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Aoristic data can be described by a marked point process in time in which the points cannot be observed directly but are known to lie in observable intervals, the marks. We consider Bayesian state estimation for the latent points when the marks are modelled in terms of an alternating renewal process in equilibrium and the prior is a Markov point process. We derive the posterior distribution, estimate its parameters and present some examples that illustrate the influence of the prior distribution. The model is then used to estimate times of occurrence of interval censored crimes.

We apply the Abramson principle to define adaptive kernel estimators for the intensity function of a spatial point process. We derive asymptotic expansions for the bias and variance under the regime that n independent copies of a simple point process in Euclidean space are superposed. The method is illustrated by means of a simple example and applied to tornado data.

The presence of various combinations of adjacent colors within polymorphic species’ color pattern could have a major impact on mate choice. We studied the role of pattern geometry in predicting mate choice in guppies using boundary strength analysis (BSA). BSA estimates the visual contrast intensity between two adjacent color patches (ΔS) weighted by the lengths of the boundaries between these adjacent color patches. We measured both the chromatic (hue and saturation) and achromatic (luminance) ΔS for each pair of adjacent patches. For each male’s color pattern, we measured BSA as both mean (mΔS) and coefficient of variation (cvΔS) of all ΔS weighted by their corresponding boundary lengths. We also determined if specific color patch boundaries had an impact on female preferences and whether these predicted overall male contrast (mΔS). We found that males with a higher mΔS were more attractive to females and that six boundaries containing either fuzzy black or black as one of the pair colors significantly affected female preferences, indicating that 1) females favored highly conspicuous males and 2) melanin-based patches could be used as a signal amplifier, not only for orange but for other colors.

Fire prediction and prevention is closely related to public security. In this paper, we propose a chimney fire prediction model using data collected by the Twente Fire Brigade. Random forests are used to select explanatory variables from a large set of candidates. Furthermore, we build a nested Poisson generalized linear model based on house types and weather variables. Plausible predictions are obtained, that capture the salient spatial and temporal patterns seen in the data.

Plant culture integration within aquaculture activities is a topic of recent interest with economic and environmental benefits. Shrimp farming activities generate nutrient-rich waste trapped in the sediments of farming ponds or release in the mangrove area. Thus, we investigate if the halophytes species naturally growing around the pond can use nitrogen and carbon from shrimp farming for remediation purposes. Halophyte biomasses and sediments influenced by shrimp farm effluents, were collected in two farms in New-Caledonia. All samples were analyzed for their C and N stable isotopic composition and N content. Higher δ15N values were found in plants influenced by shrimp farm water thus evidenced their abilities to take nutrient derived from shrimp farming. Deep root species Chenopodium murale, Atriplex jubata, Suaeda australis and Enchylaena tomentosa appears more efficient for shrimp pond remediation. This work demonstrates that halophytes cultivation in shrimp ponds with sediments, could be effective for the pond's remediation.

Introdução: A medicina dentaria se apresenta geralmente amadora em energia. Isso pode ter um impacto ambiental significativo. Como fatores indesejáveis inerentes a profissão encontramos as demandas de eletricidade (máquinas especificas que geram), demandas de água, o efeito dos materiais usados nas partes dos tratamentos conservadores e também a utilização de radiação (raio X) e de resíduos perigosos (como o mercúrio). É certo que um consumo sustentável dos recursos ajuda os danos ambientais que os grupos de pessoas geram, bem como tornar uma prática de perigosa em sustentável. Objetivo: O objetivo deste trabalho é definir e compreender a gestão de resíduos dentários e dos recursos em medicina dentaria, a fim de reduzir ao máximo o consumo e o impacto no meio ambiente. Material e métodos: Foi feita uma revisão sistemática da literatura com as bases de dados PubMed, BVS, Science Direct e Google Scholar. Esta revisão inclua estudos que atenderem aos critérios e que foram publicados entre 2012 e 2022. Discussão: O dentista tem um papel fundamental. A sua prática deve fazer parte de uma abordagem sustentável e isso começa já com os materiais que vai usar: o dentista é quem decide o que vai usar na clínica. Reduzir o uso de material que tem um papel negativo no meio ambiente tem que ser uma prioridade. Também tem o papel de comprar de maneira consciente e responsável e comprar materiais sustentáveis quando for possível: passar de uma economia linear (pegar fazer e descartar) para uma economia circular (renovar refazer e compartilhar). Conclusões: Conscientizar o maior número de pessoas possível, começando pelos indivíduos com campanhas de prevenção em saúde bucal. Pequenas mudanças podem ser efetuadas como usar apenas instrumentos necessários, trocar para materiais mais sustentáveis, usar sabonetes com menor impacto, usar os EPI’s quando for necessário, para reduzir a longo prazo o impacto sobre o ambiente.

