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Lethal and sublethal fishing gear entanglement is pervasive in North Atlantic right whales ( Eubalaena glacialis). Entanglement can lead to direct injury and is likely to incur substantial energetic costs. This study (1) evaluates drag characteristics of entangled right whales, (2) contextualizes gear drag measurements for individual whales, and (3) quantifies the benefits of partial disentanglement. A load cell measured drag forces on 15 sets of fishing gear removed from entangled right whales, a towed satellite telemetry buoy, and 200 m of polypropylene line as it was shortened to 25 m, as they were towed behind a vessel at ~0.77, 1.3, and 2.1 m/s (~1.5, 2.5, and 4 knots) and ~0, 3, and 6 m depth. Mean drag ranges from 8.5 N to 315 N, and can be predicted from the dry weight or length of the gear. Combining gear drag measurements with theoretical estimates of drag on whales' bodies suggests that on average, entanglement increases drag and propulsive power by 1.47 fold. Reducing trailing line length by 75% can reduce parasitic gear drag by 85%, reinforcing current disentanglement response practices. These drag measurements can be incorporated into disentanglement response, serious injury determination, and evaluation of sublethal effects on population dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leaf area index (LAI) and the fraction of photosynthetically active radiation absorbed by green vegetation (FAPAR) are essential climatic variables in surface process models. FCOVER is also important to separate vegetation and soil for energy balance processes. Currently, several LAI, FAPAR and FCOVER satellite products are derived moderate to coarse spatial resolution. The launch of Sentinel-2 in 2015 will provide data at decametric resolution with a high revisit frequency to allow quantifying the canopy functioning at the local to regional scales. The aim of this study is thus to evaluate the performances of a neural network based algorithm to derive LAI, FAPAR and FCOVER products at decametric spatial resolution and high temporal sampling. The algorithm is generic, i.e., it is applied without any knowledge of the landcover. A time series of high spatial resolution SPOT4-HRVIR (16 scenes) and Landsat 8 (18 scenes) images acquired in 2013 over the France southwestern site were used to generate the LAI, FAPAR and FCOVER products. For each sensor and each biophysical variable, a neural network was first trained over PROSPECT+SAIL radiative transfer model simulations of top of canopy reflectance data for green, red, near-infra red and short wave infra-red bands. Our results show a good spatial and temporal consistency between the variables derived from both sensors: almost half the pixels show an absolute difference between SPOT and LANDSAT estimates of lower that 0.5 unit for LAI, and 0.05 unit for FAPAR and FCOVER. Finally, downward-looking digital hemispherical cameras were completed over the main land cover types to validate the accuracy of the products. Results show that the derived products are strongly correlated with the field measurements (R2 > 0.79), corresponding to a RMSE = 0.49 for LAI, RMSE = 0.10 (RMSE = 0.12) for black-sky (white sky) FAPAR and RMSE = 0.15 for FCOVER. It is concluded that the proposed generic algorithm provides a good basis to monitor the seasonal variation of the vegetation biophysical variables for important crops at decametric resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on the notion that reality television is used by the youth to learn about various social identity groups, the portrayal of minority in MTV “docusoap” was analyzed. Whereas Whites were overrepresented, Asians were completely absent. Although a few of them were shown, Latinos were virtually invisible as central characters as well as in social and romantic relationships. Blacks were also severely underrepresented and the problem was more pronounced for women than men. Among the minority groups, only mixed-raced women were shown as normalized as White women and men. Implications and suggestions for future studies were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article reports on the projects of the various subcommittees including Motion Imaging Workflow Subcommittee, UHDTV (ultrahigh definition television) Subcommittee and Joint Technology Subcommittee on Virtual Production of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Technology Committee. Topics discussed include use of Virtual Camera on the film "White House Down" by Marc Weigert, developing practices around ultra high definition (UHD) and technological innovations in laser projection.

The article discusses research conducted to investigate the cardiovascular, lactate, arterial oxygen saturation and hormonal responses to acute apnea in relation to performance in swimmers. Researchers evaluated 15 swimmers. They found that apnea caused no change in lactatemia, led to a decrease in arterial oxygen saturation in both finned and unfinned swimming and a decrease in heart rate and swimming performance in unfinned swimming and concluded that more research on performance was needed.

