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Background : The current UK standard for major trauma patients is to record notes in a paper trauma booklet. Through an innovative collaboration between a major trauma centre and a digital transformation industry partner, a TraumaApp was developed. Electronic notes have been shown to have fewer errors, granular data collection and enable time stamped contemporaneous record keeping. Implementation of digital clinical records presents a challenge within the context of trauma multidisciplinary trauma resuscitation. Data can be easily accessible and shared for quality improvement, audit and research purposes. This study compared paper and electronic notes for completeness and for acceptability data following the implementation of the TraumaApp. Methods: Trauma team members who performed scribe function attended training for the newly launched TraumaApp. Two staff members acted as scribe, using either the paper trauma booklet or TraumaApp, and attended major trauma calls. A framework for comparison of paper and electronic notes was created and used for a retrospective review of major trauma patients' notes. Statistical analysis was performed using a two-tailed t-test. Staff using the TraumaApp completed a System Usability Score questionnaire. Results: There was a total of 37 data points for collection per case. The mean numbers collected were paper notes 24.1 of 37 (65.1%) and electronic notes, 25.7 of 37 (69.5%). There was no statistical significance between the completeness of paper and electronic notes. The mean System Usability Score was 68.4. Discussion: Recording accurate patient information during a major trauma call can be challenging and the role of the scribe to accurately record events is critical for immediate and future care. There was no statistically significant difference in completeness of paper and electronic notes, however the mean System Usability Score was 68.4, which is greater than the internationally validated standard of acceptable usability. Conclusion: It is feasible to introduce digital data collection tools enabling accurate record keeping during trauma resuscitation and improve information sharing between clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Digital games are one of the most engaging forms of media. Players can have a first-hand experience and the possibility of feeling immersed within a digital setting where agency is exerted. This paper seeks to understand the role of digital games as new means of communication and their potential to convey messages that may defy gamers to question the moral grand narratives that shape contemporary societies. In a moment when many countries have opted to close or limit the circulation in their borders, it is important to think about the role played by the border as a historic liminal entity for the representation of societies and communities, distinguishing those who belong from those who do not. The representation of the border in digital games have tended to follow one of the main tropes explored in other media: the border as a physical space that set boundaries between different nations and different regions of the world. In order to assert the potential of digital games to offer a more comprehensive representation of the border as a liminal space, the case of Papers, Please! (2013) will be analyzed. Based on a qualitative methodology, having content analysis as primary data collection method, the paper intends to contribute to the discussion on how history may narrativized and, eventually, reinterpreted in digital games. Papers, Please! analysis will be centered on the relationship that is set between player and border, that is presented as a liminal space where the game's action takes places entirely. Moreover, the paper intends to discuss the role that has been played by digital games in the representation of serious topics and how they have evolved as communication tools beyond their role as entertainment products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

mHealth applications (apps) are tools that can enhance research by efficiently collecting and storing large amounts of data. However, data collection alone does not lead to change. Innovation and practice change occur through utilisation of evidence. The volume of data collected raises questions regarding utilisation of data by nurses and midwives, and how data from mHealth apps can be used to improve person-centred practice. There is limited empirical evidence and a lack of direction from global health authorities to guide nurses and midwives in this area. To describe strategies for nurses and midwives that could enhance the effective use of data generated by mHealth apps to inform person-centred practice. The purpose of this paper is to stimulate reflection and generate actions for data utilisation when using mHealth apps in nursing research and practice. This discussion paper has been informed by current evidence, the integrated-Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (i-PARIHS) framework, and research experience as part of doctoral study. Before engaging in data collection using mHealth apps, nurses and midwives would benefit from considering the nature of the evidence collected, available technological infrastructure, and staff skill levels. When collecting data and interpreting results, use of a team approach supported by engaged leadership and external facilitation is invaluable. This provides support to operate apps, and more importantly use the data collected to inform person-centred practice. This paper addresses the limited available evidence to guide nurses and midwives when using mHealth apps to collect and use data to inform practice change. It highlights the need for appropriate technology, external facilitative support, engaged leadership, and a team approach to collect meaningful evidence using mHealth apps. Clinicians, leaders, and researchers can apply the strategies provided to enhance the use of mHealth apps and ensure translation of evidence into practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the advancement of mobile technology, mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) has significant potential regarding its practical applications and benefits in foreign language learning. Nevertheless, little research was conducted to examine factors regarding the facilitation of oral communication through MALL based on established theories or models. The purpose of this review is to investigate the main constituents conducive to the intended outcomes based on an adapted model from Beatty (2010) and further provide guidelines for enthusiastic stakeholders in the field. Twenty-eight empirical studies were collected and categorized according to four key variables of the design model and analyzed qualitatively, with the key findings identified as follows. Due to the technical affordance of mobile technology, it is found that a student-centered self-regulated learning context is created, where students construct knowledge through self-instruction, self-evaluation, and self-correction. Furthermore, a speaking strategy-driven collaborative-based learning design enhances students' oral proficiency through strong social connections, interactions, and communication. Finally, given the pedagogical design and practices, high-level cognitive thinking is thereby promoted, with promising affective learning outcomes. In light of the findings, guidelines for educational practitioners, learners, and system designers are provided for pedagogical and practical application in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ocean research currently relies heavily on bulky bioelectronic tags and sensory telemetry networks for data collection. Therefore, in this study, a compact and flexible waterproof bioelectronic tag with a kirigami (paper cutting)‐based design for underwater conductivity, temperature, depth, and strain sensing is designed and evaluated. Unlike invasive bioelectronic tags, the kirigami bioelectronic tag can be attached to robotic fish or aquatic animals without harming the host. The kirigami‐based design facilitates excellent stretchability and reduces stress within the sensor, thus inhibiting crosstalk induced by movement during multimodal sensing. A working bioelectronic tag is fabricated and tested. Notably, the performance of the kirigami sensors shows very little degradation even after >1000 stretching cycles. Specifically, the multimodal bioelectronic tag demonstrates a wide working pressure range of 0–5.0 MPa, and the kirigami design effectively suppresses signal coupling. The kirigami‐based bioelectronic tag is applied to a robotic dolphin and underwater environmental parameters and detailed movement parameters, such as swing angle, swing frequency, and typical gestures are detected simultaneously with high sensitivity and accuracy. Therefore, the device can be applied to a broad range of applications in various fields such as behavioral biology, ocean informatics, and underwater robotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past few years, the emergence of electrochemical wearable sensors has attracted considerable attention because of their promising application in point‐of‐care testing due to some features such as high sensitivity, simplicity, miniaturization, and low fabrication cost. Recent developments in new fabrication approaches and innovative substrates have resulted in sensors able to real‐time and on‐body measurements. Wearable electrochemical sensors have also been combined with paper‐based substrates and directly used on human skin for different applications for non‐invasive analyses. Furthermore, wearable electrochemical sensors enable monitoring analytes in different biofluids without complex procedures, such as pre‐treatment or sample manipulation. The coupling of IoT to various wearable sensors has also attracted attention due to real‐time data collection and handling in remote and