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Populations of two cladoceran species, Alona quadrangularis and Scapholeberis mucronata, were collected from a pond in Puyallup, Washington, and reared under controlled laboratory conditions. Life tables were developed for each species under the same environmental conditions and feeding regimen to develop basic demographic data. We also compared the major demographic parameters of these two wild species with those of several cladoceran species that are commonly used in laboratory research, Daphnia pulex, D. magna, and Ceriodaphnia dubia. Compared to A. quadrangularis, S. mucronata had a much higher net reproductive rate (R0), a longer generation time (T), but a similar intrinsic rate of increase (rm), similar finite rate of increase, similar doubling time (DT), and a lower birth rate (b). Both wild species had lower R0, shorter T, and higher b than in D. pulex, D. magna, and C. dubia. Results of this study showed that demographic rates differed between A. quadrangularis and S. mucronata, and differed from those reported for the other three laboratory species. These results suggest that data developed for commonly used cladoceran species in the laboratory should not be used to make generalizations about effects on wild species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of ordnance gelatine has been widespread in the field of ballistics as a simulant for soft tissue when assessing ballistic threats. However, the traditional method of preparing ordnance gelatine is time-consuming and requires precision to ensure that the final mold meets the required specifications. Furthermore, temperature control is necessary post-production, and there are limitations on its usage duration. To address these issues, manufacturers have developed pre-mixed, gelatine-like products that are stable at room temperature and require less preparation time. Nonetheless, it is uncertain whether these new products can perform in the same manner as the gold standard of ordnance gelatine. This study used five types of blocks, including ordnance gelatine (10% and 20%), Clear Ballistics (10% and 20%) and Perma-Gel (10%) and subjected them to 9 mm, 0.380 Auto fired from a universal receiver and a 5.56 × 45 mm ammunition fired by a certified firearms instructor. Delta-V and total energy dissipation were measured after each test using data collected from ballistic chronographs placed in front of and behind each block. High-speed video was recorded, and a cut-down analysis conducted. The findings revealed variations in energy dissipation and fissure formation within the block, with greater energy based on fissure formation observed in the ordnance gelatine. Additionally, the high-speed video showed the occurrence of secondary combustions occurring in the premixed gelatines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interpretable representations are the backbone of many explainers that target black-box predictive systems based on artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms. They translate the low-level data representation necessary for good predictive performance into high-level human-intelligible concepts used to convey the explanatory insights. Notably, the explanation type and its cognitive complexity are directly controlled by the interpretable representation, tweaking which allows to target a particular audience and use case. However, many explainers built upon interpretable representations overlook their merit and fall back on default solutions that often carry implicit assumptions, thereby degrading the explanatory power and reliability of such techniques. To address this problem, we study properties of interpretable representations that encode presence and absence of human-comprehensible concepts. We demonstrate how they are operationalised for tabular, image and text data; discuss their assumptions, strengths and weaknesses; identify their core building blocks; and scrutinise their configuration and parameterisation. In particular, this in-depth analysis allows us to pinpoint their explanatory properties, desiderata and scope for (malicious) manipulation in the context of tabular data where a linear model is used to quantify the influence of interpretable concepts on a black-box prediction. Our findings lead to a range of recommendations for designing trustworthy interpretable representations; specifically, the benefits of class-aware (supervised) discretisation of tabular data, e.g., with decision trees, and sensitivity of image interpretable representations to segmentation granularity and occlusion colour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conventional UV-C (254 nm) inactivation technologies have limitations and potential operator-safety risk. To overcome these disadvantages, novel UV-C light-emitting diodes (LED) are developed and investigated for their performance. This study aimed to determine the inactivation of human norovirus (HuNoV) surrogates, Tulane virus (TV), and feline calicivirus (FCV-F9), by UV-C (254 nm) in comparison to UV-C LED (279 nm) in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) and coconut water (CW). Five-hundred microliters of FCV-F9 (~ 5 log plaque forming units (PFU)/mL) or TV (~ 6 log PFU/mL) were added to 4.5 mL PBS or CW in continuously stirred glass beakers and exposed to 254 nm UV-C for 0 up to 15 min (maximum dosage of 33.89 mJ/cm2) or 279 nm UV-C LED for 0 up to 2.5 min (maximum dosage of 7.03 mJ/cm2). Recovered viruses were assayed in duplicate from each treatment replicated thrice. Mixed model analysis of variance was used for data analysis. Significantly lower D10 values were obtained in PBS and CW (p ≤ 0.05) for both tested viruses using UV-C LED (279 nm) where FCV-F9 showed D10 values of 7.08 ± 1.75 mJ/cm2 and 3.75 ± 0.11 mJ/cm2, while using UV-C (254 nm) showed D10 values of 13.81 ± 0.40 mJ/cm2 and 6.43 ± 0.44 mJ/cm2 in PBS and CW, respectively. Similarly, lower D10 values were obtained for TV of 3.91 ± 1.03 mJ/cm2 and 4.26 ± 1.02 mJ/cm2 with 279 nm UV-C LED and were 18.76 ± 3.16 mJ/cm2 and 10.21 ± 1.48 mJ/cm2 with 254 nm UV-C in PBS and CW, respectively. Viral resistance to these