Equivalent Measures Research Articles

Hedging temperature risk with CDD and HDD temperature futures

AbstractThis paper is concerned with managing risk exposure to temperature using weather derivatives. We consider hedging temperature risk using so‐called HDD‐ and CDD‐index futures, which are instruments written on temperatures in specific locations over specific time periods. The temperatures are modelled as continuous‐time autoregressive (CARMA) processes and pricing of the hedging instrument is done under an equivalent pricing measure. We develop hedging strategies for locations, cutoff temperatures, and time periods different to the ones in the traded contracts, allowing for more flexibility in the hedging application. The dynamic hedging strategies are expressed explicitly by the term structure of the volatility. We also provide numerical case studies with temperatures following a CAR(3)‐process to illustrate the temporal behaviour of the hedge under different scenarios.

Border Carbon Adjustments: Should Production or Consumption be Taxed?

AbstractBorder Carbon Adjustments (BCAs) may play an important role in lowering the economic costs of greenhouse gas mitigation and in overcoming political-economy constraints on the use of carbon taxes or equivalent measures. A carbon tax plus a full BCA could deal with the competitiveness challenges arising from carbon taxes by using the WTO's National Treatment principle to apply equal levies on domestic production and on imports, and by symmetrically rebating the carbon tax on exports in the manner of a value-added tax (VAT) export rebate. This approach would shift the base for carbon taxation from production to demand and potentially achieve substantial reductions in the cost of cutting emissions. It would avoid the massive measurement and compliance problems associated with BCAs based on foreign emission intensities. By contrast, import-only BCAs distort prices of importables relative to exportables; create divisive trade conflicts and deterioration in the terms of trade for developing countries; and likely require development of complex sets of import preferences.

Mechanism of Electrochemical Oxidation of Titanium Via Isotopic Labeling, Medium Energy Ion Scattering, Nuclear Reaction Profiling, in-Situ Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry, and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy

The few nanometres of titanium oxide present on titanium and Ti alloy surfaces are responsible for protecting the underlying metal from oxidation and enabling its use in many high-performance applications. The oxide provides a hard, uniform, and thermodynamically stable protective coating on an otherwise soft and very reactive metal. Because of its passivating oxide film, titanium has found uses in biomedical implants, aerospace engineering, corrosive industrial piping, and other areas where high strength and low weight are required.Our project is aimed at understanding the atomistic mechanisms of TiO2 formation and growth. We have taken several different approaches to investigate the details of this process. In one approach, the electrochemical oxidation mechanism of titanium at applied potentials between 0 and 10 V vs the saturated calomel reference electrode (SCE) was examined for ultra-thin Ti films sputtered onto Si(001) substrates and exposed in-situ to H2 18O, and then anodized in D2 16O. The effects of this isotopic labeling procedure were studied using medium energy ion scattering (MEIS) and nuclear reaction profiling (NRP). Both MEIS and NRP results are consistent in showing that the titanium oxide layer is composed of two distinct regions (Ti16O2/Ti18O2/Ti/Si) for the entire range of the formation voltages (0–10 V vs SCE). The oxygen component of the outermost region consists entirely of 16O, and the 18O region is always adjacent to the Ti metal. No Ti or 18O loss into the electrolyte solution during anodization was detected. The oxide thickened linearly as a function of potential in the 0–10 V range vs SCE, with experimental anodization ratio of 24.5±0.6 Å V−1. Mott–Schottky (MS) analyses showed positive slopes, indicating formation of an n-type TiO2 semiconductor, with O vacancies (or Ti interstitials) as major charge carriers in the 0–10 V range. Charge carrier densities, ND = (0.8-5.0)×1021 cm−3 were calculated from Mott–Schottky analysis and were well within the range of results reported in the literature. We observed a decrease in the charge carrier densities above ∼4 V vs SCE, that can be connected to defect annihilation or minor modification in the structure (electrostatic annealing) of the growing TiO2 film.In a second approach, we are using Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) for elemental depth profiling during oxide growth to determine oxidation rates and the role of the anodization potential on the Ti oxide layer structure and morphology. RBS is a powerful ion beam-based analytical tool used to determine thickness at the nanometer scale and elemental depth distribution, making it an excellent choice for studying the thin oxide on titanium. A difficulty with using RBS for such studies has been that RBS must function under ultra-high vacuum, and this has made it incompatible with performing aqueous electrochemistry; therefore, RBS had to be performed as an ex situ analysis, like MEIS and NRP. We are overcoming this limitation by using a specially designed in-situ cell with an ion-permeable silicon nitride window to provide a barrier between the ultra-high vacuum (UHV) required to perform RBS and the aqueous electrolyte solution required for anodization. In this cell, the thin silicon nitride window is coated with titanium and functions as the working electrode when exposed to the aqueous electrolyte solution. RBS measurements are taken as the titanium metal is anodized to titanium oxide. RBS is then performed during in-situ anodization, to obtain information about the growth mechanism of titanium oxide. Our initial in-situ RBS results show a significant increase in the oxidation rate of titanium compared to equivalent ex-situ measurements, and we also observe spontaneous TiO2 film growth without applying an anodic polarization. These effects are likely generated by strongly oxidizing water radiolysis products (e.g., H2O2 or ·OH) formed by the action of high-energy He+ ions interacting with the electrolyte solution.This paper discusses our experimental methods and presents an overview of the results and conclusions of this work.

