2,261 research outputs found
The Economic Impact of High Consequence Zoonotic Pathogens: Why Preparing for these is a Wicked Problem
Abstract: This paper reviews literature on the economic impacts of outbreaks and control strategies for high consequence zoonotic priority diseases, ie. zoonotic diseases that are generally FADs, zoonotic diseases that occur rarely, or zoonotic diseases that have bioterrorist potential sufficient to be important for the United States. Such diseases are referred to here as zoonotic priority diseases (ZPDs). These ZPDs are categorized into three levels of economic impact: high, moderate, and low with the recognition that there are aspects of each of these diseases that could make the categorization presented here inaccurate. Arguments are made for why determination of optimal ZPD and more generally FAD preparedness and response strategies are wicked problems. The paper concludes with the implications for further development of appropriate ZPD policy and some needs for further analyses
Effects of overstory and understory vegetation on the understory light environment in mixed boreal forests
The percentage of above-canopy Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (%PPFD) was measured at 0, 50 and 100 cm above the forest floor and above the main understory vegetation in stands of (1) pure Betula papyrifera (White birch), (2) pure Populus tremuloides (Trembling aspen), (3) mixed broad-leaf-conifer, (4) shade-tolerant conifer and (5) pure Pinus banksiana (Jack pine) occurring on both clay and till soil types. %PPFD was measured instantaneously under overcast sky conditions (nine locations within each of 29 stands) and continuously for a full day under clear sky conditions (five locations within each of eight stands). The percentage cover of the understory layer was estimated at the same locations as light measurements. Mean %PPFD varied from 2% at the forest floor under Populus forests to 15% above the understory vegetation cover under Betula forests. Percent PPFD above the understory vegetation cover was significantly higher under shade intolerant tree species such as Populus, Betula and Pinus than under shade tolerant conifers. No significant differences were found in %PPFD above the understory vegetation cover under similar tree species between clay and till soil types. The coefficient of variation in %PPFD measured in the nine locations within each stand was significantly lower under deciduous dominated forests (mean of 19%) than under coniferous dominated forests (mean of 40%). %PPFD measured at the forest floor was positively correlated with %PPFD measured above the understory vegetation and negatively correlated with cumulative total percent cover of the understory vegetation (R2 = 0.852). The proportion of sunflecks above 250 and 500 ĂŽÂĽmol m-2 s-1 was much lower and %PPFD in shade much higher under Populus and Betula forests than under the other forests. Differences in the mean, variability and nature of the light environment found among forest and soil types are discussed in relation to their possible influences on tree succession
Acoustic Microscopy with Mixed Mode Transducers
Acoustic microscopes have become important NDE tools in recent years. For accurate and quantitative characterization, it is desirable to have a system capable of dealing with a wide variety of materials, to evaluate both bulk and surface wave properties, and to detect surface damage, subsurface cracks, bulk defects, etc. For this purpose, we have built a new and versatile acoustic microscope which measures both amplitude and phase in the frequency range of 1–200 MHz with selectable operation modes with longitudinal waves, shear waves, or both. The wide frequency range allows us to evaluate a variety of materials. The selectable operation modes enable us to measure different properties of materials and to detect different types of defects
Optical microscopy via spectral modifications of a nano-antenna
The existing optical microscopes form an image by collecting photons emitted
from an object. Here we report on the experimental realization of microscopy
without the need for direct optical communication with the sample. To achieve
this, we have scanned a single gold nanoparticle acting as a nano-antenna in
the near field of a sample and have studied the modification of its intrinsic
radiative properties by monitoring its plasmon spectrum.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures (color
Jones-matrix Formalism as a Representation of the Lorentz Group
It is shown that the two-by-two Jones-matrix formalism for polarization
optics is a six-parameter two-by-two representation of the Lorentz group. The
attenuation and phase-shift filters are represented respectively by the
three-parameter rotation subgroup and the three-parameter Lorentz group for two
spatial and one time dimensions. It is noted that the Lorentz group has another
three-parameter subgroup which is like the two-dimensional Euclidean group.
