The effect of iron concentration on the microstructural and structural properties of ZnO for electrolysis and photodetector applications was investigated.The thin layers of un-doped and doped ZnO with different percen...The effect of iron concentration on the microstructural and structural properties of ZnO for electrolysis and photodetector applications was investigated.The thin layers of un-doped and doped ZnO with different percentages of Fe(2,4,and 6 wt.%)were deposited by spin-coating on glass substrates.Sample characterization was done by X-ray diffraction(XRD),atomic force microscopy(AFM),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDS),UV−Vis absorption spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS).Structural measurements by XRD showed that all the layers were composed of polycrystallines with a hexagonal Wurtzite structure.Two new peaks were also discovered after the doping process belonging to the Fe_(2)O_(4)(400)and(440)crystal phase.Morphological analysis showed that the surface roughness values of ZnO layers ranged between 8 and 45 nm.XPS studies confirmed the presence of Fe in 3+states in ZnO layers.An average transmittance of 90%was measured by UV−Vis in the wavelength range of 200−900 nm.The values of the energy gap(Eg)decreased with an increase in the concentration of Fe.AFM topography results confirmed that ZnO-based thin layers had a relatively uniform surface.The efficiency of these samples has been confirmed for their use in many electrical applications,including photodetectors and electrolysis of contaminated solutions.展开更多
Clustering a social network is a process of grouping social actors into clusters where intra-cluster similarities among actors are higher than inter-cluster similarities. Clustering approaches, i.e. , k-medoids or hie...Clustering a social network is a process of grouping social actors into clusters where intra-cluster similarities among actors are higher than inter-cluster similarities. Clustering approaches, i.e. , k-medoids or hierarchical, use the distance function to measure the dissimilarities among actors. These distance functions need to fulfill various properties, including the triangle inequality (TI). However, in some cases, the triangle inequality might be violated, impacting the quality of the resulting clusters. With experiments, this paper explains how TI violates while performing traditional clustering techniques: k-medoids, hierarchical, DENGRAPH, and spectral clustering on social networks and how the violation of TI affects the quality of the resulting clusters.展开更多
The application field for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology and its adoption rate have been increasingsteadily in the past years. Decreasing cost of commercial drones has enabled their use at a scale broader th...The application field for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology and its adoption rate have been increasingsteadily in the past years. Decreasing cost of commercial drones has enabled their use at a scale broader thanever before. However, increasing the complexity of UAVs and decreasing the cost, both contribute to a lack ofimplemented securitymeasures and raise new security and safety concerns. For instance, the issue of implausible ortampered UAV sensor measurements is barely addressed in the current research literature and thus, requires moreattention from the research community. The goal of this survey is to extensively review state-of-the-art literatureregarding common sensor- and communication-based vulnerabilities, existing threats, and active or passive cyberattacksagainst UAVs, as well as shed light on the research gaps in the literature. In this work, we describe theUnmanned Aerial System (UAS) architecture to point out the origination sources for security and safety issues.Weevaluate the coverage and completeness of each related research work in a comprehensive comparison table as wellas classify the threats, vulnerabilities and cyber-attacks into sensor-based and communication-based categories.Additionally, for each individual cyber-attack, we describe existing countermeasures or detectionmechanisms andprovide a list of requirements to ensureUAV’s security and safety.We also address the problem of implausible sensormeasurements and introduce the idea of a plausibility check for sensor data. By doing so, we discover additionalmeasures to improve security and safety and report on a research niche that is not well represented in the currentresearch literature.展开更多
Opencast lignite mining in the Lusatia region of Germany has resulted in large scale landscape disturbances, which require suitable recultivation techniques in order to promote plant growth and establishment in the re...Opencast lignite mining in the Lusatia region of Germany has resulted in large scale landscape disturbances, which require suitable recultivation techniques in order to promote plant growth and establishment in the remaining nutrient-poor substrates with low water-holding capacity. Thus, the effects of two commercial soil additives （CSA）, a hydrophilic polymer mixed with volcanic rock flour and bentonite （a-CSA）, and digester solids from biogas plants enriched with humic acids and bentonite （b-CSA）, on soil organic carbon （SOC） storage, plant yields and root biomass were assessed after cultivating perennial crops （Dactylis 9lornerata L.） in monoculture and Helianthus annuus L.-Brassica napus L. in crop rotation systems. The CSA were incorporated into the top 20 cm soil depth using a rotary spader. The results indicated that a-CSA led to a significant increase in plant yield during the first year, and improved root biomass in the following year. As a result, SOC stocks increased, especially in the 0 10 cm soil layer. No significant sequestration of additional SOC was observed on b-CSA-amended plots at the end of both years. Bulk density values decreased in all treatments under the monoculture system. It can be concluded that application of a-CSA enhanced soil water availability for plant uptake and consequently promoted plant growth and organic carbon sequestration. The relative enrichment of organic matter without effects on water-holding capacities of b-CSA treatments suggested that it was not suitable for rapid land reclamation.展开更多
