different age stages were summarized for Chinese children, and simple reference data of height and weight

  17. First-year growth, recruitment, and maturity of walleyes in western Lake Erie

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Madenjian, Charles P.; Tyson, Jeffrey T.; Knight, Roger L.; Kershner, Mark W.; Hansen, Michael J.

    1996-01-01

    In some lakes, first-year growth of walleyes Stizostedion vitreum has been identified as an important factor governing recruitment of juveniles to the adult population. We developed a regression model for walleye recruitment in western Lake Erie by considering factors such as first-year growth, size of the spawning stock, the rate at which the lake warmed during the spring, and abundance of gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum. Gizzard shad abundance during the fall prior to spring walleye spawning explained over 40% of the variation in walleye recruitment. Gizzard shad are relatively high in lipids and are preferred prey for walleyes in Lake Erie. Therefore, the high degree of correlation between shad abundance and subsequent walleye recruitment supported the contention that mature females needed adequate lipid reserves during the winter to spawn the following spring. According to the regression analysis, spring warming rate and size of the parental stock also influenced walleye recruitment. Our regression model explained 92% of the variation in recruitment of age-2 fish into the Lake Erie walleye population from 1981 to 1993. The regression model is potentially valuable as a management tool because it could be used to forecast walleye recruitment to the fishery 2 years in advance. First-year growth was poorly correlated with recruitment, which may reflect the unusually low incidence of walleye cannibalism in western Lake Erie. In contrast, first-year growth was strongly linked to age at maturity.

  18. [Long-term effects of 7-year growth hormone substitution on bone metabolism, bone density, and bone quality in growth hormone-deficient adults].

    PubMed

    Wilhelm, Birgit; Kann, Peter Herbert

    2004-10-15

    Subnormal bone mineral density (BMD) and increased fracture risk are described in patients with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). Growth hormone (GH) has been reported to have beneficial effects on bone in GHD. The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term effects of GH replacement therapy on bone metabolism, BMD, and bone quality in patients with GHD. 20 adult patients with GHD (eleven male, nine female, mean age 42.5 years) were included in the study and randomized to either GH or placebo in a dose of 0.25 U/kg body weight/week. After 6 months all patients received GH. After a 1-year double-blind, placebo-controlled study the patients were followed for another 72 months in an open study. The patients were compared to 20 age- und sex-matched healthy controls. Bone turnover was determined by ICTP (type I collagen carboxyterminal cross-linked telopeptide) as parameter of bone resorption and PICP (carboxyterminal propeptide of type I procollagen) as marker of bone formation. BMD was measured at the lumbar spine by dual-photon absorptiometry (DPA) and at the forearm by single-photon absorptiometry (SPA). Apparent phalangeal ultrasound transmission velocity (APU) was assessed as parameter of bone quality independent of BMD. At the beginning of the study BMD at both measuring sites was lower in patients with GHD than in healthy controls. During the 1st year of GH replacement therapy BMD decreased, followed by a continuous increase in BMD (about 12%) up to 60 months which remained unchanged thereafter, building up a plateau. After 72 months no significant difference between the patients and the healthy controls could be detected. Concerning parameters of bone turnover, first ICTP as marker of bone resorption showed a significant increase, later on the marker of bone formation increased as well. APU decreased during the first 6 months of treatment, but had returned to its baseline value after 24 months and remained unchanged throughout the rest of the study. BMD

  19. One-Year Data from a Long-Term Phase IV Study of Recombinant Human Growth Hormone in Short Children Born Small for Gestational Age.

    PubMed

    Schwarz, Hans-Peter; Birkholz-Walerzak, Dorota; Szalecki, Mieczyslaw; Walczak, Mieczyslaw; Galesanu, Corina; Metreveli, David; Khan-Boluki, Jasmin; Schuck, Ellen

    2014-12-01

    This prospective, open-label, non-comparative, multicentre, long-term phase IV study is examining the efficacy and safety of somatropin [recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH)] in short children born small for gestational age (SGA) and its impact on the incidence of diabetes. This report is the first interim analysis of patients who have completed 1 year of treatment. A total of 278 pre-pubertal patients were enrolled. Key eligibility criteria included height standard deviation score (HSDS) <-2.5; parental adjusted SDS <-1; birth weight and/or length <-2 SD and failure to show catch-up growth by ≥4 years of age. Patients were treated with rhGH 0.035 mg/kg/day. The primary objective was to evaluate the long-term effect of rhGH on carbohydrate metabolism [including fasting glucose, stimulated glucose (2-h oral glucose tolerance test, OGTT) and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c)]. Secondary objectives included evaluation of height parameters [body height, HSDS, height velocity (HV), HVSDS]; insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-I) and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) serum levels during treatment; and incidence and severity of adverse events (AEs). None of the children developed diabetes mellitus within the first year of treatment. Mean levels of fasting glucose, HbA1c and 2-h OGTT values remained stable during the study period. Treatment with rhGH was effective, as documented by all height parameters. Mean HSDS improved from -3.39 at baseline to -2.57 at Year 1. Mean HV increased markedly from 4.25 cm/year at baseline to 8.99 cm/year during the first year. Similarly, mean peak-centred HVSDS increased from -2.13 at baseline to +4.16 at Year 1. Mean IGF-I SDS and IGFBP-3 SDS also increased within the first year (by +1.80 and +0.41, respectively). 13 patients (4.7%) did not respond adequately to treatment (HVSDS <1); they were withdrawn from the study. In total, 192 children (69.3%) experienced treatment-emergent AEs; most (98.7%) were mild

  20. Growth and endocrine function after near total pancreatectomy for hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia.

    PubMed Central

    Soliman, A T; Alsalmi, I; Darwish, A; Asfour, M G

    1996-01-01

    Seven children, with a mean (SD) age of 4.6 (2.1) years, who as infants (21 (7.5) days) underwent near total (95-98%) pancreatectomy for persistent hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia of infancy (PHHI) were studied. At birth all the infants were macrosomic. Four infants had been born after a difficult labour, of whom three had moderate birth asphyxia and respiratory distress. All had normal thyroid function. After surgery transient hyperglycaemia was manifest in six of the children and required insulin treatment for 5.8 (3.8) weeks, and transient hypoglycaemia was encountered in one child and responded well to increased carbohydrate intake and diazoxide for three weeks. Six of the children rapidly crossed down their length and weight centiles during the first year after surgery. At the end of the first year these children were at or below the 5th centile of height and weight for their age and gender. After a period of 4.6 (2.1) years, their mean (SD) height score was -2.57 (0.5), growth velocity 3.9 (0.75) cm/year, and growth velocity SD score -2.1 (0.55)l these were significantly low and denoted significant growth retardation. The growth hormone peak responses to provocation with clonidine were normal (13.5 (2.8) micrograms/l). However, the circulating insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) concentrations were significantly decreased (79 (34) ng/ml). Three of the children developed diabetes at two and a half, five, and seven years after surgery, two others had impaired oral glucose tolerance and six out of the seven children had an impaired C peptide response to glucagon. Defective insulin secretion in these children might directly inhibit IGF-I synthesis in the liver. The body mass index of the pancreatectomised children was 14.9 (0.5) and was normal for age and gender; they had a normal 72 hour faecal fat content and normal serum albumin concentration. These data indicated grossly adequate exocrine pancreatic function. It appears that children requiring near total

  1. Revisiting the Velocity Selector Problem with VPython

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Milbourne, Jeff; Lim, Halson

    2015-01-01

    The velocity selector is a classic first-year physics problem that demonstrates the influence of perpendicular electric and magnetic fields on a charged particle. Traditionally textbooks introduce this problem in the context of balanced forces, often asking for field strengths that would allow a charged particle, with a specific target velocity,…

  2. Energy input from quasars regulates the growth and activity of black holes and their host galaxies.

    PubMed

    Di Matteo, Tiziana; Springel, Volker; Hernquist, Lars

    2005-02-10

    In the early Universe, while galaxies were still forming, black holes as massive as a billion solar masses powered quasars. Supermassive black holes are found at the centres of most galaxies today, where their masses are related to the velocity dispersions of stars in their host galaxies and hence to the mass of the central bulge of the galaxy. This suggests a link between the growth of the black holes and their host galaxies, which has indeed been assumed for a number of years. But the origin of the observed relation between black hole mass and stellar velocity dispersion, and its connection with the evolution of galaxies, have remained unclear. Here we report simulations that simultaneously follow star formation and the growth of black holes during galaxy-galaxy collisions. We find that, in addition to generating a burst of star formation, a merger leads to strong inflows that feed gas to the supermassive black hole and thereby power the quasar. The energy released by the quasar expels enough gas to quench both star formation and further black hole growth. This determines the lifetime of the quasar phase (approaching 100 million years) and explains the relationship between the black hole mass and the stellar velocity dispersion.

  3. Growth of a 45-year-old ponderosa pine plantation: An Arizona case study

    Treesearch

    Peter F. Ffolliott; Gerald J. Gottfried; Cody L. Stropki; L. J. Heidmann

    2008-01-01

    Information on the growth of forest plantations is necessary for planning of ecosystem-based management of the plantations. This information is also useful in validating or refining computer simulators that estimate plantation growth into the future. Such growth information has been obtained from a 45-year-old ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa)...

  4. Growth hormone deficiency after chemotherapy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children who have not received cranial radiation.

    PubMed

    Haddy, Theresa B; Mosher, Revonda B; Nunez, Susan B; Reaman, Gregory H

    2006-02-01

    Chemotherapy-related growth failure is a significant problem in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and other childhood cancers. Growth impairment after cranial radiation (CR) can result in diminished adult height, but growth failure following chemotherapy without CR is usually followed by catch-up growth and normal adult height.1 A retrospective review of 347 ALL survivors registered in our Long Term Follow Up (LTFU) Clinic, since 1997 revealed that 109 had received CR; 3, total body irradiation (TBI); and 235, neither CR nor TBI. For patients whose growth velocity slowed, growth hormone (GH) levels and pediatric endocrinology referrals were obtained. Among the 112 ALL survivors who had received some form of CR, 5 had significant growth failure with growth hormone deficiency (GHD). Among the 235 ALL survivors treated with chemotherapy without CR, 2 were diagnosed with growth failure and GHD. We report the two survivors of childhood ALL treated with chemotherapy without CR who required GH replacement due to absence of catch-up growth. A 15-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl, off therapy for 9 and 6 years, respectively, were evaluated for decreased growth velocity and failure of catch-up growth. Peak GH responses to stimulation using arginine and clonidine were 3.4 and 3.0 ng/ml, respectively (normal >10 ng/ml). Other causes of growth failure were ruled out, and GH replacement therapy was instituted. Their chemotherapy had included methotrexate, 6 mercaptopurine, vincristine, adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, L-asparaginase, dexamethasone, cytarabine, 6 thioguanine, and intrathecal methotrexate. The growth of all children treated with intensive chemotherapy, regardless of whether CR was administered, should be closely monitored with measurement of standing height at 6 months intervals until growth is complete.

  5. Energy Productivity of the High Velocity Algae Raceway Integrated Design (ARID-HV)

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

    Attalah, Said; Waller, Peter M.; Khawam, George

    The original Algae Raceway Integrated Design (ARID) raceway was an effective method to increase algae culture temperature in open raceways. However, the energy input was high and flow mixing was poor. Thus, the High Velocity Algae Raceway Integrated Design (ARID-HV) raceway was developed to reduce energy input requirements and improve flow mixing in a serpentine flow path. A prototype ARID-HV system was installed in Tucson, Arizona. Based on algae growth simulation and hydraulic analysis, an optimal ARID-HV raceway was designed, and the electrical energy input requirement (kWh ha-1 d-1) was calculated. An algae growth model was used to compare themore » productivity of ARIDHV and conventional raceways. The model uses a pond surface energy balance to calculate water temperature as a function of environmental parameters. Algae growth and biomass loss are calculated based on rate constants during day and night, respectively. A 10 year simulation of DOE strain 1412 (Chlorella sorokiniana) showed that the ARID-HV raceway had significantly higher production than a conventional raceway for all months of the year in Tucson, Arizona. It should be noted that this difference is species and climate specific and is not observed in other climates and with other algae species. The algae growth model results and electrical energy input evaluation were used to compare the energy productivity (algae production rate/energy input) of the ARID-HV and conventional raceways for Chlorella sorokiniana in Tucson, Arizona. The energy productivity of the ARID-HV raceway was significantly greater than the energy productivity of a conventional raceway for all months of the year.« less

  6. Excess velocity of magnetic domain walls close to the depinning field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Caballero, Nirvana B.; Fernández Aguirre, Iván; Albornoz, Lucas J.; Kolton, Alejandro B.; Rojas-Sánchez, Juan Carlos; Collin, Sophie; George, Jean Marie; Diaz Pardo, Rebeca; Jeudy, Vincent; Bustingorry, Sebastian; Curiale, Javier

    2017-12-01

    Magnetic field driven domain wall velocities in [Co/Ni] based multilayers thin films have been measured using polar magneto-optic Kerr effect microscopy. The low field results are shown to be consistent with the universal creep regime of domain wall motion, characterized by a stretched exponential growth of the velocity with the inverse of the applied field. Approaching the depinning field from below results in an unexpected excess velocity with respect to the creep law. We analyze these results using scaling theory to show that this speeding up of domain wall motion can be interpreted as due to the increase of the size of the deterministic relaxation close to the depinning transition. We propose a phenomenological model to accurately fit the observed excess velocity and to obtain characteristic values for the depinning field Hd, the depinning temperature Td, and the characteristic velocity scale v0 for each sample.

  7. Growth hormone therapy in a girl with Turner syndrome and diabetes type 1 - case report.

    PubMed

    Obara-Moszynska, Monika; Banaszak, Magdalena; Niedziela, Marek

    2015-01-01

    The studies indicate the complex etiology of abnormal glucose metabolism in the Turner syndrome (TS). In the light of these carbohydrate disorders a therapy with recombinant growth hormone (rGH) in TS may be associated with complications, as growth hormone has a diabetogenic potential. Perinatal history is unknown since the patient was adopted at the age of 4 years. At 11 years old, due to typical phenotype, TS was diagnosed. The karyotype was 45,X[43]/46,X,i(X)(q10)[7]. At the same age, basing on laboratory results, insulin dependent diabetes was diagnosed and the conventional insulin therapy was initiated. During the hospitalization, at the age of 12 years, the patient was 123.5cm (-4.4SD). At the same age rGH tre-atment was initiated, with the dose 0.045 mg/kg/d. After 3 months of therapy the height velocity rose to 8.2 cm/ year. At the age of 13 years, substitution with 17β-estradiol was started. After 3 years and 4 months the growth hormone treatment was stopped because of poor height velocity. The final height of the patient was 140 cm (-4,OSD). Two years after the end of rGH treatment the height was 141.2 cm. After termination of rGH treatment the need for daily insulin dose decreased from 50-60U/d to 38-44U/d. The decision of rGH therapy in TS with diabetes is certainly difficult. While starting the growth hormone treatment the clinician must keep in mind the risk of metabolic complications, but also the awareness that gives the patient a chance to improve the final height. In terms of the proper psycho-emotional development the reduction of growth deficit is very important. © Polish Society for Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology.

  8. Three years of GH treatment in Turner's syndrome: complex effect of GH dosage on growth parameters. French Pediatric Clinics and Sanofi-Winthrop.

    PubMed

    Bertrand, A M; Chaussain, J L; Job, B; Mariani, R; Ponte, C; Rappaport, R; Rochiccioll, P; Chatelain, P

    1996-06-01

    There have been few studies of GH dose responses in Turner's syndrome. We have therefore compared the growth effect of two doses of subcutaneous GH: 0.45 (D1) or 0.90 (D2) IU/kg/week. Multicentre study with two parallel randomized groups treated with D1 or D2 dose for one year, then with D2 for the second and third years in both groups. Ninety-seven girls with Turner's syndrome aged from 4.8 to 16.5 years. The first mean height velocity (HV) was significantly higher with D2. At one year the girls changed from D1 to D2 showed a further acceleration in HV. During second and third years HV remained above the mean for untreated Turner girls, in both groups. Mean cumulative height gains over the 3 years were 1.06 and 1.17 SDS/CA (Ranke's Turner standard) in groups G1 and G2 respectively. Bone maturation, over 36 months, was 33.7 (G1) and 31.9 (G2) months. These results suggest that, if a higher initial GH dose is associated with a greater net initial height gain, the duration of treatment might affect the long-term results. Intermittent treatment should be considered.

  9. Within-Year Fidelity Growth of SWPBIS during Installation and Initial Implementation

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Schaper, Andrew; McIntosh, Kent; Hoselton, Robert

    2016-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to document within-year fidelity growth during installation and initial implementation of School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS). Participants included school teams from schools throughout the United States that were in years one to four of SWPBIS implementation and routinely evaluated…

  10. Velocity ratio and its application to predicting velocities

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Lee, Myung W.

    2003-01-01

    The velocity ratio of water-saturated sediment derived from the Biot-Gassmann theory depends mainly on the Biot coefficient?a property of dry rock?for consolidated sediments with porosity less than the critical porosity. With this theory, the shear moduli of dry sediments are the same as the shear moduli of water-saturated sediments. Because the velocity ratio depends on the Biot coefficient explicitly, Biot-Gassmann theory accurately predicts velocity ratios with respect to differential pressure for a given porosity. However, because the velocity ratio is weakly related to porosity, it is not appropriate to investigate the velocity ratio with respect to porosity (f). A new formulation based on the assumption that the velocity ratio is a function of (1?f)n yields a velocity ratio that depends on porosity, but not on the Biot coefficient explicitly. Unlike the Biot-Gassmann theory, the shear moduli of water-saturated sediments depend not only on the Biot coefficient but also on the pore fluid. This nonclassical behavior of the shear modulus of water-saturated sediment is speculated to be an effect of interaction between fluid and the solid matrix, resulting in softening or hardening of the rock frame and an effect of velocity dispersion owing to local fluid flow. The exponent n controls the degree of softening/hardening of the formation. Based on laboratory data measured near 1 MHz, this theory is extended to include the effect of differential pressure on the velocity ratio by making n a function of differential pressure and consolidation. However, the velocity dispersion and anisotropy are not included in the formulation.

  11. The Uniform Pattern of Growth and Skeletal Maturation during the Human Adolescent Growth Spurt.

    PubMed

    Sanders, James O; Qiu, Xing; Lu, Xiang; Duren, Dana L; Liu, Raymond W; Dang, Debbie; Menendez, Mariano E; Hans, Sarah D; Weber, David R; Cooperman, Daniel R

    2017-12-01

    Humans are one of the few species undergoing an adolescent growth spurt. Because children enter the spurt at different ages making age a poor maturity measure, longitudinal studies are necessary to identify the growth patterns and identify commonalities in adolescent growth. The standard maturity determinant, peak height velocity (PHV) timing, is difficult to estimate in individuals due to diurnal, postural, and measurement variation. Using prospective longitudinal populations of healthy children from two North American populations, we compared the timing of the adolescent growth spurt's peak height velocity to normalized heights and hand skeletal maturity radiographs. We found that in healthy children, the adolescent growth spurt is standardized at 90% of final height with similar patterns for children of both sexes beginning at the initiation of the growth spurt. Once children enter the growth spurt, their growth pattern is consistent between children with peak growth at 90% of final height and skeletal maturity closely reflecting growth remaining. This ability to use 90% of final height as easily identified important maturity standard with its close relationship to skeletal maturity represents a significant advance allowing accurate prediction of future growth for individual children and accurate maturity comparisons for future studies of children's growth.

  12. Measurable characteristics of lysozyme crystal growth

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Gorti, Sridhar; Forsythe, Elizabeth L.; Pusey, Marc L.

    2005-01-01

    The behavior of protein crystal growth is estimated from measurements performed at both the microscopic and molecular levels. In the absence of solutal flow, it was determined that a model that balances the macromolecular flux toward the crystal surface with the flux of the crystal surface well characterizes crystal growth observed using microscopic methods. Namely, it was determined that the model provides accurate estimates for the crystal-growth velocities upon evaluation of crystal-growth measurements obtained in time. Growth velocities thus determined as a function of solution supersaturation were further interpreted using established deterministic models. From analyses of crystal-growth velocities, it was found that the mode of crystal growth varies with respect to increasing solution supersaturation, possibly owing to kinetic roughening. To verify further the hypothesis of kinetic roughening, crystal growth at the molecular level was examined using atomic force microscopy (AFM). From the AFM measurements, it was found that the magnitude of surface-height fluctuations, h(x), increases with increasing solution supersaturation. In contrast, the estimated characteristic length, xi, decreases rapidly upon increasing solution supersaturation. It was conjectured that the magnitude of both h(x) and xi could possibly determine the mode of crystal growth. Although the data precede any exact theory, the non-critical divergence of h(x) and xi with respect to increasing solution supersaturation was nevertheless preliminarily established. Moreover, approximate models to account for behavior of both h(x) and xi are also presented.

  13. Peak Stress Intensity Factor Governs Crack Propagation Velocity In Crosslinked UHMWPE

    PubMed Central

    Sirimamilla, P. Abhiram; Furmanski, Jevan; Rimnac, Clare

    2013-01-01

    Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) has been successfully used as a bearing material in total joint replacement components. However, these bearing materials can fail as a result of in vivo static and cyclic loads. Crack propagation behavior in this material has been considered using the Paris relationship which relates fatigue crack growth rate, da/dN (mm/cycle) versus the stress intensity factor range, ΔK (Kmax-Kmin, MPa√m). However, recent work suggests that the crack propagation velocity of conventional UHMWPE is driven by the peak stress intensity (Kmax), not ΔK. The hypothesis of this study is that the crack propagation velocity of highly crosslinked and remelted UHMWPE is also driven by the peak stress intensity, Kmax, during cyclic loading, rather than by ΔK. To test this hypothesis, two highly crosslinked (65 kGy and 100 kGy) and remelted UHMWPE materials were examined. Frequency, waveform and R-ratio were varied between test conditions to determine the governing factor for fatigue crack propagation. It was found that the crack propagation velocity in crosslinked UHMWPE is also driven by Kmax and not ΔK, and is dependent on loading waveform and frequency in a predictable quasi-static manner. The current study supports that crack growth in crosslinked UHMWPE materials, even under cyclic loading conditions, can be described by a relationship between the velocity of crack growth, da/dt and the peak stress intensity, Kmax. The findings suggest that stable crack propagation can occur as a result of static loading only and this should be taken into consideration in design of UHMWPE total joint replacement components. PMID:23165898

  14. Growth of preschool children at high risk for asthma 2 years after discontinuation of fluticasone.

    PubMed

    Guilbert, Theresa W; Mauger, David T; Allen, David B; Zeiger, Robert S; Lemanske, Robert F; Szefler, Stanley J; Strunk, Robert C; Bacharier, Leonard B; Covar, Ronina; Sorkness, Christine A; Taussig, Lynn M; Martinez, Fernando D

    2011-11-01

    The effect on linear growth of daily long-term inhaled corticosteroid therapy in preschool-aged children with recurrent wheezing is controversial. We sought to determine the effect of daily inhaled corticosteroid given for 2 years on linear growth in preschool children with recurrent wheezing. Children aged 2 and 3 years with recurrent wheezing and positive modified Asthma Predictive Index scores were randomized to a 2-year treatment period of chlorofluorocarbon-delivered fluticasone propionate (176 μg/d) or masked placebo delivered through a valved chamber with a mask and then followed for 2 years off study medication. Height growth determined by means of stadiometry was compared between treatment groups. In the study cohort as a whole, the fluticasone group did not have significantly less linear growth than the placebo group (change in height from baseline difference, -0.2 cm; 95% CI, -1.1 to 0.6) 2 years after discontinuation of study treatment. In post hoc analyses children 2 years old who weighed less than 15 kg at enrollment and were treated with fluticasone had less linear growth compared with those treated with placebo (change in height from baseline difference, -1.6 cm; 95% CI, -2.8 to -0.4; P = .009). Linear growth was not significantly different in high-risk preschool-aged children with recurrent wheezing treated with 176 μg/d chlorofluorocarbon-delivered fluticasone compared with placebo 2 years after fluticasone is discontinued. However, post hoc subgroup analyses revealed that children who are younger in age and of lesser weight relative to the entire study cohort had significantly less linear growth, possibly because of a higher relative fluticasone exposure. Copyright © 2011 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

  15. Experimental observations of low-velocity collisional systems

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Jorges, Jeffery; Dove, Adrienne; Colwell, Joshua

    Low-velocity collisions in systems of centimeter-sized objects may result in particle growth by accretion, rebounding, or erosive processes that result in the production of additional smaller particles. Numerical simulations of these systems are limited by a need to understand the collisional parameters governing the outcomes of these collisions over a range of conditions. Here, we present the results from laboratory experiments designed to explore low-velocity collisions by conducting experiments in a vacuum chamber in our 0.8-sec drop tower apparatus. These experiments utilize a variety of impacting spheres, including glass, Teflon, aluminum, stainless steel, and brass. These spheres are either used in their natural state or are ``mantled'' - coated with a few-mm thick layer of a cohesive powder. A high-speed, high-resolution video camera is used to record the motion of the colliding bodies. These videos are then processed and we track the particles to determine impactor speeds before and after collision and the collisional outcome. We determine how the coefficient of restitution varies as a function of material type, morphology, and impact velocity. For impact velocities in the range from about 20-100 cm/s we observe that mantling of particles has the most significant effect, reducing the coefficients of restitution.

  16. Growth disorders among 6-year-old Iranian children.

    PubMed

    Kelishadi, Roya; Amiri, Masoud; Motlagh, Mohammad Esmaeil; Taslimi, Mahnaz; Ardalan, Gelayol; Rouzbahani, Reza; Poursafa, Parinaz

    2014-06-01

    Sociodemographic factors are important determinants of weight disorders. National representative studies provide a view on this health problem at national and regional levels. This study aimed to assess the distribution of growth disorders in terms of body mass index (BMI) and height in 6-year-old Iranian children using geographical information system (GIS). In this cross-sectional nationwide survey, all Iranian children entering public and private elementary schools were examined in a mandatory national screening program in 2009. Descriptive analysis was used to calculate the prevalence of underweight, overweight, obesity, and short stature. Then, ArcGIS software was used to draw the figures. The study population consisted of 955388 children (48.5% girls and 76.5% urban). Overall, 20% of children were underweight, and 14.3% had high BMI, consisted of 10.9% overweight and 3.4% obese. The corresponding figure for short stature was 6.6%; however, these growth disorders were not equally distributed across various provinces. Our results confirmed unequal distribution of BMI and height of 6-year-old children in Iran generally and in most of its provinces particularly. The differences among provinces cannot be fully explained by the socioeconomic pattern. These findings necessitate a comprehensive national policy with provincial evidence-based programs.

  17. Breeding objectives for sheep should be customised depending on variation in pasture growth across years.

    PubMed

    Rose, G; Mulder, H A; Thompson, A N; van der Werf, J H J; van Arendonk, J A M

    2015-08-01

    Breeding programmes for livestock require economic weights for traits that reflect the most profitable animal in a given production system, which affect the response in each trait after selection. The profitability of sheep production systems is affected by changes in pasture growth as well as grain, meat and wool prices between seasons and across years. Annual pasture growth varies between regions within Australia's Mediterranean climate zone from low growth with long periods of drought to high growth with shorter periods of drought. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess whether breeding objectives need to be adapted for regions, depending on how reliable the pasture growth is across years. We modelled farms with Merino sheep bred for wool and meat in 10 regions in Western Australia. Across these 10 regions, mean annual pasture growth decreased, and the CV of annual pasture growth increased as pasture growth for regions became less reliable. We calculated economic values for nine traits, optimising management across 11 years, including variation for pasture growth and wool, meat and grain prices between and within years from 2002 to 2012. These economic values were used to calculate responses to selection for each trait for the 10 regions. We identified two potential breeding objectives, one for regions with low or high reliability and the other for regions with medium reliability of pasture growth. Breeding objectives for high or low pasture growth reliability had more emphasis on live weight traits and number of lambs weaned. Breeding objectives for medium reliability of pasture growth had more emphasis on decreasing fibre diameter. Relative economic weights for fleece weight did not change across the regions. Regions with low or high pasture reliability had similar breeding objectives and response to selection, because the relationship between the economic values and CV of pasture growth were not linear for live weight traits and the number of

  18. Within-Year Fidelity Growth of SWPBIS during Installation and Initial Implementation

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Schaper, Andrew; McIntosh, Kent; Hoselton, Robert

    2016-01-01

    The purpose of this study was to document within-year fidelity growth during installation and initial implementation of School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (SWPBIS). Participants included school teams from schools throughout the United States that were in years 1 to 4 of SWPBIS implementation and routinely evaluated their…

  19. Infant growth during the first year of life and subsequent hospitalization to 8 years of age.

    PubMed

    Hui, L L; Schooling, C Mary; Wong, M Y; Ho, L M; Lam, T H; Leung, Gabriel M

    2010-05-01

    There is accumulating evidence that rapid infant growth is associated with subsequent metabolic risk, but less investigation of potential benefits. We tested the life history trade-off hypothesis that rapid infant growth is associated with lower risk of serious childhood morbidity (in particular, infection) proxied by hospital admission. We studied term births (n = 7833, 94% follow-up) from a Chinese birth cohort, "Children of 1997," comprising 88% of births in Hong Kong in April and May 1997. We used multivariable negative binomial regression to examine the association of growth trajectory (5 categories) from birth to 12 months with subsequent hospital admissions until the child's 8th birthday. Potential confounders included sex, gestational age, parental education, type of birth hospital, infant feeding, and the presence of congenital disease. Infants with the slowest growth trajectory (smallest birth weight and slowest weight gain) were more likely to be hospitalized between 1 and 8 years of age-particularly for noninfectious illnesses. Infants in the 4 faster growth trajectories differed little in their risk of hospitalization. Adjusted incident rate ratios of hospitalization for infectious diseases were 0.93 (95% confidence interval = 0.81-1.06), 0.97 (0.85-1.12), 0.91 (0.78-1.06), and 0.92 (0.79-1.08) for the 4 faster growth trajectories compared with the slowest. Results were similar when growth was assessed as change in weight-for-age z-score. Fast infant growth does not protect against serious infectious morbidity, but low birth weight infants born with slow growth are more vulnerable to serious morbidity, either as a consequence of poor growth or as a parallel marker of underlying health state. Whether maximum growth rates are ideal should be considered, as should the effects of infant over-nutrition.

  20. Remote determination of the velocity index and mean streamwise velocity profiles

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Johnson, E. D.; Cowen, E. A.

    2017-09-01

    When determining volumetric discharge from surface measurements of currents in a river or open channel, the velocity index is typically used to convert surface velocities to depth-averaged velocities. The velocity index is given by, k=Ub/Usurf, where Ub is the depth-averaged velocity and Usurf is the local surface velocity. The USGS (United States Geological Survey) standard value for this coefficient, k = 0.85, was determined from a series of laboratory experiments and has been widely used in the field and in laboratory measurements of volumetric discharge despite evidence that the velocity index is site-specific. Numerous studies have documented that the velocity index varies with Reynolds number, flow depth, and relative bed roughness and with the presence of secondary flows. A remote method of determining depth-averaged velocity and hence the velocity index is developed here. The technique leverages the findings of Johnson and Cowen (2017) and permits remote determination of the velocity power-law exponent thereby, enabling remote prediction of the vertical structure of the mean streamwise velocity, the depth-averaged velocity, and the velocity index.

  1. Growth and yield predictions for upland oak stands. 10 years after initial thinning

    Treesearch

    Martin E. Dale; Martin E. Dale

    1972-01-01

    The purpose of this paper is to furnish part of the needed information, that is, quantitative estimates of growth and yield 10 years after initial thinning of upland oak stands. All estimates are computed from a system of equations. These predictions are presented here in tabular form for convenient visual inspection of growth and yield trends. The tables show growth...

  2. Five-Year-Old Cottonwood Plantation on a Clay Site: Growth, Yield, and Soil Properties

    Treesearch

    R. M. Krinard; H. E. Kennedy

    1980-01-01

    A random sample of Stoneville select cottonwood (Populus deltoides Bartr.) clones planted on recent old-field clay soils at 12- by 12- foot spacing averaged 75-percent survival after five years. The growth and yield was about half that expected from planted cottonwood on medium-textured soils. Soil moisture analysis showed more height growth in years...

  3. Growth in children following irradiation for bone marrow transplantation

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

    Bushhouse, S.; Ramsay, N.K.; Pescovitz, O.H.

    Longitudinal height data from 46 pediatric bone marrow transplant (BMT) patients, including 18 with aplastic anemia (AA), 19 with acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL), and 9 with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), were analyzed to assess growth posttransplantation. Patients were prepared for BMT with high-dose cyclophosphamide followed by 7.5 Gy single-dose irradiation; AA patients received total lymphoid irradiation (TLI), and leukemia patients received total body irradiation (TBI). AA patients demonstrated reduced height posttransplant as reflected in a negative mean standard deviation score. The observed reduction was statistically significant only at 3 years following transplant. In contrast, leukemia patients showed a significant lossmore » in relative height that was first visible at 1 year post-BMT and continued until at least 4 years post-BMT. Mean growth velocities in the leukemia patients were significantly below median for the 3 years following transplant. With a median follow-up of 4 years, antithymocyte globulin plus steroids in combination with methotrexate as graft vs. host prophylaxis was associated with less severe growth suppression than methotrexate alone, while there were no significant associations between growth during the first 2 years following transplant and prepubertal status at transplant (as defined by age), graft vs. host disease, thyroid or gonadal function, or previous therapies received by the leukemia patients. Children undergoing marrow transplantation, particularly those receiving TBI, are at significant risk of subsequent growth suppression.« less

  4. Dynamic tensile-failure-induced velocity deficits in rock

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Rubin, Allan M.; Ahrens, Thomas J.

    1991-01-01

    Planar impact experiments were employed to induce dynamic tensile failure in Bedford limestone. Rock disks were impacted with aluminum and polymethyl methacralate (PMMA) flyer plates at velocities of 10 to 25 m/s. Tensile stress magnitudes and duration were chosen so as to induce a range of microcrack growth insufficient to cause complete spalling of the samples. Ultrasonic P- and S-wave velocities of recovered targets were compared to the velocities prior to impact. Velocity reduction, and by inference microcrack production, occurred in samples subjected to stresses above 35 MPa in the 1.3 microsec PMMA experiments and 60 MPa in the 0.5 microsec aluminum experiments. Using a simple model for the time-dependent stress-intensity factor at the tips of existing flaws, apparent fracture toughnesses of 2.4 and 2.5 MPa sq rt m are computed for the 1.3 and 0.5 microsec experiments. These are a factor of about 2 to 3 greater than quasi-static values. The greater dynamic fracture toughness observed may result from microcrack interaction during tensile failure. Data for water-saturated and dry targets are indistinguishable.

  5. Twenty-Two Years of Warming, Fertilisation and Shading of Subarctic Heath Shrubs Promote Secondary Growth and Plasticity but Not Primary Growth

    PubMed Central

    Campioli, Matteo; Leblans, Niki; Michelsen, Anders

    2012-01-01

    Most manipulation experiments simulating global change in tundra were short-term or did not measure plant growth directly. Here, we assessed the growth of three shrubs (Cassiope tetragona, Empetrum hermaphroditum and Betula nana) at a subarctic heath in Abisko (Northern Sweden) after 22 years of warming (passive greenhouses), fertilisation (nutrients addition) and shading (hessian fabric), and compare this to observations from the first decade of treatment. We assessed the growth rate of current-year leaves and apical stem (primary growth) and cambial growth (secondary growth), and integrated growth rates with morphological measurements and species coverage. Primary- and total growth of Cassiope and Empetrum were unaffected by manipulations, whereas growth was substantially reduced under fertilisation and shading (but not warming) for Betula. Overall, shrub height and length tended to increase under fertilisation and warming, whereas branching increased mostly in shaded Cassiope. Morphological changes were coupled to increased secondary growth under fertilisation. The species coverage showed a remarkable increase in graminoids in fertilised plots. Shrub response to fertilisation was positive in the short-term but changed over time, likely because of an increased competition with graminoids. More erected postures and large, canopies (requiring enhanced secondary growth for stem reinforcement) likely compensated for the increased light competition in Empetrum and Cassiope but did not avoid growth reduction in the shade intolerant Betula. The impact of warming and shading on shrub growth was more conservative. The lack of growth enhancement under warming suggests the absence of long-term acclimation for processes limiting biomass production. The lack of negative effects of shading on Cassiope was linked to morphological changes increasing the photosynthetic surface. Overall, tundra shrubs showed developmental plasticity over the longer term. However, such plasticity

  6. Linear dispersion properties of ring velocity distribution functions

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

    Vandas, Marek, E-mail: marek.vandas@asu.cas.cz; Hellinger, Petr; Institute of Atmospheric Physics, AS CR, Bocni II/1401, CZ-14100 Prague

    2015-06-15

    Linear properties of ring velocity distribution functions are investigated. The dispersion tensor in a form similar to the case of a Maxwellian distribution function, but for a general distribution function separable in velocities, is presented. Analytical forms of the dispersion tensor are derived for two cases of ring velocity distribution functions: one obtained from physical arguments and one for the usual, ad hoc ring distribution. The analytical expressions involve generalized hypergeometric, Kampé de Fériet functions of two arguments. For a set of plasma parameters, the two ring distribution functions are compared. At the parallel propagation with respect to the ambientmore » magnetic field, the two ring distributions give the same results identical to the corresponding bi-Maxwellian distribution. At oblique propagation, the two ring distributions give similar results only for strong instabilities, whereas for weak growth rates their predictions are significantly different; the two ring distributions have different marginal stability conditions.« less

  7. Ten-Year Growth of Five Planted Hardwood Species Mechanical Weed Control on Sharkey Clay Soil

    Treesearch

    Roger M. Krinard; Harvey E. Kennedy

    1983-01-01

    Five hardwood species planted on Sharkey clay soil showed little practical difference in growth whether plots were mowed or diskedfor weed control in years 6 to 10, although disking had given better growth in the first 5 years. After 10 years, cottonwood (Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh.) stem volume was at least three times greater than other species. Changes in...

  8. The hydrography of the Mozambique Channel from six years of continuous temperature, salinity, and velocity observations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ullgren, J. E.; van Aken, H. M.; Ridderinkhof, H.; de Ruijter, W. P. M.

    2012-11-01

    Temperature, salinity and velocity data are presented, along with the estimated volume transport, from seven full-length deep sea moorings placed across the narrowest part of the Mozambique Channel, southwest Indian Ocean, during the period November 2003 to December 2009. The dominant water mass in the upper layer is Sub-Tropical Surface Water (STSW) which overlies South Indian Central Water (SICW), and is normally capped by fresher Tropical Surface Water (TSW). Upper ocean salinity increased through 2005 as a result of saline STSW taking up a relatively larger part of the upper layer, at the expense of TSW. Upper waters are on average warmer and lighter in the central Channel than on the sides. Throughout the upper 1.5 km of the water column there is large hydrographic variability, short-term as well as interannual, and in particular at frequencies (four to seven cycles per year) associated with the southward passage of anticyclonic Mozambique Channel eddies. The eddies have a strong T-S signal, in the upper and central waters as well as on the intermediate level, as the eddies usually carry saline Red Sea Water (RSW) in their core. While the interannual frequency band displays an east-west gradient with higher temperature variance on the western side, the eddy frequency band shows highest variance in the centre of the Channel, where the eddy band contains about 40% of the total isopycnal hydrographic variability. Throughout the >6 years of measurements, the frequency and characteristics of eddies vary between periods, both in terms of strength and vertical structure of eddy T-S signals. These changes contribute to the interannual variability of water mass properties: an increase in central water salinity to a maximum in late 2007 coincided with a period of unusually frequent eddies with strong salinity signals. The warmest and most saline deep water is found within the northward flowing Mozambique Undercurrent, on the western side of the Channel. The Undercurrent

  9. Asthma, inhaled corticosteroid treatment, and growth.

    PubMed

    Ninan, T K; Russell, G

    1992-06-01

    To evaluate the effects on growth of inhaled corticosteroid treatment (ICT) and of the quality of control of asthma, height velocity was studied in 58 prepubertal children attending a specialist asthma clinic because of chronic asthma that was difficult to control. The height velocity standard deviation (SD) score was maximal when the asthma was well controlled both before (0.01) and after (-0.07) starting ICT. It was least when the asthma was poorly controlled both before (-1.50) and after (-1.55) starting ICT. The effectiveness of control correlated significantly with the height velocity SD score, both before and after ICT was started. No evidence was found that the administration of ICT has an adverse effect on growth.

  10. Efficacy of short-term growth hormone treatment in prepubertal children with idiopathic short stature.

    PubMed

    Kim, Ho-Seong; Yang, Sei Won; Yoo, Han-Wook; Suh, Byung Kyu; Ko, Cheol Woo; Chung, Woo Yeong; Lee, Kee Hyoung; Hwang, Jin Soon; Ji, Hyi-Jeong; Ahn, Hyunji; Kim, Duk Hee

    2014-01-01

    It has been reported that daily recombinant human growth hormone (GH) treatment showed beneficial effects on growth in prepubertal children with idiopathic short stature (ISS). The present study aimed to validate the GH (Eutropin®) effect on growth promotion and safety after short-term GH treatment. This study was an open-label, multicenter, interventional study conducted at nine university hospitals in Korea between 2008 and 2009. Thirty six prepubertal children with ISS were enrolled in this study to receive 6-month GH treatment. Yearly growth rate, height standard deviation score (SDS), and adverse events were investigated during treatment. After 26 weeks of GH treatment, the height velocity significantly increased by 6.36±3.36 cm/year (p<0.001). The lower end of one-sided 95% confidence interval was 5.22 cm/year, far greater than the predefined effect size. The gain in height SDS at week 26 was 0.57±0.27 (p<0.0001). Bone age significantly increased after GH treatment, however, bone maturation rate (bone age for chronological age) showed limited advancement. This 26-week GH treatment was effective in increasing serum levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF binding protein (IGFBP)-3 from baseline (p<0.0001). Eutropin was well tolerated and there were no withdrawals due to adverse events. No clinically significant changes in laboratory values were observed. This 6-month daily GH treatment in children with ISS demonstrated increased height velocity, improved height SDS, and increased IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels with a favorable safety profile.

  11. Comparison of an empirical forest growth and yield simulator and a forest gap simulator using actual 30-year growth from two even-aged forests in Kentucky

    Treesearch

    Daniel A. Yaussy

    2000-01-01

    Two individual-tree growth simulators are used to predict the growth and mortality on a 30-year-old forest site and an 80-year-old forest site in eastern Kentucky. The empirical growth and yield model (NE-TWIGS) was developed to simulate short-term (

  12. Transport phenomena during vapor growth of optoelectronic material - A mercurous chloride system

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Singh, N. B.

    1990-01-01

    Crystal growth velocity was measured in a mercurous chloride system in a two-zone transparent furnace as a function of the Rayleigh number by varying a/L, where a is the radius of the growth tube and L is the transport length. Growth velocity data showed different trends at low and high aspect ratio, a result that does not support the velocity-aspect ratio trend predicted by theories. The system cannot be scaled on the basis of measurements done at a low aspect ratio. Some change in fluid flow behavior occurs in the growth tube as the aspect ratio increases.

  13. "Super" Spruce Seedlings Continue Superior Growth for 18 Years

    Treesearch

    Hans Nienstaedt

    1981-01-01

    White spruce seedlings--20, 19, 18, and 17 inches tall--were selected among 2-2 transplants; controls from the same beds averaged 7.7 inches tall. After 18 years in the field, the selected seedlings continued to have a 30 percent height growth advantage over the controls. This note discusses how to incorporate super spruce seedlings into a tree breeding program....

  14. Influence of flow velocity on biofilm growth in a tubular heat exchanger-condenser cooled by seawater.

    PubMed

    Trueba, Alfredo; García, Sergio; Otero, Félix M; Vega, Luis M; Madariaga, Ernesto

    2015-01-01

    The influence of flow velocity (FV) on the heat transfer process in tubes made from AISI 316L stainless steel in a heat exchanger-condenser cooled by seawater was evaluated based on the characteristics of the resulting biofilm that adhered to the internal surface of the tubes at velocities of 1, 1.2, 1.6, and 3 m s(-1). The results demonstrated that at a higher FV, despite being more compact and consistent, the biofilm was thinner with a lower concentration of solids, and smoother, which favoured the heat transfer process within the equipment. However, higher velocities increase the initial cost of the refrigerating water-pumping equipment and its energy consumption cost to compensate for the greater pressure drops produced in the tube. The velocity of 1.6 m s(-1) represented the equilibrium between the advantages and disadvantages of the variables analysed for the test conditions in this study.

  15. A High-Velocity Collision With Our Galaxy's Disk

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kohler, Susanna

    2016-08-01

    What caused the newly discovered supershell in the outskirts of our galaxy? A new study finds evidence that a high-velocity cloud may have smashed into the Milky Ways disk millions of years ago.Mysterious Gas ShellsA single velocity-channel map of the supershell GS040.2+00.670, with red contours marking the high-velocity cloud at its center. [Adapted from Park et al. 2016]The neutral hydrogen gas that fills interstellar space is organized into structures like filaments, loops, and shells. Supershells are enormous shells of hydrogen gas that can have radii of a thousand light-years or more; weve spotted about 20 of these in our own galaxy, and more in nearby dwarfs and spiral galaxies.How do these structures form? One theory is that they result from several supernovae explosions occurring in the same area. But the energy needed to create a supershell is more than 3 x 1052 erg, which corresponds to over 30 supernovae quite a lot to have exploding in the same region.Theres an interesting alternative scenario: the supershells might instead be caused by the impacts of high-velocity clouds that fall into the galactic disk.Velocity data for the compact high-velocity cloud CHVC040. The cloud is moving fast enough to create the supershell observed. [Adapted from Park et al. 2016]The Milky Ways Speeding CloudsHigh-velocity clouds are clouds of mostly hydrogen that speed through the Milky Way with radial velocities that are very different from the material in the galactic disk. The origins of these clouds are unknown, but its proposed that they come from outside the galaxy they might be fragments of a nearby, disrupting galaxy, or they might have originated from flows of accreting gas in the space in between galaxies.Though high-velocity clouds have long been on the list of things that might cause supershells, weve yet to find conclusive evidence of this. But that might have just changed, with a recent discovery by a team of scientists led by Geumsook Park (Seoul National

  16. Year of the Woman, Decade of the Man: trajectories of growth in women's state legislative representation.

    PubMed

    Paxton, Pamela; Painter, Matthew A; Hughes, Melanie M

    2009-03-01

    The expansion of women's political representation ranks among the most significant trends in American politics of the last 100 years. In this paper, we develop two longitudinal theories to explain patterns of growth and change in women's state legislative representation over time. Gender salience suggests that years in which women's absence from politics is problematized (e.g., 1992-the Year of the Woman) will demonstrate higher levels of growth. Political climate suggests that periods in which domestic issues are stressed (e.g., the 1990s) will produce higher levels of growth than periods in which international issues are stressed (e.g., post 9/11). Combinations of these two theories create four possible trajectories of growth in women's representation that may be observed over time. We use latent growth curve models to assess the four theoretical trajectories, using data on women's state legislative representation from 1982 to 2006. We find that while women achieved fleeting success in the Year of the Woman, further gains were limited in the remainder of the 1990s and average growth stalled completely after 2001. Our results show futher that gender salience and, to a lesser extent political, climate matter to growth and change in women's political power over time.

  17. Universally Unstable Nature of Velocity Ring Distributions

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mithaiwala, Manish

    2010-11-01

    Although it is typically believed that an ion ring velocity distribution has a stability threshold, we find that they are universally unstable. This can substantially impact the understanding of dynamics in both laboratory and space plasmas. A high ring density neutralizes the stabilizing effect of ion Landau damping in a warm plasma and the ring is unstable to the generation of waves below the lower hybrid frequency- even for a very high temperature plasma. For ring densities lower than the background plasma density there is a slow instability with growth rate less than the background ion cyclotron frequency and consequently the background ion response is magnetized. This is in addition to the widely discussed fast instability where the wave growth rate exceeds the background ion cyclotron frequency and hence the background ions are effectively unmagnetized. Thus, even a low density ring is unstable to waves around the lower hybrid frequency range for any ring speed. This implies that effectively there is no velocity threshold for a sufficiently cold ring. The importance of these conclusions on the nonlinear evolution of space plasmas, in particular to solar wind-comet interaction, post-magnetospheric storm conditions, and chemical release experiments in the ionosphere will be discussed.

  18. First-Year Growth and Survival Of Long Cottonwood Cuttings

    Treesearch

    W.K. Randall; R.M. Krinard

    1977-01-01

    When five Stoneville cottonwood clones were grown in a nursery for one season, lifted with about a foot of root, and planted in 3-foot deep holes, they averaged 9.6 feet in height growth and 92 percent survival after 1 year in the field. Planted height averaged 8.3 feet. The same clonal material planted without roots averaged only 36 percent survival. These results...

  19. Growth rates of young-of-year shovelnose sturgeon in the Upper Missouri River

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Braaten, P. J.; Fuller, D.B.

    2007-01-01

    Information on growth during the larval and young-of-year life stages in natural river environments is generally lacking for most sturgeon species. In this study, methods for estimating ages and quantifying growth were developed for field-sampled larval and young-of-year shovelnose sturgeon Scaphirhynchus platorynchus in the upper Missouri River. First, growth was assessed by partitioning samples of young-of-year shovelnose sturgeon into cohorts, and regressing weekly increases in cohort mean length on sampling date. This method quantified relative growth because ages of the cohorts were unknown. Cohort increases in mean length among sampling dates were positively related (P < 0.05, r2 > 0.59 for all cohorts) to sampling date, and yielded growth rate estimates of 0.80–2.95 mm day−1 (2003) and 0.44–2.28 mm day−1 (2004). Highest growth rates occurred in the largest (and earliest spawned) cohorts. Second, a method was developed to estimate cohort hatch dates, thus age on date of sampling could be determined. This method included quantification of post-hatch length increases as a function of water temperature (growth capacity; mm per thermal unit, mm TU−1), and summation of mean daily water temperatures to achieve the required number of thermal units that corresponded to post-hatch lengths of shovelnose sturgeon on sampling dates. For six of seven cohorts of shovelnose sturgeon analyzed, linear growth models (r2 ≥ 0.65, P < 0.0001) or Gompertz growth models (r2 ≥ 0.83, P < 0.0001) quantified length-at-age from hatch through 55 days post-hatch (98–100 mm). Comparisons of length-at-age derived from the growth models indicated that length-at-age was greater for the earlier-hatched cohorts than later-hatched cohorts. Estimated hatch dates for different cohorts were corroborated based on the dates that newly-hatched larval shovelnose sturgeon were sampled in the drift. These results provide the first quantification of growth dynamics

  20. Environmental influences on speleothem growth in southwestern Oregon during the last 380, 000 years

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Ersek, Vasile; Hostetler, Steven W.; Cheng, Hai; Clark, Peter U.; Anslow, Faron S.; Mix, Alan C.; Edwards, R. Lawrence

    2009-01-01

    The growth of carbonate formations in caves (speleothems) is sensitive to changes in environmental conditions at the surface (temperature, precipitation and vegetation) and can provide useful paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental information. We use 73 230Th dates from speleothems collected from a cave in southwestern Oregon (USA) to constrain speleothem growth for the past 380 000 years. Most speleothem growth occurred during interglacial periods, whereas little growth occurred during glacial intervals. To evaluate potential environmental controls on speleothem growth we use two new modeling approaches: i) a one-dimensional thermal advection–diffusion model to estimate cave temperatures during the last glacial cycle, and ii) a regional climate model simulation for the Last Glacial Maximum (21 000 years before present) that assesses a range of potential controls on speleothem growth under peak glacial conditions. The two models are mutually consistent in indicating that permafrost formation did not influence speleothem growth during glacial periods. Instead, the regional climate model simulation combined with proxy data suggest that the influence of the Laurentide and Cordilleran ice sheets on atmospheric circulation induced substantial changes in water balance in the Pacific Northwest and affected speleothem growth at our location. The overall drier conditions during glacial intervals and associated periods of frozen topsoil at times of maximum surface runoff likely induced drastic changes in cave recharge and limited speleothem growth. This mechanism could have affected speleothem growth in other mid-latitude caves without requiring the presence of permafrost.

  1. The dynamic nature of crystal growth in pores

    DOE PAGES

    Godinho, Jose R. A.; Gerke, Kirill M.; Stack, Andrew G.; ...

    2016-09-12

    We report that the kinetics of crystal growth in porous media controls a variety of natural processes such as ore genesis and crystallization induced fracturing that can trigger earthquakes and weathering, as well as, sequestration of CO 2 and toxic metals into geological formations. Progress on understanding those processes has been limited by experimental difficulties of dynamically studying the reactive surface area and permeability during pore occlusion. Here, we show that these variables cause a time-dependency of barite growth rates in microporous silica. The rate is approximately constant and similar to that observed on free surfaces if fast flow velocitiesmore » predominate and if the time-dependent reactive surface area is accounted for. As the narrower flow paths clog, local flow velocities decrease, which causes the progressive slowing of growth rates. We conclude that mineral growth in a microporous media can be estimated based on free surface studies when a) the growth rate is normalized to the time-dependent surface area of the growing crystals, and b) the local flow velocities are above the limit at which growth is transport-limited. Lastly, accounting for the dynamic relation between microstructure, flow velocity and growth rate is shown to be crucial towards understanding and predicting precipitation in porous rocks.« less

  2. Large-area sheet task advanced dendritic web growth development

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Duncan, C. S.; Seidensticker, R. G.; Mchugh, J. P.

    1983-01-01

    The thermal stress models were used to test the effect of melt level on stress generation and growth velocity. The results indicate that melt level has only small effects on stresses but significant effects on growth velocity. These results are consistent with experimental growth from measured melt levels. A new low-stress design concept is being evaluated with the models. A width-limiting version of the low-stress J460 configuration was tested experimentally with results consistent with the design goals.

