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At least 721 records · Page 40

I'll take that to go: Big data bags and minimal identifiers for exchange of large, complex datasets

Big data workflows often require the assembly and exchange of complex, multi-element datasets. For example, in biomedical applications, the input to an analytic pipeline can be a dataset consisting thousands of images and genome sequences assembled from diverse repositories, requiring a description of the contents of the dataset in a concise and unambiguous form. Typical approaches to creating datasets for big data workflows assume that all data reside in a single location, requiring costly data marshaling and permitting errors of omission and commission because dataset members are not explicitly specified. We address these issues by proposing simple methods and tools for assembling, sharing, and analyzing large and complex datasets that scientists can easily integrate into their daily workflows. These tools combine a simple and robust method for describing data collections (BDBags), data descriptions (Research Objects), and simple persistent identifiers (Minids) to create a powerful ecosystem of tools and services for big data analysis and sharing. We present these tools and use biomedical case studies to illustrate their use for the rapid assembly, sharing, and analysis of large datasets.

Chard, Kyle↗

Leveraging BERT and Network-Based Attention Analysis for Identifying Treatment Milestones in EHRs

This study introduces a sophisticated data-driven framework for analyzing Electronic Health Records (EHRs) using transformer-based models to identify and disentangle overlapping treatment contexts. The framework leverages a preprocessing pipeline that transforms structured procedural codes into semantically enriched descriptive text, enabling the use of attention mechanisms to cluster medical events into treatment milestones—cohesive and distinct components of care processes. The methodology is rigorously validated using synthetic datasets derived from the MIMIC-III database, designed to simulate the heterogeneity and overlapping procedural contexts characteristic of real-world EHR scenarios. Quantitative evaluation highlights the framework’s robustness in disentangling concurrent care pathways, with attention metrics and unsupervised clustering approaches demonstrating the ability to preserve intra-context relationships while distinguishing inter-context dependencies. By addressing challenges inherent in data heterogeneity, this approach provides a foundation for uncovering complex treatment patterns, advancing clinical decision-making, and optimizing resource allocation in diverse healthcare environments.

Kim, Minsu [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000224185535)↗

Using Image Processing Techniques to Identify and Quantify Spatiotemporal Carbon Cycle Extremes

Rising atmospheric carbon dioxide due to human activities through fossil fuel emissions and land use changes have increased climate extremes such as heat waves and droughts that have led to and are expected to increase the occurrence of carbon cycle extremes. Carbon cycle extremes represent large anomalies in the carbon cycle that are associated with gains or losses in carbon uptake. Carbon cycle extremes could be continuous in space and time and cross political boundaries. Here, we present a methodology to identify large spatiotemporal extremes (STEs) in the terrestrial carbon cycle using image processing tools for feature detection. We characterized the STE events based on neighborhood structures that are three-dimensional adjacency matrices for the detection of spatiotemporal manifolds of carbon cycle extremes. We found that the area affected and carbon loss during negative carbon cycle extremes were consistent with continuous neighborhood structures. In the gross primary production data we used, 100 carbon cycle STEs accounted for more than 75% of all the negative carbon cycle extremes. This paper presents a comparative analysis of the magnitude of carbon cycle STEs and attribution of those STEs to climate drivers as a function of neighborhood structures for two observational datasets and an Earth system model simulation.

Sharma, Bharat↗

A Method to Identify Seawater Pycnocline Boundaries Based on LSTM Neural Network and Its Application in Underwater Glider Missions

Underwater glider is a kind of buoyancy driven underwater vehicle; it has the features of low operating noise, long endurance and flexible maneuverability. During the glider long-time navigation, there is a high probability to encounter the pycnocline, which has a great influence on underwater glider’s navigation as well as application. In this work, an operation flow of glider hovering movement in the pycnocline was discussed in detail in order to improve the observation performance of glider. We firstly developed an LSTM (Long Short-Term Memory) neural network to identify the pycnocline boundaries. Then the accurate buoyancy adjustment of glider hovering movement was calculated based on the obtained pycnocline information. Finally a hardware in the loop simulation was implemented to verify the feasibility of the method, and the simulation results showed a reasonable performance of glider hovering in the pycnocline.

