bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A method for extracting 3D‐element based on local cost metrics resistant to radiometric distortion for realistic media application
Authors: Shin Kwangmu , Kim Sunghoon
Published: August 2023

The intensity values of pairs of stereoscopic images could be affected by radiometric elements such as camera exposure, illumination direction, etc. Therefore, it is a challenging problem to get consistent and exact disparity values under a variety of real‐world environment. Here, the proposed approach extracts disparity values based on a local cost metric and is resistant to global and local radiometric changes. It is designed in a way that disparity values are extracted using local uniformity of pixel values between pairs of stereoscopic images. The proposed metric‐based method is defined as the resistant local cost metric (RLCM) model. As a result of the experiment, the proposed model performed better than the comparative methods under experimental conditions in which the radiometric distortion between pairs of stereoscopic images was significantly different. The average peak signal‐to‐noise ratio (PSNR) value of the RLCM method is 20.0 dB under the global radiometric change condition and 19.3 dB under the local condition, showing the highest value compared to the comparison group. Consequentially, it is demonstrated that the proposed method is less sensitive to various radiometric changes.
Illuminating the darkness: A pyramid‐based approach with lightness attention and noise suppression
Authors: Huang Yingxin , Liu Zhenbing , Lu Haoxiang , Wang Wenhao , Zhang Zhaoyuan
Published: August 2023

Abstract Images taken in low‐light conditions often suffer from reduced contrast, amplified noise, and colour distortions. Such degradation falls short of viewer expectations and negatively impacts high‐level tasks, such as object detection. In this paper, the above problems are addressed by leveraging the properties of the LAB colour space and a multi‐scale feature pyramid. Specifically, the model first generates a light attention map and a noise map, which are proficient at manipulating the luminance channel for brightness recovery while preserving the colour information and separating noise from the image content. Moreover, enriched contextual features is progressively extracted and then the low‐light images are refined by incorporating the light attention map and the noise map as priors into a coarse‐to‐fine architecture. The enhanced results are characterized by improved contrast, vibrant colour, and noise suppression.
Analytical beampattern synthesis for symmetric nonuniform linear array based on superposition principle
Authors: Shi Fei , Hu Mengkai , Dou Xiuquan
Published: August 2023

In this letter, an analytical method for the beampattern synthesis of symmetric nonuniform array is proposed. This method consists of two steps. In the first step, it acquires a real symmetric excitation by the convex optimization method to attain a pencil beam. In the second step, it superposes the pencil beams pointing in different directions to synthesize the prescribed beampattern. Numerical results are provided to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Distributed secondary optimal control for self‐maintaining microgrids on pelagic islands
Authors: Deng Sicheng , Chen Laijun , Zhang Baosen , Yuan Wenkai , Mei Shengwei
Published: August 2023

Considering the geographic distance, self‐maintaining microgrids are widely built to supply power on pelagic islands, where developing distributed autonomous control strategies while guaranteeing microgrids’ resilience and energy security have gained increasing attention. However, most existing distributed control strategies restore frequencies in an asymptotic manner, which may not meet the requirement for safe and rapid recovery after disasters. Meanwhile, self‐maintaining microgrids have relatively low percentages of fossil fuels. Power sharing among distributed energy sources (DERs) under most existing control relies on the droop coefficients, which may lead to inefficient operations. To overcome these challenges, this paper proposed a distributed control strategy for self‐maintaining microgrids. The frequency restoration time can be explicitly optimized and is robust to changes of system states, which provides faster recovery performance under disasters. The steady‐state powers of different DERs are regulated for different kinds of DERs separately and are independent of the droop coefficients, where the proper use of renewable energy under energy security can be achieved. The proposed control enhances the resilience of microgrids against disasters and meets the requirement of energy security on islands. The algorithms in the paper are verified by both simulation and experiment studies under various conditions.
Data‐driven energy sharing for multi‐microgrids with building prosumers: A hybrid learning approach
Authors: Sun Haonan , Liu Nian , Tan Lu , Han Jianpei
Published: August 2023

The real‐time optimal scheduling of distributed energy resources (DERs) in interconnected multiple microgrids (MMGs) is facing great challenges due to the uncertainty of renewables, non‐linear network constraints, the involvement of multi‐level interest entities etc. Here, a data driven hybrid learning approach is proposed for real‐time hierarchical energy sharing for MMGs with building prosumers. First, a data‐driven XGBoost‐based supervised learning model is established to characterize price‐based demand response behaviours of prosumers for online P2P energy sharing results estimation among prosumers. Moreover, a multi‐agent deep reinforcement learning (MADRL) method is developed for the energy sharing among MMGs and multi‐agent deep deterministic policy gradient (MADDPG) algorithm is adopted to solve the optimization problem through centralized training and decentralized implementation. Particularly, the XGBoost‐based demand response model of prosumers is embedded into the MADRL environment so that a balanced optimization strategy can be learned through the continuous interaction between MMGs agents and the environment. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated by a case study simulation with an artificial intelligence experimental platform.
Distribution network resilience enhancement strategy considering spatial‐temporal migration of flexible resources on supply and demand sides
Authors: Wu Shutan , Wang Qi , Miao Cairan
Published: August 2023

