Dynamic Maps: Representations of Change in Geospatial Modeling and Visualization

By coining the descriptive phrase ―user-centric geographic cosmology, Goodchild (1998), challenges the geographically oriented to address GIS in the broadest imaginable context: as interlocutor between persons and geo-phenomena. This investigation responds both in a general way, and more specifically, to the representations of change in GIS modeling and visualization leading to dynamic mapping. The investigation, consisting of a report and a series of experiments, explores and demonstrates prototype workarounds that enhance GIS capabilities by drawing upon ideas, techniques, and components from agent-based modeling and visualization software, and suggests shifts at the conceptual, methodological, and technical levels. The workarounds and demonstrations presented here are four-dimensional visualizations, representing changes and behaviors of different types of entities such as living creatures, mobile assets, features, structures, and surfaces, using GIS, agent-based modeling and animation techniques. In a typical case, a creature begins as a point feature in GIS, becomes a mobile and interactive object in agent-based modeling, and is fleshed out to three dimensions in an animated representation. In contrast, a land surface remains much the same in all three stages. The experiments address change in location, orientation, shape, visual attributes, viewpoint, scale, and speed in applications representing predator-prey, search and destroy, sense and locate and urban sprawl. During the experiments, particular attention is paid to factors of modeling and visualization involved in engaging human sensing and cognitive abilities

Factors that Contribute to Resident Teaching Effectiveness

Background One of the key components of residency training is to become an educator. Resident physicians teach students, advanced practice providers, nurses, and even faculty on a daily basis. Objective The goal of this study was to identify the objective characteristics of residents, which correlate with perceived overall teaching effectiveness. Methods We conducted a one-year, retrospective study to identify factors that were associated with higher resident teaching evaluations. Senior emergency medicine (EM) teaching residents are evaluated by medical students following clinical teaching shifts. Eighteen factors pertaining to resident teaching effectiveness were chosen. Two items from the medical students' evaluations were analyzed against each factor: teaching effectiveness was measured on a five-point Likert scale and an overall teaching score (1-75). Results A total of 46 EM residents and 843 medical student evaluations were analyzed. The ACGME milestones for systems-based practice (p = 0.02) and accountability (p = 0.05) showed a statistically significant association with a rating of "five" on the Likert scale for teaching effectiveness. Three other ACGME milestones, systems-based practice (p = 0.01), task switching (p = 0.04), and team management (p = 0.03) also showed a statically significant association of receiving a score of 70 or greater on the overall teaching score. Conclusion Residents with higher performance associated with system management and accountability were perceived as highly effective teachers. USMLE and in-service exams were not predictive of higher teaching evaluations. Our data also suggest that effective teachers are working in both academic and community settings, providing a potential resource to academic departments and institutions

Thermal kinetic inductance detectors for ground-based millimeter-wave cosmology

We show measurements of thermal kinetic inductance detectors (TKID) intended for millimeter wave cosmology in the 200-300 GHz atmospheric window. The TKID is a type of bolometer which uses the kinetic inductance of a superconducting resonator to measure the temperature of the thermally isolated bolometer island. We measure bolometer thermal conductance, time constant and noise equivalent power. We also measure the quality factor of our resonators as the bath temperature varies to show they are limited by effects consistent with coupling to two level systems.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures. Submitted to Journal of Low Temperature Physic

Characterization and Improvement of the Thermal Stability of TES Bolometers

We study the mechanism of instability in transition edge sensor (TES) bolometers used for ground based observations of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) at 270GHz. The instability limits the range of useful operating resistances of the TES down to ≈50% of R_n, and due to variations in detector properties and optical loading within a column of multiplexed detectors, limits the effective on sky yield. Using measurements of the electrical impedance of the detectors, we show the instability is due to the increased bolometer leg G for higher-frequency detection inducing decoupling of the palladium-gold heat capacity from the thermistor. We demonstrate experimentally that the limiting thermal resistance is due to the small cross sectional area of the silicon nitride bolometer island, and so is easily fixed by layering palladium-gold over an oxide protected TES. The resulting detectors can be biased down to a resistance ≈10% of R_n

Energy and force analysis of Ti-6Al-4V linear friction welds for computational modeling input and validation data

The linear friction welding (LFW) process is finding increasing use as a manufacturing technology for the production of titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V aerospace components. Computational models give an insight into the process, however, there is limited experimental data that can be used for either modeling inputs or validation. To address this problem, a design of experiments approach was used to investigate the influence of the LFW process inputs on various outputs for experimental Ti-6Al-4V welds. The finite element analysis software DEFORM was also used in conjunction with the experimental findings to investigate the heating of the workpieces. Key findings showed that the average interface force and coefficient of friction during each phase of the process were insensitive to the rubbing velocity; the coefficient of friction was not coulombic and varied between 0.3 and 1.3 depending on the process conditions; and the interface of the workpieces reached a temperature of approximately approximately 1273 K (1000 °C) at the end of phase 1. This work has enabled a greater insight into the underlying process physics and will aid future modeling investigations.EPSRC, Boeing Company, Welding Institut

Bioinformatic analysis of the neprilysin (M13) family of peptidases reveals complex evolutionary and functional relationships

