Symmetry, Volume 12, Issue 12 (December 2020) – 188 articles

With the increasing popularity of artificial intelligence, deep learning has been applied to various fields, especially in computer vision. Since artificial intelligence is migrating from cloud to edge, deep learning nowadays should be edge-oriented and adaptive to complex environments. Aiming at these goals, this paper proposes an ICONet (illumination condition optimized network). Based on OTSU segmentation algorithm and fuzzy c-means clustering algorithm, the illumination condition classification subnet increases the environmental adaptivity of our network. The reduced time complexity and optimized size of our convolutional neural network (CNN) model enables the implementation of ICONet on edge devices. In the field of fatigue driving, we test the performance of ICONet on YawDD and self-collected datasets. Our network achieves a general accuracy of 98.56% and our models are about 590 kilobytes. Compared to other proposed networks, the ICONet shows significant success and superiority. Applying ICONet to fatigue driving detection is helpful to solve the symmetry of the needs of edge-oriented detection under complex illumination condition environments and the scarcity of related approaches. Full article

Depressed patients are characterized by hypoactivity of the left and hyperactivity of the right frontal areas during the resting state. Depression is also associated with impaired decision-making, which reflects multiple cognitive, affective, and attentional processes, some of which may be lateralized. The aim of this study was to investigate brain asymmetry during a decision-making task performed in negative and positive feedback conditions in patients with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) in comparison to healthy control participants. The electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded from 60 MDD patients and 60 healthy participants while performing a multi-stage decision-making task. Frontal, central, and parietal alpha asymmetry were analyzed with EEGlab/ERPlab software. Evoked potential responses (ERPs) showed general lateralization suggestive of an initial right dominance developing into a more complex pattern of asymmetry across different scalp areas as information was processed. The MDD group showed impaired mood prior to performance, and decreased confidence during performance in comparison to the control group. The resting state frontal alpha asymmetry showed lateralization in the healthy group only. Task-induced alpha power and ERP P₁₀₀ and P₃₀₀ amplitudes were more informative biomarkers of depression during decision making. Asymmetry coefficients based on task alpha power and ERP amplitudes showed consistency in the dynamical changes during the decision-making stages. Depression was characterized by a lack of left dominance during the resting state and left hypoactivity during the task baseline and subsequent decision-making process. Findings add to understanding of the functional significance of lateralized brain processes in depression. Full article

Peer-to-peer (P2P) applications have been popular among users for more than a decade. They consume a lot of network bandwidth, due to the fact that network administrators face several issues such as congestion, security, managing resources, etc. Hence, its accurate classification will allow them to maintain a Quality of Service for various applications. Conventional classification techniques, i.e., port-based and payload-based techniques alone, have proved ineffective in accurately classifying P2P traffic as they possess significant limitations. As new P2P applications keep emerging and existing applications change their communication patterns, a single classification approach may not be sufficient to classify P2P traffic with high accuracy. Therefore, a multi-level P2P traffic classification technique is proposed in this paper, which utilizes the benefits of both heuristic and statistical-based techniques. By analyzing the behavior of various P2P applications, some heuristic rules have been proposed to classify P2P traffic. The traffic which remains unclassified as P2P undergoes further analysis, where statistical-features of traffic are used with the C4.5 decision tree for P2P classification. The proposed technique classifies P2P traffic with high accuracy (i.e., 98.30%), works with both TCP and UDP traffic, and is not affected even if the traffic is encrypted. Full article

This work communicates the connection of measured shadowgraphs from optically induced air breakdown with emission spectroscopy in selected gas mixtures. Laser-induced optical breakdown is generated using 850 and 170 mJ, 6 ns pulses at a wavelength of 1064 nm, the shadowgraphs are recorded using time-delayed 5 ns pulses at a wavelength of 532 nm and a digital camera, and emission spectra are recorded for typically a dozen of discrete time-delays from optical breakdown by employing an intensified charge-coupled device. The symmetry of the breakdown event can be viewed as close-to spherical symmetry for time-delays of several 100 ns. Spectroscopic analysis explores well-above hypersonic expansion dynamics using primarily the diatomic molecule cyanide and atomic hydrogen emission spectroscopy. Analysis of the air breakdown and selected gas breakdown events permits the use of Abel inversion for inference of the expanding species distribution. Typically, species are prevalent at higher density near the hypersonically expanding shockwave, measured by tracing cyanide and a specific carbon atomic line. Overall, recorded air breakdown shadowgraphs are indicative of laser-plasma expansion in selected gas mixtures, and optical spectroscopy delivers analytical insight into plasma expansion phenomena. Full article

