Large Excursions Research Articles

Quantifying the impacts of coal mining activities on topsoil using Hg stable isotope: A case study of Guqiao mining area, Huainan City

The Hg released from coal mining activities can endanger soil ecosystems and pose a risk to human health. Understanding the accumulation characteristics of mercury (Hg) in coal mining soil is important for effectively controlling Hg emissions and developing measures for the prevention and control of Hg contamination. To identify the potential sources of Hg in soils, the Hg concentration and isotopic composition characteristics of raw coal and different topsoil types from the areas surrounding a coal mine were determined in this study. The results showed that Hg in coal mainly exists mainly in the form of inorganic Hg, and Hg has experienced Hg2+ photoreduction prior to incorporating into coal. In addition, the composition of Hg isotopes differed significantly among different topsoil types, and the δ202Hg value of the farmland soil exhibited large negative excursions compared to the coal mining soil. The ternary mixed model further revealed the presence of substantial differences in potential Hg sources among the two regions, with the coal mining soil being greatly disturbed by anthropogenic activity, and the relative contributions of Hg from raw coal, coal gangue, and background soil to coal mining soil being 33.42%, 34.4%, and 32.19%, respectively. However, Hg from raw coal, coal gangue and background soil contributed 17.04%, 21.46%, and 61.51% of the Hg in the farmland soil, indicating that the accumulation of Hg in farmland soil was derived primarily from the background soil. Our study demonstrated that secondary pollution in soil caused by immense accumulation of solid waste (gangue) by mining activities offers a significant challenge to ecological security. These findings provide new insights into controlling soil Hg in mining areas and further highlight the urgency of strict protective measures for contaminated sites.

Variations in climate habitability parameters and their effect on Earth's biosphere during the Phanerozoic Eon

Essential insights on the characterization and quality of a detectable biosphere are gained by analyzing the effects of its environmental parameters. We compiled environmental and biological properties of the Phanerozoic Eon from various published data sets and conducted a correlation analysis to assess variations in parameters relevant to the habitability of Earth’s biosphere. We showed that environmental parameters such as oxygen, global average surface temperatures, runoff rates and carbon dioxide are interrelated and play a key role in the changes of biomass and biodiversity. We showed that there were several periods with a highly thriving biosphere, with one even surpassing present day biodiversity and biomass. Those periods were characterized by increased oxygen levels and global runoff rates, as well as moderate global average surface temperatures, as long as no large or rapid positive and/or negative temperature excursions occurred. High oxygen contents are diagnostic of biomass production by continental plant life. We find that exceptionally high oxygen levels can at least in one instance compensate for decreased relative humidities, providing an even more habitable environment compared to today. Beyond Earth, these results will help us to understand how environmental parameters affect biospheres on extrasolar planets and guide us in our search for extraterrestrial life.

A Review of the Mechanical Properties of Materials Used in Nb3Sn Magnets for Particle Accelerators

Superconducting magnets experience significant thermo-mechanical loads throughout their life cycle. These are introduced by the electro-magnetic forces during powering, but also by the prestress applied in many magnet designs. Further to this, the large thermal excursion that components of different materials experience can generate significant internal forces. The loads are also experienced by the superconducting coils, whose critical current can decrease as a consequence of the applied strain. It is then crucial to predict the overall mechanical behavior and conservatively design a magnet, avoiding failure of the mechanical components and of the superconducting coils. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is generally used to perform these tasks, but its results rely heavily on the material properties and models used. This is in particular true for the coil composite, which is simplified to allow reasonable model sizes in full magnet models. In this paper, we present the state-of-art knowledge of the mechanical properties of the materials mostly used in superconducting magnet construction. We review elastic and plastic properties at room and cryogenic temperature, thermal contraction, and summarize the state-of-art failure criteria for these materials. Finally, the paper summarizes the present understanding of the mechanical behavior and limits of Nb <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sub> Sn coils. For the first time, an orthotropic failure criteria is proposed.

