Special Device Research Articles

Wearable Devices: Implications for Precision Medicine and the Future of Health Care.

Wearable devices are integrated analytical units equipped with sensitive physical, chemical, and biological sensors capable of noninvasive and continuous monitoring of vital physiological parameters. Recent advances in disciplines including electronics, computation, and material science have resulted in affordable and highly sensitive wearable devices that are routinely used for tracking and managing health and well-being. Combined with longitudinal monitoring of physiological parameters, wearables are poised to transform the early detection, diagnosis, and treatment/management of a range of clinical conditions. Smartwatches are the most commonly used wearable devices and have already demonstrated valuable biomedical potential in detecting clinical conditions such as arrhythmias, Lyme disease, inflammation, and, more recently, COVID-19 infection. Despite significant clinical promise shown in research settings, there remain major hurdles in translating the medical uses of wearables to the clinic. There is a clear need for more effective collaboration among stakeholders, including users, data scientists, clinicians, payers, and governments, to improve device security, user privacy, data standardization, regulatory approval, and clinical validity. This review examines the potential of wearables to offer affordable and reliable measures of physiological status that are on par with FDA-approved specialized medical devices. We briefly examine studies where wearables proved critical for the early detection of acute and chronic clinical conditions with a particular focus on cardiovascular disease, viral infections, and mental health. Finally, we discuss current obstacles to the clinical implementation of wearables and provide perspectives on their potential to deliver increasingly personalized proactive health care across a wide variety of conditions.

Realization of dual-functional resistive switching characteristics in Ag−In−Zn−S/sericin peptide-based memristive device

Employing suitable materials and device engineering is one of the crucial methods toward the realization of multifunctional memristive devices for constructing bioinspired neuromorphic systems. In this work, dual-functional memristors composed of eco-friendly natural silk sericin, coexistently enabling the achievement of threshold switching and memory switching triggered by adjusting the compliance current value, have been fabricated with a specific two-terminal device structure: Ag/Ag−In−Zn−S/silk sericin/W. Experimentally, the as-manufactured memristors exhibit several desirable qualities, such as low switching voltage (< 0.7 V), relatively small cycle-to-cycle and device-to-device variabilities, nonvolatile multilevel storage characteristics, and rapid switching speed (40 ns). Beyond these qualities, fundamental synaptic behaviors, such as paired-pulse facilitation and spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP), have been mimicked. This was made possible by a filamentary mechanism based on Ag migration. The fitted time constants corresponding to the STDP potentiation and depression are about 30 ms, and the highest changes in synaptic weight for positive and negative voltage pulses are 84.4% and 61.7%, respectively. Furthermore, the typical coincidence detection task has been executed, demonstrated by simulation based on the fitted STDP's parameters of the sericin-based device. The results from this study indicate that the sericin-based memristors, as designed, have the potential to be employed in the creation of versatile neuromorphic devices for neuromorphic computing systems.

PiGateway: Real-time granular analysis of smart home network traffic using P4

The Internet of Things (IoT) makes the home smarter by real-time sensing of the situation and transmission of data to the cloud. As IoT devices continue to expand rapidly, a critical need arises for effective device-type identification methods. Accurate identification of IoT device types is essential for various applications, including network management, security, etc. To identify the type of IoT devices, existing works have proposed various Media Access Control (MAC)-based and Machine Learning (ML) approaches. These solutions lack real-time granular analysis and In-network classification of IoT traffic. In this work, we propose PiGateway: a P4-based gateway to classify the type of IoT devices at a line rate and prioritize the device type. Initially, PiGateway develops a Decision Tree (DT) model and generates flow rules from the model. The developed model is deployed in the PiGateway using two mechanisms. One mechanism is to convert the DT model into Match-Action Tables (MATs), where the tables store the flow rules. Another approach developed an optimized model by deploying the DT model into PiGateway as a mathematical expression. Further, to achieve the In-network classification, the gateway calculates flow-level features dynamically from incoming IoT traffic flow. The feature values are given as input to the deployed DT model for classifying the flow into a specific device type. Subsequently, the flow is prioritized based on device type and Type of Service (ToS) field value. Additionally, our proposed solution is designed and tested in a real-time environment. Through implementation results, we show that the PiGateway can classify the type of IoT devices with 98.61% accuracy and an average CPU usage of 10.68%. Also, the classification time in PiGateway is 0.098ms for 8000 flows using an optimized model. Finally, the proposed system serves as a gateway in a smart home IoT network.