Extending Soundwalking Practice: Soundsitting as an Inclusive and Complementary Method to Soundwalking

This paper proposes the ‘soundsit’ as an alternative method to be used independently or in conjunction with current soundwalking methodological practice. The soundsit seeks to address the limits of the soundwalking method in relation to issues of transition, changing context, event occurrence, temporality, and inclusivity. Soundwalking and soundsitting are both methods of experiencing soundscape: soundwalking involves exploring and listening to the sounds of the environment while moving through it, while soundsitting involves sitting still in a particular place and listening to the sounds that exist in situ. The soundsit provides the participant or researcher with a fixed perspective and place to observe and experience sounds, within a defined soundscape context, enabling them to gain a longer-term experiential understanding of a space. Analogous with acoustic measurements, soundsitting is comparable to capturing average energy equivalent sound level LAeq measurements in allowing the perception of and activities within a soundscape to settle into a steady state. Beyond obtaining a longer-term impression of a chosen sound environment, soundsitting allows for a participant to disengage with the visual, which allows for deeper engagement and focus when listening to a soundscape; in addition, soundsitting removes the safety implications and distractions of walking practice and, as such, is a more inclusive form of activity, allowing those who are unable to walk to engage in the practice. The static nature of the listening experience allows for a different type of immersion through engaged active listening, something which is not possible on a soundwalk, allowing for deeper qualitative analysis and insight into the soundscape of a specific space or location. The primary findings show with test group of n = 6 that both methods are effective soundscape study tools, and further work with diverse groups is required.

Equivalent circuit model‐based design and analysis of microstrip line fed electrically small patch antenna for sub‐6 GHz 5G applications

SummaryIn this paper, an equivalent circuit model‐based electrically small patch antenna is designed for sub‐6 GHz 5G application (3.5 GHz) using 50‐Ω microstrip line feed. The overall size of the proposed antenna is 0.33λ0 × 0.4λ0 × 0.019λ0 (28 × 34 × 1.6 mm3) at 3.50 GHz frequency. The proposed antenna has a tilted Y‐shape slot, two rectangular shape slots, and two rectangular shape notches in the radiating patch. The proposed antenna is resonating from 3.21 to 3.74 GHz covering the entire sub‐6 GHz 5G band (3.3–3.8 GHz). The impedance bandwidth (simulated) of the proposed antenna has been obtained 530 MHz resonating at 3.50 GHz frequency. The good return loss of −23.62 dB is also obtained at 3.50 GHz resonant frequency. The simulation results and geometry of the proposed antenna are validated with equivalent circuit model and experimental measurement of prototype antenna using vector network analyzer (VNA) and anechoic chamber. In the whole operating frequency range, the measured findings show reasonable agreement with the simulated ones. The measured impedance bandwidth of the proposed antenna has been obtained 480 MHz (3.21–3.69 GHz) resonating at 3.48 GHz frequency with a return loss of −21.61 dB, while the theoretical impedance bandwidth of the proposed antenna has been obtained 720 MHz (3.18–3.90 GHz) resonating at 3.58 GHz frequency with a return loss of −21.5 dB. The peak gain of 3.39 (simulated) and 3.2 dB (measured) is obtained at 3.50 GHz frequency. Moreover, the antenna shows 97% (simulated) and 95% (measured) efficiency at 3.50 GHz frequency.

