Model of aircraft noise adaptation

Development of an aircraft noise adaptation model, which would account for much of the variability in the responses of subjects participating in human response to noise experiments, was studied. A description of the model development is presented. The principal concept of the model, was the determination of an aircraft adaptation level which represents an annoyance calibration for each individual. Results showed a direct correlation between noise level of the stimuli and annoyance reactions. Attitude-personality variables were found to account for varying annoyance judgements

Concorde noise-induced building vibrations John F. Kennedy International Airport

The outdoor and indoor noise levels resulting from aircraft flyovers and certain nonaircraft events were recorded at six home sites along with the associated vibration levels in the walls, windows, and floors of these test homes. Limited subjective tests conducted to examine the human detection and annoyance thresholds for building vibration and rattle caused by aircraft noise showed that both vibration and rattle were detected subjectively in several houses for some operations of both the Concorde and subsonic aircraft. Preliminary results indicate that the relationship between window vibration and aircraft noise is: (1) linear, with vibration levels being accurately predicted from OASPL levels measured near the window; (2) consistent from flyover to flyover for a given aircraft type under approach conditions; (3) no different for Concorde than for other conventional jet transports (in the case of window vibrations induced under approach power conditions); and (4) relatively high levels of window vibration measured during Concorde operations are due more to higher OASPL levels than to unique Concorde source characteristics

Noise-Induced Building Vibrations Caused by Concorde and Conventional Aircraft Operations at Dulles and Kennedy International Airports

Outdoor and indoor noise levels resulting from aircraft flyovers and certain nonaircraft events were recorded, as were the associated vibration levels in the walls, windows, and floors at building test sites. In addition, limited subjective tests were conducted to examine the human detection and annoyance thresholds for building vibration and rattle caused by aircraft noise. Representative peak levels of aircraft noise-induced building vibrations are reported and comparisons are made with structural damage criteria and with vibration levels induced by common domestic events. In addition, results of a pilot study are reported which indicate the human detection threshold for noise-induced floor vibrations

Concorde noise-induced building vibrations: John F. Kennedy International Airport

Outdoor and indoor noise levels resulting from aircraft flyovers and certain nonaircraft events were recorded at eight homesites and a school along with the associated vibration levels in the walls, windows, and floors at these test sites. Limited subjective tests were conducted to examine the human detection and annoyance thresholds for building vibration and rattle caused by aircraft noise. Both vibration and rattle were detected subjectively in several houses for some operations of both the Concorde and subsonic aircraft. Seated subjects more readily detected floor vibrations than wall or window vibrations. Aircraft noise generally caused more window vibrations than common nonaircraft events such as walking and closing doors. Nonaircraft events and aircraft flyovers resulted in comparable wall vibration levels, while floor vibrations were generally greater for nonaircraft events than for aircraft flyovers. The relationship between structural vibration and aircraft noise is linear, with vibration levels being accurately predicted from overall sound pressure levels (OASPL) measured near the structure. Relatively high levels of structural vibration measured during Concorde operations are due more to higher OASPL levels than to unique Concorde-source characteristics

Global trade statistics lack granularity to inform traceability and management of diverse and high-value fishes

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and seafood supply chain fraud are multifaceted problems that demand multifaceted solutions. Here, we investigate the extent to which global fisheries trade data analyses can support effective seafood traceability and promote sustainable seafood markets using one of the world’s most highly prized, yet misunderstood, groups of fishes as a model: the snappers, family Lutjanidae. By collating and comparing production, import and export data from international and national statistical collections for the period 2006–2013, we show that official trade data severely lack the level of detail required to track snapper trade flows, uncover potential IUU activities and/or inform exploitation management of snappers and related species. Moreover, we contend that the lack of taxonomic granularity and use of vague generic names in trade records represent one of the most insidious impediments to seafood traceability, and suggest that widely used harmonised commodity classification systems should evolve to address these gaps

Development of an experimental model for Anophryoides haemophila (Scuticociliatida: Orchitophryidae), a parasite of american lobster Homerus americanus

