Direct Sampling Research Articles

Preventive Oncology International: A brief history of HPV self-collected vaginal specimens for cervical cancer screening

Since 1998, Preventive Oncology International, Inc. (POI) has been at the forefront of studying human papillomavirus (HPV) self-collection for cervical cancer screening, with a significant focus in China. Through multiple clinical trials over the past 25 years, POI has explored various aspects related to self-collection methodologies. In 2004–2006, POI established that self-collection could be equivalent to direct endocervical samples. Subsequently, a large randomized trial involving 10,000 patients in 2010 further confirmed that self-collected vaginal specimens, tested for high-risk HPV (hrHPV) using a PCR-based assay with high analytic sensitivity, could effectively replace endocervical specimens with minimal loss of sensitivity and a slight decrease in specificity. Throughout the years, POI's research has encompassed several crucial topics, including patient acceptance, the development of new cost-effective, simpler, and faster assays, exploring different collection devices, devising efficient methods of specimen transport, and implementing population-based screening systems. The findings strongly support the integration of self-collection methodologies into cervical cancer control programs worldwide, particularly in medically underserved regions. As HPV self-collection continues to evolve, ongoing research and innovations are expected to play a pivotal role in achieving the global mission of combating cervical cancer.

Scattering direction sampling methods for polarized Monte Carlo simulation of oceanic lidar.

Monte Carlo techniques have been widely applied in polarized light simulation. Based on different preconditions, there are two main types of sampling strategies for scattering direction: one is the scalar sampling method; the others are polarized sampling approaches, including the one- and two-point rejection methods. The polarized simulation of oceanic lidar involves a variety of mediums, and an efficient scattering sampling method is the basis for the coupling simulation of the atmosphere and ocean. To determine the optimal scattering sampling method for oceanic lidar simulation, we developed a polarized Monte Carlo model and simulated Mie scattering, Rayleigh scattering, and Petzold average-particle scattering experiments. This simulation model has been validated by comparison with Ramella-Roman's program [Opt. Express13, 4420 (2005)OPEXFF1094-408710.1364/OPEX.13.004420], with differences in reflectance and transmittance Stokes less than 1% in Mie scattering. The simulation results show these scattering sampling methods differ in runtime, scattering angle distributions, and reflectance and transmittance Stokes. Considering the current simulation accuracy of oceanic lidar, the differences in reflectance and transmittance Stokes are acceptable; thus, the runtime becomes the main evaluation factor. The one-point rejection method and scalar sampling method are preferable for the oceanic lidar polarized simulation. Under complex atmosphere-ocean coupling systems, scalar sampling methods may be a better choice since the calculation process of the sampling is independent of the incident Stokes vector.

A Reverse-Transcription Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Technique to Detect Tomato Mottle Mosaic Virus, an Emerging Tobamovirus.

Tomato mottle mosaic virus (ToMMV) is an emerging seed-transmissible tobamovirus that infects tomato and pepper. Since the first report in 2013 in Mexico, ToMMV has spread worldwide, posing a serious threat to the production of both crops. To prevent the spread of this virus, early and accurate detection of infection is required. In this study, we developed a detection method for ToMMV based on reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP). A LAMP primer set was designed to target the genomic region spanning the movement protein and coat protein genes, which is a highly conserved sequence unique to ToMMV. This RT-LAMP detection method achieved 10-fold higher sensitivity than conventional RT-polymerase chain reaction methods and obtained high specificity without false positives for closely related tobamoviruses or healthy tomato plants. This method can detect ToMMV within 30 min of direct sampling of an infected tomato leaf using a toothpick and therefore does not require RNA purification. Given its high sensitivity, specificity, simplicity, and rapidity, the RT-LAMP method developed in this study is expected to be valuable for point-of-care testing in field surveys and for large-scale testing.

