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This paper presents an innovative design and implementation of a wireless sensor module using low-power Internet of Things (IoT) technologies for applications in geotechnical engineering and structural diagnostics, with a main focus on monitoring rock formations below the water surface in areas without access to electrical power. Designed for continuous monitoring of linear displacements and other critical parameters in structural engineering, geotechnical engineering and engineering diagnostics, this sensor module is particularly useful in remote locations. Utilizing wireless data transmission and advanced IoT technologies such as LoRa, IQRF and NB-IoT, this system allows for flexible coverage options and efficient remote management. The system allows users to remotely change measurement parameters, the period of messaging and set thresholds for alarm activation. The study highlights the importance of innovative IoT solutions to improve accuracy and efficiency in monitoring geotechnical and civil engineering structures, especially in challenging sub-surface environments, opening new opportunities for predictive maintenance and risk management in these specific applications.

This study aimed to quantify the effects of physiological status (PS) and the potential interaction of this factor with days of pregnancy (DOP) on beef heifers’ weight variation, intake, and digestion kinetics. Twelve rumen-cannulated zebu beef heifers (n= 7 pregnant; n= 5 nonpregnant) were used. Heifers were placed in individual pens and fed medium-quality corn silage plus a protein-based supplement. Heifers’ body weight was assessed at the beginning and end of each collection period. The feed intake was measured daily. Target outcomes were evaluated at 107, 170, 208, 240, 267, and 286 DOP. The apparent total-tract digestibility was determined considering the fecal spot collection, during 5 d within each collection period. Omasal and ruminal digesta samples were collected at 107, 208, and 267 DOP for determination of partial digestibilities and diet component outflow. For these purposes, Co-EDTA and indigestible neutral detergent fiber (iNDF) were used as indicators. All data were analyzed using a mixed model framework, considering the PS and DOP as fixed effects and the animal as a random effect. Significant differences were declared when P≤ 0.05. Pregnant heifers showed an increase in body reserves (+35 kg) from 107 to 240 DOP, but experienced a decrease in shrunk body weight (−36 kg) from 240 to 286 DOP. The intake of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), and ash- and protein-free neutral detergent fiber (apNDF) increased as pregnancy progressed (P< 0.04). The apparent total-tract digestibility of DM tended to be lower (P= 0.09), and the apparent total-tract digestibility of apNDF was reduced (P< 0.01) in pregnant heifers. The digestibility of CP was higher (P< 0.01) on days 267 and 286 in pregnant cows compared to nonpregnant heifers. The ruminal digestibility of OM tended to be lower (P= 0.09) in pregnant beef heifers, while the ruminal digestibility of apNDF was lower (P= 0.02) in pregnant heifers compared to nonpregnant ones. The ruminal pool of wet matter and DM was lower (P≤ 0.01) in pregnant heifers at 267 DOP. In all periods, the outflow tended to be greater (P= 0.06) in pregnant heifers compared to nonpregnant heifers. Pregnant beef heifers exhibited a faster (P= 0.01) digesta passage rate during late gestation. In conclusion, late-gestating beef heifers are less efficient in extracting energy from feed compared to nonpregnant animals.During late pregnancy, beef heifers increase their passage rate to prevent a significant reduction in feed intake. However, this adjustment in passage rate results in reduced feed digestibility in the rumen.Gestation is a physiological condition characterized by a high demand for nutrients to support fetal development, particularly during the late stages of pregnancy. During this time, the ruminal capacity is limited due to the loss of space by the growing pregnant uterus, potentially affecting feed intake. However, in beef cows, it has been observed that the decrease in feed intake during late pregnancy is not proportional to the reduction in rumen capacity. This suggests the existence of compensatory mechanisms that prevent severe depression in feed intake and ensure adequate fetal development. In the current study, we investigated the kinetics and ruminal parameters in cannulated zebu beef heifers throughout the second third of gestation until the prepartum period, considering their physiological status (pregnant or not).

