Showing papers by "University of North Carolina at Wilmington published in 2018"
01 Dec 2018
TL;DR: YOLO-LITE as discussed by the authors is a real-time object detection model developed to run on portable devices such as a laptop or cellphone lacking a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) and achieves a mAP of 33.81% and 12.26% respectively.
Abstract: This paper focuses on YOLO-LITE, a real-time object detection model developed to run on portable devices such as a laptop or cellphone lacking a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). The model was first trained on the PASCAL VOC dataset then on the COCO dataset, achieving a mAP of 33.81% and 12.26% respectively. YOLO-LITE runs at about 21 FPS on a non-GPU computer and 10 FPS after implemented onto a website with only 7 layers and 482 million FLOPS. This speed is 3.8 × faster than the fastest state of art model, SSD MobilenetvI. Based on the original object detection algorithm YOLOV2, YOLO-LITE was designed to create a smaller, faster, and more efficient model increasing the accessibility of real-time object detection to a variety of devices.
391 citations
01 Dec 2018
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors provided a major update to the leading dataset on normalized US hurricane losses in the continental United States from 1900 to 2017, which showed no trend in the frequency and intensity of hurricane landfalls.
Abstract: Direct economic losses result when a hurricane encounters an exposed, vulnerable society. A normalization estimates direct economic losses from a historical extreme event if that same event was to occur under contemporary societal conditions. Under the global indicator framework of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the reduction of direct economic losses as a proportion of total economic activity is identified as a key indicator of progress in the mitigation of disaster impacts. Understanding loss trends in the context of development can therefore aid in assessing sustainable development. This analysis provides a major update to the leading dataset on normalized US hurricane losses in the continental United States from 1900 to 2017. Over this period, 197 hurricanes resulted in 206 landfalls with about US$2 trillion in normalized (2018) damage, or just under US$17 billion annually. Consistent with observed trends in the frequency and intensity of hurricane landfalls along the continental United States since 1900, the updated normalized loss estimates also show no trend. A more detailed comparison of trends in hurricanes and normalized losses over various periods in the twentieth century to 2017 demonstrates a very high degree of consistency. Reducing direct economic losses from disasters is part of mitigating disaster impacts. This study presents an update to the leading dataset on normalized US hurricane losses in the continental United States from 1900 to 2017.
134 citations
TL;DR: This study represents the most comprehensive phylogenomic dataset for the main tunicate lineages, offering a reference phylogenetic framework and first tentative timescale for tunicates, allowing a direct comparison with vertebrate model species in comparative genomics and evolutionary developmental biology studies.
Abstract: Tunicates are the closest relatives of vertebrates and are widely used as models to study the evolutionary developmental biology of chordates. Their phylogeny, however, remains poorly understood, and to date, only the 18S rRNA nuclear gene and mitogenomes have been used to delineate the major groups of tunicates. To resolve their evolutionary relationships and provide a first estimate of their divergence times, we used a transcriptomic approach to build a phylogenomic dataset including all major tunicate lineages, consisting of 258 evolutionarily conserved orthologous genes from representative species. Phylogenetic analyses using site-heterogeneous CAT mixture models of amino acid sequence evolution resulted in a strongly supported tree topology resolving the relationships among four major tunicate clades: (1) Appendicularia, (2) Thaliacea + Phlebobranchia + Aplousobranchia, (3) Molgulidae, and (4) Styelidae + Pyuridae. Notably, the morphologically derived Thaliacea are confirmed as the sister group of the clade uniting Phlebobranchia + Aplousobranchia within which the precise position of the model ascidian genus Ciona remains uncertain. Relaxed molecular clock analyses accommodating the accelerated evolutionary rate of tunicates reveal ancient diversification (~ 450–350 million years ago) among the major groups and allow one to compare their evolutionary age with respect to the major vertebrate model lineages. Our study represents the most comprehensive phylogenomic dataset for the main tunicate lineages. It offers a reference phylogenetic framework and first tentative timescale for tunicates, allowing a direct comparison with vertebrate model species in comparative genomics and evolutionary developmental biology studies.