Among challenges implicit in the transition to the post-fossil fuel energetic model,the finite amount of resources available for the technological implementation of CO_(2) revalorizing processes arises as a central is...Among challenges implicit in the transition to the post-fossil fuel energetic model,the finite amount of resources available for the technological implementation of CO_(2) revalorizing processes arises as a central issue.The development of fully renewable catalytic systems with easier metal recovery strategies would promote the viability and sustainability of synthetic natural gas production circular routes.Taking Ni and NiFe catalysts supported over g-Al_(2)O_(3) oxide as reference materials,this work evaluates the potentiality of Ni and NiFe supported biochar catalysts for CO_(2) methanation.The development of competitive biochar catalysts was found dependent on the creation of basic sites on the catalyst surface.Displaying lower Turn Over Frequencies than Ni/Al catalyst,the absence of basic sites achieved over Ni/C catalyst was related to the depleted catalyst performances.For NiFe catalysts,analogous Ni_(5)Fe_(1) alloys were constituted over both alumina and biochar supports.The highest specific activity of the catalyst series,exhibited by the NiFe/C catalyst,was related to the development of surface basic sites along with weaker NiFe-C interactions,which resulted in increased Ni0:NiO surface populations under reaction conditions.In summary,the present work establishes biochar supports as a competitive material to consider within the future low-carbon energetic panorama.展开更多
Physical separation processes are best understood in terms of the behaviour of individual ore particles.Yet,while different empirical particle-based separation modelling approaches have been developed,their predictive...Physical separation processes are best understood in terms of the behaviour of individual ore particles.Yet,while different empirical particle-based separation modelling approaches have been developed,their predictive performance has never been tested under variable process conditions.Here,we investigated the predictive performance of a state-of-the-art particle-based separation model under variable feed composition for a laboratory-scale magnetic separation of a skarn ore.Two scenarios were investigated:one in which the mass flow of the different processing streams could be measured and one in which it had to be estimated from data.In both scenarios,the predictive models were sufficiently general to predict the process outcomes of new samples of variable composition.Nevertheless,the scenario in which mass flow could be measured was4%more precise in predicting mass balances.The process behaviour of minerals present at concentrations above 0.1%by weight could be accurately predicted.Our findings indicate the potential use of this method to minimize the costs of metallurgical testwork while providing in-depth understanding of the recovery behaviour of individual ore particles.Moreover,the method may be used to establish powerful tools to forecast mineral recoveries for partly new ore types at a running mining operation.展开更多
Monotonic (tensile and compressive) and high cycle fatigue properties of the forged magnesium alloy AZ80 were investigated by using specimens with load axis parallel to longitude (L) or transverse (T) direction. A pro...Monotonic (tensile and compressive) and high cycle fatigue properties of the forged magnesium alloy AZ80 were investigated by using specimens with load axis parallel to longitude (L) or transverse (T) direction. A pronounced directional anisotropy in monotonic tests was observed in AZ80, i.e. the yield stress in T-direction is significantly lower than that in L direction. However, the directional anisotropy is absent in fatigue, fatigue strengths in both L- and T-directions are essentially equal. The absence of directional anisotropy in fatigue is possibly associated with the microstructure of AZ80. A homogeneous single phase structure probably alleviates the directional anisotropy of fatigue properties of the wrought magnesium alloy.展开更多
Background: Patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 35% are at a high risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) and benefit from implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy. ICD implantation is no...Background: Patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 35% are at a high risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) and benefit from implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy. ICD implantation is not indicated during the first 40 days after acute myocardial infarction and <3 months after coronary artery bypass grafting, because of possible cardiac function recovery. The wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) is a therapy option for preventing sudden cardiac death at the time of recovery. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the wearable cardioverter-defibrillator in preventing SCD after cardiac surgery. Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted in the Heart Center in Cottbus. From 02.2015 through 02.2018 26 WCD patients were retrospectively analyzed and followed-up. Patient demographics, defibrillation treatments, and daily wear times were retrospectively obtained from our clinical database and LifeVest network. The patients were questioned about actual NYHA grade and implanted ICD at the end of follow-up. Results: Twenty-five patients (mean age 65, 22 men, 3 women) were treated with a WCD in response to heart failure (mean EF = 24%) after cardiac surgery (21 CABG, 1 AVR, 1 AVR + CABG, 1 AVR + MVR, MVR + CABG). Average daily use of a WCD was 22.1 (SD ± 2.7) hours which were worn for 85 days (SD ± 35). At that time 11.96 (SD ± 15) events were detected but not treated, 1 defibrillation performed and no asystole seen. At the end of follow-up (12 months, SD ± 9) 20 patients were questioned. All of the patients were alive and 5 (25%) of them were with implanted ICD. 10 (50%) patients were in NYHA grade I, 3 (12%) in NYHA grade II, 3 (12%) between grade II-III, 2 (8%) in grade III and 2 (8%) patients in NYHA grade IV. Conclusions: A WCD is an effective therapy for prevention of sudden cardiac death during the recovery period of heart function after cardiac surgery. This is treatment with high patient compliance.展开更多
