bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New Deep-Sea Molluscan Records from Mallorca Channel Seamounts (North-Western Mediterranean)
Authors: Marco-Herrero Elena , Ramón Montserrat , Ramírez-Amaro Sergio , Sánchez-Guillamón Olga , Ordines Francesc , López-Rodríguez Carmina , Farriols María Teresa , Vázquez Juan Tomás , Massutí Enric
Published: October 2022

Seamounts are globally important and essential ecosystems for supporting and maintaining marine biodiversity. In the Mallorca Channel, three prominent seamounts are present: Ausias March, Ses Olives and Emile Baudot. Currently, this area is being evaluated for inclusion in the Natura 2000 network. For this objective three surveys were conducted in the seamounts of the Mallorca Channel during July 2018 and July 2020. Samples of macro-invertebrates obtained in the deep sea revealed a rich fauna of Mollusca (68 species belonging to 40 families). New Mollusca occurrences included: four species of Gastropoda: Colus jeffreysianus, Cantrainea peloritana, Fusiturris similis, Gymnobela abyssorum, and seven species of Bivalvia: Pododesmus squama, Allogramma formosa, Asperarca nodulosa, Cetomya neaeroides, Spondylus gussonii, Haliris granulata and Policordia gemma. Where possible, the identification of these species was confirmed using the DNA barcoding method (sequencing of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I). This study contributes towards filling the gap in knowledge of deep-sea mollusc fauna of the north-western Mediterranean.
The Key Environmental Factors Shaping Coastal Fish Community in the Eastern Gulf of Finland, Baltic Sea
Authors: Uspenskiy Anton , Zhidkov Zakhar , Levin Boris
Published: October 2022

A highly productive coastal zone plays an important role in various stages of fish life cycles, e.g., spawning migrations, fish reproduction, larval development, juveniles growing, etc. Therefore, coastal biotopes significantly contribute to commercial fish species recruitment. Although the eastern Gulf of Finland is rich in shallow coastal water, its coastal fish communities and the influencing environmental variables are still significantly understudied. We investigated the composition and distribution of coastal fish species and the impact of abiotic and biotic environmental factors in the eastern Gulf of Finland during field surveys in 2011–2017. In total, 34 fish species were recorded at shallows. The coastal fish community demonstrates a low degree of heterogeneity despite a highly heterogeneous environment. Five freshwater species are widely distributed and the most frequent in the area. Three key environmental variables influencing the coastal fish community of the eastern Gulf of Finland were: (i) salinity, (ii) filamentous algae presence, and (iii) macrophytes presence. Fish community structure was also influenced by the sampling season. Discriminating and typifying taxa were performed for each environmental variable. We suggest that obtained results might be useful for future environmental studies in the region and fish community modeling.
Funneliformis mosseae Inoculation Enhances Cucurbita pepo L. Plant Growth and Fruit Yield by Reshaping Rhizosphere Microbial Community Structure
Authors: Wang Junsong , Fu Wenjiang , Sun Chenyu , Cai Shuai , Tang Cheng
Published: October 2022

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are essential components of the soil microbiome that can facilitate plant growth and enhance abiotic and biotic stress resistance. However, the mechanisms via which AMF inoculation influences Cucurbita pepo L. plant growth and fruit yield remain unclear. Here, we conducted pot experiments to investigate bacterial and fungal community structure in the rhizosphere of C. pepo plants inoculated with Funneliformis mosseae (Nicoll. & Gerd.) Gerd. & Trappe based on 16S ribosomal RNA and internal transcribed spacer gene sequencing. The α-diversity of bacteria increased significantly following F. mosseae inoculation, whereas the α-diversity of fungi exhibited an opposite trend (p < 0.01). The relative abundances of major bacterial phyla, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Chloroflexi, together with the fungal phylum Ascomycota, were all higher in inoculated samples than in uninoculated controls. F. mosseae inoculation led to remarkable enrichment of potentially beneficial taxa (e.g., Streptomyces, Sphingomonas, Lysobacter, and Trichoderma), in stark contrast to depletion of fungal pathogens (e.g., Botryotrichum, Acremonium, Fusarium, and Plectosphaerella). Pathways related to amino acid metabolism and antibiotic biosynthesis were upregulated by F. mosseae inoculation, whereas pathways involved in infectious diseases were downregulated. The results suggest that F. mosseae inoculation reshapes the rhizosphere microbiome, thereby augmenting C. pepo plant growth and fruit yield.
The Role of Exopolysaccharide-Producing Streptococcus thermophilus on Physical Properties of Stirred Skim Milk Gel
Authors: Surber Georg , Rohm Harald , Jaros Doris
Published: October 2022

