Continuous Observations Research Articles

Fault system dynamics of the Kashmir, NW Himalaya, India using continuous GPS observations and geomorphic evidences

We collected data from the continuous Global Positioning System (cGPS) sites across the Kashmir Valley, situated at latitude 34◦N, spanning from 2008 to 2021. Inter-site velocities define a region of approximately 15,000 km2 with broadly distributed strain accumulation at −7.22×10−8 nano strain/year (compression component) and the maximum shear strain γmax of 1.9051×10−7 nano strain/year. The estimated site velocity in the ITRF14 ranges between 30.5±1–42.85±3 mm/yr. It was observed that the average deformation rate of the GPS sites in the Kashmir region ranges between 2.86±1–15.47±3 mm/yr relative to the India fixed reference frame, suggesting a predominant N-S directed compressional tectonic regime. The focal mechanism solutions of the earthquakes in and around the Kashmir Valley suggest dominant thrust faulting followed by normal faulting. Analysis of the vertical component of the GPS time series shows that the northwest segment of the valley subsides at the rate of −1.71± 0.70 mm/yr, while the southeast segment uplifts at the rate of 5.4 ± 0.5 mm/yr. In addition to vertical component, we observed differential movement of the sites relative to IISC site on the northwest and southeast segments. The rate of baseline change of the GPS sites indicates 7.30 ± 0.75 mm/yr extension in SE-NW direction and −5.32 ± 0.75 mm/yr NE-SW compression across and along the Kashmir Valley. Geodetic observations reveal a transition that aligns with the Magam lineament/fault previously identified by Ganju and Khar (1984) using gravity and magnetic data. The observation was supported by the field investigations and remote sensing techniques, confirming the existence of Magam Fault. During the field investigations, various geomorphic expressions of fault were observed, including fault ruptures, fault scarps, offset ridges, deflected drainages/rivers, linear alignment of springs, linear drainage lines, triangular facets and offset Recent sedimentary deposits (Karewas) were observed. The field evidence suggests exposure of normal faults at Kondabal, Nasrullapora, Biru and Radbugh. These exposed extensional structures, trends in NE-SW direction and dip in NW direction with varying offset and dip amount. GPS observations supplemented by geomorphic evidences infer the presence of normal fault ̴ 80 Km extending from northeast to southwest.

Nonparametric estimation for periodic stochastic differential equations driven by [formula omitted]-Brownian motion

The paper is concerned with the nonparametric estimation problem for periodic stochastic differential equations driven by G-Brownian motion based on continuous observations. The consistency and asymptotic distribution of the nonparametric estimator are discussed. Computer simulations are performed to illustrate our theory.

The Diagnosis-Effective Sampling of Application Traces

Distributed tracing is cutting-edge technology used for monitoring, managing, and troubleshooting native cloud applications. It offers a more comprehensive and continuous observability, surpassing traditional logging methods, and is indispensable for navigating modern complex software architectures. However, the sheer volume of generated traces is staggering in distributed applications, and the direct storage and utilization of every trace is impractical due to associated operational costs. This entails a sampling strategy to select which traces warrant storage and analysis. Historically, sampling methods have included a rate-based approach, often relying heavily on a manual configuration. There is a need for a more intelligent approach, and we propose a hierarchical sampling methodology to address multiple requirements concurrently. Initial rate-based sampling mitigates the overwhelming volume of traces, as no further analysis can be performed on this level. In the next stage, more nuanced analysis is facilitated based on the previous foundation, incorporating information regarding trace properties and ensuring the preservation of vital process details even under extreme conditions. This comprehensive approach not only aids in the visualization and conceptualization of applications but also enables more targeted analysis in later stages. As we delve deeper into the sampling hierarchy, the technique becomes tailored to specific purposes, such as the simplification of application troubleshooting. In this context, the sampling strategy prioritizes the retention of erroneous traces from dominant processes, thus facilitating the identification and resolution of underlying issues. The focus of this paper is to reveal the impact of sampling on troubleshooting efficiency. Leveraging intelligent and explainable artificial intelligence solutions enables the detection of malfunctioning microservices and provides transparent insights into root causes. We advocate for using rule-induction systems, which offer explainability and efficacy in decision-making processes. By integrating advanced sampling techniques with machine-learning-driven intelligence, we empower organizations to navigate the complexities of large-scale distributed cloud environments effectively.

