With the increasing integration of large-scale distributed energy resources into the grid,traditional distribution network optimization and dispatch methods struggle to address the challenges posed by both generation ...With the increasing integration of large-scale distributed energy resources into the grid,traditional distribution network optimization and dispatch methods struggle to address the challenges posed by both generation and load.Accounting for these issues,this paper proposes a multi-timescale coordinated optimization dispatch method for distribution networks.First,the probability box theory was employed to determine the uncertainty intervals of generation and load forecasts,based on which,the requirements for flexibility dispatch and capacity constraints of the grid were calculated and analyzed.Subsequently,a multi-timescale optimization framework was constructed,incorporating the generation and load forecast uncertainties.This framework included optimization models for dayahead scheduling,intra-day optimization,and real-time adjustments,aiming to meet flexibility needs across different timescales and improve the economic efficiency of the grid.Furthermore,an improved soft actor-critic algorithm was introduced to enhance the uncertainty exploration capability.Utilizing a centralized training and decentralized execution framework,a multi-agent SAC network model was developed to improve the decision-making efficiency of the agents.Finally,the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method were validated using a modified IEEE-33 bus test system.展开更多
BACKGROUND Pepsinogen(PG)and the PG I/II ratio(PGR)are critical indicators for diagnosing Helicobacter pylori infection and chronic atrophic gastritis,and assessing gastric cancer risk.Existing reference intervals(RIs...BACKGROUND Pepsinogen(PG)and the PG I/II ratio(PGR)are critical indicators for diagnosing Helicobacter pylori infection and chronic atrophic gastritis,and assessing gastric cancer risk.Existing reference intervals(RIs)often overlook age,sex,and demographic variations.Partitioned RIs,while considering these factors,fail to capture the gradual age-related physiological changes.Next-generation RIs offer a solution to this limitation.AIM To investigate age-and sex-specific dynamics of PG and establish next-generation RIs for adults and the elderly in northern China.METHODS After screening,708 healthy individuals were included in this observational study.Serum PG was measured using chemiluminescence immunoassay.Age-and sex-related effects on PG were analyzed with a two-way analysis of variance.RI partitioning was determined by the standard deviation ratio(SDR).Traditional RIs were established using a non-parametric approach.Generalized Additive Models for Location,Scale,and Shape(GAMLSS)modeled age-related trends and continuous reference percentiles for PG I and PG II.Reference limit flagging rates for both RI types were compared.RESULTS PG I and PG II levels were influenced by age(P<0.001)and sex(P<0.001),while PGR remained stable.Age-specific RIs were required for PG I(SDR=0.366)and PG II(SDR=0.424).Partitioned RIs were established for PG I and PG II,with a single RI for PGR.GAMLSS modeling revealed distinct age-dependent trajectories:PG I increased from a median of 39.75μg/L at age 20 years to 49.75μg/L at age 60 years,a 25.16%increase,after which it plateaued through age 80 years.In contrast,PG II showed a continuous rise throughout the age range,with the median value increasing from 5.07μg/L at age 20 years to 8.36μg/L at age 80 years,corresponding to a 64.89%increase.Continuous reference percentiles intuitively reflected these trends and were detailed in this study.Next-generation RIs demonstrated superior accuracy compared to partitioned RIs when applied to specific age subgroups.CONCLUSION This study elucidates the age-and sex-specific dynamics of PG and,to our knowledge,is the first to establish next-generation RIs for PG,supporting more individualized interpretation in laboratory medicine.展开更多
The distillation process is an important chemical process,and the application of data-driven modelling approach has the potential to reduce model complexity compared to mechanistic modelling,thus improving the efficie...The distillation process is an important chemical process,and the application of data-driven modelling approach has the potential to reduce model complexity compared to mechanistic modelling,thus improving the efficiency of process optimization or monitoring studies.However,the distillation process is highly nonlinear and has multiple uncertainty perturbation intervals,which brings challenges to accurate data-driven modelling of distillation processes.This paper proposes a systematic data-driven modelling framework to solve these problems.Firstly,data segment variance was introduced into the K-means algorithm to form K-means data interval(KMDI)clustering in order to cluster the data into perturbed and steady state intervals for steady-state data extraction.Secondly,maximal information coefficient(MIC)was employed to calculate the nonlinear correlation between variables for removing redundant features.Finally,extreme gradient boosting(XGBoost)was integrated as the basic learner into adaptive boosting(AdaBoost)with the error threshold(ET)set to improve weights update strategy to construct the new integrated learning algorithm,XGBoost-AdaBoost-ET.The superiority of the proposed framework is verified by applying this data-driven modelling framework to a real industrial process of propylene distillation.展开更多
