An Integrated Latent Construct Modeling Framework for Predicting Physical Activity Engagement and Health Outcomes

At the time of publication M.M Hoklas, S.K. Dubey, and C.R. Bhat were at the University of Texas at Austin. V.M Garikapati at Arizona State University, R.M. Pendyala at Georgia Institute of Technology, and D. Hyun You at Arizona State University.The health and well-being of individuals is related to their activity-travel patterns. Individuals who undertake physically active episodes such as walking and bicycling are likely to have improved health outcomes compared to individuals with sedentary auto-centric lifestyles. Activity-based travel demand models are able to predict activity-travel patterns of individuals at a high degree of fidelity, thus providing rich information for transportation and public health professionals to infer health outcomes that may be experienced by individuals in various geographic and demographic market segments. However, models of activity-travel demand do not account for the attitudinal factors and lifestyle preferences that affect activity-travel and mode use patterns. Such attitude and preference variables are virtually never collected explicitly in travel surveys, rendering it difficult to include them in model specifications. This paper applies Bhat’s (2014) Generalized Heterogeneous Data Model (GHDM) approach, whereby latent constructs representing the degree to which individuals are health conscious and inclined to pursue physical activities may be modeled as a function of observed socio-economic and demographic variables and then included as explanatory factors in models of activity-travel outcomes and walk and bicycle use. The model system is estimated on the 2005-2006 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) sample, demonstrating the efficacy of the approach and the importance of including such latent constructs in model specifications that purport to forecast activity and time use patterns.Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineerin

A New Estimation Approach to Integrate Latent Psychological Constructs in Choice Modeling

In the current paper, we propose a new multinomial probit-based model formulation for integrated choice and latent variable (ICLV) models, which, as we show in the paper, has several important advantages relative to the traditional logit kernel-based ICLV formulation. Combining this MNP-based ICLV model formulation with Bhat’s maximum approximate composite marginal likelihood (MACML) inference approach resolves the specification and estimation challenges that are typically encountered with the traditional ICLV formulation estimated using simulation approaches. Our proposed approach can provide very substantial computational time advantages, because the dimensionality of integration in the log-likelihood function is independent of the number of latent variables. Further, our proposed approach easily accommodates ordinal indicators for the latent variables, as well as combinations of ordinal and continuous response indicators. The approach can be extended in a relatively straightforward fashion to also include nominal indicator variables. A simulation exercise in the virtual context of travel mode choice shows that the MACML inference approach is very effective at recovering parameters. The time for convergence is of the order of 30 minutes to 80 minutes for sample sizes ranging from 500 observations to 2000 observations, in contrast to much longer times for convergence experienced in typical ICLV model estimations.Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineerin

A New Spatial Multiple Discrete-Continuous Modeling Approach to Land Use Change Analysis

This paper formulates a multiple discrete-continuous probit (MDCP) land-use model within a spatially explicit economic structural framework for land-use change decisions. The spatial MDCP model is capable of predicting both the type and intensity of urban development patterns over large geographic areas, while also explicitly acknowledging geographic proximity-based spatial dependencies in these patterns. At a methodological level, the paper focuses on specifying and estimating a spatial MDCP model that allows the dependent variable to exist in multiple discrete states with an intensity associated with each discrete state. The formulation also accommodates spatial dependencies, as well as spatial heterogeneity and heteroscedasticity, in the dependent variable, and should be applicable in a wide variety of fields where social and spatial dependencies between decision agents (or observation units) lead to spillover effects in multiple discrete-continuous choices (or states). A simulation exercise is undertaken to evaluate the ability of the proposed maximum approximate composite marginal likelihood (MACML) approach to recover parameters from a cross-sectional spatial MDCP model. The results show that the MACML approach does well in recovering parameters. An empirical demonstration of the approach is undertaken using the city of Austin parcel level land use data.Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineerin

A Multivariate Hurdle Count Data Model with an Endogenous Multiple Discrete- Continuous Selection System

At the time of publication Chandra R. Bhat, Subodh K. Dubey, and Raghuprasad Sidharthan were at the University of Texas at Austin, and Prerna C. Bhat was at Harvard University.This paper proposes a new econometric formulation and an associated estimation method for multivariate count data that are themselves observed conditional on a participation selection system that takes a multiple discrete-continuous model structure. This leads to a joint model system of a multivariate count and a multiple discrete-continuous selection system in a hurdletype model. The model is applied to analyze the participation and time investment of households in out-of-home activities by activity purpose, along with the frequency of participation in each selected activity. The results suggests that the number of episodes of activities as well as the time investment in those activities may be more of a lifestyle- and lifecycle-driven choice than one related to the availability of opportunities for activity participation.Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineerin

Introducing Non-Normality of Latent Psychological Constructs in Choice Modeling with an Application to Bicyclist Route Choice

At the time of publication C.R. Bhat and S.K. Dubey were at the University of Texas at Austin, and K. Nagel at the Institute for Land and Sea Transport.In the current paper, we propose the use of a multivariate skew-normal (MSN) distribution function for the latent psychological constructs within the context of an integrated choice and latent variable (ICLV) model system. The multivariate skew-normal (MSN) distribution that we use is tractable, parsimonious in parameters that regulate the distribution and its skewness, and includes the normal distribution as a special interior point case (this allows for testing with the traditional ICLV model). Our procedure to accommodate non-normality in the psychological constructs exploits the latent factor structure of the ICLV model, and is a flexible, yet very efficient approach (through dimension-reduction) to accommodate a multivariate non-normal structure across all indicator and outcome variables in a multivari8ate system through the specification of a much lower-dimensional multivariate skew-normal distribution for the structural errors. Taste variations (i.e., heterogeneity in sensitivity to response variables) can also be introduced efficiently and in a non-normal fashion through interactions of explanatory variables with the latent variables. The resulting skew normal ICLV (SN-ICLV) model we develop is suitable for estimation using Bhat’s (2011) maximum approximate composite marginal likelihood (MACML) inference approach. The proposed SN-ICLV model is applied to model bicyclists’ route choice behavior using a web-based survey of Texas bicyclists. The results reveal evidence for non-normality in the latent constructs. From a substantive point of view, the results suggest that the most unattractive features of a bicycle route are long travel times (for commuters), heavy motorized traffic volume, absence of a continuous bicycle facility, and high parking occupancy rates and long lengths of parking zones along the route.Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineerin

Effect of Different Nutrient Sources on Soil Properties and Yield of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) under Organic Farming

A field experiment was conducted during kharif season of 2021-22 at organic farm, ASPEE College of Horticulture and Forestry, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat, to study the effect of different organic nutrient sources on rice (Oryza sativa L.). The experiment was laid out in Factorial Randomized Block Design with 3 replications. The Factor-A comprised of soil application (S), i.e. S1, 100% RDN through NADEP compost, S2, 80% RDN through NADEP compost along with Azospirillium and PSB @ 2 l/ha each, S3, 60% RDN through NADEP compost along with Azospirillium and PSB @ 2 l/ha each and S4, Ghan-jivamrut @ 500 kg/ha + Jivamrut @ 500 l/ha, and Factor-B comprised of foliar application (F), i.e. F0, control, F1, Novel Organic liquid nutrient @ 1% and F2, Moringa leaf extract @ 3%, with 12 treatment combinations of soil and foliar application with organic rice variety ‘GNR-7’. The results indicated that, application of 80% RDN through NADEP compost along with Azospirillium and PSB @ 2 l/ha each recorded significantly higher organic carbon (80%), available K2O (520.1 kg/ha), bacterial count (159.3×10-5 cfu/g), Actinomycetes count (39.8×10-3 cfu/g) and straw yield (5442 kg/ha) than the S4, but it was statistically similar with S1. Application of 100% RDN through NADEP compost recorded significantly higher available N (269.7 kg/ha) and grain yield (3749 kg/ha) over the S4, but it was found at par with S2. In case of foliar application F2, Moringa leaf extract @ 3% produce numerically maximum organic carbon (0.79%), available K2O (518.3 kg/ha), bacterial count (156.9×10-5 cfu/g), Fungal count (12.3×10-3 cfu/g) and (Actinomycetes count (39.0×10-3 cfu/g), it also ensured significantly higher grain (3312 kg/ha) and straw yield (5265 kg/ha). Application of Novel Organic liquid nutrient 1% produce numerically maximum available P2O5 (61.0 kg/ha). On the basis of results, it can be concluded that the application of 80% RDN through NADEP compost along with Azospirillium and PSB @ 2 l/ha each before transplanting and foliar application with either 3% Moringa leaf extract or 1% Novel Organic liquid nutrient at 15, 30 and 45 days after transplanting may be improved physical and chemical properties of soil, available macronutrients, and organic carbon after harvest may be due to the effect of manures like NADEP compost combined with biofertilizer, which significantly improved physical and chemical properties of soil, available macronutrients, and organic carbon as well as yield compared to manure application alone

Effect of Different Nutrient Sources on Yield, Nutrient Content and Uptake of Black Gram (Vigna mungo L. Hepper) in Organic Agriculture