Timing and Provenance of Volcanic Fluxes Around the Permian‐Triassic Boundary Mass Extinction in South China: U‐Pb Zircon Geochronology, Volcanic Ash Geochemistry and Mercury Isotopes

AbstractAnomalous mercury (Hg) contents recorded near the Permian‐Triassic boundary (PTB) are often linked to Siberian Traps Large Igneous Province (STLIP) volcanism and the Permian‐Triassic boundary mass extinction (PTBME). However, mounting evidence indicates that the relation between STLIP volcanism and Hg “anomalies” is not straightforward. This study focuses on the timing and provenance of volcanic fluxes around the PTBME in South China. We constrain carbon isotope (δ13C) and Hg concentration and isotope records by utilizing high‐precision U‐Pb zircon ages from two expanded deep‐water marine sections spanning the Late Permian to Early Triassic in the Nanpanjiang Basin. Results reveal two episodes of Hg enrichment. The oldest episode predates the onset of a large negative δ13C excursion, which is documented to be older than 252.07 ± 0.130 Ma. The second episode occurred between 251.822 ± 0.060 and 251.589 ± 0.062 Ma, coinciding with the nadir of the δ13C excursion. Volcanic ash geochemistry and Hg isotope compositions suggest that mercury was mainly sourced from subduction‐related volcanic arc magmatism in the Tethys region, which peaked between 251.668 ± 0.079 and 251.589 ± 0.052 Ma. These results are compatible with suggestions that regional arc volcanism contributed to the causes of the PTBME in South China and provide evidence that Hg anomalies close to the PTB are not a reliable stratigraphic marker for the PTB extinction event. This study demonstrates that relations between volcanism, environmental perturbations and mass extinction during the Permian‐Triassic transition are better resolved with the aid of high‐precision U‐Pb zircon ages.

Scaling K2. VI. Reduced Small-planet Occurrence in High-galactic-amplitude Stars

In this study, we performed a homogeneous analysis of the planets around FGK dwarf stars observed by the Kepler and K2 missions, providing spectroscopic parameters for 310 K2 targets —including 239 Scaling K2 hosts—observed with Keck/HIRES. For orbital periods less than 40 days, we found that the distribution of planets as a function of orbital period, stellar effective temperature, and metallicity was consistent between K2 and Kepler, reflecting consistent planet formation efficiency across numerous ∼1 kpc sight-lines in the local Milky Way. Additionally, we detected a 3× excess of sub-Saturns relative to warm Jupiters beyond 10 days, suggesting a closer association between sub-Saturn and sub-Neptune formation than between sub-Saturn and Jovian formation. Performing a joint analysis of Kepler and K2 demographics, we observed diminishing super-Earth, sub-Neptune, and sub-Saturn populations at higher stellar effective temperatures, implying an inverse relationship between formation and disk mass. In contrast, no apparent host-star spectral-type dependence was identified for our population of Jupiters, which indicates gas-giant formation saturates within the FGK mass regimes. We present support for stellar metallicity trends reported by previous Kepler analyses. Using Gaia DR3 proper motion and radial velocity measurements, we discovered a galactic location trend; stars that make large vertical excursions from the plane of the Milky Way host fewer super-Earths and sub-Neptunes. While oscillation amplitude is associated with metallicity, metallicity alone cannot explain the observed trend, demonstrating that galactic influences are imprinted on the planet population. Overall, our results provide new insights into the distribution of planets around FGK dwarf stars and the factors that influence their formation and evolution.

Robust Active Visual Perching With Quadrotors on Inclined Surfaces

Autonomous Micro Aerial Vehicles are deployed for a variety tasks including surveillance and monitoring. Perching and staring allow the vehicle to monitor targets without flying, saving battery power and increasing the overall mission time without the need to frequently replace batteries. This paper addresses the Active Visual Perching (AVP) control problem to autonomously perch on inclined surfaces up to $90^\circ$. Our approach generates dynamically feasible trajectories to navigate and perch on a desired target location, while taking into account actuator and Field of View (FoV) constraints. By replanning in mid-flight, we take advantage of more accurate target localization increasing the perching maneuver's robustness to target localization or control errors. We leverage the Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) conditions to identify the compatibility between planning objectives and the visual sensing constraint during the planned maneuver. Furthermore, we experimentally identify the corresponding boundary conditions that maximizes the spatio-temporal target visibility during the perching maneuver. The proposed approach works on-board in real-time with significant computational constraints relying exclusively on cameras and an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). Experimental results validate the proposed approach and shows the higher success rate as well as increased target interception precision and accuracy with respect to a one-shot planning approach, while still retaining aggressive capabilities with flight envelopes that include large excursions from the hover position on inclined surfaces up to 90$^\circ$, angular speeds up to 750~deg/s, and accelerations up to 10~m/s$^2$.

