Protection Settings Research Articles

Advocacy as a Human Rights Enabler for Parents in the Child Protection System

ABSTRACT Parents and guardians in child protection systems are in unequal power relationships with child protection practitioners. This relationship is experienced as exclusionary or even oppressive by many parents and guardians. For families and communities in the child protection system who experience intersectional discrimination and disadvantage, such as people with intellectual disabilities and First Nations people, this unequal relationship and subsequent potential exclusion and oppression can be even more profound. A growing body of literature indicates that advocacy can assist in addressing unequal relationships in other contexts, such as involuntary mental health. This paper explores the role of representational advocacy in supporting parents in child protection settings through a case study of an advocacy service in Victoria, Australia. Using a human rights framework to guide the analysis, the paper highlights how advocacy can help support rights, but that broader structural change will be required to consistently uphold the rights of parents.

Set and don’t forget

52-year-old female with COVID-19 pneumonia and ARDS was intubated and placed on a Servo-U ventilator using Volume Control mode aiming lung protective settings. However, three hours after intubation, the patient’s ventilator waveform showed significant inspiratory effort, triggering the flow adaptation feature and switching the ventilator from volume control with constant flow to pressure control with variable flow. This dual targeting mode, called Volume Control with Flow adaptation, resulted in twice the tidal volume delivered to the patient and increased the risk of volumotrauma. The flow adaptation was subsequently turned off, and the sedation was adjusted to prioritize lung protection for the patient. This case highlights the importance of monitoring patient-ventilator interaction and choosing appropriate ventilator settings to prevent lung injury in patients with ARDS. Keywords ARDS, IMV, Volumotrauma, Flow adaptation

O.17.1Communication Aids for the Clinical Child Protection Setting and Sexual Assault Examination: Presenter(s): Meera Raithatha, Auckland District Health Board, New Zealand

O.17.1Communication Aids for the Clinical Child Protection Setting and Sexual Assault Examination: Presenter(s): Meera Raithatha, Auckland District Health Board, New Zealand

Is SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination of Subjects with a Prior History of Allergies Dangerous? Experiences in the Veneto Region of Italy.

Adverse events after SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations have caused alarm to some individuals with previously diagnosed allergies. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the risk of adverse reactions was actually higher in this subgroup. To this end, we carried out an observational descriptive analysis of vaccines administered in a "protected setting" in the Veneto region of Italy between December 2020 and December 2022. Reactions were classified using systemic organic classification (SOC), and their severity was assessed using the criteria of the Italian Drug Agency (AIFA). A total of 421 subjects were vaccinated with 1050 doses, 95.0% of which were administered without adverse events. In all, 53 subjects reported 87 SOC reactions (1.6 reactions/person), and 18.3% of these reactions were severe. One person was hospitalized, but all subjects enjoyed complete remission. Reporting rates were 9.0%, 3.1%, and 1.2% for first, second, and third doses, respectively. The most frequent reactions involved the respiratory system (2.3%), the cutaneous and subcutaneous systems (2.1%), and the nervous system (1.7%). Multivariate analyses (adjOR (95% CI)) revealed that the probability of experiencing at least one reaction significantly declined with increases in age [0.95 (0.94-0.97)] and in the number of doses received, i.e., 75% [0.25 (0.13-0.49)] for second doses and 88% [0.12 (0.04-0.39)] for third doses. These results indicated that vaccinations could be safely administered; few reactions were reported, and there were no permanent adverse outcomes.

