Some aspects of user needs for an air-launched, expendable free-drifting buoy

Research objectives were determined based on user's needs in which an airlaunched, free-drifting buoy would significantly contribute to the accomplishment of these objectives. The objectives were formulated through discussions with individuals representing federal and state agencies and universities. The most immediate need was in continental shelf oceanography which required data to characterize circulation in a localized mesoscale region. A tentative plan for the North Carolina Outfall Study was presented. Data from air-launched, expendable free-drifting buoys would be used in this study not only to characterize the circulation off the North Carolina coast, but also to provide data by which a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model could be verified

A comparison of surfaces temperatures from HCMM infrared data with field measurements

Heat Capacity Mapping Mission surface temperatures were compared to field data obtained in the Mississippi River, in the Atlantic Ocean in the vicinity of the Nantucket Shoals, and in the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The absolute and relative accuracies of the infrared data were determined

Marine applications of HCMM satellite data

Results of a limited comparison of HCMM sea surface temperature data with in situ data suggest that the HCMM data can provide a rather accurate representation of the sea surface temperature and temperature pattern. In the Nantucket Shoals region, the HCMM analysis provided data on the surface heating and on transport south of Nantucket Island and Nantucket Sound. The analyses also revealed the sea surface temperature structure of an anticyclonic warm ring

Monitoring the Chesapeake Bay using satellite data for Superflux III

The TIROS-N and NOAA-6, and GOES visible infrared satellite data were used to identify and locate surface oceanographic thermal fronts for the purpose of issuing daily and premission advisory briefings in support of the Superflux 3 in situ and remote sensing experiment in the Chesapeake Bay region. Satellite data were collected for the period 1 - 22 October 1980. A summary of that data is presented

A comparison of HCMM surface temperatures with in situ temperature data

All HCMM required were processed. Calibrated and atmospherically corrected sea surface temperatures were developed for the Nantucket Shoals and Gulf of Mexico regions. These data were analyzed and the sea surface temperatures along the various transacts were compared with in situ data. The comparisons indicate that there is, on the average, a root mean square difference between the in situ data and the HCMM sea surface temperatures of + or - 1.0 C. The linear correlation coefficient was 0.97

A preliminary study of the application of HCMM satellite data to define initial and boundary conditions for numerical models: A case study in St. Louis, Missouri

Infrared and visible HCMM data were used to examine the potential application of these data to define initial and boundary conditions for mesoscale numerical models. Various boundary layer models were used to calculate the distribution of the surface heat flux, specific humidity depression (the difference between the specific humidity in the air at approxmately the 10 m level and the specific humidity at the ground), and the eddy vicosity in a 72 km by 72 km area centered about St. Louis, Missouri. Various aspects of the implications of the results on the meteorology of St. Louis are discussed. Overall, the results indicated that a reasonable estimate of the surface heat flux, urban albedo, ground temperature, and specific humidity depression can be obtained using HCMM satellite data. Values of the ground-specific humidity can be obtained if the distribution of the air-specific humidity is available. More research is required in estimating the absolute magnitude of the specific humidity depression because calculations may be sensitive to model parameters

Dietary patterns are related to cognitive functioning in elderly enriched with individuals at increased risk for Alzheimer's disease

PURPOSE: To investigate cross-sectional associations between dietary patterns and cognitive functioning in elderly free of dementia. METHODS: Data of 389 participants from the German DELCODE study (52% female, 69 ± 6 years, mean Mini Mental State Score 29 ± 1) were included. The sample was enriched with elderly at increased risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD) by including participants with subjective cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and siblings of AD patients. Mediterranean and MIND diets were derived from 148 Food Frequency Questionnaire items, and data-driven patterns by principal component analysis (PCA) of 39 food groups. Associations between dietary patterns and five cognitive domain scores were analyzed with linear regression analyses adjusted for demographics (model 1), and additionally for energy intake, BMI, other lifestyle variables and APOe4-status (model 2). For PCA-derived dietary components, final model 3 included all other dietary components. RESULTS: In fully adjusted models, adherence to Mediterranean and MIND diet was associated with better memory. The 'alcoholic beverages' PCA component was positively associated with most cognitive domains. Exclusion of MCI subjects (n = 60) revealed that Mediterranean and MIND diet were also related to language functions; associations with the alcoholic beverages component were attenuated, but most remained significant. CONCLUSION: In line with data from elderly population samples, Mediterranean and MIND diet and some data-derived dietary patterns were related to memory and language function. Longitudinal data are needed to draw conclusions on the putative effect of nutrition on the rate of cognitive decline, and on the potential of dietary interventions in groups at increased risk for AD

Effects of beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) on exercise performance and body composition across varying levels of age, sex, and training experience: A review

The leucine metabolite beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate (HMB) has been extensively used as an ergogenic aid; particularly among bodybuilders and strength/power athletes, who use it to promote exercise performance and skeletal muscle hypertrophy. While numerous studies have supported the efficacy of HMB in exercise and clinical conditions, there have been a number of conflicting results. Therefore, the first purpose of this paper will be to provide an in depth and objective analysis of HMB research. Special care is taken to present critical details of each study in an attempt to both examine the effectiveness of HMB as well as explain possible reasons for conflicting results seen in the literature. Within this analysis, moderator variables such as age, training experience, various states of muscle catabolism, and optimal dosages of HMB are discussed. The validity of dependent measurements, clustering of data, and a conflict of interest bias will also be analyzed. A second purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive discussion on possible mechanisms, which HMB may operate through. Currently, the most readily discussed mechanism has been attributed to HMB as a precursor to the rate limiting enzyme to cholesterol synthesis HMG-coenzyme A reductase. However, an increase in research has been directed towards possible proteolytic pathways HMB may operate through. Evidence from cachectic cancer studies suggests that HMB may inhibit the ubiquitin-proteasome proteolytic pathway responsible for the specific degradation of intracellular proteins. HMB may also directly stimulate protein synthesis, through an mTOR dependent mechanism. Finally, special care has been taken to provide future research implications