Extraction and parsing of herbarium specimen data: Exploring the use of the Dublin core application profile framework

Herbaria around the world house millions of plant specimens; botanists and other researchers value these resources as ingredients in biodiversity research. Even when the specimen sheets are digitized and made available online, the critical information about the specimen stored on the sheet are not in a usable (i.e., machine-processible) form. This paper describes a current research and development project that is designing and testing high-throughput workflows that combine machine- and human-processes to extract and parse the specimen label data. The primary focus of the paper is the metadata needs for the workflow and the creation of the structured metadata records describing the plant specimen. In the project, we are exploring the use of the new Dublin Core Metadata Initiative framework for application profiles. First articulated as the Singapore Framework for Dublin Core Application Profiles in 2007, the use of this framework is in its infancy. The promises of this framework for maximum interoperability and for documenting the use of metadata for maximum reusability, and for supporting metadata applications that are in conformance with Web architectural principles provide the incentive to explore and add implementation experience regarding this new framework

Integrating China’s Agricultural Economy into the Global Market: Measuring Distortions in China’s Agricultural Sector

International Relations/Trade,

Distortions to Agricultural Incentives in China

Distorted incentives, agricultural and trade policy reforms, national agricultural development, Agricultural and Food Policy, International Relations/Trade, F13, F14, Q17, Q18,

Publication rates on the topic of racial and ethnic diversity in dermatology versus other specialties

Background: The population of the U.S. is becoming more diverse every year. The field of dermatology is not following the same trend. Objective: To assess the promotion of diversity in the field of dermatology by analyzing publications focused on diversity, compared to other specialties. Methods: The PubMed database was systematically searched to identify publications focused on diversity from January 2008 to July 2019. The search criteria were as follows: dermatology/radiology/ophthalmology/ anesthesiology/orthopedic surgery/family medicine/ internal medicine/general surgery AND diversity/ diverse/racial/race/ethnic/ethnicity/cultural/culture/competency/competence. Comparisons were made using single-factor ANOVA and two-group t-tests. A qualitative analysis was performed for publications in the field of dermatology. Results: From January 2016 to July 2019, there were 25 publications focused on diversity in dermatology (Mean=6.25, SD=2.06), compared to 6 in radiology (Mean=1.50, SD=1.29, P=0.01), two in ophthalmology (Mean=0.50, SD=0.58, P=0.01), two in anesthesiology (Mean=0.50, SD=1.00, P=0.01), 12 in orthopedic surgery (Mean=3.00, SD=1.41, P=0.04), 23 in family medicine (Mean=5.75, SD=2.22, P=0.75), 9 in internal medicine (Mean=2.25, SD=1.71, P=0.02), and 7 in general surgery (Mean=1.75, SD=0.50, P=0.02). Conclusions: Although the field of dermatology has suffered from a lack of racial/ethnic diversity, efforts to promote diversity via increased publications in the last four years have been stronger in dermatology compared to many other fields

Permanent Deformation of Earth Dams Under Earthquakes

Assessment of dam embankment deformation by various methods such as those proposed by Newmark, Ambraseys and Seed was reviewed herewith. A simple method based on dynamic response spectrum analyses by step-by-step integration technique is proposed for independent permanent deformation evaluation. The proposed method assumes that failure occurs on a well-defined slip surface and that the material behaves elastically at stress level below failure but develops a perfectly plastic behavior above the yield acceleration. The results of the proposed method were compared with those obtained from other method for actual examples. Favorable agreement on the analytical results was achieved

Experience of Varicocele Management During Ipsilateral Inguinal Herniorrhaphy: A Prospective Study

