Water Pipeline Leakage Detection Based on Machine Learning and Wireless Sensor Networks

The detection of water pipeline leakage is important to ensure that water supply networks can operate safely and conserve water resources. To address the lack of intelligent and the low efficiency of conventional leakage detection methods, this paper designs a leakage detection method based on machine learning and wireless sensor networks (WSNs). The system employs wireless sensors installed on pipelines to collect data and utilizes the 4G network to perform remote data transmission. A leakage triggered networking method is proposed to reduce the wireless sensor network’s energy consumption and prolong the system life cycle effectively. To enhance the precision and intelligence of leakage detection, we propose a leakage identification method that employs the intrinsic mode function, approximate entropy, and principal component analysis to construct a signal feature set and that uses a support vector machine (SVM) as a classifier to perform leakage detection. Simulation analysis and experimental results indicate that the proposed leakage identification method can effectively identify the water pipeline leakage and has lower energy consumption than the networking methods used in conventional wireless sensor networks

Assays to monitor aggrephagy in Drosophila brain

Accumulation of ubiquitinated protein aggregates is a hallmark of most ageingrelated neurodegenerative disorders. Autophagy has been found to be involved in the selective clearance of these protein aggregates, and this process is called aggrephagy. Here we provide two protocols for the investigation of protein aggregation and their removal by autophagy using western blotting and immunofluorescence techniques in Drosophila brain. Investigating the role of aggrephagy at the cellular and organismal level is important for the development of therapeutic interventions against ageing-related diseases

Weight Loss Surgery Decision Process: A Grounded Theory Study

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate the decision making process of morbidly or severely obese individuals who engage in weight loss surgery and the role of nurses in this process using a grounded theory research design. Morbid or severe obesity is a chronic illness that is increasing in prevalence throughout the United States. The Center for Disease Control (2007) reported the obesity population of adults doubled from 15.1% in 1976-80 to 30.9% in 1999-2000. The current most effective long-term treatment for morbid or severe obesity is weight loss surgery, most commonly gastric bypass or gastric banding. Furthermore, weight loss surgery may be clinically indicated for the treatment of morbid obesity to reduce co-morbid disease processes and promote health. However, it remains an elective surgery and ultimately a personal decision. Thus, the research questions for this study were: How did the participant come to the decision to pursue weight loss surgery? How were nurses involved in the weight loss surgery decision making process? The grounded theory methodology of semi-structured interviews and constant comparative analysis (including open, axial and theoretical coding) was used for data collection and analysis. Eighteen participants (3 males, 15 females) were interviewed (40 to 90 minutes). The preliminary results of this study provided the foundations for the development of a dynamic model of the participants\u27 decision making process related to choosing weight loss surgery for their obesity. The core variable identified is \u27critical point of change\u27. The antecedents identified include a cycle of obesity and motivating or re-energizing factors within the context of the obesity experience. Information gathering and seeking social support were identified as key actions in the decision process. The common intervening factors discussed were support systems, insurance/financial issues, as well as access and availability of bariatric services. Outcomes of weight loss surgery health changes, using the \u27tool\u27, sense of hope/help and altered relationship with food and eating. This model may be a tool for clinicians to assess readiness for weight loss surgery, and provide information and support to this population throughout their decision making process. Nurses were not readily identified by most participants as key informants in their decision making process. Further discussion of nurse\u27s roles within this process may need to be examined

Empowering Informed Decisions The Impact of Boost Interventions on Clothing Consumption Intentions

