Set Of Protocols Research Articles

Construction of a nursing management program for early fluid resuscitation in patients with acute pancreatitis: a Delphi study in China

Aim and objectivesTo construct a set of scientific and feasible nursing management protocols for early fluid resuscitation in acute pancreatitis (AP) patients that can be used to guide clinical practice and enhance the treatment efficacy in these patients.BackgroundFluid resuscitation is a key means of early treatment for AP patients and has become a clinical consensus. Nurses are important practitioners of fluid resuscitation, and there is a lack of specific enforceable nursing management programs.MethodsThrough literature research, on-site research, semi-structured interviews, and other preliminary preparations of the first draft of the nursing management program for early fluid resuscitation in acute pancreatitis, the Delphi method was used to conduct two rounds of correspondence with medical and nursing experts, and then statistically analyzed.ResultsFifteen and 14 questionnaires were distributed in two rounds, respectively, and 15 and 14 questionnaires were recovered, respectively. The positive coefficient of experts was 100%, the authority coefficient was 0.970 and 0.975, respectively; the coefficient of variation coefficient was 0.05–0.21 and 0.00–0.20, respectively; the expert coordination coefficients of all levels of indices in this study are 0.166–0.335 and 0.189–0.364, respectively. The P values of the first, second, and third level indices are < 0.05 according to the test of Kendall’s harmony coefficient. A total of 5 primary indicators, 11 secondary indicators, and 36 tertiary indicators were used to construct the Nursing Management Program for Early Fluid Resuscitation in Acute Pancreatitis.ConclusionsThe constructed nursing management plan for early fluid resuscitation in acute pancreatitis patients puts forward clear requirements and standards for nursing care in the early stage of AP treatment. This plan is scientific, represent good clinical practice, are feasible for nurses to follow, and construct a standardized protocol for the management of early fluid resuscitation in patients with acute pancreatitis.

A dynamic integrity and data confidentiality based wireless N2N data communication and security protocol on large networks

A dynamic integrity and data confidentiality based wireless N2N data communication and security protocol on large networks

Synthetic aperture X-ray ghost imaging with sub-micron pixel resolution

Synthetic aperture X-ray ghost imaging (SAXGI) is proposed to achieve megapixel X-ray ghost imaging together with a reduced number of measurements. As the bucket detector array is artificially generated by post-pixel-binning of the images collected with the same detector as that in the reference arm, the unique advantages of SAXGI are not verified experimentally. In this paper, we developed a systematic solution of the experimental implementation of SAXGI, with the automatic interchange of 2× and 20× optical magnification of the detector for object and reference signal acquisition respectively, together with electronic pixel-binning of the detector. Taking the experimentally achieved 40×40 blocks as the bucket array in the object arm and addressing the challenge of image registration among the reference and object signals, we successfully achieved SAXGI imaging of 1960×1920 pixels with a pixel size of 0.325 µm. By developing a set of protocols improved in each part of the experiments, we can implement the data acquisition process of SAXGI in a few minutes, which is anticipated to facilitate the further application of the SAXGI method in related research fields.

Dynamic and Immersive Framework for Drone Delivery Services in Skyway Networks

We propose a novel dynamic and immersive 3D framework designed to facilitate the setup and customization of drone scheduling algorithms for evaluating service-based drone delivery systems. This framework features a robust system architecture that supports user-defined behavior logic . It also incorporates real-time data communication protocols for relaying timely instructions to the drones. Additionally, it integrates a comprehensive drone energy consumption model that accurately simulates the physics of drone operations and accounts for both internal and external factors affecting energy usage. The framework includes a sophisticated 3D visualization component, depicting drone deliveries from source to destination through a realistic skyway network within an interactive virtual urban environment. It also enables automated data tracking , which is crucial for testing algorithms and collecting data to support data-driven decisions and optimizations. We evaluate the framework by conducting a comprehensive usability test to assess its user interface and overall user experience. Additionally, we test the framework using a drone swarm to execute delivery requests under both simple and complex energy consumption models. The results show that the framework has a user-friendly interface and effectively supports drone delivery simulations under the complex physics-based energy consumption model.