Protracted entanglement in fishing gear often leads to emaciation through reduced mobility and foraging ability, and energy budget depletion from the added drag of towing gear for months or years. We examined changes in kinematics of a tagged entangled North Atlantic right whale (Eg 3911), before, during, and after disentanglement on 15 January 2011. To calculate the additional drag forces and energetic demand associated with various gear configurations, we towed three sets of gear attached to a load-cell tensiometer at multiple speeds. Tag analyses revealed significant increases in dive depth and duration; ascent, descent and fluke stroke rates; and decreases in root mean square fluke amplitude (a proxy for thrust) following disentanglement. Conservative drag coefficients while entangled in all gear configurations (mean ± SD C d,e,go = 3.4 × 10−3 ± 0.0003, C d,e,gb = 3.7 × 10−3 ± 0.0003, C d,e,sl = 3.8 × 10−3 ± 0.0004) were significantly greater than in the nonentangled case ( C d,n = 3.2 × 10−3 ± 0.0003; P = 0.0156, 0.0312, 0.0078, respectively). Increases in total power input (including standard metabolism) over the nonentangled condition ranged from 1.6% to 120.9% for all gear configurations tested; locomotory power requirements increased 60.0%-164.6%. These results highlight significant alteration to swimming patterns, and the magnitude of energy depletion in a chronically entangled whale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper experimentally investigated the mechanical behaviour of butt-welded joints and evaluated suitable numerical approaches for modelling them in thin-walled structures with large shell-based models. Welded connections of both similar and dissimilar materials were first experimentally investigated. Two extruded plates in 6060 and 7003 in temper T6 were used as parent materials for Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding. Three welded joints were made by combining the two parent materials. Extensive testing was carried out to investigate microstructure, hardness and mechanical stress–strain behaviour of the base materials, heat-affected zones (HAZ) and weld metals. Cross-weld tensile tests with two weld orientations (with respect to the loading direction) were performed to study the load–displacement and fracture behaviour of the welded joints. The experimental results were also used to provide inputs to calibrate and validate shell element-based models simulating the response of welded aluminium structures. Two modelling approaches were investigated. The first approach, which is a conventional "mechanical analysis", used material model inputs from the experimental testing, assuming uniform HAZ strength. The second modelling approach, which is proposed in this study for engineering applications, relies on inverse modelling of the load–displacement behaviour of similar material cross-weld tension tests to optimize the HAZ and weld properties. The newly proposed modelling approach was further verified based on a set of verification tests of cross-weld tension, using shell-based models with different mesh sizes. A good agreement between numerical and experimental results both in terms of load–displacement and fracture behaviour was obtained, suggesting that the novel modelling approach could be a reliable and efficient method for designing butt-welded aluminium structures. • Welded joints of similar and dissimilar alloys (6060, 7003) were investigated. • Extensive testing was done to study properties of material and joints. • Modelling the gradient properties in HAZ using large shell elements is a challenge. • A novel approach was proposed for modelling welded joints in thin-walled structures. • The proposed approach greatly predicted the mechanical properties of welded joints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article critically examines the purposes and objectives of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF). While analysts debate whether the OIF is a hegemonic or counter-hegemonic instrument of statecraft, we argue that it is an institution founded upon the principle of geopolitical ownership of a distinctive geocultural space. Its prime task, with regard to conflict resolution, is to help transfer responsibilities and capabilities from northern to southern member states. From this perspective, we contend that the OIF has progressively taken charge of a distinct and necessary geocultural role with regard to international security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A chronically entangled North Atlantic right whale, with consequent emaciation was sedated, disentangled to the extent possible, administered antibiotics, and satellite tag tracked for six subsequent days. It was found dead 11 d after the tag ceased transmission. Chronic constrictive deep rope lacerations and emaciation were found to be the proximate cause of death, which may have ultimately involved shark predation. A broadhead cutter and a spring-loaded knife used for disentanglement were found to induce moderate wounds to the skin and blubber. The telemetry tag, with two barbed shafts partially penetrating the blubber was shed, leaving barbs embedded with localized histological reaction. One of four darts administered shed the barrel, but the needle was found postmortem in the whale with an 80º bend at the blubber-muscle interface. This bend occurred due to epaxial muscle movement relative to the overlying blubber, with resultant necrosis and cavitation of underlying muscle. This suggests that rigid, implanted devices that span the cetacean blubber muscle interface, where the muscle moves relative to the blubber, could have secondary health impacts. Thus we encourage efforts to develop new tag telemetry systems that do not penetrate the subdermal sheath, but still remain attached for many months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: While much research examines the effects of celebrity endorsements in commercial advertising, scholars have only recently sought to investigate the effects of celebrity endorsements of politicians on voter perceptions and behavior. This study expands existing research on celebrity political endorsement effects via an experiment exploring effects of different versions of a news story describing a celebrity''s endorsement of a political candidate on participants’ voting attitudes, perceptions of candidate credibility, and voting behavioral intent. Although participants perceive credibility differences between high- and low-credibility celebrities, neither endorser credibility nor endorser sex impact attitudes toward the endorsed candidate, perceptions of the candidate''s credibility, or intended voting behavior. Conceptual relationships to other studies on celebrity endorsement effects are discussed, as are implications, limitations, and directions for future research. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article reports on the developments of the American Society of Cinematographers (ASC) Technology Committee in the U.S. It mentions that ASC has been actively engaged in the emergence and evolution of digital imaging technologies. The developments were focused on the challenges and important works of the Camera Assessment Series (CAS). It also highlights the vital lessons learned on the significance of understanding the limitations of current digital intermediate (DI) workflow practices.