The techno-functionality of exopolysaccharides (EPS) from Streptococcus thermophilus in stirred fermented milk is affected by several extrinsic (e.g., base milk composition) and intrinsic (e.g., amount and properties of EPS) factors. The aim of this study was to use skim milk models to identify the key factors that influence the physical properties of stirred fermented milk with EPS. For that, fermentation was carried out with one of three single S. thermophilus strains (intrinsic factors) at two casein:whey protein ratios of the base milk, two acidification activities of the starters, and two fermentation temperatures (extrinsic factors). The effects of the factors on the acidification kinetics, EPS amount, susceptibility to syneresis, and texture properties were then discriminated by a multivariate ANOVA-simultaneous component analysis. Strains producing ropy EPS mainly determined the texture properties, whereas the extrinsic factors primarily affected the acidification kinetics and EPS amount. When capsular EPS were also present, the syneresis was lower; however, this effect was more pronounced after enrichment of base milk with whey protein. The EPS amount did not correlate with the texture or syneresis, pointing to the importance of other factors such as the EPS location (type) and EPS–protein interactions for their functionality in stirred fermented milk.
Mapping Welfare: Location Determining Techniques and Their Potential for Managing Cattle Welfare—A Review
Authors: Hofstra Gerben , Roelofs Judith , Rutter Steven Mark , van Erp-van der Kooij Elaine , de Vlieg Jakob
Published: October 2022

Several studies have suggested that precision livestock farming (PLF) is a useful tool for animal welfare management and assessment. Location, posture and movement of an individual are key elements in identifying the animal and recording its behaviour. Currently, multiple technologies are available for automated monitoring of the location of individual animals, ranging from Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) to ultra-wideband (UWB), RFID, wireless sensor networks (WSN) and even computer vision. These techniques and developments all yield potential to manage and assess animal welfare, but also have their constraints, such as range and accuracy. Combining sensors such as accelerometers with any location determining technique into a sensor fusion system can give more detailed information on the individual cow, achieving an even more reliable and accurate indication of animal welfare. We conclude that location systems are a promising approach to determining animal welfare, especially when applied in conjunction with additional sensors, but additional research focused on the use of technology in animal welfare monitoring is needed.
Impact of Dietary Sugars on Gut Microbiota and Metabolic Health
Authors: Garcia Karina , Ferreira Gonçalo , Reis Flávio , Viana Sofia
Published: October 2022

Excessive sugar consumption is a risk factor for the development of several disorders, including metabolic, cardiovascular, neurological conditions and even some cancers, and has been linked to increased morbidity and mortality. The popularization of the typical Western diet, featured by an excessive intake of saturated fats and added sugars and a low consumption of unprocessed fruits, vegetables and fiber, may directly affect the composition and functionality of the gut microbiota, staggering the balance of the intestinal microbiome that ultimately culminates into gut dysbiosis. Although added sugars in the form of nutritive and non-nutritive sweeteners are generally considered as safe, a growing body of evidence correlate their consumption with adverse effects on gut microbial ecosystem; namely an abnormal synthesis of short-chain fatty acids, altered intestinal barrier integrity and chronic inflammation that often fuel a panoply of metabolic conditions. Accordingly, this work revisited the available preclinical evidence concerning the impact of different types of dietary sugars—nutritive and non-nutritive sweeteners—on gut microbiota and metabolic health. Future research should consider gender and species vulnerability when the impact of such substances on GM community and metabolic health is scrutinized in order to guide their adequate use at doses relevant to human use.
Angiomatoid Fibrous Histiocytoma (AFH) of the Right Arm: An Exceptional Case with Pulmonary Metastasis and Confirmatory EWSR1::CREB1 Translocation
Authors: Cazzato Gerardo , Lupo Carmelo , Casatta Nadia , Riefoli Flavia , Marzullo Andrea , Colagrande Anna , Cascardi Eliano , Trabucco Senia Maria Rosaria , Ingravallo Giuseppe , Moretti Biagio , Maiorano Eugenio , Pesce Vito , Resta Leonardo
Published: October 2022

Angiomatoid fibrous histiocytoma (AFH) is a rare neoplasm described for the first time by Enzinger in 1979, and classified by World Health Organization 2020 as intermediate malignant potential neoplasm. It mostly occurs in the subcutis and is characterized by varying proportions of epithelioid, ovoid and spindle cells in a nodular and syncytial growth pattern, with some hemorrhagic pseudovascular spaces. In this paper, we report the clinical case of a 62-year-old man who presented with AFH on the right arm, and relapsed three years after first surgical excision. After a further three years, the patient presented with an intramuscular localization of AFH, and 12 months after this, a pulmonary metastasis of AFH was diagnosed. Given the rarity of the spreading of AFH, we performed Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) and we detected EWSR1::CREB1 gene fusion.
Performance Evaluation of Developed Bangasure™ Multiplex rRT-PCR Assay for SARS-CoV-2 Detection in Bangladesh: A Blinded Observational Study at Two Different Sites
Authors: Razu Mamudul Hasan , Ahmed Zabed Bin , Hossain Md. Iqbal , Rabbi Mohammad Fazle Alam , Nayem Maksudur Rahman , Hassan Md. Akibul , Paul Gobindo Kumar , Khan Md. Robin , Moniruzzaman Md. , Karmaker Pranab , Khan Mala
Published: October 2022

