Unit Responses Research Articles

Site characterization of Sikkim Himalaya using HVSR

The northeastern state of Sikkim lying in central segment of the Himalayan orogen is a seismically active region which was plagued by the recent 2011 Mw6.9 earthquake. Analysis of local earthquakes recorded at the recently deployed seismic network of 27 broadband seismic stations revealed seismogenic zone extending down to lower crustal depths with a predominant strike-slip faulting mechanism. Persistent seismicity in a region with complex tectonic setting makes it imperative to study the site characteristics crucial for determining the local site conditions. Here, we harness the noise and local earthquakes records from the Sikkim network to compute horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio (HVSR) for site characterization. Local geology and topography are observed to incite distinctly intricate trends in the HVSR curves. The thick sedimentary deposit of the Himalayan foreland basin causes high amplification (∼7) at low resonant frequencies (<1 Hz). The HVSR curves in the western section of Main Central Thrust Zone exhibits distinct double amplification peaks (∼2.5 at 1 Hz and 5 Hz) under the influence of the parallely dipping sheets of the duplex structure. Whereas, the eastern section of Main Central Thrust zone exhibit a rather irregular trend owing to its proximity to the transitioning lithological unit. The central section prone to landslides has characteristic peaks at 2 Hz and 8 Hz, indicative of the geometry of the sliding surface. Effects of towering topography and high wind speeds at corresponding elevations are observed to result in anomalously high amplification (∼25) at low frequencies (< 1 Hz). Directional amplification along discrete azimuth signifies the pronounced effect of topography and geometry of lithotectonic units in site response. Locally varying site response with prevalent seismicity amplifies the seismic hazard risk potential of Sikkim Himalaya.

Effect of overheating on the efficiency of solar panels - study of temperature above 480C

The impact of heat exposure on solar panels can be very significant, not only in terms of energy losses but also in terms of the reliability of systems in the short and long term. The main PV performance parameter can be reduced; how low the power output is due to heat-induced efficiency degradation depends on the specific microclimate as well as the temperature response of the individual unit. In this paper, experiments are conducted in the laboratory of Adrar University on a monocrystalline panel with a power of 200 watts. Exposed to variable solar radiation at different times of the day. The voltage and current are measured through all stages of experimentation according to regular standards. The results show that the efficiency of the panel decreases between 4% to 10% when the amount of solar radiation increases from 572 W/m2 to 780W/m2. This corresponds to a rise in temperature between 35C0 and 49C0. These results give researchers a general picture of the changes that occur in the solar panel when it is in similar conditions.

Optimalisasi Tindak Lanjut Laporan Hasil Pemeriksaan di Kementerian Pertanian: Peran Pimpinan dan Tim TLHP

This study aims to analyze the response of work units (satker) to the follow-up of Audit Reports (LHP) at the Ministry of Agriculture. Audit Reports issued by oversight institutions, such as the Inspectorate General, act as a stimulus to identify issues and provide recommendations that need to be addressed by the work units. The response is influenced by the readiness, commitment, and capabilities of leaders and staff responsible for the follow-up process. The study found that leadership commitment is crucial in determining the effectiveness of the follow-up; leaders who do not emphasize the importance of Audit Report Follow-Up (TLHP) tend to weaken the organizational drive to act. As a solution, work units that optimally follow up on audit findings establish organized TLHP teams, formulate clear action plans, and conduct regular monitoring and evaluation. This ensures that all recommendations are followed up on time and in accordance with procedures.

