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Generating aircraft and system turbulence induced fatigue spectra for future aircraft conceptual design
No full textOn the trustworthiness of spiking neural networks and neuromorphic systems
No full textNeuromorphic computing offers a promising solution for realizing energy-efficient and compact Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems. Implemented with Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs), neuromorphic systems can benefit from SNN characteristics, such as event-driven computation, event sparsity, biological plausibility, etc., to achieve high performance and energy efficiency, an aspect vital for the realization of AI at the edge. Although SNNs are biology-inspired structures, their use in mission- and safety-critical applications raises multiple concerns around the trustworthiness of neuromorphic hardware due to various intrinsic and extrinsic reliability and security issues. Hence, adequately studying the dependability of SNNs and neuromorphic hardware accelerators becomes of utmost importance, in order to expose and harden against potential vulnerabilities, so that a reliable and secure operation is ensured. This paper presents an analysis of the dependability and trustworthiness aspects of SNNs and neuromorphic hardware. It outlines potential mitigation and countermeasure strategies to improve the reliability, testability, and security aspects of SNN hardware and ensure its trustworthy deployment in critical application domains.</p
Author correction: Microneedle-based biosensing
No full textCorrection to: Nature Reviews Bioengineering https://doi.org/10.1038/s44222-023-00108-7, published online 26 September 2023.In the version of the article initially published, in Fig. 4bv, the left y axis read “ISF alcohol (mM)” and has now been corrected to “ISF lactate (mM)” in the HTML and PDF versions of the article
Examining reproducible mix design, fresh and mechanical properties of ground granulated blast furnace slag-based alkali-activated concrete (GGBFS-based AAC): results of an interlaboratory study of RILEM TC 294-MPA
No full textThis report presents a meticulous synthesis of collaborative interlaboratory research conducted within the purview of the RILEM Technical Committee 294-MPA, with two expert groups named RRT1 and RRT2, and encompassing ten participants from Belgium, China, Finland, India, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. The RRT1 expert group mainly focused on the ground granulated blast furnace slag-based alkali-activated concrete (GGBFS-based AAC) mix design and mechanical properties. In turn, the RRT2 expert group focused on the fresh properties of GGBFS-based AAC. The investigation, conducted between 2020 and 2024, aimed to establish globally reproducible mix design and mixing protocols for GGBFS-based AAC. Developed by the RRT1 and RRT2 expert groups, these protocols have emerged through iterative experiments followed by a comprehensive interlaboratory study. The outcomes highlight the reliable production of GGBFS-based AAC across participants, with minor deviations in fresh and mechanical properties that are largely consistent with those observed in Portland cement concrete (PCC). The primary objective of the developed GGBFS-based AAC mix design was to achieve a defined consistence class S4, while targeting a compressive strength threshold of approximately 50 MPa at 28 days. This objective was effectively realized, with the average compressive strength values reaching 56 MPa at 28 days and 64 MPa at 720 days. While the average splitting tensile strength stabilized at 3.2 MPa over the 720 day period. These findings underscore the growing importance of AAC within the construction sector, particularly due to its reproducible and reliable experimental results, as the industry increasingly shifts toward more sustainable alternatives to traditional cement-based materials
Five-year scoping review of stakeholder perspectives for applications of Artificial Intelligence in Glaucoma care
No full textCardiac rehabilitation in patients with coronary heart disease - provision, attendance, and outcomes: results from the INTERASPIRE survey from fourteen countries across six WHO regions
No full textBACKGROUND: INTERASPIRE was an observational study of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) from 88 hospitals in 14 countries across all six WHO regions. The objective was to describe the proportions of patients referred to and attending cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programmes and to compare lifestyle and risk factor target achievement according to participation in a CR programme.METHODS: Patients 18-80 years of age, with a first or recurrent coronary hospitalisation (acute coronary syndrome and/or revascularisation procedure) were identified and invited to an interview and examination, between six months and two years after the index hospitalisation.RESULTS: Overall, 4,548 (21.1% female) patients were interviewed a median of 1.05 (interquartile range 0.76-1.45) years after hospitalization. Of those patients, 34.4% reported having been advised to participate in a CR programme, though the percentage varied widely by country, from 4.0% in Kenya to 69.6% in Poland. Among patients advised to participate in CR, 57.1% participated in ≥50% of all sessions, 15.4% participated in <50% of the sessions, and 27.4% did not participate at all. Only 19.6% of all patients recruited to the study attended ≥50% of sessions. Content of programmes reported by patients also varied enormously between countries. Low education level, elective PCI, or unstable angina as recruiting events were associated with lower attendance rates. Attendance at ≥50% of all CR sessions was associated with a lower prevalence of persistent smoking and physical inactivity, better control of blood pressure and LDL-cholesterol, and a higher use of cardioprotective medications.CONCLUSIONS: INTERASPIRE provides a standardised international picture of CR provision and attendance in patients with CHD. Despite CR being a Class 1 recommendation in all international guidelines, only one third of CHD patients reported being advised to attend any form of CR and just one in five patients attended 50% of the sessions, with striking heterogeneity between regions and countries. National cardiology societies should advocate to their governments for urgent investment in standardised CR services.</p