126 citations
TL;DR: This article designs differential frameworks for monitoring smart city and extensive ocean by multiple heterogeneous smart UAVs and introduces a tight plane-based framework that utilizes the existing public transportation including public buses, city trains, and their routes to provide time-sensitive surveillance.
Abstract: In this article, we design differential frameworks for monitoring smart city and extensive ocean by multiple heterogeneous smart UAVs. Since the requirements and fundamental environments between smart city and extensive ocean are quite different, we consider two differential strategies. For smart city, we introduce a tight plane-based framework that utilizes the existing public transportation including public buses, city trains, and their routes to provide time-sensitive surveillance. For extensive ocean, we develop a loose hierarchical-based framework. To support seamless surveillance over extensive ocean, we use three types of UAVs, which allows replenishment among heterogeneous UAVs at different layers through airborne docking. Moreover, the research challenges and open issues related to the differentiated infrastructures are presented.
119 citations
TL;DR: The next generation Enriched Xenon Observatory (nEXO) is a proposed experiment to search for neutrinoless double-β (0νββ) decay in Xe136 with a target half-life sensitivity of approximately 1028 yr using 5×103 kg of isotopically enriched liquid-xenon in a time projection chamber as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The next-generation Enriched Xenon Observatory (nEXO) is a proposed experiment to search for neutrinoless double-β (0νββ) decay in Xe136 with a target half-life sensitivity of approximately 1028 yr using 5×103 kg of isotopically enriched liquid-xenon in a time projection chamber. This improvement of two orders of magnitude in sensitivity over current limits is obtained by a significant increase of the Xe136 mass, the monolithic and homogeneous configuration of the active medium, and the multiparameter measurements of the interactions enabled by the time projection chamber. The detector concept and anticipated performance are presented based upon demonstrated realizable background rates.
115 citations
TL;DR: It is proposed that avian and mammalian encephalization has been contingent on increased variability in brain growth patterns, and an exceptional pattern of brain–body allometry among birds and mammals is revealed, consistent with the hypothesis that they have relaxed allometric constraints compared to other jawed vertebrates.
Abstract: The allometric relationship between brain and body size among vertebrates is often considered a manifestation of evolutionary constraints. However, birds and mammals have undergone remarkable encephalization, in which brain size has increased without corresponding changes in body size. Here, we explore the hypothesis that a reduction of phenotypic integration between brain and body size has facilitated encephalization in birds and mammals. Using a large dataset comprising 20,213 specimens across 4,587 species of jawed vertebrates, we show that the among-species (evolutionary) brain-body allometries are remarkably constant, both across vertebrate classes and across taxonomic levels. Birds and mammals, however, are exceptional in that their within-species (static) allometries are shallower and more variable than in other vertebrates. These patterns are consistent with the idea that birds and mammals have reduced allometric constraints that are otherwise ubiquitous across jawed vertebrates. Further exploration of ontogenetic allometries in selected taxa of birds, fishes and mammals reveals that birds and mammals have extended the period of fetal brain growth compared to fishes. Based on these findings, we propose that avian and mammalian encephalization has been contingent on increased variability in brain growth patterns.
103 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that the nonconsumptive effects of parasites might overshadow their consumptive effects, as has been shown for predators.
Abstract: Predators often cause prey to adopt defensive strategies that reduce predation risk. The ‘ecology of fear’ examines these trait changes and their consequences. Similarly, parasites can cause hosts to adopt defensive strategies that reduce infection risk. However the ecological and evolutionary consequences of these behaviors (the ‘ecology of disgust’) are seldom considered. Here we identify direct and indirect effects of parasite avoidance on hosts and parasites, and examine differences between predators and parasites in terms of cost, detectability, and aggregation. We suggest that the nonconsumptive effects of parasites might overshadow their consumptive effects, as has been shown for predators. We emphasize the value of uniting predator–prey and parasite–host theory under a general consumer–resource framework.