  3. The pattern of facial skeletal growth and its relationship to various common indexes of maturation.

    PubMed

    Mellion, Zachary J; Behrents, Rolf G; Johnston, Lysle E

    2013-06-01

    size, and mandibular length occurred at 10.9, 11.5, and 11.5 years. Height peaked significantly earlier than both facial size and mandibular length. In boys, the peak in height occurred slightly (but statistically significantly) earlier than did the peaks in the face and mandible: 14.0, 14.4, and 14.3 years. Based on rankings, the hand-wrist stages provided the best indication (lowest root mean squared error) that maturation had advanced to the peak velocity stage. Chronologic age, however, was nearly as good, whereas the vertebral stages were consistently the worst. Errors from the use of statural onset to predict the peak of the pubertal growth spurt in height, facial size, and mandibular length were uniformly lower than for predictions based on the cervical vertebrae. Chronologic age, especially in boys, was a close second. The common assumption that onset and peak occur at ages 12 and 14 years in boys and 10 and 12 years in girls seems correct for boys, but it is 6 months to 1 year late for girls. As an index of maturation, hand-wrist skeletal ages appear to offer the best indication that peak growth velocity has been reached. Of the methods tested here for the prediction of the timing of peak velocity, statural onset had the lowest errors. Although mean chronologic ages were nearly as good, stature can be measured repeatedly and thus might lead to improved prediction of the timing of the adolescent growth spurt. Copyright © 2013 American Association of Orthodontists. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

  4. Nutritional support and growth in thalassaemia major

    PubMed Central

    Fuchs, G; Tienboon, P; Khaled, M; Nimsakul, S; Linpisarn, S; Faruque, A; Yutrabootr, Y; Dewier, M; Suskind, R

    1997-01-01

    Accepted 30 January 1997
 Twelve thalassaemic children under 3 years of age received intensive nutritional support for one month and were discharged on a prescribed diet of locally available foods. Anthropometry, bioelectrical impedance analysis and dietary intake were longitudinally assessed. Mean energy intake was 20% greater than the recommended daily allowance during nutritional supplementation as compared with below the recommended daily allowance before and after the period of nutritional support. Weight, but not height, significantly increased during the support period and was due to increases in both fat free mass and fat mass. Body weight, fat free mass and fat mass declined in line with the reduced intake upon return home; however, height velocity accelerated and exceeded normal through the fourth month before resuming a below normal rate. It can be concluded that (1) nutritional stunting as the result of reduced nutrient intake is an important cause of growth failure in young children with thalassaemia and is responsive to nutritional support, (2) the deficit in height velocity was due to retarded truncal height growth, and (3) the bioelectrical impedance analysis method is suitable for body composition analysis of thalassaemic children.

 PMID:9245848

  5. Improved growth velocity of a patient with Noonan-like syndrome with loose anagen hair (NS/LAH) without growth hormone deficiency by low-dose growth hormone therapy.

    PubMed

    Takasawa, Kei; Takishima, Shigeru; Morioka, Chikako; Nishioka, Masato; Ohashi, Hirofumi; Aoki, Yoko; Shimohira, Masayuki; Kashimada, Kenichi; Morio, Tomohiro

    2015-10-01

    Noonan-like syndrome with loose anagen hair (NS/LAH; OMIM 607721) is caused by a heterozygous c.4A>G mutation in SHOC2. Most cases exhibit both growth hormone deficiency (GHD) and growth hormone insensitivity (GHI) and thus require a high dose of growth hormone (GH) therapy (e.g., 35-40 µg/kg/day). We report on a genetically diagnosed NS/LAH patient manifesting severe short stature (-3.85 SDs) with low serum level of IGF1, 30 ng/ml. The peak levels of GH stimulation tests were within the normal range, and GHI was not observed in the IGF1 generation test. However, with low-dose GH therapy (25 µg/kg/day) for two years, IGF1 level and height were remarkably improved (IGF1: 117 ng/ml, height SDs: -2.20 SDs). Further, catch-up of motor development and improvement of the proportion of extending limbs to trunk were observed (the Developmental Quotient score increased from 68 to 98 points, and the relative sitting height ratio decreased from 0.62 to 0.57). Our results suggest that endocrinological causes for short stature are variable in NS/LAH and that GH therapy should be considered as a possible treatment for delayed development in NS/LAH. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  6. Doppler velocity measurements from large and small arteries of mice

    PubMed Central

    Reddy, Anilkumar K.; Madala, Sridhar; Entman, Mark L.; Michael, Lloyd H.; Taffet, George E.

    2011-01-01

    With the growth of genetic engineering, mice have become increasingly common as models of human diseases, and this has stimulated the development of techniques to assess the murine cardiovascular system. Our group has developed nonimaging and dedicated Doppler techniques for measuring blood velocity in the large and small peripheral arteries of anesthetized mice. We translated technology originally designed for human vessels for use in smaller mouse vessels at higher heart rates by using higher ultrasonic frequencies, smaller transducers, and higher-speed signal processing. With these methods one can measure cardiac filling and ejection velocities, velocity pulse arrival times for determining pulse wave velocity, peripheral blood velocity and vessel wall motion waveforms, jet velocities for the calculation of the pressure drop across stenoses, and left main coronary velocity for the estimation of coronary flow reserve. These noninvasive methods are convenient and easy to apply, but care must be taken in interpreting measurements due to Doppler sample volume size and angle of incidence. Doppler methods have been used to characterize and evaluate numerous cardiovascular phenotypes in mice and have been particularly useful in evaluating the cardiac and vascular remodeling that occur following transverse aortic constriction. Although duplex ultrasonic echo-Doppler instruments are being applied to mice, dedicated Doppler systems are more suitable for some applications. The magnitudes and waveforms of blood velocities from both cardiac and peripheral sites are similar in mice and humans, such that much of what is learned using Doppler technology in mice may be translated back to humans. PMID:21572013

  7. Treatment With Recombinant Human Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 Improves Growth in Patients With PAPP-A2 Deficiency

    PubMed Central

    Muñoz-Calvo, María T.; Barrios, Vicente; Pozo, Jesús; Chowen, Julie A.; Martos-Moreno, Gabriel Á.; Hawkins, Federico; Dauber, Andrew; Domené, Horacio M.; Yakar, Shoshana; Rosenfeld, Ron G.; Pérez-Jurado, Luis A.; Oxvig, Claus; Frystyk, Jan

    2016-01-01

    Context: Pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A2 (PAPP-A2) is a metalloproteinase that specifically cleaves IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-5. Mutations in the PAPP-A2 gene have recently been shown to cause postnatal growth failure in humans, with specific skeletal features, due to the resulting decrease in IGF-1 bioavailability. However, a pharmacological treatment of this entity is yet to be established. Case Description: A 10.5-year-old girl and a 6-year-old boy, siblings from a Spanish family, with short stature due to a homozygous loss-of-function mutation in the PAPP-A2 gene (p.D643fs25*) and undetectable PAPP-A2 activity, were treated with progressive doses (40, 80, 100, and 120 μg/kg) of recombinant human IGF-1 (rhIGF-1) twice daily for 1 year. There was a clear increase in growth velocity and height in both siblings. Bioactive IGF-1 was increased, and spontaneous GH secretion was diminished after acute administration of rhIGF-1, whereas serum total IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels remained elevated. No episodes of hypoglycemia or any other secondary effects were observed during treatment. Conclusion: Short-term treatment with rhIGF-1 improves growth in patients with PAPP-A2 deficiency. PMID:27648969

  8. [Weight and height local growth charts of Algerian children and adolescents (6-18 years of age)].

    PubMed

    Bahchachi, N; Dahel-Mekhancha, C C; Rolland-Cachera, M F; Badis, N; Roelants, M; Hauspie, R; Nezzal, L

    2016-04-01

    Measurements of height and weight provide important information on growth and development, puberty, and nutritional status in children and adolescents. The aim of this study was to develop contemporary reference growth centiles for Algerian children and adolescents (6-18 years of age). A cross-sectional growth survey was conducted in government schools on 7772 healthy schoolchildren (45.1% boys and 54.9% girls) aged 6-18 years in Constantine (eastern Algeria) in 2008. Height and weight were measured with portable stadiometers and calibrated scales, respectively. Smooth reference curves of height and weight were estimated with the LMS method. These height and weight curves are presented together with local data from Arab countries and with the growth references of France, Belgium (Flanders), and the World Health Organization (WHO) 2007. In girls, median height and weight increased until 16 and 17 years of age, respectively, whereas in boys, they increased through age 18 years. Between ages 11 and 13 years (puberty), girls were taller and heavier than boys. After puberty, boys became taller than girls, by up to 13 cm by the age of 18 years. Median height and weight of Algerian boys and girls were generally intermediate between those observed in other Arab countries. They were higher than the French reference values up to the age of 13 years and lower than Belgian and WHO reference values at all ages. The present study provides Algerian height- and weight-for-age growth charts, which should be recommended as a national reference for monitoring growth and development in children and adolescents. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  9. River velocities from sequential multispectral remote sensing images

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Chen, Wei; Mied, Richard P.

    2013-06-01

    We address the problem of extracting surface velocities from a pair of multispectral remote sensing images over rivers using a new nonlinear multiple-tracer form of the global optimal solution (GOS). The derived velocity field is a valid solution across the image domain to the nonlinear system of equations obtained by minimizing a cost function inferred from the conservation constraint equations for multiple tracers. This is done by deriving an iteration equation for the velocity, based on the multiple-tracer displaced frame difference equations, and a local approximation to the velocity field. The number of velocity equations is greater than the number of velocity components, and thus overly constrain the solution. The iterative technique uses Gauss-Newton and Levenberg-Marquardt methods and our own algorithm of the progressive relaxation of the over-constraint. We demonstrate the nonlinear multiple-tracer GOS technique with sequential multispectral Landsat and ASTER images over a portion of the Potomac River in MD/VA, and derive a dense field of accurate velocity vectors. We compare the GOS river velocities with those from over 12 years of data at four NOAA reference stations, and find good agreement. We discuss how to find the appropriate spatial and temporal resolutions to allow optimization of the technique for specific rivers.

  10. Crack Growth Properties of Sealing Glasses

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Salem, Jonathan A.; Tandon, R.

    2008-01-01

    The crack growth properties of several sealing glasses were measured using constant stress rate testing in 2% and 95% RH (relative humidity). Crack growth parameters measured in high humidity are systematically smaller (n and B) than those measured in low humidity, and velocities for dry environments are approx. 100x lower than for wet environments. The crack velocity is very sensitivity to small changes in RH at low RH. Confidence intervals on parameters that were estimated from propagation of errors were comparable to those from Monte Carlo simulation.

  11. Loblolly Pine Growth 16 Years After Four Site Preparation Treatments

    Treesearch

    John C. Adams; Clyde Vidrine

    2002-01-01

    Thirteen-year growth results of 1-0 planted loblolly pine seedlings (Pinus taeda L.) on differently prepared upland mixed pine-hardwood sites located in north western Louisiana are presented. The study was designed as a randomized complete block consisting of three blocks of four site preparation treatments, which included: chop and burn, windrow,...

  12. The relationship of flow velocities to vessel diameters differs between extracranial carotid and vertebral arteries of stroke patients.

    PubMed

    Owolabi, Mayowa O; Agunloye, Atinuke M; Ogunniyi, Adesola

    2014-01-01

    Chronic changes in flow rate through arteries produce adjustment of arterial diameters. We compared the relationship between flow velocity and diameter in the carotid and in the vertebral arteries of stroke patients. Using triplex ultrasonography, the internal diameter and flow velocities of the common carotid, internal carotid, and vertebral arteries of 176 consecutive stroke patients were measured. Correlations were examined with Pearson's statistics at an alpha level of 0.05. Mean age of the patients was 59.3 ± 12 years, and 66% had cerebral infarcts. Diameter and blood flow velocities showed significant negative correlations (-0.115 ≥ r ≥ -0.382) in the carotid arteries on both sides, but positive correlations (0.211 ≤ r ≤ 0.320) in the vertebral arteries, even after controlling for age, gender, and blood pressure. Our study demonstrated different diameter/flow relationships in the carotid and the vertebral arteries of stroke patients, which may suggest pathologic changes in the adaptive processes governing vessel diameter and growth, especially in the carotid arteries. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  13. Surface growth kinematics via local curve evolution.

    PubMed

    Moulton, Derek E; Goriely, Alain

    2014-01-01

    A mathematical framework is developed to model the kinematics of surface growth for objects that can be generated by evolving a curve in space, such as seashells and horns. Growth is dictated by a growth velocity vector field defined at every point on a generating curve. A local orthonormal basis is attached to each point of the generating curve and the velocity field is given in terms of the local coordinate directions, leading to a fully local and elegant mathematical structure. Several examples of increasing complexity are provided, and we demonstrate how biologically relevant structures such as logarithmic shells and horns emerge as analytical solutions of the kinematics equations with a small number of parameters that can be linked to the underlying growth process. Direct access to cell tracks and local orientation enables for connections to be made to the underlying growth process.

  14. Late adult skeletofacial growth after adolescent Herbst therapy: a 32-year longitudinal follow-up study.

    PubMed

    Pancherz, Hans; Bjerklin, Krister; Hashemi, Katja

    2015-01-01

    The aim of this longitudinal 32-year follow-up investigation was to analyze the very long-term effects of Herbst treatment on the dentoskeletal structures. We followed 14 patients from a sample of 22 with Class II Division 1 malocclusions who were consecutively treated with the banded Herbst appliance at ages 12 to 14 years. The subjects were reexamined after therapy at the ages of 20 years (when the radius epiphysis/diaphysis plate was closed) and 46 years. Lateral head films were analyzed from before (T1) and after (T2) treatment, and at 6 years (T3) and 32 years (T4) after treatment. (1) In the standard analysis (angular measurements) during the T2 to T3 period of 6 years, significant skeletal changes were the following: increase of the SNB (1.0°; P <0.01), decrease of the ANB (0.9°; P <0.01), and decrease of the ML/NSL (2.5°; P <0.001). During the T3 to T4 period of 24 years, no further significant angular changes occurred. (2) In the analysis of the sagittal changes in the occlusion (linear measurements) during the T2 to T3 period of 6 years, the mandible (6.1 mm; P <0.001) and the maxilla (3.0 mm; P <0.01) grew forward. During the T3 to T4 period of 24 years, the mandible (2.8 mm; P <0.01) and the maxilla (3.1 mm; P <0.01) continued to grow forward. Thus, during the total posttreatment (T2-T4) period of 32 years, there was continuous forward growth of the mandible (8.9 mm; P <0.001) and the maxilla (6.1 mm; P <0.001). (3) The analysis of superimposed lateral head films showed in all 14 subjects large amounts of sagittal and vertical skeletofacial growth during T3 to T4. In all 14 subjects, large amounts of sagittal and vertical skeletofacial growth occurred after the age of 20 years. However, the question of when, during the period from 20 to 46 years, growth had come to an end remains open. Closure of the radius epiphysis/diaphysis plate is not useful as an indicator for completed skeletofacial growth. Our findings indicate the importance of considering

  15. Summer effects on body mass index (BMI) gain and growth patterns of American Indian children from kindergarten to first grade: a prospective study

    PubMed Central

    2011-01-01

    Background Overweight and obesity are highly prevalent among American Indian children, especially those living on reservations. There is little scientific evidence about the effects of summer vacation on obesity development in children. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of summer vacation between kindergarten and first grade on growth in height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) for a sample of American Indian children. Methods Children had their height and weight measured in four rounds of data collection (yielded three intervals: kindergarten, summer vacation, and first grade) as part of a school-based obesity prevention trial (Bright Start) in a Northern Plains Indian Reservation. Demographic variables were collected at baseline from parent surveys. Growth velocities (Z-score units/year) for BMI, weight, and height were estimated and compared for each interval using generalized linear mixed models. Results The children were taller and heavier than median of same age counterparts. Height Z-scores were positively associated with increasing weight status category. The mean weight velocity during summer was significantly less than during the school year. More rapid growth velocity in height during summer than during school year was observed. Obese children gained less adjusted-BMI in the first grade after gaining more than their counterparts during the previous two intervals. No statistically significant interval effects were found for height and BMI velocities. Conclusions There was no indication of a significant summer effect on children's BMI. Rather than seasonal or school-related patterns, the predominant pattern indicated by weight-Z and BMI-Z velocities might be related to age or maturation. Trial registration Bright Start: Obesity Prevention in American Indian Children Clinical Trial Govt ID# NCT00123032 PMID:22192795

  16. [Nutritional interventions and child growth among under-two-year-olds: a systematic review].

    PubMed

    Valle, Neiva J; Santos, Iná S dos; Gigante, Denise P

    2004-01-01

    The aim of this study was to collect evidence of the impact of nutritional interventions on child growth. A systematic review of the literature on nutritional interventions in under-two-year-old children from 1980 to 2002 was conducted in the electronic databases (MEDLINE, LILACS, and MedCarib). The following descriptors were used: "nutrition", "child", "trial", "intervention", "growth", "infant", "programs", "impact", "counseling", "support", "body height", and "body weight". A complementary search was implemented by screening the bibliography cited in the previously located articles. Fourteen publications were found. The strategies used in the studies included distribution of nutritional supplements and/or nutritional counseling. Publication bias aside, most interventions presented a positive impact on child growth when applied during the first year of life. Nutritional counseling had the additional advantage of improving maternal and health professional practices on child nutrition and feeding.

  17. Mixing water ice into regolith in low-velocity impact experiments

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Brisset, J.; Colwell, J. E.; Dove, A.; Rascon, A. N.; Mohammed, N.; Cox, C.

    2016-12-01

    Collisions between dust and ice grains of different sizes lead to particle growth both in Saturn's rings and in the protoplanetary disk (PPD). Low-velocity collisions (a few m/s or less) among ring or PPD particles produce ejecta and play an important role in this growth process as ejected particles accrete on larger grains. We report on the results of a series of experiments to study the ejecta mass-velocity distribution from impacts of cm-scale particles into granular media at speeds below 3 m/s. These experiments were performed using the lunar regolith simulant JSC-1 in both microgravity and 1-g conditions, under vacuum and at room temperature. As most planetesimal formation occurred beyond the frost line and as Satrun's rings particles are mostly composed of water ice, we proceeded to perform impact experiments at 1-g into JSC-1 lunar regolith simulant mixed with water ice particles at low temperatures (<150 K). We will present the results of the cryogenic impacts and compare them to the study performed at room temperature without water ice. The inclusion of water ice into the target sample is a first step towards better understanding the influence of the presence of water ice in the production of ejecta in response to low-velocity impacts. We will discuss the implications of our results for planetary ring particle collisions as well as planetesimal formation.

  18. Genetic markers of insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion are associated with spontaneous postnatal growth and response to growth hormone treatment in short SGA children: the North European SGA Study (NESGAS).

    PubMed

    Jensen, Rikke Beck; Thankamony, Ajay; Day, Felix; Scott, Robert A; Langenberg, Claudia; Kirk, Jeremy; Donaldson, Malcolm; Ivarsson, Sten-A; Söder, Olle; Roche, Edna; Hoey, Hilary; Juul, Anders; Ong, Ken K; Dunger, David B

    2015-03-01

    The wide heterogeneity in the early growth and metabolism of children born small for gestational age (SGA), both before and during GH therapy, may reflect common genetic variations related to insulin secretion or sensitivity. Combined multiallele single nucleotide polymorphism scores with known associations with insulin sensitivity or insulin secretion were analyzed for their relationships with spontaneous postnatal growth and first-year responses to GH therapy in 96 short SGA children. The insulin sensitivity allele score (GS-InSens) was positively associated with spontaneous postnatal weight gain (regression coefficient [B]: 0.12 SD scores per allele; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.01-0.23; P = .03) and also in response to GH therapy with first-year height velocity (B: 0.18 cm/y per allele; 95% CI, 0.02-0.35; P = .03) and change in IGF-1 (B: 0.17 SD scores per allele; 95% CI, 0.00-0.32; P = .03). The association with first-year height velocity was independent of reported predictors of response to GH therapy (adjusted P = .04). The insulin secretion allele score (GS-InSec) was positively associated with spontaneous postnatal height gain (B: 0.15; 95% CI, 0.01-0.30; P = .03) and disposition index both before (B: 0.02; 95% CI, 0.00-0.04; P = .04) and after 1 year of GH therapy (B: 0.03; 95% CI, 0.01-0.05; P = .002), but not with growth and IGF-1 responses to GH therapy. Neither of the allele scores was associated with size at birth. Genetic allele scores indicative of insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion were associated with spontaneous postnatal growth and responses to GH therapy in short SGA children. Further pharmacogenetic studies may support the rationale for adjuvant therapies by informing the mechanisms of treatment response.

  19. [Evolution of breathing pattern and ventilation at maximal exercise during growth. Definition of reference values].

    PubMed

    Prioux, J; Mercier, J; Ramonatxo, M; Granier, P; Mercier, B; Prefaut, C

    1995-01-01

    The aim of the study was to define the changes of parameters of breathing pattern and ventilation (VE) as a function of age during maximal exercise in children. A multi-longitudinal survey was conducted in forty four untrained schoolboys, divided in three groups with initial age of 11.2 years for group I, 12.9 years for group II, and 14.9 for group III. These children were subsequently followed three years ago at the same period. The range age was thus 11.2 to 16.9 years. This study showed that, during growth, ventilation (VE max), tidal volume (VT max) and mean inspiratory flow (VT/TI max) increased significantly with age, that inspiratory frequency (f max) decreased, that inspiratory, expiratory and total time of the respiratory cycle (TI max, TE max, TTOT max) increased slightly and that the inspiration fraction (TI/TTOT max) was identical at 11 and 17 years. Furthermore we observed that the peak height velocity and peak tidal volume velocity took place at the same age, i.e., 14 years and that those of weight and VT/TI at the same age of 15 years. In conclusion, this study allowed us to define reference values for breathing pattern at maximal exercise in sedentary boys and to specify the relation between growth and parameters of breathing pattern in these children.

  20. Study of electrostatic electron cyclotron parallel flow velocity shear instability in the magnetosphere of Saturn

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kandpal, Praveen; Pandey, R. S.

    2018-05-01

    In the present paper, the study of electrostatic electron cyclotron parallel flow velocity shear instability in presence of perpendicular inhomogeneous DC electric field has been carried out in the magnetosphere of Saturn. Dimensionless growth rate variation of electron cyclotron waves has been observed with respect to k⊥ ρe for various plasma parameters. Effect of velocity shear scale length (Ae), inhomogeneity (P/a), the ratio of ion to electron temperature (Ti/Te) and density gradient (ɛnρe) on the growth of electron cyclotron waves in the inner magnetosphere of Saturn has been studied and analyzed. The mathematical formulation and computation of dispersion relation and growth rate have been done by using the method of characteristic solution and kinetic approach. This theoretical analysis has been done taking the relevant data from the Cassini spacecraft in the inner magnetosphere of Saturn. We have considered ambient magnetic field data and other relevant data for this study at the radial distance of ˜4.82-5.00 Rs. In our study velocity shear and ion to electron temperature ratio have been observed to be the major sources of free energy for the electron cyclotron instability. The inhomogeneity of electric field caused a small noticeable impact on the growth rate of electrostatic electron cyclotron instability. Density gradient has been observed playing stabilizing effect on electron cyclotron instability.

  1. Velocity of lordosis angle during spinal flexion and extension.

    PubMed

    Consmüller, Tobias; Rohlmann, Antonius; Weinland, Daniel; Druschel, Claudia; Duda, Georg N; Taylor, William R

    2012-01-01

    The importance of functional parameters for evaluating the severity of low back pain is gaining clinical recognition, with evidence suggesting that the angular velocity of lordosis is critical for identification of musculoskeletal deficits. However, there is a lack of data regarding the range of functional kinematics (RoKs), particularly which include the changing shape and curvature of the spine. We address this deficit by characterising the angular velocity of lordosis throughout the thoracolumbar spine according to age and gender. The velocity of lumbar back shape changes was measured using Epionics SPINE during maximum flexion and extension activities in 429 asymptomatic volunteers. The difference between maximum positive and negative velocities represented the RoKs. The mean RoKs for flexion decreased with age; 114°/s (20-35 years), 100°/s (36-50 years) and 83°/s (51-75 years). For extension, the corresponding mean RoKs were 73°/s, 57°/s and 47°/s. ANCOVA analyses revealed that age and gender had the largest influence on the RoKs (p<0.05). The Epionics SPINE system allows the rapid assessment of functional kinematics in the lumbar spine. The results of this study now serve as normative data for comparison to patients with spinal pathology or after surgical treatment.

  2. Lattice Boltzmann study on Kelvin-Helmholtz instability: roles of velocity and density gradients.

    PubMed

    Gan, Yanbiao; Xu, Aiguo; Zhang, Guangcai; Li, Yingjun

    2011-05-01

    A two-dimensional lattice Boltzmann model with 19 discrete velocities for compressible fluids is proposed. The fifth-order weighted essentially nonoscillatory (5th-WENO) finite difference scheme is employed to calculate the convection term of the lattice Boltzmann equation. The validity of the model is verified by comparing simulation results of the Sod shock tube with its corresponding analytical solutions [G. A. Sod, J. Comput. Phys. 27, 1 (1978).]. The velocity and density gradient effects on the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI) are investigated using the proposed model. Sharp density contours are obtained in our simulations. It is found that the linear growth rate γ for the KHI decreases by increasing the width of velocity transition layer D(v) but increases by increasing the width of density transition layer D(ρ). After the initial transient period and before the vortex has been well formed, the linear growth rates γ(v) and γ(ρ), vary with D(v) and D(ρ) approximately in the following way, lnγ(v)=a-bD(v) and γ(ρ)=c+elnD(ρ)(D(ρ)D(ρ)(E) the linear growth rate γ(ρ) does not vary significantly any more. One can use the hybrid effects of velocity and density transition layers to stabilize the KHI. Our numerical simulation results are in general agreement with the analytical results [L. F. Wang et al., Phys. Plasma 17, 042103 (2010)]. © 2011 American Physical Society

  3. A Ceramic Fracture Model for High Velocity Impact

    DTIC Science & Technology

    1993-05-01

    employ damage concepts appear more relevant than crack growth models for this application . This research adopts existing fracture model concepts and...extends them through applications in an existing finite element continuum mechanics code (hydrocode) to the prediction of the damage and fracture processes...to be accurate in the lower velocity range of this work. Mescall and Tracy 15] investigated the selection of ceramic material for application in armors

  4. Auditory velocity discrimination in the horizontal plane at very high velocities.

    PubMed

    Frissen, Ilja; Féron, François-Xavier; Guastavino, Catherine

    2014-10-01

    We determined velocity discrimination thresholds and Weber fractions for sounds revolving around the listener at very high velocities. Sounds used were a broadband white noise and two harmonic sounds with fundamental frequencies of 330 Hz and 1760 Hz. Experiment 1 used velocities ranging between 288°/s and 720°/s in an acoustically treated room and Experiment 2 used velocities between 288°/s and 576°/s in a highly reverberant hall. A third experiment addressed potential confounds in the first two experiments. The results show that people can reliably discriminate velocity at very high velocities and that both thresholds and Weber fractions decrease as velocity increases. These results violate Weber's law but are consistent with the empirical trend observed in the literature. While thresholds for the noise and 330 Hz harmonic stimulus were similar, those for the 1760 Hz harmonic stimulus were substantially higher. There were no reliable differences in velocity discrimination between the two acoustical environments, suggesting that auditory motion perception at high velocities is robust against the effects of reverberation. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  5. Metabolic health of young adults who were born small for gestational age and treated with growth hormone, after cessation of growth hormone treatment: a 5-year longitudinal study.

    PubMed

    van der Steen, Manouk; Smeets, Carolina C J; Kerkhof, Gerthe F; Hokken-Koelega, Anita C S

    2017-02-01

    Growth hormone treatment reduces fat mass and insulin sensitivity and increases lean body mass. Data are only available for short-term longitudinal changes after cessation of growth hormone treatment in young adults born small for gestational age. We aimed to assess long-term changes over a 5-year period following cessation of growth hormone treatment. We did a longitudinal study of young adults born small for gestational age and previously treated with growth hormone. Individuals were followed up for 5 years after attainment of adult height, when growth hormone treatment was discontinued: assessments were done at cessation of growth hormone treatment and at 6 months, 2 years, and 5 years thereafter. Data 5 years after cessation of growth hormone were compared with untreated age-matched controls. We used dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry to assess body composition, and did frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance tests to assess insulin sensitivity, acute insulin response, and the disposition index (a measure of β-cell function). This study is registered with ISRCTN, numbers ISRCTN96883876 and ISRCTN65230311. Between April, 2004, and April, 2016, we followed up 199 young adults born small for gestational age and previously treated with growth hormone, during the 5 years after cessation of growth hormone treatment. Data at 5 years for these individuals were compared with those for 51 untreated adults born small for gestational age with short stature, 92 untreated adults born small for gestational age with spontaneous catch-up growth, and 142 adults born appropriate for gestational age and unexposed to growth hormone treatment. In young adults born small for gestational age and previously treated with growth hormone, 5 years after cessation of growth hormone treatment, there were increases in fat mass (estimated marginal mean 10·73 kg [95% CI 9·95-11·50] at cessation of treatment vs 16·12 kg [14·77-17·46] at 5 years; p<0·0001), trunk fat (5·34 kg [4

  6. Influence of surrounding environment on subcritical crack growth in marble

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nara, Yoshitaka; Kashiwaya, Koki; Nishida, Yuki; , Toshinori, Ii

    2017-06-01

    Understanding subcritical crack growth in rock is essential for determining appropriate measures to ensure the long-term integrity of rock masses surrounding structures and for construction from rock material. In this study, subcritical crack growth in marble was investigated experimentally, focusing on the influence of the surrounding environment on the relationship between the crack velocity and stress intensity factor. The crack velocity increased with increasing temperature and/or relative humidity. In all cases, the crack velocity increased with increasing stress intensity factor. However, for Carrara marble (CM) in air, we observed a region in which the crack velocity still increased with temperature, but the increase in the crack velocity with increasing stress intensity factor was not significant. This is similar to Region II of subcritical crack growth observed in glass in air. Region II in glass is controlled by mass transport to the crack tip. In the case of rock, the transport of water to the crack tip is important. In general, Region II is not observed for subcritical crack growth in rock materials, because rocks contain water. Because the porosity of CM is very low, the amount of water contained in the marble is also very small. Therefore, our results imply that we observed Region II in CM. Because the crack velocity increased in both water and air with increasing temperature and humidity, we concluded that dry conditions at low temperature are desirable for the long-term integrity of a carbonate rock mass. Additionally, mass transport to the crack tip is an important process for subcritical crack growth in rock with low porosity.

  7. Dietary acrylamide intake during pregnancy and postnatal growth and obesity: Results from the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa).

    PubMed

    Kadawathagedara, Manik; Botton, Jérémie; de Lauzon-Guillain, Blandine; Meltzer, Helle Margrete; Alexander, Jan; Brantsaeter, Anne Lise; Haugen, Margaretha; Papadopoulou, Eleni

    2018-04-01

    Prenatal acrylamide exposure has been negatively associated with fetal growth but the association with child growth is unknown. We studied the association between prenatal acrylamide exposure and child postnatal growth up to 8 years in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). In 51,952 mother-child pairs from MoBa, acrylamide intake during pregnancy was estimated by combining maternal food intake with food concentrations of acrylamide. Mothers reported their child's weight and length/height up to 11 times between 6 weeks and 8 years. Weight and height growth trajectories were modelled using Jenss-Bayley's growth model. Logistic regression models were used to study the association with overweight/obese status at 3, 5 and 8 years, as identified using the International Obesity Task Force cut-offs. Linear mixed-effect models were used to explore associations with overall growth. At 3 years, the adjusted odds ratios (95% Confidence Intervals (CI)) of being overweight/obese were 1.10 (1.02, 1.20), 1.12 (1.04, 1.22) and 1.21 (1.11, 1.31) by increasing prenatal acrylamide exposure quartile. Similar dose-response associations were found at 5 and 8 years. Acrylamide intake during pregnancy was associated with higher weight growth velocity in childhood. Children exposed at the highest level had 22 g (95% CI: 8, 37), 57 g (95% CI: 32, 81), and 194 g (95% CI: 110, 278) higher weight at 0.5, 2, and 8 years, respectively, compared to their low exposed peers. Children prenatally exposed to acrylamide in the highest quartile experienced a moderate increase in weight growth velocity during early childhood that resulted in a moderately increased prevalence of overweight/obesity compared to peers in the lowest quartile. Our study is the first to link prenatal acrylamide exposure and postnatal growth. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  8. The growth of very-low-birth-weight infants at 5 years old in Taiwan.

    PubMed

    Wang, Pei-Wei; Fang, Li-Jung; Tsou, Kuo-Inn

    2014-04-01

    The goal of this study was to compare the growth and effect of growth on cognitive performance at 5 years of age of a group of very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants and a group of healthy full-term infants. Beginning in 1995, under the sponsorship of the Premature Baby Foundation, the Society of Neonatology, Taiwan, conducted a multicenter follow-up study of VLBW infants in Taiwan. The study enrolled 322 VLBW infants and 103 controls for assessment of growth data and cognitive performance at several time points from birth through to 5 years of age. Growth data were assessed with measurements of weight, height, and head circumference taken at the ages of 6 months, 12 months, 24 months, and 60 months. Cognitive performance was assessed at the age of 5 years. The VLBW infants were regarded as "failed" if a measurement was 2 standard deviations below the mean measurement of the control group. Neonatal and perinatal data had been collected prospectively as part of a longitudinal study. Cognitive performance was assessed using the Chinese version of the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-R). From 6 months to 5 years, VLBW infants had lower weight, height, and head circumference than the controls. Two hundred twenty-four VLBW infants (69.6%) returned for assessment at 5 years old. Of the 224 VLBW infants, complete sets of measurements of weight, height, and head circumference were obtained for 126 cases (56.3%), 127 cases (56.7%), and 106 cases (47.3%), respectively. Of these, 13 patients (10.3%) failed in weight, 11 patients (8.7%) failed in height, and 17 patients (16.0%) failed in head circumference at the age of 5 years. The mean WPPSI-R scores at the age of 5 years for VLBW children were: 94.1 ± 16.4 (performance IQ), 87.2 ± 12.8 (verbal IQ), and 89.5 ± 14.6 (full IQ). All of these values were also lower than those of the control group, with the differences being statistically significant (p < 0.05). The WPPSI-R scores of VLBW

  9. Temporal Variability in Seismic Velocity at the Salton Sea Geothermal Field

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Taira, T.; Nayak, A.; Brenguier, F.

    2015-12-01

    We characterize the temporal variability of ambient noise wavefield and search for velocity changes associated with activities of the geothermal energy development at the Salton Sea Geothermal Field. The noise cross-correlations (NCFs) are computed for ~6 years of continuous three-component seismic data (December 2007 through January 2014) collected at 8 sites from the CalEnergy Subnetwork (EN network) with MSNoise software (Lecocq et al., 2014, SRL). All seismic data are downloaded from the Southern California Earthquake Data Center. Velocity changes (dv/v) are obtained by measuring time delay between 5-day stacks of NCFs and the reference NCF (average over the entire 6 year period). The time history of dv/v is determined by averaging dv/v measurements over all station/channel pairs (252 combinations). Our preliminary dv/v measurement suggests a gradual increase in dv/v over the 6-year period in a frequency range of 0.5-8.0 Hz. The resultant increase rate of velocity is about 0.01%/year. We also explore the frequency-dependent velocity change at the 5 different frequency bands (0.5-2.0 Hz, 0.75-3.0 Hz, 1.0-4.0 Hz, 1.5-6.0 Hz, and 2.0-8.0 Hz) and find that the level of this long-term dv/v variability is increased with increase of frequency (i.e., the highest increase rate of ~0.15%/year at the 0.5-2.0 Hz band). This result suggests that the velocity changes were mostly occurred in a depth of ~500 m assuming that the coda parts of NCFs (~10-40 s depending on station distances) are predominantly composed of scattered surface waves, with the SoCal velocity model (Dreger and Helmberger, 1993, JGR). No clear seasonal variation of dv/v is observed in the frequency band of 0.5-8.0 Hz.

  10. Mixture theory-based poroelasticity as a model of interstitial tissue growth

    PubMed Central

    Cowin, Stephen C.; Cardoso, Luis

    2011-01-01

    This contribution presents an alternative approach to mixture theory-based poroelasticity by transferring some poroelastic concepts developed by Maurice Biot to mixture theory. These concepts are a larger RVE and the subRVE-RVE velocity average tensor, which Biot called the micro-macro velocity average tensor. This velocity average tensor is assumed here to depend upon the pore structure fabric. The formulation of mixture theory presented is directed toward the modeling of interstitial growth, that is to say changing mass and changing density of an organism. Traditional mixture theory considers constituents to be open systems, but the entire mixture is a closed system. In this development the mixture is also considered to be an open system as an alternative method of modeling growth. Growth is slow and accelerations are neglected in the applications. The velocity of a solid constituent is employed as the main reference velocity in preference to the mean velocity concept from the original formulation of mixture theory. The standard development of statements of the conservation principles and entropy inequality employed in mixture theory are modified to account for these kinematic changes and to allow for supplies of mass, momentum and energy to each constituent and to the mixture as a whole. The objective is to establish a basis for the development of constitutive equations for growth of tissues. PMID:22184481

  11. Mixture theory-based poroelasticity as a model of interstitial tissue growth.

    PubMed

    Cowin, Stephen C; Cardoso, Luis

    2012-01-01

    This contribution presents an alternative approach to mixture theory-based poroelasticity by transferring some poroelastic concepts developed by Maurice Biot to mixture theory. These concepts are a larger RVE and the subRVE-RVE velocity average tensor, which Biot called the micro-macro velocity average tensor. This velocity average tensor is assumed here to depend upon the pore structure fabric. The formulation of mixture theory presented is directed toward the modeling of interstitial growth, that is to say changing mass and changing density of an organism. Traditional mixture theory considers constituents to be open systems, but the entire mixture is a closed system. In this development the mixture is also considered to be an open system as an alternative method of modeling growth. Growth is slow and accelerations are neglected in the applications. The velocity of a solid constituent is employed as the main reference velocity in preference to the mean velocity concept from the original formulation of mixture theory. The standard development of statements of the conservation principles and entropy inequality employed in mixture theory are modified to account for these kinematic changes and to allow for supplies of mass, momentum and energy to each constituent and to the mixture as a whole. The objective is to establish a basis for the development of constitutive equations for growth of tissues.

  12. The velocity of climate change.

    PubMed

    Loarie, Scott R; Duffy, Philip B; Hamilton, Healy; Asner, Gregory P; Field, Christopher B; Ackerly, David D

    2009-12-24

    The ranges of plants and animals are moving in response to recent changes in climate. As temperatures rise, ecosystems with 'nowhere to go', such as mountains, are considered to be more threatened. However, species survival may depend as much on keeping pace with moving climates as the climate's ultimate persistence. Here we present a new index of the velocity of temperature change (km yr(-1)), derived from spatial gradients ( degrees C km(-1)) and multimodel ensemble forecasts of rates of temperature increase ( degrees C yr(-1)) in the twenty-first century. This index represents the instantaneous local velocity along Earth's surface needed to maintain constant temperatures, and has a global mean of 0.42 km yr(-1) (A1B emission scenario). Owing to topographic effects, the velocity of temperature change is lowest in mountainous biomes such as tropical and subtropical coniferous forests (0.08 km yr(-1)), temperate coniferous forest, and montane grasslands. Velocities are highest in flooded grasslands (1.26 km yr(-1)), mangroves and deserts. High velocities suggest that the climates of only 8% of global protected areas have residence times exceeding 100 years. Small protected areas exacerbate the problem in Mediterranean-type and temperate coniferous forest biomes. Large protected areas may mitigate the problem in desert biomes. These results indicate management strategies for minimizing biodiversity loss from climate change. Montane landscapes may effectively shelter many species into the next century. Elsewhere, reduced emissions, a much expanded network of protected areas, or efforts to increase species movement may be necessary.

  13. Cosmological Constraints from Galaxy Cluster Velocity Statistics

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bhattacharya, Suman; Kosowsky, Arthur

    2007-04-01

    Future microwave sky surveys will have the sensitivity to detect the kinematic Sunyaev-Zeldovich signal from moving galaxy clusters, thus providing a direct measurement of their line-of-sight peculiar velocity. We show that cluster peculiar velocity statistics applied to foreseeable surveys will put significant constraints on fundamental cosmological parameters. We consider three statistical quantities that can be constructed from a cluster peculiar velocity catalog: the probability density function, the mean pairwise streaming velocity, and the pairwise velocity dispersion. These quantities are applied to an envisioned data set that measures line-of-sight cluster velocities with normal errors of 100 km s-1 for all clusters with masses larger than 1014 Msolar over a sky area of up to 5000 deg2. A simple Fisher matrix analysis of this survey shows that the normalization of the matter power spectrum and the dark energy equation of state can be constrained to better than 10%, and that the Hubble constant and the primordial power spectrum index can be constrained to a few percent, independent of any other cosmological observations. We also find that the current constraint on the power spectrum normalization can be improved by more than a factor of 2 using data from a 400 deg2 survey and WMAP third-year priors. We also show how the constraints on cosmological parameters change if cluster velocities are measured with normal errors of 300 km s-1.

  14. GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF NEGRO INFANTS. IX, STUDIES ON WEIGHT, HEIGHT, PELVIC BREADTH, HEAD AND CHEST CIRCUMFERENCES DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE.

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    SCOTT, ROLAND B.; AND OTHERS

    THIS ARTICLE PRESENTS SIZE AND GROWTH VELOCITY DATA COLLECTED DURING A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF 111 NORMAL, HEALTHY NEGRO INFANTS FROM LOWER-MIDDLE-CLASS FAMILIES. DATA WERE OBTAINED FROM BIRTH RECORDS AND MEASUREMENTS TAKEN DURING ROUTINE PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS. WHEN THIS NEGRO SAMPLE WAS COMPARED WITH WHITE INFANTS IN SIMILAR STUDIES IT WAS FOUND…

  15. Growth of a 45-year-old ponderosa pine plantation: An Arizona case study (P-53)

    Treesearch

    Peter F. Ffolliott; Gerald J. Gottfried; Cody L. Stropki; L. J. Heidmann

    2008-01-01

    Information on the growth of forest plantations is necessary for planning of ecosystem-based management of the plantations. This information is also useful in validating or refining computer simulators that estimate plantation growth into the future. Such growth information has been obtained from a 45-year-old ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) plantation in the Hart...

  16. THE IMPACT OF NEONATAL BREASTFEEDING ON GROWTH TRAJECTORIES OF YOUTH EXPOSED AND UNEXPOSED TO DIABETES IN UTERO: THE EPOCH STUDY

    PubMed Central

    Crume, T.L.; Ogden, L.G.; Mayer-Davis, E.J.; Hamman, R.F.; Norris, J.M.; Bischoff, K.J.; McDuffie, R.; Dabelea, D.

    2011-01-01

    Objective To evaluate the influence of breastfeeding on the body mass index (BMI) growth trajectory from birth through 13 years of age among offspring of diabetic pregnancies (ODP) and offspring of non-diabetic pregnancies (ONDP) participating in the EPOCH study. Subjects There were 94 ODP and 399 ONDP who had multiple BMI measures obtained from birth throughout childhood. A measure of breast milk-months was derived from maternal self-report to categorize breastfeeding status as adequate (≥6 breast milk-months) or low (<6 breast milk-months). Mixed linear effects models were constructed to assess the impact of breastfeeding on the BMI growth curves during infancy (birth to 27 months) and childhood (27 months to 13 years). Results ODP who were adequately breastfed had a slower BMI growth trajectory during childhood (p=0.047) and slower period-specific growth velocity with significant differences between 4 to 6 years of age (p=0.03) and 6 to 9 years of age (p=0.01) compared to ODP with low breastfeeding. A similar pattern was seen in the ONDP, with adequate breastfeeding associated with lower average BMI in infancy (p=0.03) and childhood (p=0.0002) and a slower growth trajectory in childhood (p=0.0002). Slower period-specific growth velocity was seen among the ONDP associated with adequate breastfeeding with significant differences between 12–26 months (p=0.02), 4–6 years (p=0.03), 6–9 years (p=0.0001) and 9–13 years of age (p<.0001). Conclusion Our study provides novel evidence that breastfeeding is associated with long-term effects on childhood BMI growth that extend beyond infancy into early and late childhood. Importantly, these effects are also present in the high-risk offspring, exposed to overnutrition during pregnancy. Breastfeeding in the early postnatal period may represent a critical opportunity to reduce the risk of childhood obesity. PMID:22290537

  17. Distinct patterns of seasonal Greenland glacier velocity

    PubMed Central

    Moon, Twila; Joughin, Ian; Smith, Ben; van den Broeke, Michiel R; van de Berg, Willem Jan; Noël, Brice; Usher, Mika

    2014-01-01

    Predicting Greenland Ice Sheet mass loss due to ice dynamics requires a complete understanding of spatiotemporal velocity fluctuations and related control mechanisms. We present a 5 year record of seasonal velocity measurements for 55 marine-terminating glaciers distributed around the ice sheet margin, along with ice-front position and runoff data sets for each glacier. Among glaciers with substantial speed variations, we find three distinct seasonal velocity patterns. One pattern indicates relatively high glacier sensitivity to ice-front position. The other two patterns are more prevalent and appear to be meltwater controlled. These patterns reveal differences in which some subglacial systems likely transition seasonally from inefficient, distributed hydrologic networks to efficient, channelized drainage, while others do not. The difference may be determined by meltwater availability, which in some regions may be influenced by perennial firn aquifers. Our results highlight the need to understand subglacial meltwater availability on an ice sheet-wide scale to predict future dynamic changes. Key Points First multi-region seasonal velocity measurements show regional differences Seasonal velocity fluctuations on most glaciers appear meltwater controlled Seasonal development of efficient subglacial drainage geographically divided PMID:25821275

  18. Magnetic Reconnection Processes Involving Modes Propagating in the Ion Diamagnetic Velocity Direction

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Buratti, P.; Coppi, B.; Pucella, G.; Zhou, T.

    2013-10-01

    Experiments in weakly collisional plasma regimes, (e.g. neutral beam heated plasmas in the H-regime), measuring the Doppler shift associated with the plasma local rotation, have shown that the toroidal mode phase velocity vph in the frame with Er = 0 is in the direction of the ion diamagnetic velocity. For ohmically heated plasmas, with higher collisionalities, vph in the laboratory frame is in the direction of the electron diamagnetic velocity, but plasma rotation is reversed as well, and vph, in the Er = 0 frame, is in the ion diamagnetic velocity direction. Theoretically, two classes of reconnecting modes should emerge: drift-tearing modes and ``inductive modes'' that depend on the effects of a finite plasma inductivity. The former modes, with vph in the direction of the electron diamagnetic velocity, require the pre-excitation of a different kind of mode in order to become unstable in weakly collisional regimes. The second kind of modes has a growth rate associated with the relevant finite ion viscosity. A comprehensive theory is presented. Sponsored in part by the US DOE.

  19. The relationship between alkaline phosphatase and bone alkaline phosphatase activity and the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1 axis and vitamin D status in children with growth hormone deficiency.

    PubMed

    Witkowska-Sędek, Ewelina; Stelmaszczyk-Emmel, Anna; Majcher, Anna; Demkow, Urszula; Pyrżak, Beata

    2018-04-13

    The relationships between bone turnover, the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-1 (GH/IGF-1) axis and vitamin D are complex, but still not fully explained. The GH/IGF-1 axis and vitamin D can mutually modulate each other's metabolism and influence the activation of cell proliferation, maturation, and mineralization as well as bone resorption. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reciprocal associations between bone formation markers [alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP)], the GH/IGF-1 axis and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in children with growth hormone deficiency at baseline and during recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy. ALP, BALP, 25(OH)D and IGF-1 levels were evaluated in 53 patients included in this prospective three-year study. ALP, BALP and IGF-1 increased during rhGH therapy. Baseline ALP activity correlated positively with baseline height velocity (HV). ALP and BALP activity at 12 months correlated positively with HV in the first year of therapy. We found positive correlations between ALP and IGF-1 at baseline and during the first year of therapy, between BALP activity at 12 months and rhGH dose in the first year of therapy, and between doses of cholecalciferol in the first year of rhGH therapy and early changes in BALP activity during rhGH therapy. Our results indicate that vitamin D supplementation enhances the effect of rhGH on bone formation process, which could improve the effects of rhGH therapy. ALP and BALP activity are useful in the early prediction of the effects of rhGH therapy, but their utility as long-term predictors seemed insufficient.

  20. [Physical growth trend of Chinese children under 7 years old, in 1975 - 2005].

    PubMed

    Li, Hui; Zhang, Ya-qin; Zhu, Zong-han

    2009-03-01

    To analyze the physical growth changes in Chinese children aged from 0 to 7 years old during the past 30 years. Four national physical growth surveys of the children under 7 years old were undertaken in the same urban and suburban areas of nine main cities in China from 1975 to 2005. The nine cities were Beijing, Harbin and Xi'an in the northern part; Shanghai, Nanjing and Wuhan in the central part; Guangzhou, Fuzhou and Kunming in the southern part of China. Random cluster sampling method was used. The children aged from 0 to 7 years old were classified into 22 groups by age. The sample size was ranged from 150 to 200 persons for each sex-age group in each area (urban/rural) of each city. Totally, 158 400, 152 874, 157 362 and 138 775 healthy children were examined in 1975, 1985, 1995 and 2005 respectively. The data of weight, height, chest and head circumference obtained from these surveys were analyzed. Average weight and height in most of the age groups for both boys and girls from urban and suburban rural areas has been significantly improved during the past 30 years, the average increments of weight were 0.76 kg to 1.14 kg in 12 - 15 months group and 2.58 kg to 3.26 kg in 6 - 7 years group; and the average increments of height were 2.7 cm to 3.8 cm in 12 - 15 months group and 5.0 cm to 7.6 cm in 6 - 7 years group. Chest circumference did not show an increase in infants younger than 4 months and increased slightly after 4 months. The average increments of head circumference were 0.1 cm to 1.0 cm. From 1975 to 2005, the increments of weight and height per 10 years was in an increasing trend, e.g. weight increments of 5 - 6 years old were 0.58 kg, 1.02 kg and 1.67 kg and the height increments were 1.5 cm, 2.0 cm and 2.6 cm for every 10 years. The urban-rural difference in height has become smaller, the height difference in 6 - 7 years group for boys was decreased from 4.9 cm in 1975 to 2.6 cm in 2005. The weight has become smaller in children under 3 years old

  1. Insulin-like growth factor-I treatment of children with Laron syndrome (primary growth hormone insensitivity).

    PubMed

    Laron, Zvi

    2008-03-01

    Laron syndrome (LS, congenital primary GH insensitivity) is caused by deletions or mutations in the GH receptor gene, resulting in an inability to generate insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). If untreated, the deficiency of IGF-I results in severe dwarfism, as well as skeletal and muscular underdevelopment. The only treatment is the daily administration of recombinant IGF-I. This review summarizes the present experience by several groups worldwide. The main conclusions are: A. The one or two injections regimen result in the same growth velocity; B. The growth velocity obtained with IGF-I administration is smaller than that observed with hGH in children with congenital isolated GH deficiency; C. Overdosage of IGF-I causes a series of adverse effects which can be avoided by carefully monitoring the serum IGF-I and GH levels.

  2. [Fifty years of population growth and absorbing manual labor in Brazil, 1950-2000].

    PubMed

    Paiva, P D

    1986-01-01

    The economically active population has grown rapidly in Brazil, resulting either from population growth or increased female participation in the work force. This rhythm of growth will continue at least until the end of this century. The authors suggest that the impact of the recent decline in fertility will be moderate and will only affect the younger age groups. Despite the rapid growth of employment in the processing industry, the relative size of the so-called informal sector has remained stable since 1950. It is further predicted that, given the economically active population's rate of growth and the decrease in employment in agriculture, there will be a great demand for urban employment in the next 20 years.

  3. Ten-Year Effect of Six Site-Preparation Treatments on Piedmont Loblolly Pine Survival and Growth

    Treesearch

    M. Boyd Edwards

    1994-01-01

    Limited information is available on growth responses to different levels of intensity for site preparation in the Piedmont. In the present study, six intensities of site preparation were compared for their effect on survival, height and diameter growth, total volume produced, and basal area per acre for the first 10 years after treatment. Rates of survival and growth...

  4. Head circumference growth reference charts of children younger than 7 years in Chinese rural areas.

    PubMed

    Xie, Shengnan; Shi, Junxin; Wang, Jianmin; Li, Neng; Yang, Senbei; Zhang, Jing

    2014-12-01

    The head circumference growth reference charts for children in China are presently based on urban children. However, the references may not apply to rural children because of the differences between urban and rural areas, such as economy, culture, and dietary habits. Our objective was to provide a reliable continuous set of head circumference growth reference charts for male and female children less than 7 years of age in Chinese rural areas. Children in our study were identified by multistage stratified cluster sampling from rural areas of 10 provinces in China. Questionnaire survey and anthropometric measurements were conducted in data collection. Head circumference was measured with a nonelastic tape on a line passing over the glabella and posterior occipital protrusion in children. We compared the fiftieth percentile of our cross-sectional data with the data of Chinese cities, World Health Organization, and the United States. A total of 95,904 children (48,722 boys and 47,182 girls) were included in the study. We present age- and sex-appropriate head circumference growth charts younger than 7 years for Chinese rural areas. The head circumference percentiles of the children in rural China are much smaller than the children in Chinese urban areas, World Health Organization, and the US percentiles after 2 years old. Head circumference percentiles can be applied in growth monitoring, but current head circumference growth references promulgated in urban China may not be suitable for rural areas in China. Providing head circumference growth reference charts for rural Chinese children who are younger than 7 years old is very important. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  5. Hydrokinetic canal measurements: inflow velocity, wake flow velocity, and turbulence

    DOE Data Explorer

    Gunawan, Budi

    2014-06-11

    The dataset consist of acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) velocity measurements in the wake of a 3-meter diameter vertical-axis hydrokinetic turbine deployed in Roza Canal, Yakima, WA, USA. A normalized hub-centerline wake velocity profile and two cross-section velocity contours, 10 meters and 20 meters downstream of the turbine, are presented. Mean velocities and turbulence data, measured using acoustic Doppler velocimeter (ADV) at 50 meters upstream of the turbine, are also presented. Canal dimensions and hydraulic properties, and turbine-related information are also included.

