#gis tools for road condition assessment

[cyberswift-story]

Road Condition Monitoring System(RCMS): Enhancing Efficiency with AI-Powered Solutions

The quality and sustainability of road infrastructure play a pivotal role in societal development, economic growth, and the safety of communities. To address the challenges of road construction and maintenance, advanced digital tools such as Road Condition Monitoring Systems (RCMS) are becoming indispensable. Leveraging technologies like AI-powered pothole detection, data analytics, and interactive visualization, RCMS ensures efficient planning, monitoring, and maintenance of road networks.

[samuel67m]

Wings Engine: The No-Code 3D Mapping Magic for Smart Cities

As the global urbanization process accelerates, smart cities have become a key strategy for improving city management efficiency and enhancing residents’ quality of life. Amidst this wave, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology has played a crucial role, bringing unprecedented changes to urban management. Let’s dive into Wings Engine — a tool that’s making a significant impact in the development of smart cities!

One of the standout features of Wings Engine is its no-code editing capability. Imagine being able to create complex 3D GIS scenes with just simple drag-and-drop and click operations, without writing any complicated code! This not only allows those who are less tech-savvy to easily get started but also significantly boosts work efficiency. Whether it's displaying city terrain, 3D buildings, or real-time data, Wings Engine has got it covered, offering intuitive visual experiences and practical data support for smart city managers.

When it comes to data, one major challenge for smart cities is integrating data from various sources. Here, Wings Engine excels. It supports multiple common GIS data formats, such as TMS, WMS, and WMTS, allowing seamless integration and display of various types of geographic data. What's even cooler is that it can handle real-time data, which is fantastic for applications like traffic management and environmental monitoring. Imagine being able to see real-time data on traffic flow and air quality, making your decision-making process much more informed!

Wings Engine proves its worth across various areas of smart cities. For example, in smart transportation, it enables real-time monitoring of traffic conditions and visualizes road conditions and vehicle flow through 3D maps. This not only helps with traffic scheduling and optimization but also provides critical data support in emergencies. In environmental monitoring, Wings Engine can integrate various environmental data, such as air quality, water quality, and noise levels, allowing city managers to keep track of urban environmental conditions and safeguard public health. When it comes to urban planning, Wings Engine's 3D modeling and visualization capabilities enable planners to assess the effects of different proposals and develop more scientifically-based strategies.

Looking to the future, as smart cities continue to evolve, Wings Engine is set to incorporate more intelligent technologies, such as machine learning and artificial intelligence, to assist city managers in deep data analysis and forecasting. With the proliferation of IoT devices, Wings Engine will also be able to integrate more real-time data sources, providing comprehensive dynamic data support for cities. In summary, Wings Engine is not just a powerful GIS tool; it is a valuable ally for smart cities, offering robust support for sustainable urban development.

[quantumtraffic1]

 The Role of Traffic Engineering Consultants in Smart City Planning

 Imagine a city where traffic flows smoothly, pollution is at a minimum, and getting from point A to B is a breeze. It's not just a dream—it's a smart city, and it's becoming a reality thanks to the innovative strategies implemented by traffic engineering consultants. 

These professionals are the unsung heroes behind the scenes, making our urban environments safer, more efficient, and ready for the future. 

Let’s dive into how traffic engineering consultants Sydney are shaping the cities of tomorrow.

What is Traffic Engineering?

At its core, traffic engineering is a branch of civil engineering that uses engineering techniques to achieve the safe and efficient movement of people and goods on roadways. It involves the planning, design, operation, and maintenance of traffic systems. 

Traffic engineering consultants specialise in analysing current traffic conditions and devising strategies to improve road safety and traffic flow.

Why It's Crucial for Smart Cities

Smart cities leverage digital technology to enhance performance, well-being, and reduce costs and resource consumption across the city. 

Professional traffic engineering consultants Sydney is pivotal in integrating these technologies with traditional traffic management strategies to create a cohesive system that supports sustainable urban growth and connectivity.

Technology and Tools: The Essentials for Modern Traffic Solutions

Traffic engineering consultants use a variety of tools and technologies to transform urban centres. These include:

Traffic Simulation Software: Advanced programs that model traffic flows and predict the impacts of changes in the road network.

GIS and Remote Sensing: Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are used for mapping and analysing road networks, and remote sensing is used for real-time data collection.

Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS): Technologies that improve the performance of transportation systems by minimising traffic congestion and enhancing safety.

How Consultants Make a Difference

Assessing the Current Infrastructure

The first step for any traffic engineering consultant is to assess the existing infrastructure. This involves understanding the nuances of the city’s roadways, traffic patterns, and problem areas that need attention. They use data analytics and traffic modelling to identify bottlenecks and propose solutions.

Designing Future-Proof Strategies

With a thorough understanding of the present conditions, traffic engineering consultants design solutions that are not just fixes but are future-proof upgrades to the traffic system. Whether it’s the incorporation of smart traffic lights, pedestrian-friendly streets, or cycling lanes, these strategies aim to cater to the growing demand for smarter, more resilient urban environments.

How to Collaborate with Traffic Engineering Consultants

When to Bring Consultants on Board

For city planners and developers, engaging with traffic engineering consultants early in the planning process can help in crafting a comprehensive strategy that addresses both current and future needs.

Building a Collaborative Environment

Successful smart city initiatives often involve collaboration between traffic engineering consultants, urban planners, policymakers, and the community. Open communication and regular feedback ensure that the solutions developed are practical, acceptable, and beneficial to all stakeholders.

Conclusion

The role of traffic engineering consultants in smart city planning is not just important; it's essential. As cities continue to grow and technology evolves, the expertise of these professionals will be crucial in ensuring that urban development is not only smart but sustainable. 

Cities are paving the way towards a more efficient and dynamic future by investing in skilled traffic engineering consultants Sydney experts. 

Remember, the journey towards becoming a smart city begins with a single step—and that step is often taken alongside a traffic engineering consultant.

[akhlisheshsrivastva]

Leveraging GIS Technology for Effective Infrastructure Development

In today's rapidly evolving world, the need for efficient and sustainable infrastructure development is paramount. One of the key tools that have revolutionized the planning and implementation of infrastructure projects is Geographic Information System (GIS) technology. GIS technology enables stakeholders to analyze, visualize, and manage spatial data to make informed decisions and optimize resource allocation. Let's delve deeper into how GIS is being leveraged for effective infrastructure development:

Improving Planning and Design:

GIS technology allows urban planners and engineers to analyze various geographical factors such as terrain, population distribution, and environmental conditions to create optimized infrastructure designs.

By integrating GIS with building information modeling (BIM), stakeholders can visualize the proposed infrastructure projects in the context of the surrounding environment, enhancing design accuracy and stakeholder collaboration.

Enhancing Asset Management:

GIS helps infrastructure asset managers track the condition, maintenance history, and lifespan of various assets such as roads, bridges, and utilities.

Through predictive analytics, GIS can forecast infrastructure maintenance needs, enabling proactive maintenance strategies and cost savings in the long run.

Ensuring Environmental Sustainability:

GIS technology facilitates environmental impact assessments by analyzing the potential effects of infrastructure projects on natural resources, habitats, and ecosystems.

By identifying environmentally sensitive areas, stakeholders can make informed decisions to minimize the ecological footprint of infrastructure development.

Optimizing Resource Allocation:

GIS enables efficient resource allocation by providing spatial insights into population density, traffic patterns, and economic activity.

By identifying areas with the highest infrastructure demand, decision-makers can prioritize investments and allocate resources effectively to meet the needs of the growing population.

Facilitating Real-Time Monitoring:

With the integration of IoT sensors and GIS technology, infrastructure assets can be monitored in real-time for performance, maintenance needs, and safety.

Real-time data visualization through GIS dashboards enables stakeholders to make dynamic decisions and respond promptly to emergencies or maintenance requirements.

In conclusion, the integration of GIS technology in infrastructure development offers a myriad of benefits ranging from improved planning and design to enhanced asset management and sustainability. By leveraging GIS capabilities, stakeholders can drive efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable infrastructure development initiatives that meet the needs of present and future generations.

Source link: https://medium.com/@akhlisheshsrivastva/leveraging-gis-technology-for-effective-infrastructure-development-31ccfeecac8a

[semiconductors-and-technology]

Ground Penetrating Radar Market 2023 Growth and Outlook SWOT Analysis by Key Players and Forecast 2030

The Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) market encompasses a variety of industries and applications, including infrastructure assessment, environmental analysis, archaeology, defense, and underground utility locating. This technology utilizes electromagnetic radiation to image subsurface structures and objects non-destructively. With increasing investments in construction projects globally and the need for accurate mapping of buried utilities and potential hazards, the demand for GPR systems is expected to grow significantly in the coming years.

Key factors driving market growth include advancements in GPR technology such as 3D imaging capabilities, increased government regulations focusing on underground asset protection, and rising concerns regarding safety during excavation activities. The competitive landscape consists of established players offering diverse product portfolios tailored to specific industry requirements, cementing the GPR market's position as an essential tool in modern geospatial analysis and subsurface imaging.

