Detection of records of weak local earthquakes using neural networks

Manual processing of large volumes of continuous observations produced by local seismic networks takes a lot of time, therefore, to solve this problem, automatic algorithms for detecting seismic events are used. Deterministic methods for solving the problem of detection, which do an excellent job of detecting intensive earthquakes, face critical problems when detecting weak seismic events (earthquakes). They are based on principles based on the calculation of energy, which causes multiple errors in detection: weak seismic events may not be detected, and high-amplitude noise may be mistakenly detected as an event. In our work, we propose a detection method capable of surpassing deterministic methods in detecting events on seismograms, successfully detecting a similar or more events with fewer false detections.

Investigation of Membrane Fouling in Vacuum Membrane Distillation (VMD) Using Blocking Filtration Laws

VMD is one of the desalination technologies used for drinking water purification because of it higher permeate flux and lower energy consumption, and it uses low grade energy for operation. However, there are some critical problems related to VMD, one of which is membrane fouling. In the present study, the fouling phenomenon in VMD is investigated using constant pressure-blocking filtration laws. The results of constant pressure-blocking filtration law indicated that the permeate flux was initially unaffected by the cake layer, but with the passage of time as the pores began to constrict, a formation of a relatively thick cake layer was observed, which resulted in the decrease of permeate flux.

3D Object Recognition and Localization with a Dense LiDAR Scanner

Dense scanning is an effective solution for refined geometrical modeling applications. The previous studies in dense environment modeling mostly focused on data acquisition techniques without emphasizing autonomous target recognition and accurate 3D localization. Therefore, they lacked the capability to output semantic information in the scenes. This article aims to make complementation in this aspect. The critical problems we solved are mainly in two aspects: (1) system calibration to ensure detail-fidelity for the 3D objects with fine structures, (2) fast outlier exclusion to improve 3D boxing accuracy. A lightweight fuzzy neural network is proposed to remove most background outliers, which was proven in experiments to be effective for various objects in different situations. With precise and clean data ensured by the two abovementioned techniques, our system can extract target objects from the original point clouds, and more importantly, accurately estimate their center locations and orientations.

Alternative Futures for the Digital Transformation: A Macro-Level Schumpeterian Perspective

This paper develops and deploys a theoretical framework for assessing the prospects of a cluster of technologies driving what is often called the digital transformation. There is considerable uncertainty regarding this transformation’s future trajectory, and to understand and bound that uncertainty, we build on Schumpeter’s macro-level theory of economy-wide, technological revolutions and on the work of several scholars who have extended that theory. In this perspective, such revolutions’ trajectories are shaped primarily by the interaction of changes within and between three spheres—technology, organization, and public policy. We enrich this account by identifying the critical problems and the collective choices among competing solutions to those problems that together shape the trajectory of each revolution. We argue that the digital transformation represents a new phase in the wider arc of the information and communication technology revolution—a phase promising much wider deployment—and that the trajectory of this deployment depends on collective choices to be made in the organization and public policy spheres. Combining in a 2 × 2 matrix the two main alternative solutions on offer in each of these two spheres, we identify four scenarios for the future trajectory of the digital transformation: digital authoritarianism, digital oligarchy, digital localism, and digital democracy. We discuss how these scenarios can help us trace and understand the future trajectory of the digital transformation.

How effective is laparoscopic redo-antireflux surgery?

Summary Background: The failure-rate after primary antireflux surgery ranges from 3 to 30%. Reasons for failures are multifactorial. The aim of this study is to gain insight into the complex reasons for, and management of, failure after antireflux surgery. Methods: Patients were selected for redo-surgery after a diagnostic workup consisting of history and physical examination, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, quality-of-life assessment, screening for somatoform disorders, esophageal manometry, 24-hour-pH-impedance monitoring, and selective radiographic studies such as Barium-sandwich for esophageal passage and delayed gastric emptying. Perioperative and follow-up data were compiled between 2004 and 2017. Results: In total, 578 datasets were analyzed. The patient cohort undergoing a first redo-procedure (n = 401) consisted of 36 patients after in-house primary LF and 365 external referrals (mean age: 62.1 years [25–87]; mean BMI 26 [20–34]). The majority of patients underwent a repeated total or partial laparoscopic fundoplication. Major reasons for failure were migration and insufficient mobilization during the primary operation. With each increasing number of required redo-operations, the complexity of the redo-procedure itself increased, follow-up quality-of-life decreased (GIQLI: 106; 101; and 100), and complication rate increased (intraoperative: 6,4–10%; postoperative: 4,5–19%/first to third redo). After three redo-operations, resections were frequently necessary (morbidity: 42%). Conclusions: Providing a careful patient selection, primary redo-antireflux procedures have proven to be highly successful. It is often the final chance for a satisfying result may be achieved upon performing a second redo-procedure. A third revision may solve critical problems, such as severe pain and/or inadequate nutritional intake. When resection is required, quality of life cannot be entirely normalized.