treatments was fluid-matrix dependent. These findings indicate that use of 279 nm UV-C LED is more effective in inactivating HuNoV surrogates than conventional 254 nm UV-C in the tested fluids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Ecology & Rural Environment is the property of Journal of Ecology & Rural Environment Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Advance care planning (ACP) supports individuals in aligning their medical care with personal values and preferences in the face of serious illness. The variety of ACP tools available reflects diverse strategies intended to facilitate these critical conversations, yet evaluations of their effectiveness often show mixed results. Following the Arskey and O'Malley framework, this scoping review aims to synthesize the range of ACP tools targeted at patients and families, highlighting their characteristics and delivery methods to better understand their impact and development over time. Studies included focused on patient-facing ACP tools across all settings and mediums. Exclusions were applied to studies solely targeting healthcare providers or those only aiming at completion of advance directives without broader ACP discussions. Searches were conducted across PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, The Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. Data were extracted using a predesigned spreadsheet, capturing study population, setting, intervention modality, and intervention theme. Tools were categorized by delivery method and further analyzed through a year-wise distribution to track trends and developments. We identified 99 unique patient-facing tools, with those focusing on counseling (31) and video technologies (21) being the most prevalent while others incorporated online platforms, print materials, games, or some combination of different delivery methods. Over half the tools were designed for specific patient groups, especially for various diseases and racial or ethnic communities. Recent years showed a surge in tool variety and innovation, including integrated patient portals and psychological techniques. The review demonstrates a broad array of innovative ACP tools that facilitate personalized and effective ACP. Our findings contribute to an enhanced understanding of their utilization and potential impacts, offering valuable insights for future tool development and policy making in ACP. Plain language summary: Scanning the landscape of tools to assist patients with advance care planning This review investigates the variety of tools, programs, and interventions designed to help patients plan their healthcare in advance, a process known as advance care planning (ACP). ACP is crucial because it ensures individuals receive medical care aligned with their wishes, especially during serious illness or near the end of life. Our study gathered information from various sources, focusing on tools aimed directly at patients and their families. We found 99 unique tools that assist in ACP, including individual counseling sessions, video-based tools, and digital platforms. Some tools are designed specifically for certain patient groups, such as those with particular diseases or belonging to diverse racial and ethnic communities. Our review highlights the recent surge in the variety and innovation of these tools, such as integrated patient portals and methods incorporating psychological techniques, suggesting a growing effort to make ACP more accessible and tailored to individual needs. However, despite this variety, more research is needed to understand how these tools impact healthcare outcomes and how they can be effectively implemented in different care settings. Our findings aim to guide future development of ACP tools, improve their integration into healthcare practices, and ensure they meet the diverse needs of patients and families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Personality traits, specifically neuroticism, are related to stress in surrogate decision-makers (SDMs) in outpatient settings. We hypothesized that intrinsic traits are related to SDM stress in the intensive care unit (ICU) to determine if personality considerations should be included in interventions to support SDMs. Methods: Eligible participants (adult SDMs of non-capacitated ICU patients) completed validated questionnaires including stress (Impact of Events Scale-Revised, IES-R) and personality (Big Five Inventory, BFI) within 72 hours of ICU admission and again at 3 months post-ICU discharge (in addition to a qualitative interview). Bivariate Pearson correlations explored the relationship between BFI and IES-R at each time point (95% CI) and t-tests explored the relationship between stress and COVID-19. Mixed-methods analysis integrated qualitative and quantitative data. Results: Of 32 SDMs, 71.9% were female, 93.8% white, and 97.0% were family members. Neuroticism was not significantly correlated to IES-R at 72 hours (r = 0.09; p = 0.64), but r increased 3 months post-discharge (r = 0.32; p = 0.07). Other BFI traits did not show similar patterns. Total stress was greater in surrogates of COVID-19-positive patients (COVID-19-positive: 60.6; COVID-19-negative: 49.8; p = 0.025). Mixed-methods analysis demonstrated that participants with high neuroticism scores had poorer emotional regulation than those with low neuroticism scores. Conclusions: This study supports that personality, particularly neuroticism, influences the stress of SDMs in the ICU. Further study of personality traits may identify surrogates who are at higher risk of stress-related disorders, which can guide future interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation of flagship and umbrella species has popular support and benefits coexistent species. We investigated whether the Caribbean sharpnose shark Rhizoprionodon porosus gathers necessary attributes of a 'flagship umbrella' species in the region of the Artificial Reef Complex of Guaxindiba (ARCG), southeastern Brazil. To do so, we compared fish community in areas and periods with and without this species, including areas with artificial reefs (ARs) and control areas (CAs); we combined these