bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fabrication of Apparatus Specialized for Measuring the Elasticity of Perioral Tissues
Authors: Takemoto Ryo , Kobayashi Junya , Oomori Yuko , Takahashi Kojiro , Saito Isao , Kawai Mika , Mitsumata Tetsu
Published: July 2024

On the human face, the lips are one of the most important anatomical elements, both morphologically and functionally. Morphologically, they have a significant impact on aesthetics, and abnormal lip morphology causes sociopsychological problems. Functionally, they play a crucial role in breathing, articulation, feeding, and swallowing. An apparatus that can accurately and easily measure the elastic modulus of perioral tissues in clinical tests was developed, and its measurement sensitivity was evaluated. The apparatus is basically a uniaxial compression apparatus consisting of a force sensor and a displacement sensor. The displacement sensor works by enhancing the restoring force due to the deformation of soft materials. Using the apparatus, the force and the displacement were measured for polyurethane elastomers with various levels of softness, which are a model material of human tissues. The stress measured by the developed apparatus increased in proportion to Young’s modulus, and was measured by the compression apparatus at the whole region of Young’s modulus, indicating that the relation can be used for calibration. Clinical tests using the developed apparatus revealed that Young’s moduli for upper lip, left cheek, and right cheek were evaluated to be 45, 4.0, and 9.9 kPa, respectively. In this paper, the advantages of this apparatus and the interpretation of the data obtained are discussed from the perspective of orthodontics.
Thermodynamic Simulation Model of Copper Side-Blown Smelting Process
Authors: Li Mingzhou , Feng Yuchen , Chen Xinzhou
Published: July 2024

In this study, the thermodynamic simulation model and system of the copper side-blown smelting process were established using the chemical equilibrium constant method, based on the process reaction mechanism, multiphase equilibrium principle, and MetCal software platform (MetCal v7.81). Under typical production conditions, the composition of the product and the distribution behavior of impurity elements were simulated. The results indicate that the average relative error between the calculated mass fractions of major elements such as Cu, S, Fe, SiO2, CaO, MgO, and Al2O3 in copper matte and smelting slag, and the actual production values, is 4.25%. Additionally, the average relative error between the calculated distribution ratios of impurity elements such as Pb, Zn, As, Bi, Mo, Au, and Ag in copper matte and smelting slag, and the actual production data, is 6.74%. Therefore, this model and calculation system accurately reflects the actual production situation of the copper side-blown smelting process well and has potential to predict process output accurately while optimizing process parameters, effectively guiding production practice.
Metallic Degenerately Doped Free-Electron-Confined Plasmonic Nanocrystal and Infrared Extinction Response
Authors: Park Do-Yoon , Cho Shin-Hum
Published: July 2024

In this paper, synthetically scaled-up degenerately n-type doped indium tin oxide (Sn:In2O3) nanocrystals are described as highly transparent conductive materials possessing both optoelectronic and crystalline properties. With tin dopants serving as n-type semiconductor materials, they can generate free-electron carriers. These free electrons, vibrating in resonance with infrared radiation, induce strong localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR), resulting in efficient infrared absorption. To commercialize products featuring Sn:In2O3 with localized surface plasmon resonance, a scaled-up synthetic process is essential. To reduce the cost of raw materials during synthesis, we aim to proceed with synthesis in a large reactor using industrial raw materials. Sn:In2O3 can be formulated into ink dispersed in solvents. Infrared-absorbing ink formulations can capitalize on their infrared absorption properties to render opaque in the infrared spectrum while remaining transparent in the visible light spectrum. The ink can serve as a security ink material visible only through infrared cameras and as a paint absorbing infrared light. We verified the transparency and infrared absorption properties of the ink produced in this study, demonstrating consistent characteristics in scaled-up synthesis. Due to potential applications requiring infrared absorption properties, it holds significant promise as a robust platform material in various fields.
Stabilization Effect of Interfacial Solute Segregation on θ′ Precipitates in Al-Cu Alloys
Authors: Liang Shangshang , Wen Shengping , Liu Baosheng , Hu Yong , Wei Wu , Wu Xiaolan , Huang Hui , Gao Kunyuan , Xiong Xiangyuan , Nie Zuoren
Published: July 2024

The effects of Sc, Mg and Si elements in an Al-Cu alloy have been studied by means of hardness tests and transmission electron microscopy analysis. The experimental results show that additions of Sc, Mg and Si can improve the heat resistance of the Al-Cu alloy. The Sc/Mg/Si segregation-sandwiched structure is the most stable, when compared with Sc segregation or Si/Sc co-segregation at the interface of θ′/Al. The additions of Si and Mg promote the aging–hardening response of the Al-Cu alloy. Mg is a micro-alloying element with great potential in stabilizing the size of θ′ phases, which further promotes the number density greatly. Consequently, the Al-Cu alloy achieves a high strength, matched with excellent thermal stability, due to the microalloying of Sc/Mg/Si solutes.
Intermolecular Interactions between Aldehydes and Alcohols: Conformational Equilibrium and Rotational Spectra of Acrolein-Methanol Complex
Authors: Lv Dingding , Sundelin David , Maris Assimo , Evangelisti Luca , Geppert Wolf Dietrich , Melandri Sonia
Published: July 2024

