Crop monitoring by multimodal remote sensing : a review
- Authors: Karmakar, Priyabrata , Teng, Shyh , Murshed, Manzur , Pang, Shaoning , Li, Yanyu , Lin, Hao
- Date: 2024
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Remote Sensing Applications: Society and Environment Vol. 33, no. (2024), p.
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- Description: Effective approaches to achieve food safety and security can prevent catastrophic situations. Therefore, it is required to monitor agricultural crops on a regular basis. This can be easily achieved by capturing data from various remote sensing (RS) devices followed by processing them. Most RS devices are useful in monitoring crops and analysing different stages of plant growth successfully. However, individual devices have some limitations. To overcome this, multimodal remote sensing (MRS) methods have been gradually gaining popularity. In the multimodal approach, data from more than one modality are used together to obtain a better outcome. This is because, different modalities of data when used together can complement each other to achieve the same objective by combining their strengths and reducing their limitations, simultaneously. MRS methods have been found to be particularly useful for crop monitoring as they allow for the integration of data from multiple sources, resulting in a more comprehensive understanding of plant growth and development. By using MRS methods, it is possible to obtain a more accurate and detailed analysis of crop conditions, leading to improved decision-making and ultimately, better crop yields. In this paper, we will explore how MRS methods have been successfully utilised in crop monitoring and how the data obtained from these methods can provide valuable insights into the health and development of plants. © 2023 The Authors
The linkedness of cubical polytopes : beyond the cube
- Authors: Bui, Hoa , Pineda-Villavicencio, Guillermo , Ugon, Julien
- Date: 2024
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Discrete Mathematics Vol. 347, no. 3 (2024), p.
- Relation: https://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP180100602
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- Description: A cubical polytope is a polytope with all its facets being combinatorially equivalent to cubes. The paper is concerned with the linkedness of the graphs of cubical polytopes. A graph with at least 2k vertices is k-linked if, for every set of k disjoint pairs of vertices, there are k vertex-disjoint paths joining the vertices in the pairs. We say that a polytope is k-linked if its graph is k-linked. In a previous paper [3] we proved that every cubical d-polytope is ⌊d/2⌋-linked. Here we strengthen this result by establishing the ⌊(d+1)/2⌋-linkedness of cubical d-polytopes, for every d≠3. A graph G is strongly k-linked if it has at least 2k+1 vertices and, for every vertex v of G, the subgraph G−v is k-linked. We say that a polytope is (strongly) k-linked if its graph is (strongly) k-linked. In this paper, we also prove that every cubical d-polytope is strongly ⌊d/2⌋-linked, for every d≠3. These results are best possible for this class of polytopes.
- Description: A cubical polytope is a polytope with all its facets being combinatorially equivalent to cubes. The paper is concerned with the linkedness of the graphs of cubical polytopes. A graph with at least 2k vertices is k-linked if, for every set of k disjoint pairs of vertices, there are k vertex-disjoint paths joining the vertices in the pairs. We say that a polytope is k-linked if its graph is k-linked. In a previous paper [3] we proved that every cubical d-polytope is
Adaptive phase-field modelling of fracture propagation in poroelastic media using the scaled boundary finite element method
- Authors: Wijesinghe, Dakshith , Natarajan, Sundararajan , You, Greg , Khandelwal, Manoj , Dyson, Ashley , Song, Chongmin , Ooi, Ean Tat
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering Vol. 411, no. (2023), p.
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- Description: A scaled boundary finite element-based phase field formulation is proposed to model two-dimensional fracture in saturated poroelastic media. The mechanical response of the poroelastic media is simulated following Biot's theory, and the fracture surface evolution is modelled according to the phase field formulation. To avoid the application of fine uniform meshes that are constrained by the element size requirement when adopting phase field models, an adaptive refinement strategy based on quadtree meshes is adopted. The unique advantage of the scaled boundary finite element method is conducive to the application of quadtree adaptivity, as it can be directly formulated on quadtree meshes without the need for any special treatment of hanging nodes. Efficient computation is achieved by exploiting the unique patterns of the quadtree cells. An appropriate scaling is applied to the relevant matrices and vectors according the physical size of the cells in the mesh during the simulations. This avoids repetitive calculations of cells with the same configurations. The proposed model is validated using a benchmark with a known analytical solution. Numerical examples of hydraulic fractures driven by the injected fluid in cracks are modelled to illustrate the capabilities of the proposed model in handling crack propagation problems involving complex geometries. © 2023 The Author(s)
Defending SDN against packet injection attacks using deep learning
- Authors: Phu, Anh , Li, Bo , Ullah, Faheem , Ul Huque, Tanvir , Naha, Ranesh , Babar, Muhammad , Nguyen, Hung
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Computer Networks Vol. 234, no. (2023), p.
