Engineers determine optimal placement strategy for EV charging stations

Cornell University

ITHACA, N.Y. – Cornell University engineers have come up with a solution to a tricky problem: where to install charging stations for electric vehicles so they’re convenient for drivers and profitable for investors.

The research team found that in urban settings, installing an equal mix of two different kinds of stations – one that charges at a medium speed and another that charges more quickly – and distributing them strategically increases the chances that drivers will use them. And that in turn improves the profitability for investors by 50 to 100 percent, compared to current random placement strategies.

The research published in Applied Energy.

“Placing publicly available charging stations around cities sounds like a simple thing, but mathematically, it’s actually very hard,” said lead author Yeuchen Sophia Liu, an operations researcher in the lab of civil and environmental engineering professor Oliver Gao.

That’s because simple models don’t allow for the complexity of thousands of possible driver decisions, Liu said, not to mention factors like traffic and road characteristics.

The team reached back six decades to use Bayesian optimization, a mathematics strategy that uses past attempts at optimization to inform each subsequent attempt. That results in a much faster and productive analysis. It has become popular in machine learning algorithms.

“The Bayesian optimization model algorithm allows us to simulate millions of individual behaviors, while at the same time, find answers efficiently and quickly,” Liu said.

The team set up an algorithm that used Bayesian optimization to analyze data from the Atlanta region, home to about 6 million people. They studied the behavior of 30,000 vehicles on more than 113,000 simulated trips, forecasting a variety of commuter traffic patterns.

The team found that medium speed “level-2” commercial charging stations and direct-current, fast-charging “DCFC” stations serve different needs. Drivers who park for 20 minutes – while running into a grocery store, for example – are likely to choose fast charging spots. But if someone is going to work and parking for several hours, the driver will likely select the level-2 station.

In addition, a sensitivity analysis demonstrated that factors such as the size of the battery electric vehicle market, charging preferences and charging price have significant impacts on the optimal placement and profitability of an electric vehicle charging infrastructure project.

“Economically strategic placement of charging stations could play a pivotal role in accelerating the transition to zero-emission vehicles,” Liu said.

For additional information, see this Cornell Chronicle story.

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Journal

Applied Energy

DOI

10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.123975 

Article Title

Bayesian optimization for battery electric vehicle charging station placement by agent-based demand simulation

Article Publication Date

1-Dec-2024

 

Researchers develop artificial plants that purify indoor air, generate electricity

Plants achieve a 90% reduction in carbon dioxide levels

Peer-Reviewed Publication

Binghamton University

 

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Researchers at Binghamton University, State University of New York have developed artificial plants that purify indoor air and generate electricity.

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Credit: Binghamton University, State University of New York

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- On average, Americans spend about 90% of their time indoors, and the air we breathe at work, school or home affects our overall health and well-being. Most air purification systems, however, are expensive, cumbersome and require frequent cleaning or filter replacement to function at optimum levels.

Binghamton University, State University of New York Professor Seokheun “Sean” Choi and PhD student Maryam Rezaie are repurposing their research about bacteria-powered biobatteries — ingestible and otherwise — into a new idea for artificial plants that can feed off carbon dioxide, give off oxygen and even generate a little power. The artificial plants use indoor light to drive photosynthesis, achieving a 90% reduction in carbon dioxide levels — far surpassing the 10% reduction seen with natural plants.

They outline their results, which is partially supported by the Office of Naval Research, in a paper recently published by the journal Advanced Sustainable Systems.

“Especially after going through COVID-19, we know the significance of indoor air quality,” said Choi, a faculty member in the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “Many sources can generate very toxic materials, like building materials and carpets. We breathe out and breathe in, and that builds up carbon dioxide levels. Also, there are risks from cooking and infiltration from the outdoors.”

Using five biological solar cells and their photosynthetic bacteria, Choi and Rezaie created an artificial leaf “for fun,” then realized the concept has wider implications. They built the first plant with five leaves, then tested its carbon dioxide capture rates and oxygen generation capability.

