Emerging evidence indicates that gut microbiota is important in the regulation of brain activity and cognitive functions. Microbes mediate communication among the metabolic, peripheral immune, and central nervous systems via the microbiota–gut–brain axis. However, it is not well understood how the gut microbiome and neurons in the brain mutually interact or how these interactions affect normal brain functioning and cognition. We summarize the mechanisms whereby the gut microbiota regulate the production, transportation, and functioning of neurotransmitters. We also discuss how microbiome dysbiosis affects cognitive function, especially in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.
We introduce the concept of efficiency of a network as a measure of how efficiently it exchanges information. By using this simple measure, small-world networks are seen as systems that are both globally and locally efficient. This gives a clear physical meaning to the concept of "small world," and also a precise quantitative analysis of both weighted and unweighted networks. We study neural networks and man-made communication and transportation systems and we show that the underlying general principle of their construction is in fact a small-world principle of high efficiency.
Every industrial revolution brought with it benefits and challenges to the socioeconomic status of the countries that have engaged in such transformation. For instance, Great Britain led the first industrial revolution with the invention of the commercial steam engine, which revolutionized communication and transportation and led to many other industrial developments. In the second industrial revolution, the United States was primarily in the lead, with the telephone revolutionizing communication this time. In the third industrial revolution, the Internet was the key factor and succeeded because it was conceived as a public infrastructure technology rather a proprietary technology (Carr, 2003). The Internet has transformed the world economic landscape, and this transformation is expected to continue with the Internet of things (IoT). Rifkin (2014) confirms this trend in his concept of zero marginal cost, which emphasizes connectivity in his anticipation of a collaborative economy that will replace the capital system in its current form – with the IoT as the main driver. The rapid progress of smart cities is also paving the way to a more collaborative world (Kanter & Litow, 2009).
The rapid advances in the Internet of Things (IoT) have promoted a revolution in communication technology and offered various customer services. Artificial intelligence (AI) techniques have been exploited to facilitate IoT operations and maximize their potential in modern application scenarios. In particular, the convergence of IoT and AI has led to a new networking paradigm called Intelligent IoT (IIoT), which has the potential to significantly transform businesses and industrial domains. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of IIoT by investigating its significant applications in mobile networks, as well as its associated security and privacy issues. Specifically, we explore and discuss the roles of IIoT in a wide range of key application domains, from smart healthcare and smart cities to smart transportation and smart industries. Through such extensive discussions, we investigate important security issues in IIoT networks, where network attacks, confidentiality, integrity, and intrusion are analyzed, along with a discussion of potential countermeasures. Privacy issues in IIoT networks were also surveyed and discussed, including data, location, and model privacy leakage. Finally, we outline several key challenges and highlight potential research directions in this important area.
Abstract In response to the demand for high-frequency ultra-wideband power amplifiers (PAs) in high-speed reliable communication fields such as high-speed railway and highway transportation, a single-chip integrated circuit (MMIC) for ultra-wideband PAs operating in 2–6 GHz based on 0.25 μm GaN process is proposed in this paper. For high-speed communication in transportation applications, the PA achieves the optimal output impedance through the load/source pull method, employs a resistor capacitor (RC) parallel network to enhance stability, and utilizes an RLC/LC bias circuit to ensure the stability performance of the radio frequency (RF) circuit. The paper innovatively proposes a method for optimizing full frequency impedance matching through RC curve fitting and combines electro-magnet (EM) co-simulation to achieve 50 Ω impedance matching, significantly improving design efficiency and accuracy. The measured results show that the GaN MMIC PA has an output power greater than 39 dBm, a power gain greater than 18 dB, and a power-added efficiency (PAE) greater than 37% (peak 48.2%) in the 2–6 GHz frequency band. The overall size of the chip is 1.9 mm × 2.4 mm. This paper can provide guidance for core components of high-speed transportation communication systems, meeting the diverse requirements of high-speed wireless communication in the transportation field for transmitters.