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- Description: The (logically) centralized architecture of software-defined networks makes them an easy target for packet injection attacks. In these attacks, the attacker injects malicious packets into the SDN network to affect the services and performance of the SDN controller and overflows the capacity of the SDN switches. Such attacks have been shown to ultimately stop the network functioning in real-time, leading to network breakdowns. There have been significant works on detecting and defending against similar DoS attacks in non-SDN networks, but detection and protection techniques for SDN against packet injection attacks are still in their infancy. Furthermore, many of the proposed solutions have been shown to be easily bypassed by simple modifications to the attacking packets or by altering the attacking profile. In this paper, we develop novel Graph Convolutional Neural Network models and algorithms for grouping network nodes/users into security classes by learning from network data. We start with two simple classes — nodes that engage in suspicious packet injection attacks and nodes that are not. From these classes, we then partition the network into separate segments with different security policies using distributed Ryu controllers in an SDN network. We show in experiments on an emulated SDN that our detection solution outperforms alternative approaches with above 99% detection accuracy for various types (both old and new) of injection attacks. More importantly, our mitigation solution maintains continuous functions of non-compromised nodes while isolating compromised/suspicious nodes in real-time. All code and data are publicly available for the reproducibility of our results. © 2023 The Author(s)
Estimating the mean cutting force of conical picks using random forest with salp swarm algorithm
- Authors: Zhou, Jian , Dai, Yong , Tao, Ming , Khandelwal, Manoj , Zhao, Mingsheng , Li, Qiyue
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Results in Engineering Vol. 17, no. (2023), p.
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- Description: Conical picks are widely used as cutting tools in shearers and roadheaders, and the mean cutting force (MCF) is one of the important parameters affecting conical pick performance. As MCF depends on a number of parameters and due to that the existing empirical and theoretical formulas and numerical modelling are not sufficient enough and reliable to predict MCF in a proficient manner. So, in this research, a novel intelligent model based on a random forest algorithm (RF) and a heuristic algorithm called the salp swarm algorithm (SSA) have been applied to determine the optimal hyper-parameters in RF, and root mean square error is used as a fitness function. A total of 188 data samples including 50 rock types and seven parameters (tensile strength of the rock
Fire responses by bird guilds and species in heathy dry forests in central Victoria, Australia
- Authors: Kuchinke, Diana , di Stefano, Julian , Loyn, Richard , Gell, Peter , Palmer, Grant
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Forest Ecology and Management Vol. 535, no. (2023), p.
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- Description: Predicted increases in fire frequency and extent are being realised across Australia, bringing changes to the fire regime which may influence the availability of essential resources required by birds. However, few studies have examined either the impacts of fire frequency on birds or the impacts from both wildfire and planned burns, com bined. Birds were surveyed eight times across 84 sites in heathy dry forests in central Victoria, south-east Australia, from 2012 to 2014. Fire history records were retrieved from the 1970’s onwards, the time from which accurate planned burn records were kept. We developed mixed models to investigate how birds responded to time-since-fire and fire frequency, analysing total bird abundance, ten foraging guilds and 30 individual species. We found distinct responses by all modelled guilds and species to time-since-fire, along with evidence for responses to fire frequency. The greatest shifts in species’ abundances occurred during the first ten years post fire, with bird species commonly present across the stages greater than ten years since fire. For total bird abundance there was no statistically detectible difference between recently burnt forest (0-6 months) and other age classes. However, some guilds showed a significant drop in abundance in newly burnt vegetation (e.g. bark foragers, damp ground insectivores, those that feed on seeds close to the ground, tall shrub foragers). It is with guild and species’ responses that more differences across vegetation age classes became apparent. Significant increases in abundance were apparent in both the regrowth and new growth vegetation age classes, compared with older habitat (e.g. canopy foragers, damp ground insectivores, tall shrub foragers); open ground foragers were especially common in post-fire regrowth but then significantly declined. Other responses were more complex, with species’ preferences reflecting their foraging ecology. Some birds showed preferences across two age classes: sites that were young post-fire regrowth (6 months–2.5 years since fire) along with sites of old habitat (>35 years since fire), (e.g. Crimson Rosella, Scarlet Robin, Sulphur-crested Cockatoo), while some ground-foraging species became scarce in dense new-growth vegetation that appears 2.5–10 years post fire (e.g. Australian Magpie, Laughing Kookaburra and White-winged Chough). Such species may deserve specific management strategies to maintain populations in forests where substantial areas are burnt by wildfire or planned burns, over short periods of time. The model for total bird abundance showed a significant fire frequency response with birds preferring sites twice burnt within 35 years (e.g. bark and canopy-foraging guilds). Four guilds demonstrated a preference for sites frequently burnt, increasing in abundance as number of burns increased (nectarivores, open-ground foragers, seeds in trees foragers, tall shrub foragers). In contrast, two species appeared to prefer sites that had experienced low fire frequencies, a response not common to their guilds. Laughing Kookaburra (carnivore) and White-winged Chough (forages on open ground among trees) generally declined in abundance with increasing fire frequency. © 2023 Elsevier B.V.