data with interviews with fishers. Ichthyofauna richness and abundance were higher in co-occurrence with the Caribbean sharpnose shark mainly in ARs. Thus, from an ecological standpoint, this shark can be considered an umbrella species. Moreover, this species raised awareness among fishers for conservation, mainly because of its commercial value and risk of losing their income, characterizing it as a flagship species. Therefore, it is recommended that sharks become symbols in conservation actions aiming the sustainability of the ARCG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Perspectives on Culture / Perspektywy Kultury is the property of Jesuit University Ignatianum in Krakow and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Human surrogates have long been employed to simulate human behaviour, beginning in the automotive industry and now widely used throughout the safety framework to estimate human injury during and after accidents and impacts. In the specific context of blunt ballistics, various methods have been developed to investigate wound injuries, including tissue simulants such as clays or gelatine ballistic, physical dummies and numerical models. However, all of these surrogate entities must be biofidelic, meaning they must accurately represent the biological properties of the human body. This paper provides an overview of physical and numerical surrogates developed specifically for blunt ballistic impacts, including their properties, use and applications. The focus is on their ability to accurately represent the human body in the context of blunt ballistic impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a collection of two editorials from the journal Critical Care Medicine. The first editorial discusses the psychosocial outcomes experienced by family caregivers of critically ill patients in the ICU. The authors conducted a longitudinal observational study to identify risk factors for poor psychosocial outcomes among bereaved families. They found that individuals in certain classes of perceived quality of dying and death reported more depressive symptoms, lower mental health-related quality of life, and higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder. The second editorial focuses on ICU-acquired weakness (ICUAW), a condition that affects a significant percentage of critically ill patients. The authors discuss the potential causes and mechanisms of ICUAW and highlight the importance of reducing sedation and promoting early mobilization as strategies to improve patient outcomes. [Extracted from the article]

Aims This study aimed to compare the heat inactivation kinetics of viable human norovirus with the surrogate, MS2 bacteriophage as well as assess the decay of the RNA signal. Methods and results Human intestinal enteroids were used to analyze the heat inactivation kinetics of viable human norovirus compared to the surrogate MS2 bacteriophage, which was cultured using a plaque assay. Norovirus decay rates were 0.22 min−1, 0.68 min−1, and 1.11 min−1 for 50°C, 60°C, and 70°C, respectively, and MS2 bacteriophage decay rates were 0.0065 min−1, 0.045 min−1, and 0.16 min−1 for 50°C, 60°C, and 70°C, respectively. Norovirus had significantly higher decay rates than MS2 bacteriophage at all tested temperatures (P  = .002–.007). No decrease of RNA titers as measured by reverse transcription-PCR for both human norovirus and MS2 bacteriophage over time was observed, indicating molecular methods do not accurately depict viable human norovirus after heat inactivation and treatment efficiency is underestimated. Conclusions Overall, our data demonstrate that MS2 bacteriophage is a conservative surrogate to measure heat inactivation and potentially overestimates the infectious risk of norovirus. Furthermore, this study corroborates that measuring viral RNA titers, as evaluated by PCR methods, does not correlate with the persistence of viable norovirus under heat inactivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater reclamation and reuse have the potential to supplement water supplies, offering resiliency in times of drought and helping meet increased water demands associated with population growth. Non-potable water reuse represents the largest potential reuse market. Yet economic constraints for new water reuse infrastructure and safety concerns due to microbial water quality, and especially viral pathogen exposure, limit widespread implementation of water reuse. Cost-effective, real-time methods to measure or indicate viral quality of recycled water would do much to instill greater confidence in the practice. This manuscript discusses advancements in monitoring and modeling of viral health risks in the context of water reuse. First, we describe the current wastewater reclamation processes and treatment technologies with an emphasis on virus removal. Second, we review technologies for the measurement of viruses, both culture- and molecular-based, along with their advantages and disadvantages. We introduce promising viral surrogates and specific pathogenic viruses that can serve as indicators of viral risk for water reuse. We suggest metagenomic analyses for viral screening and flow cytometry for quantification of virus-like particles as new approaches to complement more traditional methods. Third, we describe modeling to assess health risks through quantitative microbial risk assessments (QMRAs), the most common strategy to couple data on virus concentrations with human exposure scenarios. We then explore the potential of artificial neural networks (ANNs) to incorporate suites of data from wastewater treatment processes, water quality parameters, and viral surrogates. We recommend ANNs as a means to utilize existing water quality data, alongside new complementary measures of viral quality, to achieve cost-effective strategies to assess risks associated with infectious human viruses in recycled water. Given the review, we conclude that technologies are ready for identifying and implementing viral surrogates for health risk reduction in the next decade. Incorporating modeling with monitoring data would likely result in more robust assessment of water reuse risk.

