Reference Point Research Articles

Linear Time-Invariant Models of a Large Cumulus Ensemble

Abstract Methods in system identification are used to obtain linear time-invariant state-space models that describe how horizontal averages of temperature and humidity of a large cumulus ensemble evolve with time under small forcing. The cumulus ensemble studied here is simulated with cloud-system-resolving models in radiative–convective equilibrium. The identified models extend steady-state linear response functions used in past studies and provide accurate descriptions of the transfer function, the noise model, and the behavior of cumulus convection when coupled with two-dimensional gravity waves. A novel procedure is developed to convert the state-space models into an interpretable form, which is used to elucidate and quantify memory in cumulus convection. The linear problem studied here serves as a useful reference point for more general efforts to obtain data-driven and interpretable parameterizations of cumulus convection.

A Systematic Review of the Use of Intraoral Scanning for Human Identification Based on Palatal Morphology.

A common application for intraoral scanners is the digitization of the morphology of teeth and palatal rugae. Palatal scans are most commonly required to fabricate complete dentures and immediate transitional dentures and serve as a reference point for assessing orthodontic results. However, they are also frequently included by accident, even though the main purpose of intraoral scanning is to reconstruct dentition using computer-aided manufacturing (CAM). The literature shows that the identification of disaster victims has frequently involved palatal rugae impressions. As the skull provides sound insulation, the rugae are resistant to heat, chemicals, and stress. Antemortem data might be difficult to find during a forensic inquiry, particularly in disaster victim identification cases. In contrast with DNA and fingerprints, there is a greater likelihood of having a dental record that contains palatal scans. With specialized software, the scans can be exported as open stereolithography (STL) files. Considering that a full case consumes up to about 100 MB of hard drive space, long-term storage should not be an issue compared to a plaster model. Additionally, dentists widely use online databases to exchange data for smile design, implant registration, and orthodontic purposes. This will produce a digital database that grows quickly and is readily usable for forensic investigations. The uniqueness of forensic features is frequently challenged; however, palatal morphology's unique trait could make it possible as it is characteristic of individuals as well as the most distinguishing factor. This review will highlight how rugae, palatal morphology, mirroring, superimposition, and geometrics can serve in forensic identification.

TRANSLANGUAGING: STUDENTS AS MEANING MAKING CONTRIBUTORS

Contrary to Communicative Language Teaching ideology, translanguaging exploits the collective linguistic output that potentially adds to the language learning capacity of learners. It has emerged as an empowering tool for bi/multilingual learners of a language. The following research questions will be asked: 1) How can translanguaging enrich students’ writing skills in the Target Language (TL)? 2) What are the drawbacks that may be encountered? 3) How does translanguaging go beyond the conventional approach to classroom learning? The study will focus on the mixed method approach employing a semi structured questionnaire and interviews. Anderson’s (2017 as cited in Turnbull, 2019) translanguaging continuum will be used as a reference point for this research. The results will be collated to examine the difference in responses and to see which strategy produces more favourable outcomes. This study will help to legitimize the use of translanguaging in the classroom as a means of maximizing students' potential of meaning-making activity.

To fix or not to fix: The representativeness of the WM/R methodology that underpins the FX benchmark rates. A pre-registered report

This paper examines the effectiveness of the WM/Reuters (WM/R) methodology for FX benchmark rates since its revision in 2015. After a series of market manipulation scandals, the WM/R methodology underwent significant changes to enhance its reliability and minimise the risk of market manipulation. However, the dynamic nature of the FX market, characterised by evolving investor behaviour and continuous trading, necessitates a reassessment of this benchmark’s quality. Using a comprehensive dataset of proprietary order book data from Refinitiv, our empirical study critically evaluates the WM/R methodology’s current standing in the FX market. We focus on representativeness, attainability, and robustness to determine whether lengthening the time window of the benchmark increases its reliability. We then focus on liquidity, trading activity, transaction costs, and price volatility to determine the ability of the WM/R methodology to minimise market impact during the 4 pm calculation window. Our findings aim to inform future modifications to the FX benchmark, ensuring its alignment with the evolving market environment and maintaining its role as a crucial reference point for global financial activities. This study contributes to the ongoing discourse on effective financial benchmarking, particularly in the high-stakes and continuously active realm of foreign exchange markets.

PCQD‐AR: Subjective quality assessment of compressed point clouds with head‐mounted augmented reality

AbstractThis letter fully studies the coloured point cloud quality assessment in augmented reality (AR) environment through subjective test. Firstly, a point cloud dataset, named point cloud quality dataset‐AR, including ten reference point clouds and their 90 distorted versions is presented, which were generated using the reference software of video‐based point cloud compression across various combinations of geometry and texture quantization parameters. Then, the impact of geometry and texture distortions on perceived quality of point clouds in AR environment was discussed in detail. Moreover, the performance of existing objective point cloud quality assessment metrics on the proposed dataset is evaluated. The subjective dataset including the values of mean opinion score were released to public.