The rotational spectra of the 1:1 complex formed by acrolein and methanol and its deuterated isotopologues have been analyzed. Two stable conformations in which two hydrogen bonds between the two moieties are formed were detected. The rotational lines show a hyperfine structure due to the methyl group internal rotation in the complex and the V3 barriers hindering the motion were determined as 2.629(5) kJ mol−1 and 2.722(5) kJ mol−1 for the two conformations, respectively. Quantum mechanical calculations at the MP2/aug-cc-pVTZ level and comprehensive analysis of the intermolecular interactions, utilizing NCI and SAPT approaches, highlight the driving forces of the interactions and allow the determination of the binding energies of complex formation.
Structural Catalytic Core of the Members of the Superfamily of Acid Proteases
Authors: Denesyuk Alexander I. , Denessiouk Konstantin , Johnson Mark S. , Uversky Vladimir N.
Published: July 2024

The superfamily of acid proteases has two catalytic aspartates for proteolysis of their peptide substrates. Here, we show a minimal structural scaffold, the structural catalytic core (SCC), which is conserved within each family of acid proteases, but varies between families, and thus can serve as a structural marker of four individual protease families. The SCC is a dimer of several structural blocks, such as the DD-link, D-loop, and G-loop, around two catalytic aspartates in each protease subunit or an individual chain. A dimer made of two (D-loop + DD-link) structural elements makes a DD-zone, and the D-loop + G-loop combination makes a psi-loop. These structural markers are useful for protein comparison, structure identification, protein family separation, and protein engineering.
Synthesis of New Isoxazolidine Derivatives Utilizing the Functionality of N-Carbonylpyrazol-Linked Isoxazolidines
Authors: Cao Xixian , You Jun , Wang Yunze , Yu Yanchao , Wu Wenju , Liang Yifang
Published: July 2024

Using Ni(II) as the catalyst, electron-deficient 3,5-dimethylacryloylpyrazole olefin was reacted with C,N-diarylnitrones alone for 10 min to prepare novel five-member heterocyclic products, 4-3,5-dimethylacryloylpyrazole isoxazolidines with 100% regioselectivity and up to 99% yield. And then, taking these cycloadducts as substrates, six kinds of derivatization reactions, like ring-opening, nucleophilic substitution, addition-elimination and reduction, were studied. Experimental results showed that all kinds of transformations could obtain the target products at a high conversion rate under mild conditions, a finding which provided the basic methods for organic synthesis methodology research based on an isoxazolidine skeleton.
Kinetics and H2O Influence on NOx Trapping and Selective Catalytic Reduction over Ce/Pd Doping Catalyst
Authors: Yang Li , Xue Tianshan
Published: July 2024

In this paper, the removal effects and activation energy of Ce and Pd doping on pollutants (CO, C3H6, and NO) were comparatively analyzed by using characterization methods and constructed kinetic equations. Furthermore, the problems of the water influence mechanism on the NSR process were also discussed. The results show the following: (1) Pd doping effectively improves the removal of CO (80%) and C3H6 (71%) in the low-temperature section of the catalyst (150–250 °C) compared to Ce doping, while Ce doping exhibits excellent low-temperature conversion of NO. (2) The reaction activation energy of the LaKMnPdO3 catalyst was 9784 kJ/mol, which was significantly lower than that of the LaKMnCeO3 catalyst. (3) The presence of H2O has an important enhancement effect in the storage performance of the LaKMnPdO3 catalyst for NOx but decreases the catalytic reduction of NO. It provides a solution for the effective treatment of the increasing problems of particulate matter and ozone pollution.
C3-Alkylation of Imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines via Three-Component Aza-Friedel–Crafts Reaction Catalyzed by Y(OTf)3
Authors: Yang Kai , Chen Cai-Bo , Liu Zhao-Wen , Li Zhen-Lin , Zeng Yu , Wang Zhao-Yang
Published: July 2024

As an important class of nitrogen-containing fused heterocyclic compounds, imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines often exhibit significant biological activities, such as analgesic, anticancer, antiosteoporosis, anxiolytic, etc. Using Y(OTf)3 as a Lewis acid catalyst, a simple and efficient method has been developed for the synthesis of C3-alkylated imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines through the three-component aza-Friedel–Crafts reaction of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines, aldehydes, and amines in the normal air atmosphere without the protection of inert gas and special requirements for anhydrous and anaerobic conditions. A series of imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine derivatives were obtained with moderate to good yields, and their structures were confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and HRMS. Furthermore, this conversion has the advantages of simple operation, excellent functional group tolerance, high atomic economy, broad substrate scope, and can achieve gram-level reactions. Notably, this methodology may be conveniently applied to the further design and rapid synthesis of potential biologically active imidazo[1,2-a]pyridines with multifunctional groups.
Densification of Genetic Map and Stable Quantitative Trait Locus Analysis for Amino Acid Content of Seed in Soybean (Glycine max L.)
Authors: Li Xi , Tan Pingting , Xiong Guoxi , Ma Ronghan , Gao Weiran , Jiang Aohua , Liu Jiaqi , Du Chengzhang , Zhang Jijun , Zhang Xiaochun , Zhang Li , Yi Zelin , Fang Xiaomei , Zhang Jian
Published: July 2024