Song, Dalei↗

Thin-Film Module Reverse-Bias Breakdown Sites Identified by Thermal Imaging

Thin-film module sections are stressed under reverse bias to simulate partial shading conditions. Such stresses can cause permanent damage in the form of "wormlike" defects due to thermal runaway. When large reverse biases with limited current are applied to the cells, dark lock-in thermography (DLIT) can detect where spatially-localized breakdown initiates before thermal runaway leads to permanent damage. Predicted breakdown defect sites have been identified in both CIGS and CdTe modules using DLIT. These defects include small pinholes, craters, or voids in the absorber layer of the film that lead to builtin areas of weakness where high current densities may cause thermal damage in a partial-shading event.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Identifying critical resiliency of modern distribution systems with open source modeling

Identification of temporal and topology related challenges to the operation of modern distribution systems (MDS) with high penetration of distributed energy resources is critical to developing and assessing control strategies. This paper proposes analysis of typical and historical load and generation patterns to identify and anticipate critical intersections in generation and load that stress distribution system stability. An open source modeling of representative MDS topologies, loads, and generation is presented to aid further analysis of the interaction of MDS control strategies with load and generation patterns to determine intrinsic adaptive capacity of segments of MDS.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Identifying and Characterizing Non-Convexities in the Feasible Spaces of Optimal Power Flow Problems

Optimal power flow (OPF) is an important problem in the operation of electric power systems. The solution to an OPF problem provides a minimum cost operating point that satisfies constraints imposed by both the non-linear power flow equations and engineering limits. These constraints can yield non-convex feasible spaces that result in significant computational challenges. This brief proposes an algorithm that identifies and characterizes non-convexities in OPF feasible spaces. This algorithm searches for a pair of feasible points whose connecting line segment contains an infeasible point. Such points certify the existence of a non-convexity in the OPF feasible space. Moreover, the constraint violations at the infeasible point along the connecting line segment physically characterize a cause of the non-convexity. Numerical demonstrations include a small illustrative example as well as applications to various test cases.

Molzahn, Daniel K.↗

Identifying DQ-Domain Admittance Models of a 2.3-MVA Commercial Grid-Following Inverter Via Frequency-Domain and Time-Domain Data

Here, we present two methods to identify the admittance of a 2.3-MVA commercial grid-following inverter through frequency-domain data and time-domain data. In addition to the well-known harmonic injection method to obtain the admittance at frequency points followed by vector fitting, we adopt a step response-based method where the step response data of the converter are collected and their s-domain expressions are obtained. In turn, the s-domain admittance model of the converter is found. The two methods can be used for cross validation. Step responses and frequency-domain responses obtained from the two methods are compared. Results show that the time- domain data-based method leads to an admittance comparable with that from the frequency-domain measurement in the range less than 60 Hz. In addition, two insights are obtained from the frequency-domain admittance measurements. First, when the dq- frame is aligned to the point of common coupling (PCC) voltage, the per unit DQ-domain admittance directly reflects operating conditions. Second, existence of negative-sequence control can be detected via sequence-domain admittances.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Evaluating the Performance of the IEEE Standard 1366 Method for Identifying Major Event Days

IEEE Standard 1366 offers a method for segmenting reliability performance data to isolate the effects of major events from the underlying year-to-year trends in reliability. Recent analysis by the IEEE Distribution Reliability Working Group (DRWG) has found that reliability performance of some utilities differs from the expectations that helped guide the development of the Standard 1366 method. This paper proposes quantitative metrics to evaluate the performance of the Standard 1366 method in identifying major events and in reducing year-to-year variability in utility reliability. The metrics are applied to a large sample of utility-reported reliability data to assess performance of the method with alternative specifications that have been considered by the DRWG. We find that none of the alternatives perform uniformly 'better' than the current Standard 1366 method. That is, none of the modifications uniformly lowers the year-to-year variability in System Average Interruption Duration Index without major events. Instead, for any given alternative, while it may lower the value of this metric for some utilities, it also increases it for other utilities (sometimes dramatically). Thus, we illustrate some of the trade-offs that must be considered in using the Standard 1366 method and highlight the usefulness of the metrics we have proposed in conducting these evaluations.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Identifying Redundant Flow Limits on Parallel Lines

