Analytical Filter Research Articles

Using natural tracers and calibrated analytical filter to highlight baseflow contribution to mountainous Mediterranean rivers in a context of climate change

Baseflow defined as the contribution of groundwater and delayed subsurface flow, is generally described by indices such as the baseflow index (BFI), the long-term ratio of baseflow to streamflow. Characterizing baseflow is challenging because it is not directly accessible, particularly in sensitive areas to climate change like the mountainous Mediterranean regions with hard-rock aquifers. In these areas, little is known about the temporal and spatial contribution of baseflow to streamflow. This study aimed to address this scientific gap by using the first calibrated and validated recursive digital filter with natural tracers for such regions. Two watersheds of Corsica (France), the Tavignanu and the Fiumaltu, were chosen as application models for calibration and validation, respectively, due to their representative characteristics of these regions. Various methods exist for baseflow analysis, including empirical, analytical and physical methods. Empirical and analytical methods, such as digital filters, are easy to use but lack physical significance. Conversely, physical methods using natural tracers, such as isotopes and ions, are more physically representative but are difficult to implement. By calibrating and validating analytical methods with tracers in this specific context, we were able to leverage the strengths of both approaches for effective long-term baseflow analysis. This innovative approach confirmed that baseflow was the main contributor to river flow during dry months, with a contribution of 88–90 % for both watersheds. Notably, baseflow remained a significant contributor during periods of high flow, averaging 54 % for the Tavignanu and 60 % for the Fiumaltu. Over a 25-year period, the mean annual contribution was substantial, at 73 % for the Tavignanu and 77 % for the Fiumaltu. In a particularly dry year, which are expected to become more common with climate change, baseflow contribution was even higher, confirming its origin from deep groundwater and delayed subsurface components. Our results demonstrate that, in the context of climate change, groundwater and delayed subsurface flow will play an increasingly important role in sustaining rivers, connected ecosystems, as well as many human activities in the mountainous Mediterranean regions.

Regional innovation systems and entrepreneurial ecosystems: their value added to rethinking regional development policies

ABSTRACT Advances on the understanding the innovation process and phenomenon, principally coming from the regional innovation systems approach and from the theorization around the concept of entrepreneurial ecosystems, have given an impulse to entrepreneurship promotion. The aim of this paper is two-fold. On the one hand, the first objective is to contextualize and clarify the concepts of regional innovation systems and entrepreneurial ecosystems that have been gaining a growing importance in terms of regional policy. It will also address their differences and complementarities, proposing an analytical filter to enhance their understanding, both theoretically and operationally. The second objective is to formulate a set of recommendations about the role both concepts bring to local and regional development strategies, opening the way for a set of public policy interventions.

Can processed images be used to determine the modulation transfer function and detective quantum efficiency?

The modulation transfer function (MTF) and detective quantum efficiency (DQE) of x-ray detectors are key Fourier metrics of performance, valid only for linear and shift-invariant (LSI) systems and generally measured following IEC guidelines requiring the use of raw (unprocessed) image data. However, many detectors incorporate processing in the imaging chain that is difficult or impossible to disable, raising questions about the practical relevance of MTF and DQE testing. We investigate the impact of convolution-based embedded processing on MTF and DQE measurements. We use an impulse-sampled notation, consistent with a cascaded-systems analysis in spatial and spatial-frequency domains to determine the impact of discrete convolution (DC) on measured MTF and DQE following IEC guidelines. We show that digital systems remain LSI if we acknowledge both image pixel values and convolution kernels represent scaled Dirac -functions with an implied sinc convolution of image data. This enables use of the Fourier transform (FT) to determine impact on presampling MTF and DQE measurements. It is concluded that: (i)the MTF of DC is always an unbounded cosine series; (ii)the slanted-edge method yields the true presampling MTF, even when using processed images, with processing appearing as an analytic filter with cosine-series MTF applied to raw presampling image data; (iii)the DQE is unaffected by discrete-convolution-based processing with a possible exception near zero-points in the presampling MTF; and (iv)the FT of the impulse-sampled notation is equivalent to the transform of image data.