98 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that phytoplankton possess unique microbiomes that are consistent across strains and temporal scales.
Abstract: Interactions between phytoplankton and bacteria play important roles in shaping the microenvironment surrounding these organisms and in turn influence global biogeochemical cycles. This microenvironment, known as the phycosphere, is presumed to shape the bacterial diversity around phytoplankton and thus stimulate a diverse array of interactions between both groups. Although many studies have attempted to characterize bacterial communities that associate and interact with phytoplankton, bias in bacterial cultivation and consistency and persistence of bacterial communities across phytoplankton isolates likely impede the understanding of these microbial associations. Here, we isolate four strains of the diatom Asterionellopsis glacialis and three strains of the diatom Nitzschia longissima and show through metabarcoding of the bacterial 16S rDNA gene that though each species possesses a unique bacterial community, the bacterial composition across strains from the same species are highly conserved at the genus level. Cultivation of all seven strains in the laboratory for longer than 1 year resulted in only small changes to the bacterial composition, suggesting that despite strong pressures from laboratory culturing conditions associations between these diatoms and their bacterial communities are robust. Specific operational taxonomic units (OTUs) belonging to the Roseobacter-clade appear to be conserved across all strains and time, suggesting their importance to diatoms. In addition, we isolate a range of cultivable bacteria from one of these cultures, A. glacialis strain A3, including several strains of Shimia marina and Nautella sp. that appear closely related to OTUs conserved across all strains and times. Coculturing of A3 with some of its cultivable bacteria as well as other diatom-associated bacteria shows a wide range of responses that include enhancing diatom growth. Cumulatively, these findings suggest that phytoplankton possess unique microbiomes that are consistent across strains and temporal scales.
90 citations
TL;DR: Both first- and secondhand smoke adversely affect bone mass; smoking cessation seems to reverse the effect of smoking and improve bone health.
Abstract: Recent evidence demonstrates that tobacco smoking causes an imbalance in bone turnover, leading to lower bone mass and making bone vulnerable to osteoporosis and fracture. Tobacco smoke influences bone mass indirectly through alteration of body weight, parathyroid hormone-vitamin D axis, adrenal hormones, sex hormones, and increased oxidative stress on bony tissues. Also, tobacco smoke influences bone mass through a direct effect on osteogenesis and angiogenesis of bone. A RANKL-RANK-OPG pathway is an essential regulatory pathway for bone metabolism and its importance lies in its interaction with most of the pathophysiologic mechanisms by which smoking influences bone mass. Both first- and secondhand smoke adversely affect bone mass; smoking cessation seems to reverse the effect of smoking and improve bone health. Recent advances in research on bone turnover markers could advance scientific knowledge regarding the mechanisms by which smoking may influence bone mass.
89 citations
TL;DR: It is reported that experimental breast cancer brain metastases of low- and high permeability to a dextran dye exhibit distinct microenvironmental gene expression patterns, and neuroinflammatory astrocytic S1P3 modulates BTB permeability.
Abstract: Brain metastases are devastating complications of cancer. The blood-brain barrier (BBB), which protects the normal brain, morphs into an inadequately characterized blood-tumor barrier (BTB) when brain metastases form, and is surrounded by a neuroinflammatory response. These structures contribute to poor therapeutic efficacy by limiting drug uptake. Here, we report that experimental breast cancer brain metastases of low- and high permeability to a dextran dye exhibit distinct microenvironmental gene expression patterns. Astrocytic sphingosine-1 phosphate receptor 3 (S1P3) is upregulated in the neuroinflammatory response of the highly permeable lesions, and is expressed in patients' brain metastases. S1P3 inhibition functionally tightens the BTB in vitro and in vivo. S1P3 mediates its effects on BTB permeability through astrocytic secretion of IL-6 and CCL2, which relaxes endothelial cell adhesion. Tumor cell overexpression of S1P3 mimics this pathway, enhancing IL-6 and CCL-2 production and elevating BTB permeability. In conclusion, neuroinflammatory astrocytic S1P3 modulates BTB permeability.
