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At least 595 records · Page 33

Changing Institutional Procurement Behavior to Achieve Energy Savings

Although federal policies regarding energy-efficient product procurement (EEPP) are long-standing and well-established, federal buyers do not typically request energy-efficient products when making purchases. This is a large missed opportunity: full compliance could save the U.S. federal government roughly $500 million in energy cost annually. In 2016, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) began a new set of program activities to increase federal compliance with these procurement requirements. Program interventions included increased communication with contracting officers during the solicitation process; development of enhanced, targeted training; and collection and dissemination of procurement best practices across the federal sector. We have collected and analyzed ~2,500 solicitations from over 40 different federal agencies to evaluate the influence of these interventions. Compared to pre-intervention years (FY15 and FY11), annual compliance rates for FY16 and FY17 increased by about 10%. This paper provides an overview of the data collection process, analysis framework, intervention method, and results of our analysis. We discuss strategies to increase compliance rates by examining institutional factors that drive procurement behavior. By combining data collection with adjustment to program implementation, we have created an iterative process that is having a demonstrable effect in improving the impact of a long-running program.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

SAS PDF: pair distribution function analysis of nanoparticle assemblies from small-angle scattering data

SASPDF, a method for characterizing the structure of nanoparticle assemblies (NPAs), is presented. The method is an extension of the atomic pair distribution function (PDF) analysis to the small-angle scattering (SAS) regime. The PDFgetS3 software package for computing the PDF from SAS data is also presented. An application of the SASPDF method to characterize structures of representative NPA samples with different levels of structural order is then demonstrated. The SASPDF method quantitatively yields information such as structure, disorder and crystallite sizes of ordered NPA samples. The method was also used to successfully model the data from a disordered NPA sample. The SASPDF method offers the possibility of more quantitative characterizations of NPA structures for a wide class of samples.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗

Search for neutrinoless β + EC decay of Te 120 with CUORE-0

Here, we have performed a search for neutrinoless $\beta^{+}\hspace{-0.2em}EC$ decay of $^{120}$Te using the final CUORE-0 data release. We describe a new analysis method for the simultaneous fit of signatures with different event topology, and of data subsets with different signal efficiency, obtaining a limit on the half-life of the decay of $T_{1/2}>1.6\cdot10^{21}$ yr at $90\%$ CI. Combining this with results from Cuoricino, a predecessor experiment, we obtain the strongest limit to date, corresponding to $T_{1/2}>2.7\cdot10^{21}$ yr at $90\%$ CI.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

The Effect of Data Transformations on Scalar Field Topological Analysis of High-Order FEM Solutions

High-order finite element methods (HO-FEM) are gaining popularity in the simulation community due to their success in solving complex flow dynamics. There is an increasing need to analyze the data produced as output by these simulations. Simultaneously, topological analysis tools are emerging as powerful methods for investigating simulation data. Yet, most of the current approaches to topological analysis have had limited application to HO-FEM simulation data for two reasons. First, the current topological tools are designed for linear data (polynomial degree one), but the polynomial degree of the data output by these simulations is typically higher (routinely up to polynomial degree six). Second, the simulation data and derived quantities of the simulation data have discontinuities at element boundaries, and these discontinuities do not match the input requirements for the topological tools. One solution to both issues is to transform the high-order data to achieve low-order, continuous inputs for topological analysis. Nevertheless, there has been little work evaluating the possible transformation choices and their downstream effect on the topological analysis. We perform an empirical study to evaluate two commonly used data transformation methodologies along with the recently introduced L-SIAC filter for processing high-order simulation data. Our findings indicate diverse behaviors are possible. We offer some guidance about how best to consider a pipeline of topological analysis of HO-FEM simulations with the currently available implementations of topological analysis.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

SU-F-T-464: Development of a Secondary Check Procedure to Evaluated Flatness and Symmetry Discrepancies Detected During Daily Morning QA

