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Renewable energy production throughout low-voltage grids has gradually increased in electrical distribution systems, therefore introducing small energy producers - prosumers. This paradigm challenges the traditional unidirectional energy distribution flow to include disperse power production from renewables. To understand how energy usage can be optimized in the dynamic electrical grid, it is important to understand the behavior of prosumers and their impact on the grid's operational procedures. The main focus of this study is to investigate how grid operators can obtain an automatic data-driven system for the low-voltage electrical grid management, by analyzing the available grid topology and time-series consumption data from a real-life test area. The aim is to argue for how different consumer profiles, clustering and prediction methods contribute to the grid-related operations. Ultimately, this work is intended for future research directions that can contribute to improving the trade-off between systematic and scalable data models and software computational challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this expository work, we sketch some applications of annotated logics. Such logics were discovered in the late 1980s and nowadays have become one of the most fertile logics for applications. They constitute a two-sorted logic, and they are paraconsistent and in general paracomplete and non-alethic logics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information and communication technologies are spreading rapidly due to their fast proliferation in many fields. The number of Internet users has led to a spike in cyber-attack incidents. E-commerce applications, such as online banking, marketing, trading, and other online businesses, play an integral role in our lives. Network Intrusion Detection System (NIDS) is essential to protect the network from unauthorized access and against other cyber-attacks. The existing NIDS systems are based on the Backward Oracle Matching (BOM) algorithm, which minimizes the false alarm rate and causes of high packet drop ratio. This paper discussed the existing NIDS systems and different used pattern-matching techniques regarding their weaknesses and limitations. To address the existing system issues, this paper proposes an enhanced version of the BOM algorithm by using multiple pattern-matching methods for the NIDS system to improve the network performance. The proposed solution is tested in simulation with existing solutions using the Snort and NSL-KDD datasets. The experimental results indicated that the proposed solution performed better than the existing solutions and achieved a 5.17% detection rate and a 0.22% lower false alarm rate than the existing solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Understanding the complex link between our gut health and general well-being has drawn more attention in recent years. Prebiotics can promote mineral absorption, influence metabolism, improve immune system regulation, and fight infections. Aim: This article focuses into the evolving paradigms in prebiotics research, highlighting their regulation, diverse applications, impact on diseases, and their growth on the global market. Discussion: Prebiotics are Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS), novel foods and food additives by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), EU and Japan, respectively. The multifaceted applications of prebiotics go across various sectors, ranging from functional foods and dietary supplements to cosmetics. A comprehensive review of prebiotics' effects on human health and illness prevention is a significant strength of the paper. Prebiotics support a healthy microbiome by feeding helpful gut flora, which may reduce the risk of a variety of illnesses and improve general health. In parallel, it covers an overview of the prebiotics industry in the world, considering aspects including consumer knowledge of gut health and growing prebiotic demand. Conclusion: Prebiotics are anticipated to have a significant role in determining the direction of nutrition and preventive healthcare as research advances and consumer demand for natural health solutions rises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper provides and up-to-date overview of the science activities of the Spanish PAZ SAR mission. PAZ Science activities, coordinated by the Spanish National Institute of Aerospace Technology (INTA) has as purpose to strengthen the use and improvement of SAR technology in all its areas, from the specification of new SAR missions, SAR engineering, development of new algorithms and promotion of applications based on the use of SAR products and derived variables. In order to achieve these objectives and in addition to the activities carried out in INTA, the science PAZ program (called PAZ Ciencia) started in 2019, providing PAZ scientific products to research teams as basis and support to their SAR-related projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • This review addresses the important bioactive ingredients recovered from different major crustacean's by-products. • A comprehensive application of crustacean's by-products in various fields is presented. • Nowadays, many newly developed techniques have been applied in crustacean's by-products recovery. • A combination of innovative extraction techniques with industrially applicable technologies can efficiently recover these valuable components. The processing of the three major crustaceans (shrimp, lobster, and crab) is associated with inevitable by-products, high waste disposal costs, environmental and human health issues, loss of multiple biomaterials (chitin, protein hydrolysates, lipids, astaxanthin and minerals). Nowadays, these bioresources are underutilized owing to the lack of effective and standardized technologies to convert these materials into valued industrial forms. This review aims to provide a holistic overview of the various bioactive ingredients and applications within major crustaceans by-products. This review aims to compare various extraction methods in crustaceans by-products, which will aid identify a more workable platform to minimize waste disposal and maximize its value for best valorization practices. The fully integrated applications (agriculture, food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, paper industries, etc.) of multiple biomaterials from crustaceans by-products are presented. The pros and cons of the various extraction methods, including chemical (acid and alkali), bioprocesses (enzymatic or fermentation), physical (microwave, ultrasound, hot water and carbonic acid process), solvent (ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents, EDTA) and electrochemistry are detailed. The rapid development of corresponding biotechnological attempts present a simple, fast, effective, clean, and controllable bioprocess for the comprehensive utilization of crustacean waste that has yet to be applied at an industrial level. One feasible