Gradient metasurface covered with water-based channels for reconfigurable RCS reduction

A gradient metasurface covered with water-based channels (GMWC) is proposed for RCS (radar cross section) reduction reconfiguration. The amplitude and phase response of the metasurface unit covered by the water-based channel (WC) is altered, which results in a change in the monostatic scattering of the GMWC. Under the normal incidence of X-polarized plane waves, the RCS reduction of GMWC shows different levels when different water channels are activated. The simulated results show that the average RCS reduction of GMWC increases from 5 dB to 20 dB in 5 dB steps in the 6 GHz to 8.2 GHz frequency band under four different reconstruction states (10000;01000;00100;00001). Besides, GMWC has an average RCS reduction of 10 dB within UWB (4–18 GHz) under state 10000. Finally, GMWC is fabricated and measured, and the measured results are in agreement with the simulated results. The RCS reduction reconfiguration characteristic of GMWC has potential application in target camouflage.

Acceptability, validity and responsiveness of inertial measurement units for assessing motor recovery after gene therapy in infants with early onset spinal muscular atrophy: a prospective cohort study

BackgroundOnasemnogene abeparvovec gene replacement therapy (GT) has changed the prognosis of patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) with variable outcome regarding motor development in symptomatic patients. This pilot study evaluates acceptability, validity and clinical relevance of Inertial Measurement Units (IMU) to monitor spontaneous movement recovery in early onset SMA patients after GT.MethodsClinical assessments including CHOPINTEND score (the gold standard motor score for infants with SMA) and IMU measurements were performed before (M0) and repeatedly after GT. Inertial data was recorded during a 25-min spontaneous movement task, the child lying on the back, without (10 min) and with a playset (15 min) wearing IMUs. Two commonly used parameters, norm acceleration 95th centile (||A||_95) and counts per minute (||A||_CPM) were computed for each wrist, elbow and foot sensors.Results23 SMA-patients were included (mean age at diagnosis 8 months [min 2, max 20], 19 SMA type 1, three type 2 and one presymptomatic) and 104 IMU-measurements were performed, all well accepted by families and 84/104 with a good child participation (evaluated with Brazelton scale). ||A||_95 and ||A||_CPM showed high internal consistency (without versus with a playset) with interclass correlation coefficient for the wrist sensors of 0.88 and 0.85 respectively and for the foot sensors of 0.93 and 0.91 respectively. ||A||_95 and ||A||_CPM were strongly correlated with CHOPINTEND (r for wrist sensors 0.74 and 0.67 respectively and for foot sensors 0.61 and 0.68 respectively, p-values < 0.001). ||A||_95 for the foot, the wrist, the elbow sensors and ||A||_CPM for the foot, the wrist, the elbow sensors increased significantly between baseline and the 12 months follow-up visit (respective p-values: 0.004, < 0.001, < 0.001, 0.006, < 0.001, < 0.001).ConclusionIMUs were well accepted, consistent, concurrently valid, responsive and associated with unaided sitting acquisition especially for the elbow sensors. This study is the first reporting a large set of inertial sensor derived data after GT in SMA patients and paves the way for IMU-based follow-up of SMA patients after treatment.

A digital twin modeling and application for gear rack drilling rigs lifting system

A comprehensive digital transformation has been undergone by the oil and gas industry, wherein digital twins are leveraged to enable real-time data analysis, providing predictive and diagnostic engineering insights. The potential for developing intelligent oil and gas fields is substantial with the implementation of digital twins. A digital twin framework for gear rack drilling rigs is proposed, built upon an understanding of the digital twin composition and characteristics of the gear rack drilling rig lifting system. The framework encompasses descriptions of digital twin characteristics specific to drilling rigs, the application environment, and behavioral rules. The modeling approach integrates mechanism modeling, real-time performance response, instantaneous data transmission, and data visualization. To illustrate this framework, exemplary case studies involving the transmission unit and support unit of the lifting system are presented. Mechanism models are constructed to analyze dynamic gear performance and support unit response. Real-time data transmission is facilitated through sensor-based monitoring, enhancing the prediction speed and accuracy of dynamic performance through a synergy of mechanism modeling, machine learning, and real-time data analysis. The digital twin of the lifting system is visualized utilizing the Unity3D platform. Furthermore, functionalities on data acquisition, processing, and visualization across diverse application scenarios are encapsulated into modular components, streamlining the creation of high-fidelity digital twins. The frameworks and modeling methodologies presented herein can serve as a foundational and methodological guide for the exploration and implementation of digital twin technology within the oil and gas industry, ultimately fostering its advancement in this sector.