Request Sample Report: https://www.snsinsider.com/sample-request/3611

Scope and Overview: Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) systems consist of high-frequency electromagnetic antennas, control units, and data processing software tailored to capture, analyze, and visualize subsurface structures and features. These systems facilitate precise mapping of utilities, detection of underground anomalies, assessment of pavement conditions, and archaeological investigations. The GPR market encompasses a broad spectrum of applications, spanning civil engineering, construction, military, and law enforcement sectors. The increasing adoption is propelled by advancements in signal processing algorithms, antenna designs, and integration with complementary technologies such as GPS and GIS.

Segmentation Analysis: The Ground Penetrating Radar market can be segmented based on technology type (air-coupled GPR, ground-coupled GPR), antenna frequency (low-frequency, high-frequency), application (utility detection, concrete inspection, archaeological survey, road condition assessment), and end-user industry (construction, infrastructure, transportation, defense, law enforcement). Each segment presents unique growth opportunities and challenges influenced by factors like regulatory requirements, project complexities, and technological maturity.

COVID-19 Impact Analysis: The COVID-19 pandemic has had varied implications for the Ground Penetrating Radar market. While initial disruptions in supply chains, project delays, and budget constraints were observed, the crisis highlighted the importance of infrastructure resilience and asset management. Governments and businesses prioritize investments in infrastructure development, maintenance, and safety, recognizing GPR technology as a cost-effective and non-destructive tool for subsurface imaging and assessment. Additionally, the shift towards remote and contactless operations has accelerated the adoption of GPR solutions for virtual site inspections, asset inventory, and risk assessment.

Regional Outlook: The adoption of Ground Penetrating Radar technology varies across geographical regions, driven by factors such as infrastructure development, regulatory frameworks, and industry-specific requirements. North America and Europe are key markets for GPR systems, fueled by extensive infrastructure networks, stringent safety regulations, and investments in urban renewal projects. Emerging economies in Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East are witnessing increasing adoption of GPR technology, propelled by rapid urbanization, infrastructure expansion, and growing awareness of environmental sustainability.

Access Full Report Details: https://www.snsinsider.com/reports/ground-penetrating-radar-market-3611

[equinoxs-drones]

Application of Geoinformatics in Disaster Management

Disasters, both natural and human-made, have devastating consequences on communities and infrastructure worldwide. Effective disaster management requires timely and accurate information to support decision-making processes. Geoinformatics, a field that integrates geospatial data and information technologies, including GIS surveying and drone surveying, has emerged as a powerful tool in disaster management.

In this blog post, we will explore the applications of geoinformatics and its transformative impact on disaster preparedness, response, and recovery efforts.

Geospatial Data Collection and Analysis:

Geoinformatics enables the collection, analysis, and visualisation of geospatial data, including satellite imagery, aerial photographs, and terrain models. These data sources provide valuable information about disaster-prone areas, vulnerable populations, and critical infrastructure. By analysing these datasets using GIS surveying techniques, disaster management authorities can identify high-risk zones, plan evacuation routes, and allocate resources effectively.

Early Warning Systems:

Geoinformatics plays a crucial role in the development of early warning systems for various hazards such as floods, hurricanes, and earthquakes. By integrating real-time sensor data, weather forecasts, and historical data using geo information systems, geoinformatics can generate accurate and timely alerts, allowing communities to take proactive measures to mitigate the impact of disasters. This technology facilitates rapid dissemination of warnings through mobile applications, SMS, and sirens.

Risk Assessment and Vulnerability Mapping:

Geoinformatics enables the assessment of vulnerability and risk by integrating data on infrastructure, population density, and environmental factors. By combining this information with hazard maps using GIS surveying techniques, disaster managers can identify areas prone to specific risks and prioritize mitigation efforts. Geoinformatics also assists in creating vulnerability maps that highlight areas with high concentrations of vulnerable populations, aiding in evacuation planning and resource allocation.

Emergency Response and Resource Allocation:

During a disaster, geoinformatics provides real-time situational awareness to emergency response teams. Geographic Information System (GIS) platforms integrated with live feeds from drones, satellite imagery, and ground-based sensors allow responders to monitor the evolving situation, track the movement of resources, and make informed decisions. This technology helps optimize the allocation of emergency personnel, supplies, and equipment, resulting in more efficient response efforts.

Post-Disaster Damage Assessment and Recovery:

Geoinformatics plays a critical role in assessing post-disaster damage and facilitating recovery. High-resolution satellite imagery and aerial surveys using drone surveying techniques can rapidly capture the extent of destruction, aiding in damage assessment and identifying areas requiring immediate attention. GIS tools assist in coordinating post-disaster recovery efforts by tracking the progress of reconstruction projects, managing resource distribution, and facilitating communication among stakeholders.

Community Engagement and Citizen Science:

Geoinformatics empowers communities to actively participate in disaster management through citizen science initiatives. Crowdsourcing platforms allow citizens to contribute valuable geospatial data, such as road conditions, flood levels, or blocked routes, in real-time. This community-generated data enhances the accuracy and responsiveness of disaster management efforts, facilitating a collaborative approach to resilience-building.

Geoinformatics, including GIS surveying and drone surveying, has revolutionised the field of disaster management by providing decision-makers with accurate, up-to-date, and spatially referenced information. From early warning systems to post-disaster recovery, the applications of geoinformatics are diverse and impactful. By harnessing the power of geospatial data and advanced technologies, we can enhance disaster preparedness, response, and recovery, ultimately saving lives and minimising the socio-economic impact of disasters.

To access our solutions regarding disaster management reach out to us EQUINOX’S DRONES

[isabellakarapashageo333-blog]

Yellowstone National Park and Geologic and Natural Hazards

Yellowstone National Park is a 3,468 square mile park that spans through the states of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. It is the United States most seismically active areas, with 700 to 3,000 earthquakes a year.  The park puts several pre-disaster actions into place to keep their visitors from risk. There is an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the winter storms.  EIS was created in 1999 and it takes accountability for addressing winter impacts with new technologies, limiting vehicle numbers, and mandatory quiding during the winter months, including avalanche mitigation. Alongside with the Park’s monitoring team, it monitors weather conditions and closes the roads from all traffic. The program also relies on military weapons to activate small avalanches so large ones do not occur (1). The Unstable Slope Management Plan for geologic hazards is an asset management program that provides tools and guidance to help monitor slopes, implementing and assessing the conditions, tracking, and assessing risk. The YellowStone Volcano Observatory which has real time monitoring and mitigation for volcanic eruptions. Yellowstone is one of the busiest national parks with four to six million visitors a year. Can more strategies be enacted to ensure that visitors to Yellowstone National Park are not endangered in the event of a natural or geologic hazard? 

Based on previous research, a major factor that needs to be put into consideration is that a lot of these natural hazards are not controllable. For example, when it comes to the unstable slopes and other geographic hazards the main challenge is making people aware because the majority of these hazards are not controllable, rather you just have to be cautious and plan for pre and post hazard (2). Hence why there is an Unstable Slope Management Plan, although it is taking a personal risk to go to Yellowstone, the park is making it their job to monitor unstable slopes to keep visitors as safe as possible. This is similar to their dedication to the creation and improvement of the Environmental Impact Statement for winter storms and creating a supplemental environmental impact statement (3).The process allows for constant consideration and reconsideration of winter storm management to keep visitors safe during the winter season through the monitoring process. As for earthquakes, they are currently active in the Yellowstone area, yet not all are felt. There are ‘swarms’ which is a collection of thousands of temblors, a characteristic of the supervolcano that resides in Yellowstone (4). Yellowstone monitors these swarms with their pre planning and real time monitoring through GPS data through the YVO, the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.  YVO is a cooperative partnership between the US Geological Survey, National Park Service, University of Utah, University of Wyoming, University NAVSTAR Consortium and State Geological Surveys of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. It involves organizing and deploying scientific personnel and equipment to investigate current activity and assess possible outcomes and impacts, monitoring systems, alert levels, notification systems (5). Geographic Information Systems (GIS) plays a crucial role in keeping visitors safe through monitoring hazards and if need be, mitigating hazards that could occur through remapping affect areas (6).

An issue that is currently up for discussion is the visitors using snowmobiles and oversnow vehicles having an effect on the natural environment. For, oversnow mobiles allow for more visitors to experience Yellowstone during the winter season. Yet,  snowmobile for recreational use can impact Yellowstone's microclimate in negative ways. The emission for these snowmobiles can cause pollution to the air and water, the engine to a snowmobile is compared to a jet engine alongside emitting large amount of dark smoke. The noise from the motor can cause disruption from the noise pollution. The issue with the locals is that this increase of winter visitors, has a positive effect for the cities surrounding and local businesses, which are benefiting more from the increase in revenue and profit during the usual slow season. With this, The National Park Services had put a limitation on the number of oversnow mobiles in the park through a permit process(Reference 7).

In conclusion, through the Yellowstone National Observatory’s ability to monitor volcanic activity, and the Unstable Slope Management plan for slopes, and the Environmental Impact Statement to ensure safety during winter seasons, and National Park Services acts of planning through hazard maps, escape routes, first aid locations, shelters, and emergency contacts, reduce exposure, trail routes, and signs (1). The park has done their duty on ensuring the visitors of  Yellowstone National Park are not endangered in the event of a natural or geologic hazard.  The biggest takeaway from this research is that these hazards are natural and can not be controlled. By going to Yellowstone you are putting yourself at risk, to ensure your safety while there you should, stay on the trail, stay back from cliff edges, obey posted warnings.

