Temporal Dependence Research Articles

Advanced Short-Term Load Forecasting with XGBoost-RF Feature Selection and CNN-GRU

Accurate and efficient short-term load forecasting (STLF) is essential for optimizing power system operations. This study proposes a novel hybrid forecasting model that integrates XGBoost-RF feature selection with a CNN-GRU neural network to enhance prediction performance while reducing model complexity. The XGBoost-RF approach is first applied to select the most predictive features from historical load data, weather conditions, and time-based variables. A convolutional neural network (CNN) is then employed to extract spatial features, while a gated recurrent unit (GRU) captures temporal dependencies for load forecasting. By leveraging a dual-channel structure that combines long- and short-term historical load trends, the proposed model significantly mitigates cumulative errors from recursive predictions. Experimental results demonstrate that the model achieves superior performance with an average root mean square error (RMSE) of 53.29 and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 3.56% on the test set. Compared to traditional models, the prediction accuracy improves by 28.140% to 110.146%. Additionally, the model exhibits strong robustness across different climatic conditions. This research validates the efficacy of integrating XGBoost-RF feature selection with CNN-GRU for STLF, offering reliable decision support for power system management.

Data-driven multivariate time series prediction of in-vehicle equipment failure rates

AbstractEffectively predicting the failure rate of train-controlled on-board equipment is of great significance for rationally allocating equipment spares, drawing up maintenance plans, and reducing the occurrence of failures. In order to tackle the problem of the intricate attributes and limited predictive precision of the sample data pertaining to the failure rate of on-board equipment, in this paper, a multivariate time series prediction model for the failure rate of train-controlled on-board equipment is based on the combination of multivariate variational modal decomposition (MVMD) graph neural network (GNN) and transformer. First, the original failure rate time series, air temperature, humidity and sand and dust time series are modally decomposed using MVMD, and the intrinsic modal functions (IMFs) of each series are obtained; then, the dynamic graph of the GNN network is defined according to the IMFs, and Transformer’s self-attention mechanism is utilised to capture the dynamic graph’s temporal and spatial dependencies. Finally, the failure rate is output through the feed-forward neural network prediction value. Experiments using the historical fault data of CTCS3-300T train-controlled on-board equipment are carried out to confirm the efficacy of the suggested method, and it is contrasted with other conventional machine learning techniques. The outcomes of the experiment show that compared with other train-controlled on-board equipment failure prediction models, the proposed method has a very good superiority, as evidenced by its mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.0489 and root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.0510, which is of certain reference value for equipment operation and maintenance.

Biomechanical and machine learning approaches to automating the identification of musical styles and emotions through human motion analysis

This study explores the intricate relationship between biomechanical movements and musical expression, focusing on the identification of musical styles and emotions. Violin performance is characterized by complex interactions between physical actions—such as bowing techniques, finger placements, and posture—and the resulting acoustic output. Recent advances in motion capture technology and sound analysis have enabled a more objective examination of these processes. However, the current literature frequently addresses biomechanics and acoustic features in isolation, lacking an integrated understanding of how physical movements translate into specific musical expressions. Machine Learning (ML), particularly Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, provides a promising avenue for bridging this gap. LSTM models are adept at capturing temporal dependencies in sequential data, making them suitable for analyzing the dynamic nature of violin performance. In this work, they have proposed a comprehensive model that combines biomechanical analysis with Mel-spectrogram-based LSTM modeling to automate the identification of musical styles and emotions in violin performances. Using motion capture systems, Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs), and high-fidelity audio recordings, we collected synchronized biomechanical and acoustic data from violinists performing various musical excerpts. The LSTM model was trained on this dataset to learn the intricate connections between physical movements and the acoustic features of each performance. Key findings from the study demonstrate the effectiveness of this integrated approach. The LSTM model achieved a validation accuracy of 92.5% in classifying musical styles and emotions, with precision, recall, and F1-score reaching 94.3%, 92.6%, and 93.4%, respectively, by the 100th epoch. The analysis also revealed strong correlations between specific biomechanical parameters, such as shoulder joint angle and bowing velocity, and acoustic features, like sound intensity and vibrato amplitude.

