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Background: To assess the efficacy of curcuminoids (curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin [BDC]) and their analogs (tetrahydrocurcumin [THC], tetrahydrodemethoxycurcumin [THDC], tetrahydrobisdemethoxycurcumin) in reducing inflammatory cytokines and their toxicity to primary human corneal limbal epithelial cells, these cells were cultured and exposed to these compounds. Methods: The PrestoBlue assay assessed cell viability after treatment. Anti-inflammatory effects on hyperosmotic cells were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction and significance was gauged using one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's tests, considering p-values < 0.05 as significant. Results: Curcuminoids and their analogs, at 1, 10, and 100 µM, exhibited no effect on cell viability compared to controls. However, cyclosporin A 1:500 significantly reduced cell viability more than most curcuminoid treatments, except 100 µM curcumin and BDC. All tested curcuminoids and analogs at these concentrations significantly decreased mRNA expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-17 A, matrix metallopeptidase-9, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 after 90 mM NaCl stimulation compared to untreated cells. Furthermore, proinflammatory cytokine levels from hyperosmotic cells treated with 1, 10, and 100 µM curcumin, 100 µM BDC, 100 µM THC, 1 and 100 µM THDC mirrored those treated with cyclosporin A 1:500. Conclusion: The anti-inflammatory efficiency of 1 and 10 µM curcumin, 100 µM THC, 1 and 100 µM THDC was comparable to that of cyclosporin A 1:500 while maintaining cell viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this cross-sectional evaluation was to determine the associations between raw bioelectrical impedance and cardiometabolic health parameters in a sample of young non-Hispanic White and African American adults. Methods: A total of 96 (female: 52, male: 44) non-Hispanic White (n = 45) and African American adults (n = 51) between the ages of 19 and 37 yr (22.7 ± 3.83 yr) completed several fasted assessments including resting systolic blood pressure (rSBP), blood glucose (FBG), blood lipids, and bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy. Bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy–derived measurements included phase angle, bioimpedance index (BI), impedance ratio (IR), reactance index (XCi), fat-free mass (FFM), FFM index (FFMi), and absolute (a) and relative (%) total body water (TBW) and extracellular (ECF) and intracellular fluid (ICF). All bioelectric variables were collected at 50 kHz other than IR (250 kHz/5 kHz). Multiple regressions were conducted and adjusted for sex, age, and body mass index. Results: rSBP was positively, and HDL was inversely, associated with all bioelectrical impedance and absolute hydration variables (all P ≤ 0.050) other than XCi for rSBP and XCi and FFMi for HDL. rSBP (P < 0.001) was inversely, and HDL (P = 0.034) was positively, associated with IR. FBG was positively associated with BI, XCi, FFM, TBWa, and ECFa (all P < 0.050). Metabolic syndrome severity was positively associated with BI, FFM, TBWa, and ECFa for women (all P ≤ 0.050) and with ICFa for African American women (P = 0.016). Conclusions: Given the rapid increase in the prevalence of cardiometabolic health risks among young adults and the broad use of bioelectrical impedance in practice, the conflicting associations we observed in this age group suggest that bioelectrical impedance parameters should be used with caution in the context of cardiometabolic health risks and age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This study investigates differences in American English consonants produced by patients who present with various dentofacial disharmonies (DFDs), including severe overbites (Class II), underbites (Class III), and anterior open bites. Previous studies have found that patients with these malocclusion types all produce lingual sibilants and plosives with increased spectral center of gravity and increased spectral variance relative to controls. This result is puzzling since some DFD groups differ from controls in opposite ways, and it is also difficult to interpret because spectral moment measures are affected by a wide range of speech and nonspeech factors. Method: To better understand the articulatory basis of these differences, we apply articulatorily interpretable spectral measures derived from multitaper spectra. Results: We find that all groups of DFD patients produce /s ʃ t tʃ/ with midfrequency spectral peaks that are less prominent than those of the control group, but peak frequency measures are largely the same across all groups. Conclusion: We conclude that the DFD patients differ more in sibilant noise source properties than in front cavity filter properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the role of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), measured by the Equatorial Southern Oscillation Index (EQSOI), is used to formally forecast the inflation and GDP growth rates of the United States, advanced (excluding the United States) and emerging countries, as well as the world economy (barring the United States). We rely on univariate and multivariate singular spectrum analyses (SSA), as well as mixed-frequency version of the latter since the EQSOI is monthly, while GDP is available only at quarterly frequency unlike monthly inflation rates. We find statistically significant evidence of the ability of the EQSOI in forecasting inflation and GDP growth rates of the four economic blocs, though there are exceptions in terms of forecasting gains associated with inflation rate of emerging economies and the growth rate of the United States. Our results have important implications for policymakers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveThis study examined the liking of fruits and vegetables among college students and the relationship between skin carotenoid levels and liking of fruits and vegetables. Participants: Sixty-six undergraduate students enrolled at a university in the southeastern United States participated in this study beginning August 2019. Methods: Skin carotenoid levels were measured using the Veggie Meter® reflection spectroscopy device. Liking of individual fruits and vegetables was measured using a hedonic general Labeled Magnitude Scale. Results: There were significant differences in mean skin carotenoid levels by year of study and age group. Students had a very strong liking for potatoes and pineapple. Veggie Meter scores and overall liking for fruits and vegetables were positively correlated. Conclusions: In order to encourage the consumption of fruits and vegetables, preferences for specific fruits and vegetables as well as accessibility should be considered to better serve and accommodate college students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on voice science can help move us closer to evidence-based practices in our teaching, but adopting new tools can be challenging. Topics include the introduce high-tech tools that can improve our teaching and technophobic readers are encouraged to keep reading, the technology can come with a steep or even intimidating learning curve, and the center on perceptual training to help students better understand is vibrato using a voice synthesizer.