Physical mechanism-driven extraction model for post-seismic deformation recorded by continuous GNSS observations

Post-seismic deformation caused by large earthquakes is one of the most effective parameters for investigating the frictional behavior of faults and the rheological characteristics of the lithosphere. This study introduces a modified functional model that accounts for both afterslip and viscoelastic relaxation effects, incorporates a physical mechanism, and effectively disentangles distinct mechanisms of post-seismic deformation captured by continuous GNSS observations.A parameter optimization solution method based on the Bayesian framework was adopted to obtain optimal estimates and corresponding confidence intervals. The effectiveness of proposed model was validated through simulation experiments. The proposed method was applied to study post-seismic deformations from the 2015 Nepal MW 7.8 earthquake, and the different characteristics of post-seismic deformations caused by different mechanisms were discovered at different stations. The afterslip effect has the duration of 2.67 years, whereas the viscoelastic relaxation effect will continue for 150.8 years. Moreover, the calculated equivalent viscosity coefficient in the southern Tibet region was 1.1 ± 0.3 × 1018 Pa·s. Our proposed model can more accurately and objectively separate different mechanisms from the post-seismic displacements observed by GNSS than previous one, and thus improve the accuracy of fault kinematics and regional lithosphere rheology investigations.

A Black-Box Privacy Analysis of Messaging Service Providers' Chat Message Processing

Online messaging has rapidly emerged as today's primary communication platform, extending from personal, to business and even to government channels. But can these services be trusted to maintain the privacy of your communication? This paper addresses this question by evaluating 105 different online messaging platforms. Utilizing “honey” messages and active HTTP(S) , WebSocket, and WebRTC traffic monitoring, along with continuous observation of honey token access, we determine which messaging services process user messages beyond mere transmission. We conduct a large-scale honey token-based study on 69 popular web and 36 mobile messaging applications. Our findings reveal that 34 % of messaging services show capabilities of server-side message analysis. Seven of these messengers evidently conduct an extended analysis of the messages, reusing the results hours to an observed maximum of a month after the chat concluded. This shows that one cannot automatically expect the same confidentiality when chatting via messengers compared to in-person communication.

A Surface Water Extraction Method Integrating Spectral and Temporal Characteristics

Remote sensing has been applied to observe large areas of surface water to obtain higher-resolution and long-term continuous observation records of surface water. However, limitations remain in the detection of large-scale and multi-temporal surface water mainly due to the high variability in water surface signatures in space and time. In this study, we developed a surface water remote sensing information extraction model that integrates spectral and temporal characteristics to extract surface water from multi-dimensional data of long-term Landsat scenes to explore the spatiotemporal changes in surface water over decades. The goal is to extract open water in vegetation, clouds, terrain shadows, and other land cover backgrounds from medium-resolution remote sensing images. The average overall accuracy and average kappa coefficient of the classification were verified to be 0.91 and 0.81, respectively. Experiments applied to China’s inland arid area have shown that the method is effective under complex surface environmental conditions.

High Spatial Resolution in Total Water Storage Variations Inferred From GPS: Case Study in the Great Lakes Watershed, US