Establish a novel framework for enhancing minority music genre identification

The objective of this study is to develop a new framework based on Waterwheel Plant optimization for improving minority music genre classification using Layer-tuned Long Short-Term Memory (WP-LT-LSTM). Chinese minority music includes various musical styles of different ethnic groups in China. It depends on the specific instrumentalities, the distribution of pitch classes and rhythms, and the culture. Specifically, the proposed framework will enhance the ability to efficiently detect under represented music genres, which could have applicability for cultural sustainability and more personalized music recommendation services. For this, we collected a dataset that includes a wide range of different minority music samples in audio format. These include genre labels, artist information and audio features necessary for the training of our suggested model. Using K-fold cross validation to enhances the accuracy. Min-max Normalization is used on the obtained data to perform pre-processing. To extract the important features from the processed data, we used Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients (MFCCs). In our proposed model, the WP algorithm dynamically adjusts LT-LSTM’s internal parameters, enhancing model adaptability. LT-LSTM processes sequential audio data, capturing temporal dependencies crucial for genre classification in minority music genres. The implemented model is executed in Python software. It evaluates the model’s performance across a range of parameters throughout the result analysis phase. We also performed comparison studies using standard methods. The results collected indicate the excellence and effectiveness of the proposed framework for music genre identification.

A groundwater level spatiotemporal prediction model based on graph convolutional networks with a long short-term memory

ABSTRACT The performance of regional groundwater level (GWL) prediction model hinges on understanding intricate spatiotemporal correlations among monitoring wells. In this study, a graph convolutional network (GCN) with a long short-term memory (LSTM) (GCN–LSTM) model is introduced for GWL prediction utilizing data from 16 wells located in the northeastern Xiangtan City, China. This model is designed to account for both the hybrid temporal dependencies and spatial autocorrelations among wells. It consists of two parts: the spatial part employs GCNs to extract spatial characteristics from a spatial self-similarity weight matrix and an attribute self-similarity wight matrix among wells; the temporal part utilizes a LSTM module to capture the temporal patterns of GWL sequences, along with monthly precipitation and temperature data. This model dynamically predicts changes in groundwater levels, achieving higher accuracy on average compared to single-well predictions using LSTM. By incorporating both temporal dependencies and spatial autocorrelations, the GCN–LSTM model demonstrated an average improvement in goodness-of-fit of approximately 11.21% over the LSTM-based model for individual wells. Its application holds significant reference value for the sustainable utilization and development of groundwater resources in Xiangtan City.

Sea Surface Temperature Prediction Using ConvLSTM-Based Model with Deformable Attention

Sea surface temperature (SST) prediction has received increasing attention in recent years due to its paramount importance in the various fields of oceanography. Existing studies have shown that neural networks are particularly effective in making accurate SST predictions by efficiently capturing spatiotemporal dependencies in SST data. Among various models, the ConvLSTM framework is notably prominent. This model skillfully combines convolutional neural networks (CNNs) with recurrent neural networks (RNNs), enabling it to simultaneously capture spatiotemporal dependencies within a single computational framework. To overcome the limitation that CNNs primarily capture local spatial information, in this paper we propose a novel model named DatLSTM that integrates a deformable attention transformer (DAT) module into the ConvLSTM framework, thereby enhancing its ability to process more complex spatial relationships effectively. Specifically, the DAT module adaptively focuses on salient features in space, while ConvLSTM further captures the temporal dependencies of spatial correlations in the SST data. In this way, DatLSTM can adaptively capture complex spatiotemporal dependencies between the preceding and current states within ConvLSTM. To evaluate the performance of the DatLSTM model, we conducted short-term SST forecasts in the Bohai Sea region with forecast lead times ranging from 1 to 10 days and compared its efficacy against several benchmark models, including ConvLSTM, PredRNN, TCTN, and SwinLSTM. Our experimental results show that the proposed model outperforms all of these models in terms of multiple evaluation metrics short-term SST prediction. The proposed model offers a new predictive learning method for improving the accuracy of spatiotemporal predictions in various domains, including meteorology, oceanography, and climate science.

Temporal attention fusion network with custom loss function for EEG--fNIRS classification.

