Chaotic systems implemented by artificial neural networks are good candidates for data encryption. In this manner, this paper introduces the cryptographic application of the Hopfield and the ...Hindmarsh-Rose neurons. The contribution is focused on finding suitable coefficient values of the neurons to generate robust random binary sequences that can be used in image encryption. This task is performed by evaluating the bifurcation diagrams from which one chooses appropriate coefficient values of the mathematical models that produce high positive Lyapunov exponent and Kaplan-Yorke dimension values, which are computed using TISEAN. The randomness of both the Hopfield and the Hindmarsh-Rose neurons is evaluated from chaotic time series data by performing National Institute of Standard and Technology (NIST) tests. The implementation of both neurons is done using field-programmable gate arrays whose architectures are used to develop an encryption system for RGB images. The success of the encryption system is confirmed by performing correlation, histogram, variance, entropy, and Number of Pixel Change Rate (NPCR) tests.
The surveillance or monitoring of places is crucial to ensuring security, protecting people and assets, preventing crimes, and detecting emergencies, to mention some. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) ...play a vital role in these applications, offering versatility, agility, and aerial vision. A crucial step for such tasks is to protect the UAV path ahead. This paper focuses on a methodology harnessing the unpredictable nature of chaotic systems to generate trajectories around a closed area or contour. However, although a vast quantity of research papers mention the use of chaotic path generation, they have yet to learn about the control system and the dynamics affecting the UAV, where developing the control theory is challenging. In this paper, we design controllers based on predetermined-time stability, ensuring the achievement of the desired trajectory before a specified time. Additionally, adjusting control parameters is a crucial step during the control design, impacting the control performance. Hence, we present a method to optimize and adapt controller parameters through evolutionary optimization, demonstrating precision enhancement. We validate the proposed system’s performance and the controllers through numerical simulations, indicating that the UAV effectively and accurately follows some types of chaotic trajectories like a square contour, aiming at the feasibility of this methodology in real UAV surveillance applications.
•Design of Predefined-Time Control (PTC) for chaotic trajectory tracking with UAVs.•Generation of complex and unpredictable trajectories based on chaotic systems.•Optimization of controller parameters by Differential Evolution metaheuristic.•Lyapunov analysis for the design and convergence of Predefined-Time Controllers.
In the context of different applications demanding fast, secure, and accurate chaotic systems synchronization, this article is concerned with improving the security and timeliness of chaotic ...synchronization schemes in chaotic secure information transmission. Firstly, we introduce five control laws designed to achieve predefined-time chaotic synchronization within a master–slave scheme, employing a generalized Lorenz-type systems family as the chaotic model, guaranteeing that the chaotic systems achieve synchronization before a known predefined time. We apply the synchronization scheme in a practical application to validate its performance by implementing a secure communication system for image encryption on Raspberry Pi, using the MQTT protocol for transmission. We present system experimental results and evaluate its performance using diverse metrics, including errors, correlation, variance, and statistical tests like entropy, NPCR, and UACI.
•A family of predefined-time controllers (PTC) to synchronize Lorenz-type systems.•Lyapunov analysis gives conditions for the design and convergence of PTC algorithms.•MQTT protocol for predefined-time transmission is implemented on Raspberry Pi.•Numerical and experimental results show the feasibility of the theory.
Artificial neural networks have demonstrated to be very useful in solving problems in artificial intelligence. However, in most cases, ANNs are considered integer-order models, limiting the possible ...applications in recent engineering problems. In addition, when dealing with fractional-order neural networks, almost any work shows cases when varying the fractional order. In this manner, we introduce the optimization of a fractional-order neural network by applying metaheuristics, namely: differential evolution (DE) and accelerated particle swarm optimization (APSO) algorithms. The case study is a chaotic cellular neural network (CNN), for which the main goal is generating fractional orders of the neurons whose Kaplan–Yorke dimension is being maximized. We propose a method based on Fourier transform to evaluate if the generated time series is chaotic or not. The solutions that do not have chaotic behavior are not passed to the time series analysis (TISEAN) software, thus saving execution time. We show the best solutions provided by DE and APSO of the attractors of the fractional-order chaotic CNNs.