In this paper we investigate the effect of gas production volumes on seismicity in the Groningen field by means of a log-linear Poisson model. First, we consider the annual counts and then refine to the temporal point pattern of earthquake occurrence times.

Many challenges are faced in the conversion of biomass into advanced biofuels, one of which is finding the correct organism for the job. The filamentous fungus Aspergillus niger has been chosen as a biocatalyst for cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin degradation because it can secrete numerous hydrolytic enzymes, such as lignin-degrading enzymes and, in particular, laccase enzymes (1). However, low transformation efficiency has hindered efforts to unlock the full potential of this organism. This thesis presents a novel method to efficiently edit the genome of A. niger that overcomes several of the current challenges encountered when using CRISPR/Cas9 (2). We designed a genetic construct that is efficient and precise concerning knockout efficiency and phenotype control and demonstrated its utility for genetic knockouts, integrations, and alterations. Using the new CRISPR/Cas9 toolbox, we developed a high throughput platform to transform A. niger using robotics. We then transformed a library of 81 laccases that could be potentially secreted by A. niger in two different strain backgrounds and obtained six new laccases secreted by A. niger. We engineered a strain that increased total protein secretion fourfold and extracellular laccase activity threefold. We are currently applying for a patent for this discovery. We characterized each secreted enzyme by downscaling in micro-culture to study their optimum efficiency (e.g., media, pH, and fermentation time). These discoveries bring us significantly closer to generating strains that can produce a cocktail of laccases to unlock recalcitrant biomass for downstream processing. Additionally, the methods we developed will enable the rapid building and testing of genetic variants in A. niger for metabolic engineering, synthetic biology, and many other applications.

in endemic areas, despite BCG vaccination, the risk of developing tuberculosis (TB) in young children is high after exposure to adults with tuberculosis. The purpose of this study is to reduce the risk of active tuberculosis in children experiencing household exposure to adult index cases.we conducted a cross-sectional multi-site study (April 2016- January 2019) of children aged 0 to 59 months experiencing household exposure to index cases. They were screened and followed up at the pediatric center in Bangui.five hundred twenty four children were included in the study. The average age of patients was 2 years and 1 month and sex ratio (male/female) was 1.02; more than eighty-eight percent (88.5%) of contacts had received a BCG vaccination versus 11.5% who were unvaccinated. In more than half of the cases (52%), contacts and index cases had shared the same room and daily contact time had been greater than 12h in 56% of households; more than nine percent (9.35%) of contacts had positive tuberculin skin (IDR) test. All children received chemoprophylaxis with rifampicin + isoniazid, according to the national guidelines and, despite this, 14 or 2.67% of patients developed active tuberculosis, including 13 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and one with ganglionic tuberculosis.chemoprophylaxis of tuberculosis significantly reduced the risk of TB in children experiencing household exposure to index cases.

The exact prediction of time, date and location of future fire incidents will remain beyond the reach of ICT. But the project Data-Driven Risk Management for Fire Services intends to inch closer to that situation. For example, the indication of the seasonal incidence of chimney fires in 1930s neighbourhoods has become within reach. This allows fire services to optimise their capacity deployment and address prevention activities.

Colour signals are often made up of a number of colour patches. The position of these patches within a pattern has the potential to influence signal conspicuousness, especially if viewers attend to local rather than global aspects of the colour pattern. If local contrast is important, then signal efficacy should be highest when highly contrasting patches are adjacent; if local contrast is not important, contrasting colours can be anywhere in the pattern. We tested whether global or local colour patch contrast influenced the attractiveness of male guppies, Poecilia reticulata. We assessed contrast on both global and local scales using two methods. The first, overall pattern contrast, estimates the global pattern contrast without accounting for which colours are adjacent. The second, boundary strength analysis, accounts for local contrast by estimating the contrast intensity (ΔS) and contact lengths between adjacent patches. We tested behaviour under three different light environments: blue, broad spectrum (control) and red to modify visual contrast. The light environment had a significant effect on all measures of colour pattern contrast. The male overall pattern contrast measures did not affect female preferences under the three light environments. The coefficient of variation (CV) of chromatic ΔS was the only measure to show a significant effect on female preferences. Females favoured males that displayed high variation in local contrast (high CV of ΔS, independently of the light environment). Therefore, variation in local visual contrast appears to be more important than overall pattern contrast in guppies, regardless of the light environment.

In this paper, we present a mathematical model for the prediction of chimney fires using data collected by the Twente safety region over the years 2004 up to 2015. The explanatory variables used are the number of inhabitants per areal unit of 500 by 500 metres, the daily mean temperature and an indicator variable for October. Spatially and temporally correlated noise is added to be able to capture latent factors such as human behaviour. The model is validated using the data over the years 2016 and 2017. The model is implemented as a dashboard on a public website and yields as output a hazard map for chimney fires in Twente based on the weather forecast for the coming six days. This way, the dashboard can be used for prevention and planning purposes.