Objective.Methods that can detect brain activities accurately are crucial owing to the increasing prevalence of neurological disorders. In this context, a combination of electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) offers a powerful approach to understanding normal and pathological brain functions, thereby overcoming the limitations of each modality, such as susceptibility to artefacts of EEG and limited temporal resolution of fNIRS. However, challenges such as class imbalance and inter-class variability within multisubject data hinder their full potential.Approach.To address this issue, we propose a novel temporal attention fusion network (TAFN) with a custom loss function. The TAFN model incorporates attention mechanisms to its long short-term memory and temporal convolutional layers to accurately capture spatial and temporal dependencies in the EEG--fNIRS data. The custom loss function combines class weights and asymmetric loss terms to ensure the precise classification of cognitive and motor intentions, along with addressing class imbalance issues.Main resultsRigorous testing demonstrated the exceptional cross-subject accuracy of the TAFN, exceeding 99% for cognitive tasks and 97% for motor imagery (MI) tasks. Additionally, the ability of the model to detect subtle differences in epilepsy was analyzed using scalp topography in MI tasks.Significance.This study presents a technique that outperforms traditional methods for detecting high-precision brain activity with subtle differences in the associated patterns. This makes it a promising tool for applications such as epilepsy and seizure detection, in which discerning subtle pattern differences is of paramount importance.

TEA-GCN: Transformer-Enhanced Adaptive Graph Convolutional Network for Traffic Flow Forecasting

Traffic flow forecasting is crucial for improving urban traffic management and reducing resource consumption. Accurate traffic conditions prediction requires capturing the complex spatial-temporal dependencies inherent in traffic data. Traditional spatial-temporal graph modeling methods often rely on fixed road network structures, failing to account for the dynamic spatial correlations that vary over time. To address this, we propose a Transformer-Enhanced Adaptive Graph Convolutional Network (TEA-GCN) that alternately learns temporal and spatial correlations in traffic data layer-by-layer. Specifically, we design an adaptive graph convolutional module to dynamically capture implicit road dependencies at different time levels and a local-global temporal attention module to simultaneously capture long-term and short-term temporal dependencies. Experimental results on two public traffic datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model compared to other state-of-the-art traffic flow prediction methods.

A hybrid model for missing traffic flow data imputation based on clustering and attention mechanism optimizing LSTM and AdaBoost

Reliable traffic flow data is not only crucial for traffic management and planning, but also the foundation for many intelligent applications. However, the phenomenon of missing traffic flow data often occurs, so we propose an imputation model for missing traffic flow data to overcome the randomness and instability bands of traffic flow. First, k-means clustering is used to classify road segments with traffic flow belonging to the same pattern into a group to utilize the spatial characteristics of roads fully. Then, the LSTM networks optimized with an attention mechanism are used as the base learner to extract the temporal dependence of the traffic flow. Finally, the AdaBoost algorithm is used to integrate all the LSTM-attention networks into a reinforced learner to impute the missing data. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed model, we use the PeMS dataset for validation, we impute the data with missing data rate from 10 to 60% under three missing modes, and we use multiple baseline models for comparison, which confirms that our proposed model improves the stability and accuracy of imputing the missing data of the traffic flow with different scenarios.

Capsular attention Conv-LSTM network (CACN): A deep learning structure for crop yield estimation based on multispectral imagery

Precise prediction of agricultural production output is crucial for farmers, policymakers, and the Farming-related industry. This article introduces a novel methodology to crop yield forecasting using a capsular neural network equipped with Conv-LSTM and attention mechanism. Our model combines the strengths of 3DCNN, and Conv-LSTM, which can capture the temporal dependencies and 3D features of crop yield data, and attention mechanism, which Can prioritize the most significant characteristics for making predictions. We evaluated CACN on a sizable collection of data of soybean crop yield in the United States from 2003 to 2019 and evaluated against various cutting-edge deep learning models. The outcomes indicate that our suggested approach surpasses other models in performance in terms of RMSE, correlation coefficient, and prediction error map. Specifically, our model achieved approximately 14 % improvement in terms of RMSE, compared to the state-of-the-art model Deep-Yield. Our model also demonstrated the ability to extract more meaningful features and capture the complex relationships between crop yield data and meteorological variables. Overall, our proposed method shows great potential for accurate and efficient crop yield forecasting and can be applied to other crops and regions.

