Search

This paper discusses diverse data management approaches and proposes a comprehensive information model that is built from voxelated data from across the Additive Manufacturing and Computer Aided (AM – CAx) platforms workflow. The information model is developed using discretisation and data management techniques to provide a robust method of managing and structuring the product / process data throughout the AM – CAx domain. The result is a voxelated representation of the design, manufacturing, in-situ process data and quality control stages of an AM build within a single Hierarchical Data Format (HDF5) file. Demo files were developed for two different AM processes during this work. With further research and by applying statistical methods or machine learning techniques, it would then be possible to filter through and potentially predict the optimal process parameters required for an AM build. The comprehensive information model is designed to provide insight to track changes along the AM process flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: •Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) represent a threat to the health, wellbeing and economic prosperity of billions of people worldwide, often causing serious disease or death.•Commonly considered diseases of low and middle‐income nations, the presence of NTDs in high income countries such as Australia is often overlooked.•Seven of the 20 recognised NTDs are endemic in Australia: scabies, soil‐transmitted helminths and strongyloidiasis, echinococcosis, Buruli ulcer, leprosy, trachoma, and snakebite envenoming.•Dengue, while not currently endemic, poses a risk of establishment in Australia. There are occasional outbreaks of dengue fever, with local transmission, due to introductions in travellers from endemic regions.•Similarly, the risk of introduction of other NTDs from neighbouring countries is a concern. Many NTDs are only seen in Australia in individuals travelling from endemic areas, but they need to be recognised in health settings as the potential consequences of infection can be severe.•In this review, we consider the status of NTDs in Australia, explore the risk of introducing and contracting these infections, and emphasise the negative impact they have on the health of Australians, especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While undernutrition has been identified as a common risk factor for tuberculosis (TB), its impact on treatment outcomes has yet to be investigated in high TB burden and low-income countries such as Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of undernutrition on treatment outcomes among patients with TB in northwest Ethiopia. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from different hospitals in northwest Ethiopia, for the period from July 2017 to August 2023. A Cox proportional hazard model was performed to determine the effect of undernutrition on TB treatment outcomes, which were defined as a composite of death, treatment failure, or loss to follow-up. A total of 602 patients with TB were included in the analysis. Of these, 367 (60.9%) were male, and 344 (57.1%) were undernourished. Upon completion of the follow-up period, 65 (10.8%) adults with TB had unsuccessful treatment outcomes. After adjusting for potential confounders, patients with undernutrition had a two times higher risk of experiencing unsuccessful treatment outcomes compared to well-nourished patients (AHR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.2, 3.6). In addition, patients residing in rural areas (AHR: 3.1, 95% CI: 1.7, 5.4), having a history of prior TB treatment (AHR: 2.2, 95%CI: 1.1, 4.1), and the presence of diabetes comorbidity (AHR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.1, 5.2) were at higher risk of unsuccessful treatment outcomes. Undernutrition increases the risk of unsuccessful treatment outcomes in Ethiopia. This finding suggests that nutritional support during TB treatment can improve successful treatment outcomes in high TB burden and low-income countries such as Ethiopia. • Undernutrition is the primary risk factor of the TB epidemic. • Undernutrition increases the risk of unsuccessful TB treatment outcomes. • Therefore, nutritional support is essential for improving TB treatment outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Older people suffer the greatest number of fatal falls worldwide. Sarcopenia is one of the geriatric syndromes that increases risk of falls. However, there are limited studies among Thai older adults which address risk factors for this condition. Here we evaluate the prevalence of sarcopenia, and measure associations with risk factors among Thai community-dwelling older adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study collected information on socio-demography, physical activity, and anthropometry as well as a semi-food frequency questionnaire. Sarcopenia was defined using the criteria of Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (AWGS) consensus. Muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance were determined using bioelectrical impedance analyzer, handgrip dynamometer, and 6-meter usual gait speed respectively. Factors that were associated with sarcopenia were analyzed using multiple logistic regression. Results: Of the 510 participants, mean age was 69.1 (SD = 6.7) years. The majority were female (67.3%) and 44.3% had insufficient daily dietary protein intake. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 5.3%. Factors associated with sarcopenia were male sex (adjusted OR = 5.35; 95% CI: 1.68-17.00), increased body mass index (BMI) (adjusted OR = 0.52; 95% CI: 0.39-0.70) and increased calf circumference (CC) (adjusted OR = 0.67; 95% CI: 0.54-0.84). Conclusion: The prevalence of sarcopenia among Thai community-dwelling older adults using the AWGS consensus was quite low. Every one unit increase in BMI and CC reduced the chance of having sarcopenia. Thus, the issue of underweight status among older Thais is crucial for reducing sarcopenia and associated injury risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2019, a 42-year-old African man who works as an Ebola virus disease (EVD) researcher traveled from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), near an ongoing EVD epidemic, to Philadelphia and presented to the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania Emergency Department with altered mental status, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. He was classified as a "wet" person under investigation for EVD, and his arrival activated our hospital emergency management command center and bioresponse teams. He was found to be in septic shock with multisystem organ dysfunction, including circulatory dysfunction, encephalopathy, metabolic lactic acidosis, acute kidney injury, acute liver injury, and diffuse intravascular coagulation. Critical care was delivered within high-risk pathogen isolation in the ED and in our Special Treatment Unit until a diagnosis of severe cerebral malaria was confirmed and EVD was definitively excluded. This report discusses our experience activating a longitudinal preparedness program designed for rare, resource-intensive events at hospitals physically remote from any active epidemic but serving a high-volume international air travel port-of-entry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Oral health in later life results from individual's lifelong accumulation of experiences at the personal, community and societal levels. There is little information relating the oral health outcomes to risk factors in Asian middle-income settings such as Thailand today. Methods Data derived from a cohort of 87,134 adults enrolled in Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University who completed self-administered questionnaires in 2005. Cohort members are aged between 15 and 87 years and resided throughout Thailand. This is a large study of self-reported number of teeth among Thai adults. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to analyse factors associated with self-reported number of teeth. Results After adjusting for covariates, being female (OR = 1.28), older age (OR = 10.6), having low income (OR = 1.45), having lower education (OR = 1.33), and being a lifetime urban resident (OR = 1.37) were statistically associated (p < 0.0001) with having less than 20 teeth. In addition, daily soft drink consumptions (OR = 1.41), current regular smoking (OR = 1.39), a history of not being breastfed as a child (OR = 1.34), and mother's lack of education (OR = 1.20) contributed significantly to self-reported number of teeth in fully adjusted analyses. Conclusions This study addresses the gap in knowledge on factors associated with self-reported number of teeth. The promotion of healthy childhoods and adult lifestyles are important public health interventions to increase tooth retention in middle and older age.

Abstract Background Ensuring successful follow-up is essential when conducting a prospective cohort study. Most existing literature reviewing methods to ensure a high response rate is based on experience in developed nations. Findings We report our 4-year follow-up success for a national cohort study examining the health transition underway in Thailand. We began the cohort study in 2005 with a baseline postal questionnaire sent to all 200,000 Thais enrolled as distance learning students at Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University and residing all over Thailand; 87,134 or 44% of the students responded. Subsequently we used University and national media to inform cohort members of study progress. Also, we prepared a health book with study results and health advice which was distributed to all cohort members. After 4 years we repeated the survey and achieved a 71% response rate. In this paper we report the methods used to achieve this response The initial follow-up mail-out generated a response rate of about 48% reflecting the extensive preparatory work between baseline and follow-up. After 4 rounds of telephone contact (more than 100,000 phone calls) and 4 related mail-out rounds progressively over 16 months an overall response rate was achieved of just over 71% (n = 60,774). The total cost was US$4.06/respondent - 19% for printing, 21% for postage, 14% for tape measures (included in mail-out), 18% for data processing 22% for prizes and 6% for telephone. Conclusions Many of the methods reported as effective for mail questionnaire and cohort response rates held true for Thailand. These included being associated with a university, incentivating cooperation, follow-up contact, providing a second copy of questionnaire where necessary, and assurance of confidentiality. Telephone contact with the cohort and the small prizes given to responders were particularly important in the Thai context as was Thai leadership of the research team.

