This study investigates the effectiveness of ensemble combining techniques in improving the accuracy of satellite-based gridded precipitation estimations in the Sirjan watershed, Iran. For this purpose, four satellite-based products (CHIRPS, MSWEP, PERSIANN-CDR, and PERSIANN-CCS-CDR) were analyzed over 25 years (1996–2020). Various ensemble combining techniques, including Simple Model Averaging (SMA), Weighted Averaging Model (WAM), Multi-Model Super Ensemble (MMSE), and Modified MMSE (M3SE), were implemented to generate new estimations of precipitation based on satellite-based products. The performance of the ensemble combining techniques was evaluated through a series of comparative tests. The findings indicate that the MMSE and M3SE significantly improve the accuracy of precipitation estimates compared to individual products, increasing the accuracy rate up to 48
Squalene, a high-value terpenoid, can be sustainably produced by Aurantiochytrium Ch25. This study integrated experimental optimization using Taguchi design with genome-scale metabolic modeling (GEM) to investigate its biosynthesis. The Taguchi L9 orthogonal array identified a promising culture condition (glucose 15 g/L, yeast extract 3 g/L, seawater 20
Mycotoxins, hazardous secondary metabolites naturally produced by filamentous fungi (molds), pose ongoing global concerns for food safety due to their wide range of toxic effects in humans and animals, as well as their contribution to significant economic losses. A common mycotoxin, zearalenone (ZEA), is mostly present in grains, such as rye, sorghum, barley, wheat, and maize. Its detrimental effects, such as mutagenicity and carcinogenicity, pose a serious risk to both human and animal health. The current work created a sensitive electrochemical sensor to determine ZEA utilizing a screen-printed graphene electrode modified with MoS2 nanosheets/MnO2 nanorods. Fourier transform infrared and transmission electron microscopy were used to investigate the properties of the as-fabricated sensor. The detection limit based on S/N = 3 was determined to be 3.0 nM, and the oxidation current of ZEA on the modified electrode surface showed a linear response in the range of 0.008–100.0 µM. The applicability of the modified electrode was evaluated by determining ZEA in food specimens using the standard addition method, yielding acceptable relative standard deviations (2.9–3.4
Dimensionality Reduction plays a pivotal role in improving feature learning accuracy and reducing training time by eliminating redundant features, noise, and irrelevant data. Nonnegative Matrix Factorization (NMF) has emerged as a popular and powerful method for dimensionality reduction. Despite its extensive use, there remains a need for a comprehensive analysis of NMF in the context of dimensionality reduction. To bridge this gap, this article presents a comprehensive survey of NMF, focusing on its applications in both feature extraction and feature selection. We propose a novel classification scheme for dimensionality reduction to enhance understanding of its core principles. Subsequently, we delve into a thorough summary of diverse NMF approaches used for feature extraction and selection. Furthermore, we discuss the latest research trends and potential future directions for leveraging NMF in dimensionality reduction, aiming to highlight areas that need further exploration and development.
Sustainable improvement of sandy soils remains a significant challenge in geotechnical engineering, driven by the growing need to minimize the environmental footprint of conventional stabilization methods. This study employs ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) and waste glass powder (WGP) to synthesize a geopolymer stabilizer designed to improve the engineering properties of poorly graded sand. The experimental program involved incorporating a binder (GGBS and WGP) into the soil at dosage levels ranging from 10 wt.% to 70 wt.%. The alkaline activator concentration was kept constant at 6 M, utilizing sodium hydroxide (NH) and sodium silicate (NS). The stabilized specimens were tested after being cured for 7, 28, and 91 days. The unconfined compressive strength (UCS) test was employed to assess mechanical performance, while X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to examine the microstructural development. The results indicate that binder/soil ratios in the range of 40 % - 50 % provide the highest strength, depending on both the type of alkaline activator and the WGP replacement level, with the optimal WGP substitution for GGBS identified as 25%. Microstructural analysis revealed that this improvement is mainly attributed to strong pozzolanic reactions and the formation of aluminosilicate gels. These findings demonstrate that geopolymers based on GGBS and WGP provide an effective and sustainable solution for soil stabilization, reducing environmental impacts and advancing greener construction practices.