Tribomechanical Properties of Glazes for Ceramic Tiles: A Novel Protocol for Their Characterization.

The aim of the work is to design and validate a characterization protocol for glazes used in the ceramic tile industry to lead manufacturers and researchers towards the formulation of glazes with enhanced wear resistance properties. The focus of the protocol is addressed to determine surface parameters that strongly depend on glaze formulation and firing temperature. This protocol includes analytical (e.g., thermal analysis, Vickers microhardness, microstructural investigation, etc.) and technological tests (i.e., impact resistance and surface abrasion resistance test), the latter carried out on ceramic tile samples where four different glazes have been applied. The characterization protocol set in this paper highlights the importance of using both analytical and technological tests for glaze investigations and provides threshold values for specific parameters useful in developing glass-ceramic glazes with enhanced mechanical and tribological properties.

Tissue Culture and Rapid Micropropagation for Quercus suber L.

Quercus suber L. (Q. suber) is an evergreen tree species known for producing high-quality cork. Traditional seed propagation of Q. suber has low viability and is time-consuming. Therefore, we used young stem segments of 2~3-year-old seedlings as explants, and optimized protocols for tissue culture and rapid micropropagation of Q. suber. The best disinfection method was 0.10% HgCl2 (v/v) for 5 min. 0.50 g·L−1 Poly Vinyl Pyrrolidone (PVP) is the best anti-browning agent with a significant reduction in browning by nearly 1.76-fold (58.89% → 33.33%). Woody Plant Medium supplemented with micronutrients and vitamins from Murashige and Skoog Medium (WPMS) was found to be the most suitable for shoot formation. The optimal hormone ratio for development of shoots from axillary buds was 0.60 mg·L−1 6-benzyladenine (6-BA). Among the cytokinins tested, 0.50 mg·L−1 6-BA was the most suitable for development of shoots from axillary buds. In additon, the highest percentage of rooting explants (66.67%) and rooting number (3.03) was obtained on WPM basal medium supplemented 0.20 mg·L−1 IBA and 0.20 mg·L−1 NAA. In summary, we have established a set of protocols for tissue culture and rapid micropropagation of Q. suber. These findings lay the foundation for rapid micropropagation and genetic improvement.

Efficacy and Safety of Anthocyanin-Rich Extract in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Bilberries are effective in inducing clinical, endoscopic, and biochemical improvement in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of anthocyanin-rich extract (ACRE), the bioactive ingredient of bilberries, in a controlled clinical trial in moderate-to-severe UC. Methods: A multi-center, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study with a parallel group was conducted. Initially, the study was planned for 100 patients; nevertheless, it prematurely ended due to COVID-19. Patients had moderate-to-severe active UC at screening (a Mayo score of 6-12, an endoscopic sub-score ≥ 2) and were randomized at baseline. The primary endpoint was a clinical response (week 8, a total Mayo score reduction ≥ 3 points). Fecal calprotectin (FC) and a centrally read endoscopic response were among the secondary endpoints. Results: Out of 48 patients (6 Swiss centers), 34 were randomized. Eighteen ACRE and eight placebo patients could be analyzed (per protocol set). Half (9/18) of ACRE patients and 3/8 of placebo patients responded clinically (p = 0.278). An improvement in the Mayo score was observed in the ACRE arm (77.8% vs. 62.5% placebo). FC dropped from 1049 ± 1139 to 557 ± 756 μg/g for ACRE but not for the placebo group (947 ± 1039 to 1040 ± 1179; p = 0.035). Serious adverse events were rare. Conclusions: ACRE treatment did not yield significant superiority to the placebo. Furthermore, the placebo response was unusually high. Moreover, there was a significant calprotectin decrease at the end of treatment, indicative of ACRE efficacy in UC.

