Communication Capabilities Research Articles

Models of Chemical Communication for Micro/Nanoparticles.

Engineering chemical communication between micro/nanosystems (via the exchange of chemical messengers) is receiving increasing attention from the scientific community. Although a number of micro- and nanodevices (e.g., drug carriers, sensors, and artificial cells) have been developed in the last decades, engineering communication at the micro/nanoscale is a recent emergent topic. In fact, most of the studies in this research area have been published within the last 10 years. Inspired by nature─where information is exchanged by means of molecules─the development of chemical communication strategies holds wide implications as it may provide breakthroughs in many areas including nanotechnology, artificial cell research, biomedicine, biotechnology, and ICT. Published examples rely on nanotechnology and synthetic biology for the creation of micro- and nanodevices that can communicate. Communication enables the construction of new complex systems capable of performing advanced coordinated tasks that go beyond those carried out by individual entities. In addition, the possibility to communicate between synthetic and living systems can further advance our understanding of biochemical processes and provide completely new tailored therapeutic and diagnostic strategies, ways to tune cellular behavior, and new biotechnological tools. In this Account, we summarize advances by our laboratories (and others) in the engineering of chemical communication of micro- and nanoparticles. This Account is structured to provide researchers from different fields with general strategies and common ground for the rational design of future communication networks at the micro/nanoscale. First, we cover the basis of and describe enabling technologies to engineer particles with communication capabilities. Next, we rationalize general models of chemical communication. These models vary from simple linear communication (transmission of information between two points) to more complex pathways such as interactive communication and multicomponent communication (involving several entities). Using illustrative experimental designs, we demonstrate the realization of these models which involve communication not only between engineered micro/nanoparticles but also between particles and living systems. Finally, we discuss the current state of the topic and the future challenges to be addressed.

A Compact Filtering Antenna System with Wide-Angle Scanning Capability for V2I Communication

A Compact Filtering Antenna System with Wide-Angle Scanning Capability for V2I Communication

Federated learning enables 6 G communication technology: Requirements, applications, and integrated with intelligence framework

The 5 G networks are effectively deployed worldwide, and academia and industries have begun looking at 6 G network communication technology for consumer electronics applications. 6 G will be built on pervasive artificial intelligence (AI) to enable data-driven Machine Learning (ML) applications in massively scalable and heterogeneous networks. Conventional ML technique involves centralizing train data in data centers where centralized ML algorithms can be employed for data inference and analysis. The data inference and analysis are frequently inconvenient or impracticable for the devices to submit information to the preset sever because of privacy concerns and inadequate communication capabilities in wireless networks. However, privacy limitations and restrictions in wireless network communication capacity are frequently impractical or undesirable for the devices to acquiesce data to the parameter server. Federated learning (FL) enables the devices to train a practical and standard model while needing data exchange and transfer, which might solve these issues. This paper presents an overview of FL, 6 G, and FL enables 6 G communication technology. In particular, 6 G requirements and applications, and the proposed FL framework algorithm with evaluation are described. Finally, FL-enabling 6 G communication technologies open challenges, and research directions are discussed to help future researchers improve the FL-enabled 6 G network.

Exploring Safety-Stability Tradeoffs in Cooperative CAV Platoon Controls with Bidirectional Impacts.

Advanced sensing technologies and communication capabilities of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) empower them to capture the dynamics of surrounding vehicles, including speeds and positions of those behind, enabling judicious responsive maneuvers. The acquired dynamics information of vehicles spurred the development of various cooperative platoon controls, particularly designed to enhance platoon stability with reduced spacing for reliable roadway capacity increase. These controls leverage abundant information transmitted through various communication topologies. Despite these advancements, the impact of different vehicle dynamics information on platoon safety remains underexplored, as current research predominantly focuses on stability analysis. This knowledge gap highlights the critical need for further investigation into how diverse vehicle dynamics information influences platoon safety. To address this gap, this research introduces a novel framework based on the concept of phase shift, aiming to scrutinize the tradeoffs between the safety and stability of CAV platoons formed upon bidirectional information flow topology. Our investigation focuses on platoon controls built upon bidirectional information flow topologies using diverse dynamics information of vehicles. Our research findings emphasize that the integration of various types of information into CAV platoon controls does not universally yield benefits. Specifically, incorporating spacing information can enhance both platoon safety and string stability. In contrast, velocity difference information can improve either safety or string stability, but not both simultaneously. These findings offer valuable insights into the formulation of CAV platoon control principles built upon diverse communication topologies. This research contributes a nuanced understanding of the intricate interplay between safety and stability in CAV platoons, emphasizing the importance of information dynamics in shaping effective control strategies.