way for best valorization practices is to combine innovative extraction techniques with industrially applicable technologies to efficiently recover these valuable components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent global pandemic has resulted in growth in themedical and healthcare sectors. Applications used in these domains have become more advanced and digitally integrated. Sensor-based Internet of Things (IoT) devices are increasing in healthcare andmedical units. The emerging trend with the use of IoT devices in medical healthcare is termed as Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). The instruments used in these healthcare units comprise various sensors that can record patient body observations. These recorded observations are streamed across Internetbased channels to be stored and analyzed in centralized servers. Patient diagnostics are performed based on the information retrieved from these devices. Machine learning and artificial intelligence play a significant role in diagnostic mechanisms and identifying diseases across observation sets. The data collected by these observation sets are analyzed closely with the help of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). This distributed system of devices and servers raises privacy concerns. Blockchain is a technology that can preserve the privacy of the information collected from devices. A blockchain is a mechanism in which information goes across various network nodes. A centralized architecture where information flows from the sensor devices to a centralized server risks large-scale information leak. This paper proposes a prototype and a model for collecting information and protecting the data from intrusion. Any application that resides in the cloud and collects data from a sensor based IoT device can be prone to intrusion. The detection occurs at an early stage and in a fraction of the time. The model uses artificial neural networks and gets evaluated across various datasets. Improved accuracy and performance with data analyzed at the IoT-based devices prove the efficiency of the model proposed in this study. The stability and accuracy of the results after testing these applications make the model sustainable and acceptable across healthcare systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chaos Game Optimization Algorithm (CGO) is a novel advancement in metaheuristic optimization inspired by chaos theory. It addresses complex optimization problems in dynamical systems, exhibiting unique behaviours such as fractals and self-organized patterns. CGO's design exemplifies adaptability and robustness, making it a significant tool for tackling intricate optimization scenarios. This study presents a comprehensive and updated overview of CGO, exploring the various variants and adaptations that have been published in numerous research studies since its introduction in 2020, with 4% in book chapters, 7% in international conference proceedings, and 89% in prestigious international journals. CGO variants covered in this paper include 4% binary, 22% for multi-objective and modification and 52% for hybridization variants. Moreover, the applications of CGO, demonstrate its efficacy and flexibility across different domains with 32% in energy, 28% in engineering, 11% in IoT and machine learning, 6% in truss structures, 4% in big data, 2% in medical imaging, in security, in electronic, and in microarray technology. Furthermore, we discuss the future directions of CGO, hypothesizing its potential advancements and broader implications in optimization theory and practice. The primary objectives of this survey paper are to provide a comprehensive overview of CGO, highlighting its innovative approach, discussing its variants and their usage in different sectors, and the burgeoning interest it has sparked in metaheuristic algorithms. As a result, this manuscript is expected to offer valuable insights for engineers, professionals across different sectors, and academic researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the amount of available data in healthcare has increased significantly and only 20% of electronic health record data are in a structured format, data lakes have become a common solution for managing heterogeneous data in the healthcare domain. Nowadays, these are utilized far below their capabilities in medical research. Since previous reviews only partly address data lakes in the healthcare domain, a systematic literature review on this topic is missing. Therefore, this paper provides an overview of applications in the healthcare domain that benefit from data lakes. We review the literature and structure it according to data sources and players, and we identify applications and future research needs of data lakes in the healthcare domain. Overall, it turned out that all players could benefit from the capabilities of data lakes. We found that data lakes are currently not broadly implemented in the field, and the viewpoint of hospital operators and healthcare insurers seems to be an underresearched topic compared to the other players. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New technology, through the IoT, Big Data and AI ecosystem, is the foundation on which tomorrow's solutions are created. Improved processes with better decision making are the actors that drive the evolution of tomorrow's services. This new technology has enabled innovations in several sectors including medical, manufacturing, automation, energy, education, and others. It should be noted that in recent years, Industry 4.0 and the COVID-19 sanitary crisis have forced some remarkable transformations and contributions to people's quality of life, safety, health and education. Currently, the education sector in all its levels (primary, secondary and university) re-quires the use of this technology and is moving more specifically towards a system known as "education 4.0" to meet the different demands of this sector. In this paper, we present a literature review of the use of Big Data analytics in the education sector in particular. We discuss the different technologies, architectures, and applications of Big Data analytics in this growing sector, and we propose a new architecture based on the new technology applied in education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intelligent technologies are widely implemented in different areas of modern society but specific approaches should be applied in services. Basic relationships refer to supporting customers and people responsible for services offering for these customers. The aim of the paper is to analyze and evaluate the state-of-the art of artificial intelligence (AI) applications in the hospitality industry. Our findings show that the major deployments concern in-person customer services, chatbots and messaging tools, business intelligence tools powered by machine learning, and virtual reality & augmented reality. Moreover, we performed a survey (n = 178), asking respondents about their perceptions and attitudes toward AI, including its implementation