Spectrum Scheduling is an efficient scheme of improving spectrum utilization for faster communications, higher definition media (HDM) and data transmission. Radio spectrum is very limited in supply resulting in enormous problems related to scarcity. It owes the physical support for wireless communication, both fixed applications and mobile broadband. Basically, effective use of the spectrum depends on the channel settings, sensing performance, detection of spectrum prospect as well as effective transmission of both Primary Users (PUs) and Secondary Users (SUs) packets at a specific time slot. In order to improve spectrum utilization this paper adopted quantitative method which employs Probability Theorem to identify the probabilities of both primary Users (PUs) and secondary users (SUs) in the spectrum datasets allocation and further used conditional probability to compare two Frequency Bands i.e., High Frequency (HF) and Very High Frequency (VHF). The result indicates available spectrum holes (SH) left unutilized in the Secondary User (SU) resulting in the need for spectrum scheduling for the SU. The procedure makes the secondary users occupy a probability of 0.002mhz compared to the primary users on 0.00004mhz utilization. This further indicates that some spectrum holes were left unutilized by the license users (Primary Users). However, spectrum allocation is one of the major issues of improving spectrum efficiency and has become a considerable tool in cognitive wireless networks (CWN). Consequently, the goal of spectrum allocation is to assign leisure spectrum resources efficiently to achieve the optimal Quality of Service (QOS and cognitive user requirements of wireless network. Again, classification of spectrum allocation was carried out through difference methods. Firstly, we employ a probability theorem to identify the probability of both Primary Users (PUs) and Secondary Users (SUs) in the allocated spectrum data sets. Secondly, conditional probability was used to compare two frequency band based on primary and secondary allocation policies designed to identify the specific allocation of each band. Thirdly, Machine Learning (ML) Algorithm based on Decision Tree-Supervised Learning (DTSL) approach was adopted to classified our data sets. The result yielded 68% which correctly classified instances based on the total records of sixty-nine (69) data sets. Research findings demonstrate a highly optimized spectrum scheduling for efficient networks service provisions.

An efficient phishing website detection plugin service was developed using machine learning technique based on the prevalent phishing threat while using existing web browsers in critical online transactions. The study gathered useful information from 27 published articles and dataset consisting of 11,000 data points with 30 features downloaded from phishtank. A unique architectural framework for detecting phishing websites was designed using random forest machine learning classifier based the aim and objectives of the study. The model was trained with 90% (9,900) of the dataset and tested with 10% (1,100) using Python programming language for better efficiency. Microsoft Visual Studio Code, Jupiter Notebook, Anaconda Integrated Development Environment, HTML/CSS and JavaScript was used in developing the frontend of the model for easy integration into existing web browsers. The proposed model was also modeled using use-case and sequence diagrams to test its internal functionalities. The result revealed that the proposed model had an accuracy of 0.96, error rate of 0.04, precision of 0.97, recall value of 0.99 and f1-score of 0.98 which far outperform other models developed based on literatures. Future recommendations should focus on improved security features, more phishing adaptive learning properties, and so on, so that it can be reasonably applied to other web browsers in accurately detecting real-world phishing situations using advanced algorithms such as hybridized machine learning and deep learning techniques.

Currently, the planet population is terrified of the deaths of more than 4 million people from the coronavirus as they do not know that, according to the WHO, about 8 million of the population die annually in silence from urban atmosphere pollution by and with hazardous substances and particulate matters from the industry and automobile transport operation. These materials show the results of Russian studies proving that current urban pollution shall be defined not only by hazardous substances and particulate matters emitted with vehicle exhaust gases, but also by particulate matters from vehicle operation, first of all, from asphalt roadway wear, from tyre wear and from brake systems wear, which are not legally regulated either by nations or at the international level (UN Regulations) yet. The Russian studies (2015-2017) are presented regarding the comparative analysis of average emissions of particulate matters less than 2.5 microns (µm) from different sources: with exhaust gases (EG) (25%); from wear of brake systems (5%); from wear of tyres (8%) and from wear of roadways (65%), which were substantially confirmed by the studies conducted in Great Britain: from EG-32%; from tyres-18%; from brakes-18% and from wear of roadways-40%. Based on these results of the comprehensive studies, calculations of economic damage caused by the ecological situations and technogenic disasters of the current and future periods analyzed above, which amount to 65 quadrillion (65•10 15) US dollars for the today's world and ca. 100 million dollars for the Russian Federation. According to the data of the World Health Organization (WHO), as of 2018, 9 out of 10 people around the world breathe air with high concentrations of pollutants. For that very reason, from 7 to 8 million people die annually because of the consequences of breathing the air containing particulate matters less than 2.5-10 µm in size which are able to penetrate deep inside the lungs and cardiovascular system, causing such diseases as stroke, cardiac diseases, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and respiratory infections, including pneumonia.