Ines Gimota Falcon, Kenneth Jay L. Dugaria, Danna C. Remojo
Optimization of client satisfaction and faster services are the main goals of any service-oriented government organization. However, the land transportation agency in Eastern Visayas Region of the Philippines experience challenges in the management of its flow and processes, as the methods applied are static and traditional. This study aimed to streamline these challenges encountered by clients and employees through the implementation a three-tier queue management system utilizing the agile model incorporating iterative phases of planning, design, development, and testing, with inputs from users’ feedback. The evaluation comprises 115 participants composing supervisors, information and communication technology experts, staff, and service clients; mixed quantitative surveys with qualitative usability feedback for user-centric improvement using technology acceptance model and ISO-9126-4 frameworks. The results showed a consistently high score on key criteria, namely, perceived ease of use, structure & layout, relevance, functionality, interactivity and completeness with scores ranging from 4.65 to 4.80, which falls into the highly effective level. Findings represent the strength of the system and design strategy toward reduction of wait times, enhanced transaction flow and processes, and improved transparency. Further findings showed that the three-tier queuing system is beneficial to land transportation agency in fine-tunning their operational processes and increasing revenue.
IntroductionShort travel videos have emerged as a powerful tool for tourism destination marketing, yet the narrative mechanisms that make them effective remain underexplored. This study investigates how travel vloggers integrate storytelling into short videos to enhance viewer engagement and promote destinations.MethodsAdopting a single-case study approach, we analyzed the top 500 short videos of a renowned Chinese travel vlogger on the Bilibili platform. Video narrations and titles were transcribed and subjected to a four-stage procedural coding analysis using NVivo software. User comments were also examined to understand audience responses.ResultsThe analysis reveals a three-part narrative structure: (1) an opening that employs suspenseful titles and sensory symbols (visual and auditory) to capture attention; (2) a middle section that uses rhythmic control, task-driven plots, and emotional triggers (e.g., healing, nostalgia, humor) to sustain engagement; and (3) an ending that evokes emotional sublimation and provides behavioral guidance through social currency and commercial cues. The blogger’s distinct persona and the use of background music further enhance narrative transportation.DiscussionThese findings extend narrative transportation theory to the context of short-form travel videos, illustrating how linguistic features, narrative strategies, and emotional dispositions interact to create an immersive experience. The study offers practical insights for content creators and destination marketers seeking to leverage short videos for effective communication.
Paria Mahmoudi, Mohammad Hori Najafabadi, Bernd Noche
et al.
<i>Background</i>: Modern supply chains (SC) are increasingly difficult to manage as they become more complex and interconnected. This encourages companies to rely more on real-time data analysis and analytical tools on operational processes. This study aims to develop and evaluate a Supply Chain Wave Report for a non-food retail that represents goods movement across logistics stages as a continuous analytical flow. <i>Methods</i>: Proposed framework integrates multiple operational phases—Booked Orders, Main Transit, On-Carriage, Warehouse Operations, Store Delivery, and Sales—into a unified monitoring structure. This model can combine operational data with advanced analytics, including Artificial Intelligence-, cloud computing-, and Internet of Things-based technologies. Through cloud-based data infrastructures, System enables data integration and near real-time visibility across organizational functions, allowing continuous monitoring through key performance indicators and predictive simulations. <i>Results</i>: This framework enables dynamic performance of supply chain management and generates real-time signals as goods move across logistics network. This enables managers to detect irregularities earlier and respond before operational deviations propagate further along the chain. Wave-based monitoring approach highlights interdependence between SC stages and illustrates how small disruptions may propagate over time, potentially contributing to effects like bullwhip effect. <i>Conclusions</i>: Findings suggest that a cloud-enabled wave analytics framework can enhance coordination, reduce information gaps, and support informed decision-making in retail.
