We investigate the mixed-state entanglement between two spins embedded in the XXZ Heisenberg chain under thermal equilibrium.By deriving an analytical expression for the entanglement of two-spin thermal states and ext...We investigate the mixed-state entanglement between two spins embedded in the XXZ Heisenberg chain under thermal equilibrium.By deriving an analytical expression for the entanglement of two-spin thermal states and extending this analysis to larger spin chains,we demonstrate that mixed-state entanglement is profoundly shaped by both disorder and temperature.Our results reveal a sharp distinction between many-body localized and ergodic phases,with entanglement vanishing above diferent fnite temperature thresholds.Furthermore,by analyzing non-adjacent spins,we uncover an approximate exponential decay of entanglement with separation.This work advances the understanding of the quantum-to-classical transition by linking the entanglement properties of small subsystems to the broader thermal environment,ofering an explanation for the absence of entanglement in macroscopic systems.These fndings provide critical insights into quantum many-body physics,bridging concepts from thermalization,localization,and quantum information theory.展开更多
Objective: To study the relationship between cortical auditory evoked potential (CAEP) thresholds and behavioral thresholds in pediatric populations with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Methods: Fifteen children (m...Objective: To study the relationship between cortical auditory evoked potential (CAEP) thresholds and behavioral thresholds in pediatric populations with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Methods: Fifteen children (mean age 6.8 years) with bilateral SNHL underwent behavioral pure-tone audiometry and CAEP testing at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz. CAEP thresholds were determined using tone bursts, and correlations between CAEP and pure-tone thresholds were analyzed using Pearson correlation and t-tests. Results: A strong positive correlation was observed between P1 thresholds and behavioral thresholds across all test frequencies: 0.5 kHz (r = 0.765, p Conclusion: The strong correlation between P1 and behavioral thresholds demonstrates the reliability of CAEP testing for estimating auditory thresholds in children. These findings support the use of CAEP testing as a reliable objective tool for threshold estimation, particularly in cases where behavioral responses cannot be reliably obtained. When adjusted with frequency-specific correction values, CAEP testing provides a reliable method for assessing hearing thresholds in pediatric populations.展开更多
The geostress and rock blasting in underground engineering may greatly affect the stress thresholds of surrounding rock.In this study,pre-damage impact tests were first conducted on granite under varying confining pre...The geostress and rock blasting in underground engineering may greatly affect the stress thresholds of surrounding rock.In this study,pre-damage impact tests were first conducted on granite under varying confining pressures(5,10 and 15 MPa)and numbers of impacts(1,5,10 and 15 impacts).Then,uniaxial compression tests were undertaken on the pre-damaged granite to study the evolution of stress thresholds using the crack volume strain method and acoustic emission method.The crack damage stresses determined by the two methods were compared.Additionally,based on the rise time amplitude and average frequency,the evolution law of microcracks inside rock specimens was revealed,and an improved acoustic emission method was proposed.The results indicated that as the number of impacts increased,the crack closure stress,crack damage stress,and peak stress of granite specimens initially rose and then declined,while they continuously increased with the confining pressure.The proportion of shear cracks first declined and then rose with greater number of impacts and decreased with higher confining pressure,and that of tensile cracks showed the opposite trend.The improved acoustic emission method was more accurate in identifying the crack damage stress.展开更多
BackgroundIt's crucial to study the effect of changes in thresholds(T)and most comfortable levels(M)on behavioral measurements in young children using cochlear implants.This would help the clinician with the optim...BackgroundIt's crucial to study the effect of changes in thresholds(T)and most comfortable levels(M)on behavioral measurements in young children using cochlear implants.This would help the clinician with the optimization and validation of programming parameters.ObjectiveThe study has attempted to describe the changes in behavioral responses with modification of T and M levels.MethodsTwenty-five participants in the age range 5 to 12 years using HR90K/HiFocus1J or HR90KAdvantage/HiFocus1J with Harmony speech processors participated in the study.A decrease in T levels,a rise in T levels,or a decrease in M levels in the everyday program were used to create experimental programs.Sound field thresholds and speech perception were measured at 50 dBHL for three experimental and everyday programs.ConclusionThe results indicated that only reductions of M levels resulted in significantly(p<0.01)poor aided thresholds and speech perception.On the other hand,variation in T levels did not have significant changes in either sound field thresholds or speech perception.The results highlight that M levels must be correctly established in order to prevent decreased speech perception and audibility.展开更多
The oilseed crop Camelina sativa exhibits salinity tolerance,but the effects on early growth stages across a range of different salts and in combination with salicylic acid(SA)have not been thoroughly evaluated.In thi...The oilseed crop Camelina sativa exhibits salinity tolerance,but the effects on early growth stages across a range of different salts and in combination with salicylic acid(SA)have not been thoroughly evaluated.In this study,seeds were germinated in varying concentrations of six salts(NaCl,CaCl_(2),ZnCl_(2),KCl,MgSO_(4),and Na2SO_(4))with or without 0.5 mM SA.Using the halotime model,we estimated salt thresholds for germination and parameters of seedling growth.Germination and seedling growth parameters of camelina significantly decreased with increasing salt concentration across all salt types.Salts containing Zn and SO_(4) were most detrimental to germination and seedling growth.Except for KCl,0.5 mM SA generally reduced the salinity tolerance threshold(Saltb(50))of camelina.Specifically,Saltb(50)was 21.5%higher for KCl and 16.1%,25.0%,54.9%,21.0%,and 5.6%lower for CaCl_(2),NaCl,MgSO_(4),Na2SO_(4),and ZnCl_(2),respectively,when 0.5 mM SA was compared to 0 mM SA.Furthermore,camelina seedling growth was consistently more sensitive than germination across all salt types.SA did not significantly enhance germination or seedling growth and was harmful when combined with certain salts or at the germination stage.It can be concluded that both the type of salt and the concentration of SA are as critical as the salt concentration in saline irrigation water.展开更多
Four key stress thresholds exist in the compression process of rocks,i.e.,crack closure stress(σ_(cc)),crack initiation stress(σ_(ci)),crack damage stress(σ_(cd))and compressive strength(σ_(c)).The quantitative id...Four key stress thresholds exist in the compression process of rocks,i.e.,crack closure stress(σ_(cc)),crack initiation stress(σ_(ci)),crack damage stress(σ_(cd))and compressive strength(σ_(c)).The quantitative identifications of the first three stress thresholds are of great significance for characterizing the microcrack growth and damage evolution of rocks under compression.In this paper,a new method based on damage constitutive model is proposed to quantitatively measure the stress thresholds of rocks.Firstly,two different damage constitutive models were constructed based on acoustic emission(AE)counts and Weibull distribution function considering the compaction stages of the rock and the bearing capacity of the damage element.Then,the accumulative AE counts method(ACLM),AE count rate method(CRM)and constitutive model method(CMM)were introduced to determine the stress thresholds of rocks.Finally,the stress thresholds of 9 different rocks were identified by ACLM,CRM,and CMM.The results show that the theoretical stress−strain curves obtained from the two damage constitutive models are in good agreement with that of the experimental data,and the differences between the two damage constitutive models mainly come from the evolutionary differences of the damage variables.The results of the stress thresholds identified by the CMM are in good agreement with those identified by the AE methods,i.e.,ACLM and CRM.Therefore,the proposed CMM can be used to determine the stress thresholds of rocks.展开更多
Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems(GDEs)in the arid region of northwest China are crucial for maintaining ecological balance and biodiversity.However,the ongoing decline in groundwater levels caused by excessive groundw...Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems(GDEs)in the arid region of northwest China are crucial for maintaining ecological balance and biodiversity.However,the ongoing decline in groundwater levels caused by excessive groundwater exploitation poses a potential threat to GDEs.This paper reviews the current developments and future challenges associated with defining groundwater level thresholds for maintaining GDEs in arid regions.It focuses on methods for identifying and investigating these thresholds,with particular attention to recent advances in northwest China.Additionally,this paper highlights the limitations and future challenges in determining these thresholds,including the complexities of ecological processes,groundwater systems,data availability,and methodological constraints.To address these issues,a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates new technologies,such as multi-source data fusion,machine learning models,and big data and cloud computing,will be essential.By overcoming these challenges and utilizing effective methods,appropriate groundwater level thresholds can be established to ensure the longterm sustainability of GDEs.展开更多
In order to assess the environmental risks caused by carbon emissions from the construction industry in Hebei Province of China,an environmental risk assessment model based on forest carbon sink threshold was construc...In order to assess the environmental risks caused by carbon emissions from the construction industry in Hebei Province of China,an environmental risk assessment model based on forest carbon sink threshold was constructed to evaluate the carbon emission risks of the construction industry in Hebei Province,China from 2005 to 2020.The results are shown as follows:(1)The overall carbon emissions of the construction industry in Hebei Province of China showed an inverted"V"-shaped evolution trend during the past 16 years.Tangshan and Shijiazhuang maintained high carbon emissions,while Langfang,Hengshui and Baoding saw rapid increases in carbon emissions.(2)The environmental safety threshold of carbon emission from the construction industry in Hebei Province,China,has been continuously improved,and the provincial environmental safety threshold is between 9475080-23144760 tons;The environmental safety threshold was the highest in Baoding and Langfang,and the lowest in Xingtai.(3)In the past 16 years,the carbon emission risk of the construction industry in Hebei Province of China has been in a state of extremely serious risk,and the risk index generally presents an inverted"V"type trend.(4)The carbon emission risk of Hebei city in China presents a spatial pattern of"high in the south and low in the north",which goes through two stages:risk increase period and risk reduction period.展开更多
Introduction: Computed tomography (CT) measurements of bone mineral attenuation may be a useful means to identify older women who should be prioritized for bone mineral density screening. Methods: We compared bone min...Introduction: Computed tomography (CT) measurements of bone mineral attenuation may be a useful means to identify older women who should be prioritized for bone mineral density screening. Methods: We compared bone mineral attenuation as measured in the L1 vertebra of CT studies to the results of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) studies to determine what CT attenuation thresholds might yield a reasonable combination of sensitivity and specificity for the detection of osteoporosis. The study was limited to women between the ages of 65 and 75 years who had a DEXA study and a CT that included the L1 or adjacent vertebra performed within 3 years of the DEXA study. Results: There were 1226 women in this study, of whom 452 (38%) had osteoporosis based on a T-score ≤ −2.5 by DEXA. There were 830 CT studies performed with contrast and 396 studies which were performed without contrast. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean HU of those studies performed without contrast compared to those with contrast (unenhanced mean 103 HU versus 125 HU, p < 0.001). Different CT attenuation thresholds provided the most appropriate combination of sensitivity and specificity for the detection of osteoporosis when comparing CT studies performed without or with IV contrast and when all the CT data were used in aggregate. Conclusion: Different thresholds appear necessary when using the mean CT vertebral attenuation to identify older women for preferential referral for DEXA studies.展开更多
In this study, based on the simulated discharge results of chemical disinfectants, hypocotyl germination concentration gradient pre-test and concentration gradient determination experiment were set up respectively. La...In this study, based on the simulated discharge results of chemical disinfectants, hypocotyl germination concentration gradient pre-test and concentration gradient determination experiment were set up respectively. Laboratory cultivation was conducted to compare and analyze the root germination and germination indexes, three mangrove hypocotyls of Kandelia candel (Linn.) Druce, Ceriopstagal C.B. Rob. and Bruguiera sexangula var. Rhynchopetalas’ efficiency of cumulative root germination, cumulative germination and the cumulative expansion of the second pair of leaves, one-way analysis of variance was used to obtain the tolerance threshold of three mangrove hypocotyls to strong chlorin disinfectant. The study determined that the by-products of strong chlorin disinfectant, the toxic threshold concentrations of Kandelia candel (Linn.) Druce, Ceriopstagal C.B. Rob. and Bruguiera sexangula var. rhynchopetala are close to 0.55 mg/L, 0.55 mg/L and 0.25 mg/L, respectively. This concentration range is lower than the average concentration of 1.183 mg/L of active chlorine emitted from strong chlorine concentrate during pond clearing in high-level shrimp ponds, indicating that transient emissions of strong chlorine concentrate during pond clearing can have a toxic effect on mangrove plants. The strength of tolerance of the embryonic axes of the three mangrove species to effective chlorine contamination was, Ceriopstagal C.B. Rob. stronger than Bruguiera sexangula var. rhynchopetala, and Kandelia candel (Linn.) Druce is the weakest.展开更多
It is imperative to derive an appropriate cadmium (Cd) health risk toxicity threshold for paddy soils to ensure the Cd con-centration of rice grains meet the food safety standard. In this study, 20 rice cultivars from...It is imperative to derive an appropriate cadmium (Cd) health risk toxicity threshold for paddy soils to ensure the Cd con-centration of rice grains meet the food safety standard. In this study, 20 rice cultivars from the main rice producing areas in China were selected, and a pot-experiment was conducted to investigate transformation of Cd in paddy soil-rice system with 0 (CK), 0.3 mg kg–1 (T1) and 0.6 mg kg–1 (T2) Cd treatments in greenhouse. The results showed that Cd concentrations of rice grains existed signiifcant difference (P<0.05) in 20 rice cultivars under the same Cd level in soil. The Cd concentrations of rice grains of the CK, T1 and T2 treatments were in the range of 0.143–0.202, 0.128–0.458 and 0.332–0.806 mg kg–1, respectively. Marked differences of the ratios of Cd concentration for soil to rice grain (BCFs) and transfer factors (TFs, root to grain and straw to grain) among the tested cultivars were observed in this study. The bioconcentration factors (BCFgrain) and TFs of the 20 rice cultivars were 0.300–1.112 and 0.342–0.817, respectively. The TFs of Cd from straw to grain ranged from 0.366 to 1.71, with signiifcant differences among these 20 rice cultivars. The bioconcentration factors (BCFgrain) and TFs among the 20 rice cultivars ranged from 0.300–1.112 and 0.342–0.817, respectively. The species-sensitivity distribu-tion (SSD) of Cd sensitivity of the rice species could be iftted wel with Burr-III (R2=0.987) based on the data of BCFs. The toxicity threshold of Cd derived from SSD for the paddy soil was 0.507 mg kg–1 in the present study.展开更多
