Improving the utility of locally differentially private protocols for longitudinal and multidimensional frequency estimates

This paper investigates the problem of collecting multidimensional data throughout time(i.e.,longitudinal studies)for the fundamental task of frequency estimation under Local Differential Privacy(LDP)guarantees.Contrary to frequency estimation of a single attribute,the multidimensional aspect demands particular attention to the privacy budget.Besides,when collecting user statistics longitudinally,privacy progressively degrades.Indeed,the“multiple”settings in combination(i.e.,many attributes and several collections throughout time)impose several challenges,for which this paper proposes the first solution for frequency estimates under LDP.To tackle these issues,we extend the analysis of three state-of-the-art LDP protocols(Generalized Randomized Response–GRR,Optimized Unary Encoding–OUE,and Symmetric Unary Encoding–SUE)for both longitudinal and multidimensional data collections.While the known literature uses OUE and SUE for two rounds of sanitization(a.k.a.memoization),i.e.,L-OUE and L-SUE,respectively,we analytically and experimentally show that starting with OUE and then with SUE provides higher data utility(i.e.,L-OSUE).Also,for attributes with small domain sizes,we propose Longitudinal GRR(L-GRR),which provides higher utility than the other protocols based on unary encoding.Last,we also propose a new solution named Adaptive LDP for LOngitudinal and Multidimensional FREquency Estimates(ALLOMFREE),which randomly samples a single attribute to be sent with the whole privacy budget and adaptively selects the optimal protocol,i.e.,either L-GRR or L-OSUE.As shown in the results,ALLOMFREE consistently and considerably outperforms the state-of-the-art L-SUE and L-OUE protocols in the quality of the frequency estimates.

Genetic and Agronomic Parameter Estimates of Growth, Yield and Related Traits of Maize (Zea mays L.) under Different Rates of Nitrogen Fertilization

This study evaluated the genetic and agronomic parameter estimates of maize under different nitrogen rates. The trial was established at the Njala Agricultural Research Centre experimental site during 2021 and 2022 in a split block design with three maize varieties (IWCD2, 2009EVDT, and DMR-ESR-Yellow) and seven nitrogen (0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 kg∙N∙ha−1) rates. Findings showed that cob diameter and anthesis silking time (ASI) had intermediate heritability, ASI had high genetic advance, ASI and grain yield had high genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), while traits with high phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) were plant height, ASI, grain yield, number of kernel per cob, number of kernel rows, ear length, and ear height. The PCV values were higher than GCV, indicating the influence of the environment in the studied traits. Nitrogen rates and variety significantly (p < 0.05) influenced grain yield production. Mean grain yields and economic parameter estimates increased with increasing nitrogen rates, with the 30 and 180 kg∙N∙ha−1 plots exhibiting the lowest and highest grain yields of 1238 kg∙ha−1 and 2098 kg∙ha−1, respectively. Variety and nitrogen effects on partial factor productivity (PFPN), agronomic efficiency (AEN), net returns (NR), value cost ratio (VCR) and marginal return (MR) indicated that these parameters were significantly affected (p < 0.05) by these factors. The highest PFPN (41.3 kg grain kg−1∙N) and AEN (29.4 kg grain kg−1∙N) were obtained in the 30 kg∙N∙ha−1 plots, while the highest VCR (2.8) and MR (SLL 1.8 SLL−1 spent on N) were obtained in the 180 kg∙N∙ha−1. The significant influence of variety and nitrogen on traits suggests that increasing yields and maximizing profits require use of appropriate nitrogen fertilization and improved farming practices that could be exploited for increased productivity of maize.

Energy-Saving Distributed Flexible Job Shop Scheduling Optimization with Dual Resource Constraints Based on Integrated Q-Learning Multi-Objective Grey Wolf Optimizer

The distributed flexible job shop scheduling problem(DFJSP)has attracted great attention with the growth of the global manufacturing industry.General DFJSP research only considers machine constraints and ignores worker constraints.As one critical factor of production,effective utilization of worker resources can increase productivity.Meanwhile,energy consumption is a growing concern due to the increasingly serious environmental issues.Therefore,the distributed flexible job shop scheduling problem with dual resource constraints(DFJSP-DRC)for minimizing makespan and total energy consumption is studied in this paper.To solve the problem,we present a multi-objective mathematical model for DFJSP-DRC and propose a Q-learning-based multi-objective grey wolf optimizer(Q-MOGWO).In Q-MOGWO,high-quality initial solutions are generated by a hybrid initialization strategy,and an improved active decoding strategy is designed to obtain the scheduling schemes.To further enhance the local search capability and expand the solution space,two wolf predation strategies and three critical factory neighborhood structures based on Q-learning are proposed.These strategies and structures enable Q-MOGWO to explore the solution space more efficiently and thus find better Pareto solutions.The effectiveness of Q-MOGWO in addressing DFJSP-DRC is verified through comparison with four algorithms using 45 instances.The results reveal that Q-MOGWO outperforms comparison algorithms in terms of solution quality.

