Recruitment Dynamics Research Articles

Spatial and temporal recruitment variability of sandy subtidal megabenthic populations on an open coastline influenced by a tsunami caused by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake

AbstractThe spatial distribution and size structure of two infaunal filter‐feeding bivalves, that is, Sakhalin surf clam Spisula sachalinensis (Schrenck, 1862) and dwarf sunray surf clam Mactra crossei (Dunker, 1877), and an epibenthic deposit feeder, namely the sand dollar Scaphechinus mirabilis (A. Agassiz, 1864), were investigated on an open sandy beach in northern Japan after the tsunami caused by the 2011 Tohoku earthquake. Settlement of S. sachalinensis was relatively abundant in the 2011‐ and 2012‐year classes, but then substantially decreased until the early months of 2013. The 0+‐year‐old distribution was associated mainly with a depth gradient and weakly with the median grain size of the sediment. Mactra crossei had (1) an inverse trend in long‐shore variation in abundance at 2+ years of age and (2) later‐post‐settlement processes that regulated its population dynamics, compared to those of S. sachalinensis. The 2010‐year classes for both Mactridae species survived until 2+ years of age, although their abundance showed a high level of spatial variation. Scaphechinus mirabilis showed fine‐scale spatial variation in their recruitment dynamics. The cross‐shore distribution of S. mirabilis showed a clear ontogenetic shift from shallow to deep water. The cross‐shore distribution of small S. mirabilis (<40 mm in test diameter) overlapped that of the juvenile S. sachalinensis, but their interaction was unclear. Overall, the level of spatial and temporal recruitment variation was relatively high in each species. However, the tsunami has scarcely influenced the cross‐shore distribution and population structure of each species.

Endothelial SMAD1/5 signaling couples angiogenesis to osteogenesis in juvenile bone

Skeletal development depends on coordinated angiogenesis and osteogenesis. Bone morphogenetic proteins direct bone formation in part by activating SMAD1/5 signaling in osteoblasts. However, the role of SMAD1/5 in skeletal endothelium is unknown. Here, we found that endothelial cell-conditional SMAD1/5 depletion in juvenile mice caused metaphyseal and diaphyseal hypervascularity, resulting in altered trabecular and cortical bone formation. SMAD1/5 depletion induced excessive sprouting and disrupting the morphology of the metaphyseal vessels, with impaired anastomotic loop formation at the chondro-osseous junction. Endothelial SMAD1/5 depletion impaired growth plate resorption and, upon long-term depletion, abrogated osteoprogenitor recruitment to the primary spongiosa. Finally, in the diaphysis, endothelial SMAD1/5 activity was necessary to maintain the sinusoidal phenotype, with SMAD1/5 depletion inducing formation of large vascular loops and elevated vascular permeability. Together, endothelial SMAD1/5 activity sustains skeletal vascular morphogenesis and function and coordinates growth plate remodeling and osteoprogenitor recruitment dynamics in juvenile mouse bone.

Tree mortality and recruitment in secondary Andean tropical mountain forests along a 3000 m elevation gradient.

This study addresses the understudied dynamics of mortality and recruitment in Tropical Mountain forests, critical determinants of forest structural processes and biomass turnover. We examine how these demographic processes change with elevation and varying degrees of forest recovery by utilizing two forest censuses (2015 and 2019) from 16 plots (0.36 ha) across a 600-3500 m asl elevation gradient in the Ecuadorian Andes. Employing multivariate PCA analyses, we characterize successional forest dynamics and explore relationships between demographic rates, elevation, and indicators of forest recovery using standard linear regression and generalized additive models (GAMs). Contrary to our hypothesis, mortality exhibits a unimodal response, peaking at mid-elevations, with no significant relationship to above-ground biomass productivity (AGBp). In our successional forests, dominance by fast-growing species alters expected patterns, leading to increased mortality rates and AGBp, particularly at low-mid elevations. Forest recovery emerges as a significant driver of mortality and the sole predictor of recruitment, especially across different recovery statuses. Although forest recovery doesn't impact mortality rates, it elucidates the identity of declining species in forests with varying recovery degrees. Our findings underscore that while forest recovery does not alter mortality rates, it provides critical insights into understanding which species are affected under varying recovery conditions. Recruitment, primarily driven by successional dynamics, exhibits higher rates in sites with less recovery. Furthermore, we demonstrate the utility of forest structure indicators, such as above-ground biomass, in inferring successional dynamics when the time since the last disturbance is unknown. The study emphasizes the importance of considering disturbances in comprehending the intricate interplay between the environment and forest dynamics in secondary forests.