Population structure and abundance of the amphidromous prawn Macrobrachium tenellum (Smith, 1871) (Decapoda: Caridea: Palaemonidae) in the lower basin of Ameca River, western Mexico, before anthropogenic modifications

Abstract The population of the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium tenellum (Smith, 1871) in four sites in the lower part of the coastal plain of the Ameca River, Mexico is analyzed before drastic anthropogenic modifications of the riverbed occurred. Of the 7,100 individuals of M. tenellum collected between February 2015 and January 2016, 45.7% of which were females (3,250), 4.3% ovigerous females (309), 39.3% males (2,79), and 10.6% undifferentiated (750). Males were significantly larger and heavier than females. In general, the largest individuals were collected at the most distant sites from the coastline (Colomo and San Juan), whereas the smallest ones were captured near the river mouth. The sex ratio (males:females 1:1.3) deviated from the expected 1:1. The length-weight relationship of females, males, and the population in general indicated a negative allometric growth for all three groups. The results of our research may serve as a reference point for future investigations assessing the impact of anthropogenic changes on M. tenellum populations.

Notes on Dialectics: C. L. R. James's Hegel

AbstractHegel's philosophy has been a fundamental reference point for a broad network of mid-twentieth century anticolonial thinkers and activists, a major inspiration for figures such as W. E. B. Du Bois, Frantz Fanon, C. L. R. James, Martin Luther King Jr. and Angela Davis, among others. James's Notes on Dialectics (1948) constitutes one of the most significant textual engagements with Hegel from within that internationalist tradition. Even though James considered Notes to be his most important work and one of his lasting contributions to Marxist theory, it remains the least read and studied of his books. In comparison to the abovementioned thinkers, all of whom drew inspiration from Hegel's social and political philosophy, in his monograph, James turns instead to Hegel's most difficult text, the Science of Logic, as the true locus of Hegel's critical theory. Situating James's study within the Marxist philosophical tradition, this essay explores how James interprets, appropriates and makes use of Hegel's dialectic.

Technical note: Workload and transmission data for mobile C-arm fluoroscopy in gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Mobile C-arms may be used in fixed locations, and it is recommended that qualified experts evaluate structural shielding. To assess clinical workload distributions for mobile C-arms used in gastrointestinal endoscopy and determine the Archer equation parameters for the C-arm beam spectra. Consecutive (30 months) gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures on two Cios Alpha systems (Siemens) were retrospectively analyzed. X-ray tube voltage, tube current-time product, reference point air kerma (Ka,r), air kerma-area product (PKA), and fluoroscopic time were examined. The primary beam half-value layer (HVL) was measured with an ionization chamber and aluminum 1100 plates. Stray radiation fraction at 1m from a scattering source (ACR R/F phantom) was directly measured. Monte Carlo (Geant4) simulation was performed to calculate the transmission of broad X-ray beams through lead, concrete, gypsum, and steel, with X-ray HVLs matching those of the C-arm X-ray beam. The transmission data were fitted to the Archer equation. The number of procedures (3509) was equivalent to 13.48 procedures per room per week. Dose quantities were 54.8 mGy (Ka,r), 18.3Gy∙cm2 (PKA), and 7.8 min (fluoroscopic time) per procedure. X-ray beam irradiation events were recorded for 2906 (82.8%) procedures with 160,009 events, whose mA-minute weighted tube voltage was 91.0kV and the workload was 0.68mA-minute per procedure. The two rooms had a significant difference in the number of procedures per week, 17.3 (29) [mean (maximum)] and 9.6 (16), respectively. The stray radiation fraction was 9.7×10-4 (80kV) and 1.25×10-3 (120kV). Transmission fitting parameters were provided for the tube voltage (on average, 90kV; high end, 120kV) of the C-arm. This work provides workload and transmission data for mobile C-arm fluoroscopy in gastrointestinal endoscopy, which indicates a need for structural shielding evaluation of the procedure rooms.

Topography and morphometry of the infraorbital and mandibular foramen of the common sloth (Bradypus variegatus) for use in the application of perineural anaesthesia.

