Lateral Attack Research Articles

Gait Parameters of Elite Kickboxing Athletes

Background: Correct movement techniques are crucial for enhancing athletic performance and minimizing the risk of injury. This is particularly true for kickboxing, in which a variety of forms of locomotion are employed. Despite its importance, gait and movement analysis in this sport is under-researched. The primary objective of this study is to understand gait patterns and limb symmetry between the dominant and non-dominant legs among professional kickboxers and to explore their correlation with the level of technical and tactical preparation. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted involving 20 elite kickboxers. Data collection employed the 3D Force Treadmill for gait parameters, as well as simulated sparring sessions to evaluate technical–tactical indices. Various gait parameters were analyzed, including the center of pressure (COP), gait phase, spatial and time parameters, as well as reaction force. Results: No significant bilateral differences were found in the majority of gait variables. Exceptions were in the medio-lateral component of the COP and force, where more deviation was observed in the non-dominant foot. The only noted significant correlation was between lateral symmetry and attack activity. Conclusions: This study allows us to indicate that kickboxers’ training promotes symmetrical gait patterns. Targeted training interventions could further optimize these patterns. The significant relationship between lateral symmetry and attack activity suggests areas for future research and potential performance improvement. The results of this study contribute to athletes’ self-monitoring and coaching strategies.

Using Reinforcement Learning to Handle the Unintended Lateral Attack in the Intelligent Connected Vehicle Environment

It is widely accepted that an unintended lateral attack is inevitable in the intelligent connected vehicle environment. This paper explores the feasibility of a reinforcement learning method named PPO (Proximal Policy Optimization) to handle the unintended lateral attack and keep the vehicle stay in the ego lane. Based on the China highway design guide, the discrete speed variants of 120 km/h, 100 km/h, and 80 km/h were selected, along with different curvatures ranging from 250 m to 1200 m in every 50 m as combinations of speed-curvature test. The tests were implemented in the Open.ai CarRacing-v0 simulation environment with an external racing wheel attached to simulate the unintended lateral attack. The simulation results show that the PPO can handle the unintended lateral attack on the standard-designed highway in China. The results can be applied to the intelligent connected vehicle to be mass-produced in the future.

Localised aqueous corrosion of electroless nickel immersion gold-coated copper

ABSTRACT Electroless nickel (Ni) immersion gold (Au), commonly referred to by the acronym ENIG, is the most common protective coating applied on the exposed copper (Cu) traces of printed circuit boards (PCBs). In this work, we elucidate the local corrosion mechanism of the ENIG-Cu system by applying microscopic, surface analysis and electrochemical techniques with high spatial resolution to provide a comprehensive understanding of the complex local corrosion mechanism of the ENIG-Cu system. The corrosion initiation is highly localised and associated with pores or micro-defects in the Au layer. The corrosion initiates by the dissolution of the underlying Ni layer, being less noble than Au. The dissolution propagates in lateral and perpendicular directions relative to the surface in an elliptical fashion. With time, the direction of corrosion propagation changes to a predominantly lateral attack of the Ni layer. The corrosion process is governed by the cathode/anode ratio of the Au/Ni galvanic couple.

Familiarity reduces aggression but does not modify acoustic communication in pairs of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and black-chinned tilapia (Sarotherodon melanotheron).

Reproduction involves multiple complex behaviours, and the effects of familiarity on such social interactions are seldom described in fish. This is particularly true for sound production and communication within aggressive or non-aggressive context. This study explores the effects of a common garden rearing without parental care of two closely related cichlid species (Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus and black-chinned tilapia Sarotherodon melanotheron) on their sound production features and social interactions. After 9months in common garden rearing, from embryonic stage to first maturity, sound production and associated behaviours were recorded on specimens of the two species in intraspecific and interspecific pairings. The authors found that fish were able to produce the same kind of sounds as those recorded in similar context for their parents. Drum sounds were associated to chasing, lateral attack and courtship in O. niloticus and only to fleeing or avoidance in S. melanotheron. Specific grunts were produced in chasing, after biting and in nest building by O. niloticus, and specific rolling sounds were associated to courtship in S. melanotheron. Sound production and behaviours were not correlated to sex steroid levels, but the number of sounds recorded in aggressive context was correlated to dominance in O. niloticus. The authors conclude that one generation of common garden rearing does not modify sound features, which remain specific and innate in the two cichlids. Despite the familiarity, O. niloticus remained dominant on S. melanotheron, but the aggressiveness between the two species decreased.

