Maximum A Posteriori Resampling of Noisy, Spatially Correlated Data

In any geologic application, noisy data are sources of consternation for researchers, inhibiting interpretability and marring images with unsightly and unrealistic artifacts. Filtering is the typical solution to dealing with noisy data. However, filtering commonly suffers from ad hoc (i.e., uncalibrated, ungoverned) application. We present here an alternative to filtering: a newly developed method for correcting noise in data by finding the “best” value given available information. The motivating rationale is that data points that are close to each other in space cannot differ by “too much,” where “too much” is governed by the field covariance. Data with large uncertainties will frequently violate this condition and therefore ought to be corrected, or “resampled.” Our solution for resampling is determined by the maximum of the a posteriori density function defined by the intersection of (1) the data error probability density function (pdf) and (2) the conditional pdf, determined by the geostatistical kriging algorithm applied to proximal data values. A maximum a posteriori solution can be computed sequentially going through all the data, but the solution depends on the order in which the data are examined. We approximate the global a posteriori solution by randomizing this order and taking the average. A test with a synthetic data set sampled from a known field demonstrates quantitatively and qualitatively the improvement provided by the maximum a posteriori resampling algorithm. The method is also applied to three marine geology/geophysics data examples, demonstrating the viability of the method for diverse applications: (1) three generations of bathymetric data on the New Jersey shelf with disparate data uncertainties; (2) mean grain size data from the Adriatic Sea, which is a combination of both analytic (low uncertainty) and word-based (higher uncertainty) sources; and (3) side-scan backscatter data from the Martha\u27s Vineyard Coastal Observatory which are, as is typical for such data, affected by speckle noise. Compared to filtering, maximum a posteriori resampling provides an objective and optimal method for reducing noise, and better preservation of the statistical properties of the sampled field. The primary disadvantage is that maximum a posteriori resampling is a computationally expensive procedure

Swath Mapping on the Continental Shelf and Slope: The Eel River Basin, Northern California

First Paragraph The STRATAFORM program sponsored by the Office of Naval Research (Nittrouer and Kravitz, 1996, this issue) seeks to understand how sedimentary processes lead to the formation of the stratigraphic sequences on continental margins. A central challenge facing this effort is to understand the transport of sediments in shore-parallel as well as shore-perpendicular directions• Multidimensionality is necessary to describe, for example, the accumulation of sediments from river inputs, the distribution of gullies and canyons on the slope, the meandering of channels, and the structure of slumps and slides

Assessing the Needs of Students Identified with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder at Minnesota State University, Mankato

A considerable number of students with a diagnosis of ADHD are represented within the Minnesota State University, Mankato student population. Research indicates that college students with an ADHD diagnosis face unique and challenging experiences in the collegiate environment. In addition to these unique stressors, research indicates that college students with ADHD may benefit from supportive services that can be offered in a University Counseling Center. A survey of the perceived needs for counseling services and utilization of counseling services among students identified with ADHD at MSU, Mankato is useful in determining current trends and informs future Counseling Center service planning

Intraprofessional Conflict among Registered Nurses in Hospital Nursing: A Phenomenological Study of Horizontal Violence and Bullying

By the year 2025, the nursing workforce shortage will exceed 500,000 registered nurses (RN). Hospitals will primarily experience this loss. The retention of RNs is a critical issue for hospitals, and studies about RNs leaving jobs in hospital nursing are essential to addressing the workforce shortage. Limited data exists about why RNs leave hospital nursing, other than job dissatisfaction. There is limited current data on whether horizontal violence, bullying, and intraprofessional conflict between RNs influence such decisions. This qualitative phenomenological study explored RNs’ experiences of horizontal violence, bullying, and intraprofessional conflict in hospital nursing. Findings suggest behaviors such as alienation, intimidation, sabotage, lack of intellectual respect, and failed professionalism contribute to horizontal violence and intraprofessional conflict among RNs in the hospital workplace. These findings may help develop strategies to educate healthcare teams and hospital administrative staff, and lobby for universal anti-horizontal violence and anti-bullying policies in hospitals. The findings highlight the need for conflict management training for RNs and healthcare workers, to facilitate intraprofessional communication and collaboration, and the need for further research

Assessment of application, effectiveness, and compliance of forestry best management practices in West Virginia

The application, effectiveness, and compliance of forestry best management practices (BMPs) were assessed based on 116 randomly selected sites harvested between November 2003 and March 2004 in West Virginia. Landowners were contacted to gain permission for site visits according to the random list. The landowners were also asked a series of questions to identify their knowledge and satisfaction about the harvest and BMPs. A series of eight checklists were used to assess 26 BMPs on haul roads, skid trails, landings, and in streamside management zones (SMZs). Thirty three out of 116 sites with SMZs were further evaluated for BMP applications and effectiveness. Spatial data, soil, and stream type were also collected from the site to identify how these spatial attributes affect BMP application, effectiveness, and compliance. Data collected were also analyzed statistically to examine the differences of BMP application, effectiveness, and compliance among forester involvement, ownership type, and Forest Districts. Results indicated that compliance on haul roads was 80%, skid trails (70%), landings (78%), and SMZs (61%). Statewide compliance generally increased from the previous study to 72%