Uncovering the Ediacaran phosphorus cycle.

Phosphorus is a limiting nutrient that is thought to control oceanic oxygen levels to a large extent1-3. A possible increase in marine phosphorus concentrations during the Ediacaran Period (about 635-539 million years ago) has been proposed as a driver for increasing oxygen levels4-6. However, little is known about the nature and evolution of phosphorus cycling during this time4. Here we use carbonate-associated phosphate (CAP) from six globally distributed sections to reconstruct oceanic phosphorus concentrations during a large negative carbon-isotope excursion-the Shuram excursion (SE)-which co-occurred with global oceanic oxygenation7-9. Our data suggest pulsed increases in oceanic phosphorus concentrations during the falling and rising limbs of the SE. Using a quantitative biogeochemical model, we propose that this observation could be explained by carbon dioxide and phosphorus release from marineorganic-matter oxidation primarily by sulfate, with further phosphorus release from carbon-dioxide-driven weathering on land. Collectively, this may have resulted in elevated organic-pyrite burial and ocean oxygenation. Our CAP data also seem to suggest equivalent oceanic phosphorus concentrations under maximum and minimum extents of ocean anoxia across the SE. This observation may reflect decoupled phosphorus and ocean anoxia cycles, as opposed to their coupled nature in the modern ocean. Our findings point to external stimuli such as sulfate weathering rather than internal oceanic phosphorus-oxygen cycling alone as a possible control on oceanic oxygenation in the Ediacaran. In turn, this may help explain the prolonged rise of atmospheric oxygen levels.

Tectonic and climatic controls on carbonate sedimentation in active orogen proximal lakes, Cenozoic Qaidam Basin, northern Tibetan Plateau

AbstractPalustrine‐lacustrine carbonates of the well‐dated Xichagou section (ca. 43 to ca. 13 Ma) next to the active Altyn Tagh Fault (ATF) are investigated in terms of abundance, lithofacies, strontium, carbon and oxygen isotopes, to differentiate tectonic and climatic controls on the evolution of intermontane lakes in the Tibetan Plateau. Volumetrically dominant siliciclastic strata document five depositional stages: mid‐Eocene alluvial fan (onshore), late Eocene fan delta (nearshore), Oligocene semi‐deep lake (offshore), early Miocene braided fluvial delta (nearshore) and mid‐Miocene fluvial plain (onshore). Carbonates are most abundant in the middle three lacustrine stages and contain various lithofacies, including calcretes, microbialites, grainstones and marlstones. Oxygen isotopes show two positive excursions (−1.17‰ and −2.59‰) at the first nearshore and late offshore stages, indicating two relatively saline stages linked to the Eocene and late Oligocene global warming climates. Carbon isotopes show a positive excursion (from −4.0‰ to +2.9‰) at the middle semi‐deep lake stage and meanwhile strontium isotopes of carbonates show a large negative excursion (from 0.7120‰ to 0.7113‰), both in response to the early Oligocene global humid and cooling climate and resultant lake expansion at the Qaidam Basin. Except for this lake expansion event, the first‐order lake transgressing, shallowing and regressing evolution at the Xichagou section were not consistent with Cenozoic global climatic change trends. Instead, the two‐stage strike‐slip faulting of the ATF probably induced the northeastward and eastward migration of basin depocenter and resulted in the lake transgression‐regression at the Xichagou section. The widespread presence and relatively minor variation in oxygen isotopes (from −7.5‰ to −7.0‰) of early Miocene microbialites in the northern Tibetan Plateau suggest a warm climate and a low relief before ca. 15 Ma.

Sex, ducks, and rock "n" roll: Mathematical model of sexual response.

In this paper, we derive and analyze a mathematical model of a sexual response. As a starting point, we discuss two studies that proposed a connection between a sexual response cycle and a cusp catastrophe and explain why that connection is incorrect but suggests an analogy with excitable systems. This then serves as a basis for derivation of a phenomenological mathematical model of a sexual response, in which the variables represent levels of physiological and psychological arousal. Bifurcation analysis is performed to identify stability properties of the model's steady state, and numerical simulations are performed to illustrate different types of behavior that can be observed in the model. Solutions corresponding to the dynamics associated with the Masters-Johnson sexual response cycle are represented by "canard"-like trajectories that follow an unstable slow manifold before making a large excursion in the phase space. We also consider a stochastic version of the model, for which spectrum, variance, and coherence of stochastic oscillations around a deterministically stable steady state are found analytically, and confidence regions are computed. Large deviation theory is used to explore the possibility of stochastic escape from the neighborhood of the deterministically stable steady state, and the methods of an action plot and quasi-potential are employed to compute most probable escape paths. We discuss implications of the results for facilitating better quantitative understanding of the dynamics of a human sexual response and for improving clinical practice.