Preterm birth and suboptimal fetal growth remain significant perinatal challenges worldwide.Recent data indicate that China's perinatal profile has improved due to reductions in preterm birth rates.However,the cou...Preterm birth and suboptimal fetal growth remain significant perinatal challenges worldwide.Recent data indicate that China's perinatal profile has improved due to reductions in preterm birth rates.However,the country has a 6.5%prevalence of small-for-gestational-age(SGA),ranking fifth globally in total SGA birth numbers^([1,2]).展开更多
Objectives:This study aimed to explore the perceptions and recommendations of multiparas and health-related professionals regarding appropriate birth intervals(Bis)and key determinants.Methods:In-depth semi-structured...Objectives:This study aimed to explore the perceptions and recommendations of multiparas and health-related professionals regarding appropriate birth intervals(Bis)and key determinants.Methods:In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted between April 1 and June 30,2022.Nine multiparas and thirteen health-related professionals were purposefully sampled until data saturation was reached.A thematic analysis approach was applied to the interview transcripts,utilizing dual independent coding and consensus validation in NVivo 12.0.Results:The data generated two overarching categories:1)balanced decision-making on the appropriate birth intervals and 2)internal and external determinants integrated with health and societal considerations.Four key themes emerged following the two categories:1)consistency and discrepancy between the actual and recommended birth intervals of multiparas;2)health-and developmentoriented professional recommendations;3)internal determinants related to individual-level factors;and 4)external determinants related to child-related factors,family support,and social security.Weighing women's reproductive health and career development,multiparas and health-related professionals perceived a length between 18 and 36 months as the appropriate Bl.Conclusion:Multiparas and health-related professionals shaped their balanced recommendations on a relatively appropriate birth interval ranging from 18 to 36 months,which was influenced by women's individual-level factors,child-related factors,family support,and social security.Targeted social and healthcare services should be offered to women and their families during the Bls.展开更多
BACKGROUND The reference ranges for biochemical parameters can fluctuate due to factors like altitude,age,gender,and socioeconomic conditions.These values are crucial for interpreting laboratory data and guide clinica...BACKGROUND The reference ranges for biochemical parameters can fluctuate due to factors like altitude,age,gender,and socioeconomic conditions.These values are crucial for interpreting laboratory data and guide clinical treatment decisions.Currently,there is no established set of reference intervals for cord blood biochemical parameters of newborns in India,particularly in Mumbai.AIM To create cord blood biochemical parameters reference intervals specifically for Mumbai,India.METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in an Indian tertiary care hospital.This study focused on healthy newborns with normal birth weight,born to pregnant mothers without health issues.Cord blood samples,approximately 2-3 mL in volume,were collected from 210 term neonates.These samples were divided into fluoride(glucose)and clot activator(serum)tubes and were subsequently analyzed in the institute's biochemical laboratory.The data obtained from the analysis was then subjected to statistical analysis.The result of the Shapiro-Wilk test suggested non-normality in the data distribution.Consequently,nonparametric statistics were utilized for analysis.The Mann-Whitney U test was utilized to compare parameter distributions among different factors,including the infant’s sex,delivery method,maternal age,and obstetric history.A significance level of P<0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.RESULTS The following represent the median figures and central 95 percentile reference intervals for biochemical parameters in umbilical cord blood of newborns:Serum direct bilirubin=(0.1-0.55)mg/dL,indirect bilirubin=(0.64-2.26)mg/dL,total bilirubin=(0.62-3.14)mg/dL,creatinine=(0.27-0.76)mg/dL,sodium=(128.19-143.26)mmol/L,chloride=(100.19-111.68)mmol/L,potassium=(1.62-9.98)mmol/L and plasma glucose=(24.75-94.23)mg/dL.Statistically significant differences were observed in serum sodium,potassium,and plasma glucose levels when comparing delivery modes.CONCLUSION This is the pioneering study in which first time,the biochemical reference intervals in cord blood for newborns are established in western India.The values are applicable for newborns from this area.Larger study throughout the country is required.展开更多
