910 research outputs found
Comparing index-based vulnerability assessments in the Mississippi Delta: Implications of contrasting theories, indicators, and aggregation methodologies
There are many index-based approaches for assessing vulnerability to socio-natural hazards with differences in underlying theory, indicator selection and aggregation methodology. Spatially explicit output scores depend on these characteristics and contrasting approaches can therefore lead to very different policy implications. These discrepancies call for more critical reflection on index design and utility, a discussion that has not kept pace with the impetus for vulnerability assessments and respective index creation and application following the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005–2015. Comparing index outputs is an effective approach in this regard. Here, the Social Vulnerability Index (SoVI®) and the vulnerability component of the Global Delta Risk Index (GDRI) are applied at census tract level in the Mississippi Delta and visually and quantitatively compared. While the SoVI® is grounded in the hazard/risk research paradigm with primarily socio-economic indicators and an inductive principal component methodology, the GDRI incorporates advancements from sustainability science with ecosystem-based indicators and a modular hierarchical design. Maps, class rank changes, and correlations are used to assess the convergence and divergence of these indexes across the delta. Results show that while very different theoretical frameworks influence scores through indicator selection, methodology of index calculation has an even greater effect on output. Within aggregative methodology, the treatment of inter-indicator correlation is decisive. Implications include the need for an increased focus on index methodology and validation of results, transparency, and critical reflection regarding assessment limitations, as our results imply that contradictory risk reduction policies could be considered depending on the assessment methodology used
The SKA Particle Array Prototype: The First Particle Detector at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory
We report on the design, deployment, and first results from a scintillation
detector deployed at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory (MRO). The
detector is a prototype for a larger array -- the Square Kilometre Array
Particle Array (SKAPA) -- planned to allow the radio-detection of cosmic rays
with the Murchison Widefield Array and the low-frequency component of the
Square Kilometre Array. The prototype design has been driven by stringent
limits on radio emissions at the MRO, and to ensure survivability in a desert
environment. Using data taken from Nov.\ 2018 to Feb.\ 2019, we characterize
the detector response while accounting for the effects of temperature
fluctuations, and calibrate the sensitivity of the prototype detector to
through-going muons. This verifies the feasibility of cosmic ray detection at
the MRO. We then estimate the required parameters of a planned array of eight
such detectors to be used to trigger radio observations by the Murchison
Widefield Array.Comment: 17 pages, 14 figures, 3 table
Plasma biomarkers outperform echocardiographic measurements for cardiovascular risk prediction in kidney transplant recipients: results of the HOME ALONE study
Background
Since kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) have a high cardiovascular disease burden, adequate risk prediction is of importance. Whether echocardiographic parameters and plasma biomarkers, natriuretic peptides [N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)] and troponin T provide complementary or overlapping prognostic information on cardiovascular events remains uncertain.
Methods
The prospective Heterogeneity of Monocytes and Echocardiography Among Allograft Recipients in Nephrology (HOME ALONE) study followed 177 KTRs for 5.4 ± 1.7 years. Predefined endpoints were hospitalization for acute decompensated heart failure or all-cause death (HF/D) and major atherosclerotic cardiovascular events or all-cause death (MACE/D). At baseline, plasma NT-proBNP, plasma troponin T and echocardiographic parameters [left atrial volume index, left ventricular (LV) mass index, LV ejection fraction, and LV filling pressure] were assessed.
Results
Among all echocardiographic and plasma biomarkers measured, only NT-proBNP was consistently associated with HF/D in univariate and multivariate {third versus first tertile: hazard ratio [HR] 4.20 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–17.27]} analysis, and only troponin T was consistently associated with MACE/D in univariate and multivariate [third versus first tertile: HR 8.15 (95% CI 2.75–24.18)] analysis.