НАПРЯМИ ПІДВИЩЕННЯ ЕФЕКТИВНОСТІ ДЕРЖАВНОЇ ФІНАНСОВОЇ ПОЛІТИКИ АКТИВІЗАЦІЇ ІНВЕСТИЦІЙНОЇ ДІЯЛЬНОСТІ В УМОВАХ ДІДЖИТАЛІЗАЦІЇ

The development of Ukraine's economy, especially during the war and post-war reconstruction, requires the most efficient use of limited financial resources. The institutional demand of the society for prompt adjustment of the economy to meet military needs in times of war and to ensure the fastest possible pace of economic recovery in the post-war period requires the state to increase the efficiency of the state financial policy of intensification investment activity in accordance with the current dynamically changing requirements of the present. The problem of the state's stimulating influence on the economy in order to intensification investment activity in the country is constantly in the field of view of scientists and practitioners. One of the most effective areas of realization of such influence is the financial policy of the state. The issues of formation and implementation of the state financial policy of intensification of investment activity in the context of digitalization are unexplored, relevant and require scientific understanding. The aim of the article is to improve the efficiency of formation and implementation of the State financial policy of intensification of investment activity in the context of digitalization. To date, a prerequisite for modernizing the State financial policy of intensification investment activity is to take into account the demands and opportunities for digitalization of economic and management processes. In order to increase the efficiency of the State financial policy of intensification investment activity in the context of digitalization, a number of practical recommendations are proposed, which together ensured the development of the module "Automation of the State financial policy of intensification investment activity", which structurally consists of two components and is described by a map of analytical filters, casual and information technology algorithms, as well as schemes of process and functional links. The practical implementation of the developed module "Automation of the State Financial Policy of intensification of Investment Activity" will improve efficiency, economic feasibility by minimizing the resources used (financial, labor, etc.) and increase the efficiency of the formation and implementation of the state financial policy of intensification of investment activity in Ukraine by minimizing corruption risks.

Comparative evaluation of filtration and imaging properties of analytical filters for microplastic capture and analysis

Pollution by microplastics (MPs) is a growing problem that is now well-recognized, as concerning levels of MPs have been found in drinking water, food, and even human tissues. Given the evolving understanding of their toxicological effects on human health, MPs are an area of concern requiring further study. Consequently, there is a need for greater understanding of the performance characteristics of common MP analytical methods and where possible, for standardizing methods and reporting practices. Here, we report our work comparing filtration and imaging properties of five analytical filters suitable for MP capture and analysis. We compared track-etched polycarbonate with (PCTEG) and without gold coating (PCTE), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), porous silicon (PSi), and gold-coated microslit silicon nitride membranes (MSSN-Au). Four of the filter types had a nominal 1.0 μm cut-off, except for PCTEG which had a 0.8 nominal cut-off. We examined the ultrastructure of each membrane type by electron microscopy to understand how their physical properties influence filtration and imaging performance. We compared clean water filtration rates and timed volume passage for each filter in comparison to its porosity and working surface area. We further compared optical microscopy imaging properties for each filter with model MP samples in both bright-field and fluorescent modes with accompanying Nile Red staining. In terms of absolute and surface area-normalized flow rates, our measurements ranked the filters in order of MSSN-Au > PTFE > PCTE > PCTEG > PSi. Similarly, we found MSSN-Au filters compared favorably in terms of optical microscopy performance. Collectively, these data will aid practitioners when choosing analytical filters for MP surveillance and testing.