Although power generation around 140 microwatts is a secondary benefit, Choi hopes to improve the technology to achieve a minimum output of more than 1 milliwatt. He also wants to integrate an energy storage system, such as lithium-ion batteries or supercapacitors.

“I want to be able to use this electricity to charge a cell phone or other practical uses,” he said.

Other upgrades could include using multiple bacteria species to ensure long-term viability and developing ways to minimize maintenance, such as water and nutrient delivery systems.

“With some fine-tuning, these artificial plants could be a part of every household,” Choi said. “The benefits of this idea are easy to see.”

The artificial plants developed at Binghamton University, State University of New York use indoor light to drive photosynthesis, achieving a 90% reduction in carbon dioxide levels — far surpassing the 10% reduction seen with natural plants. 

The artificial plants developed at Binghamton University, State University of New York use indoor light to drive photosynthesis, achieving a 90% reduction in carbon dioxide levels — far surpassing the 10% reduction seen with natural plants.

  

Seokheun (Sean) Choi, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Binghamton University, State University of New York, has created a new battery in the shape of an artificial tree, shown here at his lab at the Engineering and Science Building at the Innovative Technologies Complex, October 9, 2024.

Seokheun (Sean) Choi, Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Binghamton University, State University of New York, has created a new battery in the shape of an artificial tree, shown here at his lab at the Engineering and Science Building at the Innovative Technologies Complex, October 9, 2024. Choi is pictured here with PhD student Maryam Rezaie.

Credit

Binghamton University, State University of New York

Journal

Advanced Sustainable Systems

DOI

10.1002/adsu.202400401 

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Cyanobacterial Artificial Plants for Enhanced Indoor Carbon Capture and Utilization

 

PICCOLO Campaign takes OU Atmospheric Scientists to the Atlantic

University of Oklahoma

 

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James Ruppert, second from right, stands with colleagues in front of the nearly completed SEA-POL, Colorado State University’s Sea-Going Polarimetric Radar.

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Credit: James Ruppert.

NORMAN, OKLA. – As part of a National Science Foundation-funded effort to better understand storms in the tropics, James Ruppert recently sailed across the Atlantic Ocean for a month-long science cruise. Ruppert, a professor at the University of Oklahoma School of Meteorology, is a lead researcher on the PICCOLO project (Process Investigation of Clouds and Convective Organization of the atLantic Ocean), one of eight sub-campaigns that make up the ORCESTRA campaign, an international cross-institution and multi-funding-sourced effort to better understand what atmospheric mechanisms influence tropical convection.

Ruppert says the overarching goal of ORCESTRA is to improve the understanding of what controls the organization of clouds and convective storms in the tropics and what the implications of this organization are for weather and climate.

ORCESTRA, an acronym for Organized Convection and EarthCare Studies over the Tropical Atlantic, included sea-borne and air-borne teams utilizing various observation instrumentation to achieve its goals. The sea-borne crew, of which Ruppert was a part, traveled on the RV Meteor, Germany’s third-largest research vessel. Three aircraft, a satellite and the Barbados Cloud Observatory were also part of the mission. The campaign serves to assess the performance of the newly launched EarthCARE satellite, which will collect important new global cloud observations.

Science at Sea and on Land

While at sea, the team experienced a wide range of weather to collect observations, from many days of clear skies to less-than-clear skies. “We sampled deep thunderstorms, many shallower precipitating clouds and a wide range of different modes of cloud organization,” said Ruppert. “Being able to literally experience the weather we’re studying from the observation deck of the ship was extremely rewarding.”

The PICCOLO team added SEA-POL, Colorado State University’s Sea-Going Polarimetric Radar, to the observation instrumentation list. SEA-POL is designed specifically for sea-going field campaigns and has dynamic platform stabilization that responds to a ship's motion while it collects data.

Radiosondes—small instruments sent into the atmosphere by weather balloons—helped provide a baseline for land observations and were coordinated with the dropsondes dropped from the HALO research aircraft. 