The article focuses on the issue of restrictive ballot access laws imposed among third party candidates in Maine. An argument is being supported that Maine's ballot access requirements for candidates have violated the First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. It also applies to the decision of the Supreme Court in Maine to the case "Knutson v. Department of Secretary of State & Herbert Hoffman." An analysis is also provided on the constitutionality of Maine's ballot access laws.

• Numerical simulations can be used to design components for precision testing. • Novel test setup, focus the loading on the connections under various loading modes. • Static and dynamic testing of hybrid connections (SPR and adhesive bonding). • Up to date diagnostic techniques enable validation of connection models. • Accurate representation of hybrid connections through idealized numerical models. A novel test set-up is presented for validation of hybrid connector models between steel and aluminium components subjected to static and impact loading. The proposed components consisted of two hat profiles in steel and aluminium joined by adhesive bonding combined with self-piercing riveting. The geometry of the components was determined by numerical simulations in order to focus the behaviour on the connections under normal and shear dominated loading. The chosen components were tested under static and dynamic loading conditions in a 3-point bending setup. Different displacement measurement techniques were applied to reveal the specimens behaviour, including digital image correlation.Test results were applied to validate idealized numerical models of adhesive and self-piercing riveting connections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the deployment of expandable sand screen in offshore fields in Brunei. Drill-in-fluid; Borehole stability; Mud/shale interaction; Deformation of expandable sand screen.

Studies the behavioral and ecological patterns of the white-sided dolphin in coastal New England waters. Observation of groups of dolphins from 1994 to 1997; Confirmation of the calving season during summer; Most commonly recorded behavior of interaction; Aerial behavior seen as correlated with group size; Photo-identification of dolphins with unusual pigmentation and distinct dorsal fin.

[Display omitted] This research work investigated in detail the mechanical performance of a flow-drill screw connection of two aluminium plates with and without pilot holes. An extensive experimental campaign involving material and joint tests under different loading modes is presented. These tests are supported by numerical models. Detailed solid-element models provided meaningful information about the local deformation mechanisms of the tested configurations, and allowed to identify the reason behind the early screw failure observed in some of the experimental joint tests. Moreover, several geometrical features of the connection were found to be relevant for the mesoscopic model, so their influence was assessed. The combination of experiments and simulations provided robust and meaningful understanding of the connections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract. Respiration-related cyclic variation was noted in echocardiographic measurements of right and left ventricular end-diastolic dimension, D-E amplitude of the anterior mitral leaflet, and mitral valve E-F slope in 26 children with cystic fibrosis. The observed echographic changes seem to he an exaggeration of the normal physiologic variation seen with respiration. In children with advanced respiratory disease, airway obstruction, rather than cor pulmonale, may be responsible for this exaggeration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the fragmentation processes and inclusions of igneous rocks in a Proterozoic minette dyke in Grenville Province, Quebec. Effect of the progressive addition of xenoliths; Factors influencing the formation of xenoliths; Characterizations of the dyke opening; Origins of the xenoliths.