Robots have developed into highly capable machines that currently constitute an integral part of many manufacturing environments. The use of simulation platforms for designing and validating robotic processes are becoming increasingly important since they may lead to the faster design and commissioning of robotic solutions, without disrupting production for long periods of time. In this paper, two simulation platforms are reviewed in the context of relatively simple robotic grasping tasks with the goal to explore how accurate and realistic the resulting models can be. The main expectations regarding the future and further evolution of robotic simulation platforms are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Multiscale workflow to analyze heterogeneity and estimate rock properties. • Data from three scales included thin section and micro-CT images and well logs. • Fractals, Lorenz coefficient, porosity, and permeability estimations across scales. • Combining Lorenz coefficient and fractals to discern differences in pore networks. • Machine learning, fractals, and Lorenz coefficient can connect multiscale data sets. Geologic heterogeneity is a key feature that must be considered when translations of scaled data are performed. This paper presents the assessment of geologic heterogeneity using a multiscale workflow that includes image analysis-based methods coupled with well log analysis to provide data in which fractals and machine learning methods estimate the carbon dioxide (CO 2) storage resource potential of a reservoir. The heterogeneity of rock properties of the complex Bell Creek reservoir in Montana, USA, was explored at the pore scale (∼nm to mm), core scale (∼mm to m), and well scale (∼cm to m). The data used in this study included advanced image analysis of micro-CT (computed tomography) images (pore scale), thin sections (pore scale), plugs and core images (core scale) and well logs (well scale). The micro-CT images were segmented using a U-net segmentation approach into objects of pores and grains. The segmented images were reconstructed into subvolumes of different sizes. Physical properties (porosity and permeability) and fractal dimensions were calculated for the various subvolumes, and Lorenz coefficient (Lc) values, a single parameter to describe the degree of heterogeneity within a pay zone section, were calculated from thin-section images and well logs. Porosity and fractal dimension values were used to estimate the 188-µm threshold of representative elementary volume (REV) in this study. Both the Lc and fractal dimension values were found to be negatively correlated. When these two parameters are combined, it is possible to discern differences in the complex porous networks of the samples analyzed in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Family forest owner management decisions occur within a dynamic coupled natural-human system. • Forest owners couple human with natural systems through management. • Public policy is a documented societal instrument to influence forest management. • Role of policy on networks of family-owned properties and peer-learning is less known. • How system of family forest owners affects larger social systems under-researched. We offer a conceptual framework where management couples natural and human systems backed by a representative synthesis of the literature studying US family forest owners. Within a socio-ecological forest system, management occurs at the intersection of resources and conditions intrinsic to owners and land with interactions influenced by extrinsic social and natural factors. Among extrinsic factors, public policy stands out as a major instrument society uses to influence how family forest owners manage their parcels. We discuss how public policy tools influence individual management preferences occurring within a system of forest owners. In the US, forestry extension programs are a major conduit for achieving public policy objectives by increasing family forest owners' knowledge and reducing barriers to purposeful management, among other services. We conclude with insights into documented relationships linking family forestlands and owners to larger natural and human systems and identify areas where more research is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Western Nebraska has potential to host a CCS project. • Dedicated storage options are subject to significant uncertainty. • Public outreach would be a vital element for CCS in this region. The Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) has conducted a pre-feasibility study for a commercial-scale carbon dioxide (CO 2) geologic storage complex in western Nebraska, integrated with potential CO 2 capture at the coal-fired Gerald Gentleman Station (GGS). This pre-feasibility project has been executed as part of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) CarbonSAFE (Carbon Storage Assurance Facility Enterprise) Program, where projects are required to demonstrate the potential to capture and store at least 50 million tonnes (Mt) of CO 2 over a minimum 25-year operational period. Using publicly available data, this study has shown that western Nebraska has potential to host a commercial-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) project. However, three key challenges would need to be overcome. Firstly, the business case for deploying CCS projects is uncertain; recently announced federal tax credits and sales for enhanced oil recovery might not cover full project costs. Secondly, the potential dedicated storage site defined in this study is at a low level of readiness to support a CCS project. Thirdly, public outreach would be a vital element in western Nebraska, where sensitivities around such environmental issues as water resource protection and pipeline construction would need to be carefully addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this technical brief, we focus on solving trajectory optimization problems that have nonlinear system dynamics and that include high-order derivatives in the objective function. This type of problem comes up in robotics--for example, when computing minimum-snap reference trajectories for a quadrotor or computing minimum-jerk trajectories for a robot arm. DirCol5i is a transcription method that is specialized for solving this type of problem. It uses the fifth-order splines and analytic differentiation to compute higher-derivatives, rather than using a chain-integrator as would be required by traditional methods. We compare DirCol5i to traditional transcription methods. Although it is slower for some simple optimization problems, when solving problems with high-order derivatives DirCol5i is faster, more numerically robust, and does not require setting up a chain integrator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The enterprise of developing a common