Safe Technology Research Articles

Evaluation of the quality of life of patients with leadless pacing system during 1 year follow-up period

Abstract Background Leadless pacemakers (LesPM) are a new safe alternative technology for pacing the right ventricle. However, not enough information is available on their potential benefits for quality of life (QoL) in patients with LesPM. The purpose of the study was the quality of life comparison of patients with LesPM and conventional pacemakers (ConvPM). Methods The study included patients who underwent implantation of a single-chamber pacemaker from December 2018 to March 2023. We used the SF-36 Questionnaire to assess quality of life at baseline and after 12 and 24 months of follow-up. We also used a questionnaire consisting of 10 specific questions related to the implantation procedure. Results Total of 50 patients were included (25 LesPM; 25 ConvPM). There were no differences in baseline characteristics between groups (LesPM vs. ConvPM), except for age (47.5 vs. 57.3 years; P = 0.012) and diabetes 28% vs. 21%; P = 0.021). Baseline SF-36 did not differ between groups. After 6 months of follow-up, patients in the LesPM group showed significantly higher scores on physical function (47 vs 32; P<0.001), physical role (53 vs 37; P=0.004) and mental health (67 vs 52; P=0.017), even after adjusting for covariates. Pacemaker-related discomfort and physical limitations were significantly lower in the LesPM group. Conclusion LesPM is associated with a better quality of life than ConvPM, both in terms of physical and mental health. Patients who underwent LesPM implantation reported less procedure-related discomfort, physical limitations, and anxiety.

Layout Characteristics and Design Principles of Atrium Integrated Space

With the development of China's cruise tourism industry, it is necessary to study the design and construction of cruise ships, especially the central atrium, which is an important part of public area design and represents the quality and characteristics of the entire ship's design. However, compared with Europe, China's research foundation for large-scale cruise ship design is still lacking. Therefore, studying the spatial layout characteristics of the central atrium is of great significance for improving China's cruise industry. This article focuses on the design principles and characteristics of integrated space layout in the central atrium of cruise ships. By applying basic theories from architecture, shipbuilding engineering, aesthetics, international maritime safety conventions and technology to analyzing representative central atria from 25 typical domestic and foreign cruise brands through data collection and research methods including mathematical statistics methodology, clustering methodology and cases research methodology. Through comparison and generalization of the cases, the study eventually summarizes six overall principles and four structural principles for designing integrated space in the central atrium of a cruise ship. The six overall principles include safety, rationality, applicability, artistry, coordination and technique-economics. The four structural principles include clear space circulation, natural spatial connection, theme coordination & unification and prominent key levels. This study provides insights into designing integrated space in the central atriums of cruise ships that hopefully can be applied in improving China's cruise design work while also supporting guidance for future related fields. Keywords: central atrium of cruise ship, integrated space, design principles, functional layout, decoration style

Review on blockchain technology in food safety and traceability issues

Review on blockchain technology in food safety and traceability issues

Analysis of Safety Management Issues and Countermeasures for Construction Operations of Petroleum Refining and Chemical Equipment

The economic operation in modern society is closely related to petroleum, and petroleum refining products play a great role in various industries such as military, transportation, agriculture, light industry, and textile industry. Refining and chemical enterprises belong to fixed asset intensive enterprises, among which the equipment used for oil refining is the most important asset in fixed assets. Improving the operational safety of equipment plays an extremely important role and significance in improving and enhancing the economic benefits of enterprises. This article starts with the analysis of safety hazards at construction sites and explores potential risk factors such as human factors and equipment failures. A series of safety management measures are proposed to address safety issues, improving the effectiveness of safety management by establishing a sound safety management system, applying advanced safety equipment and technology, and developing effective emergency response and post-disaster recovery plans.

Exploring the Potential of Promising Sensor Technologies for Concrete Structural Health Monitoring.

