Time Duration Research Articles

Determination of oral feeding skills in late preterm, early term, and full-term infants using the neonatal oral feeding monitor (NeoSAFE)

BackgroundMature oral feeding is a complex function involving numerous muscles and nerves, typically developing between the postmenstrual age of 34–36 weeks in newborn infants. The objective of this study was to analyze the oral feeding skills of healthy late preterm, early term, and full-term infants using a neonatal oral feeding monitor.MethodsWe used the oral feeding parameters reported by NeoSAFE which is a certified medical device, to assess the swallowing and swallow-respiration coordination in newborn infants. Oral feeding parameters were recorded over a 2-minutes long bottle-feeding session. The total swallow count, swallow time, maximum rhythmic swallows, resting interval duration, time between rhythmic swallows and inspiration after swallow count were recorded by NeoSAFE. We planned to examine the relationship of oral feeding parameters according to the gestational age. We also investigated whether the coordination of swallowing and respiration changes with respect to gestational age in newborn infants.ResultsA total of 88 infants were included; 34 late preterm, 34 early term, and 20 full term. The gestational age was found to have significant negative correlation with the average time between rhythmic swallows and positive correlation with the swallow time. Feeding volume was found to have a negative correlation with the resting interval duration and average time between rhythmic swallows. It was also found that the feeding volume has a positive correlation with total swallow count, swallow time, maximum rhythmic swallow and inspirium after swallow count.ConclusionAlthough the oral feeding skills of infants at 34 weeks gestation are still developing, this study identified differences in oral feeding skills among late preterm, early term, and full-term infants when assessed using a neonatal swallow and respiration detection system. However, conducting larger cohort studies using NeoSAFE would be beneficial for guiding oral feeding approaches in infants.Trial RegistrationNot applicable.

Clinical and measurement variables affecting halitosis intensity following cysteine challenge test

The cysteine challenge test is a reliable and efficient method for halitosis diagnosis and assessing treatment effectiveness by measuring the capacity to produce hydrogen sulfide. However, several aspects related to the test including evaluation timing and total duration following cysteine loading has not been investigated in-depth and a standardized protocol is yet to be established. This observational study compared concentrations of volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) following cysteine challenge at various time points based on different measurement tools to investigate clinical factors influencing the results. Cysteine challenge (rinsing for 30 s with 5 mL of 6 mM L-cysteine solution) was applied in 100 healthy subjects. VSC concentration of oral cavity gas was analyzed with standard and portable gas chromatography (GC) at 5 time points (before, immediately, 10, 20, and 30 min after cysteine challenge). The Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPITN), Winkel’s Tongue Coating Index, and salivary flow rate were assessed. VSC levels significantly increased immediately after cysteine challenge (p < 0.001 for hydrogen sulfide, p < 0.001 with standard GC and p < 0.05 with portable GC for methyl mercaptan). Levels significantly decreased at 10 min after cysteine challenge except for methyl mercaptan measured with standard GC (p < 0.001). Subjects still showing VSCs 20 min after cysteine challenge was less than 15% of those initially positive. The amount of tongue coating showed significant association with methyl mercaptan levels immediately after (β = 0.202, p = 0.049) and 10 min following (β = 0.207, p = 0.045) cysteine challenge and CPITN showed acceptable discriminative power for persistent detection of methyl mercaptan (cut-off = 1.5, AUC = 0.668). Cysteine challenge may enhance the possibility of detecting VSCs during halitosis diagnosis. Standardized test protocols should address measurement timing, tools used, and tongue coating levels as clinical factors influencing VSC detection.

Measuring Post-Exertional Malaise with DePaul Symptom Questionnaires: Challenges and Opportunities

Following mental or physical exertion, patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) experience Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM). Although self-report questions represent less expensive and invasive procedures to assess PEM, variability in the wording of the symptom can cause reliability and validity problems. If different PEM measures are used in studies, this could create difficulties in replicating findings, identifying biomarkers, and determining effective treatments for patients. The objective of this article is to describe the challenges and opportunities of the PEM questions of the DePaul Symptom Questionnaires (DSQ) in specific. The five PEM DSQ items can identify 97% of patients with ME/CFS. A brief DSQ-PEM instrument has now been constructed that consists of five DSQ PEM items and five DSQ supplementary items such as symptom duration and how quickly patients would recover from activities. A more comprehensive instrument called the DePaul Post-Exertional Malaise Questionnaire assesses a more comprehensive list of PEM triggers and the duration and length of recovery time from PEM. In this article, we show how the DSQ’s PEM self-report items can provide clues to ME/CFS pathophysiology as well as how these items can be used as outcome measures. Future research should focus on contrasting and comparing different ways of eliciting PEM, assessing relationships between PEM self-report questionnaires and biomarkers, and examining the impact of treatment trials on PEM.