  6. Phloem transport velocity varies over time and among vascular bundles during early cucumber seedling development.

    PubMed

    Savage, Jessica A; Zwieniecki, Maciej A; Holbrook, N Michele

    2013-11-01

    We use a novel dye-tracing technique to measure in vivo phloem transport velocity in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) plants during early seedling development. We focus on seedlings because of their importance in plant establishment and because they provide a simple source and sink model of phloem transport. The dye-tracing method uses a photodiode to track the movement of a bleach front of fluorescent dye traveling in the phloem from the cotyledons (source) to the roots (sink). During early seedling development, phloem transport velocity in this direction can change 2-fold depending on vascular connectivity and the number of actively growing sinks. Prior to leaf expansion, vascular bundles attached to the first developing leaf demonstrate a decline in basipetal phloem transport that can be alleviated by the leaf's removal. At this stage, seedlings appear carbon limited and phloem transport velocity is correlated with cotyledon area, a pattern that is apparent both during cotyledon expansion and after source area manipulation. When the first leaf transitions to a carbon source, seedling growth rate increases and basipetal phloem transport velocity becomes more stable. Because bundles appear to operate autonomously, transport velocity can differ among vascular bundles. Together, these results demonstrate the dynamic and heterogeneous nature of phloem transport and underline the need for a better understanding of how changes in phloem physiology impact growth and allocation at this critical stage of development.

  7. A change in the geodynamics of continental growth 3 billion years ago.

    PubMed

    Dhuime, Bruno; Hawkesworth, Chris J; Cawood, Peter A; Storey, Craig D

    2012-03-16

    Models for the growth of continental crust rely on knowing the balance between the generation of new crust and the reworking of old crust throughout Earth's history. The oxygen isotopic composition of zircons, for which uranium-lead and hafnium isotopic data provide age constraints, is a key archive of crustal reworking. We identified systematic variations in hafnium and oxygen isotopes in zircons of different ages that reveal the relative proportions of reworked crust and of new crust through time. Growth of continental crust appears to have been a continuous process, albeit at variable rates. A marked decrease in the rate of crustal growth at ~3 billion years ago may be linked to the onset of subduction-driven plate tectonics.

  8. Eight-year follow-up of a child with a GH/prolactin-secreting adenoma: efficacy of pegvisomant therapy.

    PubMed

    Bergamaschi, S; Ronchi, C L; Giavoli, C; Ferrante, E; Verrua, E; Ferrari, D I; Lania, A; Rusconi, R; Spada, A; Beck-Peccoz, P

    2010-01-01

    A 3.4-year-old girl was admitted to the Pediatric Department because of tall stature (116.0 cm, +5.1 SDS) and increased height velocity (16.3 cm/year, +6.1 SDS). Basal hormonal evaluation revealed elevated insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) levels (938 ng/ml, nv 40-190), prolactin (PRL) (98.0 ng/ml, nv 1.7-24.0) and mean growth hormone (GH) nocturnal concentration (147 ng/ml). Basal adrenal, gonadal and thyroid functions were normal. Hand-wrist bone age was 3.6 years. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a macroadenoma with moderate suprasellar invasion. The adenoma was surgically removed and histological characterization confirmed the diagnosis of GH/PRL-secreting adenoma. The patient was admitted to our Endocrine Unit when 7.9 years old, because of the persistence of elevated GH, IGF-I and PRL levels, although there was a slight height velocity reduction and absence of tumor recurrence. Treatment with cabergoline was initiated, but only PRL levels normalized. Afterwards, octreotide long-acting release (LAR) was added without reaching the normalization of GH and IGF-I levels. Thus, treatment with octreotide LAR was discontinued and pegvisomant was added to cabergoline, leading to the normalization of IGF-I levels and height velocity without side effects. Other anterior pituitary functions were always normal. To conclude, treatment of pituitary gigantism with pegvisomant was effective and well tolerated in a young giant unresponsive to combined cabergoline and octreotide treatment.

  9. Lower-limb growth: how predictable are predictions?

    PubMed

    Kelly, Paula M; Diméglio, Alain

    2008-12-01

    The purpose of this review is to clarify the different methods of predictions for growth of the lower limb and to propose a simplified method to calculate the final limb deficit and the correct timing of epiphysiodesis. Lower-limb growth is characterized by four different periods: antenatal growth (exponential); birth to 5 years (rapid growth); 5 years to puberty (stable growth); and puberty, which is the final growth spurt characterized by a rapid acceleration phase lasting 1 year followed by a more gradual deceleration phase lasting 1.5 years. The younger the child, the less precise is the prediction. Repeating measurements can increase the accuracy of predictions and those calculated at the beginning of puberty are the most accurate. The challenge is to reduce the margin of uncertainty. Confrontation of the different parameters-bone age, Tanner signs, annual growth velocity of the standing height, sub-ischial length and sitting height-is the most accurate method. Charts and diagrams are only models and templates. There are many mathematical equations in the literature; we must be able to step back from these rigid calculations because they are a false guarantee. The dynamic of growth needs a flexible approach. There are, however, some rules of thumb that may be helpful for different clinical scenarios. For congenital malformations, at birth the limb length discrepancy must be multiplied by 5 to give the final limb length discrepancy. Multiple by 3 at 1 year of age; by 2 at 3 years in girls and 4 years in boys; by 1.5 at 7 years in girls and boys, by 1.2 at 9 years in girls and 11 years in boys and by 1.1 at the onset of puberty (11 years bone age for girls and 13 years bone age for boys). For the timing of epiphysiodesis, several simple principles must be observed to reduce the margin of error; strict and repeated measurements, rigorous analysis of the data obtained, perfect evaluation of bone age with elbow plus hand radiographs and confirmation with Tanner

  10. Asteroid collisions: Target size effects and resultant velocity distributions

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ryan, Eileen V.

    1993-01-01

    To study the dynamic fragmentation of rock to simulate asteroid collisions, we use a 2-D, continuum damage numerical hydrocode which models two-body impacts. This hydrocode monitors stress wave propagation and interaction within the target body, and includes a physical model for the formation and growth of cracks in rock. With this algorithm we have successfully reproduced fragment size distributions and mean ejecta speeds from laboratory impact experiments using basalt, and weak and strong mortar as target materials. Using the hydrocode, we have determined that the energy needed to fracture a body has a much stronger dependence on target size than predicted from most scaling theories. In addition, velocity distributions obtained indicate that mean ejecta speeds resulting from large-body collisions do not exceed escape velocities.

  11. Planet formation in binary systems: simulating coagulation using analytically determined collision velocities.

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Silsbee, Kedron; Rafikov, Roman

    2017-06-01

    The existence of planets in tight binary systems presents an interesting puzzle. It is thought that cores of giant planets form via agglomeration of planetesimals in mutual collisions. However, in tight binary systems, one would naïvely expect the collision velocities between planetesimals to be so high that even 100 km bodies would be destroyed, rather than growing in mutual collisions. In these systems, planetesimals are perturbed by gravity from the companion star, and gravity and gas drag from a massive eccentric gas disk. There is a damaging secular resonance that occurs due to the combination of disk gravity and gravity from the binary companion, however the disk gravity can also create locations of low relative eccentricity between planetesimals of different sizes that would not exist if the disk gravity were ignored. Because the gas drag acts more strongly on smaller planetesimals, orbital eccentricity and apsidal angle depend on planetesimal size. Consequently, planetesimal collision velocities depend on the sizes of the collision partners. Same-size bodies collide at low velocity because their orbits are apsidally aligned. Therefore, often in a given environment some collisions will lead to planetesimal growth, and some to erosion or destruction. This variety of collisional outcomes makes it difficult to determine whether any planetesimals can grow to large sizes. We run a multi-annulus coagulation/fragmentation simulation that also includes the effect of size-dependent radial drift of planetesimals to determine the minimum size of initial planetesimal necessary for growth to large sizes in collisions. The minimum initial size of planetesimal necessary for growth depends greatly on the disk mass, eccentricity and the degree of apsidal alignment with the binary. We find that in a wide variety of situations, it is a reasonable approximation that growth occurs as long as there are no collisions capable of completely destroying a planetesimal, but erosion by

  12. The growth status of North Korean refugee children and adolescents from 6 to 19 years of age.

    PubMed

    Pak, Sunyoung

    2010-12-01

    This paper is a study of the growth status of 1406 North Korean refugee children and adolescents who were between 6 and 19.9 years of age at the time of their arrival in South Korea, during the years 1995-2007, as compared with that of their South Korean peers. Refugee children of 6.5 years of age were found to be taller and heavier than North Korean children of the same age residing in North Korea. On the other hand, all of the North Korean refugee boys and girls were shorter and weighed less than their South Korean peers. This disparity in height and weight growth status was smallest during the pre-teen years and then began to increase, peaking in the mid-teen years and decreasing in the late-teen years, with the late-teen disparity being still larger than the pre-teen one. This pattern of disparity suggests that the greatest gap observed in mid-teen years was caused by differences in growth tempos during the period of pubertal growth and that the final differences in body size between the North and South Korean adults were partly pubertal in origin. The mean height-for-age z-score (HAZ) and weight-for-age z-score (WAZ) of the North Korean refugee boys were significantly lower than those of the North Korean refugee girls, indicating that the girls' growth status was better than that of the boys. In addition, the WAZ of the North Korean refugee children and adolescents was higher than their HAZ, indicating that their growth in height is poorer than that of weight. A regression analysis revealed that the mean HAZ of North Korean refugee children and adolescents born between 1995 and 1999, a period during which North Korea suffered a famine, was not statistically significantly lower than that of those born earlier. The time that the North Korean children and adolescents spent outside of North Korea before entering South Korea was discovered to have had a positive effect on their growth status, suggesting that they experienced some degree of catch-up growth while

  13. Revised IAP growth charts for height, weight and body mass index for 5- to 18-year-old Indian children.

    PubMed

    Khadilkar, Vaman; Yadav, Sangeeta; Agrawal, K K; Tamboli, Suchit; Banerjee, Monidipa; Cherian, Alice; Goyal, Jagdish P; Khadilkar, Anuradha; Kumaravel, V; Mohan, V; Narayanappa, D; Ray, I; Yewale, Vijay

    2015-01-01

    The need to revise Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) growth charts for 5- to 18-year-old Indian children and adolescents was felt as India is in nutrition transition and previous IAP charts are based on data which are over two decades old. The Growth Chart Committee was formed by IAP in January 2014 to design revised growth charts. Consultative meeting was held in November 2014 in Mumbai. Studies performed on Indian children's growth, nutritional assessment and anthropometry from upper and middle socioeconomic classes in last decade were identified. Committee contacted 13 study groups; total number of children in the age group of 5 to 18 years were 87022 (54086 boys). Data from fourteen cities (Agartala, Ahmadabad, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Madurai, Mumbai, Mysore, Pune, Raipur and Surat) in India were collated. Data of children with weight for height Z scores >2 SD were removed from analyses. Data on 33148 children (18170 males, 14978 females) were used to construct growth charts using Cole's LMS method. To construct revised IAP growth charts for 5-18 year old Indian children based on collated national data from published studies performed on apparently healthy children and adolescents in the last 10 years. The IAP growth chart committee recommends these revised growth charts for height, weight and body mass index (BMI) for assessment of growth of 5-18 year old Indian children to replace the previous IAP charts; rest of the recommendations for monitoring height and weight remain as per the IAP guidelines published in 2007. To define overweight and obesity in children from 5-18 years of age, adult equivalent of 23 and 27 cut-offs presented in BMI charts may be used. IAP recommends use of WHO standards for growth assessment of children below 5 years of age.

  14. Catch-up growth assessment in long-term physically neglected and emotionally abused preschool age male children.

    PubMed

    Oliván, Gonzalo

    2003-01-01

    To assess the catch-up growth of long-term physically neglected and emotionally abused preschool male children who have entered foster residential care and remained 1 year after initial placement. Longitudinal study over a 7-year period (1994-2001). So that a child was eligible for the study, three selection criteria were included: (1) aged between 24 and 48 months at the time of entry into residential facility, (2) having suffered both long-term (more than 6 months) physically neglected and emotionally abused, and (3) having stayed in foster care for 1 year after initial placement. Weight, height, and head circumference were established upon entry and re-assessed 1 year after initial placement, calculating the annual growth velocity. Results were compared with normal regional longitudinal standards of reference (Z score). Student's t test was used to assess statistically significant differences. During the study period, 87 children aged between 24 and 48 months (54 male/33 female) were admitted to residential facility after having suffered both long-term physical neglect and emotional abuse. Nevertheless, only 20 children (23% of the total admissions) met the third selection criteria (having remained 1 year after initial placement). Of these children, all were males and at placement they were between the ages of 30 and 42 months, with an average age of 36 months (1.9 SD). At placement, the analyzed parameters were below the normal standards, showing a statistically significant difference for height (Z score = -1.29; p = .008) and weight (Z score = -.75; p = .038). The annual growth velocity for all parameters was above the normal standards showing a statistically significant difference for height (Z score = +1.43; p = .009). One year after initial placement, the significant differences for height (Z score = -.68; p = .102) and weight (Z score = -.31; p = .435) with respect to the normal standards disappeared, though still remained below, showing a significant

  15. Associations between infant feeding and the size, tempo and velocity of infant weight gain: SITAR analysis of the Gemini twin birth cohort

    PubMed Central

    Johnson, L; van Jaarsveld, C H M; Llewellyn, C H; Cole, T J; Wardle, J

    2014-01-01

    Objective: Infant growth trajectories, in terms of size, tempo and velocity, may programme lifelong obesity risk. Timing of breastfeeding cessation and weaning are both implicated in rapid infant growth; we examined the association of both simultaneously with a range of growth parameters. Design: Longitudinal population-based twin birth cohort. Subjects: The Gemini cohort provided data on 4680 UK infants with a median of 10 (interquartile range=8–15) weight measurements between birth and a median of 6.5 months. Age at breastfeeding cessation and weaning were reported by parents at mean age 8.2 months (s.d.=2.2, range=4–20). Growth trajectories were modelled using SuperImposition by Translation And Rotation (SITAR) to generate three descriptors of individual growth relative to the average trajectory: size (grams), tempo (weeks, indicating the timing of the peak growth rate) and velocity (% difference from average, reflecting mean growth rate). Complex-samples general linear models adjusting for family clustering and confounders examined associations between infant feeding and SITAR parameters. Results: Longer breastfeeding (>4 months vs never) was independently associated with lower growth velocity by 6.8% (s.e.=1.3%) and delayed growth tempo by 1.0 (s.e.=0.2 weeks), but not with smaller size. Later weaning (⩾6 months vs <4 months) was independently associated with lower growth velocity by 4.9% (s.e.=1.1%) and smaller size by 102 g (s.e.=25 g). Conclusions: Infants breastfed for longer grew slower for longer after birth (later peak growth rate) but were no different in size, while infants weaned later grew slower overall and were smaller but the timing of peak growth did not differ. Slower trajectories with a delayed peak in growth may have beneficial implications for programming later obesity risk. Replication in cohorts with longer follow-up, alternative confounding structures or randomised controlled trials are required to confirm the long

  16. Nondestructive estimation of growth year in ginseng cultivars using the means of mathematical modeling on the basis of allometry.

    PubMed

    Cheng, Chunsong; Yuan, Qingxi; Zhou, Hua; Huang, Luqi

    2016-02-01

    Growth-year authentication has extraordinary significance for plant growth, structure and development research, and has a wide range of applications in value assessment of economic crops. Panax ginseng is the most commonly used medicinal plant in Asian countries. The fix number of growth-year is an important quality evaluation which is difficult to be obtained accurately in current technical conditions. Preliminary authentication theory for growth-year has been described in previous studies using a short-lived perennial medicinal plant (Paeonia lactiflora pall.) as the research material. In this research, we focused on the growth-year estimation in ginseng cultivars, and attempt to explore the age estimation method for vascular plants according to mathematical simulation of the root structure development. Micro data was obtained from 204 individuals of 3 different kinds of ginseng cultivars, which have a series of gradient age and a clear growth record. Outer diameter of the vascular cambium (b) and the radius of cross section (r) were measured with ordinary stereo microscope. We further designed and established two different kinds of authentication model based on the taproot structure development for growth year authentication (P =β*M-α and M = K*X1 (a) (1) X2 (a) (2) ). Moreover, the models were applied to identify the growth year of ginseng without damage using Micro-CT or DEI reconstruction. A potential method, have been recently described, the age of ginseng can be analyzed by telomere length and telomerase activity. However, we found that there are different results indicated in other species. We concluded that microscopic methods perceived currently were provided a more effective means for growth-year authentication. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  17. Competitions between Rayleigh-Taylor instability and Kelvin-Helmholtz instability with continuous density and velocity profiles

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

    Ye, W. H.; He, X. T.; CAPT, Peking University, Beijing 100871

    2011-02-15

    In this research, competitions between Rayleigh-Taylor instability (RTI) and Kelvin-Helmholtz instability (KHI) in two-dimensional incompressible fluids within a linear growth regime are investigated analytically. Normalized linear growth rate formulas for both the RTI, suitable for arbitrary density ratio with continuous density profile, and the KHI, suitable for arbitrary density ratio with continuous density and velocity profiles, are obtained. The linear growth rates of pure RTI ({gamma}{sub RT}), pure KHI ({gamma}{sub KH}), and combined RTI and KHI ({gamma}{sub total}) are investigated, respectively. In the pure RTI, it is found that the effect of the finite thickness of the density transition layermore » (L{sub {rho}}) reduces the linear growth of the RTI (stabilizes the RTI). In the pure KHI, it is found that conversely, the effect of the finite thickness of the density transition layer increases the linear growth of the KHI (destabilizes the KHI). It is found that the effect of the finite thickness of the density transition layer decreases the ''effective'' or ''local'' Atwood number (A) for both the RTI and the KHI. However, based on the properties of {gamma}{sub RT}{proportional_to}{radical}(A) and {gamma}{sub KH}{proportional_to}{radical}(1-A{sup 2}), the effect of the finite thickness of the density transition layer therefore has a completely opposite role on the RTI and the KHI noted above. In addition, it is found that the effect of the finite thickness of the velocity shear layer (L{sub u}) stabilizes the KHI, and for the most cases, the combined effects of the finite thickness of the density transition layer and the velocity shear layer (L{sub {rho}=}L{sub u}) also stabilize the KHI. Regarding the combined RTI and KHI, it is found that there is a competition between the RTI and the KHI because of the completely opposite effect of the finite thickness of the density transition layer on these two kinds of instability. It is found that the

  18. Two is better than one: joint statistics of density and velocity in concentric spheres as a cosmological probe

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Uhlemann, C.; Codis, S.; Hahn, O.; Pichon, C.; Bernardeau, F.

    2017-08-01

    The analytical formalism to obtain the probability distribution functions (PDFs) of spherically averaged cosmic densities and velocity divergences in the mildly non-linear regime is presented. A large-deviation principle is applied to those cosmic fields assuming their most likely dynamics in spheres is set by the spherical collapse model. We validate our analytical results using state-of-the-art dark matter simulations with a phase-space resolved velocity field finding a 2 per cent level agreement for a wide range of velocity divergences and densities in the mildly non-linear regime (˜10 Mpc h-1 at redshift zero), usually inaccessible to perturbation theory. From the joint PDF of densities and velocity divergences measured in two concentric spheres, we extract with the same accuracy velocity profiles and conditional velocity PDF subject to a given over/underdensity that are of interest to understand the non-linear evolution of velocity flows. Both PDFs are used to build a simple but accurate maximum likelihood estimator for the redshift evolution of the variance of both the density and velocity divergence fields, which have smaller relative errors than their sample variances when non-linearities appear. Given the dependence of the velocity divergence on the growth rate, there is a significant gain in using the full knowledge of both PDFs to derive constraints on the equation of state-of-dark energy. Thanks to the insensitivity of the velocity divergence to bias, its PDF can be used to obtain unbiased constraints on the growth of structures (σ8, f) or it can be combined with the galaxy density PDF to extract bias parameters.

  19. Mean Velocity vs. Mean Propulsive Velocity vs. Peak Velocity: Which Variable Determines Bench Press Relative Load With Higher Reliability?

    PubMed

    García-Ramos, Amador; Pestaña-Melero, Francisco L; Pérez-Castilla, Alejandro; Rojas, Francisco J; Gregory Haff, G

    2018-05-01

    García-Ramos, A, Pestaña-Melero, FL, Pérez-Castilla, A, Rojas, FJ, and Haff, GG. Mean velocity vs. mean propulsive velocity vs. peak velocity: which variable determines bench press relative load with higher reliability? J Strength Cond Res 32(5): 1273-1279, 2018-This study aimed to compare between 3 velocity variables (mean velocity [MV], mean propulsive velocity [MPV], and peak velocity [PV]): (a) the linearity of the load-velocity relationship, (b) the accuracy of general regression equations to predict relative load (%1RM), and (c) the between-session reliability of the velocity attained at each percentage of the 1-repetition maximum (%1RM). The full load-velocity relationship of 30 men was evaluated by means of linear regression models in the concentric-only and eccentric-concentric bench press throw (BPT) variants performed with a Smith machine. The 2 sessions of each BPT variant were performed within the same week separated by 48-72 hours. The main findings were as follows: (a) the MV showed the strongest linearity of the load-velocity relationship (median r = 0.989 for concentric-only BPT and 0.993 for eccentric-concentric BPT), followed by MPV (median r = 0.983 for concentric-only BPT and 0.980 for eccentric-concentric BPT), and finally PV (median r = 0.974 for concentric-only BPT and 0.969 for eccentric-concentric BPT); (b) the accuracy of the general regression equations to predict relative load (%1RM) from movement velocity was higher for MV (SEE = 3.80-4.76%1RM) than for MPV (SEE = 4.91-5.56%1RM) and PV (SEE = 5.36-5.77%1RM); and (c) the PV showed the lowest within-subjects coefficient of variation (3.50%-3.87%), followed by MV (4.05%-4.93%), and finally MPV (5.11%-6.03%). Taken together, these results suggest that the MV could be the most appropriate variable for monitoring the relative load (%1RM) in the BPT exercise performed in a Smith machine.

  20. Forest stand growth dynamics in Central Europe have accelerated since 1870

    PubMed Central

    Pretzsch, Hans; Biber, Peter; Schütze, Gerhard; Uhl, Enno; Rötzer, Thomas

    2014-01-01

    Forest ecosystems have been exposed to climate change for more than 100 years, whereas the consequences on forest growth remain elusive. Based on the oldest existing experimental forest plots in Central Europe, we show that, currently, the dominant tree species Norway spruce and European beech exhibit significantly faster tree growth (+32 to 77%), stand volume growth (+10 to 30%) and standing stock accumulation (+6 to 7%) than in 1960. Stands still follow similar general allometric rules, but proceed more rapidly through usual trajectories. As forest stands develop faster, tree numbers are currently 17–20% lower than in past same-aged stands. Self-thinning lines remain constant, while growth rates increase indicating the stock of resources have not changed, while growth velocity and turnover have altered. Statistical analyses of the experimental plots, and application of an ecophysiological model, suggest that mainly the rise in temperature and extended growing seasons contribute to increased growth acceleration, particularly on fertile sites. PMID:25216297

  1. Variation of growth in height and weight of children. II. After infancy.

    PubMed

    Sorva, R; Lankinen, S; Tolppanen, E M; Perheentupa, J

    1990-05-01

    To provide for early detection of abnormal changes in growth, we propose the monitoring of all children for changes in relative height and relative weight as indirect indicators of growth velocity. To this end we analyzed the growth of 2,156 children, as recorded by the child health surveillance services at ages 2 to 19 years. From their data we constructed growth standards on charts of a novel type, which allow direct reading of relative height (SD score, SDS) and relative weight (percentage deviation of weight from median weight for height and sex, %DW). Variation in height explained most (mean 60%) of the variation in weight, and age did not contribute significantly. Hence, our weight charts are height-based. Next, we defined the variations of changes in (delta) SDS and %DW during the different periods of growth. The group means of changes in each period were zero. Variation in delta SDS is widest at the earliest ages, then decreases until year 9-10 (girls) and 10-11 (boys), and again increases. For delta %DW the picture is similar. We present these variations as diagrams for use in growth screening.

  2. Growth-temperature relation for young-of-the-year ruffe

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Edsall, Thomas A.; Selgeby, James H.; DeSorcie, Timothy J.; French, John R. P.

    1993-01-01

    The ruffe (Gymnocephalus cernuus) was accidentally introduced into the Great Lakes basin from Eurasia and has established a breeding population in the St. Louis River, a major tributary to western Lake Superior. We captured young-of-the-year ruffe in the St. Louis River; acclimated groups of 90-91 fish to test temperatures of 7, 10, 15, 20, and 25°C; and fed them ad libitum for 42 days at those temperatures. Ruffe grew at all five temperatures, but the optimum temperature for growth was about 21°C. Because the optimum temperature for growth of walleye (Stizostedion vitreum), sauger (Stizoste-dion canadense), and yellow perch (Perca flavescens) is about 22°C, ruffe will probably attempt to share their thermal habitat. A recent survey of the St. Louis River revealed that yellow perch and small forage fish declined sharply as ruffe abundance increased. A similar decline in yellow perch abundance in Lakes Michigan, Huron, and Erie would seriously affect the fisheries in these lakes.

  3. Terrestrial Planet and Asteroid Formation in the Presence of Giant Planets. I. Relative Velocities of Planetesimals Subject to Jupiter and Saturn Perturbations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kortenkamp, Stephen J.; Wetherill, George W.

    2000-01-01

    We investigate the orbital evolution of 10 13- to 10 25-g planetesimals near 1 AU and in the asteroid belt (near 2.6 AU) prior to the stage of evolution when the mutual perturbations between the planetesimals become important. We include nebular gas drag and the effects of Jupiter and Saturn at their present masses and in their present orbits. Gas drag introduces a size-dependent phasing of the secular perturbations, which leads to a pronounced dip in encounter velocities ( Venc) between bodies of similar mass. Planetesimals of identical mass have Venc ˜1 and ˜10 m s -1 (near 1 and 2.6 AU, respectively) while bodies differing by ˜10 in mass have Venc ˜10 and ˜100 m s -1 (near 1 and 2.6 AU, respectively). Under these conditions, growth, rather than erosion, will occur only by collisions of bodies of nearly the same mass. There will be essentially no gravitational focusing between bodies less than 10 22 to 10 25 g, allowing growth of planetary embryos in the terrestrial planet region to proceed in a slower nonrunaway fashion. The environment in the asteroid belt will be even more forbidding and it is uncertain whether even the severely depleted present asteroid belt could form under these conditions. The perturbations of Jupiter and Saturn are quite sensitive to their semi-major axes and decrease when the planets' heliocentric distances are increased to allow for protoplanet migration. It is possible, though not clearly demonstrated, that this could produce a depleted asteroid belt but permit formation of a system of terrestrial planet embryos on a ˜10 6-year timescale, initially by nonrunaway growth and transitioning to runaway growth after ˜10 5 years. The calculations reported here are valid under the condition that the relative velocities of the bodies are determined only by Jupiter and Saturn perturbations and by gas drag, with no mutual perturbations between planetesimals. If, while subject to these conditions, the bodies become large enough for their

  4. Terrestrial planet and asteroid formation in the presence of giant planets. I. Relative velocities of planetesimals subject to Jupiter and Saturn perturbations.

    PubMed

    Kortenkamp, S J; Wetherill, G W

    2000-01-01

    We investigate the orbital evolution of 10(13)- to 10(25) -g planetesimals near 1 AU and in the asteroid belt (near 2.6 AU) prior to the stage of evolution when the mutual perturbations between the planetesimals become important. We include nebular gas drag and the effects of Jupiter and Saturn at their present masses and in their present orbits. Gas drag introduces a size-dependent phasing of the secular perturbations, which leads to a pronounced dip in encounter velocities (Venc) between bodies of similar mass. Plantesimals of identical mass have Venc approximately 1 and approximately 10 m s-1 (near 1 and 2.6 AU, respectively) while bodies differing by approximately 10 in mass have Venc approximately 10 and approximately 100 m s-1 (near 1 and 2.6 AU, respectively). Under these conditions, growth, rather than erosion, will occur only by collisions of bodies of nearly the same mass. There will be essentially no gravitational focusing between bodies less than 10(22) to 10(25) g, allowing growth of planetary embryos in the terrestrial planet region to proceed in a slower nonrunaway fashion. The environment in the asteroid belt will be even more forbidding and it is uncertain whether even the severely depleted present asteroid belt could form under these conditions. The perturbations of Jupiter and Saturn are quite sensitive to their semi-major axes and decrease when the planets' heliocentric distances are increased to allow for protoplanet migration. It is possible, though not clearly demonstrated, that this could produce a depleted asteroid belt but permit formation of a system of terrestrial planet embryos on a approximately 10(6)-year timescale, initially by nonrunaway growth and transitioning to runaway growth after approximately 10(5) years. The calculations reported here are valid under the condition that the relative velocities of the bodies are determined only by Jupiter and Saturn perturbations and by gas drag, with no mutual perturbations between

  5. Year-Long Vertical Velocity Statistics Derived from Doppler Lidar Data for the Continental Convective Boundary Layer

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

    Berg, Larry K.; Newsom, Rob K.; Turner, David D.

    One year of Coherent Doppler Lidar (CDL) data collected at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) site in Oklahoma is analyzed to provide profiles of vertical velocity variance, skewness, and kurtosis for cases of cloud-free convective boundary layers. The variance was scaled by the Deardorff convective velocity scale, which was successful when the boundary layer depth was stationary but failed in situations when the layer was changing rapidly. In this study the data are sorted according to time of day, season, wind direction, surface shear stress, degree of instability, and wind shear across the boundary-layer top. Themore » normalized variance was found to have its peak value near a normalized height of 0.25. The magnitude of the variance changes with season, shear stress, and degree of instability, but was not impacted by wind shear across the boundary-layer top. The skewness was largest in the top half of the boundary layer (with the exception of wintertime conditions). The skewness was found to be a function of the season, shear stress, wind shear across the boundary-layer top, with larger amounts of shear leading to smaller values. Like skewness, the vertical profile of kurtosis followed a consistent pattern, with peak values near the boundary-layer top (also with the exception of wintertime data). The altitude of the peak values of kurtosis was found to be lower when there was a large amount of wind shear at the boundary-layer top.« less

  6. Tip moth control and loblolly pine growth in intensive pine culture: four year results

    Treesearch

    David L. Kulhavy; Jimmie L. Yeiser; L. Allen Smith

    2006-01-01

    Twenty-two treatments replicated four times were applied to planted loblolly pine, Pinus taeda L., on bedded industrial forest land in east Texas for measurement of growth impact of Nantucket pine tip moth (NPTM), Rhyacionia frustrana Comstock, and effects on pine growth over 2 years. Treatments were combinations of Velpar®,...

  7. Early head growth: relation with IQ at 8 years and determinants in term infants of low and appropriate birthweight.

    PubMed

    Lira, Pedro I C; Eickmann, Sophie H; Lima, Marilia C; Amorim, Rosemary J; Emond, Alan M; Ashworth, Ann

    2010-01-01

    To investigate the relation between head growth at different periods and IQ at 8 years, and to identify factors associated with more rapid head growth. Two parallel cohorts of term low birthweight (LBW) and appropriate birthweight (ABW) infants were enrolled at birth in northeast Brazil. Anthropometric measurements were made at birth, 2 months, 6 months, 12 months, 24 months, and 8 years. Cognition was assessed at 8 years (n=164) with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. Multivariable analysis with a two-stage residual model was used to relate head growth between successive time points with IQ. Mean birthweight was 2.35kg (SD 0.15) in the LBW group (33 males, 50 females), and 3.21kg (SD 0.15) in the ABW group (28 males, 53 females). Mean gestational age was 38.8 weeks (SD 1.4) and 40.0 weeks (SD 1.3) respectively. In the LBW group, head growth from birth to 2 months and from 2 to 6 months, conditional on previous size, were significant independent predictors of IQ at 8 years. Conditional head growth from 6 months to 8 years and head size at birth were unrelated to IQ. In the ABW group there was no significant relation between conditional head growth and IQ for any period. Determinants of more rapid head growth from birth to 6 months in LBW infants were maternal height and rate of infant weight gain. Head growth from birth to 6 months in term LBW infants is more important than prenatal or later postnatal head growth in predicting IQ at 8 years.

  8. High Velocity Absorption during Eta Car B's Periastron Passage

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Nielsen, Krister E.; Groh, J. H.; Hillier, J.; Gull, Theodore R.; Owocki, S. P.; Okazaki, A. T.; Damineli, A.; Teodoro, M.; Weigelt, G.; Hartman, H.

    2010-01-01

    Eta Car is one of the most luminous massive stars in the Galaxy, with repeated eruptions with a 5.5 year periodicity. These events are caused by the periastron passage of a massive companion in an eccentric orbit. We report the VLT/CRIRES detection of a strong high-velocity, (<1900 km/s) , broad absorption wing in He I at 10833 A during the 2009.0 periastron passage. Previous observations during the 2003.5 event have shown evidence of such high-velocity absorption in the He I 10833 transition, allowing us to conclude that the high-velocity gas is crossing the line-of-sight toward Eta Car over a time period of approximately 2 months. Our analysis of HST/STlS archival data with observations of high velocity absorption in the ultraviolet Si IV and C IV resonance lines, confirm the presence of a high-velocity material during the spectroscopic low state. The observations provide direct detection of high-velocity material flowing from the wind-wind collision zone around the binary system, and we discuss the implications of the presence of high-velocity gas in Eta Car during periastron

  9. Double-difference tomography velocity structure in Northern Oklahoma: Evidence for reduced basement velocity in the Nemaha Uplift

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Stevens, N. T.; Keranen, K. M.; Lambert, C.

    2016-12-01

    Induced seismicity in northern Oklahoma presents risk for infrastructure, but also an opportunity to gain new insights to earthquake processes [Petersen et al., 2016]. Here we present a double-difference tomographic study using TomoDD [Zhang and Thurber, 2003] in northern Oklahoma utilizing records from a dense broadband network over a 1-year period, constituting a catalog of over 10,000 local seismic events. We image a shallow (depth < 4 km) high-velocity structure consistent with the Nemaha uplift [Gay, 2003a], bounded by shallow, lower-velocity regions on either side, likely sedimentary strata at this depth bounding uplifted basement. Velocities within the uplift are lower than expected in subjacent crystalline basement rock (depth > 4 km). We suggest that this low velocity anomaly stems from enhanced fracturing and/or weathering of the basement in the Nemaha uplift in northern Oklahoma. This velocity anomaly is not observed in basement off the shoulders of the structure, particularly to the southeast of the Nemaha bounding fault. Enhanced fracturing, and related increases to permeability, would ease pressure migration from injection wells linked to increased seismicity in the region, and may explain the relative absence of seismicity coincident with this structure compared to it periphery. References Gay, S. Parker, J. (2003), The Nemaha Trend-A System of Compressional Thrust-Fold, Strike-Slilp Structural Features in Kansas and Oklahoma, Part 1, Shale Shak., 9-49. Petersen, M. D., C. S. Mueller, M. P. Moschetti, S. M. Hoover, A. L. Llenos, W. L. Ellsworth, A. J. Michael, J. L. Rubinstein, A. F. McGarr, and K. S. Rukstales (2016), 2016 One-Year Seismic Hazard Forecast for the Central and Eastern United States from Induced and Natural Earthquakes, Open-File Rep., doi:10.3133/OFR20161035. Zhang, H., and C. H. Thurber (2003), Double-difference tomography: The method and its application to the Hayward Fault, California, Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am., 93(5), 1875-1889, doi

  10. Growth hormone secretion in Turner's syndrome and influence of oxandrolone and ethinyl oestradiol.

    PubMed

    Massarano, A A; Brook, C G; Hindmarsh, P C; Pringle, P J; Teale, J D; Stanhope, R; Preece, M A

    1989-04-01

    We investigated 24 hour growth hormone secretion by intermittent 20 minute blood sampling in 34 prepubertal patients with Turner's syndrome, aged 4.3-12.4 years. Growth hormone profiles were analysed by the PULSAR programme and results expressed as the sum of growth hormone pulse amplitudes. Six patients had abnormal growth hormone pulse frequencies. In the remaining 28, growth hormone pulse amplitudes declined significantly with increasing age, but there was no correlation between growth hormone pulse amplitudes and growth rates. Concentrations of insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) rose with age but did not correlate with either growth rates or growth hormone secretion. Fifteen patients were given oxandrolone and 11 low dose ethinyl oestradiol. Both agents increased height velocity without increasing growth hormone secretion. We conclude that the relation between growth hormone secretion and growth in Turner's syndrome is less certain than in normal children. End organ resistance is probably due to a skeletal dysplasia. Both oxandrolone and low dose ethinyl oestradiol improve the growth of girls with Turner's syndrome, but their mechanism of action remains uncertain.

  11. Associations of Linear Growth and Relative Weight Gain in Early Life with Human Capital at 30 Years of Age.

    PubMed

    Horta, Bernardo Lessa; Victora, Cesar G; de Mola, Christian Loret; Quevedo, Luciana; Pinheiro, Ricardo Tavares; Gigante, Denise P; Motta, Janaina Vieira Dos Santos; Barros, Fernando C

    2017-03-01

    To assess the associations of birthweight, nutritional status and growth in childhood with IQ, years of schooling, and monthly income at 30 years of age. In 1982, the 5 maternity hospitals in Pelotas, Brazil, were visited daily and 5914 live births were identified. At 30 years of age, 3701 subjects were interviewed. IQ, years of schooling, and income were measured. On average, their IQ was 98 points, they had 11.4 years of schooling, and the mean income was 1593 reais. After controlling for several confounders, birthweight and attained weight and length/height for age at 2 and 4 years of age were associated positively with IQ, years of years of schooling, and income, except for the association between length at 2 years of age and income. Conditional growth analyses were used to disentangle linear growth from relative weight gain. Conditional length at 2 years of age ≥1 SD score above the expected value, compared with ≥1 SD below the expected, was associated with an increase in IQ (4.28 points; 95% CI, 2.66-5.90), years of schooling (1.58 years; 95% CI, 1.08-2.08), and monthly income (303 Brazilian reais; 95% CI, 44-563). Relative weight gain, above what would be expected from linear growth, was not associated with the outcomes. In a middle-income setting, promotion of linear growth in the first 1000 days of life is likely to increase adult IQ, years of schooling, and income. Weight gain in excess of what is expected from linear growth does not seem to improve human capital. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  12. The species velocity of trees in Alaska

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Morrison, B. D.; Napier, J.; de Lafontaine, G.; Heath, K.; Li, B.; Hu, F.; Greenberg, J. A.

    2017-12-01

    Anthropogenic climate change has motivated interest in the paleo record to enhance our knowledge about past vegetation responses to climate change and help understand potential responses in the future. Additionally, polar regions currently experience the most rapid rates of climate change globally, prompting concern over changes in the ecological composition of high latitude ecosystems. Recent analyses have attempted to construct methods to estimate a species' ability to track climate change by computing climate velocity; a measure of the rate of climate displacement across a landscape which may indicate the speed an organism must migrate to keep pace with climate change. However, a challenge to using climate velocity in understanding range shifts is a lack of species-specificity in the velocity calculations: climate velocity does not actually use any species data in its analysis. To solve the shortcomings of climate velocity in estimating species displacement rates, we computed the "species velocity" of white spruce, green and grey alder populations across the state of Alaska from the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) to today. Species velocity represents the rate and direction a species is required to migrate to keep pace with a changing climate following the LGM. We used a species distribution model to determine past and present white spruce and alder distributions using statistically downscaled climate data at 60m. Species velocity was then derived from the change in species distribution per year by the change in distribution over Alaska (km/yr). High velocities indicate locations where the species environmental envelope is changing drastically and must disperse rapidly to survive climate change. As a result, high velocity regions are more vulnerable to distribution shifts and higher risk of local extinction. Conversely, low species velocities indicate locations where the local climate envelope is shifting relatively slowly, reducing the stress to disperse quickly

  13. MPCP Longitudinal Educational Growth Study: Fifth Year Report. SCDP Milwaukee Evaluation Report #29

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Witte, John F.; Carlson, Deven; Cowen, Joshua M.; Fleming, David J.; Wolf, Patrick J.

    2012-01-01

    This is the final report in a five-year evaluation of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP). This report features analyses of student achievement growth four years after the authors carefully assembled longitudinal study panels of MPCP and Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) students in 2006-07. The MPCP, which began in 1990, provides…

  14. Velocity diagrams

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Whitney, W. J.; Stewart, W. L.

    1972-01-01

    The selection and design of velocity diagrams for axial flow turbines are considered. Application is treated in two parts which includes: (1) mean-section diagrams, and (2) radial variation of diagrams. In the first part, the velocity diagrams occurring at the mean section are assumed to represent the average conditions encountered by the turbine. The different types of diagrams, their relation to stage efficiency, and their selection when staging is required are discussed. In the second part, it is shown that in certain cases the mean-section diagrams may or may not represent the average flow conditions for the entire blade span. In the case of relatively low hub- to tip-radius ratios, substantial variations in the velocity diagrams are encountered. The radial variations in flow conditions and their effect on the velocity diagrams are considered.

  15. Correlation Between the Responses to Growth Hormone (GH) Treatment During Childhood and Adulthood in a Monocentric Cohort of GH-Deficient Patients.

    PubMed

    Thilmany, Sarah; Mchirgui, Leila; Brunelle, Chloé; Beauloye, Véronique; Maiter, Dominique; Alexopoulou, Orsalia

    2018-06-01

    Our aim was to analyze a cohort of patients with childhood-onset growth hormone deficiency (GHD) to evaluate if there is some correlation between the response to GH treatment during childhood and adulthood, respectively. This was an observational retrospective monocentric cohort study of 47 patients treated with GH during childhood and adulthood. Changes in growth parameters during childhood were compared with the increase of IGF-I z-score and other indexes of GH response (body composition, lipid profile) after 1 year of treatment in adulthood. The only significant positive correlation was observed between final growth velocity during the last year of childhood GH treatment and increase in IGF-I z-score in GH-treated adults (r=0.592, p=< 0.01). No correlation was observed between growth-promoting effects of GH as child and metabolic changes induced by GH as adult. We also observed a negative correlation between weight at the end of childhood GH treatment and the IGF-I response during first year of treatment in adults (r=- 0.335, p <0.05). No significant positive correlation could be observed between the main parameters that evaluate response to GH treatment in children and adults. However, the final growth velocity, which may be considered as one of the main criteria of end of GH treatment in children, was identified as parameter that could predict future response to GH treatment in adulthood. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

  16. Survival and five-year growth in Unit 4, Waiakea Arboretum, Hawaii

    Treesearch

    Stanley B. Carpenter

    1965-01-01

    Of the nine introduced tree species planted in Unit 4 in 1960, one pine species has failed completely. A slash pine planting on pahoehoe lava shows good survival and growth. And a karri eucalyptus reached a height of 58 feet in 5 years. Competition from wild vegetation was the main cause of mortality.

  17. Growth curves and the international standard: How children's growth reflects challenging conditions in rural Timor-Leste.

    PubMed

    Spencer, Phoebe R; Sanders, Katherine A; Judge, Debra S

    2018-02-01

    Population-specific growth references are important in understanding local growth variation, especially in developing countries where child growth is poor and the need for effective health interventions is high. In this article, we use mixed longitudinal data to calculate the first growth curves for rural East Timorese children to identify where, during development, deviation from the international standards occurs. Over an eight-year period, 1,245 children from two ecologically distinct rural areas of Timor-Leste were measured a total of 4,904 times. We compared growth to the World Health Organization (WHO) standards using z-scores, and modeled height and weight velocity using the SuperImposition by Translation And Rotation (SITAR) method. Using the Generalized Additive Model for Location, Scale and Shape (GAMLSS) method, we created the first growth curves for rural Timorese children for height, weight and body mass index (BMI). Relative to the WHO standards, children show early-life growth faltering, and stunting throughout childhood and adolescence. The median height and weight for this population tracks below the WHO fifth centile. Males have poorer growth than females in both z-BMI (p = .001) and z-height-for-age (p = .018) and, unlike females, continue to grow into adulthood. This is the most comprehensive investigation to date of rural Timorese children's growth, and the growth curves created may potentially be used to identify future secular trends in growth as the country develops. We show significant deviation from the international standard that becomes most pronounced at adolescence, similar to the growth of other Asian populations. Males and females show different growth responses to challenging conditions in this population. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

  18. Millennial-Scale Temperature Change Velocity in the Continental Northern Neotropics

    PubMed Central

    Correa-Metrio, Alexander; Bush, Mark; Lozano-García, Socorro; Sosa-Nájera, Susana

    2013-01-01

    Climate has been inherently linked to global diversity patterns, and yet no empirical data are available to put modern climate change into a millennial-scale context. High tropical species diversity has been linked to slow rates of climate change during the Quaternary, an assumption that lacks an empirical foundation. Thus, there is the need for quantifying the velocity at which the bioclimatic space changed during the Quaternary in the tropics. Here we present rates of climate change for the late Pleistocene and Holocene from Mexico and Guatemala. An extensive modern pollen survey and fossil pollen data from two long sedimentary records (30,000 and 86,000 years for highlands and lowlands, respectively) were used to estimate past temperatures. Derived temperature profiles show a parallel long-term trend and a similar cooling during the Last Glacial Maximum in the Guatemalan lowlands and the Mexican highlands. Temperature estimates and digital elevation models were used to calculate the velocity of isotherm displacement (temperature change velocity) for the time period contained in each record. Our analyses showed that temperature change velocities in Mesoamerica during the late Quaternary were at least four times slower than values reported for the last 50 years, but also at least twice as fast as those obtained from recent models. Our data demonstrate that, given extremely high temperature change velocities, species survival must have relied on either microrefugial populations or persistence of suppressed individuals. Contrary to the usual expectation of stable climates being associated with high diversity, our results suggest that Quaternary tropical diversity was probably maintained by centennial-scale oscillatory climatic variability that forestalled competitive exclusion. As humans have simplified modern landscapes, thereby removing potential microrefugia, and climate change is occurring monotonically at a very high velocity, extinction risk for tropical

  19. Millennial-scale temperature change velocity in the continental northern Neotropics.

    PubMed

    Correa-Metrio, Alexander; Bush, Mark; Lozano-García, Socorro; Sosa-Nájera, Susana

    2013-01-01

    Climate has been inherently linked to global diversity patterns, and yet no empirical data are available to put modern climate change into a millennial-scale context. High tropical species diversity has been linked to slow rates of climate change during the Quaternary, an assumption that lacks an empirical foundation. Thus, there is the need for quantifying the velocity at which the bioclimatic space changed during the Quaternary in the tropics. Here we present rates of climate change for the late Pleistocene and Holocene from Mexico and Guatemala. An extensive modern pollen survey and fossil pollen data from two long sedimentary records (30,000 and 86,000 years for highlands and lowlands, respectively) were used to estimate past temperatures. Derived temperature profiles show a parallel long-term trend and a similar cooling during the Last Glacial Maximum in the Guatemalan lowlands and the Mexican highlands. Temperature estimates and digital elevation models were used to calculate the velocity of isotherm displacement (temperature change velocity) for the time period contained in each record. Our analyses showed that temperature change velocities in Mesoamerica during the late Quaternary were at least four times slower than values reported for the last 50 years, but also at least twice as fast as those obtained from recent models. Our data demonstrate that, given extremely high temperature change velocities, species survival must have relied on either microrefugial populations or persistence of suppressed individuals. Contrary to the usual expectation of stable climates being associated with high diversity, our results suggest that Quaternary tropical diversity was probably maintained by centennial-scale oscillatory climatic variability that forestalled competitive exclusion. As humans have simplified modern landscapes, thereby removing potential microrefugia, and climate change is occurring monotonically at a very high velocity, extinction risk for tropical

  20. Suppressing magnetic island growth by resonant magnetic perturbation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yu, Q.; Günter, S.; Lackner, K.

    2018-05-01

    The effect of externally applied resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) on the growth of magnetic islands is investigated based on two-fluid equations. It is found that if the local bi-normal electron fluid velocity at the resonant surface is sufficiently large, static RMPs of the same helicity and of moderate amplitude can suppress the growth of magnetic islands in high-temperature plasmas. These islands will otherwise grow, driven by an unfavorable plasma current density profile and bootstrap current perturbation. These results indicate that the error field can stabilize island growth, if the error field amplitude is not too large and the local bi-normal electron fluid velocity is not too low. They also indicate that applied rotating RMPs with an appropriate frequency can be utilized to suppress island growth in high-temperature plasmas, even for a low bi-normal electron fluid velocity. A significant change in the local equilibrium plasma current density gradient by small amplitude RMPs is found for realistic plasma parameters, which are important for the island stability and are expected to be more important for fusion reactors with low plasma resistivity.

  1. Conditions for growth in one-person startups: a longitudinal study spanning eight years.

    PubMed

    Korunka, Christian; Kessler, Alexander; Frank, Hermann; Lueger, Manfred

    2011-08-01

    In the European Union, one-person businesses (OPBs) are increasingly regarded as an important alternative to dependent employment. From an economic policy standpoint, the growth potential of such businesses is especially attractive. This paper analyzes the growth potential of OPBs by postulating five key groups of enterprise growth predictors: personal traits, resources, strategy, industry, and organizational structures and systems. The framework model was adapted to suit the specific circumstances of OPBs. The model was tested using a longitudinal data set comprising 188 OPBs which were observed over a period of eight years. At the end of the observation period, the OPBs included in the study had an average of 1.33 employees. The gender of the founder, capital requirements at the time of establishment, and growth strategy proved to be the most important predictors of growth. In addition, human capital resources also tended to have a positive impact. The traits of the person founding the business were not found to affect growth. In summary, it is possible to draw empirically reliable conclusions about growth potential on the basis of the «seriousness» of an OPB startup project.

  2. Shape plasticity in response to water velocity in the freshwater blenny Salaria fluviatilis.

    PubMed

    Laporte, M; Claude, J; Berrebi, P; Perret, P; Magnan, P

    2016-03-01

    A non-random association between an environmental factor and a given trait could be explained by directional selection (genetic determinism) and by phenotypic plasticity (environmental determinism). A previous study showed a significant relationship between morphology and water velocity in Salaria fluviatilis that conformed to functional expectations. The objective of this study was to test whether this relationship could be explained by phenotypic plasticity. Salaria fluviatilis from a Corsican stream were placed in four experimental channels with different water velocities (0, 10, 20 and 30 cm s(-1)) to test whether there was a morphological response associated with this environmental factor. After 28 days, fish shape changed in response to water velocity without any significant growth. Fish in higher water velocities exhibited a more slender body shape and longer anal and caudal fins. These results indicate a high degree of morphological plasticity in riverine populations of S. fluviatilis and suggest that the previous relationship between morphology and water velocity observed in the field may largely be due to an environmental determinism. © 2016 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles.

  3. Long bone robustness during growth: A cross-sectional pQCT examination of children and young adults aged 5-29years.

    PubMed

    Rantalainen, Timo; Weeks, Benjamin K; Nogueira, Rossana C; Beck, Belinda R

    2016-12-01

    Skeletal robustness (cross-section size relative to length) is associated with stress fractures in adults, and appears to explain the high incidence of distal radius fractures in adolescents. However, little is known about the ontogeny of long bone robustness during the first three decades of life. Therefore, we explored the ontogeny of tibial, fibular, ulnar and radial robustness in a cross-sectional sample of 5 to 29year-old volunteers of both sexes. Peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT) was used to evaluate cross-sections of the leg (4%, 14%, 38% and 66%), and forearm (4%, and 66%) in N=432 individuals. Robustness was evaluated as the total bone area divided by bone length. Differences between age-groups, sexes, and age-group×sex interactions were evaluated with ANOVA with Tukey's post hocs where appropriate. Most bone sites exhibited more robust bones in men than women (P<0.001 to 0.02), and in older age-groups than younger (P<0.001). Sex×age-group interaction was observed at the 66% and 38% tibia sites with robustness increasing more with age in men than in women (P=0.006 to 0.042). Post-hoc analyses indicated no sex differences prior to 13years-of-age, and notable exceptions to increasing robustness with age at the 4% radial and 66% tibial sites, which exhibited reduced robustness in age groups close to peak height velocity. In conclusion, the present results suggest that very little sexual dimorphism in long bone robustness exists prior to puberty, and that divergence occurs primarily after cessation of longitudinal growth. A period of relative diaphyseal slenderness was identified at age-groups coinciding with the adolescent growth spurt, which may be related to the relatively high incidence of frank and stress fracture in adolescents. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  4. Growth hormone treatment of idiopathic short stature: analysis of the database from KIGS, the Kabi Pharmacia International Growth Study.

    PubMed

    Ranke, M B; Lindberg, A

    1994-12-01

    Within the Kabi Pharmacia International Growth Study (KIGS) database, there is information on 1017 (700 male/317 female) patients with idiopathic short stature (ISS). These patients were started on recombinant human growth hormone (GH) at a median age of 10.8 years, a bone age of -1.8 SDS, a height of -2.6 SDS and a predicted adult height (PAH) (Bailey-Pinneau method) of -2.5 SDS. The median dose of GH was 0.6 IU/kg body weight/week and the frequency of injections was six/week. According to the relationship with target height the patients were classified into 'familial short stature (FSS)' (height SDS > target height SDS -1.28) and into 'non-FSS' (height SDS < target height SDS -1.28). During the first year of GH treatment there was an overall increment in the median height velocity from 4.4 to 7.4 cm/year. Over 3 years of GH treatment, cross-sectional analysis demonstrated an overall increment in median PAH of 1.2 SDS. There was a positive correlation between gain in PAH and the GH dose (n = 202, r = 0.18, p < 0.01) during the first year. Longitudinal analysis in 84 patients showed an overall increment of PAH of 0.7 SDS over 2 years of treatment. When applying the KIGS first-year prediction model for patients with idiopathic GH deficiency on cohorts of prepubertal children with FSS and non-FSS, a lower responsiveness to GH in the non-FSS group was observed. It is concluded that higher than substitutive doses of GH are required for the long-term improvement of growth in ISS.