The substitution box (S-box) is the only nonlinear components in the symmetric block cipher. Its performance directly determines the security strength of the block cipher. With the dynamic characteristics degradation and the local periodic phenomenon of digital chaos, and the security problems caused by them becoming more and more prominent, how to efficiently generate an S-box with security guarantee based on chaos has gradually attracted the attention of cryptographers. In this paper, a chaotic S-box construction method is proposed based on a memorable simulated annealing algorithm (MSAA). The chaotic S-box set is produced by using the nonlinearity and randomness of the dynamic iteration of digital cascaded chaotic mapping. The composite objective function is constructed based on the analysis of the performance indexes of S-box. The MSAA is used to efficiently optimize the S-box set. The matrix segmentation and scrambling operations are carried out on the optimized S-box. The cryptographic performance of chaotic S-box is tested and analyzed, and compared with the mainstream chaotic S-box of the same kind. The results show that the S-box constructed in this paper can not only stably and efficiently generate chaotic S-box with better performance, but also make an effective exploration of the construction of chaotic S-boxes based on intelligent algorithms. Full article

This work’s primary purpose is to implement a numerical study that simulates blood flow through a microvessel involving oxytactic microorganisms and nanoparticles. The oxytactic microorganisms exhibit negative chemotaxis to gradients of oxygen (oxygen repellents). These microorganisms are to batter infected hypoxic tumor cells as drug-carriers. The viscosity of blood is to vary with temperature, shear-thinning, and nanoparticle concentration. We have formulated a mathematical model then simplified it under assumptions of long wavelength and low Reynold’s number. The resulting non-linear coupled differential equation system is solved numerically with the MATHEMATICA software aid using the built-in command (ParametricNDSolve). This study treated all non-dimensional parameters defined in terms of viscosity to be variables (VP-Model), unlike some previous literature attempts that have considered these parameters mentioned above as constants (CP-Model). The achieved results assured the reliability of the (VP-Model) over the (CP-Model). Our results reveal that temperature and microorganism density increase with the thermophoresis parameter. The impact of increasing the Brownian motion parameter is to increase temperature and lessen microorganism density. Outcomes also indicate an enhancement in the microorganism density towards the hypoxic tumor regions located aside the microvessel walls by boosting oxygen concentrations in the streamflow. The current study is believed to provide further opportunities to improve drug-carrier applications in hypoxic tumor regions by better recognizing the flow features, heat, and mass transfer in such zones. Full article

We begin by introducing a new procedure for construction of the exact solutions to Cauchy problem of the real-valued (hyperbolic) Novikov–Veselov equation which is based on the Moutard symmetry. The procedure shown therein utilizes the well-known Airy function $\mathrm{Ai}\left(\xi \right)$ which in turn serves as a solution to the ordinary differential equation $\frac{d^{2}z}{d{\xi }^2}=\xi z$. In the second part of the article we show that the aforementioned procedure can also work for the n-th order generalizations of the Novikov–Veselov equation, provided that one replaces the Airy function with the appropriate solution of the ordinary differential equation $\frac{d^{n-1}z}{d{\xi }^{n-1}}=\xi z$. Full article

Background: Visual symmetry is often found attractive. Symmetry may be preferred either due to a bias in the visual system or due to evolutionary selection pressures related to partner preference. Simple perceptual bias views predict that symmetry preferences should be similar across types of stimuli and unlikely to be related to factors such as age. Methods: The current study examined preferences for symmetry across age groups (pre-puberty vs post-puberty) and stimuli type (human face vs monkey face). Pairs of images manipulated for symmetry were presented and participants asked to choose the image they preferred. Participants repeated the task and were asked to detect symmetry. Results: Both age of observer and stimuli type were associated with symmetry preferences. Older observers had higher preferences for symmetry but preferred it most in human vs monkey stimuli. Across both age groups, symmetry preferences and detection abilities were weakly related. Conclusions: The study supports some ideas from an evolutionary advantage view of symmetry preference, whereby symmetry is expected be higher for potential partners (here human faces) and higher post-puberty when partner choice becomes more relevant. Such potentially motivational based preferences challenge perceptual bias explanations as a sole explanation for symmetry preferences but may occur alongside them. Full article