Enhancing Home Monitoring of Patients With Heart Failure: Primary Care Experience With an Autonomous Foot-Measuring Device

In recent years, telemonitoring solutions have gained prominence for monitoring patients at home. However, patient and clinician enthusiasm, as well as adherence rates, have been inconsistent. This article presents a primary care evaluation of an autonomous foot-measuring home device, designed to monitor physiological changes in medium to high-risk chronic heart failure patients at risk of decompensation. The Heartfelt device garnered positive reception among the 13 participating patients. Remarkably, in 77% of cases (10 patients), the device captured and transmitted patient data on more than half of the days each month, while only 8% (one patient) managed to provide equivalent daily measurements using weighing scales. These results indicate that the Heartfelt device holds promise as an effective telemonitoring solution for patients who face adherence challenges with traditional telemonitoring systems, and self-management checks more generally. By adopting this technology, healthcare providers may be better equipped to proactively manage chronic heart failure patients and improve overall patient outcomes.

Correlates of physical activity among people living with and without HIV in rural Uganda.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has led to diminishing AIDS-related mortality but a concomitant increase in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) for people with HIV (PWH). Whereas physical activity (PA) has been shown to help prevent NCDs and NCD outcomes in other settings, there are few data on PA and its correlates among PWH in high-endemic settings. We aimed to compare PA by HIV serostatus in rural Uganda. We analysed data from the UGANDAC study, an observational cohort including PWH in ambulatory HIV care in Mbarara, Uganda, and age- and gender-matched people without HIV (PWOH). Our primary outcome of interest was PA, which we assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and considered as a continuous measure of metabolic equivalents in minutes/week (MET-min/week). Our primary exposure of interest was HIV serostatus. We fit univariable and multivariable linear regression models to estimate the relationship between HIV and PA levels, with and without addition of sociodemographic and clinical correlates of PA (MET-min/week). In secondary analyses, we explored relationships restricted to rural residents, and interactions between gender and serostatus. We enrolled 309 participants, evenly divided by serostatus and gender. The mean age of PWH was 52 [standard deviation (SD) 7.2] and 52.6 (SD 7.3) for PWOH. In general, participants engaged in high levels of PA regardless of serostatus, with 81.2% (251/309) meeting criteria for high PA. However, PWOH reported higher mean levels of PA met-minutes/week than PWH (9,128 vs 7,152, p ≤ 0.001), and a greater proportion of PWOH (88.3%; 136/154) met the criteria for high PA compared to PWH (74.2%; 115/155). In adjusted models, lower levels of PA persisted among PWH (β = -1,734, 95% CI: -2,645, -824, p ≤ 0.001). Results were similar in a sensitivity analysis limited to people living in rural areas. In a rural Ugandan cohort, PWOH had higher levels of PA than PWH. Interventions that encourage PA among PWH may have a role in improving NCD risk profiles among PWH in the region.

Mean–variance hedging of contingent claims with random maturity

AbstractWe study the mean–variance hedging of an American‐type contingent claim that is exercised at a random time in a Markovian setting. This problem is motivated by applications in the areas of employee stock option valuation, credit risk, or equity‐linked life insurance policies with an underlying risky asset value guarantee. Our analysis is based on dynamic programming and uses PDE techniques. In particular, we prove that the complete solution to the problem can be expressed in terms of the solution to a system of one quasi‐linear parabolic PDE and two linear parabolic PDEs. Using a suitable iterative scheme involving linear parabolic PDEs and Schauder's interior estimates for parabolic PDEs, we show that each of these PDEs has a classical C1, 2 solution. Using these results, we express the claim's mean–variance hedging value that we derive as its expected discounted payoff with respect to an equivalent martingale measure that does not coincide with the minimal martingale measure, which, in the context that we consider, identifies with the minimum entropy martingale measure as well as the variance‐optimal martingale measure. Furthermore, we present a numerical study that illustrates aspects of our theoretical results.