Background:The Iberian Peninsula comprises one of the largest boundaries between Mediterranean and Eurosiberian vegetation,known as sub-Mediterranean zone.This ecotone hosts many unique plant species and communities a...Background:The Iberian Peninsula comprises one of the largest boundaries between Mediterranean and Eurosiberian vegetation,known as sub-Mediterranean zone.This ecotone hosts many unique plant species and communities and constitutes the low-latitude(warm)margin of numerous central European species which co-occur with Mediterranean vegetation.Two of the main species found in this region are the Eurosiberian European beech(Fagus sylvatica L.)and the Mediterranean Pyrenean oak(Quercus pyrenaica Willd.).It remains unclear how the different physiological and adaptive strategies of these two species reflect their niche partitioning within a subMediterranean community and to what extent phenotypic variation(intraspecific variability)is driving niche partitioning across Eurosiberian and Mediterranean species.Methods:We quantified functional niche partitioning,based on the n-dimensional hypervolume to nine traits related to resource acquisition strategies(leaf,stem and root)plus relative growth rate as an additional wholeplant trait,and the environmental niche similarity between Pyrenean oak and European beech.Further,we analyzed the degree of phenotypic variation of both target species and its relationship with relative growth rates(RGR)and environmental conditions.Plant recruitment was measured for both target species as a proxy for the average fitness.Results:Species’functional space was highly segregated(13.09%overlap),mainly due to differences in niche breadth(59.7%)rather than niche replacement(25.6%),and beech showed higher trait variability,i.e.,had larger functional space.However,both species shared the environmental space,i.e.,environmental niches were overlapped.Most plant traits were not related to abiotic variables or RGR,neither did RGR to plant traits.Conclusions:Both target species share similar environmental space,however,show notably different functional resource-use strategies,promoting a high complementarity that contributes to maintaining a high functionality in sub-Mediterranean ecosystems.Therefore,we propose that conservation efforts be oriented to preserve both species in these habitats to maximize ecosystem functionality and resilience.展开更多
Arid and semi-arid regions are characterized by low rainfall and high potential evaporative demand. Here, water is the major limiting factor for plant growth and productivity. Soil and surface hydrology properties （e...Arid and semi-arid regions are characterized by low rainfall and high potential evaporative demand. Here, water is the major limiting factor for plant growth and productivity. Soil and surface hydrology properties （e.g. field capacity, infikration rates） effectively control the water re-distribution in the ecosystem, a fact that is aggravated in arid environments. Information of the spatial and temporal accessibility of soil water in desert ecosystems is limited. The purpose of the studies is the application of plant water potential to estimate the spatial and temporal variations of soil water availability in different arid ecosystems of the Negev （Israel） and southern Morocco. As model plants the evergreen shrubs Retama raetam, Thymelaea hirsuta and trees （Acacia tortilis） were chosen. Seasonal and spatial variations of the pre-dawn water potential （ψpd） were examined as diagnostic tool to determine water availability on the landscape level. The seasonal differences in the pre-dawn water potential were less pronounced on the dune compared to the interdune. This showed a better water availability on the dune slope. Also in the investigated wadis systems spatial differences of the water potential could be detected and related to the vegetation pattern.展开更多
Single point incremental forming(SPIF)is an innovative sheet forming process with a high economic pay-off.The formability in this process can be maximized by executing forming with a tool of specific small radius,rega...Single point incremental forming(SPIF)is an innovative sheet forming process with a high economic pay-off.The formability in this process can be maximized by executing forming with a tool of specific small radius,regarded as threshold critical radius.Its value has been reported as 2.2 mm for 1 mm thick sheet materials.However,with a change in the forming conditions specifically in the sheet thickness and step size,the critical radius is likely to alter due to a change in the bending condition.The main aim of the present study is to undertake this point into account and develop a relatively generic condition.The study is composed of experimental and numerical investigations.The maximum wall angle(θmax)without sheet fracturing is regarded as sheet formability.A number of sheet materials are formed to fracture and the trends correlating formability with normalized radius(i.e.,R/To where R is the tool-radius and To is the sheet thickness)are drawn.These trends confirm that there is a critical tool-radius(Rc)that maximizes the formability in SPIF.Furthermore,it is found that the critical radius is not fixed rather it shows dependence on the sheet thickness such that Rc=βTo,whereβvaries from 2.2 to 3.3 as the thickness increases from 1 mm to 3 mm.The critical radius,however,remains insensitive to variation in step size ranging from 0.3 mm to 0.7 mm.This is also observed that the selection of tool with R<Rc narrows down the formability window not only on the higher side but also on the lower side.The higher limit,as revealed by the experimental and FEA results,diminishes due to excessive shearing because of in-plane biaxial compression,and the lower limit reduces due to pillowing in the bottom of part.The new tool-radius condition proposed herein study would be helpful in maximizing the formability of materials in SPIF without performing experimental trials.展开更多
Tropical forests provide several ecosystem services and functions and support approximately two-thirds of the world’s biodiversity but are seriously threatened by deforestation.Approaches to counteract this menace ha...Tropical forests provide several ecosystem services and functions and support approximately two-thirds of the world’s biodiversity but are seriously threatened by deforestation.Approaches to counteract this menace have revolved around aff orestation with several or a single tree species.We thus investigated how plantation forests with either a single or several tree species infl uenced arthropod taxonomic and community composition using pitfall traps to sample selected groups of epigeal arthropods(Araneae,Coleoptera,Orthoptera and Hymenoptera)and with environmental variables assessed simultaneously.Our results revealed 54 taxonomic groups with signifi cantly higher taxonomic richness,activity density,and diversity in the mixed stands than in the monoculture stands.The significant differences in community composition were mainly driven by families including Lycosidae,Formicidae,Staphylinidae,Scotylidae,Hydrophilidae,Gryllidae and Scarabaeidae and were explained by distinct habitat characteristics(canopy openness,litter depth,deadwood volume,and tree height).While the diverse tree communities and heterogeneous vegetation structure off ered food and habitat resources for diverse arthropod groups,the allelopathic nature coupled with homogenous stand characteristics of the Tectona grandis stands in the monoculture suppressed the growth of understorey vegetation that could otherwise serve as food and habitat resources for arthropods,which might have led to limited activities and diversity of arthropods in the monoculture plantation stands.The fi ndings thus highlight the need to promote mixed tree plantations in degraded tropical areas,especially when restoring biodiversity is the prime management focus.展开更多