This case study deals with the design of a hybrid system for the prevention of thermal events in mining waste disposal sites and landfills. The overall design, real implementation, optimization, and experimental verification of the functionality of the entire system are described in detail. Both experimental platforms are built on the Internet of Things (long range wide area network (LoRaWAN) and Sigfox) basis and meet the conditions for autonomous long-term on-site monitoring. The data collected are periodically transmitted wirelessly to a database repository, which processes relevant parameters for the operators of dispatching workplaces. The study is focused on a combination of surface and depth measurement methods. The experimental results clearly confirm the functionality of the proposed solutions, which will enable timely interventions and elimination of underground and surface combustions. Thanks to centralized data collection, a unique database has also been created, which can be used for the implementation of prediction algorithms (based, for example, on machine learning or artificial intelligence).

TO THE EDITOR: The gratuitously violent title of Paul McHugh's article sets the tone for an unbalanced analysis of the Terri Schiavo case that typifies so much of the hyperbole [...]

A method to electroplate directly onto non-conductive plastics has been developed. The technology does not use precious metals to activate or electroless chemistries to produce the first conductive metallic layer. [...]

Can private companies legitimately regulate sharing markets, and if yes, how? Whereas scholars have either criticized sharing platforms for expanding into private and public arenas or welcomed them to counterbalance encroaching government regulations, studies document their unbridled popularity. On the basis of a special version of social contracts theory pioneered by James Buchanan, we develop a heuristics that helps guide reasoning about the legitimacy of the sharing economy’s regulatory function. First, we discuss the conditions under which free and responsible individuals deliberately subject themselves to rules without their prior direct participation, that is, exit, voice, and constitutional limits. Second, we suggest sharing platforms can use novel ordo-responsibilities to establish a sharing constitution that takes these conditions into account. Third, we argue that sharing platforms can legitimately do so within an enabling institutional environment in society, the provision of which relies on the joint efforts of sharing platforms, political actors, and civil society.

Issues concerning the Tax Court's 2000 decision in Rhone-Poulenc Surfactants and Specialties, L.P. v. Commissioner are examined, focusing on arguments that the decision violated the uniform treatment of partnership items under the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA) of 1982. Topics include the partnership statute of limitations under TEFRA; and the facts of the case, which concern the transfer of property from a corporation to a partnership and whether the transfer should be considered a nontaxable contribution or a taxable sale.

Computation of deficiency interest owed to the IRS appears to be a straightforward matter, but there are subtleties to determining the correct figure and tax practitioners should know them to decide if the IRS has overcharged deficiency interest. Overpayments of estimated tax and subsequent elected credits can affect deficiency interest. Foreign tax carrybacks need to be considered. Global netting, if approved, could significantly reduce deficiency interest. Global netting considers the net amount owed when taxes are owed in one year and refunded in another.

The paper is focused on the design of methods for classifying events on the protection fence. Two methods for the classification of data obtained from accelerometers based on LSTM neural networks are proposed. Own data sets are used for training and testing. The method of evaluation of individual methods using F-score is also described here. A hypothesis is formulated to compare the proposed methods, based on a comparison of the proposed methods based on the evaluation results. The proposed methods can be implemented directly into individual IoT sensor modules within monitoring systems.

Collateral estoppel should apply to the IRS commissioner if the factual issues at hand have been addressed by a court, even in cases where the taxpayer was not a party to the previous litigation. Cases involving legal, rather than factual, issues could still involve collateral estoppel applied to the commissioner if such a move can be made without violating US v. Mendoza. The commissioner should not be allowed to invoke collateral estoppel against taxpayers who were not parties in the relevant litigation.

The IRS should have the burden of proof in section 482 allocation of income cases, wherein theories differ from statutory notice to final case. This is illustrated in the Tax Court cases National Semiconductor v Commissioner, 1991-81 TC Memo and Yamaha Motor Corporation USA v Commissioner, 1992-110 TC Memo. Other issues for burden of proof include audit or pretrial limiting of a broad deficiency notice and section 7522 for explanations of adjustments by the IRS.