Penile hypersensitivity plays an important role in premature ejaculation （PE）, but differences in penile sensitivity among subtypes of PE are unknown. Therefore, we compared penile sensory thresholds in PE subtypes ...Penile hypersensitivity plays an important role in premature ejaculation （PE）, but differences in penile sensitivity among subtypes of PE are unknown. Therefore, we compared penile sensory thresholds in PE subtypes of lifelong and acquired PE, PE with and without erectile dysfunction （ED）, PE with an intravaginal ejaculation latency time 〈1 min and 〉1 min, and PE with and without orgasmic pleasure perceptual dysfunction. During August 2014 to January 2016, 136 patients with PE were included. Penile warm, cold, and vibratory thresholds were measured. Data of clinical characteristics, sexual life, Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool （PEDT） score, and the 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function （IIEF-5） score were collected. Vibratory thresholds of the PE with ED group were higher in the right coronal sulcus （median amplitude： 4.92 vs 3.65 μm, P= 0.02） and the right penile shaft （median amplitude： 3.87 vs 3.30 μm, P = 0.03）, while differences in penile sensory thresholds between other subtypes were not significant. The median PEDT score was lower in the PE without ED group （12 vs 14, P 〈 0.001）. The IIEF-5 and PEDT scores were negatively correlated （r = -0.29, P 〈 0.001）. Patients with orgasmic pleasure perceptual dysfunction had a lower median IIEF-5 score （20 vs 21, P = 0.02）. Patients with PE and ED had lower penile sensitivity, and ED was associated with more severe symptoms and weaker orgasmic pleasure perception. In men with PE, management of comorbid ED is necessary. In case of side effects in erectile function, topical anesthetics should be cautiously used in men with PE and ED.展开更多
The case-based reasoning（CBR） and rule-based reasoning（RBR） fusion systems include a diverse range of fusion methods and their tasks are characterized by interleaving combination of the reasoning procedures. Exist...The case-based reasoning（CBR） and rule-based reasoning（RBR） fusion systems include a diverse range of fusion methods and their tasks are characterized by interleaving combination of the reasoning procedures. Existing approaches cannot clarify the complex relationships between data from the knowledge sources nor uniformly represent the heterogeneous case and rule knowledge in one fusion space. As a result, existing approaches fail to solve system fragility due to knowledge uncertainty and reasoning unreliability. For the purpose of addressing the difficulties, a novel algorithm for CBR-RBR fusion with robust thresholds（CRFRT） is proposed. Heterogeneous case and rule knowledge are uniformly represented in one defined fusion unitary space. The robust thresholds have been achieved to distinguish the complex relationships between meta-knowledge in the fusion space and to enhance system capacity of knowledge identification. Furthermore, fusion reasoning strategies are constructed for CRFRT and its procedure based on which robust solution of the fusion reasoning problem is obtained. Finally, CRFRT is validated by benchmark problems in machine learning. Compared with other CBR and RBR approaches, the reasoning efficiency and accuracy are increased by 5% and 2.2% respectively. The variations of system accuracy are decreased by 2% to 3.8%. The above results show that the CRFRT algorithm boosts the system＇s effectiveness and robustness. The proposed CRFRT can solve the fragility of complex intelligence decision system and give quality performance for fault diagnosis.展开更多
The Himalayan region has been severely affected by landslides especially during the monsoons. In particular, Kalimpong region in Darjeeling Himalayas has recorded several landslides and has caused significant loss of ...The Himalayan region has been severely affected by landslides especially during the monsoons. In particular, Kalimpong region in Darjeeling Himalayas has recorded several landslides and has caused significant loss of life, property and agricultural land. The study region, Chibo has experienced several landslides in the past which were mainly debris and earth slide. Globally, several types of rainfall thresholds have been used to determine rainfall-induced landslide incidents. In this paper, probabilistic thresholds have been defined as it would provide a better understanding compared to deterministic thresholds which provide binary results, i.e., either landslide or no landslide for a particular rainfall event. Not much research has been carried out towards validation of rainfall thresholds using an effective and robust monitoring system. The thresholds are then validated using a reliable system utilizing Microelectromechanical Systems(MEMS) tilt sensor and volumetric water content sensor installed in the region. The system measures the tilt of the instrument which is installed at shallow depths and is ideal for an early warning system for shallow landslides. The change in observed tilt angles due to rainfall would give an understanding of the applicability of the probabilistic model. The probabilities determined using Bayes' theorem have been calculated using the rainfall parameters and landslide data in 2010-2016. The rainfall values were collected from an automatic rain gauge setup near the Chibo region. The probabilities were validated using the MEMS based monitoring system setup in Chibo for the monsoon season of 2017. This is the first attempt to determine probabilities and validate it with a robust and effective monitoring system in Darjeeling Himalayas. This study would help in developing an early warning system for regions where the installation of monitoring systems may not be feasible.展开更多
Landslides induced by prolonged rainfalls are frequent mass movements along the northeastern portion of the Sierra Madre Oriental in Mexico,causing significant damage to infrastructure.In this work,we have studied the...Landslides induced by prolonged rainfalls are frequent mass movements along the northeastern portion of the Sierra Madre Oriental in Mexico,causing significant damage to infrastructure.In this work,we have studied the connection between rainfall and landslides in the Santa Rosa Canyon,a catchment located in the northeastern Mexico.A landslide database triggered by major storms and hurricanes that have hit the region over the past 30 years was analyzed.A total of 92 rainfall events in the Santa Rosa Canyon were studied to determine the amount of precipitation needed to trigger shallow landslides.For each event the duration(D,in hours)and the cumulated rainfall event(E,in mm)were determined by using historical rainfall data from weather stations located near the study area.We have proposed an ED threshold for rainfall-induced landslides with durations 0.5<D<120 hours to address the conditions that trigger these events in the study area.On analyzing the obtained threshold,it has been established that almost 60 mm of a daily rainfall accumulation is required to trigger shallow landslides in the study area.This estimation is consistent with other calculations made for areas close to the Santa Rosa Canyon.Finally,we validated the predictive capability of the threshold with a different set of rainfall data that did not result in landslides performing a straightforward receiver operating characteristic analysis.A good approach was obtained,especially for rainfall events with daily measurements.Results could be used as input information in the design of a landslide early warning system for the northeastern Mexico,and replicated for other landslide prone areas in the region.展开更多