Purpose: A daily QA device is used to monitor output, flatness and symmetry constancy for all linac photon and electron energies. If large deviations from baseline in flatness or symmetry are reported it becomes necessary to crosscheck the measurements with a second device. Setting up another device such as Matrixx (IBA Dosimetry) can be time consuming, due to its warm-up time, and trained personnel may not be readily available to analyze the results. Furthermore, this discrepancy is frequently isolated to a single energy. Unaffected energies could still be used, avoiding further patient delays, if a method to gather data for offline analysis could be developed. We find that optically stimulated luminescent dosimeters (OSLDs) provide a quick, simple, and inexpensive solution to this important clinical problem. Methods: The exact geometry of the detectors on the daily tracker (Keithley Therapy Beam Evaluator) was reproduced by placing nanoDot OSLDs (Landauer) on a solid water phantom. A combination of bolus and solid water was placed on top to provide buildup and prevent air gaps. Standard daily measurements of output, flatness and symmetry were taken for 2 photon energies (6x,10x) and 5 electron energies (6e,9e,12e,15e,18e) using the tracker. These measurements were then repeated with the OSLD phantom. Results: The time it took to set up the OSLD phantom was comparable to that of the tracker. The inline and crossline OSLD phantom measurements of flatness and symmetry agreed with the tracker results to within 2%. Conclusion: OSLDs provide a good solution for a quick second check when questionable flatness and symmetry results are detected with the tracker during daily QA.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Prony Ringdown GUI (CERTS Prony Ringdown, part of the DSI Tool Box)

The PNNL Prony Ringdown graphical user interface is one analysis tool included in the Dynamic System Identification toolbox (DSI Toolbox). The Dynamic System Identification toolbox is a MATLAB-based collection of tools for parsing and analyzing phasor measurement unit data, especially in regards to small signal stability. It includes tools to read the data, preprocess it, and perform small signal analysis. 5. Method of Solution: The Dynamic System Identification Toolbox (DSI Toolbox) is designed to provide a research environment for examining phasor measurement unit data and performing small signal stability analysis. The software uses a series of text-driven menus to help guide users and organize the toolbox features. Methods for reading in populate phasor measurement unit data are provided, with appropriate preprocessing options for small-signal-stability analysis. The toolbox includes the Prony Ringdown GUI and basic algorithms to estimate information on oscillatory modes of the system, such as modal frequency and damping ratio.

Tuffner, Francis↗

A General Framework for Monitoring Image Acquisition Workflow in the Radiology Environment: Timeliness for Acute Stroke CT Imaging

Many facets of an image acquisition workflow leave a digital footprint, making workflow analysis amenable to an informatics-based solution. This paper describes a detailed framework for analyzing workflow and uses acute stroke response timeliness in CT as a practical demonstration. We review methods for accessing the digital footprints resulting from common technologist/device interactions. This overview lays a foundation for obtaining data for workflow analysis. We demonstrate the method by analyzing CT imaging efficiency in the setting of acute stroke. We successfully used digital footprints of CT technologists to analyze their workflow. We presented an overview of other digital footprints including but not limited to contrast administration, patient positioning, billing, reformat creation, and scheduling. A framework for analyzing image acquisition workflow was presented. This framework is transferable to any modality, as the key steps of image acquisition, image reconstruction, image post processing, and image transfer to PACS are common to any imaging modality in diagnostic radiology.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Benchmarking blockchain-based gene-drug interaction data sharing methods: A case study from the iDASH 2019 secure genome analysis competition blockchain track

Blockchain distributed ledger technology is just starting to be adopted in genomics and healthcare applications. Despite its increased prevalence in biomedical research applications, skepticism regarding the practicality of blockchain technology for real-world problems is still strong and there are few implementations beyond proof-of-concept. We focus on benchmarking blockchain strategies applied to distributed methods for sharing records of gene-drug interactions. We expect this type of sharing will expedite personalized medicine. We generated gene-drug interaction test datasets using the Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) resource. We developed three blockchain-based methods to share patient records on gene-drug interactions: Query Index, Index Everything, and Dual-Scenario Indexing. We achieved a runtime of about 60 s for importing 4,000 gene-drug interaction records from four sites, and about 0.5 s for a data retrieval query. Our results demonstrated that it is feasible to leverage blockchain as a new platform to share data among institutions.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Harmonizing tau positron emission tomography in Alzheimer's disease: The CenTauR scale and the joint propagation model