86 citations
TL;DR: It is found that aggregate opioid admissions to specialty treatment facilities increased 18% in expansion states, most of which involved outpatient medication-assisted treatment (MAT), implying potential benefits of expanding Medicaid to non-expansion states and extending MAT coverage.
TL;DR: Evidence is found that suggests tobacco smoking has negative effects on the health outcomes of the musculoskeletal system and there is a need for further research to understand mechanisms of action for the effects of smoking.
Abstract: This systematic review explored associations between smoking and health outcomes involving the musculoskeletal system. AMSTAR criteria were followed. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct returned 243 articles meeting inclusion criteria. A majority of studies found smoking has negative effects on the musculoskeletal system. In research on bones, smoking was associated with lower BMD, increased fracture risk, periodontitis, alveolar bone loss, and dental implant failure. In research on joints, smoking was associated with increased joint disease activity, poor functional outcomes, and poor therapeutic response. There was also evidence of adverse effects on muscles, tendons, cartilage, and ligaments. There were few studies on the musculoskeletal health outcomes of secondhand smoke, smoking cessation, or other modes of smoking, such as waterpipes or electronic cigarettes. This review found evidence that suggests tobacco smoking has negative effects on the health outcomes of the musculoskeletal system. There is a need for further research to understand mechanisms of action for the effects of smoking on the musculoskeletal system and to increase awareness of healthcare providers and community members of the adverse effects of smoking on the musculoskeletal system.
TL;DR: It is found that a multiphasic program of gene expression was interwoven among other cellular events, including the induction of autophagy, in response to persistent ER stress in maize seedlings.
Abstract: The unfolded protein response (UPR) is a highly conserved response that protects plants from adverse environmental conditions. The UPR is elicited by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, in which unfolded and misfolded proteins accumulate within the ER. Here, we induced the UPR in maize (Zea mays) seedlings to characterize the molecular events that occur over time during persistent ER stress. We found that a multiphasic program of gene expression was interwoven among other cellular events, including the induction of autophagy. One of the earliest phases involved the degradation by regulated IRE1-dependent RNA degradation (RIDD) of RNA transcripts derived from a family of peroxidase genes. RIDD resulted from the activation of the promiscuous ribonuclease activity of ZmIRE1 that attacks the mRNAs of secreted proteins. This was followed by an upsurge in expression of the canonical UPR genes indirectly driven by ZmIRE1 due to its splicing of Zmbzip60 mRNA to make an active transcription factor that directly upregulates many of the UPR genes. At the peak of UPR gene expression, a global wave of RNA processing led to the production of many aberrant UPR gene transcripts, likely tempering the ER stress response. During later stages of ER stress, ZmIRE1’s activity declined, as did the expression of survival modulating genes, Bax inhibitor1 and Bcl-2-associated athanogene7, amid a rising tide of cell death. Thus, in response to persistent ER stress, maize seedlings embark on a course of gene expression and cellular events progressing from adaptive responses to cell death.
TL;DR: In this paper, a systematic review of the field of ecology network analysis (ENA) is presented, identifying the topic diversity, exposing methodological development, highlighting applications, and assessing collaboration among ENA scholars.
TL;DR: In this article, the National Science Foundation (NSF) through PLR 1418256 and PLR 1744835, and through Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) Ocean and Climate Change Institute (OCCI) and the Clark Foundation.
Abstract: Support was provided by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through PLR-1418256 and PLR-1744835, and through Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) Ocean and Climate Change Institute (OCCI) and the Clark Foundation. This work was also supported by a UK Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC) PhD studentship (NE/L501566/1) and Scottish Alliance for Geoscience, Environment & Society (SAGES) early career research exchange funding to D. A. S.