Detecting Psychological Interventions Using Bilateral Electromyographic Wearable Sensors.

This study investigated the impact of auditory stimuli on muscular activation patterns using wearable surface electromyography (EMG) sensors. Employing four key muscles (Sternocleidomastoid Muscle (SCM), Cervical Erector Muscle (CEM), Quadricep Muscles (QMs), and Tibialis Muscle (TM)) and time domain features, we differentiated the effects of four interventions: silence, music, positive reinforcement, and negative reinforcement. The results demonstrated distinct muscle responses to the interventions, with the SCM and CEM being the most sensitive to changes and the TM being the most active and stimulus dependent. Post hoc analyses revealed significant intervention-specific activations in the CEM and TM for specific time points and intervention pairs, suggesting dynamic modulation and time-dependent integration. Multi-feature analysis identified both statistical and Hjorth features as potent discriminators, reflecting diverse adaptations in muscle recruitment, activation intensity, control, and signal dynamics. These features hold promise as potential biomarkers for monitoring muscle function in various clinical and research applications. Finally, muscle-specific Random Forest classification achieved the highest accuracy and Area Under the ROC Curve for the TM, indicating its potential for differentiating interventions with high precision. This study paves the way for personalized neuroadaptive interventions in rehabilitation, sports science, ergonomics, and healthcare by exploiting the diverse and dynamic landscape of muscle responses to auditory stimuli.

Biomolecular condensation orchestrates clathrin-mediated endocytosis in plants.

Clathrin-mediated endocytosis is an essential cellular internalization pathway involving the dynamic assembly of clathrin and accessory proteins to form membrane-bound vesicles. The evolutionarily ancient TSET-TPLATE complex (TPC) plays an essential, but ill-defined role in endocytosis in plants. Here we show that two highly disordered TPC subunits, AtEH1 and AtEH2, function as scaffolds to drive biomolecular condensation of the complex. These condensates specifically nucleate on the plasma membrane through interactions with anionic phospholipids, and facilitate the dynamic recruitment and assembly of clathrin, as well as early- and late-stage endocytic accessory proteins. Importantly, condensation promotes ordered clathrin assemblies. TPC-driven biomolecular condensation thereby facilitates dynamic protein assemblies throughout clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Furthermore, we show that a disordered region of AtEH1 controls the material properties of endocytic condensates in vivo. Alteration of these material properties disturbs the recruitment of accessory proteins, influences endocytosis dynamics and impairs plant responsiveness. Our findings reveal how collective interactions shape endocytosis.

ZNF598’s recruitment dynamics in ribosome-associated protein quality control revealed through single-molecule imaging

ZNF598’s recruitment dynamics in ribosome-associated protein quality control revealed through single-molecule imaging

Dynamic molecular architecture and substrate recruitment of cullin3-RING E3 ligase CRL3KBTBD2.

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase α, a heterodimer of catalytic p110α and one of five regulatory subunits, mediates insulin- and insulin like growth factor-signaling and, frequently, oncogenesis. Cellular levels of the regulatory p85α subunit are tightly controlled by regulated proteasomal degradation. In adipose tissue and growth plates, failure of K48-linked p85α ubiquitination causes diabetes, lipodystrophy and dwarfism in mice, as in humans with SHORT syndrome. Here we elucidated the structures of the key ubiquitin ligase complexes regulating p85α availability. Specificity is provided by the substrate receptor KBTBD2, which recruits p85α to the cullin3-RING E3 ubiquitin ligase (CRL3). CRL3KBTBD2 forms multimers, which disassemble into dimers upon substrate binding (CRL3KBTBD2-p85α) and/or neddylation by the activator NEDD8 (CRL3KBTBD2~N8), leading to p85α ubiquitination and degradation. Deactivation involves dissociation of NEDD8 mediated by the COP9 signalosome and displacement of KBTBD2 by the inhibitor CAND1. The hereby identified structural basis of p85α regulation opens the way to better understanding disturbances of glucose regulation, growth and cancer.