In this article we investigate a homogeneous discrete time risk model with a generalized premium income rate which can be any natural number. We derive theorems and give numerical examples for finite and ultimate time survival probability calculation for the mentioned model. Our proved statements for ultimate time survival probability calculation, at some level, are similar to the previously known statements for non-homogeneous risk models, where required initial values of survival probability for some recurrent formulas are gathered by certain limit laws. We also give a simplified proof that a ruin is almost unavoidable with a neutral net profit condition and state several conjectures on a certain type of recurrent matrices non-singularity. All the research done can be interpreted as a possibility that symmetric or asymmetric random walk (r.w.) hits (or not) the line $u+\kappa t$ and that possibility is directly related to the expected value of r.w. generating random variable which might be equal, above or bellow $\kappa$. Full article

Recent tests measured an irrotational (curl-free) magnetic vector potential (A) that is contrary to classical electrodynamics (CED). A (irrotational) arises in extended electrodynamics (EED) that is derivable from the Stueckelberg Lagrangian. A (irrotational) implies an irrotational (gradient-driven) electrical current density, J. Consequently, EED is gauge-free and provably unique. EED predicts a scalar field that equals the quantity usually set to zero as the Lorenz gauge, making A and the scalar potential () independent and physically-measureable fields. EED predicts a scalar-longitudinal wave (SLW) that has an electric field along the direction of propagation together with the scalar field, carrying both energy and momentum. EED also predicts the scalar wave (SW) that carries energy without momentum. EED predicts that the SLW and SW are unconstrained by the skin effect, because neither wave has a magnetic field that generates dissipative eddy currents in electrical conductors. The novel concept of a “gradient-driven” current is a key feature of US Patent 9,306,527 that disclosed antennas for SLW generation and reception. Preliminary experiments have validated the SLW’s no-skin-effect constraint as a potential harbinger of new technologies, a possible explanation for poorly understood laboratory and astrophysical phenomena, and a forerunner of paradigm revolutions. Full article

The question of whether the solar distances of the planetary system follow a regular sequence was raised by Kepler more than 400 years ago. He could not prove his expectation, inasmuch as the planetary orbits are not transformed into each other by the regular polyhedra. In 1989, Barut proposed another relation, which was inspired by the hidden symmetry of the Kepler problem. It was found to be approximately valid for our Solar System. Here, we investigate if exoplanet systems follow this rule. We find that the symmetry-governed sequence is valid in several systems. It is very unlikely that the observed regularity is by chance; therefore, our findings give support to Kepler’s guess, although with a different transformation rule. Full article

Archimedean copulas form a very wide subclass of symmetric copulas. Most of the popular copulas are members of the Archimedean copulas. These copulas are obtained using real functions known as Archimedean generators. In this paper, we observe that under certain conditions the cumulative distribution functions on (0, 1) and probability generating functions can be used as Archimedean generators. It is shown that most of the well-known Archimedean copulas can be generated using such distributions. Further, we introduced new Archimedean copulas. Full article

Current electronic warfare (EW) systems, along with the rapid development of information and communication technology, are essential elements in the modern battlefield associated with cyberspace. In this study, an efficient evaluation framework is proposed to assess the effectiveness of various types of EW systems that operate in cyberspace, which is recognized as an indispensable factor affecting modern military operations. The proposed method classifies EW systems into primary and sub-categories according to EWs’ types and identifies items for the measurement of the effectiveness of each EW system by considering the characteristics of cyberspace for evaluating the damage caused by cyberattacks. A scenario with an integrated EW system incorporating two or more different types of EW equipment is appropriately provided to confirm the effectiveness of the proposed framework in cyber electromagnetic warfare. The scenario explicates an example of assessing the effectiveness of EW systems under cyberattacks. Finally, the proposed method is demonstrated sufficiently by assessing the effectiveness of the EW systems using the scenario. Full article

