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An Inhibitory Recurrent Network in the Olfactory System
No full textNeuromodulatory circuits are a necessary component of neural flexibility as they are able to act differentially depending on the receptors expressed by their downstream targets. Identifying the synaptic partners of modulatory neurons and determining the neurotransmitter and receptor content of these partners is necessary to identify the rules governing neuromodulatory circuits. In this study, I characterized the circuit of the contralaterally projecting, serotonin-immunoreactive deutocerebral neurons (CSDns), the sole synaptic source of the neuromodulator serotonin in the olfactory circuit of Drosophila melanogaster, by identifying the strongest synaptic partners of the CSDns, and the expression of genes encoding neurotransmitters and receptors of these partners. I found that 1) this circuit forms a loop, as the strongest downstream partner of the CSDns itself synapses on the strongest upstream partner of the CSDns, 2) the loop is composed entirely of inhibitory connectivity, and 3) one node of this loop is of a neuron class is a feedback neuron, while the other is a local interneuron. Thus, serotonin acts locally in the sensory circuit, while being regulated from a higher level processing area. This result in the simple invertebrate olfactory circuit is regulated in a manner similar to the corticobulbar loop found in the mammalian olfactory circuit, suggesting that these features may be conserved across neural complexity. In all, this highlights the complexity of serotonergic circuitry at the cellular and molecular level, and provides a reference to which other modulatory circuits can be compared
1D Geo-mechanical model analysis of the MIP 1S and drilling process optimization in the Deep Appalachian basin
No full textThe proposed paper assesses the geological and geomechanical characteristics of the geothermal deep direct-use MIP 1S well in the Appalachian basin. The assessment utilizes a comprehensive suite of well logs, sidewall core analysis, and well injection tests to determine continuous elastic and rock strength properties. Stress and pore pressure profiling are conducted, and a validated 1D-geomechanical model is developed. This model undergoes analysis through wellbore stability assessments and comparisons with drilling events. The 1D-geomechanical model demonstrates a high degree of agreement with wellbore observations, revealing suboptimal execution of drilling practices, particularly utilizing mist air drilling up to 8868 feet. This suboptimal execution has led to significant wellbore breakout in the well\u27s shallow and intermediate sections. Consequently, the wellbore diameter has been excessively widened, exceeding 4 inches from the planned 12 ¼-inch diameter to over 16 inches. Such deviations could potentially provoke significant challenges related to cementing, open-hole log data accuracy, and wellbore stability. Advanced technologies like Cerebro Force™ In-Bit Sensing are used to monitor drilling performance accurately. This technology tracks critical metrics such as bit acceleration, vibration in x, y, and z directions, Gyro RPM, stick-slip indicator, and bending on the bit. Cerebro Force™ readings identified hole drag caused by poor hole conditions, including friction between the drill string and wellbore walls and the presence of cuttings or debris. This led to higher torque and weight on bit (WOB) readings at the surface than downhole measurements, affecting drilling efficiency and wellbore stability. Optimal drilling parameters for future deep geothermal wells were determined based on these findings. The implementation of machine learning techniques, such as random forest, has helped to validate the previously mentioned results. It has been determined that the drilling process of MIP 1S was not conducted efficiently. By examining the ROP prediction of two neighboring wells (MIP 3H and SW), it is evident that the actual ROP prediction for MIP 1S deviated from the real data, resulting in inaccurate predictions. In comparison to the other wells, the prediction showed a better fit
Exploring Long-term Patterns: Black Bass Tournament Fishery and Population Trends in West Virginia\u27s Navigable Rivers
Get PDFBlack bass Micropterus spp. are popular sport fish in West Virginia’s navigable rivers. In recent years, anglers have expressed concerns about a potential decline in fishery quality. To investigate these claims, we evaluated whether fishery quality has declined compared to earlier periods and whether population trends correspond to angler catch rates. Specifically, we aimed to (1) examine changes in species catch over time and during key periods, such as tournament and spawning seasons; (2) describe the distribution of black bass species across pools and habitat types; and (3) assess the outcomes of previous stocking efforts. To address these objectives, we analyzed historical tournament records and fisheries-independent survey data to identify trends in angler catch rates and the relative abundance of black bass species.
Tournament angler catch rates for black bass varied between rivers and species, but after 2001, these rates were consistently higher than in earlier periods across all study areas (β1 = 0.01–0.03; χ2 = 14.78–59.75; p \u3c 0.001). Angler catch per unit effort (CPUE) remained stable in the Monongahela and Kanawha Rivers. In contrast, changes in species composition were evident in two sections of the Ohio River. Largemouth Bass M. nigricans catch rates declined, while Smallmouth Bass M. dolomieu increased. Large tournaments (≥70 anglers), particularly during the spawning season, exert significant pressure on black bass populations. In both Ohio River sections, the annual catch of dominant black bass species during large tournaments is comparable to the total annual catch in medium and small tournaments. This high fishing pressure during spawning may be a major driver of the observed declines in Largemouth Bass catch rates. Additionally, the degradation of tributary and embayment habitats preferred by Largemouth Bass, likely due to sedimentation, may further contribute to these declines.
