Search Results (365)

Background/Objectives: Cervical cancer is the second most common gynecological cancer worldwide, preventable through screening initiatives and vaccinations against its causative agent, anogenital human papillomavirus (HPV). This study aimed at measuring the coverage and uptake of the national HPV vaccination program launched in 2023 and implemented throughout Poland. Methods: This cross-sectional, observational study analyzed population data of adolescents in 11–13-year-old groups vaccinated in individual voivodeships (provinces) of Poland as provided by the National Health Fund and the Central Statistical Office. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The rate of HPV vaccination participation under the population program was 8.67%. In the analyzed age groups, in both sexes, no statistically significant correlation was observed between the population size at a given age and population coverage or participation in HPV vaccination. However, a positive relationship in vaccination coverage was observed in individuals previously vaccinated with one dose in subsequent age groups, indicating a continued willingness to receive vaccination with further doses. No statistically significant difference in population coverage changes across voivodeships was found between the number of doses within the urban population share vs. rural population share. Conclusions: Our results show that, at 1.5 years of implementation of the national HPV vaccination program, the coverage and uptake of the program is considerably insufficient. The intensive corrective actions indicated are required to pave this program forward towards optimum results. Full article

An optical camera-based integrated sensing and communication (OC-ISAC) system model is proposed to address the intrinsic requirements of vehicular-to-everything (V2X) applications in complex outdoor environments. The model enables the coexistence and potential mutual enhancement of environmental sensing and data transmission within the visible light spectrum. It characterizes the OC-ISAC channel by modeling how light, either actively emitted for communication or passively reflected from the environment, originating from any voxel in three-dimensional space, propagates to the image sensor and contributes to the observed pixel values. This framework is leveraged to systematically analyze the impact of camera imaging parameters, particularly exposure time, on the joint performance of sensing and communication. To address the resulting trade-off, we develop an analytically tractable suboptimal algorithm that determines a near-optimal exposure time in closed form. Compared with the exhaustive numerical search for the global optimum, the suboptimal algorithm reduces computational complexity from $O\left(N\right)$ to $O\left(1\right)$, while introducing only a modest average normalized deviation of 5.71%. Both theoretical analysis and experimental results confirm that, in high-speed communication or mobile sensing scenarios, careful selection of exposure time and explicit compensation for the camera’s low-pass filtering effect in receiver design are essential to achieving optimal dual-functional performance. Full article

At a 1550 nm wavelength, the optical sensitivity of conventional indium gallium arsenide (InGaAs)-based avalanche photodiodes (APDs) is restricted by their high excess noise, hindering their performance in long-range free-space optical communication links. Al_0.85Ga_0.15As_0.56Sb_0.44 (AlGaAsSb), lattice-matched to indium phosphide (InP) substrates, has a much lower excess noise factor than InP, the conventional avalanche material. In this work, we evaluated the performance of optical APD-TIA receivers utilizing InGaAs/AlGaAsSb APDs through simulations and experiments. Simulations confirmed their optimum gain is much higher than conventional APDs. InGaAs/AlGaAsSb APD dies and transimpedance amplifier (TIA) chips were integrated, yielding four optical receivers for experimental evaluation. At 2.5 Gb/s and BER = 10⁻⁹, these receivers operated at a high optimal gain of 56 (as predicted in simulations) and produced a mean sensitivity of −38.5 dBm, with the best sensitivity at −39.2 dBm. These sensitivity values are at least 2.7 (or, in the best case, 3.4) dB better than those of typical commercial receivers with InGaAs APDs. This work quantifies the significant performance improvement that InGaAs/AlGaAsSb APDs provide to long-range free-space optical communication links. Full article

Experimental optimization with surrogate models has received much attention for its efficiency recently in predicting the responses of the experimental optimum. However, with the development of multi-fidelity experiments with surrogate models such as Kriging, the traditional expected improvement (EI) in efficient global optimization (EGO) has suffered from limitations due to low efficiency. Only high-fidelity samples to be used in optimizing Kriging surrogate models are infilled, misleading the sequential sampling method in low-fidelity data sets. This recent theory based on multi-fidelity sequential infill sampling methods has gained much attention for balancing the selection of high- or low-fidelity data sets, but ignores the efficiency of sampling in experiments. This article proposes an Adaptive Sequential Infill Sampling (ASIS) method based on Bayesian inference for a multi-fidelity Hamilton Kriging model in the use of experimental optimization, aiming to address the efficiency of sequential sampling. The proposed method is demonstrated by two numerical simulations and one practical aero-engineering problem. The results verify the efficiency of the proposed method over other popular EGO methods in surrogate models, and ASIS can be useful for any other reliability engineering problems due to its efficiency. Full article

