Search Results (3,060)

Every day, a considerable number of new cybersecurity attacks are reported, and the traditional methods of defense struggle to keep up with them. In the current context of the digital era, where industrial environments handle large data volumes, new cybersecurity solutions are required, and intrusion detection systems (IDSs) based on artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms are coming up with an answer to this critical issue. This paper presents an approach for implementing a generic model of a network-based intrusion detection system for Industry 4.0 by integrating the computational advantages of the Nvidia Morpheus open-source AI framework. The solution is modularly built with two pipelines for data analysis. The pipelines use a pre-trained XGBoost (eXtreme Gradient Boosting) model that achieved an accuracy score of up to 90%. The proposed IDS has a fast rate of analysis, managing more than 500,000 inputs in almost 10 s, due to the application of the federated learning methodology. The classification performance of the model was improved by integrating a generative adversarial network (GAN) that generates polymorphic network traffic packets. Full article

Recent improvements in soil moisture mapping using satellites provide estimates at higher spatial and temporal resolutions. The accuracy in alpine regions is, however, still not well understood. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the accuracy of the experimental ASCAT-DIREX soil moisture product in a small alpine catchment and to identify factors that control the soil moisture agreement between the satellite estimates and in situ observations in open and forest sites. The analysis is carried out in the experimental mountain catchment of Jalovecký Creek, situated in the Western Tatra Mountains (Slovakia). The satellite soil moisture estimates are derived by merging the ASCAT and Sentinel-1 retrievals (the ASCAT-DIREX dataset), providing relative daily soil moisture estimates at 500 m spatial resolution in the period 2012–2019. The soil water estimates represent four characteristic timescales of 1, 2, 5, and 10 days, which are compared with in situ topsoil moisture observations. The results show that the correlation between satellite-derived and in situ soil moisture is larger at the open site and for larger characteristic timescales (10 days). The correlations have a strong seasonal pattern, showing low (negative) correlations in winter and spring and larger (more than 0.5) correlations in summer and autumn. The main reason for low correlations in winter and spring is insufficient masking of the snowpack. Using local snow data masks and soil moisture retrieval in the period December–March, improves the soil moisture agreement in April was improved from negative correlations to 0.68 at the open site and 0.92 at the forest site. Low soil moisture correlations in the summer months may also be due to small-scale precipitation variability and vegetation dynamics mapping, which result in satellite soil moisture overestimation. Full article

Days open (DO) is a critical economic and reproductive trait that is commonly employed in genetic selection. Making improvements using conventional genetic techniques is exceedingly challenging. Therefore, new techniques are required to improve the accuracy of genetic selection using genomic data. This study examined the genetic approaches of traditional AIREML and single-step genomic AIREML (ssGAIREML) to assess genetic parameters and the accuracy of estimated breeding values while also investigating SNP regions associated with DO and identifying candidate genes through a genome-wide association study (GWAS). The dataset included 59415 DO records from 36368 Thai–Holstein crossbred cows and 882 genotyped animals. The cows were classified according to their Holstein genetic proportion (breed group, BG) as follows: BG1 (>93.7% Holstein genetics), BG2 (87.5% to 93.6% Holstein genetics), and BG3 (<87.5% Holstein genetics). AIREML was utilized to estimate genetic parameters and variance components. The results of this study reveal that the average DO values for BG1, BG2, and BG3 were 97.64, 97.25, and 96.23 days, respectively. The heritability values were estimated to be 0.02 and 0.03 for the traditional AIREML and ssGAIREML approaches, respectively. Depending on the dataset, the ssGAIREML method produced more accurate estimated breeding values than the traditional AIREML method, ranging from 40.5 to 45.6%. The highest values were found in the top 20% of the dam dataset. For the GWAS, we found 12 potential candidate genes (DYRK1A, CALCR, MIR489, MIR653, SLC36A1, GNA14, GNAQ, TRNAC-GCA, XYLB, ACVR2B, SLC22A14, and EXOC2) that are believed to have a significant influence on days open. In summary, the ssGAIREML method has the potential to enhance the accuracy and heritability of reproductive values compared to those obtained using conventional AIREML. Consequently, it is a viable alternative for transitioning from conventional methodologies to the ssGAIREML method in the breeding program for dairy cattle in Thailand. Moreover, the 12 identified potential candidate genes can be utilized in future studies to select markers for days open in regard to dairy cattle. Full article

