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At least 829 records · Page 46

Short–Period Variables in TESS Full–Frame Image Light Curves Identified via Convolutional Neural Networks

The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission measured light from stars in ∼85% of the sky throughout its 2 yr primary mission, resulting in millions of TESS 30-minute-cadence light curves to analyze in the search for transiting exoplanets. To search this vast data set, we aim to provide an approach that is computationally efficient, produces accurate predictions, and minimizes the required human search effort. We present a convolutional neural network that we train to identify short-period variables. To make a prediction for a given light curve, our network requires no prior target parameters identified using other methods. Our network performs inference on a TESS 30-minute-cadence light curve in ∼5 ms on a single GPU, enabling large-scale archival searches. We present a collection of 14,156 short-period variables identified by our network. The majority of our identified variables fall into two prominent populations, one of close-orbit main-sequence binaries and another of δ Scuti stars. Our neural network model and related code are additionally provided as open-source code for public use and extension.

Convolutional neural networks↗

Data analysis and modeling pipelines for controlled networked social science experiments

There is large interest in networked social science experiments for understanding human behavior at-scale. Significant effort is required to perform data analytics on experimental outputs and for computational modeling of custom experiments. Moreover, experiments and modeling are often performed in a cycle, enabling iterative experimental refinement and data modeling to uncover interesting insights and to generate/refute hypotheses about social behaviors. The current practice for social analysts is to develop tailor-made computer programs and analytical scripts for experiments and modeling. This often leads to inefficiencies and duplication of effort. In this work, we propose a pipeline framework to take a significant step towards overcoming these challenges. Our contribution is to describe the design and implementation of a software system to automate many of the steps involved in analyzing social science experimental data, building models to capture the behavior of human subjects, and providing data to test hypotheses. The proposed pipeline framework consists of formal models, formal algorithms, and theoretical models as the basis for the design and implementation. We propose a formal data model, such that if an experiment can be described in terms of this model, then our pipeline software can be used to analyze data efficiently. The merits of the proposed pipeline framework is elaborated by several case studies of networked social science experiments.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Insight into the Relationship Between Viscosity and Structure of CaO-SiO{sub 2}-MgO-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} Molten Slags

This article elucidates the quantitative relationship between viscosity and structure in a basic slag system of CaO-SiO{sub 2}-MgO-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} and focuses on the role of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}. Slag viscosity was measured by the rotating cylinder method, and structural information was obtained using Fourier transformation infrared, Raman and magic angular spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS-NMR) techniques. The results show that, as the Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} content increased, slag viscosity increased initially and decreased afterwards, directly indicating that Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} had an amphoteric effect on slag viscosity. The Raman spectra verified that with increasing Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} content, the concentrations of Q{sup 0}(Si) and Q{sup 2}(Si) decreased first and then increased, while that of Q{sup 1}(Si) kept increasing and that of Q{sup 3}(Si) increased first and then decreased. The {sup 27}Al MAS-NMR spectra proved that the mole ratios of AlO{sub 5} and AlO{sub 6} to AlO{sub 4} kept increasing with the increase of Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} content, and, overall, Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} changed from a network former to a network modifier. The relationship between the viscosity and structure of the molten slags was further analyzed quantitatively based on the modified (NBO/T), denoted as (NBO/T)′, and we found a fine linear correlation between the logarithm of viscosity and (NBO/T)′. Moreover, the variations of thermodynamic properties of this system also indirectly supported the present experimental results.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Impact of cyber attacks on distributed compressive sensing based state estimation in power distribution grids

Modern power distribution grids suffer from multiple vulnerabilities due to the tight integration between the physical system and the cyber infrastructure. Sophisticated and malicious cyber attacks continue to adversely impact the grid operation leading to performance degradation, service interruption, and grid failure. State estimation plays an essential role in grid monitoring and advancing cyber-attack situational awareness. In this regard, this paper first proposes a distributed compressive sensing (CS) state estimation approach for an unobservable distribution grid. Further, the proposed distributed CS approach divides the distribution grid into sub-areas to perform local state estimation. Then an alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) based iterative information exchange among neighboring areas is employed to complete the estimation process. In this estimation process, the impact of loss of measurement data, false data injection (FDI), replay, and neighborhood cyber-attacks is analyzed. Extensive simulations are performed on the IEEE 37-bus and IEEE 123-bus standard networks to demonstrate the algorithm’s robustness to the aforementioned cyber-attacks. A quantitative analysis of computational complexity and simulation time of the distributed CS based approach is also presented.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Learning in continuous action space for developing high dimensional potential energy models

