System Framework Research Articles

A lightweight and secure authentication protocol for visually impaired and handicapped people in the telehealth system

Sensors and wearable technology are used to accumulate health-related data from the visually impaired (VI) and other special persons. This health-related data is disseminated via an open network channel, which poses numerous threats and requires rigorous attention for its protection. An appropriate security framework must be implemented on both the sender and the recipient sides to ensure the privacy and security of sensitive medical information for VI and disabled persons. The telehealth system will then benefit the VI and disabled people by improving their quality of life, telemonitoring, saving time and money, providing online support, and increasing the degree of trust and reliance on the system and the treatment of doctors. These practical benefits are not just theoretical but potentially life-changing for the VI and disabled community. Strong and flawless mutual authentication is necessary for the telehealth system to secure and preserve the privacy of VI and disabled people. Therefore, this article proposes a privacy-preserving asymmetric-based, lightweight, and robust security framework for the telehealth system operationalized for VI and disabled people. The proposed security framework alleviates all threats to sensitive information and preserves the privacy and security of the whole telehealth system. The security of the proposed framework has been verified through a well-known Real-Or-Random (RoR) model and simulated through a ProVerif software verification toolkit, while the performance analysis has been tackled by measuring computation, storage, and communication costs. The comparative analysis result revealed that the proposed framework outperforms its competitors, further reinforcing the hope about its potential impact.

A portable application framework for energy management and information systems (EMIS) solutions using Brick semantic schema

This paper introduces a portable framework for developing, scaling and maintaining energy management and information systems (EMIS) applications using an ontology-based approach. Key contributions include an interoperable layer based on Brick schema, the formalization of application constraints pertaining metadata and data requirements, and a field demonstration. The framework allows for querying metadata models, fetching data, preprocessing, and analyzing data, thereby offering a modular and flexible workflow for application development. Its effectiveness is demonstrated through a case study involving the development and implementation of a data-driven anomaly detection tool for the photovoltaic systems installed at the Politecnico di Torino, Italy. During eight months of testing, the framework was used to tackle practical challenges including: (i) developing a machine learning-based anomaly detection pipeline, (ii) replacing data-driven models during operation, (iii) optimizing model deployment and retraining, (iv) handling critical changes in variable naming conventions and sensor availability (v) extending the pipeline from one system to additional ones.

Performance analysis of multiuser mmWave DCT-spread CP-Less OFDM communication system

In this paper, we propose a framework for multiuser mmWave DCT-Spread CP-less OFDM communication system and analyze it comprehensively. Due to excessive cyclic prefix (CP) usage in conventional multicarrier systems, spectral efficiency reduces and increases transmission latency. Our proposed system enhances spectral efficiency and reduces transmission latency. We introduce an image encryption algorithm based on DNA encoding combined with a chaotic map is introduced to enhance physical layer security (PLS). The impact of block diagonalization (BD) channel precoding for multiuser interference (MUI) reduction and designed subcarrier mapping with time-domain Tukey windowing for out-of-band (OOB) power emission reduction are investigated. In addition, the paper studies the applicability of discrete cosine transforms (DCT)-Spreading for peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) reduction. Simulation results demonstrate that Turbo and Repeat and Accumulate (RA) channel coding and minimum mean square error (MMSE) and Cholesky decomposition (CD)-based zero-forcing (ZF) signal detection schemes improve bit error rate (BER) performance of the proposed system for different users.