Estimation of snow bulk density and snow water equivalent on the Tibetan Plateau using snow cover duration and snow depth

Study regionTibetan Plateau (TP), China. Study focusSnow water equivalent (SWE) measurements is few compared with snow depth (SD) but combining with snow bulk density (SBD) can convert SD to SWE. No robust model has been established to estimate SBD and SWE for the TP. In this study, we aims to develop a model capable of obtaining SBD and SWE on the TP based on a significant dataset of simultaneously measured SD and SWE over nearly four decades. New hydrological insights for the regionWe found unique seasonal characteristics and elevation differences in the SBD on the TP. The newly introduced factor snow cover duration (SCD) can reflect the beginning and status of each snowfall-snowmelt cycle in this type of discontinuous snow region. The developed artificial neural network (ANN) model based on two-factor of SCD and SD can capture these unique characteristics, with minimal errors and the best performance in simulating SBD and then estimating SWE on the TP. Our method improves the underestimation of the widely used regional average density during the heavy snow period, enables a reasonable conversion of the large amount of historical and growing SDs into critical SWEs, and thus improves our ability to assess snow water resources on the TP.

Development of the snow- and ice-accounting routine (SIAR)

This paper evaluates the degrees of freedom and complexity warranted in temperature-index models to jointly simulate local snow measurements, remotely-sensed snow cover and runoff in mountainous areas. To address this issue, the snow- and ice-accounting routine (SIAR) on top of the GR4J model was developed on a dataset covering 17 mountainous catchments (45 to 3580 km2) in the French Alps and Pyrenees. Model calibration and control were based on streamflow series, fractional snow cover (FSC) computed from MODIS snow products and at least one chronicle of local measurements of snow water equivalent (SWE) acquired in each catchment for the period 2004–2016. SIAR was applied according to an adaptable number of elevation bands and different parametrizations ranging from 11 free parameters (precipitation orographic correction, temperature lapse rate, variation in the temperature lapse rate, snowfall adjustment, rainfall lapse rate, thermal inertia of the snow pack, constant and variable part of the degree-day snow melt factor, degree-day ice melt factor, 2-parameter hysteresis between SWE and FSC), to only fixed parameters. Results showed that the one-free-parameter SIAR is as efficient as more parametrized versions in simulating both local and distributed snow dynamics as well as runoff. Interestingly, using SIAR without any free parameters by fixing the snowfall adjustment to a median value of 60% only led to slight impairment of local SWE dynamics. Certain processes represented in SIAR (glacier-component, sublimation, simple energy balance, snowpack cold-content, variable melt factor) were then alternatively turned off to justify those retained in its final version. The modeling performances were also compared by applying SIAR with different distribution options ranging from full distribution according to 0.25 km2 cells to lumped mode. A number of equal-area elevation bands according to the catchment hypsometry proved to be a good compromise as it allowed snow and runoff simulations of similar accuracy to the full distribution mode, while limiting computational time. Finally, SIAR was compared with the Cemaneige snow routine, which showed its modeling performance was better. These findings suggest that it is possible, and even advisable, to limit the number of free parameters in temperature-index models in order to reduce problems of over-parameterization and equifinality.

Executive functions and borderline personality features in adolescents with major depressive disorder.

