Spread Of Signals Research Articles

The Gut Microbiota Involvement in the Panorama of Muscular Dystrophy Pathogenesis

Muscular dystrophies (MDs) are genetically heterogeneous diseases characterized by primary skeletal muscle atrophy. The collapse of muscle structure and irreversible degeneration of tissues promote the occurrence of comorbidities, including cardiomyopathy and respiratory failure. Mitochondrial dysfunction leads to inflammation, fibrosis, and adipogenic cellular infiltrates that exacerbate the symptomatology of MD patients. Gastrointestinal disorders and metabolic anomalies are common in MD patients and may be determined by the interaction between the intestine and its microbiota. Therefore, the gut–muscle axis is one of the actors involved in the spread of inflammatory signals to all muscles. In this review, we aim to examine in depth how intestinal dysbiosis can modulate the metabolic state, the immune response, and mitochondrial biogenesis in the course and progression of the most investigated MDs such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and Myotonic Dystrophy (MD1), to better identify gut microbiota metabolites working as therapeutic adjuvants to improve symptoms of MD.

Graph features based classification of bronchial and pleural rub sound signals: the potential of complex network unwrapped.

The study presents a novel technique for lung auscultation based on graph theory, emphasizing the potential of graph parameters in distinguishing lung sounds and supporting earlier detection of various respiratory pathologies. The frequency spread and the component magnitudes are revealed from the analysis of eighty-five bronchial (BS) and pleural rub (PS) lung sounds employing the power spectral density (PSD) plot and wavelet scalogram. The low-frequency spread, and persistence of the high-intensity frequency components are visible in BS sounds emanating from the uniform cross-sectional area of the trachea. The frictional rub between the pleurae causes a higher frequency spread of low-intensity intermittent frequency components in PS signals. From the complex networks of BS and PS, the extracted graph features are - graph density ([Formula: see text], transitivity ([Formula: see text], degree centrality ([Formula: see text]), betweenness centrality ([Formula: see text], eigenvector centrality ([Formula: see text]), and graph entropy (En). The high values of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] show a strong correlation between distinct segments of the BS signal originating from a consistent cross-sectional tracheal diameter and, hence, the generation of high-intense low-spread frequency components. An intermittent low-intense and a relatively greater frequency spread in PS signal appear as high [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] values. With these complex network parameters as input attributes, the supervised machine learning techniques- discriminant analyses, support vector machines, k-nearest neighbors, and neural network pattern recognition (PRNN)- classify the signals with more than 90% accuracy, with PRNN having 25 neurons in the hidden layer achieving the highest (98.82%).

Canonical and noncanonical roles of Hop1 are crucial for meiotic prophase in the fungus Sordaria macrospora.

We show here that in the fungus Sordaria macrospora, the meiosis-specific HORMA-domain protein Hop1 is not essential for the basic early events of chromosome axis development, recombination initiation, or recombination-mediated homolog coalignment/pairing. In striking contrast, Hop1 plays a critical role at the leptotene/zygotene transition which is defined by transition from pairing to synaptonemal complex (SC) formation. During this transition, Hop1 is required for maintenance of normal axis structure, formation of SC from telomere to telomere, and development of recombination foci. These hop1Δ mutant defects are DSB dependent and require Sme4/Zip1-mediated progression of the interhomolog interaction program, potentially via a pre-SC role. The same phenotype occurs not only in hop1Δ but also in absence of the cohesin Rec8 and in spo76-1, a non-null mutant of cohesin-associated Spo76/Pds5. Thus, Hop1 and cohesins collaborate at this crucial step of meiotic prophase. In addition, analysis of 4 non-null mutants that lack this transition defect reveals that Hop1 also plays important roles in modulation of axis length, homolog-axis juxtaposition, interlock resolution, and spreading of the crossover interference signal. Finally, unexpected variations in crossover density point to the existence of effects that both enhance and limit crossover formation. Links to previously described roles of the protein in other organisms are discussed.

Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces Between the Reality and Imagination

One interesting idea that could improve wireless communication systems is reconfigurable intelligent surfaces or RIS. To control the spread of wireless signals, RIS uses a plethora of tiny, inexpensive, and customizable reflecting devices. Signal strength, energy consumption, spectrum efficiency, and adaptability to changes in the wireless environment can all be improved by altering the phase shift of the reflecting elements. This is how RIS works. 5G and beyond, the IoT, and smart cities are just a few of the many potential uses for RIS. More study is required before this technology can reach its full potential since it is still in its infancy. Still, RIS is going to be big in the next generation of wireless networks. A great deal of excitement has enveloped the whole 6G development industry. There has been no shortage of grandiose and frequently unfounded assertions that, in reality, the creation of a full-duplex 5G technology that can introduce new services is just around the corner, even though self-interference cancellation schemes for full-duplex communications and the difficulties of building full-duplex base stations have long been known.

Distinct patterns of electrophysiologic-neuroimaging correlations between Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy

Due to a high degree of symptom overlap in the early stages, with movement disorders predominating, Parkinson's disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA) may exhibit a similar decline in motor areas, yet they differ in their spread throughout the brain, ultimately resulting in two distinct diseases. Drawing upon neuroimaging analyses and altered motor cortex excitability, potential diffusion mechanisms were delved into, and comparisons of correlations across distinct disease groups were conducted in a bid to uncover significant pathological disparities. We recruited thirty-five PD, thirty-seven MSA, and twenty-eight matched controls to conduct clinical assessments, electromyographic recording, and magnetic resonance imaging scanning during the "on medication" state. Patients with neurodegeneration displayed a widespread decrease in electrophysiology in bilateral M1. Brain function in early PD was still in the self-compensatory phase and there was no significant change. MSA patients demonstrated an increase in intra-hemispheric function coupled with a decrease in diffusivity, indicating a reduction in the spread of neural signals. The level of resting motor threshold in healthy aged showed broad correlations with both clinical manifestations and brain circuits related to left M1, which was absent in disease states. Besides, ICF exhibited distinct correlations with functional connections between right M1 and left middle temporal gyrus in all groups. The present study identified subtle differences in the functioning of PD and MSA related to bilateral M1. By combining clinical information, cortical excitability, and neuroimaging intuitively, we attempt to bring light on the potential mechanisms that may underlie the development of neurodegenerative disease.

Characterizing the response of Timepix solid state detectors to dust impacts

Timepix Solid State Detectors (TSSDs) are used in a range of applications, including high energy particle physics, x-ray imaging spectroscopy, medical imaging, radiation monitors and compact dosimeters. In space sciences, such detectors have been used for characterizing the radiation environments of the Earth and lunar surface. This study is a pilot investigation of the response of TSSDs to high-velocity dust impacts. The setup used for the measurements is a silicon slab with 500μm thickness combined with the Timepix 2 read-out chip with a pixel size of 55×55 μm2. The outer surface of the SSD is coated with a 150 nm thick layer of aluminum to eliminate the sensitivity to light. The dust accelerator facility operated at the University of Colorado is used to expose the TSSD to micron- and sub-micron sized iron particles in a velocity range of 1–10 km/s. A fraction (5%) of the impacting dust particles were detected by the TSSD. The primary mechanism of the detection is through the light generated upon the impact and the charge signal spreads over multiple pixels. The fraction of dust particles kinetic energy that is converted to detectable charge on the TSSD is small, in the range of 10−3−10−6. The largest craters generated by the dust impacts were examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The SEM images confirm that the particles penetrated the aluminum layer and the craters contain iron residue from the dust material. Over the investigated impact parameter range, the TSSD does not suffer a permanent damage from the dust impacts. Due to their small size and relatively low sensitivity to dust impacts, TSSDs could be used as dust detectors only in environments with high dust fluxes (e.g., in cometary trails), or where the precision measurements of the impact location are desired.

