Search Results (666)

Our regression analysis documents that energy policies to promote renewable energy development, as well as hydroelectric imports from Canada, lead to short-run reductions in average electricity prices (also known as merit-order effects) throughout the Northeast United States. Changes in the reliance upon renewable energy in one of the Northeast’s three interconnected electricity markets will impact wholesale prices in the other two. The retirement of a 1000 MW nuclear plant can increase prices by about 9% in the Independent System Operator of New England market and 7% in the New York Independent System Operator market in the short run at reference hubs, while also raising prices in neighboring markets. Some proposed large-scale off-shore wind farms would not only lower prices in local markets at the reference hubs modeled but would also lower prices in neighboring markets. Full article

Cellulose, the most abundant organic polymer in soil, is degraded by the action of microbial communities. Cellulolytic taxa are widespread in soils, enhancing the biodegradation of cellulose by the synergistic action of different cellulase enzymes. β-glucosidases are the last enzymes responsible for the degradation of cellulose by producing glucose from the conversion of the disaccharide cellobiose. Different soils from the states of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York were analyzed by direct DNA extraction, PCR analysis, and next generation sequencing of amplicon sequences coding for β-glucosidase genes. To determine the community structure and diversity of microorganisms carrying β-glucosidase genes, amplicon sequence variant analysis was performed. Results showed that the majority of β-glucosidase genes did not match any known phylum or genera with an average of 84% of sequences identified as unclassified. The forest soil sample from New York showed the highest value with 95.62%. When identification was possible, the bacterial phyla Pseudomonadota, Actinomycetota, and Chloroflexota were found to be dominant microorganisms with β-glucosidase genes in soils. The Delaware soil showed the highest diversity with phyla and genera showing the presence of β-glucosidase gene sequences in bacteria, fungi, and plants. However, the Chloroflexota genus Kallotanue was detected in 3 out of the 4 soil locations. When phylogenetic analysis of unclassified β-glucosidase genes was completed, most sequences aligned with the Chloroflexota genus Kallotenue and the Pseudomonadota species Sphingomonas paucimobilis. Since most sequences did not match known phyla, there is tremendous potential to discover new enzymes for possible biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications. Full article

The quality of life (QoL) perception has been studied in neurological diseases; however, there is limited information linking brain morphological characteristics, QoL, and cognition. Human behavior and perception are associated with specific brain areas that interact through diffuse electrochemical networking. We used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to analyze the brain region volume (BRV) correlation with the scores of Rand’s 36-item Short Form Survey (SF-36) and cognitive domains (memory and dementia status). We analyzed data from 420 adult participants in the Maracaibo Aging Study (MAS). Principal component analysis with oblimin axis rotation was used to gather redundant information from brain parcels and SF-36 domains. Canonical correlation was used to analyze the relationships between SF-36 domains and BRV (adjusted for intracranial cavity), as well as sex, age, education, obesity, and hypertension. The average age (±SD) of subjects was 56 ± 11.5 years; 71% were female; 39% were obese; 12% had diabetes, 52% hypertension, and 7% dementia. No sex-related differences were found in memory and orientation scores, but women had lower QoL scores. The 1st and 2nd canonical correlation roots support the association of SF-36 domains (except social functioning and role emotional) and total brain volume, frontal lobe volume, frontal pole, lateral orbital lobe, cerebellar, and entorhinal areas. Other variables, including age, dementia, memory score, and systolic blood pressure, had a significant influence. The results of this study demonstrate significant correlations between BRV and SF-36 components, adjusted for covariates. The frontal lobe and insula were associated with the mental health component; the lateral-orbital frontal lobe and entorhinal area were correlated with the physical component. Full article

Advanced three-dimensional extended reality (XR) technologies are highly suitable for cultural heritage research and education. XR tools enable the creation of realistic virtual or augmented reality applications for curating and disseminating information about cultural artifacts and sites. Developing XR applications for cultural heritage requires interdisciplinary collaboration involving strong teamwork and soft skills to manage user requirements, system specifications, and design cycles. Given the diverse end-users, achieving high precision, accuracy, and efficiency in information management and user experience is crucial. Human–computer interaction (HCI) design and evaluation methods are essential for ensuring usability and return on investment. This article presents ten case studies of cultural heritage software projects, illustrating the interdisciplinary work between computer science and HCI design. Students from institutions such as the State University of New York (USA), Glasgow School of Art (UK), University of Granada (Spain), University of Málaga (Spain), Duy Tan University (Vietnam), Imperial College London (UK), Research University Institute of Communication & Computer Systems (Greece), Technical University of Košice (Slovakia), and Indiana University (USA) contributed to creating, assessing, and improving the usability of these diverse cultural heritage applications. The results include a structured typology of CH XR application scenarios, detailed insights into design and evaluation practices across ten international use cases, and a development framework that supports interdisciplinary collaboration and stakeholder integration in phygital cultural heritage projects. Full article