Background: Significant intraoperative and postoperative blood loss are rare but possibly life-threatening complications after lung resection surgery either during open or minimally invasive procedures. Microporous Polysaccharide Haemospheres (ARISTA™AH) have demonstrated time-efficient haemostasis, lower postoperative blood volumes and a lower blood transfusion requirement, without any identified adverse events across other specialities. The primary aim of our study was to evaluate the impact of ARISTA™AH on short-term postoperative outcomes in thoracic surgery. Our secondary aim was to compare ARISTA™AH with other commonly used haemostatic agents. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a prospectively collected database of consecutive early-stage lung cancer patients surgically treated in two European centres (October 2020–December 2022). Exclusion criteria included open surgery, patients with coagulopathy/anticoagulant medication, major intraoperative bleeding, non-anatomical lung resection and age <18 years. The cohort was divided into five groups according to the haemostatic agent that was used. Propensity score matching was used to estimate the effect of ARISTA™AH on various intra- and postoperative parameters (continuous and binary outcome modelling). Results: A total of 482 patients (M/F:223/259; VATS 97/RATS 385) with a mean age of 68.9 (±10.6) years were analysed. In 253 cases, ARISTA™AH was intraoperatively used to control bleeding. This cohort of patients had a significant reduction in total drain volume by 135 mls (standard error 53.9; p = 0.012). The use of ARISTA™AH did reduce the average length of a hospital stay (−1.47 days) and the duration of chest drainage (−0.596 days), albeit not significantly. In the ARISTA™AH group, we observed no postoperative bleeding, no blood transfusion requirement, no 30-day mortality and no requirement for redo surgery. The use of ARISTA™AH significantly reduced the odds of postoperative complications, as well as the need for transfusion and redo surgery. Conclusions: Our data showed that Microporous Polysaccharide Haemospheres are a safe and effective haemostatic device. Their use has a positive effect on the short-term postoperative outcomes of patients surgically treated for early-stage lung cancer. Full article

Background and Objectives: The aim of this study was to comprehensively analyze the evolution in textbook outcome (TO) achievement after liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) over two decades at a single tertiary referral center. Materials and Methods: All consecutive liver resections for HCC at Seoul National University Bundang Hospital from 2003 to 2022 were analyzed. The included 1334 patients were divided into four groups by time intervals identified through change point analysis. TO was defined as no intraoperative transfusions, positive margins, major complications, 30-day readmission or mortality, and prolonged length of hospital stay (LOS). Results: Multiple change point analysis identified three change points (2006, 2012, 2017), and patients were divided into four groups. More recent time interval groups were associated with older age (59 vs. 59 vs. 61 vs. 63 years, p < 0.0001) and more comorbidities. Minimally invasive procedures were increasingly performed (open/laparoscopic/robotic 37.0%/63.0%/0%) vs. 43.8%/56.2%/0% vs. 17.1%/82.4%/0.5% vs. 22.9%/75.9%/1.2%, p < 0.0001). TO achievement improved over time (1.9% vs. 18.5% vs. 47.7% vs. 62.5%, p < 0.0001), and LOS was the greatest limiting factor. Conclusions: TO after liver resection improved with advances in minimally invasive techniques and parenchymal sparing procedures, even in older patients with more comorbidities and advanced tumors. Full article

Properties of high early-strength concretes (HESCs) containing Type V, Type III, and rapid hardening calcium sulfoaluminate (CSA) cements were investigated at curing ages of opening time, 24 h, and 28 days. Investigated properties included the fresh (workability, setting time, air content, unit weight, and released heat of hydration), mechanical (compressive and flexural strengths), transport (absorption, volume of permeable voids, water penetration, rapid chloride permeability, and accelerated corrosion resistance), dimensional stability (drying shrinkage), and durability (de-icing salt and abrasion resistance) properties. Test results revealed that the HESC containing Rapid-Set cement achieved the shortest opening time to attain the required minimum strength, followed by Type III and Type V cement HESCs. For the most part, Type V cement HESC produced the best transport and de-icing salt resistance, whereas Rapid-Set cement HESC displayed the best dimensional stability and wear resistance. Full article