Distinct visual processing networks for foveal and peripheral visual fields

Foveal and peripheral vision are two distinct modes of visual processing essential for navigating the world. However, it remains unclear if they engage different neural mechanisms and circuits within the visual attentional system. Here, we trained macaques to perform a free-gaze visual search task using natural face and object stimuli and recorded a large number of 14588 visually responsive units from a broadly distributed network of brain regions involved in visual attentional processing. Foveal and peripheral units had substantially different proportions across brain regions and exhibited systematic differences in encoding visual information and visual attention. The spike-local field potential (LFP) coherence of foveal units was more extensively modulated by both attention and visual selectivity, thus indicating differential engagement of the attention and visual coding network compared to peripheral units. Furthermore, we delineated the interaction and coordination between foveal and peripheral processing for spatial attention and saccade selection. Together, the systematic differences between foveal and peripheral processing provide valuable insights into how the brain processes and integrates visual information from different regions of the visual field.

The Role of High-Level Isolation Units in Response to High-Consequence and Emerging Infectious Diseases: Experience of the German STAKOB Network.

This case study describes the experience of the German Permanent Working Group of Competence and Treatment Centers for High Consequence Infectious Diseases, known as STAKOB (Ständiger Arbeitskreis der Kompetenz- und Behandlungszentren für Krankheiten durch hochpathogene Erreger). STAKOB brings together public health authorities (competence centers) and high-level isolation units (treatment centers) to collaborate on the clinical management of high-consequence infectious diseases (HCIDs) and emerging infectious diseases. The network is coordinated by the Robert Koch Institute, Germany's federal public health institute. The main tasks of STAKOB are to strengthen HCID clinical and public health management and increase expert knowledge on HCID and non-HCID emerging infectious diseases in Germany. STAKOB enables the exchange of knowledge and experiences; development of guidelines on infection prevention and control measures, clinical management, and therapy; and support for the World Health Organization and other outbreak responses internationally. The past years have shown how important the STAKOB network is for Germany-not only in providing critical care for HCID cases but also increasing capacity to support public health and clinical management of emerging infectious disease cases. However, maintaining several high-level isolation units in Germany requires a high commitment of financial, material, and human resources. Due to the rarity of HCID and emerging infectious disease events, maintaining the appropriate level of preparedness and ensuring sufficient investments is an ongoing struggle. Nevertheless, it is essential to have a network ready to react to HCID and non-HCID emerging infectious diseases in times of a changing biosecurity and infectious landscape.

Speed Regulating of Wind Turbine Unit using Iterative Learning Control

Conventional control methods, such as Proportional Integral Derivative (PID) control, have been extensively utilized for speed regulation in renewable energy wind turbine units. However, the limitations and disadvantages of PID, including difficulties in handling nonlinearities and uncertainties inherent in wind turbine dynamics, necessitate the exploration of alternative approaches. This research paper proposes the adoption of Iterative Learning Control (ILC) as an intelligent controller for addressing the shortcomings of PID. By exploiting the repetitive nature of wind turbine operation, ILC offers the potential to enhance speed regulation performance by iteratively refining control actions based on past experiences for advancing renewable energy. Through simulation studies, the effectiveness of ILC in improving the transient response and tracking accuracy of wind turbine units is demonstrated.

Analyzing UNESCO’s Report on Global Educational Challenges Amidst The COVID-19 Pandemic

This article presents an analysis of the UNESCO report on global educational challenges in the context of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. This paper examines the ways in which the pandemic has served to exacerbate pre-existing educational and gender inequalities, as outlined in the UNESCO report. The paper considers the United Nations' assessment and response strategies, evaluating their effectiveness in mitigating these disparities. A detailed analysis of the UNESCO report's findings and recommendations reveals significant deficiencies in addressing educational inequities during the pandemic. Moreover, it elucidates the broader implications for equitable access to education.

