Spatial-Resolution Independent Object Detection Framework for Aerial Imagery

Earth surveillance through aerial images allows more accurate identification and characterization of objects present on the surface from space and airborne platforms.The progression of deep learning and computer vision methods and the availability of heterogeneous multispectral remote sensing data make the field more fertile for research.With the evolution of optical sensors,aerial images are becoming more precise and larger,which leads to a new kind of problem for object detection algorithms.This paper proposes the“Sliding Region-based Convolutional Neural Network(SRCNN),”which is an extension of the Faster Region-based Convolutional Neural Network(RCNN)object detection framework to make it independent of the image’s spatial resolution and size.The sliding box strategy is used in the proposed model to segment the image while detecting.The proposed framework outperforms the state-of-the-art Faster RCNN model while processing images with significantly different spatial resolution values.The SRCNN is also capable of detecting objects in images of any size.

The need to develop tailored tools for improving the quality of thematic bibliometric analyses: Evidence from papers published in Sustainability and Scientometrics

Purpose: The aim of this article is to explore up to seven parameters related to the methodological quality and reproducibility of thematic bibliometric research published in the two most productive journals in bibliometrics, Sustainability(a journal outside the discipline) and Scientometrics, the flagship journal in the field.Design/methodology/approach: The study identifies the need for developing tailored tools for improving the quality of thematic bibliometric analyses, and presents a framework that can guide the development of such tools. A total of 508 papers are analysed, 77% of Sustainability, and 23% published in Scientometrics, for the 2019-2021 period.Findings: An average of 2.6 shortcomings per paper was found for the whole sample, with an almost identical number of flaws in both journals. Sustainability has more flaws than Scientometrics in four of the seven parameters studied, while Scientometrics has more shortcomings in the remaining three variables.Research limitations: The first limitation of this work is that it is a study of two scientific journals, so the results cannot be directly extrapolated to the set of thematic bibliometric analyses published in journals from all fields.Practical implications: We propose the adoption of protocols, guidelines, and other similar tools, adapted to bibliometric practice, which could increase the thoroughness, transparency, and reproducibility of this type of research.Originality/value: These results show considerable room for improvement in terms of the adequate use and breakdown of methodological procedures in thematic bibliometric research, both in journals in the Information Science area and journals outside the discipline.

Security Threats to Business Information Systems Using NFC Read/Write Mode

Radio Frequency IDentification(RFID)and related technologies such as Near Field Communication(NFC)are becoming essential in industrial contexts thanks to their ability to perform contactless data exchange,either device-to-device or tag-to-device.One of the three main operation modes of NFC,called read/write mode,makes use of the latter type of interaction.It is extensively used in business information systems that make use of NFC tags to provide the end-user with augmented information in one of several available NFC data exchange formats,such as plain text,simple URLs or enriched URLs.Using a wide variety of physical form factors,NFC-compatible tags(wireless transponders)are currently available in many locations with applications going from smart posters,contactless tokens,tap-and-go payments or transport ticketing to automated device configuration,patient identification at hospitals or inventory management within supply chains.Most of these applications handle sensitive processes or data.This paper proposes a complete security threat model for the read/write operation mode of NFC used in Next Generation Industrial IoT(Nx-IIoT)contexts.This model,based on a wellknown methodology,STRIDE,allows developers and users to identify NFC applications vulnerabilities or weaknesses,analyze potential threats,propose risk management strategies,and design mitigation mechanisms to mention only some significant examples.