Extreme events bring great challenges to the safety and resilience of a distribution network, which makes it difficult for traditional static resources to provide enough operation support. The continuous enrichment of spatial‐temporal flexibility resources on both the power demand and supply sides provides a new idea for the dynamic dispatching of distribution network. This paper proposes a spatial‐temporal migration method of mobile power sources (MPSs) on the supply side and internet data centres (IDCs) on the demand side, based on the power‐transportation and power‐computation network coupling models respectively. Then, the dynamic dispatching potential of MPSs and IDCs is evaluated, and the dispatching models against extreme events of MPSs and IDCs are established. With the objective of maximizing system resilience and minimizing dispatching costs, an optimization model considering spatial‐temporal migration of data loads and MPSs dynamic dispatching strategy is formulated. Finally, the proposed method is tested in the modified IEEE 33‐node test system and IEEE 69‐node test system, and the economy and resilience enhancement are verified with comparison of different dispatching schemes.
Tidal interactions shape period ratios in planetary systems with three-body resonant chains
Authors: Charalambous C. , Teyssandier J. , Libert A.-S.
Published: August 2023

Aims. These last years several STIPs (Systems with Tightly packed Inner Planets) in the super-Earth mass regime have been discovered harboring chains of resonances. It is generally believed that planet pairs get trapped in MMR (mean-motion resonance) during the migration phase in the protoplanetary disk, while the tides raised by the host star provide a source of dissipation on very long timescales. In this work, we aim to study the departure from exact commensurabilities observed among the STIPs which harbor 3-planet resonances and analyze how tides play an important role in shaping the resonance offsets for the STIPs.

Methods. We analyzed the resonance offsets between adjacent pairs for five multi-planetary systems, namely Kepler-80, Kepler-223, K2-138, TOI-178, and TRAPPIST-1, highlighting the existence of different trends in the offsets. On the one hand, we derived analytical estimates for the offsets, which confirm that the departure of the planetary pairs from the nominal MMRs are due to the 3-planet resonant dynamics. On the other hand, we performed N-body simulations including both orbital migration and tidal dissipation from the host star with simple prescriptions in order to test the effectiveness of this mechanism at shaping the observed trend in the offsets, focusing our study on the preservation of the resonant patterns in the different systems with the same general setup.

Results. We found that the trends in the offsets of the five detected systems can be produced by tidal damping effects, regardless of the considered value for the tidal factor. It is a robust mechanism that relaxes the system towards equilibrium while efficiently moving it along 3-planet resonances, which induces the observed resonance offset for each planet pair. In addition, we showed that for Kepler-80, K2-138, and TOI-178, the amplitudes of the resonant offsets can also be reproduced with an appropriate tidal factor, for the estimated age of the systems.
Perioperative interventions to improve early mobilisation and physical function after hip fracture: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Sarkies Mitchell N , Testa Luke , Carrigan Ann , Roberts Natalie , Gray Rene , Sherrington Catherine , Mitchell Rebecca , Close Jacqueline C T , McDougall Catherine , Sheehan Katie
Published: August 2023

Background

Perioperative interventions could enhance early mobilisation and physical function after hip fracture surgery.

Objective

Determine the effectiveness of perioperative interventions on early mobilisation and physical function after hip fracture.

Methods

Ovid MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science were searched from January 2000 to March 2022. English language experimental and quasi-experimental studies were included if patients were hospitalised for a fractured proximal femur with a mean age 65 years or older and reported measures of early mobilisation and physical function during the acute hospital admission. Data were pooled using a random effect meta-analysis.

Results

Twenty-eight studies were included from 1,327 citations. Studies were conducted in 26 countries on 8,192 participants with a mean age of 80 years. Pathways and models of care may provide a small increase in early mobilisation (standardised mean difference [SMD]: 0.20, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.01–0.39, I2 = 73%) and physical function (SMD: 0.07, 95% CI 0.00 to 0.15, I2 = 0%) and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation analgesia may provide a moderate improvement in function (SMD: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.24–1.05, I2 = 96%). The benefit of pre-operative mobilisation, multidisciplinary rehabilitation, recumbent cycling and clinical supervision on mobilisation and function remains uncertain. Evidence of no effect on mobilisation or function was identified for pre-emptive analgesia, intraoperative periarticular injections, continuous postoperative epidural infusion analgesia, occupational therapy training or nutritional supplements.