Integration of Web Processing Services with Workflow-Based Scientific Applications for Solving Environmental Monitoring Problems

Nowadays, developing and applying advanced digital technologies for monitoring protected natural territories are critical problems. Collecting, digitalizing, storing, and analyzing spatiotemporal data on various aspects of the life cycle of such territories play a significant role in monitoring. Often, data processing requires the utilization of high-performance computing. To this end, the paper addresses a new approach to automation of implementing resource-intensive computational operations of web processing services in a heterogeneous distributed computing environment. To implement such an operation, we develop a workflow-based scientific application executed under the control of a multi-agent system. Agents represent heterogeneous resources of the environment and distribute the computational load among themselves. Software development is realized in the Orlando Tools framework, which we apply to creating and operating problem-oriented applications. The advantages of the proposed approach are in integrating geographic information services and high-performance computing tools, as well as in increasing computation speedup, balancing computational load, and improving the efficiency of resource use in the heterogeneous distributed computing environment. These advantages are shown in analyzing multidimensional time series.

Cywilna kontrola nad służbami specjalnymi w Polsce z perspektywy trzech dekad funkcjonowania

Civilian Control Over Secret Services in Poland from the Perspective of Three Decades of Their Operation The article aims to analyze the current status of civilian control over intelligence services. The years 1990-1991 marked the beginning of a comprehensive transformation of this area of state activity. The article analyses the following issues: how hev the critical problems of civilian control over intelligence services been resolved across the three decades of their operation and to what extent the political system has been transformed in this area? The article consists of four main parts. The first discusses the concept of “special services” which signify specific institutional solutions in Poland. The following parts are organized according to the basic types of civilian control, i.e., executive control, parliamentary oversight, and independent oversight. The considerations focus on the institutional dimension of security. The article is analytical. It is prepared based on the available sources and literature.

Can Formal Security Verification Really Be Optional? Scrutinizing the Security of IMD Authentication Protocols

The need for continuous monitoring of physiological information of critical organs of the human body, combined with the ever-growing field of electronics and sensor technologies and the vast opportunities brought by 5G connectivity, have made implantable medical devices (IMDs) the most necessitated devices in the health arena. IMDs are very sensitive since they are implanted in the human body, and the patients depend on them for the proper functioning of their vital organs. Simultaneously, they are intrinsically vulnerable to several attacks mainly due to their resource limitations and the wireless channel utilized for data transmission. Hence, failing to secure them would put the patient’s life in jeopardy and damage the reputations of the manufacturers. To date, various researchers have proposed different countermeasures to keep the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of IMD systems with privacy and safety specifications. Despite the appreciated efforts made by the research community, there are issues with these proposed solutions. Principally, there are at least three critical problems. (1) Inadequate essential capabilities (such as emergency authentication, key update mechanism, anonymity, and adaptability); (2) heavy computational and communication overheads; and (3) lack of rigorous formal security verification. Motivated by this, we have thoroughly analyzed the current IMD authentication protocols by utilizing two formal approaches: the Burrows–Abadi–Needham logic (BAN logic) and the Automated Validation of Internet Security Protocols and Applications (AVISPA). In addition, we compared these schemes against their security strengths, computational overheads, latency, and other vital features, such as emergency authentications, key update mechanisms, and adaptabilities.

Paulo maiora canamus Raccolta di studi per Paolo Mastandrea

This miscellaneous volume in honour of Paolo Mastandrea includes contributions by colleagues and friends dealing with some of the main topics of his scientific interests: intertextuality, late Latin studies, philological problems, the legacy of Classics in Renaissance, digital humanities. The first section, «Literary History and Intertextuality», focuses on special patterns in Latin literature within a very wide chronological range, from Vergil to Optatianus. Specific attention is dedicated to elegy and to mythological characters in elegy and tragedy. The section named «Philological Notes» deals with critical problems within texts by Sallustius, Macrobius and Historia Augusta. The following section, «Late Latin studies», is dedicated to several authors and topics: Simphosius’ Aenigmata, Sidonius, Historia Augusta, Claudianus, Epigrammata Bobiensia, Johannes Lydus and literary topoi used in late Latin texts. The final one, «Classical Reception Studies», examines a few examples of the legacy of Latin authors in the Italian Renaissance. A history of the database Musisque Deoque, along with the future perspectives of this crucial project designed in 2005 by Paolo Mastandrea, are provided in a specific «Appendix».