Executive functions (EF) consolidate during adolescence and are impaired in various emerging psychiatric disorders, such as pediatric Major Depressive Disorder (pMDD) and Borderline Personality Disorder. Previous studies point to a marked heterogeneity of deficits in EF in pMDD. We examined the hypothesis that deficits in EF in adolescents with pMDD might be related to comorbid Borderline Personality features (BPF). We examined a sample of 144 adolescents (15.86 ± 1.32) diagnosed with pMDD. Parents rated their child's EF in everyday life with the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) and BPF with the Impulsivity and Emotion Dysregulation Scale (IED-27). The adolescents completed equivalent self-rating measures. Self- and parent-ratings of the BRIEF scores were compared with paired t-Tests. Correlation and parallel mediation analyses, ICC, and multiple regression analyses were used to assess symptom overlap, parent-child agreement, and the influence of depression severity. Over the whole sample, none of the self- or parent-rated BRIEF scales reached a mean score above T > 65, which would indicate clinically impaired functioning. Adolescents tended to report higher impairment in EF than their parents. Depression severity was the strongest predictor for BPF scores, with Emotional Control predicting parent-rated BPF and Inhibit predicting self-rated BPF. Furthermore, the Behavioral Regulation Index, which includes EF closely related to behavioral control, significantly mediated the relationship between depression severity and IED-27 factors emotional dysregulation and relationship difficulties but not non-suicidal self-injuries. On average, adolescents with depression show only subtle deficits in executive functioning. However, increased EF deficits are associated with the occurrence of comorbid borderline personality features, contributing to a more severe overall psychopathology. Therefore, training of executive functioning might have a positive effect on psychosocial functioning in severely depressed adolescents, as it might also improve comorbid BPF. www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT03167307.

Multi-decadal observations in the Alps reveal less and wetter snow, with increasing variability

Snowpack is an important temporal water storage for downstream areas, a potential source of natural hazards (avalanches or floods) and a prerequisite for winter tourism. Here, we use thousands of manual measurements of the water equivalent of the snow cover (SWE) from almost 30 stations between 1,200 and 2,900 m a.s.l. from four long-term monitoring programs (earliest start in 1937) in the center of the European Alps to derive daily SWE based on snow depth data for each station. The inferred long-term daily SWE time series were analyzed regarding spatial differences, as well as potential temporal changes in variability and seasonal averages during the last 7 decades (1957–2022). The investigation based on important hydro-climatological SWE indicators demonstrates significant decreasing trends for mean SWE (Nov-Apr) and for maximum SWE, as well as a significantly earlier occurrence of the maximum SWE and earlier disappearance of the continuous snow cover. The anomalies of mean SWE revealed that the series of low-snow winters since the 1990s is unprecedented since the beginning of measurements. Increased melting during the accumulation period below 2000 m a.s.l is also observed–especially in the most recent years–as well as slower melt rates in spring, and higher day-to-day variability. For these trends no regional differences were found despite the climatological variability of the investigated stations. This indicates that the results are transferable to other regions of the Alps.

AN EQUIVALENT MEASUREMENT PERFORMANCE OF THE AKTIIA BRACELET IS OBSERVED IN THE ADULT AND ELDERLY POPULATIONS

Objective: It remains unclear whether non-occlusive blood pressure (BP) monitoring devices yield equivalent performance across different age categories. We sought to compare the performance of BP measurements conducted by the Aktiia cuffless monitor in the adult and elderly populations, in different body positions. Design and method: Two cohorts of patients (adult, 21-65 years; elderly, 65-85 years) were recruited for a prospective clinical study (NCT04027777, Lausanne University Hospital, Switzerland, August/2019–March/2022). During 4 visits spread over a month, systolic/diastolic BP (SBP, DBP) measurements obtained by the cuffless Aktiia G1 Bracelet (Aktiia SA, Switzerland) were compared to double-blinded auscultation in sitting, standing and lying positions after initial calibration. The two ISO 81060-2 criteria were used to compare BP measurements by Aktiia and auscultation (BP-reading-level – criterion 1; subject-level – criterion 2) in the sitting position – as no ISO criteria exists so far for other body positions. Results: 96 adult (38±12 years)/35 elderly (73±6 years) were included in the study. Of those, 84 adult/35 elderly patients were investigated in sitting position; 91 adult/35 elderly in all body positions. Average SBP and DBP were higher in the elderly cohort (SBP 133.9±17.7 vs. 116.4±20.3 mmHg, P<0.0001; DBP 77.9±11.7 vs. 74.5±12.0 mmHg, P<0.0001). On sitting position at BP-reading-level, SBP and DBP for both cohorts were within ISO targets for mean error and SD (Table 1). At subject-level, the SD of the mean paired differences per subject were within individual ISO targets for SBP and DBP on both cohorts. Statistically significant differences between cohorts were found only at BP-reading-level for all body positions (SBP: P = 0.0127; DBP: P = 0.0199). Figure 1 highlights the biases and correlations of SBP and DBP readings between the cuffless BP monitor and auscultation for both adult and elderly cohorts. Conclusions: The investigated cuffless BP monitor yielded equivalent BP measurements compared to auscultation, with similar performance in the adult and elderly populations.