The search for new antimicrobials is imperative due to the emergent resistance of new microorganism strains. In this context, revisiting known classes like 8-hydroxyquinolines could be an interesting strategy to discover new agents. The 8-hydroxyquinoline derivatives nitroxoline and clioquinol are used to treat microbial infections; however, these drugs are underused, being available in few countries or limited to topical use. After years of few advances, in the last two decades, the potent activity of clioquinol and nitroxoline against several targets and the privileged structure of 8-hydroxyquinoline nucleus have prompted an increased interest in the design of novel antimicrobial, anticancer, and anti-Alzheimer agents based on this class. Herein, we discuss the current development and antimicrobial structure–activity relationships of this class in the perspective of using the 8-hydroxyquinoline nucleus for the search for novel antimicrobial agents. Furthermore, the most investigated molecular targets concerning 8-hydroxyquinoline derivatives are explored in the final section.

This article from Country Living magazine discusses a mixed berry flag pie recipe inspired by a bakery in Warwick, New York. The bakery owner, Leslie Noble, started her business by enticing travelers with hand-painted signs. The pie is made using her grandmother's old-fashioned techniques and is a popular summer treat. The article includes a recipe for the pie and tips for creating decorative edges on the pastry stripes. [Extracted from the article]

I appreciated Jacob Sullum's thoughtful and generally balanced review of Szasz. Under Fire ('Thomas Szasz Takes on His Critics,' May). But it is critical to distinguish Szaszian claims about the […]

Purpose: Public debates on the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are strongly influenced by the nongovernmental organization (NGO)-led advocacy, most of which is harshly critical of genetic engineering. This advocacy has resulted in discourse failures marked by the disregard for the scientific consensus on the risks and benefits of GMOs. This paper aims to present a theoretical inquiry into this phenomenon. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing on American institutionalism and Niklas Luhmann social systems theory, the paper explains these discourse failures in terms of the problematic relationship between institutions and technology. Findings: Clarence Ayres would likely see these discourse failures as a form of "institutional resistance" to the progress of science and technology. In contrast, Marc Tool's social value principle stresses the importance of democratic legitimation and public acceptance of new technologies, while being sensitive to the possibility of ideologically biased discourses. It is argued that the institutionalist understanding of the interplay between democracy, science and technology would benefit from a better account of Niklas Luhmann's concept of "complexity reduction". Social implications: The study shows that some NGOs are powerful enough to actively shape, if not manipulate, public attitudes and sentiments against GMOs. Originality/value: The case of the anti-GMO advocacy calls for a new conceptualization of how democracy, science and technology fit together. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In efforts to reduce misuse of opioids, new abuse deterrent formulations of medications have been developed. Insurers increasingly give abuse-deterrent opioid formulations preferred formulary status, which can result in required formulation rotation for patients. Xtampza® (oxycodone myristate extended-release) is an abuse-deterrent opioid formulation that maintains its extended-release properties with any physical manipulation. Blood levels of oxycodone myristate extended-release (OxyM-ER) may vary with dietary caloric and fat intake.Case Description: A woman with metastatic breast carcinoma had severe myalgias and arthralgias well-managed with oxycodone hydrochloride extended-release (OxyHCl-ER) and hydrocodone/acetaminophen. A switch from OxyHCl-ER to OxyM-ER resulted in worsened pain management, decreased functional status, and a referral to palliative care (PC). Recognizing calorie-depending pharmacokinetic variability with OxyM-ER, the interdisciplinary PC team obtained a detailed dietary history from the patient, which revealed a low-fat, low-calorie healthy diet with inconsistent meals. After repeated education, the patient changed her diet and had improved pain and functional status without increasing her total daily opioid dose.Conclusion: The efficacy of OxyM-ER may be compromised in patients with cancer experiencing anorexia, decreased or inconsistent food intake, or low-fat/low-calorie diets. An interdisciplinary team approach can improve pain control in the setting of “forced” formulary switches to OxyM-ER.

The idea of a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) has aroused fervent discussion recently. It is proposed as an effective tool to address the competitiveness loss and carbon leakage induced by unilateral carbon policies. Yet on the brink of this policy being rolled out, its ethical justification seems insufficiently clarified. CBAM implementation would provoke a huge fairness controversy. This paper illustrates the main ethical challenges impeding CBAM’s fairness perception. Two stand out in particular: The first is the lack of a global consensus on appropriate climate equity principles. This means that there is no basis for determining the fairness of CBAM’s burden shifting impact. The second is that CBAM is likely to undermine the procedural justice of the current quantity-oriented responsibility distribution regime under the Paris Agreement. We conclude that CBAM is not well-suited for solving the free-rider problem of the current climate change mitigation policies and emphasize that incentivizing innovation is key for an ambitious mitigation strategy.

