Weak Signal Detection Based on Adaptive Cascaded Bistable Stochastic Resonance System

AbstractStochastic resonance system is an effective method to extract weak signal, however, system output is directly influenced by system parameters. Aiming to this, a method about weak periodic signal extraction was developed based on adaptive stochastic resonance. Firstly cascaded stochastic resonance system was established in order to achieve better low-pass filtering effect. And then, variance of zero point distance was chosen as measurement index of cascade system. It's able to overcome the shortage that traditional adaptive stochastic resonance system needs to know the signal frequency beforehand. Also, it could obtain optimum system parameters adaptively. Basing on these parameters, input signal will be handled, and optimum output could be obtained. Furthermore, different periodic signal have been recognized, and finally the validity of the method is verified through simulation experiments

Abnormal Degree Centrality Associated With Cognitive Dysfunctions in Early Bipolar Disorder

Delayed diagnosis of bipolar disorder (BD) is common. However, diagnostic validity may be enhanced using reliable neurobiological markers for BD. Degree centrality (DC) is one such potential marker that enables researchers to visualize neuronal network abnormalities in the early stages of some neuropsychiatric disorders. In the present study, we measured resting-state DC abnormalities and cognitive deficits in order to identify early neurobiological markers for BD. We recruited 23 patients with BD who had recently experienced manic episodes (duration of illness <2 years) and 46 matched healthy controls. Our findings indicated that patients with BD exhibited DC abnormalities in frontal areas, temporal areas, the right postcentral gyrus, and the posterior lobe of the cerebellum. Moreover, correlation analysis revealed that psychomotor speed indicators were associated with DC in the superior temporal and inferior temporal gyri, while attention indicators were associated with DC in the inferior temporal gyrus, in patients with early BD. Our findings suggest that DC abnormalities in neural emotion regulation circuits are present in patients with early BD, and that correlations between attention/psychomotor speed deficits and temporal DC abnormalities may represent early markers of BD

Performance Testing of Micro-Electromechanical Acceleration Sensors for Pavement Vibration Monitoring

Pavement vibration monitoring under vehicle loads can be used to acquire traffic information and assess the health of pavement structures, which contributes to smart road construction. However, the effectiveness of monitoring is closely related to sensor performance. In order to select the suitable acceleration sensor for pavement vibration monitoring, a printed circuit board (PCB) with three MEMS (micro-electromechanical) accelerometer chips (VS1002, MS9001, and ADXL355) is developed in this paper, and the circuit design and software development of the PCB are completed. The experimental design and comparative testing of the sensing performance of the three MEMS accelerometer chips, in terms of sensitivity, linearity, noise, resolution, frequency response, and temperature drift, were conducted. The results show that the dynamic and static calibration methods of the sensitivity test had similar results. The influence of gravitational acceleration should be considered when selecting the range of the accelerometer to avoid the phenomenon of over-range. The VS1002 has the highest sensitivity and resolution under 3.3 V standard voltage supply, as well as the best overall performance. The ADXL355 is virtually temperature-independent in the temperature range from −20 °C to 60 °C, while the voltage reference values output by the VS1002 and MS9001 vary linearly with temperature. This research contributes to the development of acceleration sensors with high precision and long life for pavement vibration monitoring

Contrasts in the Evolution and Microphysical Features of Two Convective Systems during a Heavy Rainfall Event along the Coast of South China