A Fairness-Based Approach to Network Restoration

A number of recent works dealing with network resilience have offered approaches to planning for the restoration of disrupted network components, primarily driven by measures of network performance (e.g., proportion of met demand). With this short communication, we propose an alternative perspective on restoration driven by how inequalities in the restoration process impact the entire network. Namely, we examine restoration strategies that restore the Kolm–Pollak equally distributed equivalent (EDE) measure. We illustrate this initial exploration with two networks of differing sizes, and we propose several areas of future research in incorporating the EDE measure in more comprehensive network restoration studies.

Measuring Cognitive Abilities in the Wild: Validating a Population-Scale Game-Based Cognitive Assessment.

Rapid individual cognitive phenotyping holds the potential to revolutionize domains as wide-ranging as personalized learning, employment practices, and precision psychiatry. Going beyond limitations imposed by traditional lab-based experiments, new efforts have been underway toward greater ecological validity and participant diversity to capture the full range of individual differences in cognitive abilities and behaviors across the general population. Building on this, we developed Skill Lab, a novel game-based tool that simultaneously assesses a broad suite of cognitive abilities while providing an engaging narrative. Skill Lab consists of six mini-games as well as 14 established cognitive ability tasks. Using a popular citizen science platform (N = 10,725), we conducted a comprehensive validation in the wild of a game-based cognitive assessment suite. Based on the game and validation task data, we constructed reliable models to simultaneously predict eight cognitive abilities based on the users' in-game behavior. Follow-up validation tests revealed that the models can discriminate nuances contained within each separate cognitive ability as well as capture a shared main factor of generalized cognitive ability. Our game-based measures are five times faster to complete than the equivalent task-based measures and replicate previous findings on the decline of certain cognitive abilities with age in our large cross-sectional population sample (N = 6369). Taken together, our results demonstrate the feasibility of rapid in-the-wild systematic assessment of cognitive abilities as a promising first step toward population-scale benchmarking and individualized mental health diagnostics.

Single-port measurement scheme: An alternative approach to system calibration for 5G massive MIMO base station conformance testing

To calibrate the test system of fifth-generation (5G) massive multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) base station (BS), this paper proposes a promising single-port measurement scheme, which is more cost-effective and convenient than conventional scheme. The conventional scheme first requires the disconnection of the measurement equipment from the BS test system, and then uses a costly vector network analyzer (VNA) for the system calibration measurement, which is cumbersome, slow, and inconvenient. Instead, the proposed scheme can conduct the system calibration with low cost directly based on the existing measurement equipment in the original test system, i.e. no need for the extra expensive VNA. The accuracy performance of the proposed scheme is evaluated by the frequency response error measured between the proposed and the conventional schemes, e.g. with an amplitude error range of [−0.45, 0.14] dB and a phase error range of [−0.2∘, 2.5∘]. Therefore, the superiority is that the proposed single-port scheme in this paper accomplished the equivalent measurement as the conventional scheme, and further reduced the cost and inconvenience for the test industry. Finally, the reduced cost and complexity by the proposed measurement scheme is beneficial to both the industry and academic scientific world in terms of faster and more efficient testing as well as increased reproducibility of research findings.

