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The aircraft design process has several phases, the first of which is conceptual design. In this phase, models describing an aircraft concept’s properties are used to evaluate its function and identify designs that meet given requirements. Fighter aircraft are generally expected to be capable of communicating, delivering munitions and gathering data about their environment to gain situational awareness. The ability to avoid detection by hostile sensors can also be important, depending on the aircraft’s role. The design process of the aircraft itself has usually focused on an aircraft’s flight performance and ability to carry loads, e.g. munitions and extra fuel. While acceleration, rate of turn, maximum speed, and operational range are important parameters, the success of military missions also depends on sensor capabilities and signature levels. However, sensor installation and signature reduction measures can affect the aircraft and its flight performance. Whether an aircraft concept fulfills the requirements given is evaluated using simulations in appropriate scenarios. The concept’s performance is assessed using models of aircraft properties, weapon properties, sensor capabilities and signature levels. Models of the aircraft properties are usually connected dynamically, and respond to changes in such things as the size of the concept. However, sensor and signature models are often the result of a separate optimization process and are only statically connected to the aircraft model. The complete aircraft model can be improved by introducing sensor and signature models that dynamically describe both their functions, and their impact on the aircraft. Concurrent design of all the aircraft properties may improve the quality of results from scenario simulations. When models used in simulations contain parameters coupled to each other, analysis of the resulting data is particularly important because that is what supports a decision-maker’s design choice. Sensor and signature models, in some cases combined with flight performance models, have been used to test methodologies intended for use in conceptual aircraft design. The results show that even seemingly simple models can produce results that can make a significant contribution to the aircraft design process.

This paper undertakes a holistic investigation of two fundamental trade-offs in monostatic OFDM integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) systems-namely, the time-frequency trade-off and the spatial trade-off, originating from the choice of modulation order for random data and the design of beamforming strategies, respectively. To counteract the elevated side-lobe levels induced by varying-amplitude data in high-order QAM signaling, we propose a novel linear minimum mean-squared-error (LMMSE) estimator, capable of maintaining robust sensing performance across a wide range of SNRs. Moreover, we explore spatial domain trade-offs through two ISAC transmission strategies: concurrent, employing joint beams, and time-sharing, using separate, time-non-overlapping beams for sensing and communications. Simulations demonstrate superior performance of the LMMSE estimator, especially in detecting weak targets in the presence of strong ones with high-order QAM, consistently yielding more favorable ISAC trade-offs than existing baselines under various modulation schemes, SNR conditions, RCS levels and transmission strategies. We also provide experimental results to validate the effectiveness of the LMMSE estimator in reducing side-lobe levels, based on real-world measurements.

Orthogonal time frequency space (OTFS) is a promising alternative to orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) for high-mobility communications. We propose a novel multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) integrated sensing and communication (ISAC) system based on OTFS modulation. We begin by deriving new sensing and communication signal models for the proposed MIMO-OTFS ISAC system that explicitly capture inter-symbol interference (ISI) and inter-carrier interference (ICI) effects. We then develop a generalized likelihood ratio test (GLRT) based multi-target detection and delay-Doppler-angle estimation algorithm for MIMO-OTFS radar sensing that can simultaneously mitigate and exploit ISI/ICI effects, to prevent target masking and surpass standard unambiguous detection limits in range/velocity. Moreover, considering two operational modes (search/track), we propose an adaptive MIMO-OTFS ISAC transmission strategy. For the search mode, we introduce the concept of delay-Doppler (DD) multiplexing, enabling omnidirectional probing of the environment and large virtual array at the OTFS radar receiver. For the track mode, we pursue a directional transmission approach and design an OTFS ISAC optimization algorithm in spatial and DD domains, seeking the optimal trade-off between radar signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and achievable rate. Simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed sensing algorithm and reveal valuable insights into OTFS ISAC trade-offs under varying communication channel characteristics.