One of the most fundamental, and most studied, human cognitive functions is working memory. Yet, it is currently unknown how working memory is unified. In other words, why does a healthy human brain have one integrated capacity of working memory, rather than one capacity per visual hemifield, for instance. Thus, healthy subjects can memorize roughly as many items, regardless of whether all items are presented in one hemifield, rather than throughout two visual hemifields. In this current research, we investigated two patients in whom either most, or the entire, corpus callosum has been cut to alleviate otherwise untreatable epilepsy. Crucially, in both patients the anterior parts connecting the frontal and most of the parietal cortices, are entirely removed. This is essential, since it is often posited that working memory resides in these areas of the cortex. We found that despite the lack of direct connections between the frontal cortices in these patients, working memory capacity is similar regardless of whether stimuli are all presented in one visual hemifield or across two visual hemifields. This indicates that in the absence of the anterior parts of the corpus callosum working memory remains unified. Moreover, it is important to note that memory performance was not similar across visual fields. In fact, capacity was higher when items appeared in the left visual hemifield than when they appeared in the right visual hemifield. Visual information in the left hemifield is processed by the right hemisphere and vice versa. Therefore, this indicates that visual working memory is not symmetric, with the right hemisphere having a superior visual working memory. Nonetheless, a (subcortical) bottleneck apparently causes visual working memory to be integrated, such that capacity does not increase when items are presented in two, rather than one, visual hemifield. Full article

In this study, we present a spectral method for solving nonlinear Volterra integral equations with weakly singular kernels based on the Genocchi polynomials. Many other interesting results concerning nonlinear equations with discontinuous symmetric kernels with application of group symmetry have remained beyond this paper. In the proposed approach, relying on the useful properties of Genocchi polynomials, we produce an operational matrix and a related coefficient matrix to convert nonlinear Volterra integral equations with weakly singular kernels into a system of algebraic equations. This method is very fast and gives high-precision answers with good accuracy in a low number of repetitions compared to other methods that are available. The error boundaries for this method are also presented. Some illustrative examples are provided to demonstrate the capability of the proposed method. Also, the results derived from the new method are compared to Euler’s method to show the superiority of the proposed method. Full article

It is known that the quasi-arithmetic means can be characterized in various ways, with an essential role of a symmetry property. In the expected utility theory, the quasi-arithmetic mean is called the certainty equivalent and it is applied, e.g., in a utility-based insurance contracts pricing. In this paper, we introduce and study the quasi-arithmetic type mean in a more general setting, namely with the expected value being replaced by the generalized Choquet integral. We show that a functional that is defined in this way is a mean. Furthermore, we characterize the equality, positive homogeneity, and translativity in this class of means. Full article

By selecting the ratio of the cumulative maximum deformation of the retaining structure to the excavation depth as the control parameter of the retaining structure deformation, this paper established a sidewall unloading model which can consider the deformation of the retaining structure and the spatial effect of foundation pit excavation. Meanwhile, the impact region of the sidewall was divided to calculate the distribution of additional stress caused by foundation pit excavation. On this basis, through introducing the collaborative deformation model for rotation and dislocation of a shield tunnel, this paper studied the longitudinal deformation of the adjacent shield tunnel due to foundation pit excavation. Moreover, several engineering cases were given to verify the reliability of the proposed method, and the influencing factors were analyzed. The following conclusions were obtained: the axial horizontal displacement of the shield tunnel by the side of the foundation pit was normally distributed, and the calculated value was in good agreement with the measured value; the longitudinal deformation of the shield tunnel was mainly induced by the unloading effect of the sidewall of the foundation pit, which was parallel and closed to the tunnel; the soil excavation in the vicinity of the buried depth of the tunnel would result in a significant increase in longitudinal deformation; with the increase in the retaining structure deformation of the foundation pit, the longitudinal deformation of the adjacent shield tunnel and its influence scope also increased; the longitudinal deformation of the shield tunnel decreased with the increase of clearances between the foundation pit and tunnel; and finally, the excavation of the foundation pit had a great influence on the shallowly buried shield tunnel nearby, and the effect of foundation pit excavation on the tunnel decreased with the increase of the burial depth of the shield tunnel. Full article