Effect of fermentation on bioactive compounds and structural properties of wheat bran

In the present study bran of two wheat cultivars (PBW-154 and HD-2967) was fermented for different time duration (24 h, 48 h and 72 h) and the effect of fermentation on the quantity of bioactive compounds in the bran and on the structure of bran were evaluated. Six bioactive compounds were detected in the bran of both wheat cultivars. These include p-hydroxybenzoic acid, syringic acid, vanillic acid, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid and gallic acid. Among the bioactive compounds ferulic acid was found highest in the bran of both wheat cultivars while p-hydroxybenzoic acid was found lowest in the bran of PBW-154 variety and syringic acid was found lowest in the bran of HD-2967 variety. All the six bioactive compounds detected were increased after the fermentation for both the cultivars bran. Scanning electron microscopy shows the occurrence of loose networks of fibers tying with tissues and starch particles together and other granule structure that indicates the release of bound phenolic compound at 72 h of fermentation. Fermentation increased the crystallinity index because it hydrolyses the amorphous region. FTIR in yeast fermented wheat bran cultivar showed presence of OH elongation group, C = O bond –H stretching vibration bond. In fermented wheat bran the absorption bands between 29.18 cm−1 or 2850 cm−1associated with OH-OH elongation vibration.

A novel method to produce maximum ajoene and vinyl dithiin during garlic mustard oil macerate preparation

Garlic mustard oil macerate is a traditional medicine used as a nasal decongestant by the people of northeast India. In this study, a unique preparation technique that maximized the yield of organosulfur compounds in GMM was developed at the lowest preparation temperature and time duration compared to existing preparation methods. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS), central composite design (CCD) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used for compound identification, experimental design, and quantification of the organosulfur compounds (OSCs), respectively. Through LCMS analysis, ajoene and 2-vinyl-4H-1,3-dithiin were detected as the major OSCs. CCD analysis suggested 17 experiments for HPLC analysis, after which the quantity of mustard oil and heating temperature were found to be the significant parameters for optimum OSCs formation. Based on this, the optimized conditions to maximize the yield of ajoene ((garlic: oil (1:2.00), 55.00°C, 4 1 2 h)) and 2-vinyl-4H-1,3-dithiin ((garlic: oil (1:2.20), 77.51°C, 2 1 2 h)) were achieved.

Early Outcomes of Repeat Cardiac Surgery at a Newly Established Cardiac Center in a Developing Country

Objective: The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the early clinical outcomes of repeat cardiac surgery performed at a newly established cardiac center in a developing country. Study Design: This is prospective observational cohort study setting: This study was performed between January 2021 and July 2024 at cardiac surgery department of Peshawar Institute of Cardiology. Methods: A total of 25 consecutive patients aged 18 years or older who had any previous cardiac surgery with and without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass were included. Elective, urgent, emergent, and salvage cases were all there. Patients who had incomplete records were excluded. Our study utilized SPSS (Statistical Program of Social Science) version 20 for analysis of our dataset Results: The average cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time was 193.48 minutes (±72.8), while the average duration of aortic clamp time was 136.20 minutes (±73.6). Regarding complications, 16% of patients (n=4) required re-intubation, 12% (n=3) needed re-exploration, 16% (n=4) experienced renal failure, and 4% (n=1) suffered a stroke. Additionally, 16% of patients (n=4) were readmitted, and 4% (n=1) died within 30 days following surgery. Conclusion: This study showed that new cardiac centers are safe for commencing complex cases like repeat cardiac surgeries with comparable results to other established centers.