model of the mind aims to create a foundational architecture for rational behavior in humans. Philosopher Immanuel Kant attempted something similar in 1781. The principles laid out by Kant for pursuing this goal can shed important light on the common model project. Unfortunately, Kant's program has become hopelessly mired in philosophical hair-splitting. In this paper, we first use Kant's approach to isolate the founding conditions of rationality in humans. His philosophy lends support to Newell's knowledge level hypothesis, and together with it directs the common model enterprise to take knowledge, and not just memory, seriously as a component of the common model of the mind. We then map Kant's cognitive mechanics to the operations which are used in the current models of cognitive architecture. Finally, we argue that this mapping can pave the way to develop the ontology of the knowledge level for general intelligence. We further show how they can be actualized in a memory system using high dimensional vectors to achieve specific cognitive abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract What role does the study of natural language play in the task of developing a unified theory and common model of cognition? Language is perhaps the most complex behaviour that humans exhibit, and, as such, is one of the most difficult problems for understanding human cognition. Linguistic theory can both inform and be informed by unified models of cognition. We discuss (1) how computational models of human cognition can provide insight into how humans produce and comprehend language and (2) how the problem of modelling language processing raises questions and creates challenges for widely used computational models of cognition. Evidence from the literature suggests that behavioural phenomena, such as recency and priming effects, and cognitive constraints, such as working memory limits, affect how language is produced by humans in ways that can be predicted by computational cognitive models. But just as computational models can provide new insights into language, language can serve as a test for these models. For example, simulating language learning requires the use of more powerful machine learning techniques, such as deep learning and vector symbolic architectures, and language comprehension requires a capacity for on-the-fly situational model construction. In sum, language plays an important role in both shaping the development of a common model of the mind, and, in turn, the theoretical understanding of language stands to benefit greatly from the development of a common model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulsed-neutron well logs (PNLs) were acquired to monitor CO 2 storage associated with enhanced oil recovery. This work quantifies the precision of repeat PNLs using data from four wells and 15 repeat PNLs. Root-mean-square (RMS) precision for the repeat PNLs was less than 3%, indicating good agreement between the baseline and repeat PNLs. Evaluations of scaled relative difference (Scaled-D) showed variation in precision among individual wells and formations. Analysis of false-positive rates (FPRs) across the entire data set showed that a Scaled-D threshold in sandstone formations of approximately ±8% resulted in a 1% FPR. These Scaled-D precision thresholds were used to estimate the value of CO 2 saturation able to be confidently distinguished from baseline. The detection limit for CO 2 is lowest for high-porosity formations filled with saline water and is highest for low-porosity formations filled with fresh water. Thus, detection of vertical out-of-zone CO 2 migration using repeat PNLs is a function of instrument precision, petrophysical properties, and hydrology, all of which must be taken into account as part of the monitoring program. The results of this work provide insight into how PNLs may be included within monitoring plans to detect vertical out-of-zone CO 2 migration along a wellbore or instances of wellbore failure and provide a quantitative basis for establishing detection limits of repeat PNLs to distinguish change from baseline conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) enhanced oil recovery (EOR) will likely be the primary means of geologic CO 2 storage during the early stages of commercial-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) because of the inherent economic incentives as well as the abundant experience and demonstrated success in the United States, where CO 2 EOR has been employed since 1974. The work presented here estimates CO 2 storage efficiency factors in CO 2 EOR operations using a unique industry database of CO 2 EOR sites and 12 different reservoir simulation models. The simulation models encompass fluvial clastic and shallow shelf carbonate depositional environments for reservoir depths of 1219 and 2438 m (4000 and 8000 feet) and 7.6-, 20-, and 64-m (25-, 66-, and 209-foot)-thick pay zones. A novel statistical modeling technique incorporating the Michaelis–Menten function is used to generate empirical percentile estimates of CO 2 storage efficiency factors. West Texas San Andres dolomite water alternating gas (WAG) CO 2 flood performance data were used to derive P10, P50, and P90 CO 2 storage efficiency factors of 0.76, 1.28, and 1.74 Mscf/STB (stock tank barrel) of original oil in place. Median CO 2 storage efficiency factors from continuous CO 2 injection following conventional waterflood varied from 15% to 61% and 8% to 40% for fluvial clastic and shallow shelf carbonate simulation models, respectively, while those from WAG injection varied from 14% to 42% and 8% to 31%, respectively. Variation in the CO 2 storage efficiency factors was largely attributable to reservoir depth (a surrogate for reservoir pressure and temperature) and lithology (clastic versus carbonate). The results of this work provide practical information that can be used to quantify CO 2 storage resource estimates in oil reservoirs during CO 2 EOR operations (as opposed to storage following depletion) and the uncertainty associated with those estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residual oil zones (ROZs) are naturally waterflooded, traditionally noneconomic reservoirs in which potentially large amounts of CO 2 could be stored in association with enhanced oil recovery. To date, ROZ exploration throughout the United States has primarily consisted of manual matching of hydrodynamics with structural data in preconceived, specific locations, assessing well- or field-scale analyses, followed by field tests. To locate potential ROZs more quickly en masse , Schlumberger Petrel software was used to build a 3-D geocellular model of the Williston Basin, and Schlumberger PetroMod was used to populate petrophysical properties and simulate hydrocarbon generation, migration, and accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]