Automated program repair is an effective way to ensure software quality and improve software development efficiency. At present, there are many methods and tools of automated program reapir in real world, but most of them have low repair accuracy, resulting in a large number of incorrect patches in the generated patches. To solve this problem, we propose a patch quality evaluation method based on semantic distance, which measures the semantic distance of patches by using features of interval distance, output coverage, and path matching. For each evaluation feature, we give a quantitative formula to obtain a specific distance value and use the distance to calculate the recommended patch value to measure the quality of the patch. Our quality evaluation method evaluated 279 patches from previous program repair tools, including Nopol, DynaMoth, ACS, jGenProg, and CapGen. This quality evaluation method successfully arranged the correct patches before the plausible but incorrect patches, and it recommended the higher-ranked patches to users first. On this basis, we compared our evaluation method with the existing evaluation methods and judged the evaluation ability of each feature. We showed that our proposed patch quality evaluation method can improve the repair accuracy of repair tools. Full article

Gait is a complex autonomous activity that has long been viewed as a symmetrical locomotion, even when it adapts to secondary concurrent attention-demanding tasks. This study aimed to evaluate the symmetry of the three ground reaction forces (GRFs) in able-bodied individuals during self-paced treadmill walking with and without concurrent cognitive demands. Twenty-five male participants (age: 34.00 ± 4.44 years) completed two gait assessment sessions, each of whom were familiarized with the walking trials during their first session. Both sessions involved six-minute self-paced treadmill walking under three conditions: single-task walking and walking while concurrently responding to auditory 1-back and 2-back memory tasks. The symmetry of the GRFs was estimated using a nonlinear approach. Changes in the symmetry and walking speed across conditions in both sessions were assessed using inferential statistics. Results demonstrated that the three GRFs deviated from perfect symmetry by ≥10%. Engaging working memory during walking significantly reduced the symmetry of the vertical GRF (p = 0.003), and its detrimental effects on walking speed were significantly reduced in the second session with respect to the first session (p < 0.05). The findings indicate imperfect gait symmetry in able-bodied individuals, suggesting that common perceptions of gait symmetry should be reconsidered to reflect its objective importance in clinical settings. Full article

Regularization extensions to the Fully Bayesian Unfolding are implemented and studied with an algorithm of combined sampling to find, in a reasonable computational time, an optimal value of the regularization strength parameter in order to obtain an unfolded result of a desired property, like smoothness. Three regularization conditions using the curvature, entropy and derivatives are applied, as a model example, to several simulated spectra of top-pair quark pairs that are produced in high energy $pp$ collisions. The existence of a minimum of a ${\chi }^2$ between the unfolded and particle-level spectra is discussed, with recommendations on the checks and validity of the usage of the regularization feature in Fully Bayesian Unfolding (FBU). Full article

With the complexity of Near Infrared (NIR) spectral data, the selection of the optimal number of Partial Least Squares (PLS) components in the fitted Partial Least Squares Regression (PLSR) model is very important. Selecting a small number of PLS components leads to under fitting, whereas selecting a large number of PLS components results in over fitting. Several methods exist in the selection procedure, and each yields a different result. However, so far no one has been able to determine the more superior method. In addition, the current methods are susceptible to the presence of outliers and High Leverage Points (HLP) in a dataset. In this study, a new automated fitting process method on PLSR model is introduced. The method is called the Robust Reliable Weighted Average—PLS (RRWA-PLS), and it is less sensitive to the optimum number of PLS components. The RRWA-PLS uses the weighted average strategy from multiple PLSR models generated by the different complexities of the PLS components. The method assigns robust procedures in the weighing schemes as an improvement to the existing Weighted Average—PLS (WA-PLS) method. The weighing schemes in the proposed method are resistant to outliers and HLP and thus, preserve the contribution of the most relevant variables in the fitted model. The evaluation was done by utilizing artificial data with the Monte Carlo simulation and NIR spectral data of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) fruit mesocarp. Based on the results, the method claims to have shown its superiority in the improvement of the weight and variable selection procedures in the WA-PLS. It is also resistant to the influence of outliers and HLP in the dataset. The RRWA-PLS method provides a promising robust solution for the automated fitting process in the PLSR model as unlike the classical PLS, it does not require the selection of an optimal number of PLS components. Full article

