Improving the utility of locally differentially private protocols for longitudinal and multidimensional frequency estimates

This paper investigates the problem of collecting multidimensional data throughout time(i.e.,longitudinal studies)for the fundamental task of frequency estimation under Local Differential Privacy(LDP)guarantees.Contrary to frequency estimation of a single attribute,the multidimensional aspect demands particular attention to the privacy budget.Besides,when collecting user statistics longitudinally,privacy progressively degrades.Indeed,the“multiple”settings in combination(i.e.,many attributes and several collections throughout time)impose several challenges,for which this paper proposes the first solution for frequency estimates under LDP.To tackle these issues,we extend the analysis of three state-of-the-art LDP protocols(Generalized Randomized Response–GRR,Optimized Unary Encoding–OUE,and Symmetric Unary Encoding–SUE)for both longitudinal and multidimensional data collections.While the known literature uses OUE and SUE for two rounds of sanitization(a.k.a.memoization),i.e.,L-OUE and L-SUE,respectively,we analytically and experimentally show that starting with OUE and then with SUE provides higher data utility(i.e.,L-OSUE).Also,for attributes with small domain sizes,we propose Longitudinal GRR(L-GRR),which provides higher utility than the other protocols based on unary encoding.Last,we also propose a new solution named Adaptive LDP for LOngitudinal and Multidimensional FREquency Estimates(ALLOMFREE),which randomly samples a single attribute to be sent with the whole privacy budget and adaptively selects the optimal protocol,i.e.,either L-GRR or L-OSUE.As shown in the results,ALLOMFREE consistently and considerably outperforms the state-of-the-art L-SUE and L-OUE protocols in the quality of the frequency estimates.

Genetic and Agronomic Parameter Estimates of Growth, Yield and Related Traits of Maize (Zea mays L.) under Different Rates of Nitrogen Fertilization

This study evaluated the genetic and agronomic parameter estimates of maize under different nitrogen rates. The trial was established at the Njala Agricultural Research Centre experimental site during 2021 and 2022 in a split block design with three maize varieties (IWCD2, 2009EVDT, and DMR-ESR-Yellow) and seven nitrogen (0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150 and 180 kg∙N∙ha−1) rates. Findings showed that cob diameter and anthesis silking time (ASI) had intermediate heritability, ASI had high genetic advance, ASI and grain yield had high genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV), while traits with high phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) were plant height, ASI, grain yield, number of kernel per cob, number of kernel rows, ear length, and ear height. The PCV values were higher than GCV, indicating the influence of the environment in the studied traits. Nitrogen rates and variety significantly (p < 0.05) influenced grain yield production. Mean grain yields and economic parameter estimates increased with increasing nitrogen rates, with the 30 and 180 kg∙N∙ha−1 plots exhibiting the lowest and highest grain yields of 1238 kg∙ha−1 and 2098 kg∙ha−1, respectively. Variety and nitrogen effects on partial factor productivity (PFPN), agronomic efficiency (AEN), net returns (NR), value cost ratio (VCR) and marginal return (MR) indicated that these parameters were significantly affected (p < 0.05) by these factors. The highest PFPN (41.3 kg grain kg−1∙N) and AEN (29.4 kg grain kg−1∙N) were obtained in the 30 kg∙N∙ha−1 plots, while the highest VCR (2.8) and MR (SLL 1.8 SLL−1 spent on N) were obtained in the 180 kg∙N∙ha−1. The significant influence of variety and nitrogen on traits suggests that increasing yields and maximizing profits require use of appropriate nitrogen fertilization and improved farming practices that could be exploited for increased productivity of maize.