resource‐limited conditions. This mini‐review presents the significant advances in developing wearable electrochemical devices, such as sampling, data collection, connection protocols, and power sources, and discusses some critical challenges for higher performance in this field. We also present an overview of the application of paper as an intelligent substrate for electrochemical wearable sensors and discuss their advantages and drawbacks. Lastly, conclude by highlighting the future advances in wearable sensors and diagnostics by coupling real‐time and on‐body measurements to multiplexed detection of different biomarkers simultaneously, reducing the cost and time of classical analysis to provide fast and complete overall physiological conditions to the wearer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This methodological guidance paper discusses the craft of reviewing qualitative research for a systematic review. Qualitative research is an expansive and wide-ranging domain that includes research from different disciplines, for different purposes, following different methodological traditions, and employing a variety of data collection and analysis methods. While many aspects of reviewing qualitative research are similar to reviewing quantitative research, the essay focuses on five central tasks: (1) clarifying purpose(s), (2) defining research quality, (3) situating the research in relevant contexts, (4) adding it up, and (5) practicing reflexivity—that every reviewer of qualitative research engages in. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Novel survey methods are needed to tackle declining response rates. The 2020 National Maternity Survey included a randomised controlled trial (RCT) and social media survey to compare different combinations of sampling and data collection methods with respect to: response rate, respondent representativeness, prevalence estimates of maternity indicators and cost. Methods: A two-armed parallel RCT and concurrent social media survey were conducted. Women in the RCT were sampled from ONS birth registrations and randomised to either a paper or push-to-web survey. Women in the social media survey self-selected through online adverts. The primary outcome was response rate in the paper and push-to-web surveys. In all surveys, respondent representativeness was assessed by comparing distributions of sociodemographic characteristics in respondents with those of the target population. External validity of prevalence estimates of maternity indicators was assessed by comparing weighted survey estimates with estimates from national routine data. Cost was also compared across surveys. Results: The response rate was higher in the paper survey (n = 2,446) compared to the push-to-web survey (n = 2,165)(30.6% versus 27.1%, difference = 3.5%, 95%CI = 2.1–4.9, p < 0.0001). Compared to the target population, respondents in all surveys were less likely to be aged < 25 years, of Black or Minority ethnicity, born outside the UK, living in disadvantaged areas, living without a partner and primiparous. Women in the social media survey (n = 1,316) were less representative of the target population compared to women in the paper and push-to-web surveys. For some maternity indicators, weighted survey estimates were close to estimates from routine data, for other indicators there were discrepancies; no survey demonstrated consistently higher external validity than the other two surveys. Compared to the paper survey, the cost saving per respondent was £5.45 for the push-to-web survey and £22.42 for the social media survey. Conclusions: Push-to-web surveys may cost less than paper surveys but do not necessarily result in higher response rates. Social media surveys cost significantly less than paper and push-to-web surveys, but sample size may be limited by eligibility criteria and recruitment window and respondents may be less representative of the target population. However, reduced representativeness does not necessarily introduce more bias in weighted survey estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The data paper is an emerging academic genre that focuses on the description of research data objects. However, there is a lack of empirical knowledge about this rising genre in quantitative science studies, particularly from the perspective of its linguistic features. To fill this gap, this research aims to offer a first quantitative examination of which rhetorical moves—rhetorical units performing a coherent narrative function—are used in data paper abstracts, as well as how these moves are used. To this end, we developed a new classification scheme for rhetorical moves in data paper abstracts by expanding a well‐received system that focuses on English‐language research article abstracts. We used this expanded scheme to classify and analyze rhetorical moves used in two flagship data journals, Scientific Data and Data in Brief. We found that data papers exhibit a combination of introduction, method, results, and discussion‐ and data‐oriented moves and that the usage differences between the journals can be largely explained by journal policies concerning abstract and paper structure. This research offers a novel examination of how the data paper, a data‐oriented knowledge representation, is composed, which greatly contributes to a deeper understanding of research data and its publication in the scholarly communication system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The purpose of this study is the analysis of bibliometric studies of the medical most-cited papers. Materials and Methods: This applied and the scientometric study was conducted using retrospective bibliometric analysis methods. AScopus search was conducted and 883 articles were retrieved. After reviewing the titles and abstracts, 432 articles related to the purpose of this research were identified. Items such as year, journal, country, and institution were considered. Medical subject heading and NLM were applied for the subject categorization of articles. Given the dynamics of subject areas over time, only the content of 117 articles published in 2020 and 2021 were analyzed. These 117 articles have been reviewed with 11,700 most-cited articles. By reviewing 117 articles, the most productive journal, country, and institute in producing 11,700 articles were identified. Results: The findings have shown a significant number of these publications review 100 most-cited articles in the field of medicine. Articles pertaining to the Nervous System, Musculoskeletal System, Dentistry, Radiology, and Cardiovascular System are the most numerous among the publications. Conclusion: The results of this study allow readers to know the most productive countries, institutions, and journals of various subject areas, as well as the most influential fields and research trends in that subject area. The results of this study also identify subject areas for which the characteristics of their core articles have not yet been explored to plan future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Why you should read this article: • To avoid bias in analysis, interpretation and generalisability of findings that can occur from missing data when using self-administered questionnaires • To develop strategies to prevent missing data in self-administered questionnaires • To understand the methodological and statistical considerations underlying the use of prevention strategies in quantitative studies Background: Self-administered questionnaires are efficient and low-cost ways of collecting data with wide cohorts. Nonetheless, their use in studies can result in a high occurrence of missing data, which can affect the statistical power, representativeness and generalisability of the findings. Imputation methods have been considered efficient statistical techniques for managing missing data. However, they have also been associated with limits, such as the risk of under-estimation of the effect, lower statistical power and decrease of correlation among variables. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of using prevention strategies to avoid missing data before the data are analysed. Aim: To identify strategies for preventing the occurrence of missing data and to discuss their effects, as well as their methodological and statistical considerations. Discussion: The article discusses prevention strategies related to the administration format and follow-up and reminders. Strategies such as the use of electronic tablets, email and telephone reminders are associated with lower rates of missing data in self-administered questionnaires. However, methodological and statistical limits, including the absence of a comparison group and statistical validation of the reported results, limits the capacity to establish robust consensus. Conclusion: Prevention strategies represent relevant and feasible avenues for handling missing data in a wide range of clinical, nursing and epidemiological research. More projects based on robust design are needed to ensure accurate and reliable data are collected from patients, families, communities and clinicians. Implications for practice: It is important for clinicians and nurses to understand the phenomenon of missing data and the strategies available to prevent missing data, to collect data representing the patients' and families' perspectives and experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Remote testing is suitable when performing complex tests requiring careful training. • One-solution test is reliable to assess PROP status in live remote condition. • PROP impregnated paper disks are a valid alternative to solutions in lab setting. • PROP disks can be used out-of-lab if a strict control is provided by the personnel. • Reliable remote testing procedures will promote research in vulnerable populations. Solutions and paper disks are widely used methods for classifying people by their ability to perceive 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP). Recently, remote sensory testing carried out under the supervision of the panel leader, has been found to be a valid alternative to the traditional lab-setting, offering several practical advantages. This study aimed to validate a protocol for PROP status assessment in remote condition and to compare the results obtained using solutions and paper disks. Individual differences in bitterness responsiveness and the relative classification between two different testing conditions (remote and laboratory) and two stimuli (solutions and disks) were compared. 