Bacheloroppgaven utforsker effekten av boost-intervensjoner på menneskers intensjon om å redusere klesforbruket sitt. Studien er motivert av behovet for å redusere miljøpåvirkningen fra klesindustrien, som bidrar betydelig til globalt avfall og klimagassutslipp. Formålet med studien er å undersøke om en boost-intervensjon i forbindelse med et kjøp kan hjelpe folk med å ta informerte og bedre beslutninger, samtidig som autonomien ivaretas. Forskningsspørsmålet som ligger til grunn er: Kan ulike typer informasjon, utformet som en boost-intervensjon, påvirke individers intensjon om å redusere klesforbruket sitt? Gjennom et eksperiment undersøker studien om sosiale normer og tilstedeværelse av moralske følelser, som skyld og skam, kan påvirke intensjonen om å redusere klesforbruk. En survey-basert eksperimentell studie ble gjennomført med 207 deltakere, som ble presentert for et scenario hvor de skulle kjøpe et nytt klesplagg. Informasjon knyttet til kjøpet (boost-intervensjonen) ble gitt, avhengig av hvilken behandlingsgruppe de tilhørte. Etterfølgende spørsmål om følelser og intensjoner viste at ingen av boost-intervensjonene signifikant endret intensjonene om å redusere klesforbruket. Imidlertid ble det funnet en positiv sammenheng mellom moralske følelser og intensjonen om å redusere klesforbruket. Funnene antyder at moralske følelser spiller en betydelig rolle i å påvirke bærekraftig forbrukeratferd. Samtidig antyder funnene at tilstedeværelse av moralske følelser påvirkes mer av andre faktorer enn boost-intervensjonen. Å få presentert informasjon om miljøpåvirkning eller sosiale normer er alene ikke tilstrekkelig for å fremkalle følelser som skyld og skam. Studien belyser kompleksiteten i forbrukeratferd og understreker behovet for videre forskning på de psykologiske mekanismene som ligger til grunn for miljøvennlige beslutninger og atferd.This bachelor’s thesis explores the impact of boost interventions on individuals' intentions to reduce clothing consumption. The study is motivated by the need to mitigate the environmental impact of the clothing industry, which significantly contributes to global waste and greenhouse gas emissions. The purpose of the study is to investigate whether a boost intervention in connection to a purchase can help individuals make informed and better decisions while preserving their autonomy. The research question asks: Can different types of information, presented as boost interventions, influence individuals’ intentions to reduce clothing consumption? Through an experimental approach, the study examines whether social norms and moral emotions, such as guilt and shame, can affect this intention. A survey-based experimental study with 207 participants was conducted. Participants were presented with a scenario involving the purchase of a new garment, accompanied by boost-intervention information depending on their treatment group. Follow-up questions on emotions and intentions revealed no significant effect of the interventions on reducing clothing consumption. However, a positive correlation was found between moral emotions and the intention to reduce consumption. The findings suggest that moral emotions play a significant role in influencing sustainable consumer behavior but are shaped more by factors beyond the boost intervention. Presenting information about environmental impact or social norms alone is insufficient to elicit emotions like guilt and shame. The study highlights the complexity of consumer behavior and emphasizes the need for further research into the psychological mechanisms underlying pro-environmental actions decisions and actions

Assessment of progesterone profiles and postpartum onset of luteal activity in spring calving Hereford beef suckler cattle

BACKGROUND: Reproduction is the single greatest factor limiting beef cattle production. Previous research on beef suckler luteal activity has largely focused on the mechanisms, and duration, of postpartum anoestrus. However, the temporal pattern of luteal activity after resumption of post-partum ovarian activity, and the impact of pattern type on days open (DO) in purebred beef suckler cows, are unknown. METHODS: Progesterone concentration was measured in milk samples taken thrice weekly from 120 lactations, in 87 animals, on 3 farms, over two years. Onset of luteal activity (OLA) was defined as the first day milk progesterone concentration exceeded 3 ng/ml for two successive measurements, or exceeded 5 ng/ml once. It was defined as delayed if it occurred more than 61 days postpartum. A short initial luteal phase consisted of progesterone concentrations which exceeded 3 ng/ml for fewer than 4 sequential measurements. Temporal progesterone patterns were classified as: 1) Normal cyclicity; 2) Cessation of luteal activity; 3) Prolonged luteal activity; 4) Erratic phase: failure to conform to 1, 2 or 3. Data concerning parity, previous calving interval, breeding values, calf birth and 200-d weight were obtained from the Norwegian Beef Cattle Recording System database. RESULTS: The mean (SD) OLA was 41 d (20). Parity and calf birth weight were inversely correlated with OLA. Delayed OLA occurred in 14.4% of lactations. A short first luteal phase occurred in 61.5% of lactations, but this was unrelated to irregular luteal phase occurrence, pregnancy or DO. Irregular luteal phases occurred in 22% of lactations. The irregularities were: prolonged luteal phase (11%); cessation of luteal activity (5%); erratic luteal activity (6%). Early OLA was associated with prolonged luteal phases. DO was positively correlated with irregular luteal phases and negatively correlated with calf 200-d weight. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that irregular luteal phases negatively affect reproductive performance in purebred beef suckler cattle. A moderate incidence of irregular luteal phases was seen in the study population. Whilst a positive relationship was seen between OLA and DO, unfavourable associations between early OLA and incidence of irregular luteal phases should be considered when developing breeding programmes

Signatures in Shape Analysis: an Efficient Approach to Motion Identification

Signaturer gir en konsis beskrivelse av visse geometriske egenskaper ved en kurve - på en reparameteriseringsinvariant måte. Vi foreslår en metode for å klassifisere former basert på signaturer, og sammenligner den med nåværende metodikker basert på SRV-transformasjonen og dynamisk programmering.Signatures provide a succinct description of certain features of paths in a reparametrization invariant way. We propose a method for classifying shapes based on signatures, and compare it to current approaches based on the SRV transform and dynamic programming