AbstractAssessing spatiotemporal water storage variability in the Great Lakes Watershed (GLW) is critical given its transboundary status impacting both Canada and the United States. Here, we apply a novel inversion strategy to global positioning system (GPS) vertical movements to achieve high spatial resolution total water storage (TWS) variations in GLW through improved processing. The steps are composed of removing load changes driven by the lake water fluctuation by forward modeling, isolating the Great Lakes grids to solve the ill‐conditioned problem in inversion, and inverting the GPS residual series to estimate TWS variations on land (TWSGPS). The results show that the regional dense continuous GPS observation network can successfully resolve TWS on land at monthly timescales with 30–45 km spatial resolution. We also could effectively capture fine‐scale TWS features than GRACE/GFO mascon products. GRACE/GFO satellites largely underestimate seasonal and long‐term TWS spatial fluctuations, but their temporal patterns coincide with those from GPS. The average annual amplitude of TWSGPS on land reaches 82.0 mm, greatly exceeding estimates from GRACE/GFO (∼48.0 mm) and composite hydrological model outputs (∼62.0 mm). The seasonal groundwater fluctuations inferred from GPS have peak‐to‐peak amplitudes of ∼40 km3 with the maximum around September. This coincides with that from GRACE/GFO. However, the magnitudes and phases of groundwater storage from GPS vary markedly among the subbasins in GLW, and the different snow and soil moisture amounts measured in each subbasin cause discrepancies among these GPS estimates. This study shows the value of GPS data in spatially downscaling GRACE/GFO data and providing high‐resolution output at spatiotemporal scales with low latency.

The optical spectropolarimetric behaviour of a selection of high-energy blazars

ABSTRACT At optical/ultraviolet energies, blazars display an underlying thermal (unpolarized) contribution from the accretion disc, torus, and line-emitting regions, diluting the polarized emission from the jet-component. Optical polarimetry can be used to disentangle the thermal and non-thermal components, and place constraints on the particle populations and acceleration mechanisms responsible for the non-thermal emission. We present the results of a linear optical spectropolarimetric observing campaign of 18 blazars (six BL Lac-type objects and 12 flat-spectrum radio quasars) undertaken with the Southern African Large Telescope between 2016 and 2022. This was done to observe these systems during flaring states, as well as long-term monitoring of PKS1510-089, AP Lib, and PKS 1034-293. The observations traced the frequency dependence of the degree and angle of polarization, as well as changes in the spectral line strengths. We investigated possible correlations between the polarization and other observed characteristics for the sources. While an indication of correlation was found between the frequency dependence and the average level of polarization for some sources, a correlation was not found for the population as a whole. These results highlight that continuous observations and in-depth modelling of polarization and its frequency dependence is required to obtain a more holistic view of TeV blazars.

Object pose estimation by iterative contacts with soft tactile sensor

In order for a robot to manipulate an object, it is required to estimate the object's pose. The Manifold Particle Filter, an extension of the widely used Particle Filter as a state estimation method, was proposed for the object pose estimation. The Manifold Particle Filter can utilize tactile information, but it has only been applied to binary observations. In this paper, Continuous-MPF, which can use multidimensional and continuous observation information, is proposed. Additionally, we propose an extension of Continuous-MPF, which can store and utilize non-contact information in order to improve the efficiency of estimation. The proposed method was implemented in a robot system and experimentally validated. Good estimation results were obtained for most of the given conditions.

Reduction of environmental risk of industrially developed territory through the early warning system: the example of northern and arctic territories of The Russian Federation

Within early warning and technological hazards, the need to notify, and to identify, assess and provide the necessary information about the sources of potential hazards is of particular importance. Since there may be causal links between natural and technological disasters, there are increasing concerns that the available knowledge base does not allow for timely warning or relief measures for many hazards.Any early warning system aims to reduce risk as a measure of potential environmental and economic damage. Such reduction, as a rule, is achieved by continuous study of information on the state of functioning of the naturaltechnical system. Hence the task of systematic collection, accumulation, processing and analysis of information arises. The system of continuous observation, control and analysis of the environmental situation for subsequent diagnosis and forecasting of the state of natural objects is realized within the framework of monitoring, which is performed at three levels – global (planetary), regional and local.The Sakha Republic (Yakutia) is the largest region of the Russian Federation with a highly concentrated natural-resource potential, providing full-scale projects of national economic development of interregional and federal significance. Yakutia, the area of which is 20 % of Russia’s territory, is a giant natural enclave in geotechnical terms, the administrative boundaries of which cross many geographically heterogeneous ecosystems of seven neighboring territories (administratively independent subjects of ownership). The article considers and reveals the main directions of the early warning system to prevent socio-natural risk as applied to Yakutia, taking into account its natural-territorial uniqueness.