77 subjects (18–30 years; 60 % women) participated in two sessions (one in laboratory and one in remote setting) and rated the perceived intensity of PROP solutions and disks. Mean PROP ratings did not vary across remote and lab conditions (p = 0.844). PROP phenotype classifications in remote-solution and lab-disk conditions were comparable to lab-solution reference condition (with a misclassification rate of 27 % and 31 % respectively, all occurring within contiguous groups). In contrast, the classification in remote-disk condition was not fully comparable (misclassification in respect to lab-solution of 48 % in contiguous groups, and 1.3 % in non-contiguous groups). One-solution test appears as a reliable procedure for PROP status assessment in live remote testing. Also, impregnated paper disks represent a suitable alternative to solution testing in conventional lab setting for practical reasons. However, paper disks could represent a valid option for data collection outside the lab, but they require rigorous in-person control by the sensory personnel when used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Delivery of major trauma care is complex and often fast paced. Clear and comprehensive documentation is paramount to support effective communication during complex clinical care episodes, and to allow collection of data for audit, research and continuous improvement. Clinical events are typically recorded on paper-based records that are developed for individual centres or systems. As one of the priorities laid out by the Scottish Trauma Network project was to develop an electronic data collection system, the TraumaApp was created as a data collection tool for major trauma that could be adopted worldwide.Methods: The study was performed as a service evaluation based at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital Emergency Department. Fifty staff members were recruited in pairs and listened to five paired major trauma standby and handover recordings. Participants were randomised to input data to the TraumaApp and one into the existing paper proforma. The time taken to input data add into was measured, along with time for clarifications and any errors made. Those using the app completed a System Usability Score.Results: No statistically significant difference was demonstrated between times taken for data entry for the digital and paper documentation, apart from the Case 5 Handover (p < 0.05). Case 1 showed a significantly higher time for clarifications and number of errors with digital data collection (p = 0.01 and p = 1.79E-05 respectively). There were no other differences between data for the app and the proforma. The mean System Usability score for this cohort was 75 out of 100, with a standard deviation of 17 (rounded to nearest integer).Conclusion: Digital real-time recording of clinical events using a tool such as the TraumaApp is comparable to completion of paper proforma. The System Usability Score for the TraumaApp was above the internationally validated standard of acceptable usability. There was no evidence of improvement in use over time or familiarity, most likely due to the brevity of the assessments and the refined user interface. This would benefit from further research, exploring data completeness and a potential mixed methods approach to explore training requirements for use of the TraumaApp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The original article can be found online at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-023-01833-8.Correction: BMC Med Res Methodol 23, 10 (2023)https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-023-01833-8Following publication of the original article [[1]], the authors reported an error in the Fig. 4: the colours in the pie charts in Fig. 4 do not all correspond with the legend. See the Fig. 4 corrected.Graph: Fig. 4 Breakdown of total costs across the surveysThe original article [[1]] has been updated.By Siân Harrison; Fiona Alderdice and Maria A. QuigleyReported by Author; Author; Author [Extracted from the article]

Background: Collection of detailed dietary data is labor intensive and expensive, harmonization of existing data sets has been proposed as an effective tool for research questions in which individual studies are underpowered. Methods: In this paper, we describe the methodology used to retrospectively harmonize nutritional data from multiple sources, based on the individual participant data of all available studies, which collected nutritional data in Israel between 1963 and 2014. This collaboration was established in order to study the association of red and processed meat with colorectal cancer. Two types of nutritional questionnaires, the Food Frequency Questionnaires (FFQ) and the 24-h dietary recall (24HR recall), and different food composition tables, were used by the participating studies. The main exposure of interest included type of meat (total meat, red meat, and poultry) and level of processing. Results: A total of 29,560 Israeli men and women were enrolled. In studies using FFQ,the weighted mean intakes of total, red, processed meat, and poultry were 95, 27, 37 and 58 gr/day and 92, 25, 10, and 66 gr/day in studies using 24HR recall, respectively.. Despite several methodological challenges, we successfully harmonized nutritional data from the different studies. Conclusions: This paper emphasizes the significance and feasibility of harmonization of previously collected nutritional data, offering an opportunity to examine associations between a range of dietary exposures and the outcome of interest, while minimizing costs and time in epidemiological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To scope how the Australian Bureau of Statistics Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) has been applied to measure socio-economic status (SES) in peer-reviewed cardiovascular disease (CVD) research. Methods: The Joanna Briggs Institute's scoping review methodology was used. Results: The search retrieved 2788 unique citations, and 49 studies were included. Studies were heterogeneous in their approach to analysis using SEIFA. Not all studies provided information as to what version was used and how SEIFA was applied in analysis. Spatial unit of analysis varied between studies, with participant postcode most frequently applied. Study quality varied. Conclusions: The use of SEIFA in Australian CVD peer-reviewed research is widespread, with variations in the application of SEIFA to measure SES as an exposure. There is a need to improve the reporting of how SEIFA is applied in the methods sections of research papers for greater transparency and to ensure accurate interpretation of CVD research. What is known about the topic? A socio-economic status (SES) gradient is well established for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Research has generally applied two approaches to classifying SES: at an individual level using income, education or occupation data, and at an area level using a range of existing socio-economic information, including the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA). What does this paper add? This review examined how SEIFA has been applied to measure SES in Australian peer-reviewed CVD research and to identify any variations in research practice. What are the implications for practitioners? It is recommended that researchers provide a clear explanation in the methods section of research papers as to which SEIFA version and index was applied, how it was applied, at what spatial unit, and whether the spatial unit was an ABS or non-ABS unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many research studies, multiple objectives need to be considered simultaneously to ensure an effective and efficient investigation. A compound optimal design provides a viable solution to this problem, allowing for the maximization of overall benefits through the integration of several factors. The paper addresses the application of compound optimal designs in the context of progressive first‐failure censoring, with a particular focus on the Generalized Exponential distribution with two parameters. The paper provides an illustrative example of compound designs by considering the cost function along with trace, variance, and determinant of inverse Fisher information. The best design is determined using a graphical solution technique that is both comprehensible and precise. Using a simple example, we demonstrate the advantage of compound optimal designs over constraint optimal designs. Furthermore, the paper examines real‐world data collection to demonstrate the practical utility of compound optimal designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents TimelinePTC, a web-based tool developed to improve the collection and analysis of Pathways to Care (PTC) data in first episode psychosis (FEP) research. Accurately measuring the duration of untreated psychosis (DUP) is essential for effective FEP treatment, requiring detailed understanding of the patient's journey to care. However, traditional PTC data collection methods, mainly manual and paper-based, are time-consuming and often fail to capture the full complexity of care pathways. TimelinePTC addresses these limitations by providing a digital platform for collaborative, real-time data entry and visualization, thereby enhancing data accuracy and collection efficiency. Initially created