A Formulation of the Porous Medium Equation with Time-Dependent Porosity: A Priori Estimates and Regularity Results

We consider a generalized form of the porous medium equation where the porosity ϕis a function of time t: ϕ=ϕ(x,t): ∂(ϕS)∂t−∇⋅(k(S)∇S)=Q(S).In many works, the porosity ϕis either assumed to be independent of (or to depend very little of) the time variable t. In this work, we want to study the case where it does depend on t(and xas well). For this purpose, we make a change of unknown function V=ϕSin order to obtain a saturation-like (advection-diffusion) equation. A priori estimates and regularity results are established for the new equation based in part on what is known from the saturation equation, when ϕis independent of the time t. These results are then extended to the full saturation equation with time-dependent porosity ϕ=ϕ(x,t). In this analysis, we make explicitly the dependence of the various constants in the estimates on the porosity ϕby the introduced transport vector w, through the change of unknown function. Also we do not assume zero-flux boundary, but we carry the analysis for the case Q≡0.

Spatial Decay Estimates for the Moore-Gibson-Thompson Heat Equation

In this article,the Moore-Gibson-Thompson heat equation in three-dimensional cylindrical domain are studied.Using a second order differential inequality,we obtain that the solution can decay exponentially as the distance from the entry section tends to infinity.Our result can be seen as a version of Saint-Venant principle.

Method for rapid warning and activity concentration estimates in online waterγ-spectrometry systems

Onlineγ-spectrometry systems for inland waters,most of which extract samples in situ and in real time,are able to produce reliable activity concentration measurements for waterborne radionuclides only when they are distributed relatively uniformly and enter into a steady-state diffusion regime in the measurement chamber.To protect residents’health and ensure the safety of the living environment,better timeliness is required for this measurement method.To address this issue,this study established a mathematical model of the online waterγ-spectrometry system so that rapid warning and activity estimates can be obtained for water under non-steady-state(NSS)conditions.In addition,the detection efficiency of the detector for radionuclides during the NSS diffusion process was determined by applying the computational fluid dynamics technique in conjunction with Monte Carlo simulations.On this basis,a method was developed that allowed the online waterγ-spectrometry system to provide rapid warning and activity concentration estimates for radionuclides in water.Subsequent analysis of the NSS-mode measurements of^(40)K radioactive solutions with different activity concentrations determined the optimum warning threshold and measurement time for producing accurate activity concentration estimates for radionuclides.The experimental results show that the proposed NSS measurement method is able to give warning and yield accurate activity concentration estimates for radionuclides 55.42 and 69.42 min after the entry of a 10 Bq/L^(40)K radioactive solution into the measurement chamber,respectively.These times are much shorter than the 90 min required by the conventional measurement method.Furthermore,the NSS measurement method allows the measurement system to give rapid(within approximately 15 min)warning when the activity concentrations of some radionuclides reach their respective limits stipulated in the Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality of the WHO,suggesting that this method considerably enhances the warning capacity of in situ online waterγ-spectrometry systems.

Using Extreme Value Theory Approaches to Estimate High Quantiles for Stroke Data

This paper aims to explore the application of Extreme Value Theory (EVT) in estimating the conditional extreme quantile for time-to-event outcomes by examining the functional relationship between ambulatory blood pressure trajectories and clinical outcomes in stroke patients. The study utilizes EVT to analyze the functional connection between ambulatory blood pressure trajectories and clinical outcomes in a sample of 297 stroke patients. The 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurement curves for every 15 minutes are considered, acknowledging a censored rate of 40%. The findings reveal that the sample mean excess function exhibits a positive gradient above a specific threshold, confirming the heavy-tailed distribution of data in stroke patients with a positive extreme value index. Consequently, the estimated conditional extreme quantile indicates that stroke patients with higher blood pressure measurements face an elevated risk of recurrent stroke occurrence at an early stage. This research contributes to the understanding of the relationship between ambulatory blood pressure and recurrent stroke, providing valuable insights for clinical considerations and potential interventions in stroke management.