RFE-VCR: Reference-enhanced transformer for remote sensing video cloud removal

As a novel data source for earth observation, satellite video can provide large-scale temporal information for dynamic monitoring. However, the cloud occlusion prevents satellite video from continuous and seamless observation of the earth’s surface. We propose the first satellite video cloud removal model RFE-VCR to approach this problem. In RFE-VCR, an efficient strategy of taking distant frames into training period is applied. A reference enhance block based on gated aggregation layers is proposed to explore the complementary information hidden in distant frames. A bidirectional local enhance block using deformable convolution is improved for feature refinement. Moreover, a decoupled temporal-spatial transformer is utilized for long-distance dependence modeling. Simulative and real experiments on Jilin-1 satellite videos demonstrate that our proposed network can achieve remarkable performance in video cloud removal task, as well as sensitive object hiding and high-reflection removal. More dynamic results of our experiments can be found at https://xyjin99.github.io/RFE-VCR/.

Clinical and epidemiological features of enteroviral meningitis in children during the seasonal increase in incidence in 2023

Objective: to identify the clinical and epidemiological features of enteroviral meningitis (EVM) in children during the seasonal rise in incidence in 2023.Materials and methods: a retrospective analysis of 171 medical histories of children aged 1 month to 17 years, hospitalized in the infectious diseases hospital of the RSBHI «KICCH № 1» from June to October 2023, is presented.Results. The bulk of patients, 77.9 ± 3.2% (133/171), were hospitalized between August and October, which indicates the persistence of the summer-autumn seasonality of incidence. The clinical picture of EVM is characterized by acute development, persistent fever, intoxication, against which headache and repeated vomiting appear, indicating the development of hypertensive-hydrocephalic syndrome. Dissociation of meningeal signs requires liquorological studies to confirm the diagnosis of enteroviral meningitis. Clinical recovery at the time of discharge occurred only in 64.3 ± 3.7% of convalescents; in the remaining children, 35.7 ± ± 3.7% (61/171) residual effects persisted, which required continued observation.

Stakeholder perspectives on continuous observation in inpatient psychiatric wards.

INTRODUCTION: Continuous observation is a frequently used tool to manage high levels of risk on psychiatric wards. However, there is little previous research on its use in practice. This qualitative service evaluation aims to explore the continuous observation experiences of service users, informal carers and staff in a local NHS Mental Health Trust, informing suggested future improvements to current practice. Five service users, three informal carers and seven healthcare staff completed semi-structured interviews, which were thematically analysed to create four themes. Positive interaction and engagement in activities were critical for a therapeutic approach to observations, supporting service users and staff to minimize the unproductive behaviours that can arise. Difficulties balancing safety with privacy could suggest the importance of proportionate and tailored observation procedures for each service user. Ensuring the voices of service users and informal carers remain central to decisions regarding care could further improve the observation experience. This study highlights therapeutic, proportionate and co-produced observations as key characteristics to improve practice. Further training and formalization of the observation process could foster cultural changes towards more long-term approaches to risk management.

Four genotypes of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii strains lacking OXA-23 production in Korea