Musicology is a growing focus in computer science. Past research has had success in automatically generating music through learning-based agents that make use of neural networks and through model and rule-based approaches. These methods require a significant amount of information, either in the form of a large dataset for learning or a comprehensive set of rules based on musical concepts. This paper explores a model in which a minimal amount of musical information is needed to compose a desired style of music. This paper takes from two concepts, objectness, and evolutionary computation. The concept of objectness, an idea directly derived from imagery and pattern recognition, was used to extract specific musical objects from single musical inputs which are then used as the foundation to algorithmically produce musical pieces that are similar in style to the original inputs. These musical pieces are the product of evolutionary algorithms which implement a sequential evolution approach wherein a generated output may or may not yet be fully within the fitness thresholds of the input pieces. This method eliminates the need for a large amount of pre-provided data as well as the need for long processing times that are commonly associated with machine-learned art-pieces. This study aims to show a proof of concept of the implementation of the described model.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a prominent force in the twenty-first century. Organizations have more data than ever before, therefore it's critical that the analytics team distinguishes between Interesting Data and Useful Data. "Feature Selection" and "Feature Extraction" are two critical parts of Machine Learning. We are now witnessing the emergence of the fourth industrial revolution, as well as a significant number of evolutionary changes in machine learning methodologies to achieve operational excellence in the operation and maintenance of industrial assets in an efficient, reliable, safe, and cost-effective manner. Knowledge-based systems, expert systems, artificial neural networks, genetic algorithms, fuzzy logic, case-based reasoning, and any combination of these approaches are examples of AI methodologies (hybrid systems), machine learning, and biomimicry, such as swarm intelligence and distributed intelligence, are being employed by multidisciplinary researchers to tackle a wide range of previously intractable challenges related with proactive maintenance management of industrial assets. The purpose of this study is to examine the function of artificial intelligence in the condition monitoring and diagnostic engineering management of modern engineering assets. The study also emphasizes the dangers of unethical and immoral usage of AI.

Introduction: Capsulectomy is recommended in patients with cardiac implantable electronic device (CIED) infection after transvenous lead extraction (TLE) but is time-consuming and requires extensive tissue debridement. In this study, we describe the outcomes of chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) scrubbing in lieu of capsulectomy for the treatment of CIED infections. Methods: This retrospective observational study included patients who underwent TLE for CIED-related infections. In the capsulectomy group, complete capsulectomy was performed after hardware removal. In the CHG group, thorough scrubbing of the generator pocket with 20 cc of 2% CHG followed by irrigation with approximately 500 cc of sterile normal saline (SNS) was performed. The primary outcomes included reinfection and hematoma formation in the generator pocket. Secondary outcomes included any adverse reaction to chlorhexidine, the need for reintervention, infection-related mortality, and total procedural time. Results: A total of 102 patients (mean age 67.2±13 years, 32.4% female) underwent CIED extraction with either total capsulectomy (n=54) or CHG (n=48) scrubbing. Hematoma formation was significantly higher in the capsulectomy group vs. the CHG group (13% vs. 0%, p=0.014), with no significant differences in the reinfection rate. Capsulectomy was associated with longer procedural time (133.7±78.5vs. 89.9±51.8 minutes, p=0.002). No adverse reactions to CHG were found. Four patients (4.3%) died from worsening sepsis: 3 in the capsulectomy group and 1 in the CHG group (p=0.346). Conclusions: In patients with CIED infections, the use of CHG without capsulectomy resulted in a lower risk of hematoma formation and shorter procedural times without an increased risk of reinfection or adverse events associated with CHG use.