Isotemporal Substitution Effect of 24-Hour Movement Behaviors on Well-Being, Cognition, and BMI Among Older Adults

Background: This study investigated the interdependent relationships among older adults’ daily engagement in physical activity (PA), sedentary time (ST), sleep, and their well-being, cognition, and body mass index (BMI). Method: Forty healthy older adults (31 females; Mean [age] = 70.8 ± 5.58) were included in the analysis. Participants wore a Fitbit tracker for an average of 23 h a day, five days a week, over six months. The Fitbit device tracked lightly active time, active time, ST, and sleep durations. Quality of life and cognitive flexibility were assessed using validated instruments. BMI was calculated using participants’ self-reported height and weight. A compositional analysis (CODA) investigated the codependent associations among these variables and model time reallocation between behaviors. Results: Regression models utilizing CODA indicated significant associations between the outcomes of BMI (p = 0.05; Adj. R2 = 0.20), while cognitive flexibility and quality of life revealed no association (p &gt; 0.05). Shifting 10 min from ST to active time is associated with a theoretical decrease of −0.76 (95% CI, −1.49 to −0.04) units in BMI. Similarly, reallocating 10 min from active time to ST is associated with a theoretical increase of 1.17 (95% CI, 0.03 to 2.3) units in BMI. Reallocating 10 min between other movement behaviors yielded no statistical significance. Conclusions: Our study highlights the importance of promoting active time to improve BMI in this population. Encouraging 10 min bouts of PA among older adults, in place of ST, is vital for improving national PA guideline adherence.

Crankshaft high cycle bending fatigue test method based on the combined extended Kalman filtering algorithm and different failure criterion parameters.

In this paper, an accelerated bending fatigue test method for the crankshaft was proposed based on the combination of the extended Kalman filtering algorithm method (EKF) and different failure criterion parameters. First the intrinsic frequency of the system and the fatigue crack depth were chosen to be the failure criterion parameters based on the test regulation and the theory of fracture mechanics. Then the extended Kalman filtering method was adopted in predicting the remaining high cycle fatigue life of the crankshaft during the experiment process. Finally the predicted fatigue life was selected to replace the actual test results for the key fatigue property parameter analysis. Based on this research, the time duration of the test was reduced obviously without affecting the key analysis parameters obviously. In addition, compared with the intrinsic frequency of the system, the fatigue crack depth is more suitable to be selected as the failure criterion to provide more reasonable enhancing effect. The main conclusions draw from this paper can provide some theoretical guidance for the design and manufacturing process of the part.

Longitudinal analysis of the bidirectional relationship between screen time and sleep: Exploring the role of physical activity.

Excessive screen time and poor sleep duration have significant implications for children's health and well-being. Understanding the dynamic relationship between screen time and sleep duration, as well as the impact of physical activity in this relationship, is essential for promoting healthy behaviours. The aims of this study were to: 1) investigate the bidirectional relationship between screen time and sleep duration in children, and 2) explore the mediating role of physical activity in these associations. Data were from 2064 children (47% girls) who responded to time-use diaries at waves 3 (age 5), 6 (age 10), and 7 (age 12) of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC). Cross-lagged panel modelling was conducted to test bidirectional associations between screen time and sleep duration, with the mediating role of physical activity assessed using a lagged mediation model. A bidirectional association between screen time and sleep duration across ages 10 to 12 was observed. Screen time at 10 years of age was associated with sleep duration at 12 years of age (β=-0.071 [95%CI, -0.114 to -0.015]), and sleep duration at 10 years of age was associated with screen time at 12 years of age (β=-0.048 [95%CI, -0.087 to -0.002]). Moreover, increased levels of physical activity at age 12 reduced the negative impact of both screen time on sleep duration and sleep duration on screen time during the ages of 10 and 12. Findings highlight a cyclical influence where each factor impacts the other over time. Interventions aimed at reducing screen time and increasing physical activity may help mitigate the negative effects of excessive screen time on sleep.

A Green Technology for the Extraction of Essential Oil Using Microwave and Ultrasound-assisted Techniques

Background: Essential oils are utilized in various food applications and are a rich source of naturally occurring volatile components. The extraction of essential oils has used conventional techniques for several years, but these methods require a long duration of time, more solvent, and high energy. However, recent advancements have led to novel and eco-friendly techniques that significantly enhance the essential oil yield while minimizing the use of resources. Method: This study describes the recent research on the extraction of essential oils and their components, focusing on microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). Result: This review explores the instrumentation, mechanism, and applications behind MAE and UAE. It also describes the emerging technologies for the extraction of essential oils, along with their optimized conditions. Conclusion: These techniques represent a more sustainable and efficient approach for the extraction of essential oil from various plant sources, aligning with the principles of green chemistry.