A local anaesthetic block performed in cranial and mandibular foramina contributes towards analgesia and the reduction of systemic anaesthesia in procedures in the oral cavity. However, anatomical differences between in wild animals may require adaptations to the anaesthetic and surgical manoeuvres of the head used in domestic animals. With that in mind, we aimed to describe the topography and morphometry of the infraorbital and mandibular foramina in Bradypus variegatus, to support perineural anaesthetic approaches in the cranio-mandibular region of this species. We demonstrated that in B. variegatus there is no significant variability in the morphometric data, allowing access to the studied foramina to occur in a similar way in adult individuals. Finally, we understand that the techniques for the infraorbital and mandibular foramen needed to be adapted due to the anatomical singularities of the species, which culminated in new reference points for more assertive needle positioning.

Alternative Approach to Tilt-to-Length Coupling Estimation for Laser Ranging Interferometers in Future Gravity Missions

Tilt-to-length coupling, a non-constant systematic error source caused by satellite attitude variations, has been observed in the laser ranging signals of the GRACE Follow-On mission. This error can be corrected by certain calibration maneuvers performed regularly in orbit. In this paper, we introduce an alternative approach to tilt-to-length coupling estimation for a laser ranging interferometer in future gravity missions, using the ranging signals without any specific calibration maneuvers, which allows daily estimation. An analytical model of laser ranging signals is derived. The tilt-to-length estimation is performed under different conditions using the least squares method as well as the simulated data. The pointing angle noise is found to be the most significant limiting factor. When the pointing angle noise is below 0.3μrad/Hz1/2, the RMS of the estimation error is below 4 nm, much better than the tilt-to-length error of GRACE Follow-On. In the case of low pointing angle noise, the estimation error of an under 1.5 m offset between the center of mass and the interferometer reference point is not obviously different from the case with only a 0.5 mm offset, which provides installation flexibility for the laser ranging interferometer.

Importance of high-resolution spatial data for the detection of winter wildlife responses to edges

Several wildlife species are thought to avoid edges of large habitat gaps, such as clear-cuts, but detailed evidence is rarely available for edges of smaller gaps. We compared the responses of nine wintering mammal species to forest edges in southern Quebec, Canada, using high-resolution spatial data from light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and low-resolution photo-interpretation. We defined edges of open areas as roads, lakes, rivers, or forest open areas. We geolocated mammal snow tracks along systematic transect lines between 2009 and 2018. We compared distances of snow tracks and reference points along transects to the nearest edge with linear models. LiDAR data revealed five species avoiding forest open area edges, whereas no avoidance was shown using photo-interpretation data. Weasels ( Mustela sp.) were the only species showing a positive association with forest open area edges using photo-interpreted data. No significant response was detected for river or lake edges. Four species were positively associated with road edges. We conclude that avoidance of small forest open area edges is widespread in our study area, but it can only be detected with high-resolution spatial data. Our results imply that edge effect can operate at a fine scale and using appropriate spatial resolution is crucial to detect such effects.

대학 글쓰기 교과의 흐름과 교재 개편 양상

The purpose of this article is to summarize the flow and textbook reorganization of Gyeongsang National University's writing curriculum and provide a reference point for the direction of future university writing textbooks by examining the characteristics of the recently published curriculum and the newly published textbooks. Put it. It was in 2009 that writing as a subject was designated as a required liberal arts subject at Gyeongsang National University. Since this period, the first common textbook for writing education was developed and published, textbooks have been reorganized and published every 4 to 5 years. Gyeongsang National University's writing curriculum and textbook composition are moving in a direction that takes into account the goals of liberal arts education and the needs and practical needs of learners. The direction of curriculum revision, which divides writing subjects into four categories and allows learners to selectively complete writing that they need or are interested in, along with the types of writing that are deemed fundamentally necessary for university education, can be understood in the same context. there is. In the case of textbook composition, it can be seen that the educational model and learning areas are subdivided according to the characteristics of the subject, and performance is emphasized through a process-centered approach.

Structural damage identification with output-only strain measurements and swarm intelligence algorithms: a comparative study

The identification of structural damage with the unavailability of input excitations is highly desired but challenging since structural dynamic responses are affected by the coupling effect of structural parameters and external excitations. To deal with this issue, in this paper, an output-only damage identification strategy based on swarm intelligence algorithms and correlation functions of strain responses is proposed to identify structures subjected to single or multiple unknown white noise excitations. In the proposed strategy, four different population-based optimization algorithms—particle swarm optimization, the butterfly optimization algorithm, the tree seed algorithm, and a micro search Jaya (MS-Jaya)—are employed and compared. The micro search mechanism is integrated into a basic Jaya algorithm to improve its computational efficiency and accuracy by eliminating some damage variables with small values for the identified best solution after several iterations. The objective function is established based on the proposed auto/cross-correlation function of strain responses and a penalty function. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified with numerical studies on a simply supported beam structure and a steel grid benchmark structure under ambient excitation. In addition, the effect of the reference point, number of sensors, and arrangement of strain gauges on the performance of the proposed method are discussed in detail. The investigated results demonstrate that the proposed approach can accurately detect, locate, and quantify structural damage with limited sensors and 20% noise-polluted strain responses. In particular, the proposed MS-Jaya algorithm presents a more superior capacity in solving the optimization-based damage identification problem than the other three algorithms.