Edge Computation Offloading With Content Caching in 6G-Enabled IoV

Using the powerful communication capability of 6G, various in-vehicle services in the Internet of Vehicles (IoV) can be offered with low delay, which provide users with a high-quality driving experience. Edge computing in 6G-enabled IoV utilizes edge servers distributed at the edge of the road, enabling rapid responses to delay-sensitive tasks. However, how to execute computation offloading effectively in 6G-enabled IoV remains a challenge. In this paper, a Computation Offloading method with Demand prediction and Reinforcement learning, named CODR, is proposed. First, a prediction method based on Spatial-Temporal Graph Neural Network (STGNN) is proposed. According to the predicted demand, a caching decision method based on the simplex algorithm is designed. Then, a computation offloading method based on twin delayed deterministic policy gradient (TD3) is proposed to obtain the optimal offloading scheme. Finally, the effectiveness and superiority of CODR in reducing delay are demonstrated through a large number of simulation experiments.

Federated Learning in Satellite Constellations

Federated learning (FL) has recently emerged as a distributed machine learning paradigm for systems with limited and intermittent connectivity. This paper presents the new context brought to FL by satellite constellations, where the connectivity patterns are significantly different from the ones observed in conventional terrestrial FL. The focus is on large constellations in low Earth orbit (LEO), where each satellites participates in a data-driven FL task using a locally stored dataset. This scenario is motivated by the trend towards mega constellations of interconnected small satellites in LEO and the integration of artificial intelligence in satellites. We propose a classification of satellite FL based on the communication capabilities of the satellites, the constellation design, and the location of the parameter server. A comprehensive overview of the current state-of-the-art in this field is provided and the unique challenges and opportunities of satellite FL are discussed. Finally, we outline several open research directions for FL in satellite constellations and present some future perspectives on this topic.

Generic and Cost effective framework for Space Threat Assessment for Emerging Space Economies

Modern-day satellites can be considered mini-computers orbiting the earth, with their own operating systems, customized software, navigation and processing units, in-built memory, and other optical and communication capabilities. Gone are the days when satellites were huge in size, with systems and sub-systems taking several months to a few years to be manufactured, assembled, tested, and launched depending on the mission. A wide variety of technological developments in the past decades, including miniaturization of systems and subsystems, availability of space-qualified and commercially-off-the-shelf (COTS) components, and the advent of application-specific integrated chips (ASICs) have paved the way for an increase in quantity and quality of space-based systems, thereby enabling a wide variety of missions even for emerging space economies. With the growing number and complexity of satellites, there have been multiple recorded instances of attacks that have happened on space and ground-based systems over the last three decades. For example, in 1986, the Galaxy I satellite uplink was disrupted by a suspicious person from Florida under the pseudonym "Captain Midnight". In 1997, computers belonging to the X-ray astrophysics section of the Goddard Space Flight Center campus were compromised. In 1998, the ROSAT X-RAY satellite co-owned by the United States and Germany was hacked. One of the satellites from the military communication system Skynet - owned and operated by the UK's Royal Air Force was hacked. As we enter the space age, it is important to note that many countries, including underdeveloped nations, utilize satellites for various earth-based and space-based applications, military recon missions, interplanetary missions, and all other types of space exploration. Given the extent of utilization, it is crucial to tackle the threats facing space-based and ground-based systems. Some developed and space-faring nations like the USA, Russia, China, the UK, etc., have counter-space capabilities at present to tackle a wide variety of threats. On the other hand, countries like India, Iran, Australia, New Zealand, and UAE, which are still new or emerging players in the new space industry, are still developing their systems to be robust enough to tackle space-based and ground-based threats. At the farther end are countries like Mongolia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Norway, etc., which are still developing their space capabilities. In this concise abstract, we present an overview of the myriad security threats encountered by both space-based and ground-based systems. Additionally, we introduce a generic and cost-effective threat assessment framework designed to evaluate these threats across diverse scenarios. This mission-agnostic framework, along with its brief methodology, serves as a foundational tool for identifying security vulnerabilities and formulating comprehensive risk mitigation strategies tailored to specific missions. In the subsequent full-length article, we delve deeper into the complexities of space security, exploring real-world examples, emerging challenges, and innovative solutions.

