An Improved Method for Estimating Aerosol Optical Thickness from Artificial Light Sources Observed by the Visible/Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite Day/Night Band

Using Visible/Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) Day/Night Band (DNB) data, a method, dubbed the “variance method”, is developed for retrieving nighttime aerosol optical thickness (AOT) values based on the dispersion of radiance values above an artificial light source. An improvement of a previous algorithm, this updated method derives a semi-quantitative indicator of nighttime AOT using artificial light sources. Nighttime AOT retrievals from the newly developed method are inter-compared with an interpolated value from late afternoon and early morning ground observations from four AErosol RObotic NETwork (AERONET) sites as well as column-integrated from one High Spectral Resolution LiDAR (HSRL) site at Huntsville, AL during the NASA Studies of Emissions and Atmospheric Composition, Clouds and Climate Coupling by Regional Surveys (SEAC4RS) campaign, providing full diel coverage. This method does not account for lunar reflectance from either the surface or the aerosol layer. Sensitivity tests do no indicate large systematic or random errors associated with lunar illumination. VIIRS AOT retrievals yield a coefficient of determination (r^2) of 0.60 and a root-mean-squared-error (RMSE) of 0.18 when compared against straddling daytime-averaged AERONET AOT values. Preliminary results suggest that artificial light sources can be used for estimating regional and global nighttime aerosol distributions in the future

The Elasticity Of Marketing Return On Investment

This paper demonstrates that the marketing return on investment (MROI) can be inversely related to profits in healthy, high performance firms. In light of this, the authors contend that MROI is a poor metric for evaluating profitable performance, because lower MROI is not always a sign of poor performance and higher MROI is not always a sign of higher performance. However, MROI can be converted into an elasticity of efficiency and used as a diagnostic tool to help marketing managers choose more profitable levels of promotion. MROI in the role of a diagnostic tool has stronger theoretical foundations than in its role as an evaluation metric. The paper presents the elasticity of MROI to changes in marketing expense as a practical tool for marketing managers to improve the profitability of marketing

The Legal Character and Practical Implementation of a TRIPS Waiver for COVID-19 Vaccines

Almost two years after initial proposals for a COVID-19 waiver of TRIPS obligations, a Ministerial decision adopted at the 12th Ministerial Conference in June 2022 waived obligations under Article 31(f) and the System for pharmaceutical export under the TRIPS Annex, and clarified existing options under TRIPS for increasing access to COVID-19 vaccines. As support for a more expansive pandemic waiver continues and WTO waivers remain legitimate mechanisms under WTO law, further waivers may be contemplated as viable options to address obstacles identified in the current pandemic or future health crises. This article explores what additional options are or may be open to Members under a COVID-19 waiver in its current or proposed forms, and the practical considerations for implementing them. To guide practical choices in selecting appropriate and adapted responses to public health and other crises, this article also investigates more theoretical questions about the nature of a waiver, its legal character and effect, and its interaction with other international agreements

Maintaining The Integrity Of Turnover Measurements When There Are Layoffs

Bonuses for improvements in employee retention rates should be calculated on the actual savings due to fewer terminations and reduced replacement costs. Permanent layoffs and hiring freezes distort the turnover rate and make the normal bonus calculations invalid. A new method for calculating a manager’s bonus for reducing the turnover rate is illustrated. It isolates the number of terminations due to changes in the size of the workforce from the terminations due to the improved retention rate. The size of the savings in terminations due to the improved retention rate can be accurately measured in situations where hiring freezes negate normal calculations

Th2-predominant inflammation and blockade of IFN-γ signaling induce aneurysms in allografted aortas

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) cause death due to complications related to expansion and rupture. The underlying mechanisms that drive AAA development remain largely unknown. We recently described evidence for a shift toward T helper type 2 (Th2) cell responses in human AAAs compared with stenotic atheromas. To evaluate putative pathways in AAA formation, we induced Th1- or Th2-predominant cytokine environments in an inflammatory aortic lesion using murine aortic transplantation into WT hosts or those lacking the receptors for the hallmark Th1 cytokine IFN-γ, respectively. Allografts in WT recipients developed intimal hyperplasia, whereas allografts in IFN-γ receptor–deficient (GRKO) hosts developed severe AAA formation associated with markedly increased levels of MMP-9 and MMP-12. Allografts in GRKO recipients treated with anti–IL-4 antibody to block the characteristic IL-4 Th2 cytokine or allografts in GRKO hosts also congenitally deficient in IL-4 did not develop AAA and likewise exhibited attenuated collagenolytic and elastolytic activities. These observations demonstrate an important dichotomy between cellular immune responses that induce IFN-γ– or IL-4–dominated cytokine environments. The findings establish important regulatory roles for a Th1/Th2 cytokine balance in modulating matrix remodeling and have important implications for the pathophysiology of AAAs and arteriosclerosis

Effects of Normobaric Hypoxia on Oculomotor Dynamics of Aviator Students during a Simulated Flight Task

Hypoxia occurs when the body\u27s tissues are unable to obtain adequate oxygen supply and is the primary environmental factor present when pilots are exposed to increasing altitude levels. Hypoxia leads to impaired vision, cognition, and motor control function, which can negatively affect performance and become deadly if a pilot becomes incapacitated. Thus, objective identification of early-onset hypoxia is critical to increase the time of useful consciousness and prevent physiological episodes. Of the few studies utilizing eye-tracking, there is disagreement and mixed results concerning saccadic eye metrics as a means to measure and detect hypoxia. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate saccadic velocity changes driven by acute normobaric hypoxia. Using a noninvasive infrared-based eye-tracking device, we recorded saccadic average peak velocity during flight tasks at simulated altitudes of 0 ft, 12,500 ft, and 19,000 ft. No changes were observed in saccadic average peak velocity among different altitude exposures. As time on task increased, saccadic average peak velocity decreased, suggesting that eye metrics can serve as an indicator of mental fatigue

Efficacy of afoxolaner against Dermacentor variabilis ticks in dogs

AbstractEfficacy of afoxolaner, a novel isoxazoline insecticide/acaricide, against Dermacentor variabilis ticks was confirmed in two laboratory studies. Each study utilized a controlled, randomized block design. One day prior to treatment, beagle dogs were infested with 50 unfed adult ticks. Repeat infestations were performed weekly for four weeks. The number of live ticks remaining on each dog was determined 48h after treatment and after each subsequent infestation. A single oral treatment with a dose approaching the minimum effective dose of afoxolaner (2.5mg/kg) eliminated the pre-existing infestations by D. variabilis ticks and controlled weekly re-infestations with 99.7–100% efficacy up to Day 23 and >97% efficacy at Day 30

Preschool Participation and BMI at Kindergarten Entry: The Case for Early Behavioral Intervention

Preschool years (ages 3–5) are a critical period in growth and development. Emerging studies suggest that preschool attendance may be linked to future weight, and perhaps obesity. This study examined relationships between public preschool attendance, demographic variables, and weight at kindergarten entry. Participants included 2,400 children entering kindergarten in 2006. Height and weight were used to calculate a child's BMI category based on CDC norms. At kindergarten entry, 17% of participants were overweight, and 18% were obese. Children attending a public preschool were at an increased risk for overweight (OR = 1.06) and obesity (OR = 1.34) at kindergarten entry, χ2(2) = 6.81, P = .03 relative to children who did not attend preschool. No significant trends relationships between demographics and weight status were found, but demographic variables are summarized descriptively. Policy and clinical implications are provided