Electrofishing surveys revealed considerable variability in CPUE for fishery-sized individuals (total length ≥305 mm) and age-1 black bass in the Ohio River between 2001 and 2022. The relative abundance of fishery-sized Largemouth Bass and Smallmouth Bass declined after 2010 and 2013, respectively. However, age-1 individuals of both species showed increased abundance toward the end of the study period, reaching levels at or above the 2001–2022 average. These trends suggest potential improvement in fishery quality in subsequent years.
Weak to moderate correlations were identified between tournament angler CPUE and survey CPUE for most black bass species, except for Spotted Bass M. punctulatus in the lower Ohio River. This disparity may indicate hyperstability in angler catch rates, where catch rates remain high despite declines in population abundance. Stocking efforts demonstrated mixed effectiveness. Largemouth Bass stocking significantly improved tournament angler CPUE, while the stocking of 37,790 Smallmouth Bass from 2005 to 2009 showed no significant effect. The shift in angler catches from Largemouth Bass to Smallmouth Bass reflects corresponding changes in their relative abundance, potentially explaining anglers’ perceptions of declining fishery quality.
Our findings indicate that spawning season angler activity and habitat degradation from sedimentation are likely key factors contributing to Largemouth Bass declines in the Ohio River. To address these issues, future studies should evaluate the extent to which angler exploitation during spawning affects vital rates such as recruitment and adult survival. Investigations into the availability and quality of spawning habitat for Largemouth Bass are also necessary, alongside efforts to improve and protect these critical areas
Investigating Critical Mineral Recovery and Carbon Mineralization Potential in Coal Fly Ash
Get PDFCoal fly ash (CFA), a byproduct of coal combustion, represents an innovative opportunity to address the rising demand for critical minerals and the need to reduce CO2 emissions due to its significant concentrations of calcium and magnesium. By providing insights and preliminary data, this study aims to contribute to the foundational understanding necessary for future development.
A multidisciplinary approach was employed to assess CFA’s potential, including detailed chemical and mineralogical characterization using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). XRD analysis revealed crystalline phases in the CFA samples. At the same time, SEM imaging identified the characteristic morphology of coal fly ash, with particle sizes ranging from submicron to several micrometers. These analyses provided a comprehensive elemental and mineralogical profile for optimizing mineral recovery and carbonation processes.
Experimental tests involved roasting, precipitation, and leaching under acidic, basic, and aqueous conditions, followed by carbonation experiments. These investigations evaluated extraction efficiency, selectivity, and operational parameters quantified for critical minerals recovery and carbon capture capacity. HCl leaching outperformed other methods in terms of total REE (TREE) recovery (\u3e90%), followed by NaOH and water leaching at elevated temperatures (~40%) and NH4Cl (~30%). NaOH leaching demonstrated the best selectivity (low contamination), followed by NH4Cl, while HCl leaching showed poor selectivity. Water leaching with pre-treatment (roasting) improved selectivity for metals but not for TREE. Overall, HCl leaching at 1 M and 3 hours balanced high TREE recovery and operational practicality, making it the most suitable choice for subsequent carbonation tests. For carbonation, the best results were obtained using 5M NaOH and reaction at 50°C with CO2 pressure of 80 psi and an inlet flow rate of 1 L/min, achieving up to 60% recovery for TREE and calcium and selectivity of targeted pH of 4 and 7.
These findings underscore CFA\u27s potential to address environmental challenges associated with coal combustion residues while advancing circular economy principles by converting waste into valuable resources. By providing a robust foundational framework, this research marks a pivotal step toward harnessing CFA\u27s capabilities to tackle environmental and resource-related issues
Effect of Specific Data Variations on Automated Speaker Recognition
Get PDFSpeaker recognition is not a new biometric modality but there are still many obstacles in the way in order for it to become as used as fingerprint recognition, facial recognition, and iris recognition. Many real-world environmental conditions, hardware device variations, and human behavior present serious challenges to the use of opportunistic voice or speaker samples for identification purposes. Non-idealities, identified as nuisance factors, include environmental noise, input device quality, length of utterance, sample rate variation, and unscripted data are common nuisance factors that can impact speaker recognition match score performance. The impact of the nuisance factors listed above were evaluated using multiple ‘black-box’ speaker recognition software tools. Results show that the Phonexia Voice Inspector (P) matching tool outperformed VeriSpeak from Neurotechnology (V) in all performance metrics of Area Under the Curve (AUC), Equal Error Rate (EER), and the Area of Intersection (AoI) on a Probability Density Function (PDF) graph. The last performance metric of Kullback-Leibler Divergence (KLD) for both genuine and imposter distributions show similar scores for all genuine distributions and all imposter distributions, proving how comparisons between scores from the two software tools were fair after score normalization.
