User Mode Research Articles

Raising public awareness on anthropogenic underwater noise by means of playful activities and serious games

Anthropogenic underwater noise can seriously affect the marine environment and species. Although great progress has been made both from a normative and scientific point of view, public perception of this hazard is very limited. The Noixe project addresses precisely this gap and aims to raise collective awareness of this problem and the role each of us can play in reducing the impact on the environment. This paper describes what we have developed to raise knowledge and awareness of this issue through playful activities and serious games both in live situations and online. The Noixe events are divided into two sections: First, all the concepts needed to understand anthropogenic noise are explained using experiences that anyone can have in their lives. For example, it is possible to explain how noise can make a message contained in an acoustic signal unrecognizable, staging the case of a teacher explaining something to a noisy class. The second moment of a Noixe event is the serious game. Here, in a quiz-like environment, two teams compete against each other to guess a set of sounds that are initially masked by noise. The system we developed makes it possible to gradually reduce the volume of the noise and increase the volume of the sound until it becomes intelligible. The team that identifies more sounds wins. The online version of Noixe is built on a similar workflow but cannot offer all the features of the live events. In particular, it is very difficult to recreate collective experiences such as team games due to possible connectivity issues. This is why we opted for a single user mode. We have found that our approach is very effective in raising awareness on the topic of anthropogenic noise in both live and online settings. This is demonstrated by the fact that practically all Noixe participants decided to join citizen science activities on noise monitoring we later offered them. In this paper we present the technical details of the activities we have developed so that anyone can replicate and improve our work.

Virtualizing USB Kernel Mode Debug (KMD) Class to Guest OS for Native OS-Like Debug Experience

Virtualizing USB Kernel Mode Debug (KMD) Class to Guest OS for Native OS-Like Debug Experience

Blockchain-enabled cooperative spectrum sensing in 5G and B5G cognitive radio via massive multiple-input multiple-output nonorthogonal multiple access

One of the greatest ways to guarantee that networks designed for fifth generation (5G) and beyond reach the required levels of spectrum efficiency (SE) is through nonorthogonal multiple access (NOMA). This work presents two new blockchain-based techniques that take advantage of massive multiple input multiple output in a single-cell network to improve performance. NOMA power domain is used in the 5G cooperative cognitive radio network (CCRN) to improve the SE of the downlink. This study investigates a novel cooperative NOMA-based CCRN for underlay spectrum sharing. A cooperative NOMA technique is proposed by considering the access modes of relays and secondary users (SUs) on the secondary network. The proposed system's performance is assessed with respect to random channel characteristics, frequency-selective Rayleigh fading and perfect successive interference cancellation (SIC). The first signal decoded by SU identifies the relay states with the best channel quality between users and the destination users to offset the bit error rate. The throughput dropped during the period because of the perfect SIC. The precise closed-form expressions for the system throughput of the secondary network are derived under the interference constraint of the primary network to evaluate the efficacy of the suggested cooperative strategy. The suggested approaches are assessed under various conditions using the MATLAB application by considering varying transmit power levels, power location coefficients and lengths. In every case, four users are assumed to be using a 90 MHz bandwidth and M-ary Quadrature Amplitude Modulation technology.

Evaluation of computed tomography anode voltage in clinical application: the influence of profiled filters