Edge Response and Defect Detectability in Flat Panel Digital Radiography

Defect detectability studies are used in nondestructive testing to ascertain the reliability of the method of inspection. In digital radiography, with the growing prevalence of automation of quality control processes by image processing and machine learning, a threshold detection criterion based on quantifiable data from the digital radiograph could be explored. The use of the parameter contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) of defect signal as a probability of detection (POD) threshold criterion is explored in this paper. A stainless steel block containing artificial defects of known dimensions and location is radiographed by a flat panel detector, and an empirical POD curve is constructed. Before the POD study, the edge response of the flat panel system is studied to ensure noninterference of adjacent defect signals, gain insights about the lateral spread of the defect signal, and provide information to choose the region of interest for CNR calculation. The effect of noise on the POD using CNR as the threshold criterion is also included in the present study. The use of CNR-based POD models for digital radiography to aid the comparison and development of automatic defect detection models is also discussed.

Design of Universal Code Generator for Multi-Constellation Multi-Frequency GNSS Receiver

A multi-constellation, multi-frequency Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receiver is capable of simultaneously receiving signals from multiple satellite constellations across various frequency bands. This allows for increased observations, thereby enhancing navigation accuracy, continuity, effectiveness, and reliability. The spread spectrum code structures used in satellite navigation signals differ among systems. Compatible code generators are employed in multi-constellation, multi-frequency GNSS receivers to support tasks such as signal acquisition and tracking. There are three main types of spread spectrum code structures: Linear Feedback Shift Register (LFSR), Legendre sequences, and Memory codes. The Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) released the L1-SPS (Standard Positioning Service) signal format in August 2023, which utilizes the Interleaved Z4-linear ranging code (IZ4 code) as its spread spectrum code. Currently, there is no universal code generator design compatible with the IZ4 code. In this paper, a proposed universal code generator is based on the hardware structure of the IRNSS IZ4 code generator. It achieves compatibility with all LFSR-based spread spectrum codes and enables parallel generation of multiple sets of GNSS signal spread spectrum codes, thereby improving hardware utilization efficiency. The proposed structure is implemented and validated using FPGA design, and resource consumption is provided as part of the validation results.

Simulation of high frame rate spread-spectrum color Doppler imaging of pulsatile flow

Spread-spectrum Doppler, a method introduced by our lab, preserves the maximum unaliased velocity of ultrafast Doppler while retaining some of the image quality benefits of compounding plane waves transmitted at different angles. The technique employs a sequence of pulses transmitted at M angles that are repeated L times in different random orders. Shuffling the slow-time samples so the angles repeat in the ascending order concentrates echoes from stationary off-focus targets in M harmonic frequency bins while spreading the in-focus signal across all frequencies. Off-focus echoes are suppressed, without compounding, by applying a notching comb filter, while the portion of the in-focus signal spread to the other (L − 1)M bins is retained for velocity estimation. Field II simulations were used to assess the method’s ability to track pulsatile velocity fluctuations in a straight vessel. The angle-corrected peak velocity was accurate to within ±10% of the true value when imaging at a Doppler frame rate of approximately 115 frames per cardiac cycle. Further improvement of the method will require a filter to attenuate off-focus echoes from non-stationary tissue.

Linear and Nonlinear Behaviors of the Photoreceptor Coupled Network.

Photoreceptors are electrically coupled to one another, and the spatiotemporal properties of electrical synapses in a two-dimensional retinal network are still not well studied, because of the limitation of the single electrode or pair recording techniques which do not allow simultaneously measuring responses of multiple photoreceptors at various locations in the retina. A multiple electrode recording system is needed. In this study, we investigate the network properties of the two-dimensional rod coupled array of the salamander retina (both sexes were used) by using the newly available multiple patch electrode system that allows simultaneous recordings from up to eight cells and to determine the electrical connectivity among multiple rods. We found direct evidence that voltage signal spread in the rod-rod coupling network in the absence of I h (mediated by HCN channels) is passive and follows the linear cable equation. Under physiological conditions, I h shapes the network signal by progressively shortening the response time-to-peak of distant rods, compensating the time loss of signal traveling from distant rods to bipolar cell somas and facilitating synchronization of rod output signals. Under voltage-clamp conditions, current flow within the coupled rods follows Ohm's law, supporting the idea that nonlinear behaviors of the rod network are dependent on membrane voltage. Rod-rod coupling is largely symmetrical in the 2D array, and voltage-clamp blocking the next neighboring rod largely suppresses rod signal spread into the second neighboring rod, suggesting that indirect coupling pathways play a minor role in rod-rod coupling.