Abstract INTRODUCTION Tau‐positron emission tomography (PET) outcome data of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) cannot currently be meaningfully compared or combined when different tracers are used due to differences in tracer properties, instrumentation, and methods of analysis. METHODS Using head‐to‐head data from five cohorts with tau PET radiotracers designed to target tau deposition in AD, we tested a joint propagation model (JPM) to harmonize quantification (units termed “CenTauR” [CTR]). JPM is a statistical model that simultaneously models the relationships between head‐to‐head and anchor point data. JPM was compared to a linear regression approach analogous to the one used in the amyloid PET Centiloid scale. RESULTS A strong linear relationship was observed between CTR values across brain regions. Using the JPM approach, CTR estimates were similar to, but more accurate than, those derived using the linear regression approach. DISCUSSION Preliminary findings using the JPM support the development and adoption of a universal scale for tau‐PET quantification. Highlights Tested a novel joint propagation model (JPM) to harmonize quantification of tau PET. Units of common scale are termed “CenTauRs”. Tested a Centiloid‐like linear regression approach. Using five cohorts with head‐to‐head tau PET, JPM outperformed linearregressionbased approach. Strong linear relationship was observed between CenTauRs values across brain regions.

Neurosciences & Neurology↗

An iterative method to deblend AGN-Host contributions for Integral Field spectroscopic observations

ABSTRACT We present a new iterative deblending method to separate the host galaxy (HG) and their Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) emission with the use of Integral Field spectroscopic (IFS) data. The method decomposes the resolved HG emission from the unresolved AGN emission by modelling the two-dimensional surface brightness (SB) profile of the point-spread function (PSF) and the two-dimensional SB HG continuum simultaneously per each monochromatic slide. Our method does not require any prior information about the observed SB profile or a detailed fitting of the PSF, making it ideal for the automatic analysis of large galaxy samples. In this work, we test the quality of our method, its advantages, and its disadvantages. We test our method by using a set of IFS mock data cubes to quantify the reliability of our deblending process and further compare our method with the qdblend3d analysis tool. Furthermore, we applied our method to three data cubes selected from the MaNGA survey according to the dominance of either its HG or its AGN. We show that our deblending method is capable of disengaging the bright, non-resolved AGN emission from the HG continuum and its narrow emission lines. However, the decoupling depends on how well the IFS spatially resolves the PSF, and on the relative flux intensity of the HG-AGN. Therefore, the method is ideal for disentangling the bright-flux contribution from AGN-dominated spectra.

Ibarra-Medel, H. (ORCID:0000000297906313)↗

DeepCare: Improving Patient Care using Deep Learning on Electronic Health Records

Coordinating patient care using electronic health records (EHR) data presents an exciting but formidable opportunity in data extraction, analysis and modeling. Traditional methods use a manual feature driven approach to model patients with age, family history and symptoms to predict disease outcomes. We propose a novel approach to model patients based on their streaming electronic health records data combined with information from medical knowledge bases, which has been gained over years of medical research. Using a combination of representation learning and long short term memory (LSTM) networks we plan to model patient evolution over time, leading to more accurate and individualized predictive models for patient’s diseases. Our approach will be transformative in providing critical decision support for patient care, enabling accurate understanding and evolution of diseases in patients.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Analysis of human performance differences between students and operators when using the Rancor Microworld simulator

Here, from within the umbrella of the Simplified Human Error Experimental Program (SHEEP) framework, this paper analyzes human performance differences between professional and student operators when using a simplified simulator (i.e., Rancor Microworld). This paper represents a crucial step in understanding the fidelity of the simplified simulators and student operators within the SHEEP study. This paper explores a randomized factorial experimental design that features two independent variables: participant type and event class. Six human performance measurements are considered in the experiment. The experiment is conducted using 20 professional reactor operators employed at actual nuclear power plants (NPPs), along with 20 trained students. The experimental data are analyzed via statistical analysis methods. Finally, this paper examines the differences in human performance between actual operators and students when using Rancor Microworld.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Considerations for AMI-Based Operations for Distribution Feeders