A multicenter, single-group, open feasibility study of a new individual cognitive behavioral therapy program for adult Japanese patients with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: Study protocol.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, including executive function, emotional regulation, and motivation, can persist into adulthood and are often associated with mental illnesses. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may help ADHD adults in Japan, but the lack of studies and the variability in group CBT approaches make its effects unclear. Japan lacks unified CBT programs and adult ADHD guidelines, making it difficult to implement international individual CBT recommendations due to cultural differences. This study will assess the feasibility of a novel CBT program for Japanese adult ADHD patients. This feasibility study will be open, nonrandomized, single-arm, multicenter study. Twelve ADHD patients aged 20-65 years who are currently receiving treatment will be included based on Conners' Adult ADHD Rating Scale (CAARS) clinical severity threshold. An intervention phase of 12-16 weeks and a 12-week follow-up will total 24-28 weeks for all participants. The intervention will use a new CBT program tailored to individual assessments. The primary objective is to determine feasibility using dropout rates, adverse events, and CAARS score changes between Weeks 1 and 16. The secondary outcomes will assess long-term effects of treatment beyond the intervention period and provide descriptive statistics on sex, depression, quality of life, and autistic scores in relation to the intervention outcomes. The full analysis set and per protocol set will be used for statistical analysis. This study is essential for the development of CBT interventions in accordance with Japan's healthcare system that are tailored to the unique needs of its population.

Synaptive Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Stereotactic Radiosurgery.

Introduction The Synaptive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system (Synaptive Medical, Toronto, Canada) is a midfield 0.5 T head-only scanner for imaging the head and neck in adults and pediatrics. The system received US FDA and Health Canada clearance for clinical use in 2020. Initial installations occurred at sites throughout Canada with the first international installation occurring in the USA at Hackensack Meridian's Jersey Shore University Medical Center (JSUMC) in October 2023. The design of the Synaptive MRI allows the system to be installed and operated outside the context of standard Radiology facilities. In this study, we describe the implementation and adaptation of the Synaptive MRI into the cranial stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) workflow, with the intention of reducing the time between consultation, MRI, and treatment. Methods The Synaptive MRI was installed next to the cranial SRS suite in the Radiation Oncology (RO) department, dedicated solely to SRS planning image acquisition.Geometric distortion was evaluated using the Magphan 128 Distortion Phantom (Phantom Laboratory, Greenwich, NY). The simplicity of the Synaptive interface allows Radiation Therapist operation, in the State of New Jersey, without the need for the physical presence of an MRI technologist.During imaging acquisition, the Physician verifies image quality and can rescan or make adjustments as needed, allowing for instantaneous confirmation of image quality. The Synaptive comes with a full set of neuro pulse sequences and protocols ranging from T1 3D spoiled gradient recalled echo to time-of-flight magnetic resonance angiography. Patient MRI comfort was evaluated after treatment by questionnaire for 51 patients using a Likert scale from 1 to 5 (1 = "very poor", 5 = "very good").The total Synaptive MRI time for 38 patients was tracked from arrival at the MRI suite to completion of imaging.Times from consult, imaging, and treatment for 58 ZAP-X(ZAP Surgical Systems, Inc., San Carlos, CA) SRS patients at JSUMC RO in 2024 who received Synaptive MRI were obtained from Aria (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA) electronic medical records. JSUMC RO Departmental data was obtained on times from consult, imaging, and treatment for 58 randomly sampled patientsfrom 2018 to 2023whose treatment planning imaging was performed on out-of-department MRI units for comparison. Results The distortions on this system are less than 0.52 mm, for distances up to 90 mm from the isocenter.The average MRI comfort was4.7 ± 0.5. The average total MRI time for 38 patients was 36 ± 3 minutes.The median time for 58 ZAP-X SRS patients from MRI to treatment was seven days (interquartile range: p25 = six days, p75 = 10 days), consult to MRI 1.5 days (p25 = 0 days, p75 = nine days), and consult to treatment 12 days (p25 = seven days, p75 = 19 days). The median time for 34 malignant ZAP-X SRS patients from MRI to treatment was six days (p25 = five days, p75 = eight days) and from consult to treatment nine days (p25 = six days, p75 = 18 days). Significant decreases in MRI to treatment times (P < 0.001) and benign consult to MRI times (P = 0.0039) were demonstrated for 2024 Synaptive patients compared to 2018-2023 patients. Conclusion Dedicated Synaptive MRI installation for SRS in ROdepartments can improve the SRS workflow, potentially providing a more streamlined experience and reducing the time from diagnosis and imaging to treatment for cranial pathologies.