Operation optimization strategy of existing residential building energy-saving renovation market:From the perspective of subject behavior

The energy-saving renovation of existing residential buildings is a crucial measure to achieve the strategic goal of energy conservation and emission reduction in China and build ecologically livable cities.This article focuses on the perspective of subject behavior,starting from analyzing the current situation and difficulties of the operation of the energy-saving renovation market for existing residential buildings in China,drawing on the practical experience of the operation of the existing residential building energy-saving renovation market abroad.Based on principles such as systematicity,humanization,feasibility,and sustainability,the article constructs an operation optimization system of the existing residential building energy-saving renovation market from the perspective of subject behavior.In order to provide a reference for the healthy and orderly operation of the existing residential building energy-saving renovation market,this paper proposes implementation strategies for optimizing the operation of the existing residential building energy-saving renovation market.Suggestions are proposed from four aspects:optimizing the market environment,innovating the financing model,building the information sharing platform,and utilizing the synergies of the main subjects.

Thrust estimate method of an on-orbit Hall thruster using Hall drift current

In order to realize the thrust estimation of the Hall thruster during its flight mission,this study establishes an estimation method based on measurement of the Hall drift current.In this method,the Hall drift current is calculated from an inverse magnetostatic problem,which is formulated according to its induced magnetic flux density detected by sensors,and then the thrust is estimated by multiplying the Hall drift current with the characteristic magnetic flux density of the thruster itself.In addition,a three-wire torsion pendulum micro-thrust measurement system is utilized to verify the estimate values obtained from the proposed method.The errors were found to be less than 8%when the discharge voltage ranged from 250 V to 350 V and the anode flow rate ranged from 30 sccm to 50 sccm,indicating the possibility that the proposed thrust estimate method could be practically applied.Moreover,the measurement accuracy of the magnetic flux density is suggested to be lower than 0.015 mT and improvement on the inverse problem solution is required in the future.

THE GRADIENT ESTIMATE OF SUBELLIPTIC HARMONIC MAPS WITH A POTENTIAL

In this paper,we investigate subelliptic harmonic maps with a potential from noncompact complete sub-Riemannian manifolds corresponding to totally geodesic Riemannian foliations.Under some suitable conditions,we give the gradient estimates of these maps and establish a Liouville type result.

The UNIFORM C^(0)ESTIMATE AND WEIGHTED ESTIMATE OF GENERALIZED CHRISTOFFEL-MINKOWSKI PROBLEMS

In this paper,we consider generalized Christo®el-Minkowski problems as followsσ_(k)(u_(ij)+uδ_(ij))/σ_(l)(u_(ij)+uδ_(ij))=|u^(p-1)f(x),x∈S^(n),where 0≤l≤k≤n,p-1>0 and f is positive,and we establish the weighted gradient estimate and uniform C^(0)estimate for the positive convex even solutions,which is a generalization of Guan-Xia[1]and Guan[2].

Machine learning-based comparison of factors influencing estimated glomerular filtration rate in Chinese women with or without nonalcoholic fatty liver

BACKGROUND The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver(NAFLD)has increased recently.Subjects with NAFLD are known to have higher chance for renal function impairment.Many past studies used traditional multiple linear regression(MLR)to identify risk factors for decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR).However,medical research is increasingly relying on emerging machine learning(Mach-L)methods.The present study enrolled healthy women to identify factors affecting eGFR in subjects with and without NAFLD(NAFLD+,NAFLD-)and to rank their importance.AIM To uses three different Mach-L methods to identify key impact factors for eGFR in healthy women with and without NAFLD.METHODS A total of 65535 healthy female study participants were enrolled from the Taiwan MJ cohort,accounting for 32 independent variables including demographic,biochemistry and lifestyle parameters(independent variables),while eGFR was used as the dependent variable.Aside from MLR,three Mach-L methods were applied,including stochastic gradient boosting,eXtreme gradient boosting and elastic net.Errors of estimation were used to define method accuracy,where smaller degree of error indicated better model performance.RESULTS Income,albumin,eGFR,High density lipoprotein-Cholesterol,phosphorus,forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1),and sleep time were all lower in the NAFLD+group,while other factors were all significantly higher except for smoking area.Mach-L had lower estimation errors,thus outperforming MLR.In Model 1,age,uric acid(UA),FEV1,plasma calcium level(Ca),plasma albumin level(Alb)and T-bilirubin were the most important factors in the NAFLD+group,as opposed to age,UA,FEV1,Alb,lactic dehydrogenase(LDH)and Ca for the NAFLD-group.Given the importance percentage was much higher than the 2nd important factor,we built Model 2 by removing age.CONCLUSION The eGFR were lower in the NAFLD+group compared to the NAFLD-group,with age being was the most important impact factor in both groups of healthy Chinese women,followed by LDH,UA,FEV1 and Alb.However,for the NAFLD-group,TSH and SBP were the 5th and 6th most important factors,as opposed to Ca and BF in the NAFLD+group.