Global, regional, and national burden of diabetes from 1990 to 2021, with projections of prevalence to 2050: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
- Authors: Ong, Kanyin , Stafford, Lauryn , McLaughlin, Susan , Boyko, Edward , Vollset, Stein , Smith, Amanda , Dalton, Bronte , Duprey, Joe , Cruz, Jessica , Hagins, Hailey , Lindstedt, Paulina , Aali, Amirali , Abate, Yohannes , Abate, Melew , Abbasian, Mohammadreza , Abbasi-Kangevari, Zeinab , Abbasi-Kangevari, Mohsen , ElHafeez, Samar , Abd-Rabu, Rami , Abdulah, Deldar , Abdullah, Abu , Abedi, Vida , Abidi, Hassan , Aboagye, Richard , Abolhassani, Hassan , Abu-Gharbieh, Eshetie , Abu-Zaid, Ahmed , Adane, Tigist , Adane, Denberu , Rahman, Muhammad Aziz
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: The Lancet Vol. 402, no. 10397 (2023), p. 203-234
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- Description: Background: Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, and affects people regardless of country, age group, or sex. Using the most recent evidentiary and analytical framework from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD), we produced location-specific, age-specific, and sex-specific estimates of diabetes prevalence and burden from 1990 to 2021, the proportion of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in 2021, the proportion of the type 2 diabetes burden attributable to selected risk factors, and projections of diabetes prevalence through 2050. Methods: Estimates of diabetes prevalence and burden were computed in 204 countries and territories, across 25 age groups, for males and females separately and combined; these estimates comprised lost years of healthy life, measured in disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs; defined as the sum of years of life lost [YLLs] and years lived with disability [YLDs]). We used the Cause of Death Ensemble model (CODEm) approach to estimate deaths due to diabetes, incorporating 25 666 location-years of data from vital registration and verbal autopsy reports in separate total (including both type 1 and type 2 diabetes) and type-specific models. Other forms of diabetes, including gestational and monogenic diabetes, were not explicitly modelled. Total and type 1 diabetes prevalence was estimated by use of a Bayesian meta-regression modelling tool, DisMod-MR 2.1, to analyse 1527 location-years of data from the scientific literature, survey microdata, and insurance claims; type 2 diabetes estimates were computed by subtracting type 1 diabetes from total estimates. Mortality and prevalence estimates, along with standard life expectancy and disability weights, were used to calculate YLLs, YLDs, and DALYs. When appropriate, we extrapolated estimates to a hypothetical population with a standardised age structure to allow comparison in populations with different age structures. We used the comparative risk assessment framework to estimate the risk-attributable type 2 diabetes burden for 16 risk factors falling under risk categories including environmental and occupational factors, tobacco use, high alcohol use, high body-mass index (BMI), dietary factors, and low physical activity. Using a regression framework, we forecast type 1 and type 2 diabetes prevalence through 2050 with Socio-demographic Index (SDI) and high BMI as predictors, respectively. Findings: In 2021, there were 529 million (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 500–564) people living with diabetes worldwide, and the global age-standardised total diabetes prevalence was 6·1% (5·8–6·5). At the super-region level, the highest age-standardised rates were observed in north Africa and the Middle East (9·3% [8·7–9·9]) and, at the regional level, in Oceania (12·3% [11·5–13·0]). Nationally, Qatar had the world's highest age-specific prevalence of diabetes, at 76·1% (73·1–79·5) in individuals aged 75–79 years. Total diabetes prevalence—especially among older adults—primarily reflects type 2 