A remote sensing evaluation of potential for sinkhole occurrence

The relationship between lowering of the water table and sinkhole development in Pierson and in Hillsborough County, Florida was investigated. The locations of recently developed (1973) collapses were examined with respect to lineaments or fracture traces that are expressed in the terrain and visible in aerial photography and satellite imagery. It was anticipated that these relationships would provide the basis for establishment of criteria for mapping those land areas that have the greatest potential for sinkhole development. A very good correlation was found between mapped lineament intersections and known location of sinkhole occurrences for both study areas. This indicates that lineament and fracture trace mapping may be very useful in locating zones with the greatest potential for sinkhole development. It is further shown that this information is quite beneficial in land use planning applications

The effect of the Earth's oblate spheroid shape on the accuracy of a time-of-arrival lightning ground strike locating system

The algorithm used in previous technology time-of-arrival lightning mapping systems was based on the assumption that the earth is a perfect spheroid. These systems yield highly-accurate lightning locations, which is their major strength. However, extensive analysis of tower strike data has revealed occasionally significant (one to two kilometer) systematic offset errors which are not explained by the usual error sources. It was determined that these systematic errors reduce dramatically (in some cases) when the oblate shape of the earth is taken into account. The oblate spheroid correction algorithm and a case example is presented

Analytic Results for the Gravitational Radiation from a Class of Cosmic String Loops

Cosmic string loops are defined by a pair of periodic functions ${\bf a}$ and ${\bf b}$, which trace out unit-length closed curves in three-dimensional space. We consider a particular class of loops, for which ${\bf a}$ lies along a line and ${\bf b}$ lies in the plane orthogonal to that line. For this class of cosmic string loops one may give a simple analytic expression for the power $\gamma$ radiated in gravitational waves. We evaluate $\gamma$ exactly in closed form for several special cases: (1) ${\bf b}$ a circle traversed $M$ times; (2) ${\bf b}$ a regular polygon with $N$ sides and interior vertex angle $\pi-2\pi M/N$; (3) ${\bf b}$ an isosceles triangle with semi-angle $\theta$. We prove that case (1) with $M=1$ is the absolute minimum of $\gamma$ within our special class of loops, and identify all the stationary points of $\gamma$ in this class.Comment: 15 pages, RevTex 3.0, 7 figures available via anonymous ftp from directory pub/pcasper at alpha1.csd.uwm.edu, WISC-MILW-94-TH-1

Surface Potential of DPPC Monolayers on Aqueous Solutions at Atmospherically-Relevant Concentrations

Here the surface potential of DPPC monolayers, a phospholipid found in the sea surface microlayer (SSML), is measured on various salt subphases in an attempt to elucidate the organization of DPPC on air/aqueous interfaces found on marine aerosols. The surface potential results suggest that metal ion binding to the phosphate located in the DPPC head group play an important role in DPPC monolayer organization. For monolayers on subphases containing monovalent cations Na+/K+, a small increase (~20−40 mV) in the surface potential with respect to DPPC on neat water is observed. For monolayers on subphases containing divalent cations Mg2+/Ca2+ a larger increase in the surface potential (~70−170 mV) is observed. These rises in surface potential are discussed in terms of changing DPPC dipole moments Δµhead and Δµtail with respect to the surface normal, the packing ability of the monolayer, saturation effects, and the surface potential contribution (Ψ0) of the electrical double layer (EDL). A 1:1 binding of monovalent cations to phosphate is thought to expand the monolayer by changing the tilt angle of the head group, whereas a 2:1 bridging complex is proposed to explain the increase in surface potential on divalent subphases. Mg2+ results agree well with this model. DPPC monolayer results on CaCl2 subphases agree only partially with the bridging model and need to be further explored.OSU Office of Undergraduate EducationOSU Undergraduate Research OfficeOSU Arts & Sciences Honors ProgramA one-year embargo was granted for this item.Academic Major: Chemistr

Setting and motivation in the decision to participate: An approach to the engagement of diverse samples in mobile research.

Internet and mobile based research are powerful tools in the creation of large, cohort studies (eCohort). However, recent analysis indicates that an underrepresentation of minority and low income groups in these studies might exceed that found in traditional research [1-5]. In this report, we present findings from an experiment in research engagement using the Eureka Research Platform developed to enroll diverse populations in support of biomedical clinical research. This experiment involved the recruitment of African American and Latino participants in a smartphone based survey at a temporary, charitable, dental event sponsored, in part, by the research team, in order to explore the impact of setting and approach on recruitment outcomes. 211 participants enrolled including a significant representation of African Americans (51%) and Latinos (31%) and those with education levels at high school or less (37%). Interviews conducted after the study confirmed that our recruitment efforts within the context of a service event affected the decision to participate. While further research is necessary, this experiment holds promise for the engagement of underrepresented groups in research

A study of atmospheric neutrinos with the IMB detector

A sample of 401 contained neutrino interactions collected in the 3300 metric ton fiducial mass IMB detector was used to study neutrino oscillations, geomagnetic modulation of the flux and to search for point sources. The majority of these events are attributed to neutrino interactions. For the most part, these neutrinos are believed to originate as tertiary products of cosmic ray interactions in the atmosphere. The neutrinos are a mixture of v sub e and v sub micron

Neuroinflammation mediated by IL-1β increases susceptibility of dopamine neurons to degeneration in an animal model of Parkinson's disease

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The etiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) remains elusive despite identification of several genetic mutations. It is more likely that multiple factors converge to give rise to PD than any single cause. Here we report that inflammation can trigger degeneration of dopamine (DA) neurons in an animal model of Parkinson's disease.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We examined the effects of inflammation on the progressive 6-OHDA rat model of Parkinson's disease using immunohistochemistry, multiplex ELISA, and cell counting stereology.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We show that a non-toxic dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced secretion of cytokines and predisposed DA neurons to be more vulnerable to a subsequent low dose of 6-hydroxydopamine. Alterations in cytokines, prominently an increase in interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), were identified as being potential mediators of this effect that was associated with activation of microglia. Administration of an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist resulted in significant reductions in tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ and attenuated the augmented loss of DA neurons caused by the LPS-induced sensitization to dopaminergic degeneration.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data provide insight into the etiology of PD and support a role for inflammation as a risk factor for the development of neurodegenerative disease.</p

Neuroinflammation Mediated by IL-1β Increases Susceptibility of Dopamine Neurons to Degeneration in an Animal Model of Parkinson's Disease

Background: The etiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) remains elusive despite identification of several genetic mutations. It is more likely that multiple factors converge to give rise to PD than any single cause. Here we report that inflammation can trigger degeneration of dopamine (DA) neurons in an animal model of Parkinson's disease. Methods: We examined the effects of inflammation on the progressive 6-OHDA rat model of Parkinson's disease using immunohistochemistry, multiplex ELISA, and cell counting stereology. Results: We show that a non-toxic dose of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced secretion of cytokines and predisposed DA neurons to be more vulnerable to a subsequent low dose of 6-hydroxydopamine. Alterations in cytokines, prominently an increase in interleukin-1beta (IL-1β), were identified as being potential mediators of this effect that was associated with activation of microglia. Administration of an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist resulted in significant reductions in tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ and attenuated the augmented loss of DA neurons caused by the LPS-induced sensitization to dopaminergic degeneration. Conclusion: These data provide insight into the etiology of PD and support a role for inflammation as a risk factor for the development of neurodegenerative disease