Biodiversity loss is a global issue, particularly in mountain regions, where land-use/land-cover and climate change dramatically impact on species and communities. Sound ecological research and up-to-date information on biodiversity are needed to support conservation efforts. However, this information is often difficult and costly to obtain. Therefore, bioindicators serve as surrogates to provide information on the entire biocenosis. Birds are considered excellent bioindicators as they occupy different ecological niches and trait spaces.We present a study about the efficiency of birds as bioindicators for the diversity of other taxa in a mountain region in the Central Alps. We surveyed bird communities at 115 sites across a gradient of different grasslands and crops and compared them with the diversity of other taxa (bats, butterflies, grasshoppers, arachnids, and vascular plants). We aimed to identify indicator bird species for grasslands and crops, to assess cross-community concordance between birds and other taxa, and to model the efficiency of bird indices and indicator species as bioindicators of the diversity across habitat types and taxa.We identified indicator bird species for different grassland and crop types and found that efficiency of bird indices and single species varied for habitat types and taxa. We highlight the importance of using carefully selected bioindicators in biodiversity monitoring and conservation planning, and the need for an integrated and interdisciplinary approach for biodiversity research. Moreover, by looking at a combination of different indices we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of ecosystem functioning. We also provide a framework for the use of bird-based monitoring programs and bird-derived indices to guide biodiversity conservation, and emphasise the importance of incorporating different bioindicators into biodiversity research and monitoring to provide a more comprehensive understanding of ecological biodiversity patterns and trends.

Objectives: This study was designed to understand the experience and needs surrounding advance care planning (ACP) discussions for surrogate decision-makers of persons with advanced dementia (PWAD). Methods: Semi-structured qualitative interviews based on end-of-life communication models with a convenience sample of 17 clinicians, and 15 surrogates of PWAD. We used a hybrid approach of deductive and inductive thematic analysis. Results: Two main themes emerged. 1)Deficits in communication: Often surrogates did not fully comprehend the disease trajectory or medical treatments, like the likelihood of pneumonia and use of mechanical ventilation, nor concepts related to ACP, particularly legal documents and orders such as Do Not Hospitalize, which made decision-making challenging as perceived by clinicians. 2)Decision-making conflicts: Clinicians perceived a disconnect between surrogates' understanding of their loved one's preferences and knowing how or when to operationalize them. Conclusions: Significant gaps in knowledge surrounding disease trajectory and complications, such as pneumonia, and aspects of ACP, exist. These gaps create decision-making challenges for surrogates and clinicians alike. Innovation: This study assessed both clinicians and surrogate decision-makers' perspectives on communication and decision-making concerning care preferences, goals, and ACP. The study findings from a national cohort can inform decision-support interventions for clinicians and surrogate decision-makers of PWAD.

Decision‐making capacity describes the ability to make a particular decision at a given time. People with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and mild stage dementia typically experience an associated erosion of their decisional abilities. Many could be said to have marginal capacity. These individuals are in a liminal space between adequate and inadequate capacity. Too often, marginal capacity is overlooked as a category: individuals are classified either as having capacity and being able to make decisions independently or as lacking capacity and needing a surrogate to make decisions for them. These approaches can, respectively, result in under‐ or overprotection of individuals with marginal capacity. A promising alternative approach is supported decision making. In supported decision making, a person with marginal capacity identifies a trusted person or network of persons to aid them in making their own decisions. Supported decision making is recognized by law in a growing number of states; it is important for geriatricians to be familiar with the concept, as they are increasingly likely to encounter it in their practice. Even in states where supported decision making is not formally recognized, it can be practiced informally, helping patients, care partners, and clinicians strike an appropriate balance between respecting autonomy and recognizing vulnerability. In this article, we describe supported decision making, discuss its ethical and legal foundations, and identify steps by which geriatricians can incorporate it into their practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a standard procedure in medical imaging, on a par with echography and tomodensitometry. In contrast to radiological procedures, no harmful radiation is produced. The constant development of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques has enabled the production of higher resolution images. The switching of magnetic field gradients for MRI imaging generates induced voltages that strongly interfere with the electrophysiological signals (EPs) collected simultaneously. When the bandwidth of the collection amplifiers is higher than 150 Hz, these induced voltages are difficult to eliminate. Understanding the behavior of these artefacts contributes to the development of new digital processing tools for better quality EPs. In this paper, we present a study of induced voltages collected in vitro using a device (350 Hz bandwidth). The experiments were conducted on a 1.5T MRI machine with two MRI sequences (fast spin echo (FSE) and cine gradient echo (CINE)) and three slice orientations. The recorded induced voltages were then segmented into extract patterns called "artefact puffs". Two analysis series, "global" and "local", were then performed. The study found that the temporal and frequency characteristics were specific to the sequences and orientations of the slice and that, despite the pseudo-periodic character of the artefacts, the variabilities within the same recording were significant. These evolutions were confirmed by two stationarity tests: the Kwiatkowski–Phillips–Schmidt–Shin (KPSS) and the time-frequency approach. The induced potentials, all stationary at the global scale, are no longer stationary at the local scale, which is an important issue in the design of optimal filters adapted to reduce MRI artifacts contaminating a large bandwidth, which varies between 0 and 500 Hz. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the adequacy of radial basis function (RBF)-based models as surrogates in uncertainty quantification (UQ) and CFD shape optimization; for the latter, problems with and without uncertainties are considered. In UQ, these are used to support the Monte Carlo, as well as, the non-intrusive, Gauss Quadrature and regression-based polynomial chaos expansion methods. They are applied to the flow around an isolated airfoil and a wing to quantify uncertainties associated with the constants of the γ − R ˜ e θ t transition model and the surface roughness (in the 3D case); it is demonstrated that the use of the RBF-based surrogates leads to an up to 50% reduction in computational cost, compared with the same UQ method that uses CFD computations. In shape optimization under uncertainties, solved by stochastic search methods, RBF-based surrogates are used to compute statistical moments of the objective function. In applications with geometric uncertainties which are modeled through the Karhunen–Loève technique, the use on an RBF-based surrogate reduces the turnaround time of an evolutionary algorithm by orders of magnitude. In this type of applications, RBF networks are also used to perform mesh displacement for the perturbed geometries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Despite its prominence in psychology, little is known about how personality traits play a role in the stress experiences of surrogate decision-makers. We tested the hypothesis that intrinsic traits (personality and decision-making styles) would be related to surrogates' stress in order to learn whether screening or tailoring interventions based on personality traits could help support surrogate decision-makers. Methods: This pre-specified secondary analysis evaluated data from an interventional study with dyads of patients with advanced chronic illness and their spokespersons. Measures included stress after decision-making or patient death (Impact of Events-Revised), personality (Big Five Index; BFI) and decision-making style (maximization and regret scales). Multivariate linear regressions explored the impact of personality on the stress experience; linear regressions independently modeled the impact of maximization and regret on the stress experience. Results: Of 38 spokespersons, 89.5% were women, 97.4% non-Hispanic, and 29.0% had a college degree or higher. In univariate analyses, total stress was correlated with neuroticism (r =.56, P <.01), higher scores on the regret (r =.55, P <.01) and maximization (r =.48, P <.05). In adjusted models, BFI was significantly associated with total stress (R2 = 27.08, P =.02). However, only neuroticism was independently associated with total stress. Conclusions: Personality traits, particularly neuroticism, and decision-making styles predicted heightened stress in spokespersons of patients with advanced chronic illness. If ACP interventions are intended to reduce spokesperson stress, personality and decision-making style scales may help identify spokespersons most likely to benefit from ACP interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To examine surrogates' mental health, social support, and relationship with intended parents (IPs) during the COVID-19 pandemic from March 2020 to February 2022. Methods: Data were collected between April 29, 2022 and July 31, 2022, at an academic IVF center in Canada using an 85-item online anonymous cross-sectional survey that included three standardized scales measuring mental health (PHQ-4), loneliness, and social support. Eligible surrogates actively involved in surrogacy during the study period received email invitations. Results: The response rate was 50.3% (338/672); 320 submitted surveys were analyzed. Two-thirds (65%) of respondents experienced mental health concerns during the pandemic and were significantly less comfortable about seeking mental health support than those without concerns. Nonetheless, 64% were highly satisfied with their surrogacy experience; 80% received a high level of support from their IPs, and 90% reported a good relationship with them. The final hierarchical regression model identified five significant predictors, explaining 39.4% of the variance in PHQ-4 scores: a prior mental health history, COVID-19 impact on personal life, surrogacy satisfaction, loneliness, and social support. Conclusions: COVID-19 created an unprecedented challenge to surrogacy care, increasing surrogates' risk of experiencing mental health symptoms. Our data show that IP support and the surrogate-IP relationship were fundamentals to surrogacy satisfaction. The findings are relevant to fertility and mental health practitioners in identifying surrogates who are more susceptible to mental health challenges. Fertility clinics should ensure adequate psychological screening of surrogate candidates and proactively offer mental health support services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of surrogates in biodiversity assessments has been widely accepted in the recent years. Surrogates are taxonomic groups that indicate the overall biodiversity at a particular site. Zooplankton is an important component of the aquatic ecosystem, playing a major role in energy transfer between the phytoplankton or producers and the consumers at higher trophic levels. In this study zooplanktons were considered as surrogates for biomonitoring status of two aquatic bodies amidst urban landscape at the southern fringes of Kolkata, West Bengal, India through different seasons. Zooplankton diversity and abundance was found to vary with seasons in both the ponds in correlation with limnological parameters. Pond 1 was found to be larger in size, having partial macrophyte cover in comparison with Pond 2 which is smaller and devoid of any macrophyte cover over the study period. The Pond 1 elucidated higher diversity of zooplankton having higher water pH and phosphate concentration and less nitrite concentration. Pond 2 elaborated less zooplankton diversity with lower pH, less phosphate and higher nitrite concentration. Diversity and abundance of zooplankton surrogates provided valuable information about the status of water bodies amidst urban landscape and can be utilised as a tool for biomonitoring.