AbstractBackgroundThis was a prospective study to evaluate the experience of varicocele management during ipsilateral herniorrhaphy in an inpatient urology setting.MethodsA total of 65 patients with varicocele and inguinal hernia scheduled for herniorrhaphy were included for evaluation. They were categorized into 3 groups. Group 1 (n = 20) had painful varicocele and underwent simultaneous herniorrhaphy and varicocelectomy; group 2 (n = 20) had asymptomatic varicocele and received simultaneous herniorrhaphy and varicocelectomy; and group 3 (n = 25) had asymptomatic varicocele and underwent herniorrhaphy only. We used the Bassini method for herniorrhaphy and inguinal microsurgical varicocelectomy for varicocele. Varicocele was diagnosed by physical examination and further confirmed by Doppler ultrasonography.ResultsThe mean follow-up was 30.2 months (range, 6–56 months). Of the 20 subjects in group 1, complete resolution of scrotal pain was noticed in 14 (70%), and 2 (10%) had hydrocele after varicocelectomy. Of the 20 patients in group 2, 1 (5%) had hydrocele after surgery, and no hydrocele was noticed in group 3 after surgery. Mean operation time was significantly longer in group 1 (70.5 ± 15.2 minutes) and group 2 (69.8 ± 14.5 minutes) than in group 3 (38.2 ± 17.2 minutes). One case in group 1 had recurrent varicocele 6 months after surgery. Of the 25 subjects in group 3, 2 (8%) developed painful varicocele during the follow-up period, and both of them had indirect inguinal hernia and lower body mass index.ConclusionSimultaneous herniorrhaphy and varicocelectomy are suggested for patients who have inguinal hernia and ipsilateral varicocele, but the average operation time is significantly longer and there is a higher rate of hydrocele than with herniorrhaphy only

A Microfluidic Platform for Precision Small-volume Sample Processing and Its Use to Size Separate Biological Particles with an Acoustic Microdevice.

A major advantage of microfluidic devices is the ability to manipulate small sample volumes, thus reducing reagent waste and preserving precious sample. However, to achieve robust sample manipulation it is necessary to address device integration with the macroscale environment. To realize repeatable, sensitive particle separation with microfluidic devices, this protocol presents a complete automated and integrated microfluidic platform that enables precise processing of 0.15-1.5 ml samples using microfluidic devices. Important aspects of this system include modular device layout and robust fixtures resulting in reliable and flexible world to chip connections, and fully-automated fluid handling which accomplishes closed-loop sample collection, system cleaning and priming steps to ensure repeatable operation. Different microfluidic devices can be used interchangeably with this architecture. Here we incorporate an acoustofluidic device, detail its characterization, performance optimization, and demonstrate its use for size-separation of biological samples. By using real-time feedback during separation experiments, sample collection is optimized to conserve and concentrate sample. Although requiring the integration of multiple pieces of equipment, advantages of this architecture include the ability to process unknown samples with no additional system optimization, ease of device replacement, and precise, robust sample processing

Transcriptional repression by ApiAP2 factors is central to chronic toxoplasmosis

Tachyzoite to bradyzoite development in Toxoplasma is marked by major changes in gene expression resulting in a parasite that expresses a new repertoire of surface antigens hidden inside a modified parasitophorous vacuole called the tissue cyst. The factors that control this important life cycle transition are not well understood. Here we describe an important transcriptional repressor mechanism controlling bradyzoite differentiation that operates in the tachyzoite stage. The ApiAP2 factor, AP2IV-4, is a nuclear factor dynamically expressed in late S phase through mitosis/cytokinesis of the tachyzoite cell cycle. Remarkably, deletion of the AP2IV-4 locus resulted in the expression of a subset of bradyzoite-specific proteins in replicating tachyzoites that included tissue cyst wall components BPK1, MCP4, CST1 and the surface antigen SRS9. In the murine animal model, the mis-timing of bradyzoite antigens in tachyzoites lacking AP2IV-4 caused a potent inflammatory monocyte immune response that effectively eliminated this parasite and prevented tissue cyst formation in mouse brain tissue. Altogether, these results indicate that suppression of bradyzoite antigens by AP2IV-4 during acute infection is required for Toxoplasma to successfully establish a chronic infection in the immune-competent host