Reinforcement learning (RL) approaches that combine a tree search with deep learning have found remarkable success in searching exorbitantly large, albeit discrete action spaces, as in chess, Shogi and Go. Many real-world materials discovery and design applications, however, involve multi-dimensional search problems and learning domains that have continuous action spaces. Exploring high-dimensional potential energy models of materials is an example. Traditionally, these searches are time consuming (often several years for a single bulk system) and driven by human intuition and/or expertise and more recently by global/local optimization searches that have issues with convergence and/or do not scale well with the search dimensionality. Here, in a departure from discrete action and other gradient-based approaches, we introduce a RL strategy based on decision trees that incorporates modified rewards for improved exploration, efficient sampling during playouts and a “window scaling scheme" for enhanced exploitation, to enable efficient and scalable search for continuous action space problems. Using high-dimensional artificial landscapes and control RL problems, we successfully benchmark our approach against popular global optimization schemes and state of the art policy gradient methods, respectively. We demonstrate its efficacy to parameterize potential models (physics based and high-dimensional neural networks) for 54 different elemental systems across the periodic table as well as alloys. We analyze error trends across different elements in the latent space and trace their origin to elemental structural diversity and the smoothness of the element energy surface. Broadly, our RL strategy will be applicable to many other physical science problems involving search over continuous action spaces.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Geospatial Capabilities to Couple Hazard and Social Vulnerability Data in Water Distribution Criticality Analysis

A resilience analysis of a water distribution system is greatly enhanced by the integration of up-to-date geospatial data describing the water system, hazards, and surrounding community. The Water Network Tool for Resilience (WNTR), an open-source Python package designed to simulate and analyze the resilience of water distribution systems, was recently updated to incorporate geographic information system (GIS) data into the resilience analysis. This paper describes the GIS capabilities and includes a case study using the drinking water distribution system model for a large city in Pennsylvania. The case study focuses on potential pipe damage from landslides and on pipes that are particularly difficult to repair. The analysis couples data on hazards, social vulnerability, and the location of emergency services to identify and prioritize high-impact critical infrastructure for mitigation. Results demonstrate that pipes can be prioritized for mitigation based on water shortage and vulnerable populations that are affected. In conclusion, the methods can be adopted for general use and are available as part of the WNTR software.

GIS, landslide↗

Canalization of Phenotypes—When the Transcriptome is Constantly but Weakly Perturbed

Abstract Recent studies have increasingly pointed to microRNAs (miRNAs) as the agent of gene regulatory network (GRN) stabilization as well as developmental canalization against constant but small environmental perturbations. To analyze mild perturbations, we construct a Dicer-1 knockdown line (dcr-1 KD) in Drosophila that modestly reduces all miRNAs by, on average, ∼20%. The defining characteristic of stabilizers is that, when their capacity is compromised, GRNs do not change their short-term behaviors. Indeed, even with such broad reductions across all miRNAs, the changes in the transcriptome are very modest during development in stable environment. By comparison, broad knockdowns of other regulatory genes (esp. transcription factors) by the same method should lead to drastic changes in the GRNs. The consequence of destabilization may thus be in long-term development as postulated by the theory of canalization. Flies with modest miRNA reductions may gradually deviate from the developmental norm, resulting in late-stage failures such as shortened longevity. In the optimal culture condition, the survival to adulthood is indeed normal in the dcr-1 KD line but, importantly, adult longevity is reduced by ∼90%. When flies are stressed by high temperature, dcr-1 KD induces lethality earlier in late pupation and, as the perturbations are shifted earlier, the affected stages are shifted correspondingly. Hence, in late stages of development with deviations piling up, GRN would be increasingly in need of stabilization. In conclusion, miRNAs appear to be a solution to weak but constant environmental perturbations.

