Tracking the State and Behavior of People in Response to COVID-1 19 Through the Fusion of Multiple Longitudinal Data Streams

The changing nature of the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of comprehensively considering its impacts and considering changes over time. Most COVID-19 related research addresses narrowly focused research questions and is therefore limited in addressing the complexities created by the interrelated impacts of the pandemic. Such research generally makes use of only one of either 1) actively collected data such as surveys, or 2) passively collected data. While a few studies make use of both actively and passively collected data, only one other study collects it longitudinally. Here we describe a rich panel dataset of active and passive data from U.S. residents collected between August 2020 and July 2021. Active data includes a repeated survey measuring travel behavior, compliance with COVID-19 mandates, physical health, economic well-being, vaccination status, and other factors. Passively collected data consists of all locations visited by study participants, taken from smartphone GPS data. We also closely tracked COVID-19 policies across counties of residence throughout the study period. Such a dataset allows important research questions to be answered; for example, to determine the factors underlying the heterogeneous behavioral responses to COVID-19 restrictions imposed by local governments. Better information about such responses is critical to our ability to understand the societal and economic impacts of this and future pandemics. The development of this data infrastructure can also help researchers explore new frontiers in behavioral science. The article explains how this approach fills gaps in COVID-19 related data collection; describes the study design and data collection procedures; presents key demographic characteristics of study participants; and shows how fusing different data streams helps uncover behavioral insights

Abnormal repetitive behaviors in zebrafish and their relevance to human brain disorders

Abnormal repetitive behaviors (ARBs) are a prominent symptom of numerous human brain disorders and are commonly seen in rodent models as well. While rodent studies of ARBs continue to dominate the field, mounting evidence suggests that zebrafish (Danio rerio) also display ARB-like phenotypes and may therefore be a novel model organism for ARB research. In addition to clear practical research advantages as a model species, zebrafish share high genetic and physiological homology to humans and rodents, including multiple ARB-related genes and robust behaviors relevant to ARB. Here, we discuss a wide spectrum of stereotypic repetitive behaviors in zebrafish, data on their genetic and pharmacological modulation, and the overall translational relevance of fish ARBs to modeling human brain disorders. Overall, the zebrafish is rapidly emerging as a new promising model to study ARBs and their underlying mechanisms. © 2019 Elsevier B.V

The design and testing of a novel mechanomyogram-driven switch controlled by small eyebrow movements

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Individuals with severe physical disabilities and minimal motor behaviour may be unable to use conventional mechanical switches for access. These persons may benefit from access technologies that harness the volitional activity of muscles. In this study, we describe the design and demonstrate the performance of a binary switch controlled by mechanomyogram (MMG) signals recorded from the frontalis muscle during eyebrow movements.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Muscle contractions, detected in real-time with a continuous wavelet transform algorithm, were used to control a binary switch for computer access. The automatic selection of scale-specific thresholds reduced the effect of artefact, such as eye blinks and head movement, on the performance of the switch. Switch performance was estimated by cued response-tests performed by eleven participants (one with severe physical disabilities).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The average sensitivity and specificity of the switch was 99.7 ± 0.4% and 99.9 ± 0.1%, respectively. The algorithm performance was robust against typical participant movement.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results suggest that the frontalis muscle is a suitable site for controlling the MMG-driven switch. The high accuracies combined with the minimal requisite effort and training show that MMG is a promising binary control signal. Further investigation of the potential benefits of MMG-control for the target population is warranted.</p

Metropolitan Contractor Improvement Partnership 2013-2018 Strategic Plan

25 pagesThis report, the Metropolitan Contractor Improvement Partnership 2013-2018 Strategic Plan, identifies the key issues facing the organization, and suggests goals, strategies, and actions to address those issues.Economic Development Administration University Cente

Crop Updates - 2003 Lupins

This session covers twenty one papers from different authors LUPIN ISSUES AND R & D DIRECTIONS Mark Sweetingham, Department of Agriculture ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS VARIETIES AND BREEDING New lupin line for release – WALAN2141, Bevan J, Buirchell, Mark Sweetingham, Geoff Thomas, Amelia McLarty, Harmohinder Dhammu and CVT and Lupin Breeding teams, Department of Agriculture Lupin variety trial, Martin Harries and Wayne Parker, Department of Agriculture Herbicide tolerance of new lupins, Harmohinder S. Dhammu, Terry Piper and David Nicholson, Department of Agriculture YELLOW AND ALBUS LUPINS Selection for high lupin yield under terminal drought, Jairo A. Palta1&2, Neil C. Turner1&2 Bob French2&3 and Bevan Buirchell2&3 , 1CSIRO Plant Industry, Floreat, WA, 2CLIMA, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 3Department of Agriculture Outcrossing and isolation distance in yellow lupins, Kedar Adhikari, Bevan Buirchell and Katia Stefanova, Department of Agriculture Development of aphid tolerant yellow lupins in Western Australia, Kedar Adhikari, Bevan Buirchell, Mark Sweetingham and Françoise Berlandier, Department of Agriculture ESTABLISHMENT Development of anthracnose resistant albus lupins for Western Australia, Kedar Adhikari, Bevan Buirchell, Mark Sweetingham and Geoff Thomas, Department of Agriculture Lupin sowing methods for improved yields, Glen Riethmuller, Department of Agriculture Moisture delving = more reliable lupin establishment, Paul Blackwell and Wayne Parker, Department of Agriculture Effect of time of sewing, plant density and row orientation on lupins at various row spacings, Geoff Fosbery, Farm Focus Consultants, Bill Crabtree, Crabtree Consulting and Tracy Gilham, WANTFA Influence of row spacing on water stress and water use of lupins, Bob French and Laurie Wahlsten, Department of Agriculture AGRONOMY Effect on lupin protein and yield from variety, planting time and seed rate, Pierre Fievez, Pierre Fievez and Associates Lupin row cropping: herbicides to band, shield design and economics, Mike Collins, WANTFA and John Holmes, 4 Farmers Harvest options for narrow leaf lupins, Martin Harries and Dirranie Kirby, Department of Agriculture NUTRITION Additional nutrients on lupin yield and protein, Pierre Fievez, Pierre Fievez and Associates Demonstrating the effect of phosphorous placement on yields of narrow leaf lupin and yellow lupin on high phosphorus retention soils, Martin Harries and Wayne Parker, Department of Agriculture PESTS AND DISEASES How far are anthracnose spores spread by rain splash? Geoff Thomas, Mark Sweetingham and Ken Adcock, Department of Agriculture Height of cereal stubble affects spread of lupin anthracnose, Geoff Thomas, Bill MacLeod and Ken Adcock, Department of Agriculture Controlling non-necrotic strains of bean yellow mosaic virus in lupins by cultural methods, Roger Jones and Rohan Prince, Department of Agriculture, and Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture MARKET DEVELOPMENT Australian sweet lupin – is it the next human health food? Stuart Johnson, Deakin University; Ramon Hall, ARC SPIRT PhD Scholar; Madeleine Ball, University of Tasmania; Sofia Sipsas and David Petterson; Department of Agriculture CONTACT DETAILS FOR PRINCIPAL AUTHOR