For the first time a record of total solar irradiance covering 9300 years is presented, which covers almost the entire Holocene. This reconstruction is based on a recently observationally derived ...relationship between total solar irradiance and the open solar magnetic field. Here we show that the open solar magnetic field can be obtained from the cosmogenic radionuclide 10Be measured in ice cores. Thus, 10Be allows to reconstruct total solar irradiance much further back than the existing record of the sunspot number which is usually used to reconstruct total solar irradiance. The resulting increase in solar‐cycle averaged TSI from the Maunder Minimum to the present amounts to (0.9 ± 0.4) Wm−2. In combination with climate models, our reconstruction offers the possibility to test the claimed links between climate and TSI forcing.
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•Machine learning is developed to predict the torrefaction severity index of torrefied biomass.•MARS model identifies the temperature as the most influential factor on TSI value.•Two ...hidden layers with 85 neurons provide a better performance of the ANN model.•The best-fit quality (R2) values of MARS and ANN are 0.9851 and 0.9784, respectively.•Three-dimensional TSI profiles from MARS and ANN are almost equivalent.
Machine learning (ML) is one type of artificial intelligence (AI) commonly used for computer programming. Multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS) and artificial neural networks (ANN) are two common and popular tools in AI that allow the user to analyze the pattern of complex data. The torrefaction severity index (TSI) is an index to define torrefied biomass quality at different torrefaction conditions. In this study, MARS and ANN models are applied to predict TSI. The considered input parameters in predictions using MARS and ANN approaches comprise feedstock type, temperature, and duration. The MARS model indicates that temperature is the most influential factor on TSI, followed by duration and feedstock type. In contrast, the ANN model reveals that the feedstock type is a dominant factor, and temperature and duration are not important. The performance of the ANN model is evaluated in three different combinations of numbers of hidden layers and neurons. It shows 2 hidden layers along with 85 neurons giving the best performance. The highest R2 values in MARS and ANN are 0.9851 and 0.9784, respectively. The relative root means square error analysis shows that both MARS and ANN have good fit quality with the relative errors of 1.49% and 2.16%, respectively. Overall, the comparison reflects that MARS is a more suitable model for predicting solid biofuel’s TSI. The general observation suggests that the ANN lacks sensitivity to the input parameter. Nevertheless, ANN performance may be improved by adjusting the number of hidden layers and neurons.
Objective
Graves' disease (GD) is the most common cause of hyperthyroidism. In many cases, when the aetiological diagnosis of GD is not evident based on the clinical evaluation and thyroid function ...testing, it may become challenging to distinguish Graves' hyperthyroidism from other forms of thyrotoxicosis.
The current study was primarly carried out to compare the diagnostic effectiveness of two TSH receptor antibody immunoassays (IMAs), ultrasonography and thyroid scintigraphy in hyperthyroidism scenario.
Methods
We retrospectively analysed consecutive patients with newly diagnosed and untreated thyrotoxicosis who underwent thyroid functional tests, both TRAb and TSI measurements, thyroid scintigraphy and ultrasonography. TRAb assessment was carried out by Kryptor® compact PLUS, while TSI by Immulite®. Echo pattern 3 corresponded to ‘thyroid inferno’, and the final diagnosis of GD vs non‐Graves' hyperthyroidism was made according to the thyroid scan (qualitative scintigraphy). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn using the final diagnosis as reference. Clinical sensitivity and specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated for all the tests.
Results
A total of 124 untreated hyperthyroid patients were included in our study (GD, n = 86 vs non‐Graves' hyperthyroidism, n = 38). ROC curves showed that the optimal cut‐off values associated with the highest diagnostic sensitivity and specificity was 0.7 IU/L for TRAb Kryptor® (93 85.4‐97.4 and 86.8 71.9‐95.5) and 0.1 IU/L for TSI Immulite® (94.2 86.9‐98.1 and 84.2 68.7‐93.9), respectively. For the echo pattern 3, we found a good sensitivity (92.1%) and a high PPV (95.2%) but a quite low specificity value (69.8%) and a relative low NPV (57.5%). For thyroid scintigraphy, the TcTU cut‐off value of 1.3% corresponded to the best limit for sensitivity and specificity in our patients (95.3 88.5‐98.7 and 96.4 81.6‐99.4). The Passing‐Bablok regression equation and the Bland‐Altman test showed a great degree of correlation and agreement existed between TRAb Kryptor® and Immulite® TSI results.