Sulfur origin and flux variations in fumarolic fluids of Vulcano Island, Italy

A sharp increase in volatiles, especially SO2 fluxes from the solfataric plume and diffuse CO2 from the soils of the La Fossa crater area, started in June 2021, and subsequently from the Levante Bay area, suggests renewed unrest at Vulcano Island, Italy. This event has encouraged monitoring activities and stimulated new research activities aimed at understanding the recent evolution of the volcanic system. In this study, the chemical and isotopic composition of fumaroles, thermal waters, and soil gases from the main degassing areas of Vulcano Island with a special focus on sulfur isotopes, are used to investigate the fluid transfer mechanism inside the volcano. Sulfur is one of the most abundant volatile elements present in magmas and volcanic fluids from the La Fossa crater, where it mostly occurs as SO2 and H2S at variable relative concentrations depending on oxygen fugacity and temperature. The isotope composition and the chemical ratio of sulfur species depict a complex hydrothermal-magmatic system. In addition, we utilize the installed SO2 monitoring network that measures the total outgassing of SO2 with the UV-scanning DOAS technique. The SO2 fluxes from the La Fossa crater fumaroles, coupled with the SO2/CO2 and SO2/H2O ratios, were measured to evaluate the total mass of fluids emitted by the shallow plumbing system and its relationship with the status of volcanic activity. Combining the whole chemical composition of fumaroles analyzed with a discrete, direct sampling of high-temperature fumaroles located on the crater summit, the output of discharged water vapor has been estimated (5,768 t·d−1). On the basis of the water output, we estimated the total thermal energy dissipated by the crater during the last enhanced degassing activity (167 MW). This strong and sharp increase in energy observed during the current crisis confirms the long-growing trend in terms of mass and energy recorded in recent decades, which has brought the surface system of Vulcano Island to a critical level that has never been recorded since the last eruptive event of 1888–91.

Band engineering enhances thermoelectric performance of Ag-doped Sn0.98Se

Ag doping can effectively increase the carrier concentration of p-type SnSe polycrystalline, thereby enhancing the thermoelectric (TE) performance. However, the key role of the transport valence band in Ag-doped SnSe remains unclear. Particularly, understanding the influence of evaluating the optimal balance between band convergence and carrier mobility on weighted mobility is a primary consideration in designing high-performance TE materials. Here, we strongly confirm through theoretical and experimental evidence that Ag-doped Sn0.98Se can promote the evolution of valence bands and achieve band convergence and density of states distortion. The significantly increased carrier concentration and effective mass result in a dramatic increase in weighted mobility, which favors the achievement of superior power factors. Furthermore, the Debye model reveals the reasons for the evolution of lattice thermal conductivity. Eventually, a superior average power factor and average zT value are obtained in the Ag-doped samples in both directions over the entire test temperature range. This strategy of improving TE performance through band engineering provides an effective way to advance TEs.

Segment-Weighted Information-Based Event-Triggered Mechanism for Networked Control Systems.

In this study, the event-triggered problem of networked control systems (NCSs) is investigated, and a novel information transmission scheme is established. Under this scheme, the segment-weighted information (SWI) in a sliding historical window (SHW) is calculated and then sampled. Compared with the traditional direct sampling method, in this approach, the control input includes historical information in the SHW, thereby leading to less information loss due to sampling. This study also emphasizes on designing an SWI-based event-triggered mechanism (ETM) for scheduling network transmission. Different from most of the existing ETMs, the proposed SWI-based ETM leverages historical information to determine which data are necessary for the whole control system. Our approach can greatly reduce the number of unexpected triggering events of a control system with stochastic disturbances owing to the introduction of the SWI in the ETM. Moreover, Zeno phenomena are prevented thanks to periodic sampling. Sufficient conditions are derived based on the Lyapunov functional approach, and a numerical simulation example is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

Cross-validation of the peppermint benchmarking experiment across three analytical platforms

