Search Results (497)

Background and Clinical Significance: Patients with a neurodegenerative condition known as posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) can present with attention impairments across a variety of cognitive contexts, but the consequences of these are little explored in example of single word reading. Case Presentation: We present a detailed single-case study of KL, a local resident of South Wales, a patient diagnosed with posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) in 2018, whose reading and letter-naming abilities are selectively disrupted under non-canonical visual presentations. In particular, KL shows significantly impaired accuracy performance when reading words presented in tilted (rotated 90°) format. By contrast, his reading under conventional horizontal (canonical) presentation is nearly flawless. Whilst other presentation formats including, mixed-case text (e.g., TaBLe) and vertical (marquee) format led to only mild performance decrements—even though mixed-case formats are generally thought to increase attentional ‘crowding’ effects. Discussion: These findings indicate that impairments of word reading can emerge in PCA when visual-attentional demands are sufficiently high, and access to ‘top down’ orthographic information is severely attenuated. Next, we explored a cardinal feature of attentional dyslexia, namely the word–letter reading dissociation in which word reading is superior to letter-in-string naming. In KL, a similar dissociative pattern could be provoked by non-canonical formats. That is, conditions that similarly disrupted his word reading led to a pronounced disparity between word and letter-in-string naming performance. Moreover, different orientation formats revealed the availability (or otherwise) of distinct compensatory strategies. KL successfully relied on an oral (letter by letter) spelling strategy when reading vertically presented words or naming letters-in-strings, whereas he had no ability to engage compensatory mental rotation processes for tilted text. Thus, the observed impact of non-canonical presentations was moderated by the success or failure of alternative compensatory strategies. Conclusions: Importantly, our results suggest that an attentional ‘dyslexia-like’ profile can be unmasked in PCA under sufficiently taxing visual-attentional conditions. This approach may prove useful in clinical assessment, highlighting subtle reading impairments that conventional testing might overlook. Full article

In this study, a prototype system was developed as a potential alternative to lockdown measures against the spread of airborne infectious diseases such as COVID-19. The system integrates real-time estimation functions for respiratory flow and mask leakage into a low-cost powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) designed for the general public. Using only a single differential-pressure sensor (SDP810) and a controller (Arduino UNO R4 WiFi), the respiratory flow (Q_3e) is estimated from the differential pressure (ΔP) and battery voltage (V_b), and both the wearing status and leak status are transmitted to and displayed on a smartphone application. For evaluation, a testbench called the Respiratory Airflow Testbench was constructed by connecting a cylinder–piston drive to a mannequin head to simulate realistic wearing conditions. The estimated respiratory flow Q_3e, calculated solely from ΔP and V_b, showed high agreement with the measured flow Q_3m obtained from a reference flow sensor, confirming the effectiveness of the estimation algorithm. Furthermore, an automatic leak detection method based on the time-integrated value of Q_3e was implemented, enabling the detection of improper wearing. This system thus achieves respiratory flow estimation and leakage detection based only on ΔP and V_b. In the future, it is expected to be extended to applications such as pressure control synchronized with breathing activity and health monitoring based on respiratory and coughing analysis. This platform also has the potential to serve as the foundation of a PAPR Wearing Status Network Management System, which will contribute to societal-level infection control through the networked sharing of wearing status information. Full article

