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A Novel Autonomous Adaptive Frame Size for Time-Slotted LoRa MAC Protocol
Get PDFLoRa networks represent a promising technology for IoT applications due to their long range, low cost, and energy efficiency. However, their ALOHA-based access method and duty cycle restrictions can limit their scalability and reliability in high-density networks. To address such a challenge, this paper proposes the Autonomous Time-Slotted LoRa (ATS-LoRa), protocol that allows LoRaWAN nodes to autonomously determine their optimal transmission parameters without extensive downlink transmissions from the gateway. ATS LoRa utilizes the geographical coordinates of the nodes and their gateway in a novel way to allow them to determine their appropriate transmission parameters such as the spreading factor (SF), the channel frequency (CF), and the slot ID (SID). ATS-LoRa performance is evaluated through extensive simulations under different operating conditions showing an average throughput of around 47 times better than the Adaptive Data Rate (ADR) algorithm of LoRaWAN protocol
Solar Window Innovations: Enhancing Building Performance through Advanced Technologies
Get PDFBuilding-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) glazing systems with intelligent window technologies enhance building energy efficiency by generating electricity and managing daylighting. This study explores advanced BIPV glazing, focusing on building-integrated concentrating photovoltaic (BICPV) systems. BICPV integrates concentrating optics, such as holographic films, luminescent solar concentrators (LSC), Fresnel lenses, and compound parabolic concentrators (CPCs), with photovoltaic cells. Notable results include achieving 17.9% electrical efficiency using cylindrical holographic optical elements and crystalline silicon cells at a 3.5× concentration ratio. Dielectric CPCs showed 97.7% angular acceptance efficiency in simulations and 94.4% experimentally, increasing short-circuit current and maximum power by 87.0% and 96.6%, respectively, across 0° to 85° incidence angles. Thermochromic hydrogels and thermotropic smart glazing systems demonstrated significant HVAC energy savings. Large-area 1 m2 PNIPAm-based thermotropic window outperformed conventional double glazing in Singapore. The thermotropic parallel slat transparent insulation material (TT PS-TIM) improved energy efficiency by up to 21.5% compared to double glazing in climates like London and Rome. Emerging dynamic glazing technologies combine BIPV with smart functions, balancing transparency and efficiency. Photothermally controlled methylammonium lead iodide PV windows achieved 68% visible light transmission, 11.3% power conversion efficiency, and quick switching in under 3 min. Polymer-dispersed liquid crystal smart windows provided 41–68% visible transmission with self-powered operation
Linking AI for Intervention Strategies: A systematic Review for Nursing
Get PDFArtificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized many industries, with healthcare atthe forefront. AI-driven predictive analytics holds significant potential for earlyintervention in nursing management, promising enhanced patient outcomes.This paper evaluates AI-driven predictive analytics in nursing by examining itscurrent state, advancements, benefits, and challenges. Peer-reviewed articlesfrom 2018 to 2024 reveal that AI models improve nurses’ ability to identifyat-risk elements, optimize resource allocation, and initiate timely interventions,reducing hospital-acquired infections, readmission rates, and improving patientsafety. Challenges include data quality issues, the need for specialized training,and ethical considerations. This systematic review aims to inform healthcareprofessionals about the potential of predictive analytics to revolutionize earlyintervention strategies
The ‘Skills Gap’ in the Animation/VFX industry in Scotland
Get PDFIntegral to the animation and visual effects (VFX) industry are graduates with industry focused skills. Yet, the industry is rapid and ever changing, almost defying attempts to define it. How then should animation/VFX, and indeed any subject of a similar nature, be taught to best prepare industry-ready graduates? This article describes Animation/VFX industry perceptions (N = 18) of current Animation teaching in further and higher education. Findings show that a large ‘gap’ in the ‘skills’ required exists, but with multitudinous perceptions and understandings of what this ‘skills gap’ is. The authors suggest approaches to plug this gap through attributes and aptitudes that could be developed in students, lecturers and industry opportunities for students. Further, they outline how closer industry and education sector collaboration may be achieved. However, they stress that, without government policy initiatives and investment, the prospects for the sector, and by extension for those in a similar situation, appear bleak
Challenges and Strategies for Achieving High Energy Efficiency in Building Districts