Revised Paleozoic depositional history of the central Rocky Mountains (Utah and Colorado)

Precise sedimentological, stratigraphic, paleontological, and geochronological data collected from Paleozoic strata of the Dinosaur National Monument (DNM) area (NW Colorado and NE Utah) allow for comprehensive revision of the depositional history of that part of the central Rocky Mountains.Recovery of multiple species of the trilobite genus Elrathiella from sandstone beds in the middle of the Lodore Formation assigns those deposits to the mid-Miaolingian Ehmaniella Zone near the top of the Wuliuan Stage. This is significantly older than the previous “Dresbachian” age estimate for those coarse clastics, which attributed them to deposition during the late Miaolingian (latest Drumian or Guzhangian). This age revision re-positions the southernmost boundary of widespread Miaolingian inner detrital belt deposits of Wyoming to within 90 km of an extensive area of central Colorado where strata of this age are absent, and middle Furongian successions rest directly on basement. The boundary between these two regions, one with and one without Miaolingian strata, is nearly coincident with the Cheyenne belt, an east–west oriented Precambrian continental suture zone at the northern margin of the Yavapai Terrane. This association supports the idea that deep-seated crustal-scale features controlled the Cambrian paleotopography of the Rocky Mountain region and, in turn, the regional pattern of Cambrian transgression across western Laurentia.Early cursory paleontological work suggested a Devonian age for a thick sandstone interval near the top of the Lodore Formation, based on phosphatic fossils. We demonstrate that these fossils are in fact Cambrian obolid brachiopod shells. However, we provide multiple lines of evidence, including carbonate δ13C chemostratigraphic data, distinctive lithofacies, and stratigraphic relationships to argue that a thin interval of shale and dolostone, as well as a previously unrecognized paleokarst and regolith interval at the top of what was mapped as Lodore Formation, are in fact part of the Upper Devonian Parting Formation. The thick sub-Mississippian paleoregolith is consistent with elevated rates of weathering during the Late Devonian–Early Mississippian. δ13C chemostratigraphic data for the Madison Limestone include a large double-peaked Kinderhookian positive isotopic excursion (up to ~6.5 ‰), providing a precise estimate of the timing of Mississippian transgression in this part of the Rocky Mountain region.Detrital zircon geochronologic data for Cambrian to Pennsylvanian strata show remarkably consistent patterns dominated by ~1100 Ma, ~1400 Ma, and ~1700 Ma peaks, reflecting relative igneous quiescence over much of the Paleozoic for this region, a span of ~200 m.y., despite some orogenic activity (e.g., Antler Orogeny, Ancestral Rockies) during that time interval.

Numerical Investigations on Suspended Power Cable Configurations for Floating Offshore Wind Turbines in Deep Water Powering an FPSO

Abstract Floating offshore wind turbines (FOWTs) are an opportunity for floating production storage and offloading units (FPSOs) to reduce emissions. To avoid long connecting power cables with long transmission distances between a FOWT and an FPSO, the novel concept of a suspended power cable in a large water depth of 1000 m is investigated in this study. The power cable is kept floating between the sea surface and the seabed without touching either of them. A catenary configuration and two configurations with subsea buoys attached at different locations along the cable are investigated. The OC3-Hywind 5 MW reference FOWT is set up with a deepwater mooring system, and a spread-moored FPSO is modeled with characteristics similar to existing FPSOs. Steady-state and dynamic simulations are carried out in the numerical software OrcaFlex. The different configurations are first evaluated in steady-state analyses. The largest tensions are observed for the catenary configuration, whereas it shows the lowest horizontal cable excursions. Buoys attached along the center section of the cable lift it into regions with strong currents. This results in a large horizontal excursion of the cable and large tensions. The suspended configuration with buoys attached evenly over the cable results in significantly lower tensions than the other two configurations. It is studied further with dynamic analyses. The tensions at the floater hang-offs increase by a maximum of 24% compared to steady-state results indicating that dynamic analysis is crucial for the design of suspended cable configurations.