diabetes, which in 2021 accounted for 96·0% (95·1–96·8) of diabetes cases and 95·4% (94·9–95·9) of diabetes DALYs worldwide. In 2021, 52·2% (25·5–71·8) of global type 2 diabetes DALYs were attributable to high BMI. The contribution of high BMI to type 2 diabetes DALYs rose by 24·3% (18·5–30·4) worldwide between 1990 and 2021. By 2050, more than 1·31 billion (1·22–1·39) people are projected to have diabetes, with expected age-standardised total diabetes prevalence rates greater than 10% in two super-regions: 16·8% (16·1–17·6) in north Africa and the Middle East and 11·3% (10·8–11·9) in Latin America and Caribbean. By 2050, 89 (43·6%) of 204 countries and territories will have an age-standardised rate greater than 10%. Interpretation: Diabetes remains a substantial public health issue. Type 2 diabetes, which makes up the bulk of diabetes cases, is largely preventable and, in some cases, potentially reversible if identified and managed early in the disea e course. However, all evidence indicates that diabetes prevalence is increasing worldwide, primarily due to a rise in obesity caused by multiple factors. Preventing and controlling type 2 diabetes remains an ongoing challenge. It is essential to better understand disparities in risk factor profiles and diabetes burden across populations, to inform strategies to successfully control diabetes risk factors within the context of multiple and complex drivers. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 30 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Muhammad Aziz Rahman” is provided in this record**
In search of pragmatic soil moisture mapping at the field scale : a review
- Authors: Weir, Peter , Dahlhaus, Peter
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Smart Agricultural Technology Vol. 6, no. (2023), p.
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- Description: Soil moisture is a major limiting factor in most dryland agricultural production systems around the globe. In dryland agriculture the amount of water available to grow a crop is determined primarily by the in-season rainfall and the amount of water stored in the soil profile prior to seeding of the crop. Soil water content and water storage capacity are key parameters. Soil moisture data measurements are a compromise between the spatial scale of the investigated site, the required spatial resolution, and the depth of investigation of the applied method. A bibliographic search of the measurement of soil moisture content at field-scale was done, giving an overview of current practices available to determine the spatial variability within a field, and its applicability to farm management practices. Articles published between April 2013 and March 2023 were searched, retaining only the articles with horizontal resolution less than or equal to 100 m, minimum vertical support at a depth greater than or equal to 30 cm from the soil surface, a minimum of two vertical layer depths, and the topic of the document was associated with the measurement of soil moisture at field-scale. The results of this review highlight progress in the past decade but currently there is no one method that can achieve absolute continuous spatial soil moisture in 3D at the field level. Some areas of research show promise but is still some distance away from a reliable, timely, and accurate soil moisture mapping required for many extensive dryland farming systems. © 2023
Long-term analysis of soil water regime and nitrate dynamics at agricultural experimental site : field-scale monitoring and numerical modeling using HYDRUS-1D
- Authors: Krevh, Vedran , Filipović, Lana , Petošić, Dragutin , Mustać, Ivica , Bogunović, Igor , Butorac, Jaminka , Kisić, Ivica , Defterdarović, Jasmina , Nakić, Zoran , Kovač, Zoran , Pereira, Paulo , He, Hailong , Chen, Rui , Toor, Gurpal , Versini, Antoine , Baumgartl, Thomas , Filipović, Vilim
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Agricultural Water Management Vol. 275, no. (2023), p.