Chaotic systems based on artificial neurons present high randomness levels that are desired for applications like data encryption. In this paper, the chaotic systems based on the Hopfield, Cellular, ...Aihara, and the Rulkov neural models are synchronized and implemented on Raspberry Pi, which allows connectivity to a Machine to Machine (M2M) broker that is available under MQTT for IoT protocol. The process of encryption synchronizes two chaotic systems called publisher and subscriber that are controlled by an M2M broker. The publisher sends data that can be recovered by the subscriber, whose state observers are used to estimating the time series of the chaotic neuron to decrypt the data, increasing at the same time the security of the encrypted message. We show that the classical Kalman filter, its extended version, and the recent novelty, the unscented Kalman filter, all of them are powerful techniques in estimating the states of chaotic neurons. The randomness is evaluated by NIST tests, and the image encryption process is evaluated by performing correlation, histogram, variance, entropy, NPCR, and UACI tests.
There is little doubt that aerosols play a major role in the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. The significance of the presence and infectivity of this virus on environmental surfaces, especially in a ...hospital setting, remains less clear.
We aimed to analyze surface swabs for SARS-CoV-2 RNA and infectivity, and to determine their suitability for sequence analysis.
Samples were collected during two waves of COVID-19 at the University of California, Davis Medical Center, in COVID-19 patient serving and staff congregation areas. qRT-PCR positive samples were investigated in Vero cell cultures for cytopathic effects and phylogenetically assessed by whole genome sequencing.
Improved cleaning and patient management practices between April and August 2020 were associated with a substantial reduction of SARS-CoV-2 qRT-PCR positivity (from 11% to 2%) in hospital surface samples. Even though we recovered near-complete genome sequences in some, none of the positive samples (11 of 224 total) caused cytopathic effects in cultured cells suggesting this nucleic acid was either not associated with intact virions, or they were present in insufficient numbers for infectivity. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the SARS-CoV-2 genomes of the positive samples were derived from hospitalized patients. Genomic sequences isolated from qRT-PCR negative samples indicate a superior sensitivity of viral detection by sequencing.
This study confirms the low likelihood that SARS-CoV-2 contamination on hospital surfaces contains infectious virus, disputing the importance of fomites in COVID-19 transmission. Ours is the first report on recovering near-complete SARS-CoV-2 genome sequences directly from environmental surface swabs.
The reanalysis of existing GWAS data represents a powerful and cost-effective opportunity to gain insights into the genetics of complex diseases. By reanalyzing publicly available type 2 diabetes ...(T2D) genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data for 70,127 subjects, we identify seven novel associated regions, five driven by common variants (LYPLAL1, NEUROG3, CAMKK2, ABO, and GIP genes), one by a low-frequency (EHMT2), and one driven by a rare variant in chromosome Xq23, rs146662057, associated with a twofold increased risk for T2D in males. rs146662057 is located within an active enhancer associated with the expression of Angiotensin II Receptor type 2 gene (AGTR2), a modulator of insulin sensitivity, and exhibits allelic specific activity in muscle cells. Beyond providing insights into the genetics and pathophysiology of T2D, these results also underscore the value of reanalyzing publicly available data using novel genetic resources and analytical approaches.
The associations of cause-specific mortality with alcohol consumption have been studied mainly in higher-income countries. We relate alcohol consumption to mortality in Cuba.
In 1996-2002, 146 556 ...adults were recruited into a prospective study from the general population in five areas of Cuba. Participants were interviewed, measured and followed up by electronic linkage to national death registries until January 1, 2017. After excluding all with missing data or chronic disease at recruitment, Cox regression (adjusted for age, sex, province, education, and smoking) was used to relate mortality rate ratios (RRs) at ages 35–79 years to alcohol consumption. RRs were corrected for long-term variability in alcohol consumption using repeat measures among 20 593 participants resurveyed in 2006-08.