Using SEA-POL, the PICCOLO team collected detailed information about precipitation, the dynamics within convective storms and cloud microphysics. The PICCOLO team also assisted with balloon launches.

Outreach in Barbados and Cape Verde was another part of the campaign's efforts. Ruppert said the team coordinated with the Barbados-headquartered Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology to spend several days visiting primary and secondary schools.

“We provided interactive learning activities to around 150 students,” said Ruppert. The education efforts also included several public seminars describing the campaigns and open-house visits to the instrument facilities that the campaign leveraged in Barbados.

Students in the Field

Emily Luschen, Mac Syrett, and Colin Welty, students from the School of Meteorology, joined Ruppert partway through the project. On Sept. 21, they met with the team in Barbados to provide support for weather balloon launches.

“We specialized in launching radiosondes at the Barbados Cloud Observatory,” said Colin Welty, a graduate research assistant in the School of Meteorology. “Mac, Emily and I had the opportunity to collectively launch 15 radiosondes as part of the process. Additionally, we were able to assist with forecasting for the flights for the HALO aircraft and gave weather briefings to several scientists.”

“It’s been extremely rewarding to be part of such an energized and enthusiastic community that’s rallying around the scientific opportunities provided by this large campaign,” said Ruppert.

Learn more about PICCOLO, ORCESTRA and Ruppert’s Convective Storm Dynamics Group.

 

Drug supply chain issues more likely to result in shortages in US than Canada

University of Pittsburgh

 

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Katie J. Suda, Pharm.D., M.S., professor in the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and associate director of the Center for Pharmaceutical Policy and Prescribing

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Credit: University of Pittsburgh

Reports of drug-related supply-chain issues were 40% less likely to result in drug shortages in Canada versus the United States, according to a new study from University of Pittsburgh researchers and published today in JAMA.

The analysis looked at drugs that had reports of supply-chain disruptions between 2017 and 2021 in both countries and found that within 12 months of an initial U.S. report, nearly half resulted in drug shortages in the U.S. versus about one-third in Canada. There was also a consistently lower risk of shortage in Canada at each month after the reports.

“Drug shortages cause real disruptions in patients’ lives, often resulting in interrupted or delayed treatment,” said senior author Dr. Katie J. Suda, Pharm.D., M.S., professor in the Pitt School of Medicine and associate director of the Center for Pharmaceutical Policy and Prescribing. “We can learn from other countries that are having success in mitigating the effects of drug shortages on patients.”

The researchers used supply chain-issue reports drawn from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and Health Canada. They then compared these reports to actual drug usage in both countries, defining a drug shortage as a decrease in monthly purchased units of at least 33% relative to average units in the six months before the report.

Most reports of supply-chain issues were due to manufacturing or shipping problems. However, one-quarter of the U.S. reports did not specify a reason. Generic drugs accounted for 95% of reports in both countries, and sole-sourced drugs made up one in five. However, the route of administration, time since approval by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and drug price per unit did not predict drug shortages.

“The pharmaceutical supply chain is global, and every single person who touches a drug is essential, from manufacturers to port workers to pharmacists,” said lead author Mina Tadrous, Pharm.D., PhD, assistant professor at the University of Toronto’s Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy. “Shocks to the supply chain will happen, and it’s important to cooperate internationally to develop strategies for minimizing disruptions for patients.”

While the paper did not explore the reasons behind the differences in drug shortages in the two countries, the authors note that Canada has more cooperation between regulatory agencies, health-systems, public payers and other important players like manufacturers and wholesalers. Canada also uses its pharmaceutical stockpile mechanisms to address drug shortages, whereas the U.S. stockpile is for acute events, such as terrorism or mass casualty. The authors also said policymakers should consider incentivizing manufacture of lower profit margin generic drugs.