More than $5 billion in investments in advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) technologies, AMI deployments, as pervasive secondary network voltage monitoring systems, provide opportunities for utility operations and controls. This paper focuses on the considerations for AMI-based tools and techniques as the industry moves toward operationalizing such large data sets. Phase identification is a first such tool. Numerous distribution network analysis, monitoring, and control applications - including volt/volt-ampere reactive control, state estimation, and distribution automation - require accurate phase connectivity information in the system models. The phase connectivity database maintained by utilities is inaccurate because of a significant amount of missing data, restoration activities, and network reconfiguration. Existing phase identification techniques that estimate phase connectivity work well in distribution feeders that have low or no photovoltaic (PV) generation; however, they fail to identify the phases accurately when considerable PV generation is present. This work addresses the phase identification problem in the presence of high PV generation using statistical analysis methods. Further, insights into the AMI data requirements for this application in terms of data window length and resolution are provided using sensitivity analysis performed on an actual distribution feeder model of San Diego Gas & Electric Company. The results of this study show that the phase connectivity, even in the presence of high PV generation, can be accurately identified using statistical analysis of AMI data of 1 day.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Considerations for AMI-Based Operations for Distribution Feeders: Preprint

More than $5 billion in investments in advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) technologies, AMI deployments, as pervasive secondary network voltage monitoring systems, provide opportunities for utility operations and controls. This paper focuses on the considerations for AMI-based tools and techniques as the industry moves toward operationalizing such large data sets. Phase identification is a first such tool. Numerous distribution network analysis, monitoring, and control applications - including volt/volt-ampere reactive control, state estimation, and distribution automation - require accurate phase connectivity information in the system models. The phase connectivity database maintained by utilities is inaccurate because of a significant amount of missing data, restoration activities, and network reconfiguration. Existing phase identification techniques that estimate phase connectivity work well in distribution feeders that have low or no photovoltaic (PV) generation; however, they fail to identify the phases accurately when considerable PV generation is present. This work addresses the phase identification problem in the presence of high PV generation using statistical analysis methods. Further, insights into the AMI data requirements for this application in terms of data window length and resolution are provided using sensitivity analysis performed on an actual distribution feeder model of San Diego Gas & Electric Company. The results of this study show that the phase connectivity, even in the presence of high PV generation, can be accurately identified using statistical analysis of AMI data of 1 day.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗

Three-dimensional quadratic modeling and quantitative evaluation of the diaphragm on a volumetric CT scan in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Purpose: In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diaphragm function may deteriorate due to reduced muscle fiber length. Quantitative analysis of the morphology of the diaphragm is therefore important. In the authors current study, they propose a diaphragm segmentation method for COPD patients that uses volumetric chest computed tomography (CT) data, and they provide a quantitative analysis of the diaphragmatic dimensions. Methods: Volumetric CT data were obtained from 30 COPD patients and 10 normal control patients using a 16-row multidetector CT scanner (Siemens Sensation 16) with 0.75-mm collimation. Diaphragm segmentation using 3D ray projections on the lower surface of the lungs was performed to identify the draft diaphragmatic lung surface, which was modeled using quadratic 3D surface fitting and robust regression in order to minimize the effects of segmentation error and parameterize diaphragm morphology. This result was visually evaluated by an expert thoracic radiologist. To take into consideration the shape features of the diaphragm, several quantification parameters—including the shape index on the apex (SIA) (which was computed using gradient set to 0), principal curvatures on the apex on the fitted diaphragm surface (CA), the height between the apex and the base plane (H), the diaphragm lengths along the x-, y-, and z-axes (XL, YL, ZL), quadratic-fitted diaphragm lengths on the z-axis (FZL), average curvature (C), and surface area (SA)—were measured using in-house software and compared with the pulmonary function test (PFT) results. Results: The overall accuracy of the combined segmentation method was 97.22% ± 4.44% while the visual accuracy of the models for the segmented diaphragms was 95.28% ± 2.52% (mean ± SD). The quantitative parameters, including SIA, CA, H, XL, YL, ZL, FZL, C, and SA were 0.85 ± 0.05 (mm{sup −1}), 0.01 ± 0.00 (mm{sup −1}), 17.93 ± 10.78 (mm), 129.80 ± 11.66 (mm), 163.19 ± 13.45 (mm), 71.27 ± 17.52 (mm), 61.59 ± 16.98 (mm), 0.01 ± 0.00 (mm{sup −1}), and 34 380.75 ± 6680.06 (mm{sup 2}), respectively. Several parameters were correlated with the PFT parameters. Conclusions: The authors propose an automatic method for quantitatively evaluating the morphological parameters of the diaphragm on volumetric chest CT in COPD patients. By measuring not only the conventional length and surface area but also the shape features of the diaphragm using quadratic 3D surface modeling, the proposed method is especially useful for quantifying diaphragm characteristics. Their method may be useful for assessing morphological diaphragmatic changes in COPD patients.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Defining window-boundaries for genomic analyses using smoothing spline techniques