Impact of gasless vNOTES vs. traditional vNOTES on hemodynamic profiles and outcomes in patients with benign gynecological disease: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundLiterature regarding the advantages of gasless vNOTES is insufficient. The aim of our study is to compare gasless vNOTES vs. traditional vNOTES on hemodynamic profiles and outcomes in patients with benign gynecological disease. We hypothesize that compared with those in the traditional vNOTES group, hemodynamic profiles will be changed less during gasless vNOTES, while safety can be promised.MethodsThis is a single-center, prospective, single-blind, randomized controlled clinical trial, which has been approved by the Institutional Review Board of Chengdu Women’s and Children’s Hospital on September 27, 2022. One hundred and twenty patients will be recruited and randomly assigned to either the traditional vNOTES group or the gasless vNOTES group in a 1:1 ratio. For patients allocated to the traditional vNOTES group, after insertion of one port through the vagina, CO2 gas is infused with a pressure of 12–14 mmHg; while for those allocated to the gasless vNOTES group, a special device is used as an abdominal wall-lifting device to facilitate gasless surgery. CO2 pneumoperitoneum will not be used during the whole gasless vNOTES procedure. The primary outcome is vital signs at different time points. The secondary outcomes include surgical conversion rate, duration of surgery and anesthesia, anesthetic consumption, intraoperative estimated blood loss, VAS and PONV scores at postoperative 2 h and 24 h, administration of vasopressor drugs from the beginning of general anesthesia induction to 15 min after endotracheal intubation, including times, dosage, and type, intraoperative and postoperative complications, time of first getting out of bed after surgery, and time of first eating after surgery, including light drink.DiscussionThis is the first randomized controlled trial to compare the impacts of gasless vNOTES vs. traditional vNOTES on hemodynamic profiles and outcomes in patients with benign gynecological disease. If a favorable effect and safety of gasless vNOTES for hemodynamic profiles and outcomes in patients are shown, gasless vNOTES would be an optimal treatment option for patients with benign gynecological disease.Trial registrationThe trial was registered at https://www.chictr.org.cn/showproj.html?proj=182441 with registration No. ChiCTR2200064779 on Oct 17, 2022.

Improved U-Net Model to Estimate Cardiac Output Based on Photoplethysmography and Arterial Pressure Waveform.

We aimed to estimate cardiac output (CO) from photoplethysmography (PPG) and the arterial pressure waveform (ART) using a deep learning approach, which is minimally invasive, does not require patient demographic information, and is operator-independent, eliminating the need to artificially extract a feature of the waveform by implementing a traditional formula. We aimed to present an alternative to measuring cardiac output with greater accuracy for a wider range of patients. Using a publicly available dataset, we selected 543 eligible patients and divided them into test and training sets after preprocessing. The data consisted of PPG and ART waveforms containing 2048 points with the corresponding CO. We achieved an improvement based on the U-Net modeling framework and built a two-channel deep learning model to automatically extract the waveform features to estimate the CO in the dataset as the reference, acquired using the EV1000, a commercially available instrument. The model demonstrated strong consistency with the reference values on the test dataset. The mean CO was 5.01 ± 1.60 L/min and 4.98 ± 1.59 L/min for the reference value and the predicted value, respectively. The average bias was -0.04 L/min with a -1.025 and 0.944 L/min 95% limit of agreement (LOA). The bias was 0.79% with a 95% LOA between -20.4% and 18.8% when calculating the percentage of the difference from the reference. The normalized root-mean-squared error (RMSNE) was 10.0%. The Pearson correlation coefficient (r) was 0.951. The percentage error (PE) was 19.5%, being below 30%. These results surpassed the performance of traditional formula-based calculation methods, meeting clinical acceptability standards. We propose a dual-channel, improved U-Net deep learning model for estimating cardiac output, demonstrating excellent and consistent results. This method offers a superior reference method for assessing cardiac output in cases where it is unnecessary to employ specialized cardiac output measurement devices or when patients are not suitable for pulmonary-artery-catheter-based measurements, providing a viable alternative solution.