At present,most researches on the critical rainfall threshold of debris flow initiation use a linear model obtained through regression.With relatively weak fault tolerance,this method not only ignores nonlinear effect...At present,most researches on the critical rainfall threshold of debris flow initiation use a linear model obtained through regression.With relatively weak fault tolerance,this method not only ignores nonlinear effects but also is susceptible to singular noise samples,which makes it difficult to characterize the true quantization relationship of the rainfall threshold.Besides,the early warning threshold determined by statistical parameters is susceptible to negative samples(samples where no debris flow has occurred),which leads to uncertainty in the reliability of the early warning results by the regression curve.To overcome the above limitations,this study develops a data-driven multiobjective evolutionary optimization method that combines an artificial neural network(ANN)and a multiobjective evolutionary optimization implemented by particle swarm optimization(PSO).Firstly,the Pareto optimality method is used to represent the nonlinear and conflicting critical thresholds for the rainfall intensity I and the rainfall duration D.An ANN is used to construct a dual-target(dual-task)predictive surrogate model,and then a PSO-based multiobjective evolutionary optimization algorithm is applied to train the ANN and stochastically search the trained ANN for obtaining the Pareto front of the I-D surrogate prediction model,which is intended to overcome the limitations of the existing linear regression-based threshold methods.Finally,a double early warning curve model that can effectively control the false alarm rate and negative alarm rate of hazard warnings are proposed based on the decision space and target space maps.This study provides theoretical guidance for the early warning and forecasting of debris flows and has strong applicability.展开更多
Vocalizations play a critical role in mate recognition and mate choice in a number of taxa, especially, but not limited to, orthopterans, frogs, and birds. But receivers can only recognize and prefer sounds that they ...Vocalizations play a critical role in mate recognition and mate choice in a number of taxa, especially, but not limited to, orthopterans, frogs, and birds. But receivers can only recognize and prefer sounds that they can hear. Thus a fundamental question linking neurobiology and sexual selection asks-what is the threshold for detecting acoustic sexual displays? In this study, we use 3 methods to assess such thresholds in tdngara frogs: behavioral responses, auditory brainstem responsesz and multi unit electrophysiological recordi ngs from the midbrain.We show that thresholds are lowest for multiunit recordings (ca. 45 dB SPL), and then for behavioral responses (ca. 61 dB SPL), with auditory brainstem responses exhibiting the highest thresholds (ca. 71 dB SPL). We discuss why these estimates differ and why, as with other studies, it is unlikely that they should be the same. Although all of these studies estimate thresholds they are not measuring the same thresholds;behavioral thresholds are based on signal salienee whereas the 2 neural assays estimate physiological thresholds. All 3 estimates, however, make it clear that to have an appreciation for detection and salienee of acoustic signals we must listen to those signals through the ears of the receivers.展开更多
Spectral computed tomography(CT) based on photon counting detectors(PCDs) is a well-researched topic in the field of X-ray imaging. When PCD is applied in a spectral CT system, the PCD energy thresholds must be carefu...Spectral computed tomography(CT) based on photon counting detectors(PCDs) is a well-researched topic in the field of X-ray imaging. When PCD is applied in a spectral CT system, the PCD energy thresholds must be carefully selected, especially for K-edge imaging, which is an important spectral CT application. This paper presents a threshold selection method that yields better-quality images in K-edge imaging. The main idea is to optimize the energy thresholds ray-by-ray according to the targeted component coefficients, followed by obtaining an overall optimal energy threshold by frequency voting. A low-dose pre-scan is used in practical implementations to estimate the line integrals of the component coefficients for the basis functions. The variance of the decomposed component coefficients is then minimized using the Cramer–Rao lower bound method with respect to the energy thresholds. The optimal energy thresholds are then used to take a full scan and gain better image reconstruction with less noise than would be given by a full scan using the non-optimal energy thresholds. Simulations and practical experiments on imaging iodine and gadolinium solutions, which are commonly used as contrast agents in medical applications, were used to validate the method. The noise was significantly reduced with the same dose relative to the non-optimal energy thresholds in both simulations and in practical experiments.展开更多
Information on hearing thresholds is not always reliable as differences in these thresholds have been described even for the same species. This may partially be due to different methods used by different labs. A frequ...Information on hearing thresholds is not always reliable as differences in these thresholds have been described even for the same species. This may partially be due to different methods used by different labs. A frequently used approach to obtain an estimate of hearing threshold is the electrophysiological recording of auditory brainstem responses (ABR). They are usually recorded under deep anesthesia and represent the auditory evoked far-field potentials at various levels in the central auditory pathway. Alternatively, several behavioral approaches are employed. These commonly use operant or classical conditioning to determine hearing thresholds. A potential disadvantage of these methods is that any sound conditioning may in principle alter auditory perception and therefore auditory thresholds. To exclude this type of methodological bias a prepulse inhibition (PPI) paradigm can be used where an audiogram can be determined without any kind of pre-training. Here we compare the threshold estimates obtained by two different ABR and PPI measurements where stimuli are presented in different contexts, either randomly or non-randomly, to test for a possible effect of auditory sensitization. In addition we test the effect of a frequency specific acoustic trauma on the audiograms obtained with both methods. In general we find behaviorally determined audiograms to be significantly lower in absolute thresh- old compared to ABR measurements. Furthermore non-randomized presentation context of the stimuli generally results in audiograms with 10 to 15 dB lower thresholds than pseudo-randomized presentation. Finally, the amount of threshold loss induced by acoustic trauma is similar for all methods tested.展开更多
The Sierra Norte de Puebla, Mexico, has a record of hundreds of mass removal processes triggered by rainfall, where the intensity and duration of the rain are the main mechanisms. In order to determine threshold value...The Sierra Norte de Puebla, Mexico, has a record of hundreds of mass removal processes triggered by rainfall, where the intensity and duration of the rain are the main mechanisms. In order to determine threshold values for precipitation as a cause of a landslide, the prior, marginal and conditional probabilities were calculated. A Bayesian method was used for one-dimensional (precipitation intensity) and two-dimensional (precipitation intensity and duration) analysis. This suggested a high probability of mass movement when the precipitation exceeds 60 mm within ten days. A proposed warning system is based on classes in which the threshold is exceeded.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.92365202,12475011,and 11921005)the National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2024YFA1409002)Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project(Grant No.2019SHZDZX01)。
文摘We investigate the mixed-state entanglement between two spins embedded in the XXZ Heisenberg chain under thermal equilibrium.By deriving an analytical expression for the entanglement of two-spin thermal states and extending this analysis to larger spin chains,we demonstrate that mixed-state entanglement is profoundly shaped by both disorder and temperature.Our results reveal a sharp distinction between many-body localized and ergodic phases,with entanglement vanishing above diferent fnite temperature thresholds.Furthermore,by analyzing non-adjacent spins,we uncover an approximate exponential decay of entanglement with separation.This work advances the understanding of the quantum-to-classical transition by linking the entanglement properties of small subsystems to the broader thermal environment,ofering an explanation for the absence of entanglement in macroscopic systems.These fndings provide critical insights into quantum many-body physics,bridging concepts from thermalization,localization,and quantum information theory.
