Integrity Monitoring Research Articles

β-synuclein in cerebrospinal fluid as a potential biomarker for distinguishing human prion diseases from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease

Backgroundβ-synuclein (β-syn), mainly expressed in central nerve system, is one of the biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood for synaptic damage, which has been reported to be elevated in CSF and blood of the patients of prion diseases (PrDs).MethodsWe analyzed 314 CSF samples from patients in China National Surveillance for CJD. The diagnostic groups of the 223 patients with PrDs included sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease (sCJD), genetic CJD (gCJD), fatal familial insomnia (FFI) and Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker (GSS). 91 patients with non-PrDs comprised Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), viral encephalitis (VE) or autoimmune encephalitis (AE) were enrolled in the control groups. The CSF β-syn levels were measured by a commercial microfluidic ELISA. The Mann–Whitney U test and Kruskal–Wallis H test were employed to analyze two or more sets of continuous variables. Multiple linear regression was also performed to evaluate the factors for CSF β-syn levels. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves and area under the curve (AUC) values were used to assess the diagnostic performance of β-syn.ResultsThe median of β-syn levels (2074 pg/ml; IQR: 691 to 4332) of all PrDs was significantly higher than that of non-PrDs group (504 pg/ml; IQR: 126 to 3374). The CSF β-syn values in the cohorts of sCJD, T188K-gCJD, E200K-gCJD and P102L-GSS were remarkably higher than that of the group of AD + PD, but similar as that of the group of VE + AE. The elevated CSF β-syn in sCJD and gCJD cases was statistically associated with CSF 14-3-3 positive and appearance of mutism. ROC curve analysis identified satisfied performance for distinguishing from AD + PD, with high AUC values in sCJD (0.7640), T188K-gCJD (0.8489), E200K-gCJD (0.8548), P102L-GSS (0.7689) and D178N-FFI (0.7210), respectively.ConclusionOur data here indicate that CSF β-syn is a potential biomarker for distinguishing PrDs (gCJD, sCJD and GSS) from AD and PD, but is much less efficient from VE and AE. These findings have critical implications for early diagnosis and monitoring of synaptic integrity in prion diseases.

Lessons from AI in finance: Governance and compliance in practice

This article examines the evolution and implementation of AI governance frameworks in financial institutions, focusing on the critical aspects of regulatory compliance and risk management. The article investigates how financial institutions have transformed their operations through AI adoption, particularly in areas such as fraud detection, customer data privacy, and regulatory compliance. By analyzing current governance practices, success factors, and implementation challenges, the article demonstrates the significant impact of AI on operational efficiency, risk management, and customer service delivery. The article highlights the importance of early compliance integration, transparent documentation, and continuous monitoring in successful AI governance frameworks, while also addressing future considerations including enhanced regulatory scrutiny, evolving privacy regulations, and the growing emphasis on ethical AI implementation.

Research on Onboard PNT Information Integrity Monitoring

AbstractWith the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) development, the GNSS applications have been widely used in the maritime field, especially for onboard equipments. As GNSS signals are susceptible to interference, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has been investigating resilient PNT as the primary resolution for Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT). Resilient PNT is based on all available PNT sources and integrated positioning algorithms, not dependent on GNSS completely. It improves the PNT information integrity by the error compensation capability of the different navigation systems. This paper summarizes technology standards related to navigation systems and PNT integrity in the maritime field. On the basis of these analyses and investigations, a framework for onboard PNT integrity monitoring is proposed. It can provide a timely alarm to users when the navigation system cannot be trusted or used for regular operation. The proposed integrity monitoring framework is in line with the IMO e-Navigation strategy. It can provide resilient PNT information for the Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship (MASS) and the future intelligent development of the maritime field.

Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve: Smart Textile ECG Wearables for Comfort, Integration, Signal Quality and Continuous Monitoring in Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve: Smart Textile ECG Wearables for Comfort, Integration, Signal Quality and Continuous Monitoring in Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

Historical shoreline analysis in selected areas on the east coast of Albay, Philippines

Shoreline erosion in the Province of Albay, Philippines, remains unmonitored, creating significant vulnerability to natural and anthropogenic drivers. Effective monitoring of coastal integrity is crucial to provide valuable insights into shoreline alterations that can guide future adaptation measures and support climate resilience planning. This study aimed to assess shoreline alterations over the past 20 years by examining natural and anthropogenic drivers shaping these changes and their implications for coastal ecosystems. Erosive trends have resulted in the loss of up to 6 m of coastline in certain places in the cities of Santo Domingo, Bacacay, Malilipot, Legazpi, and Tabaco. Findings revealed that areas distant from river mouths exhibited severe erosion, while those near river mouths showed mixed erosion and deposition patterns. Natural processes, including storm surges and sediment transport, were compounded by human activities such as sand mining, urban expansion, and coastal road constructions, resulting in the degradation, fragmentation and loss of vital coastal ecosystems. These insights underscore the urgent need for systematic shoreline monitoring and the adoption of sustainable coastal management practices, as well as integrating environmental considerations into coastal development planning, enhancing community awareness, and leveraging monitoring data to inform climate resilience and adaptation strategies tailored to local contexts.

Artificial intelligence (AI) for good? Enabling organizational change towards sustainability

Abstract Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being recognized as a critical tool when it comes to addressing the most pressing challenges facing modern industries, including the pursuit of sustainability. The use of AI is aiding businesses in navigating corporate sustainability challenges, but existing research lacks a comprehensive exploration of how corporations leverage AI to boost their sustainability. By exploiting an inductive concept-development approach and incorporating data from 24 companies, this study provides valuable insights into the role that AI plays in shaping organizational sustainability strategies, identifying operational enablement and technical capacity as key drivers of AI adoption for corporate sustainability. These drivers are incorporated into the technology, organization, and environment (TOE) framework alongside the strategic steps and capabilities necessary for organizations to effectively adopt and implement AI in the development of their sustainability strategies. Ultimately, this study proposes an integrative model for sustainability-oriented AI adoption that emphasizes the importance of aligning AI initiatives with organizations’ sustainability objectives in order to maintain a competitive advantage and drive progress. Correspondingly, it underscores the need for robust data management, system integration, and continual performance monitoring to reduce resistance to AI adoption allowing for the potential of AI to be fully harnessed in pursuit of sustainability. Furthermore, this study offers practical guidance by exploring the direct and indirect use cases of AI in corporate sustainability. The study concludes by highlighting potential avenues for future research in this evolving field.

Timing advanced receiver autonomous integrity monitoring augmented by BDSBAS

Abstract Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) provides sufficiently accurate and affordable time and frequency information for timing and synchronization (T&S) equipment, which is widely used in modern infrastructures such as 5 G, small cells, and data centers. However, ensuring the integrity of GNSS timing service faces challenges due to the inherent vulnerability of GNSS signals and the complexity of user environments. Advanced receiver autonomous integrity monitoring (ARAIM) provides integrity monitoring of GNSS services at the user side, while BeiDou satellite-based augmentation systems (BDSBAS) improves GNSS service integrity from the service side by broadcasting corrections and integrity information. This study explores the potential of integrating ARAIM with dual-frequency multi-constellation (DFMC) BDSBAS for the integrity monitoring of GNSS timing services, as both technologies use DFMC signals and complement each other at different service levels. Several key improvements are made to the ARAIM algorithm, including risk allocation, solution estimation, and protection level (PL) calculation, to enable its application in the integrity monitoring of timing services. The improved algorithm, referred to as the timing ARAIM (T-ARAIM) algorithm, provides a quality control solution for high-precision timing applications. Furthermore, the T-ARAIM algorithm is enhanced by incorporating the correction and integrity parameters from DFMC BDSBAS messages, further improving the accuracy and reliability of timing services. The performance of the T-ARAIM algorithm augmented by BDSBAS is thoroughly validated and analyzed through simulation experiments, real-world experiments, and BDSBAS augmentation experiments. Simulation results indicate that when the receiver antenna position is estimated, the coverage of T-ARAIM (availability greater than 99.9%) using GPS + BDS-3 reaches 37.2%, with further improvement to 54.3% upon fixing the inter-satellite bias (ISB). In scenarios where the receiver antenna position is fixed, T-ARAIM coverage can achieve 100% even with a single constellation. Real-world experiments utilizing raw observations from seven globally distributed GNSS stations reveal that fixing the receiver antenna position reduces timing errors and time protection levels (TPL) by over 40%. Fixing the ISB does not affect the accuracy of the timing solution but slightly reduces TPL by about 2 ns. Fixing the receiver antenna position and/or ISB increases observation redundancy, significantly improving T-ARAIM availability. The integration of BDSBAS augmentation information further improves the timing solution, with timing accuracy increasing by approximately 4.4%–5.8% and T-ARAIM availability rising by about 11.7%–13.4% when the receiver antenna position is estimated. In fixed-position scenarios, the improvements in timing accuracy are more pronounced, approximately 20.0% to 28.5%, with T-ARAIM availability reaching 100%.