Structural health monitoring (SHM) is crucial for maintaining concrete infrastructure. The data collected by these sensors are processed and analyzed using various analysis tools under different loadings and exposure to external conditions. Sensor-based investigation on concrete has been carried out for technologies used for designing structural health monitoring sensors. A Sensor-Infused Structural Analysis such as interfacial bond-slip model, corroded steel bar, fiber-optic sensors, carbon black and polypropylene fiber, concrete cracks, concrete carbonation, strain transfer model, and vibrational-based monitor. The compressive strength (CS) and split tensile strength (STS) values of the analyzed material fall within a range from 26 to 36 MPa and from 2 to 3 MPa, respectively. The material being studied has a range of flexural strength (FS) and density values that fall between 4.5 and 7 MPa and between 2250 and 2550 kg/m3. The average squared difference between the predicted and actual compressive strength values was found to be 4.405. With cement ratios of 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5, the shear strength value ranged from 4.4 to 5.6 MPa. The maximum shear strength was observed for a water-cement ratio of 0.4, with 5.5 MPa, followed by a water-cement ratio of 0.3, with 5 MPa. Optimizing the water-cement ratio achieves robust concrete (at 0.50), while a lower ratio may hinder strength (at 0.30). PZT sensors and stress-wave measurements aid in the precise structural monitoring, enhanced by steel fibers and carbon black, for improved sensitivity and mechanical properties. These findings incorporate a wide range of applications, including crack detection; strain and deformation analysis; and monitoring of temperature, moisture, and corrosion. This review pioneers sensor technology for concrete monitoring (Goal 9), urban safety (Goal 11), climate resilience (Goal 13), coastal preservation (Goal 14), and habitat protection (Goal 15) of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.

Current Aspects of Medical Rehabilitation of Patients with Cancer Related Lymphedema of Extremities: a Narrative Review

INTRODUCTION. Over the past decades, in developed countries and in the Russian Federation, there has been an increase in the number of patients with secondary lymphedema who have undergone surgical treatment with dissection of regional lymph nodes and radiation therapy for various forms of gynecological cancer in women and prostate cancer in men, as well as breast cancer. AIM. Search and analysis of the results of previously published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of the effectiveness of various non-drug rehabilitation methods in patients with lymphedema of the extremities who underwent radical treatment for cancer of various locations. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A search was conducted and studied publications in international scientific peer-reviewed publications (PEDro Database) on medical rehabilitation for cancer treatment-related lymphedema (LSPR) for the period from 1996 to December 2023 using the keywords “lymphedema”, “rehabilitation”. 145 RCTs focused on medical rehabilitation and conservative treatment of LSPR. DISCUSSION. Lifestyle correction and psychosocial interventions are recommended to improve the quality of life of patients. Studies have found that early activation, various physical exercises with a slow increase in loads under the supervision of a physical therapist are safe and help increase endurance, strength and range of motion in a limb with lymphatic edema. The clinical effectiveness of therapeutic exercises in the pool has been proven, manifested in the reduction of edema in patients with LSPR. The effectiveness of compression products with Velcro technology as an alternative to rigid low-stretch bandages in patients with LSPR has been confirmed. The anti-edematous and anti-inflammatory effects of low-intensity laser therapy and magnetic therapy in the rehabilitation of patients with LSLR have been proven. Alternating pneumatic compression (APC) is recommended as an adjuvant treatment in addition to comprehensive decongestant therapy. Preference should be given to the use of technologies of advanced hardware lymphatic drainage methods that imitate manual techniques. CONCLUSION. To improve the physical and socio-psychological functioning of patients with LSPR, an integrated approach is required, including lifestyle changes, psychological correction, compression therapy, modern exercise therapy techniques, and safe physiotherapeutic technologies. Conducted scientific research indicates the high effectiveness of the use of manual and hardware lymphatic drainage techniques, while the use of PPC is more economical and accessible, and does not require the involvement of specialists who know the expensive method of manual lymphatic drainage.

Acidic Electrolyzed Water Maintains the Storage Quality of Postharvest Wampee Fruit by Activating the Disease Resistance.