International terrorism and extremism in Central Asia: Regional specific features

Relevance. The relevance of the published study is due to the large-scale and consistent conceptualization of the problems of regional specific features of international terrorism and extremism in Central Asia over the past decades. Purpose. This publication is aimed at a thorough analysis of the current situation and the probable future of international terrorism and extremism in Central Asia, taking into account regional peculiarities. Methodology. The methodology for investigating regional features of international terrorism and extremism in Central Asia was to refer to the most represented scientific databases, first of all Cochrane Library, Campbell Collaboration, ERIC, JSTOR, NCJRS, ProQuest, PsycInfo, SCOPUS, ScienceDirect, IEEE Xplore, Web of Science. The selection of valid studies and surveys was carried out using the method of snowball. Results. The key findings highlight the historical context and current challenges posed by international terrorist organizations in Central Asia. The data underscores the threat of extremism and terrorism in the region, emphasizing the return of foreign fighters from conflict zones and the complex dynamics of radicalization and recruitment within Central Asian countries. Additionally, the repatriation efforts by governments showcase the ongoing struggle to address the risks associated with terrorism and extremism in the region. Conclusions. The conclusion of the research article emphasizes the threat of international terrorism and extremism in Central Asia, exacerbated by the support of radical movements by the local population, and highlights the challenges of identifying common drivers of radicalization while calling for further in-depth research into the regional characteristics of terrorism and extremism. Keywords: radicalization of society; security hazard; regional situation; endopathic causes; political power; foreign fighters Orumbayeva M, Kurmangali A. International terrorism and extremism in Central Asia: Regional specific features. Sci Herald Uzhhorod Univ Ser Phys. 2024;(56):527-534. DOI: 10.54919/physics/56.2024.52bye7

Describing the dynamics of recruits and juvenile scleractinian corals using 3d models: a case study from Cayo Mero reef, Morrocoy National Park, Venezuela

Understanding the dynamics of coral recruitment and post-settlement is fundamental to a better comprehension of coral reef dynamics and recovery. We studied the abundance and survivorship of coral recruits and juveniles together with benthic dynamics at a scale of months and centimeters in Playa Mero reef, a disturbed reef in Morrocoy National Park. For this, we used photogrammetry to monitor eight permanent 50x50 cm quadrats haphazardly deployed every 3–4 months over 18 months. Juveniles and recruits of Agaricia spp. were at least four times more abundant than reef builders such as Orbicella spp. A distance-based linear model showed that rugosity, macroalgae, coral cover, and sand were the most important benthic variables and predicted up to 46% of the spatial and temporal variation of recruit and juvenile corals. The mortality of juvenile corals was higher than net recruitment rates, and only a limited number of genera such as Agariciids, Colpophyllia, Porites, and Scolymia were observed as recruits. Using a logit model, we also found a positive relationship between the mean growth rate and survivorship of juvenile corals (Nagelkerke R2= 0.67). We concluded the lack of recruitment of large reef builders, and the rapid mortality of a limited number of juvenile species, might be a sign of a coral community's failure to increase coral cover.

Recruitment Patterns and Environmental Sensitivity of Glass Eels of Anguilla japonica in the Yangtze Estuary, China.

The decline of Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) populations in the Yangtze River estuary represents a critical conservation concern. Eleven-years of daily catch data during recruitment periods (i.e., January-April, 2012-2022) indicate that annual catch averaged from 153 to 1108 eels, and show a bimodal pattern in glass eel arrivals. Utilizing seasonal-trend decomposition and generalized additive models, we demonstrated a strong correlation between catch abundance, optimal water temperatures, and lunar cycles. An auto-regressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) model predicts an increase in glass eel numbers for 2023-2024 but also points to a concerning trend of delayed recruitment timing since 2016, attributable to the 0.48 °C per decade rise in sea surface temperatures. This delay correlates with a significant decrease in the average body weight of glass eels, suggesting potential energy deficits that may hinder successful upstream migration. This study not only furthers our understanding of glass eel recruitment dynamics but also underscores the urgent need for targeted conservation measures. Additionally, it highlights the importance of sustained, detailed monitoring to mitigate the detrimental effects of climate change on these eels, vital for preserving the Yangtze River's ecological integrity.