Lu, Guang-An↗

Molecular and Epidemiological Investigation of Fluconazole-resistant Candida parapsilosis —Georgia, United States, 2021

Abstract Background Reports of fluconazole-resistant Candida parapsilosis bloodstream infections are increasing. We describe a cluster of fluconazole-resistant C parapsilosis bloodstream infections identified in 2021 on routine surveillance by the Georgia Emerging Infections Program in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Methods Whole-genome sequencing was used to analyze C parapsilosis bloodstream infections isolates. Epidemiological data were obtained from medical records. A social network analysis was conducted using Georgia Hospital Discharge Data. Results Twenty fluconazole-resistant isolates were identified in 2021, representing the largest proportion (34%) of fluconazole-resistant C parapsilosis bloodstream infections identified in Georgia since surveillance began in 2008. All resistant isolates were closely genetically related and contained the Y132F mutation in the ERG11 gene. Patients with fluconazole-resistant isolates were more likely to have resided at long-term acute care hospitals compared with patients with susceptible isolates (P = .01). There was a trend toward increased mechanical ventilation and prior azole use in patients with fluconazole-resistant isolates. Social network analysis revealed that patients with fluconazole-resistant isolates interfaced with a distinct set of healthcare facilities centered around 2 long-term acute care hospitals compared with patients with susceptible isolates. Conclusions Whole-genome sequencing results showing that fluconazole-resistant C parapsilosis isolates from Georgia surveillance demonstrated low genetic diversity compared with susceptible isolates and their association with a facility network centered around 2 long-term acute care hospitals suggests clonal spread of fluconazole-resistant C parapsilosis. Further studies are needed to better understand the sudden emergence and transmission of fluconazole-resistant C parapsilosis.

Misas, Elizabeth (ORCID:0000000162437716)↗

Application of machine learning in the determination of impact parameter in the 132 Sn+ 124 Sn system

Here, 132 Sn + 124 Sn collisions at a beam energy of 270 MeV/nucleon were performed at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory (RIBF) in RIKEN to investigate the nuclear equation of state. Reconstructing the impact parameter is one of the important tasks in the experiment as it relates to many observable. In this work, we employ three commonly used algorithms in machine learning, the artificial neural network (ANN), the convolutional neural network (CNN), and the light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM), to determine the impact parameter by analyzing either the charged particle spectra or several features simulated with events from the ultrarelativistic quantum molecular dynamics (UrQMD) model. To closely imitate experimental data and investigate the generalizability of the trained machine learning algorithms, incompressibility of nuclear equation of state and the in-medium nucleon-nucleon cross sections are varied in the UrQMD model to generate the training data. The mean absolute error Δb between the true and the predicted impact parameter is smaller than 0.45 fm if training and testing sets are sampled from the UrQMD model with the same parameter set. However, if training and testing sets are sampled with different parameter sets, Δb would increase to 0.8 fm. The generalizability of the trained machine learning algorithms suggests that these machine learning algorithms can be used reliably to reconstruct the impact parameter in experiment.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Enhancing the Survivability of Power Systems With Grid-Edge DERs Against DoS Attacks

Power system survivability, defined as the ability of a system to maintain steady-state functionality under varying operational conditions, reflects its resilience against disturbances. While existing research primarily focuses on physical-layer disturbances, the increasing prevalence of grid-edge DERs, which are primarily used for integrating renewable energy, has significantly expanded the cyber attack surface. As a result, operational disruptions caused by cyber threats are posing significant challenges to system survivability and cannot be overlooked. To fill this gap, we redefine system survivability to incorporate the cyber layer’s status and propose a Distributionally Robust Optimization (DRO) approach to enhance power system survivability against potential cyber-physical threats. In this paper, we first analyze the operational guidelines of systems with a high penetration of DERs under various cyber network conditions and redefine survivability in this context. Next, we focus on the most common cyber threat, Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks, and develop a corresponding attack model. This model allows for the creation of a kernel-based ambiguity set that captures attack uncertainties using historical data. Finally, we transform the proposed DRO model as a tractable optimization problem, with its solution providing an optimal cyber redundancy plan to enhance system survivability in DoS attack scenarios. Simulation results on the IEEE 13-node and 123-node test feeders demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed model in improving system survivability. This model can also be expanded to include other types of common attacks and serve as a comprehensive planning tool to improve overall cyber physical survival of the system.