The Promoter Role of Amines in the Condensation of Silicic Acid: A First-Principles Investigation.

Though well-recognized, the molecular-level understanding of the multifunctional roles of amines in the condensation of polysilicic acids, which is one of the key processes in hydrothermal synthesis of zeolites, is still limited. Taking ethylamine as a prototype, we investigated the mechanism of polysilicic acid condensation in the existence of organic amines in aqueous solution with extensive first-principles-based calculations. Because of the high proton affinity, ethylamine exists as amine silicates and alters the subsequent condensation mechanisms from a 1-step lateral attack mechanism accompanied with simultaneous intermolecular proton transfer in neutral aqueous solution to a 2-step SN2-like mechanism. Specifically, the 5-coordinated Si species that were not observed on pathways of condensation in neutral solution are effectively stabilized by the ethylamine cations as intermediates, and the barriers for condensation of ortho-silicic acid are significantly reduced from 133 kJ/mol in neutral solution to 58 and 63 kJ/mol for formation of the 5-coordinated Si intermediate and proton transfer for water release, respectively. Similar variations of mechanisms and barriers for condensation were also observed in the formation of cyclic trimers as well as linear and cyclic tetramers of ortho-silicic acids. Based on these, it was proposed that apart from acting as structure-directing agents, pore fillers, and pH adjusters, organic amines can also function as promoters in the condensation of polysilicic acids.

Acoustic signals produced by Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus and black-chinned tilapia Sarotherodon melanotheron during intra- and interspecific pairings

We characterised, for the first-time, the sound production of black-chinned tilapia Sarotherodon melanotheron and show differences with that of Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus in a hybridization pairing context. Although both species were able to produce drum sounds, they showed different acoustic features. Drum sounds were produced in aggressive (chasing or lateral attack) and non-aggressive (courtship) contexts by O. niloticus but only in aggressive situations (fleeing or avoidance) by S. melanotheron. The second type of sounds produced by O. niloticus were grunts, produced in both aggressive (chasing and after biting) and non-aggressive contexts (nest building). The second type of sound produced by S. melanotheron was a rolling sound, produced only during courtship. Each species was able to produce common sounds (drum) and species-specific sounds (grunts and rolling). This implies that species can communicate without being able to understand each other because the sounds emitted may probably have different significance. Drumming corresponded only to aggressivity in S. melanotheron, whereas this was not true for O. niloticus. 11-ketotestosterone (11-kt) levels were significantly higher in male O. niloticus than male S. melanotheron, but there was no significant correlation between 11-kt or estradiol concentrations and the number of sounds produced in aggressive or non-aggressive behavioural contexts in either species. During interspecies interactions, O. niloticus drum sounds are likely considered to be aggressive by S. melanotheron and could potentially constitute a reproductive barrier between the two species.

Failure of Standard Duplex Stainless Steel X2CrNiMoN22-5-3 under Corrosion Fatigue in Geothermal Environment

Corrosion fatigue is well known to lower the lifetime expectancy of high alloyed steels. Duplex stainless steel X2CrNiMoN22-5-3 is a promising candidate to withstand both, corrosion and mechanical stress. Therefore, the corrosion fatigue (CF) was investigated in the Northern German Basin electrolyte at 369 K using a specifically designed corrosion chamber. CF damage was clearly related to lateral grain attack within corrosion pit cavities located perpendicular to the load applied. Additionally, multiple fatigue cracks and preferable deterioration of austenitic phase and intact ferritic phase. A delta-like micro crack structure and a curved path characterizes crack termination with little to no base metal deterioration. Crack initiation may be due to early pit formation resulting in depassivation but also due to local depassivation then resulting in pit formation–both initiation mechanisms lead to crack propagation and early failure.