Centrality dependence of charged-particle pseudorapidity distributions from d+Au collisions at sqrt(s_{NN})=200 GeV

Charged-particle pseudorapidity densities are presented for the d+Au reaction at sqrt{s_{NN}}=200 GeV with -4.2 <= eta <= 4.2$. The results, from the BRAHMS experiment at RHIC, are shown for minimum-bias events and 0-30%, 30-60%, and 60-80% centrality classes. Models incorporating both soft physics and hard, perturbative QCD-based scattering physics agree well with the experimental results. The data do not support predictions based on strong-coupling, semi-classical QCD. In the deuteron-fragmentation region the central 200 GeV data show behavior similar to full-overlap d+Au results at sqrt{s_{NN}}=19.4 GeV.Comment: 4 pages, 3figures; expanded discussion of uncertainties; added 60-80% centrality range; added additional discussion on centrality selection bia

Rare Case of Traction Sural Neuropathy due to Acute Achilles Tendon Rupture

Sural nerve injury (SNI) is a reported complication of acute Achilles tendon rupture (ATR), primarily iatrogenic in operatively managed cases. The sural nerve typically runs along the lateral border of the Achilles tendon. Its branches provide sensory information from the lateral foot and ankle. Given its proximity to the Achilles tendon, sural nerve-related complications in operatively managed cases are a known adverse outcome. However, the incidence of SNI in conservatively managed cases is thought to be much less common. Most patients recover to normal sensation by one year of injury to the sural nerve. CASE DESCRIPTION: A previously healthy 30 y.o. male presented with acute onset right posterior lower leg pain that occurred while running. He was clinically diagnosed with a complete ATR. Additionally, the patient reported numbness and tingling in the right lateral hindfoot since the time of injury. CLINICAL COURSE: The patient opted to pursue conservative management for his ATR with an accelerated functional rehabilitation protocol. However, he continued to endorse minimally improved sensory deficits in the sural nerve distribution nearly one year post-injury. The patient felt these symptoms were negatively impacting his return to full physical function, prompting further testing. Nerve conduction studies were consistent with an isolated right sural sensory neuropathy that was chronic and axonal in nature. Nonsurgical management and conservative treatment were recommended, including a discussion regarding the natural history of nerve healing and the available treatment options for nerve injuries. CONCLUSION: SNI associated with ATR likely results from traction on the nerve at the time of injury. Prior literature has focused on the incidence of sural nerve injury in the setting of operative repair of ATR. This case highlights the rarity of SNI in the absence of surgical repair and the importance of assessing for SNI in all cases of acute ATR

Recent Results from the BRAHMS Experiment

We present recent results obtained by the BRAHMS experiment at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) for the systems of Au + Au and Cu + Cu at \rootsnn{200} and at 62.4 GeV, and p + p at \rootsnn{200}. Nuclear modification factors for Au + Au and Cu + Cu collisions are presented. Analysis of anti-particle to particle ratios as a function of rapidity and collision energy reveal that particle populations at the chemical freeze-out stage for heavy-ion reactions at and above SPS energies are controlled by the baryon chemical potential. From the particle spectra we deduce significant radial expansion ($\beta \approx$ 0.75), as expected for systems created with a large initial energy density. We also measure the elliptic flow parameter $v_2$ versus rapidity and \ptn. We present rapidity dependent $p/\pi$ ratios within $0 < y < 3$ for Au + Au and Cu + Cu at \rootsnn{200}. \Raa is found to increase with decreasing collision energy, decreasing system size, and when going towards more peripheral collisions. However, \Raa shows only a very weak dependence on rapidity (for $0 < y < 3.2$), both for pions and protons.Comment: 16 pages and 14 figures, proceedings for plenary talk at Quark Matter 2005, Budapest, Hungar

Evolution of the nuclear modification factors with rapidity and centrality in d+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200 GeV

We report on a study of the transverse momentum dependence of nuclear modification factors $R_{dAu}$ for charged hadrons produced in deuteron + gold collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}= 200$GeV, as a function of collision centrality and of the pseudorapidity ($\eta = 0,1,2.2,3.2$) of the produced hadrons. We find significant and systematic decrease of $R_{dAu}$ with increasing rapidity. The midrapidity enhancement and the forward rapidity suppression are more pronounced in central collisions relative to peripheral collisions. These results are relevant to the study of the possible onset of gluon saturation at RHIC energies.Comment: Four pages, four figures. Published in PRL. Figures 1 and 2 have been updated, and several changes made to the tex