Many power system optimization problems constrain line flows with limits specified in terms of the magnitudes of apparent power or current flows. The set of line-flow constraints may have redundancies (i.e., the feasible space may be unchanged upon removal of a subset of the line-flow constraints), which unnecessarily complicate optimization problems. This letter describes an algorithm for identifying redundant line-flow constraints corresponding to certain parallel lines. After formulating the constraints as ellipsoids in the voltage variables, redundancies are detected from the absence of intersections between pairs of ellipsoids corresponding to parallel lines. This algorithm is demonstrated using several large test cases.

Molzahn, Daniel K. (ORCID:0000000305835376)↗

Expression quantitative trait loci mapping identified PtrXB38 as a key hub gene in adventitious root development in Populus

Summary Plant establishment requires the formation and development of an extensive root system with architecture modulated by complex genetic networks. Here, we report the identification of the PtrXB38 gene as an expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) hotspot, mapped using 390 leaf and 444 xylem Populus trichocarpa transcriptomes. Among predicted targets of this trans ‐eQTL were genes involved in plant hormone responses and root development. Overexpression of PtrXB38 in Populus led to significant increases in callusing and formation of both stem‐born roots and base‐born adventitious roots. Omics studies revealed that genes and proteins controlling auxin transport and signaling were involved in PtrXB38‐mediated adventitious root formation. Protein–protein interaction assays indicated that PtrXB38 interacts with components of endosomal sorting complexes required for transport machinery, implying that PtrXB38‐regulated root development may be mediated by regulating endocytosis pathway. Taken together, this work identified a crucial root development regulator and sheds light on the discovery of other plant developmental regulators through combining eQTL mapping and omics approaches.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

SNPeffect: identifying functional roles of SNPs using metabolic networks

Genetic sources of phenotypic variation have been a focus of plant studies aimed at improving agricultural yield and understanding adaptive processes. Genome-wide association studies identify the genetic background behind a trait by examining associations between phenotypes and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Although such studies are common, biological interpretation of the results remains a challenge; especially due to the confounding nature of population structure and the systematic biases thus introduced. Here, we propose a complementary analysis (SNPeffect) that offers putative genotype-to-phenotype mechanistic interpretations by integrating biochemical knowledge encoded in metabolic models. SNPeffect is used to explain differential growth rate and metabolite accumulation in A. thaliana and P. trichocarpa accessions as the outcome of SNPs in enzyme-coding genes. To this end, we also constructed a genome-scale metabolic model for Populus trichocarpa, the first for a perennial woody tree. As expected, our results indicate that growth is a complex polygenic trait governed by carbon and energy partitioning. The predicted set of functional SNPs in both species are associated with experimentally characterized growth-determining genes and also suggest putative ones. Functional SNPs were found in pathways such as amino acid metabolism, nucleotide biosynthesis, and cellulose and lignin biosynthesis, in line with breeding strategies that target pathways governing carbon and energy partition.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Nutri‐cereal tissue‐specific transcriptome atlas during development: Functional integration of gene expression to identify mineral uptake pathways in little millet ( Panicum sumatrense )

SUMMARY Little millet (Panicum sumatrenseRoth ex Roem. & Schult.) is an essential minor millet of southeast Asia and Africa's temperate and subtropical regions. The plant is stress‐tolerant, has a short life cycle, and has a mineral‐rich nutritional profile associated with unique health benefits. We report the developmental gene expression atlas of little millet (genotype JK‐8) from ten tissues representing different stages of its life cycle, starting from seed germination and vegetative growth to panicle maturation. The developmental transcriptome atlas led to the identification of 342 827 transcripts. The BUSCO analysis and comparison with the transcriptomes of related species confirm that this study presents high‐quality, in‐depth coverage of the little millet transcriptome. In addition, the eFP browser generated here has a user‐friendly interface, allowing interactive visualizations of tissue‐specific gene expression. Using these data, we identified transcripts, the orthologs of which inArabidopsisand rice are involved in nutrient acquisition, transport, and response pathways. The comparative analysis of the expression levels of these transcripts holds great potential for enhancing the mineral content in crops, particularly zinc and iron, to address the issue of “hidden hunger” and to attain nutritional security, making it a valuable asset for translational research.