TL;DR: Fragments derived from larger debris appears to be the dominant type of MP at most sites and only 2 sites showed virgin pellets that accounted for 14% of the samples collected.
TL;DR: A surveillance model for multi domain IoT environment, which is supported by reinforced barriers with collision-avoidance using heterogeneous smart UAVs, is introduced and a novel approach is proposed to solve the problem.
Abstract: In this letter, we introduce a surveillance model for multi domain IoT environment, which is supported by reinforced barriers with collision-avoidance using heterogeneous smart UAVs. Formally, we define a problem whose goal is minimizing the maximum movement of smart UAVs on condition that collision-avoidance among UAVs is assured when they fly between initial positions and specific spots in order to build reinforced barrier in multi domain. After ILP formulation of the defined problem, a novel approach is proposed to solve the problem. Also, we analyze the performance of the developed scheme through extensive simulations with various scenarios.
TL;DR: A global country and organization review of nursing engagement with genomics is conducted, informing a landscape analysis to assess readiness for integration of genomics into nursing.
Abstract: Purpose Nurses have a pivotal role in bringing the benefits of genomics and precision medicine to everyday health care, but a concerted global effort is needed to transform nursing policy and practice to address widely acknowledged deficits in nurses' genomic literacy. The purpose was to conduct a global country and organization review of nursing engagement with genomics, informing a landscape analysis to assess readiness for integration of genomics into nursing. Design Global nursing leaders and nursing organizations were recruited using a purposive sampling strategy to complete an online survey that assessed the scope of genomic integration in practice and education, challenges and barriers, and priorities for action. Methods The survey was administered online following an orientation webinar. Given the small numbers of nurse leaders globally, results were analyzed and presented descriptively. Findings Delegates consisted of 23 nurse leaders from across the world. Genomic services were offered predominantly in specialty centers consisting mostly of newborn screening (15/18) and prenatal screening (11/18). Genomic literacy and infrastructure deficits were identified in both practice and education settings, with only one country reporting a genetic/genomic knowledge and skill requirement to practice as a general nurse. Conclusions These data provide insights into the commitment to and capacity for nursing to integrate genomics, revealing common themes and challenges associated with adoption of genomic health services and integration into practice, education, and policy. Such insights offer valuable context and baseline information to guide the activities of a new Global Genomics Nursing Alliance (G2NA). The G2NA will use the landscaping exercise as a springboard to explore how to accelerate the integration of genomics into nursing healthcare. Clinical relevance Genomics is relevant to all healthcare providers across the healthcare continuum. It provides an underpinning for understanding health, risks for and manifestations of disease, therapeutic decisions, development of new therapies, and responses to interventions. Harnessing the benefits of genomics to improve health and care outcomes and reduce costs is a global nursing challenge.
TL;DR: A conceptual model is presented to describe how multiple ecosystem services are influenced by herbivore pressure in tropical seagrass meadows and suggests that a balanced ecosystem is likely to sustain the broadest range of ecosystem services.