cybersecurity↗

IRIS-GNN: Leveraging Graph Neural Networks for Scheduling on Truly Heterogeneous Runtime Systems

The diversity of accelerators in computer systems poses significant challenges for software developers, such as managing vendor-specific compiler toolchains, code fragmentation requiring different kernel implementations, and performance portability issues. To address these, the Intelligent Runtime System (IRIS) was developed. IRIS works across various systems, from smartphones to supercomputers, enabling automatic performance scaling based on available accelerators. It introduces abstract tasks for seamless execution transitions between accelerators while ensuring memory consistency and task dependencies. Although IRIS simplifies system details, optimal dynamic scheduling still requires user input to understand workload structures. To address this, we introduce a new scheduling policy for IRIS, termed IRIS-GNN, which is the first IRIS hybrid policy that operates in conjunction with the dynamic policies. This policy employs a Graph-Neural Network (GNN) to conduct Graph Classification of any task graphs submitted to IRIS. This GNN analyzes the structure and attributes of the task graph, categorizing it as either locality, concurrency, or mixed. This classification subsequently guides the selection of the dynamic policy used by IRIS. We provide a comparison of the performance of IRIS-GNN against the complete spectrum of IRIS’s dynamic policies, assess the overhead introduced by the GNN within this scheduling framework, and ultimately explore its practical application in real-world scenarios.

Johnston, Beau↗

Resveratrol Ameliorates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss in In Vitro Model through Multitarget Antiapoptotic Mechanism Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking

Objective. To explore the effects of resveratrol (RSV) on hair cell apoptosis caused by sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and its effect on lipopolysaccharide-induced apoptosis of HEI-OC1 cells. Methods. We used the network pharmacology method to screen molecules related to RSV for the treatment of SSNHL and analyzed these molecules and their enriched biological processes and signaling pathways through Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) analysis. We selected hub genes related to apoptosis using protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis for in vitro and molecular docking verification. Results. Eighty overlapping genes were identified as potential targets for RSV treatment of SSNHL. Further GO analysis showed that the biological processes were mainly related to toxicity, cell proliferation, and lipopolysaccharide reactions. KEGG analysis showed that the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus infection, FoxO signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and other inflammatory signaling pathways were concentrated. AKT1, STAT3, JUN, TNF, TP53, MAPK3, CASP3, and VEGFA were screened as HUB genes using PPI analysis. The apoptosis-related proteins TNF, CASP3, AKT1, and TP53 were selected for in vitro experiments, which showed that mRNA was significantly different before and after RSV intervention, confirming that the corresponding protein receptors could bind well with RSV. Conclusion. RSV mainly affects the prognosis of SSNHL through anti-inflammatory effects and may improve hair cell apoptosis caused by inflammatory factors through multitargeted interventions involving TNF, CASP3, AKT1, and TP53.

Ye, Shiming↗

MLEC-Sim: A Simulator for Evaluating Multi-Level Erasure Coding

We present MLEC-Sim, a sophisticated simulator for Multi-Level Erasure Coding (MLEC), developed in approximately 13 KLOC. The simulator is engineered to analyze the impact of various system configurations and erasure coding policies on system durability and network overhead. It supports a comprehensive range of parameters including disk capacity, disk I/O bandwidth, failure rates, network bandwidth, and system scale, accommodating various erasure coding approaches such as Single-Level Erasure Coding (SLEC), Multi-Level Erasure Coding (MLEC), and Local Reconstruction Codes (LRC). MLEC-Sim provides support for multiple chunk placement policies, including clustered parity and declustered parity, and encompasses a variety of repair methods like Repair-ALL, Repair-FCO, Repair-HYB, and Repair-MIN. It is capable of simulating disk failures through a variety of means, including distribution-based or trace-based mechanisms, and can handle complex multi-level (de)clustered placements and repair processes. A key feature of MLEC-Sim is its adoption of the splitting simulation method for evaluating system durabilities at extremely high levels, which are challenging to assess with traditional simulation approaches. This feature allows for a detailed evaluation of system resilience under a range of conditions, aiding in the selection of appropriate erasure coding solutions for enhancing system durability. MLEC-Sim contributes to the field of data storage and reliability by providing a tool for the detailed evaluation of the durability and efficiency of erasure coding configurations, intended for use by researchers and practitioners in the design and optimization of storage systems.

