Ocean warming and acidification have complex interactive effects on the dynamics of a marine fungal disease

Diseases threaten the structure and function of marine ecosystems and are contributing to the global decline of coral reefs. We currently lack an understanding of how climate change stressors, such as ocean acidification (OA) and warming, may simultaneously affect coral reef disease dynamics, particularly diseases threatening key reef-building organisms, for example crustose coralline algae (CCA). Here, we use coralline fungal disease (CFD), a previously described CCA disease from the Pacific, to examine these simultaneous effects using both field observations and experimental manipulations. We identify the associated fungus as belonging to the subphylum Ustilaginomycetes and show linear lesion expansion rates on individual hosts can reach 6.5 mm per day. Further, we demonstrate for the first time, to our knowledge, that ocean-warming events could increase the frequency of CFD outbreaks on coral reefs, but that OA-induced lowering of pH may ameliorate outbreaks by slowing lesion expansion rates on individual hosts. Lowered pH may still reduce overall host survivorship, however, by reducing calcification and facilitating fungal bio-erosion. Such complex, interactive effects between simultaneous extrinsic environmental stressors on disease dynamics are important to consider if we are to accurately predict the response of coral reef communities to future climate change

The Role of the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in the Comprehensive Management of Pediatric Oncology Patients in the Inpatient Setting

The role of the pediatric nurse practitioner (PNP) in the comprehensive management of pediatric oncology patients in the inpatient setting was examined at a large tertiary teaching hospital. This article shows role responsibilities including new diagnosis teaching, procedures, routine chemotherapy, patients' comprehensive medical management, coordination of nursing care across settings, phone triage, and professional development. A PNP's typical day is highlighted to illustrate the innovative merging of traditional ambulatory care roles with that of the PNP as a comprehensive manager of pediatric oncology patients in the inpatient setting. This role provides a more seamless care experience and provides critical links in the delivery of health care to pediatric oncology patients.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68349/2/10.1177_104345429901600202.pd

Deadfall Syncline coal, quality and reserves

PRESENT INVESTIGATION The purpose of the 1991 drilling program was twofold: 1. To evaluate the coal reserves in a previously identified thick coal in an area of low structural dips and dip-slope topography near the axial plunge of the west extension of the Deadfall Syncline, primarily for surface mining, and to determine the feasibility of mining additional beds in conjunction with the thick coal. (For the purposes of this investigation, this coal is designated K3 as explained below), 2. To examine a continuous and unbroken stratigraphic interval of the Corwin formation in the northeastern part of the Deadfall Syncline as an initial step toward evaluation of the whole basin. This was accomplished by drilling overlapping holes aligned generally parallel to the dip direction, and spaced in accordance with the magnitude of dip and depth capacity of the drill. About 720 feet of stratigraphic section were covered in this way. A total of fourteen exploratory holes were drilled, ranging from 116 to 426 feet in depth (Figure 2). The drill was a Mobil B-60 mounted on a Nodwell tracked vehicle. Circulation was provided by a large compressor mounted on another Nodwell. Most of the footage was drilled with an air hammer, which provided a significant improvement in drilling rates over conventional rotary drilling. Lithology of cuttings from all holes was logged continuously, and composite grab samples from each 5 or 10 foot interval were taken. Coal cuttings were collected on a (relatively) clean plastic sheet, and promptly double bagged in plastic to minimize loss of bed moisture. Cores were taken from the K3 coal at 3 drill hole locations, and the underlying K4 coal was also cored at one of these 3 holes. A comparison of core length to geophysical logs indicates essentially 100% recovery for all cores. All samples, including rock cuttings, were shipped to the Mineral Industry Research Laboratory (MIRL), University of Alaska Fairbanks, for analyses and/or storage. All holes were logged with a Gearhart-Owen GeoLogger using natural garmna and gammagamma density tools. The log response with these tools for coals is distinct and unambiguous, particularly that of the density log, and the resolution is sufficient to estimate bed thickness to within 3 to 4 inches (Figures 8 and 9)

A reconfigurable platform for real-time embedded video image processing

Abstract. The increasing ubiquity of embedded digital video capture creates demand for high-throughput, low-power, flexible and adaptable integrated image processing systems. An architecture for a system-ona-chip solution is proposed, based on reconfigurable computing. The inherent system modularity and the communication infrastructure are targeted at enhancing design productivity and reuse. Power consumption is addressed by a combination of efficient streaming data transfer and reuse mechanisms. It is estimated that the proposed system would be capable of performing up to ten complex image manipulations simultaneously and in real-time on video resolutions up to XVGA.