MAXIMAL FUNCTION CHARACTERIZATIONS OF HARDY SPACES ASSOCIATED WITH BOTH NON-NEGATIVE SELF-ADJOINT OPERATORS SATISFYING GAUSSIAN ESTIMATES AND BALL QUASI-BANACH FUNCTION SPACES

Assume that L is a non-negative self-adjoint operator on L^(2)(ℝ^(n))with its heat kernels satisfying the so-called Gaussian upper bound estimate and that X is a ball quasi-Banach function space onℝ^(n) satisfying some mild assumptions.Let HX,L(ℝ^(n))be the Hardy space associated with both X and L,which is defined by the Lusin area function related to the semigroup generated by L.In this article,the authors establish various maximal function characterizations of the Hardy space HX,L(ℝ^(n))and then apply these characterizations to obtain the solvability of the related Cauchy problem.These results have a wide range of generality and,in particular,the specific spaces X to which these results can be applied include the weighted space,the variable space,the mixed-norm space,the Orlicz space,the Orlicz-slice space,and the Morrey space.Moreover,the obtained maximal function characterizations of the mixed-norm Hardy space,the Orlicz-slice Hardy space,and the Morrey-Hardy space associated with L are completely new.

Pure State Feedback Switching Control Based on the Online Estimated State for Stochastic Open Quantum Systems

For the n-qubit stochastic open quantum systems,based on the Lyapunov stability theorem and LaSalle’s invariant set principle,a pure state switching control based on on-line estimated state feedback(short for OQST-SFC)is proposed to realize the state transition the pure state of the target state including eigenstate and superposition state.The proposed switching control consists of a constant control and a control law designed based on the Lyapunov method,in which the Lyapunov function is the state distance of the system.The constant control is used to drive the system state from an initial state to the convergence domain only containing the target state,and a Lyapunov-based control is used to make the state enter the convergence domain and then continue to converge to the target state.At the same time,the continuous weak measurement of quantum system and the quantum state tomography method based on the on-line alternating direction multiplier(QST-OADM)are used to obtain the system information and estimate the quantum state which is used as the input of the quantum system controller.Then,the pure state feedback switching control method based on the on-line estimated state feedback is realized in an n-qubit stochastic open quantum system.The complete derivation process of n-qubit QST-OADM algorithm is given;Through strict theoretical proof and analysis,the convergence conditions to ensure any initial state of the quantum system to converge the target pure state are given.The proposed control method is applied to a 2-qubit stochastic open quantum system for numerical simulation experiments.Four possible different position cases between the initial estimated state and that of the controlled system are studied and discussed,and the performances of the state transition under the corresponding cases are analyzed.

Improving the accuracy of precipitation estimates in a typical inland arid area of China using a dynamic Bayesian model averaging approach

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is a typical inland arid area in China with a sparse and uneven distribution of meteorological stations,limited access to precipitation data,and significant water scarcity.Evaluating and integrating precipitation datasets from different sources to accurately characterize precipitation patterns has become a challenge to provide more accurate and alternative precipitation information for the region,which can even improve the performance of hydrological modelling.This study evaluated the applicability of widely used five satellite-based precipitation products(Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station(CHIRPS),China Meteorological Forcing Dataset(CMFD),Climate Prediction Center morphing method(CMORPH),Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks-Climate Data Record(PERSIANN-CDR),and Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis(TMPA))and a reanalysis precipitation dataset(ECMWF Reanalysis v5-Land Dataset(ERA5-Land))in Xinjiang using ground-based observational precipitation data from a limited number of meteorological stations.Based on this assessment,we proposed a framework that integrated different precipitation datasets with varying spatial resolutions using a dynamic Bayesian model averaging(DBMA)approach,the expectation-maximization method,and the ordinary Kriging interpolation method.The daily precipitation data merged using the DBMA approach exhibited distinct spatiotemporal variability,with an outstanding performance,as indicated by low root mean square error(RMSE=1.40 mm/d)and high Person's correlation coefficient(CC=0.67).Compared with the traditional simple model averaging(SMA)and individual product data,although the DBMA-fused precipitation data were slightly lower than the best precipitation product(CMFD),the overall performance of DBMA was more robust.The error analysis between DBMA-fused precipitation dataset and the more advanced Integrated Multi-satellite Retrievals for Global Precipitation Measurement Final(IMERG-F)precipitation product,as well as hydrological simulations in the Ebinur Lake Basin,further demonstrated the superior performance of DBMA-fused precipitation dataset in the entire Xinjiang region.The proposed framework for solving the fusion problem of multi-source precipitation data with different spatial resolutions is feasible for application in inland arid areas,and aids in obtaining more accurate regional hydrological information and improving regional water resources management capabilities and meteorological research in these regions.