A Combination of Classification Robust Adaptive Kalman Filter with PPP-RTK to Improve Fault Detection for Integrity Monitoring of Autonomous Vehicles

Real-time integrity monitoring (IM) is essential for autonomous vehicle positioning, requiring high availability and manageable computational load. This research proposes using precise point positioning real-time kinematic (PPP-RTK) as the positioning method, combined with an improved classification adaptive Kalman filter (CAKF) for processing. PPP-RTK enhances IM availability by allowing undifferenced and uncombined observations, enabling individual observation exclusion during fault detection and exclusion (FDE). The CAKF reduces FDE computational load by using a robustness test instead of traditional FDE methods, improving precision and availability in protection level estimation. Epoch-wise weighting adjustments in the robustness test create a more accurate stochastic model, aided by an adaptive unit weight variance (UWV) calculated with a sliding window, achieving a 7–28% UWV reduction. Three test scenarios with up to four simultaneous faults in code and phase observations, ranging from 1 to 200 m and 0.4 to 20 m, respectively, demonstrated successful identification and de-weighting of faults, resulting in maximum positioning errors of 6 mm (horizontal) and 11 mm (vertical). The method reduced FDE computational load by 50–99.999% compared to other approaches.

State-Domain-Based Integrity Monitoring of Satellite Orbit and Clock Corrections for RT-PPP

State-Domain-Based Integrity Monitoring of Satellite Orbit and Clock Corrections for RT-PPP

TiMON: a real-time integrated monitor for improving the placement and wear of emergency tourniquets

BackgroundThe use of emergency tourniquets among military personnel has helped to dramatically reduce battlefield deaths and has recently gained popularity in the civilian sector. Yet, even well-trained individuals can find it difficult to assess proper tourniquet application. Emergency tourniquets are typically deemed sufficiently tightened through cursory visual confirmation or pulse assessment. These indicators are not always accurate and are difficult to assess during chaotic events where fast and effective tourniquet application by both trained and untrained personnel can contribute significantly to saving lives. Towards addressing these issues, we have developed the Tourniquet Integrated Monitor (TiMON) as an easy-to-use real-time pressure sensing device designed to seamlessly integrate with pre-existing emergency tourniquets. Here, we present the results of two studies in which the TiMON was tested among a group of soldiers participating in the Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiments (AEWE) as well as in a group of untrained civilians from Massachusetts General Hospital.MethodsIn the first study, 30 soldiers with prior tourniqueting experience were asked to apply a TiMON equipped CAT tourniquet onto a leg mannequin with (unblinded) and without (blinded) assistance from the TiMON’s output. In the second study, 30 lay volunteers from Massachusetts General Hospital with no prior tourniquet training were recruited and taught how to apply a tourniquet under normal conditions prior to being asked to perform the same exercises as the soldiers. In both studies, data collected for statistical analysis consisted of the real-time applied pressure along with the elapsed time for each subject to finish applying the emergency tourniquet.ResultsSubjects in both groups utilizing the TiMON had greater success in applying emergency tourniquets at the civilian clinically recommended occlusion range of 180 to 300 mmHg (soldiers: 86.67% assisted vs 33.33% unassisted; untrained volunteers: 93.33% assisted vs 40.00% unassisted). In terms of applied pressure, no significant mean differences were observed in either group (soldiers p-value = 0.13; untrained volunteers p-value = 0.26), however the unblinded subjects were found to exhibit significantly lower variances in applied pressure compared to those who were blinded (soldiers p-value < 0.0001; untrained volunteers p-value < 0.0001). In terms of application speeds, no significant differences in means and variances were observed in the soldiers (p-values = 0.85 and 0.61, respectively), while mildly significant increases in application times were observed in the untrained volunteers (p-value = 0.036).ConclusionTrained soldiers and lay volunteers using the TiMON were able to consistently apply tourniquets at clinically recommended occlusion pressures between 180 and 300 mmHg with significantly less under and over tightening while minimizing any negative effects to their application speeds. Despite it being their first time using the TiMON, both groups were able to quickly apply emergency tourniquets at significantly improved and consistent success rates regardless of prior training and experience.