The Bias of combining variables on fish’s aggressive behavior studies

Quantifying animal aggressive behavior by behavioral units, either displays or attacks, is a common practice in animal behavior studies. However, this practice can generate a bias in data analysis, especially when the variables have different temporal patterns. This study aims to use Bayesian Hierarchical Linear Models (B-HLMs) to analyze the feasibility of pooling the aggressive behavior variables of four cichlids species. Additionally, this paper discusses the feasibility of combining variables by examining the usage of different sample sizes and family distributions to aggressive behaviour variables. The subject species were: the angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare), the tiger oscar (Astronotus ocellatus), the Cichlasoma paranaense and the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). For each species, 15 groups of 3 individuals were assigned to daily observations (10-min recordings) for 5 days. Aggressive behavior data was labeled according to its aggressive intensity. The variables chase (C), tail beating (TB), push (P), lateral attack (LA) and bite (B) were classified as high intensity. The variables undulation (U), lateral threat (LT) and frontal displays (FD) were classified as low intensity. These behaviors, however, were not present in all species. Model parameters were estimated by Monte Carlo Markov chains using non-informative priors. B-HLMs were performed to assess the impact probability of each variable in the analysis. Results revealed that when combining variables, the resulting distribution is strongly influenced by only one variable in each category. Moreover, in some cases the aggregate values altered the results, which changed the probabilities of the main variables. Species with low aggressive behavior frequencies, such as A. ocellatus, are more sensitive to this bias. LT was the main low intensity variable for all species, while B was the main high intensity variable for the P. scalare and the O. niloticus. LA was the high intensity category variable that was the most relevant for the C. paranaense and A. ocellatus. Moreover, combining the variables did not impact the feasibility of reducing the sample size when compared to using the most quantitative variable. For all species a sample size of 12 did not change the study conclusions. With respect to family distribution, based on DIC values the Gaussian model is more suitable for most of the studied species. However, caution should be taken, because the Gaussian posterior probability distribution overlapped 0 in some cases, which is biologically impossible in aggressive behaviors. The only exception is the A. ocellatus, which, based on DIC values, was the only species better modeled by a Poisson distribution. Bayesian analysis can be therefore considered a strong tool for analyzing aggressive behavior

Detecting lateral spear phishing attacks in organisations

Lateral spear phishing attack is a powerful type of social engineering attack carried out using compromised email account(s) within the target organisation. Spear phishing attacks are difficult to detect due to the nature of these attacks. The inclusion of a lateral attack vector makes detection more challenging. The authors present an approach to detect lateral spear phishing attacks in organisations in real-time. Their approach uses features derived from domain knowledge and analysis of characteristics pertaining to such attacks, combined with their scoring technique which works on non-labelled dataset. They evaluate the approach on several years' worth of real-world email dataset collected from volunteers in their institute. They were able to achieve false positive rate of below 1%, and also detected two instances of compromised accounts which were not known earlier. A comparison of their scoring technique with machine learning based anomaly detection techniques shows the proposed technique to be more suited for practical use. The proposed approach is primarily aimed at complementing existing detection techniques on email servers. However, they also developed a Chrome browser extension to demonstrate that such a system can also be used independently by organisations within their network.

Analysis of the wheel/rail rolling contact fatigue of a high-speed train under the transient mechanism

