A digital twin is a virtual representation of a physical object or process capable of collecting information from the real environment to represent, validate and simulate the physical twin’s present ...and future behavior. It is a key enabler of data-driven decision making, complex systems monitoring, product validation and simulation and object lifecycle management. As an emergent technology, its widespread implementation is increasing in several domains such as industrial, automotive, medicine, smart cities, etc. The objective of this systematic literature review is to present a comprehensive view on the DT technology and its implementation challenges and limits in the most relevant domains and applications in engineering and beyond.
A new mathematical formulation for the Cardiff nonlinear behavioral model is presented in this work which includes the dc bias voltages (drain and gate) into the model. It has been verified by ...modeling a GaN on SiC high electron mobility transistor (HEMT) at 3.5 GHz. For the case presented, interpolation of load-pull data has resulted in a more than 90% reduction in the density of the load-pull data required to generate a nonlinear behavioral model over a wide range of dc bias points.
This systematic review summarizes the current evidence related to the reliability of toenail total arsenic concentrations (thereafter “arsenic”) as a biomarker of long-term exposure. Specifically, we ...reviewed literature on consistency of repeated measures over time, association with other biomarkers and metal concentrations, factors influencing concentrations, and associations with health effects. We identified 129 papers containing quantitative original data on arsenic in toenail samples covering populations from 29 different countries. We observed geographic differences in toenail arsenic concentrations, with highest median or mean concentrations in Asian countries. Arsenic-contaminated drinking water, occupational exposure or living in specific industrial areas were associated with an increased toenail arsenic content. The effects of other potential determinants and sources of arsenic exposure including diet, gender and age on the concentrations in toenails need further investigations. Toenail arsenic was correlated with the concentrations in hair and fingernails, and with urine arsenic mainly among highly exposed populations with a toenail mean or median ≥1 μg/g. Overall, there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that arsenic content from a single toenail sample may reflect long-term internal dose-exposure. Toenail arsenic can serve as a reliable measure of toxic inorganic arsenic exposure in chronic disease research, particularly promising for cancer and cardiovascular conditions.
•Data suggests that a single toenail arsenic content indicates long-term exposure.•Available data show that toenail arsenic reflects a wide window of exposure.•Toenail arsenic correlates with concentrations in other exposure biomarkers.•A validated toenail processing protocol for toenail arsenic determination is needed.•Toenail arsenic may be an adequate exposure biomarker in chronic disease research.
This study centers on creating a real-time algorithm to estimate brain-to-brain synchronization during social interactions, specifically in collaborative and competitive scenarios. This type of ...algorithm can provide useful information in the educational context, for instance, during teacher-student or student-student interactions. Positioned within the context of neuroeducation and hyperscanning, this research addresses the need for biomarkers as metrics for feedback, a missing element in current teaching methods. Implementing the bispectrum technique with multiprocessing functions in Python, the algorithm effectively processes electroencephalography signals and estimates brain-to-brain synchronization between pairs of subjects during (competitive and collaborative) activities that imply specific cognitive processes. Noteworthy differences, such as higher bispectrum values in collaborative tasks compared to competitive ones, emerge with reliability, showing a total of 33.75% of significant results validated through a statistical test. While acknowledging progress, this study identifies areas of opportunity, including embedded operations, wider testing, and improved result visualization. Beyond academia, the algorithm's utility extends to classrooms, industries, and any setting involving human interactions. Moreover, the presented algorithm is shared openly, to facilitate implementations by other researchers, and is easily adjustable to other electroencephalography devices. This research not only bridges a technological gap but also contributes insights into the importance of interactions in educational contexts.
Wearable Biosensor Technology (WBT) has emerged as a transformative tool in the educational system over the past decade. This systematic review encompasses a comprehensive analysis of WBT utilization ...in educational settings over a 10-year span (2012-2022), highlighting the evolution of this field to address challenges in education by integrating technology to solve specific educational challenges, such as enhancing student engagement, monitoring stress and cognitive load, improving learning experiences, and providing real-time feedback for both students and educators. By exploring these aspects, this review sheds light on the potential implications of WBT on the future of learning. A rigorous and systematic search of major academic databases, including Google Scholar and Scopus, was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Relevant studies were selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The articles selected were assessed for methodological quality and bias using established tools. The process of data extraction and synthesis followed a structured framework. Key findings include the shift from theoretical exploration to practical implementation, with EEG being the predominant measurement, aiming to explore mental states, physiological constructs, and teaching effectiveness. Wearable biosensors are significantly impacting the educational field, serving as an important resource for educators and a tool for students. Their application has the potential to transform and optimize academic practices through sensors that capture biometric data, enabling the implementation of metrics and models to understand the development and performance of students and professors in an academic environment, as well as to gain insights into the learning process.
In open places, plants are exposed to higher fluence rates of photosynthetically active radiation and to higher red to far-red ratios than under the shade of neighbor plants. High fluence rates are ...known to increase stomata density. Here we show that high, compared to low, red to far-red ratios also increase stomata density in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). High red to far-red ratios increase the proportion of phytochrome B (phyB) in its active form and the phyB mutant exhibited a constitutively low stomata density. phyB increased the stomata index (the ratio between stomata and epidermal cells number) and the level of anphistomy (by increasing stomata density more intensively in the adaxial than in the abaxial face). phyB promoted the expression of FAMA and TOO MANY MOUTHS genes involved in the regulation of stomata development in young leaves. Increased stomata density resulted in increased transpiration per unit leaf area. However, phyB promoted photosynthesis rates only at high fluence rates of photosynthetically active radiation. In accordance to these observations, phyB reduced long-term water-use efficiency estimated by the analysis of isotopic discrimination against ¹³CO₂. We propose a model where active phyB promotes stomata differentiation in open places, allowing plants to take advantage of the higher irradiances at the expense of a reduction of water-use efficiency, which is compensated by a reduced leaf area.