The Chinese change-of-state token o in responsive units

Adopting the methodology of Conversation Analysis and Interactional Linguistics, this study investigates the uses of the response token o in Mandarin Chinese face-to-face conversation. The analysis of naturally occurring interactions shows that o features centrally in the practices by which speakers display a change in cognitive states, either from previously being uninformed to now being informed, or from non-understanding to understanding regarding relevant information that was just mentioned by a co-participant. It is also revealed that there is an interrelatedness between the sequential environment/turn shape of o and the epistemic claim that it conveys. That is, the o marking now-knowing typically occurs in response to informings (especially extended tellings) and it primarily plays a continuative forward-looking sequential role in freestanding form, which makes it distinct from the English oh. Furthermore, other turn-initial uses of o are routinely followed by components of repetition or assessment which are sequence-curtailing in character. Different from the o marking now-knowing, the o marking revised understanding is exclusively found in third position following the speaker’s first-position claim or question, and where that claim or question contains an incorrect assumption which has either been corrected or disconfirmed in second position.

“AIE+ESIPT” based naphthothiazole fluorescent probes for live cell imaging

Dual-functional organic fluorophores with aggregation induced emission (AIE) behavior and excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) behavior are of great significance to the design of imaging probes to bioimage systems. However, the pursuit of probes exhibiting dual AIE+ESIPT effects for live cell imaging remains an ongoing research challeng. Herein, we have successfully developed naphthothiazole fluorescent probes, HNBT-H and HNBT-G, based on the "AIE+ESIPT" effect. These probes were designed by incorporating responsive units for β-galactosidase (β-gal) and H2O2 into the pre-existing "AIE+ESIPT" HNBT fluorophore framework. The HNBT-H probe demonstrated the capability to distinguish various levels of H2O2. Furthermore, the applicability of HNBT-H and HNBT-G have been examined in living systems. These probes exhibit a good biocompatibility and low toxicity, the cell imaging experiments demonstrate the capability of HNBT-H and HNBT-G for fluorescence visualization in response to β-gal and H2O2 in RAW264.7 cells and PC12 cells.

Self-Assembled Bis-Acridinium Tweezer Equilibria Controlled by Multi-Responsive Properties.

Protonated and methylated bis-acridinium tweezers built around a 2,6-diphenylpyridyl and an electron enriched 2,6-di(p-anisyl)pyridyl spacer have been synthesized. These tweezers can self-assemble in their corresponding homodimers and the associated thermodynamic parameters have been probed in organic solvents. The switching properties of the tweezers have been exploited in biphasic transfer experiments showing the shift of the equilibria towards the homodimers. Moreover, the thermodynamic parameters of the formation of the reduced methylated homodimers investigated by electrochemical experiments revealed the dissociation of the dimers. Thus, in addition to solvent and temperature, the pH and redox responsiveness of the acridinium units of the tweezers make it possible to modulate to a larger extent the monomer-dimer equilibria.

Seismic response of unreinforced masonry building aggregates: Investigation on the “aggregate-effect” based on an elementary building aggregate

Masonry building aggregates constitute a significant portion of Italian and Mediterranean countries built heritage. These structures originate from the progressive transformation and interconnection of originally isolated structural units over time. Masonry aggregate seismic performance is affected by significant uncertainty arising from the lack of knowledge of their complex structural arrangement, which is also reflected in the reliability of modeling assumption adopted for the analysis and the descending outcomes. This paper presents a numerical study investigating the seismic behavior of an elementary building aggregate made of three almost identical structural units. Different boundary conditions are explored in the analysis, extracting and comparing the responses of the individual structural units modeled both in aggregate and isolated and with rigid or flexible floors. Homogenized masonry approach is implemented for the building aggregate models with 2D layered inelastic shell elements. The structural models are realized with the STKO software platform for OpenSees, enabling parallel computing to analyze large scale models. Results will highlight the extent of the so-called “aggregate effect” for the elementary aggregate building and its potential benefits to the structural units, showing also that the behavior of structural units in aggregate strongly depends on their position and the polarity of the seismic forces.