New York State (NYS) has experienced warming outpacing the national average, and heat events are increasing. This case-crossover study uses conditional logistic regression to estimate how maximum heat index affects heat-related illness across temporal, demographic, and spatial groups in NYS, from May to September, 2008–2019. The highest risks were in May (Relative Risk (RR) = 1.81, CI: 1.72, 1.90) and August (RR = 1.86, CI: 1.79, 1.94). Older adults, especially those aged 85 and above, are at greatest risk (RR = 1.83, CI: 1.71, 1.96). The Southern Tier climate region had a higher risk (RR = 1.93, CI: 1.80, 2.07) than several other regions. Overall, similar risk between rural and urban NYS was observed. Rural non-Hispanic Black (RR = 2.38, CI: 1.78, 3.19) populations had a higher risk than their urban counterparts. This study was innovative for NYS, providing a deeper understanding of heat–health risks to vulnerable sub-groups. This can assist with facilitating targeted interventions and public health messaging during the periods of highest risk, such as promoting awareness of cooling centers and air-conditioning benefits. Full article

Understanding the hierarchical patterns of building heights is essential for sustainable urban development and planning. This study presents a novel approach for detecting and comparing building height hierarchies in four major bay areas: the San Francisco Bay Area, the New York Bay Area in the United States, the Tokyo Bay Area in Japan, and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau Greater Bay Area in China. Kernel density estimation was first used to create continuous spatial distributions of building heights, forming the basis for our analysis. The approach then uses the contour tree algorithm to abstract and visualize these hierarchies. A structural similarity index is proposed to compare the hierarchies by identifying the maximum common sub-contour tree across the different contour trees. The results reveal that all four bay areas exhibit a multi-core hierarchical structure, with the greater bay area exhibiting the most complex pattern. Quantitative comparison reveals that the building height hierarchies of the New York Bay Area and Tokyo Bay Area are most similar (similarity index = 0.74), while those of the San Francisco Bay Area and Greater Bay Area are the least similar (similarity index = 0.17). Our approach provides a practical tool for understanding building height hierarchies and can be readily applied to analyze diverse spatial patterns. Full article

Background: As global ageing accelerates, countries worldwide are increasingly facing social and economic challenges posed by rising older populations. Many nations are responding by optimizing healthcare systems, strengthening community-based ageing models, and promoting healthy ageing policies. The Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) is gaining recognition as a promising approach due to its cost efficiency and ability to meet diverse ageing-related needs. However, systematic research on the service models of NORCs remains scarce. Objective: This study aims to systematically examine the service offerings of Naturally Occurring Retirement Community Supportive Service Programs (NORC-SSPs) and analyze how these programs contribute to supporting ageing in place. Methods: A qualitative content analysis was conducted on official website information from 60 NORC-SSPs in New York State. Service categories were identified, coded, and compared across different geographic and structural contexts. Results: The analysis shows that education, healthcare management, and recreational activities are the most frequently provided services, with health-related services playing a central role in supporting older adults to age in place. Differences in service priorities were also observed between rural and non-rural settings, as well as between vertical and horizontal built environments, reflecting the adaptability of NORC-SSPs to varying community conditions. Conclusions: By identifying key service characteristics, this study provides insights for policymakers and practitioners in Australia and other countries seeking to implement sustainable, community-based models of ageing support. Grounded in the concept of “ageing in place”, the findings contribute to the development of inclusive and flexible service systems for older adults. Full article