The VEDLIoT project aims to develop energy-efficient Deep Learning methodologies for distributed Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) applications. During our project, we propose a holistic approach that focuses on optimizing algorithms while addressing safety and security challenges inherent to AIoT systems. The foundation of this approach lies in a modular and scalable cognitive IoT hardware platform, which leverages microserver technology to enable users to configure the hardware to meet the requirements of a diverse array of applications. Heterogeneous computing is used to boost performance and energy efficiency. In addition, the full spectrum of hardware accelerators is integrated, providing specialized ASICs as well as FPGAs for reconfigurable computing. The project's contributions span across trusted computing, remote attestation, and secure execution environments, with the ultimate goal of facilitating the design and deployment of robust and efficient AIoT systems. The overall architecture is validated on use-cases ranging from Smart Home to Automotive and Industrial IoT appliances. Ten additional use cases are integrated via an open call, broadening the range of application areas.

Phase noise (PN) can become a major bottleneck for integrated sensing and communications (ISAC) systems towards 6G wireless networks. In this paper, we consider an OFDM ISAC system with oscillator imperfections and investigate the impact of PN on monostatic sensing performance by performing a misspecified Cramér-Rao bound (MCRB) analysis. Simulations are carried out under a wide variety of operating conditions with regard to SNR, oscillator type (free-running oscillators (FROs) and phase-locked loops (PLLs)), 3-dB bandwidth of the oscillator spectrum, PLL loop bandwidth and target range. The results provide valuable insights on when PN leads to a significant degradation in range and/or velocity accuracy, establishing important guidelines for hardware and algorithm design in 6G ISAC systems.

Semiconductor nanowires offer the opportunity to incorporate novel structures and functionality into electronic and optoelectronic devices. A clear understanding of the nanowire growth mechanism is essential for well-controlled growth of structures with desired properties, but the understanding is currently limited by a lack of empirical measurements of important parameters during growth, such as catalyst particle composition. However, this is difficult to accurately determine by investigating post-growth. We report direct in situ measurement of the catalyst composition during nanowire growth for the first time. We study Au-seeded GaAs nanowires inside an electron microscope as they grow and measure the catalyst composition using X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy. The Ga content in the catalyst during growth increases with both temperature and Ga precursor flux. Semiconductor nanowires are promising materials for miniaturized devices, but a thorough understanding of their growth mechanism is necessary for controlled synthesis. Here, the authors use in situ spectroscopy and microscopy to measure the composition of the catalyst droplet as a function of different growth parameters during Au-seeded GaAs nanowire growth.

Lower bone mass in older adults may be mediated by the endocrine crosstalk between muscle, adipose tissue and bone. In 150 community-dwelling adults (59–86 years, BMI 17–37 kg/m 2 ; 58.7% female), skeletal muscle mass index, adipose tissue and fat mass index (FMI) were determined. Levels of myokines, adipokines, osteokines, inflammation markers and insulin were measured as potential determinants of bone mineral content (BMC) and density (BMD). FMI was negatively associated with BMC and BMD after adjustment for mechanical loading effects of body weight (r-values between −0.37 and −0.71, all p  < 0.05). Higher FMI was associated with higher leptin levels in both sexes, with higher hsCRP in women and with lower adiponectin levels in men. In addition to weight and FMI, sclerostin, osteocalcin, leptin × sex and adiponectin were independent predictors of BMC in a stepwise multiple regression analysis. Muscle mass, but not myokines, showed positive correlations with bone parameters that were weakened after adjusting for body weight (r-values between 0.27 and 0.58, all p  < 0.01). Whereas the anabolic effect of muscle mass on bone in older adults may be partly explained by mechanical loading, the adverse effect of obesity on bone is possibly mediated by low-grade inflammation, higher leptin and lower adiponectin levels.