References: 

Reference 1: https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/management/upload/finalreport-march_2007.pdf

Reference 2: 

(https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/safety.htm

Reference 3: 

Wessels, John. “Winter Use Plan, Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, Yellowstone National Park, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.” Federal Register (National Archives & Records Service, Office of the Federal Register), vol. 77, no. 26, Feb. 2012, p. 6581. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=cookie,ip&db=bth&AN=71942265&site=eds-live&scope=site.

Reference 4: 

Thuermer Jr. ., A. M. (2017). Earthquake bigger risk than Yellowstone supervolcano. Wyoming Business Report, 18(6), 12–14. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-com.proxy.lib.miamioh.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=cookie,ip&db=buh&AN=125396317&site=eds-live&scope=site

Reference 5: 

Strategic Priorities of Hazard Management . (2019, May 28). Retrieved from https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/management/strategic-priorities.htm. 

Reference 6: 

(https://www.researchgate.net/publication/252836265_A_GIS_Framework_for_Mitigating_Volcanic_and_Hydrothermal_Hazards_at_Yellowstone_National_Park_and_Vicinity) 

Reference 7: 

Bieschke, B. (2016). Challenging the 2012 Rule Implementing Regulations on Oversnow Vehicle Use in Yellowstone National Park. Boston College Environmental Affairs Law Review, (Issue 2), 541. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-com.proxy.lib.miamioh.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=cookie,ip&db=edshol&AN=edshol.hein.journals.bcenv43.26&site=eds-live&scope=site

[balrajgis]

Automotive Collision Repair Market to record robust growth rate in coming 10 years | 3M, Automotive Technology Products LLC, Continental AG

Global Automotive Collision Repair Market report from Global Insight Services is the single authoritative source of intelligence on Automotive Collision Repair Market. The report will provide you with analysis of impact of latest market disruptions such as Russia-Ukraine war and Covid-19 on the market. Report provides qualitative analysis of the market using various frameworks such as Porters’ and PESTLE analysis. Report includes in-depth segmentation and market size data by categories, product types, applications, and geographies. Report also includes comprehensive analysis of key issues, trends and drivers, restraints and challenges, competitive landscape, as well as recent events such as M&A activities in the market.

Automotive collision repair is the process of repairing a vehicle that has been damaged in an accident. This can include anything from minor dents and scratches to major bodywork and frame repair. The goal of collision repair is to restore the vehicle to its pre-accident condition.

To Remain ‘Ahead’ Of Your Competitors, Request for A Sample – https://www.globalinsightservices.com/request-sample/GIS21255/

Key Trends

Over the past few years, there have been a few key trends in automotive collision repair technology.

First, there has been a move towards more sophisticated and accurate estimating tools. This has been driven by insurers who are looking to reduce the amount of time and money spent on claims.

Another trend is the use of more advanced imaging technologies. These technologies allow for a more accurate assessment of damage and can help to speed up the repair process.

Key Drivers

There are several key drivers of the automotive collision repair market.

First, the increasing number of vehicles on the road is resulting in more accidents and a greater need for repair services.

Second, the rising cost of vehicle repairs is making collision repair an increasingly attractive option for many consumers.

Market Segmentation

By Product

Paints

Coatings

Spare Parts

By Vehicle Type

Light-Duty Vehicle

Heavy-Duty Vehicle

By Region

North AmericaUS

Get A Customized Scope to Match Your Need Ask an Expert – https://www.globalinsightservices.com/request-customization/GIS21255/

Key Players

3M

Automotive Technology Products LLC

Continental AG

Denso Corporation

Faurecia

Federal-Mogul LLC

Honeywell International Inc

With Global Insight Services, you receive:

10-year forecast to help you make strategic decisions

In-depth segmentation which can be customized as per your requirements

Free consultation with lead analyst of the report

Excel data pack included with all report purchases

Robust and transparent research methodology

Ground breaking research and market player-centric solutions for the upcoming decade according to the present market scenario

About Global Insight Services:

Global Insight Services (GIS) is a leading multi-industry market research firm headquartered in Delaware, US. We are committed to providing our clients with highest quality data, analysis, and tools to meet all their market research needs. With GIS, you can be assured of the quality of the deliverables, robust & transparent research methodology, and superior service.

Contact Us:

Global Insight Services LLC

16192, Coastal Highway, Lewes DE 19958

E-mail: info@globalinsightservices.com

Phone: +1–833–761–1700

[paleorecipecookbook]

The Effects of Non-Antibiotic Drugs on the Microbiome

The trillions of microbes in our gut play incredibly important and complex roles in our health. I’ve written several articles on the gut microbiome and its connections to:

skin health 

allergies

food cravings

bone health

ocular health

the thyroid

autoimmune disease

brain health

heart health

Because the health of our gut microbiome is so important, I’ve also extensively discussed why we should think twice about taking antibiotics. Thanks to more widespread appreciation of the gut microbiome, more and more patients and doctors understand the potential negative impacts of antibiotics on normal healthy bacteria. But a study published in March of this year suggests that many non-antibiotic drugs can also affect the microbiome. In this article, I’ll break down the findings of this study and discuss whether this is truly cause for concern.

Drug–microbe interactions

The interaction of drugs and the microbiome is not a new concept. It’s been known for quite some time that microbes influence the efficacy and toxicity of drugs, and several studies had previously found that metformin (1), PPIs (2), NSAIDs (3), and atypical antipsychotics (4) can all alter the composition of the microbiota.

Antibiotics can have adverse effects on the gut microbiome, but did you know that nearly a quarter of non-antibiotic drugs can as well? Learn which of your prescriptions might be influencing your gut microbiome – for better or for worse 

However, the effects of many other non-antibiotic drugs on the microbiome had never been assessed, even though many have known gastrointestinal side effects. The goal of this study, therefore, was to systematically profile interactions between drugs and individual gut microbes. It was titled “Extensive impact of non-antibiotic drugs on human gut bacteria” and published in the journal Nature.

For the study, the authors monitored the growth of 40 human gut isolates comprising 38 different bacterial species, which were grown in an anaerobic medium that largely “recapitulates the species relative abundance in human gut microbiomes.” The species were chosen based on their prevalence and abundance in the healthy human gut microbiota and their phylogenetic diversity. Most strains were commensal, or normal, gut flora, but the set also included four potential pathogens, including Clostridium difficile and the probiotic strain Lactobacillus paracasei.

They tested 1,079 pharmaceuticals that are commonly administered to humans, including:

835 with targets in human cells

156 with antibacterial activity (144 antibiotics and 12 antiseptics)

88 with antifungal, antiviral, or antiparasitic activity

Drugs have widespread activity against beneficial microbes

Unsurprisingly, many of the antibacterials tested had broad-spectrum activity, meaning that they inhibited pathogenic bacteria but also inhibited normal commensal bacteria. Of the 156 antibacterials tested, 78 percent were active against at least one commensal species, and most had activity against many potentially beneficial microbes. Additionally, 47 of the 88 antifungals, antivirals, and antiparasitics had anti-commensal activity.

The most novel finding, though, was that 203 out of the 835 human-targeted non-antibiotic drugs showed activity against normal gut microbes. That’s almost a quarter (24 percent) of non-antibiotic drugs having a significant effect on the gut microbiome. Most of these drugs only inhibited the growth of a few strains, but 40 drugs affected at least 10 strains!

The effects weren’t limited by drug class, either. Almost every type of drug tested showed some activity against normal gut flora. I’ve listed the categories below, along with the specific names of drugs that affected more than 10 microbial strains:

Cancer therapies: 8-azaguanine, 5-fluorouracil, floxuridine, tamoxifen citrate, amethopterin, etoposide, doxorubicin hydrochloride, streptozotocin, aprepitant

Anti-inflammatories: diacerein, anthralin, auranofin, methotrexate, zafirlukast

Antihistamines: loratadine (Claritin), terfenadine, clemizole, astemizole

Antidiabetic drugs: troglitazone

GI disorder drugs: pinaverium bromide, oxethazaine

NSAIDs: tolfenamic acid

Antipsychotics: methiothepin maleate, thioridazine hydrochloride

Antihypertensives: felodipine

Antiarrhythmics: amiodarone hydrochloride

Anticoagulants: dicumarol

Hormones or hormone modulators: estradiol valerate, diethylstilbestrol, diestrol, tiratricol (thyroid hormone analogue), clomiphene citrate

The microbes affected

Microbial responses varied by drug, but the abundance of key commensals Roseburia intestinalis, Eubacterium rectale, and Bacteroides vulgatus were among the most sensitive. R. intestinalis and E. rectale are known producers of the beneficial microbial metabolite butyrate, a key promoter of gut barrier integrity, while B. vulgatus is an important producer of the metabolite propionate, which stimulates the release of gut satiety peptides and has been shown to help prevent weight gain (5). The authors write:

Overall, species with higher relative abundance across healthy individuals were significantly more susceptible to human-targeted drugs. This suggests that human-targeted drugs have an even larger impact on the gut microbiome, with key species related to healthy status […] being relatively more affected. (6) 

They also stressed that the doses used in the study to probe drug–microbe interactions were well within physiologically relevant concentrations and that their data are likely to underestimate the impact of human-targeted drugs on gut bacteria.

