Scattering of sound by atmospheric turbulence predictions in a refractive shadow zone

According to ray theory, regions exist in an upward refracting atmosphere where no sound should be present. Experiments show, however, that appreciable sound levels penetrate these so-called shadow zones. Two mechanisms contribute to sound in the shadow zone: diffraction and turbulent scattering of sound. Diffractive effects can be pronounced at lower frequencies but are small at high frequencies. In the short wavelength limit, then, scattering due to turbulence should be the predominant mechanism involved in producing the sound levels measured in shadow zones. No existing analytical method includes turbulence effects in the prediction of sound pressure levels in upward refractive shadow zones. In order to obtain quantitative average sound pressure level predictions, a numerical simulation of the effect of atmospheric turbulence on sound propagation is performed. The simulation is based on scattering from randomly distributed scattering centers ('turbules'). Sound pressure levels are computed for many realizations of a turbulent atmosphere. Predictions from the numerical simulation are compared with existing theories and experimental data

Parenting during a Pandemic: Mothers and Disabled Children in Aotearoa/New Zealand—A Hidden Minority

Every country has its own COVID-19 pandemic story; similarly, every family has their own experiences of lockdowns, isolation, illness, death, struggles, and resiliency related to the pandemic. Although myriad narratives appear about these familial and societal experiences, few explore those of mothers of disabled children; these have been largely invisible, and as a result, this minority group and their needs have failed to be addressed by those who make decisions and plan for public health crises and for the subsequent recovery. Autoethnography, a qualitative method that coalesces personal experience and research literature to advance sociological understanding, underpins this exploration. The authors are New Zealand/Aotearoa mothers of disabled children. Our approach employs autoethnographic reflection about our pandemic experiences to create mean-ing, forge identities, and explore power structures. Connections of our family stories enable the creation of an understanding of what has happened in our communities. The authors’ reflections on their pandemic experiences are woven together with stories of how governments, schools, public health organizations, disability organizations, healthcare providers and communities directed us and responded to or failed to address our needs. We have identified five interwoven themes throughout our stories: anxiety, invisibility, devalued lives, coping, and advocacy. Together, as an outcome of the autoethnographic study of our pandemic experiences, we offer ideas for survival to pass on to mothers for future disasters and crises. Furthermore, we have developed recommendations for organizations and others living with disability

Hausdorff vs Gromov-Hausdorff distances

Let $M$ be a closed Riemannian manifold and let $X\subseteq M$. If the sample $X$ is sufficiently dense relative to the curvature of $M$, then the Gromov--Hausdorff distance between $X$ and $M$ is bounded from below by half their Hausdorff distance, namely $d_{GH}(X,M) \ge \frac{1}{2} d_H(X,M)$. The constant $\frac{1}{2}$ can be improved depending on the dimension and curvature of the manifold $M$, and obtains the optimal value $1$ in the case of the unit circle, meaning that if $X\subseteq S^1$ satisfies $d_{GH}(X,S^1)<\tfrac{\pi}{6}$, then $d_{GH}(X,S^1)=d_H(X,S^1)$. We also provide versions lower bounding the Gromov--Hausdorff distance $d_{GH}(X,Y)$ between two subsets $X,Y\subseteq M$. Our proofs convert discontinuous functions between metric spaces into simplicial maps between \v{C}ech or Vietoris--Rips complexes. We then produce topological obstructions to the existence of certain maps using the nerve lemma and the fundamental class of the manifold

Statistical and numerical study of the relation between weather and sonic boom characteristics

NASA measured sonic boom characteristics near Edwards Air Force Base from 11/66 to 1/67. Thirty four flights by an F-104 were recorded at an altitude of about 31,000 feet and flying speed of Mach 1.3. Forty two microphones were placed on the ground directly under the fight track. Each microphone recorded boom shape, rise time, peak overpressure, total boom duration, positive duration, and positive impulse

Specific sequences within arginine–glycine-rich domains affect mRNA-binding protein function