Most reliability studies assume large samples or independence among components,but these assump-tions often fail in practice,leading to imprecise inference.We address this issue by constructing confidence intervals(CI...Most reliability studies assume large samples or independence among components,but these assump-tions often fail in practice,leading to imprecise inference.We address this issue by constructing confidence intervals(CIs)for the reliability of two-component systems with Weibull distributed failure times under a copula-frailty framework.Our construction integrates gamma-distributed frailties to capture unobserved heterogeneity and a copula-based dependence structure for correlated failures.The main contribution of this work is to derive adjusted CIs that explicitly incorporate the copula parameter in the variance-covariance matrix,achieving near-nominal coverage probabilities even in small samples or highly dependent settings.Through simulation studies,we show that,although traditional methods may suffice with moderate dependence and large samples,the proposed CIs offer notable benefits when dependence is strong or data are sparse.We further illustrate our construction with a synthetic example illustrating how penalized estimation can mitigate the issue of a degenerate Hessian matrix under high dependence and limited observations,so enabling uncertainty quantification despite deviations from nominal assumptions.Overall,our results fill a gap in reliability modeling for systems prone to correlated failures,and contribute to more robust inference in engineering,industrial,and biomedical applications.展开更多
Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness of DTwP-HB-Hib vaccination dosing intervals at eight weeks versus four weeks on the immunogenicity of the diphtheria component.Methods:This is a randomized,open-label,parallel,c...Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness of DTwP-HB-Hib vaccination dosing intervals at eight weeks versus four weeks on the immunogenicity of the diphtheria component.Methods:This is a randomized,open-label,parallel,controlled trial on healthy two-month-old infants who had not received DTwP-HB-Hib vaccinations.The infants received three doses of the vaccine either at an eight-week or four-week interval.The anti-diphtheria toxoid IgG antibody levels before and after three doses of the vaccination were measured using ELISA.Results:Eighty infants were enrolled in this study,with 64 fulfilling the study requirements and randomized into two groups.All study participants exhibited uncertain protection against diphtheria antibodies(0.01-0.99 IU/mL)at the beginning of the study with an average of(0.023±0.009)IU/mL and(0.026±0.009)IU/mL in eight weeks and four weeks groups.Following three doses of the vaccination,the antibody level rose to an average of(1.320±0.234)IU/mL in the eight-week group and(1.307±0.186)IU/mL in the four-week group,with no statistically significant difference in the antibody levels observed(P=0.814).Conclusions:DTwP-HB-Hib vaccinations can be administered at an eight-week or four-week interval,as they do not significantly affect the level of anti-diphtheria IgG antibodies.展开更多
Offshore logistics operations must continuously balance safety,fuel efficiency,and emissions reduction while navigating under uncertain and highly variable sea states.To address this challenge,we present anα-cut inte...Offshore logistics operations must continuously balance safety,fuel efficiency,and emissions reduction while navigating under uncertain and highly variable sea states.To address this challenge,we present anα-cut interval framework in which environmental uncertainties,specifically wave height and wind speed,are modeled as fuzzy numbers.Their correspondingα-level intervals are systematically propagated through a discrete vessel dynamics model,focusing on surge and heave responses.This procedure generates families of nested motion envelopes that tighten monotonically with increasingα,thereby producing deterministic yet progressively refined safety bounds without relying on full probabilistic distributions.A case study off the Karnataka coast is used to demonstrate the approach for a 20 km offshore supply voyage.Route planning constrained byα-envelopes ensures adherence to vessel structural and stability limits while enabling optimized transit speed.Comparative evaluation indicates that,relative to standard interval analysis,α-cut propagation substantially reduces over-conservatism,while against Monte Carlo-based envelopes it achieves similar coverage with significantly lower computational effort.Sensitivity analyses further quantify the influence ofα-grid resolution,membership-function design,and hydrodynamic coupling coefficients on envelope width,fuel use,and emissions.In the tested scenario,higherαlevels allow up to~15%reduction in worst-case energy consumption and nearly 10%reduction in CO_(2)emissions,all while preserving safety margins.Overall,the proposed framework is transparent,computationally efficient,and easily integrable into digital-twin-enabled operational workflows,providing a practical and sustainable decision-support tool for adaptive offshore logistics planning.展开更多
