VORTEX: Network-Driven Opportunistic Routing for Ad Hoc Networks.

The potential of ad hoc networks, which enable flexible and dynamic network establishment only by mobile terminals equipped with wireless communication devices, has recently attracted attention for the coming IoT era. Although the nature of ad hoc networks shows the advantages of their autonomous and distributed network management, a manifestation of drawbacks owing to the nature of wireless communication and the mobility of terminals are inevitable. Many routing protocols have already been proposed to address the issues by adapting to nature and achieving a certain level of improvement.

Electromechanically reconfigurable plasmonic photodetector with a distinct shift in resonant wavelength.

Plasmonic photodetectors have received increasing attention because their detection properties can be designed by tailoring their metal structures on surfaces without using any additional components. Reconfiguration of the plasmonic resonant state in a photodetector is relevant for various applications, including investigating in situ adaptive detection property changes, depending on the situation, and performing single-pixel spectroscopy in geometrically limited regions. However, the spectral responsivity change with conventional reconfiguration methods is relatively small.

Sign2Pose: A Pose-Based Approach for Gloss Prediction Using a Transformer Model.

Word-level sign language recognition (WSLR) is the backbone for continuous sign language recognition (CSLR) that infers glosses from sign videos. Finding the relevant gloss from the sign sequence and detecting explicit boundaries of the glosses from sign videos is a persistent challenge. In this paper, we propose a systematic approach for gloss prediction in WLSR using the Sign2Pose Gloss prediction transformer model.

Transmembrane capability of DNA origami sheet enhanced by 3D configurational changes.

DNA origami-engineered nanostructures are widely used in biomedical applications involving transmembrane delivery. Here, we propose a method to enhance the transmembrane capability of DNA origami sheets by changing their configuration from two-dimensional to three-dimensional. Three DNA nanostructures are designed and constructed, including the two-dimensional rectangular DNA origami sheet, the DNA tube, and the DNA tetrahedron.

Open-Shell Diradical-Sensitized Electron Transport Layer for High-Performance Colloidal Quantum Dot Solar Cells.

The zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) are well-documented as an excellent electron transport layer (ETL) in optoelectronic devices. However, the intrinsic surface flaw of the ZnO NPs can easily result in serious surface recombination of carriers. Exploring effective passivation methods of ZnO NPs is essential to maximize the device's performance.

Examination of body static rotation related to step length asymmetry: biomechanics of the thorax and pelvis.

[Purpose] This study determined whether the results of the mobility assessment of pelvic and thoracic rotation (static evaluation), which is often used in clinical settings, are related to step length asymmetry. Moreover, we identified the postural evaluation of rotation that may be related to gait asymmetry. [Participants and Methods] We hypothesize that a certain relationship exists between the static assessments of pelvic rotation and step length asymmetry.

Soft-body dynamics induces energy efficiency in undulatory swimming: A deep learning study.

Recently, soft robotics has gained considerable attention as it promises numerous applications thanks to unique features originating from the physical compliance of the robots. Biomimetic underwater robots are a promising application in soft robotics and are expected to achieve efficient swimming comparable to the real aquatic life in nature. However, the energy efficiency of soft robots of this type has not gained much attention and has been fully investigated previously.

Swimming Motility Assays of Spiroplasma.

Spiroplasma swim in liquids without the use of the bacterial flagella. This small helical bacterium propels itself by generating kinks that travel down the cell body. The kink translation is unidirectional, from the leading pole to the lagging pole, during cell swimming in viscous environments.

Isolation and Visualization of Gliding Motility Machinery in Bacteroidota.

Many members of the phylum Bacteroidota (formerly called Bacteroidetes) adhere to and move on solid surfaces. This type of bacterial motility is called gliding and does not involve the conventional bacterial motility machinery, such as flagella and pili. To understand the mechanism of gliding motility of some Bacteroidota bacteria such as a soil bacterium Flavobacterium johnsoniae and a marine bacterium Saprospira grandis, the gliding motility machines of these two bacteria have been analyzed by electron microscopy with negative staining.

Live Cell Imaging of the Twitching Motility of Cyanobacteria by High-Resolution Microscopy.

Many cyanobacteria show directional movement either toward or away from light sources. The cell movement, also known as twitching motility, is usually driven by type IV pili (T4P), a bacterial molecular machine. The machine generates a propulsion force through repeated cycles of extension and retraction of pilus filaments.

Analysis of Real-Time Face-Verification Methods for Surveillance Applications.

In the last decade, face-recognition and -verification methods based on deep learning have increasingly used deeper and more complex architectures to obtain state-of-the-art (SOTA) accuracy. Hence, these architectures are limited to powerful devices that can handle heavy computational resources. Conversely, lightweight and efficient methods have recently been proposed to achieve real-time performance on limited devices and embedded systems.