Multi-branch fusion graph neural network based on multi-head attention for childhood seizure detection

The most common manifestation of neurological disorders in children is the occurrence of epileptic seizures. In this study, we propose a multi-branch graph convolutional network (MGCNA) framework with a multi-head attention mechanism for detecting seizures in children. The MGCNA framework extracts effective and reliable features from high-dimensional data, particularly by exploring the relationships between EEG features and electrodes and considering the spatial and temporal dependencies in epileptic brains. This method incorporates three graph learning approaches to systematically assess the connectivity and synchronization of multi-channel EEG signals. The multi-branch graph convolutional network is employed to dynamically learn temporal correlations and spatial topological structures. Utilizing the multi-head attention mechanism to process multi-branch graph features further enhances the capability to handle local features. Experimental results demonstrate that the MGCNA exhibits superior performance on patient-specific and patient-independent experiments. Our end-to-end model for automatic detection of epileptic seizures could be employed to assist in clinical decision-making.

A Systematic Literature Review on The Role of LSTM Networks in Capturing Temporal Dependencies in Data Mining Algorithms

Data mining plays a crucial role in extracting meaningful insights from large and complex data sets, with broad applications in sectors like finance, health care, and market analysis. Traditional techniques—such as classification, clustering, association rule mining, regression, and anomaly detection—are effective for analyzing structured data but struggle with sequential data due to the challenges of modeling temporal dependencies. Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) networks, a specialized form of Recurrent Neural Networks (RNNs), provide a solution to these challenges. By incorporating memory cells and gating mechanisms, LSTM effectively manage long-term dependencies and address issues like vanishing and exploding gradients. This paper reviews the impact of LSTM networks on data mining, analyzing over 60 key publications. By synthesizing concepts and recent advancements, the review underscores how LSTMs enhance the ability of data mining algorithms to capture and predict temporal patterns, reflecting current research trends and innovations

Detection of Android Malware Using Word2Vec and Deep Learning

To fortify Android devices against evolving threats, the project unfolds with a commitment to contribute to security endeavors significantly. The core purpose is to leverage machine-learning techniques, particularly deep-learning architectures, to construct robust mechanisms for identifying and classifying Android malware. A hybrid deep learning model combining Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks with Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) is employed to classify the applications as benign or malicious. The LSTM-CNN model is designed to effectively capture both temporal dependencies and spatial patterns within the feature vectors. Additionally, a Random Forest classifier is used to identify the most important features for classification, improving the performance and efficiency of the deep learning model. The proposed approach is evaluated on the CICMalDroid2020 dataset, demonstrating its ability to detect and classify Android malware accurately. This highlights the effectiveness of static feature analysis combined with advanced deep learning architectures for enhancing Android malware detection systems.

Forecasting stock index closing points using ARIMA-GARCH with a rolling data window

This research develops and examines the efficacy of a hybrid ARIMA-GARCH model, augmented by a rolling data window approach, to enhance the accuracy of stock index prediction, specifically focusing on the NEPSE index. Accurate predictions of stock indices are of paramount importance to investors, analysts and policy makers to navigate and circumvent the market uncertainties. The AutoRegressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model captures linear trends and temporal dependencies in time series data, while the General AutoRegressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (GARCH) model addresses volatility clustering—ubiquitous character of financial time series—thereby providing a comprehensive framework for prediction. Utilizing a dataset comprised of daily closing points of NEPSE index approximately three years and nine months, the study identifies the ARIMA (5,1,0)-GARCH (1,1) model as optimal fit, upon integrating 180-day rolling data window. This model achieved a Mean Percentage Error of -0.0058% and a correlation of 0.995, which is indicative of superior fit to the underlying time series data. These findings underscore the hybrid model’s capacity to adaptively respond to dynamic market conditions and acclimatize prediction parallel to most recent market trends and volatility. This research is useful for optimizing investment strategies for those invested in Nepalese stocks. Also, this research lays a foundational framework for future investigations into application of this advanced forecasting method in other emerging markets, financial instruments and indices.