Broth microdilution protocol for determining antimicrobial susceptibility of Legionella pneumophila to clinically relevant antimicrobials.

Currently there is no detailed, internationally agreed protocol defined to evaluate antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) for Legionella pneumophila (required to establish epidemiological cut-off value or "ECOFF" boundaries); therefore, antimicrobial resistance in these isolates cannot be defined. AST methods utilising media containing activated charcoal as an ingredient, to enable Legionella growth, are unreliable as noted in an internationally authored opinion paper and a new gold standard is required. Here we define a detailed protocol for broth microdilution (BMD) using defined cell culture collection-deposited control reference strains (Philadelphia-1 and Knoxville-1) as well as two accessible reference strains with moderately (lpeAB-carrying) and markedly (23S rRNA mutation-carrying) elevated azithromycin minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). The defined protocol enables up to eight L. pneumophila strains to be set up on a single 96-well plate per antimicrobial tested. Initial ranges to routinely capture an MIC for these reference strains using clinically relevant antimicrobials azithromycin (0.01-0.25 mg/L), levofloxacin (0.008-0.03 mg/L), lefamulin (0.01-2 mg/L), rifampicin (0.0002-0.0008 mg/L) and doxycycline (0.25-16 mg/L) following incubation for 48 h at 37 °C in a shaking incubator have been empirically determined. Establishment of this internationally agreed protocol sets the scene for the next step: validation and comparison of antimicrobial ranges between international Legionella reference laboratories to establish putative resistance cut-off thresholds for these clinically relevant antimicrobials.

Optimization of Hybrid Pulse Power Characterization (HPPC) Protocol for Lithium-Ion Battery Diagnostics

The importance of accurate diagnostics in lithium-ion battery applications has received increasing emphasis, especially after the formation step to assess the quality of the solid-electrolyte interphase layer and before second-life usage to investigate whether the recycled battery meets safety and performance requirements [1, 2]. Among diagnostic methods, hybrid pulse power characterization (HPPC) tests are promising as they extract relatively large information from high-rate perturbations from a near-equilibrium state by undergoing a sufficiently long rest step before applying the pulses [3]. However, traditional HPPC protocols (that is, using fixed magnitudes of charge/discharge pulses at uniformly distributed states of charges) provide superficial information about the battery health by only capturing the convoluted symptoms instead of investigating the physical cause of the degradation [3]. To overcome this limitation, a novel diagnostic method of using voltage pulses for HPPC protocols (i.e., smart HPPC) was proposed to successfully separate the impact of the individual degradation mechanisms on current responses [3].While smart HPPC has shown decent performance in identifying individual degradation mechanisms such as film resistance, surface blockage, and electrolyte loss, this work aims to make the protocol even smarter by (1) designing reaction model/electrode material-specific HPPC protocols, (2) performing a quantitative identifiability analysis by considering the uncertainty of estimated degradation parameters, (3) validating the robustness of designed HPPC protocols by performing simulations in various hypothetical situations, and (4) incorporating information from the previous diagnostic results to improve the next round of diagnostics. In this work, a novel framework for designing a set of optimal HPPC protocols is described which is composed of three steps: (1) formulating the parametric uncertainty using a model-based design of experiment (DOE) method and the diagnostic time using scaling analysis, (2) constructing a Pareto front by solving a two-objective optimization, and (3) evaluating the robustness of the designed HPPC protocol by performing Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulations with various degradation states. This work demonstrates the application to a Nickel-Cobalt-Aluminum (NCA)-graphite electrode full-cell with the coupled ion-electron transfer (CIET) reaction model. Our framework could reduce the total diagnostic time by up to 45% of the traditional HPPC protocol while retaining accuracy for identifying all degradation mechanisms.The information dependency on the state of charge (SOC) is investigated in our work through simulation results from overpotential-balanced full cells, showing that the pulses performed with the lower filling fraction of the overpotential dominant electrode are more informative than the pulses with the higher filling fraction. This result allows us to design an innovative shallow-depth HPPC protocol that only explores the SOC regions with high information, which dramatically reduces the total diagnostic time.

