Activity Recognition and Prediction in Real Homes

In this paper, we present work in progress on activity recognition and prediction in real homes using either binary sensor data or depth video data. We present our field trial and set-up for collecting and storing the data, our methods, and our current results. We compare the accuracy of predicting the next binary sensor event using probabilistic methods and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks, include the time information to improve prediction accuracy, as well as predict both the next sensor event and its mean time of occurrence using one LSTM model. We investigate transfer learning between apartments and show that it is possible to pre-train the model with data from other apartments and achieve good accuracy in a new apartment straight away. In addition, we present preliminary results from activity recognition using low-resolution depth video data from seven apartments, and classify four activities - no movement, standing up, sitting down, and TV interaction - by using a relatively simple processing method where we apply an Infinite Impulse Response (IIR) filter to extract movements from the frames prior to feeding them to a convolutional LSTM network for the classification.Comment: 12 pages, Symposium of the Norwegian AI Society NAIS 201

Simulations of summertime fossil fuel CO2 in the Guanzhong basin, China

Recent studies on fossil fuel CO2 simulation associated with Delta(CO2)-C-14 measurements is quite limited, particularly in China. In this study, the fossil fuel CO2 recently added to the atmosphere (delta CO(2)ff) over the Guanzhong basin, central China, during summer 2012 is simulated using a modified WRF-CHEM model constrained by measured CO2 mixing ratio and Delta(CO2)-C-14. The model well captures the temporal variation of observed CO2 mixing ratio and Delta(CO2)-C-14, and reasonably reproduces the distribution of observed Delta(CO2)-C-14. The simulation shows a significant variation of delta CO(2)ff during summertime, ranging from <5 ppmv to similar to 100 ppmv and no remarkable trend of delta CO(2)ff is found for June, July, and August. The delta CO(2)ff level is closely associated with atmospheric diffusion conditions. The diurnal cycle of delta CO(2)ff presents a double-peak pattern, a nocturnal one and a rush-hour one, related to the development of planetary boundary layer and CO2 emission from vehicles. The spatial distributions of summertime delta CO(2)ff within the basin is clearly higher than the outside, reaching up to 40 ppmv in urban Xi'an and 15 ppmv in its surrounding areas, indicative of large local fossil fuel emissions. Furthermore, we find that neglecting the influence of summer heterotrophic respiration in terrestrial biosphere would slightly underestimate the calculated delta CO(2)ff by about 0.38 ppmv in the basin. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

High-Throughput Screen Reveals sRNAs Regulating crRNA Biogenesis by Targeting CRISPR Leader to Repress Rho Termination

Discovery of CRISPR-Cas systems is one of paramount importance in the field of microbiology. Currently, how CRISPR-Cas systems are finely regulated remains to be defined. Here we use small regulatory RNA (sRNA) library to screen sRNAs targeting type I-F CRISPR-Cas system through proximity ligation by T4 RNA ligase and find 34 sRNAs linking to CRISPR loci. Among 34 sRNAs for potential regulators of CRISPR, sRNA pant463 and PhrS enhance CRISPR loci transcription, while pant391 represses their transcription. We identify PhrS as a regulator of CRISPR-Cas by binding CRISPR leaders to suppress Rho-dependent transcription termination. PhrS-mediated anti-termination facilitates CRISPR locus transcription to generate CRISPR RNA (crRNA) and subsequently promotes CRISPR-Cas adaptive immunity against bacteriophage invasion. Furthermore, this also exists in type I-C/-E CRISPR-Cas, suggesting general regulatory mechanisms in bacteria kingdom. Our findings identify sRNAs as important regulators of CRISPR-Cas, extending roles of sRNAs in controlling bacterial physiology by promoting CRISPR-Cas adaptation priming

Variation of atmospheric (CO2)-C-14 and its spatial distribution

The atmospheric (CO2)-C-14 is usually presented in the Delta C-14 notation, which cannot reflect its absolute quantity change. This article presents the atmospheric radiocarbon activity concentrations (a(acn), reported in mBq/m(3)) in recent years at nine observation stations. The a(acn) at Schauinsland decrease from 1977 to 1993 but between 1993 and 2003 keeps at a relative steady state. Atmospheric a(acn)s were higher in the northern hemisphere than that in the southern hemisphere. The a(acn)s in the northern hemisphere show clear seasonal cycle with higher value in winter and lower value in summer, while this seasonality is not obvious in the southern hemisphere. Vegetation plays as a role of sink in summer and a role of source in winter, and atmosphere-biosphere radiocarbon exchange might be the main driver of the a(acn)s seasonality. The annual mean a(acn)s in both hemispheres show slightly increasing trends since 2002, which may be mainly caused by decreasing air-sea C-14 flux as the air-sea C-14 gradient decline. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Analysis of the Air-Reversed Brayton Heat Pump with Different Layouts of Turbochargers for Space Heating

The air-reversed Brayton cycle produces charming, environmentally friendly effects by using air as its refrigerant and has potential energy efficiency in applications related to space heating and building heating. However, there exist several types of cycle that need to be discussed. In this paper, six types of air-reversed Brayton heat pump with a turbocharger, applicable under different heating conditions, are developed. The expressions of the heating coefficient of performance (COP) and the corresponding turbine pressure ratio are derived based on thermodynamic analysis. By using these expressions, the effects of turbine pressure ratio on the COP under different working conditions are theoretically analyzed, and the optimal COPs of different cycles under specific working conditions are determined. It is observed that Cycles A and C have the highest heating COPs, and there is an optimal pressure ratio for each cycle. The corresponding pressure ratio of the optimal COP is different, concentrated in the range of 1.5–1.9. When the pressure ratio reaches the optimal value, increasing the pressure ratio does not significantly improve the heating COP. Take Cycle F as an example: the maximum error between the calculated results and experimental observation is lower than 5.6%. These results will enable further study of the air-reversed Brayton heat pump with a turbocharger from a different perspective

