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Design and Implementation of Lightweight Certificateless Secure Communication Scheme on Industrial NFV-Based IPv6 Virtual Networks
Full text linkWith the fast growth of the Industrial Internet of Everything (IIoE), computing and telecommunication industries all over the world are moving rapidly towards the IPv6 address architecture, which supports virtualization architectures such as Network Function Virtualization (NFV). NFV provides networking services like routing, security, storage, etc., through software-based virtual machines. As a result, NFV reduces equipment costs. Due to the increase in applications on Industrial Internet of Things (IoT)-based networks, security threats have also increased. The communication links between people and people or from one machine to another machine are insecure. Usually, critical data are exchanged over the IoE, so authentication and confidentiality are significant concerns. Asymmetric key cryptosystems increase computation and communication overheads. This paper proposes a lightweight and certificateless end-to-end secure communication scheme to provide security services against replay attacks, man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks, and impersonation attacks with low computation and communication overheads. The system is implemented on Linux-based Lubuntu 20.04 virtual machines using Java programming connected to NFV-based large-scale hybrid IPv4-IPv6 virtual networks. Finally, we compare the performance of our proposed security scheme with existing schemes based on the computation and communication costs. In addition, we measure and analyze the performance of our proposed secure communication scheme over NFV-based virtualized networks with regard to several parameters like end-to-end delay and packet loss. The results of our comparison with existing security schemes show that our proposed security scheme reduces the computation cost by 38.87% and the communication cost by 26.08%
A–Z of prescribing for children: F – Formulations
Full text linkThis series focuses on aspects of prescribing for neonates, children and young people, from A–Z. Aspects of pharmacokinetics will be considered, alongside legal considerations, consent and medications in schools
How to promote carbon emission reduction in buildings? Evolutionary analysis of government regulation and financial investment
Full text linkBuildings account for a significant portion of global carbon emissions, necessitating strategies to accelerate decarbonisation in the construction sector. This research aims to analyse the behavioural strategies and interactions among governments, construction enterprises, and financial institutions in promoting building carbon emission reduction (CER) through an integrated regulatory and market-driven approach. A novel three-party evolutionary game model is developed that incorporates government regulation policies, the profit-driven nature of construction enterprises, and the investment incentives of financial institutions. Numerical simulations using MATLAB were performed to evaluate the dynamic replication and evolutionary stabilities of stakeholder strategies under different scenarios. Residential project M in Beijing was chosen as a realistic environment for simulation and analysis. The results demonstrate that stringent government regulation can incentivize financial institutions to increase their investments in CER initiatives. However, construction enterprises may still resist decarbonisation efforts if the costs outweigh the economic benefits. A two-pronged approach combining “command-and-control” regulation and “market-facilitation” interventions is proposed to effectively align stakeholder interests. This study provides valuable insights into leveraging both regulatory instruments and market-based incentives to drive the transition towards sustainable construction practises. Policy recommendations are offered to create an enabling environment that encourages the active participation of all stakeholders in achieving net-zero emission targets for buildings. The novelty lies in the development of an integrated tripartite evolutionary game framework that coherently captures the dynamics among regulators, industry players, and financial institutions, thus supporting low-carbon policymaking in the construction domain
Advancements in smoke control strategies for metro tunnel cross-passage: A theoretical and numerical study on critical velocity and driving force
Full text linkCross-passage is a commonly encountered structure within metro tunnels, providing a swift route for evacuating personnel from the accident tunnel to the safe tunnel opposite. Ventilation in the cross-passage of metro tunnels is established through the collaborative operation of ventilation systems on both sides of the tunnel. Concurrently, smoke movement within the metro tunnel is impacted by factors such as train blockage and the accumulation of heat within the train carriages. The former correlations need further refinement to predict the critical velocity and driving force required to prevent smoke from spreading into a metro tunnel cross-passage. One-dimensional theoretical analysis and full-scale cold smoke experiments were performed to investigate the relationship between the air supply parameters of tunnel fans on both sides and the ventilation velocity in the cross-passage. A calculation model of fan type selection in the opposite side safe tunnel for smoke control in the tunnel cross-passage is proposed. The influence of train location, fire heat release rate, and main tunnel ventilation velocity on critical velocity in the cross-passage was quantified by numerical simulations. The results show that the critical velocity in the cross-passage under unobstructed conditions surpasses that under blocked conditions. Meanwhile, the critical velocity exhibits relative stability under both unobstructed and blocked conditions. On the basis of the dimensionless analysis, a piecewise function was proposed to predict the critical velocity in tunnel cross-passage. The outcomes of this study provide valuable guidance for the implementation of fire prevention and smoke control measures in tunnels with similar structures
