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Open microfluidic systems offer significant advantages, including the elimination of external pumps and facilitating fluid access at any point along the channel. However, their deployment in harsh environments is commonly compromised due to the delicate nature of hydrophilic chemical coatings and the vulnerability of open microchannels to clogging and contamination. Here, a bioinspired, demand-responsive mode-switchable strategy is proposed to enhance the mechanical durability of open microfluidic systems. Specifically, under harsh conditions or when long-term storage is necessary, this strategy allows the open microfluidic device to transition to a protective mode simply through releasing the strain, thereby preserving the integrity of the structure and hydrophilic coatings. The stretched open microfluidic mode enables spontaneous liquid spreading along a hydrophilic microchannel scribed by femtosecond laser. This mode-switchable strategy provides the open microfluidic device with robustness to maintain spontaneous liquid flow, even under severe testing conditions such as 2000 cycles of cotton swab rubbing, sand impact, sandpaper abrasion, tape peeling, twisting, and finger rubbing. A proof-of-concept application involving blood type analysis on this mode-switchable open microfluidic device showcases its superior mechanical durability under severe environmental conditions. The proposed strategy paves the way for the broader use of open microfluidic devices in various practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Road traffic injuries present a significant public health burden, especially in developing countries. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized global evidence on motorcycle helmet use prevalence by including 299 records across 249 articles involving 5,006,476 participants from 1982 to 2022. The findings revealed a declining trend in helmet use prevalence over the past four decades, with an overall prevalence of 48.71%. The meta-regression analysis did not find any statistically significant change in the overall prevalence. Subgroup analysis showed higher helmet use prevalence in observation/survey records (54.29%) compared to crashed patient records (44.84%). Riders/Motorcyclists demonstrated a higher likelihood of wearing helmets than passengers in both observation/survey records (62.61 vs. 28.23%) and crashed patient records (47.76 vs. 26.61%). Countries with mandatory helmet use laws had higher helmet usage prevalence compared to those without (52.26 vs. 37.21%). The African continent had the lowest helmet use rates, while Latin America and the Caribbean regions had higher rates. This study provides a comprehensive overview of global helmet use prevalence, emphasizing disparities between high and low-income countries, variations in law enforcement, and trends over four decades. Targeted interventions are necessary to improve helmet-wearing habits, especially among passengers and regions with low usage rates. Effective legislation and awareness campaigns are crucial for promoting helmet use and reducing road traffic injuries burden. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although pesticides play an integral role in food security and preventing public health from vector-borne diseases, inappropriate handling and continual use of restricted organochlorine pesticides pose short- and long-term adverse effects and become public health concerns in the African region. This study aimed to determine the combined level of protective equipment use, management of empty pesticide containers, and leftover pesticide residues in the African region. Methods: The preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and the meta-analysis protocol were used to carry out this study. The Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, DOAJ, and National Repository databases were searched for articles published between November 12, 2023, and January 2, 2024. The meta-analysis data were visualized using a forest plot. A random-effects model was applied when heterogeneity existed in pooled studies. Subgroup analysis of the data was performed based on the location where the study was conducted and the publication year. Meta-regression and sensitivity analysis were performed to evaluate the robustness of the pooled prevalence of studies. Publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot. The authors used the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Assessment tool to determine the quality of the studies. Results: In this review, 2174 articles were identified from the included electronic databases, 24 of which were included in the present study. The study revealed that the combined mean prevalence of wearing a mask, glove, boot/safety shoes, overall wear, and head cover accounted for 18% (95% CI: 11.9 to 26.1%, p < 0.001), 18% (95% CI: 11.7 to 26.9%, p < 0.001), 23% (95% CI: 15.7 to 33.3%, p < 0.001), 26% (95% CI: 16.2 to 38.7%, p < 0.001), and 14% (95% CI: 8.90 to 22.0%, p < 0.001), respectively. The prevalence of pesticides stored in the living room and pesticide containers used for different purposes was 51% and 26%, respectively. Conclusions: Poor pesticide safety practices were identified. A substantial proportion of the respondents reported storing pesticide residues in their living rooms, and the reuse of pesticide empty containers. Regional institutions should lead the designing of safety strategies to reduce the public health risks of pesticide exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wearing face masks is the best way to stop the spread of respiratory infections. However, if masks are not sterilized, changing them too frequently can actually increase the risk of cross‐contamination. Herein, the construction of an antipathogen photocatalytic mask with carbon vacancy‐modified carbon nitride nanosheets (g‐C3N4‐VC Ns) coated on the non‐woven fabrics of the out layer of the mask, offering effective and long‐term protection against damaging pathogens when exposed to light is reported. The introduced carbon vacancies are found capable of creating energy‐disordered sites and inducing energetic electric force to overcome the Coulomb interactions between electron‐hole pairs, thus promoting the electron‐hole separation to achieve a high generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Thanks to its high activity in generating ROS upon exposure to light, the as‐prepared photocatalytic mask shows high pathogen sterilization performance. This, in turn, prolongs the mask's protective lifetime, decreases the need for regular replacement, and decreases medical waste production. The work demonstrated here opens new viewpoints in designing pathogens biocidal protective devices for health protection, offering significant promise in specific environment self‐protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the testing and evaluation of gas protective masks based on subjective aspects, since most studies focus on objective indicators without ascertaining the opinions of those who use gas protective masks. Three types of modern anti-gas protective masks were selected for testing. Multi-criteria decision making and the expert method were used to develop the criteria. Mathematical relationships were used to evaluate the test results. For the purpose of testing, a methodological procedure was developed that integrates the established subjective criteria. The test results identified the key parameters in evaluating gas protection masks; at the same time, the results pointed out the possible shortcomings of the OM-90 anti-gas protective mask and its use in the civilian sector. By evaluating the data, the most appropriate gas protective mask was selected that best met the subjective criteria. The study provides insightful findings for decision support in the field of civil protection material but also protective equipment of rescue units. It is the subjective assessment that is essential in a comprehensive evaluation of the quality of gas protective masks, as the user himself often perceives the quality of the product differently from the manufacturer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address the limitations of current DC residual current protection methods, which primarily rely on the