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Drink…Then Drive Away: The Effects of Lowering the Blood Alcohol Concentration in Utah
Get PDFIn March of 2017 Utah announced its intent to lower the legal blood alcohol content (BAC) for driving from 0.08 to 0.05 g/dL. However, this change did not take effect until 2019. We employ a difference‐in‐ differences strategy on Utah counties using neighboring states as controls to test whether this policy change significantly affected the number of traffic accidents or the severity of those accidents. Results show the policy appears to temporarily decrease the total number of accidents, limited primarily to property damage‐ only accidents. We believe these results may be partially explained by drivers who, after the policy is enacted, avoid reporting property damage‐only accidents if possible. Using insurance claims data, we show there is no corresponding fall in insurance claims or payouts suggesting that the fall in total accidents likely comes from under‐reporting
Literacy-based instruction in STEM
No full textSocio-scientific issues provide a great platform to both engage students in scientific topics and assess their understanding of scientific concepts. Nancy R. Singer, Amy Lannin, Maha Kareem, William Romine, and Katie Kline report on the STEM Literacy Project, a three-year National Science Foundation grant that aimed to improve STEM teachers\u27 knowledge and integration of literacy in their classrooms. They describe teachers\u27 professional learning, scenario-based assessments and other strategies they incorporated in their STEM classrooms, and how writing enables students to understand real-world issues
Evaluation of Microbial Contamination in Tube Well and Filter Water of Lahore and Treatment with Copper Nanoparticles
Get PDFWater contamination is a global issue and different techniques are being devised to reduce water contamination. Among these techniques, use of nanoparticles for water purification is an efficient and cost-effective method with minimum or no side effect. Metal nanoparticles are known for their antibacterial activity against various pathogens. Synthesis of these nanoparticles using green synthesis methods minimizes the harmful effects while ensuring their antibacterial activity. Therefore, in the present work, it was aimed to evaluate the microbial contamination in water samples collected from different tube wells and filter plants located in different areas of Lahore, Pakistan for the isolation of microbes. Following their isolation and identification, antibacterial activity of Copper Nanoparticles-synthesized with leaf extract of Aloe vera was evaluated. It was also observed that CuNPs showed antibacterial activity against E.coli and Pseudomonas. Water sample treated with CuNPs also showed significant reduction in bacterial load after treatment. It shows that CuNPs exhibit antibacterial activity and can be used for water treatment. However, extensive research is required to access the possible toxicity of CuNP in water and methods of incorporation of CuNP in filter sheets and membranes
Raw Milk Collection Diversity and Determinants of Physicochemical and Microbiological Quality in Algerian Small Farms
Get PDFMilk sector in Algeria presents lasting supply instability and its development policy has not achieved the expected results. The interest in developing local dairy production therefore has been a priority for public authorities. Our work aims to analyze raw milk collection diversity at the GIPLAIT dairy in Tizi (Mascara) and assess their physicochemical and microbiological quality. The typology of raw milk collection was determined from upstream, the farm to the dairy processing factory. The quality of the milk was determined by carrying out both physicochemical analyses (pH, Dornic acidity, butter content, protein content, density and total dry extract) and microbiological analyses (total aerobic mesophilic flora, total coliforms, and fecal coliforms). Results revealed that significant effect of heat stress was recorded in the semi-arid zone of Mascara. The milk produced on farms was based on a significant use of concentrate which resulted in a high-cost price per cow present. The physicochemical results obtained for the pH parameters, Dornic acidity, butter and protein content, density and total dry extract were respectively (6.73 ± 0.02; 17.23 ± 0.17; 31.29 ± 0.64; 28.3 ± 0.82; 1029 and 114.6 ± 1.07 g/l). From microbiological variables, the results are superior to the Algerian standards with an average load of 4.65 x106, 8.23 x104 and 2.18 x 104 CFU/ml for total aerobic mesophilic flora, total coliforms and fecal coliforms respectively
Bioresource Management Via Least Cost Feed Formulation for Red Tilapia (Oreochromis Sp.): Application of Linear Programming Technique
Get PDFThe method of linear programming (LP) was utilized to determine the relationship between the composition of nutrients of each ingredients, specifications for raw materials, cost and requirements for nutrients of the red tilapia (Oreochromis sp.), in order to define: (1) least cost ration formulation, (2) least cost diet, (3) minimum price of producing a particular diet after meeting a number of requirements. The resulting LP models were solved using the simplex algorithm. Therefore, our results show that, formulated feed had high protein content (31.92 %), Lipid (2.53), Moisture (9.10 %) and Ash (9.00 %). The utilization of diet containing valorized bioresources: (1) 25.00 % of fishmeal from sardine canning industry by-products (Sardina pilchardus) and (2) 01.00 % duckweed (Lemna gibba) meal is economical since it lowers feed costs by 25%, as a result of the most important zootechnical factors will be continuously improved for red tilapia . Furthermore, feed conversion ratio (FCR) for the formulated feed was 1.96 ± 0.25 and the survival rate at the end of experiment cycle was 100 ± 0.00 % . The combination of valorization of bioresources with linear programming technique is therefore a valuable tool that could be used for sustainable aquaculture
Harnessing Natural Medicine as a Resource for Socioeconomic Development