Conclusions

Perioperative interventions may improve early mobilisation and physical function after hip fracture surgery. Future studies are needed to model the causal mechanisms of perioperative interventions on mobilisation and function after hip fracture.
On the evolution of body size and of sexual dimorphism in corbiculate bees
Authors: Cueva del Castillo Raúl , Sanabria-Urbán Salomón , Castillo-Argáez Raiza , Quezada-Euán José Javier G
Published: August 2023

Corbiculate bees offer the opportunity to analyse the evolution of differences in body size between sexes in relationship to the social environment, because this group of phylogenetically related taxa have contrasting levels of social organization, ranging from solitary to highly eusocial. Sexual size dimorphism evolves because body size is usually related to reproductive success through different pathways in females and males. Female body size is strongly correlated with fecundity, whereas in males the body size is correlated with mating success. Within a clade, if sexual selection on males has been stronger than selection on female fecundity, a sexual size dimorphism bias to males would be expected (Rensch’s rule), or an opposite trend when the fecundity of females has had a stronger effect. We tested these predictions by taking an allometric approach that considered differences in the capacity of a reproductive female to start a nest on her own or not. Phylogenetic analysis of the whole clade and another analysis including only species in which the females start nests on their own showed that the corbiculate bees do not seem to follow Rensch’s rule. The males and reproductive females of the species in which the females have lost their capacity to start nests were smaller than the reproductive individuals of species in which the females start nests on their own, suggesting that selective pressures linked to the evolution of sociality might constrain the evolution of a large body size in both males and reproductive females.
Population Sepsis Incidence, Mortality, and Trends in Hong Kong Between 2009 and 2018 Using Clinical and Administrative Data
Authors: Ling Lowell , Zhang Jack Zhenhe , Chang Lok Ching , Chiu Lok Ching Sandra , Ho Samantha , Ng Pauline Yeung , Dharmangadan Manimala , Lau Chi Ho , Ling Steven , Man Man Yee , Fong Ka Man , Liong Ting , Yeung Alwin Wai Tak , Au Gary Ka Fai , Chan Jacky Ka Hing , Tang Michele , Liu Ying Zhi , Wu William Ka Kei , Wong Wai Tat , Wu Peng , Cowling Benjamin J , Lee Anna , Rhee Chanu
Published: August 2023

Background

Sepsis surveillance using electronic health record (EHR)–based data may provide more accurate epidemiologic estimates than administrative data, but experience with this approach to estimate population-level sepsis burden is lacking.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study including all adults admitted to publicly funded hospitals in Hong Kong between 2009 and 2018. Sepsis was defined as clinical evidence of presumed infection (clinical cultures and treatment with antibiotics) and concurrent acute organ dysfunction (≥2-point increase in baseline Sequential Organ Failure Assessment [SOFA] score). Trends in incidence, mortality, and case fatality risk (CFR) were modeled by exponential regression. Performance of the EHR-based definition was compared with 4 administrative definitions using 500 medical record reviews.

Results

Among 13 540 945 hospital episodes during the study period, 484 541 (3.6%) had sepsis by EHR-based criteria with 22.4% CFR. In 2018, age- and sex-adjusted standardized sepsis incidence was 756 per 100 000 (relative change: +2.8%/y [95% CI: 2.0%–3.7%] between 2009 and 2018) and standardized sepsis mortality was 156 per 100 000 (relative change: +1.9%/y; 95% CI: .9%–2.8%). Despite decreasing CFR (relative change: −0.5%/y; 95% CI: −1.0%, −.1%), sepsis accounted for an increasing proportion of all deaths (relative change: +3.9%/y; 95% CI: 2.9%–4.8%). Medical record reviews demonstrated that the EHR-based definition more accurately identified sepsis than administrative definitions (area under the curve [AUC]: .91 vs .52–.55; P < .001).

Conclusions

An objective EHR-based surveillance definition demonstrated an increase in population-level standardized sepsis incidence and mortality in Hong Kong between 2009 and 2018 and was much more accurate than administrative definitions. These findings demonstrate the feasibility and advantages of an EHR-based approach for widescale sepsis surveillance.
Evaluation of Intussusception Following Pentavalent Rotavirus Vaccine (RotaTeq) Administration in 5 African Countries
Authors: Tate Jacqueline E , Mwenda Jason M , Keita Adama Mamby , Tapsoba Toussaint Wendlamita , Ngendahayo Edouard , Kouamé Bertin Dibi , Samateh Ahmadou Lamin , Aliabadi Negar , Sissoko Seydou , Traore Yacouba , Bayisenga Justin , Sounkere-Soro Moufidath , Jagne Sheriffo , Burke Rachel M , Onwuchekwa Uma , Ouattara Ma , Bikoroti Joel B , N’Zue Kofi , Leshem Eyal , Coulibaly Oumar , Ouedraogo Issa , Uwimana Jeannine , Sow Samba , Parashar Umesh D ,   the African Intussusception Surveillance Network, Zampou Olivier , Bah Abdoulie , Sey Alhagie Papa , Sonko Mariama , Bizumuremyi Yves C M , Mukanyange Violette , Niwenkunda Jeannette , Nkurunziza Charles Twagirayezu
Published: August 2023

Background

A low-level risk of intussusception following rotavirus vaccination has been observed in some settings and may vary by vaccine type. We examined the association between RotaTeq vaccination and intussusception in low-income settings in a pooled analysis from 5 African countries that introduced RotaTeq into their national immunization program.

Methods

Active surveillance was conducted at 20 hospitals to identify intussusception cases. A standard case report form was completed for each enrolled child, and vaccination status was determined by review of the child's vaccination card. The pseudo-likelihood adaptation of self-controlled case-series method was used to assess the association between RotaTeq administration and intussusception in the 1–7, 8–21, and 1–21 day periods after each vaccine dose in infants aged 28–245 days.