Soybean, a primary vegetable protein source, boasts favorable amino acid profiles; however, its composition still falls short of meeting human nutritional demands. The soybean amino acid content is a quantitative trait controlled by multiple genes. In this study, an F2 population of 186 individual plants derived from the cross between ChangJiangChun2 and JiYu166 served as the mapping population. Based on the previously published genetic map of our lab, we increased the density of the genetic map and constructed a new genetic map containing 518 SSR (simple sequence repeats) markers and 64 InDel (insertion-deletion) markers, with an average distance of 5.27 cm and a total length of 2881.2 cm. The content of eight essential amino acids was evaluated in the F2:5, F2:6, and BLUP (best linear unbiased prediction). A total of 52 QTLs (quantitative trait loci) were identified, and 13 QTL clusters were identified, among which loci02.1 and loci11.1 emerged as stable QTL clusters, exploring candidate genes within these regions. Through GO enrichment and gene annotation, 16 candidate genes associated with soybean essential amino acid content were predicted. This study would lay the foundation for elucidating the regulatory mechanisms of essential amino acid content and contribute to germplasm innovation in soybeans.
Design and Feasibility Verification of Novel AC/DC Hybrid Microgrid Structures
Authors: Ren Jiaxuan , Wang Shaorong , Wang Xinchen
Published: July 2024

To enhance the power supply reliability of the microgrid cluster consisting of AC/DC hybrid microgrids, this paper proposes an innovative structure that enables backup power to be accessed quickly in the event of power source failure. The structure leverages the quick response characteristics of thyristor switches, effectively reducing the power outage time. The corresponding control strategy is introduced in detail in this paper. Furthermore, taking practical considerations into account, two types of AC/DC hybrid microgrid structures are designed for grid-connected and islanded states. These microgrids exhibit strong distributed energy consumption capabilities, simple control strategies, and high power quality. Additionally, the aforementioned structures are constructed within the MATLAB/Simulink R2023a simulation software. Their feasibility is verified, and comparisons with the existing studies are conducted using specific examples. Finally, the cost and efficiency of the application of this study are discussed. Both the above results and analysis indicate that the structures proposed in this paper can reduce costs, improve efficiency, and enhance power supply stability.
Development of a High-Sensitivity Millimeter-Wave Radar Imaging System for Non-Destructive Testing
Authors: Murakami Hironaru , Fukuda Taiga , Otera Hiroshi , Kamo Hiroyuki , Miyoshi Akito
Published: July 2024

There is an urgent need to develop non-destructive testing (NDT) methods for infrastructure facilities and residences, etc., where human lives are at stake, to prevent collapse due to aging or natural disasters such as earthquakes before they occur. In such inspections, it is desirable to develop a remote, non-contact, non-destructive inspection method that can inspect cracks as small as 0.1 mm on the surface of a structure and damage inside and on the surface of the structure that cannot be seen by the human eye with high sensitivity, while ensuring the safety of the engineers inspecting the structure. Based on this perspective, we developed a radar module (absolute gain of the transmitting antenna: 13.5 dB; absolute gain of the receiving antenna: 14.5 dB) with very high directivity and minimal loss in the signal transmission path between the radar chip and the array antenna, using our previously developed technology. A single-input, multiple-output (SIMO) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging system was developed using this module. As a result of various performance evaluations using this system, we were able to demonstrate that this system has a performance that fully satisfies the abovementioned indices. First, the SNR in millimeter-wave (MM-wave) imaging was improved by 5.4 dB compared to the previously constructed imaging system using the IWR1443BOOST EVM, even though the measured distance was 2.66 times longer. As a specific example of the results of measurements on infrastructure facilities, the system successfully observed cracks as small as 0.1 mm in concrete materials hidden under glass fiber-reinforced tape and black acrylic paint. In this case, measurements were also made from a distance of about 3 m to meet the remote observation requirements, but the radar module with its high-directivity and high-gain antenna proved to be more sensitive in detecting crack structures than measurements made from a distance of 780 mm. In order to estimate the penetration length of MM waves into concrete, an experiment was conducted to measure the penetration of MM waves through a thin concrete slab with a thickness of 3.7 mm. As a result, Λexp = 6.0 mm was obtained as the attenuation distance of MM waves in the concrete slab used. In addition, transmission measurement experiments using a composite material consisting of ceramic tiles and fireproof board, which is a component of a house, and experiments using composite plywood, which is used as a general housing construction material in Japan, succeeded in making perspective observations of defects in the internal structure, etc., which are invisible to the human eye.
A Multidimensional Health Indicator Based on Autoregressive Power Spectral Density for Machine Condition Monitoring
Authors: Diversi Roberto , Speciale Nicolò
Published: July 2024

Condition monitoring (CM) is the basis of prognostics and health management (PHM), which is gaining more and more importance in the industrial world. CM, which refers to the tracking of industrial equipment’s state of health during operations, plays, in fact, a significant role in the reliability, safety, and efficiency of industrial operations. This paper proposes a data-driven CM approach based on the autoregressive (AR) modeling of the acquired sensor data and their analysis within frequency subbands. The number and size of the bands are determined with negligible human intervention, analyzing only the time–frequency representation of the signal of interest under normal system operating conditions. In particular, the approach exploits the synchrosqueezing transform to improve the signal energy distribution in the time–frequency plane, defining a multidimensional health indicator built on the basis of the AR power spectral density and the symmetric Itakura–Saito spectral distance. The described health indicator proved capable of detecting changes in the signal spectrum due to the occurrence of faults. After the initial definition of the bands and the calculation of the characteristics of the nominal AR spectrum, the procedure requires no further intervention and can be used for online condition monitoring and fault diagnosis. Since it is based on the comparison of spectra under different operating conditions, its applicability depends neither on the nature of the acquired signal nor on a specific system to be monitored. As an example, the effectiveness of the proposed method was favorably tested using real data available in the Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) Bearing Data Center, a widely known and used benchmark.
A Digital Platform for Home-Based Exercise Prescription for Older People with Sarcopenia
Authors: Bonato Matteo , Marmondi Federica , Mastropaolo Claudio , Inzaghi Cecilia , Cerizza Camilla , Galli Laura , Banfi Giuseppe , Cinque Paola
Published: July 2024