Modelling the Propagation of Underwater Acoustic Signals of a Marine Energy Device Using Finite Element Method

Today a large number of marine based energy devices are been deployed rapidly across coastal areas of the world’s oceans to harness the huge natural energy and power potential provided by nature. These devices produce sound signals at high sound pressure levels across a wide range of frequencies that could be detrimental to the health and livelihood of marine animals. This paper proposes a computer model that simulates the emission of acoustic signals produced by a wave energy device. It analyses these signals with the aid of the audiogram of marine mammals, in this case the Harbour seal. This enables us to estimate the levels of acoustic noise experienced by marine mammals due to the presence of ocean deployed devices. Propagation of the acoustic signals underwater was modelled with boundary conditions using the finite element method. These include the bathymetry (features of underwater terrain) of the deployment site and properties of the propagation media. The type of spreading of the acoustic signals, and their interaction with the bottom surface interface of the acoustic enviroment was also taken into consideration. The effect of the bottom surface of the acoustic medium was seen to affect the sound pressure level (SPL) values as the sound receiver moves away from the source.

Detectability analysis of very low frequency earthquakes: methods and application in Nankai using F-net and DONET broad-band seismometers

SUMMARY For a more quantitative discussion of slow earthquake activity, we evaluated the detectable limits of very low frequency earthquakes (VLFEs), which are seismic slow earthquakes observed in very low-frequency (< 0.05 Hz) bands in the Nankai subduction zone. We performed numerical simulations using a local 3-D model and used the observed noise level of permanent broad-band seismometers. First, we investigated the effects of the source-time functions on the maximum amplitudes of the VLFE signals at a certain station. The maximum amplitudes of the VLFE signals were controlled by the VLFE moment rate. The detectable limit of VLFEs at each source location can be defined as the lowest moment rate of detectable VLFEs, which radiate signals larger than the noise levels of any component at ≥ 3 stations. For inland seismometers only, the detectable limits of VLFEs at deep (30–40 km) and shallow (≤ 10 km) depths were 1012–1012.3 and 1012.7 N·m s−1, respectively. Due to the geometrical spreading of VLFE signals and large noise levels in horizontal components, offshore seismometers improved the detectability of shallow VLFEs in regions where seismometers were densely deployed. Based on our detectability and published catalogues, shallow slow earthquakes are less active south-southwest off the Kii Peninsula, where geodetic studies expect mechanical coupling.

The short-time Wigner–Ville distribution

The Wigner–Ville distribution (WD) and ambiguity function (AF) are serviceable tools for the global analysis of non-stationary signals. However, when dealing with time-varying signals that exhibit changing characteristics and require real-time signal processing, they have high limitations due to the existence of cross-items. In this paper, we propose the short-time Wigner–Ville distribution (STWD) as a novel approach that effectively analyzes time-varying signals with changing characteristics. First, the definition of STWD and short-time ambiguity function (STAF) and their properties are advanced. Next, three uncertainty principles that define the lower bound for the product of signal spread and its bandwidth are derived. Then, the discrete STWD (DSTWD) and the process of computerization are also proposed which can be used more widely in practice. Finally, the optimization of window functions based on Rényi entropy is discussed. Simulation experiments show that the STWD can be effectively applied for the analysis of local change characteristics and real-time processing of signals with valid and accurate results.

Evaluation of the RNA Silencing Suppression Activity of Three Cherry Virus F-Encoded Proteins.