Plant Sciences↗

Identifying the gene responsible for non‐photochemical quenching reversal in Phaeodactylum tricornutum

SUMMARY Algae such as diatoms and haptophytes have distinct photosynthetic pigments from plants, including a novel set of carotenoids. This includes a primary xanthophyll cycle comprised of diadinoxanthin and its de‐epoxidation product diatoxanthin that enables the switch between light harvesting and non‐photochemical quenching (NPQ)‐mediated dissipation of light energy. The enzyme responsible for the reversal of this cycle was previously unknown. Here, we identified zeaxanthin epoxidase 3 (ZEP3) from Phaeodactylum tricornutum as the candidate diatoxanthin epoxidase. Knocking out the ZEP3 gene caused a loss of rapidly reversible NPQ following saturating light exposure. This correlated with the maintenance of high concentrations of diatoxanthin during recovery in low light. Xanthophyll cycling and NPQ relaxation were restored via complementation of the wild‐type ZEP3 gene. The zep3 knockout strains showed reduced photosynthetic rates at higher light fluxes and reduced specific growth rate in variable light regimes, likely due to the mutant strains becoming locked in a light energy dissipation state. We were able to toggle the level of NPQ capacity in a time and dose dependent manner by placing the ZEP3 gene under the control of a β‐estradiol inducible promoter. Identification of this gene provides a deeper understanding of the diversification of photosynthetic control in algae compared to plants and suggests a potential target to improve the productivity of industrial‐scale cultures.

Ware, Maxwell A.↗

SU-F-P-37: Implementation of An End-To-End QA Test of the Radiation Therapy Imaging, Planning and Delivery Process to Identify and Correct Possible Sources of Deviation

Purpose: To implement an end-to-end QA test of the radiation therapy imaging, planning and delivery process, aimed to assess the dosimetric agreement accuracy between planned and delivered treatment, in order to identify and correct possible sources of deviation. To establish an internal standard for machine commissioning acceptance. Methods: A test involving all steps of the radiation therapy: imaging, planning and delivery process was designed. The test includes analysis of point dose and planar dose distributions agreement between TPS calculated and measured dose. An ad hoc 16 cm diameter PMMA phantom was constructed with one central and four peripheral bores that can accommodate calibrated electron density inserts. Using Varian Eclipse 10.0 and Elekta XiO 4.50 planning systems, IMRT, RapidArc and 3DCRT with hard and dynamic wedges plans were planned on the phantom and tested. An Exradin A1SL chamber is used with a Keithley 35617EBS electrometer for point dose measurements in the phantom. 2D dose distributions were acquired using MapCheck and Varian aS1000 EPID.Gamma analysis was performed for evaluation of 2D dose distribution agreement using MapCheck software and Varian Portal Dosimetry Application.Varian high energy Clinacs Trilogy, 2100C/CD, 2000CR and low energy 6X/EX where tested.TPS-CT# vs. electron density table were checked for CT-scanners used. Results: Calculated point doses were accurate to 0.127% SD: 0.93%, 0.507% SD: 0.82%, 0.246% SD: 1.39% and 0.012% SD: 0.01% for LoX-3DCRT, HiX-3DCRT, IMRT and RapidArc plans respectively. Planar doses pass gamma 3% 3mm in all cases and 2% 2mm for VMAT plans. Conclusion: Implementation of a simple and reliable quality assurance tool was accomplished. The end-to-end proved efficient, showing excellent agreement between planned and delivered dose evidencing strong consistency of the whole process from imaging through planning to delivery. This test can be used as a first step in beam model acceptance for clinical use.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

SU-F-T-312: Identifying Distinct Radiation Therapy Plan Classes Through Multi-Dimensional Analysis of Plan Complexity Metrics