Background/Objectives: The increasing prevalence of video gaming has raised concerns about its potential impact on musculoskeletal health, particularly temporomandibular disorders (TMDs). This study aims to compare TMD symptoms, mandibular function, and dental wear between gamers and non-gamers among university students. Methods: An observational study included 108 students aged 20 to 23 years, divided into gamers (n = 48) and non-gamers (n = 60). Participants completed questionnaires assessing TMD symptoms, gaming habits, and screen time. Clinical examinations measured mandibular movements, palpation-induced pain, and dental wear using the Smith and Knight Tooth Wear Index. Statistical analyses included independent t-tests, chi-square tests, Pearson’s correlations, and logistic regression. Seven comprehensive tables present the findings with p-values. Results: Gamers reported significantly higher screen time (Mean = 6.5 h/day) compared to non-gamers (Mean = 4.0 h/day; p < 0.001). Maximum unassisted mouth opening was greater in gamers (Mean = 48.31 mm) than in non-gamers (Mean = 46.33 mm; p = 0.04). Gamers exhibited a higher prevalence of pain on palpation of the masseter muscle (45.8% vs. 30.0%; p = 0.05). Dental wear scores were significantly higher in gamers for teeth 2.3 (upper left canine) and 3.3 (lower left canine) (p < 0.05). Positive correlations were found between hours spent gaming and maximum mouth opening (r = 0.25; p = 0.01) and dental wear (r = 0.30; p = 0.002). Logistic regression showed that gaming status significantly predicted the presence of TMD symptoms (Odds Ratio = 2.5; p = 0.03). Conclusions: Gamers exhibit greater mandibular opening, increased dental wear, and a higher prevalence of masticatory muscle pain compared to non-gamers. Prolonged gaming may contribute to altered mandibular function and increased risk of TMD symptoms. Further research is needed to explore underlying mechanisms and develop preventive strategies. Full article

Floral phenology and features are intricately linked to pollinator behavior and pollination systems. Iris setosa is one of the ornamental irises of the family Iridaceae with beautiful flowers and leaves, and little research has been reported on its pollination biology. This study analyzed how phenology, floral features, breeding systems, and pollinator visits affect reproductive success of I. setosa populations in Jilin Province. Field observations and pollination studies demonstrated that I. setosa reached the bud stage in late May, with an average flowering time of 30 days. The anthers were outwardly dehiscent toward the outer edge of the style branches. In herkogamy, the relative locations of the anthers and stigma remained unchanged during flower opening. The stamens matured first. The pollen was most viable and the stigmas were most receptive on the first day of flowering. The nectar had the maximum sugar content. The sexual reproduction system was mainly outcrossing, with some self-compatibility and a need for pollinators. After artificial self-pollination, fluorescent microscopy revealed the winding of pollen tubes. The predominant flower-visiting insects were Apis mellifera, Megachile sp., Syrphus corollae, Episyrphus balteatus, and Lasioglossum sp., among which A. mellifera, Megachile sp., and Lasioglossum sp. were effective pollinators. Understanding the pollination mechanisms and strategies of I. setosa provides basic reference data on the potential for reproduction, and conservation efforts. Full article

City services and infrastructures are focused on consumers and are able to effectively and qualitatively implement their functions only under conditions of normal workload. In this regard, the correct organization of a public service system is directly related to the knowledge of the quantitative and qualitative composition of people in the city during the day. The article discusses existing solutions for analyzing the distribution of people in a territory based on data collected by mobile operators, payment terminals, navigation systems and other network solutions, as well as the modeling methods derived from them. The scientific aim of the study is to propose a solution for modeling the daily distribution of people based on open statistics collected from the Internet and open-web mapping data. The stages of development of the modeling software environment and the methods for spatial analysis of available data on a digital cartographic basis are described. The proposed approach includes the use of archetypes of social groups, occupational statistics, gender and age composition of a certain territory, as well as the characteristics of urban infrastructure objects in terms of composition and purpose. Solutions for modeling the 48 h distribution of city residents with reference to certain infrastructure facilities (residential, public and working) during working and weekend days with an hourly breakdown of the simulated values were created as a result of the study. A simulation of the daily distribution of people in the city was carried out using the example of the city of Volgograd, Russian Federation. A picture of the daily distribution of city residents by district and specific buildings of the city was obtained as a result of the modeling. The proposed approach and the created algorithm can be applied to any city. Full article