Method for rapid warning and activity concentration estimates in online waterγ-spectrometry systems

Onlineγ-spectrometry systems for inland waters,most of which extract samples in situ and in real time,are able to produce reliable activity concentration measurements for waterborne radionuclides only when they are distributed relatively uniformly and enter into a steady-state diffusion regime in the measurement chamber.To protect residents’health and ensure the safety of the living environment,better timeliness is required for this measurement method.To address this issue,this study established a mathematical model of the online waterγ-spectrometry system so that rapid warning and activity estimates can be obtained for water under non-steady-state(NSS)conditions.In addition,the detection efficiency of the detector for radionuclides during the NSS diffusion process was determined by applying the computational fluid dynamics technique in conjunction with Monte Carlo simulations.On this basis,a method was developed that allowed the online waterγ-spectrometry system to provide rapid warning and activity concentration estimates for radionuclides in water.Subsequent analysis of the NSS-mode measurements of^(40)K radioactive solutions with different activity concentrations determined the optimum warning threshold and measurement time for producing accurate activity concentration estimates for radionuclides.The experimental results show that the proposed NSS measurement method is able to give warning and yield accurate activity concentration estimates for radionuclides 55.42 and 69.42 min after the entry of a 10 Bq/L^(40)K radioactive solution into the measurement chamber,respectively.These times are much shorter than the 90 min required by the conventional measurement method.Furthermore,the NSS measurement method allows the measurement system to give rapid(within approximately 15 min)warning when the activity concentrations of some radionuclides reach their respective limits stipulated in the Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality of the WHO,suggesting that this method considerably enhances the warning capacity of in situ online waterγ-spectrometry systems.

Using Extreme Value Theory Approaches to Estimate High Quantiles for Stroke Data

This paper aims to explore the application of Extreme Value Theory (EVT) in estimating the conditional extreme quantile for time-to-event outcomes by examining the functional relationship between ambulatory blood pressure trajectories and clinical outcomes in stroke patients. The study utilizes EVT to analyze the functional connection between ambulatory blood pressure trajectories and clinical outcomes in a sample of 297 stroke patients. The 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurement curves for every 15 minutes are considered, acknowledging a censored rate of 40%. The findings reveal that the sample mean excess function exhibits a positive gradient above a specific threshold, confirming the heavy-tailed distribution of data in stroke patients with a positive extreme value index. Consequently, the estimated conditional extreme quantile indicates that stroke patients with higher blood pressure measurements face an elevated risk of recurrent stroke occurrence at an early stage. This research contributes to the understanding of the relationship between ambulatory blood pressure and recurrent stroke, providing valuable insights for clinical considerations and potential interventions in stroke management.

Machine learning-based comparison of factors influencing estimated glomerular filtration rate in Chinese women with or without nonalcoholic fatty liver

BACKGROUND The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver(NAFLD)has increased recently.Subjects with NAFLD are known to have higher chance for renal function impairment.Many past studies used traditional multiple linear regression(MLR)to identify risk factors for decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR).However,medical research is increasingly relying on emerging machine learning(Mach-L)methods.The present study enrolled healthy women to identify factors affecting eGFR in subjects with and without NAFLD(NAFLD+,NAFLD-)and to rank their importance.AIM To uses three different Mach-L methods to identify key impact factors for eGFR in healthy women with and without NAFLD.METHODS A total of 65535 healthy female study participants were enrolled from the Taiwan MJ cohort,accounting for 32 independent variables including demographic,biochemistry and lifestyle parameters(independent variables),while eGFR was used as the dependent variable.Aside from MLR,three Mach-L methods were applied,including stochastic gradient boosting,eXtreme gradient boosting and elastic net.Errors of estimation were used to define method accuracy,where smaller degree of error indicated better model performance.RESULTS Income,albumin,eGFR,High density lipoprotein-Cholesterol,phosphorus,forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1),and sleep time were all lower in the NAFLD+group,while other factors were all significantly higher except for smoking area.Mach-L had lower estimation errors,thus outperforming MLR.In Model 1,age,uric acid(UA),FEV1,plasma calcium level(Ca),plasma albumin level(Alb)and T-bilirubin were the most important factors in the NAFLD+group,as opposed to age,UA,FEV1,Alb,lactic dehydrogenase(LDH)and Ca for the NAFLD-group.Given the importance percentage was much higher than the 2nd important factor,we built Model 2 by removing age.CONCLUSION The eGFR were lower in the NAFLD+group compared to the NAFLD-group,with age being was the most important impact factor in both groups of healthy Chinese women,followed by LDH,UA,FEV1 and Alb.However,for the NAFLD-group,TSH and SBP were the 5th and 6th most important factors,as opposed to Ca and BF in the NAFLD+group.

