Horizontal accuracy assessment of a novel algorithm for approximate a surface to a DEM

This study evaluates the horizontal positional accuracy of a new algorithm that defines a surface that approximates DEM data by means of a spline function. This algorithm allows evaluating the surface at any point in its definition domain and allows analytically estimating other parameters of interest, such as slopes, orientations, etc. To evaluate the accuracy achieved with the algorithm, we use a reference DEM 2 m × 2 m (DEMref) from which the derived DEMs are obtained at 4 m × 4 m, 8 m × 8 m and 16 m × 16 m (DEMder). For each DEMder its spline approximant is calculated, which is evaluated at the same points occupied by the DEMref cells, getting a resampled DEM 2 × 2 m (DEMrem). The horizontal accuracy is obtained by computing the area amongs the homologous contour lines derived from DEMref and DEMrem, respectively. It has been observed that the planimetric errors of the proposed algorithm are very small, even in flat areas, where you could expect major differences. Therefore, this algorithm could be used when an evaluation of the horizontal positional accuracy of a DEM product at lower resolution (DEMpro) and a different producing source than the higher resolution DEMref is wanted.

Analyzing Infant Mortality in Rural Bangladesh: A Frailty Modeling Approach

In practice, it may happen that data may arise from a hierarchical structure i.e., a cluster is nested within another cluster. In this case, nested frailty model is appropriate to analyze survival data to obtain optimal estimates of the parameters of interest. To identify significant determinants of infant mortality in rural Bangladesh, survival data have been extracted from Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey (BDHS), 2014. Because of the presence of two-level clustering in data, nested frailty model has been employed for the purpose of analysis. Recommendations have been suggested based on the results obtained from the survival model to reduce the infant mortality in rural Bangladesh to a great extent. Dhaka Univ. J. Sci. 69(2): 63-69, 2021 (July)

Correlation between NT-proBNP, hsCRP and OXSR1: Clinical relevance in evaluating the prognosis of polytrauma patients

Introduction. Polytrauma patients are expected to have a higher risk of mortality than that obtained by the summation of expected mortality owing to their individual injuries. Subsequent life-threatening posttraumatic complications are associated with overproduction of proinflammatory mediators (e.g. cytokines, chemokines) and the critical imbalance of cell-regulated innate immunity. Material and methods. The present study is aimed to identify a possible relationship between NT-proBNP, hs-CRP and OXSR1 biochemical markers in polytrauma patients, both by bibliographic research and quantitative analysis and statistics of some parameters of interest in lot of 46 patients. Results and discussions. The correlation between hsCRP and the inflammatory response after trauma is well-known and well documented in literature, so the negative correlation between hsCRP and OXSR1 that resulted from our analysis is of great significance resulting in a potentially new biomarker to be further studied and used in determining the possible outcome of polytrauma patients. Conclusion. Although OXSR1 is a new in the field of polytrauma patients, because is negatively correlated with hsCRP and the clinical evolution of the patients we think that OXSR1 is a good biomarker to further in investigate and may be used in determining the clinical progress of the polytrauma patients.

Brewing Efficacy of Non-Conventional Saccharomyces Non-cerevisiae Yeasts

Consumer demands for new sensory experiences have driven the research of unconventional yeasts in beer. While much research exists on the use of various common Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains as well as non-Saccharomyces yeasts, there exists a gap in knowledge regarding other non-cerevisiae Saccharomyces species in the fermentation of beer, in addition to S. pastorianus. Here, five distinct species of Saccharomyces from the UC Davis Phaff Yeast Culture Collection, as well as one interspecies hybrid from Fermentis, were chosen to ferment 40 L pilot-scale beers. S. kudriavzevii, S. mikatae, S. paradoxus, S. bayanus, and S. uvarum yeasts were used to ferment wort in duplicate pairs, with one fermenter in each pair receiving 10 g/L dry-hop during fermentation. Analytical measurements were made each day of fermentation and compared to controls of SafAle™ US-05 and SafLager™ W 34/70 for commercial brewing parameters of interest. Finished beers were also analyzed for aroma, taste, and mouthfeel to determine the flavor of each yeast as it pertains to brewing potential. All beers exhibited spicy characteristics, likely from the presence of phenols; dry-hopping increased fruit notes while also increasing perceived bitterness and astringency. All of the species in this study displayed great brewing potential, and might be an ideal addition to beer depending on a brewery’s desire to experiment with flavor and willingness to bring a new yeast into their production environment.

Why Test Purchased Cattle in BVDV Control Programs?

Bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) is controlled in many countries by detection and culling of persistently infected (PI) animals. The most important risk factor for BVDV introduction is purchase. An introduced cow can be PI and transmit the virus to other cattle in the herd. If she is not PI but is pregnant, there is still a risk because the subsequently born calf may be PI, when she encountered the virus in early pregnancy. To control this risk, all cows > 1 year from non-BVDV-free herds that are introduced in herds that participate in the Dutch BVDV control program are tested for virus and antibodies. Depending on the results, subsequent measures such as suspension of the BVDV-free status, removing the animals from the herd, or testing the off-spring of the cow for virus, are undertaken. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of this risk mitigating measure. Data on cattle movements, calving's, herd-level BVDV status, and animal-level test data were available from all dairy herds that participated in the national BVDV control program (>14,000 dairy herds) for the year 2019. The data were combined and parameters of interest were calculated, i.e., (i) the number of purchased BVD virus positive cattle and (ii) the number of BVD virus positive calves born from purchased cows within 9 months after introduction. In 2019, 217,301 cattle were introduced in Dutch dairy herds that participated in the BVDV control program. Of these, 49,820 were tested for presence of BVD virus and 27 (0.05%) cows introduced in 21 different herds tested BVD virus positive. Out of 46,727 cattle that were tested for antibodies, 20.5% tested positive. The seropositive cows produced 4,341 viable calves, of which 3,062 were tested for virus and subsequently, 40 (1.3%) were found BVD virus positive. These 40 BVD virus positive calves were born in 23 herds. The risk mitigating measure led to detection of 67 BVD virus positive animals in 44 unique herds in 2019. This study makes plausible that the probability and impact of re-introduction of BVDV can be minimized by testing introduced cattle and their subsequently born calves.