In this study, we evaluated the performance of the in-house developed rRT-PCR assay for SARS-CoV-2 RNA targeting the envelope (E) and nucleocapsid (N) genes with internal control as human RNase P. A total of 50 positive samples and 50 negative samples of SARS-CoV-2 were tested by a reference kit at site 1 and a subset (30 positives and 16 negatives) of these samples are tested blindly at site 2. The limit of detection (LoD) was calculated by using a replication-deficient complete SARS-CoV-2 genome and known copy numbers, where Pseudo-virus samples were used to evaluate accuracy. On site 1, among the 50 SARS-CoV-2 positive samples 24, 18, and eight samples showed high (Ct < 26), moderate (26 < Ct ≤ 32), and low (32 < Ct ≤ 38) viral load, respectively, whereas in site 2, out of 30 SARS-CoV-2 positive samples, high, moderate, and low viral loads were found in each of the 10 samples. However, SARS-CoV-2 was not detected in the negative sample. So, in-house assays at both sites showed 100% sensitivity and specificity with no difference observed between RT PCR machines. The Ct values of the in-house kit had a very good correlation with the reference kits. LoD was determined as 100 copies/mL. It also displayed 100% accuracy in mutant and wild-type SARS-CoV-2 virus. This Bangasure™ RT-PCR kit shows excellent performance in detecting SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA compared to commercially imported CE-IVD marked FDA authorized kits.
Solitary Pulmonary Capillary Hemangioma: CT and PET-CT Features with Clinicopathologic Correlation
Authors: Kim Min Ju , Hong Wonju , Kim Tae Jung , Han Joungho , Choi Yoon-La , Choi Joon Young , Lee Sang Min , Hwang Sung Ho
Published: October 2022

The aim of this study was to evaluate the CT and PET-CT features of solitary pulmonary capillary hemangioma (SPCH) with clinicopathologic correlations. This retrospective study included 17 patients with histologically proven SPCH from four tertiary institutions. The clinical, pathological and imaging findings of SPCH were reviewed. The CT features assessed included lesion location, size, density, contour, margin, enhancement, presence of air bronchogram, perivascular lucency and pleural retraction, and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake on PET-CT. Changes in the size during the follow-up period were also evaluated. Imaging features were correlated with the clinicopathologic findings. The mean age of the patients was 47 years (range 30–60 years). All SPCHs were incidentally detected during screening CT examinations (n = 13, 76%) or during cancer work-up (n = 4, 24%). Most SPCHs appeared as part-solid nodules (n = 15, 88%), the remaining appeared as a pure ground-glass nodule or a pure solid nodule, respectively. Most had smooth contours (n = 16, 94%), while one had a lobulated contour. Nine SPCHs (53%) showed ill-defined margins. Air bronchogram was present in ten (59%) SPCHs, and perivascular lucency in two (12%). All SPCHs exhibited hypoattenuation on contrast-enhanced CT and hypometabolism on PET-CT. During the follow-up period (mean 14.8 ± 17.7 months), the lesions showed no change in size or density in ten SPCHs (59%), decreased or fluctuation in size and density in three (18%). SPCH is often incidentally detected in young and middle-aged adults, commonly as an ill-defined part-solid nodule that may accompany air bronchogram, perivascular lucency, and fluctuation in size or density on CT and hypometabolism on PET-CT.
A Novel Ultrasonographic Anthropometric-Independent Measurement of Median Nerve Swelling in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: The “Nerve/Tendon Ratio” (NTR)
Authors: Falsetti Paolo , Conticini Edoardo , Baldi Caterina , D’Ignazio Emilio , Al Khayyat Suhel Gabriele , Bardelli Marco , Gentileschi Stefano , D’Alessandro Roberto , D’Alessandro Miriana , Acciai Caterina , Ginanneschi Federica , Cantarini Luca , Frediani Bruno
Published: October 2022

Background: There is little consensus on ultrasound (US) normative values of cross-sectional area of median nerve (MN-CSA) in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) because of its dependency on anthropometric parameters. We aim to propose a novel anthropometric-independent US parameter: MN-CSA/flexor radialis carpi CSA (FCR-CSA) ratio (“Nerve Tendon Ratio”, NTR), in the diagnosis of clinically and electrodiagnostic (EDS)-defined CTS. Methods: 74 wrists of 49 patients with clinically defined CTS underwent EDS (scored by the 1–5 Padua Scale of electrophysiological severity, PS) and US of carpal tunnel with measurement of MN-CSA (at the carpal tunnel inlet), FCR-CSA (over scaphoid tubercle) and its ratio (NTR, expressed as a percentage). US normality values and intra-operator agreement were assessed in 33 healthy volunteers. Results: In controls, the mean MN-CSA was 5.81 mm2, NTR 64.2%. In 74 clinical CTS, the mean MN-CSA was 12.1 mm2, NTR 117%. In severe CTS (PS > 3), the mean MN-CSA was 15.9 mm2, NTR 148%. In CTS, both MN-CSA and NTR correlated with sensitive conduction velocity (SCV) (p < 0.001), distal motor latency (DML) (p < 0.001) and PS (p < 0.001), with a slight superiority of NTR vs. MN-CSA when controlled for height, wrist circumference and weight. In CTS filtered for anthropometric extremes, only NTR maintained a correlation with SCV (p = 0.023), DML (p = 0.016) and PS (p = 0.009). Diagnostic cut-offs were obtained with a binomial regression analysis. In those patients with a clinical diagnosis of CTS, the cut-off of MN-CSA (AUROC: 0.983) was 8 mm2 (9 mm2 with highest positive predictive value, PPV), while for NTR (AUROC: 0.987), the cut-off was 83% (100% with highest PPV). In patients with EDS findings of severe CTS (PS > 3), the MN-CSA (AUROC: 0.876) cut-off was 12.3 mm2 (15.3 mm2 with highest PPV), while for NTR (AUROC: 0.858) it was 116.2% (146.0% with highest PPV). Conclusions: NTR can be simply and quickly calculated, and it can be used in anthropometric extremes.
Lavage Volume of Arthrocentesis in the Management of Temporomandibular Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Tsui Hei Christopher , Lam Chun Mo , Leung Yiu Yan , Li Kar Yan , Wong Natalie Sui Miu , Li Dion Tik Shun
Published: October 2022