민주주의와 정부능력은 기술혁신에 긍정적으로 기여하는가?

Purpose: In this study, we analyze the f ollowing two points based on these existing studies. F irst, we examine the c orrelation between democracy and technological innovation, using cross-national data.We examine whether more democratized countries have an advantage over less democratic c ountries in t erms o f technological i nnovation, and whether d emocratic countries have an advantage over non-democratic countries in terms of innovation performance. we examine how government capabilities affect technological innovation by dividing them into democratic and non-democratic countries. We aim to analyze whether government capacity is important for technological innovation not only in democratic countries but also in non-democratic countries.
 Research design, data, and methodology: This paper analyzed how political systems, especially democracy and government capacity, affect technological innovation for the period 1997-2017 in 101 countries using data extracted from the World Bank’s World Development Indicators. The relationship between political systems and technological innovation was examined using the Negative Binomial Regression Model (NBRM), which is commonly used to analyze count data with the characteristic of over-dispersion.
 Results: The findings indicate that as democratization progresses, there is a corresponding increase in innovation performance. Additionally, democratic nations demonstrate higher levels of innovation compared to non-democratic countries. Furthermore, the research reveals that countries with robust government capacity, as measured by factors such as the effectiveness of public officials, provision of public services, regulation and support of the private sector, and corruption control, tend to achieve superior innovation performance.
 Implications: These f indings support t he a rgument put forth b y Acemoglu a nd R obinson, s uggesting that i n order to a ttain s ustained economic development and innovation, countries require a certain level of government capacity associated with the operation of exploitative economic institutions. The escalating power struggle between the United States and China has now evolved into a technological competition between market democracies and s tate capitalism. Consequently, there i s a f ervent debate regarding which political systems and forms of capitalism have a positive influence on innovation. This study is expected to offer valuable insights and serve as a crucial reference point for this ongoing discourse.

White sardine (Escualosa thoracata) stock status in coastal waters of Bangladesh

AbstractThe marine fisheries of Bangladesh have experienced an uncontrolled expansion of fishing over the last few decades. Consequently, most fish stocks became vulnerable to overfishing. Similar to many other fisheries, catch of white sardine (Escualosa thoracata) is rapidly declining. Therefore, three data‐limited approaches (length‐based Bayesian biomass analysis, LBB; length‐based spawning potential ratio, LB‐SPR; and Froese's length‐based indicators, LBIs) were used to estimate growth, mortality, and fisheries reference points to evaluate stock status of the white sardine fishery. Results revealed that the fishery is being overfished: F/M = 1.32 years−1 in LBB and 6.67 years−1 in LB‐SPR. However, the stock biomass is still good with B/B0 = 0.43 and B/BMSY = 1.20. Stock indicators revealed that the fishery was mainly targeting mature fishes, most of which were mega‐spawners (older, larger fish), which suggested stocks were recruitment overfished. Harvesting an optimum size range (6.57 to 8.03 cm) and reducing fishing mortality to a sustainable level (F = M) would sustain a healthy stock biomass.

“Defining the Isoelectric Line in Electrocardiography”: A Comprehensive Review

Electrocardiography (ECG or EKG) is a fundamental tool in cardiovascular diagnosis, relying on the accurate identification of the isoelectric line as a reference point. However, the definition of the isoelectric line has encountered controversies and nuances, particularly regarding its association with the TP segment, the ST segment under specific conditions, and the PQ junction in select circumstances. This comprehensive review navigates through these complexities, addressing clinical implications, methodological challenges, and potential future directions. Understanding the isoelectric line’s intricacies is essential for precise EKG interpretation and informed clinical decision-making in cardiology.