A system-theoretic assurance framework for safety-driven systems engineering

A system-theoretic assurance framework for safety-driven systems engineering

Tracing the dynamics of motivational self-constructs across the lifespan: Tales from senior learners of English

In the context of an ageing and increasingly more independent learning population, a narrative inquiry into the life stories of motivated and still active senior language users remains a promising yet unexplored area. This case study forms part of a PhD research (Darnault, 2023) on the motivational dynamics of lifelong foreign language learning (FLL) individuals. We recorded the retrospective stories of 3 exceptionally motivated French senior learners of English, aged 65 to 80, from childhood to their current learning experience. Our triangulated and multimodal approach elicited written, oral and visual data. An inductive thematic analysis first highlighted the emergence of motivational peaks, subsequently followed by the examination of clusters of self-constructs within participants’ individual time frames in light of the L2 Motivational Self System (L2MSS) framework. Results showed that upon retirement all three learners integrated language learning into their daily routine, incorporating it as an integral part of their identity and broader sense of self outside L2 domain-specific motivational constructs. A particularly unyielding hybrid L2 self emerged in later years, drawing from the combination of ought-to, ideal and anti-ought-to selves that prevailed with different degrees of intensity and interaction according to life periods.

A Framework for Enhancing Online Food Delivery Systems with Fog Computing

A Framework for Enhancing Online Food Delivery Systems with Fog Computing

A new circular fertiliser framework for greenhouse hydroponic systems using phosphorus as a case study

A new circular fertiliser framework for greenhouse hydroponic systems using phosphorus as a case study

Creation of an Emergency Care Capacity Assessment Tool for Facilities in Austere Environments.

Facilities in austere environments may consider emergency care beyond their scope. Often patients with high-acuity conditions have no other choice than to present to these facilities. The disconnect between the intent of health systems planners and the reality faced by providers manifests as facilities unable to manage such cases.The Indian Health Service, with a range of stakeholders, developed an emergency care delivery assessment tool for facilities in austere environments, designed to identify deficiencies in facility readiness for emergency care delivery across four areas: 1. Procedural2. Human resources3. Non-pharmacologic material resources4. Pharmacologic material resources. The tool's underlying architecture is a resource matrix similar to hospital-based tools, using the "Facility" component of the WHO Emergency Care Systems Framework as the Y-axis and undifferentiated presentations taught by the WHO basic emergency care course, advanced trauma life support, and advanced life support in obstetrics as the X-axis. The tool was piloted at a remote frontier clinic. We found 48 deficiencies: 7 procedural, 1 human resources, 31 non-pharmacologic materials, and 9 pharmacologic materials. We aggregated deficiencies by facility function to assess the capacity to perform each. We also aggregated deficiencies by clinical presentation to identify targets for educational interventions. We successfully created a novel emergency care capacity assessment tool for use in austere environments using materials with broad international consensus. The successful pilot found deficiencies across all 4 areas. This tool may be useful in many other remote domestic facilities and rural health posts in low- and middle-income countries.

Automatic device arrangement and wiring for fire alarm systems in metro stations: A case study

Fire alarm systems in metro stations play an important role in safeguarding lives and properties. The design process for these systems is complex and time-consuming due to the diversity of device types, wide distribution of device locations, and numerous compulsory design codes. This paper proposes an automatic design framework for fire alarm systems aimed at enhancing design efficiency. The framework includes five automated processes: information preprocessing, device arrangement, system loop generation, device wiring, and result generation. By converting the computer-aided design (CAD) results into building information models (BIM), building information and related professional device information are obtained, addressing the need for fire alarm system (FAS) design to integrate with multiple disciplines. The process can also automatically arrange FAS devices according to design specifications. Optimization algorithms, such as Ant Colony Algorithm and Prim Algorithm, are used to determine the device connection order and solve the problems of obstacle avoidance and orthogonal connections between two points. Compared to traditional design methods, the proposed automatic design framework for fire alarm systems in metro stations can not only satisfy the mandatory design requirements but also avoid the cumbersome and repetitive design process, providing new solutions for designers. Additionally, it can reduce wire length and save on construction costs. Using a real metro station as a case study, it is calculated that the automatic design can save between 8 % and 48 % of the wire length.

The impact of human-AIGC tools collaboration on the learning effect of college students: a key factor for future education?