Wang, Meng↗

Short Term Plasticity for Artificial Neural Networks

Achieving efficient learning for AI systems was identified as a major challenge in the DOE's recently released, AI for Science , report. The human brain is capable of efficient and low-powered learning. It is likely that implementing brain-like principles will lead to more efficient AI systems. In this LDRD, I aim to contribute to this goal by creating a foundation for implementing and studying a brain phenomenon termed short term plasticity (STP) in spiking artificial neural networks within Sandia. First, data collected by the Allen Institute for Brain Science (AIBS) was analyzed to see if STP could be classified into types using the data collected. Although the data was inadequate at the time, AIBS has updated their database and created models that could be utilized in the future. Second, I began creating a software package to assess the ability of a Boltzmann machine utilizing STP to sample from national security data.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Numerical Investigation of Butterfly Valve Performance in Variable Valve Sizes, Positions and Flow Regimes

Reliability and efficiency of valves are necessary for precise control and sufficient heat-flow to heat application plants for the integrated energy systems of nuclear power plants (NPPs). Strategic Management Analysis Requirement and Technology (SMART) valves’ ability to control flow and assess environmental parameters stands out for these requirements. Their ability to sustain the downstream flow rate, prevent reverse flow, and maintain pressure in the heat transport loop is much more efficient with the integration of sensors and intelligent algorithms. For assessing valve performance and monitoring, mechanical design and operating conditions are two important parameters. In this study, the butterfly valves of three different sizes are simulated with water and steam using STAR-CCM+ in various flow regimes and positions to analyze performance parameters to strategize an automated control system for efficiently balancing the heat–transport network. Also, flow behavior is studied using velocity and pressure fields for valve–body geometry optimization. It can be observed, through performance parameters, that the valves are suitable for operation between 30° and 90° positions with significantly low loss coefficients and high flow coefficients, and the performance parameters follow a certain pattern in both water and steam flow in each scenario.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Machine-learning-based investigation of the variables affecting summertime lightning occurrence over the Southern Great Plains

Lightning is affected by many factors, many of which are not routinely measured, well understood, or accounted for in physical models. Several commonly used machine learning (ML) models have been applied to analyze the relationship between Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) data and lightning data from the Earth Networks Total Lightning Network (ENTLN) in order to identify important variables affecting lightning occurrence in the vicinity of the Southern Great Plains (SGP) ARM site during the summer months (June, July, August and September) of 2012 to 2020. Testing various ML models, we found that the random forest model is the best predictor among common classifiers. When convective clouds were detected, it predicts lightning occurrence with an accuracy of 76.9 % and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.850. Using this model, we further ranked the variables in terms of their effectiveness in nowcasting lightning and identified geometric cloud thickness, rain rate and convective available potential energy (CAPE) as the most effective predictors. The contrast in meteorological variables between no-lightning and frequent-lightning periods was examined for hours with CAPE values conducive to thunderstorm formation. Besides the variables considered for the ML models, surface variables and mid-altitude variables (e.g., equivalent potential temperature and minimum equivalent potential temperature, respectively) have statistically significant contrasts between no-lightning and frequent-lightning hours. For example, the minimum equivalent potential temperature from 700 to 500 hPa is significantly lower during frequent-lightning hours compared with no-lightning hours. Finally, a notable positive relationship between the intracloud (IC) flash fraction and the square root of CAPE ($\sqrt{CAPE}$) was found, suggesting that stronger updrafts increase the height of the electrification zone, resulting in fewer flashes reaching the surface and consequently a greater IC flash fraction.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

The Potential for Helicopter Passenger Service in Major Urban Areas

An interurban helicopter cost model having the capability of selecting an efficient helicopter network for a given city in terms of service and total operating costs was developed. This model which is based upon the relationship between total and direct operating costs and the number of block hours of helicopter operation is compiled in terms of a computer program which simulates the operation of an intracity helicopter fleet over a given network. When applied to specific urban areas, the model produces results in terms of a break-even air passenger market penetration rate, which is the percent of the air travelers in each of those areas that must patronize the helicopter network to make it break even commercially. A total of twenty major metropolitan areas are analyzed and are ranked initially according to cost per seat mile and then according to break-even penetration rate.

Dajani, J. S.↗