Lastly, there was a strong overlap between resistance against antibiotics and resistant against non-antibiotic drugs, suggesting that consuming non-antibiotic drugs could potentially increase the risk of acquiring antibiotic resistance.

On-target or off-target effects?

I want to stress that there is still much we don’t understand here. For instance, is an altered gut microbiome an on-target or off-target effect of the drug? As the lead author on the study, Dr. Peer Bork, pointed out in a press release, “This shift in the composition of our gut bacteria contributes to drug side-effects, but might also be part of the drugs’ beneficial action” (7).

In other words, your prescription might only be working because it is changing your gut microbiome. For example, metformin, a drug commonly used to treat diabetes, has been shown to alter the gut microbiome, increasing abundance of the beneficial microbes Akkermansia muciniphila, Butyrivibrio, and Bifidobacterium bifidum (8). Transplanting fecal material from humans receiving metformin into germ-free mice has been shown to improve glucose intolerance, suggesting that the microbiome is responsible for the therapeutic effects (9).

All that being said, metformin seems to be the exception, not the rule—it’s clear that many of these drugs are negatively impacting microbial composition. These off-target effects on the microbiome suggest that treating one disease with a pill could potentially be causing another disease down the road. In other words, taking a proton pump inhibitor might help control your acid reflux in the short term, but it will also cause a shift in your gut microbiome that predisposes you to irritable bowel syndrome (10), gut infections (11), liver disease (12), and other conditions.

While pharmaceuticals can be a valuable tool in the management of disease, this study further supports the notion that if we can address the root cause of disease and support a healthy gut microbiome, we’re much more likely to achieve lasting, long-term health.

Now I’d like to hear from you. Did you know about the effects of non-antibiotic drugs on the gut microbiome? Start the discussion in the comments below!

The post The Effects of Non-Antibiotic Drugs on the Microbiome appeared first on Chris Kresser.

Source: http://chriskresser.com May 07, 2018 at 05:53PM

[bimengusllp]

Moving towards reality capture with a digital-first approach to improve efficiency, build quality, and on-time project delivery.

Have you adopted the digital ways of building to improve productivity, reduce costs, and minimize risk in construction? The drive towards digitalization requires a connected and digital-first approach. It’s time you consider Reality Capture as a present-day technology to improve project and business outcomes through improved efficiency, build quality, and on-time project delivery.

Reality Capture technology has gained immense popularity in the world of construction & Building Information Modeling (BIM). If you’re looking at quick, high-performance, cost, and time-saving scans, then Scan-to-BIM or Reality Capture is what you need to consider.

Reality Capture uses hi-tech 3D-Laser Scanning technology to build 3D models in real-time. 3D Laser Scanners are the go-to-device that provides an extraordinary ability to capture and build models for “as-is” conditions with superior accuracy & efficiency.

But, with a myriad of advantages, there is still a lot of hesitation amongst the AEC industry to embrace the full potential of Reality Capture. The future of construction will require high-end technology to make construction faster and accurate, there will be a smooth learning curve wherein AEC stakeholders will understand the true potential of Reality-Capture. With various challenges like inaccurate survey calculations, unnecessary rework, material waste, irrelevant costs, delays in work, etc. Reality Capture is the optimum solution for modern surveyors to scan buildings, infrastructure, or facilities with modern 3D laser scanners.

Lucrative project delivery is based on Building Information Modeling (BIM), and decisive collaboration. Along these lines, the visualization of a BIM model through immersive technology or AR/VR is the most effective method to gain a greater perspective in the world of construction. Various project issues can be addressed in construction such as operational feasibility, time, cost, and more. As BIM contains visual and well-informed information, it can improve project efficiency, productivity, cost, and time. In this article, we discuss the integration of Augmented Reality(AR)/Virtual Reality (VR) to augment BIM projects through AR/VR-based workflows and project collaboration.

Challenges that can cause serious rework in a project timeline include:

·         Structural issues that include bowing, depression, or buckling

·         Thermal changes onsite

·         Incorrect installation of MEP components

·         Inaccurate utility mapping

·         Inability to measure site changes overtime

A positive & successful BIM-based project delivery is based on mutual collaboration. This primarily relies on high-quality & information-rich 3-D models. The ability of a BIM model to augment project delivery requires much more than large computer display units, it requires project stakeholder presence as well.  An immersive medium like Virtual Reality is a high-impact solution to visualize a 3D model. A Virtual Reality simulation eliminates most of the onsite problems like installation, feasibility, and more. Furthermore, various Virtual Reality tools have been introduced in the market, but little is known about their adoption in the world of AEC.

This includes using immersive technology to solve various on-site challenges using actual BIM models. AEC projects have long been exposed to project delays and growing building costs. The need to eliminate unnecessary costs can be challenging, but the adoption of new technology can significantly reduce this risk through new Virtual Reality (VR).

Benefits of using an AR/VR based workflow

§  Better project coordination – onsite and offsite

§  Identify potential challenges in project design

§  Greater efficiency in building up a robust information model for a digital twin

§  Better chance of winning bids or tenders

§  Reduce project cost and turnaround times

Based on research conducted by Market Research Engine, the global BIM market would reach a market value of 13.2 billion US dollars, by the end of 2024.  

There are many reasons why a VR-based workflow should be adopted in a BIM project, but there are 5 principal opportunities that project owners, AEC firms, and stakeholders need to leverage through VR-based workflows.

As modern construction technology is shaping new project processes and workflows, it is pretty evident that it delivers greater value with smaller device sizes. From apps on mobile to hand-held laser scanners, and VR glasses, technology has set the road on solving major construction problems, and embrace BIM projects with substantial rewards.

Virtual Reality workflows are the next best thing in 3D BIM modeling, as it places project stakeholders right inside a 3D environment using modern immersive technology.

The Arizona Grand Canyon Dam is a complex engineering system that required Reality Capture technology as the Dam’s Facility Documentation or inputs were primarily 2D engineering drawings. With Reality Capture technology project stakeholders could scan the exterior and interior of the Dam, and get it in a digital format to assess and address structural risks. Various technology drivers like laser scanning, aerial photography, & underwater sonar were used to create a point cloud model of the facility. This included overlays for O & M, Facilities Management, Security Power Distribution, and GIS.

Here are some opportunities wherein AEC stakeholders can leverage Reality Capture for scanning.   Removes guesswork from surveying

Rather than depending on traditional 2D drawings, manual measurements, etc. you can begin your surveying process with ease and using 3D laser scanners. Scan-to-BIM technology is one of the most impressive processes wherein point clouds can be converted into 3D models using Revit or various BIM authoring software. If there is a major piece of equipment that needs to be installed in a facility, then the onsite crew will need accurate measurements to make it happen.

The US estimates about 80% of the non-residential buildings are more than 20 years old. The need to renovate is in great demand and will continue to upscale as time goes on.

It helps you win bids

With accurate calculations, AEC companies can build accurate 3D models for renovation or “as-is “processes. With high-quality scans, firms can create a full-proof concept or potential of the project based on transparent presentations that open up a clear picture of project requirements in terms of schedules, cost estimation, sustainability, and facilities management.

Leverage high-quality prefabrication based on superior accuracy

Build precise prefab components for accurate onsite installations. This saves on rework, material waste, and unnecessary costs sand time. Thus, it removes the element of human error from the equation.

The Stanford Hospital Palo Alto Renewal Project used Reality Capture to verify steel camber beams. It took them 64 hours to scan 30% of the steel, whilst adopting Reality Capture technology helped scan the beams, steel, and concrete floor in 13 man-hours. The total scan count was 155 scans with significant cost and time savings and accurate dimension calculations for RFI’s.  

It upholds quality control

Using high-quality scanners, sharp and dense model scans can be done from various angles. Every piece of data is stored in the form of a point cloud, that can be stored in a pen drive, and then authored in BIM modeling software like Revit.

Can be extremely helpful for facilities management & closeouts

Once a Scan-to-BIM model is authored, it can be used by project stakeholders for facilities management for maintenance, renovations, etc. Accurate BIM models are built, they help reduce costs and save on time based on installing new components, relocating them, or knowing their exact location in the field.

Enhanced Model Interaction  

Workflows based on Virtual Reality have the potential of augmenting 3D model experiences for Architects and Designers. It allows them to interact with models more intuitively, thus creating project designs that are built on software before the final product is ready to be built. The reasons it has greater viability in the construction sector would be –

§  It displays high interactive capabilities or the ability for users to interact in an immersive medium

§  It can create spatial characteristics or 3D

§  Users can leverage data or information from 3D models in real-time

With the technology to garner and use information directly from a 3D model, collaboration can move from an interdisciplinary to multi-disciplinary mode.

Architecture firms can leverage a 50% reduction in cost by using laser scanning vs. hiring a 2D traditional surveyor. The biggest driver with Reality Capture is time savings for a large scope.

High-end visual representation  

Virtual Reality provides users a highly accurate spatial-visual representation for the exploration of a digital model. Immersive technologies deliver in-depth perception through high image quality based on head-mounted devices that provide users with the experience of being present in a virtual environment.

