This paper describes a system, named “pan-and-tilt hyperspectral radiometer system” (PANTHYR) that is designed for autonomous measurement of hyperspectral water reflectance. The system is suitable ...for deployment in diverse locations (including offshore platforms) for the validation of water reflectance derived from any satellite mission with visible and/or near-infrared spectral bands (400–900 nm). Key user requirements include reliable autonomous operation at remote sites without grid power or cabled internet and only limited maintenance (1–2 times per year), flexible zenith and azimuth pointing, modularity to adapt to future evolution of components and different sites (power, data transmission, and mounting possibilities), and moderate hardware acquisition cost. PANTHYR consists of two commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) hyperspectral radiometers, mounted on a COTS pan-and-tilt pointing system, controlled by a single-board-computer and associated custom-designed electronics which provide power, pointing instructions, and data archiving and transmission. The variable zenith pointing improves protection of sensors which are parked downward when not measuring, and it allows for use of a single radiance sensor for both sky and water viewing. The latter gives cost reduction for radiometer purchase, as well as reduction of uncertainties associated with radiometer spectral and radiometric differences for comparable two-radiance-sensor systems. The system is designed so that hardware and software upgrades or changes are easy to implement. In this paper, the system design requirements and choices are described, including details of the electronics, hardware, and software. A prototype test on the Acqua Alta Oceanographic Tower (near Venice, Italy) is described, including comparison of the PANTHYR system data with two other established systems: the multispectral autonomous AERONET-OC data and a manually deployed three-sensor hyperspectral system. The test established that high-quality hyperspectral data for water reflectance can be acquired autonomously with this system. Lessons learned from the prototype testing are described, and the future perspectives for the hardware and software development are outlined.
COVID-19 has delivered an unintended positive consequence through working from home (WFH). While it may be some time until we are able to indicate, with some confidence, the impact that WFH will have ...on traffic congestion and crowding on public transport, there is a sense already that it is a game changer, and indeed is one of the most effective policy levers that the transport sector has had for many years in ‘managing’ the performance of the transport network. This paper draws on multiple ways of survey data that have been collected since March 2020 when the pandemic first resulted in severe restrictions in Australia. We present the evidence up to December 2021 on the incidence of WFH in two geographical jurisdiction – the Greater Sydney Metropolitan Area (GSMA) and South-East Queensland (SEQ) - and how it has been received by employees and employers from the height of restrictions up to a period when restrictions were relaxed, followed by further lockdowns throughout Australia. We show what this might mean for work productivity, lifestyle, and the changing preferences for passenger modes. With a growing preference, within some occupation classes, to WFH 1–2 days a week, and a good spread through the weekdays, we discuss what this means for the way we analyse the impact of transport initiatives on the performance of the transport network with a particular emphasis on the growth in suburbanisation of transport improvements, less costly service and infrastructure improvements, and the changing role of public transport.
Abstract
Lowering of prion protein (PrP) expression in the brain is a genetically validated therapeutic hypothesis in prion disease. We recently showed that antisense oligonucleotide (ASO)-mediated ...PrP suppression extends survival and delays disease onset in intracerebrally prion-infected mice in both prophylactic and delayed dosing paradigms. Here, we examine the efficacy of this therapeutic approach across diverse paradigms, varying the dose and dosing regimen, prion strain, treatment timepoint, and examining symptomatic, survival, and biomarker readouts. We recapitulate our previous findings with additional PrP-targeting ASOs, and demonstrate therapeutic benefit against four additional prion strains. We demonstrate that <25% PrP suppression is sufficient to extend survival and delay symptoms in a prophylactic paradigm. Rise in both neuroinflammation and neuronal injury markers can be reversed by a single dose of PrP-lowering ASO administered after the detection of pathological change. Chronic ASO-mediated suppression of PrP beginning at any time up to early signs of neuropathology confers benefit similar to constitutive heterozygous PrP knockout. Remarkably, even after emergence of frank symptoms including weight loss, a single treatment prolongs survival by months in a subset of animals. These results support ASO-mediated PrP lowering, and PrP-lowering therapeutics in general, as a promising path forward against prion disease.
Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are a group of internal derangements encompassing dysfunction, displacement, degeneration of the temporomandibular joints and surroundings muscles of mastication, ...often accompanied by pain. Relationships between TMD and various chemical biomarkers have been examined throughout the years. This paper aims to gather evidence from the literature regarding other biomarkers and presenting them as one systematic review to investigate the potential links between TMD and different biochemical activity. To identify relevant papers, a comprehensive literature search was carried out in MEDLINE/PubMED, EMBASE, Web of Science and a manual search was performed in the International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery, and Journal of Cranio-Maxillo-Facial Surgery. The literature review produced extensive results relating to the biochemical and immunohistochemical markers of TMD. Many enzymes, inflammatory markers, proteoglycans, and hormones were identified and organized in tables, along with a brief description, study design, and conclusion of each study. Through this review, recurring evidence provides confidence in suggesting involvement of certain biomarkers that may be involved in this complex pathogenesis, in addition to pointing to differences in gender prevalence of TMD. However, more organized research on large human samples needs to be conducted to delve deeper into the understanding of how this disease develops and progresses.