for the Specialized Treatment Early in Psychosis (STEP) program in New Haven, Connecticut, its design allows for straightforward adaptation to other healthcare contexts, facilitated by its open-source codebase. The tool significantly simplifies the data collection process, making it more efficient and user-friendly. It automates the conversion of collected data into a format ready for analysis, reducing manual transcription errors and saving time. By enabling more detailed and consistent data collection, TimelinePTC has the potential to improve healthcare access research, supporting the development of targeted interventions to reduce DUP and improve patient outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Evidence shows that 20%–30% of patients who aspirate do so silently. Research to date has not demonstrated clear evidence to indicate which patients are at higher risk of silent aspiration. Our aim was to use univariate logistic regression analysis of retrospective case review to determine potential patterns of silent aspiration. Materials and methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 455 fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) reports. The patients were divided into four groups: G1 – neurological diseases (n = 93), G2 – head and neck surgery (n = 200), G3 – gastroenterological diseases (n = 94) and G4 – other patients (n = 68). Data included the occurrence or absence of saliva penetration or aspiration, of silent fluid/solid food penetration or aspiration, type of penetration or aspiration, occurrence of cranial nerve paresis, radiotherapy and tracheostomy. Univariate logistic regression was used to evaluate independent risk factors of silent aspiration in the study population. Three models with different independent variables were considered. Results: There is a statistically significant difference in the frequency of occurrence of silent penetration and aspiration within the groups (p < 0.001), with intraglutative being most frequent. Fluid and food penetration and aspiration correlated with saliva penetration and aspiration in all groups (p < 0.001). Cranial nerve paresis (IX and X), radiotherapy and tracheostomy correlate with saliva penetration and aspiration (p = 0.020 for cranial nerve paresis; p = 0.004 for radiotherapy; p < 0.001 for tracheostomy). One hundred and fifteen patients (45.81%) in the subgroup of patients with intraglutative aspiration had cranial nerve paresis (IX, X or IX–X). Conclusions: Patients who should be prioritised or considered to be at a higher need of instrumental swallowing evaluation are those with IX and X cranial nerve paresis, tracheostomy and those who have had radiotherapy, with saliva swallowing problems, especially after paraganglioma, thyroid and parathyroid glands and middle and posterior fossa tumour surgery. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on the subject: Clinical signs of penetration or aspiration include coughing, throat clearing and voice changes, while silent penetration or aspiration patients aspirate without demonstrating any clinical symptoms. The most common consequences of silent aspiration include aspiration pneumonia, recurrent lower respiratory tract infections and respiratory failure. Additionally, malnutrition and dehydration can be indicators of silent aspiration. Patients may unknowingly reduce their oral intake and lose weight. Retrospective studies have shown that 20%–30% of patients aspirate silently (e.g. patients after stroke, acquired brain injury, head and neck cancer treatment, prolonged intubation). Clinical examination of swallowing can miss up to 50% of cases of silent aspiration. What this paper adds to existing knowledge: Currently, silent aspiration is often discussed in neurological literature, but its applications to head and neck surgery are limited. In this study, we identify head and neck surgery patients who should be prioritised or considered to be in higher need of instrumental swallowing evaluation due to a higher risk of silent aspiration. What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?: Post‐treatment structural changes can result in lower cranial nerve paresis (IX, X, XII) and face injury, in which vagus and glossopharyngeal nerves are injured. After tracheostomy and radiotherapy, patients with problems swallowing saliva need careful clinical examination, particularly cranial nerve examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Motion induced image artifacts have been the focus of many investigations for x‐ray computed tomography (CT). Methodologies of combating patient motion include the use of gating devices to optimize the data acquisition, reduction in patient scan time via faster gantry rotation and large detector coverage, and the development of advanced reconstruction and post‐processing algorithms to minimize motion artifacts. Purpose: Previously proposed approaches are generally "global" in nature in that motion is characterized for the entire image. It is well known, however, that the presence of motion artifact in a CT image is highly nonuniform. When there is a lack of automated and quantitative local measure indicating the presence and the severity of motion artifacts in a local region, the quality of the reconstructed images depends heavily on the CT operator's rigor and experience. Even when an operator is informed of the presence of motion, little information is provided about the nature of the motion artifact to understand its relevance to the clinical task at hand. In this paper, we propose an image‐space spatial‐ and temporal‐consistency metric (CM) to detect and characterize the local motion. Method: In a non‐rigid human organ, such as the lung, there are many small and rigid objects (target objects), such as blood vessels and nodules, distributed throughout the organ. If motion can be characterized for these target objects, we obtain a complete motion map for the organ. To accomplish this, a preliminary image reconstruction is carried out to identify the target objects and establish region‐of‐interests for consistency‐metric calculation. The CM is then obtained based on the backprojected intensity difference between the object region and its circular background. For a stationary object, the accumulation of this quantity over views is linear. When a target object moves, nonlinear behavior exhibits and a quantitative measure of linearity indicates the severity of motion. Results: Extensive computer simulation was utilized to confirm the validity of the theory. These tests stress the sensitivity of the proposed CM to the target object size, object shape, in‐plane motion, cross‐plane motion, cone‐beam effect, and complex background. Results confirm that the proposed approach is robust under different testing conditions. The proposed CM is further validated using a cardiac scan of a swine, and the proposed CM correlates well with the visual inspection of the artifact in the reconstructed images. Conclusions: In this paper, we have demonstrated the efficacy of the proposed CM for motion detection. Unlike previously proposed approaches where the consistency condition is derived for the entire image or the entire imaging volume, the proposed metric is well localized so that different zones in a patient anatomy can be individually characterized. In addition, the proposed CM provides a quantitative measure on a view‐by‐view basis so that the severity of motion is consistently estimated over time. Such information can be used to optimize the image reconstruction process and minimize the motion artifact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial interaction models with spatial origin-destination (OD) filters are powerful tools to characterize trip flows in space, which is a classic and important problem in regional science. To the authors' knowledge, existing studies adopting OD filters mostly specify the spatial dependence as an autoregressive process, which may not be the full picture of spatial effects. To examine the problem, this paper proposes the hypotheses that 1) spatial OD dependences can take place in both the spatial autoregressive term and the spatial error term in a spatial interaction model. 2) Estimating a spatial autoregressive model with spatial autoregressive disturbances (SARAR) model with OD filters would disentangle where the spatial dependence exists and by how much. 3) The marginal effects obtained from SARAR models would be preferred to analysts when SARAR models outperform spatial autoregressive (SAR) models and spatial error models (SEM) from the statistical point of view. To assess these hypotheses, this paper specifies, estimates, and applies SARAR models with OD filters to investigate trip distributions. By comparing against alternative models, this paper investigates the estimation results in SAR, SEM and SARAR models using an empirical data collected from Hangzhou, China. The contribution of this paper is to be the first in developing an SARAR model with OD filters for trip distribution analyses and examining its performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article introduces the concept of load aggregation, which involves a comprehensive analysis of loads to acquire their external characteristics for the purpose of modeling and analyzing power systems. The online identification method is a computer-involved approach for data collection, processing, and system identification, commonly used for adaptive control and prediction. This paper proposes a method for dynamically aggregating large-scale adjustable loads to support high proportions of new energy integration, aiming to study the aggregation characteristics of regional large-scale adjustable loads using online identification techniques and feature extraction methods. The experiment selected 300 central air conditioners as the research subject and analyzed their regulation characteristics, economic efficiency, and comfort. The experimental results show that as the adjustment