As part of non-terrestrial networks (NTN), the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) plays a critical role in supporting high-throughput wireless communication. However, the high-speed mobility of LEO satellites, coupled with the high density of user terminals, makes efficient user assignment crucial in maintaining overall wireless performance. The suboptimal assignment from LEO satellites to user terminals can result in frequent unnecessary handovers, rendering the user terminal unable to receive the entire downlink signal. Consequently, it reduces user rate and user satisfaction metrics. However, finding the optimum user assignment to reduce handover issues is categorized as a non-linear programming problem with a combinatorial number of possible solutions, resulting in excessive computational complexity. Therefore, this study proposes a distributed user assignment for the LEO networks. By utilizing message-passing frameworks that map the optimization problem into a graphical representation, the proposed algorithm splits the optimization problem into a local mapping issue, thereby significantly reducing computational complexity. By exchanging small messages iteratively, the proposed algorithm autonomously determines the near-optimal solution. The extensive simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm significantly outperforms the conventional algorithm in terms of user rate and user satisfaction metric under various wireless parameters. Full article

The application of dynamic vibration absorbers (DVAs) is a countermeasure to suppress vibrations induced by railway traffic. A key advantage of the DVA application is that it does not require any changes to the path of vibration propagation or the receiver of vibration. A review of the literature reveals the necessity of deriving the optimum properties of DVA to mitigate railway vibrations. To this end, the optimum DVA properties were investigated through the development of a two-dimensional finite element model of the track-tunnel-soil system. The model was validated using the results of a field test. A parametric study was made to obtain the optimum properties of DVA for different soils surrounding the tunnel. The results of the model analysis indicate that the DVA has better vibration reduction for metro tunnels built in soft soils as compared to those surrounded by medium and stiff soils. Also, the results disclose that the DVA reduces vibration radiated on the ground surface when the DVA natural frequency is tuned to a low frequency. Using the results of the parametric study, graphs are suggested to select the optimum properties of the DVA as a function of the soil around the tunnel. Full article

The diagnosis of early-stage osteoarthritis (eOA) is important in disease management and outcomes. Herein we report the clinical validation of a blood test for the diagnosis of eOA in a large patient cohort using trace-level glycated and oxidized amino acid analytes. Subjects were recruited and enrolled in two study groups: subjects with eOA of the hip (n = 110) and asymptomatic controls (n = 120). Their plasma was analyzed for glycated and oxidized amino acids by quantitative liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Algorithms were developed using plasma hydroxyproline and 12 glycated and oxidized amino acid analyte features to classify the subjects with eOA and asymptomatic controls. The accuracy was defined as the percentage of the subjects correctly classified in the test set validation. The minimum number of analyte features required for the optimum accuracy was five glycated amino acid analytes: N_ω-carboxymethyl-arginine, hydroimidazolones derived from glyoxal, methylglyoxal and 3-deoxyglucosone, and glucosepane. The classification performance metrics included an accuracy of 95%, sensitivity of 96%, specificity of 94%, area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic curve of 99%, and positive and negative predictive values of 94% and 97%. We concluded that an assay of five trace-level glycated amino acids present in plasma can provide a simple blood test for the screening of eOA. This is predicted to improve the case identification for expert referral 9-fold. Full article

Driven by advancements in communication technology, the Internet of Vehicles (IoV) has gained significant importance. Its capability for real-time information exchange and processing substantially enhances data transmission performance within multi-node distributed systems. Among core physical layer transmission technologies, beamforming and power allocation are crucial for optimizing system efficiency. However, the real-time joint optimization of the transmitter, receiver, and power allocation in MIMO-based IoV systems remains insufficiently addressed in existing research. To bridge this gap, this paper proposes a framework for the real-time joint optimization of beamforming and power allocation, aiming to maximize transmission efficiency while satisfying constant modulus constraints and power limitations. The proposed framework decomposes the problem and utilizes the CVX library to obtain a local optimum for the joint scheme. The simulation results show that compared with traditional beamforming methods, this scheme has better performance in multiple indicators, increasing the transmission rate of the system by 43%, having faster convergence speed, and improving spectral efficiency. Thus, this study achieves real-time joint optimization of MIMO beamforming and power allocation for IoV scenarios, providing crucial technical support for related designs. Full article