  5. Fifth-year pine growth response to woody release treatments in young loblolly plantations

    Treesearch

    A.W. Ezell; J.L. Yeiser; L.R. Nelson

    2013-01-01

    The efficacy of adding Oust® XP to woody release treatments was evaluated on second-year pine plantations in Texas, Mississippi, and South Carolina. Overall, the residual control of herbaceous weeds on these sites was excellent the growing season following application. Pine height and diameter growth was evaluated for 5 years following application. Generally, the...

  6. Extension of the Helmholtz-Smoluchowski velocity to the hydrophobic microchannels with velocity slip.

    PubMed

    Park, H M; Kim, T W

    2009-01-21

    Electrokinetic flows through hydrophobic microchannels experience velocity slip at the microchannel wall, which affects volumetric flow rate and solute retention time. The usual method of predicting the volumetric flow rate and velocity profile for hydrophobic microchannels is to solve the Navier-Stokes equation and the Poisson-Boltzmann equation for the electric potential with the boundary condition of velocity slip expressed by the Navier slip coefficient, which is computationally demanding and defies analytic solutions. In the present investigation, we have devised a simple method of predicting the velocity profiles and volumetric flow rates of electrokinetic flows by extending the concept of the Helmholtz-Smoluchowski velocity to microchannels with Navier slip. The extended Helmholtz-Smoluchowski velocity is simple to use and yields accurate results as compared to the exact solutions. Employing the extended Helmholtz-Smoluchowski velocity, the analytical expressions for volumetric flow rate and velocity profile for electrokinetic flows through rectangular microchannels with Navier slip have been obtained at high values of zeta potential. The range of validity of the extended Helmholtz-Smoluchowski velocity is also investigated.

  7. Quasi-decadal variations in total ozone content, wind velocity, temperature, and geopotential height over the Arosa station (Switzerland)

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Visheratin, K. N.

    2016-01-01

    We present the results of the analysis of the phase relationships between the quasi-decadal variations (QDVs) (in the range from 8 to 13 years) in the total ozone content (TOC) at the Arosa station for 1932-2012 and a number of meteorological parameters: monthly mean values of temperature, meridional and zonal components of wind velocity, and geopotential heights for isobaric surfaces in the layer of 10-925 hPa over the Arosa station using the Fourier methods and composite and cross-wavelet analysis. It has been shown that the phase relationships of the QDVs in the TOC and meteorological parameters with an 11-year cycle of solar activity change in time and height; starting with cycle 24 of solar activity (2008-2010), the variations in the TOC and a number of meteorological parameters occur in almost counter phase with the variations in solar activity. The periods of the maximum growth rate of the temperature at isobaric surfaces 50-100 hPa nearly correspond to the TOC's maximum periods, and the periods of the maximum temperature correspond the periods of the decrease of the peak TOC rate. The highest correlation coefficients between the meridional wind velocity and temperature are observed at 50 hPa at positive and negative delays of ~27 months. The times of the maxima (minima) of the QDVs in the meridional wind velocity nearly correspond to the periods of the maximum amplification (attenuation) rate of the temperature of the QDVs. The QDVs in the geopotential heights of isobaric surfaces fall behind the variations in the TOC by an average of 1.5 years everywhere except in the lower troposphere. In general, the periods of variations in the TOC and meteorological parameters in the range of 8-13 years are smaller than the period of variations in the level of solar activity.

  8. Effects of temperature and diet on the growth rate of year 0 oyster toadfish, Opsanus tau.

    PubMed

    Mensinger, A F; Tubbs, M E

    2006-02-01

    The effects of temperature and diet on the growth of captive year 0 specimens of Opansus tau were examined for two consecutive year classes. The 2001 year class was raised at about 23, 26, or 29 degrees C and provided with live brine shrimp, frozen butterfish and squid, or commercial food pellets (45% protein, 19% fat, and 3% fiber) three times per week. Maximal growth was achieved with the pellet diet, and fish raised at 29 degrees C attained the highest mean wet weight (84.0 g +/- 14.6 g SE) and fastest instantaneous relative growth rate (IRGR, 1.79% body weight/d). The 2002 year class was raised on the same pellet diet at 31.5 degrees C and fed 3, 5, or 7 times per week. Although more frequent feedings led to significantly greater mean wet weight in the first half of the year, by month 12 there was no significant difference between the three feeding frequencies. These fish weighed approximately 68 g and had an average IRGR of 1.74% body weight/d. The pellet diet during both years was correlated with high survival (> 75%).

  9. Water velocity in commercial RAS culture tanks for Atlantic salmon smolt production

    USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

    An optimal flow domain in culture tanks is vital for fish growth and welfare. This paper presents empirical data on rotational velocity and water quality in circular and octagonal tanks at two large commercial smolt production sites, with an approximate production rate of 1000 and 1300 ton smolt ann...

  10. Growth of northern hardwoods in New England: a 25-year update

    Treesearch

    William B. Leak; Jeffrey H. Gove

    2008-01-01

    Twenty-five-year results from a study of four stand density levels and three percentages of sawtimber in a beech-red maple-birch-hemlock stand in New Hampshire showed that moderate stand densities of 60- to 80-ft2/ac with 25- to 30-ft2 of sawtimber produced the best growth responses. Ingrowth was dominated by beech, red...

  11. Factors influencing perceived angular velocity.

    PubMed

    Kaiser, M K; Calderone, J B

    1991-11-01

    The assumption that humans are able to perceive and process angular kinematics is critical to many structure-from-motion and optical flow models. The current studies investigate this sensitivity, and examine several factors likely to influence angular velocity perception. In particular, three factors are considered: (1) the extent to which perceived angular velocity is determined by edge transitions of surface elements, (2) the extent to which angular velocity estimates are influenced by instantaneous linear velocities of surface elements, and (3) whether element-velocity effects are related to three-dimensional (3-D) tangential velocities or to two-dimensional (2-D) image velocities. Edge-transition rate biased angular velocity estimates only when edges were highly salient. Element velocities influenced perceived angular velocity; this bias was related to 2-D image velocity rather than 3-D tangential velocity. Despite these biases, however, judgments were most strongly determined by the true angular velocity. Sensitivity to this higher order motion parameter was surprisingly good, for rotations both in depth (y-axis) and parallel to the line of sight (z-axis).

  12. Growth Patterns Inferred from Anatomical Records 1

    PubMed Central

    Silk, Wendy Kuhn; Lord, Elizabeth M.; Eckard, Kathleen J.

    1989-01-01

    Our objective was to test whether accurate growth analyses can be obtained from anatomical records and some mathematical formulas. Roots of Zea mays L. were grown at one of two temperatures (19°C or 29°C) and were prepared with standard techniques for light microscopy. Positions of cell walls were digitized from micrographs. The digitized data were averaged and smoothed and used in formulas to estimate growth trajectories, Z(t), velocities, v(z), and strain rates, r(z), where Z(t) is the location occupied by the cellular particle at time t; and v(z) and r(z) are, respectively, the fields of growth velocity and strain rate. The relationships tested are: for Z(t), t = n * c; v(z) = l(z) * f; and r(z) = f * (∂/∂z (l(z))). In the formulas, n represents the number of cells between the origin and the position Z(t); l(z) is local cell length; the constant c, named the `cellochron,' denotes the time for successive cells to pass a spatial point distal to the meristem; l(z) is local cell length, and f is cell flux. Growth trajectories and velocity fields from the anatomical method are in good agreement with earlier analyses based on marking experiments at the two different temperatures. Growth strain rate fields show an unexpected oscillation which may be due to numerical artifacts or to a real oscillation in cell production rate. Images Figure 2 PMID:16666832

  13. Growth in Prepubertal Children With Cystic Fibrosis Treated With Ivacaftor

    PubMed Central

    Pace, Jesse; Niknian, Minoo; Higgins, Mark N.; Tarn, Valerie; Davis, Joy; Heltshe, Sonya L.; Rowe, Steven M.

    2017-01-01

    BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is known for its impact on the lung and pancreas of individuals; however, impaired growth is also a common complication. We hypothesized that targeting the biological defect in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein may affect growth outcomes. METHODS: In this post hoc analysis, we assessed linear growth and weight in 83 children (aged 6–11 years) enrolled in 2 clinical trials, the longitudinal-observation GOAL study and the placebo-controlled ENVISION study, to evaluate the effects of ivacaftor, a CFTR potentiator. We calculated height and weight z scores and height and weight growth velocities (GVs). RESULTS: In ivacaftor-treated children in GOAL, height and weight z scores increased significantly from baseline to 6 months (increases of 0.1 [P < .05] and 0.26 [P < .0001], respectively); height GV increased significantly from 3 to 6 months (2.10-cm/year increase; P < .01). In ivacaftor-treated children in ENVISION, height and weight z scores increased significantly from baseline to 48 weeks (increases of 0.17 [P < .001] and 0.35 [P < .001], respectively). Height and weight GVs from baseline to 48 weeks were also significantly higher with ivacaftor than with placebo (differences of 1.08 cm/year [P < .05] and 3.11 kg/year [P < .001], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Ivacaftor treatment in prepubescent children may help to address short stature and altered GV in children with CF; results from these analyses support the existence of an intrinsic defect in the growth of children with CF that may be ameliorated by CFTR modulation. PMID:28143919

  14. Growth in Prepubertal Children With Cystic Fibrosis Treated With Ivacaftor.

    PubMed

    Stalvey, Michael S; Pace, Jesse; Niknian, Minoo; Higgins, Mark N; Tarn, Valerie; Davis, Joy; Heltshe, Sonya L; Rowe, Steven M

    2017-02-01

    Cystic fibrosis (CF) is known for its impact on the lung and pancreas of individuals; however, impaired growth is also a common complication. We hypothesized that targeting the biological defect in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein may affect growth outcomes. In this post hoc analysis, we assessed linear growth and weight in 83 children (aged 6-11 years) enrolled in 2 clinical trials, the longitudinal-observation GOAL study and the placebo-controlled ENVISION study, to evaluate the effects of ivacaftor, a CFTR potentiator. We calculated height and weight z scores and height and weight growth velocities (GVs). In ivacaftor-treated children in GOAL, height and weight z scores increased significantly from baseline to 6 months (increases of 0.1 [P < .05] and 0.26 [P < .0001], respectively); height GV increased significantly from 3 to 6 months (2.10-cm/year increase; P < .01). In ivacaftor-treated children in ENVISION, height and weight z scores increased significantly from baseline to 48 weeks (increases of 0.17 [P < .001] and 0.35 [P < .001], respectively). Height and weight GVs from baseline to 48 weeks were also significantly higher with ivacaftor than with placebo (differences of 1.08 cm/year [P < .05] and 3.11 kg/year [P < .001], respectively). Ivacaftor treatment in prepubescent children may help to address short stature and altered GV in children with CF; results from these analyses support the existence of an intrinsic defect in the growth of children with CF that may be ameliorated by CFTR modulation. Copyright © 2017 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

  15. Five-year radial growth of red oaks in mixed bottomland hardwood stands

    Treesearch

    Luben D. Dimov; Jim L. Chambers; Brian Roy Lockhart

    2008-01-01

    We studied the relationships among 5-year radial (diameter and basal area) growth of red oak (genus Quercus, subgenus Erythrobalanus) crop trees and predictor variables representing individual tree vigor, distance-dependant competition measures, and distance-independent competition measures. The red oaks we examined are...

  16. Growth of western larch after thinning from above and below to several density levels: 10-year results.

    Treesearch

    K.W. Seidel

    1980-01-01

    The 10-year growth of a 55-year-old, even-aged western larch (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) stand after it was thinned from above and below to a wide range of stocking levels was measured in eastern Oregon. Basal area and volume growth increased as stand density increased for both thinning methods. Despite heavy infestations of the larch casebearer...

  17. Signal velocity and group velocity for an optical pulse propagating through a GaAs cavity.

    PubMed

    Centini, Marco; Bloemer, Mark; Myneni, Krishna; Scalora, Michael; Sibilia, Concita; Bertolotti, Mario; D'Aguanno, Giuseppe

    2003-07-01

    We present measurements of the signal and group velocities for chirped optical pulses propagating through a GaAs cavity. The signal velocity is based on a specified signal-to-noise ratio at the detector. Under our experimental conditions, the chirp substantially modifies the group velocity of the pulse, but leaves the signal velocity unaltered. At unity transmittance, the velocities are equal. In general, when the transmittance is less than unity, the group velocity is faster than the signal velocity. While the group velocity can be negative, the signal velocity is always less than c/n, where c is the speed of light in vacuum and n is the refractive index of GaAs. To our knowledge, this is the first measurement of both the group velocity and the signal velocity in any system.

  18. Prenatal dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) exposure and child growth during the first year of life

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

    Garced, Sheyla, E-mail: sgarced@gmail.com; Torres-Sanchez, Luisa, E-mail: ltorress@insp.mx; Cebrian, Mariano E., E-mail: mcebrian@cinvestav.mx

    Background: Due to its long-term persistence in the environment and its ability to cross the placental barrier, prenatal p,p Prime -dichlorodiphenyldichloroethene (DDE) exposure continues to be a public health concern. This study aimed to evaluate the association between prenatal DDE exposure and child growth, at birth and during the first year of life. Methods: 253 pregnant women were recruited between January 2001 and June 2005 in a prospective cohort in Morelos, Mexico. Serum levels of DDE were measured during each trimester of pregnancy by gas chromatography with an electron capture detector. Using the generalized mixed-effects models, the association between DDEmore » and child growth parameters (weight-for-age, length-for-age, weight-for-length, BMI-for-age and head circumference-for-age Z-scores) from birth to 1 year of age was assessed. Maternal dietary intake was considered as covariable among others. Results: DDE levels were 6.3{+-}2.8 ng/mL (first trimester), 6.6{+-}2.9 ng/mL (second trimester), and 7.6{+-}2.9 ng/mL (third trimester). After adjusting for potential confounder variables, no significant associations were observed with prenatal DDE exposure and each of the selected parameters. Conclusions: Our results show no evidence of an association between prenatal DDE exposure and child growth during the first year of life.« less

  19. Transition of unsteady velocity profiles with reverse flow

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Das, Debopam; Arakeri, Jaywant H.

    1998-11-01

    This paper deals with the stability and transition to turbulence of wall-bounded unsteady velocity profiles with reverse flow. Such flows occur, for example, during unsteady boundary layer separation and in oscillating pipe flow. The main focus is on results from experiments in time-developing flow in a long pipe, which is decelerated rapidly. The flow is generated by the controlled motion of a piston. We obtain analytical solutions for laminar flow in the pipe and in a two-dimensional channel for arbitrary piston motions. By changing the piston speed and the length of piston travel we cover a range of values of Reynolds number and boundary layer thickness. The velocity profiles during the decay of the flow are unsteady with reverse flow near the wall, and are highly unstable due to their inflectional nature. In the pipe, we observe from flow visualization that the flow becomes unstable with the formation of what appears to be a helical vortex. The wavelength of the instability [simeq R: similar, equals]3[delta] where [delta] is the average boundary layer thickness, the average being taken over the time the flow is unstable. The time of formation of the vortices scales with the average convective time scale and is [simeq R: similar, equals]39/([Delta]u/[delta]), where [Delta]u=(umax[minus sign]umin) and umax, umin and [delta] are the maximum velocity, minimum velocity and boundary layer thickness respectively at each instant of time. The time to transition to turbulence is [simeq R: similar, equals]33/([Delta]u/[delta]). Quasi-steady linear stability analysis of the velocity profiles brings out two important results. First that the stability characteristics of velocity profiles with reverse flow near the wall collapse when scaled with the above variables. Second that the wavenumber corresponding to maximum growth does not change much during the instability even though the

  20. Velocity shear Kelvin-Helmholtz instability with inhomogeneous DC electric field in the magnetosphere of Saturn

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kandpal, Praveen; Kaur, Rajbir; Pandey, R. S.

    2018-01-01

    In this paper parallel flow velocity shear Kelvin-Helmholtz instability has been studied in two different extended regions of the inner magnetosphere of Saturn. The method of the characteristic solution and kinetic approach has been used in the mathematical calculation of dispersion relation and growth rate of K-H waves. Effect of magnetic field (B), inhomogeneity (P/a), velocity shear scale length (Ai), temperature anisotropy (T⊥ /T||), electric field (E), ratio of electron to ion temperature (Te /Ti), density gradient (εnρi) and angle of propagation (θ) on the dimensionless growth rate of K-H waves in the inner magnetosphere of Saturn has been observed with respect to k⊥ρi . Calculations of this theoretical analysis have been done taking the data from the Cassini in the inner magnetosphere of Saturn in the two extended regions of Rs ∼4.60-4.01 and Rs ∼4.82-5.0. In our study velocity shear, temperature anisotropy and magnitude of the electric field are observed to be the major sources of free energy for the K-H instability in both the regions considered. The inhomogeneity of electric field, electron-ion temperature ratio, and density gradient have been observed playing stabilizing effect on K-H instability. This study also indicates the effect of the vicinity of icy moon Enceladus on the growth of K-H instability.

  1. TARP vaccination is associated with slowing in PSA velocity and decreasing tumor growth rates in patients with Stage D0 prostate cancer.

    PubMed

    Wood, Lauren V; Fojo, Antonio; Roberson, Brenda D; Hughes, Meghan S B; Dahut, William; Gulley, James L; Madan, Ravi A; Arlen, Philip M; Sabatino, Marianna; Stroncek, David F; Castiello, Luciano; Trepel, Jane B; Lee, Min-Jung; Parnes, Howard L; Steinberg, Seth M; Terabe, Masaki; Wilkerson, Julia; Pastan, Ira; Berzofsky, Jay A

    2016-08-01

    T-cell receptor alternate reading frame protein (TARP) is a 58-residue protein over-expressed in prostate and breast cancer. We investigated TARP peptide vaccination's impact on the rise in PSA (expressed as Slope Log(PSA) or PSA Doubling Time (PSADT)), validated tumor growth measures, and tumor growth rate in men with Stage D0 prostate cancer. HLA-A*0201 positive men were randomized to receive epitope-enhanced (29-37-9V) and wild-type (27-35) TARP peptides administered as a Montanide/GM-CSF peptide emulsion or as an autologous peptide-pulsed dendritic cell vaccine every 3 weeks for a total of five vaccinations with an optional 6th dose of vaccine at 36 weeks based on immune response or PSADT criteria with a booster dose of vaccine for all patients at 48 and 96 weeks. 41 patients enrolled with median on-study duration of 75 weeks at the time of this analysis. Seventy-two percent of patients reaching 24 weeks and 74% reaching 48 weeks had a decreased Slope Log(PSA) compared to their pre-vaccination baseline (p = 0.0012 and p = 0.0004 for comparison of overall changes in Slope Log(PSA), respectively). TARP vaccination also resulted in a 50% decrease in median tumor growth rate (g): pre-vaccine g = 0.0042/day, post-vaccine g = 0.0021/day (p = 0.003). 80% of subjects exhibited new vaccine-induced TARP-specific IFNγ ELISPOT responses but they did not correlate with decreases in Slope Log(PSA). Thus, vaccination with TARP peptides resulted in significant slowing in PSA velocity and reduction in tumor growth rate in a majority of patients with PSA biochemical recurrence.

  2. Statistical analysis of 16-year phase velocity distribution of mesospheric and ionospheric waves in airglow images: Comparison between Rikubetsu and Shigaraki, Japan

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tsuchiya, S.; Shiokawa, K.; Fujinami, H.; Otsuka, Y.; Nakamura, T.; Yamamoto, M.

    2017-12-01

    A new spectral analysis technique has been developed to obtain power spectra in the horizontal phase velocity by using the 3-D Fast Fourier Transform [Matsuda et al., JGR, 2014]. Takeo et al. (JGR, 2017) studied spectral parameters of atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs) in the mesopause region and medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs) in the thermosphere over 16 years by using airglow images at wavelengths of 557.7 nm (emission altitudes: 90-100 km) and 630.0 nm (200-300 km) obtained at Shigaraki (34.8N, 136.1E), Japan. In this study, we have applied the same spectral analysis technique to the 557.7 nm and 630.0-nm airglow images obtained at Rikubetsu (43.5N, 143.8E), Japan, for 16 years from 1999 to 2014. We compared spectral features of AGWs and MSTIDs over 16 years observed at Shigaraki and Rikubetsu, which are separated by 1,174 km. The propagation direction of mesospheric AGWs seen in 557.7-nm airglow images is northeastward in summer and southwestward in winter at both Shigaraki and Rikubetsu, probably due to wind filtering of these waves by the mesospheric jet. In winter, the propagation direction of AGWs gradually shifted from southwestward to northwestward as time progresses from evening to morning at both stations. We suggest that this local-time shift of propagation direction can also be explained by the wind filtering effect. The propagation direction of AGWs changed from southwestward to northeastward at Rikubetsu on the day of the reversal of eastward zonal wind at 60N and 10 hPa (about 35 km in altitude) by the stratospheric sudden warming (SSW), while such a SSW-associated change was not identified at Shigaraki, indicating that the effect of SSW wind reversal reached only to the Rikubetsu latitudes. For MSTIDs, there is a negative correlation between yearly variation of powers spectral density and F10.7 flux and propagation direction is southwestward in all season at both Shigaraki and Rikubetsu. This negative correlation can be

  3. Periods of Child Growth up to age 8 Years in Ethiopia, India, Peru and Vietnam: Key Distal Household and Community Factors

    PubMed Central

    Schott, Whitney B.; Crookston, Benjamin T.; Lundeen, Elizabeth A.; Stein, Aryeh D.; Behrman, Jere R.

    2013-01-01

    Recent research has demonstrated some growth recovery among children stunted in infancy. Less is known about key age ranges for such growth recovery, and what factors are correlates with this growth. This study characterized child growth up to age 1 year, and from ages 1 to 5 and 5 to 8 years controlling for initial height-for-age z-score (HAZ), and identified key distal household and community factors associated with these growth measures using longitudinal data on 7,266 children in the Young Lives (YL) study in Ethiopia, India, Peru and Vietnam. HAZ at about age 1 year and age in months predicted much of the variation in HAZ at age 5 years, but 40 to 71% was not predicted. Similarly, HAZ at age 5 years and age in months did not predict 26 to 47% of variation in HAZ at 8 years. Multiple regression analysis suggests that parental schooling, consumption, and mothers’ height are key correlates of HAZ at about age 1 and also are associated with unpredicted change in HAZ from ages 1 to 5 and 5 to 8 years, given initial HAZ. These results underline the importance of a child’s starting point in infancy in determining his or her growth, point to key distal household and community factors that may determine early growth in early life and subsequent growth recovery and growth failure, and indicate that these factors vary some by country, urban/rural designation, and child sex. PMID:23769211

  4. Periods of child growth up to age 8 years in Ethiopia, India, Peru and Vietnam: key distal household and community factors.

    PubMed

    Schott, Whitney B; Crookston, Benjamin T; Lundeen, Elizabeth A; Stein, Aryeh D; Behrman, Jere R

    2013-11-01

    Recent research has demonstrated some growth recovery among children stunted in infancy. Less is known about key age ranges for such growth recovery, and what factors are correlates with this growth. This study characterized child growth up to age 1 year, and from ages 1 to 5 and 5 to 8 years controlling for initial height-for-age z-score (HAZ), and identified key distal household and community factors associated with these growth measures using longitudinal data on 7266 children in the Young Lives (YL) study in Ethiopia, India, Peru and Vietnam. HAZ at about age 1 year and age in months predicted much of the variation in HAZ at age 5 years, but 40-71% was not predicted. Similarly, HAZ at age 5 years and age in months did not predict 26-47% of variation in HAZ at 8 years. Multiple regression analysis suggests that parental schooling, consumption, and mothers' height are key correlates of HAZ at about age 1 and also are associated with unpredicted change in HAZ from ages 1 to 5 and 5 to 8 years, given initial HAZ. These results underline the importance of a child's starting point in infancy in determining his or her growth, point to key distal household and community factors that may determine early growth in early life and subsequent growth recovery and growth failure, and indicate that these factors vary some by country, urban/rural designation, and child sex. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  5. Primary growth hormone insensitivity (Laron syndrome) and acquired hypothyroidism: a case report

    PubMed Central

    2011-01-01

    Introduction Primary growth hormone resistance or growth hormone insensitivity syndrome, also known as Laron syndrome, is a hereditary disease caused by deletions or different types of mutations in the growth hormone receptor gene or by post-receptor defects. This disorder is characterized by a clinical appearance of severe growth hormone deficiency with high levels of circulating growth hormone in contrast to low serum insulin-like growth factor 1 values. Case presentation We report the case of a 15-year-old Caucasian girl who was diagnosed with Silver-Russell syndrome at the age of four and a half years. Recombinant growth hormone was administered for 18 months without an appropriate increase in growth velocity. At the age of seven years, her serum growth hormone levels were high, and an insulin-like growth factor 1 generation test did not increase insulin-like growth factor 1 levels (baseline insulin-like growth factor 1 levels, 52 μg/L; reference range, 75 μg/L to 365 μg/L; and peak, 76 μg/L and 50 μg/L after 12 and 84 hours, respectively, from baseline). The genetic analysis showed that the patient was homozygous for the R217X mutation in the growth hormone receptor gene, which is characteristic of Laron syndrome. On the basis of these results, the diagnosis of primary growth hormone insensitivity syndrome was made, and recombinant insulin-like growth factor 1 therapy was initiated. The patient's treatment was well tolerated, but unexplained central hypothyroidism occurred at the age of 12.9 years. At the age of 15 years, when the patient's sexual development was almost completed and her menstrual cycle occurred irregularly, her height was 129.8 cm, which is 4.71 standard deviations below the median for normal girls her age. Conclusion The most important functional tests for the diagnosis of growth hormone insensitivity are the insulin-like growth factor 1 generation test and genetic analysis. Currently, the only effective treatment is daily

  6. Primary growth hormone insensitivity (Laron syndrome) and acquired hypothyroidism: a case report.

    PubMed

    Cotta, Oana R; Santarpia, Libero; Curtò, Lorenzo; Aimaretti, Gianluca; Corneli, Ginevra; Trimarchi, Francesco; Cannavò, Salvatore

    2011-07-11

    Primary growth hormone resistance or growth hormone insensitivity syndrome, also known as Laron syndrome, is a hereditary disease caused by deletions or different types of mutations in the growth hormone receptor gene or by post-receptor defects. This disorder is characterized by a clinical appearance of severe growth hormone deficiency with high levels of circulating growth hormone in contrast to low serum insulin-like growth factor 1 values. We report the case of a 15-year-old Caucasian girl who was diagnosed with Silver-Russell syndrome at the age of four and a half years. Recombinant growth hormone was administered for 18 months without an appropriate increase in growth velocity. At the age of seven years, her serum growth hormone levels were high, and an insulin-like growth factor 1 generation test did not increase insulin-like growth factor 1 levels (baseline insulin-like growth factor 1 levels, 52 μg/L; reference range, 75 μg/L to 365 μg/L; and peak, 76 μg/L and 50 μg/L after 12 and 84 hours, respectively, from baseline). The genetic analysis showed that the patient was homozygous for the R217X mutation in the growth hormone receptor gene, which is characteristic of Laron syndrome. On the basis of these results, the diagnosis of primary growth hormone insensitivity syndrome was made, and recombinant insulin-like growth factor 1 therapy was initiated. The patient's treatment was well tolerated, but unexplained central hypothyroidism occurred at the age of 12.9 years. At the age of 15 years, when the patient's sexual development was almost completed and her menstrual cycle occurred irregularly, her height was 129.8 cm, which is 4.71 standard deviations below the median for normal girls her age. The most important functional tests for the diagnosis of growth hormone insensitivity are the insulin-like growth factor 1 generation test and genetic analysis. Currently, the only effective treatment is daily administration of recombinant insulin-like growth

  7. Long-term response to growth hormone therapy in a patient with short stature caused by a novel heterozygous mutation in NPR2.

    PubMed

    Vasques, Gabriela A; Hisado-Oliva, Alfonso; Funari, Mariana F A; Lerario, Antonio M; Quedas, Elisangela P S; Solberg, Paulo; Heath, Karen E; Jorge, Alexander A L

    2017-01-01

    Heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in the natriuretic peptide receptor B gene (NPR2) are responsible for short stature in patients without a distinct phenotype. Some of these patients have been treated with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) therapy with a variable response. The proband was a healthy boy who presented at the age of 5.1 years with familial short stature (height SDS of -3.1). He had a prominent forehead, a depressed nasal bridge, centripetal fat distribution and a high-pitched voice resembling that of children with GH deficiency. His hormonal evaluation showed low insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) but a normal GH peak at a stimulation test. During the first year of rhGH treatment, his growth velocity increased from 3.4 to 10.4 cm/year (height SDS change of +1.1). At the last visit, he was 8.8 years old and still on treatment, his growth velocity was 6.4 cm/year and height SDS was -1.8. We identified through exome sequencing a novel heterozygous loss-of-function NPR2 mutation (c.2905G>C; p.Val969Leu). Cells cotransfected with the p.Val969Leu mutant showed a significant decrease in cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) production compared to the wild type (WT), suggesting a dominant negative effect. This case reveals a novel heterozygous loss-of-function NPR2 mutation responsible for familial short stature and the good response of rhGH therapy in this patient.

  8. A comparison of pubertal maturity and growth.

    PubMed

    Gasser, Theo; Molinari, Luciano; Largo, Remo

    2013-07-01

    Growth and pubertal development have each been studied in detail, but rarely in conjunction. The study aim was to determine what somatic and pubertal development have in common and how they differ and to quantify the association between milestones for growth and for pubertal development (in terms of pubic hair and genitalia/breast, Age of Peak Testes Velocity, APTV and menarche) in relation both to chronological (CA) and bone age (RUS). The data analysed are from the 1st Zurich Longitudinal Growth Study, with 120 boys and 112 girls with almost complete data from birth to adulthood. Variability of pubertal milestones was somewhat reduced in terms of RUS, in particular in later phases. Pubic hair phase PH2 appeared ∼1 year after the onset of the pubertal spurt. Around the age of maximal deceleration (T9) an adult-like appearance of pubic hair, genitalia and breasts was reached in most cases. APTV occurred close to T8. Correlations were large between milestones for growth and PH stages and also with menarche or APTV. A successful modelling of testis growth led to a new pubertal milestone, APTV. The high correlations between the phenomenologically different domains "linear growth" and "pubertal development", and the high correlations between RUS and linear growth previously established allow the conclusion that these different domains develop along similar biological mechanisms, which are steered mainly by genetic factors.

  9. Five-year follow-up of a 13-year-old boy with a pituitary adenoma causing gigantism--effect of octreotide therapy.

    PubMed

    Schoof, Ellen; Dörr, Helmuth G; Kiess, Wieland; Lüdecke, Dieter K; Freitag, Eduard; Zindel, Volker; Rascher, Wolfgang; Dötsch, Jörg

    2004-01-01

    In children, there is little experience with octreotide therapy for pituitary tumors, especially growth hormone (GH) producing adenomas. We report on a 13-year-old boy with gigantism due to a GH-producing pituitary adenoma caused by a Gsalpha mutation on the basis of McCune-Albright syndrome. At the age of 6.5 years a GH- and prolactin-producing pituitary adenoma was diagnosed. The adenoma was surgically removed. Immediately thereafter, the small adenoma residuum was treated with octreotide (2 x 100 microg/day s.c.). During therapy with octreotide, the growth rate dropped to normal values; however, rose again after 2 years of treatment. The insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) levels remained above the 95th percentile, the GH level mostly >2 microg/l. After 5 years of octreotide therapy, GH (6.9 microg/l), IGF-I (620 microg/l), IGF-binding protein 3 (5.4 mg/l), and prolactin (17.0 ng/ml) levels were still elevated. The growth velocity was +2.4 SDS (standard deviation score), the pubertal status was mature, and the bone age was 14.3 years (prospective final height 208 cm). A magnetic resonance imaging scan showed an unchanged residual 4-mm rim of adenoma at the pituitary site. Side effects from octreotide therapy were not reported by the patient or his family. The therapy was changed to the long-acting release octreotide analog octreotide-LAR. After 1 year of treatment with octreotide-LAR, the GH level was 1.0 microg/l, and the prospective final height dropped by 10 cm. This case demonstrates that combined surgical and medical treatment can influence the prognosis of childhood gigantism; however, the prognosis of this rare condition remains uncertain. Copyright 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel

  10. Missing Rings, Synchronous Growth, and Ecological Disturbance in a 36-Year Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida) Provenance Study.

    PubMed

    Leland, Caroline; Hom, John; Skowronski, Nicholas; Ledig, F Thomas; Krusic, Paul J; Cook, Edward R; Martin-Benito, Dario; Martin-Fernandez, Javier; Pederson, Neil

    2016-01-01

    Provenance studies are an increasingly important analog for understanding how trees adapted to particular climatic conditions might respond to climate change. Dendrochronological analysis can illuminate differences among trees from different seed sources in terms of absolute annual growth and sensitivity to external growth factors. We analyzed annual radial growth of 567 36-year-old pitch pine (Pinus rigida Mill.) trees from 27 seed sources to evaluate their performance in a New Jersey Pine Barrens provenance experiment. Unexpectedly, missing rings were prevalent in most trees, and some years-1992, 1999, and 2006-had a particularly high frequency of missing rings across the plantation. Trees from local seed sources (<55 km away from the plantation) had a significantly smaller percentage of missing rings from 1980-2009 (mean: 5.0%), relative to northernmost and southernmost sources (mean: 9.3% and 7.9%, respectively). Some years with a high frequency of missing rings coincide with outbreaks of defoliating insects or dry growing season conditions. The propensity for missing rings synchronized annual variations in growth across all trees and might have complicated the detection of potential differences in interannual variability among seed sources. Average ring width was significantly larger in seed sources from both the southernmost and warmest origins compared to the northernmost and coldest seed sources in most years. Local seed sources had the highest average radial growth. Adaptation to local environmental conditions and disturbances might have influenced the higher growth rate found in local seed sources. These findings underscore the need to understand the integrative impact of multiple environmental drivers, such as disturbance agents and climate change, on tree growth, forest dynamics, and the carbon cycle.

  11. Physical growth and development of the malnourished child: contributions from 50 years of research at INCAP.

    PubMed

    Martorell, Reynaldo

    2010-03-01

    This paper reviews the main findings and policy implications of 50 years (1949-1999) of research conducted by INCAP on growth and development. Topical areas reviewed include a) maternal size and birthweight and the causes of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), b) patterns and causes of postnatal growth retardation, c) the relative importance of genetics and the environment in explaining differences in growth among populations, d) the implications of being small, for both children and adults, e) bone growth and maturation and dental development, f) menarche, and g) methodological contributions such as anthropometric reference data, quality control of data collection, development of risk indicators and use of anthropometry in nutrition surveillance systems. Key contributions to knowledge by INCAP include a) characterization of growth failure and maturational delays as mainly occurring during the intrauterine period and the first 3 years of life b) clarification of the role of small maternal size and of inadequate dietary intakes during pregnancy as major causes of intrauterine growth failure, c) evidence that diarrheal diseases and poor dietary intakes are the principal causes of growth failure in early childhood, d) demonstration that environmental factors related to poverty, and not genetic or racial ancestry, account for most of the differences in growth between populations, e) evidence that growth failure predicts functional impairment in the child as well as in the adult andf) demonstration that nutrition interventions are effective in preventing growth failure and its consequences, if targeted to needy women and young children. INCAP's work has contributed knowledge that has informed and improved policies and programs aimed at overcoming maternal and child undernutrition and promoting optimal growth and development.

  12. In-situ growth of calcite at Devils Hole, Nevada: Comparison of field and laboratory rates to a 500,000 year record of near-equilibrium calcite growth

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Plummer, Niel; Busenberg, E.; Riggs, A.C.

    2000-01-01

    Calcite grew continuously for 500,000 years on the submerged walls of an open fault plane (Devils Hole) in southern Nevada, U.S.A. at rates of 0.3 to 1.3 mm/ka, but ceased growing approximately 60,000 years ago, even though the fault plane remained open and was continuously submerged. The maximum initial in-situ growth rate on pre-weighed crystals of Iceland spar placed in Devils Hole (calcite saturation index, SI, is 0.16 to 0.21 at 33.7??C) for growth periods of 0.75 to 4.5 years was 0.22 mm/ka. Calcite growth on seed crystals slowed or ceased following initial contact with Devils Hole groundwater. Growth rates measured in synthetic Ca-HCO3 solutions at 34??C, CO2 partial pressures of 0.101, 0.0156 (similar to Devils Hole groundwater) and 0.00102 atm, and SI values of 0.2 to 1.9 were nearly independent of P(CO)(2), decreased with decreasing saturation state, and extrapolated through the historical Devils Hole rate. The results show that calcite growth rate is highly sensitive to saturation state near equilibrium. A calcite crystal retrieved from Devils Hole, and used without further treatment of its surface, grew in synthetic Devils Hole groundwater when the saturation index was raised nearly 10-fold that of Devils Hole water, but the rate was only 1/4 that of fresh laboratory crystals that had not contacted Devils Hole water. Apparently, inhibiting processes that halted calcite growth in Devils Hole 60,000 years ago continue today.

  13. In-situ growth of calcite at Devils Hole, Nevada--Comparison of field and laboratory rates to a 500,000 year record of near-equilibrium calcite growth

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Plummer, Niel; Busenberg, Eurybiades; Riggs, Alan C.

    2000-01-01

    Calcite grew continuously for 500,000 years on the submerged walls of an open fault plane (Devils Hole) in southern Nevada, U.S.A. at rates of 0.3 to 1.3 mm/ka, but ceased growing approximately 60,000 years ago, even though the fault plane remained open and was continuously submerged. The maximum initial in-situ growth rate on pre-weighed crystals of Iceland spar placed in Devils Hole (calcite saturation index, SI, is 0.16 to 0.21 at 33.7 °C) for growth periods of 0.75 to 4.5 years was 0.22 mm/ka. Calcite growth on seed crystals slowed or ceased following initial contact with Devils Hole groundwater. Growth rates measured in synthetic Ca-HCO3 solutions at 34 °C, CO2 partial pressures of 0.101, 0.0156 (similar to Devils Hole groundwater) and 0.00102 atm, and SI values of 0.2 to 1.9 were nearly independent of PCO2, decreased with decreasing saturation state, and extrapolated through the historical Devils Hole rate. The results show that calcite growth rate is highly sensitive to saturation state near equilibrium. A calcite crystal retrieved from Devils Hole, and used without further treatment of its surface, grew in synthetic Devils Hole groundwater when the saturation index was raised nearly 10-fold that of Devils Hole water, but the rate was only 1/4 that of fresh laboratory crystals that had not contacted Devils Hole water. Apparently, inhibiting processes that halted calcite growth in Devils Hole 60,000 years ago continue today.

  14. The influence of head growth in fetal life, infancy, and childhood on intelligence at the ages of 4 and 8 years.

    PubMed

    Gale, Catharine R; O'Callaghan, Finbar J; Bredow, Maria; Martyn, Christopher N

    2006-10-01

    We investigated the effects of head growth prenatally, during infancy, and during later periods of development on cognitive function at the ages of 4 and 8 years. We studied 633 term-born children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children cohort whose head circumference was measured at birth and at regular intervals thereafter. Their cognitive function was assessed with the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence at the age of 4 years and with the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children at the age of 8 years. Linear regression analysis was used to calculate postnatal head growth between successive time points, conditional on previous size, and to examine the relationship between head growth during different periods of development and later IQ. When the influence of head growth was distinguished for different periods, only prenatal growth and growth during infancy were associated with subsequent IQ. At 4 years, after adjustment for parental characteristics, full-scale IQ increased an average of 2.41 points for each 1-SD increase in head circumference at birth and 1.97 points for each 1-SD increase in head growth during infancy, conditional on head size at birth. At 8 years, head circumference at birth was no longer associated with IQ, but head growth during infancy remained a significant predictor, with full-scale IQ increasing an average of 1.56 points for each 1-SD increase in growth. The brain volume a child achieves by the age of 1 year helps determine later intelligence. Growth in brain volume after infancy may not compensate for poorer earlier growth.

  15. Effect of Temperature on Jet Velocity Spectra

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bridges, James E.; Wernet, Mark P.

    2007-01-01

    Statistical jet noise prediction codes that accurately predict spectral directivity for both cold and hot jets are highly sought both in industry and academia. Their formulation, whether based upon manipulations of the Navier-Stokes equations or upon heuristic arguments, require substantial experimental observation of jet turbulence statistics. Unfortunately, the statistics of most interest involve the space-time correlation of flow quantities, especially velocity. Until the last 10 years, all turbulence statistics were made with single-point probes, such as hotwires or laser Doppler anemometry. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) brought many new insights with its ability to measure velocity fields over large regions of jets simultaneously; however, it could not measure velocity at rates higher than a few fields per second, making it unsuitable for obtaining temporal spectra and correlations. The development of time-resolved PIV, herein called TR-PIV, has removed this limitation, enabling measurement of velocity fields at high resolution in both space and time. In this paper, ground-breaking results from the application of TR-PIV to single-flow hot jets are used to explore the impact of heat on turbulent statistics of interest to jet noise models. First, a brief summary of validation studies is reported, undertaken to show that the new technique produces the same trusted results as hotwire at cold, low-speed jets. Second, velocity spectra from cold and hot jets are compared to see the effect of heat on the spectra. It is seen that heated jets possess 10 percent more turbulence intensity compared to the unheated jets with the same velocity. The spectral shapes, when normalized using Strouhal scaling, are insensitive to temperature if the stream-wise location is normalized relative to the potential core length. Similarly, second order velocity correlations, of interest in modeling of jet noise sources, are also insensitive to temperature as well.

  16. Growth Outcomes of Preterm Infants Exposed to Different Oxygen Saturation Target Ranges from Birth

    PubMed Central

    Navarrete, Cristina T.; Wrage, Lisa A.; Carlo, Waldemar A.; Walsh, Michele C.; Rich, Wade; Gantz, Marie G.; Das, Abhik; Schibler, Kurt; Newman, Nancy S.; Piazza, Anthony J.; Poindexter, Brenda B.; Shankaran, Seetha; Sánchez, Pablo J.; Morris, Brenda H.; Frantz, Ivan D.; Van Meurs, Krisa P.; Cotten, C. Michael; Ehrenkranz, Richard A.; Bell, Edward F.; Watterberg, Kristi L.; Higgins, Rosemary D.; Duara, Shahnaz

    2017-01-01

    Objective To test whether infants randomized to a lower oxygen saturation (SpO2) target range while on supplemental oxygen from birth will have better growth velocity from birth to 36 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA), and less growth failure at 36 weeks PMA and 18–22 months corrected age. Study design We evaluated a subgroup of 810 preterm infants from the Surfactant, Positive Pressure, and Oxygenation Randomized Trial, randomized at birth to lower (85–89%, n=402, GA 26 ± 1wk, BW 839 ± 186 g) or higher (91–95%, n=408, GA 26 ± 1wk, BW 840 ± 191 g) SpO2 target ranges. Anthropometric measures were obtained at birth, postnatal days 7, 14, 21, and 28; then at 32 and 36 weeks PMA, and 18–22 months corrected age. Growth velocities were estimated using the exponential method and analyzed using linear mixed models. Poor growth outcome, defined as weight < 10th percentile at 36 weeks PMA and 18–22 months corrected age, was compared across the two treatment groups using robust Poisson regression. Results Growth outcomes including growth at 36 weeks PMA and 18–22 months corrected age, as well as growth velocity were similar in the lower and higher SpO2 target groups. Conclusion Targeting different oxygen saturation ranges between 85% and 95% from birth did not impact growth velocity or reduce growth failure in preterm infants. PMID:27344218

  17. Propagation of the Semidiurnal Internal Tide: Phase Velocity Versus Group Velocity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zhao, Zhongxiang

    2017-12-01

    The superposition of two waves of slightly different wavelengths has long been used to illustrate the distinction between phase velocity and group velocity. The first-mode M2 and S2 internal tides exemplify such a two-wave model in the natural ocean. The M2 and S2 tidal frequencies are 1.932 and 2 cycles per day, respectively, and their superposition forms a spring-neap cycle in the semidiurnal band. The spring-neap cycle acts like a wave, with its frequency, wave number, and phase being the differences of the M2 and S2 internal tides. The spring-neap cycle and energy of the semidiurnal internal tide propagate at the group velocity. Long-range propagation of M2 and S2 internal tides in the North Pacific is observed by satellite altimetry. Along a 3,400 km beam spanning 24°-54°N, the M2 and S2 travel times are 10.9 and 11.2 days, respectively. For comparison, it takes the spring-neap cycle 21.1 days to travel over this distance. Spatial maps of the M2 phase velocity, the S2 phase velocity, and the group velocity are determined from phase gradients of the corresponding satellite observed internal tide fields. The observed phase and group velocities agree with theoretical values estimated using the World Ocean Atlas 2013 annual-mean ocean stratification.

  18. Live performance of male broilers subjected to constant or increasing air velocities at moderate temperatures with a high dew point.

    PubMed

    Dozier, W A; Lott, B D; Branton, S L

    2005-08-01

    This study examined the effects of varying air velocities vs. a constant air velocity with a cyclic temperature curve of 25-30-25 degrees C and a dew point of 23 degrees C on broilers from 28 to 49 d of age. Four replicate trials were conducted. In each trial, 742 male broilers were randomly allocated to 6 floor pens or 2 air velocity tunnels, with each tunnel consisting of 4 pens. Bird density, feeder, and waterer space were similar across all pens (53 birds/ pen; 0.07 m2/bird). The treatments were control (still air), constant air velocity of 120 m/min, and increasing air velocity (90 m/min from 28 to 35 d, 120 m/min from 36 to 42 d, and 180 m/min from 43 to 49 d). Birds grown in a still air environment gained less weight, consumed less feed, and converted feed less efficiently between 28 and 49 d than birds subjected to moving air (constant or increasing). Growth responses between the air velocity treatments were similar from 28 to 35 and 36 to 42 d of age. Increasing air velocity to 180 m/min improved (P < or = 0.02) the growth rate of broilers from 43 to 49 d of age over birds receiving an air velocity of 120 m/min, but the incidence of mortality was not affected. These results provide evidence that increasing air velocity from 120 to 180 m/min is beneficial to broilers weighing 2.5 kg or greater when exposed to moderate temperatures.

  19. Effect of recombinant insulin-like growth factor-1 treatment on short-term linear growth in a child with Majewski osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type II and hepatic insufficiency.

    PubMed

    Faienza, Maria Felicia; Acquafredda, Angelo; D'Aniello, Mariangela; Soldano, Lucia; Marzano, Flaviana; Ventura, Annamaria; Cavallo, Luciano

    2013-01-01

    We report the case of a boy affected by severe intrauterine and postnatal growth retardation, microcephaly, facial dysmorphisms and postnecrotic cirrhosis, diagnosed at birth as having Seckel syndrome, and subsequently confirmed as Majewski osteodysplastic primordial dwarfism type II (MOPD II) on the basis of clinical and radiological features of skeletal dysplasia. At our observation (6 years 7 months) he presented height -10.3 standard deviation score (SDS), weight -22.1 SDS, head circumference -8 SDS, delayed bone age of 4 years with respect to chronological age. In consideration of the low levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) as well as of hepatic insufficiency, we started the treatment with recombinant human IGF-1 (rhIGF-1) at the dose of 0.04 mg/kg in 2 doses/day, with an increase of 0.04 mg/kg after 1 week until the maximum dose of 0.12 mg/kg. We observed an early response to rhIGF-1 treatment, with a shift of height velocity from 1.8 cm/year (-4.6 SDS) at 4 cm/year (-1.9 SDS), and an increase in bone age of 1.5 years during the first 6 months. rhIGF-1 treatment does not seem to be able to replace the physiological action of IGF-1 in patients with MOPD II and hepatic insufficiency, however, it seems to preserve the typical growth pattern of MOPD II patients, avoiding a further widening of the growth deficiency in these subjects.

  20. Left ventricular ejection time, not heart rate, is an independent correlate of aortic pulse wave velocity.

    PubMed

    Salvi, Paolo; Palombo, Carlo; Salvi, Giovanni Matteo; Labat, Carlos; Parati, Gianfranco; Benetos, Athanase

    2013-12-01

    Several studies showed a positive association between heart rate and pulse wave velocity, a sensitive marker of arterial stiffness. However, no study involving a large population has specifically addressed the dependence of pulse wave velocity on different components of the cardiac cycle. The aim of this study was to explore in subjects of different age the link between pulse wave velocity with heart period (the reciprocal of heart rate) and the temporal components of the cardiac cycle such as left ventricular ejection time and diastolic time. Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity was assessed in 3,020 untreated subjects (1,107 men). Heart period, left ventricular ejection time, diastolic time, and early-systolic dP/dt were determined by carotid pulse wave analysis with high-fidelity applanation tonometry. An inverse association was found between pulse wave velocity and left ventricular ejection time at all ages (<25 years, r(2) = 0.043; 25-44 years, r(2) = 0.103; 45-64 years, r(2) = 0.079; 65-84 years, r(2) = 0.044; ≥ 85 years, r(2) = 0.022; P < 0.0001 for all). A significant (P < 0.0001) negative but always weaker correlation between pulse wave velocity and heart period was also found, with the exception of the youngest subjects (P = 0.20). A significant positive correlation was also found between pulse wave velocity and dP/dt (P < 0.0001). With multiple stepwise regression analysis, left ventricular ejection time and dP/dt remained the only determinant of pulse wave velocity at all ages, whereas the contribution of heart period no longer became significant. Our data demonstrate that pulse wave velocity is more closely related to left ventricular systolic function than to heart period. This may have methodological and pathophysiological implications.

  1. Radial and Azimuthal Velocity Profiles in Gas-Puff Z-Pinches

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Rocco, Sophia; Engelbrecht, Joseph; Banasek, Jacob; de Grouchy, Philip; Qi, Niansheng; Hammer, David

    2016-10-01

    The dynamics of neon, argon, and krypton (either singly or in combination) gas puff z-pinch plasmas are studied on Cornell's 1MA, 100-200ns rise-time COBRA pulsed power generator. The triple-nozzle gas puff valve, consisting of two annular gas puffs and a central jet, allows radial tailoring of the gas puff mass-density profile and the use of 1, 2 or 3 different gases at different pressures. Interferometry supplies information on sheath thickness and electron density, variously filtered PCDs and silicon diodes measure hard and soft x-ray production, and multi frame visible and extreme UV imaging systems allow tracking of the morphology of the plasma. A 527nm, 10J Thomson scattering diagnostic system is used to determine radial and azimuthal velocities. Implosion velocities of 170km/s (Kr) and 300km/s (Ne/Ar) are observed. We are investigating the correlations between instability growth, plasma density profile, velocity partitioning as a function of radius, and radiation production. Research supported by the NNSA Stewardship Sciences Academic Programs under DOE Cooperative Agreement No. DE-NA0001836.

  2. Determination of velocity correction factors for real-time air velocity monitoring in underground mines.

    PubMed

    Zhou, Lihong; Yuan, Liming; Thomas, Rick; Iannacchione, Anthony

    2017-12-01

    When there are installations of air velocity sensors in the mining industry for real-time airflow monitoring, a problem exists with how the monitored air velocity at a fixed location corresponds to the average air velocity, which is used to determine the volume flow rate of air in an entry with the cross-sectional area. Correction factors have been practically employed to convert a measured centerline air velocity to the average air velocity. However, studies on the recommended correction factors of the sensor-measured air velocity to the average air velocity at cross sections are still lacking. A comprehensive airflow measurement was made at the Safety Research Coal Mine, Bruceton, PA, using three measuring methods including single-point reading, moving traverse, and fixed-point traverse. The air velocity distribution at each measuring station was analyzed using an air velocity contour map generated with Surfer ® . The correction factors at each measuring station for both the centerline and the sensor location were calculated and are discussed.

  3. Determination of velocity correction factors for real-time air velocity monitoring in underground mines

    PubMed Central

    Yuan, Liming; Thomas, Rick; Iannacchione, Anthony

    2017-01-01

    When there are installations of air velocity sensors in the mining industry for real-time airflow monitoring, a problem exists with how the monitored air velocity at a fixed location corresponds to the average air velocity, which is used to determine the volume flow rate of air in an entry with the cross-sectional area. Correction factors have been practically employed to convert a measured centerline air velocity to the average air velocity. However, studies on the recommended correction factors of the sensor-measured air velocity to the average air velocity at cross sections are still lacking. A comprehensive airflow measurement was made at the Safety Research Coal Mine, Bruceton, PA, using three measuring methods including single-point reading, moving traverse, and fixed-point traverse. The air velocity distribution at each measuring station was analyzed using an air velocity contour map generated with Surfer®. The correction factors at each measuring station for both the centerline and the sensor location were calculated and are discussed. PMID:29201495

  4. Velocity specificity of training in bodybuilders.

    PubMed

    Bell, D G; Jacobs, I

    1992-03-01

    This study investigated the effects of many years of bodybuilding on muscular strength and endurance. Eight bodybuilders (BB), 4 males and 4 females, and 8 controls (C), 4 males and 4 females, performed a muscle fatigue test (MFT) consisting of 25 maximal leg extensions at angular velocities of 180 and 300 degrees/s. The results for strength showed that at both the slow and fast contraction speeds, BB were significantly stronger than C and males were significantly stronger than females. For muscular endurance the results showed that at the slow contraction speed the torques and torque decline were greater in the BB than in the C, and greater in the males than the females. At the faster contraction speed, torque decline was similar in all groups while torques for the BB and male-C were similar and significantly greater than the torques for the female-C. The ratio of torques (fast/slow) for both strength and muscular endurance showed a main effect due to training status which supported the velocity specificity hypothesis. However, when the relative torques over the 25 contractions at both speeds were looked at, no velocity specificity occurred for muscular endurance. The data suggest a definite velocity specificity for the strength factor in BB whereas the same conclusion is not as clear for the muscular endurance factor.