A dual-geometry pore-size-resolved model to predict deep-bed loading in a wall-flow filter

A gasoline particulate filter (GPF) is an effective wall-flow technology for gasoline engine particulate matter (PM) emission control via deep-bed filtration through porous ceramic walls within a honeycomb channel structure. An analytical filter model is desired to understand its efficiency and pressure drop under engine operating conditions and, thereby, reduce the development costs for meeting emission regulations and engine performance targets. Most existing models either oversimplify the filter geometry or do not offer good predictions in the soot loading regime. The present work treats the deep bed regime as two co-existing filters with different geometries based on their natural morphologies, one that describes the porous wall and the other for the fiber structure created by soot deposition. Both models are dynamic to account for changes in pore size distribution and soot dendrite growth during loading. Model validation by 12 sets of experimental filter loading data shows that it provides reasonable predictions of both filter efficiency and pressure drop during deep-bed loading for different GPF wall-flow filters under various operating conditions. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirms model predictions for the unit collector size of the dendritic filter formed by soot deposition. Numerical simulation using GeoDict was also carried out to validate the model predictions on particle deposition location. The model is used to investigate the evolution of pore-size-resolved aerosol flow, filtration efficiency, mass loading, and particle packing density during loading. The impact of porosity, mean pore size, and pore size distribution on filter loading performance is studied. The results suggest that increasing porosity, narrowing pore size distribution, and increasing mean pore size can improve filter performance, offering pathways for future filter optimization.

Cascade filter system tests for airborne nano‐ and microplastic particle analytics in a laboratory dust chamber

AbstractMeasuring nano‐ and microplastic particle (NMP) loads in air requires suitable analytical filter systems that allow a size‐selective separation of airborne nano‐ and microplastic (NMP) fractions. Previously, various filter materials and setups including nano/micro cascade filtration stacks have been presented (P.‐T. Miclea, 2022). To evaluate these novel filter systems, implementing reliable sampling procedures and instrumentation, as well as sample handling, well‐defined test setups, NMP reference materials, and procedures are of major interest. In this study, a novel triple‐stage silicon (Si) and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) cascade filter system for airborne NMP particles is tested in a laboratory environment. Special focus is put on its ability for size‐selective analytical filtration of airborne NMP particles based on a well‐defined mixture of poly‐ and monodisperse NMP reference materials. For this purpose, a laboratory dust test chamber has been adapted for the dispersion of NMP particles in air as well as the vacuum air extraction through the cascade filter system. A defined NMP test material was fabricated from polydisperse polyethylene (PE) and PE terephthalate, and monodisperse polystyrene, polymethylmethacrylate, spanning a size region from 130 nm to >22 µm. Dispersion and filtration experiments are performed by vacuum extraction under defined temperature, pressure, and humidity conditions on single and triple filtration stages. NMP particle analytics are performed with polydisperse PE particles on a single‐stage filter system with subsequent optical microscopy. Here, the aim is to detect the filtration cutoff for retained particles and transmitted particles referring to initial distribution. A second experiment is run on a triple filtration cascade with mixed poly‐ and monodisperse NMP test material. The different filter stages are equipped with analytical Si and Al2O3 filters with pore sizes of 10 µm, 1 µm, and 100 nm, to test the size selectivity and sealing of the complete cascade setup. The NMP particle size distribution on the individual analytical filter substrates is analyzed by optical and scanning electron microscopy to assess size selectivity performance of the triple‐stage setup. The obtained results in our laboratory NMP dust‐dispersion test chamber demonstrate requirements and limitation of size‐selective NMP cascade filter systems and the involved analytical procedures. Future applications in real indoor and outdoor environments will be discussed.

Baseflow index assessment for agriculture-industry led Ramganga river basin

The baseflow index is a crucial parameter in basin-scale water balance studies. However, it has frequently been neglected for various reasons, viz. near-impossible direct measurement, simplification of the model, and non-existence of the hydro-meteorological data. Hence, baseflow is computed for the Ramganga river basin in the present study, for which a scientific assessment had not been done previously. The classified-archived-observed river discharge data are obtained from Central Water Commission (CWC) and are applied in an analytical filter to assess the baseflow index (BFI) at all exiting CWC hydro-meteorological sites in the Ramganga river basin. The average values of BFIs for the CWC sites vary between 27% and 38%. The results are found to be consistent and showed significance with the hydrological characteristics of the basin. The results have also been discussed to account for various possible anthropogenic effects, which are assessed as having no significant impact.