within a hotel space. The paper attempts to discuss how the hotel industry can be motivated by potential customers to apply selected AI solutions. In our opinion, these results provide useful insights for understanding the phenomenon under investigation. Nevertheless, since the results are not conclusive, more research is still needed on this topic. Future studies may concern both qualitative and quantitative methods, devoted to developing models that: a) quantify the potential benefits and risks of AI implementations, b) determine and evaluate the factors affecting the AI adoption by the customers, and c) measure the user (guest) experience of the hotel services, fueled by AI-based technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Vjesnik Bibliotekara Hrvatske is the property of Croatian Library Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Internet of Things is poised to become an important crossroads for several technologies. As a result, it will be possible to connect smart physical goods and enable smart decision-making across a wide range of applications. Various devices, including computers, actuators, and sensors, may link to one another and exchange data in a networked environment known as the Internet of Things (IoT). Smart refers to how humans communicate with technology, whereas "smart objects" describes the machines themselves. As the market's supply of gadgets grows, ensuring their safety becomes more critical than ever. The availability of cutting-edge methods and tools has been instrumental in the current surge of interest in IoT security studies. To guarantee success, these applications need the characteristics of the environment provided by the IoT framework. This essay dives deep into the IoT's layered architecture, layer-by-layer protocols, cutting-edge use cases, and pervasive security concerns. In addition to analysing the current security structure, this paper provides a research taxonomy for IoT. Our study is more comprehensive than many that have come before it on the topic of the Internet of Things; we look at everything from sensors to real-world applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an indoor navigation support system based on the Building Information Models (BIM) paradigm. Although BIM is initially defined for the Architecture, Engineering and Construction/Facility Management (AEC/FM) industry, the authors believe that it can provide added value in this context. To this end, the authors will focus on the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) standard for the formal representation of BIM. The approach followed in this paper will be based on the ifcOWL ontology, which translates the IFC schemas into Ontology Web Language (OWL). Several modifications of this ontology have been proposed, consisting of the inclusion of new items, SWRL rules and SQWRL searches. This way of expressing the elements of a building can be used to code information that is very useful for navigation, such as the location of elements related to the actions desired by the user. It is important to note that this design is intended to be used as a complement to other well-known tools and techniques for indoor navigation. The proposed modifications have been successfully tested in a variety of simulated and real scenarios. The main limitation of the proposal is the immense amount of information contained in the ifcOWL ontology, which causes difficulties involving its processing and the time necessary to perform operations on it. Those elements that are considered important have been selected, removing those that seem secondary to navigation. This procedure will result in a significant reduction in the storage and semantic processing of the information. Thus, for a system with 1000 individuals (in the ontological sense), the processing time is about 90 s. The authors regard this time as acceptable, since in most cases the tasks involved can be considered part of the system initialization, meaning they will only be executed once at the beginning of the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The virtual reality era makes use of technology generation of the 3-D graphs, multisensor interplay generation and high-resolution exhibit age to generate simulative 3-D digital surroundings. Users input digital scene to be a member in it through the usage of sensing gadget along with a unique helmet, information glove, etc. or intake gadgets along with keyboard, mouse, etc. Parallelly, customers engage with digital surroundings for understanding as well asemploying numerous entities present which allows customers to experience like revel withinside the actual field. Currently, VR has been extensively carried out in numerous domains such as environment layout, constructive designing, aerospace, clinical practice, military education, bodily activity, enjoyment video games and so on. Also, it bypasses a wide variety of inconveniences and hazards because of actual experiments and operations that break the hassle of area and timespan. In this paper, an innovative view of VR is presented along with listing basic facts & features followed by the applications in education specifically. Moreover, we also argue upon the skills required to thrive in the new age VR World. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Blockchain technology moves data nodes and data streams from one informatics center to another based on the importance of Bitcoins, resulting in a dedicated, public, and secure network for interpretation and development of the ensuing information chain reaction. Blockchains are frequently formed by connecting interrelated patterns of information in order to conduct a secure transaction. Blockchain has the characteristics of decentralization, transparency, immutability, autonomy, open-source, anonymity, and consensus. Block chains are being utilized in a variety of real-world applications, including business and economics, financial technology, and digital currencies. This article does a comprehensive review of the literature on blockchain technology. While searching for the keyword “blockchain” as a subject, we identified a total of 1882 entries in these databases. After removing the less common record kinds, the papers were reduced to 1246 articles, which were then used for further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants that exist on earth and can be found in many countries. Its application generally ranges across both the engineering and non-engineering sectors. Traditionally, bamboo is mainly used in the construction field, but recent trends and studies have also shown its potential in the water treatment industry as a low-cost adsorbent. Thus, this paper aims to highlight the recent studies on bamboo residue as a potential precursor for activated carbon as well as its performance in treating water pollutants. Apart from that, the current limitations, and suggestions on the further development of bamboo activated carbon, are also integrated to provide insight on its potential usage in the industrial