  5. Phonon group velocity and thermal conduction in superlattices

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tamura, Shin-Ichiro; Tanaka, Yukihiro; Maris, Humphrey J.

    1999-07-01

    With the use of a face-centered cubic model of lattice dynamics we calculate the group velocity of acoustic phonons in the growth direction of periodic superlattices. Comparing with the case of bulk solids, this component of the phonon group velocity is reduced due to the flattening of the dispersion curves associated with Brillouin-zone folding. The results are used to estimate semiquantitatively the effects on the lattice thermal conductivity in Si/Ge and GaAs/AlAs superlattices. For a Si/Ge superlattice an order of magnitude reduction is predicted in the ratio of superlattice thermal conductivity to phonon relaxation time [consistent with the results of P. Hyldgaard and G. D. Mahan, Phys. Rev. B 56, 10 754 (1997)]. For a GaAs/AlAs superlattice the corresponding reduction is rather small, i.e., a factor of 2-3. These effects are larger for the superlattices with larger unit period, contrary to the recent measurements of thermal conductivity in superlattices.

  6. Comparison of large-scale structures and velocities in the local universe

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Yahil, Amos

    1994-01-01

    Comparison of the large-scale density and velocity fields in the local universe shows detailed agreement, strengthening the standard paradigm of the gravitational origin of these structures. Quantitative analysis can determine the cosmological density parameter, Omega, and biasing factor, b; there is virtually no sensitivity in any local analyses to the cosmologial constant, lambda. Comparison of the dipole anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background with the acceleration due to the Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS) galaxies puts the linear growth factor in the range beta approximately equals Omega (exp 0.6)/b = 0.6(+0.7/-0.3) (95% confidence). A direct comparison of the density and velocity fields of nearby galaxies gives beta = 1.3 (+0.7/-0.6), and from nonlinear analysis the weaker limit (Omega greater than 0.45 for b greater than 0.5 (again 95% confidence). A tighter limit (Omega greater than 0.3 (4-6 sigma)), is obtained by a reconstruction of the probability distribution function of the initial fluctuations from which the structures observed today arose. The last two methods depend critically on the smooth velocity field determined from the observed velocities of nearby galaxies by the POTENT method. A new analysis of these velocities, with more than three times the data used to obtain the above quoted results, is now underway and promises to tighten the uncertainties considerably, as well as reduce systematic bias.

  7. Angular velocity discrimination

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kaiser, Mary K.

    1990-01-01

    Three experiments designed to investigate the ability of naive observers to discriminate rotational velocities of two simultaneously viewed objects are described. Rotations are constrained to occur about the x and y axes, resulting in linear two-dimensional image trajectories. The results indicate that observers can discriminate angular velocities with a competence near that for linear velocities. However, perceived angular rate is influenced by structural aspects of the stimuli.

  8. Uncertainty assessment of 3D instantaneous velocity model from stack velocities

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Emanuele Maesano, Francesco; D'Ambrogi, Chiara

    2015-04-01

    3D modelling is a powerful tool that is experiencing increasing applications in data analysis and dissemination. At the same time the need of quantitative uncertainty evaluation is strongly requested in many aspects of the geological sciences and by the stakeholders. In many cases the starting point for 3D model building is the interpretation of seismic profiles that provide indirect information about the geology of the subsurface in the domain of time. The most problematic step in the 3D modelling construction is the conversion of the horizons and faults interpreted in time domain to the depth domain. In this step the dominant variable that could lead to significantly different results is the velocity. The knowledge of the subsurface velocities is related mainly to punctual data (sonic logs) that are often sparsely distributed in the areas covered by the seismic interpretation. The extrapolation of velocity information to wide extended horizons is thus a critical step to obtain a 3D model in depth that can be used for predictive purpose. In the EU-funded GeoMol Project, the availability of a dense network of seismic lines (confidentially provided by ENI S.p.A.) in the Central Po Plain, is paired with the presence of 136 well logs, but few of them have sonic logs and in some portion of the area the wells are very widely spaced. The depth conversion of the 3D model in time domain has been performed testing different strategies for the use and the interpolation of velocity data. The final model has been obtained using a 4 layer cake 3D instantaneous velocity model that considers both the initial velocity (v0) in every reference horizon and the gradient of velocity variation with depth (k). Using this method it is possible to consider the geological constraint given by the geometries of the horizons and the geo-statistical approach to the interpolation of velocities and gradient. Here we present an experiment based on the use of set of pseudo-wells obtained from the

  9. [A follow-up on first-year growth and development of 61 very low birth weight preterm infants].

    PubMed

    Deng, Ying; Xiong, Fei; Wu, Meng-Meng; Yang, Fan

    2016-06-01

    To investigate the physical growth and psychomotor development of very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants in the first year after birth and related influencing factors. A total of 61 VLBW preterm infants received growth and development monitoring for 12 months. Z score was used to evaluate parameters for physical growth, and Denver Development Screen Test (DDST) was used for development screening. Among the 61 VLBW preterm infants, 27 (44.3%) were small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants, and 34 (55.7%) were appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) infants. During the 1-year follow-up, the median weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ), height-for-age Z-score (HAZ), head circumference-for-age Z-score (HCZ), and weight-for-height Z score (WHZ) were >-1 SD in all age groups. The peaks of body mass index-for-age Z-score (BAZ) and WHZ appeared at 1 month of corrected age. At a corrected age of 40 weeks, the incidence rates of underweight, growth retardation, emaciation, microcephalus, overweight, and obesity were 15%, 16%, 11%, 13%, 20%, and 10%, respectively. Compared with those with a corrected age of 40 weeks, the infants with a corrected age of 6 months or 9-12 months had a significantly reduced incidence rate of overweight (3%) (P<0.05). Up to 1 year after birth, 15 infants (25%) had abnormal developmental quotient (DQ). The SGA group had a significantly higher incidence rate of abnormal DQ than the AGA group (P<0.05). SGA was the independent risk factor for retarded growth in the first year after birth in VLBW preterm infants. VLBW preterm infants experience an obvious growth deviation within 3 months of corrected age. Within the first year after birth, the proportion of infants with abnormal DQ screened by DDST is high.

  10. Thirty-five-year growth of ponderosa pine saplings in response to thinning and understory removal.

    Treesearch

    P.H. Cochran; James W. Barrett

    1999-01-01

    Diameter increments for individual trees increased curvilinearly and stand basal area increments decreased curvilinearly as spacing increased from 6.6 to 26.4 feet. Average height growth of all trees increased linearly, and stand cubic volume growth decreased linearly as spacing increased. Large differences in tree sizes developed over the 35 years of study with...

  11. The satisfactory growth and development at 2 years of age of the INTERGROWTH-21st Fetal Growth Standards cohort support its appropriateness for constructing international standards.

    PubMed

    Villar, José; Cheikh Ismail, Leila; Staines Urias, Eleonora; Giuliani, Francesca; Ohuma, Eric O; Victora, Cesar G; Papageorghiou, Aris T; Altman, Douglas G; Garza, Cutberto; Barros, Fernando C; Puglia, Fabien; Ochieng, Roseline; Jaffer, Yasmin A; Noble, Julia A; Bertino, Enrico; Purwar, Manorama; Pang, Ruyan; Lambert, Ann; Chumlea, Cameron; Stein, Alan; Fernandes, Michelle; Bhutta, Zulfiqar A; Kennedy, Stephen H

    2018-02-01

    The World Health Organization recommends that human growth should be monitored with the use of international standards. However, in obstetric practice, we continue to monitor fetal growth using numerous local charts or equations that are based on different populations for each body structure. Consistent with World Health Organization recommendations, the INTERGROWTH-21 st Project has produced the first set of international standards to date pregnancies; to monitor fetal growth, estimated fetal weight, Doppler measures, and brain structures; to measure uterine growth, maternal nutrition, newborn infant size, and body composition; and to assess the postnatal growth of preterm babies. All these standards are based on the same healthy pregnancy cohort. Recognizing the importance of demonstrating that, postnatally, this cohort still adhered to the World Health Organization prescriptive approach, we followed their growth and development to the key milestone of 2 years of age. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the babies in the INTERGROWTH-21 st Project maintained optimal growth and development in childhood. In the Infant Follow-up Study of the INTERGROWTH-21 st Project, we evaluated postnatal growth, nutrition, morbidity, and motor development up to 2 years of age in the children who contributed data to the construction of the international fetal growth, newborn infant size and body composition at birth, and preterm postnatal growth standards. Clinical care, feeding practices, anthropometric measures, and assessment of morbidity were standardized across study sites and documented at 1 and 2 years of age. Weight, length, and head circumference age- and sex-specific z-scores and percentiles and motor development milestones were estimated with the use of the World Health Organization Child Growth Standards and World Health Organization milestone distributions, respectively. For the preterm infants, corrected age was used. Variance components analysis was

  12. Factors driving mortality and growth at treeline: a 30-year experiment of 92 000 conifers.

    PubMed

    Barbeito, Ignacio; Dawes, Melissa A; Rixen, Christian; Senn, Josef; Bebi, Peter

    2012-02-01

    Understanding the interplay between environmental factors contributing to treeline formation and how these factors influence different life stages remains a major research challenge. We used an afforestation experiment including 92 000 trees to investigate the spatial and temporal dynamics of tree mortality and growth at treeline in the Swiss Alps. Seedlings of three high-elevation conifer species (Larix decidua, Pinus mugo ssp. uncinata, and Pinus cembra) were systematically planted along an altitudinal gradient at and above the current treeline (2075 to 2230 m above sea level [a.s.l.]) in 1975 and closely monitored during the following 30 years. We used decision-tree models and generalized additive models to identify patterns in mortality and growth along gradients in elevation, snow duration, wind speed, and solar radiation, and to quantify interactions between the different variables. For all three species, snowmelt date was always the most important environmental factor influencing mortality, and elevation was always the most important factor for growth over the entire period studied. Individuals of all species survived at the highest point of the afforestation for more than 30 years, although mortality was greater above 2160 m a.s.l., 50-100 m above the current treeline. Optimal conditions for height growth differed from those for survival in all three species: early snowmelt (ca. day of year 125-140 [where day 1 is 1 January]) yielded lowest mortality rates, but relatively later snowmelt (ca. day 145-150) yielded highest growth rates. Although snowmelt and elevation were important throughout all life stages of the trees, the importance of radiation decreased over time and that of wind speed increased. Our findings provide experimental evidence that tree survival and height growth require different environmental conditions and that even small changes in the duration of snow cover, in addition to changes in temperature, can strongly impact tree survival and

  13. Accretion rates of protoplanets 2: Gaussian distribution of planestesimal velocities

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Greenzweig, Yuval; Lissauer, Jack J.

    1991-01-01

    The growth rate of a protoplanet embedded in a uniform surface density disk of planetesimals having a triaxial Gaussian velocity distribution was calculated. The longitudes of the aspses and nodes of the planetesimals are uniformly distributed, and the protoplanet is on a circular orbit. The accretion rate in the two body approximation is enhanced by a factor of approximately 3, compared to the case where all planetesimals have eccentricity and inclination equal to the root mean square (RMS) values of those variables in the Gaussian distribution disk. Numerical three body integrations show comparable enhancements, except when the RMS initial planetesimal eccentricities are extremely small. This enhancement in accretion rate should be incorporated by all models, analytical or numerical, which assume a single random velocity for all planetesimals, in lieu of a Gaussian distribution.

  14. Age- and sex-related growth patterns of the craniofacial complex in European children aged 3-6 years.

    PubMed

    Tutkuviene, Janina; Cattaneo, Cristina; Obertová, Zuzana; Ratnayake, Melanie; Poppa, Pasquale; Barkus, Arunas; Khalaj-Hedayati, Kerstin; Schroeder, Inge; Ritz-Timme, Stefanie

    2016-11-01

    Craniofacial growth changes in young children are not yet completely understood. Up-to-date references for craniofacial measurements are crucial for clinical assessment of orthodontic anomalies, craniofacial abnormalities and subsequent planning of interventions. To provide normal reference data and to identify growth patterns for craniofacial dimensions of European boys and girls aged 3-6 years. Using standard anthropometric methodology, body weight, body height and 23 craniofacial measurements were acquired for a cross-sectional sample of 681 healthy children (362 boys and 319 girls) aged 3-6 years from Germany, Italy and Lithuania. Descriptive statistics, correlation coefficients, percentage annual changes and percentage growth rates were used to analyse the dataset. Between the ages of 3-6 years, craniofacial measurements showed age- and sex-related patterns independent from patterns observed for body weight and body height. Sex-related differences were observed in the majority of craniofacial measurements. In both sexes, face heights and face depths showed the strongest correlation with age. Growth patterns differed by craniofacial measurement and can be summarised into eight distinct age- and sex-related patterns. This study provided reference data and identified sex- and age-related growth patterns of the craniofacial complex of young European children, which may be used for detailed assessment of normal growth in paediatrics, maxillofacial reconstructive surgery and possibly for forensic age assessment.

  15. The Effects of Impurities on Protein Crystal Growth and Nucleation: A Preliminary Study

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Schall, Constance A.

    1998-01-01

    Kubota and Mullin (1995) devised a simple model to account for the effects of impurities on crystal growth of small inorganic and organic molecules in aqueous solutions. Experimentally, the relative step velocity and crystal growth of these molecules asymptotically approach zero or non-zero values with increasing concentrations of impurities. Alternatively, the step velocity and crystal growth can linearly approach zero as the impurity concentration increases. The Kubota-Mullin model assumes that the impurity exhibits Langmuirian adsorption onto the crystal surface. Decreases in step velocities and subsequent growth rates are related to the fractional coverage (theta) of the crystal surface by adsorbed impurities; theta = Kx / (I +Kx), x = mole fraction of impurity in solution. In the presence of impurities, the relative step velocity, V/Vo, and the relative growth rate of a crystal face, G/Go, are proposed to conform to the following equations: V/Vo approx. = G/Go = 1 - (alpha)(theta). The adsorption of impurity is assumed to be rapid and in quasi-equilibrium with the crystal surface sites available. When the value of alpha, an effectiveness factor, is one the growth will asymptotically approach zero with increasing concentrations of impurity. At values less than one, growth approaches a non-zero value asymptotically. When alpha is much greater than one, there will be a linear relationship between impurity concentration and growth rates. Kubota and Mullin expect alpha to decrease with increasing supersaturation and shrinking size of a two dimensional nucleus. It is expected that impurity effects on protein crystal growth will exhibit behavior similar to that of impurities in small molecule growth. A number of proteins were added to purified chicken egg white lysozyme, the effect on crystal nucleation and growth assessed.

  16. Test Method Variability in Slow Crack Growth Properties of Sealing Glasses

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Salem, J. A.; Tandon, R.

    2010-01-01

    The crack growth properties of several sealing glasses were measured by using constant stress rate testing in 2 and 95 percent RH (relative humidity). Crack growth parameters measured in high humidity are systematically smaller (n and B) than those measured in low humidity, and crack velocities for dry environments are 100x lower than for wet environments. The crack velocity is very sensitive to small changes in RH at low RH. Biaxial and uniaxial stress states produced similar parameters. Confidence intervals on crack growth parameters that were estimated from propagation of errors solutions were comparable to those from Monte Carlo simulation. Use of scratch-like and indentation flaws produced similar crack growth parameters when residual stresses were considered.

  17. Second- to third-trimester longitudinal growth assessment for prediction of small-for-gestational age and late fetal growth restriction.

    PubMed

    Caradeux, J; Eixarch, E; Mazarico, E; Basuki, T R; Gratacós, E; Figueras, F

    2018-02-01

    Detection of fetal growth restriction (FGR) remains poor and most screening strategies rely on cross-sectional evaluation of fetal size during the third trimester. A longitudinal and individualized approach has been proposed as an alternative method of evaluation. The aim of this study was to compare second- to third-trimester longitudinal growth assessment to cross-sectional evaluation in the third trimester for the prediction of small-for-gestational age (SGA) and late FGR in low-risk singleton pregnancy. This was a prospective cohort study of 2696 unselected consecutive low-risk singleton pregnancies scanned at 21 ± 2 and 32 ± 2 weeks. For cross-sectional growth assessment, abdominal circumference (AC) measurements were transformed to z-values according the 21st-INTERGROWTH standards. Longitudinal growth assessment was performed by calculating the AC z-velocity and the second- to third-trimester AC conditional growth centile. Longitudinal assessment was compared with cross-sectional assessment at 32 weeks. Association of cross-sectional and longitudinal evaluations with SGA and late FGR was assessed by logistic regression analysis. Predictive performance was determined by receiver-operating characteristics curve analysis. In total, 210 (7.8%) newborns were classified as SGA and 103 (3.8%) as late FGR. Neither longitudinal measurement improved the association with SGA or late FGR provided by cross-sectional evaluation of AC z-score at 32 weeks. Areas under the curves of AC z-velocity and conditional AC growth were significantly smaller than those of cross-sectional AC z-scores (P < 0.001), although AC z-velocity performed significantly better than did conditional AC growth (P < 0.001). Longitudinal assessment of fetal growth from the second to third trimester has a low predictive capacity for SGA and late FGR in low-risk singleton pregnancy compared with cross-sectional growth evaluation. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley

  18. Growth of finiteness in the third year of life: replication and predictive validity.

    PubMed

    Hadley, Pamela A; Rispoli, Matthew; Holt, Janet K; Fitzgerald, Colleen; Bahnsen, Alison

    2014-06-01

    The authors of this study investigated the validity of tense and agreement productivity (TAP) scoring in diverse sentence frames obtained during conversational language sampling as an alternative measure of finiteness for use with young children. Longitudinal language samples were used to model TAP growth from 21 to 30 months of age for 37 typically developing toddlers. Empirical Bayes (EB) linear and quadratic growth coefficients and child sex were then used to predict elicited grammar composite scores on the Test of Early Grammatical Impairment (TEGI; Rice & Wexler, 2001) at 36 months. A random-effects quadratic model with no intercept best characterized TAP growth, replicating the findings of Rispoli, Hadley, and Holt (2009). The combined regression model was significant, with the 3 variables accounting for 55.5% of the variance in the TEGI composite scores. These findings establish TAP growth as a valid metric of finiteness in the 3rd year of life. Developmental and theoretical implications are discussed.

  19. Thinning, tree-growth, and resistance to multi-year drought in a mixed-conifer forest of northern California

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Vernon, Michael J.; Sherriff, Rosemary L.; van Mantgem, Phillip; Kane, Jeffrey M.

    2018-01-01

    Drought is an important stressor in forest ecosystems that can influence tree vigor and survival. In the U.S., forest managers use two primary management techniques to promote resistance and resilience to drought: prescribed fire and mechanical thinning. Generally applied to reduce fuels and fire hazard, treatments may also reduce competition for resources that may improve tree-growth and reduce mortality during drought. A recent severe and prolonged drought in California provided a natural experiment to investigate tree-growth responses to fuel treatments and climatic stress. We assessed tree-growth from 299 ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) in treated and untreated stands during severe drought from 2012 to 2015 in the mixed-conifer forests of Whiskeytown National Recreation Area (WNRA) in northern California. The treatment implemented at WNRA removed 34% of live basal area through mechanical thinning with a subsequent pile burning of residual fuels. Tree-growth was positively associated with crown ratio and negatively associated with competition and a 1-year lag of climate water deficit, an index of drought. Douglas-fir generally had higher annual growth than ponderosa pine, although factors affecting growth were the same for both species. Drought resistance, expressed as the ratio between mean growth during drought and mean growth pre-drought, was higher in treated stands compared to untreated stands during both years of severe drought (2014 and 2015) for ponderosa pine but only one year (2014) for Douglas-fir. Thinning improved drought resistance, but tree size, competition and species influenced this response. On-going thinning treatments focused on fuels and fire hazard reduction are likely to be effective at promoting growth and greater drought resistance in dry mixed-conifer forests. Given the likelihood of future droughts, land managers may choose to implement similar treatments to reduce potential impacts.

  20. Factors influencing perceived angular velocity

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Kaiser, Mary K.; Calderone, Jack B.

    1991-01-01

    Angular velocity perception is examined for rotations both in depth and in the image plane and the influence of several object properties on this motion parameter is explored. Two major object properties are considered, namely, texture density which determines the rate of edge transitions for rotations in depth, i.e., the number of texture elements that pass an object's boundary per unit of time, and object size which determines the tangential linear velocities and 2D image velocities of texture elements for a given angular velocity. Results of experiments show that edge-transition rate biased angular velocity estimates only when edges were highly salient. Element velocities had an impact on perceived angular velocity; this bias was associated with 2D image velocity rather than 3D tangential velocity. Despite these biases judgements were most strongly determined by the true angular velocity. Sensitivity to this higher order motion parameter appeared to be good for rotations both in depth (y-axis) and parallel to the line of sight (z-axis).

  1. Eighteen years of seasonal burning in longleaf pine:effects on overstory the growth [Abstract

    Treesearch

    William D. Boyer

    1993-01-01

    The effects of several hardwood control treatments on understory succession and overstory growth have been followed for 19 years on a Coastal Plain site in southwest Alabama. The study began in 1973, with 12 treatment combinations in 14-year-old naturally established longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) thinned to about 500 stems/acre. Four burning...

  2. Pubertal Height Growth and Adult Height in Cystic Fibrosis After Newborn Screening

    PubMed Central

    Zhang, Zhumin; Lindstrom, Mary J.; Farrell, Philip M.

    2016-01-01

    BACKGROUND: To examine long-term growth benefit of newborn screening (NBS), adolescent peak height velocity (PHV), and adult height were compared between the screened (diagnosed early via NBS) and the control (identified generally by symptoms) in the Wisconsin Randomized Clinical Trial. METHODS: Data from 107 children born in 1985–1994 and followed through 2012 were analyzed. PHV was estimated by a semiparametric growth curve model and compared with Tanner reference. RESULTS: Meconium ileus (MI; n = 25) was associated with the worst pubertal growth and adult height, including 1 child who did not experience apparent PHV; children with pancreatic sufficiency (n = 18) achieved the best growth (normal PHV and adult height). In children with pancreatic insufficiency without meconium ileus (n = 64), the subgroup most likely to benefit from NBS, screened children had similar PHV but better adult height compared with controls. Specifically, in boys, the screened group (n = 22) achieved normal PHV (9.5 cm at 13.5 years); the control group (n = 19) had similar onset age (13.6 years) but 0.6-cm lower magnitude (P = .08). In girls, the screened group (n = 10) had somewhat later (12.5 years vs 11.7 years, P = .12) and lower PHV (7.3 cm vs 7.9 cm, P = .33) than the controls (n = 13), coinciding with later menarche (13.6 years vs 12.2 years, P = .10). Adult height was taller in the screened than the control (50th vs 29th percentile, P = .02), even after adjusted for genetic potential (32nd vs15th percentile, P = .006). Differences in adult height were primarily attributable to NBS and better prepubertal growth. CONCLUSIONS: Early linear growth benefits of NBS were sustained through puberty, leading to better adult height in cystic fibrosis. PMID:27244789

  3. First Year Student Development: Students' Perceptions of Growth and Contributing Factors

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Holbrook, Catherine B.

    2012-01-01

    The first year of college is critically important to student success, often shaping the amount and nature of growth and learning over the entire collegiate career in complex and profound ways. For this reason, higher education experts have called for colleges and universities to establish integrated, intentional programs for new students with…

  4. Shear velocity structure of central Eurasia from inversion of surface wave velocities

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Villaseñor, A.; Ritzwoller, M. H.; Levshin, A. L.; Barmin, M. P.; Engdahl, E. R.; Spakman, W.; Trampert, J.

    2001-04-01

    We present a shear velocity model of the crust and upper mantle beneath central Eurasia by simultaneous inversion of broadband group and phase velocity maps of fundamental-mode Love and Rayleigh waves. The model is parameterized in terms of velocity depth profiles on a discrete 2°×2° grid. The model is isotropic for the crust and for the upper mantle below 220 km but, to fit simultaneously long period Love and Rayleigh waves, the model is transversely isotropic in the uppermost mantle, from the Moho discontinuity to 220 km depth. We have used newly available a priori models for the crust and sedimentary cover as starting models for the inversion. Therefore, the crustal part of the estimated model shows good correlation with known surface features such as sedimentary basins and mountain ranges. The velocity anomalies in the upper mantle are related to differences between tectonic and stable regions. Old, stable regions such as the East European, Siberian, and Indian cratons are characterized by high upper-mantle shear velocities. Other large high velocity anomalies occur beneath the Persian Gulf and the Tarim block. Slow shear velocity anomalies are related to regions of current extension (Red Sea and Andaman ridges) and are also found beneath the Tibetan and Turkish-Iranian Plateaus, structures originated by continent-continent collision. A large low velocity anomaly beneath western Mongolia corresponds to the location of a hypothesized mantle plume. A clear low velocity zone in vSH between Moho and 220 km exists across most of Eurasia, but is absent for vSV. The character and magnitude of anisotropy in the model is on average similar to PREM, with the most prominent anisotropic region occurring beneath the Tibetan Plateau.

  5. Infertility treatment and children's longitudinal growth between birth and 3 years of age

    PubMed Central

    Yeung, E.H.; Sundaram, R.; Bell, E.M.; Druschel, C.; Kus, C.; Xie, Y.; Buck Louis, G.M.

    2016-01-01

    STUDY QUESTION Does early childhood growth from birth through to 3 years of age differ by mode of conception? SUMMARY ANSWER Findings suggest early childhood growth was comparable for children irrespective of infertility treatment, but twins conceived with ovulation induction with or without intrauterine insemination (OI/IUI) were slightly smaller than twins conceived without treatment. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Although studies have found that babies conceived with infertility treatment are born lighter and earlier than infants conceived without treatment, little research especially for non-assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatments has focused on their continued growth during early childhood. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Upstate KIDS recruited infants born (2008–2010) to resident upstate New York mothers. Infants were sampled based on birth certificate indication of infertility treatment; specifically, for every singleton conceived by infertility treatment, three singletons without infertility treatment were recruited and matched on region of birth. All multiple births irrespective of treatment were also recruited. Children were prospectively followed, returning questionnaires every 4–6 months until 3 years of age. In total, 3905 singletons, 1129 sets of multiples (96% of whom were twins) enrolled into the study. Analyses included 3440 (88%) singletons (969 conceived with treatment; specifically, 433 with ART and 535 with OI/IUI) and 991 (88%) sets of multiples (439 conceived with treatment; specifically 233 with ART and 206 with OI/IUI) with growth data available. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Mothers reported infertility treatment use at baseline and children's height and weight from pediatric visits. Self-reported use of ART was previously verified by linkage with the US Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology Clinic Outcome Reporting System (SART CORS) database. Mixed linear models with cubic splines accounting for age and age

  6. Erosion and the limits to planetesimal growth

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Krijt, S.; Ormel, C. W.; Dominik, C.; Tielens, A. G. G. M.

    2015-02-01

    Context. The coagulation of microscopic dust into planetesimals is the first step towards the formation of planets. The composition, size, and shape of the growing aggregates determine the efficiency of this early growth. In particular, it has been proposed that fluffy ice aggregates can grow very efficiently in protoplanetary disks, suffering less from the bouncing and radial drift barriers. Aims: While the collision velocity between icy aggregates of similar size is thought to stay below the fragmentation threshold, they may nonetheless lose mass from collisions with much smaller projectiles. As a result, erosive collisions have the potential to terminate the growth of pre-planetesimal bodies. We investigate the effect of these erosive collisions on the ability of porous ice aggregates to cross the radial drift barrier. Methods: We develop a Monte Carlo code that calculates the evolution of the masses and porosities of growing aggregates, while resolving the entire mass distribution at all times. The aggregate's porosity is treated independently of its mass, and is determined by collisional compaction, gas compaction, and eventually self-gravity compaction. We include erosive collisions and study the effect of the erosion threshold velocity on aggregate growth. Results: For erosion threshold velocities of 20-40 m s-1, high-velocity collisions with small projectiles prevent the largest aggregates from growing when they start to drift. In these cases, our local simulations result in a steady-state distribution, with most of the dust mass in particles with Stokes numbers close to unity. Only for the highest erosion threshold considered (60 m s-1) do porous aggregates manage to cross the radial drift barrier in the inner 10 AU of MMSN-like disks. Conclusions: Erosive collisions are more effective in limiting the growth than fragmentary collisions between similar-size particles. Conceivably, erosion limits the growth before the radial drift barrier, although the

  7. Seismic wave velocity of hydrate-bearing fine-grained sediments sampled from the Ulleung basin in East Sea, Korea

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kim, H.; Kwon, T.; Cho, G.

    2012-12-01

    Synthesizing gas hydrate in a fine-grained natural seabed sediment sample, mainly composed of silty-to-clayey soils, has been hardly attempted due to the low permeability. It has been known that hydrate loci in pore spaces and heterogeneity of hydrate growth in core-scale play a critical role in determining physical properties of hydrate-bearing sediments. In the presented study, we attempted to identify the effect of hydrate growth morphology on seismic velocities in natural fine-grained sediments sampled from the Ulleung Basin in East Sea. We synthesized CO2 hydrate in clayey silt sediments in an instrumented oedometric cell and measured seismic velocities during hydrate formation and loading processes. Herein, we present the experiment results on P-wave and S-wave velocities of gas hydrate-bearing fine-grained sediments. It is found that the geophysical properties of gas hydrate-bearing sediments are governed by hydrate saturation and effective stress as well as morphological feature of hydrate formation in sediments.

  8. Stepwise shockwave velocity determinator

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Roth, Timothy E.; Beeson, Harold

    1992-01-01

    To provide an uncomplicated and inexpensive method for measuring the far-field velocity of a surface shockwave produced by an explosion, a stepwise shockwave velocity determinator (SSVD) was developed. The velocity determinator is constructed of readily available materials and works on the principle of breaking discrete sensors composed of aluminum foil contacts. The discrete sensors have an average breaking threshold of approximately 7 kPa. An incremental output step of 250 mV is created with each foil contact breakage and is logged by analog-to-digital instrumentation. Velocity data obtained from the SSVD is within approximately 11 percent of the calculated surface shockwave velocity of a muzzle blast from a 30.06 rifle.

  9. Rotational velocities of A-type stars. IV. Evolution of rotational velocities

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Zorec, J.; Royer, F.

    2012-01-01

    Context. In previous works of this series, we have shown that late B- and early A-type stars have genuine bimodal distributions of rotational velocities and that late A-type stars lack slow rotators. The distributions of the surface angular velocity ratio Ω/Ωcrit (Ωcrit is the critical angular velocity) have peculiar shapes according to spectral type groups, which can be caused by evolutionary properties. Aims: We aim to review the properties of these rotational velocity distributions in some detail as a function of stellar mass and age. Methods: We have gathered vsini for a sample of 2014 B6- to F2-type stars. We have determined the masses and ages for these objects with stellar evolution models. The (Teff,log L/L⊙)-parameters were determined from the uvby-β photometry and the HIPPARCOS parallaxes. Results: The velocity distributions show two regimes that depend on the stellar mass. Stars less massive than 2.5 M⊙ have a unimodal equatorial velocity distribution and show a monotonical acceleration with age on the main sequence (MS). Stars more massive have a bimodal equatorial velocity distribution. Contrarily to theoretical predictions, the equatorial velocities of stars from about 1.7 M⊙ to 3.2 M⊙ undergo a strong acceleration in the first third of the MS evolutionary phase, while in the last third of the MS they evolve roughly as if there were no angular momentum redistribution in the external stellar layers. The studied stars might start in the ZAMS not necessarily as rigid rotators, but with a total angular momentum lower than the critical one of rigid rotators. The stars seem to evolve as differential rotators all the way of their MS life span and the variation of the observed rotational velocities proceeds with characteristic time scales δt ≈ 0.2 tMS, where tMS is the time spent by a star in the MS. Full Table 1 is only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or via http

  10. Fermi acceleration in time-dependent billiards: theory of the velocity diffusion in conformally breathing fully chaotic billiards

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Batistić, Benjamin; Robnik, Marko

    2011-09-01

    We study aspects of the Fermi acceleration (the unbounded growth of the energy) in a certain class of time-dependent 2D billiards. Specifically, we look at the conformally breathing billiards (periodic oscillation of the boundary which preserves the shape of the billiard at all times), which are fully chaotic as static (frozen) billiards, and we show that for large velocities around v0 and for not too long times, we observe just normal diffusion of the velocity as a function of the physical (continuous) time, around v0. However, the diffusion is not homogeneous, as the diffusion constant D depends on v0 as a power law D∝1/v30. Taking this into account, we show that to the leading order the average velocity v(n) as a function of the number of collisions n obeys a power law v∝n1/6 thus, the Fermi acceleration exponent is β = 1/6, which is in excellent agreement with the numerical calculations of the fully chaotic oval billiard, the Sinai billiard and the cardioid billiard. The error of the velocity estimates is of the order 1/v2. Thus, the higher the velocity, the better our analytic approximation. Moreover, we derive the underlying universal equation of the velocity dynamics of the time-dependent conformally breathing billiards, correct up to and including the order 1/v in the regime of the large velocity of the particle v. This universal equation does not depend on the dynamical properties of the system (integrability, ergodicity, chaoticity). We present the results of the numerical simulations for three billiards in complete agreement with the theory. We believe that this is a first step towards theoretical understanding of the power law growth and the Fermi acceleration exponents in 2D billiards, although our theory is so far specialized to the conformally breathing fully chaotic billiards.

  11. Early pruning affects 15-year growth of cottonwood planted at 40- by 40-foot spacing

    Treesearch

    James S. Meadows; Roger M. Krinard

    2013-01-01

    We compared the growth of eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh.) trees planted at 40- by 40-foot spacing and subjected to four pruning treatments from the 2nd through the 8th year of growth. Treatments were (1) no pruning, (2) prune to one-third of total height annually, (3) prune to one-half of total height annually, and (4) prune...

  12. Height velocity curves in female patients with idiopathic scoliosis.

    PubMed

    Chazono, Masaaki; Soshi, Sigeru; Kida, Yoshikuni; Hashimoto, Kurando; Inoue, Takeshi; Nakamura, Yousuke; Shinohara, Akira; Marumo, Keishi; Kono, Katsuki; Suzuki, Nobumasa

    2012-01-01

    Following identification of peak height velocity (PHV) by a recent study as a possible prognostic factor for curve progression in patients with idiopathic scoliosis (IS), the aim of this study was to investigate PHV curves in Japanese female patients with IS. The study subjects were 20 skeletally immature IS patients who were followed until maturity. The mean age and the mean pubertal status at the initial visit were 9.8 years and 24 months before menarche, respectively, with a follow-up period of 5.2 years. Height measurements were recorded at each visit, and HV was calculated as the change in height (cm) divided by the time interval (yr.) between visits of 6 to 12 months. The PHV, age at PHV (APHV), height at PHV (HPHV), and final height (FH) were determined. Patient HV curves were plotted using their HV data, and growth periods (GPs) were calculated from the curves. PHVs and GPs of study patients were compared to standard data from unaffected girls. The median values and interquartile ranges in PHV, APHV, HPHV, and FH were 8.5 cm/yr. (7.9-9.7), 11.8 yr. (11.2-12.1), 153.2 cm (150.1-155.8), and 160.1 cm (157.4-162.4), respectively. The median GP was 27 months. The PHV and GP values in IS female patients were higher and shorter than those in unaffected girls. These findings indicate that the patterns of height velocity curves in IS patients are different from those in unaffected girls, suggesting that curve progression in IS patients is associated with the magnitude of PHV and duration of GP. Recently, we have developed an HV reader to easily and quickly identify the present HV in patients with scoliosis, applicable for the clinical setting or school screening. We conclude that risk assessments of curve progression in patients with IS should include HV along with measures of skeletal maturity such as the Risser sign and/or digital skeletal age using hand X-rays.

  13. Singular growth shapes in turbulent field theories

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Conrado, Claudine V.; Bohr, Tomas

    1994-05-01

    In this work we study deterministic, turbulent partial differential equations (the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation and generalizations) with initial conditions which are nonzero only in a small region. We demonstrate that the asymptotic state has a well-defined growth shape, which can be determined by the combination of nonlinear growth velocities, and front propagation governed by the linear instabilities. We show that the growth shapes are, in general, singular and that a new type of instability occurs when the growth shape becomes discontinuous.

  14. Internal velocity factors

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Cathcart, J. R.; Frank, A. J.; Massaglia, J. L.

    1968-01-01

    Computer program analyzes the entries and planetary trajectories of space vehicles. It obtains the equivalence of altitude and flight path angle, respectively, to acceleration load factor with respect to velocity for a given inertial velocity.

  15. Sound velocity and density of magnesiowüstites: Implications for ultralow-velocity zone topography: Sound velocities of Iron-rich Oxides

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

    Wicks, June; Jackson, Jennifer M.; Sturhahn, Wolfgang

    We explore the effect of Mg/Fe substitution on the sound velocities of iron-rich (Mg 1 - xFe x)O, where x = 0.84, 0.94, and 1.0. Sound velocities were determined using nuclear resonance inelastic X-ray scattering as a function of pressure, approaching those of the lowermost mantle. The systematics of cation substitution in the Fe-rich limit has the potential to play an important role in the interpretation of seismic observations of the core-mantle boundary. By determining a relationship between sound velocity, density, and composition of (Mg,Fe)O, this study explores the potential constraints on ultralow-velocity zones at the core-mantle boundary.

  16. Laser ultrasonic investigations of vertical Bridgman crystal growth

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Queheillalt, Douglas Ted

    The many difficulties associated with the growth of premium quality CdTe and (Cd,Zn)Te alloys has stimulated an interest in the development of a non-invasive ultrasonic approach to monitor critical growth parameters such as the solid-liquid interface position and shape during vertical Bridgman growth. This sensor methodology is based upon the recognition that in most materials, the ultrasonic velocity (and the elastic stiffness constants that control it) of the solid and liquid phases are temperature dependent and an abrupt increase of the longitudinal wave velocity occurs upon solidification. The laser ultrasonic approach has also been used to measure the ultrasonic velocity of solid and liquid Cd0.96Zn0.04Te as a function of temperature up to 1140°C. Using longitudinal and shear wave velocity values together with data for the temperature dependent density allowed a complete evaluation of the temperature dependent single crystal elastic stiffness constants for solid and the adiabatic bulk modulus for liquid Cd0.96Zn0.04 Te. It was found that the ultrasonic velocities exhibited a strong monotonically decreasing function of temperature in the solid and liquid phases and the longitudinal wave indicated an abrupt almost 50% decrease upon melting. Because ray propagation in partially solidified bodies is complex and defines the sensing methodology, a ray tracing algorithm has been developed to analyze two-dimensional wave propagation in the diametral plane of cylindrical solid-liquid interfaces. Ray path, wavefront and time-of-flight (TOF) projections for rays that travel from a source to an arbitrarily positioned receiver on the diametral plane have been calculated and compared to experimentally measured data on a model liquid-solid interface. The simulations and the experimental results reveal that the interfacial region can be identified from transmission TOF data and when used in conjunction with a nonlinear least squares reconstruction algorithm, the interface

  17. Survival of high-velocity free-falls in water.

    DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

    1965-04-01

    Forty-four cases of free-falls survived by individuals impacting water environments under conditions of high velocity (50 to 116 ft/sec, corrected for aerodynamic drag) have been intensively investigated and analyzed. Ages varied from 7 to 80 years a...

  18. Bathymodiolus growth dynamics in relation to environmental fluctuations in vent habitats

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Nedoncelle, K.; Lartaud, F.; Contreira Pereira, L.; Yücel, M.; Thurnherr, A. M.; Mullineaux, L.; Le Bris, N.

    2015-12-01

    compared to long-term records of habitat temperature and oceanographic mooring data in the years following the eruption. Both shell growth and habitat temperature at V-vent varied over the spring-neap tidal cycle and over longer periods of c.a. 60 days. The correlation of growth rate with temperature and, for some individuals, with current velocities supports the idea that tidal forcing impacts growth. Its influence on habitat conditions includes the spring-neap cycle, which is not reflected in current velocities but influences the venting rate. Additionally, it is expected that mesoscale eddies periodically passing across the ridge imprint shell growth through the influence of bottom current on the decimeter-thick mixing interface where mussels thrive. We conclude that diurnal-semidiurnal tidal fluctuations exert major abiotic constraints on B. thermophilus mussels and that low-frequency fluctuations act as significant determinants on growth. Finally, we postulate that the modulation of tidal fluctuations by large-scale hydrodynamic forcing ultimately constrains the capacity of this mussel species to form high biomass aggregations. This study indeed shows that the absence of these strong hydrodynamic drivers would limit the alternance of oxic and sulfidic conditions and significantly affect the growth rate of this species over time.

  19. History * Autobiography * Growth: (Fifty Years since Dartmouth)

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Doecke, Brenton

    2016-01-01

    This essay explores how my professional experiences as an English educator have been shaped by the values and beliefs that are typically associated with the Dartmouth Seminar of 1966 as they were presented by John Dixon in his immensely influential report of that seminar, "Growth Through English." Rather than seeing "Growth"…

  20. Velocity distributions among colliding asteroids

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Bottke, William F., Jr.; Nolan, Michael C.; Greenberg, Richard; Kolvoord, Robert A.

    1994-01-01

    The probability distribution for impact velocities between two given asteroids is wide, non-Gaussian, and often contains spikes according to our new method of analysis in which each possible orbital geometry for collision is weighted according to its probability. An average value would give a good representation only if the distribution were smooth and narrow. Therefore, the complete velocity distribution we obtain for various asteroid populations differs significantly from published histograms of average velocities. For all pairs among the 682 asteroids in the main-belt with D greater than 50 km, we find that our computed velocity distribution is much wider than previously computed histograms of average velocities. In this case, the most probable impact velocity is approximately 4.4 km/sec, compared with the mean impact velocity of 5.3 km/sec. For cases of a single asteroid (e.g., Gaspra or Ida) relative to an impacting population, the distribution we find yields lower velocities than previously reported by others. The width of these velocity distributions implies that mean impact velocities must be used with caution when calculating asteroid collisional lifetimes or crater-size distributions. Since the most probable impact velocities are lower than the mean, disruption events may occur less frequently than previously estimated. However, this disruption rate may be balanced somewhat by an apparent increase in the frequency of high-velocity impacts between asteroids. These results have implications for issues such as asteroidal disruption rates, the amount/type of impact ejecta available for meteoritical delivery to the Earth, and the geology and evolution of specific asteroids like Gaspra.

  1. On the theoretical velocity distribution and flow resistance in natural channels

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Moramarco, Tommaso; Dingman, S. Lawrence

    2017-12-01

    The velocity distribution in natural channels is of considerable interest for streamflow measurements to obtain information on discharge and flow resistance. This study focuses on the comparison of theoretical velocity distributions based on 1) entropy theory, and 2) the two-parameter power law. The analysis identifies the correlation between the parameters of the distributions and defines their dependence on the geometric and hydraulic characteristics of the channel. Specifically, we investigate how the parameters are related to the flow resistance in terms of Manning roughness, shear velocity and water surface slope, and several formulae showing their relationships are proposed. Velocity measurements carried out in the past 20 years at Ponte Nuovo gauged section along the Tiber River, central Italy, are the basis for the analysis.

  2. Collective cell migration without proliferation: density determines cell velocity and wave velocity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tlili, Sham; Gauquelin, Estelle; Li, Brigitte; Cardoso, Olivier; Ladoux, Benoît; Delanoë-Ayari, Hélène; Graner, François

    2018-05-01

    Collective cell migration contributes to embryogenesis, wound healing and tumour metastasis. Cell monolayer migration experiments help in understanding what determines the movement of cells far from the leading edge. Inhibiting cell proliferation limits cell density increase and prevents jamming; we observe long-duration migration and quantify space-time characteristics of the velocity profile over large length scales and time scales. Velocity waves propagate backwards and their frequency depends only on cell density at the moving front. Both cell average velocity and wave velocity increase linearly with the cell effective radius regardless of the distance to the front. Inhibiting lamellipodia decreases cell velocity while waves either disappear or have a lower frequency. Our model combines conservation laws, monolayer mechanical properties and a phenomenological coupling between strain and polarity: advancing cells pull on their followers, which then become polarized. With reasonable values of parameters, this model agrees with several of our experimental observations. Together, our experiments and model disantangle the respective contributions of active velocity and of proliferation in monolayer migration, explain how cells maintain their polarity far from the moving front, and highlight the importance of strain-polarity coupling and density in long-range information propagation.

  3. On the Nonequilibrium Interface Kinetics of Rapid Coupled Eutectic Growth

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Dong, H.; Chen, Y. Z.; Shan, G. B.; Zhang, Z. R.; Liu, F.

    2017-08-01

    Nonequilibrium interface kinetics (NEIK) is expected to play an important role in coupled growth of eutectic alloys, when solidification velocity is high and intermetallic compound or topologically complex phases form in the crystallized product. In order to quantitatively evaluate the effect of NEIK on the rapid coupled eutectic growth, in this work, two nonequilibrium interface kinetic effects, i.e., atom attachment and solute trapping at the solid-liquid interface, were incorporated into the analyses of the coupled eutectic growth under the rapid solidification condition. First, a coupled growth model incorporating the preceding two nonequilibrium kinetic effects was derived. On this basis, an expression of kinetic undercooling (Δ T k), which is used to characterize the NEIK, was defined. The calculations based on the as-derived couple growth model show good agreement with the reported experimental results achieved in rapidly solidified eutectic Al-Sm alloys consisting of a solid solution phase ( α-Al) and an intermetallic compound phase (Al11Sm3). In terms of the definition of Δ T k defined in this work, the role of NEIK in the coupled growth of the Al-Sm eutectic system was analyzed. The results show that with increasing the coupled growth velocity, Δ T k increases continuously, and its ratio to the total undercooling reaches 0.32 at the maximum growth velocity for coupled eutectic growth. Parametric analyses on two key alloy parameters that influence Δ T k, i.e., interface kinetic parameter ( μ i ) and solute distribution coefficient ( k e ), indicate that both μ i and k e influence the NEIK significantly and the decrease of either these two parameters enhances the NEIK effect.

  4. Kinematic and diabatic vertical velocity climatologies from a chemistry climate model

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Marinke Hoppe, Charlotte; Ploeger, Felix; Konopka, Paul; Müller, Rolf

    2016-05-01

    The representation of vertical velocity in chemistry climate models is a key element for the representation of the large-scale Brewer-Dobson circulation in the stratosphere. Here, we diagnose and compare the kinematic and diabatic vertical velocities in the ECHAM/Modular Earth Submodel System (MESSy) Atmospheric Chemistry (EMAC) model. The calculation of kinematic vertical velocity is based on the continuity equation, whereas diabatic vertical velocity is computed using diabatic heating rates. Annual and monthly zonal mean climatologies of vertical velocity from a 10-year simulation are provided for both kinematic and diabatic vertical velocity representations. In general, both vertical velocity patterns show the main features of the stratospheric circulation, namely, upwelling at low latitudes and downwelling at high latitudes. The main difference in the vertical velocity pattern is a more uniform structure for diabatic and a noisier structure for kinematic vertical velocity. Diabatic vertical velocities show higher absolute values both in the upwelling branch in the inner tropics and in the downwelling regions in the polar vortices. Further, there is a latitudinal shift of the tropical upwelling branch in boreal summer between the two vertical velocity representations with the tropical upwelling region in the diabatic representation shifted southward compared to the kinematic case. Furthermore, we present mean age of air climatologies from two transport schemes in EMAC using these different vertical velocities and analyze the impact of residual circulation and mixing processes on the age of air. The age of air distributions show a hemispheric difference pattern in the stratosphere with younger air in the Southern Hemisphere and older air in the Northern Hemisphere using the transport scheme with diabatic vertical velocities. Further, the age of air climatology from the transport scheme using diabatic vertical velocities shows a younger mean age of air in the

  5. Velocities along Byrd Glacier, East Antarctica, derived from Automatic Feature Tracking

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Stearns, L. A.; Hamilton, G. S.

    2003-12-01

    Automatic feature tracking techniques are applied to recently acquired ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) imagery in order to determine the velocity field of Byrd Glacier, East Antarctica. The software IMCORR tracks the displacement of surface features (crevasses, drift mounds) in time sequential images, to produce the velocity field. Due to its high resolution, ASTER imagery is ideally suited for detecting small features changes. The produced result is a dense array of velocity vectors, which allows more thorough characterization of glacier dynamics. Byrd Glacier drains approximately 20.5 km3 of ice into the Ross Ice Shelf every year. Previous studies have determined ice velocities for Byrd Glacier by using photogrammetry, field measurements and manual feature tracking. The most recent velocity data is from 1986 and, as evident in the West Antarctic ice streams, substantial changes in velocity can occur on decadal time scales. The application of ASTER-based velocities fills this time lapse, and increased temporal resolution allows for a more complete analysis of Byrd Glacier. The ASTER-derived ice velocities are used in updating mass balance and force budget calculations to assess the stability of Byrd Glacier. Ice thickness information from BEDMAP, surface slopes from the OSUDEM and a compilation of accumulation rates are used to complete the calculations.

  6. Velocity Models of the Sedimentary Cover and Acoustic Basement, Central Arctic

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bezumov, D. V.; Butsenko, V.

    2017-12-01

    As the part of the Russian Federation Application on the Extension of the outer limit of the continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean to the Commission for the limits of the continental shelf the regional 2D seismic reflection and sonobuoy data was obtained in 2011, 2012 and 2014 years. Structure and thickness of the sedimentary cover and acoustic basement of the Central Arctic ocean can be refined due to this data. "VNIIOkeangeologia" created a methodology for matching 2D velocity model of the sedimentary cover based on vertical velocity spectrum calculated from wide-angle reflection sonobuoy data and the results of ray tracing of reflected and refracted waves. Matched 2D velocity models of the sedimentary cover in the Russian part of the Arctic Ocean were computed along several seismic profiles (see Figure). Figure comments: a) vertical velocity spectrum calculated from wide-angle reflection sonobuoy data. RMS velocity curve was picked in accordance with interpreted MCS section. Interval velocities within sedimentary units are shown. Interval velocities from Seiswide model are shown in brackets.b) interpreted sonobuoy record with overlapping of time-distance curves calculated by ray-tracing modelling.c) final depth velocity model specified by means of Seiswide software.

  7. Crop-tree release increases growth of 12-year-old yellow-poplar and black cherry

    Treesearch

    Neil I. Lamson; H. Clay Smith; H. Clay Smith

    1989-01-01

    Precommercial thinning was done in a 12-year-old Appalachian hardwood sapling stand in West Virginia. Two crop-tree release techniques were used--crown touching and crown touching plus 5 feet. Results indicated that both treatments significantly increased 5-year d.b.h. growth for released yellow-poplar and black cherry crop trees. Although there was a major increase in...

  8. Growth of young saligna eucalyptus in Hawaii: 6 years after thinning

    Treesearch

    Craig D. Whitesell

    1975-01-01

    The effect of thinning on growth rate and quality of a 6-year-old Eucalyptus saligna Sm. stand on Maui, Hawaii, was studied by testing three levels of thinning from below: 100, 85, and 70 sq ft per acre (23, 19.5, and 16 sq m/ha). The stand had an average basal area of 102 sq ft per acre (23 sq m/ha). Initial spacing was about 10 by 10 feet. During...

  9. Rip Current Velocity Structure in Drifter Trajectories and Numerical Simulations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schmidt, W. E.; Slinn, D. N.

    2008-12-01

    Estimates of rip current velocity and cross-shore structure were made using surfzone drifters, bathymetric surveys, and rectified video images. Over 60 rip current trajectories were observed during a three year period at a Southern California beach in July 2000, 2001, and 2002. Incident wave heights (Hs) immediately offshore (~7 m depth) were obtained by initializing a refraction model with data from nearby directional wave buoys, and varied from 0.3 to 1.0 m. Tide levels varied over approximately 1 m and winds were light. Numerical simulations using the non-linear shallow water equations and modeled over measured bathymetry also produced similar flows and statistics. Time series of drifter position, sampled at 1 Hz, were first-differenced to produce velocity time series. Maximum observed velocities varied between 25 and 80 cm s-1, whereas model maximum velocities were lower by a factor 2 to 3. When velocity maxima were non-dimensionalized by respective trajectory mean velocity, both observed and modeled values varied between 1.5 and 3.5. Cross-shore location of rip current velocity maxima for both shore-normal and shore-oblique rip currents were strongly coincident with the surfzone edge (Xb), as determined by rectified video (observations) or breakpoint (model). Once outside of the surfzone, observed and modeled rip current velocities decreased to 10% of their peak values within 2 surfzone widths of the shoreline, a useful definition of rip current cross-shore extent.

  10. Meteor velocity distribution from CILBO double station video camera data

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Drolshagen, Esther; Ott, Theresa; Koschny, Detlef; Drolshagen, Gerhard; Poppe, Bjoern

    2014-02-01

    This paper is based on data from the double-station meteor camera setup on the Canary Islands - CILBO. The data has been collected from July 2011 until August 2014. The CILBO meteor data of one year (1 June 2013 - 31 May 2014) were used to analyze the velocity distribution of sporadic meteors and to compare the distribution to a reference distribution for near-Earth space. The velocity distribution for 1 AU outside the influence of Earth derived from the Harvard Radio Meteor Project (HRMP) was used as a reference. This HRMP distribution was converted to an altitude of 100 km by considering the gravitational attraction of Earth. The new, theoretical velocity distribution for a fixed meteoroid mass ranges from 11 - 71 𝑘𝑚/𝑠 and peaks at 12.5 𝑘𝑚/𝑠. This represents the predicted velocity distribution. The velocity distribution of the meteors detected simultaneously by both cameras of the CILBO system was examined. The meteors are sorted by their stream association and especially the velocity distribution of the sporadics is studied closely. The derived sporadic velocity distribution has a maximum at 64 𝑘𝑚/𝑠. This drastic difference to the theoretical curve confirms that fast meteors are usually greatly over-represented in optical and radar measurements of meteors. The majority of the fast sporadics are apparently caused by the Apex contribution in the early morning hours. This paper presents first results of the ongoing analysis of the meteor velocity distribution.