The discovery of roles for arginine methylation in intracellular transport and mRNA splicing has focused attention on the methylated arginine–glycine (RG)-rich domains found in many eukaryotic RNA-binding proteins. Sequence similarity among these highly repetitive RG domains, combined with interactions between RG-rich proteins, raises the question of whether these regions are general interaction motifs or whether there is specificity within these domains. Using the essential Saccharomyces cerevisiae mRNA-binding protein Npl3 (ScNpl3) as a model system, we first tested the importance of the RG domain for protein function. While Npl3 lacking the RG domain could not support growth of cells lacking Npl3, surprisingly, expression of the RG domain alone supported partial growth of these cells. To address the specificity of this domain, we created chimeric forms of ScNpl3 with RG-rich domains of S. cerevisiae nucleolar proteins, Gar1 and Nop1 (ScGar1, ScNop1), or of the Candida albicans Npl3 ortholog (CaNpl3). Whereas the CaNpl3 RG chimeric protein retained nearly wild-type function in S. cerevisiae, the ScGar1 and ScNop1 RG domains significantly reduced Npl3 function and self-association, indicating RG domain specificity. Nuclear localization of Npl3 also requires specific RG sequences, yet heterologous RG domains allow similar modulation of Npl3 transport by arginine methylation

Thermo-Mechanical Response of Self-Assembled Nanoparticle Membranes

Ultrathin membranes composed of metallic or semiconducting nanoparticles capped with short ligand molecules are hybrid materials that have attracted considerable research interest.1-12 In contrast to two-dimensional (2D) membranes such as graphene and transition metal dichalcogenides monolayers, nanoparticle membranes can be engineered to achieve widely tunable mechanical, electronic or optical properties through different combinations of inorganic cores and organic ligands. In terms of mechanical properties, these membranes can form large area (tens of microns in diameter) freestanding structures with high Young’s moduli (~GPa) and fracture strength.1,13-15 Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have indicated how this mechanical robustness can arise from van der Waals interactions between interdigitated ligands and how it is linked to the arrangement of these ligands in the space between neighboring particles.16-21 These simulations furthermore make a number of specific predictions regarding the thermo-mechanical behavior of nanoparticle membranes. To date, however, there have been no systematic experimental realization and tests of these predictions

Bone CLARITY: Clearing, imaging, and computational analysis of osteoprogenitors within intact bone marrow

Bone tissue harbors unique and essential physiological processes, such as hematopoiesis, bone growth, and bone remodeling. To enable visualization of these processes at the cellular level in an intact environment, we developed “Bone CLARITY,” a bone tissue clearing method. We used Bone CLARITY and a custom-built light-sheet fluorescence microscope to detect the endogenous fluorescence of Sox9-tdTomato+ osteoprogenitor cells in the tibia, femur, and vertebral column of adult transgenic mice. To obtain a complete distribution map of these osteoprogenitor cells, we developed a computational pipeline that semiautomatically detects individual Sox9-tdTomato+ cells in their native three-dimensional environment. Our computational method counted all labeled osteoprogenitor cells without relying on sampling techniques and displayed increased precision when compared with traditional stereology techniques for estimating the total number of these rare cells. We demonstrate the value of the clearing-imaging pipeline by quantifying changes in the population of Sox9-tdTomato–labeled osteoprogenitor cells after sclerostin antibody treatment. Bone tissue clearing is able to provide fast and comprehensive visualization of biological processes in intact bone tissue

Competition of nuclear factor-erythroid 2 factors related transcription factor isoforms, Nrf1 and Nrf2, in antioxidant enzyme induction

AbstractAlthough the Nrf2 (nuclear factor-erythroid 2 p45 subunit-related factor 2) regulated expression of multiple antioxidant and cytoprotective genes through the electrophile responsive element (EpRE) is well established, interaction of Nrf2/EpRE with Nrf1, a closely-related transcription factor, is less well understood. Due to either proteolysis or alternative translation, Nrf1 has been found as proteins of varying size, p120, p95, and p65, which have been described as either activators of EpRE or competitive inhibitors of Nrf2. We investigated the effect of Nrf1 on EpRE-regulated gene expression using the catalytic and modifier subunits of glutamate cysteine ligase (GCLC and GCLM) as models and explored the potential role of Nrf1 in altering their expression in aging and upon chronic exposure to airborne nano-sized particulate matter (nPM). Nrf1 knockout resulted in the increased expression of GCLC and GCLM in human bronchial epithelial (HBE1) cells. Overexpression Nrf2 in combination with either p120 or p65 diminished or failed to further increase the GCLC- and GLCM-EpRE luciferase activity. All known forms of Nrf1 protein, remained unchanged in the lungs of mice with age or in response to nPM. Our study shows that Nrf1 could inhibit EpRE activity in vitro, whereas the precise role of Nrf1 in vivo requires further investigations. We conclude that Nrf1 may not be directly responsible for the loss of Nrf2-dependent inducibility of antioxidant and cytoprotective genes observed in aged animals