Decreased intake is induced by stressors such as parturition, transportation, dietary transitions, and disease. An important function of one-carbon metabolism (OCM) is to produce the antioxidant glutathione to help reduce oxidative stress. Although various components of OCM are expressed in the bovine rumen and small intestine, the relationship between reduced feed intake, OCM, and antioxidant mechanisms in gut tissues is unknown. This study aimed to assess alterations in immune and antioxidant pathways in ruminal epithelium due to acute feed restriction (FR). Seven group-housed ruminally cannulated Angus steers (663 ± 73 kg body weight, 2 yr old) had ad libitum access to a finishing diet (dry-rolled corn, corn silage, modified wet distiller’s grains) during 15 d of a pre-FR period (PRE). Subsequently, steers were moved to a metabolism barn with tie stalls and individually fed at 25% of estimated intake in PRE for 3 d (FR period, FRP). This was followed by 15 d of recovery (POST) during which steers had ad libitum access to the same diet as in PRE and FRP. Plasma and ruminal tissue biopsies were collected during each period. Plasma free fatty acid and IL1-β concentrations were higher (P≤ 0.03) in FRP than PRE or POST. The mRNA abundance of the proinflammatory genes tumor necrosis factor, toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), and TLR4in the ruminal epithelium peaked (P< 0.05) at FRP and remained higher at POST. These responses agreed with the higher (P< 0.05) abundance of phosphorylated (p)-MAPK (an inflammation activator) and p-EEF2 (translational repressor) in FRP than PRE and POST. Although ruminal glutathione peroxidase (GPX) enzyme activity did not increase at FRP compared with PRE and POST, protein abundance of GPX1 and GPX3 along with the antioxidant response regulator NFE2L2 were highest (P< 0.01), and the activity of cystathionine-beta synthase tended (P = 0.06) to be highest during FR. Although FR had minimal negative effects on tissue integrity-related genes (only filamin A was downregulated), it led to a systemic inflammatory response and triggered inflammation and antioxidant mechanisms within the ruminal epithelium. Thus, deploying anti-inflammatory and antioxidant mechanisms via molecules that feed into OCM (e.g., dietary methyl donors such as methionine, choline, betaine, and folate) could potentially counteract the stressors associated with FR.Short-term feed restriction induces inflammation in the ruminal epithelium, which is counterbalanced by a strong antioxidant response via the one-carbon metabolism pathway.Heat stress, changing pens, transportation, and disease are stressors that often decrease feed intake. Undernutrition leads to physiological adaptations of which fat depot mobilization is especially important due to the effects of fatty acids on cell function including increased oxidative stress and inflammation. Ruminally cannulated Angus steers undergoing a 3-d feed restriction (FR) were used for ruminal papillae biopsies before, during, and after FR. Although mRNA abundance of most tissue integrity-related genes was not affected, tissue mRNA and protein abundance data revealed an inflammatory response and a more pronounced antioxidant response during FR. The latter was particularly evident by the marked upregulation of glutathione peroxidases and the activity of cystathionine β-synthase responsible for glutathione synthesis. Future studies should address the role of nutrients feeding into OCM and their potential to induce antioxidant responses.