This study aims to illustrate the main aspects of designing a modular 120 GHz Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) sparse radar array (SRA) composed of multiple Single-Input Single-Output (SISO) Integrated Circuits (ICs). Although the scientific literature reports on 120 GHz integrated circuit prototypes, to the authors’ best knowledge, there are no commercial MIMO radars composed of multiple SISO ICs operating in the D-band spectrum. The design involves many challenges; indeed, the necessity to combine multiple chips with fixed dimensions and the presence of transmitting and receiving antennas on chips add many constraints for the antenna placement and, consequently, for the virtual array design. As an example, the minimum distance between the antennas must be at least equal to the chip width, which is in turn higher than half a wavelength and renders the array into a sparse configuration, thus raising many concerns regarding fixing the optimum inter-chip distance. Thus, this contribution can be considered as pioneering, being focused on the emerging concept of designing D-band MIMO radars by exploiting a modular approach. Full article

In order to enhance the performance of 112 Gb/s polarization-multiplexed quadrature phase-shift keying (PM-QPSK) coherent optical receivers, a novel digital signal processing (DSP) framework is presented in this study. The suggested method combines cutting-edge signal processing techniques to address important constraints in long-distance, high data rate coherent systems. The framework uses overlap frequency domain equalization (OFDE) for chromatic dispersion (CD) compensation, which offers a cheaper computational cost and higher dispersion control precision than traditional time-domain equalization. An adaptive carrier phase recovery (CPR) technique based on mean-squared differential phase (MSDP) estimation is incorporated to manage phase noise induced by cross-phase modulation (XPM), providing dependable correction under a variety of operating situations. When combined, these techniques significantly increase Q factor performance, and optimum systems can handle transmission distances of up to 2400 km. The suggested DSP approach improves phase stability and dispersion tolerance even in the presence of nonlinear impairments, making it a viable and effective choice for contemporary coherent optical networks. The framework’s competitiveness was evaluated by comparing it against the most recent, cutting-edge DSP methods that were released after 2021. These included CPR systems that were based on kernels, transformers, and machine learning. The findings show that although AI-driven approaches had the highest absolute Q factors, they also required a large amount of computing power. On the other hand, the suggested OFDE in conjunction with adaptive CPR achieved Q factors of up to 11.7 dB over extended distances with a significantly reduced DSP effort, striking a good balance between performance and complexity. Its appropriateness for scalable, long-haul 112 Gb/s PM-QPSK systems is confirmed by a complexity versus performance trade-off analysis, providing a workable and efficient substitute for more resource-intensive alternatives. Full article

Background/Objectives: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) includes significant feeding difficulties, behavioral issues, and communication deficits that are linked to serious medical complications and developmental challenges. The Brief Autism Mealtime Behavior Inventory (BAMBI) is a commonly used tool to screen for mealtime behavior problems in children with ASD; however, it lacks validation for use within the Greek-Cypriot population. The current study sought to present the translation, cultural adaptation, and validation of the BAMBI for Greek-Cypriot parents of children with ASD. Methods: Three bilingual experts translated the inventory into Greek, following the translation guidelines by the World Health Organization. The inventory was then administered to 117 parents: 42 children with ASD and 75 typically developing children. Principal Component Analysis was used to obtain the tool’s statistical reliability and validity. Results: BAMBI-Gr demonstrated strong internal consistency, as indicated by a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.755, and showed excellent test–retest reliability, with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.999. PCA identified three key factors: General Refusals, Refusing Food, and Autism-Related Features. Significant differences in BAMBI-Gr scores of the comparative group of parents of children with ASD and parents of typically developing children highlighted the tool’s sensitivity in detecting mealtime behavior problems. Receiver Operating Characteristics analysis set the cut-off points for optimum distinguishing of feeding problems at 46.00 (sensitivity 0.738, 1-specificity 0.000). Conclusions: The Greek-translated version of the BAMBI demonstrates validity and effectiveness as a parent-reported assessment tool for identifying feeding and mealtime difficulties in children with ASD. Full article