The development of simplified surrogate mixtures able to replicate combustion-related behaviors of chemically complex fuels is essential for their simulation with computational tools, a key step towards the design of high-efficiency and low-emission combustion applications. This work proposes to use the isolated droplet configuration as a benchmark to formulate and validate surrogates that capture the vaporization and soot production characteristics of a first-fill diesel and a diesel-biodiesel mixture. To that end, droplet vaporization experiments and a multicomponent model were coupled to produce blends matching the evaporation behavior, whereas the soot tendency was incorporated through tests at the ASTM D1322 smoke point lamp and the Oxygen Extended Sooting Index (OESI). The so-obtained surrogate blends were subsequently validated for both characteristics. Their evaporation curves proved to match remarkably well those obtained for the target fuels, with noticeable improvements when increasing the number of compounds in the mixture. As for the sooting behavior, the proposed blends achieved a good emulation in terms of the design parameter (OESI), confirming the validity of the proposed methodology. On the other hand, an additional and independent validation of the sooting propensity through the quantification of the mass of soot produced by isolated droplets under a high-temperature and reducing atmosphere revealed significantly higher soot yields for the surrogates when compared to the target fuels. These results highlight the relevance of the configuration used when designing and validating surrogates, since the same blends can provide substantial differences when evaluated through different sooting indices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research with adults who cannot give informed consent has important social value. However, enrolling adults who cannot consent in research raises significant ethical concerns. Methods: To evaluate how researchers in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) can assess individuals’ decisional capacity, and the conditions under which it is appropriate, and the conditions under which it is not appropriate to include individuals who lack decisional capacity. Results: In LMICs, where resources may be limited, implementing protections for adults with decisional incapacity can be especially challenging. Recognition of the ethical concerns, and awareness of the circumstances and available resources, offers the means to protect these vulnerable participants. Conclusions: Researchers in low and middle-income countries should be aware of steps they can take to ensure appropriate protections for subjects with decisional impairments while conducting clinical trials on methods to improve their clinical care.

In the 21st century, trauma injury due to direct head impact in accidents and collisions or blast exposure is the most important research area, which is poorly understood to date. Due to ethical and biosafety concerns, limited studies have reported on the experimental research on brain tissue and have investigated the mechanics and mechanical properties of human brain tissue. In this work, novel surrogates were fabricated using a castable and low-cost material system to imitate the mechanical behavior of the human brain tissue. The tissue surrogates were developed through iterative mixing of a four-part polymeric material at specific ratios to mimic the mechanical properties of the natural human brain tissue. The tissue surrogates were tested at six different displacement rates (low to high) to simulate a range of loading scenarios. Hyperelastic material models were employed to characterize the non-linear behavior of the fabricated brain tissue surrogates. Such tissue surrogates with precisely characterized mechanical properties would be beneficial for studying a wide range of traumatic brain injuries and simulating brain surgeries for training purposes.

Abstract Population-scale expression profiling studies can provide valuable insights into biological and disease-underlying mechanisms. The availability of phenotypic traits is essential for studying clinical effects. Therefore, missing, incomplete, or inaccurate phenotypic information can make analyses challenging and prevent RNA-seq or other omics data to be reused. A possible solution are predictors that infer clinical or behavioral phenotypic traits from molecular data. While such predictors have been developed based on different omics data types and are being applied in various studies, metabolomics-based surrogates are less commonly used than predictors based on DNA methylation profiles.In this study, we inferred 17 traits, including diabetes status and exposure to lipid medication, using previously trained metabolomic predictors. We evaluated whether these metabolomic surrogates can be used as an alternative to reported information for studying the respective phenotypes using expression profiling data of four population cohorts. For the majority of the 17 traits, the metabolomic surrogates performed similarly to the reported phenotypes in terms of effect sizes, number of significant associations, replication rates, and significantly enriched pathways.The application of metabolomics-derived surrogate outcomes opens new possibilities for reuse of multi-omics data sets. In studies where availability of clinical metadata is limited, missing or incomplete information can be complemented by these surrogates, thereby increasing the size of available data sets. Additionally, the availability of such surrogates could be used to correct for potential biological confounding. In the future, it would be interesting to further investigate the use of molecular predictors across different omics types and cohorts.