MAXIMAL FUNCTION CHARACTERIZATIONS OF HARDY SPACES ASSOCIATED WITH BOTH NON-NEGATIVE SELF-ADJOINT OPERATORS SATISFYING GAUSSIAN ESTIMATES AND BALL QUASI-BANACH FUNCTION SPACES

Assume that L is a non-negative self-adjoint operator on L^(2)(ℝ^(n))with its heat kernels satisfying the so-called Gaussian upper bound estimate and that X is a ball quasi-Banach function space onℝ^(n) satisfying some mild assumptions.Let HX,L(ℝ^(n))be the Hardy space associated with both X and L,which is defined by the Lusin area function related to the semigroup generated by L.In this article,the authors establish various maximal function characterizations of the Hardy space HX,L(ℝ^(n))and then apply these characterizations to obtain the solvability of the related Cauchy problem.These results have a wide range of generality and,in particular,the specific spaces X to which these results can be applied include the weighted space,the variable space,the mixed-norm space,the Orlicz space,the Orlicz-slice space,and the Morrey space.Moreover,the obtained maximal function characterizations of the mixed-norm Hardy space,the Orlicz-slice Hardy space,and the Morrey-Hardy space associated with L are completely new.

Improving the accuracy of precipitation estimates in a typical inland arid area of China using a dynamic Bayesian model averaging approach

Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is a typical inland arid area in China with a sparse and uneven distribution of meteorological stations,limited access to precipitation data,and significant water scarcity.Evaluating and integrating precipitation datasets from different sources to accurately characterize precipitation patterns has become a challenge to provide more accurate and alternative precipitation information for the region,which can even improve the performance of hydrological modelling.This study evaluated the applicability of widely used five satellite-based precipitation products(Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station(CHIRPS),China Meteorological Forcing Dataset(CMFD),Climate Prediction Center morphing method(CMORPH),Precipitation Estimation from Remotely Sensed Information using Artificial Neural Networks-Climate Data Record(PERSIANN-CDR),and Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis(TMPA))and a reanalysis precipitation dataset(ECMWF Reanalysis v5-Land Dataset(ERA5-Land))in Xinjiang using ground-based observational precipitation data from a limited number of meteorological stations.Based on this assessment,we proposed a framework that integrated different precipitation datasets with varying spatial resolutions using a dynamic Bayesian model averaging(DBMA)approach,the expectation-maximization method,and the ordinary Kriging interpolation method.The daily precipitation data merged using the DBMA approach exhibited distinct spatiotemporal variability,with an outstanding performance,as indicated by low root mean square error(RMSE=1.40 mm/d)and high Person's correlation coefficient(CC=0.67).Compared with the traditional simple model averaging(SMA)and individual product data,although the DBMA-fused precipitation data were slightly lower than the best precipitation product(CMFD),the overall performance of DBMA was more robust.The error analysis between DBMA-fused precipitation dataset and the more advanced Integrated Multi-satellite Retrievals for Global Precipitation Measurement Final(IMERG-F)precipitation product,as well as hydrological simulations in the Ebinur Lake Basin,further demonstrated the superior performance of DBMA-fused precipitation dataset in the entire Xinjiang region.The proposed framework for solving the fusion problem of multi-source precipitation data with different spatial resolutions is feasible for application in inland arid areas,and aids in obtaining more accurate regional hydrological information and improving regional water resources management capabilities and meteorological research in these regions.

Side Information-Based Stealthy False Data Injection Attacks Against Multi-Sensor Remote Estimation

Dear Editor,This letter investigates a novel stealthy false data injection(FDI)attack scheme based on side information to deteriorate the multi-sensor estimation performance of cyber-physical systems(CPSs).Compared with most existing works depending on the full system knowledge,this attack scheme is only related to attackers'sensor and physical process model.The design principle of the attack signal is derived to diverge the system estimation performance.Next,it is proven that the proposed attack scheme can successfully bypass the residual-based detector.Finally,all theoretical results are verified by numerical simulation.