Conclusions
Thyroid scintigraphy remains the most accurate method to differentiate causes of thyrotoxicosis. However, TRAb assays can be alternatively adopted in this setting, limiting the use of thyroid scintigraphy (TcTU evaluation) to TRAb‐negative patients. Thyoid US is less accurate than both TRAb/TSI and thyroid scintigraphy, but the ‘thyroid inferno’ pattern provides a high PPV for GD.
Radiation therapy (RT) is administered with varying intentions, sometimes even several times in the same or in different body areas, to over 50% of patients with neoplastic conditions. Numerous ...techniques are available to patients in the clinical evolution of mycosis fungoides (MF), and there are several indications for radiation therapy (RT). RT as a skin-directed therapy is very widely used in these patients, either alone or in conjunction with other therapies. The application of RT, a tried-and-true therapy that improves MF patients’ quality of life and treatment, can be encouraged by a multidisciplinary approach and an understanding of current methods and action mechanisms.
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•Three biomass wastes are torrefied to produce biochars.•Torrefaction severity index (TSI) in terms of biomass weight loss is introduced.•Torrefaction performance can be correlated ...well by TSI.•Upgrading energy index (UEI) is defined to account for the energy efficiency.•Biochar quality is intensified at a higher TSI, but the energy efficiency is lowered.
Weight loss has been suggested as an important indicator of torrefaction severity for describing the performance of this thermal pretreatment process. The present study establishes a correlation of torrefaction performance, severity, and energy usage for the applications of this pretreatment for solid fuel (biochar) production. Three different biomass wastes, namely, spent coffee grounds, Chinese medicine residue, and microalga residue, have been torrefied in nitrogen at a temperature range of 200–300 °C for 15–60 min to produce biochars. Their properties such as the enhancement factor of higher heating value, energy yield, decarbonization, dehydrogenation, deoxygenation, and atomic O/C and H/C ratios have been investigated. The obtained results indicate that the introduced dimensionless parameter (the torrefaction severity index in terms of the weight loss of biomass) correlates sufficiently with the biochar properties; the exception is the O/C ratio as a consequence of the intrinsic difference in components between the utilized wastes. A new parameter (the upgrading energy index) was also defined to account for the energy efficiency of the torrefaction system. This index follows a decreasing trend with increasing torrefaction severity index. This shows that biochar quality or heating value is intensified at a higher torrefaction severity; however, the energy efficiency is lowered.
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The objective of this study is to investigate the differences of emulsion stability evaluated by phase separation proportion and Turbiscan Stability Index (TSI). The relationship ...between emulsion stability and oil displacement efficiency was also investigated. An alkaline-surfactant-polymer (ASP) solution and a surfactant-polymer (SP) solution were both selected to prepare emulsions, respectively. The instability process of emulsions was studied by the multiple light scattering as well as the bottle test. The opposite stability results, evaluated by the TSI and the phase separation proportion separately, of same emulsion are observed. The discrepancies resulted from diverse influence of emulsion instability types in test methods. The main instability type in ASP emulsions is creaming, whereas in SP emulsions is flocculation and coalescence. The influence of creaming is more notable in bottle test. However, in TSI calculation, not only creaming but also flocculation and coalescence are recorded and counted particularly. The stability results obtained by the bottle test and the multiple light scattering method were similar for emulsions prepared with different concentrations of ASP or SP solution. Injection pressure change in core flooding experiments can be better explained by TSI of the emulsion.