Results

Data from 318 infants with confirmed rotavirus vaccination status were analyzed. No clustering of cases occurred in any of the risk windows after any of the vaccine doses. Compared with the background risk of naturally occurring intussusception, no increased risk was observed after dose 1 in the 1–7 day (relative incidence = 2.71; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.47–8.03) or the 8–21 day window (relative incidence = 0.77; 95%CI = 0.0–2.69). Similarly, no increased risk of intussusception was observed in any risk window after dose 2 or 3.

Conclusions

RotaTeq vaccination was not associated with increased risk of intussusception in this analysis from 5 African countries. This finding mirrors results from similar analyses with other rotavirus vaccines in low-income settings and highlights the need for vaccine-specific and setting-specific risk monitoring.
Phenotyping coronary plaque by computed tomography in premature coronary artery disease
Authors: Rahoual Ghilas , Zeitouni Michel , Charpentier Etienne , Ritvo Paul-Gydeon , Rouanet Stéphanie , Procopi Niki , Boukhelifa Sena , Charleux Pierre , Guedeney Paul , Kerneis Mathieu , Barthélémy Olivier , Silvain Johanne , Montalescot Gilles , Redheuil Alban , Collet Jean-Philippe
Published: August 2023

Aims

Premature coronary artery disease (CAD) is an aggressive disease with multiple recurrences mostly related to new coronary lesions. This study aimed to compare coronary plaque characteristics of individuals with premature CAD with those of incidental plaques found in matched individuals free of overt cardiovascular disease, using coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).

Methods and results

Of 1552 consecutive individuals who underwent CCTA, 106 individuals with history of acute or stable obstructive CAD ≤45 years were matched by age, sex, smoking status, cardiovascular heredity, and dyslipidaemia with 106 controls. CCTA were analysed for Coronary Artery Disease Reporting and Data System score, plaque composition, and high-risk plaque (HRP) features, including spotty calcification, positive remodelling, low attenuation, and napkin-ring sign. The characteristics of 348 premature CAD plaques were compared with those of 167 incidental coronary plaques of matched controls. The prevalence of non-calcified plaques was higher among individuals with premature CAD (65.1 vs. 30.2%, P < 0.001), as well as spotty calcification (42.5 vs. 17.9%, P < 0.001), positive remodelling (41.5 vs. 9.4%, P < 0.001), low attenuation (24.5 vs. 3.8%, P < 0.001), and napkin-ring sign (1.9 vs. 0.0%). They exhibited an average of 2.2 (2.7) HRP, while the control group displayed 0.4 (0.8) HRP (P < 0.001). Within a median follow-up of 24 (16, 34) months, individuals with premature CAD and ischaemic recurrence (n = 24) had more HRP [4.3 (3.9)] than those without ischaemic recurrence [1.5 (1.9)], mostly non-calcified with low attenuation and positive remodelling.

Conclusion

Coronary atherosclerosis in individuals with premature CAD is characterized by a high and predominant burden of non-calcified plaque and unusual high prevalence of HRP, contributing to disease progression with multiple recurrences. A comprehensive qualitative CCTA assessment of plaque characteristics may further risk stratify our patients, beyond cardiovascular risk factors.
A case report of an intracardiac paraganglioma attached to the left main coronary artery in a patient with a succinate dehydrogenase complex subunit D mutation
Authors: Feijen Michelle , Palmen Meindert , Lamb Hildo J , Corssmit Eleonora P M , Antoni Maria Louisa
Published: August 2023

Background

Cardiac paragangliomas are extremely rare neuroendocrine tumours derived from neural crest cells that represent <2% of all paragangliomas. Approximately 35–40% of all paragangliomas are associated with inherited syndromes such as mutation in the succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) enzyme.

Case summary

A 44-year-old male with an SDH complex subunit D (SDHD) mutation was diagnosed with an intracardiac paraganglioma attached to the left main coronary artery. Multimodality imaging, including gallium dotatate positron emission tomography computed tomography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) confirmed the suspected intracardiac paraganglioma. During follow-up with a CCTA, the mass showed growth, and surgical removal was recommended to anticipate on the risk of compression of the left main coronary artery. Prior to surgery, coronary angiography was performed, which showed no coronary calcifications. The highly vascularized paraganglioma was visible near the left main and proximal left anterior descending artery. The intracardiac paraganglioma was successfully removed through a median sternotomy with cardiopulmonary bypass, without any complications. The post-operative course was uneventful, and histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a paraganglioma.