PurposeThe maturity of artificial intelligence technology and the emergence of AI-generated content (AIGC) tools have endowed college students with a human-AIGC tools collaboration learning mode. However, there is still a great controversy about its impact on learning effect. This paper is aimed at investigating the impact of the human-AIGC tools collaboration on the learning effect of college students.Design/methodology/approachIn this paper, a hypothesized model was constructed to investigate the effects of dependence, usage purpose, trust level, frequency, and proficiency of using AIGC tools on the learning effect, respectively. This paper distributed questionnaires through random sampling. Then, the improved Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) was used to assign weights and normalize data. Lastly, one-way ANOVA and multiple linear regression analyses were used to measure and analyze variables, revealing the mechanism of influence.FindingsThe usage purpose, frequency, and proficiency of using AIGC tools have a significant positive effect on learning. Being clear about the usage purpose of AIGC tools and matching the specific study tasks will enhance the learning effect. College students should organically integrate AIGC tools into each learning process, which is conducive to building a learning flow applicable to oneself, improving efficiency, and then enhancing learning effects. The trust level in AIGC tools is significant, but positively and weakly correlated, indicating that college students need to screen the generated content based on their knowledge system framework and view it dialectically. The dependence on AIGC tools has a negative and significant effect on learning effect. College students are supposed to systematically combine self-reflection and the use of AIGC tools to avoid overdependence on them.Research limitations/implicationsBased on the findings, the learning suggestions for college students in human-machine collaboration in the AIGC era are proposed to provide ideas for the future information-based education system. For further research, scholars can expand on different groups, professions, and fields of study.Originality/valuePrevious studies have focused more on the impact of AIGC on the education system. This paper analyzed the impact of the various factors of using AIGC tools in the learning process on the learning effect from the perspective of college students.

Optimizing a Novel Tracking System for Living Beings and Objects through Advanced Mathematical Modeling and Graph Theory

This study extends the formulation of a tracking system for both live items and living persons, and gives a thorough theoretical framework for an advanced tracking system. A large number of tracking systems in use today were created inside certain frameworks and designed to monitor in either infinite or restricted spatial contexts. The latter typically makes use of specialized technological instruments designed with tracking objects or living things in mind. Our contribution to this topic is the formulation of a system theory that both formulates and innovates the challenge of monitoring objects and living things. Graphical modeling is widely used in tracking, which is interesting because it makes it easier to create precise relationships between the objects that need to be tracked and other parts of the system. But our study argues that the best way to achieve a high-performing, contextually relevant, and flexible system in a range of scenarios is still to build a tracking system around graphs, both theoretically and practically. We provide a unique tracking method to further the discipline, based on the ideas of hypergraphs and graph learning. This method carefully examines the order between various linkages inside the system, allowing the system to fully use both direct and indirect relations. The way we formulate tracking is as a complex search problem on graphs and hypergraphs. In this case, the system's components—living things or objects—are represented by vertices, and the kinds of relationships that exist between them are indicated by edges. We present a governing law that facilitates different processing tasks, manages shared data across system parts, and defines the connections between vertices. Additionally, we provide illustrated examples covering single and multi-context tracking scenarios to support our work. These illustrations highlight how, in comparison to current tracking technologies, the suggested approach performs better theoretically. In addition to adding to the theoretical conversation, this discovery has potential applicability in a variety of tracking contexts

A Systematic review of integrated management system frameworks: Dimensions and implication for sustainable management of construction and demolition waste

The literature has increasingly dealt with management systems, using Total Quality Management (TQM) and Integrated Management System (IMS) interchangeably. While several terminologies have been used in the literature to refer to these two, the degree of integration of the various components of the management systems varies widely between studies. Therefore, there is a high possibility that it will be difficult to find a general or appropriate model without disciplinary barriers. Therefore, this systematic literature review (SLR) provides a holistic overview assessment and guidance of key existing studies on management system frameworks, components, factors influencing the choice of IMS, and challenges. Given the lack of existing studies focusing on construction waste, particular attention is given to the construction industry. This SLR intends to: (1) identify IMS dimensions and how the concept relates to environmental and sustainability management; (2) discover IMS frameworks and factors affecting them. A typical systematic literature search method was used to analyze the articles available on SCOPUS, Web of Science, Science Direct and Google Scholar Host between 2010 and 2022, resulting in the selection of 85 theses. The results show the following: (1) Studies indicate different forms of IMS frameworks depending on their specific study area; (2) A variety of conditions and factors affect IMS implementation, including cost reduction, optimized resources, unification of internal audits; Increased staff training; (3) Several limitations were identified in the analyzed papers, such as: the alignment of sustainability practices with environmental laws. Consequently, there is a need for a more interdisciplinary IMS approach, a deeper analysis of the effectiveness of the IMS framework across industries and regions.