We conducted this study to quantify long-term cropping related changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and characterize the optical properties of dissolved organic matter (DOM) after a decadal on-farm experiment in Montana, USA. Soil samples (0–50 cm) were collected from minimum till (MT) and no-till (NT) fields under fallow-winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.; F-W) and pea-winter wheat (Pisum sativum L.; P-W) rotations. Stocks of SOC (0–50 cm) averaged 65.6 Mg C ha−1 and 60.6 Mg C ha−1 for P-W and F-W, respectively. The net SOC accretion rate for P-W equated to 0.61 Mg ha−1 yr−1 relative to F-W. We used absorbance spectroscopy and excitation-emission matrices to characterize DOM composition of samples collected from MT F-W and NT P-W. The two cropping systems exhibited similar estimates of aromaticity (absorbance at 254 nm; 0.33–0.39 a.u.) and humification index (1.83–1.86). Parallel factor (PARAFAC) analysis revealed humic-like (C1, C2), monolignol/amino acid-like (C3), and amino acid-/tannin-like (C4) components with equivalent fluorescent intensities among MT F-W and NT P-W. Fluorescence efficiencies increased with depth, suggesting a shift from larger, plant-like material to smaller, microbial-derived precursors. Overall, we found DOM composition to be minimally affected by cropping systems in this semiarid climate of the northern Great Plains. • Annual cropping sequestered more SOC than fallow-based systems over a 10 year period. • The accretion of SOC within annual cropping occurred at a rate of 0.61 Mg ha−1 yr−1. • Soil DOM bulk optical properties did not respond to changes in decadal SOC stocks. • PARAFAC analysis identified four different fluorescent components of the EEMs. • Sub-soil DOM was comprised of low molecular size constituents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Individuals with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) experience a range of cognitive, affective, and physical deficits following prenatal alcohol exposure. They are thought to be overrepresented in criminal justice settings. However, limited evidence is available to inform prevalence. We sought to estimate the prevalence of FASD in a Northern Canadian correctional population.Methods: Using an active case ascertainment approach we recruited a representative sample of 80 justice-involved adults (ages 18-40, 85% male) over an 18-month period from 2013 to 2015. Participants completed interdisciplinary clinical assessments comprising medical and psychological evaluations that adhered to the 2005 Canadian FASD Diagnostic Guidelines.Results: We identified a high rate of FASD (17.5, 95% CI [9.2, 25.8%]) in this sample, and this rate could have been as high as 31.2% with confirmation of prenatal alcohol exposure. Most participants in this study presented with significant neurodevelopmental and cognitive deficits in at least two domains of functioning, irrespective of diagnosis, with only five of 80 participants (6.3%) demonstrating no cognitive impairment.Conclusions: Findings showed disproportionately high estimated FASD prevalence in this representative sample compared to general population estimates in both Canada and the U.S. (2-5%), underscoring the need for improved FASD screening and diagnosis in correctional settings, and education for clinicians working in the justice context. Strengthened health prevention and intervention efforts to support the needs of individuals with FASD outside the criminal justice context are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, proton-transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) were compared for the authentication of geographical and farming system origins of Brazilian coffees. For this purpose, n = 19 organic (ORG) and n = 26 conventional (CONV) coffees from distinct producing regions were analyzed. Overall, differences (p ≤ 0.05) in 44 and 71 ion intensities were observed between the main producing regions and farming systems, respectively. Principal component analysis was not effective in illustrating differences between the coffees according to the farming system or geographical origin using neither PTR-MS nor NIRS data. However, when the PLS-DA was applied, which produced the best performing models compared to several other chemometric techniques, the farming system was adroitly differentiated. The fact that the classification performance (>80%) was independent of the data acquisition method used gives NIRS an edge over PTR-MS in the differentiation of the farming system because of its rapid analysis and cost. Differentiating geographic location of coffee was rather complex. The PTR-MS calibration models showed slightly better PLS-DA classification rates compared to the NIRS models (69% vs. 61%, respectively), which is even more evident when the alternative classifier is used (LDA-kNN, 69% vs. 39%, respectively). Coffee samples from either Minas Gerais (MG) or Sao Paulo (SP) were differentiated from the other regions. In conclusion, our study provides information on alternative rapid analysis coupled with chemometric techniques to differentiate the farming system and trace the geographical provenance of Brazilian specialty coffee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. To develop an optical spectral transmission (OST) model to measure joint inflammation, and thus disease activity, as well as to evaluate (patho-)physiological findings that could lead to misclassification of inflammation. Methods. Forty-six RA patients were included in this cross-sectional study, where US scores, duplicate OST measurements and 28-joint DAS (DAS28) were acquired. With US as a reference standard, the diagnostic performance of OST in detecting inflammation at the joint level was evaluated using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses. At the patient level, correlations with US were analysed for DAS28 and OST, and at joint level for OST and tender and swollen joint counts (TJC and SJC, respectively). Joint pathology potentially influencing misclassification by OST [erosions, osteophytes, tendon (sheath) inflammation (ab)normal vasculature and chondrocalcinosis] was evaluated for significance in a multivariate nominal logistic regression model. Results. Diagnostic performance of OST was good for MCP [area under the ROC curve (AUC-ROC) 0.88], PIP (AUC-ROC 0.83) and wrist (AUC-ROC 0.74) joints and for all joints together (AUC-ROC 0.85). At the patient level, DAS28 correlated very poorly (p = 0.06) and OST moderately (p = 0.54) with US. At the joint level, US correlation with OST was strong (p = 0.64), with SJC it was weak (p = 0.30) and with TJC it was very weak (p =-0.02). Misclassification of inflammation by OST was relatively rare (17%). Dorsal erosions [odds ratio (OR) 4.0], osteophytes (OR 2.1) and extensor tendinitis (OR 4.6) increased the risk of underestimating inflammation of MCP and PIP joints and osteophytes (OR 3.0) also increased