The Design and Development of Hands-on Activities for Digital Forensics Education

It has been widely admitted by researchers and educators that hands-on activities are a core component in digital forensics education to help students gain practical skills that are needed in real-world forensic investigations. However, it is not clear in existing works about what kinds of hands-on activities are recommended to be integrated into a digital forensics course and how to design and develop them. In our teaching practice, hands-on activities for a digital forensics course are designed in three categories: 1) activities that assist students in learning how to use common digital forensics tools; 2) activities that help students gain in-depth understanding of the basic concepts and fundamental knowledge that are presented in class lectures; 3) activities that promote students the development of mindsets and data analytical skills that are needed for a digital forensic investigator. Various formats are employed to develop these hands-on exercises in different categories. The educational objectives and student learning outcomes map well to the CAE-CD (Centers of Academic Excellence - Cyber Defense) outcomes by completing their forensic knowledge units. In this paper, we share our idea and experience to design and implement such hands-on assignments in each category for meeting specific educational objectives. Sample exercises are briefly described to explain our idea in each category. Open source tools and data sets are introduced for references. Experiences, lessons, and sample feedback from students are discussed. Our results will provide a point of reference for those who teach digital forensics courses at a college or university, or are developing a digital forensic curriculum.

Upgrading Passenger Vehicle Emission Standard Helps to Reduce China's Air Pollution Risk from Uncertainty in Electrification.

Upgrading to the CHINA 7 standard is crucial for managing air pollution from passenger vehicles in China. Meanwhile, China aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, which necessitates large-scale replacement of gasoline vehicles with electric vehicles in the future. Consequently, the public might view upgrading gasoline vehicles to the CHINA 7 standard as redundant. However, the emission reduction benefits of upgrading standards in the context of uncertain electrification ambitions have not received adequate attention. Here, we show that upgrading standards will compensate for the absence of emissions reductions due to hindered electrification efforts. In the best scenario, China's CO2 emissions can be reduced to 0.047 Gt and NOx to 8.2 × 103 t in 2050. In nonextreme electrification scenarios with CHINA 7 standard, the emission intensity reduction will remain the main driver for emission reductions, outweighing the electrification contribution. In extreme electrification scenarios, upgrading standards will tackle the increased emissions from plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Our fleet-level results advocate for early standards upgrades to enhance resilience against air pollution risks arising from uncertainties in electrification. Our evidence from China, with one of the most stringent emission standards, can provide a reference point for the world on the upgrading passenger vehicle emission standard issue.

Sustainability of European agri-food supply chain using MRP-PCI multicriteria analysis method

The need for a more sustainable agri-food system is a topic that has attracted growing interest in recent years. Several international and European policies such as Agenda 2030 and the European Green Deal have been defined with the aim of making agri-food systems more sustainable at all stages of the supply chain, from production to consumption. Particularly, the European Union concentrates several policies on it. Therefore, the assessment of the level of sustainability among the states of the European Union is a key aspect to properly address and evaluate the implementation of these policies. The objective of this paper is to measure the sustainability of the global agri-food supply chain (AFSC) of the European Union countries through the application of a multi-criteria analysis. In particular, the method used is the Multiple Reference Point Partially Compensatory Indicator, which allows the creation of composite indicators using different levels of compensation across them. A set of 50 indicators, referred to 2011 and 2019, were built and then divided into the three basic dimensions of sustainability (economic, social and environmental), aggregated into the four main AFSC sectors (agriculture, food industry, distribution, and consumption) in order to obtain an overall sustainability index. Through such an index we provided a sustainability ranking for the EU countries, while the analysis of dimensions of each sector contributed to increase the knowledge about the supply chain that can be used by decision-makers. According to the results, Italy achieved the best level of sustainability of the AFSC with a value of 48.53, followed by Sweden, Austria, Spain, France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Portugal and Slovakia. In relation to the different sectors, the biggest problems were observed in the consumption sector, where most countries did not perform well, especially for the social dimension (e.g. excess of overweight and obese persons). In contrast, the performance of the agricultural sector was good, with few exceptions, showing a fair state of sustainability.

Low speed impact simulation of explosive charge based on three-dimensional numerical manifold method

The present work addresses the challenge of evaluating the low speed impact response of polymer bonded explosive charges with three-dimensional numerical manifold method. Based on the cover-based contact theory, the contact algorithm is implemented by transforming position relationships between reference points a0 and entrance block E(A, B). Meanwhile, based on statistical micro-cracks, a Visco Scram mechanical model for the explosive charge is established. Using the classic Steven test, the influence of charge thickness, diameter, and warhead shape on the mechanical response are analyzed under low speed impact. The simulation results indicate that, increasing the thickness of the charge can effectively avoid internal damage of the explosive caused by projectile extrusion and holder confinement; Increasing the aspect ratio of the charge can alleviate the large deformation; Increasing the shape and size of the warhead can make the charge extrusion shallower, alleviating the concave shear damage of the charge. The simulation results verifies that the developed contact algorithm in this paper can effectively solve 3D impact problems, and provides guidance in the design of charge structures to some extent in the weapon system.