Digital therapeutics refers to smartphone applications, software, and wearable devices that provide digital solutions to improve healthcare delivery. We developed a digital platform to support the GYM (Grow Your Muscle) study, an ongoing 48-week randomized, controlled trial on reduction of sarcopenia through a home-based, app-monitored physical exercise intervention. The GYM platform consists of a smartphone application including the exercise program and video tutorials of body-weight exercises, a wearable device to monitor heart rate during training, and a website for downloading training data to remotely monitor the exercise. The aim of this paper is to describe the platform in detail and to discuss the technical issues emerging during the study and those related to usability of the smartphone application through a retrospective survey. The main technical issue concerned the API level 33 upgrade, which did not enable participants using the Android operating systems to use the wearable device. The survey revealed some problems with viewing the video tutorials and with internet or smartphone connection. On the other hand, the smartphone application was reported to be easy to use and helpful to guide home exercising. Despite the issues encountered during the study, this digital-supported physical exercise intervention could provide useful to improve muscle measures of sarcopenia.
A Single-Camera-Based Three-Dimensional Velocity Field Measurement Method for Granular Media in Mass Finishing with Deep Learning
Authors: Zou Jie , Tian Chunyue , Liu Yiqun , Ding Junfei , Li Wenhui
Published: July 2024

Surface treatment processes such as mass finishing play a crucial role in enhancing the quality of machined parts across industries. However, accurate measurement of the velocity field of granular media in mass finishing presents significant challenges. Existing measurement methods suffer from issues such as complex and expensive equipment, limited to single-point measurements, interference with the flow field, and lack of universality in different scenarios. This study addresses these issues by proposing a single-camera-based method with deep learning to measure the three-dimensional velocity field of granular flow. We constructed a complete measurement system and analyzed the accuracy and performance of the proposed method by comparing the measurement results with those of the traditional DIC algorithm. The results show that the proposed method is very accurate in measuring spatial displacement, with an average error of less than 0.07 mm and a calculation speed that is 1291.67% of the traditional DIC algorithm under the same conditions. Additionally, experiments in a bowl-type vibratory finishing machine demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method in capturing the three-dimensional flow of granular media. This research not only proposed a novel method for three-dimensional reconstruction and velocity field measurement using a single-color camera, but also demonstrated a way to combine deep learning with traditional optical techniques. It is of great significance to introduce deep learning to improve traditional optical techniques and apply them to practical engineering measurements.
Paper-Based Microfluidic Analytical Device Patterned by Label Printer for Point-of-Care Blood Glucose and Hematocrit Detection Using 3D-Printed Smartphone Cassette
Authors: Cai Zong-Xiao , Jiang Ming-Zhang , Chuang Ya-Ju , Kuo Ju-Nan
Published: July 2024

This study presents a portable, low-cost, point-of-care (POC) system for the simultaneous detection of blood glucose and hematocrit. The system consists of a disposable origami microfluidic paper-based analytical device (μPAD) for plasma separation, filtration, and reaction functions and a 3D-printed cassette for hematocrit and blood glucose detection using a smartphone. The origami μPAD is patterned using a cost-effective label printing technique instead of the conventional wax printing method. The 3D-printed cassette incorporates an array of LED lights, which mitigates the effects of intensity variations in the ambient light and hence improves the accuracy of the blood glucose and hematocrit concentration measurements. The hematocrit concentration is determined quantitatively by measuring the distance of plasma wicking along the upper layer of the origami μPAD, which is pretreated with sodium chloride and Tween 20 to induce dehydration and aggregation of the red blood cells. The filtered plasma also penetrates to the lower layer of the origami μPAD, where it reacts with embedded colorimetric assay reagents to produce a yellowish-brown complex. A color image of the reaction complex is captured using a smartphone inserted into the 3D-printed cassette. The image is analyzed using self-written RGB software to quantify the blood glucose concentration. The calibration results indicate that the proposed detection platform provides an accurate assessment of the blood glucose level over the range of 45–630 mg/dL (R2 = 0.9958). The practical feasibility of the proposed platform is demonstrated by measuring the blood glucose and hematocrit concentrations in 13 human whole blood samples. Taking the measurements obtained from commercial glucose and hematocrit meters as a benchmark, the proposed system has a differential of no more than 6.4% for blood glucose detection and 9.1% for hematocrit detection. Overall, the results confirm that the proposed μPAD is a promising solution for cost-effective and reliable POC health monitoring.
Visual Navigation Algorithms for Aircraft Fusing Neural Networks in Denial Environments
Authors: Gao Yang , Wang Yue , Tian Lingyun , Li Dongguang , Wang Fenming
Published: July 2024