Archaeological Analysis of Built Environments at Coastal Ancient Maya Port Sites

Archaeological research along the littoral of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula has led to the discovery of hundreds of pre-contact coastal settlements. Following the work of Andrews (1990), these sites had multiple functions ranging for simple fishing villages to international port sites that facilitated long-distance, canoe-based trade. It is the latter category that I focus on in this thesis. The built environment of these port sites and the geomorphological characteristics of their surrounding coastline certainly played a critical role in the services they provided for traders. While individual site-level analyses exist, I take a broader comparative approach in order to highlight the similarities and differences in how these sites were constructed and in turn experienced by the people who inhabited them and who visited them

The Aсquisition of a Wax Anatomical Model for Peter the Great in France: The Contract and Its Consequences

The article was submitted on 23.05.2016.Во время своей второй поездки в Европу, трехсотлетие которой отмечается в 2017 г., Петр I посетил Париж. Он осмотрел основные достопримечательности города и по нескольку раз побывал в тех из них, которые отвечали его интересу к естественным и техническим наукам. В частности, несколько визитов царь нанес в Королевский ботанический сад. Он познакомился там со знаменитым медиком, профессором анатомии и членом Парижской академии наук Жозефом-Гишаром Дюверне (в русской традиции его иногда именовавали Дювернеем; 1648–1730). Тот был известен по всей Европе, располагал обширным кругом знакомств среди ученых и славился изготовлением анатомических моделей из воска, а также «анатомическими демонстрациями» (публичными лекциями по анатомии). Среди прочих, Дюверне поддерживал знакомство с Робертом Арескином (иногда его фамилию транскрибируют как Эрскин), лейб-медиком Петра I шотландского происхождения. Свидетельством интереса, который Петр I проявил к талантам Дюверне, стал заказ на создание одной анатомической модели, которая предназначалась для Кунсткамеры. Непосредственным исполнителем воли царя стал Арескин, выступивший в роли заказчика. Анатомическая модель головного мозга и черепа и по сей день хранится в собрании Кунсткамеры, однако обстоятельства ее изготовления до нынешнего времени были неизвестны. На основе ранее не публиковавшегося документа из Национального архива Франции и иных французских и русских источников (в том числе архивных) в статье воссоздается история создания этой модели и вводятся в научный оборот данные, позволяющие судить о первоначальном замысле Петра I после его знакомства с Дюверне и об изменениях, которые подобный замысел претерпел по мере своего воплощения в жизнь.During his second tour of Europe, whose 300th anniversary is celebrated in 2017, Peter I visited Paris. He visited the main landmarks of the city, especially those related to his interest in the natural sciences and technology. For instance, he repeatedly visited the Royal Botanical Garden. There, he became acquainted with the renowned doctor, professor of anatomy, and member of the Paris Academy of Sciences Joseph-Guichard Duverney (1648–1730). He was well known in Europe, had a lot of connections with other scientists, and was famous for his wax anatomical models and ‘anatomical demonstrations’ (public lectures in anatomy). Among others, Duverney communicated with Robert Areskine, a physician of Scottish descent at Peter’s court. Peter ordered an anatomical model for his collection in the Kunstkamera, which proves the interest the tsar had in Duverney’s talents. Areskine represented Peter the Great in the purchase. The anatomical model of a human brain and skull is still kept in the Kunstkamera collection. However, until recently there was no information on how it was made. Referring to a previously unpublished document from the National Archive of France and other French and Russian sources (including archival ones), this article reconstructs the story of the model’s creation and provides new historical data that helps us to understand Peter’s initial idea after meeting Duverney and the changes the project underwent while it was being implemented

Determining the date of diagnosis – is it a simple matter? The impact of different approaches to dating diagnosis on estimates of delayed care for ovarian cancer in UK primary care

Background Studies of cancer incidence and early management will increasingly draw on routine electronic patient records. However, data may be incomplete or inaccurate. We developed a generalisable strategy for investigating presenting symptoms and delays in diagnosis using ovarian cancer as an example. Methods The General Practice Research Database was used to investigate the time between first report of symptom and diagnosis of 344 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer between 01/06/2002 and 31/05/2008. Effects of possible inaccuracies in dating of diagnosis on the frequencies and timing of the most commonly reported symptoms were investigated using four increasingly inclusive definitions of first diagnosis/suspicion: 1. "Definite diagnosis" 2. "Ambiguous diagnosis" 3. "First treatment or complication suggesting pre-existing diagnosis", 4 "First relevant test or referral". Results The most commonly coded symptoms before a definite diagnosis of ovarian cancer, were abdominal pain (41%), urogenital problems(25%), abdominal distension (24%), constipation/change in bowel habits (23%) with 70% of cases reporting at least one of these. The median time between first reporting each of these symptoms and diagnosis was 13, 21, 9.5 and 8.5 weeks respectively. 19% had a code for definitions 2 or 3 prior to definite diagnosis and 73% a code for 4. However, the proportion with symptoms and the delays were similar for all four definitions except 4, where the median delay was 8, 8, 3, 10 and 0 weeks respectively. Conclusion Symptoms recorded in the General Practice Research Database are similar to those reported in the literature, although their frequency is lower than in studies based on self-report. Generalisable strategies for exploring the impact of recording practice on date of diagnosis in electronic patient records are recommended, and studies which date diagnoses in GP records need to present sensitivity analyses based on investigation, referral and diagnosis data. Free text information may be essential in obtaining accurate estimates of incidence, and for accurate dating of diagnoses