The Rolling contact fatigue (RCF) damage of high-speed wheels is a main factor that affects railway safety. This paper presents a Finite element model (FEM) of high-speed transient rolling contact that considers kinetic parameters as initial conditions. This model is used to calculate wheel/rail RCF. With a CRH2 high-speed train as the research object, a head car model is established with the multibody dynamics software UM. The train is driven on a straight track at a speed of 300 km/h. Different contact geometric parameters, such as lateral displacement and attack angle, are obtained. A 3D high-speed transient elastic-plastic FEM of wheel/rail rolling contact is then developed by using ABAQUS with the initial dynamic contact geometric parameters. The actual geometries of the wheel tread and rail head as well as the elastic-plastic properties are considered in this model. This consideration makes the model highly suitable for solving 3D transient rolling contact behavior. The normal force, creep force, and contact area in the contact patch are solved and used in the fatigue model. Owing to the hunting movement of wheels, the wheel/rail force and lateral displacement change significantly at 0.2 and 0.5 s. The longitudinal and lateral creep force increase sharply with the increase in shear stress. The work states of the wheel/rail at 0.2 and 0.5 s easily reach the ratchet effect zone, and the fatigue index is large. The fatigue damage of the wheels is generally near the nominal rolling circle.

Dry Etching of Mo based layers and its interdependence with a poly-Si/MoOxNy/TiN/HfO2 gate stack

Further device scaling below the 65nm node required the introduction of metal gates/high-k layers. This paper discusses the etching approaches for patterning TiN/Mo, TiN/MoOx and TiN/MoOxNy layers used in poly-silicon metal gate stacks. We found that for these Mo based layers, the dry etching using any Cl2/O2 ratio provoked a severe isotropic etching. HBr gas was used as a key component for controlling side-walls passivation. The MoOx and MoOxNy layers were more prone to lateral attack compared to Mo due to the intrinsic stoichiometric oxygen. A good selectivity towards the substrate was obtained using high O2 flows in Cl2/O2/HBr mixtures. Etching of the TiN layer was carried out with Ar/Cl2. This process was tuned by adding HBr depending on the metal gate stack, which suggests that TiN etching is highly influenced by the Mo layer nature (TiN/Mo, TiN/MoOx and TiN/MoOxNy). We have also compared the complete gate stack pattering characteristic when an oxide or an amorphous carbon hard mask has been used for pattern definition.

Profile control of novel non-Si gates using BCl3∕N2 plasma

The authors found that a BCl3∕N2 plasma is very suitable for metal gate patterning and profile control as it produces a passivating film during the etching. On blanket wafers, a boron-nitride-like film is deposited from a boron trichloride/nitride plasma mixture in a standard etch chamber at temperatures as low as 60°C. Deposition rate can be varied from 10 to more than 100nm∕min depending on the plasma conditions and BCl3∕N2 ratio. The film contains hexagonal boron nitride but is very unlikely to be a stoichiometric BN. It decomposes at elevated temperatures and is water soluble. The latter property makes the postetch clean relatively straightforward. This film can be used for sidewall passivation during the patterning of advanced non-Si gates, e.g., metal gates. They are presenting the use of BCl3∕N2 plasma for patterning of Ge and TaN gates as examples. The Ge gate profile is damaged by a pure BCl3 plasma during high-k dielectric (HfO2) etching after the gate patterning. Addition of 10% N2 to the BCl3 plasma preserves the gate profile while removing the high k. In the other example, a TaN gate is etched isotopically by pure BCl3 plasma. Addition of 5% N2 prevents the lateral attack providing straight TaN profile.

Detection of gas trace of hydrofluoric acid using microcantilever

Microcantilevers have been used as a gas sensor in order to detect Hydrofluoric acid (HF) in the concentration range of 0.26–13 ppm. Silicon derived elements (Si 3N 4, SiO x ) were chosen to serve as chemical sensitive layer. Cantilever deflection and frequency shift were analyzed and compared as a function of the flow rate and the concentration of the HF molecules. The stoichiometry and roughness of the sensitive layer were found to be of major importance. Results show that the most appropriate signal at the lowest concentration (<10 ppm) is the cantilever deflection that is particularly sensitive to the change in surface stress induced by the lateral attack of SiO x surface by HF. The frequency shift that is mainly governed by the loss in cantilever mass can be used at higher concentration.