With the exponential growth of Internet of Things (IoT) and wearable devices for home automation and industrial applications, vast volumes of data are continuously generated, requiring efficient data collection methods. IoT devices, being resource-constrained and typically battery-dependent, require lightweight protocols that optimize resource usage and energy consumption. Among such IoT devices, this article focuses on Bluetooth-based beacons due to their low latency and the advantage of not requiring pairing for communications. Specifically, to tackle the limitations of beacons in terms of bandwidth and transmission frequency, this article proposes a protocol that modifies beacon frames to include up to three parameters per frame and that allows for making use of configurable beaconing intervals based on the specific requirements of the communications scenario. Moreover, the use of the proposed protocol leads to increased data rates for beaconing transmissions, providing a low latency and a flexible configuration that permits adjusting different parameters. The proposed solution enables end-to-end interoperability in Opportunistic Edge Computing (OEC) networks by integrating a lightweight bridge module to transparently manage BLE advertisement segments. To demonstrate the performance of the devised opportunistic protocol, it is evaluated across multiple scenarios (i.e., in a short-distance reference scenario, inside a home with diverse obstacles, inside a building, outdoors and in an industrial scenario), showing its flexibility and ability to collect substantial data volumes from heterogeneous IoT devices. Full article

The treatment of chronic wounds and pressure sores is an important challenge in the context of public health and the effectiveness of patient treatment. Therefore, new methods are being developed to reduce or, in extreme cases, to initiate and conduct the wound healing process. This article presents an innovative smart bandage, programmable using a smartphone, which generates small amplitude impulse vibrations. The communication between the smart bandage and the smartphone is realized using BLE. The possibility of programming the smart bandage allows for personalized therapy. Owing to the built-in MEMS sensor, the smart bandage makes it possible to monitor work during rehabilitation and implement an auto-calibration procedure. The flexible, openwork mechanical structure of the dressing was made in 3D printing technology, thanks to which the solution is easy to implement and can be used together with traditional dressings to create hybrid ones. Miniature electronic circuits and actuators controlled by the PWM signal were designed as replaceable elements; thus, the openwork structure can be treated as single-use. The smart bandage containing six actuators presented in this article generates oscillations in the range from about 40 Hz to 190 Hz. The system generates low-amplitude vibrations, below 1 g. The actuators were operated at a voltage of 1.65 V to reduce energy consumption. For comparison, the actuators were also operated at the nominal voltage of 3.17 V, as specified by the manufacturer. Full article

The recent advances in 5G and beyond wireless networking have enabled the possibility of using the cellular network as the infrastructure for wireless sensor networks, due to the high bandwidth availability and the reduced cost per data unit. In this paper, we perform an evaluation of the 5G infrastructure for sensor networks in order to quantify the performance in terms of energy efficiency and bandwidth within a testing environment. We used an ESP32 sensor with BLE-connected sensing devices for environmental conditions, and a Raspberry Pi with the Waveshare SIM8200EA-M2 5G module for cellular connectivity. We measured the power usage of each component of the system, in real conditions, as well as the power consumption for different bandwidth usage scenarios, and the end-to-end delay of the system. The results showed that the system is capable of achieving the required delay and bandwidth; however, the energy efficiency of the specific setup leaves room for improvement. Full article

The efficacy of Lagerstroemia speciosa (banaba) leaf extract (BLE), policosanol (POL), and their combination (BLE+POL) was evaluated in zebrafish (Danio rerio) against high cholesterol (HC)- and galactose (HG)-induced metabolic stress and organ toxicity. After 12 weeks of dietary intervention, BLE+POL significantly reduced HC+HG-augmented weight gain and improved hepatic and nephromegaly. Compared with BLE or POL alone, the combined intake of BLE+POL more effectively alleviated dyslipidemia and blood glucose levels. Likewise, BLE+POL effectively reduced blood malondialdehyde (MDA), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels and boosted plasma sulfhydryl content, ferric ion reduction ability (FRA), and paraoxonase (PON) activity. Histological outcomes suggest that BLE+POL has higher efficacy than either BLE or POL in mitigating HC+HG-induced fatty liver changes, hepatic inflammation, kidney senescence, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Consistently, BLE+POL augmented the spermatozoa counts in the testes, enhanced mature vitellogenic oocytes in ovaries, and protected them from the HC+HG-induced oxidative stress. Compared with either BLE or POL, a combined intake of BLE+POL displayed a superior effect in inhibiting the apoptosis and accumulation of lipid peroxidation species 4-hyrdoxynonenal (4-HNE) in the brain. A combined intake of BLE+POL exhibited a pronounced impact than the BLE and POL alone and can be utilized as an effective formulation to counteract the HC+HG-induced events. Full article