The recovery and utilization of vanadium from vanadium-bearing shale are significant, because vanadium is an important strategic metal. This study explored a cleaner metal extraction method to recover vanadium from vanadium-bearing shale using a novel strain of mutated Bacillus mucilaginosus (B.M) and an enhanced bioleaching process. The high-efficient bioleaching bacteria of B.M-0.2 was obtained by the chemical mutation of hydroxylamine hydrochloride. The optimal conditions for extracting vanadium by the mutant bacteria were 0.5g/L ammonium nitrate, 5g/L sucrose, at pH 7.5, and the ore particle size of -0.074mm accounts for 92.34%, the pulp density was 10g/L, and the vanadium leaching efficiency of B.M-0.2 was 8.16% higher than that of the original bacteria after a 30 days bioleaching period. The results showed that the mutant B.M-0.2 had the highest acid production. The total content of the organic acid produced by B.M-0.2 was nearly three times than that compared with the original strain after 2 days. The gene of the mutant B.M0.2 was sequenced by Polymerase Chain Reaction sequencing technology, and it was found that the mutant still belongs to the Bacillus family but the gene of the mutant was obviously changed. The results showed that the mutated B.M through the chemical mutation of hydroxylamine hydrochloride had great potential to improve the vanadium recovery from vanadium-bearing shale.

The Physics of Notations (PoN) is a framework to design cognitively effective notations. The term cognitive effectiveness here refers to the ease (speed and accuracy) by which model readers read the models. In 2019 a PoN-Enabled notation for use case diagrams was proposed. It has been empirically proven that the cognitive effectiveness of this new notation is superior to the original use case notation. The new notation however relies in part on the use of color. The accessibility of this new design however has not been validated for use by the color-blind community, or any users who need to use a greyscale version of the models created. The PoN framework was not designed to explicitly account for the color-blind community or users who can only access greyscale versions of the models. Inclusivity should not be an afterthought in software engineering practice or research. To this end, this paper presents an empirical evaluation of the cognitive effectiveness of the PoN-enabled use case notation in the situation it was viewed in greyscale.

Increased urbanization, coupled with the projected impacts of climatic change, mandates further evaluation of the impact of urban development on water flow paths to guide sustainable land use planning. Though the general urbanization impacts of increased storm runoff peaks and reduced baseflows are well known; how the complex, non-stationary interaction of the dominant water fluxes within dynamic urban water stores sustain streamflow regimes over longer periods of time are less well quantified. In particular, there is a challenge in how hydrological modelling should integrate the juxtaposition of rapid and slower flow pathways of the urban ‘karst’ landscape and different approaches need evaluation. In this context, we utilized hydrological and water stable isotope datasets within a modelling framework that combined the commonly used HEC urban runoff model along with a simple hydrological tracer module and transit time modelling to evaluate the spatial and temporal variation of water flow paths and ages within a heavily urbanized 217km 2 catchment in Berlin, Germany. Deeper groundwater was the primary flow component within less urbanized regions of the catchments, with increased direct runoff and shallow subsurface contributions in more urbanized areas near the catchment outlet. The addition of wastewater effluent in the mid-reaches of the catchment was the dominant water supply to the lower stream, and sustained baseflows during the summer months. Water ages from each modelling approach imitated flow contributions and opportunity for mixing with subsurface storage; with older water and lower young water contributions in less urbanized sub-catchments and younger water and higher young water contributions in more urbanized regions. The results form a first step towards more integrated modelling tools for similar peri-urban catchments, given the potential limitations of more simple model frameworks. The results have broader implications for assessing the uncertainty in evaluating urban impacts on hydrological function under environmental change.