Effects of Household Battery Systems on LV Residential Feeder Voltage Management

With the advancements of the battery energy storage systems (BESSs), reduction of their manufacturing costs and government subsidies, the BESS uptake is likely to increase rapidly in power distribution networks. This paper investigates the effects of residential BESSs on low-voltage (LV) networks using the actual household load profiles equipped with BESS and solar-photovoltaic (PV) systems. The electricity consumption data collected via smart meters (2200 households with PV/BESS, 1950 households with PV only and 1000 households without a PV or a BESS) at different solar-PV penetration levels and network types are used to simulate real network operating scenarios. A real LV distribution network in Australia is analysed in DIgSILENT PowerFactory under different scenarios, such as, customers with and without a solar-PV/BESS, with a solar-PV but without a BESS, and without a solar-PV, by using both the power flow and quasi-dynamic simulation studies under balanced and the unbalanced network loading conditions. According to the study, customers experience large voltage excursions from solar-PV power exports, which could be resolved by the household BESS, provided that the BESS charging is coordinated with the solar-PV production. Moreover, quasi-dynamic simulation shows that the BESS could reduce the violation of the over-voltage limit during the solar peak hours (midday) by lowering the worst-case feeder voltage by 3%. Finally, extreme-event (high solar PV generation scenario) simulation shows that the implementation of the BESS controller to facilitate charging BESS during afternoon solar-PV export may reduce the negative grid impact and will assist to avoid network upgrades.

Separation of the Icelandic Coastal Current from the Reykjanes Peninsula

The Icelandic Coastal Current (ICC) is a buoyant flow fueled by multiple rivers. Satellite observations during the October–November 2019 study period indicate the ICC often separates from the southwest tip of the Reykjanes Peninsula; it subsequently has large offshore excursion during west-southwestward winds. Results from a high-resolution realistic simulation exhibit this ICC behavior and provide detail on the associated currents and salinities. Sensitivity tests with simplified bathymetry, no winds, or no local buoyancy inputs are compared to the standard run to isolate contributions of those factors to flow separation. Analysis indicates that ICC separation occurs because the coast turns more tightly than the inertial radius; this behavior is consistent with inviscid theory. Partial flow deflection over the shelf expression of the Reykjanes Ridge and the widening shelf both increase ICC offshore excursion. The ICC is strongly influenced by the barotropic wind response to west-southwestward winds that includes a downshelf jet (flowing in the direction of Kelvin wave propagation) along the coast upshelf of the peninsula's tip where winds are downwelling-favorable, the downshelf extension of the jet that bends around the peninsula and progresses farther offshore with isobaths, a band of offshore and upshelf currents along the coast downshelf of the peninsula's tip, and surface flow aligned with Ekman transport located offshore beyond the downshelf jet. Similar wind-influence scenarios are discussed for other plumes. There are likely many such hotspots for offshore freshwater transport around the world.

Transitions in stochastic non-equilibrium systems: Efficient reduction and analysis

A central challenge in physics is to describe non-equilibrium systems driven by randomness, such as a randomly growing interface, or fluids subject to random fluctuations that account e.g. for local stresses and heat fluxes in the fluid which are not related to the velocity and temperature gradients. For deterministic systems with infinitely many degrees of freedom, normal form and center manifold theory have shown a prodigious efficiency to often completely characterize how the onset of linear instability translates into the emergence of nonlinear patterns, associated with genuine physical regimes. However, in presence of random fluctuations, the underlying reduction principle to the center manifold is seriously challenged due to large excursions caused by the noise, and the approach needs to be revisited.In this study, we present an alternative framework to cope with these difficulties exploiting the approximation theory of stochastic invariant manifolds, on one hand, and energy estimates measuring the defect of parameterization of the high-modes, on the other. To operate for fluid problems subject to stochastic stirring forces, these error estimates are derived under assumptions regarding dissipation effects brought by the high-modes in order to suitably counterbalance the loss of regularity due to the nonlinear terms. As a result, the approach enables us to predict, from reduced equations of the stochastic fluid problem, the occurrence in large probability of a stochastic analogue to the pitchfork bifurcation, as long as the noise's intensity and the eigenvalue's magnitude of the mildly unstable mode scale accordingly.In the case of SPDEs forced by a multiplicative noise in the orthogonal subspace of e.g. its mildly unstable mode, our parameterization formulas show that the noise gets transmitted to this mode via non-Markovian coefficients, and that the reduced equation is only stochastically driven by the latter. These coefficients depend explicitly on the noise path's history, and their memory content is self-consistently determined by the intensity of the random force and its interaction through the SPDE's nonlinear terms. Applications to a stochastic Rayleigh-Bénard problem are detailed, for which conditions for a stochastic pitchfork bifurcation (in large probability) to occur, are clarified.