Harvested wampee fruit is susceptible to disease, resulting in postharvest losses. Acidic electrolyzed water (AEW), a safe and innovative sterilization technology, plays a role in enhancing disease resistance in harvested produce. In this study, the efficacy of AEW in delaying wampee disease development was assessed, along with its association with disease resistance metabolism. Wampee fruit was treated with AEW (pH 2.5) at different available chlorine concentrations (ACCs) (20, 40, 60, and 80 mg/L) and subsequently stored at 25 °C for 8 days. Results revealed that 40 mg/L ACC in AEW (pH 2.5) was most effective in improving the postharvest quality of wampee fruit. Compared with control wampee fruit, those treated with 40 mg/L ACC in AEW exhibited lower incidence of fruit disease, higher pericarp lignin content, and higher activities of pericarp disease resistance enzymes (DREs), such as cinnamate-4-hydroxylase, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, chitinase, β-1,3-glucanase, polyphenol oxidase, 4-coumarate CoA ligase, and cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase. These results suggested that AEW elevated DRE activities, promoted lignin accumulation, and ultimately enhanced disease resistance, suppressed disease development, and improved storage quality in harvested wampee fruit. Consequently, AEW emerged as a safe technology to mitigate the disease development and enhance the storage quality of harvested wampee fruit.

Catalyst-Free Activation and Fixation of Nitrogen by Laser-Induced Conversion.

Ultrafast N2 fixation reactions are quite challenging. Currently used methods for N2 fixation are limited, and strong dinitrogen bonds usually need to be activated via extreme temperature or pressure or by the use of an energy-consuming process with sophisticated catalysts. Herein, we report a novel laser-based chemical method for N2 fixation under ambient conditions without catalysts, this method is called laser bubbling in liquids (LBL), and it directly activates N2 in water (H2O) and efficiently converts N2 into valuable NH3 (max: 4.2 mmol h-1) and NO3- (0.17 mmol h-1). Remarkably, the highest yields of NH3 and NO3- are 4 orders of magnitude greater than the best values for electrocatalysis reported to date. Notably, we further validate the experimental mechanism by using optical emission spectroscopy to detect the production of intermediate plasma and by employing isotope tracing. We also establish that an extremely high-temperature environment far from thermodynamic equilibrium inside a laser-induced bubble and the kinetic process of rapid quenching of bubbles is crucial for N2 activation and fixation to generate NH3 and NOx via LBL. Based on these results, it is shown that LBL is a simple, safe, efficient, green, and sustainable technology that enables the rapid conversion of the renewable feedstocks H2O and N2 to NH3 and NO3-, facilitating new prospects for chemical N2 fixation.

Empowering Pharmacovigilance: The Role of Web 3.0 Technologies in Enhancing Drug Safety and Patient Engagement

The rise of Web 3.0 technology suggests excellent progress in many fields, like healthcare. In this study, we explored the possible impact that Web 3.0 could have on reducing significant drug side effects among patients, which is an ongoing problem in pharmacotherapy. We looked at how often and in what ways adverse reactions to medication occur by analyzing a full dataset containing all drugs' alternatives as well as their corresponding effects, uses and classifications. Our method includes examining data and knowledge about decentralized data handling, safety, and approaches that focus on users in Web 3.0. The results indicate how much better drug safety monitoring can be achieved through decentralized applications, smart contracts, and blockchain technology. It also shows the potential to make patient therapy more personal and motivate patient education and involvement in healthcare decisions. This study emphasizes the ability of Web 3.0 to transform the monitoring of drug safety and effectiveness; it presents a strong case for its use within healthcare systems. The ideas for doctors, patients and healthcare policymakers highlight the crucial need to include Web 3.0 technology to improve patient results and reduce drug-linked morbidity along with death rates.

Suppressing lithium dendrite via hybrid interface layers for high performance quasi-solid-state lithium metal batteries

The quasi-solid-state metal battery stands out as a promising candidate for the advancement of scalable, safe, and high-performance battery technologies. However, a major challenge remains in the form of short circuits arising from dendrite penetration, a consequence of uneven lithium deposition at the solid electrolyte/lithium anode interface. To address this issue, an in-situ constructed three-dimensional LiCl/Li-Al hybrid protective layer was implemented to inhibit the growth of dendrites. The enhanced interfacial dynamics were meticulously elucidated through a synergistic analysis of simulation and experimental results, highlighting the facilitation of Li+ flux distribution and uniform mass transfers introduced by the lithiophilic Li-Al alloy component. As a result, the modified Li anode enables stable Li stripping/plating cycling at a high current density of 1.0 mA·cm−2 and over 500 h at 0.2 mA·cm−2 for 0.2 mAh·cm−2 in the quasi-solid-state symmetric batteries. Additionally, the full cell with a LiFePO4 cathode maintains a high discharge capacity of 136.2 mAh/g after 400 cycles at 0.5C with a capacity retention of approximately 90 %. These findings demonstrate the application potential of Li anodes with a surface treatment for quasi-solid-state lithium metal battery applications.