  11. Missing Rings, Synchronous Growth, and Ecological Disturbance in a 36-Year Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida) Provenance Study

    PubMed Central

    Leland, Caroline; Hom, John; Skowronski, Nicholas; Krusic, Paul J.; Cook, Edward R.; Martin-Benito, Dario; Martin-Fernandez, Javier; Pederson, Neil

    2016-01-01

    Provenance studies are an increasingly important analog for understanding how trees adapted to particular climatic conditions might respond to climate change. Dendrochronological analysis can illuminate differences among trees from different seed sources in terms of absolute annual growth and sensitivity to external growth factors. We analyzed annual radial growth of 567 36-year-old pitch pine (Pinus rigida Mill.) trees from 27 seed sources to evaluate their performance in a New Jersey Pine Barrens provenance experiment. Unexpectedly, missing rings were prevalent in most trees, and some years—1992, 1999, and 2006—had a particularly high frequency of missing rings across the plantation. Trees from local seed sources (<55 km away from the plantation) had a significantly smaller percentage of missing rings from 1980–2009 (mean: 5.0%), relative to northernmost and southernmost sources (mean: 9.3% and 7.9%, respectively). Some years with a high frequency of missing rings coincide with outbreaks of defoliating insects or dry growing season conditions. The propensity for missing rings synchronized annual variations in growth across all trees and might have complicated the detection of potential differences in interannual variability among seed sources. Average ring width was significantly larger in seed sources from both the southernmost and warmest origins compared to the northernmost and coldest seed sources in most years. Local seed sources had the highest average radial growth. Adaptation to local environmental conditions and disturbances might have influenced the higher growth rate found in local seed sources. These findings underscore the need to understand the integrative impact of multiple environmental drivers, such as disturbance agents and climate change, on tree growth, forest dynamics, and the carbon cycle. PMID:27182599

  12. Nantucket Pine Tip Moth Control and Loblolly Pine Growth in Intensive Pine Culture: Two-Year Results

    Treesearch

    David L. Kulhavy; Jimmie L. Yeiser; L. Allen Smith

    2004-01-01

    Twenty-two treatments replicated four times were applied to planted loblolly pine, Pinus taeda L. on bedded industrial forest land in east Texas for measurement of growth impact of Nantucket pine tip moth (NPTM), Rhyacionia frustrana (Comstock), and effects on pine growth over 2 years. Treatments were combinations of Velpar, Oust, and Arsenal...

  13. Constitutional delay influences the auxological response to growth hormone treatment in children with short stature and growth hormone sufficiency.

    PubMed

    Gunn, Katherine C; Cutfield, Wayne S; Hofman, Paul L; Jefferies, Craig A; Albert, Benjamin B; Gunn, Alistair J

    2014-08-14

    In a retrospective, population based cohort study, we examined whether constitutional delay was associated with the growth response to growth hormone (GH) in children with short stature and normal GH responses. 70 patients were treated with 21 GH iu/m2/week from 1975 to 2013 throughout New Zealand. Demographic and auxological data were prospectively collected and standard deviation scores (SDS) were calculated for height (HtSDS), yearly growth velocity (GV-SDS), body mass index (BMI-SDS) and predicted adult height (PAH-SDS) at time of the last available bone age. In the first year, GH was associated with marked increase in HtSDS (+0.46 (0.19, 0.76), p < 0.001) and GV-SDS (from -1.9 (-3.6, -0.7) to +2.7 (0.45, 4.2), p < 0.001). The increase in HtSDS but not in GV-SDS was greatest with younger patients and greater bone age delay, with no effect of sex, BMI-SDS or baseline HtSDS. PAH-SDS increased with treatment (+0.94 (0.18, 1.5)); increased PAH-SDS was associated with less bone age delay and greater initial increase in HtSDS. This study shows that greater bone age delay was associated with greater initial improvement in height but less improvement in predicted adult heights, suggesting that children with very delayed bone ages may show accelerated maturation during GH treatment.

  14. Breast feeding, infant growth, and body mass index at 30 and 35 years.

    PubMed

    Fergusson, David M; McLeod, Geraldine F H; Horwood, L John

    2014-11-01

    This study examined the associations between duration of breast feeding, early infant growth, and body mass index (BMI) at 30 and 35 years, in a birth cohort studied to age 35. Data were gathered on duration of exclusive and non-exclusive breast feeding (months), early growth (kg; 0-9 months), and BMI at ages 30 and 35 from the Christchurch Health and Development Study. The Christchurch Health and Development Study is a study of a birth cohort of 1265 children, born in Christchurch in 1977. Population-averaged generalised estimating regression models showed statistically significant associations between: duration of breast feeding and mean BMI; and early growth and mean BMI. After adjustment for perinatal, family, and social background factors, statistically significant associations were found between: longer duration of breast feeding and lower adult BMI (B = -0.424 [95% confidence interval (CI) -0.708, -0.140]); and increasing early growth and higher adult BMI (B = 0.393 [95% CI 0.080, 0.707]). When breast feeding and infant growth were entered into the regression model and adjusted for covariates, breast feeding was no longer statistically significantly associated with BMI (B = -0.250 [95% CI -0.553, 0.054]), while early growth remained statistically significantly associated with BMI (B = 0.355 [95% CI 0.039, 0.671]). A test for mediation showed that the association between breast feeding and BMI was mediated by early growth (P = 0.01). The association between longer duration of breast feeding and later lower BMI scores in adulthood was mediated by lower early growth. Breast feeding may be included as one component of multicompartment programmes targeted at early growth and later obesity. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

  15. Correlation of right atrial appendage velocity with left atrial appendage velocity and brain natriuretic Peptide.

    PubMed

    Kim, Bu-Kyung; Heo, Jung-Ho; Lee, Jae-Woo; Kim, Hyun-Soo; Choi, Byung-Joo; Cha, Tae-Joon

    2012-03-01

    Left atrial appendage (LAA) anatomy and function have been well characterized both in healthy and diseased people, whereas relatively little attention has been focused on the right atrial appendage (RAA). We sought to evaluate RAA flow velocity and to compare these parameters with LAA indices and with a study of biomarkers, such as brain natriuretic peptide, among patients with sinus rhythm (SR) and atrial fibrillation (AF). In a series of 79 consecutive patients referred for transesophageal echocardiography, 43 patients (23 with AF and 20 controls) were evaluated. AF was associated with a decrease in flow velocity for both LAA and RAA [LAA velocity-SR vs. AF: 61 ± 22 vs. 29 ± 18 m/sec (p < 0.01), RAA velocity-SR vs. AF: 46 ± 20 vs. 19 ± 8 m/sec (p < 0.01)]. Based on simple linear regression analysis, LAA velocity and RAA velocity were positively correlated, and RAA velocity was inversely correlated with brain natriuretic peptide (BNP). AF was associated with decreased RAA and LAA flow velocities. RAA velocity was found to be positively correlated with LAA velocity and negatively correlated with BNP. The plasma BNP concentration may serve as a determinant of LAA and RAA functions.

  16. Efficacy of Growth Hormone Treatment in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus and Growth Hormone Deficiency-An Analysis of KIGS Data.

    PubMed

    Bonfig, Walter; Lindberg, Anders; Carlsson, Martin; Cutfield, Wayne; Dunger, David; Camacho-Hübner, Cecilia; Holl, Reinhard W

    2018-04-12

    To analyze first-year treatment growth response and growth hormone (GH) dosage in prepubertal patients with the combination of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and growth hormone deficiency (GHD). A total of 69 patients with T1DM and GHD treated with GH have been enrolled in KIGS (Pfizer International Growth Database). Of these, 24 prepubertal patients had developed T1DM before GHD and were included in this analysis. Of 30 570 patients with GHD without T1DM, 15 024 were prepubertal and served as controls. Values are expressed as mean ± SD. Patients with T1DM and GHD had similar characteristics compared with the GHD-alone group. Neither age (10.2 ± 3.13 vs 8.42 ± 3.46 years, P = .14), height SDS corrected for midparental height SDS at start of treatment (-1.62 ± 1.38 vs -1.61 ± 1.51, P = .80), nor GH dosage (0.24 ± 0.08 mg/kg/wk vs 0.20 ± 0.04 mg/kg/wk, P = .09) were different between those with and without T1DM. First-year catch-up growth was comparable between the 2 patient groups (first treatment year height velocity 7.54 ± 3.11 cm/year compared with 8.35 ± 2.54 cm/year in control patients, P = .38). Height SDS of children with T1DM and GHD improved from -2.62 ± 1.04 to -1.88 ± 1.11 over 1 year of GH treatment. Short-term response to GH therapy appeared similar in subjects with T1DM who then developed GHD and in those with GHD alone. Thus, T1DM does not appear to compromise GH response in children with GHD and should not exclude GH treatment in these children. GH treatment was safe in both subgroups of patients. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  17. Ablation from High Velocity Clouds: A Source for Low Velocity Ionized Gas

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Shelton, Robin L.; Henley, D. B.; Kwak, K.

    2012-05-01

    High velocity clouds shed material as they move through the Galaxy. This material mixes with the Galactic interstellar medium, resulting in plasma whose temperature and ionization levels are intermediate between those of the cloud and those of the Galaxy. As time passes, the mixed material slows to the velocity of the ambient gas. This raises the possibility that initially warm (T 10^3 K), poorly ionized clouds moving through hot (T 10^6 K), very highly ionized ambient gas could lead to mixed gas that harbors significant numbers of high ions (O+5, N+4, and C+3) and thus helps to explain the large numbers of low-velocity high ions seen on high latitude lines of sight through the Galactic halo. We have used a series of detailed FLASH simulations in order to track the hydrodynamics of warm clouds embedded in hot Galactic halo gas. These simulations tracked the ablated material as it mixed and slowed to low velocities. By following the ionization levels of the gas in a time-dependent fashion, we determined that the mixed material is rich in O+5, N+4, and C+3 ions and continues to contain these ions for some time after slowing to low velocities. Combining our simulational results with estimates of the high velocity cloud infall rate leads to the finding that the mixed gas can account for 1/3 of the normal-velocity O+5 column density found on high latitude lines of sight. It accounts for lesser fractions of the N+4 and C+3 column densities. We will discuss our high velocity cloud results as part of a composite halo model that also includes cooling Galactic fountain gas, isolated supernova remnants, and ionizing photons.

  18. Long-term increases in young-of-the-year growth of Arctic cisco Coregonus autumnalis and environmental influences

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    von Biela, Vanessa R.; Zimmerman, Christian E.; Moulton, L. L.

    2011-01-01

    Arctic cisco Coregonus autumnalis young-of-year (YOY) growth was used as a proxy to examine the long-term response of a high-latitude fish population to changing climate from 1978 to 2004. YOY growth increased over time (r2 = 0·29) and was correlated with monthly averages of the Arctic oscillation index, air temperature, east wind speed, sea-ice concentration and river discharge with and without time lags. Overall, the most prevalent correlates to YOY growth were sea-ice concentration lagged 1 year (significant correlations in 7 months; r2 = 0·14-0·31) and Mackenzie River discharge lagged 2 years (significant correlations in 8 months; r2 = 0·13-0·50). The results suggest that decreased sea-ice concentrations and increased river discharge fuel primary production and that life cycles of prey species linking increased primary production to fish growth are responsible for the time lag. Oceanographic studies also suggest that sea ice concentration and fluvial inputs from the Mackenzie River are key factors influencing productivity in the Beaufort Sea. Future research should assess the possible mechanism relating sea ice concentration and river discharge to productivity at upper trophic levels.

  19. Reading Development in Typically Developing Children and Children with Prenatal or Perinatal Brain Lesions: Differential School Year and Summer Growth

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Demir-Lira, Özlem Ece; Levine, Susan C.

    2016-01-01

    Summer slide, uneven growth of academic skills during the calendar year, captures the fact that the learning gains children make during the school year do not continue at the same pace over the summer, when children are typically not in school. We compared growth of reading skills during the school year and during the summer months in children…

  20. Phonon group velocity and thermal conduction in superlattices

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

    Tamura, S.; Tanaka, Y.; Maris, H.J.

    1999-07-01

    With the use of a face-centered cubic model of lattice dynamics we calculate the group velocity of acoustic phonons in the growth direction of periodic superlattices. Comparing with the case of bulk solids, this component of the phonon group velocity is reduced due to the flattening of the dispersion curves associated with Brillouin-zone folding. The results are used to estimate semiquantitatively the effects on the lattice thermal conductivity in Si/Ge and GaAs/AlAs superlattices. For a Si/Ge superlattice an order of magnitude reduction is predicted in the ratio of superlattice thermal conductivity to phonon relaxation time [consistent with the results ofmore » P. Hyldgaard and G. D. Mahan, Phys. Rev. B {bold 56}, 10&hthinsp;754 (1997)]. For a GaAs/AlAs superlattice the corresponding reduction is rather small, i.e., a factor of 2{endash}3. These effects are larger for the superlattices with larger unit period, contrary to the recent measurements of thermal conductivity in superlattices. {copyright} {ital 1999} {ital The American Physical Society}« less

  1. Powdery Mildew Decreases the Radial Growth of Oak Trees with Cumulative and Delayed Effects over Years

    PubMed Central

    Bert, Didier; Lasnier, Jean-Baptiste; Capdevielle, Xavier; Dugravot, Aline; Desprez-Loustau, Marie-Laure

    2016-01-01

    Quercus robur and Q. petraea are major European forest tree species. They have been affected by powdery mildew caused by Erysiphe alphitoides for more than a century. This fungus is a biotrophic foliar pathogen that diverts photosynthetate from the plant for its own nutrition. We used a dendrochronological approach to investigate the effects of different levels of infection severity on the radial growth of young oak trees. Oak infection was monitored at individual tree level, at two sites in southwestern France, over a five-year period (2001–2005). Mean infection severity was almost 75% (infected leaf area) at the end of the 2001 growing season, at both sites, but only about 40% in 2002, and 8%, 5% and 2% in 2003, 2004 and 2005, respectively. Infection levels varied considerably between trees and were positively related between 2001 and 2002. Increment cores were taken from each tree to assess annual ring widths and increases in basal area. Annual radial growth was standardised to take the effect of tree size into account. Annual standardised radial growth was significantly and negatively correlated with infection severity in the same year, for both 2001 and 2002, and at both sites. The decrease in growth reached 70–90% for highly infected trees. The earlywood width was poorly correlated with infection severity, but the proportion of latewood in tree rings was lower in highly infected trees (60%) than in less heavily infected trees (85%). Infection in 2001 and 2002 was found to have a cumulative effect on radial growth in these years, together with a delayed effect detectable in 2003. Thus, even non-lethal pathogens like powdery mildew can have a significant impact on tree functioning. This impact should be taken into account in growth and yield models, to improve predictions of forest net primary production. PMID:27177029

  2. Regional myocardial velocity imaged by magnetic resonance in patients with ischaemic heart disease.

    PubMed Central

    Karwatowski, S P; Mohiaddin, R H; Yang, G Z; Firmin, D N; St John Sutton, M; Underwood, S R

    1994-01-01

    OBJECTIVE--To assess the pattern of global and regional left ventricular long axis motion during early diastole in patients with ischaemic heart disease with and without myocardial infarction using magnetic resonance velocity mapping. DESIGN--Prospective study of 26 patients with a history of myocardial infarction (age 29-78, mean 55 years) and 21 patients with coronary artery disease without infarction (age range 39-71, mean 58 years). Values were compared with a control group (19 controls, age 35-76, mean 52 years) with a low likelihood of cardiovascular disease. RESULTS--Regional long axis velocity varied with time and position around the ventricle. All measurements were taken at the time of maximum early diastolic long axis velocity. Patients with coronary artery disease without infarction had lower values for maximum (mean (SD)) (99 (30) v 125 (33) mm/s, P < 0.05) and mean peak early diastolic wall motion (63 (13) v 82 (22) mm/s, P < 0.05) than controls. The coefficient of variation showed greater inhomogeneity of relaxation in patients than in controls (38 (18)% v 27 (10)%). All values were lower in patients with previous infarction than in patients with coronary artery disease without infarction and normal subjects. In patients with previous myocardial infarction the maximum (mean (SD)) early diastolic velocity was 80 (22) mm/s (P < 0.01 compared with controls and P < 0.05 compared with patients without infarction) and the mean (SD) velocity was 47 (18) mm/s (P < 0.01 compared with controls). The coefficient of variation was greater (52 (33)%) than for controls (P < 0.05) and patients with coronary artery disease without infarction. 18 of 26 patients with previous myocardial infarction and 13 of 21 patients with coronary artery disease without infarction had regional abnormalities corresponding to areas of fixed or reversible ischaemia on exercise electrocardiography or thallium myocardial perfusion tomography. CONCLUSIONS--Magnetic resonance velocity

  3. Sodium Velocity Maps on Mercury

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Potter, A. E.; Killen, R. M.

    2011-01-01

    The objective of the current work was to measure two-dimensional maps of sodium velocities on the Mercury surface and examine the maps for evidence of sources or sinks of sodium on the surface. The McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope and the Stellar Spectrograph were used to measure Mercury spectra that were sampled at 7 milliAngstrom intervals. Observations were made each day during the period October 5-9, 2010. The dawn terminator was in view during that time. The velocity shift of the centroid of the Mercury emission line was measured relative to the solar sodium Fraunhofer line corrected for radial velocity of the Earth. The difference between the observed and calculated velocity shift was taken to be the velocity vector of the sodium relative to Earth. For each position of the spectrograph slit, a line of velocities across the planet was measured. Then, the spectrograph slit was stepped over the surface of Mercury at 1 arc second intervals. The position of Mercury was stabilized by an adaptive optics system. The collection of lines were assembled into an images of surface reflection, sodium emission intensities, and Earthward velocities over the surface of Mercury. The velocity map shows patches of higher velocity in the southern hemisphere, suggesting the existence of sodium sources there. The peak earthward velocity occurs in the equatorial region, and extends to the terminator. Since this was a dawn terminator, this might be an indication of dawn evaporation of sodium. Leblanc et al. (2008) have published a velocity map that is similar.

  4. Spatial and temporal variations of the ion velocity measured in the Venus ionosphere

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Miller, K. L.; Knudsen, W. C.

    1987-01-01

    Temporal and spatial deviations of ion velocity from the dominant flow of the Venusian ionosphere were detected in data collected from a retarding potential analyzer (RPA) aboard the Pioneer-Venus orbiter spectrometer. The ion velocity measurements were analyzed for the first 3.5 Venus years of the Pioneer-Venus mission, approximately through orbit 780. The deviations of ion velocity from the dominant velocity of the Venusian ionosphere, which generally flows nightward and is almost symmetric about the sun-Venus axis, affect both the ionospheric structure and dynamics. Two examples of departure from steady symmetric flow that were measured by the RPA are discussed.

  5. Water velocity meter

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Roberts, C. W.; Smith, D. L.

    1970-01-01

    Simple, inexpensive drag sphere velocity meter with a zero to 6 ft/sec range measures steady-state flow. When combined with appropriate data acquisition system, it is suited to applications where large numbers of simultaneous measurements are needed for current mapping or velocity profile determination.

  6. Microstructural and Mechanical-Property Manipulation through Rapid Dendrite Growth and Undercooling in an Fe-based Multinary Alloy

    PubMed Central

    Ruan, Ying; Mohajerani, Amirhossein; Dao, Ming

    2016-01-01

    Rapid dendrite growth in single- or dual-phase multicomponent alloys can be manipulated to improve the mechanical properties of such metallic materials. Rapid growth of (αFe) dendrites was realized in an undercooled Fe-5Ni-5Mo-5Ge-5Co (wt.%) multinary alloy using the glass fluxing method. The relationship between rapid dendrite growth and the micro-/nano-mechanical properties of the alloy was investigated by analyzing the grain refinement and microstructural evolution resulting from the rapid dendrite growth. It was found that (αFe) dendrites grow sluggishly within a low but wide undercooling range. Once the undercooling exceeds 250 K, the dendritic growth velocity increases steeply until reaching a plateau of 31.8 ms−1. The increase in the alloy Vickers microhardness with increasing dendritic growth velocity results from the hardening effects of increased grain/phase boundaries due to the grain refinement, the more homogeneous distribution of the second phase along the boundaries, and the more uniform distribution of solutes with increased contents inside the grain, as verified also by nanohardness maps. Once the dendritic growth velocity exceeds ~8 ms−1, the rate of Vickers microhardness increase slows down significantly with a further increase in dendritic growth velocity, owing to the microstructural transition of the (αFe) phase from a trunk-dendrite to an equiaxed-grain microstructure. PMID:27539749

  7. Measurement of the velocity of a quantum object: A role of phase and group velocities

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Lapinski, Mikaila; Rostovtsev, Yuri V.

    2017-08-01

    We consider the motion of a quantum particle in a free space. Introducing an explicit measurement procedure for velocity, we demonstrate that the measured velocity is related to the group and phase velocities of the corresponding matter waves. We show that for long distances the measured velocity coincides with the matter wave group velocity. We discuss the possibilities to demonstrate these effects for the optical pulses in coherently driven media or for radiation propagating in waveguides.

  8. Definition of Contravariant Velocity Components

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hung, Ching-Mao; Kwak, Dochan (Technical Monitor)

    2002-01-01

    This is an old issue in computational fluid dynamics (CFD). What is the so-called contravariant velocity or contravariant velocity component? In the article, we review the basics of tensor analysis and give the contravariant velocity component a rigorous explanation. For a given coordinate system, there exist two uniquely determined sets of base vector systems - one is the covariant and another is the contravariant base vector system. The two base vector systems are reciprocal. The so-called contravariant velocity component is really the contravariant component of a velocity vector for a time-independent coordinate system, or the contravariant component of a relative velocity between fluid and coordinates, for a time-dependent coordinate system. The contravariant velocity components are not physical quantities of the velocity vector. Their magnitudes, dimensions, and associated directions are controlled by their corresponding covariant base vectors. Several 2-D (two-dimensional) linear examples and 2-D mass-conservation equation are used to illustrate the details of expressing a vector with respect to the covariant and contravariant base vector systems, respectively.

  9. Fifteen-year growth patterns after thinning a ponderosa-Jeffrey pine plantation in northeastern California

    Treesearch

    William W. Oliver

    1979-01-01

    Growth was analyzed after one thinning in a plantation of pole-size ponderosa and Jeffrey pines on land having a site index of 50 feet at 50 years. Periodic annual increment was determined for each of three 5-year periods. On this basis, increment in diameter and cubic volume were found to he related closely to stand basal area only. Basal area and height increment,...

  10. The use of analytical sedimentation velocity to extract thermodynamic linkage

    PubMed Central

    Cole, James L.; Correia, John J.; Stafford, Walter F.

    2011-01-01

    For 25 years, the Gibbs Conference on Biothermodynamics has focused on the use of thermodynamics to extract information about the mechanism and regulation of biological processes. This includes the determination of equilibrium constants for macromolecular interactions by high precision physical measurements. These approaches further reveal thermodynamic linkages to ligand binding events. Analytical ultracentrifugation has been a fundamental technique in the determination of macromolecular reaction stoichiometry and energetics for 85 years. This approach is highly amenable to the extraction of thermodynamic couplings to small molecule binding in the overall reaction pathway. In the 1980’s this approach was extended to the use of sedimentation velocity techniques, primarily by the analysis of tubulin-drug interactions by Na and Timasheff. This transport method necessarily incorporates the complexity of both hydrodynamic and thermodynamic nonideality. The advent of modern computational methods in the last 20 years has subsequently made the analysis of sedimentation velocity data for interacting systems more robust and rigorous. Here we review three examples where sedimentation velocity has been useful at extracting thermodynamic information about reaction stoichiometry and energetics. Approaches to extract linkage to small molecule binding and the influence of hydrodynamic nonideality are emphasized. These methods are shown to also apply to the collection of fluorescence data with the new Aviv FDS. PMID:21703752

  11. True-triaxial experimental seismic velocities linked to an in situ 3D seismic velocity structure

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tibbo, M.; Young, R. P.

    2017-12-01

    Upscaling from laboratory seismic velocities to in situ field seismic velocities is a fundamental problem in rock physics. This study presents a unique situation where a 3D velocity structure of comparable frequency ranges is available both in situ and experimentally. The in situ data comes from the Underground Research Laboratory (URL) located in Manitoba, Canada. The velocity survey and oriented, cubic rock sample, are from the 420m level of the mine, where the geology is a homogeneous and isotropic granite. The triaxial in situ stress field at this level was determined and the Mine-by tunnel was excavated horizontally to maximize borehole break out. Ultrasonic velocity measurements for P-, S1-,and S2-waves were done in the tunnel sidewall, ceiling and far-field rock mass.The geophysical imaging cell (GIC) used in this study allows for true triaxial stress (σ1 > σ2 > σ3). Velocity surveys for P-, S1-, and S2-wave can be acquired along all three axes, and therefore the effects of σ1, σ2, σ3 on the velocity-stress relationship is obtained along all 3 axes. The cubic (80 mm) granite sample was prepared oriented to the in situ principle stress axis in the field. The stress path of the sample extraction from in situ stress was modeled in FLAC 3D (by Itasca inc ), and then reapplied in the GIC to obtain the laboratory velocities at in situ stress. Both laboratory and field velocities conclude the same maximum velocity axis, within error, to be along σ2 at 5880±60 m/s for P-wave. This deviation from the expected fast axis being σ1, is believed to be caused by an aligned microcrack fabric. The theory of acoustoelasticity, the dependence of acoustic wave velocity on stresses in the propagating isotropic medium, is applied to the borehole hoop and radial stresses produced by the Mine-by tunnel. The acoustoelastic effect involves determining the linear (second-order) and nonlinear (third-order) elastic constants, which are derived from the velocity-stress slopes

  12. 1RM prediction: a novel methodology based on the force-velocity and load-velocity relationships.

    PubMed

    Picerno, Pietro; Iannetta, Danilo; Comotto, Stefania; Donati, Marco; Pecoraro, Fabrizio; Zok, Mounir; Tollis, Giorgio; Figura, Marco; Varalda, Carlo; Di Muzio, Davide; Patrizio, Federica; Piacentini, Maria Francesca

    2016-10-01

    This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of a novel approach for predicting the one-repetition maximum (1RM). The prediction is based on the force-velocity and load-velocity relationships determined from measured force and velocity data collected during resistance-training exercises with incremental submaximal loads. 1RM was determined as the load corresponding to the intersection of these two curves, where the gravitational force exceeds the force that the subject can exert. The proposed force-velocity-based method (FVM) was tested on 37 participants (23.9 ± 3.1 year; BMI 23.44 ± 2.45) with no specific resistance-training experience, and the predicted 1RM was compared to that achieved using a direct method (DM) in chest-press (CP) and leg-press (LP) exercises. The mean 1RM in CP was 99.5 kg (±27.0) for DM and 100.8 kg (±27.2) for FVM (SEE = 1.2 kg), whereas the mean 1RM in LP was 249.3 kg (±60.2) for DM and 251.1 kg (±60.3) for FVM (SEE = 2.1 kg). A high correlation was found between the two methods for both CP and LP exercises (0.999, p < 0.001). Good agreement between the two methods emerged from the Bland and Altman plot analysis. These findings suggest the use of the proposed methodology as a valid alternative to other indirect approaches for 1RM prediction. The mathematical construct is simply based on the definition of the 1RM, and it is fed with subject's muscle strength capacities measured during a specific exercise. Its reliability is, thus, expected to be not affected by those factors that typically jeopardize regression-based approaches.

  13. Association between intake of dietary protein and 3-year-change in body growth among normal and overweight 6-year-old boys and girls (CoSCIS).

    PubMed

    van Vught, Anneke J A H; Heitmann, Berit L; Nieuwenhuizen, Arie G; Veldhorst, Margriet A B; Andersen, Lars Bo; Hasselstrom, Henriette; Brummer, Robert-Jan M; Westerterp-Plantenga, Margriet S

    2010-05-01

    Growth hormone (GH) affects linear growth and body composition, by increasing the secretion of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), muscle protein synthesis and lipolysis. The intake of protein (PROT) as well as the specific amino acids arginine (ARG) and lysine (LYS) stimulates GH/IGF-I secretion. The present paper aimed to investigate associations between PROT intake as well as intake of the specific amino acids ARG and LYS, and subsequent 3-year-change in linear growth and body composition among 6-year-old children. Children's data were collected from Copenhagen (Denmark), during 2001-2002, and again 3 years later. Boys and girls were separated into normal weight and overweight, based on BMI quintiles. Fat-free mass index (FFMI) and fat mass index (FMI) were calculated. Associations between change (Delta) in height, FMI and FFMI, respectively, and habitual PROT intake as well as ARG and LYS were analysed by multiple linear regressions, adjusted for baseline height, FMI or FFMI and energy intake, age, physical activity and socio-economic status. Eighteen schools in two suburban communities in the Copenhagen (Denmark) area participated in the study. In all, 223 children's data were collected for the present study. High ARG intake was associated with linear growth (beta = 1.09 (se 0.54), P = 0.05) among girls. Furthermore, in girls, DeltaFMI had a stronger inverse association with high ARG intake, if it was combined with high LYS intake, instead of low LYS intake (P = 0.03). No associations were found in boys.ConclusionIn prepubertal girls, linear growth may be influenced by habitual ARG intake and body fat gain may be relatively prevented over time by the intake of the amino acids ARG and LYS.

  14. Correlates of the peak height velocity in girls with idiopathic scoliosis.

    PubMed

    Sanders, James O; Browne, Richard H; Cooney, Timothy E; Finegold, David N; McConnell, Sharon J; Margraf, Susan A

    2006-09-15

    Prospective longitudinal. Determine correlates of the peak height velocity (PHV) in girls with idiopathic scoliosis. Only identifiable retrospectively, the PHV is the most useful known maturity marker in idiopathic scoliosis. Clinically useful correlates are needed to make PHV timing helpful. A total of 24 immature girls with idiopathic scoliosis were followed with serial heights, sexual staging, skeletal ages, spinal radiographs, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, IGF binding protein-3, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, estradiol, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase, and osteocalcin levels. These markers were correlated to PHV timing. There were 14 girls who had identifiable growth peaks that averaged 10.5 +/- 1.8 cm/y at age 11.7 +/- 1 years. At the PHV, all girls were Risser 0 with open triradiate cartilages. On a skeletal age radiograph, digital uncapped phalangeal epiphyses were indicative of pre-PHV and fused epiphyses of post-PHV. Capped but unfused epiphyses were indeterminate. Tanner stage 1 for breast strongly indicates pre-PHV. Stage 3 for breast and pubic hair occurred at or after the PHV, and stage 4 always occurred after PHV. Higher IGF-1 and estradiol levels after PHV are potentially discriminatory. The PHV occurs during Risser 0 with open triradiate cartilages. If triradiate cartilages are open, then Tanner stages, IGF-1, estradiol levels, and the appearance of the epiphyses on a skeletal age radiograph are useful in determining status before or after PHV.

  15. Dense Velocity Field of Turkey

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ozener, H.; Aktug, B.; Dogru, A.; Tasci, L.

    2017-12-01

    While the GNSS-based crustal deformation studies in Turkey date back to early 1990s, a homogenous velocity field utilizing all the available data is still missing. Regional studies employing different site distributions, observation plans, processing software and methodology not only create reference frame variations but also heterogeneous stochastic models. While the reference frame effect between different velocity fields could easily be removed by estimating a set of rotations, the homogenization of the stochastic models of the individual velocity fields requires a more detailed analysis. Using a rigorous Variance Component Estimation (VCE) methodology, we estimated the variance factors for each of the contributing velocity fields and combined them into a single homogenous velocity field covering whole Turkey. Results show that variance factors between velocity fields including the survey mode and continuous observations can vary a few orders of magnitude. In this study, we present the most complete velocity field in Turkey rigorously combined from 20 individual velocity fields including the 146 station CORS network and totally 1072 stations. In addition, three GPS campaigns were performed along the North Anatolian Fault and Aegean Region to fill the gap between existing velocity fields. The homogenously combined new velocity field is nearly complete in terms of geographic coverage, and will serve as the basis for further analyses such as the estimation of the deformation rates and the determination of the slip rates across main fault zones.

  16. Velocity Segregation and Systematic Biases In Velocity Dispersion Estimates with the SPT-GMOS Spectroscopic Survey

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Bayliss, Matthew. B.; Zengo, Kyle; Ruel, Jonathan; Benson, Bradford A.; Bleem, Lindsey E.; Bocquet, Sebastian; Bulbul, Esra; Brodwin, Mark; Capasso, Raffaella; Chiu, I.-non; McDonald, Michael; Rapetti, David; Saro, Alex; Stalder, Brian; Stark, Antony A.; Strazzullo, Veronica; Stubbs, Christopher W.; Zenteno, Alfredo

    2017-03-01

    The velocity distribution of galaxies in clusters is not universal; rather, galaxies are segregated according to their spectral type and relative luminosity. We examine the velocity distributions of different populations of galaxies within 89 Sunyaev Zel’dovich (SZ) selected galaxy clusters spanning 0.28< z< 1.08. Our sample is primarily draw from the SPT-GMOS spectroscopic survey, supplemented by additional published spectroscopy, resulting in a final spectroscopic sample of 4148 galaxy spectra—2868 cluster members. The velocity dispersion of star-forming cluster galaxies is 17 ± 4% greater than that of passive cluster galaxies, and the velocity dispersion of bright (m< {m}* -0.5) cluster galaxies is 11 ± 4% lower than the velocity dispersion of our total member population. We find good agreement with simulations regarding the shape of the relationship between the measured velocity dispersion and the fraction of passive versus star-forming galaxies used to measure it, but we find a small offset between this relationship as measured in data and simulations, which suggests that our dispersions are systematically low by as much as 3% relative to simulations. We argue that this offset could be interpreted as a measurement of the effective velocity bias that describes the ratio of our observed velocity dispersions and the intrinsic velocity dispersion of dark matter particles in a published simulation result. Measuring velocity bias in this way suggests that large spectroscopic surveys can improve dispersion-based mass-observable scaling relations for cosmology even in the face of velocity biases, by quantifying and ultimately calibrating them out.

  17. Effect of Limb Lengthening on Internodal Length and Conduction Velocity of Peripheral Nerve

    PubMed Central

    Gillingwater, Thomas H.; Anderson, Heather; Cottrell, David; Sherman, Diane L.; Ribchester, Richard R.; Brophy, Peter J.

    2013-01-01

    The influences of axon diameter, myelin thickness, and internodal length on the velocity of conduction of peripheral nerve action potentials are unclear. Previous studies have demonstrated a strong dependence of conduction velocity on internodal length. However, a theoretical analysis has suggested that this relationship may be lost above a nodal separation of ∼0.6 mm. Here we measured nerve conduction velocities in a rabbit model of limb lengthening that produced compensatory increases in peripheral nerve growth. Divided tibial bones in one hindlimb were gradually lengthened at 0.7 mm per day using an external frame attached to the bone. This was associated with a significant increase (33%) of internodal length (0.95–1.3 mm) in axons of the tibial nerve that varied in proportion to the mechanical strain in the nerve of the lengthened limb. Axonal diameter, myelin thickness, and g-ratios were not significantly altered by limb lengthening. Despite the substantial increase in internodal length, no significant change was detected in conduction velocity (∼43 m/s) measured either in vivo or in isolated tibial nerves. The results demonstrate that the internode remains plastic in the adult but that increases in internodal length of myelinated adult nerve axons do not result in either deficiency or proportionate increases in their conduction velocity and support the view that the internodal lengths of nerves reach a plateau beyond which their conduction velocities are no longer sensitive to increases in internodal length. PMID:23467369

  18. The role of early life growth development, the FTO gene and exclusive breastfeeding on child BMI trajectories.

    PubMed

    Wu, Yan Yan; Lye, Stephen; Briollais, Laurent

    2017-10-01

    Recent studies have implicated the FTO gene in child and adult obesity. A longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding (EXBF) has been shown to reduce body mass index (BMI) and the risk of being overweight in the general population and among FTO gene carriers. However, it remains unclear whether the preventive effect of EXBF could be explained by its impact on early life growth development, e.g. ages at adiposity peak (AP) and adiposity rebound (AR) and BMI velocities in the first years of life, which are major determinants of overweight and obesity later in life. We studied 5590 children from the British Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort and modelled their longitudinal BMI profiles with mixed effects models from birth to 16 years of age, as well as their ages at AP, AR and BMI velocities in relation to the FTO gene variant and EXBF. A longer duration of EXBF (i.e. at least 5 months) has substantial impact on BMI growth trajectories among children carrying the FTO adverse variant by modulating the age at AP, age at AR and BMI velocities. EXBF acts antagonistically to the FTO rs9939609 risk allele and by the age of 15, the predicted reduction in BMI after 5 months of EXBF is 0.56 kg/m2 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.11-1.01; P = 0.003] and 1.14 kg/m2 (95% CI 0.67-1.62; P < 0.0001) in boys and girls, respectively. EXBF influences early life growth development and thus plays a critical role in preventing the risks of overweight and obesity even when those are exacerbated by genetic factors. © The Author 2017; all rights reserved. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Association

  19. Is Doppler tissue velocity during early left ventricular filling preload independent?

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Yalcin, F.; Kaftan, A.; Muderrisoglu, H.; Korkmaz, M. E.; Flachskampf, F.; Garcia, M.; Thomas, J. D.

    2002-01-01

    BACKGROUND: Transmitral Doppler flow indices are used to evaluate diastolic function. Recently, velocities measured by Doppler tissue imaging have been used as an index of left ventricular relaxation. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether Doppler tissue velocities are influenced by alterations in preload. METHODS: Left ventricular preload was altered in 17 patients (all men, mean (SD) age, 49 (8) years) during echocardiographic measurements of left ventricular end diastolic volume, maximum left atrial area, peak early Doppler filling velocity, and left ventricular myocardial velocities during early filling. Preload altering manoeuvres included Trendelenberg (stage 1), reverse Trendelenberg (stage 2), and amyl nitrate (stage 3). Systolic blood pressure was measured at each stage. RESULTS: In comparison with baseline, left ventricular end diastolic volume (p = 0.001), left atrial area (p = 0.003), peak early mitral Doppler filling velocity (p = 0.01), and systolic blood pressures (p = 0.001) were all changed by preload altering manoeuvres. Only left ventricular myocardial velocity during early filling remained unchanged by these manoeuvres. CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to standard transmitral Doppler filling indices, Doppler tissue early diastolic velocities are not significantly affected by physiological manoeuvres that alter preload. Thus Doppler tissue velocities during early left ventricular diastole may provide a better index of diastolic function in cardiac patients by providing a preload independent assessment of left ventricular filling.

  20. Efficacy and safety of nerve growth factor for the treatment of neurological diseases: a meta-analysis of 64 randomized controlled trials involving 6,297 patients

    PubMed Central

    Zhao, Meng; Li, Xiao-yan; Xu, Chun-ying; Zou, Li-ping

    2015-01-01

    OBJECTIVE: China is the only country where nerve growth factor is approved for large-scale use as a clinical medicine. More than 10 years ago, in 2003, nerve growth factor injection was listed as a national drug. The goal of this article is to evaluate comprehensively the efficacy and safety of nerve growth factor for the treatment of neurological diseases. DATA RETRIEVAL: A computer-based retrieval was performed from six databases, including the Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE, Sino Med, CNKI, and the VIP database, searching from the clinical establishment of nerve growth factor for treatment until December 31, 2013. The key words for the searches were “nerve growth factor, randomized controlled trials” in Chinese and in English. DATA SELECTION: Inclusion criteria: any study published in English or Chinese referring to randomized controlled trials of nerve growth factor; patients with neurological diseases such as peripheral nerve injury, central nerve injury, cranial neuropathy, and nervous system infections; patients older than 7 years; similar research methods and outcomes assessing symptoms; and measurement of nerve conduction velocities. The meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.2.3 software. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The total effective rate, the incidence of adverse effects, and the nerve conduction velocity were recorded for each study. RESULTS: Sixty-four studies involving 6,297 patients with neurological diseases were included. The total effective rate in the group treated with nerve growth factor was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.0001, RR: 1.35, 95%CI: 1.30–1.40). The average nerve conduction velocity in the nerve growth factor group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.00001, MD: 4.59 m/s, 95%CI: 4.12–5.06). The incidence of pain or scleroma at the injection site in the nerve growth factor group was also higher than that in the control group (P < 0.00001, RR: 6.30, 95%CI: 3.53

  1. Thirteen Year Loblolly Pine Growth Following Machine Application of Cut-Stump Treament Herbicides For Hardwood Stump-Sprout Control

    Treesearch

    Clyde G. Vidrine; John C. Adams

    2002-01-01

    Thirteen year growth results of 1-0 out-planted loblolly pine seedlings on nonintensively prepared up-land mixed pine-hardwood sites receiving machine applied cut-stump treatment (CST) herbicides onto hardwood stumps at the time of harvesting is presented. Plantation pine growth shows significantly higher growth for pine in the CST treated plots compared to non-CST...

  2. Global Velocities from VLBI

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Ma, Chopo; Gordon, David; MacMillan, Daniel

    1999-01-01

    Precise geodetic Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) measurements have been made since 1979 at about 130 points on all major tectonic plates, including stable interiors and deformation zones. From the data set of about 2900 observing sessions and about 2.3 million observations, useful three-dimensional velocities can be derived for about 80 sites using an incremental least-squares adjustment of terrestrial, celestial, Earth rotation and site/session-specific parameters. The long history and high precision of the data yield formal errors for horizontal velocity as low as 0.1 mm/yr, but the limitation on the interpretation of individual site velocities is the tie to the terrestrial reference frame. Our studies indicate that the effect of converting precise relative VLBI velocities to individual site velocities is an error floor of about 0.4 mm/yr. Most VLBI horizontal velocities in stable plate interiors agree with the NUVEL-1A model, but there are significant departures in Africa and the Pacific. Vertical precision is worse by a factor of 2-3, and there are significant non-zero values that can be interpreted as post-glacial rebound, regional effects, and local disturbances.

  3. National Growth Charts for United Arab Emirates Children With Down Syndrome From Birth to 15 Years of Age

    PubMed Central

    H Aburawi, Elhadi; Nagelkerke, Nicolas; Deeb, Asma; Abdulla, Shahrban; Abdulrazzaq, Yousef M.

    2015-01-01

    Background Specific centile growth charts for children with Down syndrome (DS) have been produced in many countries and are known to differ from those of normal children. Since growth assessment depends on the growth pattern characteristic for these conditions, disorder-specific charts are desirable for various ethnic groups. Aims To provide cross-sectional weight, height, and head circumference (HC) references for healthy United Arab Emirates (UAE) children with DS. Methods A retrospective and cross-sectional growth study of Emirati children with DS, aged 0 to 18 years old, was conducted. Height, weight, and HC were measured in each child. Cole’s LMS statistical method was applied to estimate age-specific percentiles, and measurements were compared to UAE reference values for normal children. Results Incidence of DS in the UAE population is 1 in 374 live births (267 in 10 000 live births). We analyzed 1263 growth examinations of 182 children with DS born between 1994 and 2012. The male-to-female ratio was 1.6:1. Height, weight, and HC centile charts were constructed for ages 0 to 13 years. The prevalence of overweight and obesity in DS children aged 10 to 13 years of age was 32% and 19%, respectively. The DS children were significantly shorter and heavier than normal children in the UAE. Conclusions Weight, height, and HC growth charts were created for children with DS. These can be used as a reference standard for the UAE children with DS. Overweight and obesity are quite common in DS children ≥10 years of age, as DS children tend to be shorter and heavier than non-DS children. PMID:25196167

  4. The Effect of Prepubertal Calcium Carbonate Supplementation on Skeletal Development in Gambian Boys—A 12-Year Follow-Up Study

    PubMed Central

    Cole, T. J.; Laskey, M. A.; Ceesay, M.; Mendy, M. B.; Sawo, Y.; Prentice, A.

    2014-01-01

    Context: Calcium intake during growth is essential for future bone health but varies widely between individuals and populations. The impact on bone of increasing calcium intake is unknown in a population where low calcium intake, stunting, and delayed puberty are common. Objective: To determine the effect of prepubertal calcium supplementation on mean age at peak velocity for bone growth and mineral accrual. Design and Setting: Prospective follow-up of boys in rural Gambia, West Africa, who had participated in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of calcium supplementation. Participants: Eighty boys, initially aged 8.0–11.9 years, were followed up for 12 years. Interventions: Subjects received 1 year of calcium carbonate supplementation (1000 mg daily, 5 d/wk). Main Outcome Measures: Dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry measurements were carried out for whole body (WB), lumbar spine, and total hip bone mineral content, bone area (BA), and WB lean mass. Super imposition by translation and rotation models was made to assess bone growth. Results: Age at peak velocity was consistently earlier in the calcium group compared to the placebo group, for WB bone mineral content (mean, −6.2 [SE, 3.1]; P = .05), WB BA (mean, −7.0 [SE, 3.2] mo; P = .03), lumbar spine and total hip BA. By young adulthood, supplementation did not change the amount of bone accrued (mineral or size) or the rate of bone growth. Conclusions: Twelve months of prepubertal calcium carbonate supplementation in boys with a low calcium diet advanced the adolescent growth spurt but had no lasting effect on bone mineral or bone size. There is a need for caution when applying international recommendations to different populations. PMID:24762110

  5. Does Year Round Schooling Affect the Outcome and Growth of California's API Scores?

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Wu, Amery D.; Stone, Jake E.

    2010-01-01

    This paper examined whether year round schooling (YRS) in California had an effect upon the outcome and growth of schools' Academic Performance Index (API) scores. While many previous studies had examined the connection between YRS and academic achievement, most had lacked the statistical rigour required to provide reliable interpretations. As a…

  6. Non-linear Evolution of Velocity Ring Distributions: Generation of Whistler Waves

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Mithaiwala, M.; Rudakov, L.; Ganguli, G.

    2010-12-01

    Although it is typically believed that an ion ring velocity distribution has a stability threshold, we find that they are universally unstable. This can substantially impact the understanding of dynamics in both laboratory and space plasmas. A high ring density neutralizes the stabilizing effect of ion Landau damping in a warm plasma and the ring is unstable to the generation of waves below the lower hybrid frequency- even for a very high temperature plasma. For ring densities lower than the background plasma density there is a slow instability with growth rate less than the background ion cyclotron frequency and consequently the background ion response is magnetized. This is in addition to the widely discussed fast instability where the wave growth rate exceeds the background ion cyclotron frequency and hence the background ions are effectively unmagnetized. Thus, even a low density ring is unstable to waves around the lower hybrid frequency range for any ring speed. This implies that effectively there is no velocity threshold for a sufficiently cold ring. The importance of these conclusions on the nonlinear evolution of space plasmas, in particular to solar wind-comet interaction, post-magnetospheric storm conditions, and chemical release experiments in the ionosphere will be discussed.

  7. The statistical properties of sea ice velocity fields

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Agarwal, S.; Wettlaufer, J. S.

    2016-12-01

    Thorndike and Colony (1982) showed that more than 70% of the variance of the ice motion can be explained by the geostrophic winds. This conclusion was reached by analyzing only 2 years of data. Due to the importance of ice motion in Arctic climate we ask how persistent is such a prediction. In so doing, we study and develop a stochastic model for the Arctic sea ice velocity fields based on the observed sea ice velocity fields from satellites and buoys for the period 1978 - 2012. Having previously found that the Arctic Sea Equivalent Ice Extent (EIE) has a white noise structure on annual to bi-annual time scales (Agarwal et. al. 2012), we assess the connection to ice motion. We divide the Arctic into dynamic and thermodynamic components, with focus on the dynamic part i.e. the velocity fields of sea ice driven by the geostrophic winds over the Arctic. We show (1) the stationarity of the spatial correlation structure of the velocity fields, and (2) the robustness of white noise structure present in the velocity fields on annual to bi-annual time scales, which combine to explain the white noise characteristics of the EIE on these time scales. S. Agarwal, W. Moon and J.S. Wettlaufer, Trends, noise and reentrant long-term persistence in Arctic sea ice, Proc. R. Soc. A, 468, 2416 (2012). A.S. Thorndike and R. Colony, Sea ice motion in response to geostrophic winds, J. Geophys. Res. 87, 5845 (1982).

  8. Direct observation of growth front movement in electron beam recrystallization of silicon layer on insulator

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Inoue, Tomoyasu; Hamasaki, Toshihiko

    1987-04-01

    A high-speed movie technique was used to investigate the growth front movement during electron beam recrystallization of thin silicon layers on insulating material. In a laterally epitaxial growth process, it was clearly observed that the molten zone shape dramatically changes across a seed opening, which is due to nonuniformity in heat dissipation toward the substrate in the vicinity of the seed opening. The molten zone width and velocities of the melt front and growth front were quantitatively analyzed using digital film motion analysis. The growth front velocity was found to drastically change by ˜30% across the seed opening.

  9. Dendritic Growth with Fluid Flow for Pure Materials

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Jeong, Jun-Ho; Dantzig, Jonathan A.; Goldenfeld, Nigel

    2003-01-01

    We have developed a three-dimensional, adaptive, parallel finite element code to examine solidification of pure materials under conditions of forced flow. We have examined the effect of undercooling, surface tension anisotropy and imposed flow velocity on the growth. The flow significantly alters the growth process, producing dendrites that grow faster, and with greater tip curvature, into the flow. The selection constant decreases slightly with flow velocity in our calculations. The results of the calculations agree well with the transport solution of Saville and Beaghton at high undercooling and high anisotropy. At low undercooling, significant deviations are found. We attribute this difference to the influence of other parts of the dendrite, removed from the tip, on the flow field.

  10. Velocity segregation and systematic biases in velocity dispersion estimates with the SPT-GMOS spectroscopic survey

    DOE PAGES

    Bayliss, Matthew. B.; Zengo, Kyle; Ruel, Jonathan; ...

    2017-03-07

    The velocity distribution of galaxies in clusters is not universal; rather, galaxies are segregated according to their spectral type and relative luminosity. We examine the velocity distributions of different populations of galaxies within 89 Sunyaev Zel'dovich (SZ) selected galaxy clusters spanningmore » $ 0.28 < z < 1.08$. Our sample is primarily draw from the SPT-GMOS spectroscopic survey, supplemented by additional published spectroscopy, resulting in a final spectroscopic sample of 4148 galaxy spectra---2868 cluster members. The velocity dispersion of star-forming cluster galaxies is $$17\\pm4$$% greater than that of passive cluster galaxies, and the velocity dispersion of bright ($$m < m^{*}-0.5$$) cluster galaxies is $$11\\pm4$$% lower than the velocity dispersion of our total member population. We find good agreement with simulations regarding the shape of the relationship between the measured velocity dispersion and the fraction of passive vs. star-forming galaxies used to measure it, but we find a small offset between this relationship as measured in data and simulations in which suggests that our dispersions are systematically low by as much as 3\\% relative to simulations. We argue that this offset could be interpreted as a measurement of the effective velocity bias that describes the ratio of our observed velocity dispersions and the intrinsic velocity dispersion of dark matter particles in a published simulation result. Here, by measuring velocity bias in this way suggests that large spectroscopic surveys can improve dispersion-based mass-observable scaling relations for cosmology even in the face of velocity biases, by quantifying and ultimately calibrating them out.« less

  11. Velocity segregation and systematic biases in velocity dispersion estimates with the SPT-GMOS spectroscopic survey

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

    Bayliss, Matthew. B.; Zengo, Kyle; Ruel, Jonathan

    The velocity distribution of galaxies in clusters is not universal; rather, galaxies are segregated according to their spectral type and relative luminosity. We examine the velocity distributions of different populations of galaxies within 89 Sunyaev Zel'dovich (SZ) selected galaxy clusters spanningmore » $ 0.28 < z < 1.08$. Our sample is primarily draw from the SPT-GMOS spectroscopic survey, supplemented by additional published spectroscopy, resulting in a final spectroscopic sample of 4148 galaxy spectra---2868 cluster members. The velocity dispersion of star-forming cluster galaxies is $$17\\pm4$$% greater than that of passive cluster galaxies, and the velocity dispersion of bright ($$m < m^{*}-0.5$$) cluster galaxies is $$11\\pm4$$% lower than the velocity dispersion of our total member population. We find good agreement with simulations regarding the shape of the relationship between the measured velocity dispersion and the fraction of passive vs. star-forming galaxies used to measure it, but we find a small offset between this relationship as measured in data and simulations in which suggests that our dispersions are systematically low by as much as 3\\% relative to simulations. We argue that this offset could be interpreted as a measurement of the effective velocity bias that describes the ratio of our observed velocity dispersions and the intrinsic velocity dispersion of dark matter particles in a published simulation result. Here, by measuring velocity bias in this way suggests that large spectroscopic surveys can improve dispersion-based mass-observable scaling relations for cosmology even in the face of velocity biases, by quantifying and ultimately calibrating them out.« less

  12. A continuous record of intereruption velocity change at Mount St. Helens from coda wave interferometry

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Hotovec-Ellis, Alicia J.; Gomberg, Joan S.; Vidale, John; Creager, Ken C.

    2014-01-01

    In September 2004, Mount St. Helens volcano erupted after nearly 18 years of quiescence. However, it is unclear from the limited geophysical observations when or if the magma chamber replenished following the 1980–1986 eruptions in the years before the 2004–2008 extrusive eruption. We use coda wave interferometry with repeating earthquakes to measure small changes in the velocity structure of Mount St. Helens volcano that might indicate magmatic intrusion. By combining observations of relative velocity changes from many closely located earthquake sources, we solve for a continuous function of velocity changes with time. We find that seasonal effects dominate the relative velocity changes. Seismicity rates and repeating earthquake occurrence also vary seasonally; therefore, velocity changes and seismicity are likely modulated by snow loading, fluid saturation, and/or changes in groundwater level. We estimate hydrologic effects impart stress changes on the order of tens of kilopascals within the upper 4 km, resulting in annual velocity variations of 0.5 to 1%. The largest nonseasonal change is a decrease in velocity at the time of the deep Mw = 6.8 Nisqually earthquake. We find no systematic velocity changes during the most likely times of intrusions, consistent with a lack of observable surface deformation. We conclude that if replenishing intrusions occurred, they did not alter seismic velocities where this technique is sensitive due to either their small size or the finite compressibility of the magma chamber. We interpret the observed velocity changes and shallow seasonal seismicity as a response to small stress changes in a shallow, pressurized system.