Morphea is a rare sclerotic autoimmune disorder primary affecting the skin and subcutaneous tissues. The linear head variants involve the facial area, with asymmetries and deformities. Eighteen patients with hemifacial deformity (age range 14–75 years) were assessed before surgery (T0), and after one (T1, 18 patients) or two (T2, six patients) surgical treatments of facial autologous fat grafting. A stereophotogrammetric reconstruction of the facial surface was obtained for each patient and a group of control subjects, and facial symmetry was quantified according to the root mean square distance between homologous areas of trigeminal innervation. Values obtained from the control subjects were used to calculate z-scores for patients. At T0, all facial thirds of the patients resulted significantly more asymmetrical than those of the control subjects (Mann–Whitney test, p < 0.05), while at T1, the symmetry of the middle facial third did not differ from that of control subjects (p = 0.263). At T2, the upper and the lower facial thirds also did not differ from the control values (p > 0.05). The faster result obtained in the facial middle third was in accord with clinical findings. In conclusion, autologous fat grafting significantly improved facial asymmetry after one (middle facial third) or two (lower and upper thirds) treatments; the outcomes were efficaciously quantified by stereophotogrammetry. Full article

In this paper, the models of Euler–Bernoulli beams on the Winkler foundations are considered. The novelty of the research is in consideration of the models with an arbitrary variable coefficient of foundation. Qualitative results that influence the symmetry of the coefficient of foundation on the spectral properties of the corresponding problems are obtained, for which specific variable coefficients of foundation are tested using numerical calculations. Three types of fixing at the ends are studied: clamped-clamped, hinged-hinged and free-free. The conditions of the stiffness and types of beam fixing have been found for the set of eigenvalues of boundary value problems on a full segment and can be represented as two groups of the eigenvalues of certain problems on a half segment. Such qualitative spectral properties of a mechanical system can contribute to the creation of various algorithms for nondestructive testing, which are widely used in technical acoustics. Full article

Every country’s influence and livelihood is centered on that country’s water source. Therefore, many studies are being conducted worldwide to improve and sustain water resources. In this research paper, we have selected and researched the water scheme for groundwater recharge and drinking water supply of drought prone areas. The water project is aimed at connecting the drought prone areas of the three districts of Tamil Nadu to filling up the ponds in their respective villages and raising the ground water level and meeting the drinking water requirement. We have chosen a multi-criteria decision method to select the best alternative in a complex situation. When reviewing the implementation of this water project, many experts and people who will benefit from this project may have some hesitation and ambiguity in their suggestion on choosing the best water distribution system.We believe that the benefits of this project can be fully availed of if we choose a water distribution system. Our contribution in this article is to choose the best water distribution system for this project by use of our proposed multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methods, hesitant fuzzy standard deviation with multi-objective optimization method by ratio analysis (HFSDV-MOORA), hesitant fuzzy standard deviation with technique, for order preference by similarity to an ideal solution (HFSDV-TOPSIS) and hesitant fuzzy standard deviation with VIsekriterijumsko Kompromisno Rangiranje (HFSDV-VIKOR), which will provide the best solution for improving the water resource for the drought-prone areas of three districts. Finally, we have identified and compared the correlation coefficient between proposed methods. As a result of the study, it has been found that the best water supply system is closed concrete pipes laid along agricultural land through the rural areas. Full article

Nontrivial topological gluon configuration is one of the remarkable features of the Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD). Due to chiral anomaly, the chiral imbalance between right- and left-hand quarks can be induced by the transition of the nontrivial gluon configurations between different vacuums. In this review, we will introduce the origin of the chiral chemical potential and its physical effects. These include: (1) the chiral imbalance in the presence of strong magnetic and related physical phenomena; (2) the influence of chiral chemical potential on the QCD phase structure; and (3) the effects of chiral chemical potential on quark stars. Moreover, we propose for the first time that quark stars are likely to be a natural laboratory for testing the destruction of strong interaction CP. Full article