During nationwide Fantimicrobial surveillance (Korea Global Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System [Kor-GLASS]), the recent emergence of non-oxacillinase (OXA)-23 production by carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) isolates was noted. In this study, we evaluated resistance mechanisms other than OXA-23 production to elucidate the shift in considerable CRAB clones. The presence of OXA carbapenemase genes, such as blaOXA-23, blaOXA-24, blaOXA-58, and blaOXA-51-ISAba1, was determined by PCR. Other carbapenemase genes, such as blaIMP, blaVIM, blaNDM, blaKPC, blaGES, and blaOXA-48 , were determined using sequencing. Strains lacking carbapenemase genes were subjected to whole genome sequencing, and resistance genes were analyzed using ResFinder. Four CRAB strains were collected through a Kor-GLASS study in 2022, in which OXA-23 production was not identified. The carbapenemase genotypes of the four CRAB strains lacking blaOXA-23 were blaOXA-51-ISAba1, blaOXA-66/ACD25, blaOXA-182, and blaNDM-1. To the best of our knowledge, this is the f irst study to identify CRAB producing New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM)-1 in Korea. In conclusion, domestic CRAB resistance mechanisms may undergo subtle changes. Continuous observations are required to monitor the emergence of new clones.

Submergence Stress Reduces the Ability of Rice to Regulate Recovery after Disaster

Flood submergence has devastating effects on agricultural production in China, with rice being particularly vulnerable to its impacts. Previous studies on rice submergence stress have primarily focused on immediate yield reduction and short-term growth. In this study, a submergence stress experiment was carried out by using the method of potted rice flooding. The growth recovery characteristics of rice under different submergence stress were analyzed through the continuous observation of rice growth after the disaster. The results showed that submergence stress had a persistent effect on rice growth, which persisted until the recovery period after the disaster. The recovery ability of rice plants decreased with the aggravation of stress, leading to increased damage to the plant. The average yield decreased by 17.07% and 15.56% due to submergence stress during the jointing and booting stage, respectively. The current study pointed out that the growth traits of and, furthermore, the mechanism of physiological changes in rice during the recovery period need to be explored in order to understand the effects of flooding stress on rice.

Improving Safety and Satisfaction in the Safety Monitoring Unit.

BACKGROUND: The safety monitoring unit (SMU) is a 4-bed unit designated for patients who require continual observation. Most experience some form of dementia, and agitation and aggression are not uncommon. When deescalation techniques do not work, request for help may be necessary. Referred to as Security Alert: Behavioral Assist (SABA), this system-wide message requires response from designated personnel. An increase in SABA events prompted this quality improvement project. METHODS: A survey sent to all unit staff members identified a need for specialized training on the care and management of SMU patients. Education on dementia care and deescalation techniques was provided by a certified dementia specialist and a psychiatry advanced practice registered nurse. Staff expressed a need for defined SMU admission criteria and the establishment of patient care guidelines. Patient care guidelines were developed. A structured schedule was implemented, and dedicated staff were hired to provide familiarity for patients. RESULTS: A postproject survey indicated a nonsignificant increase in staff satisfaction. Security Alert: Behavioral Assist events in the SMU decreased from an average of 3.6 to 1.75 episodes per month. CONCLUSION: Caring for SMU patients creates unique challenges to staff. Staff confidence and satisfaction were higher after implementing new SABA policies. This project could be replicated on similar units with ongoing leadership support and staff education.

A novel NIR-II albumin-escaping probe for cerebral arteries and perfusion imaging in stroke mice model

In order to guide the formulation of post-stroke treatment strategy in time, it is necessary to have real-time feedback on collateral circulation and revascularization. Currently used near-infrared II (NIR-II) probes have inherent binding with endogenous albumin, resulting in significant background signals and uncontrollable pharmacokinetics. Therefore, the albumin-escaping properties of the new probe, IR-808AC, was designed, which achieved timely excretion and low background signal, enabling the short-term repeatable injection for visualization of cerebral vessels and perfusion. We further achieved continuous observation of changes in collateral vessels and perfusion during the 7-d period in middle cerebral artery occlusion mice using IR-808AC in vivo. Furthermore, using IR-808AC, we confirmed that remote ischemic conditioning could promote collateral vessels and perfusion. Finally, we evaluated the revascularization after thrombolysis on time in embolic stroke mice using IR-808AC. Overall, our study introduces a novel methodology for safe, non-invasive, and repeatable assessment of collateral circulation and revascularization in real-time that is crucial for the optimization of treatment strategies.

The Influence of Temporal Disturbances in EKF Calculations on the Achieved Parameters of Flight Control and Stabilization of UAVs.