Despite the existence of a number of studies investigating the effect of insect meal on the growth performance of broilers, knowledge about the metabolic effects of insect meal in broilers is still scarce. Thus, the present study investigated the effect of partial replacement of soybean meal with Hermetia illucens(HI) larvae meal on the liver transcriptome, the plasma metabolome, and the cecal microbiota in broilers. For the study, 72 male one-day-old Cobb 500 broilers were divided into three groups and fed 3 different diets with either 0% (HI0), 7.5% (HI7.5), or 15% (HI15) defatted HI meal for 35 d. Each group consisted of 6 cages (replicates) with 4 broilers/cage. While body weight (BW) gain, feed intake, and feed:gain ratio did not differ between groups, breast muscle weight, carcass yield, and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of 5 amino acids were higher in group HI15 than in group HI0 (P< 0.05). Indicators of α-diversity (Chao1 and Observed) in the cecal digesta were higher in groups HI15 and HI7.5 than in group HI0 (P< 0.05). The abundance of 5 families and 18 genera, all of which belonged to the Firmicutes phylum, in the cecal digesta differed among groups (P< 0.05). Concentrations of butyric acid, valeric acid, and isobutyric acid in the cecal digesta were lower in group HI15 than in the other 2 groups (P< 0.05), whereas those of total and other short-chain fatty acids were not different between groups. Liver transcriptomics revealed a total of 70 and 61 differentially expressed transcripts between groups HI15 vs. HI0 and between groups HI7.5 vs. HI0, respectively, (P< 0.05). Targeted metabolomics identified 138 metabolites, most of which were triglyceride species, being different between the 3 groups (FDR < 0.05). According to this study, dietary inclusion of HI larvae meal has no detrimental impact but increases breast muscle weight and carcass weight in broilers suggesting that HI larvae meal can be recommended as a sustainable alternative protein source for broilers.

Your symposium ('Is Free Speech Under Fire On Campus?' May/June 2016) was very instructive, within the framework of First Amendment rights and general civility. But I can't help wondering how [...]

Holy Healthcare As a Jewish physician, I was deeply gratified to see that Rabbi Fred S. Dobb (Reconstructionist) and Rabbi Yitz Greenberg (Modern Orthodox) specifically mention adequate health care as [...]

The paper deals with the description of the development and implementation of a complex monitoring system, which is used to monitor the condition of the protective fence installed above the railway track. The protective fence is used to capture falling rocks and other material from the slope above the track. In doing so, it fulfills a protective safety function against possible danger of passing trains from falling rocks. In a critical case, human health could also be endangered. The monitoring system is based on the use of accelerometer wireless sensors that are located at defined locations on the fence in the MESH network. IQRF technology is used. The data transfer is carried out using the GSM gateway to the SQL database. SW Grafana is used for data visualization.

Breger is right that colleges should not provide 'comfort zones' shielding students from views they might find distasteful or upsetting. But there are important Jewish values at stake in the [...]

As a psychiatrist, I was most impressed with the enlightened and humane responses given by your panel of rabbis on the matter of Judaism's view of psychiatry. Indeed, I would [...]

This article describes the implementation of wireless communication between the control unit and the remote device using IQRF technology. Together with the Node-RED programming tool, it creates a robust, efficient and reliable foundation for the Internet of Things. This paper shows how to quickly design a control system and an IQMESH network. The procedures in Node-RED are presented how to send, receive data, using the MQTT protocol or Http request. The result is a demo application that measures physical quantities of temperature, light intensity and value of a potentiometer. The entire implementation runs on the Raspberry Pi platform and on the IQRF technology, which provides the wireless communication within the IQMESH network.

The paper focuses on the design and implementation of a comprehensive monitoring system that allows long-term monitoring of selected environmental quantities especially in the interior of buildings and visualizing them using modern SW tools. The measured quantities in this case include CO2concentration, temperature, humidity and atmospheric pressure. The sensor part of the system uses Figaro CDM7160, Bosch BME280 and Microchip MCP9802 sensors. The IQMESH network is based on the advanced IQRF wireless technology that allows coverage of vast areas with the wireless monitoring system. Measured data from individual measurement modules is sent using Raspberry Pi or via commercial Internet gateways to native IQRF cloud storage. From there, it is forwarded through a script to a MySQL database running on the university www server, which subsequently provides for processing and visualization using the Grafana SW system.

The paper deals with the predictive control applied to flexible cogeneration energy system (FES). The FES was designed and developed by the VITKOVICE POWER ENGINEERING joint-stock company and represents a new solution of decentralized cogeneration energy sources. In FES, the heating medium is flue gas generated by combustion of a solid fuel. The heated medium is power gas, which is a gas mixture of air and water steam. Power gas is superheated in the main heat exchanger and led to gas turbines. To protect the main heat exchanger against damage by overheating, the novel predictive protective control based on the mathematical model of exchanger was developed. The paper describes the principle, the design and simulation of the predictive protective method applied to main heat exchanger of FES.