process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The provision of health care is an area that is excessively dependent on the access, processing, analysis, sharing, and storage of data between different stakeholders. Consequently, cloud computing has been adopted in the most diverse areas (e.g., telemedicine, information management, bioinformatics) as a promising model in responding to this need, offering numerous advantages and opportunities. However, the massive migration of the sector to this new paradigm remains far from being achieved. Essential questions and challenges remain unanswered, and the Chief Information Officer (CIO) proves to be a fundamental agent for change to happen. This paper describes a literature review based on 17 survey and systematic review articles published between 2010 and 2021 on the applications, opportunities, and challenges of adopting cloud computing in the health sector. The results discussed may imply different strategies in CIOs' decision-making and contribute to organizational success in this context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cemented carbides have enjoyed widespread applications as a function of their outstanding properties during the past 100 years. Despite the advantages, however, recently there have been concerns about the challenges associated with traditional cemented carbides, i.e. the conflict of properties (hardness and toughness, strength and wear resistance) as well as the instability of reliability in service, necessitating the development of functional gradient cemented carbides (FGCCs). Although recent decades, investigations have seen explosive growth in FGCCs, there is still a lack of comprehensive review on FGCCs. Herein, the current study applies towards summarize the progress of FGCCs during the past 60 years, emphasizing the demand in FGCCs with tailored properties and customized requirements for specific applications. We initially introduce basic cognition of FGCCs, subsequently, comprehensively elucidate the gradient formation mechanisms of carburization, decarburization, nitridation, denitrification, infiltration process, and construction methods (solid-phase sintering, graphene doping and additive manufacturing etc.), then summary processing techniques and mechanical properties of FGCCs. In addition, the impart of additive on further improving the properties of FGCCs is discussed. Afterward, the possible applications of FGCCs at different areas are proposed. At the end of this paper, a summary of concluding remarks and potential developed direction of state-of-the-art FGCCs is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the expansion of Internet-based applications, the number of comments shows explosive growth. Analyzing the attitudes and emotions behind comments provides powerful assistance for businesses, governments, and scholars. However, it is hard to effectively extract user's attitude from the massive amounts of comments. Sentiment analysis (SA) provides an automatic, fast and efficient tool to identify reviewers' opinions and sentiments. However, the existing literature reviews cover a limited number of studies or have a narrow field of studies for sentiment analysis. This paper provided a systematic literature review of sentiment analysis methods, applications, and challenges. This systematic literature review gives insights into the goal of the sentiment analysis task, offers comparisons of different techniques, investigates the application domains of sentiment analysis, highlights the challenges and limitations encountered by scholars, provides suggestions on possible solutions and explores the future research directions. The study's findings emphasize the significant role of artificial intelligence technologies in automatic text sentiment analysis and highlight the importance of sentiment analysis in people's production and life. This research not only contributes to the existing sentiment analysis knowledge body but also provides references to scholars and practitioners in choosing a suitable methodology and good practices to perform sentiment analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of social networks among students at higher institutions has become popular and is widely celebrated amid criticism. This is because these social networks are changing the way people communicate, interact, and socialize. The purpose of this paper is to explore students' awareness and use of social media: a study of ICT students at Kwara State University, Nigeria. This study used a survey research method. The respondents were students' faculty of information and communication technology, and the results reveal that the majority of respondents (91.4%) are familiar with social networks, have access to the Internet, and regularly use mobile phones for social networking. Less than half (8.6%) of them speak and share information on social media. While results also show that participants intentionally use social networks for academic purposes, self-expression, and to establish global friendships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Virtual reality. • Neurosurgery. • Applications. • Patients. Virtual reality (VR) technology had its earliest developments in the 1970s in the U.S. Air Force and has since evolved into a budding area of scientific research with many practical medical purposes. VR shows a high potential to benefit to learners and trainees and improve surgery through enhanced preoperative planning and efficiency in the operating room. Neurosurgery is a field of medicine in which VR has been accepted early on as a useful and promising tool for neuro-navigation planning. Through recent technological developments, VR further increased its level of immersion, accessibility and intuitive use for surgeons and students and now reveals a therapeutic potential for patients. In this paper, we systematically reviewed the neurosurgery literature regarding the use of VR as an assistance for surgery or a tool centered on patients' care. A literature search conducted according to PRISMA guidelines resulted in the screening of 125 abstracts and final inclusion of 100 original publications reviewed. The review shows that neurosurgeons are now relatively familiar with VR technologies (N = 95 articles) for their training and practice. VR technologies are useful for education, pain management and rehabilitation in neurosurgical patients. Nevertheless, the current patient-oriented use of VR remains limited (N = 5 articles). Successful surgery does not only depend on the surgeon's skills and preparation, but also on patients' education, comfort, empowerment and care. Therefore further clinical research is needed to promote the direct use of VR technologies by patients in neurosurgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed method approaches are increasingly being used in social pharmacy research due to its potential to uncover insights that are not possible with separate quantitative and qualitative studies. Despite their increasing use, there are some limitations in these