A prototype Lagrangian current buoy using the carrier plus sideband (CSB) retransmission of Omega navigation symbols

As part of the continental shelf investigations of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) , electronics were developed and tested to track an ocean-current-following (Lagrangian) buoy by the retransmission of Omega navigation signals to a shore station using medium frequency (2 . 398 MHz) ground wave propagation and equal-carrier-upper-sideband modulation . The buoy electronics include sharp clipping and filtering for noise reduction and Omega signal equalization . The carrier and upper sideband are transmitted with equal power to maintain the relative phases of separate Omega station signals on demodulation. The base station is a 2.4 MHz receiver/demodulator feeding a commercial Omega navigation receiver, with minicomputer processing for teletype printout and digital magnetic tape recording. Field trials of this navigation system were performed at VIMS in spring, 1975

Transcranial sonothrombolysis using high-intensity focused ultrasound: impact of increasing output power on clot fragmentation

Abstract Background The primary goal of this study was to investigate the relationship between increasing output power levels and clot fragmentation during high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU)-induced thrombolysis. Methods A HIFU headsystem, designed for brain applications in humans, was used for this project. A human calvarium was mounted inside the water-filled hemispheric transducer. Artificial thrombi were placed inside the skull and located at the natural focus point of the transducer. Clots were exposed to a range of acoustic output power levels from 0 to 400 W. The other HIFU operating parameters remained constant. To assess clot fragmentation, three filters of different mesh pore sizes were used. To assess sonothrombolysis efficacy, the clot weight loss was measured. Results No evidence of increasing clot fragmentation was found with increasing acoustic intensities in the majority of the study groups of less than 400 W. Increasing clot lysis could be observed with increasing acoustic output powers. Conclusion Transcranial sonothrombolysis could be achieved in vitro within seconds in the absence of tPA and without producing relevant clot fragmentation, using acoustic output powers of \u3c400 W

Coherent Bayesian inference on compact binary inspirals using a network of interferometric gravitational wave detectors

Presented in this paper is a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) routine for conducting coherent parameter estimation for interferometric gravitational wave observations of an inspiral of binary compact objects using data from multiple detectors. The MCMC technique uses data from several interferometers and infers all nine of the parameters (ignoring spin) associated with the binary system, including the distance to the source, the masses, and the location on the sky. The Metropolis-algorithm utilises advanced MCMC techniques, such as importance resampling and parallel tempering. The data is compared with time-domain inspiral templates that are 2.5 post-Newtonian (PN) in phase and 2.0 PN in amplitude. Our routine could be implemented as part of an inspiral detection pipeline for a world wide network of detectors. Examples are given for simulated signals and data as seen by the LIGO and Virgo detectors operating at their design sensitivity.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

Erratum: Sequence data and association statistics from 12,940 type 2 diabetes cases and controls.

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/sdata.2017.179

Why less may be more: a mixed methods study of the work and relatedness of 'weak ties' in supporting long-term condition self-management

Background: The distribution of the roles and responsibilities of long-term condition management (LTCM) outside of formal health services implicates a wide set of relationships and activities of involvement. Yet, compared to studies of professional implementation, patient systems of implementation remain under-investigated. The aim of this paper is to explore the work, meaning and function attributed to ‘weaker’ ties relative to other more bonding relationships in order to identify the place of these within a context of systems of support for long-term conditions. Methods: This is a mixed methods survey with nested qualitative study. A total of 300 people from deprived areas in the North West of England with chronic illnesses took part in a survey conducted in 2010 to 2011. A concentric circles diagram was used as a research tool with which participants identified 2,544 network members who contributed to illness management. Notions of ‘work’ were used to describe activities associated with chronic illness and to identify how weaker ties are included and perceived to be involved through social network members (SNM) contributions. Results: The results provide an articulation of how SNMs are substantially involved in weak tie illness management. Weaker ties constituted 16.1% of network membership involved in illness work. The amount of work undertaken was similar but less than that of stronger ties. Weaker ties appeared more durable and less liable to loss over time than stronger ties. The qualitative accounts suggested that weak ties enabled the moral positioning of the self-managing ‘self’ and acted on the basis of a strong sense of reciprocity. Conclusions: Weak ties act as an acceptable bridge between a sense of personal agency and control and the need for external support because it is possible to construct a sense of moral acceptability through reciprocal exchange. Access to weak tie resources needs to be taken into account when considering the ways in which systems of health implementation for chronic illness are designed and delivered