Efficacy and evolution of edge-to-edge transcatheter valve repair procedures

Abstract Background Edge-to-edge transcatheter mitral valve repair (M-TEER) has shown safety and efficacy in reducing secondary mitral regurgitation (MR) (1,2) and led to the development of similar devices for transcatheter valve repair (T-TEER) for tricuspid regurgitation (TR) (Fig. 1A). However, T-TEER implementation is challenging due to complex valve anatomy and periprocedural imaging. We sought to understand to which extent procedural success of M-TEER changed over time and possibly impacted T-TEER results. Methods We retrospectively analyzed intraprocedural reduction of secondary MR and TR after release of a valve specific device, between 2018, when M-TEER was implemented in our center, through 2020, when T-TEER procedures started, and up to the end of 2022. We compared results between the 55 T-TEER procedures performed (age 81.8±4.7, 55% females) and 3 M-TEER cohorts: the very first 55 M-TEER, the last 55 M-TEER before T-TEER, and the very last 55 M-TEER (overall mean-age 78.4±8.2, 49% females) (Fig. 1B). Severe MR III/IV was defined by an effective regurgitation orifice area (EROA) of 20-39mm², and IV/IV by EROA ≥40mm², while TR was evaluated using the I/V to V/V classification. Considering that a 5-grade reduction of TR is either not possible or not desirable, the extension of regurgitation reduction for both valves was set on a scale from 1- to 4-grade. Also, optimal results were defined as residual MR 0+ (none or trace) or TR I+ (mild or mild to moderate), while acceptable results were considered MR I+ and TR II+ (moderate or moderate to severe). Results In all groups, regurgitation was successfully and significantly reduced within-group (Fig. 1C). MR reduction to optimal or acceptable levels increased over time from 60% at the start of the M-TEER program to 78% after 12-18 months (p=0.039), and 84% (p=0.005) after approximately 3 years. Accordingly, the extent of regurgitation reduction significantly improved between the first 2 M-TEER cohorts (p=0.016), as well as the first and the last 55 M-TEER (p=0.045), with no significant change from the second to the third population (p=0.267) (Fig. 2). Two years after the first M-TEER, T-TEER with valve specific devices was implemented and achieved 84% optimal or acceptable residual TR, better than initial M-TEER (p=0.005) and similar to the second (p=0.466) and third M-TEER cohorts (p=1.000). In terms of extent of regurgitation reduction, T-TEER also performed similar to the very first (p=0.645) and the very last M-TEER procedures (p=0.076), despite higher mean-EROA (78.5±32.2mm² vs 44.8±16.1mm² in all MR patients, p<0.001), more complex anatomy, more challenging imaging, and sicker patients (mean-EuroSCORE II 8.8±6.6% vs 6.4±5.3% in all MR patients, p<0.001). Conclusions In our center, gain in knowledge and experience, coupled with technological advances, have significantly impacted procedural M-TEER success over time and allowed similar successful implementation of a T-TEER program.Figure 1Figure 2

Can we rely on wearable sleep-tracker devices for fatigue management?

Wearable sleep-tracker devices are ubiquitously used to measure sleep; however, the estimated sleep parameters often differ from the gold-standard polysomnography (PSG). It is unclear to what extent we can tolerate these errors within the context of a particular clinical or operational application. Here, we sought to develop a method to quantitatively determine whether a sleep tracker yields acceptable sleep-parameter estimates for assessing alertness impairment. Using literature data, we characterized sleep-measurement errors of 18 unique sleep-tracker devices with respect to PSG. Then, using predictions based on the unified model of performance, we compared the temporal variation of alertness in terms of the psychomotor vigilance test mean response time for simulations with and without added PSG-device sleep-measurement errors, for nominal schedules of 5, 8, or 9 hours of sleep/night or an irregular sleep schedule each night for 30 consecutive days. Finally, we deemed a device error acceptable when the predicted differences were smaller than the within-subject variability of 30 milliseconds. We also established the capability to estimate the extent to which a specific sleep-tracker device meets this acceptance criterion. On average, the 18 sleep-tracker devices overestimated sleep duration by 19 (standard deviation = 44) minutes. Using these errors for 30 consecutive days, we found that, regardless of sleep schedule, in nearly 80% of the time the resulting predicted alertness differences were smaller than 30 milliseconds. We provide a method to quantitatively determine whether a sleep-tracker device produces sleep measurements that are operationally acceptable for fatigue management.

