关键词： Autonomous aerial vehicles   Heuristic algorithms   Vehicle dynamics   Optimization   Trajectory   Training   Navigation   Deep reinforcement learning   Collision avoidance   Vectors  

摘要： Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have increasingly become indispensable instruments for surveillance, reconnaissance, and various missions due to their advanced capabilities. In intricate and dynamic operational contexts, especially during ultra-low altitude missions, inadequate communication and coordination impede UAVs’ capacity to avoid other UAVs and moving objects. In this instance, attaining accurate path planning for UAVs constitutes a significant technological problem that requires immediate attention. This paper introduces an innovative algorithm, ST-D3QN, which leverages deep reinforcement learning (DRL) to optimize UAV trajectories based on optimizing the Dueling Double Deep Q-Network (D3QN) and A* (A-star) algorithm. Our approach refines the optimization of sparse rewards by toggling between the two methods, thereby maximizing the long-term benefits for UAVs. The greedy strategy has been refined to prevent the algorithm from becoming ensnared in local optima. Our proposed method is benchmarked against state-of-the-art path planning algorithms through meticulously designed simulation tests. The experimental results indicate that the ST-D3QN algorithm achieves the fastest convergence rate during training and excels in optimizing sparse rewards. It also significantly reduces the risk of collisions and enhances the success rates of UAV path planning, establishing itself as an efficient and effective solution for determining the shortest path for UAVs in complex environments.

关键词： Citrobacter spp.   Citrobacter freundii   VIM   NDM   ST8   ST18   ST22   Poland  

摘要： This study focused on genomic epidemiology of metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL)-producing Citrobacter spp. in Poland. It included 118 isolates with VIM (n = 100), NDM (n = 17) or IMP (n = 1) enzymes from 2011 to 19, largely C. freundii (n = 94) of 33 sequence types (STs). Three globally-spread STs were more prevalent, namely ST18 (n = 15), ST8 (n = 11) and ST22 (n = 10), each diversified clonally and by VIM and NDM determinants. Only few outbreaks were evidenced, indicating MBL presence to result mainly from independent acquisitions, consistent with co-identifications of Citrobacter isolates (n = 12) with other MBL-producing Enterobacterales. Despite lower outbreak potential, Citrobacter spp. constitute a significant MBL reservoir, requiring attention and surveillance.

关键词： Thrombogenicity   Combined oral contraceptives   Thrombin generation   Coagulation   Venous thromboembolism  

摘要： BackgroundTreatment with combined oral contraceptives (COC) is associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism. Several changes of coagulant and anticoagulant factors induced by ethinyloestradiol during treatment with COC, have been demonstrated. Thrombin generation is a global test measuring both coagulant and anticoagulant factors, but the effect of COC on individuals starting COC, has not been examined before on the new equipment, ST Genesia. The aim of this project was to examine the effect of COC on thrombin generation on ST Genesia, in individuals before and after starting ***-four female participants between 15 and 34 years of age, who were about to start treatment with ethinylestradiol/levonorgestrel-containing COC, were included in the study. Two blood samples were drawn from each of the study subjects, a baseline sample immediately before first COC dose, and a follow-up blood sample approximately 3-4 months after COC start. Standard biochemical analyses as well as standard and special coagulation analyses including thrombin generation on ST Genesia, were performed in all *** generation, i.e., endogenous thrombin generation (ETP) and peak increased considerably after COC start, whereas time-to-peak was shortened. Thrombin-antithrombin complexes (TAT), prothrombin fragments (F1 + 2) and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) increased, and the coagulation inhibitors tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI), protein S activity and antithrombin decreased slightly after COC *** the coagulation factors only changed modestly, the global test thrombin generation performed on ST Genesia showed a considerable change after start of COC.

摘要： Since around 2005, an increasing number of songs have emerged in the Republic of Cyprus that use elements from the Greek Cypriot cultural heritage, like lyrics in Cypriot Greek, folk music features and other references to 'tradition'. These songs belong to contemporary genres, including rock, metal, fusion and hip hop, genres that already existed in the country but became 'localised' in a different manner, owing to the socio-political context. This article presents the first attempt to situate the popular musicscape of the Republic of Cyprus within debates pertaining to global musical flows, describing this context and arguing that the turn to elements from the Greek Cypriot cultural heritage is a recent phenomenon. We argue that this process signifies a new era of music-making in the Republic of Cyprus that can be theorised as 'cosmopolitan localism'.

关键词： Cardiac arrest   Sudden cardiac death   Ventricular fibrillation   Myocardial infarction   Coronary artery calcification  

摘要： BackgroundEmergency coronary angiogram after a cardiac arrest without ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is still a matter of debate. To better select patients who may benefit from this procedure, we tested a visual coronary artery calcification (VCAC) score available in chest CT to predict significant coronary artery stenosis and/or culprit lesion or ad hoc or delayed percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).ResultsA total of 113 patients with cardiac arrest and without STEMI who had a coronary angiogram and chest CT (January 2013 to March 2023, Croix-Rousse Hospital, Lyon, France) were retrospectively included. VCAC was scored from 0 (no calcification) to 3 (diffuse calcification) for each 4 four main arteries (left main, left anterior descending, circumflex, and right coronary artery). At baseline the median [interquartile range] age was 65.8 years [53.4-75.7], 61.9% were male, and 59.3% presented with ventricular fibrillation. Coronary angiogram identified at least one significant coronary artery stenosis in 32.7%, and ad hoc and delayed PCI were performed in 12.4% and 6.2% of the patients, respectively. VCAC score was an excellent predictor of significant coronary artery stenosis with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.95 (95%CI [0.90-1.00]) and the optimal threshold was >= 4 (specificity 94.7%, sensitivity 91.9%). For the detection of culprit coronary artery stenosis, the AUC was at 0.90 (95%CI [0.85-0.96]) and the optimal threshold was >= 5 (specificity 83.5%, sensitivity 87.5%). The AUC was 0.886 [0.823-0.948] (specificity 81.8%, sensitivity 85.7%) for ad hoc PCI and 0.921 [0.872-0.972] (specificity 85.3%, sensitivity 88.9%) for both delayed and ad hoc PCI with a same optimal threshold of VCAC >= 5. A VCAC score >= 4 had a sensitivity at 100% to predict a significant or culprit coronary artery stenosis and ad hoc or delayed *** present study found that a non-dedicated CT thorax may be useful to measure VCAC and if this is s

摘要： The production of olive oil, a cornerstone of Mediterranean diet, faces important threats from recurring droughts and the anticipated decline in cyclical solar activity. These escalating challenges cast uncertainty on the long-term sustainability of olive-growing regions. Here we draw on 8000 years of olive pollen data - closely related to flowering, fertilization and fruit production - to identify the key long-term determinants influencing olive yields. Our findings indicate that pollen production, and therefore yields, are primarily driven by photosynthesis, which is influenced not only by temperature and CO2 levels, but also by precipitation during olive phenological stages and changes in the radiation balance, rather than by variations in solar energy alone. Changes in photosynthetic activity emerge as a critical determinant of the future of the Mediterranean olive oil economy and have major implications for food security in the region.

摘要： The special issue includes papers by the authors who made the most interesting presentations closely related to the subject area of the journal. The articles can be divided into three groups: theoretical issues, applied studies in signal and image processing, and biometric and medical applications.