Features of direct measurements for evaluation of the volume activity of radionuclides in the air of the working area

OBJECT. To consider problematic issues related to measurements of radionuclides in the air of the working area released during repackaging of bulk solid radioactive waste during decommissioning of nuclear energy facilities. To develop a method of direct measurements for operational control of the concentration of radioactive aerosols in the air of the working area, ensuring that the control level is not exceeded by the annual effective dose of personnel.METHODS. To solve this problem, the method of calculating the maximum possible number of alpha particles on the selected sample of the analytical filter AFA-RSP20 was used.RESULTS. A method of operational control of the radiation situation in the workplaces of personnel using direct measurements by portable radiation monitoring devices of the alpha particle flux density from the exposed AFA-RSP20 filter is proposed. The use of this method makes it possible to provide control in cases where the use of standard installations for measuring the volumetric activity of radioactive aerosols is unavailable or impossible. The article describes the relevance of the topic, the calculation of the reference level of the alpha particle flux density from the surface of the AFA-RSP20 filter is given.CONCLUSIONS. Passport characteristics of personal respiratory protection equipment do not provide convincing data on the operation of the filter with a specific pollutant. For the correct decision-making on the use of certain types of personal respiratory protection by personnel working with radioactive waste containing transuranium radionuclides, it is necessary to control the volumetric activity of radionuclides in the air. Based on calculations and direct measurements, it is shown that the use of an operational method for measuring the alpha particle flux density from an exposed AFA-RSP20 filter makes it possible to monitor the radiation situation at personnel workplaces during decommissioning of nuclear energy facilities.

Оценка запыленности воздуха при производстве железобетонных изделий

Globalization of the economy increases the burden on the environment, intensifying the antagonism between the nature and technology, generating environmental problems. Production increases the volume of use of the atmospheric air, and the parameters of dust formation determine the environmental risk to the enterprise employee health and the living matter of the environment. Production of the reinforced concrete products is a source of the increased hazard for the employees and environmental ecosystems, supplying mobile fractions of the mineral particles into the atmosphere. Fine dust is considered the most dangerous. An accurate assessment of air pollution is required as a basis for developing context-specific measures to ensure the safety of work and environmental ecosystems. Technical feasibility and environmental efficiency of the dust assessment with measurements in different places and at different times with air pumping through several alternative filters is substantiated. The main source of dust formation is vibration engineering. To isolate the most dangerous mobile dust fraction, it is advisable to use several filters made of various filter materials. The dust fraction content is defined as the ratio of the dust mass on the analytical filter to the sum of the particle masses on three filters. The use of the recommended methodology will allow to reduce dust formation in the workplaces and pollution of the surrounding areas ecosystems. Parameters of the technogenic dustiness can be minimized by using the proposed methodology with the deposition of hazardous dust particles by a complex of filters made of the alternative filtering materials, for example, non-woven synthetic materials. Recommendations based on the results of the study may be in demand at the enterprises of various industries.

Stage-differentiated ensemble modeling of DNA methylation landscapes uncovers salient biomarkers and prognostic signatures in colorectal cancer progression