Regulated Expiratory Methods During Childbirth Process: A Randomized Controlled Trial

ObjectivesTo evaluate the impact of a regulated expiratory method (REM) on the childbirth process. MethodsThis was a randomized trial. Study population included all first-time mothers with a spontaneous onset of labour, at an early stage, and a fetus in cephalic presentation with a normal weight for gestational age. The evaluated intervention was REM based on the use of a specific device. The primary outcome was the cesarean delivery rate. Secondary outcomes included first and second stages of labour times, rates of spontaneous and instrumental vaginal births, and pain scores. Subjective qualitative outcomes related to childbirth experience were evaluated via 2 interviews conducted with the parturient and the midwife responsible for her delivery. Intention-to-treat analysis was employed to compare the 2 groups. ResultsThe reduction in primary cesarean rates between the 2 groups was not significant (26.7% in control group vs. 18.3% in intervention group; P = 0.274). However, REM allowed for a significant reduction in second stage (P = 0.039) and pushing effort times (P = 0.003). According to midwives, REM had a significant positive impact on parturients’ breathing (P < 0.0001) and pushing effort intensity (P = 0.041). It facilitated communication with the parturient (P = 0.002). Moreover, the evaluated method had a significant positive impact on patient's childbirth experience. ConclusionsAlthough the reduction in immediate cesarean rates was not significant, REM has the potential to shorten labour duration, improve pain management, and ultimately improve maternal childbirth experience.

Routine Workflow of Spatial Proteomics on Micro-formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Tissues.

In the era of single-cell biology, spatial proteomics has emerged as an important frontier. However, it still faces several challenges in technology. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues are an important material in spatial proteomics, in which fixed tissues are excised using laser capture microdissection (LCM), followed by protein identification with mass spectrometry. For a satisfied spatial proteomics upon FFPE tissues, the excision area is expected to be as small as possible, and the identified proteins are countered upon as much as possible. For a general laboratory for spatial proteomics, a routine workflow is required, not relying on any special device, and is easily operating. In view of these challenges in technology, we initiated a technology evaluation throughout the entire procedure of proteomic analysis with micro-FFPE tissues. In contrast to the protocols reported previously, several innovations in technology were proposed and conducted, such as removal of destaining, decross-linking with "hang-down", solution simplification for peptide generation and balancing to excision area, and capture rate of micro-FFPE tissues. After optimization of all the necessary steps, a routine workflow was established, in which the minimized area for protein identification was 0.002 mm2, while the excision area for a consistent proteomic analysis was 0.05 mm2. Using the developed workflow and collecting the micro-FFPE tissues continuously, for the first time, a spatial proteomic atlas of mouse brain was preliminarily constructed, which exhibited the typical characteristics of spatial-dependent protein abundance and functional enrichment.

Morphology matters: Investigating the influence of granules and nanofibers on the physicochemical properties of TiO2 for optoelectronic applications