This article investigates the causes of occasional flight instability observed in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The issue manifests as unexpected oscillations that can lead to emergency landings. The analysis focuses on delays in the Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) algorithm used to estimate the drone's attitude, position, and velocity. These delays disrupt the flight stabilization process. The research identifies two potential causes for the delays. First cause is magnetic field distrurbances created by UAV motors and external magnetic fields (e.g., power lines) that can interfere with magnetometer readings, leading to extended EKF calculations. Second cause is EKF fusion step implementation of the PX4-ECL library combining magnetometer data with other sensor measurements, which can become computionally expensive, especially when dealing with inconsistent magnetic field readings. This can significantly increase EKF processing time. The authors propose a solution of moving the magnetic field estimation calculations to a separate, lower-priority thread. This would prevent them from blocking the main EKF loop and causing delays. The implemented monitoring techniques allow for continuous observation of the real-time operating system's behavior. Since addressing the identified issues, no significant problems have been encountered during flights. However, ongoing monitoring is crucial due to the infrequent and unpredictable nature of the disturbances.

Humanistic Buddhism: Amṛtyupasthāna, Ānāpānasmṛti and Holistic Health Management

Humanistic Buddhism provides a profound and unique perspective on exploring the path of holistic health. Smṛtyupasthāna (Four Mindfulnesses) is a basic meditation method in Buddhism, which involves continuous awareness and observation of four different aspects: (1) Kāyānupassanā (Body Mindfulness), (2) Vedanānupassanā (Mindfulness of Feelings), (3) Cittānupassanā (Mindfulness of Mind) and (4) Dhammānupassanā (Mindfulness of Dharma). Mindfulness is an effective way to manage worries, allowing us to be free from worries, stay away from upside-down dreams, and achieve a state of freedom. This article proposes a model of humanistic Buddhism and holistic health: (1) Kāyānupassanā and Physical Well-being, (2) Vedanānupassanā and Spiritual Well-being, (3) Cittānupassanā and Mental Well-being, and (4) Dhammānupassanā and Social Well-being. The Four Mindfulness Practices of Humanistic Buddhism provide us with valuable tools and ways to improve the holistic health and cope with the challenges and difficulties in life. Through spiritual practice and practice, we can achieve holistic health at the individual, physical, spiritual and social levels.

Temporal-spatial variability of grazing behaviors of yaks and the drivers of their intake on the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

Grassland-livestock balance is an important principle of sustainable development of grassland livestock production and grassland ecosystem health. Grassland degradation becomes more serious at global scales and especially at the area that is sensitive to climate change and human activities. Decreases in pasture biomass and shifts in plant community composition in degraded grasslands can largely affect grazing behaviors of livestock. Up to date, however, it is unclear that whether livestock behaviors change across spatial and temporal scales and what key factors are to shape observed behavioral patterns of livestock. Here, yak behaviors including grazing, rumination and walking on the eastern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) were monitored by a continuous visual observation, to investigate temporal and spatial variations of grazing behavior of yaks (Bos grunniens); based on the data from public database in the past 18 years, a meta-analysis was conducted to examine the main factors that affect grazing behaviors and intake of yaks. We showed that grazing behaviors of yaks differed significantly within hours, among hours of each day and among days as well as across different observation sites. Intake rate of yaks was higher in the morning than in the afternoon, but walking speed showed an inverse trend compared with intake rate. Resting, altitude, the mean annual precipitation (MAP), the mean annual temperature (MAT), forage ash, yak age and season were the main predictors for yak intake, and forage and yak individual characteristics had direct effects on grazing behaviors and intake of yaks. The findings confirm that grazing behaviors of yaks can vary even at small temporal scales and regional scales, which is closely related to the shift in forage quality and biomass caused by environmental changes. The study suggests that multiple factors can be responsible for the variation in livestock behaviors and shifts in behavioral patterns may consequently lead to positive or negative feedback to grassland ecosystems through plant-animal interactions.