Neutrophils-mediated bioinspired nanoagents for noninvasive monitoring of inflammatory recruitment dynamics and navigating phototherapy in rheumatoid arthritis

Neutrophils play a crucial role in inflammatory immune responses, but their in vivo homing to inflammatory lesions remains unclear, hampering precise treatment options. In this study, we employed a biomineralization-inspired multimodal nanoagent to label neutrophils, enabling noninvasive monitoring of the dynamic process of inflammatory recruitment and guiding photothermal therapy in rheumatoid arthritis. Our nanoagents allowed visualization of neutrophil fate through magnetic resonance imaging, photoacoustic imaging, and fluorescence imaging in the first and second near-infrared windows. Histopathology and immunofluorescence analysis revealed pronounced inflammatory cell infiltration in rheumatoid arthritis compared to the normal limb. Furthermore, the recruitment quantity of neutrophils positively correlated with the inflammatory stage. Additionally, the inherent photothermal effect of the nanoagents efficiently ablated inflammatory cells during the optimal homing time and inflammatory phase. This neutrophil imaging-guided photothermal therapy precisely targeted inflammatory nuclei in rheumatoid arthritis and downregulated pro-inflammatory cytokines in serum. These results demonstrate that in vivo tracking of inflammatory immune response cells can significantly optimize the treatment of inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis.

Strategies for improving diversity, equity, and inclusion in cardiovascular research: a primer.

This paper aims to empower cardiovascular (CV) researchers by promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) principles throughout the research cycle. It defines DE&I and introduces practical strategies for implementation in recruitment, retention, and team dynamics within CV research. Evidence-based approaches supporting underrepresented populations' participation are outlined for each research phase. Emphasizing the significance of inclusive research environments, the paper offers guidance and resources. We invite CV researchers to actively embrace DE&I principles, enhancing research relevance and addressing longstanding CV health disparities.

Objective scanning-based fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (Scan-FCCS) for studying the fusion dynamics of protein phase separation.

Protein phase separation plays a very important role in many biological processes and is closely related to the occurrence and development of some serious diseases. So far, the fluorescence imaging method and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) have been frequently used to study the phase separation behavior of proteins. Due to the wide size distribution of protein condensates in phase separation from nano-scale to micro-scale in solution and living cells, it is difficult for the fluorescence imaging method and conventional FCS to fully reflect the real state of protein phase separation in the solution due to the low spatio-temporal resolution of the conventional fluorescence imaging method and the limited detection area of FCS. Here, we proposed a novel method for studying the protein phase separation process by objective scanning-based fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (Scan-FCCS). In this study, CRDBP proteins were used as a model and respectively fused with fluorescent proteins (EGFP and mCherry). We first compared conventional FCS and Scan-FCS methods for characterizing the CRDBP protein phase separation behaviors and found that the reproducibility of Scan-FCS is significantly improved by the scanning mode. We studied the self-fusion process of mCherry-CRDBP and EGFP-CRDBP and observed that the phase change concentration of CRDBP was 25 nM and the fusion of mCherry-CRDBP and EGFP-CRDBP at 500 nM was completed within 70 min. We studied the effects of salt concentration and molecular crowding agents on the phase separation of CRDBP and found that salt can prevent the self-fusion of CRDBP and molecular crowding agents can improve the self-fusion of CRDBP. Furthermore, we found the recruitment behavior of CRDBP to β-catenin proteins and studied their recruitment dynamics. Compared to conventional FCS, Scan-FCCS can significantly improve the reproducibility of measurements due to the dramatic increase of detection zone, and more importantly, this method can provide information about self-fusion and recruitment dynamics in protein phase separation.

Encroachment drives facilitation at alpine shrublines

Ongoing encroachment is driving recent alpine shrubline dynamics globally, but the role of shrub-shrub interactions in shaping shrublines and their relationships with stem density changes remain poorly understood. Here, the size and age of shrubs from 26 Salix shrubline populations along a 900-km latitudinal gradient (30°–38° N) were measured and mapped across the eastern Tibetan Plateau. Point pattern analyses were used to quantify the spatial distribution patterns of juveniles and adults, and to assess spatial associations between them. Mean intensity of univariate and bivariate spatial patterns was related to biotic and abiotic variables. Bivariate mark correlation functions with a quantitative mark (shrub height, basal stem diameter, crown width) were also employed to investigate the spatial relationships between shrub traits of juveniles and adults. Structural equation models were used to explore the relationships among conspecific interactions, patterns, shrub traits and recruitment dynamics under climate change. Most shrublines showed clustered patterns, suggesting the existence of conspecific facilitation. Clustered patterns of juveniles and conspecific interactions (potentially facilitation) tended to intensify with increasing soil moisture stress. Summer warming before 2010 triggered positive effects on population interactions and spatial patterns via increased shrub recruitment. However, summer warming after 2010 triggered negative effects on interactions through reduced shrub recruitment. Therefore, shrub recruitment shifts under rapid climate change could impact spatial patterns, alter conspecific interactions and modify the direction and degree of shrublines responses to climate. These changes would have profound implications for the stability of alpine woody ecosystems.