Monitoring of operational parameters of X-ray diagnostic equipment, including computer tomographs, is mandatory during acceptance and periodic tests in medical organizations. The importance of control of anode voltage of X-ray radiator is described (as one of the main technical parameters in diagnostic tests of patients, which can influence the quality of visualization and safe operation of the equipment). Anode voltage is evaluated by non-invasive methods using universal dosimeters in the user mode of equipment operation. The influence of profiled filters of Somatom Definition AS, SOMATOM go.All (Siemens, Germany) scanners on the accuracy of anode voltage measurement was investigated. The tests were conducted in clinic conditions without partial removal of the gantry (a structural element of the tomograph, inside which the system “X-ray emitter – detector” is located) and connection to the high-voltage circuit of the device. The distance between the sensitive elements of the measuring device and the displacement of the center of the sensing area relative to the position of the central axis of the X-ray beam of computed tomography scanner were taken into account. Normalized curves of kerma values, anode voltage values and their approximating analytical functions were obtained using a Piranha R&F/M 657 universal dosimeter (RTI Electronics AB, Sweden) at its displacement relative to the laser centralizer of computed tomography scanner. Based on the scheme for noninvasive estimation of anode voltage value, a formula of the relative deviation of the measured value of the anode voltage associated with the presence of a profiled filter at the output of the X-ray emitter of the tomograph and the displacement of the center point of the sensitive area of the measuring device relative to the central axis of the X-ray beam of the tomograph is obtained. The validity of the data based on the formula is confirmed experimentally. The results of the study will be helpful to technical specialists who maintain or control the X-ray computed tomography operating parameters.

Distributed learning for kernel mode–based regression

AbstractWe propose a parametric kernel mode–based regression built on the mode value, which provides robust and efficient estimators for datasets containing outliers or heavy‐tailed distributions. To address the challenges posed by massive datasets, we integrate this regression method with distributed statistical learning techniques, which greatly reduces the required amount of primary memory and simultaneously accommodates heterogeneity in the estimation process. By approximating the local kernel objective function with a least squares format, we are able to preserve compact statistics for each worker machine, facilitating the reconstruction of estimates for the entire dataset with minimal asymptotic approximation error. Additionally, we explore shrinkage estimation through local quadratic approximation, showcasing that the resulting estimator possesses the oracle property through an adaptive LASSO approach. The finite‐sample performance of the developed method is illustrated using simulations and real data analysis.

Enhancement of the impacts 2050 model to enable a whole system sustainability assessment of rideshare

Emerging concepts, such as Mobility as a Service (MaaS), could evolve to provide sustainable mobility, especially in densely populated urban areas. However, recent studies highlight the challenge of evaluating how the complex interactions of user demographics, mode choice, vehicle automation, governance, and efficiency will impact the sustainability of future mobility. Given this challenge, this research identifies a whole system (STEEP - social, technical, economic, environmental, and political) framework as essential to assess the overall sustainability of emergent urban mobility systems such as rideshare. The need is a single tool that can rapidly explore the long-range sustainability impact of such alternative future mobility scenarios for a given city region. This paper documents enhancements made to Impacts 2050, a strategic-level model of urban mobility, to address this need, including updates to the statistical travel behavior model and the addition of rideshare including trip occupancy. Results obtained with the enhanced Impacts 2050 showed that, while rideshare use increased significantly for some scenarios, its overall mode share remained limited. In addition, though rideshare enabled users to shed car ownership, the overall percentage increase of “no car ownership” was low. An urban mobility sustainability scorecard based on STEEP and generated by output from the enhanced Impacts 2050 is presented.

Demonstration of a spatial-division multiplexing self-healing ring network.

This work demonstrates a spatial-division multiplexing self-healing ring protection scheme. A 3-node, 2-fiber ring with a recirculating length of 139.3 km is implemented using 4-core weakly-coupled multicore working and protection fibers and supported by core-pumped multicore amplifiers. Each node implements a spatial channel switching scheme with 8×8 traffic switches and arrays of 2×2 MEMS switches for ring protection switching with fiber bending taps to simultaneously monitor the power on all cores of the working and protection fibers. We achieve an average loss around 2 dB per network element along the protection path, which enables the use of ring protection with minimal performance impact. With this scheme, we demonstrate the protection of a line-side traffic throughput above 120 Tb/s using polarization-multiplexed 16-ary quadrature-amplitude modulation signals across the C-band.

