A comparison of two position estimate algorithms that use ILS localizer and DME information. Simulation and flight test results

Simulation and flight tests were conducted to compare the accuracy of two algorithms designed to compute a position estimate with an airborne navigation computer. Both algorithms used ILS localizer and DME radio signals to compute a position difference vector to be used as an input to the navigation computer position estimate filter. The results of these tests show that the position estimate accuracy and response to artificially induced errors are improved when the position estimate is computed by an algorithm that geometrically combines DME and ILS localizer information to form a single component of error rather than by an algorithm that produces two independent components of error, one from a DMD input and the other from the ILS localizer input

Diabetic retinopathy and socioeconomic deprivation in Gloucestershire

Objectives To investigate socioeconomic variations in diabetes prevalence, uptake of screening for diabetic retinopathy, and prevalence of diabetic retinopathy. Methods The County of Gloucestershire formed the setting of the study. A cross-sectional study of people with diabetes was done on a countywide retinopathy-screening database. Diabetes prevalence with odds ratios, uptake of screening, prevalence of any retinopathy and prevalence of sight-threatening retinopathy at screening were compared for different area deprivation quintiles. Logistic regression was used to adjust for confounding. Results With each increasing quintile of deprivation, diabetes prevalence increased (odds ratio 0.84), the probability of having been screened for diabetic retinopathy decreased (odds ratio 1.11), and the prevalence of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy among screened patients increased (odds ratio of 0.98), while the prevalence of non-sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy remained unchanged with each increasing quintile of deprivation. Conclusion Sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy was associated with socioeconomic deprivation, but non-sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy was not. Uptake of screening was inversely related to socioeconomic deprivation

Quantifying and resolving multiple vector transformants in S. cerevisiae plasmid libraries

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In addition to providing the molecular machinery for transcription and translation, recombinant microbial expression hosts maintain the critical genotype-phenotype link that is essential for high throughput screening and recovery of proteins encoded by plasmid libraries. It is known that <it>Escherichia coli </it>cells can be simultaneously transformed with multiple unique plasmids and thusly complicate recombinant library screening experiments. As a result of their potential to yield misleading results, bacterial multiple vector transformants have been thoroughly characterized in previous model studies. In contrast to bacterial systems, there is little quantitative information available regarding multiple vector transformants in yeast. <it>Saccharomyces cerevisiae </it>is the most widely used eukaryotic platform for cell surface display, combinatorial protein engineering, and other recombinant library screens. In order to characterize the extent and nature of multiple vector transformants in this important host, plasmid-born gene libraries constructed by yeast homologous recombination were analyzed by DNA sequencing.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>It was found that up to 90% of clones in yeast homologous recombination libraries may be multiple vector transformants, that on average these clones bear four or more unique mutant genes, and that these multiple vector cells persist as a significant proportion of library populations for greater than 24 hours during liquid outgrowth. Both vector concentration and vector to insert ratio influenced the library proportion of multiple vector transformants, but their population frequency was independent of transformation efficiency. Interestingly, the average number of plasmids born by multiple vector transformants did not vary with their library population proportion.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results highlight the potential for multiple vector transformants to dominate yeast libraries constructed by homologous recombination. The previously unrecognized prevalence and persistence of multiply transformed yeast cells have important implications for yeast library screens. The quantitative information described herein should increase awareness of this issue, and the rapid sequencing approach developed for these studies should be widely useful for identifying multiple vector transformants and avoiding complications associated with cells that have acquired more than one unique plasmid.</p

Evaluation of Electromagnetic Induction as a Noninvasive Technique for Monitoring Water Movement into and Beneath Waste Disposal Facilities

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of electromagnetic induction to noninvasively monitor water content in waste disposal facility cover soils. We compared apparent electrical conductivity measurements monitored with the EM38 ground conductivity meter with water content monitored with a neutron probe at 20 locations over an 18-month period from August 1998 to January 2000. Two cover designs were monitored: a gel/asphalt barrier at 1.3 m depth and a capillary barrier at 2.0 m depth. The EM38 instrument was operated in both the vertical and horizontal dipole modes with the instrument resting on the ground surface and all data were normalized to 25°C. Linear regression techniques were applied to analyze the survey data. Water content to a depth of 0.75 m was correlated with horizontal dipole mode data and water content to depths of 1.1 m and 1.5 m was correlated with vertical dipole mode data. Initially higher water content values decreased by an average of 0.10 m^3/m^3 in the top 0.75 m and an average of 0.07 m^3/m^3 in the top 1.5 m over the course of the study. The regression model of the EM38 vertical dipole mode data with water content to the 1.5 m depth for all locations monitored on the capillary barrier design resulted in a standard deviation of 0.016 m^3/m^3. Horizontal dipole mode data correlated with water content to the 0.75 m depth had a standard deviation of 0.022 m^3/m^3 for all locations on both barrier designs. Models at individual survey locations generally exhibited much smaller standard deviations, ranging from 0.005 to 0.018 m^3/m^3 and averaging 0.010 m^3/m^3. The smaller standard deviations and general similarity of regression slope values of the models at individual locations indicate that this technique is more accurate as an indicator of changes in water content than as an indicator of the absolute value of water content at a given location. Sources of variability were attributed to horizontal and vertical variation in soil salinity, the vertical distribution of water at the time of a particular survey, and subtle differences in topsoil thickness and surface roughness. Results indicate that electromagnetic induction is useful for evaluating infiltration. The EM technique resulted in standard deviation values for water content similar to those of the neutron probe method but is capable of monitoring larger areas much more rapidly and at a lower cost.Bureau of Economic Geolog