Possible optical filters having this Euclidean symmetry are discussed in
detail. It is shown also that the Jones-matrix formalism can be extended to
some of the non-orthogonal polarization coordinate systems within the framework
of the Lorentz-group representation.Comment: RevTeX, 27 pages, no figures, to be published in J. Opt. Soc. Am.
Development and application of an algorithm for detecting <i>Phaeocystis globosa</i> blooms in the Case 2 Southern North Sea waters
While mapping algal blooms from space is now well-established, mapping undesirable algal blooms in eutrophicated coastal waters raises further challenge in detecting individual phytoplankton species. In this paper, an algorithm is developed and tested for detecting Phaeocystis globosa blooms in the Southern North Sea. For this purpose, we first measured the light absorption properties of two phytoplankton groups, P. globosa and diatoms, in laboratory-controlled experiments. The main spectral difference between both groups was observed at 467 nm due to the absorption of the pigment chlorophyll c3 only present in P. globosa, suggesting that the absorption at 467 nm can be used to detect this alga in the field. A Phaeocystis-detection algorithm is proposed to retrieve chlorophyll c3 using either total absorption or water-leaving reflectance field data. Application of this algorithm to absorption and reflectance data from Phaeocystis-dominated natural communities shows positive results. Comparison with pigment concentrations and cell counts suggests that the algorithm can flag the presence of P. globosa and provide quantitative information above a chlorophyll c3 threshold of 0.3 mg m-3 equivalent to a P. globosa cell density of 3 Ă— 106 cells L-1. Finally, the possibility of extrapolating this information to remote sensing reflectance data in these turbid waters is evaluated
Stokes Parameters as a Minkowskian Four-vector
It is noted that the Jones-matrix formalism for polarization optics is a
six-parameter two-by-two representation of the Lorentz group. It is shown that
the four independent Stokes parameters form a Minkowskian four-vector, just
like the energy-momentum four-vector in special relativity. The optical filters
are represented by four-by-four Lorentz-transformation matrices. This
four-by-four formalism can deal with partial coherence described by the Stokes
parameters. A four-by-four matrix formulation is given for decoherence effects
on the Stokes parameters, and a possible experiment is proposed. It is shown
also that this Lorentz-group formalism leads to optical filters with a symmetry
property corresponding to that of two-dimensional Euclidean transformations.Comment: RevTeX, 22 pages, no figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Cortical Factor Feedback Model for Cellular Locomotion and Cytofission
Eukaryotic cells can move spontaneously without being guided by external
cues. For such spontaneous movements, a variety of different modes have been
observed, including the amoeboid-like locomotion with protrusion of multiple
pseudopods, the keratocyte-like locomotion with a widely spread lamellipodium,
cell division with two daughter cells crawling in opposite directions, and
fragmentations of a cell to multiple pieces. Mutagenesis studies have revealed
that cells exhibit these modes depending on which genes are deficient,
suggesting that seemingly different modes are the manifestation of a common
mechanism to regulate cell motion. In this paper, we propose a hypothesis that
the positive feedback mechanism working through the inhomogeneous distribution
of regulatory proteins underlies this variety of cell locomotion and
cytofission. In this hypothesis, a set of regulatory proteins, which we call
cortical factors, suppress actin polymerization. These suppressing factors are
diluted at the extending front and accumulated at the retracting rear of cell,
which establishes a cellular polarity and enhances the cell motility, leading
to the further accumulation of cortical factors at the rear. Stochastic
simulation of cell movement shows that the positive feedback mechanism of
cortical factors stabilizes or destabilizes modes of movement and determines
the cell migration pattern. The model predicts that the pattern is selected by
changing the rate of formation of the actin-filament network or the threshold
to initiate the network formation
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