Abstract: Seagrass meadows support key ecosystem services, via provision of food directly for herbivores, and indirectly to their predators The importance of herbivores in seagrass meadows has been well-documented, but the links between food webs and ecosystem services in seagrass meadows have not previously been made explicit Herbivores interact with ecosystem services – including carbon sequestration, cultural values, and coastal protection Interactions can be positive or negative and depend on a range of factors including the herbivore identity and the grazing type and intensity There can be unintended consequences from management actions based on a poor understanding of trade-offs that occur with complex seagrass-herbivore interactions Tropical seagrass meadows support a diversity of grazers spanning the meso-, macro- and megaherbivore scales We present a conceptual model to describe how multiple ecosystem services are influenced by herbivore pressure in tropical seagrass meadows Our model suggests that a balanced ecosystem, incorporating both seagrass and herbivore diversity, is likely to sustain the broadest range of ecosystem services Our framework suggests the pathway to achieve desired ecosystem services outcomes requires knowledge on four key areas: (1) how size classes of herbivores interact to structure seagrass; (2) desired community and management values; (3) seagrass responses to top-down and bottom-up controls; (4) the pathway from intermediate to final ecosystem services and human benefits We suggest research should be directed to these areas Herbivory is a major structuring influence in tropical seagrass systems and needs to be considered for effective management of these critical habitats and their services
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors conceptualize a term called idiosyncratic service experience (ISE) to represent the interpersonal aspects that create these unique or special service experiences, and examine the antecedents and consequences of ISEs in a structural model.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated the contribution of local and regional non-linear processes to sea-level change in the North Atlantic Ocean during the past 3,000 years and identified three latitudinally organized groups of sites that share coherent regional nonlinear trends and indicate that dynamic redistribution of ocean mass by currents and/or winds was likely an important driver of sea level change.
TL;DR: This paper examined the influence of the No Child Left Behind Act on the decision making of rural principals and teachers about curriculum and instruction as well as the possible long-term effects on rural education.
Abstract: This article examines the influence of the No Child Left Behind Act on the decision making of rural principals and teachers about curriculum and instruction as well as the possible long-term effects on rural education. Data were gathered from 101 rural elementary school principals in Missouri and 76 rural elementary school teachers in Maine. Missouri principals were concerned about losing their autonomy and abilities to be instructional leaders. Maine teachers reported that NCLB benefited some groups of students more than others and that it has a negative effect on student motivation. There were significant changes in instructional time for some subjects and non-instructional time for recess and kindergarten nap time. The most important influence on principals’ educational vision for the future and the need for professional development was meeting AYP and raising test scores.
TL;DR: Analysis of different fish tissues indicated the dietary intake and maternal transfer of PAHs as the primary mechanisms for bioaccumulation in 2015-2016, explaining the elevated levels and composition ofPAHs in ovarian eggs.
Abstract: This study characterizes a decadal assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the muscle tissues of mesopelagic fish species as indicators of the environmental health of the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) deep-pelagic ecosystem. Mesopelagic fishes were collected prior to the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill (2007), immediately post-spill (2010), 1 year after the spill (2011), and 5-6 years post-spill (2015-2016) to assess if the mesopelagic ecosystem was exposed to, and retained, PAH compounds from the DWH spill. Results indicated that a 7- to 10-fold increase in PAHs in fish muscle tissues occurred in 2010-2011 (4972 ± 1477 ng/g) compared to 2007 (630 ± 236 ng/g). In 2015-2016, PAH concentrations decreased close to the levels measured in 2007 samples (827 ± 138 ng/g); however, the composition of PAHs still resembles a petrogenic source similar to samples collected in 2010-2011. PAH composition in muscle samples indicated that natural sources (e.g., Mississippi River and natural seeps) or spatial variability within the GoM do not explain the temporal variability of PAHs observed from 2007 to 2016. Furthermore, analysis of different fish tissues indicated the dietary intake and maternal transfer of PAHs as the primary mechanisms for bioaccumulation in 2015-2016, explaining the elevated levels and composition of PAHs in ovarian eggs.
TL;DR: These results provide the first study showing that a system of anthropogenic structures can have international conservation significance by creating ecologically connected networks and by acting as stepping stones for cross-border interconnection to natural populations.
Abstract: Highly connected networks generally improve resilience in complex systems. We present a novel application of this paradigm and investigated the potential for anthropogenic structures in the ocean to enhance connectivity of a protected species threatened by human pressures and climate change. Biophysical dispersal models of a protected coral species simulated potential connectivity between oil and gas installations across the North Sea but also metapopulation outcomes for naturally occurring corals downstream. Network analyses illustrated how just a single generation of virtual larvae released from these installations could create a highly connected anthropogenic system, with larvae becoming competent to settle over a range of natural deep-sea, shelf and fjord coral ecosystems including a marine protected area. These results provide the first study showing that a system of anthropogenic structures can have international conservation significance by creating ecologically connected networks and by acting as stepping stones for cross-border interconnection to natural populations.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors performed groundwater prospecting in the northern UAE and Oman by delineating Groundwater Potential (GWP), the relative likelihood of a location to accumulate groundwater, by modelling the influence of physiographic variables affecting groundwater accumulation.