A Case Study on (EAVIBA) Enhanced Accessibility for Visually Impaired & Blind Artists using Machine Learning

This research paper introduces EAVIBA, a pioneering voice-driven interface tailored to empower visually impaired and blind individuals in artistic pursuits. Rooted in principles of accessible design, EAVIBA seamlessly integrates voice commands, text-to-speech functionality, and a customizable graphical user interface. The study delves into EAVIBA's architecture, implementation of assistive technologies, and commitment to accessibility standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG). Through a robust iterative testing process, the paper evaluates the program, soliciting both qualitative and quantitative feedback on key aspects such as interface clarity, voice command recognition, and customization features. Objectives: The primary objectives of EAVIBA encompass developing an inclusive graphical user interface, implementing voice recognition and text-to-speech functionalities, providing creative tools and recommendations, enabling customization, and facilitating user feedback for continuous improvement. Method: The research employed a user-centric approach, incorporating principles of universal design in the graphical user interface. The integration of voice recognition and text-to-speech technologies, along with customizable features, was meticulously executed. Evaluation involved iterative user testing to gauge interface clarity, voice command recognition accuracy, and the efficacy of customization options. Findings: Quantitative data revealed a high degree of satisfaction among users, with an average recognition accuracy of voice commands exceeding 90%. Interface clarity received positive feedback, emphasizing the success of the high contrast mode and Blind User Mode. Users appreciated the customization options, with 80% indicating satisfaction with tailored voice commands. Novelty: EAVIBA's novelty lies in its holistic approach, addressing accessibility and fostering creativity. The integration of voice-driven interactions, high contrast modes, and creative recommendations distinguishes EAVIBA from existing solutions, presenting a comprehensive platform for visually impaired artists. Keywords: Assistive technologies, visually impaired, blind artists, voice-driven interface, machine learning, voice recognition.

High-Speed CNN Accelerator SoC Design Based on a Flexible Diagonal Cyclic Array

The latest convolutional neural network (CNN) models for object detection include complex layered connections to process inference data. Each layer utilizes different types of kernel modes, so the hardware needs to support all kernel modes at an optimized speed. In this paper, we propose a high-speed and optimized CNN accelerator with flexible diagonal cyclic arrays (FDCA) that supports the acceleration of CNN networks with various kernel sizes and significantly reduces the time required for inference processing. The accelerator uses four FDCAs to simultaneously calculate 16 input channels and 8 output channels. Each FDCA features a 4 × 8 systolic array that contains a 3 × 3 processing element (PE) array and is designed to handle the most commonly used kernel sizes. To evaluate the proposed CNN accelerator, we mapped the widely used YOLOv5 CNN model and evaluated the performance of its implementation on the Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC ZCU102 FPGA. The design consumes 249,357 logic cells, 2304 DSP blocks, and only 567 KB BRAM. In our evaluation, the YOLOv5n model achieves an accuracy of 43.1% (mAP@0.5). A prototype accelerator has been implemented using Samsung’s 14 nm CMOS technology. It achieves 1.075 TOPS, a peak performance with a 400 MHz clock frequency.

Role of germinal center and CD39highCD73+ B cells in the age-related tonsillar involution

BackgroundThe tonsils operate as a protection ring of mucosa at the gates of the upper aero-digestive tract. They show similarities with lymph nodes and participate as inductive organs of systemic and mucosal immunity. Based on the reduction of their size since puberty, they are thought to experience involution in adulthood. In this context, we have used tonsillar mononuclear cells (TMC) isolated from patients at different stages of life, to study the effect of ageing and the concomitant persistent inflammation on these immune cells.ResultsWe found an age-dependent reduction in the proportion of germinal center B cell population (BGC) and its T cell counterpart (T follicular helper germinal center cells, TfhGC). Also, we demonstrated an increment in the percentage of local memory B cells and mantle zone T follicular helper cells (mTfh). Furthermore, younger tonsils rendered higher proportion of proliferative immune cells within the freshly isolated TMC fraction than those from older ones. We demonstrated the accumulation of a B cell subset (CD20+CD39highCD73+ cells) metabolically adapted to catabolize adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as patients get older. To finish, tonsillar B cells from patients at different ages did not show differences in their proliferative response to stimulation ex vivo, in bulk TMC cultures.ConclusionsThis paper sheds light on the changing aspects of the immune cellular landscape, over the course of time and constant exposure, at the entrance of the respiratory and digestive systems. Our findings support the notion that there is a re-modelling of the immune functionality of the excised tonsils over time. They are indicative of a transition from an effector type of immune response, typically oriented to reduce pathogen burden early in life, to the development of an immunosuppressive microenvironment at later stages, when tissue damage control gets critical provided the time passed under immune attack. Noteworthy, when isolated from such histologic microenvironment, older tonsillar B cells seem to level their proliferation capacity with the younger ones. Understanding these features will not only contribute to comprehend the differences in susceptibility to pathogens among children and adults but would also impact on vaccine developments intended to target these relevant mucosal sites.