A lightweight aircraft visual navigation algorithm that fuses neural networks is proposed to address the limited computing power issue during the offline operation of aircraft edge computing platforms in satellite-denied environments with complex working scenarios. This algorithm utilizes object detection algorithms to label dynamic objects within complex scenes and performs dynamic feature point elimination to enhance the feature point extraction quality, thereby improving navigation accuracy. The algorithm was validated using an aircraft edge computing platform, and comparisons were made with existing methods through experiments conducted on the TUM public dataset and physical flight experiments. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm not only improves the navigation accuracy but also has high robustness compared with the monocular ORB-SLAM2 method under the premise of satisfying the real-time operation of the system.
Query-Based Object Visual Tracking with Parallel Sequence Generation
Authors: Liu Chang , Zhang Bin , Bo Chunjuan , Wang Dong
Published: July 2024

Query decoders have been shown to achieve good performance in object detection. However, they suffer from insufficient object tracking performance. Sequence-to-sequence learning in this context has recently been explored, with the idea of describing a target as a sequence of discrete tokens. In this study, we experimentally determine that, with appropriate representation, a parallel approach for predicting a target coordinate sequence with a query decoder can achieve good performance and speed. We propose a concise query-based tracking framework for predicting a target coordinate sequence in a parallel manner, named QPSTrack. A set of queries are designed to be responsible for different coordinates of the tracked target. All the queries jointly represent a target rather than a traditional one-to-one matching pattern between the query and target. Moreover, we adopt an adaptive decoding scheme including a one-layer adaptive decoder and learnable adaptive inputs for the decoder. This decoding scheme assists the queries in decoding the template-guided search features better. Furthermore, we explore the use of the plain ViT-Base, ViT-Large, and lightweight hierarchical LeViT architectures as the encoder backbone, providing a family of three variants in total. All the trackers are found to obtain a good trade-off between speed and performance; for instance, our tracker QPSTrack-B256 with the ViT-Base encoder achieves a 69.1% AUC on the LaSOT benchmark at 104.8 FPS.
RCRFNet: Enhancing Object Detection with Self-Supervised Radar–Camera Fusion and Open-Set Recognition
Authors: Chen Minwei , Liu Yajun , Zhang Zenghui , Guo Weiwei
Published: July 2024

Robust object detection in complex environments, poor visual conditions, and open scenarios presents significant technical challenges in autonomous driving. These challenges necessitate the development of advanced fusion methods for millimeter-wave (mmWave) radar point cloud data and visual images. To address these issues, this paper proposes a radar–camera robust fusion network (RCRFNet), which leverages self-supervised learning and open-set recognition to effectively utilise the complementary information from both sensors. Specifically, the network uses matched radar–camera data through a frustum association approach to generate self-supervised signals, enhancing network training. The integration of global and local depth consistencies between radar point clouds and visual images, along with image features, helps construct object class confidence levels for detecting unknown targets. Additionally, these techniques are combined with a multi-layer feature extraction backbone and a multimodal feature detection head to achieve robust object detection. Experiments on the nuScenes public dataset demonstrate that RCRFNet outperforms state-of-the-art (SOTA) methods, particularly in conditions of low visual visibility and when detecting unknown class objects.
Radio Signal Modulation Recognition Method Based on Hybrid Feature and Ensemble Learning: For Radar and Jamming Signals
Authors: Zhou Yu , Cao Ronggang , Zhang Anqi , Li Ping
Published: July 2024

The detection performance of radar is significantly impaired by active jamming and mutual interference from other radars. This paper proposes a radio signal modulation recognition method to accurately recognize these signals, which helps in the jamming cancellation decisions. Based on the ensemble learning stacking algorithm improved by meta-feature enhancement, the proposed method adopts random forests, K-nearest neighbors, and Gaussian naive Bayes as the base-learners, with logistic regression serving as the meta-learner. It takes the multi-domain features of signals as input, which include time-domain features including fuzzy entropy, slope entropy, and Hjorth parameters; frequency-domain features, including spectral entropy; and fractal-domain features, including fractal dimension. The simulation experiment, including seven common signal types of radar and active jamming, was performed for the effectiveness validation and performance evaluation. Results proved the proposed method’s performance superiority to other classification methods, as well as its ability to meet the requirements of low signal-to-noise ratio and few-shot learning.
Data Analytics for Predicting Situational Developments in Smart Cities: Assessing User Perceptions
Authors: Kharlamov Alexander A. , Pilgun Maria
Published: July 2024

The analysis of large volumes of data collected from heterogeneous sources is increasingly important for the development of megacities, the advancement of smart city technologies, and ensuring a high quality of life for citizens. This study aimed to develop algorithms for analyzing and interpreting social media data to assess citizens’ opinions in real time and for verifying and examining data to analyze social tension and predict the development of situations during the implementation of urban projects. The developed algorithms were tested using an urban project in the field of transportation system development. The study’s material included data from social networks, messenger channels and chats, video hosting platforms, blogs, microblogs, forums, and review sites. An interdisciplinary approach was utilized to analyze the data, employing tools such as Brand Analytics, TextAnalyst 2.32, GPT-3.5, GPT-4, GPT-4o, and Tableau. The results of the data analysis showed identical outcomes, indicating a neutral perception among users and the absence of social tension surrounding the project’s implementation, allowing for the prediction of a calm development of the situation. Additionally, recommendations were developed to avert potential conflicts and eliminate sources of social tension for decision-making purposes.
A Deep-Learning-Based CPR Action Standardization Method
Authors: Li Yongyuan , Yin Mingjie , Wu Wenxiang , Lu Jiahuan , Liu Shangdong , Ji Yimu
Published: July 2024