Multi-modal systems extract information about the environment using specialized sensors that are optimized based on the wavelength of the phenomenology and material interactions. To maximize the entropy, complementary systems operating in regions of non-overlapping wavelengths are optimal. VIS-IR (Visible-Infrared) systems have been at the forefront of multi-modal fusion research and are used extensively to represent information in all-day all-weather applications. Prior to image fusion, the image pairs have to be properly registered and mapped to a common resolution palette. However, due to differences in the device physics of image capture, information from VIS-IR sensors cannot be directly correlated, which is a major bottleneck for this area of research. In the absence of camera metadata, image registration is performed manually, which is not practical for large datasets. Most of the work published in this area assumes calibrated sensors and the availability of camera metadata providing registered image pairs, which limits the generalization capability of these systems. In this work, we propose a novel end-to-end pipeline termed DeepFusion for image registration and fusion. Firstly, we design a recursive crop and scale wavelet spectral decomposition (WSD) algorithm for automatically extracting the patch of visible data representing the thermal information. After data extraction, both the images are registered to a common resolution palette and forwarded to the DNN for image fusion. The fusion performance of the proposed pipeline is compared and quantified with state-of-the-art classical and DNN architectures for open-source and custom datasets demonstrating the efficacy of the pipeline. Furthermore, we also propose a novel keypoint-based metric for quantifying the quality of fused output. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study aimed to develop a machine learning (ML) algorithm that can predict unplanned reoperations and surgical/medical complications after vestibular schwannoma (VS) surgery. Methods: All pre- and peri-operative variables available in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) database (n = 110), except those directly related to our outcome variables, were used as input variables. A deep neural network model consisting of seven layers was developed using the Keras open-source library, with a 70:30 breakdown for training and testing. The feature importance of input variables was measured to elucidate their relative permutation effect in the ML model. Results: Of the 1783 patients with VS undergoing surgery, unplanned reoperation, surgical complications, and medical complications were seen in 8.5%, 5.2%, and 6.2% of patients, respectively. The deep neural network model had area under the curve of receiver operating characteristics (ROC-AUC) of 0.6315 (reoperation), 0.7939 (medical complications), and 0.719 (surgical complications). Accuracy, specificity, and negative predictive values of the model for all outcome variables ranged from 82.1 to 96.6%, while positive predictive values and sensitivity ranged from 16.7 to 51.5%. Variables such as the length of stay post-operation until discharge, days from operation to discharge, and the total hospital length of stay had the highest permutation importance. Conclusions: We developed an effective ML algorithm predicting unplanned reoperation and surgical/medical complications post-VS surgery. This may offer physicians guidance into potential post-surgical outcomes to allow for personalized medical care plans for VS patients. Full article

Background: In Japan, the hinotori™ surgical robot system (Medicaroid Corporation, Kobe, Japan) was approved for gastrointestinal surgeries in October 2022. This report details our initial experience performing liver resection using the hinotori™ system. Methods: Ten patients, who were assessed as cases that would benefit from the robot-assisted procedure, underwent liver resections using the hinotori™ system at Fujita Health University, Okazaki Medical Center, between August 2023 and October 2024. The backgrounds (patient, tumor, and liver function conditions, along with types of liver resections and previous surgical procedures) and short-term outcomes (operation time, blood loss, postoperative complications, open conversion, length of hospital stay, and mortality) of the cases were evaluated. Results: Eight cases of partial liver resection, one extended left medial sectionectomy, and one left hemi-hepatectomy were performed. Six cases of hepatocellular carcinomas, three cases of liver metastases, and one case of hepatolithiasis were included. There were seven male and three female patients with a median age of 70 years. Three physical status class III and seven class II patients were included. The median body mass index was 24. Five patients had previous upper abdominal surgical histories and five patients had liver cirrhosis. The median operation time was 419.5 min, and the median intraoperative blood loss was 276 mL. An open conversion in one hepatocellular carcinoma case was carried out due to bleeding from collateral vessels in the round ligament. The median length of hospital stay was 7.5 days. A grade IIIa complication (delayed bile leakage) was developed in one case. All patients with tumors underwent R0 resection. There were no cases of mortality. Conclusions: Liver resection using the hinotori™ system was feasibly performed. This study reports the first global use of the hinotori™ system for liver resection. Full article