Discussion

Intracardiac paragangliomas in the vicinity of the left main coronary artery are rare, and surgical removal may be challenging. Therefore, screening and the use of multiple imaging modalities in patients with SDHD mutations prior to surgery is of major importance.
The pricing of variance risks in agricultural futures markets: do jumps matter?
Authors: He Xinyue , Bian Siyu , Serra Teresa
Published: August 2023

The existence of a negative variance risk premium on agricultural futures contracts suggests that market participants pay to hedge unexpected increases in the volatility of these contracts. In this paper, we decompose the variance risk premium in corn and soybeans markets into jump and diffusive components using options and futures data from 2009 to 2021. We find that market participants on average only pay to hedge unexpected increases in jump volatility but not those in diffusive volatility. Furthermore, growing season uncertainty and the arrival of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announcements play important roles in driving the market’s fear of unexpectedly large price jumps.
Plasticity and associated epigenetic mechanisms play a role in thermal evolution during range expansion
Authors: Swaegers Janne , De Cupere Simon , Gaens Noah , Lancaster Lesley T , Carbonell José A , Sánchez Guillén Rosa A , Stoks Robby
Published: August 2023

Due to global change, many species are shifting their distribution and are thereby confronted with novel thermal conditions at the moving range edges. Especially during the initial phases of exposure to a new environment, it has been hypothesized that plasticity and associated epigenetic mechanisms enable species to cope with environmental change. We tested this idea by capitalizing on the well-documented southward range expansion of the damselfly Ischnura elegans from France into Spain where the species invaded warmer regions in the 1950s in eastern Spain (old edge region) and in the 2010s in central Spain (new edge region). Using a common garden experiment at rearing temperatures matching the ancestral and invaded thermal regimes, we tested for evolutionary changes in (thermal plasticity in) larval life history and heat tolerance in these expansion zones. Through the use of de- and hypermethylating agents, we tested whether epigenetic mechanisms play a role in enabling heat tolerance during expansion. We used the phenotype of the native sister species in Spain, I. graellsii, as proxy for the locally adapted phenotype. New edge populations converged toward the phenotype of the native species through plastic thermal responses in life history and heat tolerance while old edge populations (partly) constitutively evolved a faster life history and higher heat tolerance than the core populations, thereby matching the native species. Only the heat tolerance of new edge populations increased significantly when exposed to the hypermethylating agent. This suggests that the DNA methylation machinery is more amenable to perturbation at the new edge and shows it is able to play a role in achieving a higher heat tolerance. Our results show that both (evolved) plasticity as well as associated epigenetic mechanisms are initially important when facing new thermal regimes but that their importance diminishes with time.
Concurrence of Insomnia and Daytime Sleepiness Predicted 9-Year Mortality Risk in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: The Yilan Study, Taiwan
Authors: Wang Yu-Ting , Hsu Nai-Wei , Lin Ching-Heng , Chen Hsi-Chung
Published: August 2023

Background

Co-occurring insomnia and daytime sleepiness has an undetermined clinical significance in older adults. We aimed to investigate the relationship between various combinations of insomnia and daytime sleepiness with mortality risk in community-dwelling older adults. The moderation effect of sex was also assessed.

Methods

We conducted this follow-up study including community-dwelling adults aged ≥65 in Yilan City, Taiwan. Daytime sleepiness was defined as scoring ≥11 on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale. Insomnia was defined as scores ≥5 on the Athens Insomnia Scale-5. Four phenotypes were defined based on the presence of insomnia or daytime sleepiness. The 9-year mortality risks for various phenotypic combinations were estimated using Cox regression analysis. Sex-specific risks were examined using an interaction term.

Results

In total, 2 702 older adults participated in the study, and 59.1% were women. The total 9-year mortality rate was 27.5%. After adjusting for all covariates, compared with those without insomnia or daytime sleepiness, the phenotype of co-occurring insomnia with daytime sleepiness predicted higher mortality risk (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.76, confidence interval [CI]: 1.20–2.58). In contrast, insomnia and daytime sleepiness alone did not correlate with higher mortality. The interaction between sex with co-occurring insomnia and daytime sleepiness was significant (p = .01). When stratifying by sex, the association between co-occurring insomnia and daytime sleepiness with higher mortality risk was male-specific (HR: 3.07, CI: 1.87–5.04).

Conclusions

Concurrence of insomnia and daytime sleepiness indicates a toxic phenotypic combination in older adults, particularly in men. Precise public health and preventive medicine can be implemented through geriatric sleep medicine.
Mathematical modelling and verification of open sun drying of cotton seeds
Authors: Patel Vijay , Judal K B , Panchal Hitesh , Gupta Naveen Kumar , Zahra Musaddak Maher Abdul , Shah Mohd Asif
Published: August 2023

Researchers have carried out the kinetics of various agro products for open sun drying, but research articles still need to address such analysis for cotton seeds. Open sun drying of cotton seeds has been experimentally investigated and presented in this paper. Shorting of cotton seeds was carried out to collect appropriate samples in current research work. Cotton seeds were found to have a nearly ovoid shape with an average radius of 2 to 2.5 mm. The initial moisture content of cotton seeds was estimated to be 14.65% wet-basis using the hot air oven method. During drying, the reduction in the mass of cotton seeds was measured at every one-hour time interval. From this data, it was observed that drying occurred with a falling rate period. Drying data were fitted with 10 mathematical models available in the literature. Multi-regression analysis in Excel-solver equation was performed to obtain values of constants and coefficients of these models. Coefficient of determination (R2), reduced chi-square (χ2) and root mean square error were taken as criteria for the selection of the best drying model. The diffusion approach and models by Verma et al. were chosen as the most suitable drying models for open sun drying of cotton seeds. Effective diffusivity was estimated and found within the range suggested in the literature.
Utilization of GEP and ANN for predicting the net-zero compressive strength of fly ash concrete toward carbon neutrality infrastructure regime
Authors: Onyelowe Kennedy C , Jagan J , Kontoni Denise-Penelope N , Moghal Arif Ali Baig , Onuoha Ifeanyichukwu C , Viswanathan R , Soni Deepak Kumar
Published: August 2023