The satellite total solar irradiance (TSI) database provides a valuable record for investigating models of solar variation used to interpret climate changes. The 35-year ACRIM total solar irradiance ...(TSI) satellite composite time series has been revised using algorithm updates based on 13 years of accumulated mission experience and corrections to ACRIMSAT/ACRIM3 results for scattering and diffraction derived from recent testing at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics/Total solar irradiance Radiometer Facility (LASP/TRF). The net correction lowers the ACRIM3 scale by ∼3000 ppm, in closer agreement with the scale of SORCE/TIM results (average total solar irradiance ≈1361.5 W/m
2
). Differences between the ACRIM and PMOD TSI composites are investigated, particularly the decadal trending during solar cycles 21–22 and the Nimbus7/ERB and ERBS/ERBE results available to bridge the ACRIM Gap (1989–1992), are tested against a set of solar proxy models. Our findings confirm the following ACRIM TSI composite features: (1) The validity of the TSI peak in the originally published ERB results in early 1979 during solar cycle 21; (2) The correctness of originally published ACRIM1 results during the SMM spin mode (1981–1984); (3) The upward trend of originally published ERB results during the ACRIM Gap; (4) The occurrence of a significant upward TSI trend between the minima of solar cycles 21 and 22 and (5) a decreasing trend during solar cycles 22–23. The same analytical approach does not support some important features of the PMOD TSI composite: (1) The downward corrections applied to the originally published ERB and ACRIM1 results during solar cycle 21; (2) The step function sensitivity change in ERB results at the end-of-September 1989; (3) The downward trend of ERBE results during the ACRIM Gap and (4) the use of ERBE results to bridge the ACRIM Gap. Our analysis provides a first order validation of the ACRIM TSI composite approach and its 0.037 %/decade upward trend during solar cycles 21–22. The implications of increasing TSI during the global warming of the last two decades of the 20th century are that solar forcing of climate change may be a significantly larger factor than represented in the CMIP5 general circulation climate models.
This study evaluated changes in the aquatic environment and river water quality due to the construction of the Yeongju Multipurpose Dam (YMD) in the Naeseong Stream Basin, Republic of Korea, over ...eight years. This study evaluated water quality characteristics immediately after dam construction in the target area with aquatic environmental values and important water quality parameters using classification schemes. The drastic formation of new lentic systems in the upstream dammed pool presented exponential algal growth and high potential availability of nitrogenous compounds depending on seasonally. The results of the river system analyzed with the water quality index focused on eutrophication (WQIEUT) and trophic state index of the Republic of Korea (TSIKO) provided adequate complementary information for specific water quality background within the extensive basin for future management. From the results, inflow and accumulation of anthropogenic organic matter as potential eutrophic factors in the upstream dammed pool were significant in the short-term period. However, the downstream lotic systems adjacent to the dam presented the temporary disturbance by physical factors. Furthermore, potential microbial factors were significant in the outlet in the basin depending on seasonally. These results using classification schemes can aid accessible decision-making for water quality management to prevent eutrophication in the dammed pool of upstream or best management practices (BMP) with microbial source tracking (MST) approaches in the downstream area.
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•The Yeongju Multipurpose Dam (YMD) construction caused extreme short-term aquatic environment changes in the Naeseong Stream Basin.•The aquatic environment was converted to lentic systems in the dammed pool upstream of the YMD.•The WQIEUT and TSIKO provided adequate complementary information for the future water management.•Accumulation of anthropogenic organic matter in the upstream dammed pool was significant for the short-term period.•The downstream lotic systems adjacent to the dam presented the temporary disturbance by physical factors.
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•Normal hydrocarbon is insufficient in suppressing coal dust with high oil content.•The addition of FS achieves a maximum 104% improvement on dust suppression rate.•Electrolytes can ...significantly improve both wettability and agglomeration ability.•The effect of oil on dedusting performance is due to the liquid bridge force.•The agglomerating behaviour is more accurate in predicting the dedusting rate.
This paper studied the wetting and agglomerating behaviour of high oil-content coal particles, during the electrolyte accelerated synergistic application of hydrocarbon and short-chain fluorocarbon surfactants. The addition of short-chain fluorocarbon contributed 42.91 % ∼ 71.71 % reduction on surface tension and 51.08 % to 59.54 % reduction on immersing time. The short-chain fluorocarbon surfactant also achieves 29.17 % ∼ 258.93 % improvement on TSI and 48 % ∼ 104 % improvement on dust suppression rate. The presence of electrolytes further enhanced those performances by contributing an extra 7.95 % ∼ 18.41 % reduction on surface tension, 54.99 % ∼ 75.73 % reduction on immersing time for oil-rich and oil-high coal particles, 1.95 ∼ 19.16 times higher TSI and 23.35 % ∼ 31.85 % increasement on dedusting rate. The agglomerating behaviour is more accurate in predicting the dedusting rate. The increased oil content led to significant reduction on static and total liquid bridge force, and finally resulted in deteriorated dedusting rate due to the diminished wetting and agglomerating performance.
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