Previous studies of transients in existing water distribution networks (WDNs) accounted for only single worst cases in optimizing surge protection measures, considered only pressure at pipe end nodes, and did not examine the effect of regulating the duration of demand increase. This study presents a comprehensive model for identifying the minimal set of worst transient cases for which optimized surge protection achieves zero Surge Damage Potential Factor (SDPF) for all transient loading cases. The model introduces $SDP{F}_P$ to account for pressure at all computational nodes along pipes, as opposed to relying on $SDP{F}_N$, which considers pressure at pipe end nodes only. The existing New York Tunnel network was used for model validation and for determining the optimal diameters for additional duplicate pipes to achieve higher pressure under steady-state conditions and protect the network from transients due to demand increase. Compared to previous studies, the model achieved $SDP{F}_N=0$ with a lower cost for sudden demand increase at a single predefined node. For concurrent sudden demand increase at two nodes, the model identified a total of 8 critical transient cases and corresponding optimum duplicate pipe diameters that achieved $SDP{F}_N=0$ and $SDP{F}_P=0$ with 46% and 74% higher costs than previous studies, respectively. The higher costs are necessary; previous studies did not achieve zero $SDP{F}_N$ and $SDP{F}_P$ in 39% and 91% of transient cases, respectively. To reduce duplicate pipe costs, the model was used to examine the effect of regulating the duration for a gradual demand increase. Using only the pipes optimized for steady-state service, the minimum duration for satisfying the transient pressure constraints was identified as ~260 s for the concurrent demand increase scenario. Slight relaxation of the minimum allowable pressure constraint allows a reduction in the duration to 150 s. For applying a demand increase over a smaller duration, duplicate pipes would be needed and can be optimized using the model. These results indicate the advantage of the proposed model in achieving full protection of existing WDNs while maintaining computational efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Full article

The complex life history and stock structure of endangered shortnose sturgeon (Acipenser brevirostrum) may hinder recovery efforts for individually managed river populations in the US. Reliable survival estimates are essential for evaluating population trends and guiding conservation amid ongoing and emergent threats. However, such estimates are scarce in the recent literature and available for only a few wild populations, with their usefulness in practical management limited. In this study, we leverage multi-year acoustic telemetry data from monitoring projects in the Hudson River, New York (2012–2015), and Altamaha River, Georgia (2011–2014), to develop and compare survival estimates for spawning populations at opposite ends of the species’ US geographic range. Bayesian multistate capture–recapture models indicated high and precise apparent monthly adult survival in both the Hudson (0.991; 95% Bayesian credibility interval [CI]: 0.984–0.996) and Altamaha (0.980; 95% CI: 0.969–0.989) rivers, with implied annual survival rates of 0.897 and 0.787, respectively. Overall, this study advances our understanding of clinal variation in key demographic parameters and underscores the need to develop regionally specific goals for recovery. Broadening the estimates through increased telemetry coverage and integration of additional data will strengthen recovery efforts and support the long-term persistence of shortnose sturgeon across their range. Full article

The digital age, driven by advancements in data processing and internet technologies, has seen virtual social networks, particularly Instagram, become integral to daily life, influencing both leisure and professional activities. Instagram, with over two billion users in 2023, emphasizes visual storytelling, making it a pivotal platform for media outlets to engage audiences through photos and videos. This study quantitatively analyses the Instagram engagement and content strategies of five prominent legacy news outlets from the United States and the United Kingdom—The New York Times, The Guardian, USA Today, The Independent, and The Washington Post. Through an examination of over 9000 posts from January to December 2023, this research evaluates posting frequency, user engagement (likes and comments), hashtag usage, profile mentions, and geographic coverage. Findings indicate significant differences in posting strategies and engagement levels, highlighting The Washington Post’s intensive posting and The Guardian’s selective engagement strategy. This study emphasizes tailored strategies, thematic consistency, and careful use of mentions and hashtags as crucial for maximizing audience interaction. Full article

Introduction: Cannabis use disorder (CUD) is being increasingly diagnosed in the United States, but access to treatment remains unequal, particularly in New York. Identifying the factors that contribute to disparities in receiving treatment for CUD among different population groups is essential for ensuring effective and targeted interventions. This study explores the sociodemographic factors influencing treatment utilization for CUD in New York. Methods: Data for this study were retrieved from the 2018 Treatment Episode Data Set—Discharges (TEDS-D) of the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). Sample size for the study is 422,319 people with CUD. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the odds of receiving treatment for CUD based on demographic and socioeconomic factors, as well as the type of treatment setting. Results: The results revealed significant disparities in treatment utilization. Asians/Pacific Islanders and Hawaiian Natives had lower odds of receiving treatment compared to African Americans (OR = 0.367, 95% CI 0.341–0.394). Similarly, Caucasians had the lowest odds of receiving treatment (OR = 0.270, 95% CI 0.266–0.275). Females were less likely to receive treatment compared to males (OR = 0.756, 95% CI 0.744–0.768). Those with higher educational attainment (over four years of college) had the lowest odds of receiving treatment, while individuals with 9–11th grade education had the highest odds. Employment status also influenced treatment access, with the unemployed having the highest odds, and full-time employees having the lowest. Additionally, individuals with no source of income had significantly lower odds of receiving treatment. Conclusions: This study highlights significant disparities in the provision of treatment for CUD in New York, influenced by sociodemographic factors such as race, gender, age, education, and employment status. These findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions to reduce these disparities and improve treatment access for underserved populations. Full article