the risk of overestimating inflammation. Conclusion. OST is a sensitive, specific and objective technique to assess joints inflammation of the hands and wrists of RA patients, even though bone and tendon pathology increases the risk of misclassification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Raw bioimpedance parameters (eg, 50-kHz phase angle [PA] and 200-kHz/5-kHz impedance ratio [IR]) have been investigated as predictors of nutrition status and/or clinical outcomes. However, their validity as prognostic measures depends on the availability of appropriate reference data. Using a large and ethnically diverse data set, we aimed to determine if ethnicity influences these measures and provide expanded bioimpedance reference data for the U.S.Population: Methods: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) is an ongoing compilation of studies conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designed to monitor nutrition status of the U.S.Population: The NHANES data sets analyzed were from the years 1999-2000, 2001-2002, and 2003-2004.Results: Multivariate analysis showed that PA and IR differed by body mass index (BMI), age, sex, and ethnicity (n = 6237; R2 = 41.2%, P < .0001). Suggested reference cut-points for PA stratified by age decade, ethnicity, and sex are provided.Conclusion: Ethnicity is an important variable that should be accounted for when determining population reference values for PA and IR. We have provided sex-, ethnicity-, and age decade-specific reference values from PA for use by future studies in U.S.Populations: Interdevice differences are likely to be important contributors to variability across published population-specific reference data and, where possible, should be evaluated in future research. Ultimately, further validation with physiologically relevant reference measures (eg, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) is necessary to determine if PA/IR are appropriate bedside tools for the assessment of nutrition status in a clinical population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to advance a model able to explain the synchronization tendency in energy consumption, under the impact of international technology transfers. The key argument is related to the differences in energy consumption efficiency of local and foreign technologies. One direct testable consequence of the model is that there might be a certain correlation between the energy consumption between countries and/or economic areas where a free movement of capital goods and technologies takes place. Hence, it is further tested, in the framework of a multivariate spectrum analysis, the case of energy consumption synchronization between Europe and, respectively, United States and Japan for a time span between 1981 and 2011 based on the data provided by U.S. Energy Information Administration. There are evidences of a leading behavior of energy consumption in United States and Japan in respect to Europe as well as of short-run phase delays of 2 up to 5 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Raw bioelectrical impedance measurements are often used as a prognosticator of health status because of their association with disease states and malnutrition. Although studies consistently show the effect of physical characteristics on bioelectrical impedance, few investigations describe the effect of race, particularly for Black adults, and many bioelectrical impedance standards were produced from primarily White adults almost 2 decades ago. Therefore, this study sought to evaluate the racial differences in bioelectrical impedance measurements using bioimpedance spectroscopy between non-Hispanic White and non-Hispanic Black adults matched for age, sex, and body mass index. We hypothesized that Black adults would have a lower phase angle from higher resistance and lower reactance compared with White adults. One hundred non-Hispanic White (n = 50) and non-Hispanic Black (n = 50) males (n = 34) and females (n = 66) matched for sex, age, and body mass index completed this cross-sectional study. Participants underwent several anthropometric assessments, including height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, bioimpedance spectroscopy, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Bioelectrical impedance measures of resistance, reactance, phase angle, and impedance were all collected at frequencies of 5, 50, and 250 kHz and bioelectrical impedance vector analysis was performed using 50-kHz data. There were no significant differences for any anthropometric variable between Black and White participants in the total sample or by sex groups. In addition, there were no significant racial differences for any bioelectrical impedance assessment, including bioelectrical impedance vector analysis. Differences in bioelectrical impedance are likely not a function of race between Black and White adults and concerns regarding its utility should not be based on this characteristic., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Grant M. Tinsley has received research support through in-kind equipment donation or loan from manufacturers of body composition assessment methods, including bioimpedance analyzers (RJL Systems and Biospace, Inc.). These entities played no role in the present manuscript. The other authors reported no conflicts of interest., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Background: Although the timing of pubertal milestones has been associated with breast cancer risk, few studies of girls' development include girls at increased breast cancer risk due to their family history.Methods: The Lessons in Epidemiology and Genetics of Adult Cancer from Youth (LEGACY) Girls Study was initiated in 2011 in the USA and Canada to assess the relation between early life exposures and intermediate markers of breast cancer risk (e.g., pubertal development, breast tissue characteristics) and to investigate psychosocial well being and health behaviors in the context of family history. We describe the methods used to establish and follow a cohort of 1,040 girls ages 6-13 years at baseline, half with a breast cancer family history, and the collection of questionnaire data (family history, early life exposures, growth and development, psychosocial and behavioral), anthropometry, biospecimens, and breast tissue characteristics using optical spectroscopy.Results: During this initial 5-year phase of the study, follow-up visits are conducted every 6 months for repeated data and biospecimen collection. Participation in baseline components was high (98% for urine, 97.5% for blood or saliva, and 98% for anthropometry). At enrollment, 77% of girls were premenarcheal and 49% were at breast Tanner stage T1.Conclusions: This study design allows thorough examination of events affecting girls' growth and development and how they differ across the spectrum of breast cancer risk. A better understanding of early life