The aim of this study was to investigate the most effective lavage volume of arthrocentesis in the management of temporomandibular disorders. A comprehensive electronic search, based on the PRISMA guidelines, was performed, which included a computer search with specific keywords, a reference list search and a manual search. The inclusion criteria were the following: a randomized controlled trial, at least 20 subjects who underwent arthrocentesis, mention of the irrigation materials used for the arthrocentesis, mention of the irrigation volumes used for the arthrocentesis, MMO and pain measured as VAS or NRS, were reported as outcome figures, mention of a specific diagnosis or signs and symptoms, and inclusion of the data on the MMO or VAS/NRS at 6-month follow-up. Sixteen publications were enrolled in the meta-analysis, comparing arthrocentesis with a lavage volume <150 mL and arthrocentesis with a lavage volume ≥150 mL, in the efficacy of the improvement in the mouth opening and pain reduction. The results revealed the group with a lavage volume <150 mL had a greater improvement in the mouth opening and pain reduction. However, results are to be interpreted with caution, due to the paucity of the randomized controlled literature and other confounding factors. Further high-quality studies are required to provide a better conclusion to the treatment outcomes of the different lavage volumes.
A Logistic Regression Model for Biomechanical Risk Classification in Lifting Tasks
Authors: Donisi Leandro , Cesarelli Giuseppe , Capodaglio Edda , Panigazzi Monica , D’Addio Giovanni , Cesarelli Mario , Amato Francesco
Published: October 2022

Lifting is one of the most potentially harmful activities for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), due to exposure to biomechanical risk. Risk assessment for work activities that involve lifting loads can be performed through the NIOSH (National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health) method, and specifically the Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation (RNLE). Aim of this work is to explore the feasibility of a logistic regression model fed with time and frequency domains features extracted from signals acquired through one inertial measurement unit (IMU) to classify risk classes associated with lifting activities according to the RNLE. Furthermore, an attempt was made to evaluate which are the most discriminating features relating to the risk classes, and to understand which inertial signals and which axis were the most representative. In a simplified scenario, where only two RNLE variables were altered during lifting tasks performed by 14 healthy adults, inertial signals (linear acceleration and angular velocity) acquired using one IMU placed on the subject’s sternum during repeated rhythmic lifting tasks were automatically segmented to extract several features in the time and frequency domains. The logistic regression model fed with significant features showed good results to discriminate “risk” and “no risk” NIOSH classes with an accuracy, sensitivity and specificity equal to 82.8%, 84.8% and 80.9%, respectively. This preliminary work indicated that a logistic regression model—fed with specific inertial features extracted by signals acquired using a single IMU sensor placed on the sternum—is able to discriminate risk classes according to the RNLE in a simplified context, and therefore could be a valid tool to assess the biomechanical risk in an automatic way also in more complex conditions (e.g., real working scenarios).
Physics Informed Neural Networks (PINN) for Low Snr Magnetic Resonance Electrical Properties Tomography (MREPT)
Authors: Inda Adan Jafet Garcia , Huang Shao Ying , İmamoğlu Nevrez , Qin Ruian , Yang Tianyi , Chen Tiao , Yuan Zilong , Yu Wenwei
Published: October 2022

Electrical properties (EPs) of tissues facilitate early detection of cancerous tissues. Magnetic resonance electrical properties tomography (MREPT) is a technique to non-invasively probe the EPs of tissues from MRI measurements. Most MREPT methods rely on numerical differentiation (ND) to solve partial differential Equations (PDEs) to reconstruct the EPs. However, they are not practical for clinical data because ND is noise sensitive and the MRI measurements for MREPT are noisy in nature. Recently, Physics informed neural networks (PINNs) have been introduced to solve PDEs by substituting ND with automatic differentiation (AD). To the best of our knowledge, it has not been applied to MREPT due to the challenges in using PINN on MREPT as (i) a PINN requires part of ground-truth EPs as collocation points to optimize the network’s AD, (ii) the noisy input data disrupts the optimization of PINNs despite the noise-filtering nature of NNs and additional denoising processes. In this work, we propose a PINN-MREPT model based on a canonical analytic MREPT model. A reference padding layer with known EPs was added to surround the region of interest for providing additive collocation points. Moreover, an optimizable diffusion coefficient was embedded in the analytic MREPT model used in the PINN-MREPT. The noise robustness of the proposed PINN-MREPT for single-sample reconstruction was tested by using numerical phantoms of human brain with extra tumor-like tissues at different noise levels. The results of numerical experiments show that PINN-MREPT outperforms two typical numerical MREPT methods in terms of reconstruction accuracy, sensitivity to the extra tissues, and the correlations of line profiles in the regions of interest. The advantage of the PINN-MREPT is shown by the results of an experiment on phantom measurement, too. Moreover, it is found that the diffusion term plays an important role to achieve a noise-robust PINN-MREPT. This is an important step moving forward to a clinical application of MREPT.
The Role of Imaging in Portal Vein Thrombosis: From the Diagnosis to the Interventional Radiological Management
Authors: Marra Paolo , Dulcetta Ludovico , Carbone Francesco Saverio , Muglia Riccardo , Muscogiuri Giuseppe , Cheli Maurizio , D’Antiga Lorenzo , Colledan Michele , Fagiuoli Stefano , Sironi Sandro
Published: October 2022