Purpose: To determine whether body site-specific treatment plans form unique “plan class” clusters in a multi-dimensional analysis of plan complexity metrics such that a single beam quality correction determined for a representative plan could be universally applied within the “plan class”, thereby increasing the dosimetric accuracy of a detector’s response within a subset of similarly modulated nonstandard deliveries. Methods: We collected 95 clinical volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) plans from four body sites (brain, lung, prostate, and spine). The lung data was further subdivided into SBRT and non-SBRT data for a total of five plan classes. For each control point in each plan, a variety of aperture-based complexity metrics were calculated and stored as unique characteristics of each patient plan. A multiple comparison of means analysis was performed such that every plan class was compared to every other plan class for every complexity metric in order to determine which groups could be considered different from one another. Statistical significance was assessed after correcting for multiple hypothesis testing. Results: Six out of a possible 10 pairwise plan class comparisons were uniquely distinguished based on at least nine out of 14 of the proposed metrics (Brain/Lung, Brain/SBRT lung, Lung/Prostate, Lung/SBRT Lung, Lung/Spine, Prostate/SBRT Lung). Eight out of 14 of the complexity metrics could distinguish at least six out of the possible 10 pairwise plan class comparisons. Conclusion: Aperture-based complexity metrics could prove to be useful tools to quantitatively describe a distinct class of treatment plans. Certain plan-averaged complexity metrics could be considered unique characteristics of a particular plan. A new approach to generating plan-class specific reference (pcsr) fields could be established through a targeted preservation of select complexity metrics or a clustering algorithm that identifies plans exhibiting similar modulation characteristics. Measurements and simulations will better elucidate potential plan-class specific dosimetry correction factors.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

TU-D-207B-05: Intra-Tumor Partitioning and Texture Analysis of DCE-MRI Identifies Relevant Tumor Subregions to Predict Early Pathological Response of Breast Cancer to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy

Purpose: To predict early pathological response of breast cancer to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) based on quantitative, multi-region analysis of dynamic contrast enhancement magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI). Methods: In this institution review board-approved study, 35 patients diagnosed with stage II/III breast cancer were retrospectively investigated using DCE-MR images acquired before and after the first cycle of NAC. First, principal component analysis (PCA) was used to reduce the dimensionality of the DCE-MRI data with a high-temporal resolution. We then partitioned the whole tumor into multiple subregions using k-means clustering based on the PCA-defined eigenmaps. Within each tumor subregion, we extracted four quantitative Haralick texture features based on the gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM). The change in texture features in each tumor subregion between pre- and during-NAC was used to predict pathological complete response after NAC. Results: Three tumor subregions were identified through clustering, each with distinct enhancement characteristics. In univariate analysis, all imaging predictors except one extracted from the tumor subregion associated with fast wash-out were statistically significant (p< 0.05) after correcting for multiple testing, with area under the ROC curve or AUCs between 0.75 and 0.80. In multivariate analysis, the proposed imaging predictors achieved an AUC of 0.79 (p = 0.002) in leave-one-out cross validation. This improved upon conventional imaging predictors such as tumor volume (AUC=0.53) and texture features based on whole-tumor analysis (AUC=0.65). Conclusion: The heterogeneity of the tumor subregion associated with fast wash-out on DCE-MRI predicted early pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Fragment binding to the Nsp3 macrodomain of SARS-CoV-2 identified through crystallographic screening and computational docking

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) macrodomain within the nonstructural protein 3 counteracts host-mediated antiviral adenosine diphosphate–ribosylation signaling. This enzyme is a promising antiviral target because catalytic mutations render viruses nonpathogenic. Here, we report a massive crystallographic screening and computational docking effort, identifying new chemical matter primarily targeting the active site of the macrodomain. Crystallographic screening of 2533 diverse fragments resulted in 214 unique macrodomain-binders. An additional 60 molecules were selected from docking more than 20 million fragments, of which 20 were crystallographically confirmed. X-ray data collection to ultra-high resolution and at physiological temperature enabled assessment of the conformational heterogeneity around the active site. Several fragment hits were confirmed by solution binding using three biophysical techniques (differential scanning fluorimetry, homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence, and isothermal titration calorimetry). The 234 fragment structures explore a wide range of chemotypes and provide starting points for development of potent SARS-CoV-2 macrodomain inhibitors.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