Energy-Saving Construction Technologies for Buildings

The development of the construction industry is shifting towards low-carbon construction,so it is necessary to improve and optimize related construction concepts,methods,and processes.By improving resource and energy control efficiency in building projects,minimizing construction waste,and reducing environmental impact,a foundation for the sustainable development of the industry can be established.This paper mainly analyzes the significance of low-carbon energy-saving construction technology and the control factors of construction,summarizes the status quo of the development of building energy-saving construction,and puts forward strategies for applying building energy-saving construction technology.These strategies serve to achieve low-carbon and energy-saving goals to promote the healthy development of energy-saving construction.

Heat Kernel Estimates on Simple Random Walks and On-Diagonal Upper Bounds

We primarily provide several estimates for the heat kernel defined on the 2-dimensional simple random walk. Additionally, we offer an estimate for the heat kernel on high-dimensional random walks, demonstrating that the heat kernel in higher dimensions converges rapidly. We also compute the constants involved in the estimate for the 1-dimensional heat kernel. Furthermore, we discuss the general case of on-diagonal estimates for the heat kernel.

Application of Energy-Saving Materials in Architectural Design

The conventional process of building construction is associated with issues such as the waste of construction materials and environmental pollution.Sustainable development highlights the importance of energy conservation and eco-friendly practices.It is essential to use energy-efficient and green materials in building designs to ensure the healthy growth of construction companies.This article discusses the advantages and principles of incorporating energy-saving materials in architectural design.It examines the strategies and critical control points for using energy-saving materials in architectural design,offering guidance for the sustainable development of the construction industry.

Detection of decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate in patients with type 2 diabetes by cystatin C-based equations

BACKGROUND Aging population is a significant issue in Viet Nam and across the globe.Elderly individuals are at higher risk of chronic kidney disease(CKD),especially those with diabetes.Several studies found that the estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR)determined using creatinine-based equations was not as accurate as that determined using cystatin C-based equations.Cystatin C-based equations may be beneficial in elderly patients with an age-associated decline in kidney function.Early determination of eGFR decline and associated factors would aid in appropriate interventions to improve kidney function in elderly patients with diabetes.AIM To determine the utility of cystatin C-based equations in early detection of eGFR decline and to explore factors associated with eGFR decline in elderly patients with diabetes.METHODS This cross-sectional study included 93 participants aged≥60 years evaluated in Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital between October 2022 and July 2023,including 47 and 46 participants with and without diabetes respectively,according to the American Diabetes Association criteria for diabetes.The kappa coefficient,Student’s t,Mann-Whitney,χ2,Pearson’s correlation,multivariate logistic regression,and multiple linear regression analyses were employed.RESULTS The eGFRs were lower with the cystatin C-based equations than with the creatinine-based equations.Good agreement was found between the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease(MDRD)and CKD Epidemiology Collaboration(CKD-EPI)2021 creatinine-cystatin C equations(kappa=0.66).In the diabetes group,30%of the participants had low eGFR.Both plasma glucose and glycated hemoglobin were associated with an increased risk of eGFR decline(P<0.05)and negatively correlated with eGFR(P=0.001).By multivariate logistic regression,total cholesterol,and exercise were independently associated with low eGFR.By multiple linear regression,higher plasma glucose levels were correlated with lower eGFR(P=0.026,r=-0.366).CONCLUSION Cystatin C-based equations were superior in the early detection of a decline in eGFR,and the MDRD equation may be considered as an alternative to the CKD-EPI 2021 creatinine-cystatin C equation.Exercise,plasma glucose,and total cholesterol were independently associated with eGFR in patients with diabetes.

Exploration of Energy-Saving Technologies in Building Electrical System Design

Green energy conservation is the mainstream trend in the current development of the construction industry.The application of energy-saving technology in building electrical system design can effectively reduce energy consumption,avoid unnecessary energy consumption,and truly achieve energy conservation and environmental protection.Based on this,the article elaborates on the principles of energy-saving design in building electrical systems,and actively explores the application of energy-saving technologies from different perspectives such as optimizing power supply and distribution system design,adopting high-efficiency energy-saving lighting equipment,applying renewable energy,promoting smart home technology,and improving the efficiency of building electrical equipment.