Protocol-Based Non-Fragile State Estimation for Delayed Recurrent Neural Networks Subject to Replay Attacks

Dear Editor, This letter focuses on the protocol-based non-fragile state estimation problem for a class of recurrent neural networks(RNNs). With the development of communication technology, the networked systems have received particular attentions. The networked system brings advantages such as easy to implement.

State Estimation of Drive-by-Wire Chassis Vehicle Based on Dual Unscented Particle Filter Algorithm

Accurate vehicle dynamic information plays an important role in vehicle driving safety.However,due to the characteristics of high mobility and multiple controllable degrees of freedom of drive-by-wire chassis vehicles,the current mature application of traditional vehicle state estimation algorithms can not meet the requirements of drive-by-wire chassis vehicle state estimation.This paper proposes a state estimation method for drive-by-wire chassis vehicle based on the dual unscented particle filter algorithm,which make full use of the known advantages of the four-wheel drive torque and steer angle parameters of the drive-by-wire chassis vehicle.In the dual unscented particle filter algorithm,two unscented particle filter transfer information to each other,observe the vehicle state information and the tire force parameter information of the four wheels respectively,which reduce the influence of parameter uncertainty and model parameter changes on the estimation accuracy during driving.The performance with the dual unscented particle filter algorithm,which is analyzed in terms of the time-average square error,is superior of the unscented Kalman filter algorithm.The effectiveness of the algorithm is further verified by driving simulator test.In this paper,a vehicle state estimator based on dual unscented particle filter algorithm was proposed for the first time to improve the estimation accuracy of vehicle parameters and states.

Double-check in Lizard Age Estimation:Use of Phalanx Bone and Keratin Claw Sheath Lamellas

Dear Editor,The problem of age estimation in amphibians and reptiles with annual fluctuations of growth pattern has been considered to be mostly solved since the skeletochronological method was introduced(Kleinenberg and Smirina,1969).This method is based on counting the number of lines of arrested growth(LAGs)—cyclical growth marks that are usually formed annually and characterized by different optical aspects within the tubular bones.

Report for Type 2 Bayes-Fuzzy Estimation in No-Data Problem

It is well known that the system (1 + 1) can be unequal to 2, because this system has both observation error and system error. Furthermore, we must provide our mustered service within our cool head and warm heart, where two states of nature are existing upon us. Any system is regarded as the two-dimensional variable error model. On the other hand, we consider that the fuzziness is existing in this system. Though we can usually obtain the fuzzy number from the possibility theory, it is not fuzzy but possibility, because the possibility function is as same as the likelihood function, and we can obtain the possibility measure by the maximal likelihood method (i.e. max product method proposed by Dr. Hideo Tanaka). Therefore, Fuzzy is regarded as the only one case according to Vague, which has both some state of nature in this world and another state of nature in the other world. Here, we can consider that Type 1 Vague Event in other world can be obtained by mapping and translating from Type 1 fuzzy Event in this world. We named this estimation as Type 1 Bayes-Fuzzy Estimation. When the Vague Events were abnormal (ex. under War), we need to consider that another world could exist around other world. In this case, we call it Type 2 Bayes-Fuzzy Estimation. Where Hori et al. constructed the stochastic different equation upon Type 1 Vague Events, along with the general following probabilistic introduction method from the single regression model, multi-regression model, AR model, Markov (decision) process, to the stochastic different equation. Furthermore, we showed that the system theory approach is Possibility Markov Process, and that the making decision approach is Sequential Bayes Estimation, too. After all, Type 1 Bays-Fuzzy estimation is the special case in Bayes estimation, because the pareto solutions can exist in two stochastic different equations upon Type 2 Vague Events, after we ignore one equation each other (note that this is Type 1 case), we can obtain both its system solution and its decision solution. Here, it is noted that Type 2 Vague estimation can be applied to the shallow abnormal decision problem with possibility reserved judgement. However, it is very important problem that we can have no idea for possibility reserved judgement under the deepest abnormal envelopment (ex. under War). Expect for this deepest abnormal decision problem, Bayes estimation can completely cover fuzzy estimation. In this paper, we explain our flowing study and further research object forward to this deepest abnormal decision problem.