MIXED-INTEGER MODEL OF INFORMATION RESOURCES SECURITY CONTROL IN THE CORPORATE INFORMATION ENVIRONMENT

The problem of developing a fast algorithm for calculating options for choosing the best composition of information resource protection in a corporate information system is considered. The necessary composition of models has been formed, including: threats, vulnerabilities, means of protection and destruction of the resource. It is assumed that the damage to the resource is determined by the joint action of threats and means of protection, while the sequence of application of individual threats does not matter for assessing the total value. The harmfulness of threats and the effectiveness of protection tools are described within the framework of a probabilistic model. A criterion for choosing the optimal set of protections is proposed. The criteria for forming a decision on reconfiguration and restructuring of the corporate information system are consistently considered. It is shown that the present problem relates to difficult combinatorial optimization problems, that is, there is no general polynomial algorithm for it that allows to obtain a solution in polynomial time. However, taking into account the specifics of the task, in some cases, allows you to build calculation schemes that provide sufficient accuracy of the solution and an acceptable time. The following calculation schemes are considered: the search for alternative options by sorting through threats, by means of protection, as well as a sequential search of a variety of means of protection. The effectiveness of each scheme was evaluated based on the number of iteration options. A fast algorithm has been developed for calculating the best protection option based on an ordered search of subsets of protections, and the minimum set of protections that covers all threats is used as the initial set. The results of calculations are presented and the possibility of a sharp reduction in the time of computational procedures is shown.

Enhanced Protection Coordination for Inverter Interfaced Distributed Generation (IIDG) with a Robust Multi-Loop Controller

Increasing penetration of inverter interfaced distributed generation (IIDG) in distribution networks has severely impacted protection coordination. False tripping, sympathetic tripping, protection blinding, failure of reclosing, and increase in short circuit levels are the critical complications and consequently disturbed the protection setting of the distribution network. This paper presents a novel multiloop current control scheme based on single integrator backstepping with a proportional resonant (PR) controller assisted by the whale optimization algorithm (WOA) to integrate IIDG in the distribution network. This control approach is designed to mitigate the maloperation of the overcurrent protection, due to the IIDG's current contribution during various types of faults. Inner loop backstepping is utilized to track converter side current and in addition, the PR controller is designed to track grid current in an outer loop. Using the proposed methodology, the injected current to the grid is effectively controlled to the rated level during several types of faults or disturbances. The performance of the proposed control strategy is verified by time-domain results and through eigenvalues trajectory and results have been compared with a current state-of-the-art which corroborates the effective control capability of the present controller.

Impact of the implementation of the new radiation quantities recommended by ICRU/ICRP for practical use in interventional radiology: a Monte Carlo study

The International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU) proposed a new set of operational quantities for radiation protection for external radiation in its Report Committee 26 (ICRU 95). The new proposal aims to improve the coherence between the operational quantities and the definitions of the protection quantities in the recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection set out in 2007 (Ann. ICRP 37). It is expected that this change in operational quantities will impact current dosimeter designs. Although for many photon energies, the conversion coefficients from physical field quantities to the new operational quantities will change relatively little, for radiation fields with low energy photon components, such as medical x-ray applications, there will be a significant decrease in the values of the conversion coefficients. This means that the numerical values of the new operational quantities will be much lower for the same radiation field. These values will be closer to the effective dose, but this change can still cause confusion for medical staff. It is important to examine the effect of the new set of dose conversion coefficients on the personal dose in realistic radiation fields. We performed a study to assess the effect of changing the definition of the operational quantity, personal dose equivalent (), in realistic radiation fields in interventional radiology (IR) workplaces. The x-ray tube kilovoltage peak (kVp) in IR ranges between 60 and 120 kV. The medical staff is exposed to the scattered photons which have a wide range of energies depending on the beam configuration and the patient size. The objective of this study is to ‘quantitatively’ estimate the impact of implementing the new ICRU quantities of Report 95 in IR radiation fields using Monte Carlo simulations. Simulations of 560 different configurations in IR were performed using MCNPX to calculate fluence binned per energy and angle of incidence. and were then calculated for each configuration using dose conversion coefficients from fluence given by ICRU Reports 95 and 57, respectively. The results show that the mean of the ratio, , is 1.6 for all simulated scenarios. This reduction will correct the current overestimation of the effective dose and should result in better compliance with the dose limits in IR. However, it may also have negative consequences on the safety culture among the medical staff. Special care will be needed when interpreting these lower doses.