The effect of human activities on the suppression of biodiversity is visibly evident throughout the world. Monitoring and conservation services are usually expensive in terms of time and money, and potential savings in these areas are always welcome. The higher-taxon approach has been used as a possible alternative to overcome these impediments. However, there is little information about the effect of sample size on the effectiveness of the higher-taxon approach, mainly with empirical data. Using an extensive database, which compiles information on the distribution of ants between the years 1886 and 2020, I verified the effect of sample size on the predictive power of the higher-taxon approach in Brazil. I evaluated the effect of sample size on the predictive power of the Genus and Subfamily to represent species richness and composition at the spatial scales of State and Biomes. The associations between coarser taxonomic units and species-level are strong at both spatial scales, with metrics of richness and composition. In general, the genus has the results with the highest coefficients regardless of spatial scales. The sample size effect was sporadic and did not dramatically affect the effectiveness of the surrogates. Regardless of the possible biases that data compiled from the literature and taxonomic collections may have due to lack of standardization, coarser taxonomic units (Genus and Subfamily) were efficient predictors of species-level in Brazilian states and biomes. It reinforces the potential to save costs in monitoring and conserving ant biodiversity in a wide space-environmental gradient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops a new framework, called modular regression, to utilize auxiliary information -- such as variables other than the original features or additional data sets -- in the training process of linear models. At a high level, our method follows the routine: (i) decomposing the regression task into several sub-tasks, (ii) fitting the sub-task models, and (iii) using the sub-task models to provide an improved estimate for the original regression problem. This routine applies to widely-used low-dimensional (generalized) linear models and high-dimensional regularized linear regression. It also naturally extends to missing-data settings where only partial observations are available. By incorporating auxiliary information, our approach improves the estimation efficiency and prediction accuracy upon linear regression or the Lasso under a conditional independence assumption for predicting the outcome. For high-dimensional settings, we develop an extension of our procedure that is robust to violations of the conditional independence assumption, in the sense that it improves efficiency if this assumption holds and coincides with the Lasso otherwise. We demonstrate the efficacy of our methods with simulated and real data sets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risks to gestational surrogates became a concern for public health. In commercial gestational surrogacy arrangements, gestational surrogates are commonly recruited from low- to middle-income countries. Thailand is well known as a surrogacy hub in this regard. However, little is known concerning Thai surrogacy practice and the risks that Thai gestational surrogates experiences. The semi-structured interviews with fifteen Thai women who had been gestational surrogates were conducted over the telephone in Thai between March and May 2020 and lasted approximately 30 minutes. Thematic analysis was applied to analyse the translated interviews. The findings indicated that 'womb for work' was perceived as a surrogacy career among Thai women. 'Womb for work' was defined as a superordinate theme that consisted of three subthemes: (i) gestational surrogacy arrangements in Thailand; (ii) the business model of gestational surrogacy arrangements in Thailand; and (iii) risk experiences of gestational surrogates. Clear deficiencies in surrogacy practice and regulations were identified, which put gestational surrogates at risk, including those associated with embryo transfer, transnational gestational surrogacy, and unsupported pregnancies. This study shows the urgent need to introduce regulations to protect women's health transnationally in this domain more effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apex predators, such as raptors, are used as surrogates to attain conservation objectives; however, their presence in a particular area does not necessarily mean long-term occurrence. Here we used data on long-lasting (20–40 years) territories of two generalist raptors: the diurnal Northern goshawk and the nocturnal Ural owl in deciduous and coniferous forests of southern Poland to assess their role as hotspots of bird diversity. Species richness and abundance of birds were much higher in the long-lasting territories of both apex predators than in random never-occupied sites and this pattern was common for breeding and wintering periods. These differences were more pronounced in deciduous than coniferous stands. Rare bird species (e.g., annexed in the Bird Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the conservation of wild birds such as some woodpeckers and flycatchers) were found to be particularly associated with long-lasting territories of raptors. Long-lasting territories were also characterized by greater forest habitat quality (e.g., higher number of old trees and deadwood) with lower management intensity. These results strongly point to the role of long-lasting territories of raptors as surrogates of biodiversity. Such territories, if known in forests, could be excellent for the designation of protected areas or logging there should at least be reduced to allow for the continuous breeding of apex predators and associated bird assemblages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Surrogacy using assisted reproductive technology is increasingly popular. • Surrogates have medium to high education, are employed and have independent income. • Surrogates have medium socio-economic status and above-average income. • Women state that their primary motivation for becoming a surrogate is prosocial. • Women become surrogates of their own free will. What is the profile of women in the USA who become surrogates, and what is their power of decision and motivations? This quantitative study was performed with 231 participants in the USA, given the country's long history of surrogacy, to help clarify the profile of women who become surrogates, their power of decision and motivations. Descriptive and multivariate cluster analyses showed that women who become surrogates earn above the average income for their state of residency, have a high level of education, have health insurance, are employed, and decide to become a surrogate for prosocial/altruistic reasons. In contrast to the premise of both radical feminism and ultra-conservative Catholicism, this study found that altruism and empathy are the primary motivations for participating in surrogacy processes, and that a woman's decision to become a surrogate is not motivated by social conditioning relating to poverty or social status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shape design and optimization of bluff decks prone to aeroelastic phenomena require emulating the fluid-structure interaction parameters as a function of the body shape