Purpose: To illustrate diagnostic and interventional imaging for the characterization and treatment of portal vein thrombosis (PVT). Introduction: The broad spectrum of congenital and acquired PVT manifestations is illustrated, with a focus on the pediatric population; diagnostic and interventional imaging techniques are described. Description: PVT frequently presents as an incidental finding at imaging in the screening for liver diseases or for other unrelated reasons. PVT can be classified based on: extension (intrahepatic, extrahepatic, involving the spleno-mesenteric tract, etc.); degree (partial or complete); onset (acute or chronic); and with or without cavernomatous transformation. This comprehensive review relies on the experience gained from a large series of congenital and acquired PVT in a referral center for pediatric and adult liver transplantation. Diagnostic and interventional imaging techniques are described, including: color–Doppler and contrast-enhanced Ultrasound; CT and MR angiography; retrograde portography; percutaneous transhepatic, transplenic, and transmesenteric portography; transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt creation. Pre- and post-operative imaging assessment of the surgical meso-rex bypass is discussed. The description is enriched with an original series of pictorial imaging findings. Conclusion: PVT is a clinical condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Diagnostic and interventional imaging plays a crucial role in both conservative and operative management.
Assessment of Urinary Exosomal NHE3 as a Biomarker of Acute Kidney Injury
Authors: Yu Yanting , Ren Zhiyun , Xie Anni , Jia Yutao , Xue Ying , Wang Ping , Ji Daxi , Wang Xiaoyan
Published: October 2022

The diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) traditionally depends on the serum creatinine (Scr) and urine output, which lack sufficient sensitivity and specificity. Using urinary exosomes as a biomarker has unique advantages. To assess whether urinary exosomal Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 3 (NHE3) protein could serve as a biomarker of AKI, we constructed four AKI rat models: cisplatin (7.5 mg/kg) injected intraperitoneally (IP), furosemide (20 mg/kg, IP) with a low-NaCl (0.03%) diet, a low-NaCl (0.03%) diet with candesartan (1 mg/kg, IP) and bilateral ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury for 40 min. Additionally, we assessed six sepsis-associated AKI patients and six healthy volunteers. Urinary exosomes were extracted by ultracentrifugation, and the NHE3 protein abundance was tested by immunoblotting for all the AKI rats and human subjects. The isolated cup-shaped particles with an average diameter of 70 nm and enrichment in CD63 were identified as exosomes. NHE3 abundance was six times higher in exosomes than in the whole urine. In cisplatin-induced AKI rats, urinary exosomal NHE3 was increased on day 2, one day earlier than the increases in Scr and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). In additional rats, urinary exosomal NHE3 decreased along with the decline in Scr after EPO pretreatment. In volume-depletion AKI induced by furosemide injection with a low-NaCl diet, the urinary exosomal NHE3 expression was higher than that in the control. Under a low-NaCl diet with candesartan-related AKI, the urinary exosomal NHE3 was elevated on day 5, earlier than Scr. In I/R-injury AKI, the urinary exosomal NHE3 was also raised compared with that in the control. In humans, the urinary exosomal NHE3 level was also elevated in sepsis-associated AKI patients in comparison with that in the healthy volunteers. The urinary exosomal NHE3 was increased in multiple AKI; it may be used as a diagnostic biomarker of AKI.
Position-Monitoring-Based Hybrid Routing Protocol for 3D UAV-Based Networks
Authors: Ullah Saif , Mohammadani Khalid Hussain , Khan Muhammad Asghar , Ren Zhi , Alkanhel Reem , Muthanna Ammar , Tariq Usman
Published: October 2022

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) have emerged as prime technologies due to their compatible size and flexible architecture. UAV technology offers services in vast application such as inter-UAV communication, wireless sensors, and the future Internet of Things (IoT) due to its compatible architecture. A UAV’s speed varies while roaming, which may increase the risk of a connection failure. Various routing schemes have provided solutions to address this essential issue for three-dimensional (3D) UAV-based networks. The main category of UAV routing schemes is position-based routing schemes, which choose the best route based on the UAV’s location. However, position-based routing has the drawback that it depends on exact positioning and tracking. An efficient routing scheme can resolve the significant issue associated with UAV mobility in a 3D environment. This paper aims to address the issues of static preloaded location values by presenting a hybrid routing scheme named the Position-Monitor-based Hybrid Routing Protocol (PMHRP), which takes advantage of both geographic and topology-based routing protocols. The PMHRP establishes the shortest possible route based on a UAV’s Global Positioning System (GPS). Moreover, the proposed protocol utilizes the links for data forwarding. Furthermore, a disaster-based UAV scenario is adopted to provide connections to IoT devices. A detailed comparison analysis shows the proposed scheme’s extreme performance and results in up to 65% to 73% better packet delivery ratio (PDR) than batch mark schemes under standard 3D UAV scenarios. Compared to earlier work, the proposed scheme reduces the average delay by up to 68% to 75%. Further proposed routing schemes offer 70% to 72% more throughput than the existing routing schemes, and NRL (%) is 42% to 49% lower than the existing routing schemes. This happens because of the global routing information available at each UAV which is provided by the position head coordinator (PHC) UAV in the proposed work.
Directional Statistics-Based Deep Metric Learning for Pedestrian Tracking and Re-Identification
Authors: Bouzid Abdelhamid , Sierra-Sosa Daniel , Elmaghraby Adel
Published: October 2022