Discrimination and learning of temporal input sequences in a cerebellar Purkinje cell model.

Introduction: Temporal information processing is essential for sequential contraction of various muscles with the appropriate timing and amplitude for fast and smooth motor control. These functions depend on dynamics of neural circuits, which consist of simple neurons that accumulate incoming spikes and emit other spikes. However, recent studies indicate that individual neurons can perform complex information processing through the nonlinear dynamics of dendrites with complex shapes and ion channels.

The effects of manipulating the visual environment on thermal perception: A structured narrative review.

When exposed to ambient temperatures that cause thermal discomfort, a human's behavioral responses are more effective than autonomic ones at compensating for thermal imbalance. These behavioral thermal responses are typically directed by an individual's perception of the thermal environment. Perception of the environment is a holistic amalgamation of human senses, and in some circumstances, humans prioritize visual information.

Accelerating defect analysis of solar cells via machine learning of the modulated transient photovoltage.

Fast and non-destructive analysis of material defect is a crucial demand for semiconductor devices. Herein, we are devoted to exploring a solar-cell defect analysis method based on machine learning of the modulated transient photovoltage (m-TPV) measurement. The perturbation photovoltage generation and decay mechanism of the solar cell is firstly clarified for this study.

Improvement of Precision Grasping Performance by Interaction Between Soft Finger Pulp and Hard Nail.

In this study, we investigated the effect of the presence or absence of fingernails on precision grasping using artificial anthropomimetic fingers. We hypothesized that fingernails improve precision grasping performance by increasing the friction coefficient while suppressing fingertip deformation. To test our hypothesis, we developed artificial fingertips, each composed of bone, nail, skin, and soft tissue, and fabricated three types of artificial fingers with different skin softness grades and artificial fingers without nails as the control condition.

Evidence for an early green/red photocycle that precedes the diversification of GAF domain photoreceptor cyanobacteriochromes.

Phytochromes are linear tetrapyrrole-binding photoreceptors in eukaryotes and bacteria, primarily responding to red and far-red light signals reversibly. Among the GAF domain-based phytochrome superfamily, cyanobacteria-specific cyanobacteriochromes show various optical properties covering the entire visible region. It is unknown what physiological demands drove the evolution of cyanobacteriochromes in cyanobacteria.

ReinforSec: An Automatic Generator of Synthetic Malware Samples and Denial-of-Service Attacks through Reinforcement Learning.

In recent years, cybersecurity has been strengthened through the adoption of processes, mechanisms and rapid sources of indicators of compromise in critical areas. Among the most latent challenges are the detection, classification and eradication of malware and Denial of Service Cyber-Attacks (DoS). The literature has presented different ways to obtain and evaluate malware- and DoS-cyber-attack-related instances, either from a technical point of view or by offering ready-to-use datasets.

Data collection of biomedical data and sensing information in smart rooms.

This paper presents a new dataset, including behavioral, biometric, and environmental data, obtained from 23 subjects each spending 1 week to 2 months in smart rooms in Tokyo, Japan. The approximate duration of the experiment is 2 years. This dataset includes personal data, such as the use of home appliances, heartbeat rate, sleep status, temperature, and illumination.

Bioluminescent imaging systems boosting near-infrared signals in mammalian cells.

Bioluminescence (BL) is broadly used as an optical readout in bioassays and molecular imaging. In this study, the near-infrared (NIR) BL imaging systems were developed. The system was harnessed by prototype copepod luciferases, artificial luciferase 30 (ALuc30) and its miniaturized version picALuc, and were characterized with 17 kinds of coelenterazine (CTZ) analogues carrying bulky functional groups or cyanine 5 (Cy5).

S-Series Coelenterazine-Driven Combinatorial Bioluminescence Imaging Systems for Mammalian Cells.

A unique combinatorial bioluminescence (BL) imaging system was developed for determining molecular events in mammalian cells with various colors and BL intensity patterns. This imaging system consists of one or multiple reporter luciferases and a series of novel coelenterazine (CTZ) analogues named "S-series". For this study, ten kinds of novel S-series CTZ analogues were synthesized and characterized concerning the BL intensities, spectra, colors, and specificity of various marine luciferases.

The Amount of Light to Vigorous Physical Activity (Met's-Hours/Day) in Children with and without Down Syndrome Attending Elementary School in Japan.

Children with Down syndrome (DS) have physical characteristics such as hypotonus of the musculature. Therefore, their attainment rate of physical activity guidelines is low, and guidelines alone may not be sufficient in assessing the amount of physical activity in children with DS. Compared with normal children (NC) of the same grade, light physical activity (LPA) must be considered while assessing physical activity of children with DS, owing to muscle hypotonia.