Diffusion-Induced Ordered Nanowire Growth: Mask Patterning Insights

Innovative methods for substrate patterning provide intriguing possibilities for the development of devices based on ordered arrays of semiconductor nanowires. Control over the nanostructures’ morphology in situ can be obtained via extensive theoretical studies of their formation. In this paper, we carry out an investigation of the ordered nanowires’ formation kinetics depending on the growth mask geometry. Diffusion equations for the growth species on both substrate and nanowire sidewalls depending on the spacing arrangement of the nanostructures and deposition rate are considered. The value of the pitch corresponding to the maximum diffusion flux from the substrate is obtained. The latter is assumed to be the optimum in terms of the nanowire elongation rate. Further study of the adatom kinetics demonstrates that the temporal dependence of a nanowire’s length is strongly affected by the ratio of the adatom’s diffusion length on the substrate and sidewalls, providing insights into the proper choice of a growth wafer. The developed model allows for customization of the growth protocols and estimation of the important diffusion parameters of the growth species.

Sign language recognition using modified deep learning network and hybrid optimization: a hybrid optimizer (HO) based optimized CNNSa-LSTM approach.

Speech impairment limits a person's capacity for oral and auditory communication. Improvements in communication between the deaf and the general public can be progressed by a real-time sign language detector. Recent studies have contributed to make progress in motion and gesture identification processes using Deep Learning (DL) methods and computer vision. But the development of static and dynamic sign language recognition (SLR) models is still a challenging area of research. The difficulty is in obtaining an appropriate model that addresses the challenges of continuous signs that are independent of the signer. Different signers' speeds, durations, and many other factors make it challenging to create a model with high accuracy and continuity. This study mainly focused on SLR using a modified DL and hybrid optimization approach. Notably, spatial and geometric-based features are extracted via the Visual Geometry Group 16 (VGG16), and motion features are extracted using the optical flow approach. A new DL model, CNNSa-LSTM, is a combination of a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), Self-Attention (SA), and Long-Short-Term Memory (LSTM) to identify sign language. This model is developed for feature extraction by combining CNNs for spatial analysis with SA mechanisms for focusing on relevant features, while LSTM effectively models temporal dependencies. The proposed CNNSa-LSTM model enhances performance in tasks involving complex, sequential data, such as sign language processing. Besides, a Hybrid Optimizer (HO) is proposed using the Hippopotamus Optimization Algorithm (HOA) and the Pathfinder Algorithm (PFA). The proposed model has been implemented in Python, and it has been evaluated over the existing models in terms of accuracy (98.7%), sensitivity (98.2%), precision (98.5%), Word Error Rate (WER) (0.131), Sign Error Rate (SER) (0.114), and Normalized Discounted Cumulative Gain (NDCG) (98%) as well. The proposed model has recorded the highest accuracy of 98.7%.

Deep learning-based spectrum sensing and modulation categorization for efficient data transmission in Cognitive Radio

Abstract One prominent feature of cognitive radio (CR) involves spectrum sensing (SS), which allows licensed primary users to remain unaffected by secondary users' ability to discover and exploit unoccupied frequency bands. Spectrum sensing enhances the use of spectrum in CR devices, increasing their adaptability and efficiency in wireless communication systems. The rise of wireless equipment and the advent of IoT technologies compound this need for flexibility. Over time, the fixed allocation of frequencies has led to inefficiencies and underutilization as bandwidth needs increase. Deep learning and artificial intelligence have improved spectrum sensing by increasing detection probability of primary users presence under noisy environments, enabling cognitive radio systems to respond intelligently to fluctuations in RF environments. This article is concerned with deep learning techniques for spectrum sensing and modulation categorization with CBRT structure, which combines convolutional neural networks (CNNs), bidirectional recurrent neural networks (BRNNs), and transformer networks (TNs) to improve spectrum sensing. CNNs are responsible for performing spectrum feature extraction; BRNNs are used to capture temporal dependencies; and TNs are good at long range dependencies. Better performance for this model is aimed by integrating the three architectures described. In the proposed work, we considered six digital modulation schemes, for spectrum sensing. The sensing of spectrum in this model is performed using the RadioML2016.10B open-source dataset and performance metrics like the Jaccard Index (JI), Fowlkes’s Mallows Index, and F1 Score. Modulation classification has been performed using MIGOU-MOD open-source dataset. The proposed model exhibits good detection probability and sensing error, unlike other methods at lower SNR.