The need of communication protocols in today’s environment increases as much as the network explores. Many new kinds of protocols, e.g. for information sharing, security, etc., are being developed day-to-day which of...The need of communication protocols in today’s environment increases as much as the network explores. Many new kinds of protocols, e.g. for information sharing, security, etc., are being developed day-to-day which often leads to rapid, premature developments. Many protocols have not scaled to satisfy important properties like deadlock and livelock freedom, since MDA focuses on the rapid development rather than on the quality of the developed models. In order to fix the above, we introduce a 2-Phase strategy based on the UML state machine and sequence diagram. The state machine is converted into PROMELA code as a protocol model and its properties are derived from the sequence diagram as Linear Temporal Logic (LTL) through automation. The PROMELA code is interpreted through the SPIN model checker, which helps to simulate the behavior of protocol. Later the automated LTL properties are supplemented to the SPIN for the verification of protocol properties. The results are compared with the developed UML model and SPIN simulated model. Our test results impress the designer to verify the expected results with the system design and to identify the errors which are unnoticed during the design phase.展开更多
Alkaptonuria is a rare inherited tyrosine metabolism disorder, resulting in homogentisic acid deposition in the connective tissues. The condition is commonly referred to as ochronosis and manifests as skin pigmentatio...Alkaptonuria is a rare inherited tyrosine metabolism disorder, resulting in homogentisic acid deposition in the connective tissues. The condition is commonly referred to as ochronosis and manifests as skin pigmentation, degenerative arthropathy, and black urine. Among the rare complications of this disease is the involvement of the cardiovascular system. We report a case of a 63-year-old woman with alkaptonuric ochronosis who had already undergone three joint replacements. She was referred to our center for aortic valve replacement after accidentally discovering severe aortic valve stenosis in the preoperative assessment prior to her fourth joint replacement. Intraoperative findings included ochronosis of a severely calcified black-pigmented aortic valve and black pigmentation of the aortic intima. Histopathological analysis and elevated homogentisic acid levels in the patient’s urine confirmed the diagnosis of alkaptonuria. However, alkaptonuria was not diagnosed until aortic valve replacement despite the previous symptoms and signs. This report aims to outline the history, etiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and treatment of aortic valve ochronosis in addition to presenting the case.展开更多
Urbanization posits the expression of urban expanse expansion due to population growth, rise in built-up areas, high population density and its correspondingly urban way of life. Unrestrained impetus of development an...Urbanization posits the expression of urban expanse expansion due to population growth, rise in built-up areas, high population density and its correspondingly urban way of life. Unrestrained impetus of development and land use land cover change (LULCC) portent several issues such as unlawful urban sprawl, loss of agricultural land, forest loss and other associated complications. This study analyzed the dynamics of urbanization and other LULCC in Ghana’s Greater Kumasi area via Landsat images (TM 1986, OLI 2013 and OLI 2023) using ERDAS Imagine, Idrisi and ArcGIS software. Implementing supervised classification technique, the Maximum Likelihood Classifier (MLC) procedure was employed to categories the study area into five LULC classes. Accuracy assessment undertaken on the resultant LULC maps was deemed very satisfactory. The results from 1986-2023 pointed to an upsurge in a built-up extent as of 8% to 41%, a decrease in Closed Forest from 9% to 4%, another decrease in Open Forests from 64% to 33%, a slight increase from 16% to 20% in farmlands and a stable level of water share. Further analysis indicated that the study area had undergone LULCC within the periods 1986-2013 and 2013-2023 at 60% and 37% respectively. The findings showed uncontrolled urban sprawling along major roads and forest loss as deforestation outside protected areas and degradation in protected forest. The monitoring of urbanization and other LULCC is important for local, and national governments and other bodies charged with the implementation of programs and policies that manage and utilize natural resources. Development adapts to mitigate the effect on the environment.展开更多
Based on recent mining rates and the exhaustion of global phosphorus(P)reserves,there is a need to mobilize P already stored in soils,and its recovery from secondary resources such as Ca-and Fe-phosphates is important...Based on recent mining rates and the exhaustion of global phosphorus(P)reserves,there is a need to mobilize P already stored in soils,and its recovery from secondary resources such as Ca-and Fe-phosphates is important.The Ca-phosphate hydroxyapatite forms a good fertilizer source,while vivianite is formed in waterlogged soils and sediments.During sludge treatment,the formation of vivianite has been identified,being mainly Fe-phosphate.Long-term P release from both hydroxyapatite and vivianite was studied using different inorganic(CaCl2 and CaSO4)and organic(citric and humic acid)reagents during batch experiments.Reagents CaCl2 and CaSO4 represent the soil solution,while citric and humic acids as organic constituents affect P availability in the rhizosphere and during the process of humification.Additionally,the flow-through reactor(FTR)technique with an infinite sink was used to study the long-term P release kinetics.The cumulative P release was higher by organic acids than by inorganic compounds.The cumulative P release rates were higher in the FTR with CaCl2 as compared to the batch technique.The infinite sink application caused a continuously high concentration gradient between the solid and liquid phases,leading to higher desorption rates as compared to the batch technique.The predominant amount of the total P released over time was available for a short term.While inorganic anion exchange occurred at easily available binding sites,organic acids affected the more heavily available binding sites,which could be embedded within the mineral structure.The results showed that organic compounds,especially citric acid,play a superior role as compared to the inorganic constituents of the soil solution during the recovery of already stored P from the tertiary phosphates vivianite and hydroxyapatite.展开更多