Effects of aggressive and conservative strategies for mechanical ventilation liberation

BackgroundThe optimal approach for transitioning from strict lung protective ventilation to support modes of ventilation when patients determine their own respiratory rate and tidal volume remains unclear. While aggressive liberation from lung protective settings could expedite extubation and prevent harm from prolonged ventilation and sedation, conservative liberation could prevent lung injury from spontaneous breathing. Research questionShould physicians take a more aggressive or conservative approach to liberation? MethodsRetrospective cohort study of mechanically ventilated patients from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV database (MIMIC-IV version 1.0) estimating effects of incremental interventions modifying the propensity for liberation to be more aggressive or conservative relative to usual care, with adjustment for confounding via inverse probability weighting. Outcomes included in-hospital mortality, ventilator free days, and ICU free days. Analysis was performed on the entire cohort as well as subgroups differentiated by PaO2/FiO2 ratio, and SOFA. Results7433 patients were included. Strategies multiplying the odds of a first liberation relative to usual care at each hour had a large impact on time to first liberation attempt (43 h under usual care, 24 h (0.95 CI = [23,25]) with an aggressive strategy doubling liberation odds, and 74 h (0.95 CI = [69,78]) under a conservative strategy halving liberation odds). In the full cohort, we estimated aggressive liberation increased ICU-free days by 0.9 days (0.95 CI = [0.8,1.0]) and ventilator free days by 0.82 days (0.95 CI = [0.67,0.97]), but had minimal effect on mortality (only a 0.3% (0.95 CI = [−0.2%,0.8%]) difference between minimum and maximum rates). With baseline SOFA≥ 12 (n = 1355), aggressive liberation moderately increased mortality (58.5% [0.95 CI = (55.7%,61.2%)]) compared with conservative liberation (55.1% [0.95 CI = (51.6%,58.6%)]). InterpretationAggressive liberation may improve ventilator free and ICU free days with little impact on mortality in patients with SOFA score < 12. Trials are needed.

Multi-objective Optimization of Relay Protection Setting Based on MOAHA Algorithm

With the expansion of the power grid scale, more and more relay protection devices exist in the power system, and the optimization of node protection setting values has also begun to receive attention. Conventional genetic algorithm is mainly used in the current multi-objective optimization solution of relay protection fixed value, and its multi-objective optimization procedure is relatively complicated, resulting in low optimization solution efficiency. Therefore, applying the multi-objective artificial hummingbird algorithm (MOAHA) to the optimization process is proposed to obtain a new fixed-value multi-objective optimization method for relay protection. According to the set value requirements of the relay protection, a multi-objective optimization model of the set value of the relay protection is established, and the constraints are determined. Regarding the grid vulnerability coefficient, calculate the weighting factor corresponding to each constraint condition. Then, the multi-objective artificial hummingbird algorithm is applied to design a simple multi-objective optimization mode, including two stages of self-search and guided search to obtain fixed-value optimization results. The results of the example analysis show that the proposed optimization method only needs 20 iterations to output the optimal solution, and the average time spent to obtain the optimal solution is 17.6s. It can play a prominent role in the global optimization and tuning of relay protection in large power systems.

Design, Verification, and Protection Setting of Superconducting Fault Current Limiter for a 10 kV Power Network

Design, Verification, and Protection Setting of Superconducting Fault Current Limiter for a 10 kV Power Network

Backup protection method based on multi-interval information in low voltage distribution network of high proportion of renewable energy system

With the large number of renewable energy power sources such as wind power and photovoltaic power connected to the grid, the power system is becoming more electronic. The fault characteristics of renewable energy power sources and synchronous generators are obviously different, mainly manifested as the characteristics of short circuit current amplitude limitation and frequency offset, etc. The traditional protection based on the fault characteristics of synchronous generators may have adaptability problems. For a high proportion of renewable energy system, the short circuit current in the low voltage distribution network is greatly affected by the operation state of the renewable energy power sources after the short circuit fault occurs, which leads to the difficulty of the traditional three-stage overcurrent protection setting and coordination. In order to ensure the safe and stable operation of the system, this paper proposes a new backup protection method for low voltage distribution network. This method uses the information of the electric parameters on the high voltage side and low voltage side of the transformer. Firstly, the modulus sum of the voltage sampling value, the equivalent distance between the fault point and the protection installation place, and the modulus sum of the current sampling value are calculated. Secondly, the direction is judged by the criterion of the voltage direction element and the criterion of the distance protection element based on the multi-interval information. Finally, the maximum current branch of the low voltage distribution network is selected as the fault branch by the overcurrent element based on multi-interval information, so as to trigger the circuit breaker trip and isolate the fault. The low voltage distribution network model of the high proportion of renewable energy system is built on the PSCAD/EMTDC electromagnetic simulation platform. The simulation results show that the proposed protection method can reliably achieve fault removal by using multi-interval information, and has strong adaptability to the high proportion of renewable energy system.