The growing use of mobile health (mHealth) technologies adds complexity and risk to the healthcare environment. This paper presents a multi-layered cybersecurity assessment of an in-house mHealth platform (PHGL-COVID), comprising a Docker-based server infrastructure, a Samsung Galaxy A55 smartphone, and a Galaxy Watch 7 wearable. The objective was to identify vulnerabilities across the server, mobile, and wearable components by emulating real-world attacks and conducting systematic penetration tests on each layer. Tools and methods specifically tailored to each technology were applied, revealing exploitable configurations, insecure Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communications, and exposure of Personal Health Records (PHRs). Key findings included incomplete container isolation, BLE metadata leakage, and persistent abuse of Android privacy permissions. This work delivers both a set of actionable recommendations for developers and system architects to strengthen the security of mHealth platforms, and a reproducible audit methodology that has been validated in a real-world deployment, effectively bridging the gap between theoretical threat models and practical cybersecurity practices in healthcare systems. Full article

GPSs typically have an accuracy ranging from a few meters to several tens of meters. However, when corrected using various methods, they can achieve an accuracy of several tens of centimeters. In autonomous driving, a positioning accuracy of less than 50 cm is required for lane-level positioning, route generation, and navigation. However, in environments where GPS signals are blocked, such as tunnels and underground roads, absolute positioning is impossible. Instead, relative positioning methods integrating IMU, IVN, and cameras are used. These methods are influenced by numerous variables, however, such as vehicle speed and road conditions, resulting in lower accuracy. In this study, we conducted experiments on current vehicle navigation technologies using an autonomous driving simulation vehicle in the Suri–Suam Tunnel of the Seoul Metropolitan Area 1st Ring Expressway. To recognize objects (lane markings/2D/3D) for position correction inside the tunnel, data on tunnel and underground road infrastructure in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province was collected, processed, refined, and trained. Additionally, a Loosely Coupled-based Kalman Filter was designed and applied for the fusion of GPSs, IMUs, and IVNs. As a result, an error of 113.62 cm was observed in certain sections. This suggests that while the technology is applicable for general vehicle lane-level navigation in ultra-long tunnels spanning several kilometers for public service, it falls short of meeting the precision required for autonomous driving systems, which demand lane-level accuracy. Therefore, it was concluded that infrastructure-based absolute positioning technology is necessary to enable precise navigation inside tunnels. Full article

Background: Artificial non-nutritive sweeteners (NNSs), such as sucralose, have been associated with gut microbiota (GM) alterations. However, the impact of rebaudioside A (reb A), a natural NNS, on GM has received limited scrutiny. Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the response of GM composition to sucralose and reb A in rats under two dietary conditions. Methods: Male Wistar rats (150–200 g) fed with a normal diet (ND) or a high-fat diet (HFD) were randomly assigned to receive sucralose (SCL), reb A (REB), glucose (GLU, control), or sucrose (SUC). The NNS interventions were administered in water at doses equivalent to the acceptable daily intake (ADI). After eight weeks, the GM composition in fecal samples was analyzed through 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. Results: The NNSs did not modify the diversity, structure, phylum-level composition, or Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio of the GM in rats under ND or HFD. However, REB with HFD decreased Bacilli and increased Faecalibacterium abundance at the class level. SCL and REB in rats receiving ND reduced the genera Romboutsia and Lactobacillus. Conclusions: Our study suggests that when sucralose or reb A is consumed at recommended doses, there is no alteration in the diversity or the composition of the GM at the phylum level. The clinical relevance of these findings lies in the potential modifications of the GM at specific taxonomic levels by the consumption of these NNSs. Further research involving humans and including a broader range of microbial analyses is warranted. Full article