TL;DR: This article examined the degree to which morally injurious experiences (MIEs; i.e., atrocities of war, psychological consequences of war and leadership failure/betrayal) and moral injury were associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicidality, hazardous alcohol use, and drug abuse symptoms.
Abstract: The present study examined the degree to which morally injurious experiences (MIEs; i.e., atrocities of war, psychological consequences of war, and leadership failure/betrayal) and moral injury (i.e., guilt, shame, difficulties with forgiveness, and withdrawal associated with exposure to MIEs) were associated with symptoms of depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicidality, hazardous alcohol use, and drug abuse symptoms. In addition, we examined moral injury and PTSD symptoms as mediators of the association between MIEs and these outcomes (exploratory model). Participants (n = 244) were a predominantly veterans community-based military sample. Our primary model (i.e., single mediation model) revealed that moral injury mediated associations between two MIEs (i.e., atrocities of war and leadership failure/betrayal) and depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, hazardous alcohol use, and PTSD symptoms. However, our exploratory model (i.e., a dual simultaneous mediation model) revealed that moral injury was not significantly associated with any health outcomes after controlling for the effects of MIE dimensions and PTSD symptoms. Within this model, PTSD symptoms significantly mediated the effects of both atrocities of war MIEs and leadership failure/betrayal MIEs on depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, suicidality, and hazardous alcohol use. Findings provide preliminary support for moral injury as a mechanism linking exposure to MIEs to both mental health and hazardous alcohol use. Taken together, moral injury appears to be an important target for intervention among combat military personnel.
01 Dec 2018
TL;DR: This article found that sea-level rise triggered salt marsh habitat restructuring, with the associated vegetation changes enhancing salt marsh elevation resilience, leading to greater inundation and a shift to flood-and salt-tolerant low marsh species.
Abstract: Salt marshes respond to sea-level rise through a series of complex and dynamic bio-physical feedbacks. In this study, we found that sea-level rise triggered salt marsh habitat restructuring, with the associated vegetation changes enhancing salt marsh elevation resilience. A continuous record of marsh elevation relative to sea level that includes reconstruction of high-resolution, sub-decadal, marsh elevation over the past century, coupled with a lower-resolution 1500-year record, revealed that relative sea-level rose 1.5 ± 0.4 m, following local glacial isostatic adjustment (1.2 mm/yr). As sea-level rise has rapidly accelerated, the high marsh zone dropped 11 cm within the tidal frame since 1932, leading to greater inundation and a shift to flood- and salt-tolerant low marsh species. Once the marsh platform fell to the elevation favored by low-marsh Spartina alterniflora, the elevation stabilized relative to sea level. Currently low marsh accretion keeps pace with sea-level rise, while present day high marsh zones that have not transitioned to low marsh have a vertical accretion deficit. Greater biomass productivity, and an expanding subsurface accommodation space favorable for salt marsh organic matter preservation, provide a positive feed-back between sea-level rise and marsh platform elevation. Carbon storage was 46 ± 28 g C/m2/yr from 550 to 1800 CE, increasing to 129 ± 50 g C/m2/yr in the last decade. Enhanced carbon storage is controlled by vertical accretion rates, rather than soil carbon density, and is a direct response to anthropogenic eustatic sea-level rise, ultimately providing a negative feedback on climate warming.
18 Mar 2018
TL;DR: The results suggest that reach estimations become more accurate as the visual fidelity of the avatar increases, with accuracy for high fidelity avatars approaching real-world performance as compared to low-fidelity and end-effector conditions.