amplitude of DC residual current for fault detection and fail to safeguard against electric shocks at two points on the same side in DC Isolated Terra (IT) System systems, this paper introduces a novel protection method based on DC electric shock features. This paper first analyzes the sliding curvature accumulation and peak rise time features of DC basic residual current, load mutation current, and animal body electric shock current under multi-factor conditions. The analysis shows that sliding curvature accumulation in the range of 0.1 ≤ K ≤ 1 and a peak rise time of Δt ≥ 20 ms can effectively distinguish animal body electric shock. Then, based on this electric shock's distinctive characteristics, an approach for identifying types of electric shock is developed. Finally, a DC residual current protective device (DC-RCD) is designed. The prototype test results demonstrate that the DC-RCD has an action time of ts < 70 ms. The proposed method accurately provides protection against electric shocks and effectively addresses the issue of inadequate protection when two fault points occur on the same side within an IT system. This approach holds significant reference value for the development of next-generation DC-RCDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a sophisticated, fault-tolerant, and centralized secondary controller that is designed for inverter-based, islanded microgrids. The proposed controller enhances system resilience to unexpected network partitions, which typically occur due to the tripping of protective devices under fault conditions. In typical radially configured MGs, a line fault can cause protective devices to isolate the faulted line, thereby splitting the MG into two electrically independent sub-microgrids (SMGs), while retaining the existing communication and control framework. In contrast to traditional centralized and distributed secondary controllers, which often fail to restore the frequency to the nominal value (50 Hz) in split SMGs, the proposed controller exhibits exceptional performance. Through simulation studies on 6-bus and 13-bus islanded MG setups, the controller has not only demonstrated its ability to swiftly restore the nominal frequency in both SMGs within a few seconds (specifically 5 s), but also to ensure fair power distribution among the distributed generators (DGs) supplying the SMGs. This rapid frequency stabilization underscores the controller's effectiveness in maintaining stable frequency levels immediately following a fault. In contrast, the use of traditional centralized and consensus controllers typically results in a frequency deviation of about 3 Hz from the nominal value in one of the SMGs during the microgrid's partition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The packaging materials with cushioning performance are used to prevent the internal contents from being damaged by the impact and vibration of external forces. The polyurethane microcellular elastomers (PUMEs) can absorb energy through cell collapse and molecular chain creep. In this study, PUMEs with different densities were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis and dynamic compression tests. PUMEs exhibited significant impact resistance and the maximum peak stress attenuation ratio reached 73.33%. The protective equipment was made by PUME with the optimal density of 600 kg/m3, and then the acceleration sensing device installed with the same protective equipment fell from a height of 3, 5 and 10 m to evaluate the energy-absorbing property and reusability of PUMEs. The results showed that PUMEs equipment reduced the peak acceleration of the device by 93.84%, with a maximum deviation of 9% between actual test and simulation, and shortened the impact time of first landing by 57.39%. In addition, the equipment PUMEs equipment could effectively reduce the stress on the protected items. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Women in the fisher communities in coastal regions of Bangladesh are engaged in a wide range of fishery activities. However, there is limited evidence available on the occupational hazards and risks experienced by them. Method: The study was conducted among fishing colonies in Cox's Bazar and Chattogram districts in Bangladesh. This was a cross-sectional study blending qualitative and quantitative approaches. The qualitative component comprised five focus group discussions to understand the occupational context, hazards, and risks faced by the fisherwomen, informing the questionnaire design for the subsequent survey. The quantitative survey involved a sample of 207 women from fisher communities, gathering socio-demographic information, occupational hazards, risks, and health and safety practices. Findings: The study found a high occurrence of occupational hazards, health risks and limited availability of preventive measures among the women in fisher communities. Occupational hazards include physical safety hazards such as slippery surfaces and fish cutting instruments, and physical hazards like prolonged sun exposure and noise. Chemical hazards like pesticides and saltwater, ergonomic hazards such as prolonged uncomfortable posture and heavy lifting, and biological hazards including inadequate sanitation facilities were prevalent. The study also identified the potential occupational risks, and the outcomes resulting from the hazards, including injuries (87.44%), musculoskeletal conditions (69.08%), skin diseases/conditions (56.52%), eye complaints (33.82%), severe respiratory distress (24.15%) and high incidence of self-reported communicable diseases. Most women (78.26%) did not use personal protective equipment, and the majority (93.72%) lacked a workplace first aid kit. Conclusion: The study revealed a high prevalence of occupational hazards and health risks, including injuries and diseases, among Bangladeshi women in fisher communities with insufficient safety measures. Collaboration among government, NGOs, development partners, fisheries stakeholders, and the community is imperative for targeted training, innovative procedures, ergonomic solutions, provision of protective equipment, and advocacy to enhance the well-being of these women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lobopodians represent a key step in the early history of ecdysozoans since they were the first animals to evolve legs within this clade. Their Cambrian representatives share a similar body plan with a typically cylindrical annulated trunk and a series of non-jointed legs. However, they do not form a monophyletic group and likely include ancestors of the three extant panarthropod lineages (Tardigrada, Onychophora, Euarthropoda). Some species display astonishing protective devices such as cuticular plates and spines. We describe here the armor and molting process of Microdictyon from the early Cambrian of China. Microdictyon secreted ovoid paired cuticular sclerites that were duplicated in a non-synchronous way along the animal's body. The reticulated pattern and cuticular architecture of these sclerites have similarities to extant armored tardigrades that recently served in hypothesizing that tardigrades are possibly miniaturized lobopodians. Ecdysis and hard cuticular protection are now well documented in the whole spectrum of early Cambrian ecdysozoans such as soft-bodied scalidophorans, lobopodians and fully articulated euarthropods. We hypothesize that the secretion of sclerotized cuticular elements periodically renewed via ecdysis was a key innovation that opened large-scale evolutionary opportunities to invertebrate animal life, specifically ecdysozoans, both in terms of anatomical functionalities and ecological success. This paper presents exceptionally preserved fossils from the early Cambrian that show how molting occurred in some of the very earliest arthropod relatives, a trait which enabled continuous growth in animals with hard exoskeletons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectivesMethodsResultsConclusionsThe aim of this study was to analyze how farmworkers are represented in stock photos available in commercial libraries for use in agricultural health and safety education materials.We searched for images in five commercial stock photo libraries using the terms “farmworkers” and “women farmworkers” in April 2022. We used quantitative