breast cancer risk factors will be essential to enhance prevention across the lifespan for those with and without a family history of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between gold and US dollar series, which are non-stationary, is commonly known to be negative from a periodic perspective. Is this really the case? This paper established a combined iteration algorithm using the theory of spectral analysis after subtracting the trend using penalized B-spline functions to obtain the implicit cycles in gold and US dollar series. This algorithm accurately separates the trend terms and periodic terms of the two series to produce more precise and complete periodic information. The results show that both series share three common implicit cycles: two long periods and one short one. Both long-period terms are negatively correlated, whereas the short-period terms are positively correlated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To assess the extent of lead content of sindoor, a powder used by Hindus for religious and cultural purposes, which has been linked to childhood lead poisoning when inadvertently ingested. Methods: We purchased 95 samples of sindoor from 66 South Asian stores in New Jersey and 23 samples from India and analyzed samples with atomic absorption spectrophotometry methods for lead. Results: Analysis determined that 79 (83.2%) sindoor samples purchased in the United States and 18 (78.3%) samples purchased in India contained 1.0 ormoremicrograms of lead per gram of powder. ForUS samples, geometric mean concentration was 5.4micrograms per gramcompared with 28.1microgramsper gram for Indiasamples. Themaximumlead content detected in both US and India samples was more than 300 000 micrograms per gram. Of the examined USsindoor samples,19%containedmore than 20micrograms per gram of lead (US Food and Drug Administration [FDA] limit); 43% of the India samples exceeded this limit. Conclusions: Results suggested continued need for lead monitoring in sindoor in the United States and in sindoor carried into the United States by travelers from India, despite FDA warnings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management of smoke from prescribed fires requires knowledge of fuel quantity and the amount and composition of the smoke produced by the fire to minimize adverse impacts on human health. A five-year study produced new emissions information for more than 100 trace gases and particulate matter in smoke for fuel types found in the southern United States of America using state-of-the-art instrumentation in both laboratory and field experiments. Emission factors for flaming, smoldering, and residual smoldering were developed. Agreement between laboratory and field-derived emission factors was generally good in most cases. Reference spectra of over 50 wildland fire gas-phase smoke components were added to a publicly-available database to support identification via infrared spectroscopy. Fuel loading for the field experiments was similar to previously measured fuels. This article summarizes the results of a five-year study to better understand the composition of smoke during all phases of burning for such forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current measurement method for occupational exposure to wood dust is by gravimetric analysis and is thus non-specific. In this work, diffuse reflection infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) for the analysis of only the wood component of dust was further evaluated by analysis of the same samples between two laboratories. Field samples were collected from six wood product factories using 25-mm glass fiber filters with the Button aerosol sampler. Gravimetric mass was determined in one laboratory by weighing the filters before and after aerosol collection. Diffuse reflection mid-infrared spectra were obtained from the wood dust on the filter which is placed on a motorized stage inside the spectrometer. The metric used for the DRIFTS analysis was the intensity of the carbonyl band in cellulose and hemicellulose at ~1735 cm-1. Calibration curves were constructed separately in both laboratories using the same sets of prepared filters from the inhalable sampling fraction of red oak, southern yellow pine, and western red cedar in the range of 0.125-4mg of wood dust. Using the same procedure in both laboratories to build the calibration curve and analyze the field samples, 62.3% of the samples measured within 25% of the average result with a mean difference between the laboratories of 18.5%. Some observations are included as to how the calibration and analysis can be improved. In particular, determining the wood type on each sample to allow matching to the most appropriate calibration increases the apparent proportion of wood dust in the sample and this likely provides more realistic DRIFTS results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Most studies on evaluating the potential in developing seasonal to interannual hydroclimatic forecasts have focused on associating low-frequency climatic conditions with basin-level precipitation/streamflow. The motivation of this study is to provide an understanding on how land surface characteristics modulate the low-frequency (interannual to decadal) variability in precipitation to develop low-frequency signal in streamflow. For this purpose, we consider basins with minimum anthropogenic impacts over southeastern United States and apply Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA), a data-driven spectrum analysis tool, on annual precipitation and streamflow time series for detecting the dominant frequencies and for estimating the associated variability with them. Hypothesis test against an AR(1) process is carried out via Monte Carlo SSA for detecting significant (at 90% confidence level) low-frequency oscillations. Thus, the study investigates how the observed low-frequency oscillations in precipitation/streamflow vary over the southeastern United States and also their associations with climatic conditions. For most study basins, precipitation exhibits higher low-frequency oscillations than that of streamflow primarily due to reduction in variability by basin storage. Investigating this further, we found that the percentage variance accounted by low-frequency oscillations in streamflow being higher for larger basins which primarily indicates the increased role of climate and basin storage. To develop a fundamental understanding on how basin storage controls the low-frequency oscillations in streamflow, a simple annual hydrological model is employed to explore how the given low-frequency signal in precipitation being modified under different baseflow index conditions and groundwater residence time. Implications of these analyses relating to streamflow predictions and model calibration are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the potential advantages of using Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA) for forecasting tourism demand. To do this it examines the performance of SSA forecasts using monthly data for tourist arrivals into the Unites States over the period 1996 to 2012. The SSA forecasts are compared to those from a range of other forecasting approaches previously used to forecast tourism demand. These include ARIMA, exponential smoothing and neural networks. The results presented show that the SSA approach produces forecasts which perform (statistically) significantly better than the alternative methods in forecasting total tourist arrivals into the U.S. Forecasts using the SSA approach are also shown to offer a significantly better forecasting performance for arrivals into the U.S. from individual source countries. Of the alternative forecasting approaches exponential smoothing and feed-forward neural networks in particular were found to perform poorly. The key conclusion is that Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA) offers significant advantages in forecasting tourist arrivals into the US and is worthy of consideration for other forecasting studies of tourism demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A laboratory experiment was conducted on a convenient sample of N = 724 introductory Psychology students from the southeastern United States, to test the effectiveness of a dual identity recategorization intervention when applied on age bias toward a hypothetical older adult, when applied on individuals both low and high on the spectrum of ageism, and when applied on members of the naturally occurring in-group, younger adults. As predicted by Optimal Distinctiveness Theory, the intervention served to worsen evaluations of an in-group target vis-à-vis a control group that was not exposed to the intervention, and especially when applied on individuals possessing lower amounts of the in-group bias in question, ageism. Moreover, although age-based stereotyping and in-group bias against an older applicant was demonstrated, the intervention was found to have no effect in changing evaluations of an older target relative to the control group. Results and implications for future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a new 3-D seismic model of the western United States crust derived from a joint inversion of Rayleigh-wave phase velocity and ellipticity measurements using periods from 8 to 100 s. Improved constraints on upper-crustal structure result from use of short-period Rayleigh-wave ellipticity, or Rayleigh-wave H/V (horizontal to vertical) amplitude ratios, measurements determined using multicomponent ambient noise cross-correlations. To retain the amplitude ratio information between vertical and horizontal components, for each station, we perform daily noise pre-processing (temporal normalization and spectrum whitening) simultaneously for all three components. For each station pair, amplitude measurements between cross-correlations of different components (radial–radial, radial–vertical, vertical–radial and vertical–vertical) are then used to determine the Rayleigh-wave H/V ratios at the two station locations. We use all EarthScope/USArray Tranportable Array data available between 2007 January and 2011 June to determine the Rayleigh-wave H/V ratios and their uncertainties at all station locations and construct new Rayleigh-wave H/V ratio maps in the western United States between periods of 8 and 24 s. Combined with previous longer period earthquake Rayleigh-wave H/V ratio measurements and Rayleigh-wave phase velocity measurements from both ambient noise and earthquakes, we invert for a new 3-D crustal and upper-mantle model in the western United States. Correlation between the inverted model and known geological features at all depths suggests good resolution in five crustal layers. Use of short-period Rayleigh-wave H/V ratio measurements based on noise cross-correlation enables resolution of distinct near surface features such as the Columbia River Basalt flows, which overlie a thick sedimentary basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: West Nile (WNV) is now established in the continental United States with new human cases occurring annually in most states. Mosquitoes in the genus Culex are the primary vectors and exploit urban stagnant water and swimming pools as larval habitats. Public health surveys to monitor unmaintained pools typically rely on visual inspections of aerial imagery. This work demonstrates automated analysis of airborne imaging spectroscopy to assist Culex monitoring campaigns. We analyze an overflight of Fresno County, CA by the Airborne Visible Infrared Imaging Spectrometer instrument (AVIRIS), and compare the spectral information with a concurrent ground survey of swimming pools. Matched filter detection strategies reliably detect pools against a cluttered urban background. We also evaluate remotely sensed spectral markers of ecosystem characteristics related to larval colonization. We find that commonly used chlorophyll signatures accurately predict the probability of pool colonization by Culex larvae. These results suggest that AVIRIS spectral data provide sufficient information to remotely identify pools at risk for Culex colonization. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Dokha is a tobacco product commonly used in Middle Eastern and Northern African regions. It is available in three blends purportedly corresponding to the degree of "buzz" experienced by the user. The "buzz" has been linked in part to nicotine levels, which are higher than those found in cigarettes and is believed to be the reason dokha is abused as a "legal high." There have been reports of seizure activity from dokha users, and elevated concentrations of toxic metals have been measured in dokha tobacco. The purpose of this work was to determine whether we could use dokha's elemental content, measured by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, to link dokha back to its brand. This could aid investigators in identifying brands and/or distribution routes in the case of adverse effects resulting from dokha use. We measured the concentrations of Mg, K, Mn, Ni, Cu, Rb, Sr, and Ba in Medwakh, Nirvana, Scorpion, Enjoy, Kingdom, and Iconic dokha brands. Analysis of variance revealed statistical differences in concentrations of elements among groups. Discriminant function analysis (using leave-one-out classification) was 58.3% successful at differentiating brands. Enjoy dokha was the most, and Kingdom dokha the least, correctly classified among groups. Attempts to further link dokha blends back to light, medium, and heavy blends were less successful. These results indicate potential for using elemental content to discriminate among dokha brands. Our data may also help to understand the degree of additional processing and/or adulteration of dokha products available to users in the United States., (© 2022 American Academy of Forensic Sciences.)