Introduction: Incidence of anaphylaxis has increased threefold in the last 20 years, with 17% of preventable fatalities occurring in UK schools. The aim of this study was to measure schools’ anaphylaxis preparedness across the West of Scotland.     Methods: A survey was distributed to primary and secondary schools between January-June 2020. The objective and subjective preparedness levels were assessed by analysing item responses that reflected schools’ adherence to National/European guidelines, as well as their perception of preparedness. A scoring system was applied to classify schools as ‘equipped & ready’, ‘transitional’, ‘improvements required’ or ‘unprepared’.   Results: 155 schools responded, of which 72% (n=112) had pupils registered with severe allergies, issued with an adrenaline auto injector (AAI). 27% (n=44) had personalised allergy action plans in place, less than half of applicable schools (n=112) stored AAIs accessibly (n=54, 47%), and just 38% had canteen allergen labelling (n=59). 16% of schools had an allergy management policy (AMP, n=25), and previous experience managing anaphylaxis was associated with AMP implementation (p=0.009).  Schools rated their perceived preparedness highly, however only 5% (n=8) were categorized as ‘equipped & ready’ (score >75%) with a mean preparedness score across schools of 50%. Schools supported a need for a standardised national AMP and further training (n=151, 93%).    Conclusion: The results demonstrate a low level of schools’ anaphylaxis preparedness across the region, where experience may promote preparedness over available guidance. Statutory training may be required to support the implementation of an AMP and raise allergy awareness.

67-year-old presented with subacute left temporal lobe infarction, lumbar spine osteomyelitis, and aortic valve vegetation. Further investigations demonstrated Abiotrophia defectiva bacteremia. He was treated with penicillin and gentamicin, discharged with 4 weeks ceftriaxone. We wish to raise awareness of complications of A. defectiva endocarditis and encourage further research into treatment.

Background: Skin barrier dysfunction is a key component of the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). Recent research on barrier optimization to prevent AD has shown mixed results. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between emollient bathing at two months and the trajectory of AD in the first two years of life in a large unselected observational birth cohort study. Methods: The Babies After SCOPE: Evaluating the Longitudinal Impact Using Neurological and Nutritional Endpoints Birth Cohort study enrolled 2183 infants. Variables extracted from the database related to early skincare, skin barrier function, parental history of atopy, and AD outcomes. Statistical analysis was performed to adjust for potential confounding variables. Results: 1,505 children had data on AD status available at six, 12, and 24 months. Prevalence of AD was 18.6% at six months, 15.2% at 12 months, and 16.5% at 24 months. Adjusted for potential confounding variables, the odds of AD at any point were higher among infants who had emollient baths at two months (OR (95% CI): 2.41 (1.56 to 3.72), p<0.001). Following multivariable analysis, the odds of AD were higher among infants who had both emollient baths and frequent emollient application at two months, compared to infants who had neither (OR (95% CI) at six months 1.74 (1.18-2.58), p=0.038), (OR (95% CI) at 12 months 2.59 (1.69-3.94), p<0.001), (OR (95% CI) at 24 months 1.87 (1.21-2.90), p=0.009). Conclusion: Early emollient bathing was associated with greater development of AD by two years of age in this unselected birth cohort study.

Acute pro-myelocytic leukemia (APML) is associated with an elevated risk of bleeding and thrombosis due to disseminated intravascular coagulation that is frequently present prior to initiation of therapy. We report the case of a 13 year-old male with Trisomy 21 diagnosed with APML found to have an asymptomatic aortic valve thrombus who developed a thromboembolic arterial ischemic stroke. Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) restored cerebral circulation and a fibrin thrombus containing APML cells was retrieved. The patient made a neurologic recovery, nearing his baseline within one week post-EVT. We highlight that thromboembolic stroke can be a rare complication in APML and present unique management challenges.

Background Progressive transformation of germinal centers (PTGC) is a rare diagnosis characterized by asymptomatic lymph node enlargement. It has previously been associated with lymphoma, autoimmune conditions, and lymphoproliferative diseases in small pediatric case series. Procedures We conducted a single-center retrospective review of pediatric cases of PTGC diagnosed at our institution by hematopathologists from 2000 - 2020. Results We identified 57 primary cases and 3 recurrent cases of PTGC. There was a male predominance in cases (32/57), with median age at diagnosis of 11 years. Head and neck lymph nodes were the most commonly involved and biopsied sites. Laboratory and imaging evaluations were obtained inconsistently. Only 16% of patients saw a pediatric hematology/oncology (PHO) specialist prior to diagnosis and 37% had follow-up with PHO after diagnosis. Six patients (10%) had a preceding or concurrent diagnosis of lymphoma and 5% of patients returned with recurrent PTGC. Conclusions Patients with PTGC had similar characteristics to those from previous case series. Fewer patients underwent recurrent lymph node biopsy than previously described. PTGC has been linked to certain types of lymphoma, although never definitively associated with lymphoma. Follow-up with a PHO provider is indicated to ensure that close surveillance is performed.

