Simulating the Integration of Urban Air Mobility into Existing Transportation Systems: A Survey

Urban air mobility (UAM) has the potential to revolutionize transportation in metropolitan areas, providing a new mode of transportation that could alleviate congestion and improve accessibility. However, the integration of UAM into existing transportation systems is a complex task that requires a thorough understanding of its impact on traffic flow and capacity. In this paper, we conduct a survey to investigate the current state of research on UAM in metropolitan-scale traffic using simulation techniques. We identify key challenges and opportunities for the integration of UAM into urban transportation systems, including impacts on existing traffic patterns and congestion; safety analysis and risk assessment; potential economic and environmental benefits; and the development of shared infrastructure and routes for UAM and ground-based transportation. We also discuss the potential benefits of UAM, such as reduced travel times and improved accessibility for underserved areas. Our survey provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of research on UAM in metropolitan-scale traffic using simulation and highlights key areas for future research and development

Transcriptome and digital gene expression analysis reveal immune responses of mantle and visceral mass pearl culturing in Hyriopsis cumingii

Biomineralization is a widespread phenomenon in marine mollusks and is responsible for the production of shells and pearls. However, the regulatory mechanisms governing the adaptive immune responses in the mollusk mantle and visceral mass during mineralization remain unclear. In this work, we examined the mantle and visceral mass immune responses of Hyriopsis cumingii during pearl culture using high-throughput sequencing techniques. A mantle transcriptome database was established using transcriptome sequencing technology and reference to the major databases. Digital gene expression profiling was used to identify the differentially expressed genes of mantle and visceral mass at different insertion periods. Moreover, quantitative real-time PCR was used to verify the expression of five immune-related genes. Transcriptome sequencing results showed 257,457 unigenes were identified. Digital gene expression profiles showed 1389, 3572, 1888, and 2613 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the mantle and visceral mass at 5, 20, 50, and 90 d after insertion, respectively, with the highest number at 20 d and the lowest at 5 d after insertion (q < 0.05). A cluster analysis of the DEGs showed similar clustering and expression features in the mantle to the control group, and at 5, 50 and 90 d, after mantle insertion. The DEGs in the visceral mass showed similar clustering and expression features to the control group and at 5, 20 and 50 d after insertion. We also screened 22 immune-related DEGs in the mantle and visceral mass during the same pearl culture period, including serine/threonine-protein kinase NLK, C-type lectin, and galectin. The greatest number of DEGs was found 90 d after insertion. Compared with the mantle, more immune-related DEGs were down-regulated than up-regulated in the visceral mass during pearl culture, indicating that the immune regulatory mechanisms in the visceral mass and the mantle differ during pearl culture, and that the visceral mass is liable to higher infection and mortality rates. Quantitative real-time PCR results showed that the expression of five immune-related genes was consistent with DGE results. Our findings will further knowledge of the immune systems that are present in the mantle and visceral mass during pearl culture

Thin-client architecture using .NET Remoting

.NET Remoting is an application programming interface for interprocess communication powered by Microsoft .NET Framework. It enables building distributed applications across application domains, processes and computer boundaries. Comparing to XML Web Service, .NET Remoting offers better performance and rich object oriented programming. However, .NET Remoting application can only run in .NET Framework. This thesis presents generic software architecture for data-oriented applications using .NET Remoting technology, which has been successfully applied in several applications in the markets. It has a thin-client architecture which consists of client and server applications. The client application presents the data and the server application offers the data service. Our research provides efficient and extendible software architecture by balancing the advantages and disadvantages of various technologies. This thesis analyses the software architecture from several perspectives, such as deployment, database connections, service oriented components, helper classes and license management. This framework can readily adapt in the face of changing user needs, desires, and environment. This thesis helps the developer to understand, to apply and to extend the framework for future use

Cyber-secure decentralized energy management for IoT-enabled active distribution networks

Abstract This paper provides a strategic solution for enhancing the cybersecurity of power distribution system operations when information and operation technologies converge in active distribution network (ADN). The paper first investigates the significance of Internet of Things (IoT) in enabling fine-grained observability and controllability of ADN in networked microgrids. Given severe cybersecurity vulnerabilities embedded in conventionally centralized energy management schemes, the paper then proposes a cyber-secure decentralized energy management framework that applies a distributed decision-making intelligence to networked microgrids while securing their individual mandates for optimal operation. In particular, the proposed framework takes advantage of software-defined networking technologies that can secure communications among IoT devices in individual microgrids, and exploits potentials for introducing blockchain technologies that can preserve the integrity of communications among networked microgrids in ADN. Furthermore, the paper presents the details of application scenarios where the proposed framework is employed to secure peer-to-peer transactive energy management based on a set of interoperable blockchains. It is finally concluded that the proposed framework can play a significant role in enhancing the efficiency, reliability, resilience, and sustainability of electricity services in ADN