Transportation and communication, Management. Industrial management
<i>Background</i>: Ongoing challenges such as geopolitical conflicts, trade disruptions, economic sanctions, and political instability have underscored the urgent need for large manufacturing enterprises to improve resilience and reduce dependence on global supply chains. Integrating regional and local Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) has been proposed as a strategic approach to enhance supply chain localization, yet barriers such as limited visibility, qualification hurdles, and integration difficulties persist. <i>Methods</i>: This study proposes a comprehensive knowledge graph driven framework for representing and discovering SMEs, implemented as a proof-of-concept in the U.S. BioPharma sector. The framework constructs a curated knowledge graph in Neo4j, converts it to Resource Description Framework (RDF) format, and aligns it with the Schema.org vocabulary to enable semantic interoperability and enhance the discoverability of SMEs. <i>Results</i>: The developed knowledge graph, consisting of 488 nodes and 11,520 edges, enabled accurate multi-hop SME discovery with query response times under 10 milliseconds. RDF serialization produced 16,086 triples, validated across platforms to confirm interoperability and semantic consistency. <i>Conclusions</i>: The proposed framework provides a scalable, adaptable, and generalizable solution for SME discovery and supply chain localization, offering a practical pathway to strengthen resilience in diverse manufacturing industries.
Transportation and communication, Management. Industrial management
GUO Haojie, WANG Wenxin, WANG Yuanbin, CONG Yaohui
[Objective] The participation of forage farmers in vertical coordination is an important way to solve the problem of insufficient forage supply and the loose connection of the forage industrial chain. This study aimed to explore the key factors that influence the participation of forage farmers in vertical coordination, in order to promote effective linkage between farmers and the market and improve the forage supply capacity. [Methods] A mathematical derivation model of forage farmers’ participation in vertical coordination was constructed from the perspective of internal risk preference and external transaction cost. Based on the survey data of farmers in typical forage-producing areas such as Gansu and Inner Mongolia in 2023, the multiple price list and multinomial logit model were used for empirical analysis. Robustness tests and heterogeneity analyses were also conducted. [Results] (1) The crucial role of internal risk preference in vertical coordination behavior cannot be ignored. Forage farmers with higher level of risk aversion tend to participate more in vertical coordination models of organizational collaboration, sales contract collaboration, and production contract collaboration to ensure transaction stability. (2) The information and execution costs not only directly affect the participation of forage farmers in vertical coordination but also positively regulate the participation of farmers with a high degree of risk preference in vertical coordination. (3) The information and execution costs of annual forage farmers have a significant direct effect on the vertical coordination behavior, while there is no significant impact for perennial forage farmers. The transaction cost of forage farmers in the Sickle Bay area has a significant direct impact and regulatory effect on the vertical coordination behavior, while there is no significant impact in the Huang-Huai-Hai area. [Conclusion] High degree of risk preference of farmers will have a significant inhibitory effect on participating in vertical coordination, while transaction costs will moderate the negative impact of risk preference. Future efforts should aim to enhance farmers’ awareness of the risks involved in forage production and management through both online and offline channels; encourage downstream organizations or enterprises to provide service systems for the integration of forage production and marketing; and improve the development of infrastructure such as communication networks and transportation in the Sickle Bay area.
Nadia Niknami, Avinash Srinivasan, Ken St. Germain
et al.
The rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) has opened up exciting possibilities for new applications. One such novel application is the modernization of maritime communications. Effective maritime communication is vital for ensuring the safety of crew members, vessels, and cargo. The maritime industry is responsible for the transportation of a significant portion of global trade, and as such, the efficient and secure transfer of information is essential to maintain the flow of goods and services. With the increasing complexity of maritime operations, technological advancements such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), and the Internet of Ships (IoS) have been introduced to enhance communication and operational efficiency. However, these technologies also bring new challenges in terms of security and network management. Compromised IT systems, with escalated privileges, can potentially enable easy and ready access to operational technology (OT) systems and networks with the same privileges, with an increased risk of zero-day attacks. In this paper, we first provide a review of the current state and modalities of maritime communications. We then review the current adoption of software-defined radios (SDRs) and software-defined networks (SDNs) in the maritime industry and evaluate their impact as maritime IoT enablers. Finally, as a key contribution of this paper, we propose a unified SDN–SDR-driven cross-layer communications framework that leverages the existing SATCOM communications infrastructure, for improved and resilient maritime communications in highly dynamic and resource-constrained environments.