Advancements in Fire Safety Technology: A Automatic Fire Extinguishing Robot

Fire security which is a lasting and persistent issue requires the continuous development of technology to reinforce protection and inhibition of the fires which are regular event that often leads to emergencies in many sectors. This research endeavors to delve deeply into the realm of fire safety technology, focusing keenly on two innovative approaches: the Chai roof closers security policy, after house-closers protection process, and a matted fire extinguisher robot that notifies about the fire. Through scrupulously examining their technical detail, experiments, operational patterns, and potential outcomes and impact, the paper in this order to fulfills its objective of giving the reader a comprehensive and all-encompassing understanding of the extent and the take of these types of fire systems in the total field of fire safety. Relying on a broad review of journal articles, experiments, and also a proactive approach to these technological advancements that might contribute to averting fire disasters and on preserving both human lives and valuable properties, this research undertakes a mission to explore the emergence of these technological advancements and how much they instill change in the conduct of disaster response and risk mitigation.

Predictors of physical activity and public safety perception regarding technology adoption for promoting physical activity in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

BackgroundThis study aims to identify the predictors of levels of physical activity among the residents of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Additionally, it seeks to understand the public's safety perception regarding the adoption of technology for promoting physical activity. MethodThis is an analytical cross-sectional study using self-administered web-based survey. A stratified sampling technique was used to select participants from adult population in Jeddah and data collection took place from May 2023 to December 2023. Multivariable logistic regression models were applied to identify predictors of low-intensity (walking steps) and high-intensity physical activities. ResultA total of 462 participated in the study. Gender significantly influenced walking habits, with males more likely to walk than females (AOR = 2.37; 95 % CI: 1.55–3.62; P < 0.001). Smoking status was also a predictor, with smokers more inclined to walk compared to non-smokers (AOR = 2.15; 95 % CI: 1.20–3.82; P = 0.010). High-intensity physical activity strongly correlated with increased walking, especially among those active 3–7 days per week (AOR = 3.03; 95 % CI: 1.91–4.78; P < 0.001). Chronic diseases negatively impacted walking frequency (AOR = 0.57; 95 % CI: 0.34–0.95; P = 0.031). Furthermore, males were likelier to engage in high-intensity activities compared to females (AOR = 1.61; 95 % CI: 1.04–2.50; P = 0.033). Those walking ≥ 10,000 steps weekly were more likely to participate in high-intensity activities (AOR = 3.07; 95 % CI: 1.95–4.82; P < 0.001). Excellent self-rated health was associated with higher participation in such activities (AOR = 2.00; 95 % CI: 1.30–3.06; P = 0.002). Most respondents (84.9 %) felt safe on public walkways, and 78.1 % indicated safety perceptions influenced their walkway use. Technology use was divided, with about half (49.1 %) using apps for tracking physical activity. The majority (90.9 %) supported adding motivational features to the 'Sehhaty' app, and 73.6 % favored financial rewards for walking. However, only 45.5 % believed that public walkways are designed to encourage walking. ConclusionThe study highlights significant predictors of physical activity among general population in Jeddah. The study also revealed the impact of safety perceptions and technology use on physical activity, with strong support for motivational features in health apps. However, there is a need for improved design of public walkways to encourage walking.

