Solutions to Monge-Kantorovich equations, expressing optimality condition in mass transportation problem with cost equal to distance, are stationary points of a critical-slope model for sand surface evolution. Using a dual variational formulation of sand model, we compute both the optimal transport density and Kantorovich potential as t → ∞ limit of evolving sand flux and sand surface, respecti...

Most of the Tylenchulus semipenetrans larvae applied on the surface of four soils in pots 14.5-cm deep moved no further downward than 6.5 crn, and remained in the upper half of the pot. The percentage of second-stage larvae that developed into adult females on 'Homosassa' sweet orange in the soils were: sandy loam, 6.8% in the same soil with inoculation holes, 8.6%; loamy sand, 5.4%; coarse san...

BACKGROUND Leishmaniasis remains a global health problem because of the substantial holes that remain in our understanding of sand fly ecology and the failure of traditional vector control methods. The specific larval food source is unknown for all but a few sand fly species, and this is particularly true for the vectors of Leishmania parasites. We provide methods and materials that could be us...

Sand fields develop different patterns, such as sandbars, sand ridges, sand ripples, sand dunes, and river dunes. These vary in shape from crescent to ridge-like patterns. They are formed in areas such as deserts, lakes and seashores, where winds or fluid flows are strong and tend to blow from one direction or oscillate. There is a great deal of order in these patterns: perhaps a simple model c...

The western sand darter Ammocrypta clara, and eastern sand darter Ammocrypta pellucida, are sand-dwelling fishes of conservation concern. Past research has emphasized the importance of studying individual populations of conservation concern, while recent research has revealed the importance of incorporating landscape scale processes that structure habitat mosaics and local populations. We exami...

This research describes the goals, design and implementation of a quasi natural gradient, laboratory scale, sand tank (aquifer) model experiment. The model was used to study the transport of an inorganic tracer (Chloride) in groundwater, within a tropical aquifer (porous medium) material. Three-dimensional sand tank (1.8 m × 0.3 m × 0.8 m) experiments were conducted to investigate contaminant t...

BACKGROUND Sand fly saliva has been shown to have proteins with potent biological activities, salivary proteins that can be used as biomarkers of vector exposure, and salivary proteins that are candidate vaccines against different forms of leishmaniasis. Sand fly salivary gland transcriptomic approach has contributed significantly to the identification and characterization of many of these sali...

Quantitation of the nonlinear heterogeneities in Leishmania parasites, sand fly vectors, and mammalian host relationships provides insights to better understand leishmanial transmission epidemiology towards improving its control. The parasite manipulates the sand fly via production of promastigote secretory gel (PSG), leading to the "blocked sand fly" phenotype, persistent feeding attempts, and...

This study investigated the effects of surface treatments on the bond strength of a resin composite to a commercially pure titanium. The bonding surfaces of all titanium specimens were ground with 1,000-grit silicon carbide paper and then subjected to one or more of these surface treatments: sandblasting with alumina (sand), etching with 45wt% H2SO4 and 15wt% HCl (SH-etchant) at 70°C for 10 min...

Beach sand contains fecal indicator bacteria, often in densities greatly exceeding the adjacent swimming waters. We examined the transferability of Escherichia coli and F+ coliphage (MS2) from beach sand to hands in order to estimate the potential subsequent health risk. Sand with high initial E. coli concentrations was collected from a Chicago beach. Individuals manipulated the sand for 60 sec...