3D Air Quality and the Clean Air Interstate Rule: Lagrangian Sampling of CMAQ Model Results to Aid Regional Accountability Metrics

The Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) is expected to reduce transport of air pollutants (e.g. fine sulfate particles) in nonattainment areas in the Eastern United States. CAIR highlights the need for an integrated air quality observational and modeling system to understand sulfate as it moves in multiple dimensions, both spatially and temporally. Here, we demonstrate how results from an air quality model can be combined with a 3d monitoring network to provide decision makers with a tool to help quantify the impact of CAIR reductions in SO2 emissions on regional transport contributions to sulfate concentrations at surface monitors in the Baltimore, MD area, and help improve decision making for strategic implementation plans (SIPs). We sample results from the Community Multiscale Air Quality (CMAQ) model using ensemble back trajectories computed with the NASA Langley Research Center trajectory model to provide Lagrangian time series and vertical profile information, that can be compared with NASA satellite (MODIS), EPA surface, and lidar measurements. Results are used to assess the regional transport contribution to surface SO4 measurements in the Baltimore MSA, and to characterize the dominant source regions for low, medium, and high SO4 episodes

Drosophila Carrying Pex3 or Pex16 Mutations Are Models of Zellweger Syndrome That Reflect Its Symptoms Associated with the Absence of Peroxisomes

The peroxisome biogenesis disorders (PBDs) are currently difficult-to-treat multiple-organ dysfunction disorders that result from the defective biogenesis of peroxisomes. Genes encoding Peroxins, which are required for peroxisome biogenesis or functions, are known causative genes of PBDs. The human peroxin genes PEX3 or PEX16 are required for peroxisomal membrane protein targeting, and their mutations cause Zellweger syndrome, a class of PBDs. Lack of understanding about the pathogenesis of Zellweger syndrome has hindered the development of effective treatments. Here, we developed potential Drosophila models for Zellweger syndrome, in which the Drosophila pex3 or pex16 gene was disrupted. As found in Zellweger syndrome patients, peroxisomes were not observed in the homozygous Drosophila pex3 mutant, which was larval lethal. However, the pex16 homozygote lacking its maternal contribution was viable and still maintained a small number of peroxisome-like granules, even though PEX16 is essential for the biosynthesis of peroxisomes in humans. These results suggest that the requirements for pex3 and pex16 in peroxisome biosynthesis in Drosophila are different, and the role of PEX16 orthologs may have diverged between mammals and Drosophila. The phenotypes of our Zellweger syndrome model flies, such as larval lethality in pex3, and reduced size, shortened longevity, locomotion defects, and abnormal lipid metabolisms in pex16, were reminiscent of symptoms of this disorder, although the Drosophila pex16 mutant does not recapitulate the infant death of Zellweger syndrome. Furthermore, pex16 mutants showed male-specific sterility that resulted from the arrest of spermatocyte maturation. pex16 expressed in somatic cyst cells but not germline cells had an essential role in the maturation of male germline cells, suggesting that peroxisome-dependent signals in somatic cyst cells could contribute to the progression of male germ-cell maturation. These potential Drosophila models for Zellweger syndrome should contribute to our understanding of its pathology

Affective and cognitive responses to musical performances of early 20th century classical solo piano compositions : the influence of musical expertise and audio-visual perception

EFFECTIVE AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT WITH MUSICAL performance involves social, cognitive and affective elements. We investigate the influence of observers' musical expertise and instrumental motor expertise on their affective and cognitive responses to complex and unfamiliar classical piano performances of works by Scriabin and Hanson presented in audio and audio-visual formats. Observers gave their felt affect (arousal and valence) and their action understanding responses continuously while observing the performances. Liking and familiarity were rated after each excerpt. As hypothesized: Visual information enhanced observers' action understanding and liking ratings; observers with music training rated their action understanding, liking and familiarity higher than did nonmusicians; observers' felt affect did not vary according to their musical or motor expertise. Contrary to our hypotheses: Visual information had only a slight effect on observers' arousal felt affect responses and none on valence; musicians' specific instrumental motor expertise did not influence action understanding responses.We also observed a significant negative relationship between action understanding and felt affect responses. Ideas of empathy in musical interactions motivated the research; the empathy framework in relation to musical performance is discussed. Nonmusician audiences might be sensitized to challenging musical performances through multimodal strategies to build the performer-observer connection and increase understanding of performance

ALTERATIONS IN MOTOR UNIT POTENTIATION DURING FATIGUING CONTRACTIONS BY SEDENTARY INDIVIDUALS

Colin Miller1, Michael Trevino1, Trent Herda2, Adam Sterczala3, Jonathan Miller2, Mandy Parra4, Hannah Dimmick5 1Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK; 2University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS; 3University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA; 4Baker University, Baldwin City, KS; 5University of Calgary, Calgary, AB PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of consecutive long duration contractions on motor unit (MU) derecruitment behavior of the vastus lateralis (VL) for sedentary individuals. METHODS: Thirteen females (20.69 ± 2.75 yrs) and nine males (20.00 ± 1.41 yrs) volunteered for this study. An electromyographic (EMG) sensor was placed over the VL. Each participant completed isometric maximal voluntary contractions (MVC) on an isokinetic dynamometer followed by two consecutive isometric trapezoidal submaximal contractions (40% MVC) of the right knee extensors. For the submaximal contractions, the torque was increased at a rate of 10% MVC/s to the deserved torque level for 45s followed by a decrease of 10% MVC/s to baseline. Ten seconds of rest was given between the submaximal contractions. Decomposition techniques were applied to the EMG signals to extract action potentials and the firing events of single MUs. For each MU, the recruitment (REC; %MVC) and derecruitment (DEREC; %MVC) thresholds were calculated and linear regressions were performed on the DEREC versus REC relationships for each individual to determine the slopes and y-intercepts (y-ints). Separate two-way mixed factorial ANOVAs (sex x repetition) examined the slopes and y-ints. Follow-up analyses included Bonferroni corrections and alpha was 0.05. RESULTS: For the slopes and y-ints, there were no significant (p \u3e 0.05) two-way interactions or main effects for sex. However, there were main effects for repetition (REP). The slopes were greater (p = 0.030) for REP 1 (1.33 ± 0.50) than REP 2 (1.12 ± 0.43), whereas the y-ints were greater (p = 0.024) for REP 2 (1.27 ± 14.57) than REP 1 (-6.50 ± 20.39). CONCLUSION: Caution is warranted when interpreting the findings for the y-ints as half of the subjects exhibited negative values. Indeed, the slopes indicated that males and females derecruited MUs at higher torque values (slopes \u3e 1) than the initial recruited torque levels for both REPS. However, the slopes significantly decreased during the second contraction, likely due to fatigue. Future research should investigate if endurance training can improve fatigue resistance and prevent a decrease in MU potentiation during a second, long duration contraction