In emergency situations, ensuring standardized cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) actions is crucial. However, current automated external defibrillators (AEDs) lack methods to determine whether CPR actions are performed correctly, leading to inconsistent CPR quality. To address this issue, we introduce a novel method called deep-learning-based CPR action standardization (DLCAS). This method involves three parts. First, it detects correct posture using OpenPose to recognize skeletal points. Second, it identifies a marker wristband with our CPR-Detection algorithm and measures compression depth, count, and frequency using a depth algorithm. Finally, we optimize the algorithm for edge devices to enhance real-time processing speed. Extensive experiments on our custom dataset have shown that the CPR-Detection algorithm achieves a mAP0.5 of 97.04%, while reducing parameters to 0.20 M and FLOPs to 132.15 K. In a complete CPR operation procedure, the depth measurement solution achieves an accuracy of 90% with a margin of error less than 1 cm, while the count and frequency measurements achieve 98% accuracy with a margin of error less than two counts. Our method meets the real-time requirements in medical scenarios, and the processing speed on edge devices has increased from 8 fps to 25 fps.
Green Routes: Exploring Protein-Based Virus-like Nanoparticle Transport and Immune Activation in Nicotiana benthamiana for Biotechnological Applications
Authors: Josi Romano , Pardini Alessandro , Haindrich Alexander , Marar Sanjana V. , Vogt Anne-Cathrine S. , Gessler Arthur , Rentsch Doris , Cherubini Paolo , Bachmann Martin F. , Mohsen Mona O.
Published: July 2024

Viral, bacterial, fungal, and nematode infections cause significant agricultural losses, with limited treatment options, necessitating novel approaches to enhance plant defense systems and protection against pathogens. Virus-like nanoparticles (VLPs), extensively used in animal and human therapies (e.g., vaccines and immune enhancers), hold potential for novel agricultural solutions and advancing plant nanotechnology. This study employed various methodologies, including VLP production, confocal microscopy, and real-time qPCR. Our findings demonstrated the presence of 30 nm Qβ-VLPs, fluorescently labeled, within the intercellular space of Nicotiana benthamiana leaves one hour post-infiltration. Furthermore, infiltration with Qβ-VLPs led to an upregulation of key defense genes (NbPR1a, NbPR5, NbNPR, NbERF1, NbMYC2, and NbLRR2) in treated plants. Using RT-qPCR, a significant increase in the relative expression levels of defense genes was observed, with sustained high levels of NbERF1 and NbLRR2 even after 24 h. These findings suggest that Qβ-VLPs effectively upregulate genes crucial for pathogen defense in N. benthamiana, initiating PAMP-triggered immunity and launching signaling cascades that enhance defense mechanisms. This innovative application of VLPs to activate plant defense programs advances plant nanobiotechnology, offering new agricultural solutions.
Optimisation of Bridge Pier Winding Flow Numerical Simulation Scheme Based on Delft3D
Authors: Liu Xiao , Chen Qing-Sheng , Zeng Zhao-Ning , Dong Zhuang
Published: July 2024

The majority of existing numerical simulations of the effect of bridge piers on water’s movement are based on a limited number of bridge piers at a laboratory scale. Furthermore, some 2D numerical simulations for actual bridge projects have deficiencies, including the use of overly large meshes and an inadequate treatment of bridge piers. In this study, we compare three methods (structural mesh encryption, suspension mesh, and non-structural mesh) based on Delft3D, and we apply the optimisation scheme to a real bridge project. It is demonstrated that optimal results can be achieved by utilising a grid size comparable to the pier diameter (Dp) in the region away from the pier. In the vicinity of the pier, the grid cell size should be no larger than 1/9 Dp. The suspended grid technique (DD Boundary) can yield results consistent with those obtained using a full-area high-resolution grid, provided that the total grid number can be reduced and the computational time is considerably reduced. In this study, the unstructured mesh (Delft3D Flexible Mesh) scheme was unable to capture the oscillations in the wake flow behind the bridge piers. However, the application of the optimised scheme in bridge engineering demonstrated its practical value. The findings of this study on mesh resolution and suspension mesh schemes can be applied to the Delft3D software and are also useful for other numerical simulation work.
Pilot Study of Using ChatGPT in a First-Year Programming Assignment
Authors: Hu Minjie , Assadi Tony , Mahroeian Hamid
Published: July 2024

ChatGPT can be a useful aid in computer programming education, due to its cutting-edge functionality of generating program code, debugging, etc. This research focuses on both ethical considerations and the impact on student performance of using ChatGPT. To ensure students used ChatGPT ethically, guidance was provided together with a declaration form that stated that ChatGPT was used ethically by students in each phase of the assignment. Next, we collected and analysed a survey and the declarations from students, and compared student effort, time spent and performance outcomes from those who were and were not using ChatGPT. Based on the findings from the survey and the comparison of data about student efforts and learning outcomes in both 2022 and 2023, we concluded that ChatGPT provides an opportunity for first-year students to learn programming through analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Many students still preferred the conventional way of learning programming in terms of comprehension and application. We argue that because our students in the programming course are from different academic background levels, we should continue to use both ChatGPT and conventional e-learning resources to meet different learning requirements.
Assessing Web Application Security Through Vulnerabilities in Programming Languages and Environments
Authors: Kerr-Smith Thomas Desmond , Tirumala Sreenivas Sremath , Andrews Michael
Published: July 2024