Background Vibrotactile feedback systems are widely used in assistive technology,wearable devices,and virtual environments to deliver precise tactile information.The timing of interstimulus intervals(ISIs)plays a crit...Background Vibrotactile feedback systems are widely used in assistive technology,wearable devices,and virtual environments to deliver precise tactile information.The timing of interstimulus intervals(ISIs)plays a critical role in determining how accurately users perceive and interpret vibrotactile patterns.The optimal use of ISIs can increase the effectiveness of these systems,improve user interaction,and enable reliable,intuitive feedback in diverse applications.We examined how different interstimulus intervals ISIs impact the accuracy of vibrotactile pattern recognition.Methods Participants wore a forearm-mounted device with six voice coil actuators arranged in a 3×2 grid,delivering Braille-based vibrotactile patterns sequentially at ISIs ranging from 10 to 2500 ms.Eight participants performed identification tasks involving Icelandic Braille patterns categorized as either short(2-3 actuators)or long(4-5 actuators).A repeated measures ANOVA was conducted to assess the effects of ISI,pattern type,and practice(across two testing blocks)on pattern recognition accuracy.Results For short patterns,accuracy was highest(92%-98%)at ISIs of 50-700 ms,with peak performance at 300 ms.For long patterns,accuracy reached 86%-94%at ISIs of 100-500 ms,peaking at 400 ms.Participants were more accurate with short patterns,and performance improved significantly over time for both short and long patterns,highlighting the importance of training for vibrotactile pattern recognition.Conclusions These results underscore the importance of careful selection of ISIs in vibrotactile feedback systems for accurate pattern identification.The findings provide valuable insights for conveying tactile information using wearable devices,contributing to better tactile feedback and performance in applications requiring precise vibrotactile information delivery.展开更多
Purpose–The deformation of the roadbed is easily influenced by the external environment to improve the accuracy of high-speed railway subgrade settlement prediction.Design/methodology/approach–A high-speed railway s...Purpose–The deformation of the roadbed is easily influenced by the external environment to improve the accuracy of high-speed railway subgrade settlement prediction.Design/methodology/approach–A high-speed railway subgrade settlement interval prediction method using the secretary bird optimization(SBOA)algorithm to optimize the BP neural network under the premise of gray relational analysis is proposed.Findings–Using the SBOA algorithm to optimize the BP neural network,the optimal weights and thresholds are obtained,and the best parameter prediction model is combined.The data were collected from the sensors deployed through the subgrade settlement monitoring system,and the gray relational analysis is used to verify that all four influencing factors had a great correlation to the subgrade settlement,and the collected data are verified using the model.Originality/value–The experimental results show that the SBOA-BP model has higher prediction accuracy than the BP model,and the SBOA-BP model has a wider range of prediction intervals for a given confidence level,which can provide higher guiding value for practical engineering applications.展开更多
基金funded by Jilin Province Science and Technology Development Plan Project,grant number 20220203163SF.
文摘With the increasing integration of large-scale distributed energy resources into the grid,traditional distribution network optimization and dispatch methods struggle to address the challenges posed by both generation and load.Accounting for these issues,this paper proposes a multi-timescale coordinated optimization dispatch method for distribution networks.First,the probability box theory was employed to determine the uncertainty intervals of generation and load forecasts,based on which,the requirements for flexibility dispatch and capacity constraints of the grid were calculated and analyzed.Subsequently,a multi-timescale optimization framework was constructed,incorporating the generation and load forecast uncertainties.This framework included optimization models for dayahead scheduling,intra-day optimization,and real-time adjustments,aiming to meet flexibility needs across different timescales and improve the economic efficiency of the grid.Furthermore,an improved soft actor-critic algorithm was introduced to enhance the uncertainty exploration capability.Utilizing a centralized training and decentralized execution framework,a multi-agent SAC network model was developed to improve the decision-making efficiency of the agents.Finally,the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method were validated using a modified IEEE-33 bus test system.
