Design and Implementation of Web APIs for Supporting Data Product Visualization and Dissemination In Science Gateways

In the pursuit to develop an online data portal for visualizing and downloading climatological data from around Hawaiʻi, a need to compile and generate large amounts of data was identified. While some tools are available for handling and distributing this data, they were not sufficient for several core features required of the project, including generating and emailing users zipped packages of requested data. To fulfill the requirements of this project and provide programmatic access to the data, an API was developed. This paper will introduce the endpoints and functions made available through this API and describe its implementation and potential for adoption by other projects

A crowdsourcing, smart city model for a developing country

With the growing number of people living in cities, the challenges faced by government to maintain service delivery to an acceptable standard are immense. ‘Smart cities’ is a new and innovative approach that allows the city to use current infrastructure and resources more efficiently. Not many smart city projects have been implemented in developing countries, where challenges that will affect the success of the project are very different from developed countries. These challenges include low literacy rates, high unemployment rates, high poverty levels and the limited availability of technology, all of which will impact on the implementation and success of a smart city. The purpose of the study was to investigate what variables need to be present in order to implement a smart city project making use of crowdsourcing in a developing country. The study found that there are three variables that will must be present to implement a smart city project in a developing country. These include the city management, the trust of the citizens in the smart city initiative, and the crowdsourcing system. The recommendation of this paper then is then that these variables must be considered by city management in order to successfully implement smart city projects in South Africa

Is Three a Crowd? Neutrality, Partiality and Partisanship in the Context of Tripartite Arbitrations

This paper will discuss issues surrounding party-appointed arbitrators on tripartite panels and will attempt to offer practical observations about what parties can expect under the tripartite system

3D Object Positioning Using Differentiable Multimodal Learning

This article describes a multi-modal method using simulated Lidar data via ray tracing and image pixel loss with differentiable rendering to optimize an object's position with respect to an observer or some referential objects in a computer graphics scene. Object position optimization is completed using gradient descent with the loss function being influenced by both modalities. Typical object placement optimization is done using image pixel loss with differentiable rendering only, this work shows the use of a second modality (Lidar) leads to faster convergence. This method of fusing sensor input presents a potential usefulness for autonomous vehicles, as these methods can be used to establish the locations of multiple actors in a scene. This article also presents a method for the simulation of multiple types of data to be used in the training of autonomous vehicles.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figure

West Nile Virus and Wildlife Health

The West Nile Virus and Wildlife Health Workshop, hosted by the Smithsonian Institution, National Audubon Society, U.S. Geological Survey, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, was held February 5–7, 2003, at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, Maryland. The event was attended by more than 100 scientists, who heard 29 speakers and participated in strategy discussions during the 2-day meeting. The main focus of the conference was the present and future impact of West Nile virus on wildlife populations. Talks and discussions emphasized how basic research, public health, and land management can contribute to our understanding of the disease’s impact and spread. A primary objective of this meeting was to develop future research priorities from both basic and applied perspectives. The conference centered around four main themes: 1) host, vector, and pathogen interactions (disease ecology); 2) vertebrate behavior and ecology; 3) vector behavior and ecology; and 4) modeling and spatial statistics. We describe some of the findings from the meeting. For an in-depth summary of this meeting, please visit the conference website for meeting abstracts and a downloadable conference white paper (available from: URL: www.serc.si.edu/migratorybirds/ migratorybirds_index.htm)

Pediatric intestinal obstruction in Malawi: characteristics and outcomes

Abstract Background Intestinal obstruction (IO) is a common pediatric surgical emergency in sub-Saharan Africa with high morbidity and mortality, but little is known about its etiopathogenesis in Malawi. Methods Retrospective analysis of patients seen from February 2012 to June 2014 at Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi (n = 3,407). Pediatric patients with IO were analyzed (n = 130). Results Overall, 57% of patients were male with a mean age of 3.5 ± 4.1 years. A total of 52% of patients underwent operative intervention. The overall mortality rate was 3%. Leading causes of IO were Hirschprung's 29%, anorectal malformation 18%, and intussusception 4%. Neonates and patients with congenital causes of IO underwent surgery less frequently than infants and/or children and patients with acquired causes, respectively. These groups also demonstrated increased number of days from admission to surgery. Conclusions Increasing pediatric-specific surgical education and/or training and expanding access to resources may improve mortality after IO in poor medical communities within sub-Saharan Africa

Echocardiography allows for analysis of pulmonary arterial flow in mice with congenital diaphragmatic hernia