content analysis. We coded each image for containing a visible face, age, gender, skin tone, work activity, mechanization, presence of hazards, technology use, and protective equipment/clothing after establishing inter-coder reliability. We used descriptive statistics to characterize the available stock photos.We identified stock photos (n = 127) in three databases (Adobe Stock Images, Canva, and Getty Images). Two databases (Microsoft Office Image Library and Pixabay) had no relevant images at the time of the search. Only half of the photos analyzed contained a face. Light skin tones and young or middle-aged adults were more common. A majority of farming activities represented in photos were manual tasks (e.g., harvesting) with few depictions of equipment, hazards, and protective equipment/clothing.Health and safety professionals tasked with developing materials for education in agricultural settings face a severe lack of imagery pertinent to the realistic conditions of farmworkers in the United States. In the databases we reviewed, photos displaying human faces, photos showing a range of skin tones and ages, and photos displaying an array of different farm hazards are likely not sufficient for material development. Health and safety professionals may benefit from sharing photos from their own work with other professionals and allocating resources for professional photo shoots in their material development projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's fast-changing power systems, it is vital to have a protection system that can distinguish between power swing and fault conditions. With advanced protective devices (Digital Relays), an appropriate protection strategy can be established to identify power swing and fault conditions individually. The proposed algorithm uses the sliding window concept, which requires very little computational data unless any abnormal conditions exist in the power system. Modified Full Cycle Discrete Fourier Transform (MFCDFT) is more effective in the extraction of the fundamental phasors from the original complex signal by effectively removing the harmonics and DC components. An adaptive impedance characteristic-based MFCDFT is utilized for the discrimination of power swing and fault in this work. Several fault scenarios and power swings are generated on the test system concurrently and independently from the relay station at varied distances. PSCAD/EMTDC is utilized on a single-machine infinite bus system to analyze various test conditions. The simulation is utilized in this case to collect data from various test circumstances. After obtaining the data, the MFCDFT algorithm along with adaptive impedance estimation is performed using MATLAB code. After examining various test results, it is discovered that the suggested technique correctly recognizes power swings and various fault scenarios. It can also identify the difference between stable and unstable power swings. According to the results, the proposed technique is proficient at spotting fault and power swing conditions. In addition, the algorithm ensures dependable operation with quick detection and avoids maloperation under a typical swing condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aim: Thermoplastic mouthguards have been a reliable means of protection against impacts and shocks for a century. Although orofacial injuries are prevalent among basketball players, many athletes still avoid using mouthguards due to concerns regarding impaired breathing, speech interference, and nausea. This study aims to compare basketball players' subjective assessments of two different thicknesses of custom‐made mouthguards (MGs) with boil‐and‐bite MGs (B&B MG). Material and Methods: A total of 60 systematically healthy male professional basketball players, without active orthodontic treatment, were enrolled and randomly assigned to three groups: Group 1 (received B&B MGs; n = 20), Group 2 (received custom‐made MGs with a 3 mm thickness [ethyl vinyl asetat]; n = 20), and Group 3 (received custom‐made MGs with a 5 mm thickness; n = 20). To evaluate MG comfort and usability, 12 key factors, including comfort, fit, stability, tiredness, thirsting, oral dryness, nausea, speaking, breathing, drinking, ease of wear and removal, and inclination to chew, were assessed. The athletes were made to rate these factors using a 10 cm‐long Visual Analog Scale, measured at three‐time intervals, and the values for both inter‐group and intra‐group were compared. Results: Data from 48 basketball players were retrieved, and data analysis revealed that B&B MGs had the least favorable parameter values. Among the B&B MG group, stability was reported to be poorer during the initial measurement (p <.05). In the second measurement, B&B MGs showed significantly lower values for comfort, stability, tiredness, speaking, and inclination to chew (p <.05). During the third measurement, the B&B MG group exhibited significantly reduced values for comfort, breathing, drinking, and speaking (p <.05). In contrast, no statistically significant difference was observed between 3 and 5 mm thickness MGs in these measurements. Conclusions: Custom‐made MGs with different thicknesses consistently outperformed B&B MGs in all measurements, indicating the potential to tailor MG thickness based on sport, age, professional level of athlete, and presence of other protective equipment. While custom‐made mouthguards are considered the gold standard, dentists who provide B&B MGs can lead to cost savings while maintaining protection and encouraging athletes to use higher‐quality custom‐made mouthguards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Convolutional neural network-based detection models have been extensively applied in industrial production for monitoring the use of safety protection equipment, ensuring worker safety. This paper addresses scenarios in electrical operations where the safety protection requirements are more comprehensive and stringent. This paper proposes an improved detection model, ML-YOLOv8n-Light, based on YOLOv8n, targeting issues of low detection efficiency and large model size that make deployment challenging in current safety protection equipment-wearing detection models for electrical operations. Our model confronts the disparity in safety protection equipment sizes with a novel, lightweight multi-scale grouped convolution (MSGC) scheme integrated into the architecture. A lightweight adaptive weight downsampling (LAWD) mechanism is also fashioned to replace the traditional downsampling methods, optimizing resource consumption without sacrificing performance. Additionally, to enhance the detection fidelity of smaller items, such as insulated gloves, we added feature-rich shallow maps and a dedicated detection head for such objects. To enhance the detection efficiency of YOLOv8n, inspired by part convolution, we improved the spatial pyramid pooling fast (SPPF) and the detection heads. The experiments conducted on the custom dataset power safe attire dataset (PSAD) showed that compared to the original model, mAP50 increased by 2.1%, mAP50-95 by 3.1%, with a 29% reduction in parameters, an 18% reduction in computations, and a 23% compression of the model size. There are fewer detection omissions at long distances and under occlusion, fewer false positives, and computing resources are allocated more efficiently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: External bleeding is the leading cause of preventable trauma-related death. In certain circumstances, tourniquet application over clothing may be necessary. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of tourniquets over different clothing setups. Methods: Three windlass tourniquets (CAT, SAMXT, SOFTT-W) were applied over nine different clothing setups and without clothing on the Hapmed™ Tourniquet Trainer. We compared each tourniquet in each clothing setup to the tourniquet trainer that was not dressed, and we compared the three tourniquets within each clothing setup concerning blood loss, applied pressure and application time. Regression analysis of the effect of thickness, mean weight, mean deformation, application time, and applied pressure on blood loss was performed. Results: Although blood loss was significantly greater in the CAT and SAMXT tourniquets when they were applied over leather motorcycle trousers, the overall findings showed that the clothing setups significantly reduced or did not affect blood loss. The mean blood loss was the lowest with CAT and the highest with SOFTT-W. The measured mean pressures were lower than 180 mmHg in four out of nine clothing setups with SOFTT-W, but CAT and SAMXT always exceeded this threshold. CAT had the fastest application time. Blood loss was significantly influenced by applied pressure and application time but was influenced to a far lesser degree by clothing parameters. Conclusion: The effects of the clothing setups were of little clinical relevance, except for leather motorcycle trousers. The effects of rugged protective equipment, e.g., hazard suits, are conceivable and need to be tested for specific garments with the tourniquet intended for use. No clothing parameter for predicting tourniquet effectiveness could be identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is devoted to the development of a device for protecting facilities with turn-to-turn insulation, namely transformers and wind generators in order to increase the reliability of operation of electrical power systems, renewable energy installations and energy storage systems. The paper presents the results of experimental studies of the parameters of a prototype frequency-dependent device, as well as an assessment of the effectiveness of suppression of high-frequency surge voltages by the proposed device. The results of four groups of measurements are shown, which were compared with each other and with the results of previously showed computer simulations. The high efficiency of the proposed device when influencing the slope and amplitude of short high-frequency transients is shown. It is indicated that the parameters proposed earlier in the simulation allow the device to be used effectively. A brief analysis of alternative methods and means of protection is provided, and the prospects for using the device as protective equipment for wind power plants are also considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing demand for electricity, the power grid is undergoing significant advancements. Insulators, which serve as protective devices for transmission lines in outdoor high-altitude power systems, are widely employed. However, the detection of defects in insulators captured under challenging conditions, such as rain, snow, fog, sunlight, and fast-moving drones during long-distance photography, remains a major challenge. To address this issue and improve the accuracy of defect detection, this paper presents a novel approach: the Multi-Scale Insulator Defect Detection Approach using Detection Transformer (DETR). In this study, we propose a multi-scale backbone network that effectively captures the features of small objects, enhancing the detection performance. Additionally, we introduce a self-attention upsampling (SAU) module to replace the conventional attention module, enhancing contextual information extraction and facilitating the detection of small objects. Furthermore, we introduce the insulator defect (IDIoU) loss, which mitigates the instability in the matching process caused by small defects. Extensive experiments were conducted on an insulator defect dataset to evaluate the performance of our proposed method. The results demonstrate that our approach achieves outstanding performance, particularly in detecting small defects. Compared to existing methods, our approach exhibits a remarkable 7.47% increase in the average precision, emphasizing its efficacy in insulator defect detection. The proposed method not only enhances the accuracy of defect detection, which is crucial for maintaining the reliability and safety of power transmission systems but also has broader implications for the maintenance and inspection of high-voltage power infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a process for the preparation of composite laminates using the shear thickening fluid (STF) impregnated aramid fabric and presents some fabric panel configuration strategies. Firstly, this study prepared two kinds of STF using 20 nm and 500 nm silica particles. Then, the STF‐impregnated Kevlar fabrics were laminated and hot‐pressed to form the fabric panels. After that, the ballistic performance of the fabric panels was evaluated by firing the 9 mm steel core projectile using a gas gun. The ballistic tests showed that the ballistic performance of the hybridized configuration panels using STF‐20 treated fabrics as the front panels and STF‐500 treated fabrics as the backing panels was superior, with a reduction of 36.1%–37.6% in the number of perforated layers (4.7–5 layers) compared to a single STF‐treated panel. This study provides a new idea and method for applying STF in protective equipment. Highlights: Shear thickening fluid (STF) and aramid fabric are better combined by hot pressing lamination process;The ballistic properties of fabric panels are significantly improved by hybrid configuration;The ballistic performance enhancement mechanism of composite bulletproof plate was revealed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Protective stabilization techniques and physical restraints may be required for when the traditional techniques of behaviour management are ineffective. A papoose board (PB) is a safe stabilization device that is highly effective in managing uncooperative or anxious children. However, in the current era, the child, parent and operator preferences towards the use of papoose board needs to be explored. Material and Methods: A 12-point questionnaire was administered to child, parents and operator. Preferences to the use of papoose board were assessed quantitatively as well as qualitatively based on the images of papoose board usage shown. Quantitative data was expressed as frequency with percentage. Qualitative data was assessed through thematic analysis. Results: 30 children (3-12yrs) and their parents (11-Fathers; 19-Mothers), 15 operators were included in this study. Mean age of the children was 7.7 ± 2.6 yrs. 70% of children did not prefer the use of papoose board as they were scared and did not want to be tied up. 53.33% of parents preferred the use of papoose board as they thought of it as a protective device for their children. 46.66% of operators preferred the use of papoose board for unco-operative children. Conclusion: Children did not prefer the use of papoose board but parents and operators preferred the use of papoose board. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proper use of protective equipment is very important to avoid fatalities. One sector in which this has a great impact is that of construction sites, where a large number of workers die each year. In this sector as in others, employers are responsible for providing their employees with this equipment. In addition, employers must monitor and ensure its correct use. These tasks are usually performed using manual procedures. Existing tools to automate this process are unreliable and present scalability issues. In this paper, we research the benefits of using a cloud-edge computing architecture to automate the monitoring of protective equipment. The solution we propose successfully addresses all the problems that appear in hostile and unstructured work environments such as construction sites. Although these sites are used as a use case, the approach presented can also be deployed in other sectors with similar characteristics and restrictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the scientific literature related to SARS-COV-2 has been growing dramatically. These literary items encompass a varied set of topics, ranging from vaccination to protective equipment efficacy as well as lockdown policy evaluations. As a result, the development of automatic methods that allow an in-depth exploration of this growing literature has become a relevant issue, both to identify the topical trends of COVID-related research and to zoom-in on its sub-themes. This work proposes a novel methodology, called LDA2Net, which combines topic modelling and network analysis, to investigate topics under their surface. More specifically, LDA2Net exploits the frequencies of consecutive words pairs (i.e. bigram) to build those network structures underlying the hidden topics extracted from