Rearing condition influences gene expression in postlarval American lobster (Homarus americanus).

The American lobster (Homarus americanus) is an economically important species in the western Atlantic and its climate-driven range shift northward along the east coast of the United States is well documented. The thermal tolerance of lab-reared postlarvae of this species has been extensively investigated to better understand settlement and recruitment dynamics. However, there have been few studies focused on wild-caught postlarvae, and even fewer that have analyzed lab-rearing conditions in context of diet. In this study, we investigated gene transcriptional changes in postlarvae caught in the wild, as well as postlarvae reared in the laboratory on a brine shrimp diet or a wild-sourced zooplankton diet. We found between wild-caught and brine shrimp-reared larvae 3,682 differentially expressed genes, and between wild and zooplankton-reared postlarvae 3,939 differentially expressed genes. Between the two lab-reared groups fed different diets 2,603 genes were differentially expressed. We also exposed individuals in all rearing groups to chronic temperature treatments of 8°C and 26°C and found that both temperature extremes elicit 68-95% fewer transcriptional changes in wild postlarvae compared to either lab-reared group. In wild postlarvae, we identified differential expression of transcripts within the FoxO signaling pathway, a signaling pathway with a central role in cellular physiology, as potential molecular markers for cold tolerance in the American lobster. These findings contextualize the current literature on lab-reared postlarvae as containing conservative estimates for in situ organisms and can be used to inform population distribution modeling efforts. They also provide evidence for the need to adjust lab-rearing techniques or source wild larval crustaceans to augment studies of larval biology.

Testing novel methods for short-term forecasting of European glass eel recruitment

Recruitment forecasting constitutes a major issue in population dynamics, especially in stock assessments. In many cases, high recruitment stochasticity thwarts the determination of a stock-recruitment (SR) relationship. When no SR relationship is available, recruitments can be projected from past trends using methods such as the geometric means of the past recruitments. This approach implicitly assumes stability in upcoming years and might not be appropriate in the case of regime shifts. Recruitment forecasting is particularly critical when predicting fishing opportunities for recruitment fisheries. The fishery of glass European eels (Anguilla anguilla) is an example of a recruitment fishery. The French glass eel fishery, which is currently guided by two models to forecast upcoming recruitments and derive fishing opportunities, has failed to achieve management targets. This study develops new models that forecast glass eel recruitments without assumptions about the SR relationship, and with flexible assumptions about future recruitment evolutions. Tests based on multiple criteria found the best performance in a random slope model, which provides flexibility to track recruitment dynamics while balancing the interests of fisheries, management and conservation. This model has wide potential for trend projections in natural resource management, economics and other fields.

Motoneuron-driven computational muscle modelling with motor unit resolution and subject-specific musculoskeletal anatomy.

The computational simulation of human voluntary muscle contraction is possible with EMG-driven Hill-type models of whole muscles. Despite impactful applications in numerous fields, the neuromechanical information and the physiological accuracy such models provide remain limited because of multiscale simplifications that limit comprehensive description of muscle internal dynamics during contraction. We addressed this limitation by developing a novel motoneuron-driven neuromuscular model, that describes the force-generating dynamics of a population of individual motor units, each of which was described with a Hill-type actuator and controlled by a dedicated experimentally derived motoneuronal control. In forward simulation of human voluntary muscle contraction, the model transforms a vector of motoneuron spike trains decoded from high-density EMG signals into a vector of motor unit forces that sum into the predicted whole muscle force. The motoneuronal control provides comprehensive and separate descriptions of the dynamics of motor unit recruitment and discharge and decodes the subject's intention. The neuromuscular model is subject-specific, muscle-specific, includes an advanced and physiological description of motor unit activation dynamics, and is validated against an experimental muscle force. Accurate force predictions were obtained when the vector of experimental neural controls was representative of the discharge activity of the complete motor unit pool. This was achieved with large and dense grids of EMG electrodes during medium-force contractions or with computational methods that physiologically estimate the discharge activity of the motor units that were not identified experimentally. This neuromuscular model advances the state-of-the-art of neuromuscular modelling, bringing together the fields of motor control and musculoskeletal modelling, and finding applications in neuromuscular control and human-machine interfacing research.