Background: The robotic approach is an appealing way to perform minimally invasive pancreaticoduodenectomy. We compare robotic cases’ short-term and oncological outcomes to a historical cohort of open cases. Methods: Data were collected in a prospective database between 2016 and 2024; complications were graded using the ISGPS definition for the specific pancreas-related complications and the Clavien–Dindo classification for overall complications. Furthermore, the Comprehensive Complication Index was calculated. All patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy were included, except those with acute or chronic pancreatitis, vascular tumour involvement or multi-visceral resections. Only the subset of patients with malignancy was regarded for the oncologic outcome. Results: In total, 100 robotic and 102 open pancreaticoduodenectomy cases are included. Equal proportions of patients have a main pancreatic duct ≤3 mm (p = 1.00) and soft consistency of the pancreatic remnant (p = 0.78). Surgical time is longer for robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy (p < 0.01), and more patients have delayed gastric emptying (44% and 28.4%, p = 0.03). In the robotic group, the number of patients without any postoperative complications is higher (p = 0.02), and there is less chyle leak (p < 0.01). Ninety-day mortality, postoperative pancreatic fistula, and postpancreatectomy haemorrhage are similar. The lymph node retrieval and R0 resection rates are comparable. Conclusions: In conclusion, after robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy, remembering all cases during the learning curve are included, less chyle leak is observed, the proportion of patients without any complication is significantly larger, the surgical duration is longer, and more patients have delayed gastric emptying. Oncological results, i.e., lymph node yield and R0 resection rate, are comparable to open pancreaticoduodenectomy. Full article

Wind-turbine blades pose significant disposal challenges in the wind-energy sector due to the increasing demand for wind farms. Therefore, this study researched the revaluation of Raw-Crushed Wind-Turbine Blade (RCWTB), obtained through a non-selective blade crushing process, as a partial substitute for aggregates in Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC). The aim was to determine the most adequate water/cement (w/c) ratio and amount of superplasticizing admixtures required to achieve adequate flowability and 7-day compressive strength in SCC for increasing proportions of RCWTB, through the production of more than 40 SCC mixes. The results reported that increasing RCWTB additions decreased the slump flow of SCC by 6.58% per 1% RCWTB on average, as well as the compressive strength, although a minimum value of 25 MPa was always reached. Following a multi-criteria decision-making analysis, a w/c ratio of 0.45 and a superplasticizer content of 2.8% of the cement mass were optimum to produce SCC with up to 2% RCWTB. A w/c ratio of 0.50 and an amount of superplasticizers of 4.0% and 4.6% were optimum to produce SCC with 3% and 4% RCWTB, respectively. Concrete mixes containing 5% RCWTB did not achieve self-compacting properties under any design condition. All modifications of the SCC mix design showed statistically significant effects according to an analysis of variance at a confidence level of 95%. Overall, this study confirms that the incorporation of RCWTB into SCC through a careful mix design is feasible in terms of flowability and compressive strength, opening a new research avenue for the recycling of wind-turbine blades as an SCC component. Full article

(1) Background: Delirium is a serious condition in patients undergoing treatment for somatic diseases, leading to poor prognosis. However, the pathophysiology of delirium is not fully understood and should be clarified for its adequate treatment. This study analyzed the relationship between confusion symptoms in delirium and resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG) power spectrum (PS) profiles to investigate the heterogeneity. (2) Methods: The participants were 28 inpatients in a general hospital showing confusion symptoms with an Intensive Care Delirium Screening Checklist (ICDSC) score of 4 or above. EEG was measured at Pz in the daytime awake state for 100 s with the eyes open and 100 s with the eyes closed on the day of the ICDSC evaluation. PS analysis was conducted consecutively for each 10 s datum. (3) Results: Two resting EEG PS patterns were observed regarding the dominant rhythm: the presence or absence of a dominant rhythm, whereby the PS showed alpha or theta peaks in the former and no dominant rhythm in the latter. The patients showing a dominant EEG rhythm were frequently accompanied by hallucination or delusion (p = 0.039); conversely, those lacking a dominant rhythm tended to exhibit fluctuations in the delirium symptoms (p = 0.020). The other ICDSC scores did not differ between the participants with these two EEG patterns. (4) Discussion: The present study indicates that the presence and absence of a dominant EEG rhythm in delirious patients are related to different symptoms of delirium. Using EEG monitoring in the care of delirium will help characterize its heterogeneous pathophysiology, which requires multiple management strategies. Full article