More and more modern group oriented collaborativeapplications use the peer-to-peer(P2P)paradigm tobe independent of expensive infrastructures as theyare,for instance,provided for audio and video conferencesby H.323 sy...More and more modern group oriented collaborativeapplications use the peer-to-peer(P2P)paradigm tobe independent of expensive infrastructures as theyare,for instance,provided for audio and video conferencesby H.323 systems.Decentralized collaborativeP2P solutions require appropriate mechanismsto protect group privacy and data integrity.A centralizedclient/server based video conference system canbe well shielded in a standard manner,whilst thereare no off-the-shelf approaches to secure a P2P videoconference up to now.The paper addresses this issueand presents a flexible security architecture.Usingthe BRAVIS system[4]as an example it shows howthe architecture can be embedded into a P2P videoconferencing system.展开更多
基金the support received from the Researchers Supporting Project(No.RSP2024R404),King Saud University,Riyadh,Saudi Arabia。
文摘The effect of iron concentration on the microstructural and structural properties of ZnO for electrolysis and photodetector applications was investigated.The thin layers of un-doped and doped ZnO with different percentages of Fe(2,4,and 6 wt.%)were deposited by spin-coating on glass substrates.Sample characterization was done by X-ray diffraction(XRD),atomic force microscopy(AFM),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDS),UV−Vis absorption spectra and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS).Structural measurements by XRD showed that all the layers were composed of polycrystallines with a hexagonal Wurtzite structure.Two new peaks were also discovered after the doping process belonging to the Fe_(2)O_(4)(400)and(440)crystal phase.Morphological analysis showed that the surface roughness values of ZnO layers ranged between 8 and 45 nm.XPS studies confirmed the presence of Fe in 3+states in ZnO layers.An average transmittance of 90%was measured by UV−Vis in the wavelength range of 200−900 nm.The values of the energy gap(Eg)decreased with an increase in the concentration of Fe.AFM topography results confirmed that ZnO-based thin layers had a relatively uniform surface.The efficiency of these samples has been confirmed for their use in many electrical applications,including photodetectors and electrolysis of contaminated solutions.
文摘Clustering a social network is a process of grouping social actors into clusters where intra-cluster similarities among actors are higher than inter-cluster similarities. Clustering approaches, i.e. , k-medoids or hierarchical, use the distance function to measure the dissimilarities among actors. These distance functions need to fulfill various properties, including the triangle inequality (TI). However, in some cases, the triangle inequality might be violated, impacting the quality of the resulting clusters. With experiments, this paper explains how TI violates while performing traditional clustering techniques: k-medoids, hierarchical, DENGRAPH, and spectral clustering on social networks and how the violation of TI affects the quality of the resulting clusters.
基金the FederalMinistry of Education and Research of Germany under Grant Numbers 16ES1131 and 16ES1128K.
文摘The application field for Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology and its adoption rate have been increasingsteadily in the past years. Decreasing cost of commercial drones has enabled their use at a scale broader thanever before. However, increasing the complexity of UAVs and decreasing the cost, both contribute to a lack ofimplemented securitymeasures and raise new security and safety concerns. For instance, the issue of implausible ortampered UAV sensor measurements is barely addressed in the current research literature and thus, requires moreattention from the research community. The goal of this survey is to extensively review state-of-the-art literatureregarding common sensor- and communication-based vulnerabilities, existing threats, and active or passive cyberattacksagainst UAVs, as well as shed light on the research gaps in the literature. In this work, we describe theUnmanned Aerial System (UAS) architecture to point out the origination sources for security and safety issues.Weevaluate the coverage and completeness of each related research work in a comprehensive comparison table as wellas classify the threats, vulnerabilities and cyber-attacks into sensor-based and communication-based categories.Additionally, for each individual cyber-attack, we describe existing countermeasures or detectionmechanisms andprovide a list of requirements to ensureUAV’s security and safety.We also address the problem of implausible sensormeasurements and introduce the idea of a plausibility check for sensor data. By doing so, we discover additionalmeasures to improve security and safety and report on a research niche that is not well represented in the currentresearch literature.
基金Supported by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
文摘Opencast lignite mining in the Lusatia region of Germany has resulted in large scale landscape disturbances, which require suitable recultivation techniques in order to promote plant growth and establishment in the remaining nutrient-poor substrates with low water-holding capacity. Thus, the effects of two commercial soil additives （CSA）, a hydrophilic polymer mixed with volcanic rock flour and bentonite （a-CSA）, and digester solids from biogas plants enriched with humic acids and bentonite （b-CSA）, on soil organic carbon （SOC） storage, plant yields and root biomass were assessed after cultivating perennial crops （Dactylis 9lornerata L.） in monoculture and Helianthus annuus L.-Brassica napus L. in crop rotation systems. The CSA were incorporated into the top 20 cm soil depth using a rotary spader. The results indicated that a-CSA led to a significant increase in plant yield during the first year, and improved root biomass in the following year. As a result, SOC stocks increased, especially in the 0 10 cm soil layer. No significant sequestration of additional SOC was observed on b-CSA-amended plots at the end of both years. Bulk density values decreased in all treatments under the monoculture system. It can be concluded that application of a-CSA enhanced soil water availability for plant uptake and consequently promoted plant growth and organic carbon sequestration. The relative enrichment of organic matter without effects on water-holding capacities of b-CSA treatments suggested that it was not suitable for rapid land reclamation.