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF BACTERIAL PERMEABILITY OF A PERSONAL PROTECTIVE RESPIRATORY EQUIPMENT AT DIFFERENT DURATIONS OF ITS CONTINUOUS OPERATION.

The aim: To establish the level of antibacterial protection of the studied personal protective respiratory equipment set and its main components and compare antibacterial resistance of the personal protective respiratory equipment set in the presence and absence of filtering components. Materials and methods: The proposed methodology for assessing biological protection parameters is based on testing the permeability of personal respiratory protection equipment for bacteria by the method of serial dilutions. Also additional culturing of separate components of the protective set on a separate media is carried out. The experiment was also repeated in the absence of filtering elements and when they were replaced by gauze masks. Results: The use of a fully equipped pneumatic helmet counteracted the penetration of the bacterial aerosol, which was manifested in the absence of growth on the media. The results obtained with the full configuration, as well as the indicators of the spread of bacteria when removing the filter elements and replacing them with gauze masks, showed that the device creates sufficient positive air pressure inside. The latter becomes a restraining factor that does not allow microorganisms to penetrate through the lower circuit. Conclusions: Increasing the duration of continuous operation of the conceptual model up to 24 hours, increasing the bacterial load on the filters do not lead to a deterioration in the properties of antibacterial protection. Bacterial aerosol did not penetrate into the inner space of pneumatic helmet.

Numerical Analysis of the Erosion Mechanism inside the Tube Sockets of Main Steam Thermometers in a Coal-Fired Power Plant

Leakage occurring in the tube sockets of the main steam thermometers can seriously threaten the safe operation of coal-fired power plants. Here, assuming a 300 MW unit as a relevant testbed, this problem is investigated numerically through solution of the equations of fluid-dynamics in synergy with the mathematical treatment of relevant statistics. The results indicate that the steam can form a large-scale spiral flow inside the tube socket and continuously scour the inner wall. In the model with the protective casing setting angle of 60°, the average tangential fluid velocity can reach up to 4.8 m/s, which is about twice higher than that in the model with the protective casing setting angle of 0°. The wake disturbance generated by the flow around the thermo-sensitive body leads to differences in the fluid motion inside the tube sockets between the upstream and downstream thermometers. These differences are affected by the distance between the thermometers, the setting angle of protective casing, and other factors. The pressure of the main steam inside the tube socket for a R3 thermometer, located outside the curved pipeline, is about 1756 Pa higher than that of the L3 thermometer located outside the straight pipeline, indicating that the secondary flow generated in the curved pipeline is able to provide stronger energy for the large-scale spiral flow inside the tube socket. On the basis of these findings, an improvement scheme for the installation of longitudinal ribs in the tube sockets is proposed. The simulation results show that the average tangential velocity of the fluid within the near-wall area of tube sockets decreases by more than 90%, which should be enough to effectively alleviate the damage to the inner wall caused by high-pressure fluid or particles.

Optimized adaptive protection coordination of microgrids by dual-setting directional overcurrent relays considering different topologies based on limited independent relays’ setting groups

• Optimal adaptive protection, considering the limits on the number of setting groups. • Using the DS-DOCRs incorporating independent changes in the setting groups. • Optimal relay curve types and breakpoints for the DS-DOCRs. • Fast protection without selectivity constraint violations in various configurations. • Around 41.66% improvement compared to available studies. Several studies, such as adaptive protection schemes, have been done in the area of smart grids’ protection. However, there is a research gap in developing an adaptive scheme with dual-setting (DS) directional overcurrent relays (DOCRs), considering the limitations of the number of setting groups of protective relays. This research aims to fill such a research gap. Optimizing the relay curve types of the first and second parts of the DS relay models and breakpoints (BPs) improves the speed of the protection scheme based on independent changes in the setting groups of DOCRs. Also, there is no coordination constraint violation in various configurations by applying the proposed method, while it requires only a limited number of setting groups. Therefore, the proposed method can be practical in actual systems because the suggested solutions and protective settings can be easily implemented using commercial relays. The proposed adaptive protection scheme is applied to two test systems (the distribution networks of the IEEE 14-bus and IEEE 30-bus test systems). The comparative test results infer that significant improvement in the speed of the protection system of smart grids can be achieved compared to available studies by the proposed method.