Single Cell Regeneration Investigations on Ruthenium Poisoned Cathode Electrocatalysts for PEMFC

PEMFCs operating with reformate gases (a mixture of H2, CO2, and CO) are a promising alternative for CO2-neutral and environmentally friendly maritime transportation. [1] However, even trace amounts of CO in the hydrogen feed rapidly deactivate the platinum (Pt) electrocatalysts, leading to a high anode overpotential. [2] Pt-ruthenium (Ru) alloy nanoparticles (NPs) supported on carbon (PtRu/C) are among the most widely used anode electrocatalyst materials due to their high CO tolerance during the hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR). [2, 3] Nevertheless, the PtRu/C anode catalysts suffer from the Ruz+ dissolution followed by crossover through the membrane and re-deposition onto the Pt/C cathode catalyst surface during the long-time PEMFC operation. [3] These phenomena are the main degradation processes in PEMFCs operated with reformate gas. Even at a Ru coverage of the Pt/C cathode catalyst surface of less than 20 %, there is an 8-fold decrease in the kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). [4, 5] Hence, the development of electrochemical regeneration procedures to mitigate or remove Ru-poisoning of the cathode catalyst surface on cell level is essential to extend the lifetime of PEMFCs, e.g. for maritime applications. [6]Based on our previous work in a three-electrode setup [6], we transferred a selective set of regeneration protocols for Ru-poisoned ORR catalysts using a fully automatic single-cell PEMFC test station. Therefore, catalyst coated membranes (CCMs) with a 12 cm2 geometric surface area were prepared by using two commercial Pt-Ru/C catalysts with different atomic ratios on the cathode side, maintaining the Pt loading of 0.2 - 0.3 mgPt cm-2 geo, while the anode electrode layer contained Pt/C with around 0.1 mgPt cm-2 geo. The anode side was exposed to successive H2/air fronts with different residence times as part of a regeneration strategy of the cathode electrode. The effect of the H2/air front and their residence time were investigated through electrochemical characterization methods, such as polarization curves, Tafel slope, ECSA, HFR, and impedance spectroscopy. Electrochemical performance results were correlated with PEMFC operating conditions (H2/air front, residence times) and structural data to evaluate changes in particle size, structure, and chemical composition of two different Pt-Ru/C catalysts using several techniques like cross-section scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and microscopic X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (µ-XRF).Our work evaluated different electrochemical recovery protocols of Ru-poisoned ORR catalyst materials to identify the most promising set of parameters for their re-activation procedure and therefore improve the lifetime of PEMFCs.

Designing postcapitalist finance in Protocols for Postcapitalist Expression

Abstract Protocols for Postcapitalist Expression, the Economic Space Agency’s latest experiment in radical economic design, explores the possibility of designing a digitally native economy that is geared towards care, the arts, and the environment, and which not only refuses to give up on the financial frontiers of contemporary capitalism, but actively seeks to marshal them towards innovative ends. The architecture of a novel economic space comes into view through a set of protocols, which integrate economic information within a social value framework. This ‘Economic Space Protocol’ involves crafting a new grammar for economic information production processes that have traditionally been tied to competitive market behavior. This essay interrogates the place of finance in the book, emphasizing price discovery’s generativity with regards to information. What is necessary in the imagination of any postcapitalist future are radical design initiatives that contend with both the necessity and the limits of the price discovery process.