Beamspace maximum likelihood algorithm based on sum and difference beams for elevation estimation

Beamspace super-resolution methods for elevation estimation in multipath environment has attracted significant attention, especially the beamspace maximum likelihood(BML)algorithm. However, the difference beam is rarely used in superresolution methods, especially in low elevation estimation. The target airspace information in the difference beam is different from the target airspace information in the sum beam. And the use of difference beams does not significantly increase the complexity of the system and algorithms. Thus, this paper applies the difference beam to the beamformer to improve the elevation estimation performance of BML algorithm. And the direction and number of beams can be adjusted according to the actual needs. The theoretical target elevation angle root means square error(RMSE) and the computational complexity of the proposed algorithms are analyzed. Finally, computer simulations and real data processing results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.

Distributed Dynamic Load in Structural Dynamics by the Impulse-Based Force Estimation Algorithm

This paper proposes a novel approach for identifying distributed dynamic loads in the time domain.Using polynomial andmodal analysis,the load is transformed intomodal space for coefficient identification.This allows the distributed dynamic load with a two-dimensional form in terms of time and space to be simultaneously identified in the form of modal force,thereby achieving dimensionality reduction.The Impulse-based Force Estimation Algorithm is proposed to identify dynamic loads in the time domain.Firstly,the algorithm establishes a recursion scheme based on convolution integral,enabling it to identify loads with a long history and rapidly changing forms over time.Secondly,the algorithm introduces moving mean and polynomial fitting to detrend,enhancing its applicability in load estimation.The aforementioned methodology successfully accomplishes the reconstruction of distributed,instead of centralized,dynamic loads on the continuum in the time domain by utilizing acceleration response.To validate the effectiveness of the method,computational and experimental verification were conducted.

Cybersecurity Landscape on Remote State Estimation:A Comprehensive Review

Cyber-physical systems(CPSs)have emerged as an essential area of research in the last decade,providing a new paradigm for the integration of computational and physical units in modern control systems.Remote state estimation(RSE)is an indispensable functional module of CPSs.Recently,it has been demonstrated that malicious agents can manipulate data packets transmitted through unreliable channels of RSE,leading to severe estimation performance degradation.This paper aims to present an overview of recent advances in cyber-attacks and defensive countermeasures,with a specific focus on integrity attacks against RSE.Firstly,two representative frameworks for the synthesis of optimal deception attacks with various performance metrics and stealthiness constraints are discussed,which provide a deeper insight into the vulnerabilities of RSE.Secondly,a detailed review of typical attack detection and resilient estimation algorithms is included,illustrating the latest defensive measures safeguarding RSE from adversaries.Thirdly,some prevalent attacks impairing the confidentiality and data availability of RSE are examined from both attackers'and defenders'perspectives.Finally,several challenges and open problems are presented to inspire further exploration and future research in this field.

An Enhanced Multiview Transformer for Population Density Estimation Using Cellular Mobility Data in Smart City

This paper addresses the problem of predicting population density leveraging cellular station data.As wireless communication devices are commonly used,cellular station data has become integral for estimating population figures and studying their movement,thereby implying significant contributions to urban planning.However,existing research grapples with issues pertinent to preprocessing base station data and the modeling of population prediction.To address this,we propose methodologies for preprocessing cellular station data to eliminate any irregular or redundant data.The preprocessing reveals a distinct cyclical characteristic and high-frequency variation in population shift.Further,we devise a multi-view enhancement model grounded on the Transformer(MVformer),targeting the improvement of the accuracy of extended time-series population predictions.Comparative experiments,conducted on the above-mentioned population dataset using four alternate Transformer-based models,indicate that our proposedMVformer model enhances prediction accuracy by approximately 30%for both univariate and multivariate time-series prediction assignments.The performance of this model in tasks pertaining to population prediction exhibits commendable results.