Aberrant DNA methylation acts epigenetically to skew the gene transcription rate up or down, contributing to cancer etiology. A gap in our understanding concerns the epigenomics of stagewise cancer progression. In this study, we have developed a comprehensive computational framework for the stage-differentiated modelling of DNA methylation landscapes in colorectal cancer (CRC). The methylation β-matrix was derived from the public-domain TCGA data, converted into M-value matrix, annotated with AJCC stages, and analysed for stage-salient genes using an ensemble of approaches involving stage-differentiated modelling of methylation patterns and/or expression patterns. Differentially methylated genes (DMGs) were identified using a contrast against controls (adjusted p-value <0.001 and |log fold-change of M-value| >2), and then filtered using a series of all possible pairwise stage contrasts (p-value <0.05) to obtain stage-salient DMGs. These were then subjected to a consensus analysis, followed by matching with clinical data and performing Kaplan-Meier survival analysis to evaluate the impact of methylation patterns of consensus stage-salient biomarkers on disease prognosis. We found significant genome-wide changes in methylation patterns in cancer cases relative to controls agnostic of stage. The stage-differentiated models yielded the following consensus salient genes: one stage-I gene (FBN1), one stage-II gene (FOXG1), one stage-III gene (HCN1) and four stage-IV genes (NELL1, ZNF135, FAM123A, LAMA1). All the biomarkers were significantly hypermethylated in the promoter regions, indicating down-regulation of expression and implying a putative CpG island Methylator Phenotype (CIMP) manifestation. A prognostic signature consisting of FBN1 and FOXG1 survived all the analytical filters, and represents a novel early-stage epigenetic biomarker / target. We have designed and executed a workflow for stage-differentiated epigenomic analysis of colorectal cancer progression, and identified several stage-salient diagnostic biomarkers, and an early-stage prognostic biomarker panel. The study has led to the discovery of an alternative CIMP-like signature in colorectal cancer, reinforcing the role of CIMP drivers in tumor pathophysiology.

Optimizing trilateration estimates for tracking fine-scale movement of wildlife using automated radio telemetry networks.

A major advancement in the use of radio telemetry has been the development of automated radio tracking systems (ARTS), which allow animal movements to be tracked continuously. A new ARTS approach is the use of a network of simple radio receivers (nodes) that collect radio signal strength (RSS) values from animal‐borne radio transmitters. However, the use of RSS‐based localization methods in wildlife tracking research is new, and analytical approaches critical for determining high‐quality location data have lagged behind technological developments. We present an analytical approach to optimize RSS‐based localization estimates for a node network designed to track fine‐scale animal movements in a localized area. Specifically, we test the application of analytical filters (signal strength, distance among nodes) to data from real and simulated node networks that differ in the density and configuration of nodes. We evaluate how different filters and network configurations (density and regularity of node spacing) may influence the accuracy of RSS‐based localization estimates. Overall, the use of signal strength and distance‐based filters resulted in a 3‐ to 9‐fold increase in median accuracy of location estimates over unfiltered estimates, with the most stringent filters providing location estimates with a median accuracy ranging from 28 to 73 m depending on the configuration and spacing of the node network. We found that distance filters performed significantly better than RSS filters for networks with evenly spaced nodes, but the advantage diminished when nodes were less uniformly spaced within a network. Our results not only provide analytical approaches to greatly increase the accuracy of RSS‐based localization estimates, as well as the computer code to do so, but also provide guidance on how to best configure node networks to maximize the accuracy and capabilities of such systems for wildlife tracking studies.

Directly pricing VIX futures: the role of dynamic volatility and jump intensity

ABSTRACT We extend the direct pricing framework and propose a new generalized model for VIX futures by adding the time-varying component volatility as well as jump intensity to the logarithm of underlying VIX series. We also switch to the normal jump component on which the simpler and faster analytical filter can be applied. Compared with the nested benchmark models, these extensions are supported by significant pricing performance improvements both in- and out-of-sample. In particular, our generalized model can reduce the pricing errors substantially in the high VIX level period and for long maturity contracts. Our research highlights the importance of those newly added features of the VIX series when pricing VIX derivatives.