publications. Typically, specific mixed method designs are not chosen, quantitative and qualitative data are not systematically integrated, and the credibility or validity of the approach is not addressed. In this paper, we discuss mixed method designs and their applications in social pharmacy. Different integration techniques and legitimation types are detailed. We describe new methodological developments and provide examples from recent mixed method studies in social pharmacy. Finally, we also provide recommendations for planning, conducting, reporting, and evaluating mixed method studies. We suggest that researchers interested in conducting mixed method studies follow recommended guidelines and obtain training in mixed methods to ensure that rigorous mixed method studies are conducted in social and administrative pharmacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cosmeceuticals are a branch of cosmetic products that forms a bridge between cosmetic and drug products. It is a fast-growing branch of the cosmetic industry, especially after the introduction of novel formulation and manufacturing techniques such as lipid nanoparticles (LNPs). These LNPs-based cosmeceutical products offer several advantages such as enhanced bioavailability of cosmeceutical active ingredients (CAIs), improved aesthetic appeal, and stability of the final products. However, the use of these LNPs may raise some concerns about possible side effects of these LNPs and potential hazards to the customer's health. Accordingly, an update that focuses on the use of this important branch of nanoparticles is necessary since most review papers are dealing with all types of nanocarriers in the same review with little focus on LNPs. Therefore, in the current review, a detailed analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of LNPs in this field was highlighted, to emphasize the LNPs-based cosmeceuticals on the market, as well as the potential risk posed by LNPs on exposure and recently introduced regulatory guidelines to address them. In addition, if these products can be a candidate as products that meet the sustainable development goals raised by the UN are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the current status and applications of additive manufacturing (AM) in dentistry along with various technologies, benefits and future scope. A significant number of relevant research papers on the additive manufacturing application in dentistry are identified through Scopus and studied using bibliometric analysis that shows an increasing trend of research in this field. This paper briefly describes various types of AM technologies with their accuracy, pros and cons along with different dental materials. Paper also discusses various benefits of AM in dentistry and steps used to create 3D printed dental model using this technology. Further, ten major AM applications in dentistry are identified along with primary references and objectives. Additive manufacturing is an innovative technique moving towards the customised production of dental implants and other dental tools using computer-aided design (CAD) data. This technology is used to manufacture elaborate dental crowns, bridges, orthodontic braces and can also various other models, devices and instruments with lesser time and cost. With the help of this disruptive innovation, dental implants are fabricated accurately as per patient data captured by the dental 3D scanner. The application of this technology is also being explored for the precise manufacturing of removal prosthetics, aligners, surgical templates for implants and produce models that for the planning of treatment and preoperative positioning of the jaws. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A significant number of the research paper on Medical cases using Additive manufacturing studied. Different applications of additive manufacturing technologies in the medical area analysed for providing the state of the art and direction of the development. To illustrate the Additive Manufacturing technology as being used in medical and its benefits along-with contemporary and future applications. Literature Review based study on Additive Manufacturing that are helpful in various ways to address medical problems along with bibliometric analysis been done. Briefly described the review of forty primary applications of AM as used for medical purposes along with their significant achievement. Process chain development in the application of AM is identified and tabulated for every process chain member, its achievement and limitations for various references. There are five criteria which one can achieve through medical model when made through AM technology. To support the achievements and limitations of every criterion proper references are provided. The ongoing research is also classified according to the application of AM in medical with criteria, achievement and references. Eight major medical areas where AM is implemented have been identified along with primary references, objectives and advantages. Paper deals with the literature review of the Medical application of Additive Manufacturing and its future. Medical models which are customised and sourced from data of an individual patient, which vary from patient to patient can well be modified and printed. Medical AM involves resources of human from the field of reverse engineering, medicine and biomaterial, design and manufacturing of bones, implants, etc. Additive Manufacturing can help solve medical problems with extensive benefit to humanity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The principles of structural reliability are firmly established to provide the basis for structural performance as incorporated in design standards. Reliability-based procedures provide for variabilities and uncertainties that could reasonably be expected during the design service life of the structure. However, not all possible conditions to which all structures are exposed during such an extended service period can be accounted for effectively and economically at the design stage. The assessment of the reliability performance of an existing structure therefore forms an integral part of structural management and engineering practice. Despite the lag between the development and implementation of a basis for design and assessment of structures, the extensive body of information on structural assessment progresses steadily towards standardisation. This paper provides a review of the progress to provide background information towards extending the scope of South African structural standards to include guidance on structural assessment. The focus is on such developments to include provisions for existing structures in Eurocode, together with related investigations. In addition to a general review of background investigations, interrelationships between the basis of design and assessment for Eurocode (potentially also for South Africa) are considered. The main elements of a standardised basis for assessment are defined, and alternative assessment approaches