Assessment of communicative competence in adult patients with minimum response in intensive care units: A scoping review.

Few formal instruments exist to assess the communicative competence of patients hospitalized in intensive care units (ICUs). This can limit interventions by health professionals. To map the categories and instruments for assessing the communicative competence of adult patients with minimal response in ICUs. A scoping review was carried out following the Joanna Briggs Institute protocol between February and March 2022 and using the MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, Scielo, Business Source Complete (via EBSCOhost), Academic Search Complete (via EBSCOhost) and Web of Science databases, in Portuguese, English and Spanish. Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. The different communication and pain assessment protocols covered awareness, cognition, sensory capacity, motor capacity, language, speech and literacy. The present review offers a starting point for the construction of a formal assessment instrument to enable clinicians to implement an augmentative or alternative communication system (AACS) for the voluntary, independent and active participation of patients. What is already known on the subject Patients in ICUs are subject to various forms of treatment and continuous and intensive monitoring, compromising their capacity to communicate and actively participate (e.g., sharing symptoms and making decisions). Although there is some awareness of their disadvantage in such a regard, few protocols of assessment of communicative competence have been adapted to patients with a minimum response. What this paper adds to the existing knowledge The present review highlights different protocols for the assessment of communication and pain. They include the following categories: awareness, sensory capacity, auditory and visual acuity, positioning and motor capacity, language, speech, and literacy. The review offers a starting point for the construction of a formal assessment instrument encompassing the aforementioned categories, along with duly validated guidelines for its application. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work? Our formal assessment instrument takes into account the need to adapt to different patient profiles. It is hoped that it will provide speech therapists and other health professionals with the information required to implement an AACS in which patients participate actively.

Dynamic Consensus-Based ADMM Strategy for Economic Dispatch with Demand Response in Power Grids

This paper introduces a dynamic consensus-based economic dispatch (ED) algorithm utilizing the Alternating Direction Method of Multipliers (ADMM) to optimize real-time pricing and generation/demand decisions within a decentralized energy management framework. The increasing complexity of modern energy markets, driven by the proliferation of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) and variable demands from hybrid electric vehicles, necessitates a departure from traditional centralized dispatch methods. This research proposes a novel ADMM-based solution tailored for non-responsive and responsive demand units that integrates demand response mechanisms to adaptively manage real-time fluctuations while enhancing security and privacy through distributed data management. The testing of the algorithm on the IEEE 39 bus system under various load conditions over 24 h demonstrated the algorithm’s effectiveness in handling traditional and renewable energy sources, particularly highlighting the economic benefits of shifting controllable loads to periods of low-cost renewable availability. The findings underscore the algorithm’s potential to reduce energy costs, enhance energy efficiency, and offer a scalable solution across diverse grid systems, contributing significantly to advancing global energy policy and sustainable management practices.

Local Government Units Disaster Preparedness and Response in the Province of Bulacan: Basis for Enhancement

Local Government Units Disaster Preparedness and Response in the Province of Bulacan: Basis for Enhancement

Association of Misfolded α-Synuclein Derived from Neuronal Exosomes in Blood with Parkinson's Disease Diagnosis and Duration.