This study investigated the influence of morphology on the physiochemical properties of TiO2, specifically comparing granule-like structures and nanofibers. Both morphologies were fabricated using different methods and characterized comprehensively. After annealing, X-ray diffraction confirmed their crystalline nature with peaks corresponding to the anatase phase of titania. Scanning electron microscopy revealed long nanofibers with diameters ranging from 62 nm to 95 nm, while the granules appeared as spherical or nearly spherical particles with sizes between 43 nm and 59 nm. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis confirmed the presence of Ti and O in both structures. The Fourier-transform infrared and raman spectra exhibited characteristic bands related to the Ti–O–Ti stretching, vibrational, binding and anatase phase of titania, respectively. Raman peaks' intensity and position were influenced by crystal size, quality, and strain. The nanofibers showed higher raman mode peak intensities due to their larger surface area to volume ratio and high aspect ratio. In UV–Vis–NIR spectra, the nanofibers displayed higher absorption and a narrower bandgap than the granules. Hall Effect measurements indicated that the nanofibers had a higher carrier concentration and conductivity than the granules. Additionally, the nanofibers exhibited hydrophobic behavior with a water contact angle of 95°, while the granules were relatively hydrophilic with a contact angle of 58o. The findings could potentially facilitate the creation of customized TiO2 materials that are better suited for specific optoelectronic devices. This advancement would result in improved overall efficiency and performance across a range of technological uses.

Automated tree ring detection of common Indiana hardwood species through deep learning: Introducing a new dataset of annotated images

Tree-ring dating enables gathering necessary knowledge about trees, and it is essential in many areas, including forest management and the timber industry. Tree-ring dating can be conducted on either wood’s clean cross-sections or tree trunks’ rough end cross-sections. However, the measurement process is still time-consuming and frequently requires experts who use special devices, such as stereoscopes. Modern approaches based on image processing using deep learning have been successfully applied in many areas, and they can succeed in recognizing tree rings. While supervised deep learning-based methods often produce excellent results, they also depend on extensive datasets of tediously annotated data. To our knowledge, there are only a few publicly available ring image datasets with annotations. We introduce a new carefully captured dataset of images of hardwood species automatically annotated for tree ring detection. We capture each wood cookie twice, once in the rough form, similar to industrial settings, and then after careful cleaning, that reveals all growth rings. We carefully overlap the images and use them for an automatic ring annotation in the rough data. We then use the Feature Pyramid Network with Resnet encoder that obtains an overall pixel-level area under the curve score of 85.72% and ring level F1 score of 0.7348. The data and code are available at https://github.com/wufanyou/growth-ring-detection.

Comparative analysis of rescue operations to rescue a victims at a height

A quantitative comparative assessment of the influence of the size of the rescue teams, as well as the level of preparedness of the rescuers-climbers on the time of implementation of various options for rescuing the victim by evacuation in an unsupported space, was carried out, which will contribute to solving the problem of reducing the time of rescue work at height without reducing the level of safety as a personnel rescue teams, as well as victims who require evacuation in an unsupported space. A comparative assessment of various options for height rescue operations was carried out, taking into account both the level of training of rescuers and the completeness of the rescue unit. with the help of both a spinal immobilization shield and rescue stretchers by the personnel of rescuers of the basic and initial level of training in groups of full and part-time staff in accordance with the criteria of Shapiro-Wilkie, Fisher and Student. It is shown that the time distribution of height rescue operations according to the options considered with a significance level of =0,05 can be considered normal. At the same time, the mathematical expectation of the time of height rescue work at height for the specified options differs significantly not only depending on the technical capabilities of the special equipment and safety devices used, but also on the level of preparedness of the rescuer-climber and the size of the rescue team. These properties must be taken into account when drawing up methodological recommendations for performing rescue work at height, as well as professional training of a rescuer-climber. The reliability of the obtained estimates was confirmed by comparison with the results of research conducted in 2018–2019.

Практические советы по выбору манометров

The areas were determined reiated to the state regulation in the field of ensuring the uniformity of measurements when using pressure gauges installed on potentially hazardous industrial equipment of hazardous production facilities were determined. Including — in the field of defense and safety of the Russian Federation, in nuclear energy, in the field of competence of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Federal Service for Technical and Export Control and the National Guard troops. An analysis of the requirements for pressure gauges was carried out, and the forms of state control were determined. The technical (metrological) characteristics of pressure gauges are analyzed in accordance with the requirements of the international and national standards of the Russian Federation. Special features of measuring the pressure of various media and the need to use special technical devices and tools are considered. Significant criteria for the selection of pressure gauges were identified. A simple and understandable algorithm for their selection was developed.