文摘BACKGROUND Pepsinogen(PG)and the PG I/II ratio(PGR)are critical indicators for diagnosing Helicobacter pylori infection and chronic atrophic gastritis,and assessing gastric cancer risk.Existing reference intervals(RIs)often overlook age,sex,and demographic variations.Partitioned RIs,while considering these factors,fail to capture the gradual age-related physiological changes.Next-generation RIs offer a solution to this limitation.AIM To investigate age-and sex-specific dynamics of PG and establish next-generation RIs for adults and the elderly in northern China.METHODS After screening,708 healthy individuals were included in this observational study.Serum PG was measured using chemiluminescence immunoassay.Age-and sex-related effects on PG were analyzed with a two-way analysis of variance.RI partitioning was determined by the standard deviation ratio(SDR).Traditional RIs were established using a non-parametric approach.Generalized Additive Models for Location,Scale,and Shape(GAMLSS)modeled age-related trends and continuous reference percentiles for PG I and PG II.Reference limit flagging rates for both RI types were compared.RESULTS PG I and PG II levels were influenced by age(P<0.001)and sex(P<0.001),while PGR remained stable.Age-specific RIs were required for PG I(SDR=0.366)and PG II(SDR=0.424).Partitioned RIs were established for PG I and PG II,with a single RI for PGR.GAMLSS modeling revealed distinct age-dependent trajectories:PG I increased from a median of 39.75μg/L at age 20 years to 49.75μg/L at age 60 years,a 25.16%increase,after which it plateaued through age 80 years.In contrast,PG II showed a continuous rise throughout the age range,with the median value increasing from 5.07μg/L at age 20 years to 8.36μg/L at age 80 years,corresponding to a 64.89%increase.Continuous reference percentiles intuitively reflected these trends and were detailed in this study.Next-generation RIs demonstrated superior accuracy compared to partitioned RIs when applied to specific age subgroups.CONCLUSION This study elucidates the age-and sex-specific dynamics of PG and,to our knowledge,is the first to establish next-generation RIs for PG,supporting more individualized interpretation in laboratory medicine.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(2023YFB3307801)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(62394343,62373155,62073142)+3 种基金Major Science and Technology Project of Xinjiang(No.2022A01006-4)the Programme of Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities(the 111 Project)under Grant B17017the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities,Science Foundation of China University of Petroleum,Beijing(No.2462024YJRC011)the Open Research Project of the State Key Laboratory of Industrial Control Technology,China(Grant No.ICT2024B70).
文摘The distillation process is an important chemical process,and the application of data-driven modelling approach has the potential to reduce model complexity compared to mechanistic modelling,thus improving the efficiency of process optimization or monitoring studies.However,the distillation process is highly nonlinear and has multiple uncertainty perturbation intervals,which brings challenges to accurate data-driven modelling of distillation processes.This paper proposes a systematic data-driven modelling framework to solve these problems.Firstly,data segment variance was introduced into the K-means algorithm to form K-means data interval(KMDI)clustering in order to cluster the data into perturbed and steady state intervals for steady-state data extraction.Secondly,maximal information coefficient(MIC)was employed to calculate the nonlinear correlation between variables for removing redundant features.Finally,extreme gradient boosting(XGBoost)was integrated as the basic learner into adaptive boosting(AdaBoost)with the error threshold(ET)set to improve weights update strategy to construct the new integrated learning algorithm,XGBoost-AdaBoost-ET.The superiority of the proposed framework is verified by applying this data-driven modelling framework to a real industrial process of propylene distillation.
基金funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Hunan Province(grant number 2024JJ5283 to XH)。
文摘Preterm birth and suboptimal fetal growth remain significant perinatal challenges worldwide.Recent data indicate that China's perinatal profile has improved due to reductions in preterm birth rates.However,the country has a 6.5%prevalence of small-for-gestational-age(SGA),ranking fifth globally in total SGA birth numbers^([1,2]).
基金supported by the Key Discipline Program of the Fifth Round of the Three-Year Public Health Action Plan(2020-2022 Year)of Shanghai,China(GWV-10.1-XK08).
文摘Objectives:This study aimed to explore the perceptions and recommendations of multiparas and health-related professionals regarding appropriate birth intervals(Bis)and key determinants.Methods:In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted between April 1 and June 30,2022.Nine multiparas and thirteen health-related professionals were purposefully sampled until data saturation was reached.A thematic analysis approach was applied to the interview transcripts,utilizing dual independent coding and consensus validation in NVivo 12.0.Results:The data generated two overarching categories:1)balanced decision-making on the appropriate birth intervals and 2)internal and external determinants integrated with health and societal considerations.Four key themes emerged following the two categories:1)consistency and discrepancy between the actual and recommended birth intervals of multiparas;2)health-and developmentoriented professional recommendations;3)internal determinants related to individual-level factors;and 4)external determinants related to child-related factors,family support,and social security.Weighing women's reproductive health and career development,multiparas and health-related professionals perceived a length between 18 and 36 months as the appropriate Bl.Conclusion:Multiparas and health-related professionals shaped their balanced recommendations on a relatively appropriate birth interval ranging from 18 to 36 months,which was influenced by women's individual-level factors,child-related factors,family support,and social security.Targeted social and healthcare services should be offered to women and their families during the Bls.