TOXICITY OF NANOPARTICLES ON ANIMAL AND HUMAN ORGANISM: CELL RESPONSE

The review focuses on research related to the effect of nanoparticles on cells in the animal and human body and on the analysis of potential biological effects that may be caused by exposure to these materials. This review deals with the mechanisms through which nanoparticles interact with cells and analyses their potential consequences for an individual's health. The main mechanisms of toxicity are oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, cell damage, and genetic changes that can lead to apoptosis or other cellular responses. These effects are often modified by various factors, including the size and shape of the nanoparticles, their surface treatment and chemical composition. The work highlights significant differences in the responses of cells of different organ systems to nanoparticles, thereby pointing the need for a more precise examination of toxic effects depending on the biological context. This review also discusses important methods for assessing nanoparticle toxicity, including in vitro experiments, in vivo animal studies, and various clinical studies. The aim of this review was to provide a comprehensive overview of this important issue, which has significant implications for public health and the environment. Research into nanoparticles and their interaction with cells is crucial for a better understanding the risks associated with their exposure and for the development of safe technologies and applications that use these materials.

DRIVER DROWSINESS DETECTION SYSTEM

The proposed system utilizes facial landmark detection and eye aspect ratio calculation to detect drowsiness in real-time from a webcam feed. It employs the dlib library for face detection and facial landmark prediction. The eye aspect ratio (EAR) is computed from the distances between specific points on the eyes. When the EAR falls below a predefined threshold for a certain number of consecutive frames, it triggers an alert indicating potential drowsiness. The alert includes visual cues on the video feed, an auditory alert using the playsound library, and even sends an instant WhatsApp message using pywhatkit to notify a designated contact about the drowsiness. This system serves as a useful tool for monitoring driver fatigue or alertness in various contexts, promoting safety and awareness. Its capacity to swiftly identify and alert users to the onset of drowsiness represents a significant leap forward in safety technology. By mitigating the risk of accidents stemming from fatigue-induced impairments, this project underscores the pivotal role of computer vision in real-time human behavior monitoring, offering a versatile and invaluable tool for fostering safety and awareness across various domains. Keywords: Drowsiness Detection; Python; Whatsapp messaging; Webcam feed; Computer Vision; Alert System; Real-time monitoring; Eye-Aspect Ratio; Frame Processing; Facial Recognition.

A DFT and TD-DFT studies of the photosensitizing capabilities of thiophene-based dyes

Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) play a significant role in the development of affordable, safe, and efficient solar energy technology. In this research, we have designed nine new dyes (J01-09) by modifying an experimentally reported thiophene-based dye (DSS) in the literature. The diethylaniline in the DSS as the electron donating group was replaced with diphenylamine to reduce planarity in the dye. The designed dyes all have donor and acceptor groups linked by a π-linker group (D-π-A). Using DFT and TD-DFT, we investigated the impact of the diphenylamine moieties on the planarity, photochemical and photophysical properties of the modeled dyes in isolation. The optimized structures, UV–Vis absorption, photochemical, and photovoltaic parameters were computed to study the photosensitizing capability of the modeled dyes. The photochemical and photovoltaic parameters of the study include; open-circuit voltage (VOC), light-harvesting efficiency (LHE), driving force of electron injection (ΔGinj), driving force of regeneration (ΔGreg), excited-state lifetime (τ), ionization potential (IP), adiabatic ionization potential (AIP), vertical ionization potential (VIP), electron affinity (EA), chemical hardness (η), electrophilicity index (ω), electron-donating power (ω-) and electron-accepting power (ω+) were calculated. Our findings indicate that only J03 and J08 absorb at longer wavelengths (719 and 753 nm respectively) indicating lower absorption energy bandgap compared to the DSS dye, attributed to the extension of conjugation between the thiophene and donor groups. Also, only J03 and J08 exhibited lower ΔGinj values (−0.985 and −0.667 eV respectively) and ΔGreg values (0.245 and 0.179 eV respectively) implying the dyes can be regenerated spontaneously compared to the DSS dye. Therefore, J03 and J08 are more promising to be developed as a superior photosensitizer in DSSCs.