Outplants of the Threatened Coral Acropora cervicornis Promote Coral Recruitment in a Shallow-Water Coral Reef, Culebra, Puerto Rico

The numerous socioeconomic and ecological challenges that coral reef degradation poses in the Greater Caribbean have led to a surge in restoration efforts. In this context, outplanting nursery-reared coral colonies has emerged as one of the most common strategies used to rejuvenate degraded reefs and reinstate critical ecosystem processes such as coral recruitment. However, the extent to which coral outplanting promotes the recruitment of coral species remains a subject of ongoing debate. This study tested the hypothesis that reintroducing the threatened coral Acropora cervicornis to a degraded coral reef promotes coral recruitment. To test our hypothesis, a series of recruitment quadrats were established in an area populated with A. cervicornis outplants and in a reference location devoid of the coral. To further investigate the relationship between A. cervicornis and coral recruitment, an experiment was implemented in which half of the quadrats in the restored area received a coral outplant, while the other half were left undisturbed. After one year, all coral recruits located within the quadrats were counted and identified. It was found that in the restored area the mean recruit density exceeded that of the reference location by a factor of 2.15. Results also unveiled a positive association between coral recruitment and the presence of A. cervicornis. Specifically, the mean recruit density in quadrats that received an A. cervicornis colony was 2.21 to 4.65-times higher than in the quadrats without coral outplants. This intriguing observation underscores the pivotal role of A. cervicornis in shaping the recruitment dynamics of corals within degraded reef areas, highlighting the potential of active coral outplanting to enhance the resilience of deteriorating coral reef ecosystems.

Recruitment dynamics in a tropical karst seasonal rain forest: Revealing complex processes from spatial patterns

Spatial patterns can reveal many ecological processes in forest communities; thus, understanding the spatial patterns of trees and their interactions is key to exploring forest dynamics. However, few studies have explored the spatial patterns and interactions between adults and recruits over longer time spans in tropical karst forests. A forest dynamics census was conducted (2011–2021) in a 15-ha karst seasonal rainforest plot at the Nonggang National Nature Reserve, in Guangxi, China. The tree community structure, which included a total of 20 tree species (≥ 50 individuals) at various states of recruitment, survival, and mortality, were selected and investigated via detailed analyses. First, univariate pair correlation functions and bivariate mark correlation functions were utilized to analyze the spatial patterns of dead recruits, surviving recruits, and adults. Aggregation was the dominant intraspecific distribution pattern in the plot that decreased at larger scales, which indicated that dispersal was limited. The segregation of bivariate patterns in most species suggested that there was scramble competition between the surviving and dead recruits, which translated to their not clustering around adults. Second, it was revealed through testing that density dependence was not prevalent. However, negative density dependence was more common in species that exhibited density dependence, as various species respond differently to changes in population density. Third, most recruits had a low probability of survival, which for several dominant species was influenced by neighborhood effects. This study did not support the Janzen-Connell hypothesis, as the survival probability of most recruits was not enhanced with the distance from adults. This meant that the effects of distance from adults on the growth of recruits in Nonggang forests were negligible. These results suggested that dispersal limitations and habitat heterogeneity played more significant roles in the regulation of tree spatial patterns and seedling growth (or mortality) in tropical karst seasonal rain forests. This work will contribute to the restoration and conservation of fragile forest communities in Karst regions, while providing a theoretical basis for biodiversity research, forest management planning, and ecosystem services.

Towards intelligent and trustworthy task assignments for 5G-enabled industrial communication systems

With the unprecedented prevalence of IIoT and 5G technology, various applications supported by industrial communication systems have generated exponentially increased processing tasks, which makes task assignment inefficient due to insufficient workers. In this paper, an Intelligent and Trustworthy task assignment method based on Trust and Social relations (ITTS) is proposed for scenarios with many tasks and few workers. Specifically, ITTS first makes initial assignments based on trust and social influences, thereby transforming the complex large-scale industrial task assignment of the platform into the small-scale task assignment for each worker. Then, an intelligent Q-decision mechanism based on workers' social relation is proposed, which adopts the first-exploration-then-utilization principle to allocate tasks. Only when a worker cannot cope with the assigned tasks, it initiates dynamic worker recruitment, thus effectively solving the worker shortage problem as well as the cold start issue. More importantly, we consider trust and security issues, and evaluate the trust and social circles of workers by accumulating task feedback, to provide the platform a reference for worker recruitment, thereby creating a high-quality worker pool. Finally, extensive simulations demonstrate ITTS outperforms two benchmark methods by increasing task completion rates by 56.49%-61.53% and profit by 42.34%-47.19%.