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- Description: Intensive agricultural practices increase agrochemical pollution, particularly nitrogen (N) based fertilizers, which present an environmental risk. This study aims to evaluate long-term (2009–2020) data on soil water regime and nitrate dynamics at an agricultural experimental site on fine-textured soils and to better understand the implications of N management in relation to groundwater pollution. The field site is located in the Biđ field (eastern Croatia), in the proximity of the Sava river. Zero-tension lysimeters were installed at six selected locations. Lysimeters were used to monitor the water regime, i.e., outflows in which nitrate concentration was measured, while additional soil-water samples were collected via 4 and 15-meter-deep monitoring wells. Soil hydraulic parameters were estimated by combining the laboratory measurements, and estimation in RETC software. Water regime and nitrate leaching in lysimeters were simulated using HYDRUS-1D for each year to allow crop rotation and to evaluate their effects individually. The HYDRUS-1D model successfully reproduced lysimeter outflows and nitrate dynamics, which was confirmed with high R2 values (water: 93% above 0.7, and nitrate: 73% above 0.7) indicating the good performance of the model simulating nitrification chain reactions. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed to identify the relationships among all soil properties and environmental characteristics. The results showed the complex interaction of soil hydraulic properties, precipitation patterns, plant uptake, and N application. All locations have a decreasing trend of nitrate leaching over the investigation period. Most of the lysimeter outflows and elevated nitrate concentrations were connected to the wet period of the year when the soil was saturated, and evapotranspiration was low. The results of this study show that it is important to optimize N fertilizer applications for each particular environmental condition to reduce nitrate loss. The study indicates the importance of long-term field studies, key for agro-hydrological modeling and the improvement of agricultural practices. © 2022 The Authors
Management using continence products : report of the 7th international consultation on incontinence
- Authors: Murphy, Cathy , Fader, Mandy , Bliss, Donna , Buckley, Brian , Cockerell, Rowan , Cottenden, Alan , Kottner, Jan , Ostaszkiewicz, Joan
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Continence Vol. 8, no. (2023), p.
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- Description: Aim: To summarise the available evidence on the use of continence products to manage urinary or faecal incontinence published since the 6th International Consultation on Incontinence (2017) and provide key recommendations for the use of products in each group. Methods: A series of systematic reviews (grouped according to pre-determined topics) and evidence updates were undertaken and reported descriptively by members of an international committee to update the 6th Consultation. Results: The available evidence is presented for 13 categories of continence management products. Some categories (female mechanical urinary incontinence devices, products for preventing/treating incontinence-associated dermatitis and urinary catheters) had at least one new randomised controlled trial. Other categories had small-scale or qualitative studies, reviews or no new associated evidence. A summary of key research priorities is provided. Discussion: This paper provides a summary of the evidence available for a range of continence management products. Some product categories have a larger body of new and existing evidence than others, but there continues to be a lack of research to guide decision-making on the wide range of continence management products. Clinicians and other decision-makers remain largely dependent on expert opinion and individual user circumstances and preferences. We summarise specific areas where more. © 2023 The Authors
Maternal attachment state of mind and perinatal emotional wellbeing : findings from a pregnancy cohort study
- Authors: Galbally, Megan , Watson, Stuart , Lewis, Andrew , Power, Josephine , Buus, Niels , van Ijzendoorn, Marinus
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Affective Disorders Vol. 333, no. (2023), p. 297-304
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- Description: Objectives: Maternal attachment state of mind is an important potential predictor of risk and resilience to perinatal emotional wellbeing and early parenting. To explore maternal attachment in relation to perinatal depression and emotional wellbeing. Methods: This study drew on data collected within an ongoing cohort from 170 women recruited in early pregnancy, including 67 who met criteria for Major Depression. Maternal attachment state of mind was assessed with the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) in pregnancy. Additional measures included the Structured Clinical Interview for the DSM (SCID), at 12 months the Strange Situation Procedure (SSP), Child Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Parenting Stress Index, and antenatal maternal hair cortisol concentrations (HCC). Limitations: Sample size to be able to undertake all analyses using the 4 way classifications, cortisol measurement is limited to hair only and there is no prospectively collected measure of childhood trauma in mothers. Conclusions: This study found that maternal attachment, specifically the Non-Autonomous states of mind, adjusted for clinical depression, was associated with higher cortisol in pregnancy and higher depressive symptoms across pregnancy and the postpartum. Furthermore, separately those with depression and Non-Autonomous states of mind also had higher postpartum parenting stress. There was no significant intergenerational concordance between AAI and SSP attachment classifications. Our findings support future research exploring the role of maternal attachment state of mind in understanding perinatal depression and emotional wellbeing. © 2023 The Author(s)
Pelvic floor muscle function in women with and without breast cancer : a cross-sectional study
- Authors: Colombage, Udari , Soh, Sze-Ee , Lin, Kuan-Yin , Frawley, Helena
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Continence Vol. 5, no. (2023), p.