Synthesis, molecular modeling, DFT studies, and EPR analysis of 1,4-dihydropyridines as potential calcium channel blockers

1,4-Dihydropyridines (DHPs) are widely recognized as a highly effective class of L-type calcium channel blockers that offer significant therapeutic potential in managing cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, their ability to target other types of calcium channels makes DHPs attractive candidates for therapeutic applications in neurological and psychiatric disorders. Close examination of the chemical structures of approved DHP-based antihypertensive drugs with a history of over forty years in the market reveals that the C-4 position is the least altered part of this privileged ring system. In the present study, we focused on this position and synthesized two novel compounds (DB1 and DB2) by carrying out chemical modifications on suitable positions of the main scaffold of DA1 (isobutyl 4-(benzo[d][1,3]dioxol-5-yl)-2,6,6-trimethyl-5-oxo-1,4,5,6,7,8-hexahydroquinoline-3-carboxylate) that was previously identified as a DHP-based effective and selective inhibitor of T-type (Cav3.2) over L-type (Cav1.2) calcium channel. Based on whole-cell patch-clamp analysis on Cav1.2 and Cav3.2, DB1 with bromine group on the benzodioxole ring appeared to be a more effective and selective inhibitor of Cav3.2 compared to DB2 with nitro at the same locus. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed to investigate the binding mode of both DB1 isomers to Cav3.2. Furthermore, density functional theory (DFT) methods were employed to obtain information regarding the stability of the molecules by computing various parameters, such as electric dipole moment, band gap, electronegativity, and global chemical hardness-softness, related to their charge-transfer characteristics. According to DFT studies, DB1 also appeared to be chemically more stable than DB2. Finally, ionizing radiation-induced free radicals of gamma-irradiated DB1 and DB2 in powder form were examined utilizing the electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technique and the obtained data demonstrated that radiation sterilization is suitable for the dosage forms including DB1 and DB2.

Performance of Statistical Power Control With Simplified User Selection and Mode Switching in Hybrid NOMA/OMA Networks

Performance of Statistical Power Control With Simplified User Selection and Mode Switching in Hybrid NOMA/OMA Networks

Information support for the adjustment process of grain harvester

The article discusses many external harvesting factors and adjustable parameters of the working parts of the TORUM combine harvester. A description is given of the technologies used to develop a program - a highly specialized database management system (DMS) - for information support of the process of adjusting a combine harvester, namely the system programming language Rust and modern web technologies for creating desktop applications with a graphical user interface. A hint system is described to improve the user experience for interacting with domain data. The “Settings” subsystem, used for preliminary configuration of combine harvesters, is examined in detail, and the Entity relationship is shown - a diagram of the database tables related to this subsystem. The software allows you to work with the database in two operating modes: in user mode for viewing the knowledge of interest in the subject area and in expert mode for editing, adding and deleting this knowledge. The implementation of the software system under consideration (expert system) can reduce time and improve the quality of decisions made and, as a result, will increase the shift productivity of combine harvesters.

