Geospatial Data Accessibility in Web 2.0 Environments

Geographically referenced data is becoming a robust source of information because the use of place-based relevance searching is being employed as a popular form of information access and dispersal. To address this trend, the researcher conducted a study on the usability of the USA National Phenology Network (http://www.usanpn.org/), engaging 6 volunteer participants structured usability test of the USANPN mapping application. The participants were asked to complete two tasks, and data was collected both during (in the form of a think aloud exercise) and after the test (in the form of an exit interview). From the data collected, the researcher aimed to identify common and serious usability issues using both quantitative usability metrics and the qualitative think aloud and interview data. This study was primarily directed at assessing the usability of a geospatial Web 2.0 application and identifying common user problems. The researcher concluded that the search functionality and general navigation options were the most pressing usability issues associated with using the USA National Phenology Website to contribute geospatial data

High-Sensitive Detection and Quantitative Analysis of Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone Using Gold-Nanoshell-Based Lateral Flow Immunoassay Device

Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) have been used as signal reporters in colorimetric lateral flow immunoassays (LFAs) for decades. However, it remains a major challenge to significantly improve the detection sensitivity of traditional LFAs due to the low brightness of AuNPs. As an alternative approach, we overcome this problem by utilizing 150 nm gold nanoshells (AuNSs) that were engineered by coating low-density silica nanoparticles with a thin layer of gold. AuNSs are dark green, have 14 times larger surface area, and are approximately 35 times brighter compared to AuNPs. In this study, we used detection of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in a proof-of-concept assay. The limit of detection (LOD) with AuNS-based LFA was 0.16 µIU/mL, which is 26 times more sensitive than the conventional colorimetric LFA that utilizes AuNP as a label. The dynamic range of the calibration curve was 0.16–9.5 µIU/mL, making it possible to diagnose both hyperthyroidism (5 µIU/mL) using AuNS-based LFA. Thus, the developed device has a strong potential for early screening and diagnosis of diseases related to the thyroid hormone

Hyperoxemia and excess oxygen use in early acute respiratory distress syndrome : Insights from the LUNG SAFE study

Publisher Copyright: © 2020 The Author(s). Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Background: Concerns exist regarding the prevalence and impact of unnecessary oxygen use in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We examined this issue in patients with ARDS enrolled in the Large observational study to UNderstand the Global impact of Severe Acute respiratory FailurE (LUNG SAFE) study. Methods: In this secondary analysis of the LUNG SAFE study, we wished to determine the prevalence and the outcomes associated with hyperoxemia on day 1, sustained hyperoxemia, and excessive oxygen use in patients with early ARDS. Patients who fulfilled criteria of ARDS on day 1 and day 2 of acute hypoxemic respiratory failure were categorized based on the presence of hyperoxemia (PaO2 > 100 mmHg) on day 1, sustained (i.e., present on day 1 and day 2) hyperoxemia, or excessive oxygen use (FIO2 ≥ 0.60 during hyperoxemia). Results: Of 2005 patients that met the inclusion criteria, 131 (6.5%) were hypoxemic (PaO2 < 55 mmHg), 607 (30%) had hyperoxemia on day 1, and 250 (12%) had sustained hyperoxemia. Excess FIO2 use occurred in 400 (66%) out of 607 patients with hyperoxemia. Excess FIO2 use decreased from day 1 to day 2 of ARDS, with most hyperoxemic patients on day 2 receiving relatively low FIO2. Multivariate analyses found no independent relationship between day 1 hyperoxemia, sustained hyperoxemia, or excess FIO2 use and adverse clinical outcomes. Mortality was 42% in patients with excess FIO2 use, compared to 39% in a propensity-matched sample of normoxemic (PaO2 55-100 mmHg) patients (P = 0.47). Conclusions: Hyperoxemia and excess oxygen use are both prevalent in early ARDS but are most often non-sustained. No relationship was found between hyperoxemia or excessive oxygen use and patient outcome in this cohort. Trial registration: LUNG-SAFE is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02010073publishersversionPeer reviewe