Performance evaluation of the Alphasense OPC-N3 and Plantower PMS5003 sensor in measuring dust events in the Salt Lake Valley, Utah

Abstract. As the changing climate expands the extent of arid and semi-arid lands, the number of, severity of, and health effects associated with dust events are likely to increase. However, regulatory measurements capable of capturing dust (PM10, particulate matter smaller than 10 µm in diameter) are sparse, sparser than measurements of PM2.5 (PM smaller than 2.5 µm in diameter). Although low-cost sensors could supplement regulatory monitors, as numerous studies have shown for PM2.5 concentrations, most of these sensors are not effective at measuring PM10 despite claims by sensor manufacturers. This study focuses on the Salt Lake Valley, adjacent to the Great Salt Lake, which recently reached historic lows exposing 1865 km2 of dry lake bed. It evaluated the field performance of the Plantower PMS5003, a common low-cost PM sensor, and the Alphasense OPC-N3, a promising candidate for low-cost measurement of PM10, against a federal equivalent method (FEM, beta attenuation) and research measurements (GRIMM aerosol spectrometer model 1.109) at three different locations. During a month-long field study that included five dust events in the Salt Lake Valley with PM10 concentrations reaching 311 µg m−3, the OPC-N3 exhibited strong correlation with FEM PM10 measurements (R2 = 0.865, RMSE = 12.4 µg m−3) and GRIMM (R2 = 0.937, RMSE = 17.7 µg m−3). The PMS exhibited poor to moderate correlations (R2 < 0.49, RMSE = 33–45 µg m−3) with reference or research monitors and severely underestimated the PM10 concentrations (slope < 0.099) for PM10. We also evaluated a PM-ratio-based correction method to improve the estimated PM10 concentration from PMSs. After applying this method, PMS PM10 concentrations correlated reasonably well with FEM measurements (R2 > 0.63) and GRIMM measurements (R2 > 0.76), and the RMSE decreased to 15–25 µg m−3. Our results suggest that it may be possible to obtain better resolved spatial estimates of PM10 concentration using a combination of PMSs (often publicly available in communities) and measurements of PM2.5 and PM10, such as those provided by FEMs, research-grade instrumentation, or the OPC-N3.

Auditory category learning is robust across training regimes

Multiple lines of research have developed training approaches that foster category learning, with important translational implications for education. Increasing exemplar variability, blocking or interleaving by category-relevant dimension, and providing explicit instructions about diagnostic dimensions each have been shown to facilitate category learning and/or generalization. However, laboratory research often must distill the character of natural input regularities that define real-world categories. As a result, much of what we know about category learning has come from studies with simplifying assumptions. We challenge the implicit expectation that these studies reflect the process of category learning of real-world input by creating an auditory category learning paradigm that intentionally violates some common simplifying assumptions of category learning tasks. Across five experiments and nearly 300 adult participants, we used training regimes previously shown to facilitate category learning, but here drew from a more complex and multidimensional category space with tens of thousands of unique exemplars. Learning was equivalently robust across training regimes that changed exemplar variability, altered the blocking of category exemplars, or provided explicit instructions of the category-diagnostic dimension. Each drove essentially equivalent accuracy measures of learning generalization following 40 min of training. These findings suggest that auditory category learning across complex input is not as susceptible to training regime manipulation as previously thought.

Incidence and between-center heterogeneity of anesthesia-related complications in pediatric populations documented in administrative data: A retrospective study.

Incidence and between-center heterogeneity of anesthesia-related complications in pediatric populations documented in administrative data: A retrospective study.

Parameter-Independent Event-Triggered Implicit UKF for the Celestial Navigation Using Time Delay Measurement

Celestial navigation using time delay measurement is an innovative autonomous navigation method. To calculate the equivalent measurement, the numerical method needs to be applied, which is time-consuming. The event-triggered mechanism intermittently and aperiodically processes measurements by judging if the update error has changed drastically. However, its performance is greatly affected by the constant threshold. To solve this problem, a parameter-independent event-triggered implicit unscented Kalman filter (UKF) is proposed and applied to the celestial navigation using time delay measurement. The innovation at the current moment and the updated estimate covariance at the last moment are compared with the previous value instead of the constant threshold. The event is automatically triggered when the accuracy of the state estimate is low. Simulation results indicate that the proposed parameter-independent event-triggered implicit UKF can reduce the running time by reducing unnecessary measurement updates, whose performance will not be affected by any parameter or window size. In a word, the proposed method substitutes the dynamic threshold for the constant threshold, ensuring that its performance will not be affected by any parameter or window size.