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Sensor fusion is an important and crucial topic in many industrial applications. One of the challenging problems is to find an appropriate sensor combination for the dedicated application or to weight their information adequately. In our contribution, we focus on the application of the sensor fusion concept together with the reference to the distance-based learning for object classification purposes. The developed machine learning model has a bi-functional architecture, which learns on the one side the discrimination of the data regarding their classes and, on the other side, the importance of the single signals, i.e., the contribution of each sensor to the decision. We show that the resulting bi-functional model is interpretative, sparse, and simple to integrate in many standard artificial neural networks.
Decentralizing Smart Energy Markets - tamper-proof-documentation of flexibility market processes
(2020)
The evolving granularity and structural decentralization of the energy system leads to a need for new tools for the efficient operation of electricity grids. Local Flexibility Markets (or "Smart Markets") provide platform concepts for market based congestion management. In this context there is a distinct need for a secure, reliable and tamper-resistant market design which requires transparent and independent monitoring of platform operation. Within the following paper different concepts for blockchain-based documentation of relevant processes on the proposed market platform are described. On this basis potential technical realizations are discussed. Finally, the implementation of one setup using Merkle tree operations is presented by using open source libraries.
Over recent years, Maximal Extractable Value (MEV) has gained significant importance within the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem. Remarkably, within just two years of its emergence, MEV has seen an extraction of approximately 600 million USD - a phenomenon that has sparked concerns regarding potential threats to blockchain stability.
With growing interest in the Ethereum network and the growing DeFi sector, research surrounding MEV has substantially increased. This work aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of MEV. Additionally, this research quantifies the largest types of MEV (Arbitrage, Sandwich and Liquidations) from March 2022 to March 2023. The data are then compared to other sources, revealing a general upward trend, with a particularly noticeable increase in Sandwich Attacks.
The set of transactions that occurs on the public ledger of an Ethereum network in a specific time frame can be represented as a directed graph, with vertices representing addresses and an edge indicating the interaction between two addresses.
While there exists preliminary research on analyzing an Ethereum network by the means of graph analysis, most existing work is focused on either the public Ethereum Mainnet or on analyzing the different semantic transaction layers using
static graph analysis in order to carve out the different network properties (such as interconnectivity, degrees of centrality, etc.) needed to characterize a blockchain network. By analyzing the consortium-run bloxberg Proof-of-Authority (PoA) Ethereum network, we show that we can identify suspicious and potentially malicious behaviour of network participants by employing statistical graph analysis. We thereby show that it is possible to identify the potentially malicious
exploitation of an unmetered and weakly secured blockchain network resource. In addition, we show that Temporal Network Analysis is a promising technique to identify the occurrence of anomalies in a PoA Ethereum network.
As economies are getting more and more interconnected, the importance of the global logistics sector grew accordingly. However, both structural challenges and current events lead to recent supply chain disruptions, exposing the vulnerabilities of the sector. Simultaneously, blockchain has emerged as a key innovative technology with use cases going far beyond the exchange of virtual currencies. This paper aims to analyze how the technology is transforming global logistics and its challenges. Therefore, six use cases, are presented to give an overview of the technological possibilities of blockchain and smart contracts. The analysis combines theoretical approaches from scientific journals and combines them with findings from real-world implementations. The paper finds that the technology can change supply chain design fundamentally, with processes and decisions being automated and power within supply chain structures changing. However, implementations also face technological, environmental, and organizational challenges that need to be solved for wide-spread adoption.
Prototype-based Vector Quantization is one of the key methods in data processing like data compression or interpretable classification learning. Prototype vectors serve as references for data and data classes. The data are given as vectors representing objects by numerical features. Famous approaches are the Neural Gas Vector Quantizer (NGVQ) for data compression and Learning Vector Quantizers (LVQ) for classification tasks. Frequently, training of those models is time consuming. In the contribution we discuss modifications of these algorithms adopting ideas from quantum computing. The aim for this is a least twofold: First quantum computing provides ideas for enormous speedup making use of quantum mechanical systems and inherent parallelization.
Second, considering data and prototype vectors in terms of quantum systems, implicit data processing is performed, which frequently results in better data separation. We will highlight respective ideas and difficulties when equipping vector quantizers with quantum computing features.
A Systematic Literature Review on Blockchain Oracles: State of Research, Challenges, and Trends
(2023)
To enable data exchange between the Blockchain protocol (on-chain) and the real world (off-chain), e.g., non-Blockchain-based applications and systems, a software called Oracle is used [3]. Blockchain oracle is an important component in the use of off-chain data for on-chain smart contracts. However, there is limited scientific literature available on this important blockchain topic. Therefore, in this paper, a novel systematic literature review based on intelligent methods, e.g., information linking, topic clustering and focus identification through frequency calculations, is proposed. Thus, the current state of scientific research interest, content and challenges, and future research directions for blockchain oracles are identified. This paper shows that there is little unbiased literature that does not call oracles a problem. From the results of this new literature review framework, relevant areas of data handling and verification with blockchain oracles are identified for future research.