time of the air conditioner increases from 5 minutes to 35 minutes, the stable adjustment quantity during the adjustment period decreases from 28.46 to 3.57, indicating that air conditioning loads can be controlled over a long period and have better adjustment effects in the short term. Overall, the experimental results of this paper demonstrate that analyzing the aggregation characteristics of regional large-scale adjustable loads using online identification techniques and feature extraction algorithms is effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is divided into two parts: the first presents a summary of the history of macroseismic collection data in Italy, from an initial experience in the mid-19th century, to the beginning of the use of macroseismic postcards and their evolution in the first decades of the 20th century; the second part analyses a number of specific aspects of the content of macroseismic postcards. An example of the reading difficulties that these postcards pose is illustrated together with a brief comparison between the Mercalli and Mercalli-Cancani-Sieberg scales, which serve to interpret macroseismic postcards. Both the historical and analytical parts of the paper, aim to improve the comprehension of the sources and, consequently, the knowledge on Italian seismicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Liver disease is an increasing cause of morbidity and mortality in the United Kingdom and can be challenging to live with in the advanced stages. There has been little research exploring the healthcare experiences of UK individuals with decompensated disease when the liver cannot carry out its functions properly. A PhD research project was developed with people who have liver disease to explore care experiences in decompensated advanced liver disease. Public involvement (PI) is an essential aspect of meaningful health research, and this paper reports on the progression of our PI approach in this ongoing study. Objective: To embed PI throughout the research project to ensure that the study is meaningful to individuals with liver disease and the people who support them. Methods: The research adopts a Constructivist Grounded Theory methodology to develop a theory of care experience. Various PI approaches were considered in developing the PI strategy for this qualitative study. Initially, Embedded consultation was the preferred model, which has evolved to include aspects of collaboration and coproduction. A PI group was set up to oversee the project through the national public engagement website VOICE, and reflections on PI from three members of the group are included in this paper to illuminate the PI process. Results: Six individuals with liver disease and three carers from across the United Kingdom are part of an ongoing PI group. Their role includes commenting on the findings of the systematic literature review for this project and contributing to decisions about recruitment, data collection and data analysis. Additionally, they had a direct impact on changing the focus of the research. The PI group will continue involvement until the completion of the project. Conclusion: Successfully embedding PI into doctoral research, as demonstrated in this project, requires commitment, planning and dedication to reciprocal working for the benefit of PI contributors as well as the research. This approach could be adopted by other postgraduate researchers. Patient or Public Contribution: This project is overseen by the PI group, whose contribution is described throughout, including reflections from three PI group members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a trending mobility choice, e-scooters have become popular in many cities. A number of authorities have initiated shared e-scooter trial schemes to assess the feasibility of the vehicles prior to enacting official legalisation. This paper aims to provide an evidence review of shared e-scooters and investigate how existing evidence may inform long-term policies. This carries significant relevance for jurisdictions that are in a conflicting position with e-scooters, such as New South Wales (NSW), Australia whose context motivates this study. The evidence review focuses on three themes derived from experience with shared e-scooters within the broader micromobility landscape, namely: safety; where shared e-scooters fit into the modal landscape; and the environmental impacts. Findings confirm that ensuring the safety of shared e-scooters requires complex solutions, which may include a clear regulatory framework for e-scooters, safety education and skill training, innovative data collection and analysis methods, and an approach to safety management that is user-based, location-based, and time-based. In terms of modal fit policymakers should encourage first and last-mile combinations with public transport, with consideration of user characteristics; while climate impact is strongly correlated to the mode replaced by e-scooter trips. The paper provides insights for policymakers on the regulation and positioning of shared e-scooters. • Many jurisdictions are struggling to determine policies for e-scooters. • Existing e-scooter evidence sheds light on possible long-term policies. • Safety management should consider different users, locations, and times. • First and last-mile combinations with public transport should be encouraged. • Climate impact is strongly correlated to the mode replaced by e-scooter trips. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Studies of the effects of COVID‐19, especially post‐acute COVID‐19 syndrome, on psychological health in non‐severe cases are limited. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence and associated risk factors of psychological symptoms, and quality‐of‐life in three groups of outpatients, hospitalized and intensive care patients. Methods: A total 276 patients, previously confirmed with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, attending the COVID‐19 follow‐up outpatient clinic from December 2020 to July 2021 were interviewed face‐to‐face. In this cross‐sectional, retrospective study, all participants were asked our self‐designed demographic and screening questions to assess their psychological symptoms and administered the WHQOOL‐BREF survey to evaluate quality of life. Results: In screening questions, major depressive disorder symptoms were detected at a rate of 20.3%, generalized anxiety disorder symptoms at a rate of 16.7%, panic attack symptoms at a rate of 10.9%, post‐traumatic stress disorder symptoms at a rate of 28.6% and obsessive‐compulsive disorder symptoms at a rate of 18.1%. The outpatient group with COVID‐19 infection had a higher risk of developing psychological symptoms and decreased quality of life. Conclusion: COVID‐19 infection was found to have a considerable psychological impact on those treated as outpatients despite the less severe course of their illness. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Post‐intensive care syndrome affects physical, cognitive and psychological health.It is associated with symptoms such as generalized weakness, memory disturbances, cognitive function impairment, depression, anxiety and post‐traumatic stress disorder.Some physical and psychological symptoms persist for over 12 weeks in some patients and have been classified as 'Post‐acute COVID‐19 Condition or Syndrome' (PCS). What this paper adds? At the post‐acute‐COVID‐19 period, a considerable number of outpatients with COVID‐19 infection were at higher risk for psychological distress symptoms than those who had been treated in the hospital or intensive care unit.Depression, anxiety, panic disorder and PTSD symptoms were found to be higher in outpatients and those with these symptoms were also shown to have a lower quality of life.Our findings highlight the significant psychological impact of COVID‐19 on patients, even after their reported recovery from the acute manifestations of this disease. The implications of this paper: Ongoing psychological symptoms in the post‐COVID period are not associated with the severity of the disease in the acute phase.It is important that healthcare professionals are equally concerned not only with physical condition of post‐COVID‐19 patients but also with their psychological state and the patient's psychology‐related quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: We aim to analyse the effect of menthol on thirst intensity and thirst comfort in surgical patients. Background: Menthol has achieved good results in quenching thirst in patients in intensive care units, but its safety and reliability in perioperative fasting patients are unknown. Design: A systematic review with meta‐analysis of intervention studies was performed. Data Sources: We used Chinese and English databases from their dates of inception to May 2022. Literature was retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, CINHAL, SinoMed, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP database. Review Methods: Two reviewers independently examined the records according to the eligibility criteria and extracted the data of each included study. Results: A total of seven studies were identified in this review, which included 537 surgical patients. Overall, menthol reduced thirst intensity in surgical patients and decreased thirst discomfort. Further subgroup analysis revealed that the menthol intervention significantly improved thirst intensity in surgical patients during preoperative and postoperative fasting periods. The Egger's tests showed no significant bias (p = 0.113 and 0.553, thirst intensity and thirst discomfort, respectively). Conclusion: Menthol intervention effectively improved thirst intensity and thirst discomfort during fasting in surgical patients, but more large‐scale, multicentre randomized controlled trials are required to confirm these findings further. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Thirst is a common symptom of discomfort during fasting in surgical patients.Thirst in surgical patients is an underappreciated, unmeasured and undertreated symptom. What this paper adds? It is safe and feasible to administer menthol immediately after surgery to patients undergoing surgery.Menthol intervention during fasting in surgical patients can significantly reduce thirst intensity and improve thirst discomfort.More high‐quality trials are essential to explore optimal menthol interventions during fasting in surgical patients. The implications of this paper Menthol provides a safe and effective thirst‐quenching method for perioperative fasting in surgical patients.Menthol reduces thirst intensity and thirst discomfort in surgical patients postoperative fasting periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing number of households owning pets, the importance of sensor data for recognizing pet behavior has grown significantly. However, challenges arise due to the costs and reliability issues associated with data collection. This paper proposes a method for classifying pet behavior using cleaned meta pseudo labels to overcome these issues. The data for this study were collected using wearable devices equipped with accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers, and pet behaviors were classified into five categories. Utilizing this data, we analyzed the impact of the quantity of labeled data on accuracy and further enhanced the learning process by integrating an additional Distance Loss. This method effectively improves the learning process by removing noise from unlabeled data. Experimental results demonstrated that while the conventional supervised learning method achieved an accuracy of 82.9%, the existing meta pseudo labels method showed an accuracy of 86.2%, and the cleaned meta pseudo labels method proposed in this study surpassed these with an accuracy of 88.3%. These results hold significant implications for the development of pet monitoring systems, and the approach of this paper provides an effective solution for recognizing and classifying pet behavior in environments with insufficient labels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The revolution of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the Web of Things (WoT) has brought new opportunities and challenges for the information retrieval (IR) field. The exponential number of interconnected physical objects and real-time data acquisition requires new approaches and architectures for IR systems. Research and prototypes can be crucial in designing and developing new systems and refining architectures for IR in the WoT. This paper proposes a unified and holistic approach for IR in the WoT, called IR.WoT. The proposed system contemplates the critical indexing, scoring, and presentation stages applied to some smart cities' use cases and scenarios. Overall, this paper describes the research, architecture, and vision for advancing the field of IR in the WoT and addresses some of the remaining challenges and opportunities in this exciting area. The article also describes the design considerations, cloud implementation, and experimentation based on a simulated collection of synthetic XML documents with technical efficiency measures. The experimentation results show promising outcomes, whereas further studies are required to improve IR.WoT effectiveness, considering the WoT dynamic characteristics and, more importantly, the heterogeneity and divergence of WoT modeling proposals in the IR domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Effect of scanner parameters on colorimetric detection of μPADs was evaluated. • Scanner settings, blank colour and image acquisition mode had the greatest effect. • Effect of the main μPAD characteristics on its colorimetric detection was studied. • μPAD covering (e.g., lamination) had the greatest effect. • Guidelines for optimal data acquisition and µPAD manipulation were proposed. Office style scanners are often used by researchers for the colorimetric detection in the development of microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (µPADs). However, little attention has been paid to nuances in calibration curve responses caused by varying settings of a single image-capturing device. Hence, in this study, the effect of parameters, such as the scanner operation conditions, the method of data analysis used (e.g., choice of colour space system, suitable channel), and the influence of the physical characteristics of the µPAD (e.g., template colour, type of lamination pouches used) on the colorimetric detection were evaluated for the first time. Combinations of the scanning parameters were thoroughly examined and their impact on the quality of a mock calibration curve assessed. The most sensitive calibration curve was achieved only by the selection of the optimal scanning conditions combined with an appropriate choice of colorimetric system. A flatbed scanner, used in this study, showed greater variation of signal with varying scanning setup, whereas a portable scanner provided nearly identical responses under diverse scanning conditions. Gamma correction, scanning resolution, region of interest (ROI) surrounding colour (i.e., template colour), bit-depth, image file type, and the number of analysed pixels were found not to markedly affect the dynamics of the calibration curve when colour in the ROI is homogeneous. Parameters that had an effect on the colorimetric detection were the scanner settings, colour of the blank, image acquisition mode (colour vs greyscale), and µPAD covering (e.g., lamination). Based on these findings, generic guidelines for optimal data acquisition and µPAD manipulation with respect to µPAD calibration have been formulated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic low back pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide. A clinical model for its cause is lacking. Defining a cause based clinical model and a framework of understanding back pain in terms of peripheral structural and central functional pain is essential for optimal management. We describe the results of the largest published audit of 41 chronic low back pain patients, receiving outpatient sublingual ketamine therapy for defined central functional pain along with conventional peripheral structural pain management. Our clinical model assigns Movement Dysfunction as the primary cause for low back pain symptoms and restores it with Movement Therapy focused rehabilitation which is also defined. Patients were derived from a tertiary single neurosurgical specialist practice in Brisbane Australia over a three year period. Severe pain and disability measurements more than halved and only 13% of patients ceased ketamine prematurely due to predominantly non-sinister side effects common to all pharmaceutical therapies. All other surveyed metrics of utility were highly favourable in this challenging cohort of chronic back pain patients biased to poor outcomes. Outpatient ketamine maintains high efficacy and safety used in conjunction with a unique clinical model that describes chronic low back pain. This paper builds on our previous publications that describe the disease of movement dysfunction as an integral factor to the development of a cause based clinical model for the condition of chronic low back pain symptoms. Our clinical application of this model, applying the necessary dual approach of controlling symptoms arising from peripheral structural pain and central functional pain in conjunction with elimination of root causation has shown favourable outcomes in patients with high levels of pain and disability based on their tertiary referral origin and high Oswestry Disability Scores. Removing chronic low back pain from its position as one of the world's leading causes of pain and disability is more likely if the rehabilitation industry can replicate and test treatment algorithms based around established clinical models of disease which is the important subject of this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To overcome the issues of the existing properties and the non-configurable supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) architecture, this paper proposes an IoT-centered open-source SCADA system for monitoring photovoltaic (PV) systems. The system consists of three voltage sensors and three current sensors for data accumulation from the PV panel, the battery, and the load. As a part of the system design, a relay is used that controls the load remotely. An ESP32-E microcontroller transmits the collected data to a Banana Pi M4 Berry (BPI-M4 Berry) through the Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol over a privately established communication channel using Wi-Fi. The ESP32-E is configured as the MQTT publisher and the BPI-M4 Berry serves as the MQTT broker. Locally installed on the BPI-M4 Berry, the Node-RED platform creates highly customizable dashboards as human–machine interfaces (HMIs) to achieve real-time monitoring of the PV system. The proposed system was successfully tested to collect the PV system voltage/current/power data and to control the load in a supervisory way under a laboratory setup. The complete SCADA architecture details and test results for the PV system data during the total eclipse on 8 April 2024 and another day are presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on mission planning and cooperative navigation algorithms for multi-drone systems aimed at LiDAR-based mapping. It aims at demonstrating how multi-UAV cooperation can be used to fulfill LiDAR data georeferencing accuracy requirements, as well as to improve data collection capabilities, e.g., increasing coverage per unit time and point cloud density. These goals are achieved by exploiting the CDGNSS/Vision paradigm and properly defining the formation geometry and the UAV trajectories. The paper provides analytical tools to estimate point density considering different types of scanning LIDAR and to define attitude/pointing requirements. These