Free-Riding in Plant Health: A Social-Ecological Systems Approach to Collective Action.

Plant disease epidemics often transcend land management boundaries, creating a collective-action problem where a group must cooperate in a common effort to maximize individual and group benefits. Drawing upon the social-ecological systems framework and associated design principles, we review variables of resource systems, resource units, actors, and governance systems relevant to collective action in plant health. We identify a need to better characterize how attributes of epidemics determine the usefulness of collective management, what influences actors' decisions to participate, what governance systems fit different plant health threats, and how these subsystems interact to lead to plant health outcomes. We emphasize that there is not a single governance structure that ensures collective action but rather a continuum of structures that depend on the key system variables identified. An integrated social-ecological systems approach to collective action in plant health should enable institutional designs to better fit specific plant health challenges.

Prescribed Fire Programming Experiences, Needs, and Challenges of Southeastern United States Extension Professionals

Prescribed fires are used to manage natural areas and mitigate potentially intense and catastrophic wildfires. Education and other outreach activities can increase the acceptance and adoption of prescribed fire use among private landowners. Land grant university-based Extension services are often a trusted source of information in communities on a variety of topics, but no published research has previously assessed Extension’s capacity for prescribed fire education and training. This study uses semi-structured interviews to explore the knowledge and experiences of 23 southeastern U.S. Extension professionals with prescribed fire outreach. Thematic analysis of the interviews guided by Ostrom’s social-ecological systems framework revealed that these Extension professionals face a variety of challenges stemming from their institutions, audiences, and own backgrounds that complicate prescribed fire outreach. These challenges can be overcome, allowing Extension professionals to conduct fire science outreach and play an active role in facilitating networks to build capacity through cooperation.

The spatiotemporal patterns and regional characteristics of extreme heat disaster risk in China at the county level

Under the compound effect of continuous global warming and rapid urbanization, China is experiencing extreme heat events with increased intensity, frequency, and duration, which pose a significant threat to human society. Nonetheless, research on the spatiotemporal patterns and regional characteristics of extreme heat disaster risk (EHDR) at the county level in China remains scarce. To address this gap, we have developed an analytical framework for extreme heat disaster systems and an evaluation system for EHDR indicators. This framework measures the extent of EHDR and examines the dominant subsystems and their transformation processes across different regions. The results show that: (1) The spatial clustering types of EHDR in China's counties are mainly "High-High" and "Low-Low", forming a significant northeast-southwest low-value belt and a northwest-southeast high-value center; (2) In China, 91.49% of counties exhibited an increasing trend in EHDR from 2000 to 2018, while the counties experiencing reduced disaster risk are predominantly located in northern China; (3) The average values of EHDR and its subsystems are significantly higher in the Northwest and the Middle and Lower reaches of the Yangtze River compared to other regions, establishing these areas as high-value clusters; (4) The transformation of dominant subsystems across regions reveals significant geographic differences. In Western China, the environment predominates; in the northern regions, environment-exposure is dominant; and in the southern regions, the hazard is the primary factor. Notably, the causes of disaster risk in the Middle reaches of the Yellow River and the Lower reaches of the Yangtze River are more complex. These findings enhance the understanding of EHDR dynamics within the framework of rapid urbanization and climate change.