Misfolded α-synuclein can be detected in blood samples of Parkinson's disease (PD) patients by a seed amplification assay (SAA), but the association with disease duration is not clear, yet. In the present study we aimed to elucidate whether seeding activity of misfolded α-synuclein derived from neuronal exosomes in blood is associated with PD diagnosis and disease duration. Cross-sectional samples of PD patients were analyzed and compared to samples of age- and gender-matched healthy controls using a blood-based SAA. Presence of α-synuclein seeding activity and differences in seeding parameters, including fluorescence response (in arbitrary units) at the end of the amplification assay (F60) were analyzed. Additionally, available PD samples collected longitudinally over 5-9 years were included. In the cross-sectional dataset, 79 of 80 PD patients (mean age 69 years, SD = 8; 56% male) and none of the healthy controls (n = 20, mean age 70 years, SD = 10; 55% male) showed seeding activity (sensitivity 98.8%). When comparing subgroups divided by disease duration, longer disease duration was associated with lower α-synuclein seeding activity (F60: p < 0.001). In the longitudinal analysis 10/11 patients showed a gradual decrease of α-synuclein seeding activity over time. This study confirms the high sensitivity of the blood-based α-synuclein SAA applied here. The negative association of α-synuclein seeding activity in blood with disease duration makes this parameter potentially interesting as biomarker for future studies on the pathophysiology of disease progression in PD, and for biologically oriented trials in this field.

Convolutional neural network models applied to neuronal responses in macaque V1 reveal limited nonlinear processing.

Computational models of the primary visual cortex (V1) have suggested that V1 neurons behave like Gabor filters followed by simple nonlinearities. However, recent work employing convolutional neural network (CNN) models has suggested that V1 relies on far more nonlinear computations than previously thought. Specifically, unit responses in an intermediate layer of VGG-19 were found to best predict macaque V1 responses to thousands of natural and synthetic images. Here, we evaluated the hypothesis that the poor performance of lower layer units in VGG-19 might be attributable to their small receptive field size rather than to their lack of complexity per se. We compared VGG-19 with AlexNet, which has much larger receptive fields in its lower layers. Whereas the best-performing layer of VGG-19 occurred after seven nonlinear steps, the first convolutional layer of AlexNet best predicted V1 responses. Although the predictive accuracy of VGG-19 was somewhat better than that of standard AlexNet, we found that a modified version of AlexNet could match the performance of VGG-19 after only a few nonlinear computations. Control analyses revealed that decreasing the size of the input images caused the best-performing layer of VGG-19 to shift to a lower layer, consistent with the hypothesis that the relationship between image size and receptive field size can strongly affect model performance. We conducted additional analyses using a Gabor pyramid model to test for nonlinear contributions of normalization and contrast saturation. Overall, our findings suggest that the feedforward responses of V1 neurons can be well explained by assuming only a few nonlinear processing stages.

Regional and farm level droughts characteristics for southwestern Uganda during 1981–2017

An increase in drought events associated with rising temperatures indicates that Uganda is facing a growing challenge from climate variability. Despite these challenges, there is a lack of comprehensive information on how climate variability affects soils, particularly drought characteristics. In an effort to address this limitation, this study utilised high-quality, in-situ climate data and soil Available Water Capacity (AWC) specific to south-western Uganda. The study employed the Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) and the Standardised Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) to assess drought occurrences over the period 1981–2017. Notably, the results from the 3-month SPEI indicated higher frequencies across all drought categories. Meanwhile, the 12-month SPEI exhibited more stabilised negative and positive truncations for drought and wet events, respectively. Analysing the temporal evolution of monthly PDSI values for five major soil mapping units revealed distinct patterns. Moderate droughts were observed over Lixic Ferralsols between 1981 and 1992 and between 1998 and 2008. Extreme drought events occurred during the first 5–7 months of 2017. Luvisols exhibited prolonged negative truncation levels, indicating a water deficit during several periods: 1982–1984, 1990–1994, 1998–2000, 2010, and 2012–2014. Histosols experienced drought conditions from 1982 to 1986, interspersed with wet events in 1988, 1997, 1999–2002, and 2005. The study emphasises the differential response of soil units to drought and wet conditions. As a result, the research recommends implementing water management practices such as irrigation, mulching, conservation tillage, zero tillage, and drainage for all soils to enhance resilience and sustainable agricultural practices in the region.