Get PDFAchieving climate neutrality requires reducing energy consumption and CO2 emissions in the building sector, which has prompted increasing attention towards nearly zero energy, zero energy, and positive energy communities of buildings; there is a need to determine how individual buildings up to communities of buildings can become more energy efficient. This study addresses the scientific problem of optimizing energy efficiency strategies in building areas and identifies gaps in existing theories related to passive design strategies, active energy systems, and renewable energy integration. This study delineates boundaries at the building and community scales to examine the challenges of attaining energy efficiency goals and to emphasize the intricate processes of selecting, integrating, and optimizing energy systems in buildings. The four boundaries describe: (B1) energy flows through the building envelope; (B2) energy flows through heating, ventilation, air conditioning and energy systems; (B3) energy flows through individual buildings; (B4) energy flows through a community of buildings. Current theories often treat these elements in isolation, and significant gaps exist in interdisciplinary integration, scalable frameworks, and the consideration of behavioral and socioeconomic factors. Achieving nearly zero energy, zero energy, and positive energy communities requires seamless integration of renewable energy sources, energy storage systems, and energy management systems. The proposed boundaries B1–B4 can help not only in analyzing the various challenges for achieving high energy efficiency in building communities but also in defining and evaluating these communities and establishing fair methods for energy distribution within them. The results demonstrate that these boundaries provide a comprehensive framework for energy-efficient designs, constructions, and operational practices across multiple buildings, ensuring equitable energy distribution and optimized performance. In addition, the definition of boundaries as B1-B4 contributes to providing an interface for energy-efficient designs, constructions and operational practices across multiple buildings
Quality and impact of pharmacology digital simulation education on pre-registration healthcare students a systematic literature review
Get PDFObjectiveThis review aimed to assess the quality and nature of the literature related to digital simulation-based pharmacology education. Specifically, we sought to understand the influence of simulations on the knowledge, satisfaction, and confidence of pre-registration nurses and other healthcare students participating in such educational programs.DesignSystematic review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Statement. This study was registered in the Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO, reg no: CRD42023437570).Data sourcesPubMed, MEDLINE, APA PsycInfo, ProQuest, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and CINHAL databases were searched.Review methodsThe review focused on the quantitative findings from the studies published from 2016 to 2023. Only the studies that assessed the impact of digital simulation-based pharmacology education on pre-registration healthcare students' knowledge, satisfaction, and confidence were selected for review. Data were synthesized using a narrative approach. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT) was used to assess the quality of the included articles. This was followed by a narrative synthesis to consolidate the themes.ResultOut of 1587 articles,16 met the inclusion criteria. A wide variety of digital technologies have been utilised, such as virtual simulation, computer simulation (2D/3D), mixed reality, and augmented reality, with the majority using virtual simulation. All studies implemented single-user simulations. The themes emerging from the narrative synthesis suggest that a digital simulation-based pharmacology course is an effective tool for enhancing students' knowledge, confidence, and satisfaction in learning pharmacological concepts. Furthermore, simulation-based teaching with a blended approach was found to be beneficial. However, the integration of the polypharmacy concept and the intra and interprofessional approach to teaching and learning was not evident in these studies.ConclusionThis systematic literature review provides evidence of the potential of digital simulation-based education in pharmacology teaching among healthcare pre-registration students. In future studies, the integration of polypharmacy content with an intra and interprofessional teaching-learning approach is recommende
Computer-aided diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and neurocognitive disorders with multimodal Bi-Vision Transformer (BiViT)
Get PDFCognitive disorders affect various cognitive functions that can have a substantial impact on individual’s daily life. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of such well-known cognitive disorders. Early detection and treatment of cognitive diseases using artificial intelligence can help contain them. However, the complex spatial relationships and long-range dependencies found in medical imaging data present challenges in achieving the objective. Moreover, for a few years, the application of transformers in imaging has emerged as a promising area of research. A reason can be transformer’s impressive capabilities of tackling spatial relationships and long-range dependency challenges in two ways, i.e., (1) using their self-attention mechanism to generate comprehensive features, and (2) capture complex patterns by incorporating global context and long-range dependencies. In this work, a Bi-Vision Transformer (BiViT) architecture is proposed for classifying different stages of AD, and multiple types of cognitive disorders from 2-dimensional MRI imaging data. More specifically, the transformer is composed of two novel modules, namely Mutual Latent Fusion (MLF) and Parallel Coupled Encoding Strategy (PCES), for effective feature learning. Two different datasets have been used to evaluate the performance of proposed BiViT-based architecture. The first dataset contain several classes such as mild or moderate demented stages of the AD. The other dataset is composed of samples from patients with AD and different cognitive disorders such as mild, early, or moderate impairments. For comprehensive comparison, a multiple transfer learning algorithm and a deep autoencoder have been each trained on both datasets. The results show that the proposed BiViT-based model achieves an accuracy of 96.38% on the AD dataset. However, when applied to cognitive disease data, the accuracy slightly decreases below 96% which can be resulted due to smaller amount of data and imbalance in data distribution. Nevertheless, given the results, it can be hypothesized that the proposed algorithm can perform better if the imbalanced distribution and limited availability problems in data can be addressed. Graphical abstract