Supply chain management: an integrative review from the agency theory perspective

PurposeThe purpose of the article is to demonstrate how agency theory has been used to address the dynamics involved in supply chain management. It is also dedicated to suggesting an agenda for future research.Design/methodology/approachWe performed an integrative literature review, based on the process detailed by Botelho et al. (2011), with search filters. The articles were obtained from the Scopus and Web of Science databases using the keywords “supply chain” and “agency theory”, with a subsequent analytical filter for “management”. The search initially identified 205 articles. After two screenings, 56 articles were selected for analysis.FindingsDespite attempts to infer the importance of research on agency theory in supply chain management, its application to the discipline is scarce. Clearly, agency theory provides valuable insights into the relationships in the supply chain. In the studies analyzed, the dynamics of performance, risk, sustainability, dyadic and inter-firm relationships, and supplier management are predominant.Originality/valueWhen considering unwanted behaviors throughout the supply chain, agency theory fills the explanatory gaps for these facts. It also proves to be a useful tool to answer mainly the dilemmas of underlying theories, such as transaction cost theory, resource-based view and network theory. Rare are the studies that examine the current state of the application of agency theory in the supply chain literature in the management field.

Abstract 537: NTRK1 fusion detection from clinical cfDNA NGS using a de novo fusion caller

Abstract Background: NTRK rearrangements, though rare in common cancers, are clinically actionable targets with two FDA-approved drugs for pan-cancer indications, larotrectinib and entrectinib. Fusion detection from ctDNA provides an opportunity to facilitate screening for this biomarker, though technical challenges such as heterogeneity in fusion partners remain. To address this, we developed an assembly-based de novo fusion algorithm that does not rely on a fixed set of partner genes and applied it to &amp;gt;18,000 clinical samples to detect NTRK1 fusions. Methods: A cohort of 18,867 patients across multiple cancer types (lung adenocarcinoma, breast cancer, and colorectal adenocarcinoma), plus 276 healthy control samples were previously tested with Guardant360(R), a CLIA-validated 74-gene cfDNA NGS-based assay. The median unique molecule coverage was approximately 3,000 molecules sequenced to 15,000x read depth. Samples were reanalyzed in silico using the de novo fusion algorithm: in brief, reads aligned to candidate fusion breakpoints were assembled into de Bruijn graphs. Resulting contigs were aligned to the reference and analytical filters were applied to achieve high specificity. Results: NTRK1 fusions were detected in 0.13% of patients, a similar prevalence to what has been previously described in tissue (Rosen et al., 2020). No fusions were identified in 276 healthy control samples. When examining intergenic fusions, 53% of fusions included previously characterized partner genes (TPM3, TPR, LMNA, and TP53), while the remaining fusions contained novel partners.The majority of NTRK1 fusion partners (76%) were detected only once, consistent with previous studies. KRAS G12D and BRAF V600E were detected in 17% and 13% of NTRK1 fusion-positive patients, respectively, and occurred predominantly in the colorectal cohort; most variants (60%) were subclonal to the NTRK1 fusion, and have been previously shown to be associated with resistance to TRK inhibitors through downstream activation of the MAPK pathway. The on-target resistance variant NTRK1 G595R was detected in 8% of patients positive for NTRK1 fusions, all of which were subclonal to the fusion. EGFR L858R was detected in 13% of NTRK1 fusion-positive patients, all of which were clonal to the fusion and in the lung cohort, in accordance with previous studies showing NTRK1 fusions as a resistance mechanism to TKIs in EGFR-positive NSCLC (Xia et al., 2020). Conclusions: NTRK1 fusions were detected in cfDNA at a similar prevalence to tissue NGS, demonstrating high sensitivity of plasma-based assays to detect these fusions. NTRK1 fusion partners were diverse, with the majority of partner genes observed only once across the cohort. Both clonal and subclonal NTRK1 rearrangements were detected, affirming that this biomarker can emerge as an oncogenic driver or as a mechanism of resistance. Citation Format: Arielle Yablonovitch, Sante Gnerre, Jennifer Yen, Scott Shell, Elena Helman, Stephen Fairclough, Rebecca J. Nagy, Justin Odegaard, Darya Chudova, AmirAli Talasaz. NTRK1 fusion detection from clinical cfDNA NGS using a de novo fusion caller [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr 537.