Internet Addiction and Psychological Distress: Can Social Networking Site Addiction Affect Body Uneasiness Across Gender? A Mediation Model.

The Internet, with its unlimited information, revolutionary communication capabilities, and innovative potential to expand knowledge, is ubiquitous throughout the world, but it also has significant implications for users' mental health. Given the not yet clearly defined and distinguishable nosographic categories of online addiction and the resulting difficulties in describing the impact on users' mental health, the present cross-sectional study aimed to gain new insights into the relationship between Internet addiction (especially social networking site [SNS] addiction), psychological distress, and physical discomfort, as well as gender differences in impact among users. A sample of 583 Italian speakers (50.8% males; 48.7% females) with a mean age of 30.96 (SD = 12.12) completed an online survey in July 2021. A set of psychometric self-report instruments was administered to assess the study variables. Mediation analyses were performed for both the whole sample and across genders. The study found that men exhibited higher levels of Internet addiction and craving than women, but no differences were found for SNS addiction. Furthermore, indicators of psychological distress (i.e., anxiety, depression, stress, loneliness, insomnia, and self-esteem) mediated the association between SNS addiction and body uneasiness, with slight differences across genders. This paper contributes to the existing literature on online addictive behaviors by also highlighting gender differences. The findings underscore the need for educational experiences that can prevent problematic use of the Internet and SNSs.

Security and Safety in Cyber-Physical System (CPS): An Inclusive Threat Model

A Cyber-Physical System (CPS) is a combination of computational algorithms and physical processes that are integrated together. Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) integrate computer and communication capabilities with the monitoring and management of physical parts, establishing a mutually beneficial interaction between the cyber and physical components. Industrial Control System (ICS) is one example of CPS which integrates the physical (OT) and cyber domains (IT), which makes them more vulnerable to attacks. Two essential characteristics of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) are safety and security. Threat models are methods for identifying, analysing, and proposing security control countermeasures for threats and their capabilities. However, the threat model methods which are used for the traditional IT systems are not sufficient as they do not include the physical interactions, consequences and impacts to the safety aspects in the Operational Technology (OT). On the other hand, a risk assessment analyses attack scenario, examines cybersecurity from the attacker's point of view, and gives cost-benefit data to support the expenditure on security measures. This study proposes an inclusive attacker’s centric threat model and pro-active risk assessment model for CPS using Mamdani Fuzzy Inference System (FIS). The outcomes of the threat model prove that the lateral propagation of the threat is possible and threat may also propagate from the CPS assets to the IT segment. The risk assessment by using FIS shown that the safety and security risk for the CPS is significant and calculated as medium level. Hence, the risk factors that are considered in calculating the overall risk for a CPS need to be immediately addressed and mitigated.

The Game Theory Application in the Transport Flows Control Algorithm Development in the Intelligent Transport System

Traffic management in modern intelligent transport systems includes monitoring the actual traffic situation in real time (volumes, speeds, incidents, etc.) and management or controlling transport traffic using this information. At the same time, cars as intelligent transport systems components must be equipped with communication capabilities for exchanging information with other vehicles (V2V) and with road infrastructure (V2I). All this is connected with the presence of special equipment connected to the on-board network for local data collection, which can be exchanged between cars and with a central communication station using wireless Internet. At the same time, the issue of developing the traffic organization algorithms themselves is still open. This problem can be solved with the help of game theory, a fairly new but rapidly developing part of modern mathematics. Unlike optimization theory, which studies the possibilities of constructing an optimal solution for the entire system as a whole, game theory studies ways to optimize individual benefits in competition with other persons (events) that rationally seek to satisfy their own benefits. The problem of “smart” regulation of intersections is quite difficult to solve, it combines the efforts of scientists from different fields of knowledge. However, the rapid development of ICT technologies and their rapid application to transport tasks makes it possible to develop some approaches to optimize the current situation at the intersection.