N-Alkylation of Amines Utilizing Magnetic Nano Chitosan Functionalized with EDTA/Co(II)

This research work has explored the application of a magnetic catalyst composed of coreshell nanoparticles [Fe&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt;O&lt;sub&gt;4&lt;/sub&gt;@SiO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;@CS@EDTA/Co(II)], known as NCM@EDTA/Co(II), in the conversion of various alcohols containing electron-donating or electron-withdrawing groups into their respective secondary or primary amine derivatives. The investigation has focused on optimizing reaction conditions by considering factors, such as the inclusion of a base, duration of reaction time, reaction temperature, catalyst quantity, and choice of transition metal, in order to determine the optimal parameters. The most favorable outcomes have been achieved by using 0.2 mmol of catalyst per 1 mmol of substrate under reflux conditions for a duration ranging from 3 to 24 hours. The reaction has demonstrated high efficiency, with the catalyst's easy separation via an external magnetic field, stability, and recyclability, highlighting its potential applications in chemistry and industrial environments.

Effect of Different Doses of Intrathecal Nalbuphine as Adjuvant to Hyperbaric Bupivacaine on Characteristics of Subarachnoid Block in Pelvic and Lower Limb Orthopaedic Surgeries: A Randomised Clinical Study

Introduction: Hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% is most commonly used amide local anaesthetic drug in spinal anaesthesia. Various additives have been used as an adjuvant to hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% to modify its anaesthetic properties. Nalbuphine, a mix opioid with high efficacy kappa receptors agonism has also been used as an adjuvant to hyperbaric bupivacaine 0.5% at different doses. Aim: To compare and discover the effective dose of nalbuphine as adjuvant in subarachnoid block with hyperbaric bupivacaine in pelvic and lower limb orthopaedic surgeries in terms of onset and duration of sensory and motor block along with postoperative analgesia duration. Materials and Methods: This randomised clinical study was conducted in the Department of Anaesthesia, Shrimati Bhikhiben Kanjibhai Shah Medical Institute and Research Centre (SBKS MIRC), Piparia, Vadodara, Gujarat, India over a period of 18 months from February 2023 to August 2024 on 80 patients belonging to 20-60 years of age, American Soceity of Anaesthesiology (ASA) Grade I or II, of either gender undergoing elective pelvic and orthopaedic surgeries. Patients were randomly divided into two groups having 40 patients each. Group A received hyperbaric bupivacaine 12.5 mg+0.4 mg nalbuphine (total 3 mL) and Group B received hyperbaric bupivacaine 12.5 mg + 0.8 mg nalbuphine (total 3 mL). Sensory and motor block characteristics like their onset time, time to achieve highest sensory level, time to achieve bromage 3, time of two segment regression, duration of sensory and motor block, duration of postoperative analgesia and time for requirement of first rescue analgesia dose were observed and assessed. Haemodynamic parameters along with intraoperative and postoperative sideeffects were also observed. Results: Both the study groups had similar demographics and haemodynamic parameters. Time of two segment regression of sensory block was significantly longer in Group B (135.25±11.49 min) than A (120.95±16.98 min) with statistically significant prolonged duration of sensory block in Group B (228.25±21.91 min) than A (206.75±15.21 min) (p&lt;0.0001). Postoperative analgesia was also prolonged in Group B (294.75±19.15 min) than A (226.19±14.78 min) without significant increase the incidence of side-effects (p≥0.05). Conclusion: Study concluded that 0.8 mg nalbuphine as an adjuvant to 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine in subarachnoid block is more effective dose as it provides prolonged duration of sensory block and postoperative analgesia with good haemodynamic stability and minimal side-effects.

Associations of physical activity, screen time, sleep duration with optimal eating habits among adolescents