Enhancing IoT Security Using GA-HDLAD: A Hybrid Deep Learning Approach for Anomaly Detection

The adoption and use of the Internet of Things (IoT) have increased rapidly over recent years, and cyber threats in IoT devices have also become more common. Thus, the development of a system that can effectively identify malicious attacks and reduce security threats in IoT devices has become a topic of great importance. One of the most serious threats comes from botnets, which commonly attack IoT devices by interrupting the networks required for the devices to run. There are a number of methods that can be used to improve security by identifying unknown patterns in IoT networks, including deep learning and machine learning approaches. In this study, an algorithm named the genetic algorithm with hybrid deep learning-based anomaly detection (GA-HDLAD) is developed, with the aim of improving security by identifying botnets within the IoT environment. The GA-HDLAD technique addresses the problem of high dimensionality by using a genetic algorithm during feature selection. Hybrid deep learning is used to detect botnets; the approach is a combination of recurrent neural networks (RNNs), feature extraction techniques (FETs), and attention concepts. Botnet attacks commonly involve complex patterns that the hybrid deep learning (HDL) method can detect. Moreover, the use of FETs in the model ensures that features can be effectively extracted from spatial data, while temporal dependencies are captured by RNNs. Simulated annealing (SA) is utilized to select the hyperparameters necessary for the HDL approach. In this study, the GA-HDLAD system is experimentally assessed using a benchmark botnet dataset, and the findings reveal that the system provides superior results in comparison to existing detection methods.

AI-driven optimization of agricultural water management for enhanced sustainability

Optimizing agricultural water resource management is crucial for food production, as effective water management can significantly improve irrigation efficiency and crop yields. Currently, precise agricultural water demand forecasting and management have become key research focuses; however, existing methods often fail to capture complex spatial and temporal dependencies. To address this, we propose a novel deep learning framework that combines remote sensing technology with the UNet-ConvLSTM (UCL) model to effectively integrate spatial and temporal features from MODIS and GLDAS datasets. Our model leverages the high-resolution spatial data from UNet and the temporal dependencies captured by ConvLSTM to significantly improve prediction accuracy. Experimental results demonstrate that our UCL model achieves the best R2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$R^2$$\\end{document} compared to existing methods, reaching 0.927 on the MODIS dataset and 0.935 on the GLDAS dataset. This approach highlights the potential of AI and remote sensing technologies in addressing critical challenges in agricultural water management, contributing to more sustainable and efficient food production systems.

Revolutionising Diabetic Retinopathy Diagnosis with Modified Regularisation Long Short-Term Memory Framework

The diagnosis of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) demands a paradigm shift towards more accurate and efficient solutions to overcome vision impairment. Therefore, the current study introduces a new Modified Regularisation Long Short-term Memory (MR-LSTM) framework approach for DR diagnosis. The proposed framework leverages the power of deep learning and provides a dynamic and robust solution for the early detection of DR, which in turn preserves a patient’s vision. The proposed framework uses a DR Debrecen Dataset from the UCI database with 21 distinct features relevant to retinal health, and employs a series of data preprocessing steps, including data cleaning, normalisation, and transformation, to ensure data quality and compatibility. The MR-LSTM framework excels at capturing temporal dependencies in sequential retinal images, offering a unique advantage in understanding the progression of DR. The MR-LSTM framework is implemented using Python libraries, and the results are compared with those of other popular models. It is observed that the MR-LSTM framework outperforms other models and achieves an accuracy of 97.12 percent and an F1 Score of 98.49. Furthermore, the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve reveals an area under the curve of 0.97, highlighting the exceptional ability to discriminate between positive and negative cases of the proposed framework. By revolutionising DR diagnosis with the proposed MR-LSTM framework, it can achieve accurate, timely, and accessible solutions in the fight against vision-threatening conditions.