Οι βασικές αλλοιώσεις που αφορούν το βλεφαριδοφόρο παράσιτο Anophryoides haemophila, σε πειραματικά μολυσμένους αστακούς παρατηρούνται στα βράγχια και το συνδετικό ιστό, από την 9η εβδομάδα μετά τη μόλυνση. Οι αλλοιώσεις αυτές δε σχετίζονται με τον εμβολιασμό των παρασίτων και ήταν σταθερές σε όλες τις μελέτες έγχυσης παρασίτων (2000, 10000 και 500000 παράσιτα ανά αστακό). Μάλιστα ήταν παρούσες, τόσο σε αστακούς που πέθαναν, όσο και σε αστακούς που θανατώθηκαν. Υψηλότεροι τίτλοι εμβολιασμού είχαν ως αποτέλεσμα υψηλότερους αριθμούς παρασίτων μόνο σε περιοχές των βραγχίων και στο συνδετικό ιστό των περισσοτέρων οργάνων, χωρίς ωστόσο να διεισδύσουν στο παρέγχυμα κανενός οργάνου. Επιπλέον μεγαλύτερος αριθμός παρασίτων στον εμβολιασμό (500.000 ανά αστακό) είχε ως αποτέλεσμα ανάπτυξη ασθένειας βραχύτερης πορείας και έτσι οι αστακοί πέθαιναν μεταξύ 4ης και 6ns εβδομάδας μετά τη μόλυνση. Αυτό δεν παρατηρήθηκε σε εμβολιασμούς των 2.000 και 10.000 παρασίτων ανά αστακό, όπου η θνησιμότητα εμφανίστηκε 11-14 εβδομάδες μετά τη μόλυνση.The principal lesions due to the ciliate Anophryoides haemophila in experimentally infected lobsters are observed in gills and connective tissue from the 9th week post-infection. These lesions were not related to the inoculum of parasites and were consistent in all inoculum studies (2,000, 10,000 and 500,000 ciliates per lobster) and were present in both euthanized and dead lobsters. The higher inocula resulted only in higher numbers of parasites observed in sections of gills and in the connective tissue of more organs, with no penetration to the parenchyma of any organ. Furthermore, the highest inoculum of ciliates (500,000 per lobster) resulted in a shorter course of disease development and consequendy, experimental lobsters died between 4th and 6th week post-infection. This was not observed at inocula of 2,000 and 10,000 ciliates per lobster, where mortality occurred 11-14 weeks post-infection

Concorde noise-induced building vibrations, John F. Kennedy International Airport

The outdoor/indoor noise levels and associated vibration levels resulting from aircraft and nonaircraft events were recorded at eight homesites and a school. In addition, limited subjective tests were conducted to examine the human detection/annoyance thresholds for building vibration and rattle caused by aircraft noise. Presented herein are the majority of the window and wall vibration data recorded during Concorde and subsonic aircraft overflights

A novel deep learning method for large-scale analysis of bone marrow adiposity using UK Biobank Dixon MRI data

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT) represents &gt; 10% fat mass in healthy humans and can be measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the bone marrow fat fraction (BMFF). Human MRI studies have identified several diseases associated with BMFF but have been relatively small scale. Population-scale studies therefore have huge potential to reveal BMAT's true clinical relevance. The UK Biobank (UKBB) is undertaking MRI of 100,000 participants, providing the ideal opportunity for such advances.OBJECTIVE: To establish deep learning for high-throughput multi-site BMFF analysis from UKBB MRI data.MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied males and females aged 60-69. Bone marrow (BM) segmentation was automated using a new lightweight attention-based 3D U-Net convolutional neural network that improved segmentation of small structures from large volumetric data. Using manual segmentations from 61-64 subjects, the models were trained to segment four BM regions of interest: the spine (thoracic and lumbar vertebrae), femoral head, total hip and femoral diaphysis. Models were tested using a further 10-12 datasets per region and validated using datasets from 729 UKBB participants. BMFF was then quantified and pathophysiological characteristics assessed, including site- and sex-dependent differences and the relationships with age, BMI, bone mineral density, peripheral adiposity, and osteoporosis.RESULTS: Model accuracy matched or exceeded that for conventional U-Nets, yielding Dice scores of 91.2% (spine), 94.5% (femoral head), 91.2% (total hip) and 86.6% (femoral diaphysis). One case of severe scoliosis prevented segmentation of the spine, while one case of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma prevented segmentation of the spine, femoral head and total hip because of T2 signal depletion; however, successful segmentation was not disrupted by any other pathophysiological variables. The resulting BMFF measurements confirmed expected relationships between BMFF and age, sex and bone density, and identified new site- and sex-specific characteristics.CONCLUSIONS: We have established a new deep learning method for accurate segmentation of small structures from large volumetric data, allowing high-throughput multi-site BMFF measurement in the UKBB. Our findings reveal new pathophysiological insights, highlighting the potential of BMFF as a novel clinical biomarker. Applying our method across the full UKBB cohort will help to reveal the impact of BMAT on human health and disease.</p

The transcription factors Egr1 and Egr2 have opposing influences on adipocyte differentiation.

The zinc finger-containing transcription factors Egr1 (Krox24) and Egr2 (Krox20) have been implicated in the proliferation and differentiation of many cell types. Egr2 has earlier been shown to play a positive role in adipocyte differentiation, but the function of Egr1 in this context is unknown. We compared the roles of Egr1 and Egr2 in the differentiation of murine 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Egr1 protein was rapidly induced after addition of differentiation cocktail, whereas Egr2 protein initially remained low before increasing on days 1 and 2, concomitant with the disappearance of Egr1. In marked contrast to the effects of Egr2, differentiation was inhibited by ectopic expression of Egr1 and potentiated by knockdown of Egr1. The pro-adipogenic effects of Egr1 knockdown were particularly notable when isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX) was omitted from the differentiation medium. However, knockdown of Egr1 did not affect CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP)beta protein expression or phosphorylation of CREB Ser133. Further, Egr1 did not directly affect the activity of promoters for the master adipogenic transcription factors, C/EBPalpha or peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma2, as assessed in luciferase reporter assays. These data indicate that Egr1 and Egr2 exert opposing influences on adipocyte differentiation and that the careful regulation of both is required for maintaining appropriate levels of adipogenesis. Further, the pro-differentiation effects of IBMX involve suppression of the inhibitory influence of Egr1