The Peppermint Experiment is a breath analysis benchmarking initiative that seeks to address the lack of inter-comparability of outcomes across independent breath biomarker studies. In this experiment, the washout profiles of volatile terpene constituents of encapsulated peppermint oil (mainly α-pinene, β-pinene, limonene and 1,8-cineole) in exhaled breath are characterized through a series of measurements at defined sampling intervals up to 6 h after ingestion of the capsule. In the present work, the Peppermint Experiment was carried out on a cohort of volunteers (n= 11) that provided breath samples in three sittings on different days (i.e. triplicates per volunteer) for concurrent analysis by three different analytical platforms. These platforms were proton transfer reaction-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (PTR-TOFMS) interfaced with a buffered end-tidal (BET) breath sampler, gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) in conjunction with a compatible handheld direct breath sampler, and thermal desorption comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (TD-GC×GC-TOFMS) with a Respiration Collection for in-vitro Analysis (ReCIVA) system for trapping breath volatiles onto adsorbent tubes. Regression analysis yielded mean washout times across the cohort of 448 min (PTR-TOFMS and GC-IMS) and 372 min (TD-GC×GC-TOFMS), which are in good alignment with published benchmark values. Large variations in washout profiles were observed at the individuals level, both between (inter-individual) and within (intra-individual) participants, indicating high variability in the degree of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of volatile terpenes in the body within individuals and across the cohort. The comparably low inter-instrument variability indicates that differences in benchmark values from independent studies reported in the literature are driven by biological variability rather than different performances between sampling methods or analytical platforms.

Prevalence of tuberculosis and associated factors among presumptive TB refugees residing in refugee camps in Ethiopia

BackgroundTuberculosis (TB) causes significant morbidity and mortality in refugee populations. Although Ethiopia is the third largest refugee-hosting country in Africa, there is limited published data on the prevalence and associated factors of TB in refugees. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB (PTB) and explore associated factors in presumptive TB refugees residing in refugee camps in Ethiopia.MethodsA facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted between February and August 2021 in refugee camps in Ethiopia. Data were collected consecutively from 610 presumptive TB refugees who attended for TB diagnosis in selected refugee camp clinics in Ethiopia. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect data, and sputum samples were collected from eligible study participants. The Xpert Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)/Rifampicin (RIF) assay was performed on direct spot sputum samples, whereas morning sputum samples were processed and inoculated for bacteriological culture using Mycobacterium Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) and Lowsteen Jensen (LJ) methods. The statistical software package (STATA version 14) was used for statistical analysis. A logistic regression model was used for the evaluation of the association between bacteriologically confirmed TB cases and the associated factors. Descriptive statistics were used for the expression of the results, and statistical significance was assumed at p < 0.05.ResultsOut of 610 study participants, more than half were female (54.9%), and the mean age was 37.9 years (SD, 16.64). The prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed PTB cases among refugees residing in refugee camps in Ethiopia was 13.3% (95% CI, 10.7–16.2%) using the Xpert MTB/RIF assay and/or culture. MTB was detected in 12.8% (95% CI, 10.2–15.7%) of the individuals using the Xpert MTB/RIF assay, while culture positivity was observed in 11.6% (95% CI, 9.2–14.5%). The multivariable logistic regression model showed South Sudan origins (adjusted odds ratio, AOR = 7.74; 95% CI, 3.05–19.64), age group, 19–38 years old (AOR = 5.66; 95% CI, 1.86–17.28), and male sex (AOR = 2.69; 95% CI, 1.58–4.56) were significantly associated with the bacteriologically confirmed TB among refugees residing in refugee camps in Ethiopia.ConclusionThe prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed PTB among presumptive TB refugees residing in refugee camps in Ethiopia was high. The national TB program should strengthen TB prevention and control activities in the refugee camps of Ethiopia. Moreover, an active TB survey program should be implemented in refugee camps in Ethiopia.

Synthesis and Direct Sampling of Single-Cycle Light Transients by Electron Tunneling in a Nanodevice

Synthesis and Direct Sampling of Single-Cycle Light Transients by Electron Tunneling in a Nanodevice

Investigation of flexural strength of jute fiber based circular type honeycomb sandwich panel: An experimental and numerical approach

This study investigates the compression behavior of a circular type honeycomb sandwich panel. A custom-made handloom was constructed to weave the unidirectional jute mat using jute yarn. A hand-layup process was applied to fabricate the sandwich panels. Finite element modeling was undertaken to predict the experimental results. Prior to the finite element analysis, a tensile test was carried out to determine the boundary conditions for the finite element modeling. The corrosive impact on the bending property was also investigated. Furthermore, the swelling thickness and water absorption rate under pH 8 were investigated for thirty days to get saturated results. The test result revealed that the orientation of jute fiber had the greatest influence on the load-bearing capacity of the sandwich panel. 0° fiber orientation to the tensile loading direction gives four times higher strength than those with 90° loading direction samples.