文摘BACKGROUND The reference ranges for biochemical parameters can fluctuate due to factors like altitude,age,gender,and socioeconomic conditions.These values are crucial for interpreting laboratory data and guide clinical treatment decisions.Currently,there is no established set of reference intervals for cord blood biochemical parameters of newborns in India,particularly in Mumbai.AIM To create cord blood biochemical parameters reference intervals specifically for Mumbai,India.METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in an Indian tertiary care hospital.This study focused on healthy newborns with normal birth weight,born to pregnant mothers without health issues.Cord blood samples,approximately 2-3 mL in volume,were collected from 210 term neonates.These samples were divided into fluoride(glucose)and clot activator(serum)tubes and were subsequently analyzed in the institute's biochemical laboratory.The data obtained from the analysis was then subjected to statistical analysis.The result of the Shapiro-Wilk test suggested non-normality in the data distribution.Consequently,nonparametric statistics were utilized for analysis.The Mann-Whitney U test was utilized to compare parameter distributions among different factors,including the infant’s sex,delivery method,maternal age,and obstetric history.A significance level of P<0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance.RESULTS The following represent the median figures and central 95 percentile reference intervals for biochemical parameters in umbilical cord blood of newborns:Serum direct bilirubin=(0.1-0.55)mg/dL,indirect bilirubin=(0.64-2.26)mg/dL,total bilirubin=(0.62-3.14)mg/dL,creatinine=(0.27-0.76)mg/dL,sodium=(128.19-143.26)mmol/L,chloride=(100.19-111.68)mmol/L,potassium=(1.62-9.98)mmol/L and plasma glucose=(24.75-94.23)mg/dL.Statistically significant differences were observed in serum sodium,potassium,and plasma glucose levels when comparing delivery modes.CONCLUSION This is the pioneering study in which first time,the biochemical reference intervals in cord blood for newborns are established in western India.The values are applicable for newborns from this area.Larger study throughout the country is required.
基金supported by the Colombian government through COLCIENCIA scholarships,National Doctoral Program,Call 727 of 2015C.Castro gratefully acknowledges partial financial support from the Centro de Matematica da Universidade do Minho(CMAT/UM),through UID/00013V.Leiva acknowledges funding from the Agencia Nacional de Investigacion y Desarrollo(ANID)of the Chilean Ministry of Science,Technology,Knowledge and Innovation,through FONDECYT project grant 1200525.
文摘Most reliability studies assume large samples or independence among components,but these assump-tions often fail in practice,leading to imprecise inference.We address this issue by constructing confidence intervals(CIs)for the reliability of two-component systems with Weibull distributed failure times under a copula-frailty framework.Our construction integrates gamma-distributed frailties to capture unobserved heterogeneity and a copula-based dependence structure for correlated failures.The main contribution of this work is to derive adjusted CIs that explicitly incorporate the copula parameter in the variance-covariance matrix,achieving near-nominal coverage probabilities even in small samples or highly dependent settings.Through simulation studies,we show that,although traditional methods may suffice with moderate dependence and large samples,the proposed CIs offer notable benefits when dependence is strong or data are sparse.We further illustrate our construction with a synthetic example illustrating how penalized estimation can mitigate the issue of a degenerate Hessian matrix under high dependence and limited observations,so enabling uncertainty quantification despite deviations from nominal assumptions.Overall,our results fill a gap in reliability modeling for systems prone to correlated failures,and contribute to more robust inference in engineering,industrial,and biomedical applications.
文摘Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness of DTwP-HB-Hib vaccination dosing intervals at eight weeks versus four weeks on the immunogenicity of the diphtheria component.Methods:This is a randomized,open-label,parallel,controlled trial on healthy two-month-old infants who had not received DTwP-HB-Hib vaccinations.The infants received three doses of the vaccine either at an eight-week or four-week interval.The anti-diphtheria toxoid IgG antibody levels before and after three doses of the vaccination were measured using ELISA.Results:Eighty infants were enrolled in this study,with 64 fulfilling the study requirements and randomized into two groups.All study participants exhibited uncertain protection against diphtheria antibodies(0.01-0.99 IU/mL)at the beginning of the study with an average of(0.023±0.009)IU/mL and(0.026±0.009)IU/mL in eight weeks and four weeks groups.Following three doses of the vaccination,the antibody level rose to an average of(1.320±0.234)IU/mL in the eight-week group and(1.307±0.186)IU/mL in the four-week group,with no statistically significant difference in the antibody levels observed(P=0.814).Conclusions:DTwP-HB-Hib vaccinations can be administered at an eight-week or four-week interval,as they do not significantly affect the level of anti-diphtheria IgG antibodies.