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- Description: Introduction: The aim of this study was to quantify PF muscle function in women with and without breast cancer using pressure manometry, digital palpation and transperineal ultrasound. Methods: This cross-sectional study included women with and without breast cancer. The primary outcome was PF muscle strength measured as maximal squeeze pressure (cmH2O). Differences between groups were analysed using independent t-tests or chi-square tests. Results: The group with breast cancer was older (mean age: 54 years) than the group without breast cancer (mean age: 38 years, p<0.0001). Participants with breast cancer had significantly weaker PF muscles as measured by maximal squeeze pressure (breast cancer group: mean 18 cmH2O, 95% CI 15, 21; control group: mean 29 cmH2O, 95% CI 27, 32; p<0.0001) and digital examination (strength rated as weak: 30% in participants with breast cancer compared to 9% in control group, p=0.0167). Relaxation ability was poorer in participants with breast cancer than control group participants (p=0.0039). Conclusion: Our cohort of women with breast cancer demonstrated reduced PF muscle strength and poorer relaxation ability compared to those without breast cancer. This finding suggests that therapies such as PF muscle training or relaxation techniques may be therapeutic targets to improve PF muscle function. © 2023 The Author(s)
Performance and cryptographic evaluation of security protocols in distributed networks using applied pi calculus and Markov Chain
- Authors: Edris, Ed , Aiash, Mahdi , Khoshkholghi, Mohammad , Naha, Ranesh , Chowdhury, Abdullahi , Loo, Jonathan
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Internet of Things (Netherlands) Vol. 24, no. (2023), p.
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- Description: The development of cryptographic protocols goes through two stages, namely, security verification and performance analysis. The verification of the protocol's security properties could be analytically achieved using threat modelling, or formally using formal methods and model checkers. The performance analysis could be mathematical or simulation-based. However, mathematical modelling is complicated and does not reflect the actual deployment environment of the protocol in the current state of the art. Simulation software provides scalability and can simulate complicated scenarios, however, there are times when it is not possible to use simulations due to a lack of support for new technologies or simulation scenarios. Therefore, this paper proposes a formal method and analytical model for evaluating the performance of security protocols using applied pi-calculus and Markov Chain processes. It interprets algebraic processes and associates cryptographic operatives with quantitative measures to estimate and evaluate cryptographic costs. With this approach, the protocols are presented as processes using applied pi-calculus, and their security properties are an approximate abstraction of protocol equivalence based on the verification from ProVerif and evaluated using analytical and simulation models for quantitative measures. The interpretation of the quantities is associated with process transitions, rates, and measures as a cost of using cryptographic primitives. This method supports users’ input in analysing the protocol's activities and performance. As a proof of concept, we deploy this approach to assess the performance of security protocols designed to protect large-scale, 5G-based Device-to-Device communications. We also conducted a performance evaluation of the protocols based on analytical and network simulator results to compare the effectiveness of the proposed approach. © 2023 The Author(s)
Potential contributions of the soil seed bank and seed rain for accelerating the restoration of riparian catchments in Australia
- Authors: Florentine, Singarayer , Milberg, Per , Westbrooke, Martin
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Global Ecology and Conservation Vol. 47, no. (2023), p.
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- Description: The quality and quantity of soil seed bank composition can play a key role in secondary succession restoration efforts such as those involved in this study, which concerned the restoration of damaged native sites in riparian environments in Victoria, Australia. The objective of this study of the restoration work was to determine the role played by naturally existing soil seed bank in the success of natural restoration in these restored and unmanaged riparian areas. In this regard, we sampled the soil seed bank, seed rain, seedlings in the field and vegetation cover from three sub catchments defined by restoration attempts which had been conducted (i) < 3 years, (ii) 4–8 years, and (iii) > 9 years previous to sampling. In addition, (iv) in order to provide comparative data, adjacent sites (iv) chosen for future restoration and (v) with remnant vegetation, were also sampled. From samples, a total of 8858 seedlings were recorded from the seed bank and the vegetation survey showed 170 species, with exotic species being more numerous than native. The seed rain (a total of 1422 seeds) was dominated by exotic species at all sites. When comparing the vegetation distribution and the seed rain composition, it was clear that whilst the seed bank was more promising as a comparative recruitment source