• A novel calibration method of the modified Mohr-Coulomb fracture model is presented. • Localization analyses and two material tests are used in the model calibration. • Experiments on AA6016 specimens covering a range of stress states are performed. • FE simulations predict crack initiation and propagation with good accuracy. This paper presents a novel calibration procedure of the modified Mohr-Coulomb (MMC) fracture model by use of localization analyses and applies it for three tempers of an AA6016 aluminium alloy. The localization analyses employ the imperfection band approach, where metal plasticity is assigned outside the band and porous plasticity is assigned inside the band. Ductile failure is thus assumed to occur when the deformation localizes into a narrow band. The metal plasticity model is calibrated from notch tension tests using inverse finite element modelling. The porous plasticity model is calibrated by use of localization analyses where the deformation histories from finite element simulations of notch and plane-strain tension tests are prescribed as boundary conditions. Subsequently, localization analyses are used to establish the failure locus in stress space for proportional loading conditions and thus to determine the parameters of the MMC fracture model. Finite element simulations of notch tension and in-plane simple shear tests as well as two load cases of the modified Arcan test are used to validate the calibrated fracture model. The predictions by the simulations are in good agreement with the experiments, even though some deviations are seen for each temper. The results demonstrate that localization analyses are a cost-effective and reliable tool for predicting ductile failure, reducing the number of mechanical tests required to calibrate the MMC fracture model compared to the hybrid experimental-numerical approach usually applied. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental and numerical study on the quasi-static loading of AlSi10Mg square boxes produced by selective laser melting (SLM) was carried out. The goal was to evaluate the applicability of common finite element modelling techniques to 3D-printed parts at material and component scales, under large deformations and fracture. Uniaxial tensile specimens were extracted and tested at different orientations, and a hypo-elastic–plastic model with Voce hardening and Cockcroft–Latham's fracture criterion was calibrated against the experimental results. The boxes were crushed laterally until failure using a spherical actuator. The considered material and finite element models were proved well suited for the prediction of the structural response of the additively manufactured components in the studied scenario. • Additive-manufactured AlSi10Mg boxes were studied under lateral crushing. • Experimental tests and numerical simulations were conducted. • The constitutive model was calibrated using tensile tests in three directions. • The influence of the yield surface, the adopted thickness and the element type were studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Fracture model for structural steels calibrated based on a single mechanical test. • Strain localization analyses used to determine the fracture loci. • Validation against tensile tests on notched specimens of three structural steels. From an engineering point of view, it is beneficial to reduce the number of mechanical tests required to calibrate the plasticity and fracture models of a structural material. In this study, the ductile fracture model for three high-strength steels is identified based on unit cell simulations, metal and porous plasticity modelling, and strain localization analysis combined with a single uniaxial tensile test per material. Finite element simulations of a unit cell model with a spherical void are performed with the matrix material described by metal plasticity and used to calibrate the parameters of the porous plasticity model. Strain localization analyses are conducted using the imperfection band approach with metal plasticity outside and porous plasticity inside the imperfection band. These simulations are first used to determine the nucleation rate in the porous plasticity model giving the experimentally obtained fracture strain in uniaxial tension, and then to compute the fracture locus under proportional loading in generalized axisymmetric tension. By combining the fracture locus with a simple damage accumulation rule and metal plasticity, finite element simulations of ductile fracture in tensile tests on smooth and notched specimens of the three steels are performed. Comparison of the predicted results with existing experimental data shows that the fracture model gives satisfactory estimates of ductility for a wide range of stress triaxiality ratios in steels of different strengths. This study shows the potential of micromechanical analyses in the calibration of fracture models for engineering applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of adhesives in load-carrying structures and components has increased recently, especially in the automotive industry. There has been many studies on structural adhesives, but when it comes to semi-structural adhesives, there is a lack of literature. In this article, a semi-structural two component polyurethane adhesive has been studied experimentally and modelled numerically. It was performed uniaxial tension tests at rates ranging from 10-3s-1 to 10-1s-1. The tests were monitored by two perpendicular digital cameras and a thermal camera. Similarly, uniaxial compression tests were performed at rates ranging from 10-3s-1 to 350s-1, where a split Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB) was used for the highest rates. The low-rate tests were recorded with high-resolution digital cameras, while a high-speed camera and a thermal camera were used for the SHPB tests. In addition, it was performed notched tensile tests at a low rate to study failure. These tests also served as a validation case for the numerical simulations. A high-resolution camera was used, such that the local strains in the notch could be captured using digital image correlation. The experiments indicated that the adhesive behaved similar as rubbers. Therefore, the Bergström-Boyce constitutive model was applied in the numerical simulations. The overall prediction of the test results was seen to be satisfactory, but the initial stiffness was too high compared to the response measured from the experiments. An investigation of the numerical results indicated that this mismatch was likely linked to the formulation of the inelastic shear rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]