Brewing Efficacy of Non-Conventional Saccharomyces Non-Cerevisiae Yeasts

Consumer demands for new sensory experiences have driven the research of unconventional yeasts in beer. While much research exists on the use of various common Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains as well as non-Saccharomyces yeasts, there exists a gap in knowledge regarding other non-cerevisiae Saccharomyces species in the fermentation of beer, outside that of S. pastorianus. Here, five distinct species of Saccharomyces from the UC Davis Phaff Yeast Culture Collection, as well as one interspecies hybrid from Fermentis, were chosen to ferment 40 L pilot scale beers. S. kudriavzevii, S. mikatae, S. paradoxus, S. bayanus, and S. uvarum yeasts were fermented in duplicate, with one fermenter in each pair receiving 10 g/L dry-hop during fermentation. Analytical measurements were made each day of fermentation and compared to controls of SafAle US-05 and SafLager W 34/70 for commercial brewing parameters of interest. Finished beers were also analyzed for aroma, taste, and mouthfeel to determine the flavor of each yeast as it pertains to brewing potential. All beers exhibited spicy characteristics, likely from the presence of phenols; dry-hopping increased fruit notes while also increasing perceived bitterness and astringency. All of the species in this study displayed great brewing potential, and might be an ideal addition to beer depending on a brewery’s desire to experiment with flavor and willingness to bring a new yeast into their production environment

RECYCLING OF MODIFIED ASPHALT SHEETS FOR AUTOMOTIVE USE

In the present study, the recycling of modified bitumen soundproofing membranes, known as automotive-grade asphalt (ART) membranes, was carried out. The ART sheets were incorporated in the mixing stage of the asphalt mastic, which is part of the manufacturing process of new sheets. The selection of the best asphalt mastic formulation was performed at laboratory scale, where the ATR sheet cutting waste was added to the original asphalt mastic at 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 and 15.0 % w/w percentages. The formulations were evaluated for six parameters of interest associated with softening point, rotational viscosity, density, weight per area, thickness and creep. It was determined that the properties of all the formulations studied met the minimum requirements stipulated for the commercialization of the product. The recycling process was carried out on an industrial scale using the formulation with 5% w/w of ATR residues, which presented a viscosity close to that of the original mastic. The results at industrial scale were favorable, since the six parameters of interest were within the ranges established in the regulations.

INFLUENCE OF RECYCLED AGGREGATE QUALITY FROM PRECAST REJECTION ON MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF SELF-COMPACTING CONCRETE

In the present study, the recycling of modified bitumen soundproofing membranes, known as automotive type membranes (ATR), was carried out. The ATR sheet waste was incorporated in the mixing stage of the asphalt mastic, which is part of the manufacturing process of new sheets. The selection of the best asphalt mastic formulation was carried out at laboratory scale, where the ATR sheet cutting waste was added to the original asphalt mastic in percentages of 2.5, 5.0, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 and 15.0 % w/w. The formulations were evaluated for six parameters of interest associated with softening point, rotational viscosity, density, weight per area, thickness and creep. It was determined that the properties of all the formulations studied met the minimum requirements stipulated for the commercialization of the product. The recycling process was carried out on an industrial scale using the formulation with 5% w/w of ATR residues, which presented a viscosity close to that of the original mastic. The results at industrial scale were favorable, since the six parameters of interest were within the ranges established in the regulations. Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Newton’s Law of Cooling with Generalized Conformable Derivatives

In this communication, using a generalized conformable differential operator, a simulation of the well-known Newton’s law of cooling is made. In particular, we use the conformable t1−α, e(1−α)t and non-conformable t−α kernels. The analytical solution for each kernel is given in terms of the conformable order derivative 0<α≤1. Then, the method for inverse problem solving, using Bayesian estimation with real temperature data to calculate the parameters of interest, is applied. It is shown that these conformable approaches have an advantage with respect to ordinary derivatives.

Assessing and Adjusting Bias Due to Mixed-Mode in Aspect of Daily Life Survey

The mixed-mode (MM) designs are adopted by NSIs both to contrast declining response and coverage rates and to reduce the cost of the surveys. However, MM introduces several issues that must be addressed both at the design phase, by defining the best collection instruments to contain the measurement error, and at the estimation phase, by assessing and adjusting the mode effect. In the MM surveys, the mode effect refers to the introduction of bias effects on the estimate of the parameters of interest due to the difference in the selection and measurement errors specific to each mode. The switching of a survey from single to mixed-mode is a delicate operation: the accuracy of the estimates must be ensured in order to preserve their consistency and comparability over time. This work focuses on the methods chosen for the evaluation of the mode effect in the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) mixed-mode survey “Aspects of Daily Life – 2017”, in the experimental context for which an independent control single-mode (SM) PAPI sample was planned to assess the introduction of the sequential web/PAPI survey. The presented methods aim to analyze the causes that can determine significant differences in the estimates obtained with the SM and MM surveys.