A web-based application for assessing jurisdictional geospatial readiness

Jurisdictions along the Gulf Coast are threatened by hurricanes. The effects of hurricanes are devastating, and the response and recovery efforts are crucial for saving lives and property. Geospatial technologies have been implemented in the response and recovery phases. However, the potential of geospatial technologies were not utilized due to data and capability issues. This study was implemented to design and develop a tool that would help a jurisdiction determine if it can apply geospatial technologies effectively in the response and recovery phases. This tool enables a jurisdiction to complete an assessment regarding GIS data, hardware, software, and personnel capabilities. Assessment results are scored using a weighted linear model, and scores are shown to the user. A rules-based system was built to show the jurisdiction methods for improving its score to the optimum level. This tool enables jurisdictions to diagnose geospatial readiness and make modifications that enhance response and recovery

A web-based application for assessing jurisdictional geospatial readiness

Jurisdictions along the Gulf Coast are threatened by hurricanes. The effects of hurricanes are devastating, and the response and recovery efforts are crucial for saving lives and property. Geospatial technologies have been implemented in the response and recovery phases. However, the potential of geospatial technologies were not utilized due to data and capability issues. This study was implemented to design and develop a tool that would help a jurisdiction determine if it can apply geospatial technologies effectively in the response and recovery phases. This tool enables a jurisdiction to complete an assessment regarding GIS data, hardware, software, and personnel capabilities. Assessment results are scored using a weighted linear model, and scores are shown to the user. A rules-based system was built to show the jurisdiction methods for improving its score to the optimum level. This tool enables jurisdictions to diagnose geospatial readiness and make modifications that enhance response and recovery

Allosteric Control of O2 Reactivity in Rieske Oxygenases

Oxygen is Nature’s perfect reagent. On one hand, it is potentially a very strong oxidant. On the other hand, this potential is caged because the two highest energy valence electrons of the O2 molecule are unpaired. As a result, O2 is relatively unreactive with most other molecules, as almost all of these have paired electrons. Consequently, by modulating the properties of the O2 valence electrons, Nature can generate a reactive species under controlled conditions, catalyzing difficult reactions while still rigorously enforcing specificity. Special sets of enzymes termed oxygenases and oxidases have evolved to perform this task

Lipopolysaccharide and toll-like receptor 4 in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts

Surgical attenuation of a congenital portosystemic shunt (CPSS) results in increased portal vein perfusion, liver growth and clinical improvement. Portal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is implicated in liver regeneration via toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 mediated cytokine activation. The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with LPS in dogs with CPSS. Plasma LPS concentrations were measured in the peripheral and portal blood using a limulus amoebocyte lysate (LAL) assay. LPS concentration was significantly greater in the portal blood compared to peripheral blood in dogs with CPSS (P = 0.046) and control dogs (P = 0.002). LPS concentrations in the peripheral (P = 0.012) and portal (P = 0.005) blood of dogs with CPSS were significantly greater than those of control dogs. The relative mRNA expression of cytokines and TLRs was measured in liver biopsies from dogs with CPSS using quantitative PCR. TLR4 expression significantly increased following partial CPSS attenuation (P = 0.020). TLR4 expression was significantly greater in dogs that tolerated complete CPSS attenuation (P = 0.011) and those with good portal blood flow on pre-attenuation (P = 0.004) and post-attenuation (P = 0.015) portovenography. Serum interleukin (IL)-6 concentration was measured using a canine specific ELISA and significantly increased 24 h following CPSS attenuation (P < 0.001). Portal LPS was increased in dogs with CPSS, consistent with decreased hepatic clearance. TLR4 mRNA expression was significantly associated with portal blood flow and increased following surgery. These findings support the concept that portal LPS delivery is important in the hepatic response to surgical attenuation. Serum IL-6 significantly increased following surgery, consistent with LPS stimulation via TLR4, although this increase might be non-specific

A Theory-Based Meta-Analysis: Stress Management Interventions for College Students

The purpose of this study was to determine the combined average effect size for the efficacy of stress management interventions in randomized controlled trials with college students. A workplace stress intervention approach guided article selection. A single instrument measured stress. The analysis was a random effects model. The literature search in the spring of 2020 yielded eight qualifying studies, published from 2014-2020. The overall effect size was statistically significant (g = ‒0.41). Especially given pandemic-related stressors, this meta-analysis could serve as a baseline for future research comparisons. It mirrored results of other meta-analyses, discussed in the literature review. No prior meta-analysis to our knowledge has employed the same approach or framework

Spatially Explicit Decision Support for Watershed Management on Military Lands: Stream Integrity, Interactive Programming, and Best Management Practices

2012 S.C. Water Resources Conference - Exploring Opportunities for Collaborative Water Research, Policy and Managemen