This paper presents the multi-triangular ring and self-routing protocol (MTRSRP), which is a new decentralized strategy designed to boost throughput and network efficiency in multiring scatternets. MTRSRP comprises two primary phases: leader election and scatternet formation, which collaborate to establish an effective multi-triangular ring topology. In the leader election phase, nodes exchange broadcast messages to gather neighbor information and elect coordinators through a competitive process. The scatternet formation phase determines the optimal number of rings based on the coordinator’s collected node information and predefined rules. The master nodes then send unicast connection requests to establish piconets within the scatternet, following a predefined role table. Intra- and inter-bridge nodes were activated to interconnect the piconets, creating a cohesive multi-triangular ring scatternet. Additionally, MTRSRP incorporates a self-routing addressing scheme within the triangular ring architecture, optimizing packet transmission paths and reducing overhead by utilizing master/slave relationships established during scatternet formation. Simulation results indicate that MTRSRP with dual-bridge connectivity outperforms the cluster-based on-demand routing protocol and Bluetooth low-energy mesh schemes in key network transmission performance metrics such as the transmission rate, packet delay, and delivery ratio. In summary, MTRSRP significantly enhances throughput, optimizes routing paths, and improves network efficiency in multi-ring scatternets through its multi-triangular ring topology and self-routing capabilities. Full article

In outdoor environments, GNSS is commonly used for vehicle navigation and various location-based ITS services. However, in GNSS shadow roads such as tunnels and underground highways, it is challenging to provide these services. With the rapid expansion of GNSS shadow roads, the need for radio positioning technology that can serve the role of GNSS in these areas has become increasingly important to provide accurate vehicle navigation and various location-based ITS services. This paper proposes a new GNSS shadow road radio positioning technology using multidirectional BLE beacon signals. The structure of a multidirectional BLE beacon that radiates different BLE beacon signals in two or four directions is introduced, and explains the principle of differential RSSI technology to determine the vehicle’s location using these signals. Additionally, the technology used to determine the vehicle’s speed is described. A testbed was constructed to verify the performance of the developed multidirectional BLE beacon-based radio navigation system. The current status and future plans of the testbed installation are introduced, and the results of position and speed experiments using the testbed for constant speed and deceleration driving are presented. Full article

This study describes the first complete genomic sequence of an NDM-19 and QnrS11-producing multidrug-resistant (MDR) Escherichia coli isolate collected from a fecal swab from a poultry farm in 2019 in Egypt. The bla_NDM-19 was identified by PCR screening and DNA sequencing. The isolate was then subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing, conjugation and transformation experiments, and complete genome sequencing. The chromosome of strain M2-13-1 measures 4,738,278 bp and encodes 4557 predicted genes, with an average G + C content of 50.8%. M2-13-1 is classified under ST167, serotype O101:H5, phylogroup A, and shows an MDR phenotype, having minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 64 mg/L for both meropenem and doripenem. The genes bla_NDM-19 and qnrS11 are present on 49,816 bp IncX3 and 113,285 bp IncFII: IncFIB plasmids, respectively. M2-13-1 harbors genes that impart resistance to sulfonamides (sul1), trimethoprim (dfrA14), β-lactams (bla_TEM-1B), aminoglycosides (aph(6)-Id, aph(3′)-Ia, aph(3″)-Ib, aac(3)-IV, and aph(4)-Ia), tetracycline (tet(A)), and chloramphenicol (floR). It was susceptible to aztreonam, colistin, fosfomycin, and tigecycline. The genetic context surrounding bla_NDM-19 includes ISAba125-IS5-bla_NDM-19-ble_MBL-trpF-hp1-hp2-IS26. Hierarchical clustering of the core genome MLST (HierCC) indicated M2-13-1 clusters with global ST167 E. coli lineages, showing HC levels of 100 (HC100) core genome allelic differences. Plasmids of the IncX3 group and the insertion sequence (ISAba125) are critical vehicles for the dissemination of bla_NDM and its related variants. To our knowledge, this is the first genomic report of a bla_NDM-19/IncX3-carrying E. coli isolate of animal origin globally. Full article