Candida auris is an emerging fungal pathogen characterized by high levels of antifungal drug resistance and hospital outbreaks in a global distribution. Since introduction to the United States, it has been identified most frequently in New York, Illinois, California, Florida, and Nevada. Its surge poses significant risk as a nosocomial infection with multi-drug resistance, with clades bearing resistance to fluconazole, micafungin, and amphotericin B. Within the state of Nevada, and specifically the greater Las Vegas area in the southern part of the state, there are ongoing outbreaks from clade I and clade III, with 1728 confirmed clinical cases identified as of January 2025. In northern Nevada, three clinical cases have been identified to date, with two occurring at our facility. Both patients had been hospitalized at facilities in Las Vegas, Nevada. The C. auris strains isolated from these two cases have been identified as belonging to clade III and demonstrate resistance to fluconazole. Genome sequencing of the C. auris isolates indicates close genetic identity to strains from the Las Vegas outbreak. These data indicate that the spread of these clonal isolates is due to hospitalization and subsequent patient relocation to northern Nevada, revealing the ongoing importance of screening for geographic spread. Full article

Hyaluronan (HA) is essentially secreted by every cell and plays a critical role in maintaining normal cell physiology. While the structure and function of HA have been extensively investigated, questions regarding the sizes and conformation of HA under physiological and inflamed conditions, in relevance to its functions, remain elusive. In this article, we update our knowledge of the HA functional properties, including binding proteins and their signaling networks, as well as matrix formation, which can potentially induce phase separation and affect the mobility and behavior of small molecules, proteins, and cells. We detail the striking differences regarding the biological outcomes of signaling pathways for HA and membrane receptors versus HA and GPI-linked hyaluronidase Hyal-2. We describe: (1) the native, large-sized HA is not proapoptotic but signals with an overexpressed HYAL-2/WWOX/SMAD4 complex to induce apoptosis, which is likely to occur in an inflamed microenvironment; (2) HA-binding proteins are connected via signal pathway networks. The competitive binding of HA and TGF-β to the membrane HYAL-2 and the downstream HYAL-2/WWOX/SMAD4 signaling is addressed; (3) the phase-separated proteins or small molecules in the HA matrices may contribute to the aberrant interactions, leading to inflammation and disease progression; (4) the role of HA and complement C1q in Alzheimer’s disease via connection with a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease WWOX is also discussed; (5) a hidden function is the inducible HA conformational changes that confer cancer suppression and, probably, retardation of neurodegeneration. Full article

John Strong Newberry described three species of the lobe-fin fish Onychodus (Osteichthyes, Sarcopterygii, Onychodontida) based on parasymphysial teeth, or tusks. Two species, Onychodus sigmoides Newberry, 1857 (type species of the genus) and Onychodus hopkinsi Newberry, 1857, were described from the “fish beds” in the Delaware Limestone (Middle Devonian, Eifelian) of Delaware, Ohio, USA; and one species, Onychodus ortoni Newberry, 1889, was described from the Ohio Shale, Huron Member (Upper Devonian, Famennian) of Perry Township, Franklin County, Ohio. In 1873, Newberry replaced the original species-group definition of O. hopkinsi with a definition based on teeth of different morphology from the West Falls Group (Upper Devonian, Frasnian) of Franklin, New York. Specimens of Newberry’s original Onychodus material, including the primary types, which were long assumed to be lost, have been rediscovered in a 19th-century collection. They show O. hopkinsi to be a junior synonym of O. sigmoides and clarify the species definition of O. sigmoides. Onychodus sigmoides, which is recognized from Middle Devonian strata of the Appalachian Basin in the United States and Canada, shows two end-member shapes of teeth on the parasymphysial whorl: procurved (arcuate) or nearly so proximally and recurved distally (anteriorly). Small teeth are commonly more slender than large teeth, which are robust. Parasymphysial teeth from the Upper Devonian of Ohio and New York are referred to O. ortoni. Full article