Abstract: Immersive Virtual Environments (IVEs) are becoming more accessible and more widely utilized for training. Previous research has shown that the matching of visual and proprioceptive information is important for calibration. While research has demonstrated that self-avatars can enhance ones' sense of presence and improve distance perception, the effects of self-avatar fidelity on near field distance estimations has yet to be investigated. This study tested the effect of avatar fidelity on the accuracy of distance estimations in the near-field. Performance with a virtual avatar was also compared to real-world performance. Three levels of fidelity were tested; 1) an immersive self-avatar with realistic limbs, 2) a low-fidelity self-avatar showing only joint locations, and 3) end-effector only. The results suggest that reach estimations become more accurate as the visual fidelity of the avatar increases, with accuracy for high fidelity avatars approaching real-world performance as compared to low-fidelity and end-effector conditions. In all conditions reach estimations became more accurate after receiving feedback during a calibration phase.
TL;DR: Regression analysis indicated that PBM protein can replace FM protein in Black Sea Bass diets at levels as high as 81.8%, with no reduction in fish growth performance, and poultry by-product meal is a promising alternative protein source for sustainable diet development inBlack Sea Bass.
Abstract: A feeding trial was conducted to determine the maximum substitution limits of poultry by-product meal (PBM; 66% crude protein) protein for fish meal (FM; 59% crude protein) protein in the diet of juvenile Black Sea Bass Centropristis striata (family Serranidae). Eight isonitrogenous (44% crude protein) and isolipidic (13% crude lipid) diets were formulated to replace FM protein with PBM protein at 0 (control), 40%, 50%, 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, and 100% in Black Sea Bass diets. Diets were fed twice daily to triplicate groups of juveniles (initial mean weight = 1.2 g) to apparent satiation for 8 weeks in a recirculating aquaculture system. Final survival was excellent (95–100%) in all diet treatments, with no significant differences. No significant differences in body weight gain (BWG) were observed in fish fed the 40–90% PBM protein diets (1,136–1,357%) compared with the control diet (1,307%). However, BWG of fish fed the 100% PBM protein diet (1,045%) was significantly lower than in the control group. Regression analysis with BWG indicated that PBM protein can replace FM protein in Black Sea Bass diets at levels as high as 81.8%, with no reduction in fish growth performance. For fish fed diets with up to 90% PBM protein, feed conversion (1.08–1.17) and protein efficiency ratios (2.01–2.14) were not significantly different from fish fed a control 100% FM-protein-based diet (0.99 and 2.29, respectively). Apparent digestibility coefficients of dietary protein remained high (81.6–87.0%) under all levels of FM replacement with PBM protein. After the feeding trial, whole body and muscle protein content and the concentrations of whole body n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids showed no significant differences among the treatments at FM protein replacement levels up to 90%. Poultry by-product meal is a promising alternative protein source for sustainable diet development in Black Sea Bass. In terms of dietary composition, protein is the single largest and most expensive component in fish feed. Fish meal (FM) is a source of high-quality protein and highly digestible essential amino and fatty acids (Cho and Kim 2011), making it a popular source of protein in aquaculture feeds. Worldwide production of FM has been stable at roughly 6.3 million metric tons annually since the 1980s, with Peru and Chile the main producing countries in 2012 (FAO 2012). Once seen as a renewable source, FM costs have increased as demand has increased, while supply has slowly decreased due to overfishing (Tacon et al. 2006; Trushenski et al. 2006). In addition, FM varies greatly in composition and quality among species or with age (Tacon et al. 2006), season, geographic origin, *Corresponding author: watanabew@uncw.edu Received June 19, 2017; accepted October 2, 2017 North American Journal of Aquaculture 80:74–87, 2018 © 2018 American Fisheries Society ISSN: 1522-2055 print / 1548-8454 online DOI: 10.1002/naaq.10009