Cherry virus F (CVF) is a newly emerged sweet cherry virus. CVF has been identified in a small number of countries and it has not been associated with discrete symptomatology. RNA silencing is a natural defense mechanism of plants against invaders that degrades viral RNA in a sequence-specific manner. As a counter-defense, plant viruses encode one or more RNA silencing suppressors (RSSs) interfering with the silencing pathway via several mechanisms. To identify putative RSSs, the three proteins (MP, CPL, CPS) encoded by the RNA2 of CVF were selected and separately cloned into the binary vector pART27. The clones were used for transient expression experiments in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves, using co-agroinfiltration with a GFP-expressing vector. In both CPL and CPS, a rapid decrease in fluorescence was recorded, comparable to the negative control, whereas the MP of CVF retained the GFP's fluorescence for a few days longer even though this was observed in a small number of infiltrated leaves. Further experiments have shown that the protein was not able to inhibit the cell-to-cell spread of the silencing signal; however, a putative interference with systemic silencing was recorded especially when the induction was carried out with double-stranded GFP RNA. Overall, our results indicate that the MP of CVF is putatively implicated in the suppression of RNA silencing, though further experimentation is needed to unveil the exact mode of action.

Detection of Signals with Chaotic Varying Forms and Low Intercept Probability

Low probability of intercept performance of direct-sequence spread-spectrum system with chaotic spreading sequences is investigated. The energy detectors, synchronous and asynchronous, coherent and non-coherent structures are studied here to detect the presence of chaotic direct-sequence spread-spectrum signals. Simple detection approach using a binary correlation function to detect nonbinary chaotic sequences is proposed. The expressions of detection probabilities of chaotic spreading signals are derived. Comparisons between systems using chaotic and binary sequences are given in terms of the low probability of intercept performance, and the performance improvement with chaotic spreading sequences is observed.

Design and Performance Analysis of Massive MIMO Modeling with Reflected Intelligent Surface to Enhance the Capacity of 6G Networks

Reflected Intelligent Surface (RIS) can establish a virtual line-of-sight link to enhance system performance while consuming less power in non-line-of-sight. RIS technique is utilized to minimize the spreading of electromagnetic signals by modifying the surface's electric and magnetic field characteristics. RIS can be adopted with the existing environment to effectively increase efficiency by modifying the radio channel characteristics. The signals are steered to the receiver using an RIS thus improving the link quality. The radio channel is viewed in traditional wireless systems as an uncontrollable entity that typically tampers with transmitted signals. This paper suggests an alternate theoretical model after examining the prevalent models and potential issues. Security of the wireless communication physical layer can be improved with an RIS by just changing the phase of the reflective unit. In this work, the massive Multiple Input Multiple Outputs (MIMO)-based iterative modeling technique is used to build the transmitter, channel, and receiver section. This will simultaneously optimize the RIS passive beamforming pre-coding matrix and thus avoid multi-user interference. At the base station cyclic programming is adopted, it iteratively calculates the active and passive beam-forming RIS matrices. The simulation results demonstrate that the combined pre-coding technique used in this work improves the weighted sum rate, efficiency, and coverage ratio. The results show that MIMO with continuous phase shift RIS achieves a higher Weighted Sum Ratio (WSR) and minimum Channel State Information (CSI) error in comparison with the random phase shift RIS. The performance metrics sum rate, signal-to-interference plus noise ratio (SINR), energy efficiency, and transmit power are analyzed and compared.

Precursory Analysis Ensemble Spread Signals That Foreshadow Stratospheric Sudden Warmings

Abstract This study conducts a thorough investigation into the behaviors of analysis ensemble spreads linked to stratospheric sudden warming (SSW) events. A stratosphere-resolving ensemble data assimilation system is used here to document the evolution of analysis spread leading up to a pair of warming events. Precursory signals of the increased ensemble spreads were found a few days prior to two SSW events that occurred during December 2018 and August–September 2019 in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, respectively. The signals appeared in the upper and middle stratosphere and did not appear at lower heights. When the signals appeared, it was found that both tendency by forecast and analysis increment in a forecast-analysis (data assimilation) cycle simultaneously became large. An empirical orthogonal function analysis showed that the dominant structures of the precursory signals were equivalent barotropic and were 90° out-of-phase with the analysis ensemble-mean field. Over the same period, the upper and middle stratosphere became more susceptible to barotropic instability than in their previous states. We conclude that the differing growth of barotropically unstable modes across ensemble members can amplify spread during the lead-up to SSW events. Significance Statement Winds in the winter stratospheric polar vortex are typically westerly. Occasionally, however, warming over the pole leads to a reversal of the flow through a process known as stratospheric sudden warming. These events are difficult to predict even in state-of-the-art analysis and forecasting systems. In this study, we identify a precursor signal in the form of increased ensemble spread that appears to originate from differing realizations of growing barotropic modes across the ensemble. This signal could serve as a useful forecasting tool by enhancing situational awareness in the lead-up to potential stratospheric sudden warming events.