After exclusions, there were 120 623 participants aged 35-79 years (mean age 52 SD 12; 67 694 56% women). At recruitment, 22 670 (43%) men and 9490 (14%) women were current alcohol drinkers, with 15 433 (29%) men and 3054 (5%) women drinking at least weekly; most alcohol consumption was from rum. All-cause mortality was positively and continuously associated with weekly alcohol consumption: each additional 35cl bottle of rum per week (110g of pure alcohol) was associated with ∼10% higher risk of all-cause mortality (RR 1.08 95%CI 1.05-1.11). The major causes of excess mortality in weekly drinkers were cancer, vascular disease, and external causes. Non-drinkers had ∼10% higher risk (RR 1.11 1.09-1.14) of all-cause mortality than those in the lowest category of weekly alcohol consumption (<1 bottle/week), but this association was almost completely attenuated on exclusion of early follow-up.
In this large prospective study in Cuba, weekly alcohol consumption was continuously related to premature mortality. Reverse causality is likely to account for much of the apparent excess risk among non-drinkers. The findings support limits to alcohol consumption that are lower than present recommendations in Cuba.
Medical Research Council, British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, CDC Foundation (with support from Amgen)
The reanalysis of existing GWAS data represents a powerful and cost-effective opportunity to gain insights into the genetics of complex diseases. By reanalyzing publicly available type 2 diabetes ...(T2D) genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data for 70,127 subjects, we identify seven novel associated regions, five driven by common variants (LYPLAL1, NEUROG3, CAMKK2, ABO, and GIP genes), one by a low-frequency (EHMT2), and one driven by a rare variant in chromosome Xq23, rs146662057, associated with a twofold increased risk for T2D in males. rs146662057 is located within an active enhancer associated with the expression of Angiotensin II Receptor type 2 gene (AGTR2), a modulator of insulin sensitivity, and exhibits allelic specific activity in muscle cells. Beyond providing insights into the genetics and pathophysiology of T2D, these results also underscore the value of reanalyzing publicly available data using novel genetic resources and analytical approaches.
Large-scale observational studies of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) promise to reveal mechanisms underlying cerebral ischemia. However, meaningful quantitative phenotypes attainable in large patient ...populations are needed. We characterize a dynamic metric of AIS instability, defined by change in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (NIHSS) from baseline to 24 hours baseline to 24 hours (NIHSS
- NIHSS
= ΔNIHSS
), to examine its relevance to AIS mechanisms and long-term outcomes.
Patients with NIHSS prospectively recorded within 6 hours after onset and then 24 hours later were enrolled in the GENISIS study (Genetics of Early Neurological Instability After Ischemic Stroke). Stepwise linear regression determined variables that independently influenced ΔNIHSS
. In a subcohort of tPA (alteplase)-treated patients with large vessel occlusion, the influence of early sustained recanalization and hemorrhagic transformation on ΔNIHSS
was examined. Finally, the association of ΔNIHSS
with 90-day favorable outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score 0-2) was assessed. Independent analysis was performed using data from the 2 NINDS-tPA stroke trials (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke rt-PA).
For 2555 patients with AIS, median baseline NIHSS was 9 (interquartile range, 4-16), and median ΔNIHSS
was 2 (interquartile range, 0-5). In a multivariable model, baseline NIHSS, tPA-treatment, age, glucose, site, and systolic blood pressure independently predicted ΔNIHSS
(R
=0.15). In the large vessel occlusion subcohort, early sustained recanalization and hemorrhagic transformation increased the explained variance (R
=0.27), but much of the variance remained unexplained. ΔNIHSS
had a significant and independent association with 90-day favorable outcome. For the subjects in the 2 NINDS-tPA trials, ΔNIHSS
was similarly associated with 90-day outcomes.
The dynamic phenotype, ΔNIHSS
, captures both explained and unexplained mechanisms involved in AIS and is significantly and independently associated with long-term outcomes. Thus, ΔNIHSS
promises to be an easily obtainable and meaningful quantitative phenotype for large-scale genomic studies of AIS.