Correspondence between sound propagation in discrete and continuous random media with application to forest acoustics

Although sound propagation in a forest is important in several applications, there are currently no rigorous yet computationally tractable prediction methods. Due to the complexity of sound scattering in a forest, it is natural to formulate the problem stochastically. In this paper, it is demonstrated that the equations for the statistical moments of the sound field propagating in a forest have the same form as those for sound propagation in a turbulent atmosphere if the scattering properties of the two media are expressed in terms of the differential scattering and total cross sections. Using the existing theories for sound propagation in a turbulent atmosphere, this analogy enables the derivation of several results for predicting forest acoustics. In particular, the second-moment parabolic equation is formulated for the spatial correlation function of the sound field propagating above an impedance ground in a forest with micrometeorology. Effective numerical techniques for solving this equation have been developed in atmospheric acoustics. In another example, formulas are obtained that describe the effect of a forest on the interference between the direct and ground-reflected waves. The formulated correspondence between wave propagation in discrete and continuous random media can also be used in other fields of physics

Effect of Vascepa (icosapent ethyl) on progression of coronary atherosclerosis in patients with elevated triglycerides (200-499 mg/dL) on statin therapy: Rationale and design of the EVAPORATE study.

Despite reducing progression and promoting regression of coronary atherosclerosis, statin therapy does not fully address residual cardiovascular (CV) risk. High-purity eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) added to a statin has been shown to reduce CV events and induce regression of coronary atherosclerosis in imaging studies; however, data are from Japanese populations without high triglyceride (TG) levels and baseline EPA serum levels greater than those in North American populations. Icosapent ethyl is a high-purity prescription EPA ethyl ester approved at 4 g/d as an adjunct to diet to reduce TG levels in adults with TG levels >499 mg/dL. The objective of the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled EVAPORATE study is to evaluate the effects of icosapent ethyl 4 g/d on atherosclerotic plaque in a North American population of statin-treated patients with coronary atherosclerosis, TG levels of 200 to 499 mg/dL, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels of 40 to 115 mg/dL. The primary endpoint is change in low-attenuation plaque volume measured by multidetector computed tomography angiography. Secondary endpoints include incident plaque rates; quantitative changes in different plaque types and morphology; changes in markers of inflammation, lipids, and lipoproteins; and the relationship between these changes and plaque burden and/or plaque vulnerability. Approximately 80 patients will be followed for 9 to 18 months. The clinical implications of icosapent ethyl 4 g/d treatment added to statin therapy on CV endpoints are being evaluated in the large CV outcomes study REDUCE-IT. EVAPORATE will provide important imaging-derived data that may add relevance to the clinically derived outcomes from REDUCE-IT

Blunt and Penetrating Trauma in Resource-Limited Settings: Challenges, Innovations, and Opportunities for Improvement​

This literature review explores key challenges with innovative solutions to managing blunt and penetrating trauma in resource-limited settings. Healthcare gaps can be closed in resource-limited settings through technology advances and these innovative solutions

Effects of High Ammonium/Nitrate Ratios on Nitrification and Growth of Wheat in Hydroponics