Additional authors are Katherine Callaway Kim, M.P.H., Scott D. Rothenberger, Ph.D., Tina B. Hershey, J.D., M.P.H., Lisa M. Maillart, Ph.D., and Walid F. Gellad, M.D., M.P.H., all of Pitt; Inmaculada Hernandez, Pharm.D., Ph.D., of the University of California San Diego; and Joshua W. Devine, Pharm.D., Ph.D., of Des Moines University.

This research was supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (R01 HS027985). Dr. Hernandez has received consulting fees from Bristol Myers Squibb and Pfizer, outside of the reported work. Dr. Tadrous has received consulting fees from Health Canada and Canada’s Drug Agency (CDA).

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About the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences

The University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences include the schools of Medicine, Nursing, Dental Medicine, Pharmacy, Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, and Public Health. The schools serve as the academic partner to UPMC. Together, their combined mission is to train tomorrow’s health care specialists and biomedical scientists, engage in groundbreaking research that will advance understanding of the causes and treatments of disease, and participate in the delivery of outstanding patient care. Pitt has ranked among the top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health since 1998. For additional information about Pitt Health Sciences, please visit www.health.pitt.edu. 

About the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto
The Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto is Canada's top-ranked faculty of pharmacy, offering cutting-edge undergraduate and graduate programs. We are globally recognized for impactful pharmaceutical sciences research and fostering expert and innovative clinical practice. Our scientific research focuses on the role of pharmacists in the health care system, and the full scope of drug discovery and delivery. We advance education programs that develop leaders in science and clinical practice and work to strengthen the link between research, education, and patient care. For more information visit pharmacy.utoronto.ca

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Journal

JAMA

DOI

10.1001/jama.2024.17688 

Article Publication Date

31-Oct-2024

Differences in Drug Shortages in the US and Canada

JAMA Network

About The Study: Drug-related reports of supply chain issues were 40% less likely to result in meaningful drug shortages in Canada compared with the U.S. These findings highlight the need for international cooperation between countries to curb the effects of drug shortages and improve resiliency of the supply chain for drugs.

Quote from corresponding author Katie J. Suda, PharmD, MS:

“Our U.S. drug supply chain is linked globally – shortages in one country can happen in another country – presenting an opportunity to compare and contrast how different countries are affected. When we compared the U.S. to Canada for drugs with the same supply chain issues, Canada was 40% less likely to experience national drug shortages than the U.S.

“The U.S. can learn from other countries’ pharmaceutical policy to mitigate the impact of shortages on access to essential medications. We also need to cooperate locally and globally to strengthen our pharmaceutical supply chain and regionally to recognize the interconnectedness of supply chains essential for North American health security.”

Contact information for Katie J. Suda, PharmD, MS: email Liz Reid at reide4@upmc.edu.

To access the embargoed study: Visit our For The Media website at this link https://media.jamanetwork.com/

(doi:10.1001/jama.2024.17688)

Editor’s Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

#  #  #

Embed this link to provide your readers free access to the full-text article This link will be live at the embargo time https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/10.1001/jama.2024.17688?guestAccessKey=45d5ebdb-f880-4f40-8e06-3719a132643d&utm_source=For_The_Media&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=ftm_links&utm_content=tfl&utm_term=103124

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Journal

JAMA

 

Biodiversity law that forces builders to compensate for nature loss could be twice as effective, experts claim

Recent rules that require all new building and road projects in England to address and offset their impact on nature are excellent in principle but flawed in their implementation, leading environmental economists argue

University of Exeter

Recent rules that require all new building and road projects in England to address and offset their impact on nature are excellent in principle but flawed in their implementation, leading environmental economists argue.

Under Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG), which became law this year, new building or infrastructure developments must achieve a 10% net gain in biodiversity or habitat.

In a new study published in One Earth, experts criticise the implementation of the policy which forces the majority of off-setting to occur within or near development sites rather than where it might most benefit biodiversity.

Targeting offsets to locations best for biodiversity was found to double the conservation gains, say the researchers, from the University of Exeter’s Land, Environment, Economics and Policy (LEEP) Institute.