Multiple Object Tracking (MOT) is the problem that involves following the trajectory of multiple objects in a sequence, generally a video. Pedestrians are among the most interesting subjects to track and recognize for many purposes such as surveillance, and safety. In recent years, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV’s) have been viewed as a viable option for monitoring public areas, as they provide a low-cost method of data collection while covering large and difficult-to-reach areas. In this paper, we present an online pedestrian tracking and re-identification framework based on learning a compact directional statistic distribution (von-Mises-Fisher distribution) for each person ID using a deep convolutional neural network. The distribution characteristics are trained to be invariant to clothes appearances and to transformations including rotation, translation, and background changes. Learning a vMF for each ID helps simultaneously in measuring the similarity between object instances and re-identifying the pedestrian’s ID. We experimentally validated our framework on standard publicly available dataset, which we used as a case study.
Numerical Analysis and Wind Tunnel Validation of Droplet Distribution in the Wake of an Unmanned Aerial Spraying System in Forward Flight
Authors: Carreño Ruiz Manuel , Bloise Nicoletta , Guglieri Giorgio , D’Ambrosio Domenic
Published: October 2022

Recent developments in agriculture mechanization have generated significant challenges towards sustainable approaches to reduce the environmental footprint and improve food quality. This paper highlights the benefits of using unmanned aerial systems (UASs) for precision spraying applications of pesticides, reducing the environmental risk and waste caused by spray drift. Several unmanned aerial spraying system (UASS) operation parameters and spray system designs are examined to define adequate configurations for specific treatments. A hexarotor DJI Matrice 600 equipped with T-Motor “15 × 5” carbon fiber blades is tested numerically using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and experimentally in a wind tunnel. These tests assess the aerodynamic interaction between the wake of an advancing multicopter and the fine droplets generated by atomizers traditionally used in agricultural applications. The aim of this research is twofold. First, we analyze the effects of parameters such as flight speed (0, 2, and 3 m·s−1), nozzle type (hollowcone and fan), and injection pressure (2–3 bar) on spray distribution. In the second phase, we use data from the experimental campaign to validate numerical tools for the simulation of rotor–droplet interactions necessary to predict spray’s ground footprint and to plan a precise guidance algorithm to achieve on-target deposition and reduce the well-known droplet drift problem.
UAV Fault Detection Methods, State-of-the-Art
Authors: Puchalski Radosław , Giernacki Wojciech
Published: October 2022

The continual expansion of the range of applications for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is resulting in the development of more and more sophisticated systems. The greater the complexity of the UAV, the greater the likelihood that a component will fail. Due to the fact that drones often operate in close proximity to humans, the reliability of flying robots, which directly affects the level of safety, is becoming more important. This review article presents recent research works on fault detection on unmanned flying systems. They include papers published between January 2016 and August 2022. Web of Science and Google Scholar databases were used to search for articles. Terminology related to fault detection of unmanned aerial vehicles was used as keywords. The articles were analyzed, each paper was briefly summarized and the most important details concerning each of the described articles were summarized in the table.
Terrestrial Megafauna Response to Drone Noise Levels in Ex Situ Areas
Authors: Mesquita Geison , Mulero-Pázmány Margarita , Wich Serge , Rodríguez-Teijeiro José
Published: October 2022

Drone use has significantly grown in recent years, and there is a knowledge gap on how the noise produced by these systems may affect animals. We investigated how 18 species of megafauna reacted to drone sound pressure levels at different frequencies. The sound pressure level on the low frequency generated by the drone did not change the studied species’ behavior, except for the Asian elephant. All other studied species showed higher noise sensitivity at medium and high frequencies. The Asian elephant was the most sensitive species to drone noise, mainly at low frequencies. Felines supported the highest sound pressure level before showing behavioral reactions. Our results suggest that drone sound pressure levels in different frequencies cause behavioral changes that differ among species, which is relevant to assessing drone disturbances in ex situ environments. The findings presented here can help to reduce drone impact for target species and serve as an experimental study for future drone use guidelines.
On the Use of a Non-Constant Non-Affine or Slip Parameter in Polymer Rheology Constitutive Modeling
Authors: Nikiforidis Vasileios-Martin , Tsalikis Dimitrios G. , Stephanou Pavlos S.
Published: October 2022