文摘Among challenges implicit in the transition to the post-fossil fuel energetic model,the finite amount of resources available for the technological implementation of CO_(2) revalorizing processes arises as a central issue.The development of fully renewable catalytic systems with easier metal recovery strategies would promote the viability and sustainability of synthetic natural gas production circular routes.Taking Ni and NiFe catalysts supported over g-Al_(2)O_(3) oxide as reference materials,this work evaluates the potentiality of Ni and NiFe supported biochar catalysts for CO_(2) methanation.The development of competitive biochar catalysts was found dependent on the creation of basic sites on the catalyst surface.Displaying lower Turn Over Frequencies than Ni/Al catalyst,the absence of basic sites achieved over Ni/C catalyst was related to the depleted catalyst performances.For NiFe catalysts,analogous Ni_(5)Fe_(1) alloys were constituted over both alumina and biochar supports.The highest specific activity of the catalyst series,exhibited by the NiFe/C catalyst,was related to the development of surface basic sites along with weaker NiFe-C interactions,which resulted in increased Ni0:NiO surface populations under reaction conditions.In summary,the present work establishes biochar supports as a competitive material to consider within the future low-carbon energetic panorama.
基金the German Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF) for funding the projects MoCa (grant number 033R189B) and AFK (grant number 033R128), which were essential to this studythe Saxore Bergbau GmbH for providing the samples for this studySabine Gilbricht (TU Bergakademie Freiberg) for support during SEM-MLA data acquisition
文摘Physical separation processes are best understood in terms of the behaviour of individual ore particles.Yet,while different empirical particle-based separation modelling approaches have been developed,their predictive performance has never been tested under variable process conditions.Here,we investigated the predictive performance of a state-of-the-art particle-based separation model under variable feed composition for a laboratory-scale magnetic separation of a skarn ore.Two scenarios were investigated:one in which the mass flow of the different processing streams could be measured and one in which it had to be estimated from data.In both scenarios,the predictive models were sufficiently general to predict the process outcomes of new samples of variable composition.Nevertheless,the scenario in which mass flow could be measured was4%more precise in predicting mass balances.The process behaviour of minerals present at concentrations above 0.1%by weight could be accurately predicted.Our findings indicate the potential use of this method to minimize the costs of metallurgical testwork while providing in-depth understanding of the recovery behaviour of individual ore particles.Moreover,the method may be used to establish powerful tools to forecast mineral recoveries for partly new ore types at a running mining operation.
基金Project supported by Shanghai Pujiang Program and German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)
文摘Monotonic (tensile and compressive) and high cycle fatigue properties of the forged magnesium alloy AZ80 were investigated by using specimens with load axis parallel to longitude (L) or transverse (T) direction. A pronounced directional anisotropy in monotonic tests was observed in AZ80, i.e. the yield stress in T-direction is significantly lower than that in L direction. However, the directional anisotropy is absent in fatigue, fatigue strengths in both L- and T-directions are essentially equal. The absence of directional anisotropy in fatigue is possibly associated with the microstructure of AZ80. A homogeneous single phase structure probably alleviates the directional anisotropy of fatigue properties of the wrought magnesium alloy.
文摘Background: Patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 35% are at a high risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) and benefit from implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy. ICD implantation is not indicated during the first 40 days after acute myocardial infarction and <3 months after coronary artery bypass grafting, because of possible cardiac function recovery. The wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) is a therapy option for preventing sudden cardiac death at the time of recovery. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the wearable cardioverter-defibrillator in preventing SCD after cardiac surgery. Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted in the Heart Center in Cottbus. From 02.2015 through 02.2018 26 WCD patients were retrospectively analyzed and followed-up. Patient demographics, defibrillation treatments, and daily wear times were retrospectively obtained from our clinical database and LifeVest network. The patients were questioned about actual NYHA grade and implanted ICD at the end of follow-up. Results: Twenty-five patients (mean age 65, 22 men, 3 women) were treated with a WCD in response to heart failure (mean EF = 24%) after cardiac surgery (21 CABG, 1 AVR, 1 AVR + CABG, 1 AVR + MVR, MVR + CABG). Average daily use of a WCD was 22.1 (SD ± 2.7) hours which were worn for 85 days (SD ± 35). At that time 11.96 (SD ± 15) events were detected but not treated, 1 defibrillation performed and no asystole seen. At the end of follow-up (12 months, SD ± 9) 20 patients were questioned. All of the patients were alive and 5 (25%) of them were with implanted ICD. 10 (50%) patients were in NYHA grade I, 3 (12%) in NYHA grade II, 3 (12%) between grade II-III, 2 (8%) in grade III and 2 (8%) patients in NYHA grade IV. Conclusions: A WCD is an effective therapy for prevention of sudden cardiac death during the recovery period of heart function after cardiac surgery. This is treatment with high patient compliance.