The present infrastructure regime being promoted by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals is such that by the year 2050, the use of cement in the production of concrete and its use in the general construction activities as to reduce carbon emissions to zero must be replaced with net-zero construction materials. These cement replacement materials should be pozzolanic enough to either partially or totally replace the conventional cement and reduce its carbon footprint. The current study adopts two machine learning techniques: gene expression programming (GEP) and artificial neural network (ANN) to determine the 56 days and 180 days of net-zero compressive strength of fly ash concrete. The study effectively depicts how machine learning techniques can be used for the prediction of long- and short-term compressive strength of fly ash concrete toward a carbon neutrality infrastructure regime. The dataset has been compiled by various researchers, and the input parameters include cement, fine aggregate, coarse aggregate, fly ash, water, and water/binder ratio. And the 56 days and 180 days compressive strength (fck) values are the targeted output values. In order to determine a better model, both GEP and ANN were assessed based on the values of the correlation coefficient and crosschecked by other statistical parameters. Both models performed well; however, GEP outweighs the ANN model in estimating the fck at 56 days and 180 days. Moreover, the GEP model generated a simplified equation for foreseeing the value of fck for different ages of net-zero fly ash concrete.
Dynamics associated with fermentation and aerobic deterioration of high-moisture Italian ryegrass silage made using Lactobacillus plantarum and caproic acid
Authors: Dong Dong , Lin Ziqun , Dai Tongtong , Dong Zhihao , Li Junfeng , Shao Tao
Published: August 2023

Aims

To determine the fermentation quality, aerobic stability, and chemical composition of Italian ryegrass silage prepared with Lactobacillus plantarum (LP), caproic acid (CA), and their combination during ensiling and feed-out phase.

Methods and results

Six treatments: control (CON), LP, 0.15% caproic acid (LCA), 0.2% caproic acid (HCA), LCA + LP, and HCA + LP were employed for 30 days ensiling and an 8-days aerobic stability test. LP had similar pH value and lactic acid content with LCA + LP, while the contents of NH3-N and total VFAs in LCA + LP were significantly lower than those in LP and CON, and the fermentation quality of LCA + LP performed best among all silages. As air-exposure extended, contents of water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC), lactic, and acetic acids decreased, while pH, and NH3-N content increased significantly. The population of lactic acid bacteria gradually decreased in contrast to increased counts of aerobic bacteria and yeasts. Compared with LCA, 0.2% CA delayed the aerobic deterioration as judged by a slower increase in pH and high residual of WSC and lactic acid, and negligible ethanol content and anaerobe spores counts remained in HCA at the end of air exposure. Compared with CON (73 h), LP showed less aerobic stability (38 h), whereas HCA and HCA + LP prolonged aerobic stability for 210 and 152 h, better than LCA (109 h) and LCA + LP (146 h).

Conclusions

Lactobacillus plantarum apparently improved the fermentation quality, and combined with CA exhibited greater efficiency in inhibiting undesirable microorganism during ensiling. CA at 0.2% optimally extended the aerobic stability.
Randomisation inference beyond the sharp null: bounded null hypotheses and quantiles of individual treatment effects
Authors: Caughey Devin , Dafoe Allan , Li Xinran , Miratrix Luke
Published: August 2023

Randomisation inference (RI) is typically interpreted as testing Fisher’s ‘sharp’ null hypothesis that all unit-level effects are exactly zero. This hypothesis is often criticised as restrictive and implausible, making its rejection scientifically uninteresting. We show, however, that many randomisation tests are also valid for a ‘bounded’ null hypothesis under which the unit-level effects are all non-positive (or all non-negative) but are otherwise heterogeneous. In addition to being more plausible a priori, bounded nulls are closely related to substantively important concepts such as monotonicity and Pareto efficiency. Reinterpreting RI in this way expands the range of inferences possible in this framework. We show that exact confidence intervals for the maximum (or minimum) unit-level effect can be obtained by inverting tests for a sequence of bounded nulls. We also generalise RI to cover inference for quantiles of the individual effect distribution as well as for the proportion of individual effects larger (or smaller) than a given threshold. The proposed confidence intervals for all effect quantiles are simultaneously valid, in the sense that no correction for multiple analyses is required. In sum, our reinterpretation and generalisation provide a broader justification for randomisation tests and a basis for exact non-parametric inference for effect quantiles.
Diversity of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes expressed in Class A biosolids and biosolids-amended soil as revealed by metatranscriptomic analysis
Authors: D’Angelo Elisa Marie
Published: August 2023