Since its introduction in the late 1970s, the non-affine or slip parameter, ξ, has been routinely employed by numerous constitutive models as a constant parameter. However, the evidence seems to imply that it should be a function of polymer deformation. In the present work, we phenomenologically modify a constitutive model for the rheology of unentangled polymer melts [P. S. Stephanou et al. J. Rheol. 53, 309 (2009)] to account for a non-constant slip parameter. The revised model predictions are compared against newly accumulated rheological data for a C48 polyethylene melt obtained via direct non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations in shear. We find that the conformation tensor data are very well predicted; however, the predictions of the material functions are noted to deviate from the NEMD data, especially at large shear rates.
Unitarity of Decoherence Implies Possibility of Decoherence-like Dynamics towards Macroscopic Superpositions
Authors: Filatov Stanislav , Auzinsh Marcis
Published: October 2022

Quantum decoherence is crucial to understanding the emergence of the classical world from the underlying quantum reality. Decoherence dynamics are unitary, although they superselect a preferred eigenbasis. Decoherence dynamics result in stable macroscopic, localized, classical-like states. We show that the above-mentioned facts imply the possibility of the existence of decoherence-like dynamics that result in stable macroscopic non-localized non-classical-like states. Being rooted in the fabric of the decoherence theory itself, this property implies environments that steer the decoherence towards, for example, spatial superpositions of macroscopic objects. To demonstrate this, we provide thought-experimental, mathematical and philosophical arguments.
Dependency Structures in Cryptocurrency Market from High to Low Frequency
Authors: Briola Antonio , Aste Tomaso
Published: October 2022

We investigate logarithmic price returns cross-correlations at different time horizons for a set of 25 liquid cryptocurrencies traded on the FTX digital currency exchange. We study how the structure of the Minimum Spanning Tree (MST) and the Triangulated Maximally Filtered Graph (TMFG) evolve from high (15 s) to low (1 day) frequency time resolutions. For each horizon, we test the stability, statistical significance and economic meaningfulness of the networks. Results give a deep insight into the evolutionary process of the time dependent hierarchical organization of the system under analysis. A decrease in correlation between pairs of cryptocurrencies is observed for finer time sampling resolutions. A growing structure emerges for coarser ones, highlighting multiple changes in the hierarchical reference role played by mainstream cryptocurrencies. This effect is studied both in its pairwise realizations and intra-sector ones.
Spatial Spillovers of Financial Risk and Their Dynamic Evolution: Evidence from Listed Financial Institutions in China
Authors: Chen Shaowei , Guo Long , (Patrick) Qiang Qiang
Published: October 2022

This paper investigates the multidimensional spatial effects of risk spillovers among Chinese financial institutions and the dynamic evolution of financial risk contagion in the tail risk correlation network over different time periods. We first measure risk spillovers from financial submarkets to the stock market, identifying five periods using structural breakpoint tests. Then, we construct a spatial error financial network panel model by combining complex network and spatial econometric theory to explore the spatial spillover variability. Finally, we calculate the Bonacich centrality of nodes in the tail risk network and analyze the dynamic evolution of the financial impact path during the different time periods. The results show that the multidimensional spatial spillovers of financial risk among financial institutions are obvious and time varying. The spatial spillovers of financial institutions are positively correlated with the turnover rate and negatively correlated with the exchange rate, interest rate and return volatility. Financial institutions of the same type in the tail risk network display intraindustry risk clustering, and the systemically important institutions identified based on Bonacich centrality differ significantly across time. Moreover, when risk spillovers increase, external shocks’ destructive power and speed of transmission to the network rise.
Numerical Study on Effects of Wind Speed and Space Heights on Water Evaporating Performance of Water-Retained Bricks
Authors: Han Rubing , Xu Zhimao , Long Enshen
Published: October 2022

Energy-saving roof renovation methods are effective ways to alleviate the urban heat island effect. In this paper, the authors propose three models of two-layer water-retained bricks, established the physical and mathematic models of the water-retained bricks, and then conducted a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation on the effect of wind speed and evaporation space height on the water-evaporating performance of water-retained bricks. The results show that: (1) for the water-retained bricks with no-hole lids, macroscopic evaporation does not happen under the static wind conditions; with the increase of wind speed, the evaporating boundary layer thickness decreases, the water vapor concentration gradient in the boundary layer and the mass diffusion flux increase; (2) for the water-retained bricks with strip-hole lids, under the static wind condition, the evaporating performance of the water-retained bricks with strip-hole lids is better than that of bricks with no-hole lids; with the increase of wind speed, the evaporation of bricks with strip-hole lids is less affected by inlet airflow velocity than that of bricks with no-hole lids; (3) as for both the water-retained bricks with no-hole lids and with strip-hole lids, for a given wind speed, both the water vapor concentration gradient and the mass diffusion flux decrease as the evaporation space increases.
Cryptanalysis of an Image Encryption Algorithm Based on a 2D Hyperchaotic Map
Authors: Zhang Chengrui , Chen Junxin , Chen Dongming
Published: October 2022

Recently, an image encryption scheme based on a 2D hyperchaotic map is proposed. It adopts the permutation–diffusion architecture and consists of three steps, which are permutation, forward diffusion, and backward diffusion. In this paper, we break this cipher with both the chosen-plaintext attack (CPA) and the chosen-ciphertext attack (CCA). According to our analysis, we found the two complex diffusion processes could be simplified into two simple diffusions and a modular addition operation. Based on this, the equivalent key can be obtained with CPA and CCA. Detailed theoretical derivations and the results of experiments confirmed the feasibility of our attack methods. When the image size was 256×256, the running time of the attacks was less than 2 hours on a laptop with a 2.59 GHz Intel Core i7 and 16 GB DDR3 memory. Other sizes of images were also tested, and some rules were found. In addition, the probability of other attacks has also been discussed, and some suggestions for improvements are given. The source codes are publicly available and can be found online.
Novel Low-Power Construction of Chaotic S-Box in Multilayer Perceptron
Authors: Ren Runtao , Su Jinqi , Yang Ban , Lau Raymond Y. K. , Liu Qilei
Published: October 2022