Oxygen optodes on oceanographic moorings: recommendations for deployment and in situ calibration

Increasing interest in the deployment of optical oxygen sensors, or optodes, on oceanographic moorings reflects the value of dissolved oxygen (DO) measurements in studies of physical and biogeochemical processes. Optodes are well-suited for moored applications but require careful, multi-step calibrations in the field to ensure data accuracy. Without a standardized set of protocols, this can be an obstacle for science teams lacking expertise in optode data processing and calibration. Here, we provide a set of recommendations for the deployment and in situ calibration of data from moored optodes, developed from our experience working with a set of 60 optodes deployed as part of the Gases in the Overturning and Horizontal circulation of the Subpolar North Atlantic Program (GOHSNAP). In particular, we detail the correction of drift in moored optodes, which occurs in two forms: (i) an irreversible, time-dependent drift that occurs during both optode storage and deployment and (ii) a reversible and pressure-and-time-dependent drift that is detectable in some optodes deployed at depths greater than 1,000 m. The latter is virtually unidentified in the literature yet appears to cause a low-bias in measured DO on the order of 1 to 3 µmol kg−1 per 1,000 m of depth, appearing as an exponential decay over the first days to months of deployment. Comparisons of our calibrated DO time series against serendipitous mid-deployment conductivity-temperature-depth (CTD)-DO profiles, as well as biogeochemical (BGC)-ARGO float profiles, suggest the protocols described here yield an accuracy in optode-DO of ∼1%, or approximately 2.5 to 3 µmol kg−1. We intend this paper to serve as both documentation of the current best practices in the deployment of moored optodes as well as a guide for science teams seeking to collect high-quality moored oxygen data, regardless of expertise.

Formal Security Analysis of the OpenID FAPI 2.0 Family of Protocols: Accompanying a Standardization Process

FAPI 2.0 is a suite of Web protocols developed by the OpenID Foundation’s FAPI Working Group (FAPI WG) for third-party data sharing and digital identity in high-risk environments. Even though the specifications are not completely finished, several important entities have started to adopt the FAPI 2.0 protocols, including Norway’s national HelseID, Australia’s Consumer Data Standards, as well as private companies like Authlete and Australia-based connectID; the predecessor FAPI 1.0 is in widespread use with millions of users. The FAPI WG asked us to accompany the standardization of the FAPI 2.0 protocols with a formal security analysis to proactively identify vulnerabilities before widespread deployment and to provide formal security guarantees for the standards. In this paper, we report on our analysis and findings. Our analysis is based on a detailed model of the Web infrastructure, the so-called Web Infrastructure Model (WIM), which we extend to be able to carry out our analysis of the FAPI 2.0 protocols including important extensions like FAPI-CIBA. Based on the (extended) WIM and formalizations of the security goals and attacker model laid out in the FAPI 2.0 specifications, we provide a formal model of the protocols and carry out a formal security analysis, revealing several attacks. We have worked with the FAPI WG to fix the protocols, resulting in several amendments to the specifications. With these changes in place, we have adjusted our protocol model and formally proved that the security properties hold true under the strong attacker model defined by the FAPI WG.

Good quality end-of life care for people with an intellectual disability: A critical interpretive synthesis protocol.

People with an intellectual disability face inequality accessing healthcare that extends to end-of-life care. Furthermore, end-of-life care for people with an intellectual disability is more complex than that for the general population. This protocol sets out how our review will explore the available evidence and identify the key characteristics of care that are required for people with an intellectual disability to have a good end-of-life experience. A critical interpretive synthesis approach will be adopted, combining some elements of a systematic review with interpretive synthesis. This approach has been selected as it allows a diverse body of literature to be considered. Furthermore, it is compatible with theory generation allowing new insights to emerge in an iterative process. Electronic databases and grey literature sources will be searched using pre-defined search terms. Following initial title and abstract screening, eligible papers will undergo full text screening. Papers that are deemed to be 'fatally flawed' will be excluded and remaining papers appraised for relevance. Resultant papers will be included in the sampling frame from which data extraction will occur. An existing framework outlining key factors in the provision of excellent end-of-life care to people with an intellectual disability will be used to support data extraction and synthesis. Data extracted will be integrated into a synthesising argument in the form of a theoretical framework. This will identify the key characteristics in the provision of care that are required for people with an intellectual disability to have a good end-of-life experience. The developing theoretical framework will guide further selection of relevant literature to fill any conceptual gaps until saturation is reached. Our review will add to the existing body of evidence, shedding light on the key factors necessary in the provision of care to ensure that people with an intellectual disability have a good end-of-life experience.