Lineage-specific microbial protein prediction enables large-scale exploration of protein ecology within the human gut
No full textMicrobes use a range of genetic codes and gene structures, yet these are often ignored during metagenomic analysis. This causes spurious protein predictions, preventing functional assignment which limits our understanding of ecosystems. To resolve this, we developed a lineage-specific gene prediction approach that uses the correct genetic code based on the taxonomic assignment of genetic fragments, removes incomplete protein predictions, and optimises prediction of small proteins. Applied to 9634 metagenomes and 3594 genomes from the human gut, this approach increased the landscape of captured expressed microbial proteins by 78.9%, including previously hidden functional groups. Optimised small protein prediction captured 3,772,658 small protein clusters, which form an improved microbial protein catalogue of the human gut (MiProGut). To enable the ecological study of a protein's prevalence and association with host parameters, we developed InvestiGUT, a tool which integrates both the protein sequences and sample metadata. Accurate prediction of proteins is critical to providing a functional understanding of microbiomes, enhancing our ability to study interactions between microbes and hosts
Leveraging digital innovation for sustainable performance via supply chain resilience
No full textAs an emerging innovation paradigm in the digital economy era, digital innovation has become an important means for manufacturing firms to build supply chain resilience for sustainable development, but its intrinsic mechanism requires clarification. This research explores the impact of digital innovation (digital organizational innovation and digital product innovation) on supply chain resilience (supply chain readiness, supply chain responsiveness, and supply chain recovery) and sustainable performance via structural equation modeling involving data from 226 Chinese manufacturing firms. The results show that digital organizational innovation can promote digital product innovation. Digital organizational innovation and digital product innovation contribute to supply chain readiness, supply chain responsiveness, and supply chain recovery. Supply chain readiness, supply chain responsiveness, and supply chain recovery enhance sustainable performance. Finally, supply chain resilience mediates the relationship between digital innovation and sustainable performance. These findings reveal the role of digital innovation in improving sustainable performance through supply chain resilience and provide practical guidance for manufacturing companies to better conduct digital innovation to build supply chain resilience and thus realize sustainable development
Adaptation, delivery and evaluation of a behaviour change training programme for farm advisors
No full textPurposeFarm advisors provide advice and support to farmers, to help them change their on-farm behaviours. Despite their role as behaviour change helpers, little formal behaviour change training exists within advisory education. This study aims to adapt a behaviour change programme delivered to health practitioners to the advisory setting and evaluate its efficacy.Design/methodology/approachA mixed-methods, pre–post study was conducted. The programme was adapted from the ‘MAP of Health Behaviour Change Learning Programme’ (MAP) developed by NHS Education for Scotland. Eight advisors based in Teagasc (Republic of Ireland) completed an eLearning module and an in-person workshop facilitated by health psychologists, about the principles of person-centred communication and behaviour change techniques. Quantitative questionnaire data were descriptively analysed. Qualitative data were thematically analysed.FindingsAdvisors scored highly in perceived knowledge (mean: 5.6) post-training (6-point Likert scale). Three themes were elucidated: valuable activities, learnings, and programme evolution. Advisors valued open discussions and role-playing activities. A key learning was how to structure conversations about change. Further training on building motivation was deemed beneficial.Practical implicationThis study offers insights for those involved in advisory education, on ways of enhancing the skills of advisors to support farmers to change their on-farm behaviours, for instance related to antimicrobial use record keeping.Theoretical implicationThe MAP programme is transferrable to other disciplines outside health, who also provide behaviour change support.Originality/valueThis study proposes that adapting and delivering a behaviour change programme from the health setting, can enhance advisors’ skills at supporting on-farm behaviour change.<br/
Capturing the interconnected development of whole number arithmetic operations using a network approach
No full textWe used network analysis to examine the structure and development of arithmetic fluency in Chinese students from Grades 3 to 6—a critical period during which fluency across the four operations becomes increasingly integrated. In two preregistered studies, students completed timed fluency tasks in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. In Study 1, we compared network structures in Grade 3 (N = 1,072; Mage = 9.1 years) and Grade 6 (N = 1,160; Mage = 12.1 years). We found that students in Grade 6 demonstrated more strongly interconnected and uniformly structured networks than those in Grade 3. In Study 2, students (N = 1,055; Mage = 9.8 years) were assessed in a longitudinal design at four time points in Grades 4 and 5. Addition and subtraction consistently emerged as central operations, forming the foundational core of the arithmetic network. Division reflected significant integration of knowledge from other operations, whereas multiplication generally showed weak connections with the other operations. Overall, development was highly interdependent, with improvements in one operation closely linked to gains in others. This research provides empirical evidence that arithmetic knowledge evolves from a differentiated structure into a unified and interconnected system, highlighting the value of viewing arithmetic development as a dynamic network of associations that consolidate over time