文摘Offshore logistics operations must continuously balance safety,fuel efficiency,and emissions reduction while navigating under uncertain and highly variable sea states.To address this challenge,we present anα-cut interval framework in which environmental uncertainties,specifically wave height and wind speed,are modeled as fuzzy numbers.Their correspondingα-level intervals are systematically propagated through a discrete vessel dynamics model,focusing on surge and heave responses.This procedure generates families of nested motion envelopes that tighten monotonically with increasingα,thereby producing deterministic yet progressively refined safety bounds without relying on full probabilistic distributions.A case study off the Karnataka coast is used to demonstrate the approach for a 20 km offshore supply voyage.Route planning constrained byα-envelopes ensures adherence to vessel structural and stability limits while enabling optimized transit speed.Comparative evaluation indicates that,relative to standard interval analysis,α-cut propagation substantially reduces over-conservatism,while against Monte Carlo-based envelopes it achieves similar coverage with significantly lower computational effort.Sensitivity analyses further quantify the influence ofα-grid resolution,membership-function design,and hydrodynamic coupling coefficients on envelope width,fuel use,and emissions.In the tested scenario,higherαlevels allow up to~15%reduction in worst-case energy consumption and nearly 10%reduction in CO_(2)emissions,all while preserving safety margins.Overall,the proposed framework is transparent,computationally efficient,and easily integrable into digital-twin-enabled operational workflows,providing a practical and sustainable decision-support tool for adaptive offshore logistics planning.
基金Supported by the Icelandic Technological Development Fund(Project No.1910271).
文摘Background Vibrotactile feedback systems are widely used in assistive technology,wearable devices,and virtual environments to deliver precise tactile information.The timing of interstimulus intervals(ISIs)plays a critical role in determining how accurately users perceive and interpret vibrotactile patterns.The optimal use of ISIs can increase the effectiveness of these systems,improve user interaction,and enable reliable,intuitive feedback in diverse applications.We examined how different interstimulus intervals ISIs impact the accuracy of vibrotactile pattern recognition.Methods Participants wore a forearm-mounted device with six voice coil actuators arranged in a 3×2 grid,delivering Braille-based vibrotactile patterns sequentially at ISIs ranging from 10 to 2500 ms.Eight participants performed identification tasks involving Icelandic Braille patterns categorized as either short(2-3 actuators)or long(4-5 actuators).A repeated measures ANOVA was conducted to assess the effects of ISI,pattern type,and practice(across two testing blocks)on pattern recognition accuracy.Results For short patterns,accuracy was highest(92%-98%)at ISIs of 50-700 ms,with peak performance at 300 ms.For long patterns,accuracy reached 86%-94%at ISIs of 100-500 ms,peaking at 400 ms.Participants were more accurate with short patterns,and performance improved significantly over time for both short and long patterns,highlighting the importance of training for vibrotactile pattern recognition.Conclusions These results underscore the importance of careful selection of ISIs in vibrotactile feedback systems for accurate pattern identification.The findings provide valuable insights for conveying tactile information using wearable devices,contributing to better tactile feedback and performance in applications requiring precise vibrotactile information delivery.
文摘Purpose–The deformation of the roadbed is easily influenced by the external environment to improve the accuracy of high-speed railway subgrade settlement prediction.Design/methodology/approach–A high-speed railway subgrade settlement interval prediction method using the secretary bird optimization(SBOA)algorithm to optimize the BP neural network under the premise of gray relational analysis is proposed.Findings–Using the SBOA algorithm to optimize the BP neural network,the optimal weights and thresholds are obtained,and the best parameter prediction model is combined.The data were collected from the sensors deployed through the subgrade settlement monitoring system,and the gray relational analysis is used to verify that all four influencing factors had a great correlation to the subgrade settlement,and the collected data are verified using the model.Originality/value–The experimental results show that the SBOA-BP model has higher prediction accuracy than the BP model,and the SBOA-BP model has a wider range of prediction intervals for a given confidence level,which can provide higher guiding value for practical engineering applications.