Design of resilient communication tower with retractable antenna mast

Effective communication infrastructure is crucial for disaster response and management, particularly in typhoon-prone regions like the province of Catanduanes, Philippines. This study aims to design a resilient communication tower with a retractable antenna mast to enhance the communication capabilities of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) in the island of Catanduanes during typhoon and disaster. The study adopts a capstone project design method. It includes qualitative analysis with an extensive review of literature and guidelines related to resilient communication infrastructure, typhoon preparedness, and disaster response strategies specific to the island of Catanduanes. Factors such as wind loads, structural stability, and mechanisms for deploying the retractable antenna mast pole are considered during the design process. Advanced tools such as computer-aided design software and structural analysis and design software application simulations are employed to model and assess the tower's structural integrity under extreme weather conditions. The outcomes study includes a detailed design plan for a resilient communication tower with a retractable antenna mast pole, specifically tailored for the typhoon-prone environment in Catanduanes.

Real-Time Production Scheduling and Industrial Sonar and Their Application in Autonomous Mobile Robots

In real-time production planning, there are exceptional events that can cause problems and deviations in the production schedule. These circumstances can be solved with real-time production planning, which is able to quickly reschedule the operations at each work centre. Mobile autonomous robots are a key element in this real-time planning and are a fundamental link between production centres. Work centres in Industry 4.0 environments can use current technology, i.e., a biomimetic strategy that emulates echolocation, with the aim of establishing bidirectional communication with other work centres through the application of agile algorithms. Taking advantage of these communication capabilities, the basic idea is to distribute the execution of the algorithm among different work centres that interact like a parasympathetic system that makes automatic movements to reorder the production schedule. The aim is to use algorithms with an optimal solution based on the simplicity of the task distribution, trying to avoid heuristic algorithms or heavy computations. This paper presents the following result: the development of an Industrial Sonar algorithm which allows real-time scheduling and obtains the optimal solution at all times. The objective of this is to reduce the makespan, reduce energy costs and carbon footprint, and reduce the waiting and transport times for autonomous mobile robots using the Internet of Things, cloud computing and machine learning technologies to emulate echolocation.

Attitudes toward learning communication skills among Iranian medical students

BackgroundAttitudes determine behavior, and alterations in attitude may result in behavioral changes. Medical students would benefit from learning communication skills. This study aimed to determine the attitude of medical students toward the importance of learning communication skills and the training courses and their role in contributing.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 442 medical students from three different levels of medical training were enrolled. Students in the first 4 years of the medical program were classified as basic sciences and physiopathology students, those in the fifth and sixth years were classified as clerkship students, and those in the last three terms of medical training were classified as interns. The attitude among these three groups was assessed by the Communication Skills Attitude Scale (CSAS) questionnaire, and the contributing factors were determined.ResultsThe mean total points for attitude in positive and negative aspects were 50.7 and 30.9, respectively showing a positive attitude toward communication skills among medical students. The median scores of the scales Important in Medical Content, Excuse, Learning, and Overconfidence varied significantly from highest to lowest, respectively. Gender, educational level, ethnic origin, language, family burden, paternal literacy, history of presence in communication skills courses, self-report from communication skills, and need to further learning in this era showed significant association with attitude (P < 0.05).ConclusionsIt may be concluded that generally, medical students have a positive attitude toward communication skills, and this perspective is a multi-factorial entity that programming according to the various related factors would help to attainment of additional communication capabilities among medical students.

Enhancing medical students' science communication skills: from the perspective of new media.