Get PDFNatural medicine is currently gaining global acceptance among the developed and developing countries of the world due to its low toxicity, high efficacy and cost effectiveness. Developed countries are devising medicinal systems that require the use of medicinal plant products and resources. Thus, a marked increase in world demand for medicinal plant resources has emerged in the recent years and that has provided a great opportunity for medicinal plants exporting nations to expand their economy shares in this sector. Despite the Nigeria immense socio-economic promise, the country is in critical need following the fact that the multidimensional poverty rate is 63 % and the rate of unemployment 33.3 % remains high. Nigeria is blessed with over 10,000 species of natural medicinal plants resources but less than 20 % of the plants are utilized. Natural medicinal plant resource has the potentials to create jobs along it value chains and which invariability results in the socio-economic development of Nigeria. To benefit from the global medicinal plant market fortune with an estimated prospect of $5trillion by 2050, there is every need for the country to harness its natural medicinal resources for socio-economic development. This paper thus explores; natural medicines, natural medicinal resources, socio-economic development, potentials of medicinal plants to socio-economic development, threat to natural medicinal resources and conservation strategies for harnessing medicinal plant sustainably
The Nutritional and Biotechnological Potential of Amaranth: a Versatile Plant for Health and Sustainability
Get PDFThe amaranth plant, originating from Central and South America, was a staple food for ancient civilizations like the Aztecs and Inca. Today, it is cultivated across tropical and subtropical regions, including Africa, Asia, and North America. Belonging to the Amaranthaceae family and comprising approximately 60 species, amaranth is valued for its adaptability to various soil and climatic conditions. This versatile crop is a nutrient-dense food source with a diverse chemical composition and numerous bioactive compounds, particularly in its seeds. Naturally gluten-free, amaranth is ideal for individuals with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity. It provides a complete profile of essential amino acids, making it a high-quality protein source for vegetarian and vegan diets. Its fiber content promotes digestive health by supporting regular bowel movements and a balanced gut microbiome. Amaranth also contains phytosterols and antioxidants that reduce cholesterol and lower the risk of heart disease. Its phenolic acids and flavonoids exhibit strong antioxidant properties, protecting cells from oxidative stress and reducing chronic disease risks. The low glycemic index aids in stabilizing blood sugar levels, benefiting individuals with diabetes. Rich in calcium and magnesium, amaranth supports bone health and helps prevent osteoporosis. This article delves into the health benefits of amaranth, emphasizing its potential to enhance well-being through its nutrient-rich composition
The Role of suc22-S239F Mutation in Sensitizing Fission Yeast to the Replication Stress Induced by Hydroxyurea
Get PDFGenetic mutations can significantly impact the cell’s susceptibility to environmental stress. The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is an established eukaryotic model for studying the cellular responses to various environmental stresses. This work investigated a missense mutation (S239F) identified in Suc22, the small subunit of the ribonucleotide reductase (RNR). RNR is an essential enzyme for the biosynthesis of dNTPs required for DNA replication and repair. We found that the suc22-S239F mutation increases the susceptibility to the replication stress induced by hydroxyurea (HU), not the DNA-damaging agents such as UV, methyl methanesulfate, and CPT. HU is a drug commonly used in laboratories to instigate DNA replication stress as it is an inhibitor of RNR. The intricate mechanisms governing the cellular responses to HU have been extensively studied in the past decades, and the involvement of suc22-S239F mutation presents a new dimension to our understanding of cellular responses to replication stress. The Suc22 is indispensable for DNA synthesis and cell survival. The suc22-S239F mutation involves substituting serine at position 239 with phenylalanine within the small subunit of RNR. Here we show that fission yeast bearing the suc22-S239F mutation exhibits significantly increased sensitivity to chronic replication stress, not acute replication stress induced by HU as compared to wild-type cells. Previous studies have demonstrated that the increased sensitivity to chronic treatment with HU can be caused by several interconnected pathways such as replication stress, oxidative stress, and cytokines arrest. Our results showed that while the replication checkpoint remains functional, the HU sensitivity of the suc22-S239F mutant is likely due to replication stress, not oxidative stress. Therefore, the suc22-S239F mutation acts as an intriguing entry point to studying the intricate mechanisms through which genetic variations amplify the cell susceptibility to replication stress. These findings not only enhance our understanding of stress-induced cytotoxicity but also hold potential implications for the development of innovative therapeutics for the treatment of cancer or other diseases
Augmenting Back-Translation Decision Making with Latent Semantic Analysis: Predicting Expert Decisions with Semantic Similarity Scores from American Sign Language
Get PDFThis dissertation focused on a novel improvement to the current method for adapting assessments into American Sign Language (ASL). Bilingual Deaf adults participated in back translations across the United States, and those back-translation decisions were assessed by human experts to judge similarity in meaning. Translations were compared to original text samples using two types of Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA) models to compute semantic textual similarity (STS) scores, and to calculate weighted Youden Index (WYI) Scores. These scores were used to determine the ideal cutoff to be used when making judgments and compared to human expert decisions. The results revealed that WYI scores calculated using the Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers (BERT) model performed best and effectively predicted expert decisions for 25% of items, thus substantially reducing the need for human review for many items. These results suggest that while there is great promise for using these methods to reduce cognitive load for back-translation tasks, there is still a crucial need for human attention in such tasks. This research points to the potential of machine learning for streamlining the creation of ASL assessments and increasing accessibility for the Deaf community. However, it also underscores the essential role of human experts in ensuring accuracy and cultural sensitivity. While future advancements in machine learning may one day replicate similar human capabilities, a combination of technology and skilled professionals remains crucial for bridging these communication gaps and providing equitable access to services for Deaf individuals