Changes in the equilibrium of the urban transport system of a large city following an urban flood

Urban floods are among the most frequent and destructive natural disasters. They generate enormous economic and non-economic losses, including damage to buildings and transportation infrastructure, which are critical systems supporting community well-being. The purpose of this paper was to assess the impact an urban flood would have on the urban road transport system in Łódź and to determine changes in potential accessibility that would accompany a flood. This paper introduces a novel approach in terms of combining the modelling of direct impact ranges of urban flooding in the area of Łódź and a macroscopic multi-motivational traffic model for the city (using PTV Visum software). This made it possible to identify mechanisms of changes made in as many intra-system relationships as possible, as well as between the system and its surroundings. The results showed that changes in the spatial distribution of traffic volume in the city are closely dependent on the water level. The sections of the network most affected by the load changes are those that form the framework for the entire system of Łódź, indicating a lack of resilience of the car transport subsystem in the critical segment for the functioning quality of the entire subsystem. Additionally, the study was conducted for public transport, and it was indicated that changes in its utilization are minimal. It was also found that the greatest impact on transport accessibility from an urban flood is for ultra-short trips. This is primarily due to the base effect (the initial quality of the infrastructure and its potential) – the internal potential of the transport area deteriorates drastically during a flood, severely affecting accessibility.

The Gulf of Suez rifting: implications from low-temperature thermochronology

ABSTRACT The Gulf of Suez is a continental rift basin that has been developed during the Oligocene-Miocene as a northern extension of the Red Sea rift system. The Oligo-Miocene rift-activated flanks are represented by exposures of the Neoproterozoic basement rocks of the Arabian-Nubian Shield. An additional thermal overprint (i.e. mantle plume) and the preceding tectono-thermal events that also affected the rifting dynamics and the uplift of its flanks remain uncertain. We here present thermochronological data for 20 basement samples collected from the Gabal Somr ElQaa area at the northwestern flank of the Gulf of Suez. The resulted zircon fission-track ages could be divided temporospatially into two groups: the Cambrian and the Silurian-Devonian with average ages of 503 ± 14 Ma and 407 ± 11 Ma, respectively. While apatite fission-track data reveal three different age groups of the Devonian-Carboniferous, the Permian-Triassic, and the Late Cretaceous, with average ages of 349 ± 10 Ma, 246 ± 6 Ma, and 81 ± 5 Ma, respectively. The modelled t-T histories indicate four cooling pulses during the Neoproterozoic, the Devonian-Carboniferous, the Cretaceous, and the Oligocene-Miocene. Integrating our findings with the regional tectonism and depositional records indicates that these cooling pulses could be attributed to synchronous activities of the post-accretion erosional event, the Variscan tectonic event, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge spreading, and the Gulf of Suez rifting. The Gulf of Suez is a passive rift, formed by a single and rapid rifting pulse within the framework of the Red Sea rift system. An additional east-southward far-field thermal overprint from the Arabian marginal plume partially affected the Suez rifting process. This thermal print affected only the rift’s southern portion of its eastern flank, causing syn-rift cooling ages, highly elevated rift flanks, and an increased heat flow. The western rift flank and the northern segment of the eastern flank are characterized by pre-rift cooling ages, modest rift flanks, and reduction in heat flow.

An intelligent dynamic cyber physical system threat detection system for ensuring secured communication in 6G autonomous vehicle networks