On 1 June 2021, a heavy rainstorm hit the coast of South China (148.6 mm in 1 h, 361 mm over 12 h). The storm process was successively affected by two convective systems (CSs). The initial convection of the two CSs occurred at a similar location; however, they subsequently showed different evolution characteristics. Based on multi-source data, including dual-polarimetric radars, wind profiling radars, sounding, and automatic weather stations, we explored the differences in the key characteristics of these two CSs. It was found that the convection was initially triggered at a similar location for both CSs, closely related to the mesoscale boundary and the hilly terrain. After formation, CS1 moved eastward to the regions with lower surface temperature and weaker lower-level convergence but similar humidity, which means the environmental conditions for sustaining the CS became less favorable. As a result, CS1 dissipated rapidly and only lasted for about 90 min, resulting in 5% of the total precipitation of the overall storm. In contrast, during the lifespan of CS2, the southerly wind over the South China Sea became stronger. This caused an intense lower-level convergence zone along the coastal region of Guangdong Province, which provided favorable dynamic conditions for maintaining CS2. Favored by the strong coastal convergence and abundant moisture, new convective cells (CCs) were generated continuously and merged with CS2, acting as another favorable condition for its sustainment. Overall, CS2 lasted for 8 h, and its precipitation accounted for 95% of the total rainfall. In CS1, CCs showed a notable evaporation process below 4 km, manifested by the large raindrops. However, in CS2, the CCs had a higher concentration of small raindrops and higher ice and liquid water content. Since CS2 was close to the coastal region, the warm local environment promoted convection, leading to intense precipitation. In addition, the riming and melting processes were active, leading to a high precipitation efficiency and strong local precipitation during a short period of time

Contrasts in the Evolution and Microphysical Features of Two Convective Systems during a Heavy Rainfall Event along the Coast of South China

On 1 June 2021, a heavy rainstorm hit the coast of South China (148.6 mm in 1 h, 361 mm over 12 h). The storm process was successively affected by two convective systems (CSs). The initial convection of the two CSs occurred at a similar location; however, they subsequently showed different evolution characteristics. Based on multi-source data, including dual-polarimetric radars, wind profiling radars, sounding, and automatic weather stations, we explored the differences in the key characteristics of these two CSs. It was found that the convection was initially triggered at a similar location for both CSs, closely related to the mesoscale boundary and the hilly terrain. After formation, CS1 moved eastward to the regions with lower surface temperature and weaker lower-level convergence but similar humidity, which means the environmental conditions for sustaining the CS became less favorable. As a result, CS1 dissipated rapidly and only lasted for about 90 min, resulting in 5% of the total precipitation of the overall storm. In contrast, during the lifespan of CS2, the southerly wind over the South China Sea became stronger. This caused an intense lower-level convergence zone along the coastal region of Guangdong Province, which provided favorable dynamic conditions for maintaining CS2. Favored by the strong coastal convergence and abundant moisture, new convective cells (CCs) were generated continuously and merged with CS2, acting as another favorable condition for its sustainment. Overall, CS2 lasted for 8 h, and its precipitation accounted for 95% of the total rainfall. In CS1, CCs showed a notable evaporation process below 4 km, manifested by the large raindrops. However, in CS2, the CCs had a higher concentration of small raindrops and higher ice and liquid water content. Since CS2 was close to the coastal region, the warm local environment promoted convection, leading to intense precipitation. In addition, the riming and melting processes were active, leading to a high precipitation efficiency and strong local precipitation during a short period of time

IoT-enhanced smart road infrastructure systems for comprehensive real-time monitoring

With the rapid advancement of Internet of Things (IoT) technology, its applications in road infrastructure have garnered attention. However, challenges persist when applying IoT to road infrastructure monitoring, including insufficient durability of front-end sensors, pavement damage due to sensor embedding, and the redundancy of a vast amount of real-time data, hindering the long-term real-time monitoring of pavements. To address these challenges, this study developed a self-powered distributed intelligent pavement monitoring system based on IoT, encompassing a sensor network, cloud platform, communication network, and power supply system. Considering the specific characteristics of slipform paving for cement concrete pavements, an integrated paving process was proposed, merging embedded sensors with pavement material structures. Through on-site engineering monitoring, the system actively collects and analyzes various data types such as system energy consumption, temperature and humidity, environmental noise, wind speed and direction, and pavement structural vibrations, providing data support for pavement design, maintenance, and vehicle-road synergy applications. Future efforts will continue to promote the application of IoT technology in digital road maintenance, traffic safety, and optimized pavement material structure design

Risk of fall in patients with chronic kidney disease: results from the China health and retirement longitudinal study (CHARLS)