Class A biosolids is a treated sewage sludge, commonly applied to agricultural fields, home lawns/gardens, golf courses, forests, and remediation sites around the world. This practice is of public and agricultural concern due to the possibility that biosolids contain antibiotic-resistant bacteria and fungal pathogens that could persist for extended periods in soil. This possibility was determined by metatranscriptomic analysis of virulence, antibiotic resistance, and plasmid conjugation genes, a Class A biosolids, organically managed soil, and biosolids-amended soil under realistic conditions. Biosolids harbored numerous transcriptionally active pathogens, antibiotic resistance genes, and conjugative genes that annotated mostly to Gram-positive pathogens of animal hosts. Biosolids amendment to soil significantly increased the expression of virulence genes by numerous pathogens and antibiotic-resistant genes that were strongly associated with biosolids. Biosolids amendment also significantly increased the expression of virulence genes by native soil fungal pathogens of plant hosts, which suggests higher risks of crop damage by soil fungal pathogens in biosolids-amended soil. Although results are likely to be different in other soils, biosolids, and microbial growth conditions, they provide a more holistic, accurate view of potential health risks associated with biosolids and biosolids-amended soils than has been achievable with more selective cultivation and PCR-based techniques.
Fermi LAT AGN classification using supervised machine learning
Authors: Cooper Nathaniel , Dainotti Maria Giovanna , Narendra Aditya , Liodakis Ioannis , Bogdan Malgorzata
Published: August 2023

Classifying active galactic nuclei (AGNs) is a challenge, especially for BL Lacertae objects (BLLs), which are identified by their weak emission line spectra. To address the problem of classification, we use data from the fourth Fermi Catalog, Data Release 3. Missing data hinder the use of machine learning to classify AGNs. A previous paper found that Multivariate Imputation by Chain Equations (MICE) imputation is useful for estimating missing values. Since many AGNs have missing redshift and the highest energy, we use data imputation with MICE and k-nearest neighbours (kNN) algorithm to fill in these missing variables. Then, we classify AGNs into the BLLs or the flat spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) using the SuperLearner, an ensemble method that includes several classification algorithms like logistic regression, support vector classifiers, Random Forest, Ranger Random Forest, multivariate adaptive regression spline (MARS), Bayesian regression, and extreme gradient boosting. We find that a SuperLearner model using MARS regression and Random Forest algorithms is 91.1 per cent accurate for kNN-imputed data and 91.2 per cent for MICE-imputed data. Furthermore, the kNN-imputed SuperLearner model predicts that 892 of the 1519 unclassified blazars are BLLs and 627 are FSRQs, while the MICE-imputed SuperLearner model predicts 890 BLLs and 629 FSRQs in the unclassified set. Thus, we can conclude that both imputation methods work efficiently and with high accuracy and that our methodology ushers the way for using SuperLearner as a novel classification method in the AGN community and, in general, in the astrophysics community.
X-ray emission from pre-main sequence stars with multipolar magnetic fields
Authors: Stuart Kieran A , Gregory Scott G
Published: August 2023

The large-scale magnetic fields of several pre-main sequence (PMS) stars have been observed to be simple and axisymmetric, dominated by tilted dipole and octupole components. The magnetic fields of other PMS stars are highly multipolar and dominantly non-axisymmetric. Observations suggest that the magnetic field complexity increases as PMS stars evolve from Hayashi to Henyey tracks in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram. Independent observations have revealed that X-ray luminosity decreases with age during PMS evolution, with Henyey track PMS stars having lower fractional X-ray luminosities (LX/L*) compared to Hayashi track stars. We investigate how changes in the large-scale magnetic field topology of PMS stars influences coronal X-ray emission. We construct coronal models assuming pure axisymmetric multipole magnetic fields, and magnetic fields consisting of a dipole plus an octupole component only. We determine the closed coronal emitting volume, over which X-ray-emitting plasma is confined, using a pressure balance argument. From the coronal volumes, we determine X-ray luminosities. We find that LX decreases as the degree ℓ of the multipole field increases. For dipole plus octupole magnetic fields, we find that LX tends to decrease as the octupole component becomes more dominant. By fixing the stellar parameters at values appropriate for a solar mass PMS star, varying the magnetic field topology results in two orders of magnitude variation in LX. Our results support the idea that the decrease in LX as PMS stars age can be driven by an increase in the complexity of the large-scale magnetic field.
FRB 20121102A: images of the bursts and the varying radio counterpart
Authors: Rhodes L , Caleb M , Stappers B W , Andersson A , Bezuidenhout M C , Driessen L N , Heywood I
Published: August 2023

As more Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs) are being localized, we are learning that some fraction have persistent radio sources (PRSs). Such a discovery motivates an improvement in our understanding of the nature of those counterparts, the relation to the bursts themselves and why only some FRBs have PRSs. We report on observations made of FRB 20121102A with the MeerKAT radio telescope. Across five epochs, we detect the PRS associated with FRB 20121102A. Our observations are split into a cluster of four epochs (MJD 58732–58764) and a separate single epoch about 1000 d later. The measured flux density is constant across the first four observations but then decays by more than one-third in the final observation. Our observations on MJD 58736 coincided with the detections of 11 bursts from FRB 20121102A by the MeerTRAP backend, seven of which we detected in the image plane. We discuss the importance of image plane detections when considering the commensal transient searches being performed with MeerKAT and other radio facilities. We find that MeerKAT is so sensitive that within a 2-s image, we can detect any FRB with a flux density above 2.4 mJy at 1.3 GHz and so could localize every FRB that has been detected by CHIME to date.
Star cluster progenitors are dynamically decoupled from their parent molecular clouds
Authors: Peretto Nicolas , Rigby Andrew J , Louvet Fabien , Fuller Gary A , Traficante Alessio , Gaudel Mathilde
Published: August 2023