Localised offsetting – a practice supported by the National Planning Policy Framework – “treats the natural environment as homogenous”, say the researchers, whose analysis shows that incorporating ecological and economic information into the targeting of offsets can greatly improve benefits to wildlife as well as help those living in some of the most nature deprived areas of the country.

The researchers employed models of biodiversity and natures services that took into consideration factors such as the density of wildlife species, the recreational benefits to humans of being around nature, and the costs of offsetting (typically from compensation to farmers and landowners for land use change).

They applied the models to estimates of housing developments across England over a 25 year period England, and tested five scenarios: the status quo (where local offsetting is favoured); where conservation benefits are maximised (highest improvements for priority species can be achieved); where costs (compensation to landowners) are minimised; where the ratio of recreational benefits to costs is maximised; and where recreational benefits are weighted towards those on lower incomes.

They found that when offsets are in locations where it most benefits biodiversity the conservation gains are double the current policy of localised offsetting.

The current implementation of BNG performed poorly across all criteria, with other scenarios outperforming this on some or all counts.

Changing the rules would radically change the map of where offsetting is located, away from the environs of developments and the prime value farmland in the east of the country.

Professor Ian Bateman OBE, Director of the LEEP Institute at the University of Exeter Business School said: “Biodiversity Net Gains has the potential to help reverse biodiversity loss – but the way in which it has been implemented is significantly hampering this. Targeting BNG to places which are poor for biodiversity will do little to help our endangered wild species.”

Dr Mattia Mancini, a Lecturer in Environmental Economics at the University of Exeter Business Scholl, added that “similarly, if we are interested in providing disadvantaged communities with access to high quality environments then tying BNG offsets near to new executive homes won’t address inequality.

“Land use policy and its implementation needs to recognise variation in both the environment and inequality between locations and bring this information into the design and implementation of policy.” 

‘Biodiversity offsets perform poorly for both people and nature but better approaches are available’ is published in the journal One Earth.

Ends

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Journal

One Earth

DOI

10.1016/j.oneear.2024.10.002 

Method of Research

Data/statistical analysis

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Biodiversity offsets perform poorly for both people and nature but better approaches are available

Article Publication Date

31-Oct-2024

 

Virginia Tech researcher finds AI could help improve city planning

Virginia Tech

 

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(From left) Keegan Miller, an undergraduate researcher in geography, and Junghwan Kim with a scooter that was used to capture street-level images.

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Credit: Photo by Chris Moody for Virginia Tech.

Traditional city planning methods require significant technical expertise and manual work.

A Virginia Tech researcher is working to change that.

New research shows the potential of large language models (LLMs), such as ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, for assessing the human-made environment using street-view images.

By comparing LLM performance with traditional city planning deep learning methods, the study from the College of Natural Resources and Environment found that LLM-based performance is similar with established approaches. Unlike traditional methods that require technical expertise or manual work, the researchers found LLMs offer a more accessible tool for users, making it easier for policy and planning stakeholders to use these models in small to medium sized cities for managing smart urban infrastructure.

“My goal is to scale down technologies, making them more affordable and effective for smaller cities,” said Junghwan Kim, an assistant professor in the Department of Geography and the director of Smart Cities for Good. “Smart city technologies involve using advanced urban analytics, like AI and data science, to process high-quality data that captures urban environments and how people perceive them. These technologies help us better understand urban issues, such as transportation and health.”

With this new research, it has been shown that generative AI tools to analyze images and detect features like benches, sidewalks, or streetlights automatically.

Previously, researchers had to manually analyze images, which was labor-intensive.

One specific example is evaluating the built environment, like how walkable or bikeable a particular area is. Kim had AI to detect built environment features—benches, sidewalks, trees, and streetlights – all elements that influence how people perceive walkability and safety.

“This democratizes access to advanced tools that were once only usable by experts with coding skills and high-performance computing resources,” Kim said. “However, there are also limitations, such as biases in the AI’s training data, which can cause geographic disparities. For example, these tools tend to perform better in large cities than in smaller towns because of the uneven availability of data for training the AI models.”