Frequency and Time-Domain Comparison between LCL and LLCL Filters for a Grid-Connected Inverter Using Selective Harmonic Modulation

This paper shows a comparison between the analytical design of a photovoltaic power station filter and a real-case filter. Indeed, the analytical filter considered in the design phase is an LCL filter, while the real case is an LLCL filter. This difference could impact the current harmonics rejected on the grid and breaks grid codes. The main objective of this study is to maximize the power injected into the network while respecting the harmonic rejection standards in force, namely, G5/4, French decree of 2008, and IEEE 519 standards, by adopting a current control design to improve the performance of a grid-connected three-phase inverter, which is regarded as the central component in a photovoltaic production system. The selective harmonic modulation strategy (SHM) is a common technique to achieve this goal. For that, a frequency and a time-domain comparison for a grid-connected inverter using both filters have been highlighted. Simulation results confirm the excellent transient behavior of both filter topologies and the advantage to consider the flexibility of LLCL filter when combined with SHM strategy. This manuscript is an extension of an earlier version of “Comparison between LCL and LLCL Filters for a Grid Connected Inverter Using Selective Harmonic Modulation.”

From Scent Projection to Respiratory Protection: Designing Digital Olfactory Interactions for Fashion Wearables

ABSTRACT In recent times, environmental and psychological threats revive protective dress forms, specifically the mask. Threats such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and technological infrastructures of surveillance capitalism, materially shape social realities. This paper explores current doctoral research, the AURA case study, which accounts for the cultural, contextual undercurrents and hidden operations of these threats, and how they refashion wearables practice. AURA is a series of Internet of Things (IoT) connected, olfactory wearables that render sensor-captured data into digital scent display. The author argues that bodies, as the subject of and venue for data extraction, are invested in, and fashioned by, bio-political power structures of systemic surveillance. A critical approach examines how bodies are materially re-crafted by physiological and psychological hazards—proposing an expanded understanding of technology as a bodily matter of the social practice of dress. The focus is to lend the notion of bodily matters as an analytical filter for reading important insights from fashion, and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) studies through one another while proposing a subversive reworking of olfactory interfaces for wearables. This research employs critical fashion practice to embed wireless communication technologies and digital olfactory data visualisation for a spectrum of purposes, from wearable scent displays to protective forms that shield the body from airborne contaminants. Thoughtful dialogue in temporary public forums and workshops gathers specific issues of automated olfactory display where capitalised technology applications and a global pandemic converge. Community-defined perceived harms and external threats warrant personal protection. The olfactory sense is a way to access emotion-based, ecological and ethical connections across spatial and temporal scales in speculative wearables design. This paper outlines changing roles and practices for multi-sensory wearables innovation, working to suggest new modes beyond current technology development paradigms, for empowered and meaningful interactions in networked data infrastructures.

Tracking Cells and Their Lineages Via Labeled Random Finite Sets

Determining the trajectories of cells and their lineages or ancestries in live-cell experiments are fundamental to the understanding of how cells behave and divide. This paper proposes novel online algorithms for jointly tracking and resolving lineages of an unknown and time-varying number of cells from time-lapse video data. Our approach involves modeling the cell ensemble as a labeled random finite set with labels representing cell identities and lineages. A spawning model is developed to take into account cell lineages and changes in cell appearance prior to division. We then derive analytic filters to propagate multi-object distributions that contain information on the current cell ensemble including their lineages. We also develop numerical implementations of the resulting multi-object filters. Experiments using simulation, synthetic cell migration video, and real time-lapse sequence, are presented to demonstrate the capability of the solutions.