A matter of space and perspective – Cyclists’, car drivers’, and pedestrians’ assumptions about subjective safety in shared traffic situations

Subjective safety has been considered a key factor for a successful promotion of cycling. As of yet, subjective safety and the factors affecting it have been studied almost exclusively from the cyclists’ perspective. However, subjective safety is largely determined by the interaction of cyclists with other road users. We thus argue that it is crucial to assess the subjective safety different road user groups associate with shared road situations, because street designs that increase the subjective safety of one group may have negative impacts on the subjective safety of another group. For this purpose, we conducted a large-scale, web-based survey presenting computer-generated 2D images showing various traffic situations. The entire pool of images included 1,900 variations and combinations of road designs. About 21,500 individual participants provided about 460,000 estimates with regard to the safety they associated with travelling at the shown location from the perspective of cyclists, car drivers, or pedestrians. Our analysis with generalized mixed models focused on three base scenarios and the comparison of the different perspectives: Side streets were perceived as unsafe by both cyclists and car drivers. A prominent designation as a cycling boulevard had highly positive effects, especially for cyclists. On main streets, cyclists and car drivers rated mixed traffic without cycling infrastructure as very unsafe, and situations with cyclists travelling on protected bike lanes as very safe. Whereas car drivers rated all types of cycling lanes as safe, this did not generally apply to cyclists. In particular, narrow cycling lanes adjacent to parked cars felt unsafe for cyclists. We hypothesize that this discrepancy has a self-reinforcing mechanism: Research on risk-taking suggests that the low risk perception of car drivers leads to more risky behavior (e.g. overtaking cyclists with higher speed and less lateral clearance), which in turn decreases the subjective safety of cyclists. We found an inverted pattern for sidewalks, where cyclists felt mostly safe, and the more vulnerable pedestrians did not (especially if there was no clear indication of lanes for both groups). Taken together, our research sheds light on an as-of-yet rather under-researched issue: the perception of a traffic situation may vary significantly depending on the perspective and transportation mode of a road user. More specifically, our findings suggest that the subjective safety of vulnerable road users in a traffic situation can be negatively affected by the perception of this situation by the less vulnerable road users. We present recommendations about road designs that feel safe for all road user groups.

Understanding cyclists’ conflicts in the streets of a Latin American metropolis

Promoted by most governments as a sustainable form of transportation, cycling is surging worldwide. Despite the positive impacts of cycling, conflicts between cyclists and other street users such as pedestrians, cars and buses have increased, especially in countries lacking proper cycling infrastructure. This paper aims to understand a series of conflicts experienced by cyclists in Santiago de Chile, where cycling has expanded rapidly in the last fifteen years. To do so, three focus groups were held with cyclists having different levels of experience. The participants were asked to describe the main conflicts with other modes of transport and road users, as well as the coping strategies employed to deal with these conflicts. An inductive analysis ended with four categories related to cyclists’ conflicts in the streets and two related to strategies and lessons dealing with motorised vehicle drivers and other cyclists.The analysis indicates that the unequal distribution of road space negatively influences cyclists’ experiences, who perceive themselves as being threatened constantly by overtaking cars in close proximity, as well as by different forms of verbal and sometimes physical aggression. It indicates that cyclists develop strategies to mitigate conflicts, ranging from making themselves visible at all times, to making use of bodily gestures. However, conflicts can still escalate. The results suggest that, in auto-centric urban contexts, cycling is a challenging chore that happens surrounded by the sensation of having fragile entitlements.

ML Pro: digital assistance system for interactive machine learning in production

The application of machine learning promises great growth potential for industrial production. The development process of a machine learning solution for industrial use cases requires multi-layered, sophisticated decision-making processes along the pipeline that can only be accomplished by subject matter experts with knowledge of statistical mathematics, coding, and engineering process knowledge. By having humans and computers work together in a digital assistance system, the special characteristics of human and artificial intelligence can be used synergistically. This paper presents the development of a digital human-centered assistance system for employees in the production and development departments of industrial manufacturing companies. This assistance system enables users to apply production-specific data mining and machine learning techniques without programming to typical tabular production data, which is often inherently high-dimensional, nonstationary, and highly imbalanced data streams. Through tight interactive process guidance that considers the dependencies between machine learning process modules, users are empowered to build and optimize predictive models. Compared to existing commercial and academic tools with similar objectives, the digital assistance system offers the added value that both classical shallow and deep learning as well as generative and oversampling methods can be interactively applied to all feature table use cases for different user modes without programming.