of native species, there were still too many sites dominated by exotic species to rely on this as a long-term restoration strategy. However, this study indicated that there were significant variations in restoration potential among the sites, suggesting that some careful prior site selection for investment of restoration efforts is an important issue. As a consequence, we have recommended that a detailed understanding of the soil seed bank and seed rain species composition prior to the restoration is essential, since a positive seed bank composition with a significant relative density of native species seeds, will provide an indication of native species’ resilience and their potential for recovery. We therefore believe that the findings of this study will provide valuable information to natural resource management agencies regarding the strategy for prioritisation of restoration sites, which will be more beneficial than randomly selecting sites for habitat restoration. In addition, with successful sector restoration, it is expected that the increasing usefulness of the seed bank will allow further restoration of adjacent areas with time. © 2023 The Authors
Prior cancer diagnosis and mortality profile in US adults
- Authors: Wang, Yutang , Fang, Yan , Sobey, Christopher , Drummond, Grant
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: American Journal of the Medical Sciences Vol. 365, no. 2 (2023), p. 176-183
- Relation: https://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1062671
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- Description: Background: Mortality profiles with multivariate adjustment in patients with a prior cancer diagnosis are scarce. This study aimed to investigate multivariate-adjusted mortality profile in US adults with a prior cancer diagnosis. Methods: This cohort study included 58,109 US adults (5,016 with a prior cancer diagnosis) who attended the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Mortality outcomes were ascertained by linkage to the National Death Index records. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and confidence intervals (CIs) of prior cancer diagnosis for mortality. Results: This cohort was followed up for 646,033 person-years with a mean follow-up of 11.1 years. Compared with those without cancer, participants with a prior cancer diagnosis had increased crude cumulative mortality rates in each leading cause. Prior cancer diagnosis was associated with a higher multivariate-adjusted risk of mortality from all causes (HR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.22-1.35), cancer (HR, 2.32; 95% CI, 2.10-2.56), and accidents (HR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.34-2.68). Prior cancer diagnosis-associated increase in accident mortality appeared only in males and was significant only in non-Hispanic black participants. Prior cancer diagnosis-associated increase in cancer mortality appeared high in non-Hispanic black participants. Conclusions: This study found that patients with a prior cancer diagnosis had higher multivariate-adjusted accident mortality risks, suggesting that oncologists may need to evaluate accident risks in cancer patients and provide preventive interventions in particular for male and non-Hispanic black patients. Increased cancer mortality risk associated with prior cancer diagnosis in non-Hispanic black participants may also need clinical attention. © 2022 Southern Society for Clinical Investigation
Real-time distributed trajectory planning for mobile robots
- Authors: Nguyen, Binh , Nghiem, Truong , Nguyen, Linh , Nguyen, Anh , Nguyen, Thang
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: 22nd IFAC World Congress Vol. 56, p. 2152-2157
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- Description: Efficiently planning trajectories for nonholonomic mobile robots in formation tracking is a fundamental yet challenging problem. Nonholonomic constraints, complexity in collision avoidance, and limited computing resources prevent the robots from being practically deployed in realistic applications. This paper addresses these difficulties by modeling each mobile platform as a nonholonomic motion and formulating trajectory planning as an optimization problem using model predictive control (MPC). That is, the optimization problem is subject to both nonholonomic motions and collision avoidance. To reduce computing costs in real time, the nonholonomic constraints are convexified by finding the closest nominal points to the nonholonomic motion, which are then incorporated into a convex optimization problem. Additionally, the predicted values from the previous MPC step are utilized to form linear avoidance conditions for the next step, preventing collisions among robots. The formulated optimization problem is solved by the alternating direction method of multiplier (ADMM) in a distributed manner, which makes the proposed trajectory planning method scalable. More importantly, the convergence of the proposed planning algorithm is theoretically proved while its effectiveness is validated in a synthetic environment. Copyright © 2023 The Authors. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Reconstruction of tropical cyclone and depression proxies for the South Pacific since the 1850s
- Authors: Yeasmin, Alea , Chand, Savin , Sultanova, Nargiz
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Weather and Climate Extremes Vol. 39, no. (2023), p.