Sean Hoban*; Michael W. Bruford; Jessica M. da Silva; Richard Frankham; W. Chris Funk; Michael J. Gill; Catherine E. Grueber; Myriam Heuertz; Margaret E. Hunter; Francine Kershaw; Robert C. Lacy; Caroline Lees; Margarida Lopes-Fernandes; Anna J. MacDonald; Alicia Mastretta-Yanes; Philip JK McGowan; Mariah H. Meek; Joachim Mergeay; Katie L. Millette; Cinnamon S. Mittan-Moreau; Laetitia M Navarro ; David O'Brien; Rob Ogden; Ivan Paz-Vinas; Gernot Segelbacher; Cristiano Vernesi; Linda Laikre*

With the quick development of flexible memory electronics, multifunctional organic materials have been the necessary for fabricate electronics. In this work, the highly transparent and flexible electrode was successfully prepared by coating the high-performance silver nanowires (AgNWs) onto the colorless polyimide (PI) substrate. The prepared flexible PI-AgNWs electrodes exhibited a low sheet resistance of 15 Ω/sq with the high transparency of 68 % at the wavelength of 400 nm. A novel kind of polyimide TPC6FPI was successfully synthesized and characterized with excellent thermal stabilities and high glass transition temperature (Tg) above 250 °C. Furthermore, a kind of flexible transparent PI-AgNWs/ TPC6FPI/Al resistive memory device was prepared and exhibited excellent SRAM switching behavior with the threshold voltage of around 2.1V and the ON/OFF current ratio of ~10-4, which indicated that multifunctional PI-based memory device showed the potential to the wearable devices.

Gas-liquid-liquid three-phase flow in cross microchannels has been widely used in flow chemistry and process intensification. At present, the flow and mass transfer characteristics in this microchannel are not well understood. In this work, the hydrodynamics and liquid-liquid mass transfer characteristics of gas-liquid-liquid three-phase flow were systematically investigated. For the gas-liquid-liquid hydrodynamics, the bubble/droplet size prediction model based on the multiphase cooperative behavior was proposed, which could be used in predicting droplet/bubble size in flow systems. For the gas-liquid-liquid mass transfer process, the semi-empirical prediction formula of the mass transfer coefficient was obtained by considering the vortex strength, the interfacial area and the effective mass transfer area. This work could be the comprehensive study of gas-liquid-liquid three-phase flow and liquid-liquid mass transfer under gas enhancement in the cross microchannel.

By combining dielectric barrier discharge plasma and external heating, we exploit a two-stage hybrid plasma-thermal system (HPTS), i.e., a plasma stage followed by a thermal stage, for direct non-oxidative coupling of CH4 to C2H4 and H2, yielding a CH4 conversion of ca. 17 %. In the two-stage HPTS, the plasma first converts CH4 into C2H6 and C3H8, which in the thermal stage leads to a high C2H4 selectivity of ca. 63 % by pyrolysis, with H2 selectivity of ca. 64 %.

A document by Abdul-Rasheed Ottun . Click on the document to view its contents.

Foundational cushion plants sustain a prominent proportion of alpine biodiversity, but they are quite sensitive to climate warming hence their population dynamics have important implications for biodiversity. The potential biodiversity changes with the population dynamics of cushion plants in alpine ecosystems remain, however, unclear. Using eight communities along a climatic and community successional gradient, we assessed ecological drivers of population dynamics and associated plant diversity changes in alpine communities dominated by the foundational cushion plant Arenaria polytrichoides. The population degeneration of Arenaria is attributed to ecological constraints, including temperature, water and light availability, extreme climate events, and interspecific competition, at a series of life history stages. Once Arenaria populations completely degenerate, previously cushion-dominated communities shift to climax communities that are overwhelmingly dominated by sedges. Future degeneration of foundational cushion populations induced by climate warming will therefore induce a biodiversity collapse in alpine ecosystems.