large volumes of text by Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA). Results are promising and suggest that the topic model efficacy is magnified by the network-based representation. In particular, such enrichment is noticeable when it comes to displaying and exploring the topics at different levels of granularity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the emergence of smart home appliances, traditional power sockets are becoming less compatible with modern living styles. Furthermore, modern commercialized sockets are expensive and unaffordable. This project presents the development of a low-cost Wi-Fi smart home socket using internet of things (IoT) technology that is user-friendly for smartphone users to control home appliances. Smart home socket devices can turn on and off power outlets automatically from any location if they are linked to the internet and providing the user with more convenience and energy savings. This project uses a node microcontroller unit (NodeMCU) Wi-Fi module (ESP8266) as the main microcontroller unit to connect to a cloud platform. It also uses a mobile phone application to send instructions to the microcontroller for turning on and off household appliances remotely through a smart socket. The switching mechanism is monitored and controlled through the Blynk platform. A 4-channel relay module is used to transition DC current loads to AC current loads in order to activate switching processes. According to the study's findings, the Wi-Fi smart home socket system is able to save on excessive usage of electrical appliances while also increasing electrical appliance safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The aim of the study was to present the actual efficiency of a gas-fired instantaneous water heater for the production of domestic hot water. Design/methodology/approach: The object of the study was a gas-fired instantaneous domestic hot water heater located in a flat in Krakow. Measurements with a suitable device were carried out for three basic variants of hot water preparation, defined as showering, washing hands and washing dishes. Findings: The tests and analyses carried out have revealed that the current efficiency (average efficiency based on 3 measurements – 77.61%) differs radically from that indicated on the water heater data sheet. Such a drop in efficiency may be caused e.g. by fouling of the surface of the heat exchanger on the flue gas side and scaling of the exchanger on the heated side. Research limitations/implications: The tests proved that the heater did not reach its nominal efficiency during the tests, but on the other hand, simulations of different intensities and durations of water consumption did not drastically change the efficiency of hot water preparation. Practical implications: Regular cleaning of the exchanger would probably reduce the difference between the efficiency declared by the manufacturer and the one achieved during the tests. A clean heater will also ensure a sufficiently low level of carbon monoxide in the flue gas, which has a real impact on the safety of the appliance. Social implications: The values obtained from the measurements for each operating mode can help occupants understand how to prepare water most efficiently with this particular appliance, which will have a real impact on the bills they pay. The user will be provided with information on what percentage of energy they use from the volume of gas burned. Originality/value: Gas-fired instantaneous water heaters provide an efficient and energy37 saving solution, especially in situations where the demand for hot water is low, and immediate access to it is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subjective knowledge is a significant factor influencing individuals' behaviors. It plays a critical role in preventing people from tragic event during open water activities (OWAs). However, a measurement scale for subjective knowledge in OWAs has not been developed and comprehensively investigated in the field of maritime and coaching studies. Therefore, this study aimed to develop and validate a subjective knowledge scale in OWAs (SKS-OWA) to better understand participants' safety perceptions. We collected data from individuals who participated in OWAs within three years in Singapore. This study conducted the pilot study (n = 260) and the main study (n = 453) and employed a rigorous scale development procedure to assess the psychometric properties of the SKS-OWA. The findings of this study contribute to a better understanding of subjective knowledge in OWAs, and the SKS-OWA can be used to help coaches and practitioners to plan their training programs, increase public awareness, and reduce the rates of deaths from drowning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the deficiencies in existing bridge pier scour protection technologies, this paper introduces a novel protective device, namely a normal distribution-shaped surface (BND) protection devices formed by rotating a concave normal curve. A three-dimensional turbulent SST k − ω model is constructed, and physical model experiments of conical surfaces are conducted to validate the mathematical model. The simulation analyzes longitudinal water flow, downflow, vorticity intensity, and shear stress within normal and conical surfaces. The results show that the downflow distribution in front of the pier spans a relative water depth of (−0.45, 0.67), with a peak velocity approximately 70% of the longitudinal flow velocity. Circulation forms within the surfaces, with the main vortex flux inside the BND being 33% lower than that inside the conical surface. The maximum shear stress coefficient inside the BND can reach 9, and the protective surface isolates the bed from the flow to prevent scouring by high shear stress. The velocity gradient at the edge of the surface is small, and the edge shear stress of the 3D normal distribution-shaped surface (BND) protection device is only one-third of that of the conical surface, preventing edge scouring. The large shear stress and its distribution area decrease monotonically with the increase in surface width. When the surface width is four times the diameter, the distribution range of the shear stress coefficient greater than 1 is very small. The study of three-Dimensional turbulence within the BND provides a numerical basis for an anti-scour design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This article, published in Frontiers in Materials, discusses the challenges and emerging issues related to firefighters' exposure to toxic chemicals. The research topic focuses on smoke chemicals, contaminated personal protective equipment (PPE), and off-gassing. The article highlights the health risks associated with these exposures, including cancer and respiratory diseases. It also presents a series of scholarly contributions that provide insights into the various health risks and propose solutions, such as improved decontamination protocols and tailored approaches to address gender-specific needs in PPE. The article emphasizes the need for enhanced protective measures, rigorous cleaning protocols, and continued research into the long-term impacts of toxic exposures in the firefighting community. [Extracted from the article]

