Paraconsistent annotated logic applied to industry assets condition monitoring and failure prevention based on vibration signatures

In this study, we introduced an expert system (ESvbrPAL2v), responsible for monitoring assets based on vibration signature analysis through a set of algorithms based on the Paraconsistent Annotated Logic – PAL. Being a non-classical logic, the main feature of the PAL is to support contradictory inputs in its foundation. It is therefore suitable for building algorithmic models capable of performing out appropriate treatment for complex signals, such as those coming from vibration. The ESvbrPAL2v was built on an ATMega2560 microcontroller, where vibration signals were captured from the mechanical structures of the machines by sensors and, after receiving special treatment through the Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT), then properly modeled to paraconsistent logic signals and vibration patterns. Using the PAL fundamentals, vibration signature patterns were built for possible and known vibration issues stored in ESvbrPAL2v and continuously compared through configurations composed by a network of paraconsistent algorithms that detects anomalies and generate signals that will report on the current risk status of the machine in real time. The tests to confirm the efficiency of ESvbrPAL2v were performed in analyses initially carried out on small prototypes and, after the initial adjustments, tests were carried out on bearings of a group of medium-power motor generators built specifically for this study. The results are shown at the end of this study and have a high index of signature identification and risk of failure detection. These results justifies the method used and future applications considering that ESvbrPAL2v is still in its first version.

Holistic Security and Risk Intelligence: Are Current Risk Management Methods Leading to Breach?

How could we better prepare industry and governments against holistic, hybrid, or second-order attacks? <div>In this article we discuss the importance of addressing systemic and systematic risk management problems to provide holistic risk management and direct advances in technical security, utilising machine learning and artificial intelligence.</div>

Holistic Security and Risk Intelligence: Are Current Risk Management Methods Leading to Breach?

How could we better prepare industry and governments against holistic, hybrid, or second-order attacks? <div>In this article we discuss the importance of addressing systemic and systematic risk management problems to provide holistic risk management and direct advances in technical security, utilising machine learning and artificial intelligence.</div>

Potential of hazard mapping as a tool for facing COVID-19 transmission: the geo-COVID cartographic platform

The present research analyses the epidemiological bases, the methodology approach and the utility of the Geo-Covid Cartographic Platform to face COVID-19 transmission at an intra-urban scale. Geo-Covid is based on the study of the main drawbacks and limitations of the current risk maps, and the proposed hazard mapping methodology is presented as an alternative approach with a high spatial-temporal accuracy. It is based on 1) the map of neighborhood active focuses of contagion, which are classified according to several hazard indexes, 2) the map of highly-transited areas by potential asymptomatic positives cases and 3) the map of Points of Maximum Risk of contagion. In order to test the effectiveness of the proposed methodology for mapping COVID-19 hazard and risk, it has been applied to Málaga City (Spain) during several stages of the epidemic in the city (2020 and 2021). The neighborhood focus of contagion is proposed as the basic spatial unit for the epidemiological diagnosis and the implementation of mitigation and control measures. After the analysis, it has been concluded that the proposed methodology, and thus, the maps included in the Geo-Covid Cartographic Platform allow a realistic and rigorous analysis of the spatial distribution of the epidemic in real-time.

Trends in Frailty and Use of Evidence-Based Pharmacotherapy for Heart Failure in Australian Hospitalised Patients: An Observational Study

Frailty increases morbidity and mortality in heart failure (HF) patients. Current risk-adjustment models do not include frailty-status and the relationship between frailty and pharmacotherapy is unclear. This study explored trends in frailty over time and its relationship with prescription of heart failure specific pharmacotherapy in hospitalised HF patients. We used the Hospital Frailty Risk Score (HFRS) to determine frailty status of patients ≥18 years admitted between 2015–2019 at two tertiary hospitals in Australia. Patients with an HFRS ≥ 5 were classified as frail. In the 3706 patients with a mean (SD) age of 76.1 (14.4) years, 876 (23.6%) were classified as frail. HFRS was weakly correlated with age (r = 0.16) and Charlson-index (r = 0.35) (both p values < 0.001). Whilst frailty was more common in older HF patients (28.9% of patients ≥80 years), 15.1% of patients ≤65 years of age were also found to be frail. The proportion of frail patients increased from 19.4% in 2015 to 29.2% in 2019 despite no significant change in age during this period. The proportion of patients who received heart failure specific pharmacotherapy decreased from 86.7% in 2015 to 82.9% in 2019 (p value = 0.03) and frail patients were significantly less likely to be prescribed HF specific pharmacotherapy than non-frail patients (77.4% vs. 85.9%, p < 0.001).

VIRUS Atlas Austria – COVID-19, labor market and demography at a glance

"VIRUS Atlas Austria" (https://map.geo.univie.ac.at/virus_atlas/) is a map-based portal to transport primarily COVID-19 relevant spatio-temporal topics for Austria. In the current version, information on COVID-19 as well as on selected topics of the labor market and demography are integrated. For this purpose, alternative cartographic representations have been developed, to visualize current topics at a glance. The aim of the atlas is to provide the public as well as decision makers with a tool to better assess current risk situations in Austria.

Radiotherapy in Medulloblastoma—Evolution of Treatment, Current Concepts and Future Perspectives

Medulloblastoma is the most frequent malignant brain tumor in children. During the last decades, the therapeutic landscape has changed significantly with craniospinal irradiation as the backbone of treatment. Survival times have increased and treatments were stratified according to clinical and later molecular risk factors. In this review, current evidence regarding the efficacy and toxicity of radiotherapy in medulloblastoma is summarized and discussed mainly based on data of controlled trials. Current concepts and future perspectives based on current risk classification are outlined. With the introduction of CSI, medulloblastoma has become a curable disease. Due to combination with chemotherapy, survival rates have increased significantly, allowing for a reduction in radiation dose and a decrease of toxicity in low- and standard-risk patients. Furthermore, modern radiotherapy techniques are able to avoid side effects in a fragile patient population. However, high-risk patients remain with relevant mortality and many patients still suffer from treatment related toxicity. Treatment needs to be continually refined with regard to more efficacious combinatorial treatment in the future.

Age is the only predictor for upper gastrointestinal malignancy in Chinese patients with uncomplicated dyspepsia: a prospective investigation of endoscopic findings

Background Dyspepsia is a common cause of physician visits. If and when endoscopy should be performed depend on the regions and the populations. This study aimed to identify the current risk factors predictive of upper gastrointestinal malignancy or peptic ulcer in China with high prevalence of gastric cancer. Methods A questionnaire was conducted among consecutive outpatients undergoing their first esophagogastroduodenoscopy for dyspepsia. Symptoms other than alarm symptoms in this study were defined as uncomplicated dyspepsia. Results 4310 outpatients (mean age 44, median 42, range 14–86) were included in the final analyses. Significant pathology was found in 13.8% (595/4310) patients including peptic ulcer (12.3%) and upper gastrointestinal malignancy (1.5%). Age, male sex and alarm symptoms were significantly associated with malignancy. The age cut-off identified for upper gastrointestinal malignancy was 56 years among patients with uncomplicated dyspepsia, which was similar to the combined cutoff of age and gender. Conclusions Age should be considered as the primary predictor for upper gastrointestinal malignancy in Chinese patients with uncomplicated dyspepsia. 56 could probably be the optimal age to identify those lesions in this population. Trial registration: Chictr.org (ChiCTR2000040775).