BACKGROUND: Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a structural birth defect associated with pulmonary hypoplasia and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We hypothesize that echocardiography provides a method to assess real-time right ventricle (RV) function, remodeling, and pulmonary artery (PA) flow. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Slit3 wild-type (WT) (n = 6) and knockout (KO) (n = 5) mice were analyzed at 2-3 months of age. Mice were anesthetized using isoflurane. Echocardiography was performed to analyze left and right ventricular wall thickness, internal diameter (ID), and function. Color Doppler was used to analyze flow in the PA and across the tricuspid valve. RESULTS: There was significant RV dilation in the KO mice versus WT, with an average RVID of 1.99 mm versus 1.26 mm, respectively (P = 0.007). Flow in the PA of KO mice was altered compared to WT, with elevated PA velocity time indices, 30.68 mm versus 22.13 mm (P = 0.012), elevated PA peak velocities, 952.61 mm/s versus 628.73 mm/s (P = 0.003), and decreased pulmonary acceleration times, 8.94 ms versus 16.18 ms (P = 0.002), respectively. Pulmonary vascular resistance, calculated by measuring tricuspid regurgitation peak velocity and right ventricular outflow tract velocity time index, was increased in KO versus WT mice, 17.61 mm2/s versus 8.91 mm2/s (P = 0.003), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Slit3 KO mice with CDH show evidence of PAH and resultant RV dilation. Using direct cardiac puncture, elevated RV systolic pressures have been demonstrated in KO mice as evidence of PAH. Echocardiography allows direct analysis of the PA and real-time RV function without sacrifice of the mouse. This mode of evaluation allows longitudinal study in mice with PAH and CDH

Delivery of operative pediatric surgical care by physicians and non-physician clinicians in Malawi

Specialized pediatric surgeons are unavailable in much of sub-Saharan Africa. Delegating some surgical tasks to non-physician clinical officers can mitigate the dependence of a health system on highly skilled clinicians for specific services

Variations in injury characteristics among paediatric patients following trauma: A retrospective descriptive analysis comparing pre-hospital and in-hospital deaths at Kamuzu Central Hospital, Lilongwe, Malawi

Background: Trauma is a major cause of paediatric mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. In absence of pre-hospital care, the injury mechanism and cause of death is difficult to characterise. Injury characteristics of pre-hospital deaths (PHD) versus in-hospital deaths (IHD) were compared.Methods: Using our trauma surveillance database, a retrospective, descriptive analysis of children (<18 years) presenting to Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi from 2008 to 2013 was performed. Patient and injury characteristics of pre-hospital and in-hospital deaths were compared with univariate and bivariate analysis.Results: Of 30,462 paediatric trauma patients presenting between 2008 and 2013, 170 and 173 were PHD and IHD, respectively. In PHD and IHD patients mean age was 7.3±4.9 v 5.2±4.3 (p<0.001), respectively. IHD patients were more likely transported via ambulance than those PHD, 51.2% v 8.3% (p<0.001). The primary mechanisms of injury for PHD were road traffic injuries (RTI) (45.8%) and drowning (22.0%), with head injury (46.7%) being the predominant cause of death. Burns were the leading mechanism of injury (61.8%) and cause of death (61.9%) in IHD, with a mean total body surface area involvement of 24.7±16.0%.Conclusions: RTI remains Malawi’s major driver of paediatric mortality. A majority of these deaths attributed to head injury occur prior to hospitalisation; therefore the mortality burden is underestimated if accounting for IHD alone. Death in burn patients is likely due to under-resuscitation or sepsis. Improving pre-hospital care and head injury and burn management can improve injury related paediatric mortality

Injury Patterns, Imaging Usage, and Disparities Associated With Car Restraint Use in Children

Background Motor vehicle collision (MVC) is a leading cause of accidental death in children. Despite effective forms of child safety restraint (eg, car seat and booster seat), studies demonstrate poor compliance with guidelines. The goal of this study was to delineate injury patterns, imaging usage, and potential demographic disparities associated with child restraint use following MVC. Methods A retrospective review of the North Carolina Trauma Registry was performed to determine demographic factors and outcomes associated with improper restraint of children (0-8 years) involved in MVC from 2013 to 2018. Bivariate analysis was performed by the appropriateness of restraint. Multivariable Poisson regression identified demographic factors for the relative risk of inappropriate restraint. Results Inappropriately restrained patients were older (5.1 years v. 3.6 yrs, P < .001) and weighed more (44.1 lbs v. 35.3 lbs, P < .001). A higher proportion of African American (56.9% v. 39.3%, P < .001) and Medicaid (52.2% v. 39.0%, P < .001) patients were inappropriately restrained. Multivariable Poisson regression showed that African American patients (RR 1.43), Asian patients (RR 1.51), and Medicaid payor status (RR 1.25) were associated with a higher risk of inappropriate restraint. Inappropriately restrained patients had a longer length of stay, but injury severity score and mortality were no different. Discussion African American children, Asian children, and Medicaid insurance payor status patients had an increased risk of inappropriate restraint use in MVC. This study describes unequal restraint patterns in children, which suggests opportunity for targeted patient education and necessitates research to further delineate the underlying etiology of these differences