The research was published in early October 2024 in The Professional Geographer and was done in collaboration with Kee Moon Jang with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

While the tool is very powerful, it can generate hallucinations and make assumptions based on gaps in its training data.

“That’s why it’s important to use these tools carefully, especially in professional settings where accuracy is critical,” Kim said. “I’m still excited about the potential of these tools, not only for my research but also for students and professionals who can now easily access advanced analytics. However, we must remain aware of the limitations and biases that come with using AI in urban planning.”

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Journal

The Professional Geographer

Article Title

Multimodal Large Language Models as Built Environment Auditing Tools

 WORD OF THE DAY

Otolaryngologists call on battery manufacturers to bring a safe button battery to the marketplace

Button batteries cause life-threatening injuries when lodged in the body putting children at risk

American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia —The American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS) along with a growing number of endorsing medical societies and organizations have called on battery manufacturers to act immediately to bring a safe button or coin cell battery to the consumer marketplace to mitigate the life-threatening results and risks when these batteries are lodged in the body.

Currently, no battery manufacturer sells a safe button or coin cell battery, nor has made the public commitment to produce them. These seemingly innocuous objects can cause life-threatening tissue injuries of the esophagus, trachea, or major vasculature. Swallowing a battery or applying a battery to a moist tissue surface can result in injury because the current of the battery causes rapid production of hydroxide at the battery’s negative pole. This will damage and liquefy the lining of the esophagus, nose, or ear drum, resulting in a severe burn or perforation.

“With the holidays upon us, the exposure and risk are even greater as toys, decorations, and electronics are powered by these types of batteries. Too many children have already been harmed and other children continue to remain at risk in their households.  The battery manufacturers have the opportunity and responsibility to step up and ensure that widespread industry and consumer adoption of a safe battery technology will prevent children from severe injuries or death,” said James C. Denneny III, MD, AAO-HNS Executive Vice President and CEO.

This risk is real, and this risk is growing. Over the last few decades, there has been a notable increase in miniaturized electronics—remote controls, toys, holiday decorations, tea candles, key fobs, greeting cards, and other devices powered by these batteries. It is estimated that every 75 minutes, a child under 18 years old presents to an emergency department in the United States with a battery-related complaint; unfortunately, this incidence has more than doubled in the last decade.1

“The clock is ticking from the moment a button battery becomes lodged in the body, and serious injury can occur in as little as two hours,” said Kris Jatana, MD, AAO-HNS member and Surgical Director of Clinical Outcomes and Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Ohio State University.

With the most recent endorsement by the American College of Surgeons of the Position Statement on Button and Coin Battery Technology,2 there are now 12 organizations and societies behind this effort to eliminate the risk button and coin cell batteries cause in the pediatric community. The full list of organizations supporting the Position Statement include: American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Broncho-Esophagological Association, American College of Surgeons, American Pediatric Surgical Association, American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology, European Laryngological Society, European Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Global Industry Research Collaborative, North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Society for Ear Nose and Throat Advancement in Children, and The Triological Society.

Consumer information: If anyone ingests a battery, immediately call the 24-hour National Battery Ingestion Hotline at 1-800-498-8666. To be prepared and learn more about what to do should your child swallow a battery, visit https://www.poison.org/battery.

References

1Chandler MD, Ilyas K, Jatana KR, Smith GA, McKenzie LB, MacKay JM. Pediatric Battery-Related Emergency Department Visits in the United States: 2010-2019. Pediatrics. 2022;150(3):e2022056709.

2AAO-HNS Position Statement: Button and Coin Battery Technology, published October 6, 2023, accessed October 30, 2024 https://www.entnet.org/resource/position-statement-button-and-coin-battery-technology/.