  13. Calibration method helps in seismic velocity interpretation

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

    Guzman, C.E.; Davenport, H.A.; Wilhelm, R.

    1997-11-03

    Acoustic velocities derived from seismic reflection data, when properly calibrated to subsurface measurements, help interpreters make pure velocity predictions. A method of calibrating seismic to measured velocities has improved interpretation of subsurface features in the Gulf of Mexico. In this method, the interpreter in essence creates a kind of gauge. Properly calibrated, the gauge enables the interpreter to match predicted velocities to velocities measured at wells. Slow-velocity zones are of special interest because they sometimes appear near hydrocarbon accumulations. Changes in velocity vary in strength with location; the structural picture is hidden unless the variations are accounted for by mappingmore » in depth instead of time. Preliminary observations suggest that the presence of hydrocarbons alters the lithology in the neighborhood of the trap; this hydrocarbon effect may be reflected in the rock velocity. The effect indicates a direct use of seismic velocity in exploration. This article uses the terms seismic velocity and seismic stacking velocity interchangeably. It uses ground velocity, checkshot average velocity, and well velocity interchangeably. Interval velocities are derived from seismic stacking velocities or well average velocities; they refer to velocities of subsurface intervals or zones. Interval travel time (ITT) is the reciprocal of interval velocity in microseconds per foot.« less

  14. Long-term variation of horizontal phase velocity and propagation direction of mesospheric and thermospheric gravity waves by using airglow images obtained at Shigarkai, Japan

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Takeo, D.; Kazuo, S.; Hujinami, H.; Otsuka, Y.; Matsuda, T. S.; Ejiri, M. K.; Yamamoto, M.; Nakamura, T.

    2016-12-01

    Atmospheric gravity waves generated in the lower atmosphere transport momentum into the upper atmosphere and release it when they break. The released momentum drives the global-scale pole-to-pole circulation and causes global mass transport. Vertical propagation of the gravity waves and transportation of momentum depend on horizontal phase velocity of gravity waves according to equation about dispersion relation of waves. Horizontal structure of gravity waves including horizontal phase velocity can be seen in the airglow images, and there have been many studies about gravity waves by using airglow images. However, long-term variation of horizontal phase velocity spectrum of gravity waves have not been studied yet. In this study, we used 3-D FFT method developed by Matsuda et al., (2014) to analyze the horizontal phase velocity spectrum of gravity waves by using 557.7-nm (altitude of 90-100 km) and 630.0-nm (altitude of 200-300 km) airglow images obtained at Shigaraki MU Observatory (34.8 deg N, 136.1 deg E) over 16 years from October 1, 1998 to July 26, 2015. Results about 557.7-nm shows clear seasonal variation of propagation direction of gravity waves in the mesopause region. Between summer and winter, there are propagation direction anisotropies which probably caused by filtering due to zonal mesospheric jet and by difference of latitudinal location of wave sources relative to Shigaraki. Results about 630.0-nm shows clear negative correlation between the yearly power spectrum density of horizontal phase velocity and sunspot number. This negative correlation with solar activity is consistent with growth rate of the Perkins instability, which may play an important role in generating the nighttime medium-scale traveling ionospheric disturbances at middle latitudes.

  15. Rayleigh-wave phase-velocity maps and three-dimensional shear velocity structure of the western US from local non-plane surface wave tomography

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Pollitz, F.F.; Snoke, J. Arthur

    2010-01-01

    We utilize two-and-three-quarter years of vertical-component recordings made by the Transportable Array (TA) component of Earthscope to constrain three-dimensional (3-D) seismic shear wave velocity structure in the upper 200 km of the western United States. Single-taper spectral estimation is used to compile measurements of complex spectral amplitudes from 44 317 seismograms generated by 123 teleseismic events. In the first step employed to determine the Rayleigh-wave phase-velocity structure, we implement a new tomographic method, which is simpler and more robust than scattering-based methods (e.g. multi-plane surface wave tomography). The TA is effectively implemented as a large number of local arrays by defining a horizontal Gaussian smoothing distance that weights observations near a given target point. The complex spectral-amplitude measurements are interpreted with the spherical Helmholtz equation using local observations about a succession of target points, resulting in Rayleigh-wave phase-velocity maps at periods over the range of 18–125 s. The derived maps depend on the form of local fits to the Helmholtz equation, which generally involve the nonplane-wave solutions of Friederich et al. In a second step, the phase-velocity maps are used to derive 3-D shear velocity structure. The 3-D velocity images confirm details witnessed in prior body-wave and surface-wave studies and reveal new structures, including a deep (>100 km deep) high-velocity lineament, of width ∼200 km, stretching from the southern Great Valley to northern Utah that may be a relic of plate subduction or, alternatively, either a remnant of the Mojave Precambrian Province or a mantle downwelling. Mantle seismic velocity is highly correlated with heat flow, Holocene volcanism, elastic plate thickness and seismicity. This suggests that shallow mantle structure provides the heat source for associated magmatism, as well as thinning of the thermal lithosphere, leading to relatively high

  16. [Excessive growth and growth hormone deficiency after treatment for craniopharyngioma].

    PubMed

    López Siguero, J P; García García, E; Martínez-Aedo, M J; Martínez Valverde, A

    2000-07-01

    Some children grow normally or excessively after extirpation of a craniopharyngioma, despite growth hormone deficiency. We report a 4-year-old girl with suprasellar craniopharyngioma. Removal of the tumor resulted in panhypopituitarism. For the next 5 years growth continued at a rate of 8.4-10.6 cm/year and then decreased progressively to 1.2 cm/year. Administration of growth hormone increased growth rate to 9.3 cm/year.

  17. Ninety-two years of tree growth and death in a second-growth redwood forest

    Treesearch

    Benjamin G. Iberle; Stephen C. Sillett; Robert Van Pelt; Mark Andre

    2017-01-01

    Mature second-growth redwood (Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl.) forests are an important and uncommon resource in the redwood region. Development of second-growth redwood forests beyond rotation age is not well understood. Continuous long-term data are especially lacking, considering that the maximum possible age of second-growth stands is now...

  18. Precipitation growth in convective clouds. [hail

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Srivastava, R. C.

    1981-01-01

    Analytical solutions to the equations of both the growth and motion of hailstones in updrafts and of cloud water contents which vary linearly with height were used to investigate hail growth in a model cloud. A strong correlation was found between the hail embyro starting position and its trajectory and final size. A simple model of the evolution of particle size distribution by coalescence and spontaneous and binary disintegrations was formulated. Solutions for the mean mass of the distribution and the equilibrium size distribution were obtained for the case of constant collection kernel and disintegration parameters. Azimuthal scans of Doppler velocity at a number of elevation angles were used to calculate high resolution vertical profiles of particle speed and horizontal divergence (the vertical air velocity) in a region of widespread precipitation trailing a mid-latitude squall line.

  19. Urea fertilizer increases growth of 20-year-old, thinned Douglas-fir on poor quality site

    Treesearch

    Richard E. Miller; Donald L. Reukema

    1977-01-01

    In 20-year-old, site V Douglas-fir in southwest Washington, fertilizing with nitrogen increased average 5-year diameter and height growth of concurrently released dominant trees by about 85 percent. There was no additional response when phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur were added with the nitrogen fertilizer. Thinning with no other treatment in this moderately stocked...

  20. 2D motility tracking of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 in growth phases using video microscopy

    PubMed Central

    Davis, Michael L.; Mounteer, Leslie C.; Stevens, Lindsey K.; Miller, Charles D.; Zhou, Anhong

    2011-01-01

    Pseudomonas putida KT2440 is a gram negative motile soil bacterium important in bioremediation and biotechnology. Thus, it is important to understand its motility characteristics as individuals and in populations. Population characteristics were determined using a modified Gompertz model. Video microscopy and imaging software were utilized to analyze two dimensional (2D) bacteria movement tracks to quantify individual bacteria behavior. It was determined that inoculum density increased the lag time as seeding densities decreased, and that the maximum specific growth rate decreased as seeding densities increased. Average bacterial velocity remained relatively similar throughout exponential growth phase (~20.9 µm/sec), while maximum velocities peak early in exponential growth phase at a velocity of 51.2 µm/sec. Pseudomonas putida KT2440 also favor smaller turn angles indicating they often continue in the same direction after a change in flagella rotation throughout the exponential growth phase. PMID:21334971

  1. Prescribed Winter Burns Can Reduce the Growth of Nine-Year-Old Loblolly Pines

    Treesearch

    Michael D. Cain

    1985-01-01

    Prescribed winter burning was done in a precommercially thinned, 9-year-old, natural stand of loblolly and shortleaf pines (Pinus taeda L. and P. echinata Mill.). Growth and survival of 174 loblolly pines were monitored one growing season after this burning. Mortality was highest for pines with less than 2 inches groundline...

  2. Femoral head epiphysis growth and development among Chinese children aged 0-5 years.

    PubMed

    Luo, Jiayou; Tang, Jin; Zhou, Libo; Zeng, Rong; Mou, Jinsong; Zhang, Lingli

    2009-05-01

    The aim of this study was to examine the pattern of femoral head epiphysis growth and development among Chinese children. Between January and December, 2007, we randomly sampled 1,450 healthy Chinese children (0-5 years old) from Hunan Provincial Children's Hospital in Changsha, Hunan, China. The diameter of femoral head epiphysis was measured by pelvic X-ray photography and processed by medical image processing software. The growth of femoral head epiphysis in girls was 2-3 months earlier than that in boys. The diameter of femoral head epiphysis increased with advancing age in both girls and boys, but the diameter of femoral head epiphysis in 2, 3, 4, 6, and 10-month-old girls was significantly larger than that in boys. Cubic regression equations between the diameter of femoral head epiphysis and age were created for boys and girls that could be used to predict the diameter of femoral head epiphysis. In conclusion, there was gender difference in femoral head epiphysis growth and development among Chinese children, and our prediction models will provide the guidance for early diagnosis of diseases related to the growth and development of the femoral head epiphysis.

  3. Long-term increases in young-of-the-year growth of Arctic cisco Coregonus autumnalis and environmental influences

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Von Biela, V.R.; Zimmerman, C.E.; Moulton, L.L.

    2011-01-01

    Arctic cisco Coregonus autumnalis young-of-year (YOY) growth was used as a proxy to examine the long-term response of a high-latitude fish population to changing climate from 1978 to 2004. YOY growth increased over time (r2 = 0??29) and was correlated with monthly averages of the Arctic oscillation index, air temperature, east wind speed, sea-ice concentration and river discharge with and without time lags. Overall, the most prevalent correlates to YOY growth were sea-ice concentration lagged 1 year (significant correlations in 7 months; r2 = 0??14-0??31) and Mackenzie River discharge lagged 2 years (significant correlations in 8 months; r2 = 0??13-0??50). The results suggest that decreased sea-ice concentrations and increased river discharge fuel primary production and that life cycles of prey species linking increased primary production to fish growth are responsible for the time lag. Oceanographic studies also suggest that sea ice concentration and fluvial inputs from the Mackenzie River are key factors influencing productivity in the Beaufort Sea. Future research should assess the possible mechanism relating sea ice concentration and river discharge to productivity at upper trophic levels. Journal of Fish Biology ?? 2010 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles. No claim to original US government works.

  4. Obesity and growth during childhood and puberty.

    PubMed

    Marcovecchio, M Loredana; Chiarelli, Francesco

    2013-01-01

    Growth during childhood and adolescence occurs at different rates and is influenced by the interaction between genetic and environmental factors. Nutritional status plays an important role in regulating growth, and excess body weight early in life can influence growth patterns. Childhood obesity is a growing and alarming problem, associated with several short-term and long-term metabolic and cardiovascular complications. In addition, there is evidence suggesting that excess adiposity during childhood influences growth patterns and pubertal development. Several studies have shown that during prepubertal years obese children have higher height velocity and accelerated bone age compared to lean subjects. However, this prepubertal advantage in growth tends to gradually decrease during puberty, when obese children show a reduced growth spurt compared with lean subjects. Growth hormone (GH) secretion in obese children is reduced, therefore suggesting that increased growth is GH independent. Factors which have been implicated in the accelerated growth in obese children include increased leptin and insulin levels, adrenal androgens, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, IGF-binding protein-1 and GH-binding proteins. Excess body weight during childhood can also influence pubertal development, through an effect on timing of pubertal onset and levels of pubertal hormonal levels. There is clear evidence indicating that obesity leads to early appearance of pubertal signs in girls. In addition, obese girls are also at increased risk of hyperandrogenism. In boys, excess adiposity has been associated with advanced puberty in some studies, whereas others have reported a delay in pubertal onset. The existing evidence on the association between childhood and adolescence obesity underlines a further reason for fighting the epidemics of childhood obesity; that is preventing abnormal growth and pubertal patterns. Copyright © 2013 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  5. Cow's milk and linear growth in industrialized and developing countries.

    PubMed

    Hoppe, Camilla; Mølgaard, Christian; Michaelsen, Kim F

    2006-01-01

    The strongest evidence that cow's milk stimulates linear growth comes from observational and intervention studies in developing countries that show considerable effects. Additionally, many observational studies from well-nourished populations also show an association between milk intake and growth. These results suggest that milk has a growth-stimulating effect even in situations where the nutrient intake is adequate. This effect is supported by studies that show milk intake stimulates circulating insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, which suggests that at least part of the growth-stimulating effects of milk occur through the stimulation of IGFs. Given that the biological purpose of milk is to support the newborn during a period of high growth velocity, such an effect seems plausible. Adding cow's milk to the diet of stunted children is likely to improve linear growth and thereby reduce morbidity. In well-nourished children, the long-term consequences of an increased consumption of cow's milk, which may lead to higher levels of IGF-I in circulation or an increase in the velocity of linear growth, are likely to be both positive and negative. Based on emerging data that suggest both growth and diet during early life program the IGF axis, the association between milk intake and later health is likely to be complex.

  6. Light and Velocity Variability in Seven Bright Proto-Planetary Nebulae

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    McGuire, Ryan

    2009-01-01

    Light and Velocity Variability in Seven Bright Proto-Planetary Nebulae R.B. McGuire, C.M. Steele, B.J. Hrivnak, W. Lu, D. Bohlender, C.D. Scarfe We present new contemporaneous light and velocity observations of seven proto-planetary nebulae obtained over the past two years. Proto-planetary nebulae are objects evolving between the AGB and planetary nebula phases. In these seven objects, the central star is bright (V= 7-10), surrounded by a faint nebula. We knew from past monitoring that the light from each of these varied by a few tenths of a magnitude over intervals of 30-150 days and that the velocity varied by 10 km/s. These appear to be due to pulsation. With these new contemporaneous observations, we are able to measure the correlation between the brightness, color, and velocity, which will constrain the pulsation models. This is an ongoing project with the light monitoring being carried out with the Valparaiso University 0.4 m telescope and CCD camera and the radial velocity observations being carried out with the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory 1.8 m telescope and spectrograph. This research is partially supported by NSF grant 0407087 and the Indiana Space Grant Consortium.

  7. Joint Angular Velocity in Spastic Gait and the Influence of Muscle-Tendon Lengthening*

    PubMed Central

    GRANATA, KEVIN P.; ABEL, MARK F.; DAMIANO, DIANE L.

    2006-01-01

    Background Joint angular velocity (the rate of flexion and extension of a joint) is related to the dynamics of muscle activation and force generation during walking. Therefore, the goal of this research was to examine the joint angular velocity in normal and spastic gait and changes resulting from muscle-tendon lengthening (recession and tenotomy) in patients who have spastic cerebral palsy. Methods The gait patterns of forty patients who had been diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy (mean age, 8.3 years; range, 3.7 to 14.8 years) and of seventy-three age-matched, normally developing subjects were evaluated with three-dimensional motion analysis and electromyography. The patients who had cerebral palsy were evaluated before muscle-tendon lengthening and nine months after treatment. Results The gait patterns of the patients who had cerebral palsy were characterized by increased flexion of the knee in the stance phase, premature plantar flexion of the ankle, and reduced joint angular velocities compared with the patterns of the normally developing subjects. Even though muscle-tendon lengthening altered sagittal joint angles in gait, the joint angular velocities were generally unchanged at the hip and knee. Only the ankle demonstrated modified angular velocities, including reduced dorsiflexion velocity at foot-strike and improved dorsiflexion velocity through midstance, after treatment. Electromyographic changes included reduced amplitude of the gastrocnemius-soleus during the loading phase and decreased knee coactivity (the ratio of quadriceps and hamstring activation) at toe-off. Principal component analyses showed that, compared with joint-angle data, joint angular velocity was better able to discriminate between the gait patterns of the normal and cerebral palsy groups. Conclusions This study showed that muscle-tendon lengthening corrects biomechanical alignment as reflected by changes in sagittal joint angles. However, joint angular velocity and

  8. Open fractures caused by high velocity missiles: the outcome of treatment of 39 fractures followed for 1-3 years.

    PubMed

    Khan, M A; Hussain, R; Khan, S H; Umar, M

    1997-11-01

    Between 1993 and 1995, thirty-three patients having 39 fractures caused by missiles fired from a high velocity rifle were reviewed retrospectively between 1 and 3 years after injury and the outcome of treatment assessed. Majority (33 out of 39) were Grade III. Union was achieved in 35 out of 39 fractures, there was deep infection and delayed union in one case each. Non-union occurred in three fractures. The fractures were stabilized using different techniques, but highest complication rate was seen with the use of the static external fixator. This was related to the severe nature of the injury as well as the inherent limitations of the external fixator. Revision of the external fixator with internal fixation after healing of the soft tissues seems to be the direction of the future.

  9. Progressive Decline in Height Standard Deviation Scores in the First 5 Years of Life Distinguished Idiopathic Growth Hormone Deficiency from Familial Short Stature and Constitutional Delay of Growth.

    PubMed

    Rothermel, Juliane; Lass, Nina; Toschke, Christina; Reinehr, Thomas

    2016-01-01

    Familial short stature (FSS) and constitutional delay of growth (CDG) are the most frequent norm variants in children presenting with short stature. Knowing the growth patterns of these entities in the first years of life might be helpful to distinguish them from growth hormone deficiency (GHD) or other chronic diseases. We studied the height in the first 5 years of life in 26 children with FSS, in 38 children with CDG and in 14 children with idiopathic GHD. Height standard deviation scores (SDS) did not change between birth and 6 months of life, while height SDS decreased significantly afterwards in GHD, FSS, and CDG. The loss of height SDS was higher in the first 2 years of life than between 2 and 5 years of life in children with CDG (-0.92 vs. -0.11; p = 0.003) or FSS (-0.79 vs. -0.01; p = 0.002). In idiopathic GHD, the loss of height SDS did not differ between the first 2 years of life and the next 3 years (-0.78 vs. -0.77; p = 0.821). Children with FSS and CDG showed a decline in height SDS mainly in the first 2 years of life, whereas the height SDS of children with idiopathic GHD decreased almost continuously over the first 5 years of life. © 2016 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  10. Evaluation of third trimester uterine artery flow velocity indices in relationship to perinatal complications.

    PubMed

    Ghosh, G; Breborowicz, A; Brazert, M; Maczkiewicz, M; Kobelski, M; Dubiel, M; Gudmundsson, S

    2006-09-01

    Uterine artery Doppler is becoming a routine part of pregnancy surveillance in high-risk pregnancies. Which blood flow velocity waveform index to measure is debated and the 'notch' in early diastole is not widely accepted, as it is a subjective measure. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the different indices in the prediction of adverse outcome of pregnancies suspected for intrauterine fetal growth restriction (IUGR). Uterine artery blood flow was recorded in 217 pregnancies admitted for Doppler ultrasound surveillance due to suspected IUGR. The median gestational age at examination was 38 weeks (range 25-42 weeks). Only cases having bilateral uterine artery notching were included in the evaluation. The uterine artery Doppler spectrum was analyzed for different indices, including evaluation of notch and end-diastolic velocities. Umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry was also performed. The outcome variables chosen were: a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) newborn, preterm birth, and abdominal delivery. ROC-curve calculations were used to compare the different indices. The uterine artery blood velocity pulsatility index (PI) and resistance indices (RI) were the best predictors of adverse outcome of pregnancy. Apart from premature birth, the systolic/end-diastolic ratio was less predictive of adverse outcome. The indices including only diastolic blood velocities were the least predictive of adverse outcome. The group with notch velocity above end-diastolic velocity was compared with those having notch velocity below the end-diastolic velocity. No difference in outcome was seen between the two groups. RI and PI as measures of third trimester utero-placental vascular impedance are the best predictors of adverse outcome of IUGR-suspected pregnancies.

  11. Thirty-two years of change in an old-growth Ohio beech-maple forest.

    PubMed

    Runkle, James R

    2013-05-01

    Old-growth forests dominated by understory-tolerant tree species are among forest types most likely to be in equilibrium. However, documentation of the degree to which they are in equilibrium over decades-long time periods is lacking. Changes in climate, pathogens, and land use all are likely to impact stand characteristics and species composition, even in these forests. Here, 32 years of vegetation changes in an old-growth beech (Fagus grandifolia)-sugar maple (Acer saccharum) forest in Hueston Woods, southwest Ohio, USA, are summarized. These changes involve canopy composition and structure, turnover in snags, and development of vegetation in treefall gaps. Stand basal area and canopy density have changed little in 32 years. However, beech has decreased in canopy importance (49% to 32%) while sugar maple has increased (32% to 47%). Annual mortality was about 1.3% throughout the study period. Mortality rates increased with stem size, but the fraction of larger stems increased due to ingrowth from smaller size classes. Beech was represented by more very large stems than small canopy stems: over time, death of those larger stems with inadequate replacement has caused the decrease in beech importance. Sugar maple was represented by more small canopy stems whose growth has increased its importance. The changes in beech and sugar maple relative importance are hypothesized to be due to forest fragmentation mostly from the early 1800s with some possible additional effects associated with the formation of the state park. Snag densities (12-16 snags/ha) and formation rates (1-3 snags.ha(-1).yr(-1)) remained consistent. The treefall gaps previously studied are closing, with a few, large stems remaining. Death of gap border trees occurs consistently enough to favor species able to combine growth in gaps and survival in the understory.

  12. Azimuthally Anisotropic 3D Velocity Continuation

    DOE PAGES

    Burnett, William; Fomel, Sergey

    2011-01-01

    We extend time-domain velocity continuation to the zero-offset 3D azimuthally anisotropic case. Velocity continuation describes how a seismic image changes given a change in migration velocity. This description turns out to be of a wave propagation process, in which images change along a velocity axis. In the anisotropic case, the velocity model is multiparameter. Therefore, anisotropic image propagation is multidimensional. We use a three-parameter slowness model, which is related to azimuthal variations in velocity, as well as their principal directions. This information is useful for fracture and reservoir characterization from seismic data. We provide synthetic diffraction imaging examples to illustratemore » the concept and potential applications of azimuthal velocity continuation and to analyze the impulse response of the 3D velocity continuation operator.« less

  13. On the role of convective motion during dendrite growth: Experiments under variable gravity, revised

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Hallett, J.; Cho, N.; Harrison, K.; Lord, A.; Wedum, E.; Purcell, R.; Saunders, C. P. R.

    1987-01-01

    Experiments show the effect of self induced convection on individual dendrite growth in uniformly supercooled samples and solidification of the resulting mush under conditions of high and low g. Convection is visualized by a Schlieren optical system or a Mach Zender interferometer. For ice crystals growing from the vapor in air, a slight reduction in linear growth rate occur under low g. For ice crystals growing from NaCl solution, dendrite tip velocities are unchanged, but subsequent mush solidification is enhanced through drainage channels under higher g. By contrast, sodium sulfate decahydrate dendrites growing from solution produce convective plumes which lead to higher tip growth rate only as the crystal growth direction approaches that of gravity. Convective plumes are laminar for small crystals under conditions of these experiments; the rise velocity of such plumes is greater than individual vortex rings under identical conditions. Convection effects are only present in solution under a critical supercooling less than about 5 C for sodium sulfate and 2 C for ice in NaCl since at higher supercooling the crystallization velocity, proportional to the square of the supercooling, exceeds the convective velocity, proportional to the square root of the supercooling. The role of convective velocity in bulk solidification is to give a large scale flow which under extreme cases may lead to extensive secondary crystal production, which alters the resulting crystal texture of the completely solidified melt.

  14. Spaceflight hardware for conducting plant growth experiments in space: the early years 1960-2000

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Porterfield, D. M.; Neichitailo, G. S.; Mashinski, A. L.; Musgrave, M. E.

    2003-01-01

    The best strategy for supporting long-duration space missions is believed to be bioregenerative life support systems (BLSS). An integral part of a BLSS is a chamber supporting the growth of higher plants that would provide food, water, and atmosphere regeneration for the human crew. Such a chamber will have to be a complete plant growth system, capable of providing lighting, water, and nutrients to plants in microgravity. Other capabilities include temperature, humidity, and atmospheric gas composition controls. Many spaceflight experiments to date have utilized incomplete growth systems (typically having a hydration system but lacking lighting) to study tropic and metabolic changes in germinating seedlings and young plants. American, European, and Russian scientists have also developed a number of small complete plant growth systems for use in spaceflight research. Currently we are entering a new era of experimentation and hardware development as a result of long-term spaceflight opportunities available on the International Space Station. This is already impacting development of plant growth hardware. To take full advantage of these new opportunities and construct innovative systems, we must understand the results of past spaceflight experiments and the basic capabilities of the diverse plant growth systems that were used to conduct these experiments. The objective of this paper is to describe the most influential pieces of plant growth hardware that have been used for the purpose of conducting scientific experiments during the first 40 years of research. c2002 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

  15. Spaceflight hardware for conducting plant growth experiments in space: the early years 1960-2000.

    PubMed

    Porterfield, D M; Neichitailo, G S; Mashinski, A L; Musgrave, M E

    2003-01-01

    The best strategy for supporting long-duration space missions is believed to be bioregenerative life support systems (BLSS). An integral part of a BLSS is a chamber supporting the growth of higher plants that would provide food, water, and atmosphere regeneration for the human crew. Such a chamber will have to be a complete plant growth system, capable of providing lighting, water, and nutrients to plants in microgravity. Other capabilities include temperature, humidity, and atmospheric gas composition controls. Many spaceflight experiments to date have utilized incomplete growth systems (typically having a hydration system but lacking lighting) to study tropic and metabolic changes in germinating seedlings and young plants. American, European, and Russian scientists have also developed a number of small complete plant growth systems for use in spaceflight research. Currently we are entering a new era of experimentation and hardware development as a result of long-term spaceflight opportunities available on the International Space Station. This is already impacting development of plant growth hardware. To take full advantage of these new opportunities and construct innovative systems, we must understand the results of past spaceflight experiments and the basic capabilities of the diverse plant growth systems that were used to conduct these experiments. The objective of this paper is to describe the most influential pieces of plant growth hardware that have been used for the purpose of conducting scientific experiments during the first 40 years of research. c2002 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

  16. Physical growth of children and adolescents in China over the past 35 years

    PubMed Central

    Zong, Xin-Nan

    2014-01-01

    Abstract Objective To examine if economic development in China correlates with physical growth among Chinese children and adolescents. Methods The height, body weight and physical activity level of children and adolescents aged 18 years and under, as well as dietary data, were obtained from seven large surveys conducted in China between 1975 and 2010. Chinese economic development indicators were obtained from the World Bank. Trends in body weight, height, economic data and diet were examined. Tests were conducted to check for correlations between height at 17 years of age and three indicators of economic development: gross domestic product, urbanization and infant mortality rate. Regional differences in physical growth were assessed. Findings Between 1975 and 2010, the growth of children and adolescents improved in tandem with economic development. The largest increment in height was observed during the period of puberty. Regional inequalities in nutritional status were correlated with disparities in economic development among regions. Over the past two decades, undernutrition declined among children less than 5 years of age, but in 2010 underweight and stunting were still common in poor rural areas. A large increase in obesity was observed in both urban and rural areas, but especially in large cities and, more recently, in small and medium-sized cities and affluent rural areas. Conclusion The average weight of children and adolescents has been increasing progressively since the 1970s. Current strategies to combat both child undernutrition and obesity need to be improved, especially in poor rural areas. PMID:25177070

  17. Phloem Transport Velocity Varies over Time and among Vascular Bundles during Early Cucumber Seedling Development1[C][W][OPEN

    PubMed Central

    Savage, Jessica A.; Zwieniecki, Maciej A.; Holbrook, N. Michele

    2013-01-01

    We use a novel dye-tracing technique to measure in vivo phloem transport velocity in cucumber (Cucumis sativus) plants during early seedling development. We focus on seedlings because of their importance in plant establishment and because they provide a simple source and sink model of phloem transport. The dye-tracing method uses a photodiode to track the movement of a bleach front of fluorescent dye traveling in the phloem from the cotyledons (source) to the roots (sink). During early seedling development, phloem transport velocity in this direction can change 2-fold depending on vascular connectivity and the number of actively growing sinks. Prior to leaf expansion, vascular bundles attached to the first developing leaf demonstrate a decline in basipetal phloem transport that can be alleviated by the leaf’s removal. At this stage, seedlings appear carbon limited and phloem transport velocity is correlated with cotyledon area, a pattern that is apparent both during cotyledon expansion and after source area manipulation. When the first leaf transitions to a carbon source, seedling growth rate increases and basipetal phloem transport velocity becomes more stable. Because bundles appear to operate autonomously, transport velocity can differ among vascular bundles. Together, these results demonstrate the dynamic and heterogeneous nature of phloem transport and underline the need for a better understanding of how changes in phloem physiology impact growth and allocation at this critical stage of development. PMID:24072581

  18. The use of analytical sedimentation velocity to extract thermodynamic linkage.

    PubMed

    Cole, James L; Correia, John J; Stafford, Walter F

    2011-11-01

    For 25 years, the Gibbs Conference on Biothermodynamics has focused on the use of thermodynamics to extract information about the mechanism and regulation of biological processes. This includes the determination of equilibrium constants for macromolecular interactions by high precision physical measurements. These approaches further reveal thermodynamic linkages to ligand binding events. Analytical ultracentrifugation has been a fundamental technique in the determination of macromolecular reaction stoichiometry and energetics for 85 years. This approach is highly amenable to the extraction of thermodynamic couplings to small molecule binding in the overall reaction pathway. In the 1980s this approach was extended to the use of sedimentation velocity techniques, primarily by the analysis of tubulin-drug interactions by Na and Timasheff. This transport method necessarily incorporates the complexity of both hydrodynamic and thermodynamic nonideality. The advent of modern computational methods in the last 20 years has subsequently made the analysis of sedimentation velocity data for interacting systems more robust and rigorous. Here we review three examples where sedimentation velocity has been useful at extracting thermodynamic information about reaction stoichiometry and energetics. Approaches to extract linkage to small molecule binding and the influence of hydrodynamic nonideality are emphasized. These methods are shown to also apply to the collection of fluorescence data with the new Aviv FDS. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  19. A new global plate velocity model using space geodetic data, REVEL

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Sella, G. F.; Dixon, T. H.; Mao, A.; Stein, S.

    2001-12-01

    Our model describes the relative velocities of 19 plates and continental blocks, and is derived from publicly available space geodetic (primarily GPS) data for the period 1993-2000. We include an independent and rigorous estimate for GPS velocity uncertainties in order to assess plate rigidity, and propagate these uncertainties to the velocity predictions. By excluding sites that may be influenced by seismic cycle effects within the plate boundary zone as well sites affected by glacial isostatic adjustment, we believe the plate velocity model is representative of geologically Recent motions (last ~10,000 years) and have termed it REVEL, for Recent velocity. Departures from short term rigid plate behaviour due to glacial isostatic adjustment are clearly observed for North America and Eurasia. Australia shows possible differences from rigid plate behavior in a manner consistent with its mapped intraplate stress field. We see statistically significant differences between the velocity predictions of REVEL-2000 and those of the NUVEL-1A geologic model for about one third of tested plate pairs. Pacific-North America motion and motion of the Caribbean plate with respect to North and South America are significantly faster than NUVEL-1A, presumably reflecting systematic errors in the geological model because the relevant rate data do not reflect the full plate rate. Many other differences between the geodetic and geological models appear to reflect real velocity changes over the last few million years. Nubia-Arabia and Arabia-Eurasia appear to be slowing, perhaps related to the collision of Arabia with Eurasia and consequent increased resistance to Arabia's northward motion Several other plate pairs, including Nazca-Pacific, Nazca-South America and Nubia-South America, are experiencing gradual slowing that dates back to about 25 Ma. This is the time of the initiation of the modern Andes mountains, and we speculate that associated crustal thickening on the leading edge of

  20. Calculating the Velocity in the Moss

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Womebarger, Amy R.; Tripathi, Durgesh; Mason, Helen

    2011-01-01

    The velocity of the warm (1 MK) plasma in the footpoint of the hot coronal loops (commonly called moss) could help discriminate between different heating frequencies in the active region core. Strong velocities would indicated low-frequency heating, while velocities close to zero would indicate high-frequency heating. Previous results have found disparaging observations, with both strong velocities and velocities close to zero reported. Previous results are based on observations from Hinode/EIS. The wavelength arrays for EIS spectra are typically calculated by assuming quiet Sun velocities are zero. In this poster, we determine the velocity in the moss using observations with SoHO/SUMER. We rely on neutral or singly ionized spectral lines to determine accurately the wavelength array associated with the spectra. SUMER scanned the active region twice, so we also report the stability of the velocity.

  1. Downstream change of velocity in rivers

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Leopold, Luna Bergere

    1953-01-01

    Because river slope generally decreases in a downstream direction, it is generally supposed that velocity of flow also decreases downstream. Analysis of some of the large number of velocity measurements made at stream-gaging stations demonstrates that mean velocity generally tends to increase downstream. Although there are many reaches in nearly all rivers where mean velocity decreases downstream, the general tendency for conservation or for downstream increase was found in all data studied.Computations of bed velocity indicate that this parameter also tends to increase downstream.Near the streambed, shear in the vertical profile of velocity (rate of decrease of velocity with depth) tends to decrease downstream. This down-valley decrease of shear implies decreasing competence downstream.

  2. Growth of Head Circumference in Autistic Infants during the First Year of Life

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Fukumoto, Aya; Hashimoto, Toshiaki; Ito, Hiromichi; Nishimura, Mio; Tsuda, Yoshimi; Miyazaki, Masahito; Mori, Kenji; Arisawa, Kokichi; Kagami, Shoji

    2008-01-01

    This study analyzed the increase in head circumference (HC) of 85 autistic infants (64 boys and 21 girls) during their first year of life. The data were collected from their "mother-and-baby" notebooks. This notebook is a medical record of the baby's growth and development delivered to the parents of all babies born in Japan. This is a…

  3. Loblolly pine growth and soil nutrient stocks eight years after forest slash incorporation

    Treesearch

    Felipe G. Sanchez; Emily A. Carter; Zakiya H. Leggett

    2009-01-01

    Incorporation of forest slash during stand establishment is proposed as a means of increasing soil carbon and nutrient stocks. If effective, the increased soil carbon and nutrient status may result in increased aboveground tree growth. Eight years after study installation, the impact of forest slash incorporation into the soil on soil carbon and nutrient stocks, foliar...

  4. A First Layered Crustal Velocity Model for the Western Solomon Islands: Inversion of Measured Group Velocity of Surface Waves using Ambient Noise Cross-Correlation

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Ku, C. S.; Kuo, Y. T.; Chao, W. A.; You, S. H.; Huang, B. S.; Chen, Y. G.; Taylor, F. W.; Yih-Min, W.

    2017-12-01

    Two earthquakes, MW 8.1 in 2007 and MW 7.1 in 2010, hit the Western Province of Solomon Islands and caused extensive damage, but motivated us to set up the first seismic network in this area. During the first phase, eight broadband seismic stations (BBS) were installed around the rupture zone of 2007 earthquake. With one-year seismic records, we cross-correlated the vertical component of ambient noise recorded in our BBS and calculated Rayleigh-wave group velocity dispersion curves on inter-station paths. The genetic algorithm to invert one-dimensional crustal velocity model is applied by fitting the averaged dispersion curves. The one-dimensional crustal velocity model is constituted by two layers and one half-space, representing the upper crust, lower crust, and uppermost mantle respectively. The resulted thickness values of the upper and lower crust are 6.4 and 14.2 km, respectively. Shear-wave velocities (VS) of the upper crust, lower crust, and uppermost mantle are 2.53, 3.57 and 4.23 km/s with the VP/VS ratios of 1.737, 1.742 and 1.759, respectively. This first layered crustal velocity model can be used as a preliminary reference to further study seismic sources such as earthquake activity and tectonic tremor.

  5. Rayleigh Wave Group Velocity Distributions for East Asia from Ambient Seismic Noise Tomography

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Witek, M.; van der Lee, S.; Kang, T. S.; Chang, S. J.; Ning, S.; Ning, J.

    2014-12-01

    We have collected continuous vertical-component broadband data from 1109 seismic stations in regional networks across China, Korea, and Japan for the year 2011 to perform the largest surface wave tomography study in the region. Using this data set, we have measured over half a million Rayleigh wave group velocity dispersion curves from 1-year stacks of station-pair ambient seismic noise cross-correlations. Quality control is performed by measuring the coherency of the positive and negative lag time sides of the cross-correlations. If the coherency is below an empirically determined threshold, the dispersion curve is measured on the side of the highest SNR. Otherwise, the positive and negative sides of the cross-correlation are averaged before dispersion curve measurement. Group velocity measurements for which the SNR was less than 10 are discarded. The Rayleigh wave group velocity dispersion curves are regionalized on a tessellated spherical shell grid in the period range 10 to 50 s to produce maps of Rayleigh wave group velocity distributions. Preliminary maps at 10 seconds period match well with geologic features at the surface. In particular, we observe low group velocities in the Songliao, Bohai Bay, Sichuan, Ordos, Tarim, and Junggar Basins in China, and the Ulleung and Yamato Basins in the East Sea (Sea of Japan). Higher group velocities are observed in regions with less sediment cover. At periods around 30 s, we observe group velocity decreases going from east to west in China, representing an overall trend of crustal thickening due to the collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates. The Ordos and Sichuan blocks show higher group velocities relative to the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, possibly reflecting low temperatures in these cratons.

  6. Accuracy of acoustic velocity metering systems for measurement of low velocity in open channels

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Laenen, Antonius; Curtis, R. E.

    1989-01-01

    Acoustic velocity meter (AVM) accuracy depends on equipment limitations, the accuracy of acoustic-path length and angle determination, and the stability of the mean velocity to acoustic-path velocity relation. Equipment limitations depend on path length and angle, transducer frequency, timing oscillator frequency, and signal-detection scheme. Typically, the velocity error from this source is about +or-1 to +or-10 mms/sec. Error in acoustic-path angle or length will result in a proportional measurement bias. Typically, an angle error of one degree will result in a velocity error of 2%, and a path-length error of one meter in 100 meter will result in an error of 1%. Ray bending (signal refraction) depends on path length and density gradients present in the stream. Any deviation from a straight acoustic path between transducer will change the unique relation between path velocity and mean velocity. These deviations will then introduce error in the mean velocity computation. Typically, for a 200-meter path length, the resultant error is less than one percent, but for a 1,000 meter path length, the error can be greater than 10%. Recent laboratory and field tests have substantiated assumptions of equipment limitations. Tow-tank tests of an AVM system with a 4.69-meter path length yielded an average standard deviation error of 9.3 mms/sec, and the field tests of an AVM system with a 20.5-meter path length yielded an average standard deviation error of a 4 mms/sec. (USGS)

  7. The SCEC Unified Community Velocity Model (UCVM) Software Framework for Distributing and Querying Seismic Velocity Models

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Maechling, P. J.; Taborda, R.; Callaghan, S.; Shaw, J. H.; Plesch, A.; Olsen, K. B.; Jordan, T. H.; Goulet, C. A.

    2017-12-01

    Crustal seismic velocity models and datasets play a key role in regional three-dimensional numerical earthquake ground-motion simulation, full waveform tomography, modern physics-based probabilistic earthquake hazard analysis, as well as in other related fields including geophysics, seismology, and earthquake engineering. The standard material properties provided by a seismic velocity model are P- and S-wave velocities and density for any arbitrary point within the geographic volume for which the model is defined. Many seismic velocity models and datasets are constructed by synthesizing information from multiple sources and the resulting models are delivered to users in multiple file formats, such as text files, binary files, HDF-5 files, structured and unstructured grids, and through computer applications that allow for interactive querying of material properties. The Southern California Earthquake Center (SCEC) has developed the Unified Community Velocity Model (UCVM) software framework to facilitate the registration and distribution of existing and future seismic velocity models to the SCEC community. The UCVM software framework is designed to provide a standard query interface to multiple, alternative velocity models, even if the underlying velocity models are defined in different formats or use different geographic projections. The UCVM framework provides a comprehensive set of open-source tools for querying seismic velocity model properties, combining regional 3D models and 1D background models, visualizing 3D models, and generating computational models in the form of regular grids or unstructured meshes that can be used as inputs for ground-motion simulations. The UCVM framework helps researchers compare seismic velocity models and build equivalent simulation meshes from alternative velocity models. These capabilities enable researchers to evaluate the impact of alternative velocity models in ground-motion simulations and seismic hazard analysis applications

  8. Effects of fungal species, cultivation time, growth substrate, and air exposure velocity on the fluorescence properties of airborne fungal spores.

    PubMed

    Saari, S; Mensah-Attipoe, J; Reponen, T; Veijalainen, A M; Salmela, A; Pasanen, P; Keskinen, J

    2015-12-01

    Real-time bioaerosol monitoring is possible with fluorescence based instruments. This study provides information on major factors that can affect the fluorescence properties of airborne fungal spores. Two fluorescence-based bioaerosol detectors, BioScout, and ultraviolet aerodynamic particle sizer (UVAPS), were used to study fluorescent particle fractions (FPFs) of released spores of three fungal species (Aspergillus versicolor, Cladosporium cladosporioides, and Penicillium brevicompactum). Two culture media (agar and gypsum board), three ages of the culture (one week, one month, and four months), and three aerosolization air velocities (5, 15, and 27 m/s) were tested. The results showed that the FPF values for spores released from gypsum were typically lower than for those released from agar indicating that poor nutrient substrate produces spores with lower amounts of fluorescent compounds. The results also showed higher FPF values with lower air velocities in aerosolization. This indicates that easily released fully developed spores have more fluorescent compounds compared to forcibly extracted non-matured spores. The FPFs typically were lower with older samples. The FPF results between the two instruments were similar, except with four-month-old samples. The results can be utilized in field measurements of fungal spores to estimate actual concentrations and compare different instruments with fluorescence-based devices as well as in instrument calibration and testing in laboratory conditions. Fluorescence-based instruments are the only choice for real-time detection of fungal spores at the moment. In general, all fluorescence-based bioaerosol instruments are tested against known bacterial and fungal spores in laboratory conditions. This study showed that fungal species, growth substrate, age of culture, and air current exposure rate have an effect on detection efficiency of fungal spores in the fluorescence-based instruments. Therefore, these factors should be

  9. A Unified Geodetic Vertical Velocity Field (UGVVF), Version 1.0

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Schmalzle, G.; Wdowinski, S.

    2014-12-01

    Tectonic motion, volcanic inflation or deflation, as well as oil, gas and water pumping can induce vertical motion. In southern California these signals are inter-mingled. In tectonics, properly identifying regions that are contaminated by other signals can be important when estimating fault slip rates. Until recently vertical deformation rates determined by high precision Global Positioning Systems (GPS) had large uncertainties compared to horizontal components and were rarely used to constrain tectonic models of fault motion. However, many continuously occupied GPS stations have been operating for ten or more years, often delivering uncertainties of ~1 mm/yr or less, providing better constraints for tectonic modeling. Various processing centers produced GPS time series and estimated vertical velocity fields, each with their own set of processing techniques and assumptions. We compare vertical velocity solutions estimated by seven data processing groups as well as two combined solutions (Figure 1). These groups include: Central Washington University (CWU) and New Mexico Institute of Technology (NMT), and their combined solution provided by the Plate Boundary Observatory (PBO) through the UNAVCO website. Also compared are the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and Scripps Orbit and Permanent Array Center (SOPAC) and their combined solution provided as part of the NASA MEaSUREs project. Smaller velocity fields included are from Amos et al., 2014, processed at the Nevada Geodetic Laboratory, Shen et al., 2011, processed by UCLA and called the Crustal Motion Map 4.0 (CMM4) dataset, and a new velocity field provided by the University of Miami (UM). Our analysis includes estimating and correcting for systematic vertical velocity and uncertainty differences between groups. Our final product is a unified velocity field that contains the median values of the adjusted velocity fields and their uncertainties. This product will be periodically updated when new velocity fields

  10. Constitutional Delay Influences the Auxological Response to Growth Hormone Treatment in Children with Short Stature and Growth Hormone Sufficiency

    PubMed Central

    Gunn, Katherine C.; Cutfield, Wayne S.; Hofman, Paul L.; Jefferies, Craig A.; Albert, Benjamin B.; Gunn, Alistair J.

    2014-01-01

    In a retrospective, population based cohort study, we examined whether constitutional delay was associated with the growth response to growth hormone (GH) in children with short stature and normal GH responses. 70 patients were treated with 21 GH iu/m2/week from 1975 to 2013 throughout New Zealand. Demographic and auxological data were prospectively collected and standard deviation scores (SDS) were calculated for height (HtSDS), yearly growth velocity (GV-SDS), body mass index (BMI-SDS) and predicted adult height (PAH-SDS) at time of the last available bone age. In the first year, GH was associated with marked increase in HtSDS (+0.46 (0.19, 0.76), p < 0.001) and GV-SDS (from −1.9 (−3.6, −0.7) to +2.7 (0.45, 4.2), p < 0.001). The increase in HtSDS but not in GV-SDS was greatest with younger patients and greater bone age delay, with no effect of sex, BMI-SDS or baseline HtSDS. PAH-SDS increased with treatment (+0.94 (0.18, 1.5)); increased PAH-SDS was associated with less bone age delay and greater initial increase in HtSDS. This study shows that greater bone age delay was associated with greater initial improvement in height but less improvement in predicted adult heights, suggesting that children with very delayed bone ages may show accelerated maturation during GH treatment. PMID:25317732

  11. 2D motility tracking of Pseudomonas putida KT2440 in growth phases using video microscopy.

    PubMed

    Davis, Michael L; Mounteer, Leslie C; Stevens, Lindsey K; Miller, Charles D; Zhou, Anhong

    2011-05-01

    Pseudomonas putida KT2440 is a gram negative motile soil bacterium important in bioremediation and biotechnology. Thus, it is important to understand its motility characteristics as individuals and in populations. Population characteristics were determined using a modified Gompertz model. Video microscopy and imaging software were utilized to analyze two dimensional (2D) bacteria movement tracks to quantify individual bacteria behavior. It was determined that inoculum density increased the lag time as seeding densities decreased, and that the maximum specific growth rate decreased as seeding densities increased. Average bacterial velocity remained relatively similar throughout the exponential growth phase (~20.9 μm/s), while maximum velocities peak early in the exponential growth phase at a velocity of 51.2 μm/s. P. putida KT2440 also favors smaller turn angles indicating that they often continue in the same direction after a change in flagella rotation throughout the exponential growth phase. Copyright © 2011 The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  12. A high-precision radial-velocity survey for other planetary systems

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Cochran, William D.; Hatzes, Artie P.

    1994-01-01

    The precise measurement of variations in stellar radial velocities provides one of several promising methods of surveying a large sample of nearby solar type stars to detect planetary systems in orbit around them. The McDonald Observatory Planetary Search (MOPS) was started in 1987 September with the goal of detecting other nearby planetary systems. A stabilized I2 gas absorption cell placed in front of the entrance slit to the McDonald Observatory 2.7 m telescope coude spectrograph serves as the velocity metric. With this I2 cell we can achieve radial velocity measurement precision better than 10 m/s in an individual measurement. At this level we can detect a Jupiter-like planet around a solar-type star, and have some hope of detecting Saturn-like planets in a long-term survey. The detectability of planets is ultimately limited by stellar pulsation modes and photospheric motions. Monthly MOPS observing runs allow us to obtain at least 5 independent observations per year of the 33 solar-type (F5-K7) stars on our observing list. We present representative results from the first five years of the survey.

  13. Relationship between throwing velocity, muscle power, and bar velocity during bench press in elite handball players.

    PubMed

    Marques, Mario C; van den Tilaar, Roland; Vescovi, Jason D; Gonzalez-Badillo, Juan Jose

    2007-12-01

    The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between ball-throwing velocity during a 3-step running throw and dynamic strength, power, and bar velocity during a concentric-only bench-press exercise in team-handball players. Fourteen elite senior male team-handball players volunteered to participate. Each volunteer had power and bar velocity measured during a concentric-only bench-press test with 26, 36, and 46 kg, as well as having 1-repetition-maximum (1-RMBP) strength determined. Ball-throwing velocity was evaluated with a standard 3-step running throw using a radar gun. Ball-throwing velocity was related to the absolute load lifted during the 1-RMBP (r = .637, P = .014), peak power using 36 kg (r = .586, P = .028) and 46 kg (r = .582, P = .029), and peak bar velocity using 26 kg (r = .563, P = .036) and 36 kg (r = .625, P = .017). The results indicate that throwing velocity of elite team-handball players is related to maximal dynamic strength, peak power, and peak bar velocity. Thus, a training regimen designed to improve ball-throwing velocity in elite male team-handball players should include exercises that are aimed at increasing both strength and power in the upper body.

  14. Measurement of Microscopic Growth Rates in Float-Zone Silicon Crystals

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Dold, P.; Schweizer, M.; Benz, K. W.; Rose, M. Franklin (Technical Monitor)

    2001-01-01

    Time dependent convective flows during crystal growth of doped semiconductors lead to fluctuations of the composition, so called dopant striations. In general, it is difficult to decide which is the main mechanism for the generation of these striations, it might be either the fluctuation of the concentration field in the melt and the extent of the solute boundary layer ahead of the solid-liquid interface or a variation of the growth velocity. Direct access to the concentration field is rather complicated to achieve, especially considering the high process temperature and the chemical activity of liquid silicon. The contribution of growth rate fluctuations to the formation of compositional fluctuations can be determined by measuring microscopic growth rates. The classical method of current pulses requires electrical feed-throughs and good electrical contacts, both are critical issues for the growth of high purity silicon crystals. Using a radiation based heating system, the heating power can be modulated very fast and effectively. We added to the normal heater power a sinusoidal off-set in the frequency range of 1 to 10 Hz, generating a narrow spaced weak rippling in the grown crystals which are superposed to the dopant striations caused by natural and by thermocapillary convection. The pulling speed was varied between 1 and 4mm/min. The microscope images of etched crystals slices have been analyzed by peak-search algorithms (measuring the spacing between each artificially induced marker) and by FFT. Performing growth experiments under a time-dependent flow regime, fluctuations of the microscopic growth velocity of Delta(v)/v(sub average) up to 50% have been measured. Damping the time-dependent convection by the use of an axial, static magnetic field of 500mT, the microscopic growth rate became constant within the resolution limit of this method. The results will be discussed using analytical methods for the calculation of microscopic growth velocity and by

  15. Crystal growth within a phase change memory cell.

    PubMed

    Sebastian, Abu; Le Gallo, Manuel; Krebs, Daniel

    2014-07-07

    In spite of the prominent role played by phase change materials in information technology, a detailed understanding of the central property of such materials, namely the phase change mechanism, is still lacking mostly because of difficulties associated with experimental measurements. Here, we measure the crystal growth velocity of a phase change material at both the nanometre length and the nanosecond timescale using phase-change memory cells. The material is studied in the technologically relevant melt-quenched phase and directly in the environment in which the phase change material is going to be used in the application. We present a consistent description of the temperature dependence of the crystal growth velocity in the glass and the super-cooled liquid up to the melting temperature.

  16. Impact of inflammatory bowel disease on pubertal growth.

    PubMed

    Mason, A; Malik, S; Russell, R K; Bishop, J; McGrogan, P; Ahmed, S F

    2011-01-01

    Puberty is thought to be commonly affected in adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). To determine the impact of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) on the pubertal growth spurt. Retrospective study of 30 boys with CD (CD-M), 11 girls with CD (CD-F), 14 boys with UC (UC-M) and 12 girls with UC (UC-F). Pubertal growth was assessed by calculating peak height velocity SDS (PHV SDS), height SDS at diagnosis (Ht(Diag)) and height SDS at PHV (Ht(PHV)) and age at PHV (Age(PHV)). Systemic markers of disease activity were also collected. Altered parameters of pubertal growth were observed in the CD groups compared to the normal population: in the CD-M group, median Ht(Diag) was -0.56 (p = 0.001) and median Age(PHV) was 14.45 years (p = 0.004), and in the CD-F group, median Ht(Diag) was -1.14 (p = 0.007) and Ht(PHV) was -0.79 (p = 0.039). Individually, 8/30 CD-M cases had one or more parameter affected: 2 boys had Ht(Diag )<-2, 3 boys had Ht(PHV) <-2, 2 boys had an Age(PHV) >2 years above population mean, and 2 boys had a PHV SDS <-2. In the whole group, Age(PHV) showed an association with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (r = 0.4; p = 0.005) and an inverse association with BMI (r = 0.4; p = 0.001). Disorders of pubertal growth are more likely to occur in CD and, particularly, in boys. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel.