基金financially supported by the German Research Foundation(Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft)being part of the project“the Functional Frontier among Mediterranean and Eurosiberian Plant Communities”(ECOFUMER,441909701)+2 种基金Enrique G.de la Riva and Salvador Arenas-Castro are supported by María Zambrano fellowships funded by the Spanish Ministry of Universities and European Union-Next Generation PlanIv an Prieto acknowledges funding from the Fundaci on S eneca(project 20654/JLI/18)co-funded by European Union ERDF funds。
文摘Background:The Iberian Peninsula comprises one of the largest boundaries between Mediterranean and Eurosiberian vegetation,known as sub-Mediterranean zone.This ecotone hosts many unique plant species and communities and constitutes the low-latitude(warm)margin of numerous central European species which co-occur with Mediterranean vegetation.Two of the main species found in this region are the Eurosiberian European beech(Fagus sylvatica L.)and the Mediterranean Pyrenean oak(Quercus pyrenaica Willd.).It remains unclear how the different physiological and adaptive strategies of these two species reflect their niche partitioning within a subMediterranean community and to what extent phenotypic variation(intraspecific variability)is driving niche partitioning across Eurosiberian and Mediterranean species.Methods:We quantified functional niche partitioning,based on the n-dimensional hypervolume to nine traits related to resource acquisition strategies(leaf,stem and root)plus relative growth rate as an additional wholeplant trait,and the environmental niche similarity between Pyrenean oak and European beech.Further,we analyzed the degree of phenotypic variation of both target species and its relationship with relative growth rates(RGR)and environmental conditions.Plant recruitment was measured for both target species as a proxy for the average fitness.Results:Species’functional space was highly segregated(13.09%overlap),mainly due to differences in niche breadth(59.7%)rather than niche replacement(25.6%),and beech showed higher trait variability,i.e.,had larger functional space.However,both species shared the environmental space,i.e.,environmental niches were overlapped.Most plant traits were not related to abiotic variables or RGR,neither did RGR to plant traits.Conclusions:Both target species share similar environmental space,however,show notably different functional resource-use strategies,promoting a high complementarity that contributes to maintaining a high functionality in sub-Mediterranean ecosystems.Therefore,we propose that conservation efforts be oriented to preserve both species in these habitats to maximize ecosystem functionality and resilience.
文摘Arid and semi-arid regions are characterized by low rainfall and high potential evaporative demand. Here, water is the major limiting factor for plant growth and productivity. Soil and surface hydrology properties （e.g. field capacity, infikration rates） effectively control the water re-distribution in the ecosystem, a fact that is aggravated in arid environments. Information of the spatial and temporal accessibility of soil water in desert ecosystems is limited. The purpose of the studies is the application of plant water potential to estimate the spatial and temporal variations of soil water availability in different arid ecosystems of the Negev （Israel） and southern Morocco. As model plants the evergreen shrubs Retama raetam, Thymelaea hirsuta and trees （Acacia tortilis） were chosen. Seasonal and spatial variations of the pre-dawn water potential （ψpd） were examined as diagnostic tool to determine water availability on the landscape level. The seasonal differences in the pre-dawn water potential were less pronounced on the dune compared to the interdune. This showed a better water availability on the dune slope. Also in the investigated wadis systems spatial differences of the water potential could be detected and related to the vegetation pattern.
基金Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities[Grant No.NS2015055 and No.NP2020413]High-End Foreign Experts Project with Universities Directly under the Administration of Ministries and Commissions of the Central Government[Grant No.011951G19061]+1 种基金National Natural Science Foundation of China[Grant No.51105202]the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Saud University for funding this work through research group number RG-1439-027.
文摘Single point incremental forming(SPIF)is an innovative sheet forming process with a high economic pay-off.The formability in this process can be maximized by executing forming with a tool of specific small radius,regarded as threshold critical radius.Its value has been reported as 2.2 mm for 1 mm thick sheet materials.However,with a change in the forming conditions specifically in the sheet thickness and step size,the critical radius is likely to alter due to a change in the bending condition.The main aim of the present study is to undertake this point into account and develop a relatively generic condition.The study is composed of experimental and numerical investigations.The maximum wall angle(θmax)without sheet fracturing is regarded as sheet formability.A number of sheet materials are formed to fracture and the trends correlating formability with normalized radius(i.e.,R/To where R is the tool-radius and To is the sheet thickness)are drawn.These trends confirm that there is a critical tool-radius(Rc)that maximizes the formability in SPIF.Furthermore,it is found that the critical radius is not fixed rather it shows dependence on the sheet thickness such that Rc=βTo,whereβvaries from 2.2 to 3.3 as the thickness increases from 1 mm to 3 mm.The critical radius,however,remains insensitive to variation in step size ranging from 0.3 mm to 0.7 mm.This is also observed that the selection of tool with R<Rc narrows down the formability window not only on the higher side but also on the lower side.The higher limit,as revealed by the experimental and FEA results,diminishes due to excessive shearing because of in-plane biaxial compression,and the lower limit reduces due to pillowing in the bottom of part.The new tool-radius condition proposed herein study would be helpful in maximizing the formability of materials in SPIF without performing experimental trials.
文摘Tropical forests provide several ecosystem services and functions and support approximately two-thirds of the world’s biodiversity but are seriously threatened by deforestation.Approaches to counteract this menace have revolved around aff orestation with several or a single tree species.We thus investigated how plantation forests with either a single or several tree species infl uenced arthropod taxonomic and community composition using pitfall traps to sample selected groups of epigeal arthropods(Araneae,Coleoptera,Orthoptera and Hymenoptera)and with environmental variables assessed simultaneously.Our results revealed 54 taxonomic groups with signifi cantly higher taxonomic richness,activity density,and diversity in the mixed stands than in the monoculture stands.The significant differences in community composition were mainly driven by families including Lycosidae,Formicidae,Staphylinidae,Scotylidae,Hydrophilidae,Gryllidae and Scarabaeidae and were explained by distinct habitat characteristics(canopy openness,litter depth,deadwood volume,and tree height).While the diverse tree communities and heterogeneous vegetation structure off ered food and habitat resources for diverse arthropod groups,the allelopathic nature coupled with homogenous stand characteristics of the Tectona grandis stands in the monoculture suppressed the growth of understorey vegetation that could otherwise serve as food and habitat resources for arthropods,which might have led to limited activities and diversity of arthropods in the monoculture plantation stands.The fi ndings thus highlight the need to promote mixed tree plantations in degraded tropical areas,especially when restoring biodiversity is the prime management focus.
