376 research outputs found
Frequency Analysis of Gradient Estimators in Volume Rendering
Gradient information is used in volume rendering to classify and color samples along a ray. In this paper, we present an analysis of the theoretically ideal gradient estimator and compare it to some commonly used gradient estimators. A new method is presented to calculate the gradient at arbitrary sample positions, using the derivative of the interpolation filter as the basis for the new gradient filter. As an example, we will discuss the use of the derivative of the cubic spline. Comparisons with several other methods are demonstrated. Computational efficiency can be realized since parts of the interpolation computation can be leveraged in the gradient estimatio
A High Power Hydrogen Target for Parity Violation Experiments
Parity-violating electron scattering measurements on hydrogen and deuterium,
such as those underway at the Bates and CEBAF laboratories, require
luminosities exceeding cms, resulting in large beam
power deposition into cryogenic liquid. Such targets must be able to absorb 500
watts or more with minimal change in target density. A 40~cm long liquid
hydrogen target, designed to absorb 500~watts of beam power without boiling,
has been developed for the SAMPLE experiment at Bates. In recent tests with
40~A of incident beam, no evidence was seen for density fluctuations in
the target, at a sensitivity level of better than 1\%. A summary of the target
design and operational experience will be presented.Comment: 13 pages, 9 postscript figure
Phases of the Traditional 505 Test: Between Session and Direction Reliability
Change of direction (COD) testing has commonly reported a single total time to quantify performance despite that tests are made up of a number of different phases. No investigation into these phases has been completed, therefore the aim of this study was to examine the reliability between sessions and directions of the different phases of a 505 test. Twenty-one male youth athletes performed the 505 test in both directions on three occasions. Differences between directions and sessions were determined via a T-test and Two-way ANOVA respectively and a significance threshold was set at P †0.05. All strategy variables show acceptable relative and absolute reliability in both directions between sessions (ICC = 0.73-0.94; CV = 2.3-6.3%) apart from ground contact time (GCT) (ICC = 0.57-0.68, CV = 14.8â22.4%). Significant differences were identified between session one and three for entry time. Significant differences between directions for exit time on day two and for full approach, entry and GCT on day three. The non-dominant turning direction showed lower relative and absolute reliability between session for entry time (ICC = 0.73 vs 0.89; CV = 6.3% vs 3.7%) and GCT (ICC = 0.57 vs 0.68; CV = 14.8% vs 22.4%). Results indicate the phases of a 505 COD test have high relative and absolute reliability between sessions, although turning directions should be considered independently
Stressed, but not defenceless: no obvious influence of irradiation levels on antifeeding and antifouling defences of tropical macroalgae
The production of defence metabolites is assumed to be costly in metabolic terms. If this holds true, low-light stress should reduce the ability of seaweeds to defend themselves chemically against herbivory and fouling. We investigated the effect of energy limitation on the defensive status of seaweeds by assessing their attractiveness to mesograzers and their activity against a bivalve macrofouler in comparison with non-stressed conspecifics. The macroalgae Codium decorticatum (Woodw.) M. Howe, Osmundaria obtusiloba (C. Agardh) R. E. Norris, Pterocladiella capillacea (S. G. Gmel.) Santel. and Hommer., Sargassum vulgare C. Agardh and Stypopodium zonale (Lamour.) Papenf. collected at the southeastern Brazilian coast were exposed to six levels of irradiation (between 1 and 180 ÎŒmol photons mâ2 sâ1) for 10â14 days. After this period, algae from all treatment levels were: (a) processed as artificial food and offered to an amphipod community dominated by Elasmopus brasiliensis Dana and (b) extracted to test for differences in settlement rates of the fouling mussel Perna perna L. on filter paper loaded with the crude extracts. Generally, photosynthesis rates and growth were reduced under low light conditions. Attractiveness to herbivores and macrofoulers, however, was insensitive to energy limitation. We discuss possible explanations for the observed absence of a relationship between light availability and algal defence including the change in nutritional value of the algal tissue, the allocation of resources towards defence instead of growth and the absence of costs for defence
A conflict management tool for conservation agencies
1. Growing pressure on natural resources is leading to more conservation conflicts. Governments and their statutory agencies devote increasing financial and human resources to this subject, but tend to adopt reactive, ad hoc approaches to management.
2. We combined theory and empirical data about five conservation conflicts in a transdisciplinary collaboration to co-develop a novel decision-making tool.
3. This tool uses a systematic stepwise approach with six distinct decision stages: (i) establishing whether there is a conflict or an impact; (ii) understanding the context of the conflict, including the stakeholders affected; (iii) developing shared understanding of the conflict and goals; (iv) building a consensus on how to reach the goals; (v) implementing measures; and (vi) monitoring the outcomes.