The nuisance factor that most impacted the match scores on both V and P was downsampling, especially when the sample rate reached 4 kHz when originally sample rate was either 44 kHz or 48 kHz. This compounded with environmental noise, input device quality, and introducing unscripted data presented the worst AUC, EER, and AoI for P. The worst performance metrics generated from data provided by V came from downsampling and unscripted data from the highest quality input device
Polylactic Acid (PLA) containing Talc Microparticles and Amorphous Polyhydroxyalkanoates (aPHAs) for Improved Barrier and Mechanical Properties in Food Packaging
Get PDFPolylactic acid (PLA) is a biobased and compostable polymer that is increasingly being used as an alternative to petroleum-based, non-biodegradable polymers for single-use food packaging due to its environmental benefits. It is also commercially available in large quantities, and it can be processed like polyethylene. However, it has a higher water-vapor permeability (WVP) as compared to polyolefins and polyethylene terephthalate that are the incumbent materials. This results in a competitive disadvantage in employing PLA for packaging baked goods since the shelf life of the food is likely to be reduced. In the past, barrier properties of PLA were improved by incorporating nanoclay in PLA, resulting in the formation of a nanocomposite, but there is a concern regarding the potential adverse health effects from the use of nanomaterials. Additionally, PLA’s ductility is significantly lower than that of traditional polymers, and small deformations can cause rupture of the package; incorporation of nanomaterials further reduces the elongation-to-break.
Here, talc microparticles have been employed in place of clay nanoparticles as diffusion barriers in PLA. Indeed, talc is approved by the FDA for a variety of applications, making it safe for use with food. Since water molecules are expected to be transported through a nanocomposite or a microcomposite by the same solution-diffusion mechanism, the barrier properties in the two cases should be the same as long as the volume fraction of the two fillers is the same and the aspect ratio of the two platelets is the same. Validating this hypothesis was one of the objectives of the research. The other major objective of the current study was to enhance the ductility of the microcomposite, and this was done by blending amorphous polyhydroxyalkanoate (aPHA) with PLA for use as the matrix polymer. The aPHA was received from CJ Biomaterials as a masterbatch (P3HB4HB) composed of a mixture of 55% PLA and 45% PHA. This was an immiscible blend in which the glass transition temperature of the PHA was about 2 ºC, making it a rubbery polymer. Note that PHA is also a sustainable and compostable material.
To reduce WVP through PLA, talc microparticles were incorporated into PLA at weight percentages of 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% using an internal mixer. Films were compression molded using a hydraulic press to have thickness values of 50-100 µm. WVP testing followed the ASTM E96 standard, known as the cup method; a desiccant is put in a cup, the test film is glued on top, and the cup is placed in a controlled humidity-and-temperature chamber. Moisture permeation takes place through the film, and the weight gain of the assembly over a period of 72 hours is measured. This allows for the calculation of the WVP through the PLA film. Results showed a progressive reduction in WVP with talc content, with a maximum reduction of 47% at a talc concentration of 10% by weight (4.99 vol%). Beyond this, WVP increased due to particle agglomeration. These results are comparable to those obtained by dispersing nanoclay in the same polymer and are the result of water vapor molecules traveling a longer distance due to the presence of moisture barriers. These results could also be explained in a quantitative manner by the theory proposed by Gupta and coworkers, employing aspect ratio values determined from SEM images.