and the oscillation frequency. This is particularly relevant for long- and medium-span bridges equipped with single-box decks that are far from being considered streamlined and for other girder typologies such as traditional truss decks and modern twin- and multi-box decks. The success of aero-structural design frameworks, which are inherently iterative, relies on the efficient and accurate numerical evaluation of the wind-induced responses. This study proposes emulating the fluid-structure interaction parameters of bluff decks using surrogate modeling techniques to integrate them into aero-structural optimization frameworks. The surrogate is trained with data extracted from forced-vibration CFD simulations of a typical single-box girder to emulate the values of the flutter derivatives as a function of the deck shape and reduced velocity. The focus is on deck configurations ranging from streamlined to bluff cross-sections and on low reduced velocities to capture eventual aerodynamic nonlinearities. The girder cross-section geometry is tailored based on its buffeting performance. This design tool is fundamental to finding the optimum balance between the structural and aeroelastic requirements that drive the design of bluff deck bridges. • A computational method for the aero-structural design of bluff decks is proposed. • An aeroelastic emulator enables deck shape variations including bluff geometries. • CFD simulations of force vibrations are used to extract the 18 flutter derivatives. • The sampling plan focuses on low reduced velocities to capture nonlinear aerodynamics. • A buffeting-resistant deck shape tailoring shows the performance of the methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a standard procedure in medical imaging, on a par with echography and tomodensitometry. In contrast to radiological procedures, no harmful radiation is produced. The constant development of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques has enabled the production of higher resolution images. The switching of magnetic field gradients for MRI imaging generates induced voltages that strongly interfere with the electrophysiological signals (EPs) collected simultaneously. When the bandwidth of the collection amplifiers is higher than 150 Hz, these induced voltages are difficult to eliminate. Understanding the behavior of these artefacts contributes to the development of new digital processing tools for better quality EPs. In this paper, we present a study of induced voltages collected in vitro using a device (350 Hz bandwidth). The experiments were conducted on a 1.5T MRI machine with two MRI sequences (fast spin echo (FSE) and cine gradient echo (CINE)) and three slice orientations. The recorded induced voltages were then segmented into extract patterns called “artefact puffs”. Two analysis series, “global” and “local”, were then performed. The study found that the temporal and frequency characteristics were specific to the sequences and orientations of the slice and that, despite the pseudo-periodic character of the artefacts, the variabilities within the same recording were significant. These evolutions were confirmed by two stationarity tests: the Kwiatkowski–Phillips–Schmidt–Shin (KPSS) and the time-frequency approach. The induced potentials, all stationary at the global scale, are no longer stationary at the local scale, which is an important issue in the design of optimal filters adapted to reduce MRI artifacts contaminating a large bandwidth, which varies between 0 and 500 Hz.

This paper investigates the adequacy of radial basis function (RBF)-based models as surrogates in uncertainty quantification (UQ) and CFD shape optimization; for the latter, problems with and without uncertainties are considered. In UQ, these are used to support the Monte Carlo, as well as, the non-intrusive, Gauss Quadrature and regression-based polynomial chaos expansion methods. They are applied to the flow around an isolated airfoil and a wing to quantify uncertainties associated with the constants of the γ−R˜eθt transition model and the surface roughness (in the 3D case); it is demonstrated that the use of the RBF-based surrogates leads to an up to 50% reduction in computational cost, compared with the same UQ method that uses CFD computations. In shape optimization under uncertainties, solved by stochastic search methods, RBF-based surrogates are used to compute statistical moments of the objective function. In applications with geometric uncertainties which are modeled through the Karhunen–Loève technique, the use on an RBF-based surrogate reduces the turnaround time of an evolutionary algorithm by orders of magnitude. In this type of applications, RBF networks are also used to perform mesh displacement for the perturbed geometries.

There is a general concept of ancient beer styles brewed in the Czech Republic and in German speaking countries. It should be considered that some opinions are based on real facts, while others need to be modified. These views come mainly from romantic and pioneering research articles of the 19th century. Nowadays, old prints, dealing with brewing specialization since the 16th century, can be easily used as the basic research sources. A deeper analysis of this problem can be based on the oldest literature, archival sources and current opinion. Thus, it is possible to correct knowledge about beer styles brewed in particular regions of Central Europe as well as in the surrounding area, and also, to ask questions and look for the origin of current interpretations and opinions.

Human norovirus (HuNoV) has been implicated as the leading cause of foodborne illness worldwide. The ability of HuNoV to persist in water can significantly impact food safety as agriculture and processing water could serve as vehicles of virus transmission. This study focused on the persistence and infectivity of the HuNoV surrogate viruses, murine norovirus (MNV), and Tulane virus (TV), after prolonged storage in diverse environmental water types currently used for agricultural irrigation. In this study, vegetable processing water (VW), brackish tidal surface water (SW), municipal reclaimed water (RW), and pond water (PW) were inoculated with each virus in a 1:10 v/v ratio containing virus at 3.5–4.5 logPFU/mL and stored at 16°C for 100 days. This time and temperature combination was chosen to mimic growing and harvest conditions in the mid-Atlantic area of the United States. Samples were then assayed for the presence of viral RNA using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) approximately weekly throughout the study. Persistence of MNV and TV was not significantly different (p > 0.05) from one another in any water sample (n = 7) or the control (HBSS). However, there was variability observed in viral persistence across water samples with significant differences observed between several water samples. The presence of intact viral capsids enclosing the genomes of MNV and TV were evaluated by an RNase assay coupled with RT-qPCR on specific timepoints and determined to be intact up to and at 100 days after inoculation. TV was also shown to remain infectious in a cell culture assay (TCID50) up to 100 days of incubation. These findings are significant in that the potential for not only detection of enteric viruses can occur long after a contamination event occurs but these viruses may also remain infectious.