 This helps project stakeholders understand the project in totality with all the elements and objects present as intended by the owner, architects, etc. This is one of the principal reasons why VR technology is adopted very early on in the BIM process to understand the interpretation and perceptions of various minds involved in the BIM project.

High Scalability improves project turn-around times

As every project is unique in its way, VR helps project stakeholders stay up to speed on relevant issues through project collaboration. By creating and using accurate 3D models of a large and complex project, it becomes imperative for project personnel to review it based on a collaborative basis.

The adoption of VR takes it to an all-new level by making people interact in a virtual environment through project walkthroughs and examine the site in real-time.

Instead of wasted return trips on a scanning site, project stakeholders can leverage intelligent scans in digitized formats in a matter of days.

Collaboration is key when it comes to BIM – VR partnerships  

VR makes it easy for team members to collaborate in real-time. They can work in a shared environment whilst making interpretations, taking crucial decisions, asking questions, and more. The presence of collaboration reduces turn-around times, rework, and enhances accuracy, and the level of communication at all trade levels.

Adopting an AR/VR-based workflow helps remote teams work on the same page, and understand project requirements very early on in the design phase. Furthermore, during the construction phase, it helps provide a high level of input for on-site installations and deliverables.

AR/VR based workflows push customer reality to the next level

The presence of an AR/VR-based workflow helps building owners and stakeholders push customer perceptions to the next level. Instead of using 2D paper drawings, consumers can get inside their 3D project models and get a 360 view of their deliverables and the final project with highly detailed 360 photo documents.

This creates an environment where owners and stakeholders can project complete transparency in front of the customer, and make informed decisions based on client expectations. Customers can see their project unfold at every step of the project that includes viewing layouts, lighting, spaces, real-time objects, and more.  

The importance of Reality Capture for Infrastructure Projects.

·         Capture large land areas

·         Leverage an accurate understanding of site conditions

·         Detect landscape features

·         Generate accurate & detailed terrain models

·         Compute earthwork quantities

·         Validate large infrastructure areas

Wrapping it up

Reality Capture is an important asset for AEC personnel to leverage upon. The future will witness faster renovations or “as-is” processes. The benefits of Reality Capture will extend beyond this list, and it has the potential to provide significant insights and accuracy. Your reality capture needs will depend on the level of expertise and project execution. Furthermore, it will provide AEC companies with a competitive edge like never before.

Virtual Reality is at a fundamental state when it comes to BIM projects and collaboration. It allows various users to feel the space in real-time, as opposed to just viewing it. With AR/VR workflows at the helm, users gain the ability to feel certain objects and environments through devices based on head motion or movements.

An AR/VR-based BIM workflow helps owners, stakeholders, and users understand complex geometry in the field of architecture and deliver value & definition for every project. By using modern processes and technology, a BIM AR/VR workflow helps engineering firms tackle various challenges and add greater profitability, value, and gratifying construction experience.

Contact Us: - 703-994-4242

Visit us: - https://www.bimengus.com

[isuperbinternetcollectorus]

Digital Map Market Will expected to expand its marketshare $20.36 Billion by 2023

According to new market research report  "Digital Map Market by Component (Solution (Tracking and Telematics, Catchment Analysis, Risk Assessment and Disaster Management, Route Optimization and Planning, Geo-Analytics and Visualization) and Service), Vertical, and Region - Global Forecast to 2023", The global digital map market size is expected to grow from USD 9.26 Billion in 2018 to USD 20.36 Billion by 2023, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 17.1% during the forecast period.

The major factors driving the growth of the digital map market include an increasing use of 3D platforms, advanced technologies, intelligent PDAs in portable and smart devices, geospatial information, and digital maps across verticals.

Browse and in-depth TOC on “Digital Map Market”

70 - Tables

51 - Figures

152 - Pages    

 Ask For PDF @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=174129746

               The risk assessment and disaster management solution segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Digital map solutions support the mapping and tracking of natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcano eruptions, which may have an immediate impact on the human health as well as a secondary impact, causing further death and suffering. Additionally, they assist in tracking environmental emergencies, such as forest fires caused by humans, and technological and industrial accidents usually involving the production, use, or transportation of hazardous materials. Digital map solutions for risk assessment provide flood maps and information, tools to better assess the risks from flooding, and precautionary planning information to help communities take actions to reduce flood risks.

The deployment and integration service segment is estimated to hold the largest market size in 2018.

Deployment and integration services help ensure a satisfactory user experience for digital maps, adhere to IT standards, and maintain budgetary guidelines. Deployment and integration service providers understand the requirements of companies across verticals and accordingly deploy digital map solutions. Service providers also design customized services based on clients’ needs and budget to manage workflows and offer ease of use to customers and employees.

The automotive vertical is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Automotive companies are some of the largest users of the digital map technology. This can be attributed to the growing interest of automakers in connected and self-driven cars. Digital maps offer various features that provide information on driving lanes, emergency lanes, parking areas, crossings, intersection areas, intersection lanes, lane markings, and traffic signs. Enterprises in the automotive vertical are rapidly adopting digital map solutions to use them in self-driving cars. Digital maps and GIS assist in the mapping of self-driving cars in real time. Automotive applications also include fleet management, logistics control systems, and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

Speak With Analyst @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalystNew.asp?id=174129746

North America is estimated to hold the largest market size in 2018.

In North America, digital maps are extensively used across verticals, such as automotive; energy and utilities; government and defense; and logistics, travel, and transportation. These verticals use the mapping technology to devise business strategies, check the feasibility of products, test the geographic conditions that affect the market, and assist in the process of decision-making. The demand for real-time information and real-time modeling is estimated to increase in the coming years, which is expected to have a positive impact on the digital map market.

Major vendors in the digital map market include Esri (US), Google (US), TomTom (Netherlands), Mapbox (US), DigitalGlobe (US), Digital Map Products (US), HERE (Netherlands), MapmyIndia (India), Microsoft (US), NavInfo (China), Nearmap (Australia), Magellan (US), Apple (US), MapQuest (US), AutoNavi (China), Yahoo (US), INRIX (US), Mapmechanics (UK), ZENRIN (Japan), MapSherpa (Canada), OpenStreetMap (UK), Living Map (UK), Automotive Navigation Data (Netherlands), MapMan (UK), and Digital Mapping Solutions (Australia).

Contact: Mr. Rohan MarketsandMarkets™ INC.  630 Dundee Road  Suite 430  Northbrook, IL 60062  USA : 1-888-600-6441  sales@marketsandmarkets.com

[yourabhi123world-blog]

Digital Map Market worth 20.36 Billion USD by 2023!!

The report "Digital Map Market by Component (Solution (Tracking and Telematics, Catchment Analysis, Risk Assessment and Disaster Management, Route Optimization and Planning, Geo-Analytics and Visualization) and Service), Vertical, and Region - Global Forecast to 2023", The global digital map market size is expected to grow from USD 9.26 Billion in 2018 to USD 20.36 Billion by 2023, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 17.1% during the forecast period. The major factors driving the growth of the digital map market include an increasing use of 3D platforms, advanced technologies, intelligent PDAs in portable and smart devices, geospatial information, and digital maps across verticals.

Browse 70 market data Tables and 51 Figures spread through 155 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Digital Map Market by Component (Solution (Tracking and Telematics, Catchment Analysis, Risk Assessment and Disaster Management, Route Optimization and Planning, Geo-Analytics and Visualization) and Service), Vertical, and Region - Global Forecast to 2023"

https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/digital-map-market-174129746.html

The risk assessment and disaster management solution segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Digital map solutions support the mapping and tracking of natural disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcano eruptions, which may have an immediate impact on the human health as well as a secondary impact, causing further death and suffering. Additionally, they assist in tracking environmental emergencies, such as forest fires caused by humans, and technological and industrial accidents usually involving the production, use, or transportation of hazardous materials. Digital map solutions for risk assessment provide flood maps and information, tools to better assess the risks from flooding, and precautionary planning information to help communities take actions to reduce flood risks.

The deployment and integration service segment is estimated to hold the largest market size in 2018.

Deployment and integration services help ensure a satisfactory user experience for digital maps, adhere to IT standards, and maintain budgetary guidelines. Deployment and integration service providers understand the requirements of companies across verticals and accordingly deploy digital map solutions. Service providers also design customized services based on clients’ needs and budget to manage workflows and offer ease of use to customers and employees.

The automotive vertical is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period.

Automotive companies are some of the largest users of the digital map technology. This can be attributed to the growing interest of automakers in connected and self-driven cars. Digital maps offer various features that provide information on driving lanes, emergency lanes, parking areas, crossings, intersection areas, intersection lanes, lane markings, and traffic signs. Enterprises in the automotive vertical are rapidly adopting digital map solutions to use them in self-driving cars. Digital maps and GIS assist in the mapping of self-driving cars in real time. Automotive applications also include fleet management, logistics control systems, and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

North America is estimated to hold the largest market size in 2018.

In North America, digital maps are extensively used across verticals, such as automotive; energy and utilities; government and defense; and logistics, travel, and transportation. These verticals use the mapping technology to devise business strategies, check the feasibility of products, test the geographic conditions that affect the market, and assist in the process of decision-making. The demand for real-time information and real-time modeling is estimated to increase in the coming years, which is expected to have a positive impact on the digital map market.