High-Power-Factor LC Series Resonant Converter Operating Off-Resonance with Inductors Elaborated with a Composed Material of Resin/Iron Powder

The most common problems with magnetic cores in high-stress applications are changes in their permeability and low saturation flux density, forcing designers to use special nanocrystalline cores, which raises the overall cost of the circuit. This paper evaluates the performance of a low-cost magnetic material composed of unsaturated polyester la mination resin COR61-AA-531EX and 200 mesh iron powder with a grain size of 74 µm, which has magnetic properties of the so-called “soft magnetic composites”, which have good magnetic characteristics in high-frequency and high-stress applications. This composite material was used for the elaboration of magnetic cores for the inductors of a resonant converter, which aims to achieve a high power factor, where in this type of application, there are large current and voltage excursions in the magnetic components that vary between high and low frequencies, being a suitable application for testing the inductors with a magnetic core of resin/iron powder. The converter was designed to operate off-resonance at different switching frequencies from 300 kHz to 800 kHz to feed a resistive load with a power output of 19 watts. The operation of the circuit was experimentally validated using a resistive load at the output, validating the theoretical analysis and achieving a power factor above 98%.

Variability of Inter-Fraction Target Motion during Hypofractionated Lung Radiation Therapy

<h3>Purpose/Objective(s)</h3> Pre-treatment 4D-CTs are used in planning for motion management of lung RT. The target excursion (E) at the time of planning may differ between planning and treatment. Additionally, the tumor excursion can change between fraction deliveries. The objective of this study is to investigate patterns of excursion variability (∆E) during hypofractionated radiotherapy (HRT) and the clinical factors that correlate with ∆E. <h3>Materials/Methods</h3> 41 patients with primary or metastatic lung tumors underwent HRT. For each patient, planning was performed on 4D-CT imaging. Patients underwent daily pre- and post- treatment 4D-CBCT for setup conformation and motion assessment. Respiration-induced excursion (E) was quantified in the planning 4D-CT, and in each daily excursion 4D-CBCT. All excursion values were measured in 3 dimensions: AP, LR, and SI. ∆E was calculated as the difference between daily 4D-CBCT excursion values and the planning 4D-CT excursion value. The clinical statistics and excursion statistics were evaluated for all fractions. Finally, Pearson correlation was performed to associate clinical factors with ∆E. <h3>Results</h3> 377 4D-CBCTs were analyzed. ∆E was largest in the SI direction, with ∆E_avg in the SI, LR, and AP directions being 0.16, 0.05, and 0.08 cm respectively. Only 7.1% of all 4D-CBCT's displayed ∆E ≥ 4mm. The average age of patients with ∆E ≥ 4mm was 58.63 y/o, and that of patients with ∆E<4mm was 71.73 y/o (P<0.001). The average baseline weight of patients with ∆E ≥ 4mm and ∆E<4mm were 84.94 kg and 72.82 kg respectively (P<0.001). 71.1% of males and 28.9% of females gave ∆E ≥ 4mm (P=0.003). 58.3% of tumors with ∆E ≥ 4mm were in the right lower lobe (RLL) and 20.8% of tumors with ∆E ≥ 4mm were in the left lower lobe (LLL) (P<0.001). An average AP planning excursion of 0.34cm gave ∆E<4mm and that of 0.53 cm gave ∆E ≥ 4mm (P =0.008). The average Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) was 3.58 for tumors with ∆E<4mm, and 5.17 for tumors with ∆E ≥ 4mm (P=0.004). Pearson correlation between the left and right lungs didn't yield statistically significant results (P=0.76). <h3>Conclusion</h3> Large ∆E seems predictable, with ∆E ≥ 4mm seen more in young patients with higher baseline weight, male gender, tumors in the lower lobes, and with large 4D-CT excursion displayed in the AP direction. There was no correlation found between ∆E and right versus left lung. Additionally, CCI did not correlate with excursion variability. Finally, the largest degree of ∆E is displayed in the SI direction.