The major ( M = 8.8) Chilean earthquake of 27 February 2010 generated a trans-oceanic tsunami that was observed throughout the Pacific Ocean. Waves associated with this event had features similar to those of the 1960 tsunami generated in the same region by the Great ( M = 9.5) 1960 Chilean Earthquake. Both tsunamis were clearly observed on the coast of British Columbia. The 1960 tsunami was measured by 17 analog pen-and-paper tide gauges, while the 2010 tsunami was measured by 11 modern digital coastal tide gauges, four NEPTUNE-Canada bottom pressure recorders located offshore from southern Vancouver Island, and two nearby open-ocean DART stations. The 2010 records were augmented by data from seven NOAA tide gauges on the coast of Washington State. This study examines the principal characteristics of the waves from the 2010 event (height, period, duration, and arrival and travel times) and compares these properties for the west coast of Canada with corresponding properties of the 1960 tsunami. Results show that the 2010 waves were approximately 3.5 times smaller than the 1960 waves and reached the British Columbia coast 1 h earlier. The maximum 2010 wave heights were observed at Port Alberni (98.4 cm) and Winter Harbour (68.3 cm); the observed periods ranged from 12 min at Port Hardy to 110-120 min at Prince Rupert and Port Alberni and 150 min at Bamfield. The open-ocean records had maximum wave heights of 6-11 cm and typical periods of 7 and 15 min. Coastal and open-ocean tsunami records revealed persistent oscillations that 'rang' for 3-4 days. Tsunami energy occupied a broad band of periods from 3 to 300 min. Estimation of the inverse celerity vectors from cross-correlation analysis of the deep-sea tsunami records shows that the tsunami waves underwent refraction as they approached the coast of Vancouver Island with the direction of the incoming waves changing from an initial direction of 340° True to a direction of 15° True for the second train of waves that arrived 7 h later after possible reflection from the Marquesas and Hawaiian islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geographic variations in mortality rate in the United States could be due to several hypothesized factors, one of which is exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR). Limited evidence from previous prospective studies has been inconclusive. The association between ambient residential UVR exposure and total and cause-specific mortality risks in a regionally diverse cohort (346,615 white, non-Hispanic subjects, 50–71 years of age, in the National Institutes of Health (NIH)–AARP Diet and Health Study) was assessed, with accounting for individual-level confounders. UVR exposure (averaged for 1978–1993 and 1996–2005) from NASA's Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer was linked to the US Census Bureau 2000 census tract of participants' baseline residence. Multivariate-adjusted Cox proportional-hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals. Over 12 years, UVR exposure was associated with total deaths (n = 41,425; hazard ratio for highest vs. lowest quartiles (HRQ4 vs. Q1) = 1.06, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03, 1.09; Ptrend < 0.001) and with deaths (all Ptrend < 0.05) due to cancer (HRQ4 vs. Q1 = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.11), cardiovascular disease (HRQ4 vs. Q1 = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.12), respiratory disease (HRQ4 vs. Q1 = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.21, 1.55), and stroke (HRQ4 vs. Q1 = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.33) but not with deaths due to injury, diabetes, or infectious disease. These results suggest that UVR exposure might not be beneficial for longevity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Of 7792 refugees resettled to the United States, 44% are infected with tuberculosis (43% latent tuberculosis and <1% active); 7% are infected with chronic viral hepatitis, and 4% with parasitic infections (strongyloides 2%, schistosomes 1%, miscellaneous 1%). No refugees had malaria.Background. Many nations are struggling to develop structured systems and guidelines to optimize the health of new arrivals, but there is currently no international consensus about the best approach.Methods. Data on 7792 migrants who crossed international borders for the purpose of resettlement and underwent a protocol-based health assessment were collected from the GeoSentinel Surveillance network. Demographic and health characteristics of a subgroup of these migrants seen at 2 US-based GeoSentinel clinics for protocol-based health assessments are described.Results. There was significant variation over time in screened migrant populations and in their demographic characteristics. Significant diagnoses identified in all migrant groups included latent tuberculosis, found in 43% of migrants, eosinophilia in 15%, and hepatitis B infection in 6%. Variation by region occurred for select diagnoses such as parasitic infections. Notably absent were infectious tuberculosis, soil-transmitted helminths, and malaria. Although