Monitoring Space Weather: Using Automated, Accurate Neural Network Based Whistler Segmentation for Whistler Inversion

It is challenging, yet important, to measure the - ever-changing - cold electron density in the plasmasphere. The cold electron density inside and outside of the plasmapause is a key parameter for radiation belt dynamics. One indirect measurement is through finding the velocity dispersion relation exhibited by lightning induced whistlers. The main difficulty of the method comes from low signal-to-noise ratios for most of the ground-based whistler components. To provide accurate electron density and L-shell measurements, whistler components need to be detectable in the noisy background, and their characteristics need to be reliably determined. For this reason precise segmentation is needed on a spectrogram image. Here we present a fully automated way to perform such an image segmentation by leveraging the power of convolutional neural networks, a state-of-the-art method for computer vision tasks. Testing the proposed method against a manually, and semi-manually segmented whistler dataset achieved <10% relative electron density prediction error for 80% of the segmented whistler traces, while for the L-shell, the relative error is <5% for 90% of the cases. By segmenting more than 1 million additional real whistler traces from Rothera station Antarctica, logged over 9 years, seasonal changes in the average electron density were found. The variations match previously published findings, and confirm the capabilities of the image segmentation technique

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification based approach as an alternative to recombinase polymerase amplification based detection of Mangalitza component in food products

We used an alternative approach, loop-mediated isothermal amplification, to detect Mangalitza component in food products, and it has been compared to an established Recombinase Polymerase Amplification test. The correlation between the assays was significant (P<0.01). Linear determination coefficient between the assays was 0.993 and level of diagnostic agreement was high (Kappa=0.971). Previously, a real-time PCR method based on TaqMan probe was developed (Szántó-Egész et al., 2013) for detection of Mangalitza meat in food products, using a Mangalitza specific sequence. Other Mangalitza specific sequences suitable for the same purpose are also in use (V. Stéger, personal communication). Approaches like real-time monitoring of accumulation of the specific DNA product usually require specialised laboratory equipment. For Mangalitza detection, portable Recombinase Polymerase Amplification (RPA) approach has been developed (Szántó-Egész et al., 2016), which requires a device capable of maintaining 39 °C and a lateral flow strip with easy yes/no indication of the successful amplification. We wanted to develop another fast, non-PCR based test with minimal laboratory requirement to provide a third possibility to detect Mangalitza component in food

Osiris: A Modern, High-Performance, Coupled, Multi-Physics Code For Nuclear Reactor Core Analysis

To meet the simulation needs of the GNEP program, LLNL is leveraging a suite of high-performance codes to be used in the development of a multi-physics tool for modeling nuclear reactor cores. The Osiris code project, which began last summer, is employing modern computational science techniques in the development of the individual physics modules and the coupling framework. Initial development is focused on coupling thermal-hydraulics and neutral-particle transport, while later phases of the project will add thermal-structural mechanics and isotope depletion. Osiris will be applicable to the design of existing and future reactor systems through the use of first-principles, coupled physics models with fine-scale spatial resolution in three dimensions and fine-scale particle-energy resolution. Our intent is to replace an existing set of legacy, serial codes which require significant approximations and assumptions, with an integrated, coupled code that permits the design of a reactor core using a first-principles physics approach on a wide range of computing platforms, including the world's most powerful parallel computers. A key research activity of this effort deals with the efficient and scalable coupling of physics modules which utilize rather disparate mesh topologies. Our approach allows each code module to use a mesh topology and resolution that is optimal for the physics being solved, and employs a mesh-mapping and data-transfer module to effect the coupling. Additional research is planned in the area of scalable, parallel thermal-hydraulics, high-spatial-accuracy depletion and coupled-physics simulation using Monte Carlo transport

Treatment of Open-Angle Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension with Preservative-Free Tafluprost/Timolol Fixed-Dose Combination Therapy : The VISIONARY Study

Funding Information: Funding was provided by Santen SA for the study, medical writing services and Rapid Service Fees. All authors had full access to all of the data in this study and take complete responsibility for the integrity of the data and accuracy of the data analysis. The contribution of IRCCS Fondazione Bietti to this work was supported by the Italian Ministry of Health and by Fondazione Roma. Publisher Copyright: © 2020, The Author(s). Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.Introduction: A non-interventional, multicenter, European, prospective evaluation of the effectiveness, tolerability, and safety of a topical preservative-free tafluprost (0.0015%) and timolol (0.5%) fixed-dose combination (PF tafluprost/timolol FC) in adults with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) and ocular hypertension (OHT) demonstrating insufficient response to topical beta-receptor blockers or prostaglandin analogue (PGA) monotherapy. Methods: Mean intraocular pressure (IOP) change from baseline was measured at study visits following a switch to PF tafluprost/timolol FC. Primary endpoint was absolute mean IOP change at month 6. Change from baseline concerning ocular signs and symptoms was also explored. Results: Analyses included 577 patients (59.6% female). Mean age (SD) was 67.8 (11.67) years. Mean (SD) IOP reduction from baseline was significant at all study visits; 5.4 (3.76) mmHg (23.7%) at week 4, 5.9 (3.90) mmHg (25.6%) at week 12, and 5.7 (4.11) mmHg (24.9%) at month 6 (p < 0.0001 for all visits). At month 6, 69.2%, 53.6%, 40.0%, and 25.8% were responders based on ≥ 20%, ≥ 25%, ≥ 30%, and ≥ 35% cutoff values for mean IOP, respectively. Significant reductions were observed concerning corneal fluorescein staining (p < 0.0001), dry eye symptoms, irritation, itching, and foreign body sensation (p < 0.001 for each parameter). Conjunctival hyperemia was significantly reduced at all study visits (p < 0.0001 at each visit). Overall, 69 treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were reported, one of which was serious (status asthmaticus). Most AEs were mild to moderate in severity, and the majority had resolved or were resolving at the end of the study period. Conclusion: In clinical practice, PF tafluprost/timolol FC provided statistically and clinically significant IOP reductions in patients with OAG and OHT insufficiently controlled on or intolerant to PGA or beta-receptor blocker monotherapy. The full IOP reduction appeared at week 4 and was maintained over the 6-month study period. Key symptoms of ocular surface health improved. Trial Registration: European Union electronic Register of Post-Authorisation Studies (EU PAS) register number, EUPAS22204.publishersversionPeer reviewe