Medication reviews are recognized services to increase quality of therapy and reduce medication risks. The selection of eligible patients with potential to receive a major benefit is based on assumptions rather than on factual data. Acceptance of interprofessional collaboration is crucial to increase the quality of medication therapy. The research question was to identify and prioritize eligible patients for a medication review and to provide evidence-based criteria for patient selection. Acceptance of the prescribing general practitioner to implement pharmaceutical recommendations was measured and factors influencing physicians' acceptance were explored to obtain an impression on the extent of collaboration in medication review in an ambulatory care setting. Based on data of a cluster-randomized controlled study (WestGem-study), the correlation between patient parameters and the individual performance in a medication review was calculated in a multiple logistic regression model. Physician's acceptance of the suggested intervention was assessed using feedback forms. Influential factors were analyzed. The number of drugs in use (p = 0.001), discrepancies between prescribed and used medicines (p = 0.014), the baseline Medication Appropriateness Index score (p<0.001) and the duration of the intervention (p = 0.006) could be identified as influential factors for a major benefit from a medication review, whereas morbidity (p>0.05) and a low kidney function (p>0.05) do not predetermine the outcome. Longitudinal patient care with repeated reviews showed higher interprofessional acceptance and superior patient benefit. A total of 54.9% of the recommendations in a medication review on drug therapy were accepted for implementation. The number of drugs in use and medication reconciliation could be a first rational step in patient selection for a medication review. Most elderly, multimorbid patients with polymedication experience a similar chance of receiving a benefit from a medication review. Longitudinal patient care should be preferred over confined medication reviews. The acceptance of medication reviews by physicians supports further implementation into health care systems. ISRCTN ISRCTN41595373.

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are targets of extracellular stimuli and hence occupy a key position in drug discovery. By specific and not yet fully elucidated coupling profiles with α subunits of distinct G protein families, they regulate cellular responses. The histamine H2 and H4 receptors (H2R and H4R) are prominent members of Gs- and Gi-coupled GPCRs. Nevertheless, promiscuous G protein and selective Gi signaling have been reported for the H2R and H4R, respectively, the molecular mechanism of which remained unclear. Using a combination of cellular experimental assays and Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics (GaMD) simulations, we investigated the coupling profiles of the H2R and H4R to engineered mini-G proteins (mG). We obtained coupling profiles of the mGs, mGsi, or mGsq proteins to the H2R and H4R from the mini-G protein recruitment assays using HEK293T cells. Compared to H2R–mGs expressing cells, histamine responses were weaker (pEC50, Emax) for H2R–mGsi and –mGsq. By contrast, the H4R selectively bound to mGsi. Similarly, in all-atom GaMD simulations, we observed a preferential binding of H2R to mGs and H4R to mGsi revealed by the structural flexibility and free energy landscapes of the complexes. Although the mG α5 helices were consistently located within the HR binding cavity, alternative binding orientations were detected in the complexes. Due to the specific residue interactions, all mG α5 helices of the H2R complexes adopted the Gs-like orientation toward the receptor transmembrane (TM) 6 domain, whereas in H4R complexes, only mGsi was in the Gi-like orientation toward TM2, which was in agreement with Gs- and Gi-coupled GPCRs structures resolved by X-ray/cryo-EM. These cellular and molecular insights support (patho)physiological profiles of the histamine receptors, especially the hitherto little studied H2R function in the brain, as well as of the pharmacological potential of H4R selective drugs.

Background Gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction is frequent in the critically ill but can be overlooked as a result of the lack of standardization of the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. We aimed to develop a research agenda for GI dysfunction for future research. We systematically reviewed the current knowledge on a broad range of subtopics from a specific viewpoint of GI dysfunction, highlighting the remaining areas of uncertainty and suggesting future studies. Methods This systematic scoping review and research agenda was conducted following successive steps: (1) identify clinically important subtopics within the field of GI function which warrant further research; (2) systematically review the literature for each subtopic using PubMed, CENTRAL and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews; (3) summarize evidence for each subtopic; (4) identify areas of uncertainty; (5) formulate and refine study proposals that address these subtopics; and (6) prioritize study proposals via sequential voting rounds. Results Five major themes were identified: (1) monitoring, (2) associations between GI function and outcome, (3) GI function and nutrition, (4) management of GI dysfunction and (5) pathophysiological mechanisms. Searches on 17 subtopics were performed and evidence summarized. Several areas of uncertainty were identified, six of them needing consensus process. Study proposals ranked among the first ten included: prevention and management of diarrhoea; management of upper and lower feeding intolerance, including indications for post-pyloric feeding and opioid antagonists; acute gastrointestinal injury grading as a bedside tool; the role of intra-abdominal hypertension in the development and monitoring of GI dysfunction and in the development of non-occlusive mesenteric ischaemia; and the effect of proton pump inhibitors on the microbiome in critical illness. Conclusions Current evidence on GI dysfunction is scarce, partially due to the lack of precise definitions. The use of core sets of monitoring and outcomes are required to improve the consistency of future studies. We propose several areas for consensus process and outline future study projects.