tools are then used to support centralized cooperation-aware mission planning aimed at complete coverage for different target geometries. The validity of the proposed framework is demonstrated through numerical simulations considering a formation of three vehicles tasked with a powerline inspection mission. The results show that cooperative navigation allows for the reduction of angular and positioning estimation uncertainties, which results in a georeferencing error reduction of an order of magnitude and equal to 16.7 cm in the considered case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terrorism research has gained much traction since the 9/11 attacks, but some sub genres of terrorism, such as right-wing terrorism, have remained under-studied areas. Unsurprisingly data sources to study these phenomena are scarce and frequently face unique data collection obstacles. This paper explores five major, social-scientific terrorism databases in regards to data on right-wing terrorist events. The paper also provides an in-depth examination of the utilization of criminal legal proceedings to research right-wing terrorist acts. Lastly, legal case databases are introduced and discussed to show the lack of available court information and case proceedings in regards to right-wing terrorism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While there are numerous performance metrics that have been developed for the evaluation of distracted driving prevention programs, there is little information on how to select them depending on the requirements and/or objectives of the study. This paper describes a systematic literature review that was conducted on the metrics for evaluating distracted driving countermeasures in order to bridge this research gap. A summary of the evaluation metrics used for the existing distracted driving countermeasures was provided. Guidance for choosing an evaluation measure was provided by analyzing the metrics from the perspectives of functionality, spatial-temporal dimension, and equity. Three examples of distracted driving countermeasure evaluation processes were thoroughly reviewed in order to offer insight into metric selection and measurement. This paper contributes to the body of knowledge by discussing the implications for policy on how to enhance the thoroughness and accuracy of the evaluation of distracted driving countermeasures. Analysis from multiple angles, the development of data collection tools and direct behavior indicators, taking into account temporal dimensions, and equity considerations, are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper explores the development of a Quadcopter-Rover System specifically designed for environmental survey applications. The system combines the capabilities of a quadcopter and a rover to provide a comprehensive and versatile solution for data collection and analysis. The paper presents a detailed overview of the system's modelling, design, and manufacturing of the two main components: the quadcopter and the differential wheel robot (the rover). The quadcopter’s main task is to carry the rover to/from the ground destination and collect aerial data while the rover`s main task is ground exploration and data collection. The paper discusses the development of a robust and efficient control algorithm that enables autonomous and coordinated operation between the quadcopter and the rover. Experimental results demonstrate the system's effectiveness in conducting environmental surveys, showcasing its ability to accurately navigate challenging terrains, and collect valuable data for environmental analysis. The Quadcopter-Rover System offers significant potential in applications such as ecological monitoring, disaster management, and precision agriculture, where comprehensive and efficient data collection is crucial for informed decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to empower cardiovascular (CV) researchers by promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) principles throughout the research cycle. It defines DE&I and introduces practical strategies for implementation in recruitment, retention, and team dynamics within CV research. Evidence-based approaches supporting underrepresented populations' participation are outlined for each research phase. Emphasizing the significance of inclusive research environments, the paper offers guidance and resources. We invite CV researchers to actively embrace DE&I principles, enhancing research relevance and addressing longstanding CV health disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Unwarranted clinical variations in radical prostatectomy (RP) procedures are frequently reported, yet less attention is given to the variations in associated costs. This issue can further widen disparities in access to care and provoke questions about the overall value of the procedure. The present paper aimed to delve into the disparities in hospital, medical provider and out-of-pocket costs for RP procedures in Australia, discussing plausible causes and potential policy opportunities. Methods: A retrospective cohort study using Medibank Private claims data for RP procedures conducted in Australian hospitals between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2020 was undertaken. Results: Considerable variations in both medical provider and out-of-pocket costs were observed across the country, with variations evident between different states or territories. Particularly striking were the discrepancies in the costs charged by medical providers, with a notable contrast between the 10th and 90th percentiles revealing a substantial difference of A$9925. Hospitals in Australia exhibited relatively comparable charges for RP procedures. Conclusions: Initiatives such as enhancing transparency regarding individual medical provider costs and implementing fee regulations with healthcare providers may be useful in curbing the variations in RP procedure costs. What is known about the topic? Unwarranted clinical variations in radical prostatectomy procedures are well documented in the literature; however, variations in cost are less widely reported. What does this paper add? This paper aims to highlight the cost variations in radical prostatectomy procedures in Australia, discussing their plausible causes, implications and proposing potential policy opportunities. What are the implications for practitioners? Excessive fees imposed by medical providers may contribute to inequalities in healthcare access. Enhancing transparency of individual medical provider costs and implementing fee regulations may be useful in controlling unwarranted variations in procedure costs. This article belongs to the Special Issue: Value-based Healthcare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For pedestrian detection in all weather conditions, multispectral imagery is the preferred solution for multimodal data acquisition. Due to the complementarity of multispectral data, the performance of pedestrian detection has been continuously improved. However, it is precise because of the diversity of data that the complexity of the model is increased. How to obtain a simple and lightweight high-performance network is the primary problem that the industry needs to solve. To solve this problem, this paper firstly proposes a lightweight high-performance network multi-receptive field and attention mechanism for multispectral pedestrian detection (MAPD). MAPD is a new scalable network based on multi-receptive field and attention mechanism. It cleverly combines multi-receptive field module and convolutional block attention module (CBAM) attention module to obtain multi-receptive field and attention module (MA). The module can be easily embedded into other network structures. After that, we analyze the proportion of pedestrian objects in the image to determine the receptive field range of the target, and use this range to design the multi-receptive field module of the network to obtain a network model suitable for detecting different object tasks. The MAPD network proposed in this paper has a very low parameter amount. Ablation studies on KAIST and CVC-14 datasets show that our method is effective and achieves state-of-the-art detection performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The traditional monitoring method of water resources environment mainly relies on manual sampling and laboratory analysis, which is limited in time and space and can not realize the comprehensive monitoring of water resources environment. With the continuous development of computer technology and network communication technology, real-time data monitoring method of water resources environment based on computer remote data acquisition and image analysis has gradually become a new solution. This paper aims to propose a real-time data monitoring method of water resources environment based on computer remote data acquisition and image analysis, in order to achieve accurate and efficient monitoring of water resources environment, timely acquisition and analysis of key data of water resources environment, and provide scientific basis for relevant decisions. In this paper, the key parameters of water quality, water quantity and water ecology are collected by using computer remote data acquisition and image analysis. Using computer image analysis technology, the collected image data are processed and analyzed, and the related characteristics and indicators of water resources environment are extracted. The results show that the real-time data monitoring method of water resources environment based on computer remote data acquisition and image analysis can monitor the data changes of water resources environment accurately and efficiently. Through the analysis and processing of the real-time data, the problems in the water resources environment can be found and warned in time, and the corresponding measures can be taken to regulate and manage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to