Major vendors in the digital map market include Esri (US), Google (US), TomTom (Netherlands), Mapbox (US), DigitalGlobe (US), Digital Map Products (US), HERE (Netherlands), MapmyIndia (India), Microsoft (US), NavInfo (China), Nearmap (Australia), Magellan (US), Apple (US), MapQuest (US), AutoNavi (China), Yahoo (US), INRIX (US), Mapmechanics (UK), ZENRIN (Japan), MapSherpa (Canada), OpenStreetMap (UK), Living Map (UK), Automotive Navigation Data (Netherlands), MapMan (UK), and Digital Mapping Solutions (Australia).

Download PDF Brochure - https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=174129746

About MarketsandMarkets™

MarketsandMarkets™ provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies’ revenues. Currently servicing 5000 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets™ for their painpoints around revenues decisions.

Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets™ are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model – GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets™ now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets™ is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve.

MarketsandMarkets’s flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledgestore" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets.

Contact: Mr. Rohan MarketsandMarkets™ INC.  630 Dundee Road  Suite 430  Northbrook, IL 60062  USA : 1-888-600-6441  sales@marketsandmarkets.com

[shapesnnsizes]

The Effects of Non-Antibiotic Drugs on the Microbiome

The trillions of microbes in our gut play incredibly important and complex roles in our health. I’ve written several articles on the gut microbiome and its connections to:

skin health 

allergies

food cravings

bone health

ocular health

the thyroid

autoimmune disease

brain health

heart health

Because the health of our gut microbiome is so important, I’ve also extensively discussed why we should think twice about taking antibiotics. Thanks to more widespread appreciation of the gut microbiome, more and more patients and doctors understand the potential negative impacts of antibiotics on normal healthy bacteria. But a study published in March of this year suggests that many non-antibiotic drugs can also affect the microbiome. In this article, I’ll break down the findings of this study and discuss whether this is truly cause for concern.

Drug–microbe interactions

The interaction of drugs and the microbiome is not a new concept. It’s been known for quite some time that microbes influence the efficacy and toxicity of drugs, and several studies had previously found that metformin (1), PPIs (2), NSAIDs (3), and atypical antipsychotics (4) can all alter the composition of the microbiota.

Antibiotics can have adverse effects on the gut microbiome, but did you know that nearly a quarter of non-antibiotic drugs can as well? Learn which of your prescriptions might be influencing your gut microbiome – for better or for worse 

However, the effects of many other non-antibiotic drugs on the microbiome had never been assessed, even though many have known gastrointestinal side effects. The goal of this study, therefore, was to systematically profile interactions between drugs and individual gut microbes. It was titled “Extensive impact of non-antibiotic drugs on human gut bacteria” and published in the journal Nature.

For the study, the authors monitored the growth of 40 human gut isolates comprising 38 different bacterial species, which were grown in an anaerobic medium that largely “recapitulates the species relative abundance in human gut microbiomes.” The species were chosen based on their prevalence and abundance in the healthy human gut microbiota and their phylogenetic diversity. Most strains were commensal, or normal, gut flora, but the set also included four potential pathogens, including Clostridium difficile and the probiotic strain Lactobacillus paracasei.

They tested 1,079 pharmaceuticals that are commonly administered to humans, including:

835 with targets in human cells

156 with antibacterial activity (144 antibiotics and 12 antiseptics)

88 with antifungal, antiviral, or antiparasitic activity

Drugs have widespread activity against beneficial microbes

Unsurprisingly, many of the antibacterials tested had broad-spectrum activity, meaning that they inhibited pathogenic bacteria but also inhibited normal commensal bacteria. Of the 156 antibacterials tested, 78 percent were active against at least one commensal species, and most had activity against many potentially beneficial microbes. Additionally, 47 of the 88 antifungals, antivirals, and antiparasitics had anti-commensal activity.

The most novel finding, though, was that 203 out of the 835 human-targeted non-antibiotic drugs showed activity against normal gut microbes. That’s almost a quarter (24 percent) of non-antibiotic drugs having a significant effect on the gut microbiome. Most of these drugs only inhibited the growth of a few strains, but 40 drugs affected at least 10 strains!

The effects weren’t limited by drug class, either. Almost every type of drug tested showed some activity against normal gut flora. I’ve listed the categories below, along with the specific names of drugs that affected more than 10 microbial strains:

Cancer therapies: 8-azaguanine, 5-fluorouracil, floxuridine, tamoxifen citrate, amethopterin, etoposide, doxorubicin hydrochloride, streptozotocin, aprepitant

Anti-inflammatories: diacerein, anthralin, auranofin, methotrexate, zafirlukast

Antihistamines: loratadine (Claritin), terfenadine, clemizole, astemizole

Antidiabetic drugs: troglitazone

GI disorder drugs: pinaverium bromide, oxethazaine

NSAIDs: tolfenamic acid

Antipsychotics: methiothepin maleate, thioridazine hydrochloride

Antihypertensives: felodipine

Antiarrhythmics: amiodarone hydrochloride

Anticoagulants: dicumarol

Hormones or hormone modulators: estradiol valerate, diethylstilbestrol, diestrol, tiratricol (thyroid hormone analogue), clomiphene citrate

The microbes affected

Microbial responses varied by drug, but the abundance of key commensals Roseburia intestinalis, Eubacterium rectale, and Bacteroides vulgatus were among the most sensitive. R. intestinalis and E. rectale are known producers of the beneficial microbial metabolite butyrate, a key promoter of gut barrier integrity, while B. vulgatus is an important producer of the metabolite propionate, which stimulates the release of gut satiety peptides and has been shown to help prevent weight gain (5). The authors write:

Overall, species with higher relative abundance across healthy individuals were significantly more susceptible to human-targeted drugs. This suggests that human-targeted drugs have an even larger impact on the gut microbiome, with key species related to healthy status […] being relatively more affected. (6) 

They also stressed that the doses used in the study to probe drug–microbe interactions were well within physiologically relevant concentrations and that their data are likely to underestimate the impact of human-targeted drugs on gut bacteria.

Lastly, there was a strong overlap between resistance against antibiotics and resistant against non-antibiotic drugs, suggesting that consuming non-antibiotic drugs could potentially increase the risk of acquiring antibiotic resistance.

On-target or off-target effects?

I want to stress that there is still much we don’t understand here. For instance, is an altered gut microbiome an on-target or off-target effect of the drug? As the lead author on the study, Dr. Peer Bork, pointed out in a press release, “This shift in the composition of our gut bacteria contributes to drug side-effects, but might also be part of the drugs’ beneficial action” (7).

In other words, your prescription might only be working because it is changing your gut microbiome. For example, metformin, a drug commonly used to treat diabetes, has been shown to alter the gut microbiome, increasing abundance of the beneficial microbes Akkermansia muciniphila, Butyrivibrio, and Bifidobacterium bifidum (8). Transplanting fecal material from humans receiving metformin into germ-free mice has been shown to improve glucose intolerance, suggesting that the microbiome is responsible for the therapeutic effects (9).

All that being said, metformin seems to be the exception, not the rule—it’s clear that many of these drugs are negatively impacting microbial composition. These off-target effects on the microbiome suggest that treating one disease with a pill could potentially be causing another disease down the road. In other words, taking a proton pump inhibitor might help control your acid reflux in the short term, but it will also cause a shift in your gut microbiome that predisposes you to irritable bowel syndrome (10), gut infections (11), liver disease (12), and other conditions.

While pharmaceuticals can be a valuable tool in the management of disease, this study further supports the notion that if we can address the root cause of disease and support a healthy gut microbiome, we’re much more likely to achieve lasting, long-term health.

Now I’d like to hear from you. Did you know about the effects of non-antibiotic drugs on the gut microbiome? Start the discussion in the comments below!

The post The Effects of Non-Antibiotic Drugs on the Microbiome appeared first on Chris Kresser.

[denisalvney]

The Effects of Non-Antibiotic Drugs on the Microbiome

The trillions of microbes in our gut play incredibly important and complex roles in our health. I’ve written several articles on the gut microbiome and its connections to:

skin health 

allergies

food cravings

bone health

ocular health

the thyroid

autoimmune disease

brain health

heart health

Because the health of our gut microbiome is so important, I’ve also extensively discussed why we should think twice about taking antibiotics. Thanks to more widespread appreciation of the gut microbiome, more and more patients and doctors understand the potential negative impacts of antibiotics on normal healthy bacteria. But a study published in March of this year suggests that many non-antibiotic drugs can also affect the microbiome. In this article, I’ll break down the findings of this study and discuss whether this is truly cause for concern.

Drug–microbe interactions

The interaction of drugs and the microbiome is not a new concept. It’s been known for quite some time that microbes influence the efficacy and toxicity of drugs, and several studies had previously found that metformin (1), PPIs (2), NSAIDs (3), and atypical antipsychotics (4) can all alter the composition of the microbiota.

Antibiotics can have adverse effects on the gut microbiome, but did you know that nearly a quarter of non-antibiotic drugs can as well? Learn which of your prescriptions might be influencing your gut microbiome – for better or for worse 

However, the effects of many other non-antibiotic drugs on the microbiome had never been assessed, even though many have known gastrointestinal side effects. The goal of this study, therefore, was to systematically profile interactions between drugs and individual gut microbes. It was titled “Extensive impact of non-antibiotic drugs on human gut bacteria” and published in the journal Nature.