Functional Dissection of Ipsilateral and Contralateral Neural Activity Propagation Using Voltage-Sensitive Dye Imaging in Mouse Prefrontal Cortex.

Prefrontal cortex (PFC) intrahemispheric activity and the interhemispheric connection have a significant impact on neuropsychiatric disorder pathology. This study aimed to generate a functional map of FC intrahemispheric and interhemispheric connections. Functional dissection of mouse PFCs was performed using the voltage-sensitive dye (VSD) imaging method with high speed (1 ms/frame), high resolution (256 × 256 pixels), and a large field of view (∼10 mm). Acute serial 350 μm slices were prepared from the bregma covering the PFC and numbered 1-5 based on their distance from the bregma (i.e., 1.70, 1.34, 0.98, 0.62, and 0.26 mm) with reference to the Mouse Brain Atlas (Paxinos and Franklin, 2008). The neural response to electrical stimulation was measured at nine sites and then averaged, and a functional map of the propagation patterns was created. Intracortical propagation was observed in slices 3-5, encompassing the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) and corpus callosum (CC). The activity reached area 33 of the ACC. Direct white matter stimulation activated area 33 in both hemispheres. Similar findings were obtained via DiI staining of the CC. Imaging analysis revealed directional biases in neural signals traveling within the ACC, whereby the signal transmission speed and probability varied based on the signal direction. Specifically, the spread of neural signals from cg2 to cg1 was stronger than that from cingulate cortex area 1(cg1) to cingulate cortex area 2(cg2), which has implications for interhemispheric functional connections. These findings highlight the importance of understanding the PFC functional anatomy in evaluating neuromodulators like serotonin and dopamine, as well as other factors related to neuropsychiatric diseases.

Reducing Bit Error Rate in WiMAX using Spread Spectrum Techniques in Comparison with OFDM based Modulations

This research investigated the Bit Error Rate (BER) performance of the WiMAX(Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), a wireless system which uses IEEE 802.16 standard. For the implementation of OFDM model and analyzing the performance of WiMAX system using the Bit Error Rate (BER) and Signal to Noise Ratio (SNR) MATLAB software tool is used. We have used different adaptive modulation techniques such as QPSK, 16-QAM and 64-QAM and spread spectrum techniques such as FHSS (Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum) and DSSS (Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum). In the current research the Bit Error Rate is improved by using spreading signals. Spread spectrum enables a signal to be transmitted across a frequency band that is much wider than the minimum bandwidth required by the information signal. The simulation results of this research show that FHSS and DSSS have given low BER at low SNR as compared to other modulation techniques.

The nanovirus U2 protein suppresses RNA silencing via three conserved cysteine residues.

Nanoviruses have multipartite, circular, single-stranded DNA genomes and cause huge production losses in legumes and other crops. No viral suppressor of RNA silencing (VSR) has yet been reported from a member of the genus Nanovirus. Here, we demonstrate that the nanovirus U2 protein is a VSR. The U2 protein of milk vetch dwarf virus (MDV) suppressed the silencing of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene induced by single-stranded and double-stranded RNA, and the systemic spread of the GFP silencing signal. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that the U2 protein was able to bind double-stranded 21-nucleotide small interfering RNA (siRNA). The cysteine residues at positions 43, 79 and 82 in the MDV U2 protein are critical to its nuclear localization, self-interaction and siRNA-binding ability, and were essential for its VSR activity. In addition, expression of the U2 protein via a potato virus X vector induced more severe necrosis symptoms in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. The U2 proteins of other nanoviruses also acted as VSRs, and the three conserved cysteine residues were indispensable for their VSR activity.