4. Policy implications. We argue this new tool has wide applicability and democratic legitimacy and offers an exciting and practical approach to improve the management of conservation conflicts
Identity of a Fairyfly (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) Egg Parasitoid of the Endemic, Endangered Damselfly Megalagrion xanthomelas (Odonata: Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae) on Oâahu, Hawaiâi
Generalized Drinfeld-Sokolov Hierarchies II: The Hamiltonian Structures
In this paper we examine the bi-Hamiltonian structure of the generalized
KdV-hierarchies. We verify that both Hamiltonian structures take the form of
Kirillov brackets on the Kac-Moody algebra, and that they define a coordinated
system. Classical extended conformal algebras are obtained from the second
Poisson bracket. In particular, we construct the algebras, first
discussed for the case and by A. Polyakov and M. Bershadsky.Comment: 41 page
Quantumgroups in the Higgs Phase
In the Higgs phase we may be left with a residual finite symmetry group H of
the condensate. The topological interactions between the magnetic- and electric
excitations in these so-called discrete H gauge theories are completely
described by the Hopf algebra or quantumgroup D(H). In 2+1 dimensional space
time we may add a Chern-Simons term to such a model. This deforms the
underlying Hopf algebra D(H) into a quasi-Hopf algebra by means of a 3-cocycle
H. Consequently, the finite number of physically inequivalent discrete H gauge
theories obtained in this way are labelled by the elements of the cohomology
group H^3(H,U(1)). We briefly review the above results in these notes. Special
attention is given to the Coulomb screening mechanism operational in the Higgs
phase. This mechanism screens the Coulomb interactions, but not the
Aharonov-Bohm interactions. (Invited talk given by Mark de Wild Propitius at
`The III International Conference on Mathematical Physics, String Theory and
Quantum Gravity', Alushta, Ukraine, June 13-24, 1993. To be published in Theor.
Math. Phys.)Comment: 19 pages in Latex, ITFA-93-3
Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Wage Differences by Employment Setting
Background: Previous studies reported that primary care nurse practitioners working in primary care settings may earn less than those working in specialty care settings. However, few studies have examined why such wage difference exists. Purpose: This study used human capital theory to determine the degree to which the wage differences between dings PCNPs working in primary care versus specialty care settings is driven by the differences in PCNPsâ characteristics. Feasible generalized least squares regression was used to examine the wage differences for PCNPs working in primary care and specialty care settings. Methods: A cross-sectional, secondary data analysis was conducted using the restricted file of 2012 National Sample Survey of Nurse Practitioners. Findings: Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition technique was used to explore the factors contributing to wage differences. The results suggested that hourly wages of PCNPs working in primary care settings were, on average, 7.1% lower than PCNPs working in specialty care settings, holding PCNPsâ socio-demographic, human capital, and employment characteristics constant. Approximately 4% of this wage difference was explained by PCNPsâ characteristics; but 96% of these differences were due to unexplained factors. Discussion: A large, unexplained wage difference exists between PCNPs working in primary care and specialty care settings
Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms Induce Macrophage Dysfunction Through Leukocidin AB and Alpha-Toxin.
UNLABELLED: The macrophage response to planktonic Staphylococcus aureus involves the induction of proinflammatory microbicidal activity. However, S. aureus biofilms can interfere with these responses in part by polarizing macrophages toward an anti-inflammatory profibrotic phenotype. Here we demonstrate that conditioned medium from mature S. aureus biofilms inhibited macrophage phagocytosis and induced cytotoxicity, suggesting the involvement of a secreted factor(s). Iterative testing found the active factor(s) to be proteinaceous and partially agr-dependent. Quantitative mass spectrometry identified alpha-toxin (Hla) and leukocidin AB (LukAB) as critical molecules secreted by S. aureus biofilms that inhibit murine macrophage phagocytosis and promote cytotoxicity. A role for Hla and LukAB was confirmed by using hla and lukAB mutants, and synergy between the two toxins was demonstrated with a lukAB hla double mutant and verified by complementation. Independent confirmation of the effects of Hla and LukAB on macrophage dysfunction was demonstrated by using an isogenic strain in which Hla was constitutively expressed, an Hla antibody to block toxin activity, and purified LukAB peptide. The importance of Hla and LukAB during S. aureus biofilm formation in vivo was assessed by using a murine orthopedic implant biofilm infection model in which the lukAB hla double mutant displayed significantly lower bacterial burdens and more macrophage infiltrates than each single mutant. Collectively, these findings reveal a critical synergistic role for Hla and LukAB in promoting macrophage dysfunction and facilitating S. aureus biofilm development in vivo.
IMPORTANCE: Staphylococcus aureus has a propensity to form multicellular communities known as biofilms. While growing in a biofilm, S. aureus displays increased tolerance to nutrient deprivation, antibiotic insult, and even host immune challenge. Previous studies have shown that S. aureus biofilms thwart host immunity in part by preventing macrophage phagocytosis. It remained unclear whether this was influenced solely by the considerable size of biofilms or whether molecules were also actively secreted to circumvent macrophage-mediated phagocytosis. This is the first report to demonstrate that S. aureus biofilms inhibit macrophage phagocytosis and induce macrophage death through the combined action of leukocidin AB and alpha-toxin. Loss of leukocidin AB and alpha-toxin expression resulted in enhanced S. aureus biofilm clearance in a mouse model of orthopedic implant infection, suggesting that these toxins could be targeted therapeutically to facilitate biofilm clearance in humans
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