some conditions would be unfamiliar to clinicians in receiving countries, universal health problems such as dental caries, anemia, ophthalmologic conditions, and hypertension were found in 32%, 11%, 10%, and 5%, respectively, of screened migrants.Conclusions. Data from postarrival health assessments can inform clinicians about screening tests to perform in new immigrants and help communities prepare for health problems expected in specific migrant populations. These data support recommendations developed in some countries to screen all newly arriving migrants for some specific diseases (such as tuberculosis) and can be used to help in the process of developing additional screening recommendations that might be applied broadly or focused on specific at-risk populations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Unreinforced masonry (URM) structures represent a significant portion of the residential building stock of the central and eastern United States. Fifteen percent of homes in the eight-state region impacted by the New Madrid Seismic Zone are URM buildings. The brittle nature of URM buildings further supports a thorough consideration of seismic response given the susceptibility to severe failure modes. Currently, there is a pressing need for analytically based fragility curves for URM buildings. To improve the estimation of damage-state probabilities through the development of simulation-based URM fragilities, an extensive literature survey is conducted on pushover analysis. Using these data, capacity curves are generated, from which damage performance limit states are defined. Demand is simulated using synthetically derived accelerograms representative of the central and eastern United States. Structural response is evaluated using an advanced capacity spectrum method. Capacity, demand, and response are thus derived analytically and utilized to generate a more reliable and uniform set of fragility curves for use in loss-assessment software. This paper presents a framework amenable to rapid, flexible updating that, with the appropriate database of studies, is capable of producing curves representative of any URM building typology subjected to a specified hazard. The curves are expressed in multiple forms to demonstrate capability of use in various loss-assessment applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The paper looks at the role of cognitive radio in TV whitespace and suggests that European and US policy makers have limited its exploitation because of a predominant focus on cognitive radio as a device that is primarily suited for unlicensed opportunistic spectrum access. The paper suggests that markets for pragmatically conceived cognitive radios can be safely exploited within the confines of licensed spectrum, rather than solely in the domain of unlicensed opportunistic scenarios. Both European and US policy perspectives are analysed as they pertain to both cognitive radios and the TV whitespace, identifying the contradictions and opportunities therein. The analysis shows that regulators have already formulated many of the policy tools necessary to create a coherent ecosystem for license-based exploitation of TV whitespace by cognitive radios and that there are opportunities for broadening the regulation of TV whitespace. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Diagenetic iron (oxyhydr)oxide minerals are common precipitates expected in CO2 reservoirs, and these minerals record fluid flow for application to carbon capture and sequestration ( CSS). Multiple mineralogy and spectroscopy analyses on a pore to meter scale characterize a well-exposed, lithologically controlled, iron (oxyhydr)oxides reaction front in the Jurassic Navajo Sandstone. Dolomite is the most prevalent cement (up to 23 area%), followed by only several percent or less of iron (oxyhydr)oxides, kaolinite, illite, and gypsum cements. Bulk geochemistry based on diagenetic mineralogies in the reaction front is compared with the water chemistry from nearby modern spring effluent emanating from the Navajo Sandstone to conclude that similar fluids (i.e., CO2-charged, saline waters containing hydrocarbons) are responsible for the precipitation. A second comparison of bulk geochemistry and diagenetic mineralogies of the reaction front with data from other abundant Navajo Sandstone concretions in the Spencer Flat region (in south central Utah) shows that reservoir fluids likely vary spatially and temporally in the porous and permeable Navajo Sandstone. CO2 injection into porous and permeable, quartz arenite, saline aquifers will likely result in minor clay and abundant dolomite precipitation that will significantly decrease porosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study evaluating the Food Dudes (FD) program, intended to encourage the intake of fruits and vegetables (F/V) amongst school children in Great Britain. The program involves offering incentives to children for opting for F/V helpings during mealtimes in school. The results of the analysis satisfactorily showed that the FD program improved eating habits in the sample population.