文摘The need of communication protocols in today’s environment increases as much as the network explores. Many new kinds of protocols, e.g. for information sharing, security, etc., are being developed day-to-day which often leads to rapid, premature developments. Many protocols have not scaled to satisfy important properties like deadlock and livelock freedom, since MDA focuses on the rapid development rather than on the quality of the developed models. In order to fix the above, we introduce a 2-Phase strategy based on the UML state machine and sequence diagram. The state machine is converted into PROMELA code as a protocol model and its properties are derived from the sequence diagram as Linear Temporal Logic (LTL) through automation. The PROMELA code is interpreted through the SPIN model checker, which helps to simulate the behavior of protocol. Later the automated LTL properties are supplemented to the SPIN for the verification of protocol properties. The results are compared with the developed UML model and SPIN simulated model. Our test results impress the designer to verify the expected results with the system design and to identify the errors which are unnoticed during the design phase.
文摘Alkaptonuria is a rare inherited tyrosine metabolism disorder, resulting in homogentisic acid deposition in the connective tissues. The condition is commonly referred to as ochronosis and manifests as skin pigmentation, degenerative arthropathy, and black urine. Among the rare complications of this disease is the involvement of the cardiovascular system. We report a case of a 63-year-old woman with alkaptonuric ochronosis who had already undergone three joint replacements. She was referred to our center for aortic valve replacement after accidentally discovering severe aortic valve stenosis in the preoperative assessment prior to her fourth joint replacement. Intraoperative findings included ochronosis of a severely calcified black-pigmented aortic valve and black pigmentation of the aortic intima. Histopathological analysis and elevated homogentisic acid levels in the patient’s urine confirmed the diagnosis of alkaptonuria. However, alkaptonuria was not diagnosed until aortic valve replacement despite the previous symptoms and signs. This report aims to outline the history, etiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, and treatment of aortic valve ochronosis in addition to presenting the case.
文摘Urbanization posits the expression of urban expanse expansion due to population growth, rise in built-up areas, high population density and its correspondingly urban way of life. Unrestrained impetus of development and land use land cover change (LULCC) portent several issues such as unlawful urban sprawl, loss of agricultural land, forest loss and other associated complications. This study analyzed the dynamics of urbanization and other LULCC in Ghana’s Greater Kumasi area via Landsat images (TM 1986, OLI 2013 and OLI 2023) using ERDAS Imagine, Idrisi and ArcGIS software. Implementing supervised classification technique, the Maximum Likelihood Classifier (MLC) procedure was employed to categories the study area into five LULC classes. Accuracy assessment undertaken on the resultant LULC maps was deemed very satisfactory. The results from 1986-2023 pointed to an upsurge in a built-up extent as of 8% to 41%, a decrease in Closed Forest from 9% to 4%, another decrease in Open Forests from 64% to 33%, a slight increase from 16% to 20% in farmlands and a stable level of water share. Further analysis indicated that the study area had undergone LULCC within the periods 1986-2013 and 2013-2023 at 60% and 37% respectively. The findings showed uncontrolled urban sprawling along major roads and forest loss as deforestation outside protected areas and degradation in protected forest. The monitoring of urbanization and other LULCC is important for local, and national governments and other bodies charged with the implementation of programs and policies that manage and utilize natural resources. Development adapts to mitigate the effect on the environment.
基金the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research(BMBF)for funding the Bona Res Project Inno Soil Phos(No.031A558)。
文摘Based on recent mining rates and the exhaustion of global phosphorus(P)reserves,there is a need to mobilize P already stored in soils,and its recovery from secondary resources such as Ca-and Fe-phosphates is important.The Ca-phosphate hydroxyapatite forms a good fertilizer source,while vivianite is formed in waterlogged soils and sediments.During sludge treatment,the formation of vivianite has been identified,being mainly Fe-phosphate.Long-term P release from both hydroxyapatite and vivianite was studied using different inorganic(CaCl2 and CaSO4)and organic(citric and humic acid)reagents during batch experiments.Reagents CaCl2 and CaSO4 represent the soil solution,while citric and humic acids as organic constituents affect P availability in the rhizosphere and during the process of humification.Additionally,the flow-through reactor(FTR)technique with an infinite sink was used to study the long-term P release kinetics.The cumulative P release was higher by organic acids than by inorganic compounds.The cumulative P release rates were higher in the FTR with CaCl2 as compared to the batch technique.The infinite sink application caused a continuously high concentration gradient between the solid and liquid phases,leading to higher desorption rates as compared to the batch technique.The predominant amount of the total P released over time was available for a short term.While inorganic anion exchange occurred at easily available binding sites,organic acids affected the more heavily available binding sites,which could be embedded within the mineral structure.The results showed that organic compounds,especially citric acid,play a superior role as compared to the inorganic constituents of the soil solution during the recovery of already stored P from the tertiary phosphates vivianite and hydroxyapatite.
文摘More and more modern group oriented collaborativeapplications use the peer-to-peer(P2P)paradigm tobe independent of expensive infrastructures as theyare,for instance,provided for audio and video conferencesby H.323 systems.Decentralized collaborativeP2P solutions require appropriate mechanismsto protect group privacy and data integrity.A centralizedclient/server based video conference system canbe well shielded in a standard manner,whilst thereare no off-the-shelf approaches to secure a P2P videoconference up to now.The paper addresses this issueand presents a flexible security architecture.Usingthe BRAVIS system[4]as an example it shows howthe architecture can be embedded into a P2P videoconferencing system.