Selecció d'ubicacions de vertiports en zones urbanes i no urbanes: revisió sistemàtica i estudi del cas a Roma

[EN] Urban Air Mobility is a revolutionary aviation ecosystem involving cutting-edge aircraft, as Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing Vehicles, and a variety of novel technologies to deliver more efficient, sustainable, and fair transportation solutions. However, the implementation of Urban Air Mobility faces many challenges. One of them is the design of suitable ground infrastructure for Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing Electric Vehicles, what is denominated as a vertiport. This site has been defined by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency as an area of land, water, or structure used or intended to be used for the landing and take-off of VTOL aircraft. Nevertheless, the most immediate task is to define where to position these sites, both urban and non-urban areas: which is the optimal location for a vertiport? This study aims to tackle this issue by performing a systematic review of the scientific publica- tions dealing with the multiple aspects that should be taken into account when trying to solve this problem. A characterization and analysis for the forty-seven papers is carried out in order to extract relevant parameters such as noise, social acceptance, safety, or capacity. These aspects could present different classes, qualitative or quantitative. Moreover, a presence factor is offered to illustrate how often these variables appear in the literature. On the other hand, a brainstorming session with an expert from a significant business of the sector took place in order to validate the results obtained. Finally, a few locations in the city of Rome were examined with the verified parameters.[ES] La Movilidad Aérea Urbana es un revolucionario ecosistema de aviación que incluye aeronaves de última generación, como vehículos eléctricos de despegue y aterrizaje vertical (eVTOL), y una variedad de tecnologías novedosas para ofrecer soluciones de transporte más eficientes, sostenibles y justas. Sin embargo, la implantación de la Movilidad Aérea Urbana se enfrenta a numerosos retos. Uno de ellos es el diseño de una infraestructura terrestre adecuada para los vehículos eléctricos de despegue y aterrizaje vertical, lo que se denomina como un vertipuerto. Este emplazamiento ha sido definido por la Unión Europea Europea como una porción de tierra, agua o estructura utilizada o destinada a ser utilizada para el aterrizaje y despegue de aeronaves VTOL. No obstante, la tarea más inmediata es definir dónde ubicar estos recintos, tanto en zonas urbanas como no urbanas: ¿cuál es la ubicación óptima para un vertipuerto? El presente estudio pretende abordar esta cuestión realizando una revisión sistemática de las publicaciones científicas que tratan los múltiples aspectos que deben tenerse en cuenta a la hora de intentar resolver este problema. Se ha realizado la caracterización y análisis de los cuarenta y siete estudios obtenidos con el objetivo de identificar parámetros relevantes para encontrar la posición adecuada, como son el problema del ruido, la aceptación social, la seguridad o la eficiencia del recinto. Estos aspectos pueden presentar diferentes clases, cualitativas o cuantitativas. Además, se ofrece un factor de presencia para ilustrar la frecuencia con que estas variables aparecen en la literatura. Por otra parte, se llevó a cabo una sesión de brainstorming con un experto de una empresa importante del sector para validar los resultados obtenidos. Por último, se examinaron algunas ubicaciones en la ciudad de Roma con los parámetros verificados.[CA] La Mobilitat Aèria Urbana és un revolucionari ecosistema d'aviació que inclou aeronaus d'última generació, com a vehicles elèctrics d'enlairament i aterratge vertical (eVTOL), i una varietat de tecnologies noves per a oferir solucions de transport més eficients, sostenibles i justes. No obstant això, la implantació de la Mobilitat Aèria Urbana s'enfronta a nombrosos reptes. Un d'ells és el disseny d'una infraestructura terrestre adequada per als vehicles elèctrics d'enlairament i aterratge vertical, la qual cosa es denomina com un vertiport. Este emplaçament ha sigut definit per la Unió Europea com una porció de terra, aigua o estructura utilitzada o destinada a ser utilitzada per a l'aterratge i enlairament d'aeronaus VTOL. No obstant això, la tasca més immediata és definir on situar estos recintes, tant en zones urbanes com no urbanes: quina és la ubicació òptima per a un vertiport. El present estudi pretén abordar esta qüestió realitzant una revisió sistemàtica de les publicacions científiques que tracten els múltiples aspectes que han de tindre's en compte a l'hora d'intentar resoldre este problema. S'ha realitzat la caracterització i anàlisi dels quaranta-set estudis obtinguts amb l'objectiu d'identificar paràmetres rellevants per a trobar la posició adequada, com són el problema del soroll, l'acceptació social, la seguretat o l'eficiència del recinte. Estos aspectes poden presentar diferents classes, qualitatives o quantitatives. A més, s'oferix un factor de presència per a il·lustrar la freqüència amb què estes variables apareixen en la literatura. D'altra banda, es va dur a terme una sessió de brainstorming amb un expert d'una empresa important del sector per a validar els resultats obtinguts. Finalment, es van examinar algunes ubicacions a la ciutat de Roma amb els paràmetres verificats.Mcnamee Freire, S. (2023). Selection of vertiport locations in urban and non-urban areas: a systematic literature review and a case study in Rome. Universitat Politècnica de València. http://hdl.handle.net/10251/20061

