Optimizing Traffic Engineering for Resilient Services in NFV-Based Connected Autonomous Vehicles

The massive amount of data generated daily by various sensors equipped with connected autonomous vehicles (CAVs) can lead to a significant performance issue of data processing and transfer. Network Function Virtualization (NFV) is a promising approach to improving the performance of a CAV system. In an NFV framework, Virtual Network Function (VNF) instances can be placed in edge and cloud servers and connected together to enable a flexible CAV service with low latency. However, protecting a service function chain composed of several VNFs from a failure is challenging in an NFV-based CAV system (VCAV). We propose an integer linear programming (ILP) model and two approximation algorithms for resilient services to minimize the service disruption cost in a VCAV system when a failure occurs. The ILP model, referred to as TERO, allows us to obtain the optimal solution for traffic engineering, including the VNF placement and routing for resilient services with regard to dynamic routing. Our proposed algorithms based on heuristics (i.e., TERH) and reinforcement learning (i.e., TERA) provide an approximation solution for resilient services in a large-scale VCAV system. Evaluation results with real datasets and generated network topologies show that TERH and TERA can provide a solution close to the optimal result. It also suggests that TERA should be used in a highly dynamic VCAV system.

Violence and sexual and reproductive health service disruption among girls and young women during COVID-19 pandemic in Nepal: A cross-sectional study using interactive voice response survey

Introduction There is a paucity of data on the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on girls and young women. The study examines the prevalence and correlates of violence and sexual and reproductive health (SRH) service disruption among girls and young women during COVID-19 restrictions and lockdown. Methods An interactive voice response survey was conducted among girls and women aged 18–24 years between 10th March to 24th April 2021. The survey enrolled 1314 participants. Descriptive analysis was used to assess prevalence of violence and SRH service disruption. Two sampled test of proportion was used to asses difference in prevalence of violence before and after the pandemic. Logistic regression was used to examine relationship between the outcome variables and socio demographic predictors. Results The study did not find significant difference in prevalence of violence before and after the pandemic. Education was found to be protective against experience of both physical and sexual violence after the pandemic. Dalit participants were four times more likely to report physical violence after the pandemic than Brahmin/Chhetri participants (OR:3.80; CI:1.41–10.24). Participants from 22-24-year age group were twice as likely to experience sexual violence compared to girls and participants from 18-21year age group (OR:2.25; CI:1.04–4.84). Participants from urban municipalities were 29% less likely to report SRH services disruption than participants from rural municipalities (OR-0.71, 95% CI: 0.55–0.91). Participants with disability were twice as likely to report disruption than participants without disability (OR-2.35, 95% CI: 1.45–3.82). Conclusions To reduce violence against girls and women due to the pandemic, interventions should focus on Dalit women and on preventing education discontinuation among girls and women. SRH service during the pandemic needs to be improved for girls and women with focus on girls and women from rural municipalities and girls and women with disability.

Implementation of a software defined FLISR solution on an active distribution grid

Background: The resiliency of the distribution grid is of increasing concern to the distribution system operator (DSO) due to factors such as climate change and the resulting faults caused by inclement weather conditions, leading to service disruption to consumers. Loss of service negatively affects key performance indicators (KPI) of the DSO, such as customer minutes lost (CML) and customer interruptions (CI), leading to financial penalties imposed by the regulator. Methods: In this paper we propose a software-driven Fault Location, Isolation and Service Restoration (FLISR) solution, leveraging modern software and communication technologies married with the DSO's existing infrastructure, to aid fault detection and resolution, with the aim of reducing CMLs & CIs and curtailing the financial penalties incurred. Results: The proposed FLISR solution was trialled in an area of south-east Ireland which sees a higher count of service loss as compared to more inland areas, providing an ideal environment to gauge the effectiveness of the solution. It was found that the solution generated outputs that could potentially lead to the resolution of fault events faster than the current systems in place by the DSO. Conclusions: Based on the results gathered from operating the FLISR solution on an active grid, it has demonstrated that leveraging modern software technologies in tandem with existing grid infrastructure benefits the DSO with reference to grid management and operations and the customer in terms of quality of service site.

Disaster Preparedness and Planning for Service Sustainability: Case of Egerton University Digital Library, Main Campus