 

About the AAO-HNS

The AAO-HNS/F is one of the world’s largest organizations representing specialists who treat the ears, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck. Otolaryngologist–head and neck surgeons diagnose and treat medical disorders that are among the most common affecting patients of all ages in the United States and around the world. Those medical conditions include chronic ear disease, hearing and balance disorders, hearing loss, sinusitis, snoring and sleep apnea, allergies, swallowing disorders, nosebleeds, hoarseness, dizziness, and tumors of the head and neck as well as aesthetic and reconstructive surgery and intricate micro-surgical procedures of the head and neck. The Academy has approximately 13,000 members.

 

UTA researchers begin quest for rare lizard

Team will determine if West Texas lizard is a new species worthy of conservation efforts

Grant and Award Announcement

University of Texas at Arlington

 

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In the Chinati Mountains of western Texas lives a rare lizard. Commonly known as Dixon’s whiptail, the fast-moving reptile measures about 8 to 12 inches in length, is gray in color with white or yellow stripes, is most active during the day, and survives on a diet of insects. It’s also extremely rare—in fact, it might be endangered.

 

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Credit: Photo courtesy Toby Hibbitts

In the Chinati Mountains of western Texas lives a rare lizard. Commonly known as Dixon’s whiptail, the fast-moving reptile measures about 8 to 12 inches in length, is gray in color with white or yellow stripes, is most active during the day, and survives on a diet of insects. It’s also extremely rare—in fact, it might be endangered.

The uncertainty over its status is due to the similarity between the Dixon’s whiptail and a slightly smaller and less rare reptile called the common checkered whiptail. Until now, researchers have been unable to tell if the animals are the same genetically, but that may soon change. A group of biologists from The University of Texas at Arlington has begun a project to sample the DNA of the two types of lizards. If they prove to be different species, then Dixon’s whiptail may be eligible for protections as an endangered species.

“Thanks to a grant from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, we will be going to the mountains in far West Texas to capture and sample DNA from these critters,” said Corey Roelke, a professor of instruction in biology at UT Arlington. He and biology Professor Matthew Fujita are the lead investigators on the project. “It’s not easy to catch them. They’re all female, blend in well to their surroundings, and are very fast. We will rely on lizard lassos (basically fishing poles with tiny lassos on the top) and sticky traps to catch animals for sampling their DNA.”

Once the team obtains genetic samples of both Dixon’s whiptail and the common checkered whiptail, they will analyze them using a variety of genetic sequencing tools, including UT Arlington’s new next-generation genetic sequencer. The researchers will also compare these current samples to previously sequenced samples from these lizards to see if the animals are genetically the same.

“By examining thousands of single-nucleotide polymorphisms distributed across the genomes, we will be able to tell once and for all if Dixon’s whiptail is a different species,” said Roelke. “If it is distinct, then it is rarer than the common checkered whiptail and it will qualify for both state and federal protection under the Endangered Species Act.”

If the researchers do not find evidence that the two species are distinct, evidence from the project would be sufficient to lump both lizards under the same name.

“Although collecting the specimens is always a challenge, it will be exciting to be able to use modern genetic science to finally solve this mystery,” said Roelke.

The team plans to start their project in January 2025, with the goal of wrapping up their findings by the end of the year.

About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)

Located in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, The University of Texas at Arlington is a comprehensive teaching, research, and public service institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through scholarship and creative work. With an enrollment of approximately 41,000 students, UT Arlington is the second-largest institution in the UT System. UTA’s combination of outstanding academics and innovative research contributes to its designation as a Carnegie R-1 “Very High Research Activity” institution, a significant milestone of excellence. The University is designated as a Hispanic Serving-Institution and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education and has earned the Seal of Excelencia for its commitment to accelerating Latino student success. The University ranks as the No. 1 national public university in the U.S. for veterans (Military Times, 2024), No. 4 in Texas for advancing social mobility (U.S. News & World Report, 2025), and No. 6 in the United States for its undergraduate ethnic diversity (U.S. News & World Report, 2025). UT Arlington’s approximately 270,000 alumni occupy leadership positions at many of the 21 Fortune 500 companies headquartered in North Texas and contribute to the University’s $28.8 billion annual economic impact on Texas.