Background/Objectives: The prevalence of breast cancer (BC) is significant globally. The malignancy itself and the related treatments have a considerable impact on patients’ overall well-being. The adoption of e-health solutions for patients is increasing rapidly worldwide, since these innovative tools hold significant potential to positively impact the mental health and quality of life (QoL) of BC patients. However, their overall impact is still being explored, and further understanding and analysis are required. This review paper aims to present, quantify, and summarize the cumulative available randomized evidence on the state of the art of supportive interventions delivered via e-health applications for patients’ mental health and QoL before, during, and after BC treatment. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines in the Scopus and PubMed databases on 7 November 2024 to identify studies that utilized internet-based interventions in BC patients. The inclusion criteria were as follows: adult men and women (aged > 18 years) diagnosed with breast cancer (BC) who received patient-directed e-health interventions, compared to standard care or control interventions. The studies had to focus on outcomes such as quality of life (QoL), anxiety, depression, and distress, and be limited to randomized controlled trials (RCTs). The PRISMA-P guidelines were followed. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias (RoB) tool for randomized controlled trials. Results: A total of 27 randomized studies, involving 2898 patients, were included in this systematic review. The e-health interventions significantly affected patients’ anxiety (SMD = −0.80; 95% CI: −1.33 to −0.27; p < 0.01; and I² = 94%), depression (SMD = −0.74; 95% CI: −1.40 to −0.09; p = 0.026; and I² = 95%) and QoL (SMD = 0.65; 95% CI: 0.27 to 1.04; p < 0.01; and I² = 90%) but had no significant effect on distress (SMD = −0.78; 95% CI: −1.93 to 0.37; p = 0.184; and I² = 95%). Conclusions: This study showed that e-health interventions can improve QoL, reduce anxiety, and decrease depression in adult BC patients. However, no noticeable impact on reducing distress levels was observed. Additionally, given the diversity of interventions, these results should be interpreted with caution. To determine the optimum duration, validate different intervention approaches, and address methodological gaps in previous studies, more extensive clinical studies are needed. Full article

This manuscript introduces NeuroDetect, a model-free deep learning-based signal detection framework tailored for phase-modulated wireless systems with low-resolution analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). The proposed framework eliminates the need for explicit channel state information, which is typically difficult to acquire under coarse quantization. NeuroDetect utilizes a neural network architecture to learn the nonlinear relationship between quantized received signals and transmitted symbols directly from data. It achieves near-optimum performance, within a worst-case $12\%$ margin of the maximum likelihood detector that assumes perfect channel knowledge. We rigorously investigate the interplay between ADC resolution and detection accuracy, introducing novel penalty metrics that quantify the effects of both quantization and learning errors. Our results shed light on the design trade-offs between ADC resolution and detection accuracy, providing future directions for developing energy-efficient high-speed and wideband wireless systems. Full article

The behavior of joints and fasteners in fiber-epoxy composites has been researched for several decades, and many studies have demonstrated their performance in tension testing. These studies have focused nearly exclusively on synthetic fibers, such as carbon and glass. Meanwhile, natural fiber–epoxy composites have recently received considerable attention as load-bearing members, including as columns and beams. In order for individual members to be used to create structural systems, the behavior of mechanically fastened joints in natural fiber–epoxy composites needs to be thoroughly investigated. This paper presents an experimental program of 120 single-lap joints in flax–epoxy and jute–epoxy composites. Between one and three mechanical fasteners were used in the joints, and both bolts and rivets were investigated. A variety of geometric variables were investigated, relevant to joints between load-bearing members. The results are used to demonstrate the optimum strength of multi-fastener joints in natural fiber composite structural systems. It is shown that maximum joint efficiency is achieved with larger fastener-diameter-to-width ratios, three fasteners (located along the line of action of the force), and edge-distance-to-fastener-diameter ratios greater than 2.5. Full article

Fly ash (FA) is a porous solid waste produced by coal-fired power plants that can be used as a carrier for solid–liquid phase change materials (PCM). Due to the disadvantages of FA, including small adsorption capacity and poor thermal performance, its application range is limited. Therefore, FA modification methods have received increasing attention. Two modification methods were used to improve the adsorption capacity of FA. After the modification experiments, the surface structure of modified fly ash (MFA) was eroded, revealing a three-dimensional porous structure. The Al/Si mass ratio of the alkali-modified sample increased from 0.67 to 1.28, and the specific surface area and pore volume increased from 3.82 m²/g and 0.008 cm³/g to 40.86 m²/g and 0.026 cm³/g, respectively. The shape-stable phase change material (SSPCM) prepared using the hybrid sintering method of Al-12Si alloy and alkali-modified fly ash (MFA-OH) exhibits excellent thermal properties and thermal cycling stability. The results showed that the heat storage density and thermal conductivity of SSPCM increased with an increase in PCM content. The thermal conductivity and latent heat of phase change in the composite with the highest latent heat of phase change in the sample were 18.24 W/(m·K) and 124.10 J/g, respectively. The optimum loading rate for the alloy is 65 wt%. After 100 thermal cycles, the latent heat and thermal conductivity of the phase change at SSPCM were 93.3% and 94.6% of the initial values, respectively. The research findings provide a feasible process for FA as a phase change carrier, and the application scope is extended. Full article