Are physical activity referral scheme components associated with increased physical activity, scheme uptake, and adherence rate? A meta-analysis and meta-regression
Get PDFBackground: Physical activity referral schemes (PARS) are composed of various components, such as a written prescription or a person-centered approach. The role of these components in their effectiveness is yet to be understood. Therefore, we aimed to explore the relationships between PARS components and physical activity, scheme uptake, and adherence rate; and to estimate the effect of PARS. Methods: We searched Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, HTA, Wiley Online Library, SAGE Journals, Taylor & Francis, Google Scholar, OpenGrey, and CORE. Eligible studies were published between 1990 and November 2023 in English or German, investigated PARS with participants aged ≥ 16 years, and reported physical activity, scheme uptake, or scheme adherence. Separate random-effects meta-analysis by comparison group were conducted for physical activity. Scheme uptake and adherence rates were pooled using proportional meta-analysis. The components were analyzed via univariate meta-regression. We rated the risk of bias using RoB2 and ROBINS-I, and the certainty of evidence using GRADE. Results: Fifty-two studies were included. PARS were more effective in increasing physical activity than usual care (k = 11, n = 5046, Hedges’ g = 0.18, 95%CI 0.12 to 0.25; high certainty of evidence). When PARS were compared with physical activity advice or enhanced scheme versions, the pooled Hedges’ g values for physical activity were -0.06 (k = 5, n = 1082, 95%CI -0.21 to 0.10; low certainty of evidence), and 0.07 (k = 9, n = 2647, 95%CI -0.03 to 0.18; low certainty of evidence) respectively. Scheme uptake was 87% (95%CI 77% to 94%, k = 14, n = 5000) across experimental studies and 68% (95%CI 51% to 83%, k = 14, n = 25,048) across non-experimental studies. Pooled scheme adherence was 68% (95%CI 55% to 80%, k = 16, n = 3939) and 53% (95%CI 42% to 63%, k = 18, n = 14,605). The meta-regression did not detect any significant relationships between components and physical activity or scheme uptake. A person-centered approach, screening, and brief advice were positively associated with scheme adherence, while physical activity sessions were negatively associated. Conclusion: PARS are more effective in increasing physical activity than usual care only. We did not identify any components as significant predictors of physical activity and scheme uptake. Four components predicted scheme adherence, indicating that the component-effectiveness relationship warrants further research
Guide for Business Events Shaping Tomorrow (SDGs measurement and evaluation guide)
No full textThis guide is for Business Event client (UK or International) hosting conference, convention or other large business-related event in Edinburgh. It is a guide for application of the measurement matrix created by Dr Martin Robertson in 2022 as part of a Scottish Government funded project involving a consortium of business tourism providers in the City of Edinburgh who formed a tool named ‘Business Events Shaping Tomorrow (BEST)’. The BEST Tool requires to business event clients (often a professional association) to provide qualitative data and content that documents (gives evidence) of how the business event has contributed positively in one or more elements that represent good practice and action to affect positive outcomes United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 4, 8, 10, 11, 12 & 1
Looking back at Covid-19 government restrictions: were local lockdown regions with tighter restrictions less adherent before the restrictions and more adherent after?
Get PDFIt is assumed that increases in Covid-19 cases are caused by people not adhering to advised individual transmission-reducing behaviours. Upon the implementation of restrictions, the hypothesis is that those individuals will change their behaviour. We aimed to retrospectively explore adherence to physical distancing before and after restrictions (e.g., lockdowns) were implemented in a region of Scotland. We assessed adherence, intention, and self-efficacy to physical distancing in a series of cross-sectional telephone surveys of a representative sample of adults in Scotland. We included data from before regional restrictions and after restrictions and examined whether regions with and without restrictions differed in adherence. A total of 1724 Scottish adults (675 men, M age = 52.79 years, SD = 17.92) participated (879 (51.0%) pre-restriction, 466 (27.0%) from a restricted region). ANOVA showed that none of the main effects (for region or time) nor the interaction effect were significant. There was a main effect of time on self-efficacy, such that self-efficacy was lower post-restriction measures (M = 4.13, SD = 0.81) compared to pre-restriction time (M = 4.22, SD = 0.79). There was no evidence that adherence was weaker before restrictions were implemented in regions with higher case rates. Nor was there evidence that imposing restrictions increased adherence. In a future pandemic, it is advisable to assess behaviour and beliefs about Covid-19, risk, and behaviours on an ongoing basis and to use that as indicators of the need for intervention even before cases rates start to go up
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