In the Bamenda Municipality of Cameroon households are adopting Solar Photovoltaic Systems (SPVS). The penetration of SPVS in this Municipality depends on their technical performance. The study aimed to evaluate the technical installation of SPVS within the Municipality. A field inspection and administration of a questionnaire was conducted. The field inspection evaluated the respect of technical installation norms for SPVS. The questionnaire captured data on the technical situation of the SPVS. The SPVS installed included PV and grid to power separate loads, and PV and grid to power same loads. The installed loads were a mix of AC and DC loads of capacity from 360 W to 10000 W. The load powered by the installed SPVS varied from 300 W to 7000 W. The PV array varied from 200 W to 3200 W and battery bank capacity of 100 Ah to 800 Ah. The PV arrays were mostly installed on roof tops. Only 5% of the SPVS were installed by certified personnel. More than 50% of the installed SPVS operated below designed operation time. Failures in installed systems were related to inverters (36 %) and battery banks (36 %). Most of the PV arrays were installed on rooftops at tilt angles between 20° and 50°. More than 50 % of the PV arrays were oriented to directions other than South. Protective devices were installed in only 14 % of the installed systems. Some of the SPVS were not properly dimensioned. It may be concluded that most of the installed SPVS do not respect the technical installation norms and were not dimensioned according to users' needs. The survival and penetration of SPVS technology in the Bamenda Municipality, Cameroon, and other sub-Saharan communities requires awareness and capacity building, policies, and regulations in the design and installation of this technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Safety signs serve as an important information carrier for safety standards and rule constraints. Detecting safety signs in mines is essential for automatically early warning of unsafe behaviors and the wearing of protective equipment while using computer vision techniques to realize advanced safety in the AI and IoT era. This work aims to propose an improved YOLOV4-tiny safety signs detection model applying deep learning to detect safety signs in mines. The dataset employed in this study was derived from coal mines and analogous environments, comprising a total of ten types of safety signs. It was partitioned into training, validation, and test sets following a distribution ratio of (training set + validation set) to test set = 9:1, with the training set to validation set ratio also set at 9:1. Then the attention mechanism ECANet was introduced into the model, which strengthened the network's learning of places that need attention. Moreover, the Soft-NMS algorithm was used to retain more correct prediction frames and optimize the detection model to further improve the detection accuracy. The Focal Loss function was introduced to alleviate the problem of category imbalance in one-stage safety signs detection. Experimental results indicate that the proposed model achieved a detection precision of 97.76%, which is 7.55% and 9.23% higher than the YOLOV4-tiny and Faster RCNN algorithms, respectively. Besides, the model performed better in the generalization because it avoided the over-fitting phenomenon that occurred in the YOLOV4-tiny and the Faster RCNN. Moreover, the advantages of the improved model were more prominent when detecting small target areas and targets under dim conditions in coal mines. This work is beneficial for the intelligent early warning system with surveillance cameras in coal mines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Armed Forces of Ukraine pay great attention to the development of personnel protection armor. However, despite the availability of protective equipment, the practice of warfare shows that the tasks of protecting military personnel are not fully resolved. The task of developing protective structures against bullets and shrapnel remains urgent. The analysis of scientific and technical information showed that the processes that occur during the impact interaction of elements of mechanical systems have not been fully studied, and the development of means to protect against kinetic damage has not been fully covered in scientific papers. The process of interaction between the impactor and the protective barrier may change if nested structures are used as a protective barrier. The possibility of developing a new method for increasing the strength of armor protection by using nested structures (bullet–cylinder) is investigated. A new analytical dependence for determining the depth of penetration of a bullet into a cylinder is obtained. The novelty of the analytical dependence lies in the absence in the scientific literature of a mathematical model of bullet penetration into a cylinder whose inner diameter is smaller than the outer diameter of the bullet, taking into account the effective friction coefficient between the bullet and the inner surface of the cylinder, and the fact that the depth of penetration of a bullet into a cylinder can be equal to the length of the bullet, or be greater or less than it. On the basis of the proposed analytical dependence for determining the depth of penetration of a bullet into a cylinder, the dependences of the depth of penetration of a bullet into a cylinder on the value of tension (between the bullet and the cylinder) and the thickness of the cylinder are constructed. The research results indicate the fundamental possibility of reducing the depth of penetration of a bullet by using nested structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The media plays a key role in shaping the public's perception of road safety. This study analyzes the newspaper coverage and framing of motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) and road safety in Argentina, South America. The content of 304 articles published by 15 newspapers in November 2020 was reviewed. The results show that episodically framed news stories (focused on a single event or incident) prevail over thematically framed articles. MVCs are presented primarily as 'police' events and tend to receive more coverage when fatalities are involved. There is limited information provided on contextual and risk factors, and road safety advice is rarely included. Speeding, infrastructure, alcohol and other human-related variables are the most cited risk factors. Very few articles mention the use of protective devices (seat-belt, helmet and child restraint system). Although motorcyclists represent 40% of RTC deaths in Argentina, only 20% of the news coverage was about them. News coverage was quite similar in national and regional newspapers. There is an opportunity for the media to help build a better road safety culture, but significant changes in news framing are required. Practical recommendations for editors, journalists and road safety practitioners are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Femoral artery puncture is still the most used surgical approach. Because the operation requires local anaesthesia, the patient may not be able to exert full self-control, and their upper and lower limbs and trunk need to be constrained by a protection device. OBJECTIVE: To explore the safe application effect of a new type of anti-movement protection device for upper and lower extremities, shoulders and chest in patients undergoing interventional therapy via the femoral artery approach. METHODS: This is a prospective randomised controlled study. A total of 230 patients were randomly divided into two groups: the study group (n = 115) and the control group (n = 115). The time needed to implement the restraint operation and the loosening of the restraint device in the two groups was recorded, and the satisfaction of surgeons and nurses was investigated. RESULTS: The time needed to perform restraint operation in the study group was significantly less than that in the control group (4.06 ± 0.61 min vs. 7.01 ± 0.76 min, P < 0.05). The satisfaction of surgeons and nurses with the use of the new protective device was significantly better than that of the conventional restraint band (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The new anti-movement protection device for upper and lower limbs, shoulders and chest can conveniently and quickly achieve effective protection and braking of patients, ensure the safety of surgery and improve satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The safety of workers and equipment in the power grid requires the shutdown of power plants in case of maintenance or malfunction. The shutdown relies on protective devices that must be properly coordinated to isolate only the part of the grid affected by the malfunction. Using the DIgSILENT PowerFactory software, an analysis was conducted on a model of an accurate real grid integrating a photovoltaic power plant with a capacity of 390 kW. Protection coordination testing was carried out for three-phase, two-phase, and single-phase short circuit currents at arbitrarily selected locations at medium and low voltage levels. Protection in the time domain is coordinated on lines and busbars to determine the speed and selectivity of protective devices. The analysis results indicate that adequately adjusting the three-phase short circuit