Nitrogen is the only plant nutrient taken up as both a cation (NH4 +) and anion (NO3-). Nitrate is considered the safe form of N and NH/ is generally thought to be toxic, especially at high levels. High NH/ /NO3- ratios are thought to be toxic because they result in a rhizosphere pH low enough to damage root membranes, induced cation deficiencies, and build-up of NH3 caused by delayed NH/ assimilation. These factors can be minimized in hydroponic culture. The objective of these studies was to quantify the effects of high NH4 + IN 0 3- ratios on nitrification and growth of wheat in hydroponics. Two cultivars of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) were grown to maturity with either 15% or 80% of the N supplied as NH4+. The effect of using CL- versus so/- as counter ions to NH4 + was also examined. Yield was not significantly affected by NH4 + ratio or counter ion. Seed protein was increased from 15 to 19% with high NH4 +. Harvest index was reduced from 52 to 48% with 80% NH4 +, but was unaffected by counter ion. Rates of nitrification in hydroponic culture are not well quantified and could result in significant conversion of NH4+ to NO3- before plant uptake. An isotopic dilution study was conducted to quantify rates of nitrification in hydroponic culture. A 2 x 2 x 2 factorial design was used to examine the effect of pH (5.8 or 7.0), inoculation with nitrifying bacteria, and the presence of plants. This study was done with wheat grown in vigorously-aerated, 2-L bottles. Each bottle contained 10 g of diatomaceous earth to provide surface area for microbial growth. Nitrate began to accumulate in 5 din unplanted, inoculated bottles at pH 7.0; in 20 d at pH 5.8 with inoculation; but did not begin to accumulate in non-inoculated bottles (pH 5.8 or 7.0) until day 30. Nitrate never accumulated in any of the planted bottles, most likely because plants consumed the No 3- that was produced. Calculations from the isotopic dilution measurements indicated that the rate of nitrification averaged 58 μmol No 3- L-1 d-1 in the planted bottles, and averaged 270 μmol NO3- L- 1 d-1 in unplanted bottles. Nitrification was likely reduced in the planted bottles because the reduced concentration of NH4 + limited nitrification. To provide rapid, inexpensive measurement of nutrient concentration in hydroponic solution, five colorimetric tests were evaluated. Tests for NO3- and PO4 were accurate and reliable, but the tests for SO4^2-, Si 0 2, and Fe need additional refinement

A Comparison of the Verbal Productions of Normal and Behaviorally Disordered Children Using Interview and Color Book Techniques

The purpose of this study was to test the usefulness of The Color Book in facilitating interactions between an interviewer and a child. Interviews employing The Color Book were compared with interviews in which no art materials were used. More specifically the question of whether the length of utterances, number of emotional words used and statements about self by the subjects differed between groups using the Color Book and interviews without art materials. Subjects were forty grade school age children attending public schools. Twenty had previously been classified as behaviorally disordered and the other twenty had no such classification. Half of each group was interviewed without art materials. Interviews were conducted by graduate students in Psychology with experience in interviewing techniques. A twenty minute segment of the audiotaped interview was analyzed for the subject\u27s mean length of utterance, number of times an emotion word or phrase was used and the number of times the subject used the words I , Me , My and Mine . Two-way analysis of variance failed to detect any significant differences in these variables due the effect of the interviewing conditions

Comparison of the Standard and Computerized Versions of the College Level Examination Program General Examination in English Composition

The purpose of this study was to test whether the computer-administered College Level Examination Program (CLEP) General Examination in English Composition produced scores equivalent to those obtained from the traditional paper-and-pencil version. The CLEP examination and its adaptation for computer administration and the results of a pilot study are presented. The subjects in this study were volunteers who took the CLEP English Composition Examination in order to earn college credit and were randomly assigned to either the computer-first or paper-and-pencil-first groups. Each subject took both forms of the examination with approximately one half of the subjects taking each version first. Analysis of variance failed to detect a significant effect for test form or an interaction of test form and order of administration. Equivalence reliability coefficients and internal consistency coefficients also indicated that the computer administration did not significantly alter the results of the examination. In general, the results of this study support the hypothesis that the computer-administered version of the CLEP General Examination in English Composition produces results equivalent to those obtained from the traditional paper-and-pencil version

Assessing Community-Engaged Learning Impacts using Ripple Effects Mapping

Communicating Sustainability, an upper level undergraduate service-learning live broadcast course was created at Utah State University to help students gain critical skills in communicating and participating in local sustainability efforts. Community-Engaged Learning was a key component applied in gaining and using these skills. This study sought to capture the impacts of this course on both its students and the community partners who worked with those students using Ripple Effects Mapping. Key findings include: powerful impacts on student learning, growth and ability to engage in local movements; as well as clearly defined benefits for community partners. Included in this study are implications on how to apply Ripple Effects Mapping (REM) to measure impacts in other service-learning or project-based courses

Use of prasugrel vs clopidogrel and outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention in contemporary clinical practice: Results from the PROMETHEUS study

Background and objectivesWe sought to determine the frequency of use and association between prasugrel and outcomes in acute coronary syndrome patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in clinical practice