Effects of the CRF1 antagonist SSR125543A on aggressive behaviors in hamsters

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and its receptor subtypes have been implicated in endocrine and behavioral responsivity to stress and emotion, including fear, anxiety, and aggression. SSR125543A is a new nonpeptide selective antagonist at the CRF1 receptor that has been shown to produce an anxiolytic-like effect in a number of animal models of anxiety. The present study investigated effects of an oral dose of 10, or 30 mg/kg of SSR125543A on aggressive behaviors of resident male Syrian hamsters toward male intruders. The high dose (30 mg/kg) of the CRF1 receptor antagonist produced a higher latency to bite and lower lateral attack frequencies and chase durations, indicating a reduction in aggression toward intruders in resident hamsters. The same dose of SSR125543A also enhanced frequency and duration of olfactory investigation, indicating that neither avoidance of the opponent nor deficiency in social activity is responsible for the reduction in aggression seen in these animals.

Targets and tactics: The analysis of moment-to-moment decision making in animal combat

Even though injury and death are more common consequences of fighting among animals than once believed, they are still relatively infrequent. Modern evolutionary models of animal combat have emphasized that given the threat of retaliation, animals only escalate to more injurious fighting if the benefits outweigh the costs, and then only if threat and bluff fail to achieve the goal. Such models stress the role of communication as to whether animals decide to escalate or not. An alternative view is that failure to produce injury or death arises from the neutralization of one animal's attack by another's defense. That is, attack and defense end in a stalemate that may be misinterpreted by outside observers as an absence of injury producing behavior. As attack typically involves the biting or striking of specific body targets, movements and postures occurring during combat need to be analyzed with respect to their role in gaining or averting such contact. For example, in the combat of muroid rodents the attacker targets the lower dorsum and flanks (low threshold) or face (high threshold), whereas a defender may defensively launch counterstrikes against the attacker's face. Two combat tactics (supine defense and lateral attack) typically present in the fighting of muroid rodents are analyzed in detail to illustrate how targets constrain the movements of combatants. Such a functional analysis of combat assumes that the movements and postures performed are related to their role in the attack and defense of targets. Deviations from such a strict functional interpretation reveal some of the other factors that may constrain the combatants' behavior. For example, body morphology and the aggressiveness of the opponent are shown to be important in deciding the type of combat tactic to use and how it is performed. Finally, movements and postures that are neutral or even counterproductive for attack and defense may be revealed as communicatory. This approach provides a means of analyzing behavior during the "heat of combat" that is typically not dealt with in traditional evolutionary models. Aggr. Behav. 23:107–129, 1997.© 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Medial amygdaloid suppression of predatory attack behavior in the cat: II. Role of a GABAergic pathway from the medial to the lateral hypothalamus

The medial amygdala is known to powerfully suppress predatory attack behavior elicited by electrical stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus of the cat. In the preceding paper, it was shown that the initial limb of a pathway subserving suppression of predatory attack from the medial amygdala to the lateral hypothalamus projects to the ventromedial hypothalamus and its functions are mediated by substance P. The present study tested the hypothesis that the second limb of the pathway subserving medial amygdaloid suppression of predatory attack behavior projects from the medial to lateral hypothalamus and its functions are mediated by GABA. Cannula electrodes were implanted into the lateral hypothalamus for elicitation of predatory attack behavior as well as for the microinfusion of GABA compounds. Monopolar stimulating electrodes were implanted into sites within the medial amygdala from which subseizure levels of stimulation could suppress predatory attack behavior. Initially, the effects of dual stimulation of the medial amygdala and lateral hypothalamus upon response latencies for predatory attack were compared with single stimulation of the lateral hypothalamus alone. Dual stimulation was shown to significantly suppress predatory attack elicited from the lateral hypothalamus. Then, the GABA A receptor antagonist, bicuculline, was microinjected into sites within the lateral hypothalamus from which predatory attack was elicited in doses of 0.015, 0.075 and 0.15 nmol and paired trials of single and dual stimulation were again repeated in a manner identical to that applied prior to drug administration. Drug infusion produced a blockade of medial amygdaloid suppression of predatory attack in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Conversely, microinfusions of the GABA A receptor agonist, muscimol (10, 25 and 50 pmol), into the same lateral hypothalamic ‘attack’ site in the absence of medial amygdaloid stimulation suppressed predatory attack, thus simulating the effects of medial amygdaloid stimulation. Furthermore, pretreatment with bicuculline microinjected into the lateral hypothalamus blocked the suppressive effects of substance P, that was infused into the ventromedial hypothalamus, upon predatory attack. Receptor autoradiography demonstrated the presence of high affinity binding for GABA A receptors in the lateral hypothalamus. A combination of immunocytochemical and retrograde axonal tract tracing procedures, in which Fluoro-Gold was microinjected into the lateral hypothalamic attack sites, revealed the presence of populations of neurons labeled for both Fluoro-Gold and GABA in the ventromedial hypothalamus. These findings provide new evidence for the existence of a pathway from the medial to lateral hypothalamus whose functions are mediated by GABA. Thus, the overall findings provide support for the view that the pathway from the medial amygdala to the lateral hypothalamus underlying suppression of predatory attack behavior involves a two-neuronal arc: the first neuron projects from the medial amygdala to the medial hypothalamus and its functions are mediated by substance P; the second neuron involves a GABAergic pathway originating in the ventromedial hypothalamus and which projects to the lateral hypothalamus.