Smart optimized structural control of onshore wind turbines with MR dampers
Full text linkThis paper presents an effective control approach for structural vibration of onshore wind turbines in the edgewise direction. Huge multi mega-watt wind turbines are currently developed to harvest large amounts of energy from the wind. Such designs require the construction of huge slender blades and towers which conse quently lead to undesirable structural deformations that hinder the power production and reduce life span of the wind turbine. Many researchers have worked on structural control of wind turbines. However, these efforts neither have resulted in an effective reliable mitigation for deformation of structural elements, nor they have achieved an economical solution in terms of actuators exploitation. The work presented in this paper, however, introduces a particle swarm optimisation-based semi-active controller which exploits magnetorheological dampers to mitigate edgewise blade displacements. Dampers are modelled using neural networks for they are capable of predicting future forces and eliminating control lag. The developed controller is tested at several configurations of actuators placement on a benchmark 5-MW wind turbine. The proposed approach, indeed, showed a significant reduction of over 80% in the peak responses and about 77% of peak-to-peak response of blades against uncontrolled and passive systems which leads to promoting longevity of wind turbines
A stepped wedge cluster randomized trial of graphical surveillance of kidney function data to reduce late presentation for kidney replacement therapy.
Full text linkLate presentation for kidney replacement therapy (KRT) is an important cause of avoidable morbidity and mortality. Here, we evaluated the effect of a complex intervention of graphical estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) surveillance across 15% of the United Kingdom population on the rate of late presentation using data routinely collected by the United Kingdom Renal Registry. A stepped wedge cluster randomized trial was established across 19 sites with eGFR graphs generated from all routine blood tests (community and hospital) across the population served by each site. Graphs were reviewed by trained laboratory or clinical staff and high-risk graphs reported to family doctors. Due to delays outside the control of clinicians and researchers few laboratories activated the intervention in their randomly assigned time period, so the trial was converted to a quasi-experimental design. We studied 6,100 kidney failure events at 20 laboratories served by 17 main kidney units. A total of 63,981 graphs were sent out. After adjustment for calendar time there was no significant reduction in the rate of presentation during the intervention period. Therefore, implementation of eGFR graph surveillance did not reduce the rate of late presentation for KRT after adjustment for secular trends. Thus, graphical surveillance is an intervention aimed at reducing late presentation, but more evidence is required before adoption of this strategy can be recommended. [Abstract copyright: Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.
Getting the most out of remote care: Co‐developing a Toolkit to improve the delivery of remote kidney care appointments for underserved groups
Full text linkBackground
Telephone and video appointments are still common post-pandemic, with an estimated 25%–50% of kidney appointments in the United Kingdom still conducted remotely. This is important as remote consultations may exacerbate pre-existing inequalities in those from underserved groups. Those from underserved groups are often not represented in health research and include those with learning disability, mental health needs, hearing/sight problems, young/older people, those from ethnic minority groups.
Objectives
The aim was to develop a Toolkit to improve the quality of remote kidney care appointments for people from different underserved groups.
Design
A parallel mixed methods approach with semi-structured interviews/focus groups and survey. We also conducted workshops to develop and validate the Toolkit.
Participants
Seventy-five renal staff members completed the survey and 21 patients participated in the interviews and focus groups. Patients (n = 11) and staff (n = 10) took part in the Toolkit development workshop, and patients (n = 13) took part in the Toolkit validation workshop.
Results
Four themes from interviews/focus groups suggested areas in which remote appointments could be improved. Themes were quality of appointment, patient empowerment, patient–practitioner relationship and unique needs for underserved groups. Staff reported difficulty building rapport, confidentiality issues, confidence about diagnosis/advice given, technical difficulties and shared decision making.