For the study, the authors monitored the growth of 40 human gut isolates comprising 38 different bacterial species, which were grown in an anaerobic medium that largely “recapitulates the species relative abundance in human gut microbiomes.” The species were chosen based on their prevalence and abundance in the healthy human gut microbiota and their phylogenetic diversity. Most strains were commensal, or normal, gut flora, but the set also included four potential pathogens, including Clostridium difficile and the probiotic strain Lactobacillus paracasei.

They tested 1,079 pharmaceuticals that are commonly administered to humans, including:

835 with targets in human cells

156 with antibacterial activity (144 antibiotics and 12 antiseptics)

88 with antifungal, antiviral, or antiparasitic activity

Drugs have widespread activity against beneficial microbes

Unsurprisingly, many of the antibacterials tested had broad-spectrum activity, meaning that they inhibited pathogenic bacteria but also inhibited normal commensal bacteria. Of the 156 antibacterials tested, 78 percent were active against at least one commensal species, and most had activity against many potentially beneficial microbes. Additionally, 47 of the 88 antifungals, antivirals, and antiparasitics had anti-commensal activity.

The most novel finding, though, was that 203 out of the 835 human-targeted non-antibiotic drugs showed activity against normal gut microbes. That’s almost a quarter (24 percent) of non-antibiotic drugs having a significant effect on the gut microbiome. Most of these drugs only inhibited the growth of a few strains, but 40 drugs affected at least 10 strains!

The effects weren’t limited by drug class, either. Almost every type of drug tested showed some activity against normal gut flora. I’ve listed the categories below, along with the specific names of drugs that affected more than 10 microbial strains:

Cancer therapies: 8-azaguanine, 5-fluorouracil, floxuridine, tamoxifen citrate, amethopterin, etoposide, doxorubicin hydrochloride, streptozotocin, aprepitant

Anti-inflammatories: diacerein, anthralin, auranofin, methotrexate, zafirlukast

Antihistamines: loratadine (Claritin), terfenadine, clemizole, astemizole

Antidiabetic drugs: troglitazone

GI disorder drugs: pinaverium bromide, oxethazaine

NSAIDs: tolfenamic acid

Antipsychotics: methiothepin maleate, thioridazine hydrochloride

Antihypertensives: felodipine

Antiarrhythmics: amiodarone hydrochloride

Anticoagulants: dicumarol

Hormones or hormone modulators: estradiol valerate, diethylstilbestrol, diestrol, tiratricol (thyroid hormone analogue), clomiphene citrate

The microbes affected

Microbial responses varied by drug, but the abundance of key commensals Roseburia intestinalis, Eubacterium rectale, and Bacteroides vulgatus were among the most sensitive. R. intestinalis and E. rectale are known producers of the beneficial microbial metabolite butyrate, a key promoter of gut barrier integrity, while B. vulgatus is an important producer of the metabolite propionate, which stimulates the release of gut satiety peptides and has been shown to help prevent weight gain (5). The authors write:

Overall, species with higher relative abundance across healthy individuals were significantly more susceptible to human-targeted drugs. This suggests that human-targeted drugs have an even larger impact on the gut microbiome, with key species related to healthy status […] being relatively more affected. (6) 

They also stressed that the doses used in the study to probe drug–microbe interactions were well within physiologically relevant concentrations and that their data are likely to underestimate the impact of human-targeted drugs on gut bacteria.

Lastly, there was a strong overlap between resistance against antibiotics and resistant against non-antibiotic drugs, suggesting that consuming non-antibiotic drugs could potentially increase the risk of acquiring antibiotic resistance.

On-target or off-target effects?

I want to stress that there is still much we don’t understand here. For instance, is an altered gut microbiome an on-target or off-target effect of the drug? As the lead author on the study, Dr. Peer Bork, pointed out in a press release, “This shift in the composition of our gut bacteria contributes to drug side-effects, but might also be part of the drugs’ beneficial action” (7).

In other words, your prescription might only be working because it is changing your gut microbiome. For example, metformin, a drug commonly used to treat diabetes, has been shown to alter the gut microbiome, increasing abundance of the beneficial microbes Akkermansia muciniphila, Butyrivibrio, and Bifidobacterium bifidum (8). Transplanting fecal material from humans receiving metformin into germ-free mice has been shown to improve glucose intolerance, suggesting that the microbiome is responsible for the therapeutic effects (9).

All that being said, metformin seems to be the exception, not the rule—it’s clear that many of these drugs are negatively impacting microbial composition. These off-target effects on the microbiome suggest that treating one disease with a pill could potentially be causing another disease down the road. In other words, taking a proton pump inhibitor might help control your acid reflux in the short term, but it will also cause a shift in your gut microbiome that predisposes you to irritable bowel syndrome (10), gut infections (11), liver disease (12), and other conditions.

While pharmaceuticals can be a valuable tool in the management of disease, this study further supports the notion that if we can address the root cause of disease and support a healthy gut microbiome, we’re much more likely to achieve lasting, long-term health.

Now I’d like to hear from you. Did you know about the effects of non-antibiotic drugs on the gut microbiome? Start the discussion in the comments below!

The post The Effects of Non-Antibiotic Drugs on the Microbiome appeared first on Chris Kresser.

The Effects of Non-Antibiotic Drugs on the Microbiome published first on https://chriskresser.com

[mrrolandtfranco]

The Power of Where: How Spatial Analysis Leads to Insight

By Clint Brown and Christian Harder.

Spatial analysis allows you to solve complex location-oriented problems and better understand where and what is occurring in your world. It goes beyond mere mapping to let you study the characteristics of places and the relationships between them. Spatial analysis lends new perspectives to your decision-making.

Have you ever looked at a map of crime in your city and tried to figure out what areas have high crime rates? Have you explored other types of information, such as school locations, parks, and demographics to try to determine the best location to buy a new home? Whenever we look at a map, we inherently start turning that map into information by analyzing its contents—finding patterns, assessing trends, or making decisions. This process is called “spatial analysis,” and it’s what our eyes and minds do naturally whenever we look at a map.

Spatial analysis is the most intriguing and remarkable aspect of GIS. Using spatial analysis, you can combine information from many independent sources and derive new sets of information (results) by applying a sophisticated set of spatial operators. This comprehensive collection of spatial analysis tools extends your ability to answer complex spatial questions. Statistical analysis can determine if the patterns that you see are significant. You can analyze various layers to calculate the suitability of a place for a particular activity. And by employing image analysis, you can detect change over time. These tools and many others, which are part of ArcGIS, enable you to address critically important questions and decisions that are beyond the scope of simple visual analysis. Here are some of the foundational spatial analyses and examples of how they are applied in the real world.

Spatial analysis lets you…

Determine Relationships

This 3D hot spot analysis of 20 years of storm cell data across the United States uses the vertical z-axis to represent time, so when tilted just right in a 3D viewer, it shows two decades of change in storm activity.

Understand and Describe Locations and Events

Using data compiled by the National Drought Mitigation Center from numerous agencies, this map focuses on the widely varying degrees of drought in Texas from 2011 to 2016.

Detect and Quantify Patterns

This space–time trend analysis of Florida auto crash data factors in time of day and underlying road conditions to identify new hot spots.

Make Predictions

Statistical analyses can identify patterns in events that might otherwise seem random and unconnected, such as crimes in San Francisco.

Find Best Locations and Paths

GIS analysis is used to explore how effectively the citizens of Atlanta are being served by public transit in this large urban community. Anyone who commutes understands that the time of day matters as well. You can use this story map to explore levels of transit service for different time windows.

How is Spatial Analysis Used?

Spatial analysis lets you pose questions and derive answers. It is used by people around the world to derive new information and make informed decisions. The organizations that use spatial analysis in their work are wide-ranging—local and state governments, national agencies, businesses of all kinds, utility companies, colleges and universities, NGOs—the list goes on. Here are just a few examples.

Ø  Crime studies

A spatial interaction model identifies the hot spots for crimes in Chicago.

Ø  Drought analysis

This temporal analysis of the evolution of the 2010–2015 Texas drought applies both raster and vector analysis methods. The project succeeds because of the attention to the final information product: a story map.

Ø  Green infrastructure

Esri’s green infrastructure initiative set out to develop data for the continental United States of critical 100-acre patches depicting “intact habitat cores.” It is making this data freely available as source data for land-use planning and to create information products that help everyone understand the importance of preserving the nation’s remaining natural heritage.

Ø  Land-use planning

GeoPlanner for ArcGIS is a planning app used to evaluate opposing or competing land uses at local and regional scales. This screen capture shows a scenario where proposed protected areas (light green) are within areas of high projected population growth.

Ø  Automatic data interpretation

GeoDescriber analyzes landscape layers in the Living Atlas of the World to generate a short narrative of descriptive text to characterize the most important elements about a landscape.

Visualization: What Can My Map Show Me?

In many cases, just by making a map you are doing analysis. That’s because you’re making the map for a reason. You have a question you want the map to help answer: Where has disease ravaged trees? Which communities are in the path of a wildfire? Where are areas of high crime? It’s also because when you make a map, as with any analysis, you’re making decisions about which information to include and how to present that information. Effective visualization is valuable for communicating results and messages clearly in an engaging way.