False-Data-Injection-Enabled Network Parameter Modifications in Power Systems: Attack and Detection

Due to the close relevance to the reliability and efficiency of power systems, network parameters such as branch admittance have been the target of various cyberattacks. However, existing attack models are generally based on the impractical assumption that attackers can directly modify the data of network parameter stored in well-secured control centers. This article proposes a practical attack model and designs an optimal strategy to detect malicious modification of critical network parameters. Specifically, the vulnerability of network parameter error processing is discovered and exploited to indirectly modify the data of network parameter without accessing to the well-secured control center. A model of false-data-injection-enabled network parameter modification is proposed, which significantly reduces the requirements on attackers’ capability and system information. An optimal detection strategy is designed based on the analysis of the minimal protection set at a single branch, which can significantly reduce the number of protected measurements in detecting malicious modification of critical network parameters. Finally, numerical simulations are carried out on the PJM 5-bus and the IEEE 118-bus test systems to validate the theoretical results.

Protection of the Future Harbor Area AC Microgrids Containing Renewable Energy Sources and Batteries

A significant share of global carbon emissions is related to marine vessels running solely on fossil fuels. The hybrid or fully electrified marine vessels using battery energy storage systems (BESS) both for onboard propulsion system and for cold-ironing during docking at harbor areas will significantly reduce marine related carbon emissions. However, the transformation of marine vessels’ operations from diesel engines to BESS will necessarily require charging stations and other electric power infrastructure at harbor areas. The sustainable and cheap energy of renewable energy sources like wind turbine generators (WTGs), photovoltaic (PV) systems and related BESS could be used at harbor areas for charging depleted vessel-BESS and supplying power to cold-ironing loads. For this purpose, two new harbor area smart grid or AC microgrid models have been developed by our research group. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of three-phase short-circuit faults for one of the proposed AC microgrid models using PSCAD/EMTDC simulations. The fault study of harbor area AC microgrid-1 is done for both grid-connected and islanded modes. The main purpose of the fault study is to check if grid-connected mode overcurrent settings of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) will also be valid for different islanded mode fault cases with different fault current contributions from converter-based distributed energy resources (DERs) including WTG, PV and BESS. The extent of fault current contribution from DERs and BESS to avoid adaptive protection settings and to ensure definite-time protection coordination and fast fuse operations during different islanded modes is investigated.

Problems of the application of criminal responsibility for the illegal persecution of a person in the context of the legal protection of the victims

Although stalking was only criminalized in Lithuania on the 14thof October 2021 (Article 148-1 in the Criminal Code of the Republic of Lithuania (hereinafter, CC) “The Unlawful Persecution of a Person”), there is a growing debate about the validity and demonstrability of the negative consequences and victim’s expressed will established in this provision, the proportionality of the sanctions, and the systemic incompatibility with other provisions. There are also concerns regarding the incomplete transposition of the Victims’ Rights Directive into national legislation. The purpose of this article’s thesis is to determine whether the application of criminal liability for the unlawful persecution of a person provides adequate legal protection for victims, assessing the compatibility of the national legal framework with the ultima ratio principle and the Victims’ Rights Directive. The results revealed that stalking is a complex phenomenon, characterized by the performance of both routine and prohibited acts, the totality of which constitutes a pattern of violent behavior, that disrupts victim’s mental health, professional activity, social life, and daily routine. The general standards of protection set out in The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women(CEDAW)and the Istanbul Convention, which promote the reduction of gender stereotypes and prohibit discrimination against women, have been fundamental to the development of the legal framework for stalking. Establishing the negative consequences of the unlawful persecution of a person imposes an excessive burden of proof, while the victim’s clearly expressed will may lead to escalation. The criminalization of this offence as a misdemeanor does not correspond to the gravity and intensity of it. The imposition of stricter sanctions in the event of stalking of a close relative or family member is not ensured. The ultima ratio principle has not been infringed by the criminalization of the unlawful persecution of a person. The gravity of this offence is demonstrated by the interference of the constitutionally protected freedom of the individual’s will, disturbance of mental health, performance of intentional acts against victim’s expressed will, unlawfully and systematically. There are no alternative measures in the Lithuanian legal system that can ensure effective restoration of the violated legal good –the application of the systematic intimidation of a person by means of psychological coercion under Article 145(2) of the CC is insufficient, as it criminalizes only acts of specific intent, and the application of Article 2.23 of the Civil Code of the Republic of Lithuania is also excluded, as the imposition of sanctions of a pecuniary nature would not ensure the restoration of justice. The current legal framework is not fully compliant with the Victims’ Rights Directive, since the method of assessing the special protection needs of victims is insufficiently detailed, and does not involve victim in the process of evaluation. There is no separate procedure for the granting of special protection measures for particularly vulnerable persons, including victims of the unlawful persecution of a person.