Conclusion
This study is the first to explore experiences of remote appointments among both staff and those from underserved groups living with kidney disease in the United Kingdom. While remote appointments can be beneficial, our findings indicate that remote consultations need optimisation to meet the needs of patients. The project findings informed the development of a Toolkit which will be widely promoted and accessible in the United Kingdom during 2024
A blood-free modeling approach for the quantification of the blood-to-brain tracer exchange in TSPO PET imaging
Full text linkIntroduction: Recent evidence suggests the blood-to-brain influx rate (K1) in TSPO PET imaging as a promising biomarker of blood–brain barrier (BBB) permeability alterations commonly associated with peripheral inflammation and heightened immune activity in the brain. However, standard compartmental modeling quantification is limited by the requirement of invasive and laborious procedures for extracting an arterial blood input function. In this study, we validate a simplified blood-free methodologic framework for K1 estimation by fitting the early phase tracer dynamics using a single irreversible compartment model and an image-derived input function (1T1K-IDIF). Methods: The method is tested on a multi-site dataset containing 177 PET studies from two TSPO tracers ([11C]PBR28 and [18F]DPA714). Firstly, 1T1K-IDIF K1 estimates were compared in terms of both bias and correlation with standard kinetic methodology. Then, the method was tested on an independent sample of [11C]PBR28 scans before and after inflammatory interferon-α challenge, and on test–retest dataset of [18F]DPA714 scans. Results: Comparison with standard kinetic methodology showed good-to-excellent intra-subject correlation for regional 1T1K-IDIF-K1 (ρintra = 0.93 ± 0.08), although the bias was variable depending on IDIF ability to approximate blood input functions (0.03–0.39 mL/cm3/min). 1T1K-IDIF-K1 unveiled a significant reduction of BBB permeability after inflammatory interferon-α challenge, replicating results from standard quantification. High intra-subject correlation (ρ = 0.97 ± 0.01) was reported between K1 estimates of test and retest scans. Discussion: This evidence supports 1T1K-IDIF as blood-free alternative to assess TSPO tracers’ unidirectional blood brain clearance. K1 investigation could complement more traditional measures in TSPO studies, and even allow further mechanistic insight in the interpretation of TSPO signal
Lived Experience contributions to local services for addressing gambling harms
No full textPHIRST were commissioned to evaluated the ‘Communities Addressing Gambling Harms’ project, administrated by the Greater Manchester Combined Authority. The project involved a Community of Practice of diverse community organisations and people with Lived Experience. This video explores the contribution of the lived experience in addressing gambling harms at the local level. View more details about the evaluation on the PHIRST website https://phirst.nihr.ac.uk/evaluations
Managerial framework for quality assurance of cross-border construction logistics and supply chain during pandemic and post-pandemic: lessons from COVID-19 in the world’s factory
Full text linkPurpose: While the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the construction industry, it is still unclear from prior studies about adequately positioning the quality assurance (QA) for the post-pandemic era and future pandemics, especially Cross-border Construction-Logistics-and-Supply Chain (Cb-CLSC). Thus, this study aims to develop a managerial framework to position the QA of Cb-CLSC during pandemics and post-pandemics by taking lessons from how COVID-19 has impacted the existing QA systems and has been managed successfully.
Methodology: This is achieved pragmatically through an embedded mixed-method design involving a literature review, survey, and interview from experts within the Hong Kong SAR-Mainland China links, typically known as the world’s factory. The design is further integrated with the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) approach.
Findings: The study revealed 10 critical managerial practices (MPs) to position the QA to be adequate for the post-pandemic and during future pandemics, with the top three including “strict observance of government regulations (MP1)”, “planning ahead the period of quality assurance with the quarantine days in host countries (MP6)”, and “modification of contract to cater for uncertainties (MP4)”. This attained a relatively good percentage agreement of 53% between the industry and academia. However, the top four MPs regarded as very effective include “implementing digital collaborative inspections with subcontractors and trades (MP8)”, “implementing a digital centralized document and issue management system (MP7)”, “strict observance to government regulations, including vaccination of workers, social distancing, use of prescribed nose masks, etc. (MP1)”, and “planning ahead the period of quality assurance with the quarantine days in host countries (MP6)”. Two underlying components of the MPs were revealed as policy-process (PP)-related practices and people-technology-process (PTP)-related practices, and these can be modelled into a managerial framework capable of effectively positioning the QA to be adequate during pandemics through to the post-pandemic era.
Implications: The findings of this study depicted significant theoretical and practical contributions to the proactive management of QA activities during pandemics through to the post-pandemic era. It could empower organisations to pay attention to smartly and innovatively balancing people, processes, pandemic policy, and technology to inform decisions to effectively position the QA for the post-pandemic era and survive the risks of future pandemics.
Originality: The study contributes to the body of knowledge in that it develops a managerial framework to position the QA of Cb-CLSC during pandemics and post-pandemics by taking lessons from how COVID-19 has impacted the existing QA systems and has been managed successfully. It is original research with invaluable primary data in the form of surveys and interviews from experts within the Hong Kong SAR-Mainland China links, typically known as the world’s factory