After creating a new blockchain transaction, the next step usually is to make miners aware of it by having it propagated through the blockchain’s peer-to-peer network. We study an unintended alternative to peer-to-peer propagation: Exclusive mining. Exclusive mining is a type of collusion between a transaction initiator and a single miner (or mining pool). The initiator sends transactions through a private channel directly to the miner instead of propagating them through the peerto-peer network. Other blockchain users only become aware of these transactions once they have been included in a block by the miner. We identify three possible motivations for engaging in exclusive mining: (i) reducing transaction cost volatility (“confirmation as a service”), (ii) hiding unconfirmed transactions from the network to prevent frontrunning and (iii) camouflaging wealth transfers as transaction costs to evade taxes or launder money. We further outline why exclusive mining is difficult to prevent and introduce metrics which can be used to identify mining pools engaging in exclusive mining activity.
More than 10 years after the invention of Bitcoin, the underlying blockchain technology is having an increasing effect on today’s society. Although one of the most popular application areas of blockchain is still the field of cryptocurrencies, the technological concepts are crossing into further application domains such as international supply chains. Fast-changing markets, high costs of time and risk management as well as biased relationships between the actors pose big challenges to an appropriate supply chain management. Based on a case study about sensor tracking, this paper explores the potential impact of blockchain on small and medium enterprises within an international supply chain. We will show that blockchain technologies offers a high potential to reduce inequalities of power relations between involved actors within supply chains. To achieve this, the requirements for the use of blockchain in supply chain management will be analyzed by means of a conducted case study and an expert survey of the companies concerned.
Safety, quality, and sustainability concerns have arisen from global supply chains. Stakeholders incur risk regarding these factors, given their significance and complexity. Thus, each business's supply chain risk management must prioritize product characteristics. Accordingly, an effective traceability solution that can monitor and regulate product and supply chain aspects is crucial, especially in a given scenario. This re-search paper elucidates the potential of smart contracts in blockchain to enhancing the efficacy of business transactions and ensuring comprehensive traceability within the supply chain of paper-based coffee cups The improved levels of transaction transparency and security in traditional supply chains have been achieved through the digitization of supply chain ecosystem interactions and transactions. This approach makes verifying sources, manufacturing procedures, and quality standards easier in complex supply chains. Accordingly, the integration helps stakeholders monitor and track the whole ecosystem, promoting transparency, predictability, and dependability.
Both cryptocurrency researchers and early adopters of cryptocurrencies agree that they possess a special kind of materiality, based on the laborious productive process of digital ‘mining’ [1]. This idea first appears in the Bitcoin White Paper [2] that encourages Bitcoin adopters to construct and justify its value in metaphoric comparison to gold mining. In
this paper, I explore three material aspects of blockchain: physical infrastructure, human language and computer code. I apply the concept of 'continuous materiality' [3] to show how these three aspects interact in practical implementations of blockchain such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. I start from the concept of ‘digital metallism’ that stands for ‘fundamental value’ of cryptocurrencies, and end with the move of Ethereum to ‘proof-of-stake’, partially as a countermeasure against ‘evil miners’. I conclude that ignoring material aspects of blockchain technology can only further problematize complicated relations between their technical, semiotic and social materiality.
In the swiftly changing world of academic publishing, the Sea of Wisdom platform seizes the opportunity to innovate. By combining the technologies of blockchain, decentralized finance (DeFi), and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) with traditional scholarly communication, we present a groundbreaking, decentralized solution. Our design, although adaptable, primarily uses Ethereum's Virtual Machine, tapping into its robust scientific community.
Increasing speed in laser processing is driven by the development of high-power lasers into ranges of more than 1 kW. Additionally, a proper distribution of these laser power is required to achieve high quality processing results. In the case of high pulse repletion rates, a proper distribution of the pulses can be obtained from ultrafast beam deflection in the range of several 100 m/s. A two-dimensional polygon mirror scanner has been used to distribute a nanosecond pulsed laser with up to 1 kW average power at a wavelength of 1064 nm for multi pass laser engraving. The pulse duration of this laser can be varied between 30 ns and 240 ns and the pulse repetition rate is set between 1 and 4 MHz. The depth information is included in greyscale bitmaps, which were used to modulate the laser during the scanning accordingly to the lateral position and the depth. The process allows high processing rates and thus high throughput.