文摘Objective: To study the relationship between cortical auditory evoked potential (CAEP) thresholds and behavioral thresholds in pediatric populations with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Methods: Fifteen children (mean age 6.8 years) with bilateral SNHL underwent behavioral pure-tone audiometry and CAEP testing at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz. CAEP thresholds were determined using tone bursts, and correlations between CAEP and pure-tone thresholds were analyzed using Pearson correlation and t-tests. Results: A strong positive correlation was observed between P1 thresholds and behavioral thresholds across all test frequencies: 0.5 kHz (r = 0.765, p Conclusion: The strong correlation between P1 and behavioral thresholds demonstrates the reliability of CAEP testing for estimating auditory thresholds in children. These findings support the use of CAEP testing as a reliable objective tool for threshold estimation, particularly in cases where behavioral responses cannot be reliably obtained. When adjusted with frequency-specific correction values, CAEP testing provides a reliable method for assessing hearing thresholds in pediatric populations.
基金Project(2023YFC2907400)by the National Key Research and Development Program of China-2023 Key Special ProjectProject(51974043)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China+2 种基金Project(SKLCRKF1908)supported by the Open Fund of the State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources in Western China,Xi’an University of Science and Technology,ChinaProject(2023JJ10072)suupported by the Hunan Provincial Natural Science Foundation for Distinguished Young ScholarsProject(2022RC1173)supported by the Science and Technology Innovation Program of Hunan Province,China。
文摘The geostress and rock blasting in underground engineering may greatly affect the stress thresholds of surrounding rock.In this study,pre-damage impact tests were first conducted on granite under varying confining pressures(5,10 and 15 MPa)and numbers of impacts(1,5,10 and 15 impacts).Then,uniaxial compression tests were undertaken on the pre-damaged granite to study the evolution of stress thresholds using the crack volume strain method and acoustic emission method.The crack damage stresses determined by the two methods were compared.Additionally,based on the rise time amplitude and average frequency,the evolution law of microcracks inside rock specimens was revealed,and an improved acoustic emission method was proposed.The results indicated that as the number of impacts increased,the crack closure stress,crack damage stress,and peak stress of granite specimens initially rose and then declined,while they continuously increased with the confining pressure.The proportion of shear cracks first declined and then rose with greater number of impacts and decreased with higher confining pressure,and that of tensile cracks showed the opposite trend.The improved acoustic emission method was more accurate in identifying the crack damage stress.
文摘BackgroundIt's crucial to study the effect of changes in thresholds(T)and most comfortable levels(M)on behavioral measurements in young children using cochlear implants.This would help the clinician with the optimization and validation of programming parameters.ObjectiveThe study has attempted to describe the changes in behavioral responses with modification of T and M levels.MethodsTwenty-five participants in the age range 5 to 12 years using HR90K/HiFocus1J or HR90KAdvantage/HiFocus1J with Harmony speech processors participated in the study.A decrease in T levels,a rise in T levels,or a decrease in M levels in the everyday program were used to create experimental programs.Sound field thresholds and speech perception were measured at 50 dBHL for three experimental and everyday programs.ConclusionThe results indicated that only reductions of M levels resulted in significantly(p<0.01)poor aided thresholds and speech perception.On the other hand,variation in T levels did not have significant changes in either sound field thresholds or speech perception.The results highlight that M levels must be correctly established in order to prevent decreased speech perception and audibility.
基金the Genetics and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute of Tabarestan (GABIT) Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University (SANRU) for the use of the services and financial supports of this research
文摘The oilseed crop Camelina sativa exhibits salinity tolerance,but the effects on early growth stages across a range of different salts and in combination with salicylic acid(SA)have not been thoroughly evaluated.In this study,seeds were germinated in varying concentrations of six salts(NaCl,CaCl_(2),ZnCl_(2),KCl,MgSO_(4),and Na2SO_(4))with or without 0.5 mM SA.Using the halotime model,we estimated salt thresholds for germination and parameters of seedling growth.Germination and seedling growth parameters of camelina significantly decreased with increasing salt concentration across all salt types.Salts containing Zn and SO_(4) were most detrimental to germination and seedling growth.Except for KCl,0.5 mM SA generally reduced the salinity tolerance threshold(Saltb(50))of camelina.Specifically,Saltb(50)was 21.5%higher for KCl and 16.1%,25.0%,54.9%,21.0%,and 5.6%lower for CaCl_(2),NaCl,MgSO_(4),Na2SO_(4),and ZnCl_(2),respectively,when 0.5 mM SA was compared to 0 mM SA.Furthermore,camelina seedling growth was consistently more sensitive than germination across all salt types.SA did not significantly enhance germination or seedling growth and was harmful when combined with certain salts or at the germination stage.It can be concluded that both the type of salt and the concentration of SA are as critical as the salt concentration in saline irrigation water.