Valid and practical integrated monitoring instrument of tahfidz qur'an

In implementing tahfidz qur'an learning in Islamic boarding schools, students must face many activities, and they are usually given up to five times a day. Almost all of these activities must be recorded by the teacher in a logbook so that there is the potential for slow and invalid reporting. This study aims to create an integrated monitoring instrument of tahfidz qur'an and reveal its validity and practical values. This study was conducted using a research and development (R&amp;D) approach. The instrument was created by combining the Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation (ADDIE) development procedure and the Rapid Application Development (RAD) development procedure. Furthermore, the application of the Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) paradigm into the application creation process aims to produce a monitoring instrument that is integrated into various types of devices and can provide data and information on the student's achievement of tahfidz qur'an learning to all interested parties. The results of the validity test revealed an Aiken's V value of 0.81 so it was worthy of being tested at the implementation stage. The implementation resulted in a practicality value of 80.65% from teachers, 79.84 from parents of students, and 78.28% from the management of the boarding school. Overall, both teachers, parents of students, and management stated that this integrated monitoring instrument of tahfidz qur'an was practical during use.

Simulating hydrogen adsorption-driven thermal variations for improved well integrity monitoring in underground hydrogen storage

Simulating hydrogen adsorption-driven thermal variations for improved well integrity monitoring in underground hydrogen storage

An Integrated Time-Series Relative Soil Moisture Monitoring Method Based on a SAR Backscattering Model

An Integrated Time-Series Relative Soil Moisture Monitoring Method Based on a SAR Backscattering Model

Process‐Technology Fit Decisions: Evidence From an Expert Panel and Case Studies

ABSTRACTBusiness process management (BPM) combined with new technologies can trigger both incremental and disruptive improvements in how organizations operate. More specifically, today's fourth industrial revolution can bring rapid changes in an organization's process dynamics. Our study explores differences between possible process‐technology “fit” and “unfit” situations in BPM innovative projects. We extend relevant past studies and theories using a mix of qualitative techniques consisting of expert panel interviews and a case design using two field studies. Our findings reveal that, although alternative process‐technology “fit” and “no‐fit” situations exist, elements such as creativity, efficiency, integration, user friendliness, and proper task monitoring turn out to be the most promising factors to gain a process‐technology fit. Novelty in our work includes discovering “fit” and “no‐fit” factors in terms of process‐technology alignment, and the development of a decision framework with a generic set of suggestions for BPM practitioners and decision makers. Our mixed‐method approach is based on qualitative results by emphasizing in‐depth insights and lessons learned rather than building a generalizable theory. We intend to guide managers and decision makers to help them think about possible directions, as suggested by our experts and case participants at the time of their technology adoption in a BPM context.

Smart GNSS Integrity Monitoring for Road Vehicles: An Overview of AI Methods

Smart GNSS Integrity Monitoring for Road Vehicles: An Overview of AI Methods

Intraoperative Electrical Stapedius Reflex Testing to Monitor Cochlear Nerve Integrity during Simultaneous Vestibular Schwannoma Resection and Cochlear Implantation.

To compare the utility of intraoperative electrically evoked auditory brainstem response (eABR) and electrically evoked stapedial reflex testing (eSRT) for cochlear nerve integrity monitoring during simultaneous translabyrinthine resection of vestibular schwannoma (VS) and cochlear implantation. Historical cohort study. Tertiary academic referral center. Eleven patients (12 cases) who underwent translabyrinthine tumor resection with simultaneous placement of a standard, unmodified cochlear implant (CI). A CI placed at the beginning of the operation before tumor resection to facilitate intraoperative cochlear nerve monitoring through a CI-delivered electrical stimulus. Correlation of intraoperative monitoring outcomes with postoperative CI performance. Among the 12 cases (median age, 47 years), eABR waveforms were present at the conclusion of tumor resection in 10, including 6 that achieved open set speech perception. Of the 2 cases with negative eABR, 1 achieved open set speech perception. By contrast, of the 8 cases with a positive eSRT response, 7 achieved open set speech perception. Of the 4 cases with a negative eSRT response, none achieved open set speech perception. The 3 cases that did not receive auditory stimulation included 2 with positive and 1 with negative eABR; all 3 had a negative eSRT response. Intraoperative eSRT using an unmodified CI is a promising new method for monitoring the integrity of the cochlear nerve during simultaneous VS resection. eSRT response at the conclusion of tumor resection strongly correlated with CI open set speech capacity. Although still useful, eABR was less reliable at predicting postoperative hearing outcomes in this series.