Laser engraving requires a precise ablation per pulse through all layers of a depth map. To transform this process towards areas of a square meter and more within an acceptable time, needs high-power ultra-short pulsed lasers for the precision and a high scan speed for the beam distribution. Scan speeds in the range of several 100 m/s can be achieved with a polygon scanner. In this work, a polygon scanner has been utilized within a roll-engraving machine to treat an 800 x 220 mm² (L x Dia) roll with 0.55 m² in a laser engraving process. The machine setup, the processing strategy and the data handling has been investigated and result in an efficient large area process. Pre-tests were performed with a multi-MHz-frequency nanosecond-pulsed laser, to investigate the processing strategy. A method to overcome the duty cycle of the polygon scanner was found in the synchronization of two polygons, enabling the use on a single laser source in a time-sharing concept. The throughput and the utilization of the laser source can be increased by the factor of two
In this work, Direct Laser Interference Patterning (DLIP) is used in conjunction with the polygon scanner technique to fabricate textured polystyrene and nickel surfaces through ultra-fast beam deflection. For polystyrene, the impact of scanning speed and repetition rate on the structure formation is studied, obtaining periodic features with a spatial period of 21 μm and reaching structure heights up to 23 μm. By applying scanning speeds of up to 350 m/s, a structuring throughput of 1.1 m²/min has been reached. Additionally, the optical configuration was used to texture nickel electrode foils with line-like patterns with a spatial period of 25 μm and a maximum structure depth of 15 μm. Subsequently, the structured nickel electrodes were assessed in terms of their performance for the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction (HER). The findings revealed a significant improvement in HER efficiency, with a 22% increase compared to the untreated reference electrode.
At a global level, different studies disclose that transport systems are responsible for 25% of CO2 emissions. In the context of sustainable mobility, one of the challenges in the short term is associated with the research and improvement of alternative fuels, which should allow a fast decrease in the generation of greenhouse gases due to sustainable transport means. In this sense, green hydrogen can play a fundamental role. Green hydrogen is the basis for producing synthetic fuels, which can replace oil and its derivatives. Synthetic fuels or e-fuel are hydrocarbons produced from carbon dioxide (CO2) and green hydrogen (H2) as the only raw materials. H2 or efuel could be used in many sectors (manufacturing, residential, transportation, mining and other industries). In this study, different applications of hydrogen are evaluated by techno-economic analysis. The main variable that affects the production of hydrogen and its derivatives is the cost of electricity. Considering the renewable energy potential of Chile, it is feasible to develop in Chile the green hydrogen production as an energy vector, which would be technically and economically viable, together with the environmental benefits
Learning Vector Quantization (LVQ) methods have been popular choices of classification models ever since its introduction by T. Kohonen in the 90s. These days, LVQ is combined with Deep Learning methods to provide powerful yet interpretable machine-learning solutions to some of the most challenging computational problems.
However, techniques to model recurrent relationships in the data using prototype methods still remain quite unsophisticated. In particular, we are not aware of any modification of LVQ that allows the input data to have different lengths. Needless to say, such data is abundant in today's digital world and demands new processing techniques to extract useful information. In this paper, we propose the use of the Siamese architecture to not only model recurrent relationships within the prototypes but also the ability to handle prototypes of various dimensions simultaneously.
Development of a genetic biomonitoring test for the investigation of pollinator-plant-interactions
(2021)
There is a world-wide decline in biodiversity recorded. Especially insects and accompanying pollinators are threatened. When the foraging behaviour of pollinators is understood in detail, future crop and floral pollination services can be sustained and it is possible to establish projects for the conservation of pollinators and plant biodiversity. With the use of nanopore sequencing methods it is possible to detect pollen species that were collected by pollinators by their genetic information. In this study, a protocol for portable nanopore sequencing of DNA from pollen that was collected by honey bees, bumble bees and wild bees is being designed. DNAmetabarcoding is used to identify species within the mixed DNA sample. The ITS2-region will be used as a barcode. We will investigate pollen preferences of three pollinator species by placing their hives or nests at the same. Based on the results, landscape management schemes are developed that target pollen preferences and nutritional requirements of managed and wild social bee species as well as solitary wild bees.
With the increasing usage of blockchain technology, legal challenges such as GDPR compliance arise. Especially the right of erasure is considered challenging as blockchains are tamperproof by design. Several approaches investigated
possibilities to weaken the tamperproof aspect of blockchains in favor of GDPR compliance. This paper presents several approaches, then focuses on chameleon hash functions by evaluating the possibility to use these specific functions in a private blockchain. The goal of the built system is to take a step towards the digitization of the bill of lading used in international trade. This paper describes the developed software as well as the core considerations around the system such as network design or block structure.
This desk research will initiate an exploration of present and potential blockchain applications in the higher education sector of Europe. The aim of this research is to create a theoretical base for a further postgraduate research and analysis, so to create an effective model/framework to augment the integration of blockchain technology into existing organizational processes, initially in higher educational institutions, but which may be adaptable and generalizable to other specific uses. Due to the novelty of the topic, academic resources related to the research area are limited. Most studies seem to focus on blockchain-based applications in industries such as finance, healthcare, and supply chain management, and there is little evidence of the impact of blockchain technology on education. This paper discusses present and suggests some potential blockchain-based applications in education in Europe and beyond. This research provides a groundwork for education and academia stakeholders, policymakers and researchers to exploit the potential of blockchain in different functions of an education system.