Analysis of the Air-Reversed Brayton Heat Pump with Different Layouts of Turbochargers for Space Heating

The air-reversed Brayton cycle produces charming, environmentally friendly effects by using air as its refrigerant and has potential energy efficiency in applications related to space heating and building heating. However, there exist several types of cycle that need to be discussed. In this paper, six types of air-reversed Brayton heat pump with a turbocharger, applicable under different heating conditions, are developed. The expressions of the heating coefficient of performance (COP) and the corresponding turbine pressure ratio are derived based on thermodynamic analysis. By using these expressions, the effects of turbine pressure ratio on the COP under different working conditions are theoretically analyzed, and the optimal COPs of different cycles under specific working conditions are determined. It is observed that Cycles A and C have the highest heating COPs, and there is an optimal pressure ratio for each cycle. The corresponding pressure ratio of the optimal COP is different, concentrated in the range of 1.5–1.9. When the pressure ratio reaches the optimal value, increasing the pressure ratio does not significantly improve the heating COP. Take Cycle F as an example: the maximum error between the calculated results and experimental observation is lower than 5.6%. These results will enable further study of the air-reversed Brayton heat pump with a turbocharger from a different perspective

Screening efficacy of PhA and MNA-SF in different stages of sarcopenia in the older adults in community

Abstract Objective To compare the screening ability of the phase Angle (PhA) and the Short-Form Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA-SF) alone and combined detection in the different stages of sarcopenia among the older adults in the community. Methods The older adults aged 65 and above were enlisted during community outpatient service and their nutritional status was evaluated by MNA-SF scale. PhA was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). AWGS2019 and EWGSOP2010 were used to define the different stages of sarcopenia. We measured skeletal mass index (SMI) and grip strength with BIA and electronic grip apparatus and measured body function with 6-m pace, SPPB test, and standing test. Results The AUC of PhA in the screening of possible sarcopenia was 0.640, the sensitivity was 58.49%, the specificity was 66.67%, and the cut-off value was 4.5. The AUC of the combined PhA and MNA-SF for possible sarcopenia was 0.642, the sensitivity was 57.55%, and the specificity was 70.00%. The AUC of MNA-SF for the screening of pre-sarcopenia was 0.805, the sensitivity was 66.67%, the specificity was 85.83%, and the cut-off value was 12. The AUC of the combined PhA and MNA-SF was 0.826, the sensitivity was 75.00%, and the specificity was 85.00%. The AUC of PhA in the screening of sarcopenia (common type) was 0.808, the sensitivity was 82.35%, the specificity was 73.33%, the cut-off value was 4.4. The AUC of the combined PhA and MNA-SF for sarcopenia (common type) was 0.835, the sensitivity was 76.47% and the specificity was 81.67%. The AUC of PhA and for the screening of severe sarcopenia was 0.935, the sensitivity was 93.33%, the specificity was 92.50%, and the cut-off value was 4.1. The AUC of the combined PhA and MNA-SF was 0.943, the sensitivity was 86.67%, and the specificity was 93.33%. Conclusion The screening ability of PhA alone or in combination was higher than that of MNA-SF in the screening of possible sarcopenia. The screening ability of the combined detection was higher than that of PhA alone in the screening of pre-sarcopenia. The combination of PhA and MNA-SF or PhA alone all performed better value in the screening of sarcopenia (common type). Compared to MNA-SF, the PhA performed better in the screening of severe sarcopenia, which provided references for identifying patients with different stages of sarcopenia in the community

LOW-FLOW PRESSURE GRADIENT PUMPING FOR ACTIVE ABSORPTION OF CO2 ON A MOLECULAR SIEVE

The authors have developed an active absorption system combining a molecular sieve with a pressure gradient as a way to overcome the shortcomings of the phosphoric acid solution displacement method. Taking advantage of the pressure gradient produced between the inside and outside of a bottle, as water moves through it, CO2 in the atmosphere can actively be absorbed onto a molecular sieve in its pathway. A comparative study showed that the technique was in agreement with the phosphoric acid displacement method, within error. We applied the new method to collect not only atmospheric CO2 samples, but also CO2 samples from soil respiration to verify its utility. Simple yet practical, our method is well suited to extended collection times in a variety of environments, and capable of providing relatively large amounts of carbon for high-precision accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) C-14 analyses of atmospheric samples

Respirable dust pollution characteristics within an underground heading face driven with continuous miner - A CFD modelling approach

Respirable dust pollution at an underground heading face driven with continuous miner was detected during a ventilation survey. In order to obtain fundamental understandings of the airflow patterns and the respirable dust dispersion characteristics within the heading face, three dimensional Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models were developed according to field condition. The continuous miner (JOY 12CM27), which significantly impacts the ventilation and respirable dust flow behaviour, was embedded into the model. The inappropriate ventilation arrangement, lack of effective dust control measures, as well as insufficient maintenance of equipment (e.g. blunt picks, missing nozzles etc.) were identified as the main reasons causing the high dust exposure levels (greater than 500 mg/m3). Based on the CFD model results, a new ventilation arrangement together with dust mitigation strategy were proposed. And an evaluation of the proposed system demonstrated a high respirable dust mitigation effect (90%) could be achieved. Therefore, it is highly recommended these control strategies to be implemented immediately to address the extremely high dust levels in the underground working environment. The proposed strategy will be also suitable for headings with similar conditions and could provide guidance for mining operators to refer