Predicting the data structure prior to extreme events from passive observables using echo state network

Extreme events are defined as events that largely deviate from the nominal state of the system as observed in a time series. Due to the rarity and uncertainty of their occurrence, predicting extreme events has been challenging. In real life, some variables (passive variables) often encode significant information about the occurrence of extreme events manifested in another variable (active variable). For example, observables such as temperature, pressure, etc., act as passive variables in case of extreme precipitation events. These passive variables do not show any large excursion from the nominal condition yet carry the fingerprint of the extreme events. In this study, we propose a reservoir computation-based framework that can predict the preceding structure or pattern in the time evolution of the active variable that leads to an extreme event using information from the passive variable. An appropriate threshold height of events is a prerequisite for detecting extreme events and improving the skill of their prediction. We demonstrate that the magnitude of extreme events and the appearance of a coherent pattern before the arrival of the extreme event in a time series affect the prediction skill. Quantitatively, we confirm this using a metric describing the mean phase difference between the input time signals, which decreases when the magnitude of the extreme event is relatively higher, thereby increasing the predictability skill.

The source and depositional environment of early Silurian iron formation in NW China: Constraints from element and isotope (Fe, C, O) geochemistry

Phanerozoic iron formations (IFs) provide a unique opportunity to understand both the contemporaneous chemical composition and redox state of seawater where they precipitated. However, the absence of detailed reports of Phanerozoic IFs inhibits a robust understanding of their depositional conditions and dominant Fe sources. Here, we describe a hematite- and siderite-rich IF from Kukeate hosted within lower Silurian submarine siliciclastic and carbonate sedimentary succession in NW China. The chemical composition of our analysed samples is dominated by high TFe2O3 and variable SiO2 contents, with low Al2O3, TiO2, Sc, Nb, Th, and Zr concentrations, indicating an authigenic origin. Distinct depletion in LREE relative to HREE, super-chondritic Y/Ho ratios, and slightly positive Gd anomalies, are diagnostic for derivation from surface seawater. The lack of strong positive Eu anomaly, along with coupled Fe and O isotopic characteristics for the hematite, point to a significant low-T hydrothermal input. Slightly negative to no Ce anomalies, weakly negative to mildly positive Eu anomalies, homogeneous δ56Fe values (near zero), and large positive δ13CV-PDB excursions, together suggest that there exists a dynamic redoxcline, which separated oxic surface water and ferruginous deeper water conditions, where dissolved Fe2+ in deep, reducing, Fe-rich hydrothermal fluids, was oxidized and precipitated as Fe(OH)3 in shallow oxygenated seawater, leading to the formation of hematite. Accordingly, the occurrence of Kukeate IF suggests intermittent ferruginous deeper water conditions during the early Silurian.

Nonlinear Control of a Two-Stage Single-Phase DC–AC Converter

In this article, a multi-input multi-output nonlinear control strategy for a two-stage single-phase dc–ac converter is introduced. The design technique is based on a multi-input multi-output feedback linearization strategy. A change of coordinates is used for obtaining a decoupled two-input two-output linear description. It allows us to design a linear controller in a transformed domain. Finally, this linear controller is expressed in original coordinates, resulting in the proposed nonlinear controller. Using this nonlinear controller allows improving the performance of the converter in presence of large excursions of reference and disturbance signals. The performance of the whole system is tested via simulation and experimental results using both linear and nonlinear loads.

Latitudinal dynamics of co-orbital charged dust in the heliosphere

In recent years, observations have found evidence for dust at higher ecliptic latitudes. Different possible explanations for these signatures have been proposed, most commonly assuming that they originate from collisions of young asteroid families. In the present work, we investigate the influence of the interplanetary magnetic field causing strong latitudinal oscillations that may affect the creation and evolution of dust at these latitudes. Using numerical simulations of a charged dust particle affected by the Lorentz force, we analyse the effect of a simplified magnetic field model specifically on the long-term evolution of the orbital plane of the dust grain. Additionally, we demonstrate the significant agreement with the results of the semi-analytical secular-resonant model we have developed for charged particles in co-orbital motion with a planet. We have found that the interplanetary magnetic field determines the three-dimensional distribution of micron-sized dust grains, causing large excursions of the orbital inclination that distribute the particles to high ecliptic latitudes. The strength of these oscillations depends in particular on the particle size and on the distance to the Sun. Farther outwards in the Solar System, the particle amplitudes are larger.