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to explore the associations of physical activity, screen time and sleep duration with various eating habits among children. MethodsThe data were collected from six surveys of the Youth Risk Behaviour Survey conducted in 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2021, with a total of 78, 697 participants with complete information. Information on demographic characteristics (e.g., sex, age), physical activity, screen time, sleep duration, and eating habits was collected via a self-reported questionnaire. A series of logistic regressions were used to assess the association between independents and outcomes. Results were presented as odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). ResultsA dose-response relationship was observed between the number of guidelines (i.e., physical activity, screen time, sleep) achieved by adolescents and improved eating habits compared to those not meeting any guidelines. For example, meeting any one (OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.17-1.41), any two (OR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.33-1.62), and all three (OR = 2.13, 95% CI = 1.73-2.61) guidelines were associated with more fruit consumption. Moreover, meeting all three guidelines was associated with a higher likelihood of meeting guidelines for fruit juice (OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.23-1.60), fruit (OR = 2.13, 95% CI = 1.74-2.62), other vegetables (OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.33-1.84), milk (OR = 1.46, 95% CI = 1.28-1.66), breakfast (OR = 2.80, 95% CI = 2.41-3.25), and soda or pop (OR = 1.16, 95% CI = 1.04-1.30) compared to not meeting any guidelines. ConclusionsFindings from this population-based study indicate that meeting the combination of physical activity, screen time, sleep guidelines is associated with better eating habits. Notably, meeting the physical activity guidelines or its combination shows the strongest associations with favourable dietary habits among adolescents. Future research should further explore effective strategies to promote entire 24-hour movement behaviours, especially physical activity, which can be useful to optimise eating habits in adolescents.

Effects of diesel pilot-injection strategy on a methanol/diesel dual-direct injection engine

To verify the effectiveness of dual-direct injection technology in enhancing the performance of methanol/diesel dual-fuel engines and the positive impacts of multiple-injection strategy on the in-cylinder mixture formation and combustion process, an experiment was conducted on a modified methanol/diesel dual-direct engine test platform in this paper. The research aimed to explore the effects of the diesel pilot-injection strategy, especially from the two aspects of diesel pilot-injection timing and diesel pilot-injection duration, on the operating range, combustion characteristics, performance and emissions. Results indicate that the pilot-injection strategy reduces the maximum pressure and pressure rise rate of the engine, alleviating the rough combustion in the cylinder and broaden the operating range. As the diesel pilot-injection timing advances, the in-cylinder pressure curve during the combustion process shifts leftward as a whole, and the pressure rise rate curve gradually becomes an approximate single-peak shape. The ignition delay almost increases linearly and CA50 first decreases and then increases with the advance of pilot-injection timing. When the pilot-injection duration increases, the ignition delay shortens and CA50 advances. Additionally, the diesel pilot-injection strategy can optimize engine emissions. As the pilot-injection timing advances and the duration increases, the HC, CO and soot emissions decrease, while the NOx emission increases. Using the pilot-injection strategy, the highest indicated thermal efficiency of 42.94 % is obtained at the diesel ignition injection timing and duration of −28 °CA aTDC and 0.25 ms respectively, which is 7.54 % relatively higher than that under a single injection strategy. The research results show that the pilot-injection strategy better adjusts the distribution of high reactivity and low reactivity fuels in the cylinder, which is beneficial for improving the combustion and performance of the methanol/diesel dual-fuel engine.

The interaction between the Circadian Locomotor Output Cycles Kaput and Melanocortin-4-receptor gene variants on obesity and parameters related to obesity.

Obesity is a multifactorial disease caused by an interaction between genetic, environmental and behavioral factors. Polymorphisms of the two genes Circadian Locomotor Output Cycles Kaput (CLOCK) rs1801260 and Melanocortin-4-receptor (MC4R) rs17782313, are associated with obesity. Knowledge is limited on the interaction between CLOCK, MC4R and obesity. The aim was to explore the interactions between the CLOCK and MC4R gene variants on markers related to obesity. There were 423 subjects with information on two genetic variants of two genes (CLOCK and MC4R). Their interaction was evaluated with: chronotype, sleeping duration, emotional eating, food timing, stress, dietary intake, appetite, physical activity (assessed by questionnaires), anthropometric measures of obesity (assessed by physical measurements), and also hormonal factors (assessed by ELISA). Generalized Linear Models were applied. Our results revealed that significant differences were observed between the genotypes of CLOCK rs1801260 for weight, Body Mass Index (BMI), Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), cortisol, energy, fat, sleep duration, chronotype, appetite, depression, stress, emotional eating, physical activity, breakfast, lunch, and dinner time (p˂0.05). Also, significant differences were observed between the genotypes of MC4R rs17782313 for weight, BMI, Waist Circumference (WC), Waist to Hip Ratio (WHR), ghrelin, energy, carbohydrate, fat, appetite, depression, stress, breakfast time, and emotional eating (p˂0.05). Our findings also showed significant interactions between the CLOCK (CC)∗MC4R (CT) genotypes for higher appetite, stress and CLOCK (CT)∗ MC4R (CC) genotypes for higher fat and energy intake and CLOCK (CC)∗MC4R (CC) genotypes for higher weight, BMI, energy and fat intake, appetite, emotional eating, stress, ghrelin, cortisol and lower sleep duration and GLP-1 (p˂ 0.05). Due to the non-significance of the interaction in CLOCK (CT)∗ MC4R (CT) genotypes, it seems that the presence of a healthy arm in the CLOCK and MC4R polymorphism is necessary for the proper function of the genes. Thus, these results highlight that gene variants and their interaction should be considered in obesity assessment.