Ø  Visual and visibility analysis

A surface displayed in 3D space has value as a visual display backdrop for draping data and analyzing it. This perspective scene shows a restored watershed and river draped on a digital elevation model of the terrain.

Ø  Visualizing solar radiation exposure

Solar radiation tools in ArcGIS enable you to map and analyze the potential for solar panels to generate electricity. (Naperville, Illinois, shown here.)

Ø  Assessing crop health

Multispectral imagery can provide a new perspective on crop health and vigor. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) reveals healthy potato and canola crops in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Ø  Calculating viewshed

This historical story map uses GIS visibility analysis to tell the fateful tale of the Battle of Gettysburg in the American Civil War. At the moment General Robert E. Lee (at the red eye) committed to engage with Union troops, he could see only the troops in the light areas; everything shaded (the much greater part of the Union’s strength) was invisible to him at that moment. Historians using personal accounts, maps of the battle, and a basic elevation layer were able to unlock the mystery of why Lee may have committed to battle facing such poor odds.

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This post is excerpted from The ArcGIS Book, Second Edition: 10 Big Ideas about Applying The Science of Where. The twin goals of this book are to open your eyes to what is now possible with Web GIS, and then spur you into action by putting the technology and deep data resources in your hands. The book is available through Amazon.com and other booksellers, and is also available at TheArcGISBook.com for free.

from ArcGIS Blog http://ift.tt/2FgUoLX

[isabellakarapashageo333-blog]

A BRIEF SUMMARY OF YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK & THE NATURAL HAZARDS THAT COULD OCCUR WHILE VISITING

BY: ISABELLA KARAPASHA 

BACKGROUND:

ON THE PARK

Yellowstone National Park is a 3,468 square mile park that spans through the states of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. It makes this part of the United States the most seismically active area, with 700 to 3,000 earthquakes a year. It is also home to Old Faithful and geyser that has been active every 44 minutes since 2000 (1). There are over 60 mammals with over 20 different species, making it the most diverse ecosystem in the continental 48 states(2). 

ON TRAVEL 

The park experiences nearly 4 million visitors from around the globe every year. The most popular visiting months are July and August. Due to the high impact of human interaction there has been a decrease in species through disease spread and liter to the environment(2). 

An issue that is currently up for discussion is the visitors using snowmobiles and oversnow vehicles having an effect on the natural environment, due to an increase travel months in the winter. For, oversnow mobiles allow for more visitors to experience Yellowstone during the winter season. Yet,  snowmobile for recreational use can impact Yellowstone's microclimate in negative ways. The emission for these snowmobiles can cause pollution to the air and water, the engine to a snowmobile is compared to a jet engine alongside emitting large amount of dark smoke. The noise from the motor can cause disruption from the noise pollution. The issue with the locals is that this increase of winter visitors, has a positive effect for the cities surrounding and local businesses, which are benefiting more from the increase in revenue and profit during the usual slow season. With this, The National Park Services had put a limitation on the number of oversnow mobiles in the park through a permit process(3). 

Alongside the increased travel allows for interaction with Yellowstone's natural environment to have repercussions. Since it’s operations in 1872, there has been people who have been killed by bears, drownings, and burns. Despite the majority of the above listed incidents are based on human error(4).

RESEARCH QUESTION

This leads me to the question of, can more strategies be enacted to ensure that visitors to Yellowstone National Park are not endangered in the event of a natural or geologic hazard?

HAZARDS THAT ARE PRESENT 

The park puts several pre-disaster actions into place to keep their visitors from risk. For winter storms that can cause avalanches, there is an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).  EIS was created in 1999 and it takes accountability for addressing winter impacts with new technologies, limiting vehicle numbers, and mandatory quiding during the winter months, including avalanche mitigation. Alongside with the Park’s monitoring team, it monitors weather conditions and closes the roads from all traffic. The program also relies on military weapons to activate small avalanches so large ones do not occur (5&9). 

As for geologic hazards, like The Unstable Slope Management Plan is an asset management program that provides tools and guidance to help monitor slopes, implementing and assessing the conditions, tracking, and assessing risk. Alongside  there are hazard maps on the parks website, escape routes, first aid locations, sheltres, and emergency contacts, reduce exposure, stay on the trail, stay back from cliff edges, obey posted warnings (6).

As for earthquakes, they are currently active in the Yellowstone area, yet not all are felt. There are ‘swarms’ which is a collection of thousands of temblors, a characteristic of the supervolcano that resides in Yellowstone (7). Yellowstone monitors these swarms with their pre planning and real time monitoring through GPS data through the YVO, the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory.  YVO is a cooperative partnership between the US Geological Survey, National Park Service, University of Utah, University of Wyoming, University NAVSTAR Consortium and State Geological Surveys of Wyoming, Montana and Idaho. It involves organizing and deploying scientific personnel and equipment to investigate current activity and assess possible outcomes and impacts, monitoring systems, alert levels, notification systems (5). Geographic Information Systems (GIS) plays a crucial role in keeping visitors safe through monitoring hazards and if need be, mitigating hazards that could occur through remapping affect areas (6).

ANSWER TO THE RESEARCH QUESTION

The biggest takeaway from this research is that these hazards are natural and can not be controlled. By going to Yellowstone you are putting yourself at risk, to ensure your safety while there you should, stay on the trail, stay back from cliff edges, obey posted warnings. The park has done the greatest extent of protection for its visitors and that can be seen through the Yellowstone National Observatory’s ability to monitor volcanic activity, and the Unstable Slope Management plan for slopes, and the Environmental Impact Statement to ensure safety during winter seasons, and National Park Services acts of planning through hazard maps, escape routes, first aid locations, shelters, and emergency contacts, reduce exposure, trail routes, and signs (6). The park has done their duty on ensuring the visitors of Yellowstone National Park are not endangered in the event of a natural or geologic hazard, and visitors have to understand that they are voluntarily taking a risk by attending the park where natural hazards may occur. 

IN CONLUSION 

Based on previous research, a major factor that needs to be put into consideration is that a lot of these natural hazards are not controllable. For example, when it comes to the unstable slopes and other geographic hazards the main challenge is making people aware because the majority of these hazards are not controllable, rather you just have to be cautious and plan for pre and post hazard (5). Hence why there is an Unstable Slope Management Plan, although it is taking a personal risk to go to Yellowstone, the park is making it their job to monitor unstable slopes to keep visitors as safe as possible. This is similar to their dedication to the creation and improvement of the Environmental Impact Statement for winter storms and creating a supplemental environmental impact statement (8).The process allows for constant consideration and reconsideration of winter storm management to keep visitors safe during the winter season through the monitoring process. The park has done their duty on ensuring the visitors of  Yellowstone National Park are not endangered in the event of a natural or geologic hazard.  

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CHANGES FROM THE FIRST DRAFT 

After writing the first draft, my feedback was mainly about the organization and flow of my blog. Therefore, I rearranged my writing and also added a new format. I added headers to allow the reader to easily understand what the upcoming paragraph is going to encompass. Another mention was to add photos and answer my research question clearly, to resolve those comments I added imagery to help support certain sections of the paper, and I added the different formatting that addressing the topic of discussion for the corresponding paragraphs.

References: 

Reference 1: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Faithful

Reference 2 : 

https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/wildlife.htm

Reference 3: 

Bieschke, B. (2016). Challenging the 2012 Rule Implementing Regulations on Oversnow Vehicle Use in Yellowstone National Park. Boston College Environmental Affairs Law Review, (Issue 2), 541. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-com.proxy.lib.miamioh.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=cookie,ip&db=edshol&AN=edshol.hein.journals.bcenv43.26&site=eds-live&scope=site

Reference 4: 

https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/nature/injuries.htm

Reference 5: https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/management/upload/finalreport-march_2007.pdf

Reference 6: 

(https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/safety.htm

Reference 7: 

Thuermer Jr. ., A. M. (2017). Earthquake bigger risk than Yellowstone supervolcano. Wyoming Business Report, 18(6), 12–14. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-com.proxy.lib.miamioh.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=cookie,ip&db=buh&AN=125396317&site=eds-live&scope=site

Reference 8: 

Strategic Priorities of Hazard Management . (2019, May 28). Retrieved from https://www.nps.gov/yell/learn/management/strategic-priorities.htm. 

Reference 9: 

(https://www.researchgate.net/publication/252836265_A_GIS_Framework_for_Mitigating_Volcanic_and_Hydrothermal_Hazards_at_Yellowstone_National_Park_and_Vicinity) 

Reference 10: 

Bieschke, B. (2016). Challenging the 2012 Rule Implementing Regulations on Oversnow Vehicle Use in Yellowstone National Park. Boston College Environmental Affairs Law Review, (Issue 2), 541. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-com.proxy.lib.miamioh.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=cookie,ip&db=edshol&AN=edshol.hein.journals.bcenv43.26&site=eds-live&scope=site

Reference 11: 

Wessels, John. “Winter Use Plan, Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement, Yellowstone National Park, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.” Federal Register (National Archives & Records Service, Office of the Federal Register), vol. 77, no. 26, Feb. 2012, p. 6581. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=cookie,ip&db=bth&AN=71942265&site=eds-live&scope=site.