基金Projects(2021RC3007,2020RC3090)supported by the Science and Technology Innovation Program of Hunan Province,ChinaProjects(52374150,52174099)supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China。
文摘Four key stress thresholds exist in the compression process of rocks,i.e.,crack closure stress(σ_(cc)),crack initiation stress(σ_(ci)),crack damage stress(σ_(cd))and compressive strength(σ_(c)).The quantitative identifications of the first three stress thresholds are of great significance for characterizing the microcrack growth and damage evolution of rocks under compression.In this paper,a new method based on damage constitutive model is proposed to quantitatively measure the stress thresholds of rocks.Firstly,two different damage constitutive models were constructed based on acoustic emission(AE)counts and Weibull distribution function considering the compaction stages of the rock and the bearing capacity of the damage element.Then,the accumulative AE counts method(ACLM),AE count rate method(CRM)and constitutive model method(CMM)were introduced to determine the stress thresholds of rocks.Finally,the stress thresholds of 9 different rocks were identified by ACLM,CRM,and CMM.The results show that the theoretical stress−strain curves obtained from the two damage constitutive models are in good agreement with that of the experimental data,and the differences between the two damage constitutive models mainly come from the evolutionary differences of the damage variables.The results of the stress thresholds identified by the CMM are in good agreement with those identified by the AE methods,i.e.,ACLM and CRM.Therefore,the proposed CMM can be used to determine the stress thresholds of rocks.
基金financially supported by the China Geological Survey Project(No.DD20230472).
文摘Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems(GDEs)in the arid region of northwest China are crucial for maintaining ecological balance and biodiversity.However,the ongoing decline in groundwater levels caused by excessive groundwater exploitation poses a potential threat to GDEs.This paper reviews the current developments and future challenges associated with defining groundwater level thresholds for maintaining GDEs in arid regions.It focuses on methods for identifying and investigating these thresholds,with particular attention to recent advances in northwest China.Additionally,this paper highlights the limitations and future challenges in determining these thresholds,including the complexities of ecological processes,groundwater systems,data availability,and methodological constraints.To address these issues,a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates new technologies,such as multi-source data fusion,machine learning models,and big data and cloud computing,will be essential.By overcoming these challenges and utilizing effective methods,appropriate groundwater level thresholds can be established to ensure the longterm sustainability of GDEs.
基金supported by the Hebei Social Science Foundation Project(Grant No.HB20YJ018)2023 Hebei Province Social Science Development Research Project(Grant No.20230103005)Education Department of Hebei Province Graduate Student Innovation Ability Training Funding Project(Grant No.CXZZSS2023130).
文摘In order to assess the environmental risks caused by carbon emissions from the construction industry in Hebei Province of China,an environmental risk assessment model based on forest carbon sink threshold was constructed to evaluate the carbon emission risks of the construction industry in Hebei Province,China from 2005 to 2020.The results are shown as follows:(1)The overall carbon emissions of the construction industry in Hebei Province of China showed an inverted"V"-shaped evolution trend during the past 16 years.Tangshan and Shijiazhuang maintained high carbon emissions,while Langfang,Hengshui and Baoding saw rapid increases in carbon emissions.(2)The environmental safety threshold of carbon emission from the construction industry in Hebei Province,China,has been continuously improved,and the provincial environmental safety threshold is between 9475080-23144760 tons;The environmental safety threshold was the highest in Baoding and Langfang,and the lowest in Xingtai.(3)In the past 16 years,the carbon emission risk of the construction industry in Hebei Province of China has been in a state of extremely serious risk,and the risk index generally presents an inverted"V"type trend.(4)The carbon emission risk of Hebei city in China presents a spatial pattern of"high in the south and low in the north",which goes through two stages:risk increase period and risk reduction period.
文摘Introduction: Computed tomography (CT) measurements of bone mineral attenuation may be a useful means to identify older women who should be prioritized for bone mineral density screening. Methods: We compared bone mineral attenuation as measured in the L1 vertebra of CT studies to the results of dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) studies to determine what CT attenuation thresholds might yield a reasonable combination of sensitivity and specificity for the detection of osteoporosis. The study was limited to women between the ages of 65 and 75 years who had a DEXA study and a CT that included the L1 or adjacent vertebra performed within 3 years of the DEXA study. Results: There were 1226 women in this study, of whom 452 (38%) had osteoporosis based on a T-score ≤ −2.5 by DEXA. There were 830 CT studies performed with contrast and 396 studies which were performed without contrast. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean HU of those studies performed without contrast compared to those with contrast (unenhanced mean 103 HU versus 125 HU, p < 0.001). Different CT attenuation thresholds provided the most appropriate combination of sensitivity and specificity for the detection of osteoporosis when comparing CT studies performed without or with IV contrast and when all the CT data were used in aggregate. Conclusion: Different thresholds appear necessary when using the mean CT vertebral attenuation to identify older women for preferential referral for DEXA studies.
文摘In this study, based on the simulated discharge results of chemical disinfectants, hypocotyl germination concentration gradient pre-test and concentration gradient determination experiment were set up respectively. Laboratory cultivation was conducted to compare and analyze the root germination and germination indexes, three mangrove hypocotyls of Kandelia candel (Linn.) Druce, Ceriopstagal C.B. Rob. and Bruguiera sexangula var. Rhynchopetalas’ efficiency of cumulative root germination, cumulative germination and the cumulative expansion of the second pair of leaves, one-way analysis of variance was used to obtain the tolerance threshold of three mangrove hypocotyls to strong chlorin disinfectant. The study determined that the by-products of strong chlorin disinfectant, the toxic threshold concentrations of Kandelia candel (Linn.) Druce, Ceriopstagal C.B. Rob. and Bruguiera sexangula var. rhynchopetala are close to 0.55 mg/L, 0.55 mg/L and 0.25 mg/L, respectively. This concentration range is lower than the average concentration of 1.183 mg/L of active chlorine emitted from strong chlorine concentrate during pond clearing in high-level shrimp ponds, indicating that transient emissions of strong chlorine concentrate during pond clearing can have a toxic effect on mangrove plants. The strength of tolerance of the embryonic axes of the three mangrove species to effective chlorine contamination was, Ceriopstagal C.B. Rob. stronger than Bruguiera sexangula var. rhynchopetala, and Kandelia candel (Linn.) Druce is the weakest.