High-density genomic data is often analyzed by combining information over windows of adjacent markers. Interpretation of data grouped in windows versus at individual locations may increase statistical power, simplify computation, reduce sampling noise, and reduce the total number of tests performed. However, use of adjacent marker information can result in over- or under-smoothing, undesirable window boundary specifications, or highly correlated test statistics. We introduce a method for defining windows based on statistically guided breakpoints in the data, as a foundation for the analysis of multiple adjacent data points. This method involves first fitting a cubic smoothing spline to the data and then identifying the inflection points of the fitted spline, which serve as the boundaries of adjacent windows. This technique does not require prior knowledge of linkage disequilibrium, and therefore can be applied to data collected from individual or pooled sequencing experiments. Moreover, in contrast to existing methods, an arbitrary choice of window size is not necessary, since these are determined empirically and allowed to vary along the genome.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Common risk segment mapping: Streamlining exploration for carbon storage sites, with application to coastal Texas and Louisiana

Large-scale deployment of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) will require a commensurately large number of sites. Efficient screening methods are needed to create investment assurance and focus efforts on the most promising sites. The problem is similar to petroleum exploration, for which there are well-developed (though seldom published) workflows, including Common Risk Segment (CRS) mapping. In brief, the process requires 1) defining the key play elements; 2) identifying candidate geologic intervals for each; 3) creating fact-based maps for those intervals; 4) determining minimum criteria for the success of each element; 5) reinterpreting the fact-based maps in terms of chance of success; and 6) combining the individual maps to form a composite, basin-scale view of prospectivity. We adapt the CRS process to screening for CO 2 storage sites. Critically, we redefine the process in terms of cost of characterization and development, rather than chance of success. For illustration, we apply the process to the example of the Lower Miocene on the Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast. We show that the predictions are consistent with historic hydrocarbon production volumes and rates. The power of the CRS method is that it creates a systematic approach to geologic evaluation and translates complex, multidimensional analysis into clear, graphical and easily comprehended business inputs. The results highlight sweet spots and identifies critical risks, suggesting a focus for further data collection and analysis. Furthermore, the method developed here can be applied to both surface and subsurface factors anywhere that there is interest in geologic storage of CO 2 .

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Using the Monte Carlo Method to Evaluate the Reliability of Screening Multifamily Housing for Radon

When screening for radon in a multifamily housing complex using a fixed sample density (e.g., testing 1 in 10 (10%) or 1 in 4 units (25%)), the statistical confidence is dependent upon the assumed elevated radon frequency. For example, testing 25% of units in a complex estimated to have eight units with elevated radon levels will provide 90% confidence. However, if it is assumed that, in the same complex, there are only three units with elevated radon levels, the confidence drops to around 58% for the same sample density. Furthermore, in the previous example, if elevated radon levels are not found during the screening, all that can be stated is that the screening provides 90% confidence that there are no more than seven units in the complex with elevated radon levels. To more fully illustrate this uncertainty, ten separate multifamily housing radon data sets with 1 to 10 units with radon levels ≥4 pCi/L (Table 1) were selected for analysis using the Monte Carlo statistical method. Unlike other mathematically based statistical approaches, the Monte Carlo statistical method relies on repeated analysis of randomly selected data. from a 100% sampled complex at various sample densities. Success for each simulation is defined as finding at least one unit with elevated radon levels. In this statistical method, confidence in the overarching conclusion can be greatly enhanced by repeating the simulated screening hundreds or even thousands of times. For this study, each of the ten data sets was simulated 1,000 times. For each simulation, the data set was randomized three times before the fixed percentage of data was selected.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