The field investigation was conducted to study the influence of different organic nutrient sources on black gram cv. GU 3 at Organic Farm, ASPEE College of Horticulture, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat during summer season of the year 2021. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with Factorial concept, consisting of two levels viz., soil application and foliar application each having three factors. Total of nine treatments i. e., S1 :100 % RDN through NADEP compost, S2 : Ghan-jivamrut @ 500 kg/ha and S3 : Ghan-jivamrut @ 500 kg/ha + Jivamrut @ 500 l/ha and that of foliar application were, F0 : Control, F1 : Novel organic liquid nutrient @ 1 % and F2 : Moringa leaf extract @ 3 %. The application of foliar spray was done thrice at 15, 30 and 45 days after sowing. were replicated thrice. The result revealed that the mean data of nutrient content in black gram seed and stover did not significantly change due to soil and foliar application of different organic nutrient sources. The total NPK uptake was recorded significantly the highest with S1 treatment, whereas total K uptake was found statistically similar with the treatment S3. The foliar application of treatment F2 recorded significantly the highest total NPK uptake by crop. So, it can be concluded that providing 100 percent RDN through NADEP compost in the soil and giving 3 percent Moringa leaf extract or 1 percent Novel organic liquid nutrients on days 15, 30 and 45 after planting on leaves gave significantly higher seed yield, stover yield and total N, P and K nutrient uptake compared to the Ghan-jivamrut @ 500 kg/ha and Ghan-jivamrut @ 500 kg/ha + Jivamrut @ 500 l/ha treatments on soil and control

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Not AvailableCrossbred cattle in some sectors of the world have a significant role in enhancing milk production thereby enhancing the per capita milk availability as a human food source. However, there are certain constraints associated with crossbred animals, such as disease susceptibility, increased reproductive problems, repeat breeding and poor seminal quality. The semen of crossbred bulls has a poor freezing capacity, increased cryo-damage, poor mass cell motility, greater percentages of dead/abnormal sperm and poor initial and post freeze cell motility. The rejection rate of crossbred bulls for cryostorage of semen has been reported to be as great as 50% as a result of unacceptable semen quality. The identification of superior bulls using molecular technologies is needed which necessitates identification of the genes having a role in sperm function. The present study was, therefore, conducted to gain information on identification and expression of genes having a role in sperm motility in crossbred bulls. The gene transcripts in bulls with sperm of superior and inferior quality were profiled in Vrindavani crossbred cattle by microarray analyses and the results were verified by real time-quantitative PCR. Microarray analyses revealed 19,454 genes which were differentially expressed. At a two-fold cut off, 305 genes were differentially (P < 0.01) expressed with 160 genes upregulated and 145 genes down regulated. Some of the upregulated candidate genes were further validated by RT-qPCR. These genes had a four to 16 fold upregulation in sperm with inferior motility as compared to sperm of crossbred bulls with superior motility.Not Availabl

Chromosomal scale assembly reveals localized structural variants in avian caecal coccidian parasite Eimeria tenella

Abstract Eimeria tenella is a major cause of caecal coccidiosis in commercial poultry chickens worldwide. Here, we report chromosomal scale assembly of Eimeria tenella strain APU2, a strain isolated from commercial broiler chickens in the U.S. We obtained 100× sequencing Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) and more than 800× Coverage of Illumina Next-Seq. We created the assembly using the hybrid approach implemented in MaSuRCA, achieving a contiguous 51.34 Mb chromosomal-scale scaffolding enabling identification of structural variations. The AUGUSTUS pipeline predicted 8060 genes, and BUSCO deemed the genomes 99% complete; 6278 (78%) genes were annotated with Pfam domains, and 1395 genes were assigned GO-terms. Comparing E. tenella strains (APU2, US isolate and Houghton, UK isolate) derived Houghton strain of E. tenella revealed 62,905 high stringency differences, of which 45,322 are single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (0.088%). The rate of transitions/transversions among the SNPs are 1.63 ts/tv. The strains possess conserved gene order but have profound sequence heterogeneity in a several chromosomal segments (chr 2, 11 and 15). Genic and intergenic variation in defined gene families was evaluated between the two strains to possibly identify sequences under selection. The average genic nucleotide diversity of 2.8 with average 2 kb gene length (0.145%) at genic level. We examined population structure using available E. tenella sequences in NCBI, revealing that the two E. tenella isolates from the U.S. (E. tenella APU2 and Wisconsin, “ERR296879”) share a common maternal inheritance with the E. tenella Houghton. Our chromosomal level assembly promotes insight into Eimeria biology and evolution, hastening drug discovery and vaccine development