Cybersecurity has become increasingly important for organisations. At present, there are several software development companies that employ strategies to eliminate code-based security risks. It is estimated that 95% of businesses use web applications that are the most vulnerable among all other types of applications. Application security company Veracode checked out 759,445 applications over a year using different security scans and found that 74% of these apps had at least one security flaw. It is important to note that Veracode also pointed out that 69% of the applications had at least one vulnerability from the Open Worldwide Application Security Project’s Top Ten list. This research is divided into two parts. First, two web applications were developed using ASP.NET and Node.js respectively, using security best practices. This was followed by analysing the security of these applications for some of the OWASP’s Top 10 vulnerabilities using cybersecurity software and tests. The outcomes are then reported, which provides an understanding of the vulnerabilities of the applications developed using ASP.NET and Node.js, in spite of using security best practices. The conclusions of the report emphasise the importance of incorporating cybersecurity practices at the earlier stages of the software development lifecycle (SDLC) and providing sufficient awareness about cybersecurity vulnerabilities to the developers.
Teacher Capability Development at Unitec: A Case Study
Authors: Chitalia Abha , Ayling Diana
Published: July 2024

This paper explores the Teacher Capability Development (TCD) project at Unitec, which aims to improve kaiako (teacher) professional development and ākonga (student) outcomes through a competencybased approach, applied practice, and the use of digital credentials (badges). The project was evaluated using the Kirkpatrick model, assessing participants’ reactions, learning and behaviour, and organisational performance impact. Initially resistant, participants eventually embraced the project, demonstrating its success in addressing their concerns. Participants’ learning was evident in their badge submissions, demonstrating their skills applied in teaching. The project’s adaptability was highlighted during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the online environment facilitated the use of technology tools. Badges as digital credentials provided a tangible way to recognise achievements. The evaluation extended to the project’s impact on behaviour and organisational performance. Organisational evaluations revealed increased adoption of course changes due to TCD professional development, fostering continuous improvement. Ākonga reported high net promoter scores, indicating improved satisfaction and outcomes. Implications of the TCD project include designing competency-based projects, integrating applied practice for continuous improvement, leveraging technology for development, and recognising achievements through digital credentials. The findings emphasise the importance of investing in ongoing teacher development to enhance ākonga success.
Identifying Challenges with Unifying Information Technology Qualifications Within New Zealand Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics: Project Proposal
Authors: Ghimire Dipendra , Weir David , Otinpong Bernard
Published: July 2024

Unifying qualifications is a complex process. The unification process aims to establish a comprehensive portfolio of programmes that support learners, employers and industry while ensuring sustainable ongoing delivery. This paper presents a literature review that highlights challenges faced in unifying qualifications in other countries. This paper also explores the benefits and challenges of a unified qualification. Specifically focusing on IT qualifications, the study aims to identify the challenges that exist in unifying IT qualifications in Aotearoa New Zealand, and what impact these challenges have on the qualifications. This paper outlines the proposed methodology that will be used for the study and discusses the significance of understanding these challenges and their impact. This research also aims to provide insights and propose a model to address the challenges faced in unifying IT qualifications. This research will contribute to the development of an effective and streamlined qualification system within Te Pūkenga.
Discovering the Most Needed Technologies and Skills for IT Jobs on LinkedIn
Authors: Thirulingam Athavaloshan , Pais Sarita
Published: July 2024

With the rapid pace of technological growth, many information technology (IT) jobs are created every year, but, as IT is a vast field with enormous sub-disciplines, not enough people are trained to match the demand. Educational conferences, research papers and question-and-answer platforms have been studied in the past to map the leading technologies. IT technologies are ever changing and the most recent research is required to identify the trending technologies. This research answers the question of the most sought-after technologies and skills in the current IT job market by analysing job postings on LinkedIn with latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA).
The Challenges of TinyML Implementation: A Literature Review
Authors: Adlakha Riya , Kabbar Eltahir
Published: July 2024

This study aims to sensitise and summarise the tiny machine learning (TinyML) implementation literature. TinyML is a subset of machine learning (ML) that focuses on implementing ML models on resource-constrained devices such as microcontrollers, embedded systems, and internet of things (IoT) devices. A systematic literature review is performed on the works published in this field in the last decade. The key focus of this article is to understand the critical challenges faced by this emerging technology. We present five significant challenges of TinyML, namely, limited and dynamic resources, heterogeneity, network management, security and privacy, and model design. This article will be of interest to researchers and practitioners who are interested in the fields of ML, IoT and edge computing.
الدور الوسيط للتعديل الوظيفي في العلاقة بين الاستقلال الوظيفي وكل من السلوك الخدمي الابتكاري وسلوكيات المواطنة التنظيمية الموجهة بالخدمة
Authors: مرسي مرفت محمد السعيد
Published: July 2024

هدف الدراسة: هدفت هذه الدراسة إلى تحديد ما إذا كان التعديل الوظيفي: يتوسط تداخلياً العلاقتين غير المباشرتين بين الاستقلال الوظيفي وكل من متغيري السلوك الخدمي الابتكاري وسلوكيات المواطنة التنظيمية الموجهة بالخدمة أم لا.تصميم/ منهجية/ طريقة الدراسة: عبر الاستعانة بقائمة استقصاء، تضمنت مجموعة من العبارات لقياس متغيرات الدراسة. عينة الدراسة وبياناتها: أجريت الدراسة الميدانية على عينة ميسرة قوامها (398) موظف واجهة من العاملين في خمسة بنوك مصرية. نتائج الدراسة: أفادت النتائج أن متغير التعديل الوظيفي يتوسط تداخلياً العلاقتين غير المباشرتين بين الاستقلال الوظيفي وكل من السلوكيات الخدمية الابتكارية وسلوكيات المواطنة التنظيمية الموجهة بالخدمة.أصالة الدراسة: تعد الدراسة الحالية من أولى الدراسات العربية والأجنبية التي تناولت العلاقات بين المتغيرات الأربعة الواردة في الدراسة. حدود الدراسة وتطبيقاتها: اقتصرت الدراسة الحالية على عدد خمسة بنوك مصرية، وعلى موظفي الواجهة العاملين فيها.
تأثير الخصائص الفردية على توجهات تبادل المعرفة ونواياها وسلوكياتها لدى الأكاديميين
Authors: خليل عمر , معروف ليلى , خليل نادية
Published: July 2024