are presented and demonstrated by representative examples. In conclusion, an outline of a possible development path for implementation in South Africa is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the past decades, with the increasing demands in lightweight structural materials, Mg alloys with low density and high performance have been extensively investigated and partly applied in some industries. Especially when rare earth (RE) elements are added as major alloying elements to Mg alloys, the alloy strength and creep resistance are greatly improved, which have promoted several series of Mg-RE alloys. This paper reviews the progress and developments of high-performance Mg-RE alloys in recent years with emphasis on cast alloys. The main contents include the alloy design, melt purification, grain refinement, castability, novel liquid casting and semisolid forming approaches, and the industrial applications or trials made of Mg-RE alloys. The review will provide insights for future developments of new alloys, techniques and applications of Mg alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For almost a decade, regulators and pharmaceutical industry groups have been interested in electronic source (eSource) in clinical trials (Nordo et al. in Learn Health Syst 3:e10076, 2019). eSource may provide efficiencies and value; however, eSource adoption is fragmented and slow. Acceleration of eSource adoption is a critical step in modernizing the conduct of clinical trials. The desired future state is one in which all source data, acquired through any context (e.g., healthcare delivery, chronic disease management) and actor (e.g., healthcare professional, patient, caregiver), are completely electronic, adequate in quality, and fully acceptable in clinical trial submissions by regulators worldwide. Achieving this desired future state requires transformative change management to foster adoption and minimize the burden of implementing eSource. Realizing this vision requires collaborative and dedicated efforts from multiple stakeholders, including patients, clinical trial participants, sites, technology vendors, standards organizations, regulators, payers, and sponsors. Stakeholders should align upon guidance to promote data integrity, data privacy, data security, and interoperability. The eSource revolution requires open dialogue, inclusive of shared learnings among stakeholders, to collectively and rapidly advance adoption. Adoption of eSource will optimize clinical research by enabling faster access to research data and more rapid decision-making, increasing clinical trial efficiency. Furthermore, adoption of eSource will improve data integrity by allowing direct data flow from the source to the sponsor's system, with minimal or no human intervention. This paper provides the TransCelerate point of view (POV) and recommendations to achieve the future state vision of complete utilization of eSource data in clinical trials and builds on previous TransCelerate eSource publications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Discourse: Journal of Childhood & Adolescense Research / Diskurs Kindheits- und Jugendforschung is the property of Verlag Barbara Budrich GmbH and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Harbin Institute of Technology. Social Sciences Edition / Haerbin Gongye Daxue Xuebao. Shehui Kexue Ban is the property of Harbin Institute of Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper presents the current state-of-the art of additive manufacturing (AM) applications in the biomedical field, especially in tissue engineering. Multiple advantages of additive manufacturing allow to precise three-dimensional objects fabrication with complex structure using various materials. Depending on the purpose of the manufactured part, different AM technologies are implemented, in which a specific material can be utilized. In the biomedical field, there are used several techniques such as: Binder Jetting, Material Extrusion, Material Jetting, Powder Bed Fusion, Sheet Lamination, Vat Polymerization. This article focuses on the utilization of polymer materials (natural and synthetic) taking into account hydrogels in scaffolds fabrication. Assessment of polymer scaffolds mechanical properties enables personalized patient care, as well as prevents damage after implantation in human body. By controlling process parameters it is possible to obtain optimised mechanical properties of manufactured parts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the evolution of research in the domain of education focuses on learning analytics which provides vital insights on education outcome by collecting valuable data about learning person or/and institutions. The main objective of this article is to inspect the research literature disseminated on learning analytics predictive models in the last five years. This work discusses a detailed study on the learning analytics by categorizing based on prediction algorithms, data set used, and factors prioritized for prediction. This paper also explains the various applications, life cycle models of learning analytics and the vital challenges that could improve the overall performance of the learning analytics system. This work may provide comprehensive details on learner analytics and its possible line of future research for the researchers to propose novel models to append research value to the domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanotechnology is the building of structurers at nanoscale at the order 10−9 m. A significant development in the field of transportation will put an imprint in the development of our society. Therefore industries are now heavily investing in researches and developments in order to develop safety, environment friendliness, comfort and outstanding transportation systems. In this paper we will discuss the recent applications of nanotechnology in transportation field which include nanofilters, anti-glare coatings, carbon black in tyres, GMR sensors, fuel additives, dirt protection, nanocatalysts etc. Some interesting nanotechnological applications like nanosteel, low friction aggregate components, switchable materials, glare free wiper free glasses, environmental multisensors, situation adapted driving mode are in the room of research which will become realistic in very future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geosynthetics, products used below grade, including geomembranes, geotextiles and geogrids have been developed over the past twenty years. Now Geofoam Expanded lightweight polystyrene (EPS), a lightweight fill material, is available to assist civil engineers in stabilizing weak soil conditions. Geofoam with good thermal insulation property has been widely used in geotextiles from the last few decades. It is mostly used on building and road construction as well as utilized in reducing sound and vibration damping, reducing pressure on sub-structures lightweight material. The present paper elaborates on manufaturing process, important properties, applications, advantages and disadvantages of expanded polyesterine blocks as geofoam. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examines the world publications output (205) on "RFID Technology and Libraries" published during 2002-14, using a series of bibliometric indicators. The world output on 'RFID Technology and Libraries' registered 5.04% annual average growth and citation impact of 3.91 citations per paper in 13 years. The distribution of world publication output is skewed. The top 8 most productive countries (out of a total of 35) alone accounted for 67.32% world share. The top 8 countries which include - China, USA, Japan, Taiwan, India, South Korea, Malaysia and U.K. - accounted for 42.20% world citations share. However, the distribution of world output is widely scattered across 158 participating organizations. The top 14 organizations accounted for just 23.41% world publication share and 21.22% world citation share. The distribution of world output is also scattered widely across 139 authors. The top 15 authors accounted for just 23 41% world publication share and 17.73% world citation share. RFID applications into computer science was the largest (52.20% share), followed by social sciences (36.10%), engineering (33.66%), business, management and accounting (5.85) and biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology (3.90%) during 2002-14. The top 17 highly cited papers were individually cited from 10 to 286 times in 13 years since their publication year. The USA contributed 7 highly cited papers and Hong Kong, India, Switzerland and Taiwan contributed 2 each and Japan, South Korea and Jamaica 1 each. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Risk should not be understood as a destructive phenomenon, but bear in mind that managers who know how to use it can lead to real opportunities. Manager must first recognize the existence of risk, namely to identify and then use specific methods to avoid or reduce the risk. The purpose of this paper is to enter the world, at all simple, of risk management, relatively easy concept to understand but not so easy to put into practice. Of course, the approach relates primarily at the risks inherent of the business in digital environments, but they not represent only a particular case of the risks they are exposed, in general, the companies. In the paper we put in evidence the significance in general business, risks in e-business, then we added a description of the types of security risks, an exemplification of these and a series of test scenarios, and finally to make a analysis of operational solutions of risk management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent trends like autonomous driving, natural language processing, service robotics or Industry 4.0 are mainly based on the tremendous progress made in the field of machine learning (ML). The increased data availability coupled with affordable computing power and easy-to-use software tools have laid the foundation for using such algorithms in a wide range of industrial applications, e.g. for predictive maintenance, predictive quality or machine vision. However, a systematic guideline for identifying and implementing economically viable ML use cases in manufacturing industry is still missing. In particular, there is still a lack of a structured overview of concrete, industry-specific best practices that can be easily transferred to one' s own production. Hence, this paper aims to summarize various existing application scenarios of ML from a process and an industry sector perspective. The process point of view mainly covers the main manufacturing process groups of DIN 8580, handling operations according to VDI 2860 as well as selected cross-process approaches. From an industry sector perspective, application scenarios from various subsectors such as the production of electronics, electric motors, transmission components and medical devices are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • A systematic review of blockchain-based applications across multiple domains. • We investigate the current state of blockchain technology. • We identify the characteristics that can revolutionise "business-as-usual" practices. • We provide a framework to determine the fitness of blockchain per application. Abstract This work provides a systematic literature review of blockchain-based applications across multiple domains. The aim is to investigate the current state of blockchain technology and its applications in several specific characteristics of this disruptive technology can revolutionise "business-as-usual" practices. To this end, the theoretical underpinnings of numerous research papers published in high ranked scientific journals during the last decade, along with several reports from grey literature as a means of streamlining our assessment and capturing the continuously expanding blockchain domain, are included in this review. Based on a structured, systematic review and thematic content analysis of the discovered literature, we present a comprehensive classification of blockchain-enabled applications across diverse sectors such as supply chain, business, healthcare, IoT, privacy, and data management, and we establish key themes, trends and emerging areas for research. We also point to the shortcomings identified in the relevant literature, particularly limitations the blockchain technology presents and how these limitations spawn across different sectors and industries. Building on these findings, we identify various research gaps and future exploratory directions that are anticipated to be of significant value both for academics and practitioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present paper is to use the first order mathematical derivative to explain the return trajectory of an object, in our particular case it is about a spaceship belonging to NASA Apollo 13 Space Program. Firstly, the mission overview is presented followed by the mathematical modelling pertaining to this case study. We focus on the events that could follow an unforeseen accident. More precisely, we take into consideration three types of the return trajectory that the spaceship could have followed: a ricochet in outer space, crashing on the Earth's surface and safe landing on Earth. The numerical simulations are done using GeoGebra software. Finally, conclusions are drawn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the launch of the Gravity field and Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) in 2009 the science in gravity got another boost. After the time-lapse and long-wavelength studies from Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) a new sensor was available for determination of the Earth's gravity field and geoid with high accuracy and spatial resolution. Equipped with a 6-component gradiometer and flying at an altitude of 260 km and less GOCE provides the most detailed measurements of Earth's gravity from space ever. On top, GOCE also provides gravity gradients, i.e., the three-dimensional second derivatives of the gravitational potential. This paper