at the main transformer output 110/10 kV with an impedance of 0 O and an allowed protection operation time of up to two seconds can be correctly addressed within 36.7 ms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Earlier protection methods mainly focused on using communication channels to transmit trip signals between the protective devices (PDs), with no solutions provided in the case of communication failure. Therefore, this paper introduces a dual-layer protection system to ensure secure protection against fault events in the Distribution Systems (DSs), particularly in light of communication failures. The initial layer uses the Total Harmonic Distortion (THD), the estimates of the amplitude voltages, and the zero-sequence grid voltage components, functioning as a fault sensor, to formulate an adaptive algorithm based on a Finite State Machine (FSM) for the detection and isolation of faults within the grid. This layer primarily relies on communication protocols for effective coordination. A Second-Order Generalized Integrator (SOGI) expedites the derivation of the estimated variables, ensuring fast detection with minimal computational overhead. The second layer uses the behavior of the positive- and negative-sequence components of the grid voltages during fault events to locate and isolate these faults. In the event that the first layer exposes a communication failure, the second layer will automatically be activated to ensure secure protection as it operates, using the local information of the Protective devices (PDs), without the need for communication channels to transmit trip signals between the PDs. The proposed protection system has been assessed using simulations with MATLAB/Simulink and providing experimental results considering an IEEE 9-bus standard radial system. The obtained results confirm the capability of the system for identifying and isolating different types of faults, varying conditions, and modifications to the grid configuration. The results show good behavior of the initial THD-based layer, with fast time responses ranging from 6 to 8.5 ms in all the examined scenarios. In contrast, the sequence-based layer exhibits a protection time response of approximately 150 ms, making it a viable backup option in the event of a communication failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyanogen chloride (CNCl) is a highly toxic agent, but there is currently a lack of research on the catalytic hydrolysis reaction of CNCl on metal surfaces. The low efficiency and unclear mechanism of CNCl hydrolysis reaction have hampered the development and enhancement of protective equipment. In this work, we focused on investigating the adsorption behavior and hydrolysis mechanism of CNCl on copper and chromium surfaces through first‐principle methods. Our findings revealed the most stable adsorption configuration of CNCl on metal surfaces and its terminal flipping behavior during the hydrolysis process. Subsequently, we designed and studied a series of CNCl hydrolysis reaction pathways, primarily involving C‐terminal intermediates. Notably, the adsorption energy of CN* displayed strong linear scaling relationships with that of other key reaction intermediates, directly influencing the activity and selectivity of CNCl hydrolysis. By employing the adsorption energy expression based on the intrinsic properties of substrates and adsorbates, we extended them to identify the adsorption energies of various complex reaction intermediates involved in CNCl hydrolysis. This comprehensive understanding of the reaction mechanism on metal surfaces provides a theoretical foundation and innovative perspective for the further exploration of CNCl hydrolysis catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well-known that co-ordination of protective devices and fault localization techniques in active distribution networks require results of various short-circuit (SC) analyses in the time domain. Accordingly, the main aim of this paper is to calculate the three-phase bolted SC current in the time domain for a radial medium voltage (MV) feeder, which is connected to a MV distribution network, and which has one induction generator (IG) and one synchronous generator (SG) at two different locations. The SC analysis of this concrete case study can be regarded as a novelty. The SC analysis is based on the well-known equivalent circuit models for the MV distribution network, IG and SG, as well as the applications of Kirchhoff's laws and the theorem of superposition. In addition, the proposed analysis method enables calculation of the SC current in the cases where the arc resistance at the fault location cannot be neglected. Finally, the results showed that there are no limitations on the application of the proposed method to the task of calculating asymmetrical SC currents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at the problem of the traditional fabric were difficult to be repaired after being torn or punctured, based on the existing research results, the current technology development status of self-healing fabric was summarized. Classification of self-healing fabrics based on composition form and self-healing mechanism was introduced, the relevant progress and existing problems of self-healing fabric were analyzed, and the application development of self-healing fabric in the field of medical protection was prospected. It is considered that self-healing fabric can not only extend service life and improve reliability of fabric, but also lay the necessary technology foundation for smart clothing design. Moreover, self-healing fabric have great application prospects in the field of medical protection, which can be used in different medical protective equipment such as medical tents, medical protective masks and medical protective clothing in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incorrect operation of protective relays and circuit breakers will significantly compromise the safety and stability of power systems. To promptly detect the faults of the relay protection system and the circuit breakers in time and to ensure the operational reliability of these protective devices, this paper proposes a fault tracing method for a relay protection system–circuit breaker based on improved Random Forest. Firstly, an analysis is conducted to identify the causes of incorrect operation of the protective relay and the circuit breaker. The fault types and corresponding alarm messages for the relay protection system and the circuit breaker are categorized, and the alarm feature set is constructed. Then, the Random Forest is improved and trained to develop the fault tracking model. Finally, the operation evaluation process is developed to determine the incorrect operations of the protective relay and the circuit breaker, and the fault tracking model and fault tracking process are then employed to locate the faults of the relay protection system and the circuit breaker. The experimental results demonstrate the method's capability to accurately track faults in the relay protection system and the circuit breaker, thereby assisting operation and maintenance personnel in troubleshooting and highlighting its promising practical potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study investigated anthropometric changes of national law enforcement officers (LEOs) in 46 years, compared the differences between LEO data and civilian anthropometry, and identified the magnitude of differences in dimensions measured with gear versus semi-nude measurements. Background: The best available 46-year-old anthropometric dataset of LEOs has largely become outdated due to demographic changes. Additionally, anthropometric data of female LEOs and LEO measurements with gear are lacking. Method: Thirty-four traditional body dimensions and 15 with gear measurements of 756 male and 218 female LEOs were collected through a stratified national survey using a data collection trailer that traveled across the U.S. and the data were compared to the LEO anthropometric data from 1975 and existing civilian anthropometric databases. Results: LEO body size and shape have evolved over the past 46 years - an increase of 12.2 kg in body weight, 90 mm in chest circumference, and 120 mm in waist circumference for men. No previous data was available for