Body size of individuals is typically increasing towards colder and higher latitudes, as larger body size is known to be a thermoregulatory adaptation to colder circumstances. Here we explored the spatio--temporal changes in wing length and body weight of 24 wintering bird species in Northern Europe and how these relate to annual changes in winter temperature. We show that across all species, body size has decreased since the 1970s, with a negative relationship between wing length and temperature anomalies of previous winters, suggesting carry over effects likely linked with body size--related survival or dispersal. Body weight was negatively related with the temperature anomaly of the same winter, indicating more immediate effects related to reduced fat reserves during mild winters. Our results highlight climate--driven decrease in body size across several species and its' association with annual variation in winter temperature in the high latitudes.

A phase-locked BPSK/QPSK demodulator with a single-phase voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) is proposed. Relying on a linear voltage/phase-difference characteristic of the phase detector, a phase-control process of this single-loop demodulator architecture is simple and truly modular. Such process is done by selective voltage shifting and re-scaling to ensure no significant change at the VCO’s input regardless of the incoming modulated signals’ phase. The prototype has been fabricated in a 0.18-μm CMOS process operating under a 1.8-V supply with a 60-MHz carrier. The BPSK and QPSK demodulators achieve maximum data rates of 25 Mbps while consuming 0.68mW and 0.79mW, respectively with the corresponding energy per bit figures of 27.2 and 31.7 pJ/bit.

BACKGROUND: Increasing numbers of research have revealed an etiological association between peripheral blood markers and allergy. Nevertheless, whether these associations are causal and whether they vary among different allergic diseases and ethnicities remain unclear. METHODS: 32 peripheral biomarkers with consistent definition were collected from three nationwide biobanks (UK Biobank, FinnGen, and BioBank Japan). Summary-level data for asthma (n=774,328), dermatitis (n=880,733), and allergic rhinitis (n=893,300) were obtained from these biobanks. Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses and meta-analyses were applied to explore the generalizability and heterogeneity of causal effects among different allergic diseases and ethnicities. The clinical data (n=9,877) in China and US were collected to verify peripheral markers affecting allergy. RESULTS: The MR analyses provided consistent evidence for the causal effects of seven shared heritable factors (eosinophil, neutrophil, basophil, glomerular filtration rate, mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, platelet distribution width, and hematocrit) on broad allergic disease phenotype in both ethnic groups, three of which are new. These findings are further corroborated by our observational studies in China and US. Glucose showed a causal effect on allergy in Europeans while five factors, including c-reactive protein/CRP, LDL cholesterol/LDLC, total cholesterol/TC, hemoglobin A1c/Hb1Ac, and glucose, are important for East Asians. Moreover, we observed trans-ethnic evidence for the causal effects of five factors (CRP, white blood cell/WBC, total protein, albumin, and hemoglobin concentration) on asthma, two factors (aspartate aminotransferase and WBC) on dermatitis, and LDLC on allergic rhinitis, reflecting the etiological discrepancy among different allergic diseases. In East Asians, we also noticed the ethnic-specific causalities of triglyceride on asthma, alanine aminotransferase on dermatitis, and three factors (monocyte, albumin, and creatinine) on allergic rhinitis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the causal effects of 22 blood heritable factors on allergic diseases, providing novel insights into the comprehensive assessment of allergic risks and the design of universal and personalized interventions.

Molecular imprinting technology has gained increasing attention and application in protein adsorption and separation. Bacterial growth on the imprinted material would reduce the adsorption selectivity of the imprinted cavity, contaminate the isolation products and shorten the service life of the material. To solve the above problems, carrier materials with dual antibacterial ability are constructed for the first time and novel surface protein imprinted microspheres (GO-PEI/MXene@MIPs) are manufactured. Thanks to the large exterior surface area, the saturation adsorption amount of GO-PEI/MXene@MIPs reaches 312.63 mg/g with an imprinting factor (IF) value of 3.16 within 90 min. Meanwhile, this imprinted material also exhibits a high ability to separate real samples as well as reusability. In addition, this material has excellent broad-spectrum antibacterial effects, which will significantly extend its service life in real-world environments. This study provides a feasible solution for the application of surface protein imprinted materials in real-world environments.