The formation of stellar clusters dictates the pace at which galaxies evolve, and solving the question of their formation will undoubtedly lead to a better understanding of the Universe as a whole. While it is well known that star clusters form within parsec-scale overdensities of interstellar molecular gas called clumps, it is, however, unclear whether these clumps represent the high-density tip of a continuous gaseous flow that gradually leads towards the formation of stars, or a transition within the gas physical properties. Here, we present a unique analysis of a sample of 27 infrared dark clouds embedded within 24 individual molecular clouds that combine a large set of observations, allowing us to compute the mass and velocity dispersion profiles of each, from the scale of tens of parsecs down to the scale of tenths of a parsec. These profiles reveal that the vast majority of the clouds, if not all, are consistent with being self-gravitating on all scales, and that the clumps, on parsec-scale, are often dynamically decoupled from their surrounding molecular clouds, exhibiting steeper density profiles (ρ∝r−2) and flat velocity dispersion profiles (σ∝r0), clearly departing from Larson’s relations. These findings suggest that the formation of star clusters correspond to a transition regime within the properties of the self-gravitating molecular gas. We propose that this transition regime is one that corresponds to the gravitational collapse of parsec-scale clumps within otherwise stable molecular clouds.
Investigating the energy-dependent temporal nature of black hole binary system H 1743-322
Authors: Husain Nazma , Garg Akash , Misra Ranjeev , Sen Somasri
Published: August 2023

Black hole X-ray binaries routinely exhibit quasi-periodic oscillations (QPOs) in their power density spectrum. Studies of QPOs have demonstrated immense ability to understand these dynamical systems although their unambiguous origin still remains a challenge. We investigate the energy-dependent properties of the Type-C QPOs detected for H 1743-322 as observed with AstroSat in its two X-ray outbursts of 2016 and 2017. The combined broad-band LAXPC and SXT spectrum is well modelled with a soft thermal and a hard Comptonization component. The QPO exhibits soft/negative lags i.e. variation in soft-band lags the variation in hard band, although the upper harmonic shows opposite behaviour i.e. hard/positive lags. Here, we model energy-dependent properties (fractional root mean square and time-lag variation with energy) of the QPO and its upper harmonic individually with a general scheme that fits these properties by utilizing the spectral information and consequently allows to identify the radiative component responsible for producing the variability. Considering the truncated disc picture of accretion flow, a simple model with variation in inner disc temperature, heating rate, and fractional scattering with time delays is able to describe the fractional rms and time-lag spectra. In this work, we show that this technique can successfully describe the energy-dependent features and identify the spectral parameters generating the variability.
Phase Ib/II Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Binimetinib (MEK162) Plus Panitumumab for Mutant or Wild-Type RAS Metastatic Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Van Cutsem Eric , Yaeger Rona , Delord Jean-Pierre , Tabernero Josep , Siu Lillian L , Ducreux Michel , Siena Salvatore , Elez Elena , Kasper Stefan , Zander Thomas , Steeghs Neeltje , Murphy Danielle , Edwards Michelle , Wainberg Zev A
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Activating RAS gene mutations occur in approximately 55% of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and are associated with poorer clinical outcomes due to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) blockade resistance. Combined EGFR and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) inhibition may extend response to EGFR inhibition and overcome acquired resistance. This phase Ib/II dose escalation trial evaluated the safety and activity of dual inhibition with binimetinib (MEK1/2 inhibitor) and panitumumab (EGFR inhibitor [EGFRi]) in patients with RAS mutant or BRAF wild type (WT)/RAS WT mCRC.

Methods

Phase Ib dose escalation started with binimetinib 45 mg twice daily plus panitumumab 6 mg/kg administered every 2 weeks. In the phase II study, patients with measurable mCRC were enrolled into 4 groups based on previous anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody therapy and RAS mutational status.

Results

No patients in the phase Ib portion (n = 10) had a response; 70% of patients had stable disease. In the phase II portion (n = 43), overall response rate (ORR, confirmed) was 2.3% with one partial response in the RAS WT group, DCR was 30.2%, and median progression-free survival was 1.8 months (95%CI, 1.6-3.3). All patients experienced ≥1 adverse event, with the most common being diarrhea (71.7%), vomiting (52.8%), nausea (50.9%), fatigue (49.1%), dermatitis acneiform (43.4%), and rash (41.5%). Most patients required treatment interruption or dose reduction due to difficulties tolerating treatment.

Conclusions

The combination of binimetinib and panitumumab had substantial toxicity and limited clinical activity for patients with mutant or WT RAS mCRC, independent of EGFRi treatment history (Trial registration: NCT01927341).