comparison for females. Compared to civilians, both male and female LEOs have a larger upper body build. LEO gear added 91 mm in waist breadth for men and 120 mm for women, and 11 kg in weight for men and 9 kg for women. Conclusion: The study reveals that equipment design based on the existing civilian datasets or 46-year-old LEO dataset would not accommodate the current LEO population. The new data fill this gap. Application: The differences reported above are important for LEO body gear, vehicle console, and vehicle ingress/egress design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high rate of morbidity and mortality caused by COVID-19 caused governments to manage the supply of personal protective equipment with the purpose of protecting health workers from contagion, mainly health personnel who directly care for infected patients. However, the policy is not consistent between and its implementation. The objective of the research carried out was to determine the State's management and supply of protective equipment to health personnel during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research is with a quantitative, design approach; non-experimental cross-sectional, descriptive correlational. The survey technique was used with an online questionnaire. The result is that the State's management is deficient with respect to the supply of personal protective equipment, in addition to being inadequate in 40.7%, highlighting the 15.7% low level, followed by the 14.4% level very low in the general supply level. The conclusion is that management, expressed in a high positive correlation with the supply of Management, expressed in a high positive improvement with the supply of protective equipment (with a significance level of 0.000 less than 0.01), shows an evolution based more on policy management than design, so that, at increasing situational management actions, supply progressively increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Argentina de Antropología Biológica is the property of Revista Argentina de Antropologia Biologica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to present the type of hazards, to study their impact on human safety, to carry out an occupational risk assessment at the laser metal cleaning station, and to establish corrective activities for the safety condition. Design/methodology/approach: an analysis of the problem of the occurrence of nuisance and hazardous factors during the use of lasers in the technology of machine parts is presented, in the case-study part, the identification and analysis of factors affecting the health risk is carried out, a risk assessment is carried out at the laser cleaning station using the five-step method according to PN-N-18002, the results obtained are discussed, technical and organizational solutions necessary to achieve an acceptable risk condition are presented. Findings: the developed list of hazards and the risk assessment sheet indicate the need to take measures to minimize the risk. The collected information on working with lasers can be used in the future for job training, creating a safety culture at the plant and reducing the negative impact on the health of employees. Research limitations/implifications: the analysis carried out has made it possible to develop recommendations in the context of safe work at a workstation designed for laser cleaning of metal surfaces. In the future it is possible, following the example shown, to develop risk cards for laser processing of other types performed on different materials. Practical implications: The results of the analysis and the developed recommendations for improving the organization of the machining station can be used in other companies in the context of the correct equipment of workstations, selection of individual and collective protective equipment, workstation training, risk management, etc. Social implications: the article will enable the dissemination of information about the specifics of metalworking with lasers and the promotion of a culture of work safety and good practices at workstations with lasers. Originality/value: The content presented in the article complements the research on the implementation and use of laser techniques in modern companies with knowledge and practical guidelines in the area of occupational health and safety management. The added value of the article is the reference to laser workstations, which have become increasingly common in recent years and are replacing previous, sometimes obsolete technologies, as well as the possibility of applying methods of analysis and assessment of occupational risk in work with lasers in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some biological carapaces in the natural world have distinctive structures and excellent performance in impact resistance and light weight, which can be used to compensate for the shortcomings of traditional protective equipment in terms of wearing flexibility and energy absorption. A bioinspired hierarchical armor is designed in this article based on the inspiration provided by the internal filling layer of the biological carapace. The outer layer of the armor is made of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene as the hard front plate, while the soft layer is made of silicone rubber filled with viscous fluid. Impact responses of the fluid filled armors with different soft layers are studied under low velocity impact load. The resistance behavior of the armor with multicell filling layer is analyzed stage by stage using experimental data and images obtained by the high speed camera. The research has found that the armor's synergistic effect of the hard layer, the soft layer and the substrate allows it to absorb enough impact energy and decrease blunt injuries while keeping a certain degree of flexibility in wearing. Furthermore, the fluid filled in the soft layer improves the defect of local excessive intrusion in the previous bioinspired protection studies. The study can provide a reference for the design of new protective equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Frode Fonnum, a highly respected neuroscientist and toxicologist, has passed away at the age of 86. He was known for his groundbreaking research on neurotransmitters in the brain, particularly GABA and glutamate. Fonnum also played a crucial role in developing protective equipment against chemical weapons and studying environmental toxins. He was widely admired for his intellect, sense of humor, and supportiveness, and his wife, Marit Fonnum, was recognized for her unwavering support throughout his career. Fonnum's contributions to the field will be remembered and appreciated by colleagues worldwide. [Extracted from the article]

Pediatric and adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) patients encounter physical and emotional barriers. Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs), including pacemakers and implantable cardiac defibrillators (ICD) often compound these issues. Patient fear associated with damaging the CIED system can lead to avoidance of physical activity and reduced quality of life (QOL). CIED personal protective equipment (PPE) is a potential treatment for decreasing this fear. We sought to determine the effects of CIED PPE use in the pediatric and ACHD population. Patients 5 years or older with a CIED at a single pediatric and ACHD heart rhythm center received a CIED protector and customized athletic shirt. QOL was assessed using the PedsQL TM 4.0 SF15 prior to and after 6–12 months. Of the 77 patients enrolled, 26 completed repeat assessment. The mean age at enrollment was 15.6 years (range 5–36) with a mean device age of 2.2 years (< 1–10 years). Pacemakers were present in 77% and 23% had ICDs. The PPE was used in 92% with no PPE malfunction. Fear associated with physical activity was reduced, z = − 4, p < 0.001, with a large effect size (r = 0.55). There was a trend toward increased physical activity. Total QOL scores improved, z = − 2.771, P < 0.05, with a medium effect size (r = 0.4). This first study of CIED PPE in children shows that providing CIED PPE to pediatric and ACHD patients may decrease their fear of damaging their device system, increasing physical activity levels, and improving quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]