PLA-aPHA blends were prepared with aPHA concentrations of 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% by weight and subjected to mechanical testing. It was found that the addition of aPHA improved PLA ductility, due possibly to the rubbery nature of aPHA. The best results were obtained at aPHA concentrations between 40% and 60%, and it was to this matrix that talc microparticles were added. Mechanical and barrier property measurements were done on this microcomposite. An elongation-to-break value that was 11.7% higher than neat PLA could be attained. Furthermore, at the same talc concentration, the WVP was 36% lower when compared to pure PLA and 53% lower than the PLA-aPHA blend. Comparisons could not be made with barrier property theory because SEM images revealed the presence of numerous cracks and microvoids that are present on the matrix of the composite. The results of this research, though, show that polymer microcomposites can be formulated by dispersing talc in a blend of PLA and aPHA. Thin films made from this material have desirable barrier and mechanical properties, and the films are both sustainable and compostable
Developing a data-driven method for inferring heterocellular networks in cancer
Get PDFBayesian network inference has revolutionized our capacity to predict causal relationships among variables in a variety of disciplines as a result of advancements in computational power. Nevertheless, the predicted causal networks are often obscured by the influence of specific computational algorithms. To address this challenge, we adopted a wisdom of the crowds approach and developed BaMANI (Bayesian Multi-Algorithm causal Network Inference), an ensemble learning approach that reduces the bias of individual algorithms in Bayesian causal network inference. This thesis establishes the theoretical foundations of our methodology, provides a comprehensive implementation of BaMANI as a software tool, and illustrates its utilization in a human breast cancer study. /= / \u3e/= / \u3eWe utilized BaMANI in order to investigate the network of interest \textcolor{black}{related to a protein that is} secreted by malignant cells \textcolor{black}{and that could} potentially mediate immunosuppression. \textcolor{black}{This protein is thought to} influence the dynamics of the tissue microenvironment \textcolor{black}{by altering} interactions among various cell types, thereby changing the composition and functionality of cells within tissues during oncogenesis. Our objective was to elucidate the causal dynamics between a variety of cell types and a protein \textcolor{black}{of interest}, with a particular emphasis on the impact of the protein \textcolor{black}{of interest} on cellular composition. The analysis was performed on a dataset obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), which included transcriptomic profiling of 582 breast cancer tissue samples. The dataset includes various cell types and features, involving immune cells (e.g., CD4 and CD8 T cells, Neutrophils, Macrophages), stromal cells (e.g., Endothelial cells, Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts), and other cell types (e.g., B cells, Epithelial, Mesenchymal cells). Additionally, the dataset includes features such as proliferation, CCN4, and specific \textcolor{black}{macrophage subtypes M0, M1, and M2.} /= / \u3e/= / \u3e/= / \u3eThe findings indicate that BaMANI effectively quantifies and identifies the impact of specific proteins on the structure of the tumor microenvironment, and demonstrates how this protein affect cell quantities and configure the causal network, \textcolor{black}{once validated, this knowledge can advance} our understanding of cancer biology and contributes to the development of more effective therapeutic strategies. \textcolor{black}{To validate the biological relevance of the predictions made by BaMANI, laboratory in vivo verification tests were conducted as part of other \textcolor{black}{NIH/NSF research projects \citep{Fernandez_Klinke_EMBO_rep_2022,Pirkey_Klinke_CMB_2023} in the Lab} to determine whether inhibiting the production of these components in tumor cells enhances the immune system’s ability to control tumor growth}. BaMANI\u27s robustness is also demonstrated by the use of performance measurements, which include comparative network analysis using multiple individual algorithms and arc strength analysis. This study not only demonstrates the capability of BaMANI to provide deeper understanding of the cellular dynamics of cancer, but also highlights its utility in broader contexts where comprehension of underlying causal relationships is crucial in a dynamic system
The Devil Is in the Details: Exploring Restorative Justice as an Option for Campus Sexual Assault Responses under Title IX
No full textLegal and Policy Issues for a Growing Agritourism Industry
No full textAgritourism activity has increased dramatically over the past 10 years, both in number of operations and income. The types of agritourism activity have also expanded rapidly in recent years. The law, on the other hand, moves slowly. The disconnect between the pace ofchange in the industry and the legal regime creates uncertainty for operators, regulators, and policy makers. The difficulty in defining the rapidly changing industry lies at the center of much of the uncertainty. This Article provides an overview of the agritourism industry and recent changes in agritourism activities. The authors discuss different definitions of agritourism in a variety ofcontexts. Four primary current issues for agritourism in need offurther resolution are examined: liability, land use and zoning, real property taxation, and federal income taxation. The Article concludes that attention to the definition and scale of agritourism is necessary to remove uncertainty and ambiguities in this area of law
Utilizing ArcGis StoryMap to Raise Awareness: Double Dispossession of the Gullah Geechee on Sapelo Island
No full textThe Gullah Geechee people, descendants of enslaved Africans brought to the Sea Islands of the Atlantic Coast, represent a resilient community whose heritage and practices have endured despite centuries of systemic oppression. This research examines the intersection of history, land dispossession, and environmental threats to the Gullah Geechee community, particularly on Sapelo Island. By exploring the enduring agricultural knowledge, language, and practices, this work underscores the significance of the Gullah Geechee\u27s connection to their ancestral lands, which have been essential for the preservation of their identity. The dual forces of gentrification and climate change present pressing challenges, manifesting as both environmental degradation and economic displacement, threatening the physical spaces that sustain the community\u27s way of life. Central to this study is the concept of double dispossession, as these external forces erode not only their land but also the practices that define their community. Through interactive storytelling and geographical representations, this research aims to bring visibility to the ongoing struggle of the Gullah Geechee and the importance of preserving their land and practices for future generations. This work highlights the role of advocacy in supporting the Gullah Geechee’s right to self-determination, emphasizing the need for broader systemic change to protect marginalized communities from erasure and displacement