With the development of science over the years, people have increasingly realized the importance of science communication. Unfortunately, very little research has focused on helping medical students develop the capabilities of science communication. To improve medical students' science communication and evaluate the effectiveness of New Media through mobile clients in health science communication, a competition was held among medical undergraduates. Outstanding works were selected for publication on our official health science communication WeChat account. Furthermore, the participants volunteered to complete a questionnaire survey to help us assess students' awareness of science communication. Our analysis revealed that students had a strong willingness to serve society and to participate in science communication work. Students generally agreed that science communication work had excellent effects on professional knowledge and related skills. In addition, the correlation results showed that the greater students' willingness to participate in health science communication was, the greater their sense of gain. New Media effectively expand the influence of students' popular science works. Our findings suggest that competition in science communication has a positive impact on enhancing students' awareness and capabilities in science communication. In addition, New Media are an effective way to improve students' scientific communication efficiency. However, we also noted that students' participation rate and enthusiasm for scientific communication were not high. Further research is needed to determine the reasons for this situation and potential strategies to further improve students' science communication.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The science communication competition had a positive impact on helping medical students develop awareness and capabilities for science communication. In addition, New Media are an effective way to improve students' scientific communication efficiency.

Diagnostic, Therapeutic, and Theranostic Multifunctional Microneedles.

Microneedles (MNs) have maintained their popularity in therapeutic and diagnostic medical applications throughout the past decade. MNs are originally designed to gently puncture the stratum corneum layer of the skin and have lately evolved into intelligent devices with functions including bodily fluid extraction, biosensing, and drug administration. MNs offer limited invasiveness, ease of application, and minimal discomfort. Initially manufactured solely from metals, MNs are now available in polymer-based varieties. MNs can be used to create systems that deliver drugs and chemicals uniformly, collect bodily fluids, and are stimulus-sensitive. Although these advancements are favorable in terms of biocompatibility and production costs, they are insufficient for the therapeutic use of MNs. This is the first comprehensive review that discusses individual MN functions toward the evolution and development of smart and multifunctional MNs for a variety of novel and impactful future applications. The study examines fabrication techniques, application purposes, and experimental details of MN constructs that perform multiple functions concurrently, including sensing, drug-molecule release, sampling, and remote communication capabilities. It is highly likely that in the near future, MN-based smart devices will be a useful and important component of standard medical practice for different applications.

Sex-specific modulation of early life vocalization and cognition by Fmr1 gene dosage in a mouse model of Fragile X Syndrome

BackgroundPup-dam ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) are essential to cognitive and socio-emotional development. In autism and Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), disruptions in pup-dam USV communication hint at a possible connection between abnormal early developmental USV communication and the later emergence of communication and social deficits.MethodsHere, we gathered USVs from PND 10 FXS pups during a short period of separation from their mothers, encompassing animals of all possible genotypes and both sexes (i.e., Fmr1-/y vs. Fmr1+/y males and Fmr1+/+, +/-, and -/- females). This allowed comparing the influence of sex and gene dosage on pups’ communication capabilities. Leveraging DeepSqueak and analyzing vocal patterns, intricate vocal behaviors such as call structure, duration, frequency modulation, and temporal patterns were examined. Furthermore, homing behavior was assessed as a sensitive indicator of early cognitive development and social discrimination. This behavior relies on the use of olfactory and thermal cues to navigate and search for the maternal or nest odor in the surrounding space.ResultsThe results show that FMRP-deficient pups of both sexes display an increased inclination to vocalize when separated from their mothers, and this behavior is accompanied by significant sex-specific changes in the main features of their USVs as well as in body weight. Analysis of the vocal repertoire and syntactic usage revealed that Fmr1 gene silencing primarily alters the USVs’ qualitative composition in males. Moreover, sex-specific effects of Fmr1 silencing on locomotor activity and homing behavior were observed. FMRP deficiency in females increased activity, reduced nest-reaching time, and extended nest time. In males, it prolonged nest-reaching time and reduced nest time without affecting locomotion.ConclusionsThese findings highlight the interplay between Fmr1 gene dosage and sex in influencing communicative and cognitive skills during infancy.