Background: Traumatic fractures of the cervical spine pose significant challenges in management, particularly in young patients, where preserving mobility is crucial. Patient Characteristics: A 30-year-old woman presented with a C3 lateral mass and pedicle fracture following a motor vehicle collision. Initial conservative management with a rigid cervical collar for three months failed to reduce the diastasis, and the debilitating neck pain worsened. Preoperative imaging confirmed fracture instability without spinal cord compression. Intervention and Outcome: Preoperative screw trajectory planning was conducted with the My Spine MC system (Medacta), and fine-tuning was achieved on a 3D-printed model of the vertebra. A posterior midline approach was employed to expose the C3 vertebra, and a Herbert screw was inserted under fluoroscopic guidance. Imaging at three months demonstrated significant fracture reduction and early bone fusion. The patient achieved substantial improvement in functional mobility without complications. Conclusion: Herbert screw fixation holds potential as a less-invasive alternative to conventional posterior stabilization for selected cervical fractures. This technical note provides the reader with the required information to support surgical planning and execution. Full article

Smart home technology enhances the quality of life, particularly with respect to in-home care and health monitoring. While video-based methods provide accurate behavior analysis, privacy concerns drive interest in non-visual alternatives. This study proposes a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)-enabled indoor positioning and behavior recognition system, integrating machine learning techniques to support sustainable and privacy-preserving health monitoring. Key optimizations include: (1) a vertically mounted Data Collection Unit (DCU) for improved height positioning, (2) synchronized data collection to reduce discrepancies, (3) Kalman filtering to smooth RSSI signals, and (4) AI-based RSSI analysis for enhanced behavior recognition. Experiments in a real home environment used a smart wristband to assess BLE signal variations across different activities (standing, sitting, lying down). The results show that the proposed system reliably tracks user locations and identifies behavior patterns. This research supports elderly care, remote health monitoring, and non-invasive behavior analysis, providing a privacy-preserving solution for smart healthcare applications. Full article

Food-borne zoonoses, particularly anisakiosis caused by Anisakis spp., are an increasing public health concern due to the rising consumption of raw fish. Anisakiosis results from the ingestion of third-stage larvae of Anisakidae nematodes, with the genus Anisakis re-sponsible for approximately 97% of human cases. While regulatory protocols exist to minimize infection risk in commercial settings, domestic food preparation often lacks such safeguards, creating a gap in public health protection. In the Canary Islands, a major Spanish aquaculture region, farmed fish exhibit a low Anisakis prevalence, suggesting minimal risk from aquaculture products. In contrast, wild-caught fish demonstrate varia-ble parasitism, with recent studies reporting a 25% prevalence among commercial species. Methods: This study assessed Anisakis exposure in the Canary Islands by measuring specific IgG and IgE antibodies in 1043 serum samples collected from all seven islands between March 2014 and October 2015. ELISA assays detected anti-Anisakis antibodies, and the results were analyzed by age, sex, island, and isoclimatic zone. Results: Overall, 16.9% of samples were IgG-positive and 6.8% were IgE-positive. Seroprevalence was significantly higher in indi-viduals aged 60 years and above. Geographic heterogeneity was notable: La Palma had the highest IgG seroprevalence (35.3%), while El Hierro showed the highest IgE prevalence (16.3%). Temperate isoclimatic zones exhibited higher antibody prevalence than dry zones. These findings indicate variable Anisakis exposure across the Canary Islands, likely influenced by environmental and behavioral factors. Conclusions: The results highlight the need for targeted public health interventions to reduce the anisakiosis risk, particularly in regions and populations with elevated exposure. Full article