Intelligent data attacks against power systems using incomplete network information: a review

Abstract With the integration of information technologies, power system operations are increasingly threatened by cyber-attacks. It has even been revealed that an attacker can inject false data into real-time measurements stealthily without knowing the full configuration (e.g., network topology) of a power system. In this paper, we present a comprehensive review on false data injection attacks which utilize barrier conditions, blind identification techniques and data driven approaches to overcome limitations of incomplete network information. We also point out future research topics for facilitating the detection and prevention of such false data attacks

The association between physical frailty and injurious falls and all-cause mortality as negative health outcomes in people living with HIV: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives: Physical frailty is one of the major concerns among older people living with HIV (PLWH). This meta-analysis aimed to explore the association between physical frailty and negative health outcomes among PLWH. Methods: We systematically searched six electronic databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and Chinese databases up to April 10, 2022, for studies examining the association between physical frailty and risk of negative health outcomes among PLWH. Risk ratios (RRs), odds ratios, and hazard ratios with 95% CIs were extracted, and meta-analyses were conducted by using a fixed or random-effects model. Results: In total, 10 studies incorporating 7755 HIV–seropositive patients (mean age 49.4 years) were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, five studies with 3434 participants reported the effect of physical frailty on falls. Results showed that physical frailty in HIV–seropositive individuals demonstrated a higher risk of future falls (pooled RR 3.74, 95% CI 1.42-9.86) compared with robust HIV–seropositive patients. In addition, a meta-analysis of five studies (4321 participants) reporting the frailty-mortality association showed that physical frailty was significantly associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality (RR 1.70, 95% CI 1.32-2.19) among PLWH. Conclusion: Physical frailty is a significant risk factor for negative health outcomes in PLWH, including falls and all-cause mortality, underscoring the need for routine screening and early intervention of physical frailty among PLWH

The Influence of a Shoe’s Heel-Toe Drop on Gait Parameters during the Third Trimester of Pregnancy

Background: Changes in physical shape and body mass during pregnancy may increase the risk of walking falls. Shoes can protect and enhance the inherent function of the foot, helping to maintain dynamic and static stability. Methods: Sixteen women during the third trimester of pregnancy participated in this study to investigate the effect of negative heel shoes (NHS), positive heel shoes (PHS), and normal shoes (NS) on spatiotemporal parameters, ground reaction force (GRF), and stability. Differences in spatiotemporal parameter, GRF, and center of pressure (COP) between footwear conditions were examined using Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM) and repeated measures analyses of variance (ANOVA). Results: The walking speed and step length increased with the increase in heel-toe drop. The anterior-posterior (AP)-COP in NHS decreased significantly (p p < 0.05). Conclusions: The results show that changing the heel-toe drop can significantly affect the gait pattern of pregnant women. Understanding the gait patterns of pregnant women wearing shoes with different heel-toe drops is very important for reducing the risk of injury and equipment design

Green and Facile Synthesis of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Co-Doped Carbon Quantum Dots towards Fluorescent Ink and Sensing Applications

Fluorescent carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have held great promise in analytical and environmental fields thanks to their congenitally fascinating virtues. However, low quantum yield (QY) and modest fluorescent stability still restrict their practical applications. In this investigation, a green hydrothermal strategy has been devised to produce water-soluble nitrogen/phosphorus (N/P) co-doped CQDs from edible Eleocharis dulcis with multi-heteroatoms. Without any additives and further surface modifications, the resultant CQDs exhibited tunable photoluminescence just by changing hydrothermal temperatures. Appealingly, they showed remarkable excitation-dependent emission, high QY, superior fluorescence stability, and long lifetime. By extending the CQDs solutions as a &ldquo;fluorescent ink&rdquo;, we found their potential application in the anti-counterfeit field. When further evaluated as a fluorescence sensor, the N/P co-doped CQDs demonstrated a wide-range determination capability in inorganic cations, and especially the remarkable sensitivity and selectivity for elemental Fe3+. More significantly, the green methodology we developed here can be readily generalized for scalable production of high-quality CQDs with tunable emission for versatile applications