  17. Influence of thinning on acoustic velocity of Douglas-fir trees in western Washington and western Oregon

    Treesearch

    David G. Briggs; Gonzalo Thienel; Eric C. Turnblom; Eini Lowell; Dennis Dykstra; Robert J. Ross; Xiping Wang; Peter Carter

    2008-01-01

    Acoustic velocity was measured with a time-of-flight method on approximately 50 trees in each of five plots from four test sites of a Douglas-fir (Pseudostuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) thinning trial. The test sites reflect two age classes, 33 to 35 and 48 to 50 years, with 50-year site index ranging from 35 to 50 m. The acoustic velocity...

  18. Thumb Ossification Composite Index (TOCI) for Predicting Peripubertal Skeletal Maturity and Peak Height Velocity in Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Validation Study of Premenarchal Girls with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Followed Longitudinally Until Skeletal Maturity.

    PubMed

    Hung, Alec L H; Chau, W W; Shi, B; Chow, Simon K; Yu, Fiona Y P; Lam, T P; Ng, Bobby K W; Qiu, Y; Cheng, Jack C Y

    2017-09-06

    Accurate skeletal maturity assessment is important to guide clinical evaluation of idiopathic scoliosis, but commonly used methods are inadequate or too complex for rapid clinical use. The objective of the study was to propose a new simplified staging method, called the thumb ossification composite index (TOCI), based on the ossification pattern of the 2 thumb epiphyses and the adductor sesamoid bone; to determine its accuracy in predicting skeletal maturation when compared with the Sanders simplified skeletal maturity system (SSMS); and to validate its interrater and intrarater reliability. Hand radiographs of 125 girls, acquired when they were newly diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis prior to menarche and during longitudinal follow-up until skeletal maturity (a minimum of 4 years), were scored with the TOCI and SSMS. These scores were compared with digital skeletal age (DSA) and radius, ulna, and small hand bones (RUS) scores; anthropometric data; peak height velocity; and growth-remaining profiles. Correlations were analyzed with the chi-square test, Spearman and Cramer V correlation methods, and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Reliability analysis using the intraclass correlation (ICC) was conducted. Six hundred and forty-five hand radiographs (average, 5 of each girl) were scored. The TOCI staging system was highly correlated with the DSA and RUS scores (r = 0.93 and 0.92, p < 0.01). The mean peak height velocity (and standard deviation) was 7.43 ± 1.45 cm/yr and occurred at a mean age of 11.9 ± 0.86 years, with 70.1% and 51.4% of the subjects attaining their peak height velocity at TOCI stage 5 and SSMS stage 3, respectively. The 2 systems predicted peak height velocity with comparable accuracy, with a strong Cramer V association (0.526 and 0.466, respectively; p < 0.01) and similar sensitivity and specificity on receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The mean age at menarche was 12.57 ± 1.12 years, with menarche occurring

  19. Long-term increases in young-of-the-year growth of Arctic cisco Coregonus autumnalis and environmental influences.

    PubMed

    von Biela, V R; Zimmerman, C E; Moulton, L L

    2011-01-01

    Arctic cisco Coregonus autumnalis young-of-year (YOY) growth was used as a proxy to examine the long-term response of a high-latitude fish population to changing climate from 1978 to 2004. YOY growth increased over time (r² = 0·29) and was correlated with monthly averages of the Arctic oscillation index, air temperature, east wind speed, sea-ice concentration and river discharge with and without time lags. Overall, the most prevalent correlates to YOY growth were sea-ice concentration lagged 1 year (significant correlations in 7 months; r² = 0·14-0·31) and Mackenzie River discharge lagged 2 years (significant correlations in 8 months; r² = 0·13-0·50). The results suggest that decreased sea-ice concentrations and increased river discharge fuel primary production and that life cycles of prey species linking increased primary production to fish growth are responsible for the time lag. Oceanographic studies also suggest that sea ice concentration and fluvial inputs from the Mackenzie River are key factors influencing productivity in the Beaufort Sea. Future research should assess the possible mechanism relating sea ice concentration and river discharge to productivity at upper trophic levels. Journal of Fish Biology © 2010 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles. No claim to original US government works.

  20. Saligna eucalyptus growth in a 15-year old spacing study in Hawaii

    Treesearch

    Gerald A. Walters

    1980-01-01

    A spacing study was started in 1961 to test the effects of four different spacings on the growth and development of saligna eucalyptus (Eucalyptus saligna Smith) trees in Hawaii. Spacings tested were 8 by 8 feet (2.4 m), 10 by 10 feet (3.0 m), 12 by 12 feet (3.7 m), and 14 by 14 feet (4.3 m). Plot trees were measured at ages 1, 2,5, 10, and 15 years...

  1. Growing Readers: A Hierarchical Linear Model of Children's Reading Growth During the First 2 Years of School

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    McCoach, D. Betsy; O'Connell, Ann A.; Reis, Sally M.; Levitt, Heather A.

    2006-01-01

    Using the first 4 waves of data from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten cohort (ECLS-K), this piecewise 3-level (time-student-school) growth-curve model provides a portrait of students' reading growth over the first 2 years of school. On average, students make much greater reading gains in 1st grade than they do in kindergarten.…

  2. Metabolic Analysis of Medicinal Dendrobium officinale and Dendrobium huoshanense during Different Growth Years

    PubMed Central

    Jin, Qing; Jiao, Chunyan; Sun, Shiwei; Song, Cheng; Cai, Yongping; Lin, Yi; Fan, Honghong; Zhu, Yanfang

    2016-01-01

    Metabolomics technology has enabled an important method for the identification and quality control of Traditional Chinese Medical materials. In this study, we isolated metabolites from cultivated Dendrobium officinale and Dendrobium huoshanense stems of different growth years in the methanol/water phase and identified them using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). First, a metabolomics technology platform for Dendrobium was constructed. The metabolites in the Dendrobium methanol/water phase were mainly sugars and glycosides, amino acids, organic acids, alcohols. D. officinale and D. huoshanense and their growth years were distinguished by cluster analysis in combination with multivariate statistical analysis, including principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). Eleven metabolites that contributed significantly to this differentiation were subjected to t-tests (P<0.05) to identify biomarkers that discriminate between D. officinale and D. huoshanense, including sucrose, glucose, galactose, succinate, fructose, hexadecanoate, oleanitrile, myo-inositol, and glycerol. Metabolic profiling of the chemical compositions of Dendrobium species revealed that the polysaccharide content of D. huoshanense was higher than that of D. officinale, indicating that the D. huoshanense was of higher quality. Based on the accumulation of Dendrobium metabolites, the optimal harvest time for Dendrobium was in the third year. This initial metabolic profiling platform for Dendrobium provides an important foundation for the further study of secondary metabolites (pharmaceutical active ingredients) and metabolic pathways. PMID:26752292

  3. Metabolic Analysis of Medicinal Dendrobium officinale and Dendrobium huoshanense during Different Growth Years.

    PubMed

    Jin, Qing; Jiao, Chunyan; Sun, Shiwei; Song, Cheng; Cai, Yongping; Lin, Yi; Fan, Honghong; Zhu, Yanfang

    2016-01-01

    Metabolomics technology has enabled an important method for the identification and quality control of Traditional Chinese Medical materials. In this study, we isolated metabolites from cultivated Dendrobium officinale and Dendrobium huoshanense stems of different growth years in the methanol/water phase and identified them using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). First, a metabolomics technology platform for Dendrobium was constructed. The metabolites in the Dendrobium methanol/water phase were mainly sugars and glycosides, amino acids, organic acids, alcohols. D. officinale and D. huoshanense and their growth years were distinguished by cluster analysis in combination with multivariate statistical analysis, including principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). Eleven metabolites that contributed significantly to this differentiation were subjected to t-tests (P<0.05) to identify biomarkers that discriminate between D. officinale and D. huoshanense, including sucrose, glucose, galactose, succinate, fructose, hexadecanoate, oleanitrile, myo-inositol, and glycerol. Metabolic profiling of the chemical compositions of Dendrobium species revealed that the polysaccharide content of D. huoshanense was higher than that of D. officinale, indicating that the D. huoshanense was of higher quality. Based on the accumulation of Dendrobium metabolites, the optimal harvest time for Dendrobium was in the third year. This initial metabolic profiling platform for Dendrobium provides an important foundation for the further study of secondary metabolites (pharmaceutical active ingredients) and metabolic pathways.

  4. Growth and adhesion properties of monosodium urate monohydrate (MSU) crystals

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Perrin, Clare M.

    The presence of monosodium urate monohydrate (MSU) crystals in the synovial fluid has long been associated with the joint disease gout. To elucidate the molecular level growth mechanism and adhesive properties of MSU crystals, atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy, and dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques were employed in the characterization of the (010) and (1-10) faces of MSU, as well as physiologically relevant solutions supersaturated with urate. Topographical AFM imaging of both MSU (010) and (1-10) revealed the presence of crystalline layers of urate arranged into v-shaped features of varying height. Growth rates were measured for both monolayers (elementary steps) and multiple layers (macrosteps) on both crystal faces under a wide range of urate supersaturation in physiologically relevant solutions. Step velocities for monolayers and multiple layers displayed a second order polynomial dependence on urate supersaturation on MSU (010) and (1-10), with step velocities on (1-10) generally half of those measured on MSU (010) in corresponding growth conditions. Perpendicular step velocities on MSU (010) were obtained and also showed a second order polynomial dependence of step velocity with respect to urate supersaturation, which implies a 2D-island nucleation growth mechanism for MSU (010). Extensive topographical imaging of MSU (010) showed island adsorption from urate growth solutions under all urate solution concentrations investigated, lending further support for the determined growth mechanism. Island sizes derived from DLS experiments on growth solutions were in agreement with those measured on MSU (010) topographical images. Chemical force microscopy (CFM) was utilized to characterize the adhesive properties of MSU (010) and (1-10). AFM probes functionalized with amino acid derivatives and bio-macromolecules found in the synovial fluid were brought into contact with both crystal faces and adhesion forces were tabulated into

  5. Slower nerve conduction velocity in individuals with functional ankle instability.

    PubMed

    Simon, J; Docherty, C

    2014-08-01

    The purpose of this study is to quantify nerve conduction velocity differences in individuals with functional ankle instability compared to a "healthy" population. 38 participants ages 18-30 were recruited from a large university with approximately 43,000 students. 19 subjects (9 men and 10 women; age=21.0±1.4 years; height=172.0±9.3 cm; mass=74.4±1 2.4 kg) with symptoms of functional ankle instability were in the functional ankle instability group. 19 subjects (10 men, 9 women; age=22.0±2.6 years; height=169.8±9.1 cm; mass=69.0±14.8 kg) with "healthy" ankles were in the control group. Nerve conduction velocity was conducted using one trial at 2 different sites: posterior to the fibular head (fibular), and 10 cm superior/posterior of the first site (popliteal). Nerve conduction velocity (m/sec) was assessed using a SierraWave II system (Cadwell Laboratories; Kennewick, WA). A MANCOVA was performed on the two dependent variables (fibular and popliteal). Covariates included surface temperature of the leg, body mass index, and age. The independent variable was group (functional ankle instability and control). The effect of group was significantly related to nerve conduction velocity at the fibular site (F(1, 27) =16.49, p=0.01) and popliteal site (F(1, 27)=4.51, p=0.01), with responses significantly faster for individuals in the control group than the functional ankle instability group. These results indicate that patients with functional ankle instability might have damage to the peroneal nerve which results in slower peroneal nerve conduction velocity. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.

  6. [Inhaled corticosteroids and growth: should we be worried?].

    PubMed

    Pouessel, G; Gueorguieva, I; Bernaczyk, Y; Flammarion, S; Thumerelle, C; Deschildre, A

    2015-08-01

    Inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) are the cornerstone and the first stage of asthma treatment. The objective of this study was to synthesize data on the potential effects of ICSs on growth in children. Studies on the short-term impact of ICSs on growth evaluated by knemometry cannot be extrapolated to the medium or long term and therefore have no utility in real life for a given person. In the medium term, the various ICSs given at the usual doses cause a small reduction in growth after 6 months of treatment. This slowdown occurs at the beginning of treatment, especially in younger children, and the growth velocity corrects itself later but without catching up. In the long term, the prolonged use of ICSs seems to induce a small reduction in the final size in adulthood (close to 1cm) occurring in the first 2 years of treatment without worsening over time. The impact of gender, age at onset of treatment, different ICSs, modes of inhalation, and severity of asthma should also be studied further. The benefit of ICSs in asthma treatment is greater than the risk of side effects, including on growth. The majority of the therapeutic effect is obtained for small to moderate doses of ICSs. Regular adjustment of ICS dose for optimal asthma control should also reduce ICS dose and the impact on growth. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

  7. Growth and yield of western larch in response to several density levels and two thinning methods: 15-year results.

    Treesearch

    K.W. Seidel

    1986-01-01

    The 15-year growth response from a levels-of-growing-stock study in an even-aged western larch (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) stand, first thinned from above and below at age 55, was measured in northeastern Oregon. Basal area and volume growth increased with stand density for both thinning methods, whereas diameter growth decreased. Attacks of the...

  8. Acute effects of various weighted bat warm-up protocols on bat velocity.

    PubMed

    Reyes, G Francis; Dolny, Dennis

    2009-10-01

    Although research has provided evidence of increased muscular performance following a facilitation set of resistance exercise, this has not been established for use prior to measuring baseball bat velocity. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of selected weighted bat warm-up protocols to enhance bat velocity in collegiate baseball players. Nineteen collegiate baseball players (age = 20.15 +/- 1.46 years) were tested for upper-body strength by a 3-repetition maximum (RM) bench press (mean = 97.98 +/- 14.54 kg) and mean bat velocity. Nine weighted bat warm-up protocols, utilizing 3 weighted bats (light = 794 g; standard = 850 g; heavy = 1,531 g) were swung in 3 sets of 6 repetitions in different orders. A control trial involved the warm-up protocol utilizing only the standard bat. Pearson product correlation revealed a significant relationship between 3RM strength and pretest bat velocity (r = 0.51, p = 0.01). Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed no significant treatment effects of warm-up protocol on bat velocity. However, the order of standard, light, heavy bat sequence resulted in the greatest increase in bat velocity (+6.03%). These results suggest that upper-body muscle strength influences bat velocity. It appears that the standard, light, heavy warm-up order may provide the greatest benefit to increase subsequent bat velocity and may warrant use in game situations.

  9. Vertical Rise Velocity of Equatorial Plasma Bubbles Estimated from Equatorial Atmosphere Radar Observations and High-Resolution Bubble Model Simulations

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Yokoyama, T.; Ajith, K. K.; Yamamoto, M.; Niranjan, K.

    2017-12-01

    Equatorial plasma bubble (EPB) is a well-known phenomenon in the equatorial ionospheric F region. As it causes severe scintillation in the amplitude and phase of radio signals, it is important to understand and forecast the occurrence of EPBs from a space weather point of view. The development of EPBs is presently believed as an evolution of the generalized Rayleigh-Taylor instability. We have already developed a 3D high-resolution bubble (HIRB) model with a grid spacing of as small as 1 km and presented nonlinear growth of EPBs which shows very turbulent internal structures such as bifurcation and pinching. As EPBs have field-aligned structures, the latitude range that is affected by EPBs depends on the apex altitude of EPBs over the dip equator. However, it was not easy to observe the apex altitude and vertical rise velocity of EPBs. Equatorial Atmosphere Radar (EAR) in Indonesia is capable of steering radar beams quickly so that the growth phase of EPBs can be captured clearly. The vertical rise velocities of the EPBs observed around the midnight hours are significantly smaller compared to those observed in postsunset hours. Further, the vertical growth of the EPBs around midnight hours ceases at relatively lower altitudes, whereas the majority of EPBs at postsunset hours found to have grown beyond the maximum detectable altitude of the EAR. The HIRB model with varying background conditions are employed to investigate the possible factors that control the vertical rise velocity and maximum attainable altitudes of EPBs. The estimated rise velocities from EAR observations at both postsunset and midnight hours are, in general, consistent with the nonlinear evolution of EPBs from the HIRB model.

  10. Estimating the Wet-Rock P-Wave Velocity from the Dry-Rock P-Wave Velocity for Pyroclastic Rocks

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Kahraman, Sair; Fener, Mustafa; Kilic, Cumhur Ozcan

    2017-07-01

    Seismic methods are widely used for the geotechnical investigations in volcanic areas or for the determination of the engineering properties of pyroclastic rocks in laboratory. Therefore, developing a relation between the wet- and dry-rock P-wave velocities will be helpful for engineers when evaluating the formation characteristics of pyroclastic rocks. To investigate the predictability of the wet-rock P-wave velocity from the dry-rock P-wave velocity for pyroclastic rocks P-wave velocity measurements were conducted on 27 different pyroclastic rocks. In addition, dry-rock S-wave velocity measurements were conducted. The test results were modeled using Gassmann's and Wood's theories and it was seen that estimates for saturated P-wave velocity from the theories fit well measured data. For samples having values of less and greater than 20%, practical equations were derived for reliably estimating wet-rock P-wave velocity as function of dry-rock P-wave velocity.

  11. Permeability of C2C12 myotube membranes is influenced by stretch velocity.

    PubMed

    Burkholder, Thomas J

    2003-05-30

    Mechanical signals are critical to the growth and maintenance of skeletal muscle, but the mechanism by which these signals are transduced by the cell remains unknown. This work examined the hypothesis that stretch conditions influence membrane permeability consistent with a role for membrane permeability in mechanotransduction. C2C12 myotubes were grown in conditions that encourage uniform alignment and subjected to uniform mechanical deformation in the presence of fluorescein labeled dextran to evaluate membrane permeability as a function of stretch amplitude and velocity. Within a physiologically relevant range of conditions, a complex interaction between the two aspects of stretch was observed, with velocity contributing most strongly at large stretch amplitudes. This suggests that membrane viscosity could contribute to mechanotransduction.

  12. Optical Refraction in Silver: Counterposition, Negative Phase Velocity and Orthogonal Phase Velocity

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Naqvi, Qaisar A.; Mackay, Tom G.; Lakhtakia, Akhlesh

    2011-01-01

    Complex behaviour associated with metamaterials can arise even in commonplace isotropic dielectric materials. We demonstrate how silver, for example, can support negative phase velocity and counterposition, but not negative refraction, at optical frequencies. The transition from positive to negative phase velocity is not accompanied by remarkable…

  13. Predictors of outcome at 2 years of age after early intrauterine growth restriction.

    PubMed

    Torrance, H L; Bloemen, M C T; Mulder, E J H; Nikkels, P G J; Derks, J B; de Vries, L S; Visser, G H A

    2010-08-01

    To examine the relative importance of antenatal and perinatal variables on short- and long-term outcome of preterm growth restricted fetuses with umbilical artery (UA) Doppler abnormalities. This was a cohort study of 180 neonates with birth weight < 10(th) percentile, gestational age at delivery < 34 weeks and abnormal Doppler ultrasound examination of the UA. Various antenatal and perinatal variables were studied in relation to short- and long-term outcome. Neonatal and overall mortality (up to 2 years of age) were predicted by low gestational age at delivery. Neonatal mortality was additionally predicted by absent or reversed UA end-diastolic flow, while the presence of severe neonatal complications and placental villitis were additional predictors of both infant (between 28 days and 1 year of postnatal life) and overall mortality. Placental villitis was found to be the only predictor of necrotizing enterocolitis. Low gestational age at delivery, male sex, abnormal cardiotocography, absent or reversed UA end-diastolic flow and the HELLP syndrome predicted respiratory distress syndrome. Abnormal neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years was predicted by low birth weight (< 2.3(rd) percentile), fetal acidosis (UA pH < 7.00), and placental villitis. Less advanced gestation at delivery remains an important predictor of short-term outcome in growth-restricted fetuses. In addition, the presence of placental villitis may aid neonatologists in the early identification of infants at increased risk of necrotizing enterocolitis, death and abnormal neurodevelopment at 2 years of age. Abnormal neurodevelopment was related to low weight and acidosis at birth, indicating that the severity of malnutrition and fetal acidosis affect long-term outcome.

  14. Concurrent field measurements of turbulent velocities, plant reconfiguration and drag forces on Ranunculus penicillatus

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Paul, Maike; Thomas, Robert E.; Keevil, Gareth M.

    2013-04-01

    In lowland rivers, seasonal patterns of in-stream macrophyte growth and decay have significant implications for flood risk. For a given discharge, flood risk is increased when dense macrophyte canopies reduce flow areas, increase blockage ratios and alter reach-scale roughness values. These factors combine and can increase the flow depth. Conversely, submerged vegetation is exposed to drag forces exerted by the flow, which may be sufficient to damage limbs or dislodge plants. The classical drag equation suggests that the force exerted by fluid flows upon submerged vegetation is a function of the fluid properties, the projected area of the vegetation, and the square of the flow velocity. However, very few studies have simultaneously monitored all of these parameters, resulting in significant uncertainty in the estimation of the coefficient that relates these parameters to the drag force and also the related roughness parameters that control the flow depth for a given discharge. To our knowledge, this study presents the first concurrent field measurements of turbulent velocities, plant reconfigurations and drag forces acting on Ranunculus penicillatus ssp. pseudofluitans (Syme) S.D.Webster. Measurements were undertaken in an artificially straightened reach of the chalk-bed River Wylye, near Longbridge Deverill, Wiltshire, UK. The reach is 5.7 m wide and during measurements there was a mean flow depth of 0.28 m and an average discharge of 0.28 m³s-1. The reach is cleared of vegetation up to three times a year for flood defence purposes, but Ranunculus p. grows back within several weeks. Measurements were carried out after re-growth, when plants were fully developed with a mean length of 0.75 m and on average 6 nodes along the stem. The distances between the nodes increased from the base towards the tip and each node produced a capillary leaf, sometimes in conjunction with a branch. Floating leaves and flowers were not present. Plants were attached to a custom

  15. Growth of the lower continental crust via the relamination of arc magma

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    He, Yumei; Zheng, Tianyu; Ai, Yinshuang; Hou, Guangbing; Chen, Qi-Fu

    2018-01-01

    How does continental crust transition from basaltic mantle-derived magmas into an andesitic composition? The relamination hypothesis has been presented as an alternative dynamical mechanism to classical delamination theory to explain new crust generation and has been supported by petrological and geochemical studies as well as by thermomechanical numerical modeling. However, direct evidence of this process from detailed seismic velocity structures is lacking. Here, we imaged the three-dimensional (3D) velocity structures of the crust and uppermost mantle beneath the geologically stable Ordos terrane of the North China Craton (NCC). We identify a region of continental crust that exhibits extreme growth using teleseismic data and an imaging technique that models the Common Conversion Point (CCP) stacking profiles. Our results show an approximately 400 × 400 km2 wide growth zone that underlies the primitive crust at depths of 30-50 km and exhibits a gradual increase of velocity with depth. The upper layer of the growth zone has a shear wave velocity of 3.6-3.9 km/s (Vp = 6.2-6.8 km/s), indicating felsic material, and the lower layer has a shear wave velocity of 4.1-4.3 km/s (Vp = 7.2-7.5 km/s), which corresponds to mafic material. We suggest that this vertical evolution of the layered structure could be created by relamination and that the keel structure formed by relamination may be the root of the supernormal stability of the ancient Ordos terrane.

  16. Diameter Growth 0f a Slash Pine Spacing Study Five Years After Being Thinned to a Constant Stand Density Index

    Treesearch

    Jamie C. Schexnayder; Thomas J. Dean; V. Clark Baldwin

    2002-01-01

    Abstract - In 1994, a 17-year old, slash pine (Pinus elliottii var. elliottii) spacing study was thinned to evaluate the influence of prethinning stand conditions on diameter growth after thinning. Diameter growth and crown dimensions measured just prior to thinning showed that diameter growth was positively...

  17. Comparative velocity structure of active Hawaiian volcanoes from 3-D onshore-offshore seismic tomography

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Park, J.; Morgan, J.K.; Zelt, C.A.; Okubo, P.G.; Peters, L.; Benesh, N.

    2007-01-01

    We present a 3-D P-wave velocity model of the combined subaerial and submarine portions of the southeastern part of the Island of Hawaii, based on first-arrival seismic tomography of marine airgun shots recorded by the onland seismic network. Our model shows that high-velocity materials (6.5-7.0??km/s) lie beneath Kilauea's summit, Koae fault zone, and the upper Southwest Rift Zone (SWRZ) and upper and middle East Rift Zone (ERZ), indicative of magma cumulates within the volcanic edifice. A separate high-velocity body of 6.5-6.9??km/s within Kilauea's lower ERZ and upper Puna Ridge suggests a distinct body of magma cumulates, possibly connected to the summit magma cumulates at depth. The two cumulate bodies within Kilauea's ERZ may have undergone separate ductile flow seaward, influencing the submarine morphology of Kilauea's south flank. Low velocities (5.0-6.3??km/s) seaward of Kilauea's Hilina fault zone, and along Mauna Loa's seaward facing Kao'iki fault zone, are attributed to thick piles of volcaniclastic sediments deposited on the submarine flanks. Loihi seamount shows high-velocity anomalies beneath the summit and along the rift zones, similar to the interpreted magma cumulates below Mauna Loa and Kilauea volcanoes, and a low-velocity anomaly beneath the oceanic crust, probably indicative of melt within the upper mantle. Around Kilauea's submarine flank, a high-velocity anomaly beneath the outer bench suggests the presence of an ancient seamount that may obstruct outward spreading of the flank. Mauna Loa's southeast flank is also marked by a large, anomalously high-velocity feature (7.0-7.4??km/s), interpreted to define an inactive, buried volcanic rift zone, which might provide a new explanation for the westward migration of Mauna Loa's current SWRZ and the growth of Kilauea's SWRZ. ?? 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

  18. Density, ages, and growth rates in old-growth and young-growth forests in coastal Oregon

    USGS Publications Warehouse

    Tappeiner, J. C.; Huffman, D.; Spies, T.; Bailey, John D.

    1997-01-01

    We studied the ages and diameter growth rates of trees in former Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.)Franco) old-growth stands on 10 sites and compared them with young-growth stands (50-70 years old, regenerated after timber harvest) in the Coast Range of western Oregon. The diameters and diameter growth rates for the first 100 years of trees in the old-growth stands were significantly greater than those in the young-growth stands. Growth rates in the old stands were comparable with those from long-term studies of young stands in which density is about 100-120 trees/ha; often young-growth stand density is well over 500 trees/ha. Ages of large trees in the old stands ranged from 100 to 420 years; ages in young stands varied by only about 5 to 10 years. Apparently, regeneration of old-growth stands on these sites occurred over a prolonged period, and trees grew at low density with little self-thinning; in contrast, after timber harvest, young stands may develop with high density of trees with similar ages and considerable self-thinning. The results suggest that thinning may be needed in dense young stands where the management objective is to speed development of old-growth characteristics.

  19. Proton velocity ring-driven instabilities and their dependence on the ring speed: Linear theory

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Min, Kyungguk; Liu, Kaijun; Gary, S. Peter

    2017-08-01

    Linear dispersion theory is used to study the Alfvén-cyclotron, mirror and ion Bernstein instabilities driven by a tenuous (1%) warm proton ring velocity distribution with a ring speed, vr, varying between 2vA and 10vA, where vA is the Alfvén speed. Relatively cool background protons and electrons are assumed. The modeled ring velocity distributions are unstable to both the Alfvén-cyclotron and ion Bernstein instabilities whose maximum growth rates are roughly a linear function of the ring speed. The mirror mode, which has real frequency ωr=0, becomes the fastest growing mode for sufficiently large vr/vA. The mirror and Bernstein instabilities have maximum growth at propagation oblique to the background magnetic field and become more field-aligned with an increasing ring speed. Considering its largest growth rate, the mirror mode, in addition to the Alfvén-cyclotron mode, can cause pitch angle diffusion of the ring protons when the ring speed becomes sufficiently large. Moreover, because the parallel phase speed, v∥ph, becomes sufficiently small relative to vr, the low-frequency Bernstein waves can also aid the pitch angle scattering of the ring protons for large vr. Potential implications of including these two instabilities at oblique propagation on heliospheric pickup ion dynamics are discussed.

  20. Field Testing of an In-well Point Velocity Probe for the Rapid Characterization of Groundwater Velocity

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Osorno, T.; Devlin, J. F.

    2017-12-01

    Reliable estimates of groundwater velocity is essential in order to best implement in-situ monitoring and remediation technologies. The In-well Point Velocity Probe (IWPVP) is an inexpensive, reusable tool developed for rapid measurement of groundwater velocity at the centimeter-scale in monitoring wells. IWPVP measurements of groundwater speed are based on a small-scale tracer test conducted as ambient groundwater passes through the well screen and the body of the probe. Horizontal flow direction can be determined from the difference in tracer mass passing detectors placed in four funnel-and-channel pathways through the probe, arranged in a cross pattern. The design viability of the IWPVP was confirmed using a two-dimensional numerical model in Comsol Multiphysics, followed by a series of laboratory tank experiments in which IWPVP measurements were calibrated to quantify seepage velocities in both fine and medium sand. Lab results showed that the IWPVP was capable of measuring the seepage velocity in less than 20 minutes per test, when the seepage velocity was in the range of 0.5 to 4.0 m/d. Further, the IWPVP estimated the groundwater speed with a precision of ± 7%, and an accuracy of ± 14%, on average. The horizontal flow direction was determined with an accuracy of ± 15°, on average. Recently, a pilot field test of the IWPVP was conducted in the Borden aquifer, C.F.B. Borden, Ontario, Canada. A total of approximately 44 IWPVP tests were conducted within two 2-inch groundwater monitoring wells comprising a 5 ft. section of #8 commercial well screen. Again, all tests were completed in under 20 minutes. The velocities estimated from IWPVP data were compared to 21 Point Velocity Probe (PVP) tests, as well as Darcy-based estimates of groundwater velocity. Preliminary data analysis shows strong agreement between the IWPVP and PVP estimates of groundwater velocity. Further, both the IWPVP and PVP estimates of groundwater velocity appear to be reasonable when

  1. Delayed growth

    MedlinePlus

    Growth - slow (child 0 - 5 years); Weight gain - slow (child 0 - 5 years); Slow rate of growth; Retarded growth and development; ... A child should have regular, well-baby check-ups with a health care provider. These checkups are usually scheduled ...

  2. Growth of suppressed grand fir and Shasta red fir in central Oregon after release and thinning—10-year results.

    Treesearch

    Kenneth W. Seidel

    1983-01-01

    A 43-year-old, even-aged stand of advance reproduction of grand fir and Shasta red fir in central Oregon responded to release and thinning with diameter and height growth two to three times the prerelease rate. The response began immediately after the overstory was killed with 2,4-D. Diameter growth during the second 5 years after release increased significantly over...

  3. Serum growth hormone (GH)-binding protein/receptor: an important determinant of GH responsiveness.

    PubMed

    Martha, P M; Reiter, E O; Dávila, N; Shaw, M A; Holcombe, J H; Baumann, G

    1992-12-01

    Individual growth rates (or responses to GH therapy) and adult heights vary over a wide range. The reasons for this variation are poorly understood. Based on the reciprocal relationship between GH production and serum GH-binding protein/receptor (GH-BP), we hypothesized that genetic growth potential was achieved by a specific combination of GH-BP/receptor and GH production in each individual. To address the question whether GH production regulates GH-BP, or vice versa, we studied GH-deficient children, where one of the parameters, GH exposure, could be controlled through exogenous administration. Forty-three untreated prepubertal GH-deficient children were studied before and after 6 and 12 months of GH replacement therapy (0.18 mg/kg.week). Growth velocity, height, bone age, weight and their respective Z scores, serum GH-BP, and serum insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) were measured at each time point. The patients responded with significant increases in serum IGF-I, age-adjusted growth velocity, and height (P < 10(-6) for all). Before therapy, GH-BP correlated directly with chronologic and bone age (P < 10(-4), but not with either growth velocity or IGF-I. In contrast, GH-BP correlated strongly with the response to therapy whether assessed as the incremental change in IGF-I (P < 10(-6)) or as the increase in growth velocity (P approximately 0.003). GH treatment had no consistent effect on GH-BP/receptor levels. These findings support the concept that the GH-BP/receptor endowment is characteristic for an individual and plays a pivotal role in somatic growth. The GH-BP/receptor system and its ontogeny appears relatively independent of regulation by GH. Differences in individual GH-BP/GH receptor complement account for some of the variability in the response to GH, and GH-BP levels may serve as a predictor for the degree of response. The reciprocal relationship between GH production and GH-BP in normal subjects probably results from adjustment of GH secretion to

  4. Growth, metabolic markers, and cognition in 8-year old children born prematurely, follow-up of a randomized controlled trial with essential fatty acids.

    PubMed

    Henriksen, Christine; Almaas, Astrid N; Westerberg, Ane C; Drevon, Christian A; Iversen, Per O; Nakstad, Britt

    2016-09-01

    The study is a follow-up of a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial of supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) to 129 very low birth weight (VLBW; birth weight <1500 g) infants fed human milk. The main hypothesis was that supplementation would affect growth, metabolic markers, and cognitive function. The secondary aim was to describe predictors of metabolic markers and cognitive status at follow-up. Ninety-eight children met for 8-year follow-up with anthropometric measures, blood biomarkers, and cognitive testing. The intervention group had significantly lower insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) at 8 years, whereas no differences in growth or intelligence quotient (IQ) were found. For the total cohort, weight gain during first year of life was neither associated with BMI, metabolic markers, nor IQ at follow-up. Blood DHA at 8 years was positively associated with IQ. The study is the first long-term follow-up of a randomized controlled trial with essential fatty acids investigating growth, metabolic factors, and IQ. IGF-1 levels were significantly lower in the intervention group at 8 years. First-year growth was not associated with BMI, metabolic markers, or IQ at follow-up. Current DHA status was a significant predictor of higher IQ at follow-up. • Preterm children have increased risk of lower intelligence quotient (IQ), reduced growth, and abnormal metabolic status. • Early intake of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA), as well as early growth pattern, may influence both IQ and metabolic status. What is New: • Early intervention with DHA and AA led to reduced insulin-like growth factor-1 in blood at 8 years of age. • Weight gain during first year of life was neither associated with impaired metabolic markers nor improved IQ at follow-up. • Current DHA status was a significant predictor of higher IQ at 8 years, also when maternal education and birth weight were included in the model.

  5. Adult height and health-related quality of life after growth hormone therapy in small for gestational age subjects.

    PubMed

    Bannink, E; Djurhuus, C B; Christensen, T; Jøns, K; Hokken-Koelega, A

    2010-01-01

    To estimate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in non-growth hormone deficient (GHD) small for gestational age (SGA) children before and after growth hormone (GH) treatment to adult height (AH). This was a multicentre, two-arm trial. Following an initial 2-year double-blind study period, patients entered a 2-year extension period followed by treatment to AH. At baseline patients were randomised to GH (0.033 or 0.067 mg/kg/day) and continued treatment at that dose until AH. Height was assessed at baseline and 3-monthly intervals to AH (height velocity <2 cm/year). Height standard deviation score (SDS) before and after GH therapy was mapped onto estimated HRQoL scores up to AH. Of the 79 children randomised into the study 53 were non-GHD (defined as peak GH >20 mU/L [peak 24-h GH value and peak arginine tolerance test]). At baseline these children had a mean (mean [+/-SD]) height SDS of -3.2 (0.7), height velocity SDS -0.6 (1.2) and age, 8.1 (1.9) years. Estimated HRQoL scores were significantly (p < 0.001) increased from baseline at AH (ΔHRQoL, 95% CI) (0.033 mg/kg/day, 0.112 [0.092, 0.132]; 0.067 mg/kg/day, 0.115 [0.094, 0.136]). HRQoL was not different between treatment groups. A significant gain in AH, relative to an SGA reference population, was reported in GH-treated patients. Mean (95% CI) ΔAH SDS (0.033 mg/kg/day, +1.4 [1.1, 1.6]. 0.067 mg/kg/day, +1.7[1.4, 2.0]). The analysis assumes HRQoL can be mapped onto height SDS. GH treatment in short children born SGA without signs of persistent catch-up growth was associated with significant improvement in HRQoL and normalisation of AH.

  6. Changes in Seismic Velocity During the 2004 - 2008 Eruption of Mount St. Helens Volcano

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hotovec-Ellis, A. J.; Vidale, J. E.; Gomberg, J. S.; Moran, S. C.; Thelen, W. A.

    2013-12-01

    Mount St. Helens (MSH) effusively erupted in late 2004, following an 18-year quiescence. Many swarms of repeating earthquakes accompanied the extrusion and in some cases the waveforms from these earthquakes evolved slowly, possibly reflecting changes in the properties of the volcano that affect seismic wave propagation. We use coda-wave interferometry to quantify these changes in terms of small (usually <1%) changes in seismic velocity structure by determining how relatively condensed or stretched the coda is between two similar earthquakes. We then utilize several hundred distinct families of repeating earthquakes at once to create a continuous function of velocity change observed at any station in the seismic network. The rate of earthquakes allows us to track these changes on a daily or even hourly time scale. Following years of no seismic velocity changes larger than those due to climatic processes (tenths of a percent), we observed decreases in seismic velocity of >1% coincident with the onset of increased earthquake activity beginning September 23, 2004. These changes are largest near the summit of the volcano, and likely related to shallow deformation as magma first worked its way to the surface. Changes in velocity are often attributed to deformation, especially volumetric strain and the opening or closing of cracks, but also with nonlinear responses to ground shaking and fluid intrusion. We compare velocity changes across the eruption with other available observations, such as deformation (e.g., GPS, tilt, photogrammetry), to better constrain the relationships between velocity change and its possible causes.

  7. Economic growth or no growth. [Needs to get to year 2000

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

    Vanderslice, T.A.

    1978-12-01

    Dr. Vanderslice points out that, for much of this century, energy growth and GNP have marched in lockstep, and the relationship appears to be causal, not casual. Showing the economic impacts of an energy shortfall, he feels that unless both industry and government recognize increasing energy consumption as a reality--even with conservation--they are irresponsible planners. He further points out that those who would lead us down alternative energy paths offer little assurance that the paths do not end short of our goals; and that a characteristic of most of these plans is the notable lack of detailed road maps andmore » planning. Seeing a crying need for thorough revision of our present system of licensing and regulating power plants, Dr. Vanderslice favors placing greater authority with the states, since each state has different environmental and energy problems. Citing nuclear power as a focal point since it welds so many current movements-- consumerism, environmentalism, anti-technology, decentralization, and regulation--into a single issue, he says the real issue is growth vs. no-growth and may be decided de facto by the constriction of our energy options. Further, given that the world's population and ours will continue to grow, there is no acceptable alternative to the increasing use of energy as a basic reality of human existence.« less

  8. Modeling measured glottal volume velocity waveforms.

    PubMed

    Verneuil, Andrew; Berry, David A; Kreiman, Jody; Gerratt, Bruce R; Ye, Ming; Berke, Gerald S

    2003-02-01

    The source-filter theory of speech production describes a glottal energy source (volume velocity waveform) that is filtered by the vocal tract and radiates from the mouth as phonation. The characteristics of the volume velocity waveform, the source that drives phonation, have been estimated, but never directly measured at the glottis. To accomplish this measurement, constant temperature anemometer probes were used in an in vivo canine constant pressure model of phonation. A 3-probe array was positioned supraglottically, and an endoscopic camera was positioned subglottically. Simultaneous recordings of airflow velocity (using anemometry) and glottal area (using stroboscopy) were made in 3 animals. Glottal airflow velocities and areas were combined to produce direct measurements of glottal volume velocity waveforms. The anterior and middle parts of the glottis contributed significantly to the volume velocity waveform, with less contribution from the posterior part of the glottis. The measured volume velocity waveforms were successfully fitted to a well-known laryngeal airflow model. A noninvasive measured volume velocity waveform holds promise for future clinical use.

  9. Neurodevelopmental Profile, Growth, and Psychosocial Environment of Preterm Infants with Difficult Feeding Behavior at Age 2 Years.

    PubMed

    Crapnell, Tara L; Woodward, Lianne J; Rogers, Cynthia E; Inder, Terrie E; Pineda, Roberta G

    2015-12-01

    To examine the association of difficult feeding behaviors in very preterm infants at age 2 years with growth and neurodevelopmental outcomes and family factors and functioning. Eighty children born ≤30 weeks gestation were studied from birth until age 2 years. Feeding difficulties were assessed using the Eating Subscale of the Infant-Toddler Social Emotional Assessment at age 2 years, along with growth measurement and developmental testing. Maternal mental health and family factors were assessed using standardized questionnaires. ANOVA and χ(2) analyses were performed to determine associations between feeding difficulties and growth, neurodevelopmental outcomes, and family characteristics. Twenty-one children (26%) were at risk for feeding difficulties, and an additional 18 (23%) had definite feeding difficulties at age 2 years. Those with feeding difficulties were more likely to be subject to a range of neurodevelopmental problems, including impaired cognition (P = .02), language (P = .04), motor (P = .01), and socioemotional (P < .007) skills. Compared with the parents of children with fewer feeding difficulties, parents of the children with feeding difficulties had higher parenting stress (P = .02) and reported more difficulty managing their child's behavior (P = .002) and more frequent parent-child interaction problems (P = .002). No associations were found between difficult feeding behaviors and growth, maternal mental health, or family factors. Difficult feeding behaviors in children born very preterm appear to be highly comorbid with other developmental and family challenges, including neurodevelopmental impairment and parent-child interaction difficulties. Focusing on improving feeding skills, in conjunction with supporting positive parent-child interactions, may be beneficial for improving outcomes. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

  10. Growth hormone therapy in hypochondroplasia.

    PubMed

    Ramaswami, U; Hindmarsh, P C; Brook, C G

    1999-02-01

    Patients with hypochondroplasia present with variable phenotypes. Children with severe short stature and disproportion of the body segments usually have the mutation Asn540Lys. They respond to growth hormone (GH) therapy with an increase in spinal length and, coupled with a surgical leg-lengthening procedure, it is possible for some patients to achieve adult heights within the normal range. Some children who present with proportionate short stature and hypochondroplasia fail to increase their growth rate at puberty, although the growth spurt can be restored by GH therapy. Others, with an identical presentation, seem to grow normally during puberty. At present, there is no way of predicting who will undergo a normal pubertal growth spurt. We therefore monitor all patients during childhood and give GH treatment only to those patients who fail to develop a growth spurt at puberty. Severe cases may occasionally need treatment before puberty if their growth velocity is compromised, but these will probably also be candidates for a surgical leg-lengthening procedure.

  11. The Acute Effects of Upper Extremity Stretching on Throwing Velocity in Baseball Throwers

    PubMed Central

    Melton, Jason; Delobel, Ashley; Puentedura, Emilio J.

    2013-01-01

    Purpose. To examine the effects of static and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching of the shoulder internal rotators on throwing velocity. Subjects. 27 male throwers (mean age = 25.1 years old, SD = 2.4) with adequate knowledge of demonstrable throwing mechanics. Study Design. Randomized crossover trial with repeated measures. Methods. Subjects warmed up, threw 10 pitches at their maximum velocity, were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 stretching protocols (static, PNF, or no stretch), and then repeated their 10 pitches. Velocities were recorded after each pitch and average and peak velocities were recorded after each session. Results. Data were analyzed using a 3 × 2 repeated measures ANOVA. No significant interaction between stretching and throwing velocity was observed. Main effects for time were not statistically significant. Main effects for the stretching groups were statistically significant. Discussion. Results suggest that stretching of the shoulder internal rotators did not significantly affect throwing velocity immediately after stretching. This may be due to the complexity of the throwing task. Conclusions. Stretching may be included in a thrower's warm-up without any effects on throwing velocity. Further research should be performed using a population with more throwing experience and skill. PMID:26464880

  12. Kinetic Roughening and Energetics of Tetragonal Lysozyme Crystal Growth: A Preliminary Atomic Force Microscopy Investigation

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Gorti, Sridhar; Forsythe, Elizabeth L.; Pusey, Marc L.

    2004-01-01

    We examined particulars of crystal growth from measurements obtained at both microscopic and molecular levels. The crystal growth measurements performed at the microscopic level are well characterized by a model that balances the flux of macromolecules towards the crystal surface with the flux of the crystal surface. Numerical evaluation of model with measurements of crystal growth, in time, provided accurate estimates for the average growth velocities. Growth velocities thus obtained were also interpreted using well-established phenomenological theories. Moreover, we find that microscopic measurements of growth velocity measurements obtained as a function of temperature best characterizes changes in crystal growth modes, when present. We also examined the possibility of detecting a change in crystal growth modes at the molecular level using atomic force microscopy, AFM. From preliminary AFM measurements performed at various supersaturations, we find that magnitude of surface height fluctuations, h(x), increases with supersaturation. Further examination of surface height fluctuations using methods established for fluctuation spectroscopy also enabled the discovery of the existence of a characteristic length, c, which may possibly determine the mode of crystal growth. Although the results are preliminary, we establish the non- critical divergence of 5 and the root-mean-square (rms) magnitude of height-height fluctuations as the kinetic roughening transition temperatures are approached. Moreover, we also examine approximate models for interpreting the non-critical behavior of both 6 and rms magnitude of height-height fluctuations, as the solution supersaturation is increased towards the kinetic roughening supersaturation.

  13. Human population and atmospheric carbon dioxide growth dynamics: Diagnostics for the future

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Hüsler, A. D.; Sornette, D.

    2014-10-01

    We analyze the growth rates of human population and of atmospheric carbon dioxide by comparing the relative merits of two benchmark models, the exponential law and the finite-time-singular (FTS) power law. The later results from positive feedbacks, either direct or mediated by other dynamical variables, as shown in our presentation of a simple endogenous macroeconomic dynamical growth model describing the growth dynamics of coupled processes involving human population (labor in economic terms), capital and technology (proxies by CO2 emissions). Human population in the context of our energy intensive economies constitutes arguably the most important underlying driving variable of the content of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Using some of the best databases available, we perform empirical analyses confirming that the human population on Earth has been growing super-exponentially until the mid-1960s, followed by a decelerated sub-exponential growth, with a tendency to plateau at just an exponential growth in the last decade with an average growth rate of 1.0% per year. In contrast, we find that the content of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has continued to accelerate super-exponentially until 1990, with a transition to a progressive deceleration since then, with an average growth rate of approximately 2% per year in the last decade. To go back to CO2 atmosphere contents equal to or smaller than the level of 1990 as has been the broadly advertised goals of international treaties since 1990 requires herculean changes: from a dynamical point of view, the approximately exponential growth must not only turn to negative acceleration but also negative velocity to reverse the trend.

  14. Trajectories of Heroin Addiction: Growth Mixture Modeling Results Based on a 33-Year Follow-Up Study

    ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

    Hser, Yih-Ing; Huang, David; Chou, Chih-Ping; Anglin, M. Douglas

    2007-01-01

    This study investigates trajectories of heroin use and subsequent consequences in a sample of 471 male heroin addicts who were admitted to the California Civil Addict Program in 1964-1965 and followed over 33 years. Applying a two-part growth mixture modeling strategy to heroin use level during the first 16 years of the addiction careers since…

  15. Supporting the students most in need: academic self-efficacy and perceived teacher support in relation to within-year academic growth.

    PubMed

    Mercer, Sterett H; Nellis, Leah M; Martínez, Rebecca S; Kirk, Megan

    2011-06-01

    Academic self-efficacy and perceived teacher support in relation to academic skill growth across one academic year were examined in the study. Participants included 193 5th-grade students. Teachers collected curriculum-based measures (CBM) of reading and math on three occasions as part of routine academic benchmarks, and researchers collected student-reported measures of academic self-efficacy and perceived teacher support in the spring of the same academic year. Results indicated that academic self-efficacy was positively related to fall reading and math CBM scores and that perceived teacher support was unrelated to fall scores or growth across the academic year. Academic self-efficacy and perceived teacher support interacted in relation to math CBM growth such that low levels of perceived teacher support were related to greater growth, particularly for students with high academic self-efficacy. Follow-up analyses indicated that students with the lowest fall CBM scores and smallest growth rates reported higher levels of perceived teacher support, suggesting that teachers support the students most in need. Copyright © 2011 Society for the Study of School Psychology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

  16. Velocity Dispersions Across Bulge Types

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

    Fabricius, Maximilian; Bender, Ralf; Hopp, Ulrich

    2010-06-08

    We present first results from a long-slit spectroscopic survey of bulge kinematics in local spiral galaxies. Our optical spectra were obtained at the Hobby-Eberly Telescope with the LRS spectrograph and have a velocity resolution of 45 km/s (sigma*), which allows us to resolve the velocity dispersions in the bulge regions of most objects in our sample. We find that the velocity dispersion profiles in morphological classical bulge galaxies are always centrally peaked while the velocity dispersion of morphologically disk-like bulges stays relatively flat towards the center--once strongly barred galaxies are discarded.

  17. Experimental study on the ejecta-velocity distributions caused by low-velocity impacts on quartz sand

    NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

    Tsujido, S.; Arakawa, M.; Suzuki, A. I.; Yasui, M.

    2014-07-01

    Introduction: Regolith formation on asteroids is caused by successive impacts of small bodies. The ejecta velocity distribution during the crater formation process is one of the most important physical properties related to the surface-evolution process, and the distribution is also necessary to reconstruct the planetary-accretion process among planetesimals. The surface of small bodies, such as asteroids and planetesimals in the solar system, could have varying porosity, strength, and density, and the impact velocity could vary across a wide range from a few tens of m/s to several km/s. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct impact experiments by changing the physical properties of the target and the projectile in a wide velocity range in order to constrain the crater-formation process applicable to the small bodies in the solar system. Housen and Holsapple (2011) compiled the data of ejecta velocity distribution with various impact velocities, porosities, grain sizes, grain shapes, and strengths of the targets, and they improved their ejecta scaling law. But the ejecta velocity data is not enough for varying projectile densities and for impact velocities less than 1 km/s. In this study, to investigate the projectile density dependence of the ejecta velocity distribution at a low velocity region, we conducted impact experiments with projectile densities from 1.1 to 11.3 g/cm^3. Then, we try to determine the effect of projectile density on the ejecta velocity distribution by means of the observation of each individual ejecta grain. Experimental methods: We made impact cratering experiments by using a vertical-type one-stage light-gas gun (V-LGG) set at Kobe University. Targets were quartz sand (irregular shape) and glass beads (spherical shape) with the grain size of 500 μ m (porosity 44.7 %). The target container with the size of 30 cm was set in a large vacuum chamber with air pressure less than 10^3 Pa. The projectile materials that we used were lead, copper

  18. Stationary Plasma Thruster Ion Velocity Distribution

    NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

    Manzella, David H.

    1994-01-01

    A nonintrusive velocity diagnostic based on laser induced fluorescence of the 5d4F(5/2)-6p4D(5/2) singly ionized xenon transition was used to interrogate the exhaust of a 1.5 kW Stationary Plasma Thruster (SPT). A detailed map of plume velocity vectors was obtained using a simplified, cost-effective, nonintrusive, semiconductor laser based scheme. Circumferential velocities on the order of 250 m/s were measured which implied induced momentum torques of approximately 5 x 10(exp -2) N-cm. Axial and radial velocities were evaluated one mm downstream of the cathode at several locations across the width of the annular acceleration channel. Radial velocities varied linearly with radial distance. A maximum radial velocity of 7500 m/s was measured 8 mm from the center of the channel. Axial velocities as large as 16,500 m/s were measured.

  19. Physical Growth, Biological Age, and Nutritional Transitions of Adolescents Living at Moderate Altitudes in Peru.

    PubMed

    Cossio-Bolaños, Marco; Campos, Rossana Gómez; Andruske, Cynthia Lee; Flores, Antonio Viveros; Luarte-Rocha, Cristian; Olivares, Pedro R; Garcia-Rubio, Javier; de Arruda, Miguel

    2015-09-25

    Peru is experiencing a stage of nutritional transition where the principal characteristics are typical of countries undergoing development. The objectives of this study were the following: (a) compare physical growth patterns with an international standard; (b) determine biological age; and (c) analyze the double nutritional burden of adolescents living at a moderate altitude in Peru. Weight, standing height, and sitting height were measured in 551 adolescents of both sexes (12.0 to 17.9 years old) from an urban area of Arequipa, Peru (2328 m). Physical growth was compared with the international standard of the CDC-2000. Biological age was determined by using a non-invasive transversal technique based on years from age at peak height velocity (APHV). Nutritional state was determined by means of weight for age and height for age. Z scores were calculated using international standards from the CDC-2000. Body weight for both sexes was similar to the CDC-2000 international standards. At all ages, the girls' height (p < 0.05) was below the standards. However, the boys' height (p < 0.05) was less at ages, 15, 16, and 17. Biological age showed up in girls at age 12.7 years and for boys at 15.2 years. Stunted growth (8.7% boys and 18.0% girls) and over weight (11.3% boys and 8.8% girls) occurred in both groups. A relationship existed in both sexes between the categories of weight for the age and stunted growth by sex. Adolescents living at a moderate altitude exhibited stunted linear growth and biological maturation. Furthermore, adolescents of both sexes showed the presence of the double nutritional burden (stunted growth and excessive weight).

  20. Lagrangian technique to calculate window interface velocity from shock velocity measurements: Application for quartz windows

    DOE PAGES

    McCoy, Chad A.; Knudson, Marcus D.

    2017-08-24

    Measurement of the window interface velocity is a common technique for investigating the dynamic response materials at high strain rates. However, these measurements are limited in pressure to the range where the window remains transparent. The most common window material for this application is lithium fluoride, which under single shock compression becomes opaque at ~200 GPa. To date, no other window material has been identified for use at higher pressures. Here, we present a Lagrangian technique to calculate the interface velocity from a continuously measured shock velocity, with application to quartz. The quartz shock front becomes reflective upon melt, atmore » ~100 GPa, enabling the use of velocity interferometry to continuously measure the shock velocity. This technique overlaps with the range of pressures accessible with LiF windows and extends the region where wave profile measurements are possible to pressures in excess of 2000 GPa. Lastly, we show through simulated data that the technique accurately reproduces the interface velocity within 20% of the initial state, and that the Lagrangian technique represents a significant improvement over a simple linear approximation.« less