Increasing nutrient utilization efficiency is an important component of enhancing the sustainability of beef cattle production. The objective of this experiment was to determine the association of ...glucose metabolism and insulin resistance with dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), gain:feed ratio (G:F), and residual feed intake (RFI). Steers (n = 54; initial body weight = 518 ± 27.0 kg) were subjected to an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) where glucose was dosed through a jugular catheter and serial blood samples were collected. Three days after the last group's IVGTT, steers began a 63-d DMI and ADG test. Body weight was measured on days 0, 1, 21, 42, 62, and 63, and DMI was measured using an Insentec Roughage Intake Control system (Hokofarm Group, Emmeloord, the Netherlands). To examine relationships between DMI, ADG, G:F, and RFI with IVGTT measurements, Pearson correlations were calculated using Proc Corr of SAS 9.4 (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC). Additionally, cattle were classified based on DMI, ADG, RFI, and G:F, where the medium classification was set as mean ± 0.5 SD, the low classification was < 0.5 SD from the mean, and the high classification was > 0.5 SD from the mean. No associations between DMI and IVGTT parameters were observed, and no differences were detected when classifying cattle as having low, medium, or high DMI. Peak insulin concentration in response to the IVGTT tended to be correlated with ADG (r = 0.28; P = 0.07), indicating cattle with greater ADG tend to have a greater insulin release in response to glucose. Glucose nadir concentrations tended to be positively correlated with ADG (r = 0.26; P = 0.10). Additionally, the glucose nadir was greater in high-ADG steers (P = 0.003). The association of greater glucose nadir with high-ADG could indicate that high-ADG steers do not clear glucose as efficiently as low-ADG steers, potentially indicating increased insulin resistance. Further, RFI was not correlated with IVGTT measurements, but low RFI steers had a greater peak glucose concentration (P = 0.040) and tended to have a greater glucose area under the curve (P = 0.09). G:F was correlated with glucose area under the curve (r = 0.33; P = 0.050), glucose nadir (r = 0.35; P = 0.011), and insulin time to peak (r = 0.39; P = 0.010). These results indicate that glucose metabolism and insulin signaling are associated with growth and efficiency, but the molecular mechanisms that drive these effects need to be elucidated.
Scandate cathodes that were fabricated using the liquid-solid process and that exhibited excellent emission performance were characterized using complementary state-of-the-art electron microscopy ...techniques. Sub-micron BaAl₂O₄ particles were observed on the surfaces and edges of tungsten particles, as seen in cross-section samples extracted from the scandate cathode surface regions. Although several BaAl₂O₄ particles were observed to surround smaller Sc₂O₃ nanoparticles, no chemical mixing of the two oxides was detected, and in fact the distinct oxide phases were separately verified by chemical analysis and also by 3D elemental tomography. Nanobeam electron diffraction confirmed that the crystal structure throughout W grains is body-centered cubic, indicating that they are metallic W and did not experience noticeable changes, even near the grain surfaces, as a result of the numerous complex chemical reactions that occur during cathode impregnation and activation. 3D reconstruction further revealed that internal Sc/Sc₂O₃ particles tend to exhibit a degree of correlated arrangement within a given W particle, rather than being distributed uniformly throughout. Moreover, the formation of Sc/Sc₂O₃ particles within W grains may arise from W surface roughening that occurs during the liquid-solid synthesis process.
•This paper proposes that travel time changes may be more salient in long-term decision making.•Short-term travel choices are compared to long-term travel choices.•Significant differences in values ...of time exist in short versus long term.•Results raise questions about the reliability of valuations using only short term choices.•More research is required to determine the best way to frame and present travel time experiments.
The valuation of travel time is of crucial importance in many transport decisions. Most studies make use of data framed around short-term decisions such as route choice. However, people may have a greater ability to trade time and money in a longer term setting, such as when considering changes in residential or employment locations. We study the value of travel time in both the short and long-term, finding differences in the valuations. Given the importance of these valuations for policy making, our results call for more research into how time-cost trade-offs should be represented with stated preference.
Abstract
Provider payment mechanisms (PPMs) are important to the universal health coverage (UHC) agenda as they can influence healthcare provider behaviour and create incentives for health service ...delivery, quality and efficiency. Therefore, when designing PPMs, it is important to consider providers’ preferences for PPM characteristics. We set out to uncover senior health facility managers’ preferences for the attributes of a capitation payment mechanism in Kenya. We use a discrete choice experiment and focus on four capitation attributes, namely, payment schedule, timeliness of payments, capitation rate per individual per year and services to be paid by the capitation rate. Using a Bayesian efficient experimental design, choice data were collected from 233 senior health facility managers across 98 health facilities in seven Kenyan counties. Panel mixed multinomial logit and latent class models were used in the analysis. We found that capitation arrangements with frequent payment schedules, timelier disbursements, higher payment rates per individual per year and those that paid for a limited set of health services were preferred. The capitation rate per individual per year was the most important attribute. Respondents were willing to accept an increase in the capitation rate to compensate for bundling a broader set of health services under the capitation payment. In addition, we found preference heterogeneity across respondents and latent classes. In conclusion, these attributes can be used as potential targets for interventions aimed at configuring capitation to achieve UHC.
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