Microwave Imaging of Conductors by Direct Sampling Method and U-Net

Microwave Imaging of Conductors by Direct Sampling Method and U-Net

Robust quantification of the burst of OH radicals generated by ambient particles in nascent cloud droplets using a direct-to-reagent approach

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a central role in chemistry in cloud water, as well as in other aqueous phases such as lung fluid and in wastewater treatment. Recently, work simulating nascent cloud droplets showed that aerosol particles produce a large burst of OH radicals when they first take up water. This activity stops abruptly, within two minutes. The source of the OH radicals is not well understood, but it likely includes the aqueous phase chemistry of ROS and/or organic hydroperoxides and redox active metals such as iron and copper. ROS and their precursors are in general highly reactive and labile, and thus may not survive during traditional sampling methods, which typically involve multi-hour collection on a filter or direct sampling into water or another collection liquid. Further, these species may further decay during storage. Here, we develop a technique to grow aerosol particles into small droplets and capture the droplets directly into a vial containing the terephthalate probe in water, which immediately scavenges OH radicals produced by aerosol particles. The method uses a Liquid Spot Sampler. Extensive characterization of the approach reveals that the collection liquid picks up substantial OH/OH precursors from the gas phase. This issue is effectively addressed by adding an activated carbon denuder. We then compared OH formation measured with the direct-to-reagent approach vs. filter collection. We find that after a modest correction for OH formed in the collection liquid, the samples collected into the reagent produce about six times those collected on filters, for both PM2.5 and total suspended particulate. This highlights the need for direct-to-reagent measurement approaches to accurately quantify OH production from ambient aerosol particles.

Rapid particle concentration for immunofluorescence enhancement by a surface acoustic wave microchip

At the initial stages of pathogenesis, biomarkers are generated in an insignificant concentration. Hence, the rapid screening for these low-abundance indicators is immensely critical for early disease diagnosis. Enhancement of the immunofluorescence signal emitted from little concentrated biomarkers can aid their detection among other molecules in complex body fluids. Here, we developed an advanced bead-based immunosensing technique combining surface acoustic wave (SAW) for a rapid and sensitive on-chip detection of the diabetic retinopathy biomarker lipocalin 1. As a result, the implementation of the SAW microchip-enabled particle mixing, separation, and concentration in the droplet delivered a 3.6-fold enhanced immunofluorescence signal within 5 s. The integration of fluorescent signal enhancement by SAW, along with the high sensitivity of the immunoassay, featured a limit of detection of 40 pg/mL in 3 min with a sample volume as low as 4 µL. A simple addition of cover glass on the SAW microchip allowed the immuno-sensing process to be completed without any direct sample contact with the interdigital transducer, minimizing the risk of cross-contamination and damage to the chip due to frequent washing. This study demonstrated the potential of the developed SAW device and insights into its utility as an early diagnostic tool.

Comparison of Prevalence of blaNDM-1 Gene among Metallo-Beta Lactamase-Producing Multidrug-Resistant Fermenters and Nonfermenters in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background and Aim: Metallo-beta-lactamases (MBLs) which open β-lactam ring with help of metal cofactor degrade all the classes of β-lactams except monobactams and are notable for their constant and efficient carbapenemase activity. New Delhi Metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM) is type of carbapenemase which is able to inactivate all β-lactams except aztreonam. Combined disk synergy test (CDST) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis are used for the detection of MBL production. Materials and Methods: All clinical specimens received in the microbiology department for culture and sensitivity from indoor patients were included in study. Brief history and related data of the patients was being recorded. The direct Gram staining and samples were inoculated on culture media and incubated at 37°C for 18–24 h. Biochemical reactions were performed and the antibiotic susceptibility test was performed by Kirby–Bauer Disk-Diffusion method and VITEK 2. All the multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) which were carbapenem resistant subjected to CDST and Genotypic detection of NDM-1 by PCR was done. The association between categorical variables was explored using the Pearson’s Chi-square test. Results: The present study was conducted on 260 GNB isolated from 5307 specimens, 164 were MDR, 68 were carbapenem resistant, and 48 were found to be MBLs (19 were fermenters; 29 were nonfermenters). Thirty-six blaNDM-1 gene was isolated from both MDR fermenters and nonfermenters. The positivity of CDST in detecting blaNDM-1 positive MBLs taking PCR as the gold standard was 75%. Conclusion: NDM-1 carrying isolates disseminate quickly even among the organisms of different genera, their presence in high proportion could further threaten the public health and put an end to our current pharmacopoeia.