Leadership Practices of Head Teachers: Primary School Teachers’ Perspective in Public Schools of Punjab

Effective leadership of head teachers shapes teacher attitudes and school organizational outcomes. This quantitative descriptive research aimed to find out the head teachers’ leadership practices perceived by the primary school teachers. There were selected 150 participants through a random sampling technique from public schools. A five-point Likert scale questionnaire was self-developed keeping in view the previous literature and experts’ perspectives. The questionnaire was focused on supportiveness, maintaining standards, communication capabilities, and instructional leadership. Data was analyzed through the SPSS 20 version. According to the findings of the study, teachers’ perceived positive regarding coordinating policy, classroom helpfulness, resource provision, relationship building, and confident interaction. There were 70-80% of the respondents who agreed about head teachers’ strengths for monitoring performance, motivation, decision making, shaping direction, and enabling autonomy. Low disagreement levels indicated teachers perceive head teachers as demonstrating competence across diverse leadership competencies. Highest rated areas and lowest regarding managing stress showed public sector heads capably transform restrictive bureaucracies through prioritizing secure environments, and communications, and upholding high instructional expectations enabling performance. Statistically, teachers had decidedly positive perspectives on headteacher leadership practices. Practical recommendations include sustaining areas with already high agreement, improving emotional support, increasing staff participation, enacting distributed leadership, enhancing recognition, and ensuring adequate time for core instructional leadership oversight by assessing administrative burdens on public school heads.

Algorithm for Control of Traffic Flow in an Intelligent Transport System

Traffic management in modern Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) includes monitoring the actual traffic situation in real time and management transport traffic using this information. At the same time, cars as ITS components must be equipped with communication capabilities for exchanging information with other vehicles (V2V) and road infrastructure (V2I). Such approach is connected with usage of special equipment connected to on-board network for local data collection, which can be exchanged between cars and with a central communication station using wireless Internet. At the same time, the issue of developing the traffic organization algorithms themselves is still open. This problem can be solved with the help of game theory, a fairly new but rapidly developing part of modern mathematics. Unlike optimization theory, which studies the possibilities of constructing an optimal solution for the entire system as a whole, game theory studies ways to optimize individual benefits in competition with other persons (events) that rationally seek to satisfy their own benefits. The problem of "smart" regulation of intersections is quite difficult to solve a problem, nevertheless it is possible due to rapid development of ICT technologies. Keywords: ITS, transport crossroads, game theory

A physical layer security scheme for 6G wireless networks using post-quantum cryptography

The sixth generation (6G) of mobile networks is poised to revolutionize communication capabilities with its infinite-like reach. These networks will feature an ultra-dense topology, accommodating a wide range of devices, from macro devices like satellites to nano-devices integrated within the human body. However, the extensive data traffic handled by 6G networks, a significant portion of which is sensitive in nature, presents a security challenge. This paper presents the design and implementation of an encryption scheme that ensures the confidentiality of data transmission in the physical layer of 6G networks. The proposed physical layer security architecture relies on lattice cryptography, wherein each user is associated with a pair of bases (a public basis and a private basis) and a set of orthogonal sub-carriers. The encryption process involves projecting the vector of the transmitted data’s quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) symbols onto the user’s public basis. A random error vector is then added before applying the inverse Fourier transform of the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) technique. The security of this encryption scheme hinges on the complexity of the closest vector problem in an integer lattice. To evaluate its efficacy, we analyze the security of our lattice-based physical layer encryption concerning the properties of the base pairs and error vectors. Our findings indicate that the proposed scheme offers satisfactory security protection against eavesdropping attacks by significantly enhancing the confidentiality of the transmitted signal. Furthermore, we assess the performance of our design through numerical experiments, demonstrating its resilience against various security attacks.

Perceived Communication Competence and Learning Styles in the New Normal

The student has appreciated and adapted to the new normal phase. In the two years, they spent at home doing their modules and online classes, they have adapted quickly, as these students are in the technological age. This study intended to assess the communication competence and learning styles of the Bachelor of Elementary Education at St. Michael's College, Higher Education Department. It specifically aimed to answer the effect of the new normal modality of communication competence and learning styles in terms of visual, auditory, visual/iconic, and kinesthetic. This study utilized a descriptive correlation study research design, a simple random sampling procedure, and a survey questionnaire for learning styles and communication competence. Results revealed that some students were under moderate and high. The researchers used the mean and standard deviation Kendall Tau Rank, and Shapiro-Wilk Test to determine the significant relationship between learning styles and communication competence variables. The researchers recommended a program considered “Upgrading Learning Styles and Fundamental Communication Capabilities” to enhance and improve the learners' skills in different aspects, boost their confidence, and enhance their abilities in using English as a communication tool and learning.