File Integrity Monitoring as a Method for Detecting and Preventing Web Defacement Attacks

The cybersecurity landscape in Indonesia recorded an increase in cyberattacks in 2022. One of the types of attacks observed was web defacement attacks targeting government websites. In 2022, there were a total of 2,348 web defacement attacks in Indonesia, with the majority occurring in the governmental sector. In proactive efforts to monitor and prevent web defacement attacks, this study implemented the open-source tool Wazuh and activated the file integrity monitoring module to detect file changes in the system. Testing was conducted with two types of attacks: brute force attacks to gain system access and web defacement attacks involving script insertion to trigger alerts from the file integrity monitoring. The results of the testing show that the implementation of Wazuh and the file integrity monitoring module can real-time detect malicious activities and file additions, so that it can be used to mitigate cyberattacks.

Analysis and Strategic Planning of Information Systems Using the Adm Togaf Framework

The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF) method was used in this study to evaluate and plan the information system strategy for PT Telekomunikasi Witel West Jakarta. The background of this research is the need for companies to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of data-driven decision-making and operational monitoring. The research uses TOGAF to assess current conditions, identify key problems, and create architectural solutions that support the company's strategic goals. This research was carried out through several stages, including needs analysis, architectural planning, and solution evaluation. Research shows that the implementation of TOGAF can help companies build a more integrated and responsive monitoring information system to changes that occur in business. This study finds that the TOGAF approach provides a complete framework for planning and managing the transformation of sustainable information systems in companies.

The Dilemma of Urban Heritage Conservation in Post-Conflict Bamiyan: A Critical Analysis of Causes, Failures, Consequences and Prospects

ABSTRACT This study presents a detailed analysis of the challenges and opportunities in heritage conservation within the conflict-affected Bamiyan Valley, Afghanistan. Renowned for its rich cultural history and the iconic Buddhas carved into its cliffs, the valley has endured decades of conflict and devastation. Despite the constructive intentions and extensive support of international organisations, the absence of effective management policies and precise monitoring systems has led to significant budget misallocation. To highlight the critical aspects and hurdles of heritage conservation, this research employs a qualitative and descriptive methodology, the study examines 15 conservation projects (2001–2021) through rigorous document analysis and data collection. Project failures are categorised into five primary groups: security, technical, socio-cultural, environmental, and administrative-financial issues. Through a robust analytical framework, significant patterns and themes are distilled, revealing the intricacies of conservation efforts. Findings highlight the impact of political instability, inadequate technical expertise, socio-cultural barriers, and more on heritage conservation. Conclusions highlight five key strategies: comprehensive assessments, inclusive stakeholder engagement, context-sensitive integration, sustained support, and adaptive monitoring. This research contributes to the existing literature and provides valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners, guiding future research and conservation efforts in similar contexts.

Road Traffic Gesture Autonomous Integrity Monitoring Using Fuzzy Logic

Occasionally, four cars arrive at the four legs of an unsignalized intersection at the same time or almost at the same time. If each lane has a stop sign, all four cars are required to stop. In such instances, gestures are used to communicate approval for one vehicle to leave. Nevertheless, the autonomous vehicle lacks the ability to participate in gestural exchanges. A sophisticated in-vehicle traffic light system has therefore been developed to monitor and facilitate communication among autonomous vehicles and classic car drivers. The fuzzy logic-based system was implemented and evaluated on a self-organizing network comprising eight ESP32 microcontrollers, all operating under the same program. A single GPS sensor connects to each microcontroller that also manages three light-emitting diodes. The ESPNow broadcast feature is used. The system requires no internet service and no large-scale or long-term storage, such as the driving cloud platform, making it backward-compatible with classical vehicles. Simulations were conducted based on the order and arrival direction of vehicles at three junctions. Results have shown that autonomous vehicles at four-legged intersections can now communicate with human drivers at a much lower cost with precise position classification and lane dispersion under 30 s.