provides a review of the results presented at the 'GOCE solid Earth workshop' at the University of Twente, The Netherlands (2012), where an overview was given of the present status of the data models, and applications with GOCE which form the basis for this special issue and the review in this paper. An introduction will be given to the GOCE satellite followed by an overview of GOCE data and gravity models. The present state of GOCE related research in geodesy, oceanography and solid Earth sciences indicates the first steps taken to integrate GOCE in the different application fields. For all three fields an overview is given on the most recent scientific results and developments, and first results specifically focusing on these studies where GOCE data has made a unique contribution and provides insights that would not have been possible without GOCE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the launch of the Gravity field and Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE) in 2009 the science in gravity got another boost. After the time-lapse and long-wavelength studies from Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) a new sensor was available for determination of the Earth's gravity field and geoid with high accuracy and spatial resolution. Equipped with a 6-component gradiometer and flying at an altitude of 260 km and less GOCE provides the most detailed measurements of Earth's gravity from space ever. On top, GOCE also provides gravity gradients, i.e., the three-dimensional second derivatives of the gravitational potential. This paper provides a review of the results presented at the ‘GOCE solid Earth workshop’ at the University of Twente, The Netherlands (2012), where an overview was given of the present status of the data models, and applications with GOCE which form the basis for this special issue and the review in this paper. An introduction will be given to the GOCE satellite followed by an overview of GOCE data and gravity models. The present state of GOCE related research in geodesy, oceanography and solid Earth sciences indicates the first steps taken to integrate GOCE in the different application fields. For all three fields an overview is given on the most recent scientific results and developments, and first results specifically focusing on these studies where GOCE data has made a unique contribution and provides insights that would not have been possible without GOCE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The applications of Additive Manufacturing (AM) have increased extensively in the area of orthopaedics. The AM applications are for making anatomic models, surgical instruments & tool design, splints, implants and prosthesis. A brief review of various research articles shows that patient-specific orthopaedic procedures provide multiple applications areas and provide directions for future developments. The purpose of this paper is to identify the best possible usage of additive manufacturing applications in orthopaedics field. It also presents the steps used to prepare a 3D printed model by using this technology and details applications in the field of orthopaedics. AM gives a flexible solution in orthopaedics area, where customised implants can be formed as per the required shape and size and can help substitution with customised products. A 3D model created by this technology gain an accurate perception of patient's anatomy which is used to perform mock surgeries and is helpful for highly complex surgical pathologies. It makes surgeon's job accessible and increases the success rate of the operation. AM provides a perfect fit implant for the specific patient by unlimited geometric freedom. Various scanning technologies capture the status of bone defects, and printing of the model is done with the help of this technology. It gives an exact generation of a physical model which is also helpful for medical education, surgical planning and training. This technology can help to solve present-day challenges as data of every patient is different from another. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper provides an overview of application building in the course environment illustrated with samples of student work. User applications (apps) built as extensions of multiphysics models have been integrated into traditional face-to-face and hybrid engineering courses. Apps were first included in a multidisciplinary modeling graduate course that emphasizes an end-of-semester research project. At the undergraduate level, apps were added into a two-course mechanical engineering thermo-fluids sequence. Initially, apps were used as an effective demonstration tool both in the classroom and in an on-line environment. Subsequently, application building has been embedded into a string of simulation projects featuring prominently in the performance assessment. As a result, students have become more demonstrably engaged and are devoting substantial time outside the classroom to understand theoretical concepts. Feedback from graduates indicates that familiarity with simulation workflow and application building are effective skillsets in seeking an entry-level industry position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blockchain technology has been gaining significant traction in the healthcare industry in the past few years. The value proposition of using blockchain technology is to augment interoperability among healthcare organizations. However, the disruptive technology comes with costly drawbacks. The aim of this paper is to explore the benefits and threats of blockchain technology as a disruptive innovation in the healthcare sector. Current blockchain applications were reviewed through studies conducted to identify uses and potential challenges of blockchain technology based on its current implementations. This literature review highlights gaps in research and the need for further blockchain studies, particularly in the healthcare domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vast range of uses that Z-type hexaferrite nanoparticles (ZTHNPs) offer in a variety of fields, including antennas, microwave absorption, and biomedicine has sparked a lot of scientific interest in these nanoparticles. Z-type hexaferrite possesses a soft magnetic character, planar magneto-crystalline anisotropy, and acceptable ultra-high frequency electromagnetic characteristics. The major topics of this review paper are the crystal structure, synthesis strategies (sol-gel, co-precipitation, solid-state reaction, hydrothermal techniques), characteristics, and prospective uses of Z-type hexaferrite, with a special emphasis on recently published research. Firstly, the crystal structure and most prominent synthesis strategies of ZTHNPs, with their benefits and drawbacks, are described. Secondly, we focused more of our attention on the magnetic, structural, and electromagnetic behaviours of this material. The final section discusses the prospective applications of these novel multifunctional materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]