Estimating the ovarian cancer CA-125 preclinical detectable phase, in-vivo tumour doubling time, and window for detection in early stage: an exploratory analysis of UKCTOCS.

The ovarian cancer (OC) preclinical detectable phase (PCDP), defined as the interval during which cancer is detectable prior to clinical diagnosis, remains poorly characterised. We report exploratory analyses from the United Kingdom Collaborative Trial of Ovarian Cancer Screening (UKCTOCS). In UKCTOCS between Apr-2001 and Sep-2005, 101,314 postmenopausal women were randomised to no screening (NS) and 50,625 to annual multimodal screening (MMS) (until Dec-2011) using serum CA-125 interpreted by the Risk of Ovarian Cancer Algorithm (ROCA). All provided a baseline blood sample. Women with invasive epithelial OC diagnosed between randomisation and trial censorship (Dec-2014) in the MMS and NS arms with two or more CA-125 measurements, including one within two years of diagnosis were included. OC-free women (2:1 to cases) from the MMS arm provided information on baseline CA-125 distribution. CA-125 measurements were obtained from MMS results, secondary analysis of baseline samples, and medical records. PCDP duration and in-vivo tumour doubling time were estimated using the change-point model underlying ROCA. Early-stage (Stage I and II) PCDP was estimated from a Bayesian model for the probability of early stage given a CA-125 measurement. Of 541 women (2371 CA-125 measurements) with high-grade serous cancer (HGSC), 93% (504/541) secreted CA-125 into the circulation. Median CA-125 PCDP duration for clinically-diagnosed HGSC was 15.2 (IQR 13.1-16.9, 95% IPR 9.6-21.8) months, of which 11.9 (IQR 10.5-13.1, 95% IPR 7.5-16.5) months was in early stage. The median HGSC in-vivo tumour doubling time for cancers secreting CA-125 was 2.9 (IQR 2.3-3.7, 95% IPR 1.5-7.6) months. We report a comprehensive characterisation of the OC CA-125 PCDP. The 12-month window for early-stage detection and short tumour doubling time of HGSC provide a benchmark for researchers evaluating novel screening approaches including need to reduce diagnostic workup interval. Equally the findings provide urgent impetus for clinicians to reduce intervals from presentation to treatment onset. NCI Early Detection Research Network, Concord (MA) Detect Ovarian Cancer Early Fund, MRC Clinical Trials Unit at UCL Core Funding.

Integrated robust generation and transmission network expansion planning considering time duration uncertainty

This study presents an integrated generation and transmission network expansion planning (GTEP) model to identify the optimal size and site of generators and lines. Electricity load and production capacity uncertainties are managed using robust optimization (RO), resulting in a robust GTEP problem. Another crucial uncertainty is the load block's time duration (LBTD), which has been thoroughly ignored in planning studies. Thus, this paper constructs a robust GTEP model that captures the uncertainty of LBTD using RO. The formulation forms a trilevel structure representing the investment and operational decisions in the first and third levels and the uncertainty realizations in the second. To solve the trilevel framework, the primal Benders decomposition (PBD) is first employed to divide the model into a master problem (MP) and a subproblem (SP). Due to including LBTD uncertainty, the subproblem cannot be solved for each load block, leading to a large optimization problem. Hence, the dual Benders decomposition (DBD) is applied to decompose the SP into an MP and several SPs. This way, the SPs can be solved independently for each load block. The proposed robust GTEP model is validated using a standard power system to show the method's efficiency.

A U-Net based partial convolutional time-domain separation model to identify motor units from surface electromyographic signals in real time.