Magnetic-field-induced cavity protection for intersubband polaritons

We analyse the effect of a strong perpendicular magnetic field on an intersubband transition in a disordered doped quantum well strongly coupled to an optical cavity. The magnetic field changes the lineshape of the intersubband optical transition due to the interface roughness of the quantum well from a Lorentzian to a Gaussian one. In this regime, a novel form of magnetic-field-induced cavity protection sets in, which strongly reduces the polariton linewidth to the cavity contribution only. Implications of our results for fundamental studies of nonlinear polariton dynamics and for technological applications to polariton lasers are finally highlighted.

Training a Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) for Voluntary Foot Radiographs at Dubai Safari Park

When 0.1 Reticulated Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) began displaying signs of lameness and a persistent swelling of the front left pastern joint, an operant based training program was created for front foot radiographs to diagnose and better manage lameness. Using a protected contact set up, behaviour was shaped using a positive reinforcement procedure. A series of cued behaviors were trained and used to obtain dorsolateral palmar medial oblique front foot radiographs to aid vets in diagnosing the cause of lameness. By training giraffes for foot radiographs, potential causes of lameness could be identified and better managed. Long-term, the results may help zoos identify best practices for managing and preventing lameness in giraffe and subsequently improve welfare. Training animals to participate in their own medical care can improve welfare by giving them a sense of control within the situation. Training for medical procedures helps to reduce the stress imposed on the giraffe and the associated risks compared to alternative methods.

Incorporating free‐flowing rivers into global biodiversity targets: Prioritization and targeted interventions to maintain ecological integrity

Abstract Free‐flowing rivers (FFRs) are important surrogates for freshwater biodiversity as there are increasingly fewer rivers that reflect intact habitat and species diversity from source to sea. The status and changes in the ecological condition or protection of FFRs is not explicitly reported on in global biodiversity targets. Indices are proposed for reporting such changes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6 and 15, Aichi Target 11, and the post‐2020 global biodiversity framework. FFRs were identified at a countrywide scale in South Africa for protection, planning, monitoring, and assessing changes in their ecological condition and protection status. They were selected and prioritized using criteria co‐produced with national, provincial, and local river managers and policy makers. Given the high competition for water resources and the unlikely possibility for strictly protecting all FFRs, a subset of FFRs, termed ‘flagship FFRs’, was identified. Methods for reporting changes in the protection levels of prioritized FFRs at a countrywide scale were developed, which included indices of FFRs related to global targets: the loss of the extent of FFRs in a natural and largely natural ecological condition for SDG 6; changes in the connectivity of FFRs included in the post‐2020 global biodiversity framework targets; and changes in protection levels of FFRs for Aichi Target 11 and SDG 15.1.2. Flagship FFRs attracted targeted management initiatives and thus maintained their connectivity and ecological condition. This was not true when all FFRs were considered; in the broader set of FFRs, longitudinal fragmentation increased and ecological condition declined from 2011 to 2018. Considering the increasing pressures rivers are likely to experience from human and climate change impacts, particularly in semi‐arid to temperate environments, urgent prioritization and monitoring of FFRs is called for so that a targeted set of protection and management strategies can be applied.