Preparing and planning for disaster remains the most crucial component of libraries. It also happens to be one that is least understood. Since the existence of libraries and information science, there has been a history of disasters happening from time to time. Disasters are events in which no library would like to experience but the still do. Egerton University library being the study area, has experienced disasters in the form of rioting students causing service disruption and incidences of fire. This study sought to evaluate the disaster preparedness and planning of digital libraries in relation to service sustainability. It considered the following objectives: To establish the level of disaster preparedness and planning; To find out the training the library staff have undergone; To determine the disaster preparedness and planning equipment in place; and to establish the challenges faced in preparing and planning for disasters at Egerton University digital library in service delivery. It was anchored on the Theory of Planned Behavior. The study made use of descriptive research design and considered census method to arrive at 68 library staff as its respondents. Primary data was collected using self-administered questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale. The quantitative data collected was inferentially analyzed as per the objectives of this study. A statistical software SPSS was used in analyzing this data. Findings were presented in the form of tables as frequencies and percentages for easy understanding. The validity of the instruments was determined using specialists who assisted in properly framing questions in the questionnaire. They also assisted in realigning it according to the objectives of the study. The study established that the level of disaster preparedness and planning at the digital library in Egerton University was low hence the digital library was at risk of disasters; not all the library staff had not adequately undergone training on disaster preparedness and planning; the library was not adequately supplied with disaster preparedness and planning equipment’s; the digital library was experiencing challenges in regards to disaster preparedness and planning; and the digital library services will be affected in the event of a disaster happening. The study concluded that the digital library could experience disasters because they were not exempted from disasters like any other organization or section within the University; the library was not so keen on training its staff on disaster preparedness and planning; the digital library had inadequate disaster preparedness and planning equipment’s; implementing a disaster preparedness plan was hindered by lack of adequate funds which were needed for purchasing suitable equipment’s, servicing these equipment as well as training all the library staff. The study recommended that the management of the university and library should provide the needed support and influence staff training in regards to disaster preparedness and planning; the library should develop a well-documented disaster preparedness policy of its own and incorporate it with the overall disaster preparedness policy for the university; and a structured, systematic and regular mechanism of training staff on disaster preparedness should be developed, supported and implemented within the library.

Assistive Technology Provider Experiences during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Globally, health systems face challenges in the delivery of assistive technology (AT) and only 10% of people are currently able to access the assistive products they need. The COVID-19 pandemic presented an uncharted path for AT providers to navigate, placing them under pressure to be agile and rapidly adapt. This article, part of a series, explores the experiences and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on AT providers and aims to inform how AT providers can be better prepared and supported in the future. A mixed methods approach was used to gather service data and perspectives from AT providers via a survey. A total of 37 responses were received from 18 countries. Service data showed extensive service disruption throughout 2020. Thematic analysis suggested significant changes to routine AT service delivery including rapid momentum towards home-based, decentralised, and digital services for which many AT providers were not prepared. Providers were required to make difficult decisions and deliver services in new ways to balance meeting demands, complying with government restrictions, and ensuring the safety of staff and clients. Few but important positives were expressed including the belief that expanded capacity to use remote and digital AT service delivery would remain useful in the future.

Security Concerns in Internet of Things

Security Concerns is the among of the significant challenges of Internet of thing (IoT). Lack of proper Device updates, lack of User awareness, Software compatibility issues, service disruption, inability to monitor their current status and software are Among the challenges that IoT is facing. In this work we are going to explore significant areas of IoT applications and security measures and identify management of Machine to Machine(M2M), Platform selection criteria, Knowledge of How data is managed on various IoT applications which includes (i) IoT in healthcare (ii) Blood Banks. In this work provide valuable insights into issues related to streamline workflows, predict necessary maintenance, analyze usage patterns, auto- mate manufacturing, and much more.

A control architecture for continuous production processes based on industry 4.0: water supply systems application

Industry 4.0 (I4.0) brings together new disruptive technologies, increasing future factories’ productivity. Indeed, the control of production processes is fast becoming a key driver for manufacturing operations. Manufacturing control systems have recently been developed for distributed or semi-heterarchical architectures, e.g., holonic systems improving global efficiency and manufacturing operations’ reactiveness. So far, previous studies and applications have not dealt with continuous production processes, such as applications for Water Supply System (WSS), oil refining, or electric power plants. The complexity of continuous production is that a single fault can degrade extensively and even cause service disruption. Therefore, this paper proposes the Holonic Production Unit (HPU) architecture as a solution to control continuous production processes. An HPU is created as a holon unit depicting resources in a continuous process. This unit can detect events within the environment, evaluate several courses of action, and change the parameters aligned to a mission. The proposed approach was tested using a simulated model of WSS. The experiments described in this paper were conducted using a traditional WSS, where the communication and decision-making features allow the application of HPU. The results suggest that constructing a holarchy with different holons can fulfill I4.0 requirements for continuous production processes.

The impact of COVID-19 on TB: a review of the data

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, models predicted hundreds of thousands of additional TB deaths as a result of health service disruption. To date, empirical evidence on the effects of COVID-19 on TB outcomes has been limited. Here we summarise the evidence available at a country level, identifying broad mechanisms by which COVID-19 may modify TB burden and mitigation efforts. From the data, it is clear that there have been substantial disruptions to TB health services and an increase in vulnerability to TB. Evidence for changes in Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmission is limited, and it remains unclear how the resources required and available for the TB response have changed. To advocate for additional funding to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the global TB burden, and to efficiently allocate resources for the TB response, requires a significant improvement in the TB data available.