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The neprilysin (M13) family of endopeptidases are zinc-metalloenzymes, the majority of which are type II integral membrane proteins. The best characterised of this family is neprilysin, which has important roles in inactivating signalling peptides involved in modulating neuronal activity, blood pressure and the immune system. Other family members include the endothelin converting enzymes (ECE-1 and ECE-2), which are responsible for the final step in the synthesis of potent vasoconstrictor endothelins. The ECEs, as well as neprilysin, are considered valuable therapeutic targets for treating cardiovascular disease. Other members of the M13 family have not been functionally characterised, but are also likely to have biological roles regulating peptide signalling. The recent sequencing of animal genomes has greatly increased the number of M13 family members in protein databases, information which can be used to reveal evolutionary relationships and to gain insight into conserved biological roles.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The phylogenetic analysis successfully resolved vertebrate M13 peptidases into seven classes, one of which appears to be specific to mammals, and insect genes into five functional classes and a series of expansions, which may include inactive peptidases. Nematode genes primarily resolved into groups containing no other taxa, bar the two nematode genes associated with <it>Drosophila </it>DmeNEP1 and DmeNEP4. This analysis reconstructed only one relationship between chordate and invertebrate clusters, that of the ECE sub-group and the DmeNEP3 related genes. Analysis of amino acid utilisation in the active site of M13 peptidases reveals a basis for their biochemical properties. A relatively invariant S1' subsite gives the majority of M13 peptidases their strong preference for hydrophobic residues in P1' position. The greater variation in the S2' subsite may be instrumental in determining the specificity of M13 peptidases for their substrates and thus allows M13 peptidases to fulfil a broad range of physiological roles.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The M13 family of peptidases have diversified extensively in all species examined, indicating wide ranging roles in numerous physiological processes. It is predicted that differences in the S2' subsite are fundamental to determining the substrate specificities that facilitate this functional diversity.</p

Titanium Nitride Films for Ultrasensitive Microresonator Detectors

Titanium nitride (TiNx) films are ideal for use in superconducting microresonator detectors because: a) the critical temperature varies with composition (0 < Tc < 5 K); b) the normal-state resistivity is large, \rho_n ~ 100 $\mu$Ohm cm, facilitating efficient photon absorption and providing a large kinetic inductance and detector responsivity; and c) TiN films are very hard and mechanically robust. Resonators using reactively sputtered TiN films show remarkably low loss (Q_i > 10^7) and have noise properties similar to resonators made using other materials, while the quasiparticle lifetimes are reasonably long, 10-200 $\mu$s. TiN microresonators should therefore reach sensitivities well below 10^-19 WHz^(-1/2).Comment: to be published in AP

Predicting the response of a submillimeter bolometer to cosmic rays

Bolometers designed to detect. submillimeter radiation also respond to cosmic, gamma, and x rays. Because detectors cannot be fully shielded from such energy sources, it is necessary to understand the effect of a photon or cosmic-ray particle being absorbed. The resulting signal (known as a glitch) can then be removed from raw data. We present measurements using an Americium-241 gamma radiation source to irradiate a prototype bolometer for the High Frequency Instrument in the Planck Surveyor satellite. Our measurements showed no variation in response depending on where the radiation was absorbed, demonstrating that the bolometer absorber and thermistor thermalize quickly. The bolometer has previously been fully characterized both electrically and optically. We find that using optically measured time constants underestimates the time taken for the detector to recover from a radiation absorption event. However, a full thermal model for the bolometer, with parameters taken from electrical and optical measurements, provides accurate time constants. Slight deviations from the model were seen at high energies; these can be accounted for by use of an extended model

The Influence of Physical Activity on Monocyte Phenotype on Circulating Platelet-Monocyte Complexes in Overweight/Obese Persons

Elevated platelet-monocyte complexes (PMC) promote atherosclerosis and are associated with cardiovascular disease. It is unknown whether consistent physical activity (PA) decreases circulating PMCs. Additionally, no one has determined the monocyte phenotype most associated with PMCs. Purposes: 1) to examine the influence of PA on PMCs and their association with inflammatory /prothrombotic markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP), L-selectin (LS), platelet factor 4 (PF4), von Willebrand Factor (vWF), and hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) and 2) to determine the monocyte phenotype most likely to form PMCs. Methods: Thirty-one overweight/obese subjects (44±5yr, BMI 34.2±5 kg×m2) were divided into two groups: sedentary (SED, n=17) and physically active (PA, n=14) based on physical activity logs. SED participated in \u3c 1 h of formal exercise while PA participated in moderate-high intensity exercise at least 3 h per week. Flow cytometry was used to identify PMCs on the monocyte phenotypes: classical (CD14+CD16-), intermediate (CD14+CD16+), and non-classical (CD14+CD16++). Platelets were identified using the marker CD42a. Results: Percentage of circulating PMCs and median fluorescence intensity of CD42a (MedFI; marker of platelet density per monocyte) were not different between groups; however, monocyte phenotype significantly impacted PMC percentage and MedFI where the lower the CD16 expression, the greater the adhesion of platelets. Classical monocytes (CD16-) had the highest % of PMC, etc. (Fig 1). HbA1c was greater (p=0.031) and LS (p=0.019) was lower in SED compared to PA (Fig. 2). There were no significant associations between any blood marker and PMC percentage, but PF4 was correlated with percent of CD16 -(r= -0.482, p=0.031) and CD16+(r= 0.473, p=0.035) monocytes. Conclusions: The absence of a separation between groups in VO2max may partially explain the lack of a difference in PMCs between groups. Regarding our second aim, classical monocytes appear to be more involved in PMC formation than do CD16+ monocytes with CD16++ having the lowest percentage of cells with platelets adhered (PMC). This observation may be due to the shedding of adhesion molecules from platelets and monocytes during activation from classical (CD16-) to a more inflammatory state (ie. CD16+)