Living in fear: Low-cost avoidance maintains low-level threat

AbstractA low-cost system to measure low-level nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in an atmosphere was developed. Its major component included a sensor comprising filter paper treated with 3,3’-dimethylbenzidine (o-tolidine), a compound that reacts with NO2to generate color proportional to the NO2contacted. In addition to the system development, its utility was optimized and the characteristics of the sensor were defined. Originally developed to determine the NO2levels during direct-fired tobacco curing, the system may be used to determine the NO2levels in other situations.

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Optimal Combination of Multivariate Filter Feature Selection and Classifier for Speech-Based Depression Detection

Artificial Intelligence Evolution ◽

10.37256/aie.2220211149 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 134-146

Author(s):

Surbhi Sharma ◽

Anthony J. Bustamante

Keyword(s):

Feature Selection ◽

Mahalanobis Distance ◽

Low Cost ◽

Feature Selection Method ◽

Superior Performance ◽

Support Vector ◽

Decision System ◽

Linear Discriminant ◽

Low Level ◽

Depression Detection

In this paper, we have focused to improve the performance of a speech-based uni-modal depression detection system, which is non-invasive, involves low cost and computation time in comparison to multi-modal systems. The performance of a decision system mainly depends on the choice of feature selection method and the classifier. We have investigated the combination of four well-known multivariate filter methods (minimum Redundancy Maximum Relevance, Scatter Ratio, Mahalanobis Distance, Fast Correlation Based feature selection) and four well-known classifiers (k-Nearest Neighbour, Linear Discriminant classifier, Decision Tree, Support Vector Machine) to obtain a minimal set of relevant and non-redundant features to improve the performance. This will speed up the acquisition of features from speech and build the decision system with low cost and complexity. Experimental results on the high and low-level features of recent work on the DAICWOZ dataset demonstrate the superior performance of the combination of Scatter Ratio and LDC as well as that of Mahalanobis Distance and LDC, in comparison to other combinations and existing speech-based depression results, for both gender independent and gender-based studies. Further, these combinations have also outperformed a few multimodal systems. It was noted that low-level features are more discriminatory and provide a better f1 score.

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High-Throughput Adaptable SARS-CoV-2 Screening for Rapid Identification of Dominant and Emerging Regional Variants

10.1101/2021.08.31.21262625 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Zita Hubler ◽

Xiao Song ◽

Cameron Norris ◽

Mehul Jani ◽

David Alouani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Throughput ◽

Screening Program ◽

Low Cost ◽

Severe Disease ◽

Turnaround Time ◽

Rapid Identification ◽

List Type ◽

Low Level ◽

Tiered Approach ◽

Selective Sequencing

ABSTRACTObjectivesEmerging SARS-CoV-2 variant strains can be associated with increased transmissibility, more severe disease, and reduced effectiveness of treatments. To improve the availability of regional variant surveillance, we describe a variant genotyping system that is rapid, accurate, adaptable, and able to detect new low-level variants built with existing hospital infrastructure.MethodsWe use a tiered high-throughput SARS-CoV-2 screening program to characterizes variants in a supra-regional health system over 76 days. Combining targeted qPCR and selective sequencing, we screen positive SARS-CoV-2 samples from all hospitals within our health care system for genotyping dominant and emerging variants.ResultsThe median turnaround for genotyping was two days using the high-throughput qPCR-based screen, allowing us to rapidly characterize the emerging Delta variant. In our population, the Delta variant is associated with a lower CT value, lower age at infection, and increased vaccine breakthrough cases. Detection of low-level and potentially emerging variants highlights the utility of a tiered approach.ConclusionsThese findings underscore the need for fast, low-cost, high-throughput monitoring of regional viral sequences as the pandemic unfolds and the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants increases. Combing qPCR-based screening with selective sequencing allows for rapid genotyping of variants and dynamic system improvement.Key messagesA tiered approach that uses qPCR-based screening to identify dominant variants and sequencing for unique variants maximizes throughput, turnaround time, and information gleaned from each sample.In our population, the Delta variant became dominant in less than a month and is associated with lower CT, lower age at infection, and increased breakthrough cases.We identified low-level variants, including the variant of interest B.1.621 and a Delta variant with an E484K mutation in our population using existing hospital infrastructure.