understand the application of iot Big data information acquisition for heating control systems, a research on iot Big data information acquisition for thermal storage heating control systems is proposed. This paper first analyzes the shortcomings of the traditional heating system, the heating data is scattered and difficult to collect. The IoT technology is applied to the heating platform through data acquisition, data visualization, data mining, data management and other aspects. Secondly, the application of the IoT in heating system data acquisition is studied, including the types of heating data collected, data acquisition process, data acquisition standards, etc. Finally, this paper takes the energy-saving transformation of 26 boilers in a heating enterprise as an example. The research results show that the boiler efficiency obtained in real time by using the online monitoring system of this project is 95.36%, and the reverse balance boiler efficiency in the paper report of the special inspection office is 94.88%, with a deviation of 1.48%. The application of the IoT technology can obtain the boiler indicators in real time and effectively, and can realize the comprehensive analysis of the monitoring data, and realize the evaluation of the energy efficiency operation state of the gas boiler and the fault diagnosis and early warning. The IoT technology is an effective means of fine energy-saving management in heating enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This short paper builds on and critiques work presenting potential non-disasters: disasters that did not seem to happen despite a major hazard. Previous work does not differentiate among different types of potential non-disasters. This short paper uses local information to propose three categories according to reasons for vulnerability being low or absent. These proposed categories are used to critique the construct of "potential non-disasters". Design/methodology/approach: This short paper uses a subjective approach to examples of potential non-disasters in 2022, focusing on local information that describes what happened. This information is applied and analysed for the three proposed categories using examples from Japan, Nepal, the Philippines and Vietnam. Such comparisons are useful for critiquing "potential non-disasters", by understanding better local approaches and information available for reporting on situations that could be disasters. Findings: Potential non-disasters remain relevant for exploring mechanisms, tools and actions for educating about vulnerability causes and vulnerability reduction to avert disasters. Limitations are evident by relying on media reports, even local ones with local authors. A suggestion is to implement a grant programme for collecting data immediately after a major hazard without an evident, major disaster. Additionally, an annual report and critique of each year's potential non-disasters, categorised and analysed, would help to evidence the presence and limits of the "potential non-disaster" construct. Originality/value: This short paper contributes a much deeper theoretical dive into understanding potential non-disasters, both describing them and the drawbacks of the construct. To practitioners, the construct now offers more avenues for actions while illustrating their effectiveness in reducing vulnerabilities. Thus, this paper supports multiple, linked pathways towards more non-disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing use of technologies, particularly computing and communication paradigms, has significantly influenced our daily lives. Interconnecting devices and networks provides convenient platforms for information exchange and facilitates pervasive user data collection. This new environment presents serious privacy challenges. User activities can be continuously monitored in both digital and physical realms. Gathered data can be aggregated and analysed, revealing aspects of user behaviour that may not be apparent from a single data point. The very items that facilitate connectivity simultaneously increase the risk of privacy breaches. The data gathered to provide services can also be used for monitoring and surveillance. This paper discerns three novel categories of privacy concerns relating to pervasive user data collection: privacy and user activity in cyberspace, privacy in personal cyber–physical systems, and privacy in proactive user-driven data collection. We emphasise the primary challenges, ranging from identity tracking in browsing histories to intricate issues in opportunistic networks, situating each within practical, real-world scenarios. Furthermore, we assess the effectiveness of current countermeasures, investigating their strengths and limitations. This paper explores the challenges in preserving privacy in user interactions with dynamic interconnected systems and suggests countermeasures to mitigate identified privacy risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper unpacks our efforts as external evaluators to work toward decolonizing our evaluation practice. Undertaking this writing exercise as a form of reflective practice demonstrated that decolonization is much more complex than simply translating materials, organizing locals to collect data, and building participants' capacity around Western modalities. While this complexity is clear in the decolonization literature, practice-based examples that depict barriers and thought processes are rarely presented. Through this paper, we deconstruct our deeply held beliefs around what constitutes good evaluation to assess the effectiveness of our decolonizing approach. Through sharing our critical consciousness-raising dialoguing, this paper reports our progress thus far and provides information and provocations to support others attempting to decolonize their practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global science is set to experience different times in the 2020s. China surpasses the USA in terms of the number of scientific papers in 2020 in most scientific databases. This scenario is expected to have implications not only in East Asia but also beyond the region. Against this backdrop, this paper investigates the scientific influence of the US-China competition on six major Muslim-majority science systems. Multiple data sources are used to collect data for the bibliometric analyses, which include the trend analysis of collaboration patterns, discipline-based collaborations, authorship patterns for responsibility in collaborations, and citation premium of collaborations with the USA versus China. All the analyses consistently demonstrate that the USA is losing its scientific influence on the selected Muslim-majority science systems to China. Analysis results indicate an astonishing increase in collaborations with China-based scientists in the last decade. Half of the selected Muslim-majority science systems collaborate more with China-based scientists, whereas the other half collaborate more with the USA in 2021, indicating a fifty-fifty split. The collaborations with China-based authors garner higher citation premiums for the selected Muslim-majority science systems than the collaborations with the USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study protocol: the DUALITY trial-a register-based, randomized controlled trial to investigate dual-mobility cups in hip fracture patients. Poor knee-specific and generic patient-reported outcome measure scores at 6 months are associated with early revision knee arthroplasty: a study from the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry. The seemingly large variation in changes in PROM scores across hip and knee arthroplasty registries was partially explained by differences in age, gender, and importantly, the patients' preoperative scores [[8]]. [Extracted from the article]

Anomaly detection systems based on artificial intelligence (AI) have demonstrated high performance and efficiency in a wide range of applications such as power plants and smart factories. However, due to the inherent reliance of AI systems on the quality of training data, they still demonstrate poor performance in certain environments. Especially in hazardous facilities with constrained data collection, deploying these systems remains a challenge. In this paper, we propose Generative Anomaly Detection using Prototypical Networks (GAD-PN) designed to detect anomalies using only a limited number of normal samples. GAD-PN is a structure that integrates CycleGAN with Prototypical Networks (PNs), learning from metadata similar to the target environment. This approach enables the collection of data that are difficult to gather in real-world environments by using simulation or demonstration models, thus providing opportunities to learn a variety of environmental parameters under ideal and normal conditions. During the inference phase, PNs can classify normal and leak samples using only a small number of normal data from the target environment by prototypes that represent normal and abnormal features. We also complement the challenge of collecting anomaly data by generating anomaly data from normal data using CycleGAN trained on anomaly features. It can also be adapted to various environments that have similar anomalous scenarios, regardless of differences in environmental parameters. To validate the proposed structure, data were collected specifically targeting pipe leakage scenarios, which are significant problems in environments such as power plants. In addition, acoustic ultrasound signals were collected from the pipe nozzles in three different environments. As a result, the proposed model achieved a leak detection accuracy of over 90% in all environments, even with only a small number of normal data. This performance shows an average improvement of approximately 30% compared with traditional unsupervised learning models trained with a limited dataset. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]