هدف الدراسة: تعد معرفة ممارسات مشاركة المعرفة (Knowledge Sharing) والعوامل التي يمكن أن تؤثر عليها أمراً حيوياً لجهود تعزيز مشاركة المعرفة في مؤسسات التعليم العالي. هدفت هذه الدراسة إلى الإجابة عن سؤالين رئيسين: (1) إلى أي مدى يحمل الأكاديميون في إحدى مؤسسات التعليم العالي الرائدة في الشرق الأوسط اتجاهات (Attitudes) مواتية تجاه مشاركة المعرفة، ويمارسون فعلاً هذه المشاركة، ويعتزمون مواصلة مشاركة المعرفة في المستقبل؟ (2) ما تأثير الخصائص الفردية، متمثلة في الجنس والعمر والمجال الأكاديمي والرتبة الأكاديمية والخبرة في التعليم العالي ومستوى التعليم، على اتجاهات الأكاديميين ونواياهم وسلوكياتهم المتعلقة بمشاركة المعرفة.تصميم/منهجية/طريقة الدراسة: استخدمت الدراسة الحالية أسلوب دراسة الحالات بالتطبيق على جامعة الكويت؛ بوصفها إحدى مؤسسات التعليم العالي الرائدة في الشرق الأوسط. وصممت استبانة بكل من اللغتين العربية والإنجليزية، واستخدمت لجمع بيانات الدراسة من أعضاء الهيئة الأكاديمية بالجامعة. تحتوي الاستبانة على سؤال واحد لقياس كل من الخصائص الفردية، وأسئلة متعددة لقياس كل من التوجهات تجاه مشاركة المعرفة وممارسات المشاركة الفعلية ونوايا المشاركة في المستقبل. عينة الدراسة وبياناتها: وزعت الاستبانة على أعضاء الهيئة الأكاديمية في مختلف الكليات، وجمعت 207 استجابات كاملة، وتبلغ نسبة هذه العينة %14.5 من إجمالي عدد الأكاديميين بالجامعة. وللإجابة عن سؤالي الدراسة، عولجت البيانات إحصائياً باستخدام الإحصاء الوصفي وتحليل العوامل (Factor analysis) وتحليل التباين متعدد المتغيرات (MANOVA).نتائج الدراسة: أظهرت نتائج التحليل الإحصائي أن لدى الأكاديميين المشاركين في الدراسة توجهات مواتية تجاه مشاركة المعرفة مع زملائهم، ويشاركون المعرفة مع زملائهم عبر قنوات الاتصال التنظيمية والشخصية، ويعتزمون الاستمرار في مشاركة المعرفة في المستقبل. وبينت النتائج أيضاً أن الخصائص الفردية المتمثلة في الجنس والعمر والمجال الأكاديمي والمرتبة الأكاديمية والخبرة والمستوى التعليمي، لها تأثيرات فردية وتفاعلية متفاوتة على اتجاهات الأكاديميين تجاه مشاركة المعرفة، وممارسة المشاركة، ونوايا المشاركة في المستقبل. أصالة الدراسة: تقدم هذه الدراسة معلومات جديدة عن توجهات الأكاديميين ونواياهم وسلوكياتهم، بخصوص مشاركة المعرفة مع زملائهم في إحدى مؤسسات التعليم العالي الشرق الأوسطية (جامعة الكويت)، بالإضافة إلى تأثير عدد من الخصائص الفردية على هذه التوجهات والنوايا والسلوكيات. وخلافاً لنتائج الدراسات المماثلة السابقة، تؤكد نتائج هذه الدراسة أن تأثير كل من الخصائص الفردية غالباً ما يكون مرهوناً بتفاعلاتها مع الخصائص الأخرى؛ ومن ثم يجب تفسير التأثير الفردي لكل خصيصة على مشاركة المعرفة بشيء من الحذر.حدود الدراسة وتطبيقاتها: يجب تفسير نتائج هذه الدراسة ومحاولة تعميمها على مؤسسات أخرى في ضوء محدداتها، التي ترجع إلى أن هذه النتائج اعتمدت على بيانات عن الأكاديميين العاملين في مؤسسة تعليم عالٍ واحدة، وتم جمعها في نقطة زمنية واحدة. ومع ذلك، تمثل هذه النتائج إضافة مهمة إلى البناء المعرفي المتنامي حول توجهات مشاركة المعرفة ونواياها وممارساتها، وتأثير الخصائص الفردية عليها. كما أنها توفر أساساً ملائماً لصياغة سياسات تهدف إلى تعزيز فعالية مشاركة المعرفة بين الأكاديميين في مؤسسة التعليم العالي المدروسة وغيرها من مؤسسات التعليم العالي المماثلة.