基金support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41271490, 21077131)
文摘It is imperative to derive an appropriate cadmium (Cd) health risk toxicity threshold for paddy soils to ensure the Cd con-centration of rice grains meet the food safety standard. In this study, 20 rice cultivars from the main rice producing areas in China were selected, and a pot-experiment was conducted to investigate transformation of Cd in paddy soil-rice system with 0 (CK), 0.3 mg kg–1 (T1) and 0.6 mg kg–1 (T2) Cd treatments in greenhouse. The results showed that Cd concentrations of rice grains existed signiifcant difference (P<0.05) in 20 rice cultivars under the same Cd level in soil. The Cd concentrations of rice grains of the CK, T1 and T2 treatments were in the range of 0.143–0.202, 0.128–0.458 and 0.332–0.806 mg kg–1, respectively. Marked differences of the ratios of Cd concentration for soil to rice grain (BCFs) and transfer factors (TFs, root to grain and straw to grain) among the tested cultivars were observed in this study. The bioconcentration factors (BCFgrain) and TFs of the 20 rice cultivars were 0.300–1.112 and 0.342–0.817, respectively. The TFs of Cd from straw to grain ranged from 0.366 to 1.71, with signiifcant differences among these 20 rice cultivars. The bioconcentration factors (BCFgrain) and TFs among the 20 rice cultivars ranged from 0.300–1.112 and 0.342–0.817, respectively. The species-sensitivity distribu-tion (SSD) of Cd sensitivity of the rice species could be iftted wel with Burr-III (R2=0.987) based on the data of BCFs. The toxicity threshold of Cd derived from SSD for the paddy soil was 0.507 mg kg–1 in the present study.
文摘Penile hypersensitivity plays an important role in premature ejaculation （PE）, but differences in penile sensitivity among subtypes of PE are unknown. Therefore, we compared penile sensory thresholds in PE subtypes of lifelong and acquired PE, PE with and without erectile dysfunction （ED）, PE with an intravaginal ejaculation latency time 〈1 min and 〉1 min, and PE with and without orgasmic pleasure perceptual dysfunction. During August 2014 to January 2016, 136 patients with PE were included. Penile warm, cold, and vibratory thresholds were measured. Data of clinical characteristics, sexual life, Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool （PEDT） score, and the 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function （IIEF-5） score were collected. Vibratory thresholds of the PE with ED group were higher in the right coronal sulcus （median amplitude： 4.92 vs 3.65 μm, P= 0.02） and the right penile shaft （median amplitude： 3.87 vs 3.30 μm, P = 0.03）, while differences in penile sensory thresholds between other subtypes were not significant. The median PEDT score was lower in the PE without ED group （12 vs 14, P 〈 0.001）. The IIEF-5 and PEDT scores were negatively correlated （r = -0.29, P 〈 0.001）. Patients with orgasmic pleasure perceptual dysfunction had a lower median IIEF-5 score （20 vs 21, P = 0.02）. Patients with PE and ED had lower penile sensitivity, and ED was associated with more severe symptoms and weaker orgasmic pleasure perception. In men with PE, management of comorbid ED is necessary. In case of side effects in erectile function, topical anesthetics should be cautiously used in men with PE and ED.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No. 71171143)National Natural Science Foundation of China Youth(Grant No. 71201087)+2 种基金Tianjin Municipal Research Program of Application Foundation and Advanced Technology of China(Grant No. 10JCYBJC07300)Tianjin Municipal Key Project of Science and Technology Supporting Program of China(Grant No. 09ECKFGX00600)Science and Technology Program of FOXCONN Group(Grant No. 120024001156)
文摘The case-based reasoning（CBR） and rule-based reasoning（RBR） fusion systems include a diverse range of fusion methods and their tasks are characterized by interleaving combination of the reasoning procedures. Existing approaches cannot clarify the complex relationships between data from the knowledge sources nor uniformly represent the heterogeneous case and rule knowledge in one fusion space. As a result, existing approaches fail to solve system fragility due to knowledge uncertainty and reasoning unreliability. For the purpose of addressing the difficulties, a novel algorithm for CBR-RBR fusion with robust thresholds（CRFRT） is proposed. Heterogeneous case and rule knowledge are uniformly represented in one defined fusion unitary space. The robust thresholds have been achieved to distinguish the complex relationships between meta-knowledge in the fusion space and to enhance system capacity of knowledge identification. Furthermore, fusion reasoning strategies are constructed for CRFRT and its procedure based on which robust solution of the fusion reasoning problem is obtained. Finally, CRFRT is validated by benchmark problems in machine learning. Compared with other CBR and RBR approaches, the reasoning efficiency and accuracy are increased by 5% and 2.2% respectively. The variations of system accuracy are decreased by 2% to 3.8%. The above results show that the CRFRT algorithm boosts the system＇s effectiveness and robustness. The proposed CRFRT can solve the fragility of complex intelligence decision system and give quality performance for fault diagnosis.
基金the Department of Science & Technology (DST), New Delhi for funding the research project Landslide hazard assessment and monitoring at Chibo Pashyar, Kalimpong (Grant No. NRDMS/02/31/015(G))
文摘The Himalayan region has been severely affected by landslides especially during the monsoons. In particular, Kalimpong region in Darjeeling Himalayas has recorded several landslides and has caused significant loss of life, property and agricultural land. The study region, Chibo has experienced several landslides in the past which were mainly debris and earth slide. Globally, several types of rainfall thresholds have been used to determine rainfall-induced landslide incidents. In this paper, probabilistic thresholds have been defined as it would provide a better understanding compared to deterministic thresholds which provide binary results, i.e., either landslide or no landslide for a particular rainfall event. Not much research has been carried out towards validation of rainfall thresholds using an effective and robust monitoring system. The thresholds are then validated using a reliable system utilizing Microelectromechanical Systems(MEMS) tilt sensor and volumetric water content sensor installed in the region. The system measures the tilt of the instrument which is installed at shallow depths and is ideal for an early warning system for shallow landslides. The change in observed tilt angles due to rainfall would give an understanding of the applicability of the probabilistic model. The probabilities determined using Bayes' theorem have been calculated using the rainfall parameters and landslide data in 2010-2016. The rainfall values were collected from an automatic rain gauge setup near the Chibo region. The probabilities were validated using the MEMS based monitoring system setup in Chibo for the monsoon season of 2017. This is the first attempt to determine probabilities and validate it with a robust and effective monitoring system in Darjeeling Himalayas. This study would help in developing an early warning system for regions where the installation of monitoring systems may not be feasible.