Multilayer perceptron is composed of massive distributed neural processors interconnected. The nonlinear dynamic components in these processors expand the input data into a linear combination of synapses. However, the nonlinear mapping ability of original multilayer perceptron is limited when processing high complexity information. The introduction of more powerful nonlinear components (e.g., S-box) to multilayer perceptron can not only reinforce its information processing ability, but also enhance the overall security. Therefore, we combine the methods of cryptography and information theory to design a low-power chaotic S-box (LPC S-box) with entropy coding in the hidden layer to make the multilayer perceptron process information more efficiently and safely. In the performance test, our S-box architecture has good properties, which can effectively resist main known attacks (e.g., Berlekamp Massey-attack and Ronjom–Helleseth attack). This interdisciplinary work can attract more attention from academia and industry to the security of multilayer perceptron.
Recent Advances in W-Containing Refractory High-Entropy Alloys—An Overview
Authors: Chen Shunhua , Qi Chen , Liu Jiaqin , Zhang Jingsai , Wu Yucheng
Published: October 2022

During the past decade, refractory high-entropy alloys (RHEA) have attracted great attention of scientists, engineers and scholars due to their excellent mechanical and functional properties. The W-containing RHEAs are favored by researchers because of their great application potential in aerospace, marine and nuclear equipment and other high-temperature, corrosive and irradiated fields. In this review, more than 150 W-containing RHEAs are summarized and compared. The preparation techniques, microstructure and mechanical properties of the W-containing RHEAs are systematically outlined. In addition, the functional properties of W-containing RHEAs, such as oxidation, corrosion, irradiation and wear resistance have been elaborated and analyzed. Finally, the key issues faced by the development of W-containing RHEAs in terms of design and fabrication techniques, strengthening and deformation mechanisms, and potential functional applications are proposed and discussed. Future directions for the investigation and application of W-containing RHEAs are also suggested. The present work provides useful guidance for the development, processing and application of W-containing RHEAs and the RHEA components.
Generation of Schrödinger Cat States in a Hybrid Cavity Optomechanical System
Authors: An Xingwei , Deng Tonghui , Chen Lei , Ye Saiyun , Zhong Zhirong
Published: October 2022

We present an alternative scheme to achieve Schrödinger cat states in a strong coupling hybrid cavity optomechanical system. Under the single-photon strong-coupling regime, the interaction between the atom–cavity–oscillator system can induce the mesoscopic mechanical oscillator to Schrödinger cat states. Comparing to previous schemes, the proposed proposal consider the second order approximation on the Lamb–Dicke parameter, which is more universal in the experiment. Numerical simulations confirm the validity of our derivation.
Dynamics of Hopfield-Type Neural Networks with Modulo Periodic Unpredictable Synaptic Connections, Rates and Inputs
Authors: Akhmet Marat , Tleubergenova Madina , Zhamanshin Akylbek
Published: October 2022

In this paper, we rigorously prove that unpredictable oscillations take place in the dynamics of Hopfield-type neural networks (HNNs) when synaptic connections, rates and external inputs are modulo periodic unpredictable. The synaptic connections, rates and inputs are synchronized to obtain the convergence of outputs on the compact subsets of the real axis. The existence, uniqueness, and exponential stability of such motions are discussed. The method of included intervals and the contraction mapping principle are applied to attain the theoretical results. In addition to the analysis, we have provided strong simulation arguments, considering that all the assumed conditions are satisfied. It is shown how a new parameter, degree of periodicity, affects the dynamics of the neural network.
Resting-State EEG in Alpha Rhythm May Be Indicative of the Performance of Motor Imagery-Based Brain–Computer Interface
Authors: Wang Kun , Tian Feifan , Xu Minpeng , Zhang Shanshan , Xu Lichao , Ming Dong
Published: October 2022

Motor imagery-based brain–computer interfaces (MI-BCIs) have great application prospects in motor enhancement and rehabilitation. However, the capacity to control a MI-BCI varies among persons. Predicting the MI ability of a user remains challenging in BCI studies. We first calculated the relative power level (RPL), power spectral entropy (PSE) and Lempel–Ziv complexity (LZC) of the resting-state open and closed-eye EEG of different frequency bands and investigated their correlations with the upper and lower limbs MI performance (left hand, right hand, both hands and feet MI tasks) on as many as 105 subjects. Then, the most significant related features were used to construct a classifier to separate the high MI performance group from the low MI performance group. The results showed that the features of open-eye resting alpha-band EEG had the strongest significant correlations with MI performance. The PSE performed the best among all features for the screening of the MI performance, with the classification accuracy of 85.24%. These findings demonstrated that the alpha bands might offer information related to the user’s MI ability, which could be used to explore more effective and general neural markers to screen subjects and design individual MI training strategies.