This study proposed a U-Net based partial convolutional time-domain model for a real-time high-density surface electromyography (HD-sEMG) decomposition. The model combines U-Net and a separation block containing partial convolution, aiming to efficiently identify motor units (MUs) without preprocessing. The proposed U-Net based network was trained by the HD-sEMG signals with innervation pulse trains (IPTs) labels, and the results are compared between different step sizes, noises, and model structures under the sliding time window with 120 sampling points. The U-Net based model got an accuracy greater than 94% under simulated signals and 85% under experimental signals, and identified more MUs than the structures based on convolutional neural network (CNN) and temporal convolutional network (TCN). The average latency of the U-Net based model is only 64ms (a window duration time plus the prediction time) under the step size 20 data in both types of signals, and can be generalized to new data at different signal-to-noise (SNR). The efficiency of the proposed model is significantly higher than traditional methods such as gCKC. Meanwhile, the accuracy of the proposed model was not significantly different from the gCKC. In addition, the performance of the network under different step sizes of the sliding time window was verified. The experimental results indicate that the U-Net based model provides an efficient framework for blind source separation (BSS) of EMG signals, expanding the application of EMG signals in neural interaction.

The effect of temporal resolution and contact duration on Real-Time location system-based contact networks for confined feedlot cattle.

Empirical data on livestock contact networks are scarce but digital technologies are increasingly used to characterize animal behavior and describe the dynamics of contact networks. The objective of this study was to use contact network analysis to quantify contacts within three pens of feedlot cattle across three consecutive years at varying temporal resolutions to better inform the construction of network-based disease transmission models for cattle within confined-housing systems. We also aimed to describe the influence of the variation in Real-Time Location System (RTLS) average tag read rates and the effect of increasing minimum contact duration (MCD) on the contact networks of feedlot cattle. Three pens of feedlot steers were tagged with RTLS, one pen in each of three consecutive summers from 2017 to 2019. Contacts were defined with a spatial threshold of 0.71 m and an MCD of either 10, 30, or 60 seconds. Static, undirected, weighted contact networks were created for the full study duration and then split into daily (24-h), 6-h period, and hourly networks to better assess network heterogeneity. For the full study duration time scale, all three networks were found to be densely connected. The networks showed more heterogeneity in network density and clustering coefficient when smaller time scales (6-h period and hourly) were applied. When contacts were defined with a MCD of 30 or 60 seconds, the total number of contacts seen in each network decreased, indicating that most of the contacts observed in our networks may have been transient passing contacts. For example, the total defined contacts for the 2017 native read rate network were 930,843 at 10 s MCD, 95,570 at 30 s MCD, and 19,135 at 60 s MCD. Though the same system was used for all three years, variation in average tag read rate was observed (range: 2.2 readings/min (2018) to 7.4 readings/min (2017)). When the networks were down-scaled from higher average tag read rates to match lower tag read rates, the full study networks maintained similar network density and clustering, though the average edge weight between pairs decreased. Overall, the networks created here from high-resolution spatial and temporal contact observation data provide estimates for a contact network within a commercial US feedlot pen.

Configuration of Timepix3 read-out parameters for spectral measurements in proton therapy applications.

With the increasing use of proton therapy, there is a growing emphasis on including radiation quality, often quantified by linear energy transfer, as a treatment plan optimization factor. The Timepix detectors offer energy-sensitive particle tracking useful for the characterization of proton linear energy transfer. To improve the detector's performance in mixed radiation fields produced in proton therapy, we customized the detector settings and performed the per-pixel energy calibration. The detection threshold and per-pixel signal shaping time (IKrum current) were customized, and energy calibration was performed for MiniPIX Timepix3. The detector calibration was verified using α source and clinical proton beams, as well as Monte Carlo simulations. The effects on the detector's performance, in terms of spectral saturation and pixel occupancy, were evaluated. Measurements with proton beams showed a good agreement with simulations. With the customized settings, the measurable energy range in the detector data-driven mode was extended, and the signal duration time was reduced by 80%, while the yield of pixel time occupancy reduction depends on the number of occupied pixels. For performed measurements with proton beams, the number of occupied pixels was further reduced up to 40% due to the increased threshold. Customized detector configuration of the Timepix3 detector allowed for reduced pixel occupancy and mitigation of signal saturation in a data-driven mode without significantly interfering with the energy deposition measurement. The presented approach enables the extension of the operational range, including higher intensities and mixed-radiation fields in particle radiotherapy environments.