An analysis of media reporting on the closure of freestanding midwifery units in England

PROBLEM: Despite clinical guidelines and policy promoting choice of place of birth, 14 Freestanding Midwifery Units were closed between 2008 and 2015, closures justified by low use and financial constraints. BACKGROUND: The Birthplace in England Programme found that freestanding midwifery units provided the most cost-effective birthplace for women at low risk of complications. Women planning birth in a freestanding unit were less likely to experience interventions than those planning obstetric unit birth, with no difference in outcomes for babies. METHODS: This paper uses an interpretative technique developed for policy analysis to explore the representation of these closures in 191 news articles, to explore the public climate in which they occurred. FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION: The articles focussed on underuse by women and financial constraints on services. Despite the inclusion of service user voices, the power of framing was held by service managers and commissioners. The analysis exposed how neoliberalist and austerity policies has privileged representation of individual consumer choice and market-driven provision as drivers of changes in health services. This normative framing makes the reasons given for closure as hard to refute and cultural norms persist that birth is safest in an obstetric setting, despite evidence to the contrary. CONCLUSION: The rise of neoliberalism and austerity in contemporary Britain has influenced the reform of maternity services, in particular the closure of midwifery units. Justifications given for closure silence other narratives, predominantly from service users, that attempt to present women's choice in terms of rights and a social model of care

The Strength of a Smile: Duchenne Smiles Improve Advertisement and Product Evaluations

Consumer research recognizes the well-established effect of positive emotions on consumers, i.e. consumers in positive moods tend to give positive evaluations of products and advertisements. Recently, researchers have investigated the use of Duchenne smiles (genuine smiles) in advertisements to evoke positive emotions and lead to positive evaluations. Duchenne smiles are identified by the activation of both the zygomaticus major muscle (which pulls up the corners of the mouth) and the orbicularis oculi muscles (which surround the eye and result in the crow’s feet wrinkles). Peace, Miles, and Johnston (2006) demonstrated that including Duchenne smiles in mock print advertisements affects viewers’ perceptions of the ad and featured product, resulting in more positive evaluations as compared to neutral and non-Duchenne advertisements. The current research expands on Peace et al. and examines the effects of type of smile displayed in mock print advertisements that feature inexpensive and expensive products alike. Participants rated pairs of advertisements created by the researchers. Participants significantly preferred Duchenne smiling advertisements over non Duchenne and also showed significant preference in their likelihood to purchase products in Duchenne advertisements. A potential mimicry association mechanism is discussed, as well as practical implications for advertisers

An Examination of On-The-Job Writing of Recent College of Agricultural Sciences Graduates

This study was designed to describe the amount and kind of writing recent College of Agricultural Sciences baccalaureate degree graduates complete on-the job, their perceptions of the importance of on-the-job writing, and the graduates\u27 level of satisfaction with their writing preparation at Penn State

Recent La Plata basin drought conditions observed by satellite gravimetry

The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) provides quantitative measures of terrestrial water storage (TWS) change. GRACE data show a significant decrease in TWS in the lower (southern) La Plata river basin of South America over the period 2002-2009, consistent with recognized drought conditions in the region. GRACE data reveal a detailed picture of temporal and spatial evolution of this severe drought event, which suggests that the drought began in lower La Plata in around austral spring 2008 and then spread to the entire La Plata basin and peaked in austral fall 2009. During the peak, GRACE data show an average TWS deficit of ~12 cm (equivalent water layer thickness) below the 7 year mean, in a broad region in lower La Plata. GRACE measurements are consistent with accumulated precipitation data from satellite remote sensing and with vegetation index changes derived from Terra satellite observations. The Global Land Data Assimilation System model captures the drought event but underestimates its intensity. Limited available groundwater-level data in southern La Plata show significant groundwater depletion, which is likely associated with the drought in this region. GRAC-observed TWS change and precipitation anomalies in the studied region appear to closely correlate with the ENSO climate index, with dry and wet seasons corresponding to La Ni\~na and El Ni\~no events, respectively