Choice and impact of frequency increment in direct digital synthesiser (DDS)‐based linear FMCW radar

AbstractFMCW radar is a popular technique for radar sensors. A Direct Digital Synthesiser (DDS) is commonly used to generate the required linear frequency sweep. DDS devices are widely‐available and easy to configure in terms of the key radar parameters of sweep bandwidth and pulse duration. They generate a step‐approximation to a linear frequency sweep for which the frequency increment parameter also needs to be defined. However, there is little information available in the literature to guide radar designers on the choice of this parameter. As a result, most designs are based on an empirical estimate of the DDS frequency increment. The aim is to provide an analytic basis and design rules for the choice of this parameter. Two principal types of FMCW radar (direct sampling and deramp) are studied to determine the effect on the range profile of the finite DDS frequency increment. It is shown that a set of spurs appears around each target response. Analytic expressions are derived to quantify the amplitude and distribution of these spurs from which simple design rules are presented to allow an informed choice of DDS frequency increment. These analytic results are convincingly validated using numerical simulations and experimental measurements.

Description of Dental and Oral Health Maintenance Behavior of Pregnant Women at Bhayangkara General Hospital, Palu City, Central Sulawesi

Development in the field of dental and oral health is one part of overall health development which has a great responsibility towards increasing the value of dental and oral health status in the community. Dental health efforts need to be reviewed from environmental aspects, education, public awareness and dental health management, including prevention and treatment. In order to get good results, in dental health efforts it is necessary to know the problems associated with the process of tooth decay/caries. This study aims to determine the Behavioral Description of Dental and Oral Health Care for Pregnant Women at Bhayangkara General Hospital, Palu City. This study used a descriptive method with a cross-sectional design, namely direct observation and total sampling. According to the results of data collection, a sample of 30 people was obtained. The results of this study are that pregnant women brush their teeth in a day showing 1 time a day with a total of 19 people obtaining a percentage of 64%, for 2 times a day with a total of 7 people obtaining a percentage of 23%, and for 3 times a day with a total 4 people with a percentage of 13%. those who brushed their teeth every bath and shower in the afternoon with a total of 5 people got a percentage of 16%, those who brushed their teeth every time they wanted to sleep with a total of 4 people got a percentage of 13.3%, those who brushed their teeth before eating with a total of 15 people got a percentage of 50% and those who brushed Indeterminate teeth with a total of 6 get a percentage of 20%. The conclusion is that the behavior of maintaining dental health in pregnant women at Bhayangkara General Hospital, Palu City is still not good, seen from the frequency of brushing their teeth only once a day and the time to brush their teeth, namely before eating.

Quantitative Time-Resolved Visualization of Catalytic Degradation Reactions of Environmental Pollutants by Integrating Single-Drop Microextraction and Fluorescence Sensing.

Current methods for evaluating catalytic degradation reactions of environmental pollutants primarily rely on chromatography that often suffers from intermittent analysis, a long turnaround period, and complex sample pretreatment. Herein, we propose a quantitative time-resolved visualization method to evaluate the progress of catalytic degradation reactions by integrating sample pretreatment [single-drop microextraction, (SDME)], fluorescence sensing, and a smartphone detection platform. The dechlorination reaction of chlorobenzene derivatives was first investigated to validate the feasibility of this approach, in which SDME plays a critical role in direct sample pretreatment, and inorganic CsPbBr3 perovskite encapsulated in a metal-organic framework (MOF-5) was utilized as the fluorescent chromogenic agent (FLCA) in SDME to realize fast in situ colorimetric detection via the color switching from green (CsPbBr3) to blue (chlorine lead bromide, inorganic CsPbCl3 perovskite). The smartphone, which can calculate the B/G value of FLCA, serves as a data output window for quantitative time-resolved visualization. Further, a [Eu(PMA)]n (PMA= pyromellitic acid) fluorescent probe was constructed to use as an FLCA for the in situ evaluation of cinnamaldehyde and p-nitrophenol catalytic reduction. This approach not only minimizes the utilization of organic solvents and achieves quantitively efficient time-resolved visualization but also provides a feasible method for in situ monitoring of the progress of catalytic degradation reactions.