文摘Landslides induced by prolonged rainfalls are frequent mass movements along the northeastern portion of the Sierra Madre Oriental in Mexico,causing significant damage to infrastructure.In this work,we have studied the connection between rainfall and landslides in the Santa Rosa Canyon,a catchment located in the northeastern Mexico.A landslide database triggered by major storms and hurricanes that have hit the region over the past 30 years was analyzed.A total of 92 rainfall events in the Santa Rosa Canyon were studied to determine the amount of precipitation needed to trigger shallow landslides.For each event the duration(D,in hours)and the cumulated rainfall event(E,in mm)were determined by using historical rainfall data from weather stations located near the study area.We have proposed an ED threshold for rainfall-induced landslides with durations 0.5<D<120 hours to address the conditions that trigger these events in the study area.On analyzing the obtained threshold,it has been established that almost 60 mm of a daily rainfall accumulation is required to trigger shallow landslides in the study area.This estimation is consistent with other calculations made for areas close to the Santa Rosa Canyon.Finally,we validated the predictive capability of the threshold with a different set of rainfall data that did not result in landslides performing a straightforward receiver operating characteristic analysis.A good approach was obtained,especially for rainfall events with daily measurements.Results could be used as input information in the design of a landslide early warning system for the northeastern Mexico,and replicated for other landslide prone areas in the region.
基金financially supported by the Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research Program(STEP)(No.2019QZKK0906)National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.41901008 and No.61976046)+3 种基金National Key R&D Program of China(No.2017YFC1502504)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant No.2682018CX05)Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Project(Z191100001419015)financially supported by the China Scholarship Council。
文摘At present,most researches on the critical rainfall threshold of debris flow initiation use a linear model obtained through regression.With relatively weak fault tolerance,this method not only ignores nonlinear effects but also is susceptible to singular noise samples,which makes it difficult to characterize the true quantization relationship of the rainfall threshold.Besides,the early warning threshold determined by statistical parameters is susceptible to negative samples(samples where no debris flow has occurred),which leads to uncertainty in the reliability of the early warning results by the regression curve.To overcome the above limitations,this study develops a data-driven multiobjective evolutionary optimization method that combines an artificial neural network(ANN)and a multiobjective evolutionary optimization implemented by particle swarm optimization(PSO).Firstly,the Pareto optimality method is used to represent the nonlinear and conflicting critical thresholds for the rainfall intensity I and the rainfall duration D.An ANN is used to construct a dual-target(dual-task)predictive surrogate model,and then a PSO-based multiobjective evolutionary optimization algorithm is applied to train the ANN and stochastically search the trained ANN for obtaining the Pareto front of the I-D surrogate prediction model,which is intended to overcome the limitations of the existing linear regression-based threshold methods.Finally,a double early warning curve model that can effectively control the false alarm rate and negative alarm rate of hazard warnings are proposed based on the decision space and target space maps.This study provides theoretical guidance for the early warning and forecasting of debris flows and has strong applicability.
文摘Vocalizations play a critical role in mate recognition and mate choice in a number of taxa, especially, but not limited to, orthopterans, frogs, and birds. But receivers can only recognize and prefer sounds that they can hear. Thus a fundamental question linking neurobiology and sexual selection asks-what is the threshold for detecting acoustic sexual displays? In this study, we use 3 methods to assess such thresholds in tdngara frogs: behavioral responses, auditory brainstem responsesz and multi unit electrophysiological recordi ngs from the midbrain.We show that thresholds are lowest for multiunit recordings (ca. 45 dB SPL), and then for behavioral responses (ca. 61 dB SPL), with auditory brainstem responses exhibiting the highest thresholds (ca. 71 dB SPL). We discuss why these estimates differ and why, as with other studies, it is unlikely that they should be the same. Although all of these studies estimate thresholds they are not measuring the same thresholds;behavioral thresholds are based on signal salienee whereas the 2 neural assays estimate physiological thresholds. All 3 estimates, however, make it clear that to have an appreciation for detection and salienee of acoustic signals we must listen to those signals through the ears of the receivers.
基金supported by Grants from National key research and development program(No.2016YFF0101304)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.61771279,11435007)
文摘Spectral computed tomography(CT) based on photon counting detectors(PCDs) is a well-researched topic in the field of X-ray imaging. When PCD is applied in a spectral CT system, the PCD energy thresholds must be carefully selected, especially for K-edge imaging, which is an important spectral CT application. This paper presents a threshold selection method that yields better-quality images in K-edge imaging. The main idea is to optimize the energy thresholds ray-by-ray according to the targeted component coefficients, followed by obtaining an overall optimal energy threshold by frequency voting. A low-dose pre-scan is used in practical implementations to estimate the line integrals of the component coefficients for the basis functions. The variance of the decomposed component coefficients is then minimized using the Cramer–Rao lower bound method with respect to the energy thresholds. The optimal energy thresholds are then used to take a full scan and gain better image reconstruction with less noise than would be given by a full scan using the non-optimal energy thresholds. Simulations and practical experiments on imaging iodine and gadolinium solutions, which are commonly used as contrast agents in medical applications, were used to validate the method. The noise was significantly reduced with the same dose relative to the non-optimal energy thresholds in both simulations and in practical experiments.
文摘Information on hearing thresholds is not always reliable as differences in these thresholds have been described even for the same species. This may partially be due to different methods used by different labs. A frequently used approach to obtain an estimate of hearing threshold is the electrophysiological recording of auditory brainstem responses (ABR). They are usually recorded under deep anesthesia and represent the auditory evoked far-field potentials at various levels in the central auditory pathway. Alternatively, several behavioral approaches are employed. These commonly use operant or classical conditioning to determine hearing thresholds. A potential disadvantage of these methods is that any sound conditioning may in principle alter auditory perception and therefore auditory thresholds. To exclude this type of methodological bias a prepulse inhibition (PPI) paradigm can be used where an audiogram can be determined without any kind of pre-training. Here we compare the threshold estimates obtained by two different ABR and PPI measurements where stimuli are presented in different contexts, either randomly or non-randomly, to test for a possible effect of auditory sensitization. In addition we test the effect of a frequency specific acoustic trauma on the audiograms obtained with both methods. In general we find behaviorally determined audiograms to be significantly lower in absolute thresh- old compared to ABR measurements. Furthermore non-randomized presentation context of the stimuli generally results in audiograms with 10 to 15 dB lower thresholds than pseudo-randomized presentation. Finally, the amount of threshold loss induced by acoustic trauma is similar for all methods tested.
文摘The Sierra Norte de Puebla, Mexico, has a record of hundreds of mass removal processes triggered by rainfall, where the intensity and duration of the rain are the main mechanisms. In order to determine threshold values for precipitation as a cause of a landslide, the prior, marginal and conditional probabilities were calculated. A Bayesian method was used for one-dimensional (precipitation intensity) and two-dimensional (precipitation intensity and duration) analysis. This suggested a high probability of mass movement when the precipitation exceeds 60 mm within ten days. A proposed warning system is based on classes in which the threshold is exceeded.
