Reliability and reproducibility of Atlas information

We discuss the reliability and reproducibility of much of the information contained in the Atlas of Finite Groups

DESI Commissioning Instrument Metrology

The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) is under construction to measure the expansion history of the Universe using the Baryon Acoustic Oscillation technique. The spectra of 35 million galaxies and quasars over 14000 sq deg will be measured during the life of the experiment. A new prime focus corrector for the KPNO Mayall telescope will deliver light to 5000 fiber optic positioners. The fibers in turn feed ten broad-band spectrographs. We will describe the methods and results for the commissioning instrument metrology program. The primary goals of this program are to calculate the transformations and further develop the systems that will place fibers within 5um RMS of the target positions. We will use the commissioning instrument metrology program to measure the absolute three axis Cartesian coordinates of the five CCDs and 22 illuminated fiducials on the commissioning instrument

Inference of oxygen vacancies in hydrothermal Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3

A high-resolution x-ray powder diffraction study has been made of pseudo-rhombohedral and tetragonal phases in Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 (NBT), produced via hydrothermal and conventional solidstate methods. Hydrothermal NBT exhibits significantly greater structural distortion at room temperature than solid-state NBT. Peak widths and superstructure peak intensities show a phase transition at 305 C, with trends suggesting that the structure tends towards cubic symmetry at this temperature. Structural refinements indicate that the transition occurs via a phase coexistence region with no clear intermediate phase. Piezoelectric data show evidence of polarisation pinning in hydrothermal NBT, interpreted as a high proportion of oxygen vacancies

From Molecular Descriptors to Intrinsic Fish Toxicity of Chemicals:An Alternative Approach to Chemical Prioritization

The European and U.S. chemical agencies have listed approximately 800k chemicals about which knowledge of potential risks to human health and the environment is lacking. Filling these data gaps experimentally is impossible, so in silico approaches and prediction are essential. Many existing models are however limited by assumptions (e.g., linearity and continuity) and small training sets. In this study, we present a supervised direct classification model that connects molecular descriptors to toxicity. Categories can be driven by either data (using k-means clustering) or defined by regulation. This was tested via 907 experimentally defined 96 h LC50 values for acute fish toxicity. Our classification model explained ≈90% of the variance in our data for the training set and ≈80% for the test set. This strategy gave a 5-fold decrease in the frequency of incorrect categorization compared to a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) regression model. Our model was subsequently employed to predict the toxicity categories of ≈32k chemicals. A comparison between the model-based applicability domain (AD) and the training set AD was performed, suggesting that the training set-based AD is a more adequate way to avoid extrapolation when using such models. The better performance of our direct classification model compared to that of QSAR methods makes this approach a viable tool for assessing the hazards and risks of chemicals

RETROCAM: A Versatile Optical Imager for Synoptic Studies

We present RETROCAM, an auxiliary CCD camera that can be rapidly inserted into the optical beam of the MDM 2.4m telescope. The speed and ease of reconfiguring the telescope to use the imager and a straightforward user interface permit the camera to be used during the course of other observing programs. This in turn encourages RETROCAM's use for a variety of monitoring projects.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, Accepted by A

Validation of Floating Node Method Using Three-Point Bend Doubler Under Quasi-Static Loading

The NASA Advanced Composite Project (ACP), an industry/government/university partnership, has embarked upon the task of developing technology that can aid in reducing the time line for structural certification of aircraft composite parts using a combination of technologies, one of which is high fidelity damage progression computational methods. Phase II of this project included a task for validating an approach based on the Floating Node Method combined with Directional Cohesive Elements (FNM-DCZE). This paper discusses predicted damage onset and growth in a three-point bend doubler specimen compared to experimental results. Sensitivity of the simulations to mesh refinement as well as key material properties and thermal effects are studied and reported. Overall, qualitative results suggest the main aspects of the damage progression have been captured, with the simulated damage morphology and sequence of events resembling closely what was observed experimentally. Quantitatively, the first load-peak is predicted. However, the re-loading observed in the experiments, after the first load peak, is not captured numerically, suggesting further investigation may be worth pursuing

Efficient depletion of host DNA contamination in malaria clinical sequencing.

The cost of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) is decreasing rapidly as next-generation sequencing technology continues to advance, and the prospect of making WGS available for public health applications is becoming a reality. So far, a number of studies have demonstrated the use of WGS as an epidemiological tool for typing and controlling outbreaks of microbial pathogens. Success of these applications is hugely dependent on efficient generation of clean genetic material that is free from host DNA contamination for rapid preparation of sequencing libraries. The presence of large amounts of host DNA severely affects the efficiency of characterizing pathogens using WGS and is therefore a serious impediment to clinical and epidemiological sequencing for health care and public health applications. We have developed a simple enzymatic treatment method that takes advantage of the methylation of human DNA to selectively deplete host contamination from clinical samples prior to sequencing. Using malaria clinical samples with over 80% human host DNA contamination, we show that the enzymatic treatment enriches Plasmodium falciparum DNA up to ∼9-fold and generates high-quality, nonbiased sequence reads covering >98% of 86,158 catalogued typeable single-nucleotide polymorphism loci

Experimental realisation of Shor's quantum factoring algorithm using qubit recycling

Quantum computational algorithms exploit quantum mechanics to solve problems exponentially faster than the best classical algorithms. Shor's quantum algorithm for fast number factoring is a key example and the prime motivator in the international effort to realise a quantum computer. However, due to the substantial resource requirement, to date, there have been only four small-scale demonstrations. Here we address this resource demand and demonstrate a scalable version of Shor's algorithm in which the n qubit control register is replaced by a single qubit that is recycled n times: the total number of qubits is one third of that required in the standard protocol. Encoding the work register in higher-dimensional states, we implement a two-photon compiled algorithm to factor N=21. The algorithmic output is distinguishable from noise, in contrast to previous demonstrations. These results point to larger-scale implementations of Shor's algorithm by harnessing scalable resource reductions applicable to all physical architectures.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure

Critical Issues for Psychiatric Medication Shared Decision Making With Youth and Families

This is the publisher's version, also found here: http://doi.org/10.1606/1044-3894.4135The primary aims of this article are to describe the current context for youth shared decision making (SDM) within the U.S. children’s mental health system and to identify important considerations for the development of this approach as a research and service domain. The notion is substantiated in the literature that participation in treatment decisions can prepare youth for making their own decisions as adults, can be therapeutic, and can have positive effects on their self-confidence and self-esteem. Still, the complex youth–family–provider dynamic raises important issues that need to be addressed before SDM can be successfully implemented