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Disempowerment of Incumbent Elite and Governance

Mapping Power ◽

10.1093/oso/9780199487820.003.0003 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 50-71

Author(s):

Md Zakaria Siddiqui

Keyword(s):

Low Cost ◽

Political Support ◽

Electricity Sector ◽

Power Sector ◽

Low Level ◽

Chief Minister ◽

Future Supply ◽

Virtuous Cycle ◽

Lower Castes ◽

Surplus Power

Bihar’s electricity sector was in a low level equilibrium for many years, with limited rural electrification. Under Lalu Yadav in the 1990s, although Bihar’s power sector deteriorated, newly empowered lower castes demanded public service improvements, including in electricity. When Nitish Kumar became chief minister in 2005, and even more so in his second term, he was able to capitalise on this demand and benefit politically by providing increasingly reliable and universal electricity. Conditions for reform were favourable: initially, low political pressure and stress on the regulatory process because of low access, high political support for enhanced access, central funds for grid-extension, and the availability of low-cost market purchases enabled Bihar to take advantage of surplus power in other states. Consequently, Bihar was able to shift from a low level equilibrium to a virtuous cycle. To sustain this cycle, however, Bihar will have to avoid future subsidy traps and potential future supply constraints.

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Achieving Closed-Loop Control Simulation of Human-Artefact Interaction: A Comparative Review

Modelling and Simulation in Engineering ◽

10.1155/2011/675405 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 2011 ◽

pp. 1-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Wilhelm Frederik van der Vegte ◽

Imre Horváth

Keyword(s):

Decision Making ◽

Human Subjects ◽

Low Cost ◽

Simulation Models ◽

Level Control ◽

User Interactions ◽

Loop Control ◽

Low Level ◽

Comparative Review ◽

Human Decision

To include user interactions in simulations of product use, the most common approach is to couple human subjects to simulation models, using hardware interfaces to close the simulation-control loop. Testing with virtual human models could offer a low-cost addition to evaluation with human subjects. This paper explores the possibilities for coupling human and artefact models to achieve fully software-based interaction simulations. We have critically reviewed existing partial solutions to simulate or execute control (both human control and product-embedded control) and compared solutions from literature with a proof-of-concept we have recently developed. Our concept closes all loops, but it does not rely on validated algorithms to predict human decision making and low-level human motor control. For low-level control, validated solutions are available from other approaches. For human decision making, however, validated algorithms exist only to predict the timing but not the reasoning behind it. To identify decision-making schemes beyond what designers can conjecture, testing with human subjects remains indispensable.

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DEVELOPMENT OF VERY LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE SEQUESTRATION PROCESS CRITERIA

AECL Nuclear Review ◽

10.12943/cnr.2015.00052 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 119-123

Author(s):

Nicholas Chan ◽

Pierre Wong

Keyword(s):

Radioactive Waste ◽

Waste Management ◽

Low Cost ◽

Regulatory Control ◽

Environmental Footprint ◽

Near Surface ◽

Low Level ◽

High Degree ◽

Low Level Radioactive Waste

Segregating radioactive waste at the source and reclassifying radioactive waste to lower waste classes are the key activities to reduce the environmental footprint and long-term liability. In the Canadian Standards Association’s radioactive waste classification system, there are 2 sub-classes within low-level radioactive waste: very short-lived radioactive waste and very low-level radioactive waste (VLLW). VLLW has a low hazard potential but is above the Canadian unconditional clearance criteria as set out in Schedule 2 of Nuclear Substances and Devices Regulations. Long-term waste management facilities for VLLW do not require a high degree of containment and isolation. In general, a relatively low-cost near-surface facility with limited regulatory control is suitable for VLLW. At Canadian Nuclear Laboratories’ Chalk River Laboratories site an initiative, VLLW Sequestration, was implemented in 2013 to set aside potential VLLW for temporary storage and to be later dispositioned in the planned VLLW facility. As of May 2015, a total of 236 m3 resulting in approximately $1.1 million in total savings have been sequestered. One of the main hurdles in implementing VLLW Sequestration is the development of process criteria. Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) are used as a guide or as requirements for determining whether waste is accepted by the waste management facility. Establishment of the process criteria ensures that segregated waste materials have a high likelihood to meet the VLLW WAC and be accepted into the planned VLLW facility. This paper outlines the challenges and various factors which were considered in the development of interim process criteria.

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