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- Description: Southwest Pacific nations are highly vulnerable to extreme weather and climate events, particularly those associated with synoptic-scale systems such as tropical cyclones (TCs) and depressions (TDs). This study utilises the Okubo–Weiss–Zeta parameter (OWZP) method to reconstruct historical records of both TCs and TDs for the South Pacific basin using state-of-the-art NOAA-CIRES Twentieth Century Reanalysis (20CR) product. Extensive statistical assessments of these reconstructions are carried out using observational records for the satellite period (i.e., 1979–2014) as ‘ground-truths’. Results show that 20CR-derived TCs and TDs resemble several key characteristics of the observational records, including spatial distribution of genesis locations and track shapes. This gives us confidence that the 20CR-derived long-term records of TCs and TDs can serve as an effective tool for examining historical changes in various characteristics of TCs and TDs, particularly in the context of anthropogenic climate change. © 2022
The PNG midwifery leadership buddy program : an evaluation
- Authors: Hall, Helen , Mahmood, Mohammad , Sitaing, Mary , Aines, Paula , Cant, Robyn , Crawford, Kimberley
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Women and Birth Vol. 36, no. 5 (2023), p. e536-e543
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- Description: Problem: Papua New Guinea (PNG) has a high rate of preventable maternal and neonatal deaths. Background: Developing midwifery leadership is vital to addressing the current deficits in health outcomes for women and their babies. The PNG Midwifery Leadership Buddy Program responds to this need through leadership training and partnering of midwives across PNG and Australia. Participants in the program undertake a workshop in Port Moresby and commit to a 12-month peer support relationship with a midwife ‘buddy’. Aim: To evaluate participants’ experiences of the Buddy Program and the impact of the program on leadership skills. Methods: All 23 midwives who had completed the program were invited to participate in the evaluation. The study used a concurrent mixed methods approach. Qualitative data were collected via interviews and then thematically analysed. Quantitative data were collected via a survey and analysed with descriptive statistics, then findings were triangulated. Findings: Participants reported increased confidence for leadership, action and advocacy. Numerous quality improvement projects were implemented in health services in PNG. Challenges to the success of the program included technological limitations, cultural differences and the COVID-19 pandemic. Discussion: Participants reported the PNG Midwifery Leadership Buddy Program was successful in increasing their leadership skills and collaborative opportunities, as well as strengthening midwifery more broadly. While there were barriers, most participants valued the experience and believed it benefited them professionally and personally Conclusion: The Buddy Program provides a practical model for building midwifery leadership capacity that may be transferrable to other contexts. © 2023 The Authors
A review of sediment carbon sampling methods in mangroves and their broader impacts on stock estimates for blue carbon ecosystems
- Authors: Fest, Benedikt , Swearer, Stephen , Arndt, Stefan
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Science of the Total Environment Vol. 816, no. (2022), p.
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- Description: Blue carbon ecosystems (BCEs), such as mangroves, tidal marshes, and seagrasses, are attracting interest for their potential to mitigate climate change arising from their high rates of carbon accumulation and the significant carbon stocks in their sediments. However, current sediment carbon sampling methods present a mixture of approaches adopted from paleoenvironmental methods focused on historical reconstruction of carbon accumulation, and from soil science methods developed to provide highly accurate and spatially representative carbon stock measurements. Currently, no international standard method for sediment carbon stock analysis exists. Consequently, current estimates of sediment carbon stock values for BCEs may have large uncertainties due to variable methodology. We reviewed and analysed the methods used 217 studies included in two recent global syntheses of carbon stocks in mangrove forest ecosystems to illustrate a lack of consistency in sediment sampling. We then outline how the choice of study design and field sampling methods can introduce inaccuracies and uncertainties in sediment carbon stock analysis. We conclude with examples of how each of these challenges can be resolved and how greater carbon stock quantification accuracy and higher spatial integration can be achieved for blue carbon ecosystems in the future. © 2021 Elsevier B.V.
Automatic driver distraction detection using deep convolutional neural networks
- Authors: Hossain, Md Uzzol , Rahman, Md Ataur , Islam, Md Manowarul , Akhter, Arnisha , Uddin, Md Ashraf , Paul, Bikash
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Intelligent Systems with Applications Vol. 14, no. (2022), p.
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- Description: Recently, the number of road accidents has been increased worldwide due to the distraction of the drivers. This rapid road crush often leads to injuries, loss of properties, even deaths of the people. Therefore, it is essential to monitor and analyze the driver's behavior during the driving time to detect the distraction and mitigate the number of road accident. To detect various kinds of behavior like- using cell phone, talking to others, eating, sleeping or lack of concentration during driving; machine learning/deep learning can play significant role. However, this process may need high computational capacity to train the model by huge number of training dataset. In this paper, we made an effort to develop CNN based method to detect distracted driver and identify the cause of distractions like talking, sleeping or eating by means of face and hand localization. Four architectures namely CNN, VGG-16, ResNet50 and MobileNetV2 have been adopted for transfer learning. To verify the effectiveness, the proposed model is trained with thousands of images from a publicly available dataset containing ten different postures or conditions of a distracted driver and analyzed the results using various performance metrics. The performance results showed that the pre-trained MobileNetV2 model has the best classification efficiency. © 2022 The Author(s)