Diversity of Diurnal Beetles in Banguntapan District Yogyakarta

&lt;span&gt;Beetles are insects that have the highest species diversity and abundance of individuals and have various roles in the ecosystem. Changes in land use will certainly affect the diversity, abundance, and dominance of beetles in an ecosystem. This study aims to determine species diversity, species abundance, and individual dominance of beetles, and to compare beetle diversity on non-built land (rice fields and vacant land) compared to built-up land (4 UAD campus and housing). The method in this study is a survey method. Sampling was carried out in October-December 2021 at each sampling location for the UAD 4 campus area, rice fields, housing, and vacant land in Banguntapan District, DIY using &lt;em&gt;pitfall trap &lt;/em&gt;planted in the morning and taken in the afternoon, also direct sampling was carried out using bare hand. The beetles that have been obtained are then taken to the laboratory for the identification process. The highest beetle diversity index value was in the rice fields of Banguntapan District, DIY, which was 2,302, while the lowest beetle diversity index value was on campus 4, which was 0.725. The beetle species with the highest species abundance was &lt;em&gt;Gonocephalum &lt;/em&gt;sp., while the beetle with the lowest species abundance was &lt;em&gt;Bradycellus&lt;/em&gt; &lt;em&gt;nigrinus, Cassida circumdata, Aspidomorpha sanctaecrusis, Verania lineata, &lt;/em&gt;and &lt;em&gt;Onthophagus &lt;/em&gt;sp. The dominant beetle was &lt;em&gt;Gonocephalum &lt;/em&gt;sp., while the less dominant beetle was &lt;em&gt;B. nigrinus.&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/span&gt;

Local search versus linear programming to detect monotonicity in simplicial branch and bound

AbstractThis study focuses on exhaustive global optimization algorithms over a simplicial feasible set with simplicial partition sets. Bounds on the objective function value and its partial derivative are based on interval automatic differentiation over the interval hull of a simplex. A monotonicity test may be used to decide to either reject a simplicial partition set or to reduce its simplicial dimension to a relative border (at the boundary of the feasible set) facet (or face) by removing one (or more) vertices. A monotonicity test is more complicated for a simplicial sub-set than for a box, because its orientation does not coincide with the components of the gradient. However, one can focus on directional derivatives (DD). In a previous study, we focused on either basic directions, such as centroid to vertex or vertex to vertex directions, or finding the best directional derivative by solving an LP or MIP. The research question of this paper refers to using local search (LS) based sampling of directions from vertex to facet. Results show that most of the monotonic DD found by LP are also found by LS, but with much less computational cost. Notice that finding a monotone direction does not require to find the direction in which a derivative bound is the steepest.

A Bayesian inverse approach to identify and quantify organisms from fisheries acoustic data

Abstract Identifying sound-scattering organisms is a perennial challenge in fisheries acoustics. Most practitioners classify backscatter based on direct sampling, frequency-difference thresholds, and expert judgement, then echo-integrate at a single frequency. However, this approach struggles with species mixtures, and discards multi-frequency information when integrating. Inversion methods do not have these limitations, but are not widely used because species identifications are often ambiguous and the algorithms are complicated to implement. We address these shortcomings using a probabilistic, Bayesian inversion method. Like other inversion methods, it handles species mixtures, uses all available frequencies, and extends naturally to broadband signals. Unlike previous approaches, it leverages Bayesian priors to rigorously incorporate information from direct sampling and biological knowledge, constraining the inversion and reducing ambiguity in species identification. Because it is probabilistic, a well-specified model should not produce solutions that are both wrong and confident. The model is based on physical scattering processes, so its output is fully interpretable, unlike some machine learning methods. Finally, the approach can be implemented using existing Bayesian libraries and is easily parallelized for large datasets. We present examples using simulations and field data from the Gulf of Alaska, and discuss possible applications and extensions of the method.