Influence of Traction/Brake Force on Steering Ability of Railway Trucks.

In this work, dynamic behavior of rail vehicles during curve negotiation when traction or brake torque is applied has been studied. From computer simulations using one car body models assuming nonlinear characteristics of the contact force between wheel and rail, the steering truck with unsymmetric suspension proposed by one of the authors has superior curving performance in terms of wheel lateral displacement and attack angle even acting traction/brake forces. If the attack angle were zero, the influence of traction forces on steering ability would be negligible. This is also proven by the simulations of curve negotiation of the guided steering vehicles.

On the dual nature of maternal aggression in rats

Presentation of a natural predator, a cat, was used to differentiate elements of maternal attack by female rats on a male intruder. Following exposure (without direct physical contact) of post-partum females to a cat or to a toy stuffed cat (control group), the females were replaced in their home cages and presented with a male intruder rat. Cat exposure reliably decreased lateral attack to the intruder, as well as locomotion, but had no effect on either jump attack or an upright defensive posture (boxing). Since predator exposure produces a somewhat durable increase in defense, along with inhibition of nondefensive behavior, these results suggest that maternal aggression represents a mixture of offensive, usually related to competition, and defensive (protective) behaviors. The results indicate that maternal aggression, as a parental care behavior, appears to be at least partially resistant to fear. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

On the dual nature of maternal aggression in rats

Presentation of a natural predator, a cat, was used to differentiate elements of maternal attack by female rats on a male intruder. Following exposure (without direct physical contact) of post-partum females to a cat or to a toy stuffed cat (control group), the females were replaced in their home cages and presented with a male intruder rat. Cat exposure reliably decreased lateral attack to the intruder, as well as locomotion, but had no effect on either jump attack or an upright defensive posture (boxing). Since predator exposure produces a somewhat durable increase in defense, along with inhibition of nondefensive behavior, these results suggest that maternal aggression represents a mixture of offensive, usually related to competition, and defensive (protective) behaviors. The results indicate that maternal aggression, as a parental care behavior, appears to be at least partially resistant to fear. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Enhanced Curving Performance of Unsymmetric Suspension Trucks with Semiactive Control Concept Even under Acting Traction/Brake Torque

In this paper, dynamic behavior of rail vehicles during curve negotiation when traction or brake torque is applied has been studied. Vehicles with conventional symmetric trucks are compared to those with the recently proposed trucks having longitudinally unsymmetric suspension characteristics. Computer simulations using full car body models considering non-linear characteristics of the contact force between wheel and rail are performed. Wheel lateral displacement and wheel attack angle are calculated to describe curving performance under different speed, curve radius, and vehicle load. Under the same curve conditions, wheel lateral displacement is considerably smaller and wheel attack angle is almost zero within wide range of torque, while growing from higher value in case of conventional truck design. Consequently, enhanced curving performance of new unsymmetric trucks even under acting traction/braking torque is proved.