The history of cycling operations in the Agua Dulce, Sullivan, and Stratton oil fields of Nueces County, Texas

In writing this paper the desire has been to record how a new industry developed in the gulf of Texas, in the area of Agua Dulce, Nueces County, by processing the gas from gas wells for which there was no market for the residue and extracting the fluid therefrom and returning gas to the sand in the reservoir by mechanical means. Whereby the by-products of the gas are saved without physical wastewhile at the same time conforming to the state laws concerning the conservation of the natural resources of the state of Texas

Feasibility of a novel multispot nanoarray for antibiotic screening in honey

<p>Practical solutions for multiple antibiotic determination in food are required by the food industry and regulators for cost-effective screening purposes. This study describes the feasibility in development and preliminary performance of a novel multispot nanoarray for antibiotic screening in honey. Using a multiplex approach, the metabolites of the four main nitrofuran antibiotics, including morpholinomethyl-2-oxazolidone (AMOZ), 3-amino-2-oxazolidinone (AOZ), semicarbazide (SEM), 1-aminohydantoin (AHD) and chloramphenicol (CAP), were simultaneously detected. Antibodies specific to the five antibiotics were nano-spotted onto microtitre plate wells and a direct competitive assay format was employed. The assay characteristics and performance were evaluated for feasibility as a screening tool for antibiotic determination in honey to replace traditional ELISAs. Optimisation of the spotting and assay parameters was undertaken with both individual and multiplex calibration curves generated in PBS and a honey matrix. The limits of detection as determined by the 20% inhibitory concentrations (IC₂₀) were determined as 0.19, 0.83, 0.09, 15.2 and 35.9 ng ml^–1 in PBS, 0.34, 0.87, 0.17, 42.1 and 90.7 ng ml^–1 in honey (fortified at the start of the extraction), and 0.23, 0.98, 0.24, 24.8 and 58.9 ng ml^–1 in honey (fortified at the end of the extraction) for AMOZ, AOZ, CAP, SEM and AHD respectively. This work has demonstrated the potential of multiplex analysis for antibiotics with results available for 40 samples within a 90-min period for antibiotics sharing a common sample preparation. Although both the SEM and AHD assay do not show the required sensitivity with the antibodies available for use to meet regulatory limits, with further improvements in these particular antibodies this multiplex format has the potential to show a reduction in cost with reduced labour time in combination with the high-throughput screening of samples. This is the first 96-well spotted microtitre plate nanoarray for the semi-quantitative and simultaneous analysis of antibiotics.</p