Abstract: The LEADER program monitors the in vitro activity of linezolid and comparator agents across the United States using reference broth microdilution and supportive molecular susceptibility-based investigations. This report summarizes the data from the 2010 program, the seventh consecutive year. A total of 61 medical centers from the USA including 7 medical centers specializing in children''s healthcare provided a total of 6801 Gram-positive pathogens. The medical centers represented all 9 US Bureau of Census geographic regions. The organisms tested by reference broth microdilution were 3105 Staphylococcus aureus, 944 coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), 934 Enterococci, 803 Streptococcus pneumoniae, 604 β-haemolytic streptococci, and 411 viridans group and other streptococci. The MIC90 value for each of the above 6 targeted groups of organisms was 1 μg/mL. The “all organism” linezolid-resistant and nonsusceptible rate was 0.38%, which has been constant at 0.34% (2009) to 0.45% (2006) for the last 4 years. For Staphylococcus aureus, only 0.06% of the isolates were linezolid-resistant (MIC, ≥8 μg/mL); however, 2 additional methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus had a cfr and a MIC of only 4 μg/mL. Resistance to linezolid was detected in 7 enterococci (0.75%) and 14 CoNS isolates (1.48%). This also represents a stable rate of resistance noted since the 2006 LEADER program report. Of note, for the first time in the 7 years of the Leader Program a linezolid-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae was encountered. Overall, the results of the LEADER program demonstrate that linezolid maintains excellent in vitro activity against target Gram-positive pathogens across the USA. The LEADER program continues to provide valuable reference and molecular-level monitoring of linezolid activity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Hydrogen is the fuel used by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME), among others. The purity of the hydrogen fuel is very important for the performance of hydrogen-fueled engines. In the present work, we have designed, developed, and tested a state-of-the-art laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) based optical sensor to detect four important trace level impurities (i.e. nitrogen, argon, oxygen, and helium) in hydrogen as a rocket fuel. The sensor can simultaneously measure the concentrations of nitrogen, argon, oxygen, and helium in hydrogen fuel storage tanks and supply lines. LABVIEW® based software is also developed to control and operate the optical sensor. The software performs the data analysis and provides elemental concentrations (in ppm) of these impurities. The sensor has estimated limits of detection of 80ppm for nitrogen, 97ppm for argon, 10ppm for oxygen, and 25ppm for helium. This prototype sensor is easy to deploy in the field. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This section presents abstracts of patents issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) in 2012, including patents on a wave propagator for transversely isotropic media, a method of determining the nature of subterranean strata and a method and visualization apparatus for spectral analysis of time-and-space varying signals.

ABSTRACT RX J0720.4−3125 is the most peculiar object among a group of seven isolated X-ray pulsars (the so-called Magnificent Seven), since it shows long-term variations of its spectral and temporal properties on time-scales of years. This behaviour was explained by different authors either by free precession (with a 7 or 14 yr period) or possibly a glitch that occurred around MJD = 528 66 ± 73 d. We analysed our most recent XMM-Newton and Chandra observations in order to further monitor the behaviour of this neutron star. With the new data sets, the timing behaviour of RX J0720.4−3125 suggests a single (sudden) event (e.g. a glitch) rather than a cyclic pattern as expected by free precession. The spectral parameters changed significantly around the proposed glitch time, but more gradual variations occurred already before the (putative) event. Since MJD ≈ 530 00 d the spectra indicate a very slow cooling by ∼2 eV over 7 yr. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United States Army and the first responder community are evaluating optical detection systems for the trace detection of hazardous energetic materials. Fielded detection systems must be evaluated with the appropriate material concentrations to accurately identify the residue in theater. Trace levels of energetic materials have been observed in mutable polymorphic phases and, therefore, the systems being evaluated must be able to detect and accurately identify variant sample phases observed in spectral data. In this work, we report on the novel application of drop-on-demand technology for the fabrication of standardized trace 1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) samples. The drop-on-demand sample fabrication technique is compared both visually and spectrally to the more commonly used drop-and-dry technique. As the drop-on-demand technique allows for the fabrication of trace level hazard materials, concerted efforts focused on characterization of the polymorphic phase changes observed with low concentrations of RDX commonly used in drop-on-demand processing. This information is important when evaluating optical detection technologies using samples prepared with a drop-on-demand inkjet system, as the technology may be “trained” to detect the common bulk α phase of the explosive based on its spectral features but fall short in positively detecting a trace quantity of RDX (β-phase). We report the polymorphic shifts observed between α- and β-phases of this energetic material and discuss the conditions leading to the favoring of one phase over the other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We undertake a spectral study of a sample of bright X-ray sources taken from six XMM-Newton fields at high galactic latitudes, where AGN are the most populous class. These six fields were chosen such that the observation had an exposure time more than 60 ksec, had data from the EPIC-pn detector in the full-Frame mode and lying at high galactic latitude | b|>25. The analysis started by fitting the spectra of all sources with an absorbed power-law model, and then we fitted all the spectra with an absorbed power-law with a low energy black-body component model.The sources for which we added a black body gave an F-test probability of 0.01 or less (i.e. at 99% confidence level), were recognized as sources that display soft excess. We perform a comparative analysis of soft excess spectral parameters with respect to the underlying power-law one for sources that satisfy this criterion. Those sources, that do not show evidence for a soft excess, based on the F-test probability at a 99% confidence level, were also fitted with the absorbed power-law with a low energy black-body component model with the black-body temperature fixed at 0.1 and 0.2 keV. We establish upper limits on the soft excess flux for those sources at these two temperatures. Finally we have made use of Aladdin interactive sky atlas and matching with NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED) to identify the X-ray sources in our sample. For those sources which are identified in the NED catalogue, we make a comparative study of the soft excess phenomenon for different types of systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]