Clinical risk factors for pancreatic cancer: protocol for an umbrella review

IntroductionIdentifying cancer earlier can help save lives. An increasingly popular approach to diagnosing cancer earlier is in the development of risk prediction models to be applied to the electronic healthcare...

SHIELD: Security-aware Schreduling for Real-Time DAGs on Heterogeneous Systems

Many control applications in real-time cyber-physical systems are represented as Directed Acyclic Graphs ( DAGs ) due to complex interactions among their functional components, and executed on distributed heterogeneous platforms. Data communication between dependent task nodes running on different processing elements are often realized through message transmission over a public network, and are hence susceptible to multiple security threats such as snooping , alteration and spoofing . Several alternative security protocols having varying security strengths and associated implementation overheads are available in the market, for incorporating confidentiality , integrity and authentication on the transmitted messages. While message size and conceptually its associated transmission overheads may be marginally increased due to the assignment of security protocols, significant computation overheads must be incurred for securing the message at the location of its source task node and for unlocking security/message extraction at the destination. Obtained security strengths and associated computation overheads vary depending on the set of protocols chosen for a given message from an available pool of protocols. Given lower bounds on the security demands of an application's messages, selecting the appropriate protocols for each message such that a system's overall security is maximized while satisfying constraints related to the resource, task precedence and deadline, is a challenging and computationally hard problem. In this paper, we propose an efficient heuristic strategy called SHIELD for security-aware real-time scheduling of DAG-structured applications to be executed on distributed heterogeneous systems. The efficacy of the proposed scheduler is exhibited through extensive simulation-based experiments using two DAG-structured application benchmarks. Our performance evaluation results demonstrate that SHIELD significantly outperforms two greedy baseline strategies SHIELDb in terms of solution generation times (i.e., run-times) and SHIELDf in terms of achieved security utility. Additionally, a case study on the Traction Control application in automotive systems has been included to exhibit the applicability of SHIELD in real-world settings.

Exercises and Activities for Gross Motor and Fine Motor Development in Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Case Study

Developmental coordination disorder also known as developmental dyspraxia, is used to refer the difficulty in movement skills, that children have which is not primarily due to general intellectual, primary sensory or motor neurological impairments. The patient with 6 years of age having DCD, presented with difficulty in walking and unsupported standing along with gripping difficulties as well as mild cognitive impairment. A certain set of treatment protocol was followed for about 5 weeks considering the complaints of the patient, which included activities promoting gross motor as well as fine motor functions. After following the protocol patient was able to attain unsupported standing and supported walking along with marked improvement in gross motor and fine motor functions. Different scales like, Modified Ashworth Scale, Pediatric Balance Scale were used to assess the patient as per suspected problems and if there was any associated condition. To confirm the diagnosis of the condition, criteria under diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders 5 (DSM5) were verified.

Scoping review of literature and systematic search of web-based resources: parasport classification instructions, experiences, and outcomes

ABSTRACT While classification is essential to parasport, members of the Paralympic Movement commonly report having limited access to information on the topic. Despite increased academic interest in recent years, the total body of research on classification has not yet been mapped or documented. To assess the breadth of literature on classification, we conducted a scoping review following the protocol set forth by Arksey and O’Malley (2005). Additionally, we completed a six-step systematic online search as outlined by Stansfield et al. (2016) to document the type and quality of information on classification available outside bibliographic databases. The most frequent topics discussed in the literature were (a) coach/classifier roles during classification, (b) athletes’ perspectives on classification, and (c) the influence of classification on athletes’ participation (e.g. on social dynamics, athlete development). Webpages reviewed were of relatively low quality, with <50% reporting authorship, references, or a statement of disclosure. Webpages reviewed were primarily produced by national/international sport organizations and provided more professional (i.e. technical) information on classification than inter-/intrapersonal information or instruction. This review provides insight into the type and quality of classification knowledge available to parasport participants and may inform future research and practice related to parasport at all levels.