Determination of Physicochemical Forms of Iodine-131 in Ejector Gases during Operation of the Industrial Reactor Facility at FSUE Mayak Production Association

On the basis of the recommendations of the IAEA and the requirements of domestic regulatory documents, a study is conducted to determine the activity of aerosol and gaseous forms of 131I compounds in a gas-aerosol mixture of emission from an industrial reactor facility (hereinafter referred to as IRF). Three types of packs of analytical filters are used as an adsorption-filter material. Under normal operating conditions, a series of sampling procedures is performed at a point in front of the gas cleaning system. The investigations have made it possible to determine the dominant physical form of 131I in the high-pressure gas holder. It is shown that, in a gas-aerosol mixture prior to the IRF gas cleaning system, the volumetric activity of iodine is determined mainly by hardly adsorbed gaseous compounds. The ejector gases contain iodine-131 compounds, which are hardly adsorbed on silver nitrate impregnate. The obtained data will be used in designing the cleaning systems for new IRFs of a similar type.

Violencia directa y conflictos distributivos sobre el agua. Evolución del debate analítico-conceptual y propuesta de nuevo enfoque

El artículo busca dos objetivos: a) exponer, en clave comparativa y treinta años más tarde del momento inicial y candente, los debates sobre la relación entre conflictos armados o violencia directa y situaciones de estrés/ carencia hídrica o enfrentamientos distributivos (recursos o cuencas compartidas, por ejemplo) por el agua. Al hacerlo, se añadirán a la sistematización los nuevos y más recientes enfoques; y b) a partir de los resultados del punto anterior, proponer nuevas herramientas para el análisis y la intervención en dichos conflictos, aprovechando, a modo de ejemplo y no de análisis detallado, diez casos heterogéneos activos en el presente de conflictos distributivos con el agua como incompatibilidad crucial. Los temas mencionados se popularizaron en los años noventa del siglo XX con afirmaciones impactantes que sostenían que “las próximas guerras no serían por petróleo o recursos minerales sino por el acceso al agua potable”. En ese sentido, la comparación se centra en examinar el debate entre 1985 y 1995, donde el tema dominante fue si la escasez/concurrencia por el agua podía o no ser factor causal directo de conflictos violentos o si era simplemente un factor multiplicador o acelerador vinculado a otras causas, con las aportaciones y enfoques actuales. Estas aportaciones, frente a la omnipresencia en los años noventa de enfoques y textos basados en estudios de seguridad y la entonces llamada “seguridad ecológica”, se centran actualmente en las herramientas que proporcionan los estudios sobre análisis, resolución y transformación de conflictos y en nuevas reflexiones epistemológicas respetuosas del sesgo cultural y de género y no occidentalocéntricas. El texto, además de introducción y conclusiones, tiene tres apartados. El primero establece un punto de partida fáctico, resumiendo los datos relativos al agua dulce y potable, para establecer, mediante una sucinta descripción de diez conflictos, internos e internacionales, de varios continentes, una tesis central: la conflictividad más caliente, incluyendo conductas violentas, no es tanto por la carencia de agua en sí, sino por la gestión y gobernanza del agua, en general y en casos de escases de la misma. En segundo lugar, se resume las claves analíticas y los resultados del debate sobre los conflictos hídricos, en particular sobre los vínculos entre uso y escasez de agua y violencia directa desde finales de los años ochenta a mediados de los años noventa del siglo pasado. La tercera sección presenta nuevas miradas, basadas no en los estudios de seguridad o la seguridad ecológica, como antes, sino en los trabajos, consolidados, de la investigación para la paz y los estudios sobre análisis y transformación de conflictos. Concretamente, se exponen las aportaciones, y se propone como aplicarlas a los conflictos hídricos, mediante tres asunciones y siete tesis. Finalmente, las conclusiones insisten en la necesidad de tratar estos conflictos como conflictos sociales, mostrando que su especificidad está vinculada a la gestión y gobernanza del recurso más que a la escasez en sí y, al hacerlo, ponen el acento, en las dificultades de gobernabilidad y gobernanza que hay que abordar.