The fœtus in the museum: personhood, pregnancy, and anatomical preparations, 1880–1900

ABSTRACT In the late 19th century, the legal status of the anatomical specimen was only slowly evolving into its modern form. Not yet regulated by legislation, specimens were subject to rampant commodification and were exhibited, collected, bought, and sold, internationally as well as locally. This article considers the status of anatomical preparations at a moment when medical school curricula were fast becoming standardised, surgical techniques increasingly refined, and methods for preserving the body perfected. Focusing on fœtal remains, I explore how the use of anatomical specimens mediated between the well-established, if still controversial, practice of dissection and an increasing emphasis on the visual as a privileged mode of constructing the biomedical body. Through close analysis of specimens in British and American collections, I trace the shifting meanings, value, and significance attributed to anatomical preparations in this era. Linking fœtal specimens to the medicalisation of pregnancy, contemporary discoveries in embryology, and growing debate around abortion, I argue that the emerging concept of fœtal personhood challenged and inflected how specimens were understood, highlighting their hybrid nature as both potential human subjects and objects of knowledge. Through this encounter with death, I argue, viewers were invited to comprehend and articulate new notions of ‘life’ itself.

Harnessing the x86 Intermediate Rings for Intra-Process Isolation

Modern applications often involve the processing of sensitive information. However, the lack of privilege separation within the user space leaves sensitive application secrets such as cryptographic keys just as unprotected as a &#x201D;hello world&#x201D; string. Cutting-edge hardware-supported security features are being introduced. However, the features are often vendor-specific or lack compatibility with older generations of the processors. The situation leaves developers with no portable solution to incorporate protection for the sensitive application component. We propose LOTRx86, a fundamental and portable approach for user-space privilege separation. Our approach creates a more privileged user execution layer called <i>PrivUser</i> by harnessing the underused intermediate privilege levels on the x86 architecture. The PrivUser memory space, a set of pages within process address space that are inaccessible to user mode, is a safe place for application secrets and routines that access them. We implement the LOTRx86 ABI that exports the <monospace>privcall</monospace> interface to users to invoke secret handling routines in PrivUser. This way, sensitive application operations that involve the secrets are performed in a strictly controlled manner. The memory access control in our architecture is <i>privilege-based</i>, accessing the protected application secret only requires a change in the privilege, eliminating the need for costly remote procedure calls or change in address space. We evaluated our platform by developing a proof-of-concept LOTRx86-enabled web server that employs our architecture to securely access its private key during an SSL connection. We conducted a set of experiments, including a performance measurement on the PoC on <i>both</i> Intel and AMD PCs, and confirmed that LOTRx86 incurs only a limited performance overhead.

Kernel mode decomposition for time-frequency localization of transient flow: The formation of a laminar separation bubble

Kernel mode decomposition for time-frequency localization of transient flow: The formation of a laminar separation bubble

The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Public Transport: A Mobility Survey in Naples (South of Italy)

Introduction: The COVID-19 outbreak has not only had a fatal impact on people's lives, but it has also threatened the entire world of transportation. The number of trips, the mobility habits and the users’ mode choices from the beginning of the pandemic has changed significantly over the last year. Objective: This manuscript analyzed the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the users’ mobility choices following the pandemic phases during “new normality” was analysed. The objective of this research is twofold: i) to estimate and evaluate the changes in user's mode choices and environmental impact; ii) to identify mobility policies aimed at fostering the use of local Public Transport (PT). Methods: A Stated Preference survey was carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic in the city of Naples (South of Italy): i) to assess users’ mobility habits before the COVID-19 pandemic; ii) to evaluate users’ choice of Public Transport after the COVID-19 pandemic period; iii) to identify the attributes related to users’ reluctance (e.g., fear of contagion, service uncertainty) to continue using public transport and the main characteristics that Public Transport should have to be perceived as a safe transport alternative. Results: The results show that 56% of users would be willing to wait up to 20 minutes longer for the bus and train to ensure social distancing, especially on reliable info mobility. Conclusion: Moreover, 6% of the users, who previously travelled with local PT, would shift to private transport. This means that in the province of Naples, there would be more than 54 million trips by private car with the subsequent effects on congestion and environmental pollution in one month.