Deep Learning algorithms are becoming common in solving different supervised and unsupervised learning problems. Different deep learning algorithms were developed in last decade to solve different learning problems in different domains such as computer vision, speech recognition, machine translation, etc. In the research field of computer vision, it is observed that deep learning has become overwhelmingly popular. In solving computer vision related problems, we first take a CNN (Convolutional Neural Network) which is trained from scratch or some times a pre-trained model is taken and further fine-tuned based on the dataset that is available. The problem of training the model from scratch on new datasets suffers from catastrophic forgetting. Which means that when a new dataset is used to train the model, it forgets the knowledge it has obtained from an existing dataset. In other words different datasets does not help the model to increase its knowledge. The problem with the pre-trained models is that mostly CNN models are trained on open datasets, where the data set contains instances from specific regions. This results into predicting disturbing labels when the same model is used for instances of datasets collected in a different region. Therefore, there is a need to find a solution on how to reduce the gap of Geo-diversity in different computer vision problems in developing world. In this paper, we explore the problems of models that were trained from scratch along with models which are pre-trained on a large dataset, using a dataset specifically developed to understand the geo-diversity issues in open datasets. The dataset contains images of different wedding scenarios in South Asian countries. We developed a Lifelong CNN that can incrementally increase knowledge i.e., the CNN learns labels from the new dataset but includes the existing knowledge of open data sets. The proposed model demonstrates highest accuracy compared to models trained from scratch or pre-trained model. Full article

The paper discusses the influence of load and support conditions on the behaviour of sandwich panels subjected to torsion. 3-D numerical models are presented, in which various boundary conditions have been defined. The case of the load causing the concentrated torque in the span is analyzed, and the load definition affects the structural response. The numerical results were compared with the results obtained for the analytical beam model, which included both free torsion and secondary warping torsion. The conditions under which the models achieve a high agreement between the results were determined, but the significant sensitivity of the solution was also indicated. In each case of the considered load and boundary conditions, the structural response shows appropriate symmetry. Full article

Segmented slug flow systems in capillaries have already shown good potential for process intensification, due to their symmetry in the characteristic flow pattern. However, several challenges remain in this technology. For instance, in gas-consuming reactions, like A_liq + B_gas→C_liq, the gas droplets shrink and may even disappear, limiting the conversions and throughputs of capillary reactor systems. To overcome such shortcomings, an intermediate gas feed was developed. In order to maintain the well-defined slug flow characteristics, it is necessary to introduce the gas rapidly and precisely, in small aliquots of <10 µL. This allows us to preserve the well-defined alternating triphasic slug flow. A miniaturized electrolysis cell, together with a flow-observing system, was thus devised and implemented successfully as an intermediate gas feed. Feeding a new gas droplet into an existing liquid–liquid segmented flow had a success rate of up to 99%, whereas refilling an existing gas droplet is often limited by a lack of coalescence. Here, only at low volumetric flows, 70% of the gas bubbles were refilled by coalescence. Full article

In the last few decades, increasing efforts have been devoted to the development of beam-to-column connections able to accommodate the local ductility demand dissipating, contemporaneously, the seismic input energy. Among the typologies proposed, the so-called RBS (Reduced Beam Section) has gained wide acceptance in the construction market, leading to easy-to-construct and cost-effective solutions. As an alternative, new proposals based on the inclusion of friction devices in beam-to-column joints have recently been made. Such a practice has the merit, in case of destructive events, of exhibiting wide and stable hysteretic cycles concentrating damage in elements that undergo only minor yielding. Both RBS and friction joints have been widely studied, carrying out experimental tests on sub-assemblies investigating their cyclic rotational response. Nevertheless, the available experimental results on full-scale structures equipped with these connections are still quite limited. This is the reason why two experimental campaigns aimed at performing pseudo-dynamic testing of a full-scale two-storey steel building equipped with RBS and friction connections have been planned at the STRENGTH (STRuctural ENGineering Test Hall) Laboratory of the University of Salerno. The first experimental campaign with the structure equipped with RBSs has already been performed; the connections showed higher resistance than expected, and exhibited brittle fracture due to cyclic fatigue. The second campaign has not yet been carried out, but in this paper the blind analysis of the supposed behavior is reported. It is expected that the friction joints allow to dissipate the seismic input energy without any structural damage in the members, but only through the friction pads of the devices, which can be easily replaced at the end of a severe seismic event. Full article