Background and objective
The Asthma Insight and Management (AIM) survey was conducted in North America, Europe, the Asia‐Pacific region and Latin America to characterize patients’ insights, attitudes ...and perceptions about their asthma and its treatment. We report findings from the Asia‐Pacific survey.
Methods
Asthma patients (≥12 years) from Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand were surveyed. Patients answered 53 questions exploring general health, diagnosis/history, symptoms, exacerbations, patient burden, disease management, medications/treatments and patient's attitudes. The Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines were used to assess asthma control. The survey was conducted by random digit telephone dialling (Australia, China and Hong Kong) or by random face‐to‐face interviews (India, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand).
Results
There were 80 761 households screened. Data from 3630 patients were collected. Wide disparity existed between objective measures of control and patient perception. Reported exacerbations during the previous year ranged from 19% (Hong Kong) to 67% (India). Reported unscheduled urgent/emergency visits to a doctor's office/hospital/clinic in the previous year ranged from 15% (Hong Kong) to 46% (Taiwan). Patients who reported having controlled asthma in the previous month ranged from 27% (South Korea) to 84% (Taiwan). Substantial functional and emotional limitations due to asthma were identified by 13% (South Korea) to 78% (India) of patients.
Conclusions
Asthma has a profound impact on patients’ well‐being despite the availability of effective treatments and evidence‐based management guidelines. Substantial differences across the surveyed countries exist, suggesting unmet, country‐specific cultural and educational needs. A large proportion of asthma patients overestimate their level of control.
The 2011 AP‐AIM assessed asthma‐related patient attitudes, behaviours and clinical characteristics, and identified major differences in asthma outcomes and suboptimal management across the region.
Introduction:
Cannabis is the most widely used psychoactive substance among adolescents worldwide, and the age at which consumption begins to decrease. Cannabis use in adolescents is associated with ...a wide range of adverse consequences in adulthood including increased vulnerability to psychosis and other mental disorders, as well as suicidal ideation and attempt. The aim of this study is to extend understanding of the link between cannabis use and mental illness by examining whether cannabis use at early ages predicts transdiagnostic variables that are precursors to severe clinical diagnoses.
Methods:
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted. The sample was made up of 605 adolescents from 7th to 9th grades, with a mean age of 13.2 years (SD = 1.0, 47% girls). The variables evaluated were: anomalous perception of reality, intolerance of uncertainty, rumination, suicide attempt, hopelessness, and symptoms of depression and anxiety. The administration of the questionnaires was carried out in groups of 20 participants under the supervision of a researcher in a unique session of 1 hour.
Results:
Adolescent cannabis users scored higher on all variables assessed: anomalous perception of reality (Cohen’s d = .60), rumination (d = .48), intolerance of uncertainty (d = .11), suicidal attempt (affirmative answer: 25.9% of users vs 7.7% of non-users), hopelessness (d = .85), symptoms of depression (d = .80), and anxiety (d = .39). A binary logistic regression showed that the only variable uniquely related to cannabis use was hopelessness (Wald = 4.560, OR: 1.159, p = .033).
Conclusions:
Among some mental health risk factors, hopelessness appears uniquely related to cannabis use. Adolescents may use cannabis as a coping strategy for negative thoughts and emotions, or it may be a consequence of cannabis use. Future prevention programs should focus on preventing/treating modifiable factors such as hopelessness, and delaying cannabis use in specific subgroups of adolescents who experience pathologies such as depression or suicide attempts.
Asthma, a worldwide health problem, can be controlled if properly diagnosed and managed. Multinational surveys conducted in patients with asthma from 1998 to 2003 indicated that asthma was ...inadequately controlled. The Asthma Insight and Management (AIM) study represents the largest survey conducted on patients with asthma since 2003.
The objective of this study was to assess findings from the United States (US), Europe and Canada (EUCAN), Latin America (LA), and the Asia-Pacific (AP) region surveys to identify differences and similarities with earlier surveys on patients with asthma.
The US, EUCAN, LA, and AP AIM surveys conducted from 2009 to 2011 all used a common set of questions. Responses to these are reported as proportions of patients with asthma for each country individually, and as totals for all regions. Results are presented as mean/median proportions for US, EUCAN, LA, and AP survey populations individually. Global medians and the range of regional response values are also described.
A total of 10,302 patients or parents of adolescents with asthma were interviewed. Approximately one-quarter reported daytime symptoms daily or on most days over the previous 4 weeks. Globally, a median of 67% (range, 27%-88%) of patients perceived their asthma as completely and/or well controlled, but a median of only 9% (range, 0%-29%) of patients had well-controlled asthma using criteria from asthma guidelines. A majority (≥60%) of patients felt that quick-relief medication could be used daily if needed, contrary to guideline recommendations.
Patients exhibited a lack of knowledge and conviction for treatment recommendations and guidelines that was relatively uniform across the regions, similar to earlier survey findings. These results reveal an ongoing need for improvement in asthma care and education in most populations.
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