Trajectory Tracking Algorithm Study of Coal Mine Water Detector Drilling Bar Installation

Mechanical water detection is recognized as the most reliable and safe production technology for coal mines, mainly for the detection of water hazards in pre-mining operations. Intelligent water detectors are currently the main research direction in mechanical water detection, and the automatic installation of drilling bars is the key to achieving intelligent water detection. Improving the connection accuracy in the process of installing drilling bars is an important research topic for the improvement of control links. To improve the connection accuracy of the drilling bars at the time of supplying material, we used the modified Denavit–Hartenberg method to analyze the motion gestures of the supplied material device and the Lagrange equation to establish a dynamic analysis model. We aimed at better control precision by improving the sliding mode control algorithm and at increasing the convergence rate of tracking errors with a sliding controller based on an exponential approximation law and using saturated functions instead of the symbol functions in the reaching law to weaken the vibration in the control process. We then used particle swarm optimization (PSO) to find the optimum combination parameters of the sliding mode controllers and test the performance of the sliding mode controllers before and after PSO with MATLAB/Simulink. The results showed that the optimized controller has a strong resistance to parameter fluctuations, and the system responds quickly, achieves a good performance, and improves the convergence rate of tracking errors.

Recent Advances of Food Hazard Detection Based on Artificial Nanochannel Sensors.

Food quality and safety are related to the health and safety of people, and food hazards are important influencing factors affecting food safety. It is strongly necessary to develop food safety rapid detection technology to ensure food safety. As a new detection technology, artificial nanochannel-based electrochemical and other methods have the advantages of being real-time, simple, and sensitive and are widely used in the detection of food hazards. In this paper, we review artificial nanochannel sensors as a new detection technology in food safety for different types of food hazards: biological hazards (bacteria, toxins, viruses) and chemical hazards (heavy metals, organic pollutants, food additives). At the same time, we critically discuss the advantages and disadvantages of artificial nanochannel sensor detection, as well as the restrictions and solutions of detection, and finally look forward to the challenges and development prospects of food safety detection technology based on the limitations of artificial nanochannel detection. We expect to provide a theoretical basis and inspiration for the development of rapid real-time detection technology for food hazards and the production of portable detection equipment in the future.

Adjusting vehicle secondary safety ratings to account for crash-avoidance technology fitment using real-world crash and injury data

Objectives Publicizing safety ratings of vehicles can motivate manufacturers to prioritize safety and help consumers choose safer vehicles, leading to safer fleets. The benefits of primary safety technologies that prevent crash occurrence are not currently incorporated in current ratings in a way that values their safety benefits consistently. We aimed to propose a method for assigning weights for each safety technology to account for established safety benefits using published effectiveness and prevalence from real-life data. Methods To illustrate this method, we present a worked example calculated using crash and injury data from Australia and New Zealand. The method proposed attenuates the weights for given safety technologies where two or more safety technologies fitted to the same vehicle are effective for the same types of crashes. Results In the worked example using Australasian data, large SUVs were estimated to have the largest safety increment from the fitment of all the technologies considered compared to vehicles without these primary safety technologies, with an almost 17% reduction in crash occurrence. Cars with all the technologies fitted had estimated average crash reduction of between 11% and 12%. Conclusions Different market groups have different crash patterns, so the safety attributable to safety technology fitment differs at the market group level. This study presents an approach for providing a summary measure of crash avoidance according to the fitment of safety technologies. If this measure is combined with an estimate of secondary safety (whether derived from existing crash and injury data or from new car crash assessment programs), the combined estimate then represents the important elements of safety provided by the vehicle. The methods presented here form a rational basis for assigning safety ratings to represent the benefits of swiftly developing safety technologies.

Evaluation of the impact of information technologies in patient safety 2021–2023

Evaluation of the impact of information technologies in patient safety 2021–2023

Innovative technology for mining parallel superimposed inclined tabular deposits

Ore deposits are often parallel superimposed inclined tabular ones with waste rock inclusions between ore beds. The present research aims to develop an innovative safe and efficient technology to reduce the cost of waste rock transportation outside the stoping block and provide a rational flowsheet for mining superimposed beds with original structural elements. The paper proposes a new technological flowsheet for mining superimposed deposits with disposal of waste rocks occurring between beds in previously prepared rooms and establishes new dependencies of room dimensions on the volume of rocks to be disposed. The research results enable expansion of the scope of employment of room mining systems and significant reduction in costs in the working area. The efficiency of ore mining is achieved by creating room crowns from unmined interbedded rocks, disposing broken waste rocks in worked-out spaces and rationally mining the deposits. Implementation of the proposed technology enables reduction of the cost of mining ore from parallel superimposed inclined tabular deposits.