Deep learning for joint channel estimation and feedback in massive MIMO systems

The great potentials of massive Multiple-Input Multiple-Output(MIMO)in Frequency Division Duplex(FDD)mode can be fully exploited when the downlink Channel State Information(CSI)is available at base stations.However,the accurate CsI is difficult to obtain due to the large amount of feedback overhead caused by massive antennas.In this paper,we propose a deep learning based joint channel estimation and feedback framework,which comprehensively realizes the estimation,compression,and reconstruction of downlink channels in FDD massive MIMO systems.Two networks are constructed to perform estimation and feedback explicitly and implicitly.The explicit network adopts a multi-Signal-to-Noise-Ratios(SNRs)technique to obtain a single trained channel estimation subnet that works well with different SNRs and employs a deep residual network to reconstruct the channels,while the implicit network directly compresses pilots and sends them back to reduce network parameters.Quantization module is also designed to generate data-bearing bitstreams.Simulation results show that the two proposed networks exhibit excellent performance of reconstruction and are robust to different environments and quantization errors.

Parameter estimation in n-dimensional massless scalar field

Quantum Fisher information(QFI)associated with local metrology has been used to parameter estimation in open quantum systems.In this work,we calculated the QFI for a moving Unruh-DeWitt detector coupled with massless scalar fields in n-dimensional spacetime,and analyzed the behavior of QFI with various parameters,such as the dimension of spacetime,evolution time,and Unruh temperature.We discovered that the QFI of state parameter decreases monotonically from 1 to 0 over time.Additionally,we noted that the QFI for small evolution times is several orders of magnitude higher than the QFI for long evolution times.We also found that the value of QFI decreases at first and then stabilizes as the Unruh temperature increases.It was observed that the QFI depends on initial state parameterθ,and Fθis the maximum forθ=0 orθ=π,Fφis the maximum forθ=π/2.We also obtain that the maximum value of QFI for state parameters varies for different spacetime dimensions with the same evolution time.

Construction Activity Analysis of Workers Based on Human Posture Estimation Information

Identifying workers’construction activities or behaviors can enable managers to better monitor labor efficiency and construction progress.However,current activity analysis methods for construction workers rely solely on manual observations and recordings,which consumes considerable time and has high labor costs.Researchers have focused on monitoring on-site construction activities of workers.However,when multiple workers are working together,current research cannot accu rately and automatically identify the construction activity.This research proposes a deep learning framework for the automated analysis of the construction activities of multiple workers.In this framework,multiple deep neural network models are designed and used to complete worker key point extraction,worker tracking,and worker construction activity analysis.The designed framework was tested at an actual construction site,and activity recognition for multiple workers was performed,indicating the feasibility of the framework for the automated monitoring of work efficiency.

A comparative study of data-driven battery capacity estimation based on partial charging curves

With its generality and practicality, the combination of partial charging curves and machine learning(ML) for battery capacity estimation has attracted widespread attention. However, a clear classification,fair comparison, and performance rationalization of these methods are lacking, due to the scattered existing studies. To address these issues, we develop 20 capacity estimation methods from three perspectives:charging sequence construction, input forms, and ML models. 22,582 charging curves are generated from 44 cells with different battery chemistry and operating conditions to validate the performance. Through comprehensive and unbiased comparison, the long short-term memory(LSTM) based neural network exhibits the best accuracy and robustness. Across all 6503 tested samples, the mean absolute percentage error(MAPE) for capacity estimation using LSTM is 0.61%, with a maximum error of only 3.94%. Even with the addition of 3 m V voltage noise or the extension of sampling intervals to 60 s, the average MAPE remains below 2%. Furthermore, the charging sequences are provided with physical explanations related to battery degradation to enhance confidence in their application. Recommendations for using other competitive methods are also presented. This work provides valuable insights and guidance for estimating battery capacity based on partial charging curves.