Innovative Design and Evaluation of a Transmission Lifter

This study focuses on the design, fabrication, and evaluation of the Transmission Lifter, a specialized device tailored for the convenient, stable, and durable servicing of vehicle transmission assemblies. The research aims to address the prevalent challenges faced by automotive technicians and mechanics during transmission servicing, offering an innovative solution that meets the high-performance requirements of the automotive industry.The study meticulously follows industry standards and leverages expert feedback to ensure the Transmission Lifter's quality, performance, and safety. It goes through comprehensive testing, meticulous analysis, and critical evaluation to gauge the device's effectiveness. The results of the study lead to several key conclusions: The Transmission Lifter successfully meets industry standards and the expectations of automotive experts, ensuring that it aligns with the highest quality requirements. The device exhibits high performance efficiency as affirmed by expert evaluations, highlighting its superior capabilities. It boasts an impressive load capacity, accommodating medium to heavy-duty transmissions with ease. The device is adaptable to the diverse configurations of automobile transmissions. It maintains stability even during extended use and can handle a substantial load. The Transmission Lifter performs exceptionally well, earning an overall "Excellent" rating based on expert evaluations. This study's findings inform a set of valuable recommendations, including patent protection, material enhancements for portability, improved finishing and adherence to industry standards, instructional manuals for users, and a call for continued research in the field. The Transmission Lifter presents a significant advancement in the field of automotive technology, contributing to the safety, efficiency, and quality of transmission servicing. Its innovation serves as a testament to the commitment of the researcher and his desire to support fellow technicians and automotive enthusiasts. By addressing the critical needs of the automotive industry, the Transmission Lifter embodies innovation, safety, and a commitment to excellence, setting a benchmark for future developments in the field.Asw

THE TEST SITE FOR OBTAINING SPECIALIZED DIGITAL TWINS OF IMPACT PROJECTILES

The authors of the article propose a methodical approach to the development of a test site for obtaining specialized digital twins of impact projectiles (US) at the stage of external ballistics in order to determine the adequacy of the mathematical models obtained earlier at the virtual test site, as well as when using these specialized digital twins in digital systems of initial data in the future. The approach under consideration is based on the radar measurement method, as well as on the technical solutions of the authors, protected by patents of the Russian Federation for the invention. On the basis of these technical solutions, a hardware-software complex has been developed that makes it possible to evaluate the external ballistic characteristics of the US on the trajectory. The implementation of the described method is carried out on a special device for measuring external ballistic characteristics, which makes it possible to obtain and convert the signal reflected from the projectile, process the data and perform an analysis of their reliability. The article describes in detail the implementation of algorithms for determining the area of increased reliable data and compensating for the influence of phase modulation of the reflected radar signal. Using this approach, it is possible to obtain the dependence of the speed of the US on time. The operability of the hardware-software complex has been verified during full-scale tests. The use of the proposed hardware-software complex in the course of ground tests of the RS, as practice shows, makes it possible to improve the quality of the obtained initial data and reduce the cost of testing.

An attention-based CNN for automatic whole-body postural assessment

Fully automatic postural assessment is highly useful, but has been challenging. Conventional methods either require manual assessment by ergonomists or depend on special devices that are intrusive, thus being hardly feasible in daily activities and workplaces. In this work, an attention-based convolutional neural network (CNN) is developed for automatic whole-body postural assessment. The proposed network learns to identify highly relevant regions (or body parts) and extract features automatically. Risk of the posture is estimated from the extracted features accordingly. To evaluate the proposed method, a postural dataset, referred to as pH36M, is created by re-targeting Human3.6M, one of the largest publicly available datasets for pose estimation using the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) criteria. Experimental results on pH36M demonstrate that proposed method achieves promising performance in comparison to baselines and the average assessment scores are substantially aligned with human assessment with a Kappa value of 0.73.