Abstract Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD), often coexisting with various systemic disorders, may increase the risk of falls. Our study aimed to assess the prevalence and risk of falls among patients with CKD in China. Methods We included patients with/without CKD from China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). Our primary outcome was the occurrence of fall accidents within the past 2 years. To enhance the robustness of our findings, we employed a multivariable logistic regression model, conducted propensity score analysis, and applied an inverse probability-weighting model. Results A total of 12,658 participants were included, the prevalence of fall accident rates were 17.1% (2,028/11,837) among participants without CKD and 24.7% (203/821) among those with CKD. In the inverse probability-weighting model, participants with CKD exhibited higher fall accident rates (OR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.08–1.53, p = 0.005 ). Sensitivity and subgroup analysis showed the results still stable. Conclusions The population in China afflicted with CKD has a significantly heightened risk of experiencing falls, underscoring the crucial importance of intensifying efforts in assessing and preventing fall risks

Resequencing of 388 cassava accessions identifies valuable loci and selection for variation in heterozygosity

Background Heterozygous genomes are widespread in outcrossing and clonally propagated crops. However, the variation in heterozygosity underlying key agronomic traits and crop domestication remains largely unknown. Cassava is a staple crop in Africa and other tropical regions and has a highly heterozygous genome. Results We describe a genomic variation map from 388 resequenced genomes of cassava cultivars and wild accessions. We identify 52 loci for 23 agronomic traits through a genome-wide association study. Eighteen allelic variations in heterozygosity for nine candidate genes are significantly associated with seven key agronomic traits. We detect 81 selective sweeps with decreasing heterozygosity and nucleotide diversity, harboring 548 genes, which are enriched in multiple biological processes including growth, development, hormone metabolisms and responses, and immune-related processes. Artificial selection for decreased heterozygosity has contributed to the domestication of the large starchy storage root of cassava. Selection for homozygous GG allele in MeTIR1 during domestication contributes to increased starch content. Selection of homozygous AA allele in MeAHL17 is associated with increased storage root weight and cassava bacterial blight (CBB) susceptibility. We have verified the positive roles of MeTIR1 in increasing starch content and MeAHL17 in resistance to CBB by transient overexpression and silencing analysis. The allelic combinations in MeTIR1 and MeAHL17 may result in high starch content and resistance to CBB. Conclusions This study provides insights into allelic variation in heterozygosity associated with key agronomic traits and cassava domestication. It also offers valuable resources for the improvement of cassava and other highly heterozygous crops

CACNB2 rs11013860 polymorphism correlates of prefrontal cortex thickness in bipolar patients with first-episode mania

Background: The beta 2 subunit of the voltage-gated c-type calcium channel gene(CACNB2) rs11013860 polymorphism is a putative genetic susceptibility marker for bipolar disorder (BD). However, the neural effects of CACNB2 rs11013860 in BD are largely unknown. Methods: Forty-six bipolar patients with first-episode mania and eighty-three healthy controls (HC) were genotyped for CACNB2 rs11013860 and were scanned with a 3.0 Tesla structural magnetic resonance imaging system to measure cortical thickness of prefrontal cortex (PFC) components (superior frontal cortex, orbito-frontal cortex, middle and inferior frontal gyri). Results: Cortical thickness was thinner in patients on all PFC measurements compared to HC (p &lt; 0.050). Moreover, we found a significant interaction between CACNB2 genotype and diagnosis for the right superior frontal cortical thickness (F = 8.190, p = 0.040). Bonferroni corrected post-hoc tests revealed that, in CACNB2 A-allele carriers, patients displayed thinner superior frontal thickness compared to HC &lt; 0.001). In patients, CACNB2 A-allele carriers also exhibited reduced superior frontal thickness compared to CACNB2 CC-allele carriers (p = 0.016). Limitations: Lithium treatment may influence our results, and the sample size in our study is relatively small. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the CACNB2 rs11013860 might impact PFC thickness in patients with first-episode mania. These findings provide evidence to support CACNB2 rs11013860 involvement in the emotion-processing neural circuitry abnormality in the early stage of BD, which will ultimately contribute to revealing the link between the variation in calcium channel genes and the neuropathological mechanism of BD.</p