Smart cities have developed advanced technology that improves people’s lives. A collaboration of smart cities with autonomous vehicles shows the development towards a more advanced future. Cyber-physical system (CPS) are used blend the cyber and physical world, combined with electronic and mechanical systems, Autonomous vehicles (AVs) provide an ideal model of CPS. The integration of 6G technology with Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) marks a significant advancement in Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS), offering enhanced self-sufficiency, intelligence, and effectiveness. Autonomous vehicles rely on a complex network of sensors, cameras, and software to operate. A cyber-attack could interfere with these systems, leading to accidents, injuries, or fatalities. Autonomous vehicles are often connected to broader transportation networks and infrastructure. A successful cyber-attack could disrupt not only individual vehicles but also public transportation systems, causing widespread chaos and economic damage. Autonomous vehicles communicate with other vehicles (V2V) and infrastructure (V2I) for safe and efficient operation. If these communication channels are compromised, it could lead to collisions, traffic jams, or other dangerous situations. So we present a novel approach to mitigating these security risks by leveraging pre-trained Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) models for dynamic cyber-attack detection within the cyber-physical systems (CPS) framework of AVs. The proposed Intelligent Intrusion Detection System (IIDS) employs a combination of advanced learning techniques, including Data Fusion, One-Class Support Vector Machine, Random Forest, and k-Nearest Neighbor, to improve detection accuracy. The study demonstrates that the EfficientNet model achieves superior performance with an accuracy of up to 99.97%, highlighting its potential to significantly enhance the security of AV networks. This research contributes to the development of intelligent cyber-security models that align with 6G standards, ultimately supporting the safe and efficient integration of AVs into smart cities.

Honour Killing in India and role of Khap Panchayats

A horrific example of cultural customs and society standards that put family honour ahead of personal freedom and rights are honour murders. throughout spite of societal disapproval and legal restrictions, these heinous crimes—which are mostly committed against women—recur throughout India. Examining the issue of honour murders in India, this study focuses especially on the important role that traditional caste-based councils known as Khap Panchayats play in rural areas. Honour murders are first contextualised in the study within the larger framework of patriarchal systems and deeply ingrained gender norms that characterise Indian culture. It also emphasises how political and law enforcement officials in the area have allowed honour killing offenders to operate with impunity, therefore highlighting the systemic character of the issue. The report also looks at community-based awareness programmes, grassroots activity, and legislative actions meant to stop honour murders and question Khap Panchayat power. It underlines the need of confronting underlying sociocultural beliefs and enabling underprivileged people—women in particular—to stand up for their rights and oppose repressive policies. This study emphasises how urgently multidimensional approaches—including legislative changes, societal mobilisation, and educational programmes meant to question regressive norms and undermine caste-based oppressive systems—are needed to end honour murders in India. It urges coordinated measures to hold offenders and their supporters responsible and to promote gender equality and human dignity.

Care burden and associated factors among caregivers of patients with bipolar type I disorder

BackgroundFamily caregivers play a significant role in providing care for these people at home and need new evidence on the outcomes of their caregiving. Caregiving for people with chronic psychiatric disorders, especially Bipolar type I Disorder (BD-I), is a major challenge in the healthcare system. This study aimed to examine the relationship between caregiver burden, resilience and optimism in family caregivers of patients with BD-I.MethodsThis study used a cross-sectional design and involved 209 family caregivers of people with BD-I by convenience sampling method. Data were collected using the Zarit Burden Inventory (ZBI), Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), and Revised Life Orientation Test (LOT-R). The participants were selected from the list of family caregivers covered by the Ibn Sina Hospital’s health clinic in Mashhad, Iran. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis with a significance level of 0.05.ResultsThe average ages of the caregivers and their patients were 45.43 (13.34) and 36.7 (14.05), respectively. The average caregiver burden score was 41.92 (19.18), which was moderate (31 to 60). The predictors of caregiver burden in this study were caregiver-related factors such as optimism (p < 0.001, β = 0.25) and employment status (housewife: p = 0.038, β = 0.43; self-employed: p = 0.007, β = 0.12; retired: p < 0.001, β = 0.23), and patient-related factors such as the presence of psychotic symptoms (p < 0.001, β = 0.33), daily caregiving hours (p < 0.001, β = 0.16), history of suicide attempts (p = 0.035, β = 0.43), and alcohol consumption (p < 0.001, β = 0.85). These variables explained 58.3% of the variance in caregiver burden scores.ConclusionThe study concluded that family caregivers of people with BD-I had moderate levels of caregiver burden and low resilience, influenced by various factors related to themselves and their patients. Psychological education interventions within the framework of mental health support systems are recommended to reduce caregiver burden in these people.