Peningkatan Kemandirian Activity of Daily Living Siswa Disabilitas Fisik berbasis Aplikasi Dikta Care dan Alat Teknologi Bantu

Mitra SDLB YPAC Surabaya stated that there are still many students with physical disabilities who cannot perform self-care such as wearing their own clothes, eating, drinking, bathing, toileting, decorating and mobilizing. A total of 4 students were partially assisted and 12 students were fully assisted in performing activities of daily living (ADL). Partners do not yet have materials for self-care. This is due to the unavailability of effective learning media that supports the improvement of ADL independently at SDLB YPAC Surabaya. This is due to the unavailability of effective learning media that supports the improvement of ADL independently at SDLB YPAC Surabaya. In addition, there are no special assistive devices that can support the self-care of children with disabilities independently. The purpose of this service is to increase the independence of students with disabilities in doing ADL. The implementation method consists of 4 stages, namely the preparation stage, implementation stage, monitoring and evaluation stage, and program sustainability. This service program has achieved results that teachers' knowledge about self-care for children with disabilities increased with a good category of 14 (87.5%), a medium category of 2 (12.55), and a low category of 0 (0%). Based on the evaluation of the level of independence, there is a change in the level of independence. The assessment before the action of the partially assisted category was 4 students, but after being given the innovation tool increased to 6 students, and students who were fully assisted initially were 12 reduced to 10 students. Even so, the full level of independence has not yet been achieved. So that it takes a long time to train students with disabilities by using late-made cutlery innovations.

Ti3C2 MXene Nanosheets/Vanadium Nitride@Carbon Composite Electrodes for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries have delivered outstanding charge storage performance due to their high energy density and low cost and also more specialized energy conversion device for next-generation electrical appliances. Herein, we offered the ultrathin Ti3C2 MXene (titanium carbide) nanosheets/vanadium nitride (VN)@carbon (C) nanocomposites for lithium-ion storage application as a high-capacity anode material. The proposed anode material is Ti3C2 MXene nanosheets/VN@C composite as synthesized via chemical precipitation. The real-time half-cell of Ti3C2 MXene nanosheets/VN@C composite shows the excellent initial discharge specific capacity of 1237 mAh g-1 at a current density of 0.1 A g-1 with a reverse rate capacity of 685 mAh g-1. The high specific capacity of 645 mAh g-1 has been attained even after 500 cycles at a current density of 0.1 A g-1. This type of rich reverse rate capacity and stability of the anode electrode is responsible due to the high conductivities and surface areas of Ti3C2 MXene nanosheets/VN@C composite, which is provided easy accessibility of Li+ ions.

Mind the gap: Bridging knowledge and action in e-waste management

Electronic waste (e-waste) is a growing global problem of WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment), including both functional and damaged items. The study aimed to assess the university's electronic waste production and the level of awareness among respondents. The data gathered from the survey paints a detailed picture of respondents' demographics, awareness, and practices related to electronic devices and e-Waste management. Daily electronic device usage patterns reveal the ubiquitous nature of cell phones and laptops in respondents' lives, showcasing the indispensable role of these technologies. Moreover, the collective acknowledgment of the hazardous nature of electronic waste and recognition of specific electronic devices as potential sources of environmental harm are noteworthy. The survey's findings underscore the collective responsibility to safeguard the environment by making informed choices in the realm of electronics. It also calls for ongoing efforts to raise awareness and educate individuals from diverse demographics and educational backgrounds about sustainable electronic device use and disposal.

Experimental study on the cracking behavior of anchorage zones

AbstractWith the aim of studying the cracking behavior of anchorage zones of post‐tensioning tendons, an experimental research has been performed. The experimental program included eight prismatic specimens with 265 mm × 265 mm × 580 mm and 300 mm × 300 mm × 600 mm, reinforced with combinations of spirals and stirrups. The studied variables included the cross‐section dimensions and the amount of confining stirrups. In this study special anchorage devices were used in all specimens, which are commonly used in everyday practice. To be able to fulfill the loading protocol, concrete strains were measured. These values were also used to study the cracking loads and crack widths, and to assess the influence of the different studied variables, as well as the failure loads. Models from the literature were used to estimate the expected values for cracking loads. These values were compared with the experimental ones to verify their adequacy for the tested specimens. From the experimental tests, it can be concluded that the increase of the stirrup diameter leads to lower cracking loads. The increase of the cross‐section dimensions results in an increase in the cracking load. Available theories for estimating the cracking load do not provide satisfactory predictions of the expected cracking load.