Conclusion
Our data suggest that plasma biomarkers are robust and independent predictors of heart failure and atherosclerotic cardiovascular events after kidney transplantation, whereas standard echocardiographic follow-up does not add to risk prediction
Rapid Communication with a “P300” Matrix Speller Using Electrocorticographic Signals (ECoG)
A brain–computer interface (BCI) can provide a non-muscular communication channel to severely disabled people. One particular realization of a BCI is the P300 matrix speller that was originally described by Farwell and Donchin (1988). This speller uses event-related potentials (ERPs) that include the P300 ERP. All previous online studies of the P300 matrix speller used scalp-recorded electroencephalography (EEG) and were limited in their communication performance to only a few characters per minute. In our study, we investigated the feasibility of using electrocorticographic (ECoG) signals for online operation of the matrix speller, and determined associated spelling rates. We used the matrix speller that is implemented in the BCI2000 system. This speller used ECoG signals that were recorded from frontal, parietal, and occipital areas in one subject. This subject spelled a total of 444 characters in online experiments. The results showed that the subject sustained a rate of 17 characters/min (i.e., 69 bits/min), and achieved a peak rate of 22 characters/min (i.e., 113 bits/min). Detailed analysis of the results suggests that ERPs over visual areas (i.e., visual evoked potentials) contribute significantly to the performance of the matrix speller BCI system. Our results also point to potential reasons for the apparent advantages in spelling performance of ECoG compared to EEG. Thus, with additional verification in more subjects, these results may further extend the communication options for people with serious neuromuscular disabilities
Experimental evidence of genome-wide impact of ecological selection during early stages of speciation-with-gene-flow
Theory predicts that speciation-with-gene-flow is more likely when the consequences of selection for population divergence transitions from mainly direct effects of selection acting on individual genes to a collective property of all selected genes in the genome. Thus, understanding the direct impacts of ecologically based selection, as well as the indirect effects due to correlations among loci, is critical to understanding speciation. Here, we measure the genome-wide impacts of host-associated selection between hawthorn and apple host races of Rhagoletis pomonella (Diptera: Tephritidae), a model for contemporary speciation-with-gene-flow. Allele frequency shifts of 32 455 SNPs induced in a selection experiment based on host phenology were genome wide and highly concordant with genetic divergence between co-occurring apple and hawthorn flies in nature. This striking genome-wide similarity between experimental and natural populations of R. pomonella underscores the importance of ecological selection at early stages of divergence and calls for further integration of studies of eco-evolutionary dynamics and genome divergence
A new layout optimization technique for interferometric arrays, applied to the MWA
Antenna layout is an important design consideration for radio interferometers
because it determines the quality of the snapshot point spread function (PSF,
or array beam). This is particularly true for experiments targeting the 21 cm
Epoch of Reionization signal as the quality of the foreground subtraction
depends directly on the spatial dynamic range and thus the smoothness of the
baseline distribution. Nearly all sites have constraints on where antennas can
be placed---even at the remote Australian location of the MWA (Murchison
Widefield Array) there are rock outcrops, flood zones, heritages areas,
emergency runways and trees. These exclusion areas can introduce spatial
structure into the baseline distribution that enhance the PSF sidelobes and
reduce the angular dynamic range. In this paper we present a new method of
constrained antenna placement that reduces the spatial structure in the
baseline distribution. This method not only outperforms random placement
algorithms that avoid exclusion zones, but surprisingly outperforms random
placement algorithms without constraints to provide what we believe are the
smoothest constrained baseline distributions developed to date. We use our new
algorithm to determine antenna placements for the originally planned MWA, and
present the antenna locations, baseline distribution, and snapshot PSF for this
array choice.Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication in MNRA
WSClean : an implementation of a fast, generic wide-field imager for radio astronomy
This article has been accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. © 2014 The Authors. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society.Astronomical widefield imaging of interferometric radio data is computationally expensive, especially for the large data volumes created by modern non-coplanar many-element arrays. We present a new widefield interferometric imager that uses the w-stacking algorithm and can make use of the w-snapshot algorithm. The performance dependencies of CASA's w-projection and our new imager are analysed and analytical functions are derived that describe the required computing cost for both imagers. On data from the Murchison Widefield Array, we find our new method to be an order of magnitude faster than w-projection, as well as being capable of full-sky imaging at full resolution and with correct polarisation correction. We predict the computing costs for several other arrays and estimate that our imager is a factor of 2-12 faster, depending on the array configuration. We estimate the computing cost for imaging the low-frequency Square-Kilometre Array observations to be 60 PetaFLOPS with current techniques. We find that combining w-stacking with the w-snapshot algorithm does not significantly improve computing requirements over pure w-stacking. The source code of our new imager is publicly released.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio
Gridded and direct Epoch of Reionisation bispectrum estimates using the Murchison Widefield Array
We apply two methods to estimate the 21~cm bispectrum from data taken within
the Epoch of Reionisation (EoR) project of the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA).
Using data acquired with the Phase II compact array allows a direct bispectrum
estimate to be undertaken on the multiple redundantly-spaced triangles of
antenna tiles, as well as an estimate based on data gridded to the -plane.
The direct and gridded bispectrum estimators are applied to 21 hours of
high-band (167--197~MHz; =6.2--7.5) data from the 2016 and 2017 observing
seasons. Analytic predictions for the bispectrum bias and variance for point
source foregrounds are derived. We compare the output of these approaches, the
foreground contribution to the signal, and future prospects for measuring the
bispectra with redundant and non-redundant arrays. We find that some triangle
configurations yield bispectrum estimates that are consistent with the expected
noise level after 10 hours, while equilateral configurations are strongly
foreground-dominated. Careful choice of triangle configurations may be made to
reduce foreground bias that hinders power spectrum estimators, and the 21~cm
bispectrum may be accessible in less time than the 21~cm power spectrum for
some wave modes, with detections in hundreds of hours.Comment: 19 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in PAS
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