The COVID19 pandemic had a major impact on emergency medical communication centres (EMCC). A live video facility was made available to second-line physicians in an EMCC with a first-line paramedic to receive emergency calls. The objective of this study was to measure the contribution of live video to remote medical triage. The single-centre retrospective study included all telephone assessments of patients with suspected COVID19 symptoms from 01.04.2020 to 30.04.2021 in Geneva, Switzerland. The organisation of the EMCC and the characteristics of patients who called the two emergency lines (official emergency number and COVID19 number) with suspected COVID19 symptoms were described. A prospective web-based survey of physicians was conducted during the same period to measure the indications, limitations and impact of live video on their decisions. 8,957 patients were included. 2,157 (48.0%) of the 4,493 patients assessed on the official emergency number had dyspnoea. 4,045 (90.6%) of 4,464 patients assessed on the COVID19 number had flu-like symptoms. 1,798 (20.1%) patients were reassessed remotely by a physician, including 405 (22.5%) with live video, successfully in 315 (77.8%) attempts. The web-based survey (107 forms) showed that physicians used live video to assess mainly the breathing (81.3%) and general condition (78.5%) of patients. They felt that their decision was modified in 75.7% (n=81) of cases, and caught 7 (7.7%) patients in life-threatening emergency. Medical triage decisions for suspected COVID19 patients are strongly influenced by the use of live video.

Monitoring crown closure evolution using multi-temporal Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) surveys is a method that we expect to be increasingly adopted given the availability of LiDAR sensors and the accumulating survey archives. However, little attention was devoted to comparing crown closure estimates from independent surveys. Although survey parameters cannot be modified after the data collection, we speculate that the error associated to crown closure estimates comparison can be reduced by selecting optimal post-survey parameters. In this study, we compared crown closure estimates of three airborne LiDAR surveys from 2018 (40 pt/m²) used as a reference, and two lower-density surveys from 2016 (4.5 pt/m²) and 2018 (2 pt/m²). We studied the effect of the height threshold used to separate canopy points and the grid resolution, using skewness and variance of lagged difference of crown closure. Crown closure estimates using low height thresholds were more different across surveys, resulting in higher root mean squared error (RMSE), bias and more different variograms. Results show that optimal height threshold was 3 m and grid resolution was 25 m, although there was room for decision (RMSE of 7% and 5%, and bias of 4% and 0% for 2016 and 2018 low-density surveys).

The main theme of this work is to present the results and conclusions of a study conducted to explore the feasibility and efficiency of the crop area and crop production estimations in the context of small farming systems for food security, assisted by Remote Sensing (RS) technology. The study carried out in the three selected Greek prefectures of Ileia, Larisa and Imathia (NUTS-3) and focused on the development and testing of RS methods and classification techniques used in the production of land and crop cover maps. The purpose was to unveil the role of small farming plots (less than 5 ha) in a food security context and determine their contribution in estimating the crop area, the production, and the spatial distribution, factors which remain unclear, mainly because the official statistical offices rarely include them in the surveys, particularly in the non-developed countries. The efficiency of using and combining Sentinel satellite images acquired during the spring-summer season of 2017 with field surveys implemented on stratified samples of square segments for crop area estimations was assessed. The produced results show good classification accuracies for several key-crops under small scale farming systems with various environmental and territorial conditions. Noteworthy, the satellite data and derived products can be effectively used for stratification purposes and a posteriori correction of crop area estimates from ground observations. The knowledge of the unbiased crop area estimation is a key element for the estimation of the total crop production and, therefore, the management of crop products. The unbiased crop area computation and the crop production estimates was performed only for the highly accurate key-crop products (FScore > 75\%). Then, the key-crop production in each region was determined by using the estimated self-reported crop yields multiplied by the corresponding key-crop area of the small farming plots. The derived results indicate that small farming plots make an important contribution in the integration of the key-crop production of the selected crops with the official statistical data. Finally, potential changes occurred in the cultivation of small plots from the previous cultivation year in the key-crop areas of the same key-crop products of the three regions considered were also estimated (and mapped) by the Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) of the Greek Integrated Administration and Control System (IACS) and agree with those reported by the official statistics.

Surface waves generated by Extra-Tropical Cyclones (ETCs) can significantly affect shipping, fishing, offshore oil and gas production and other marine activities. This paper presents results of satellite-data-based investigation of wind waves generated by two North Atlantic ETCs. These ETCs were fast-moving systems, inhibiting resonance (synchronism) between the group velocity of the generated waves and the ETC translation velocity. For these cases, the wave generation begins when the front-boundary of the storm appears at a given ocean location point. Since developing waves are slow, they move backward relative to the storm, grow in time, and then leave the ETC stormy area through the rear sector. Multi-satellite observations confirm such a paradigm, and reveal that the storm regions is filled up with young developing wind waves which are most developed in the rear-right sector. As observed, the energy of these waves was growing in time during the ETC life span. It is demonstrated that the extended-fetch concept (inherent for Tropical Cyclones) does not apply for ETC. Instead, by analogy, the concept of extended-duration wave growth concept is more relevant. Satellite observations well confirm the validity of duration-laws for waves generated by ETCs, and demonstrate that extended-fetch regime for observing waves can only asymptotically be achieved, - at time intervals exceeding the lifespan of considered ETCs.

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) in healthcare is transforming chronic disease management and pandemic response, particularly for vulnerable populations such as the elderly and those with multiple chronic conditions. This review systematically examines the current applications of AI and IoT technologies in managing chronic diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), alongside their role in enhancing healthcare response during the COVID-19 pandemic. Key findings demonstrate significant improvements in patient outcomes, including enhanced glycemic control in diabetes management, early detection of cardiovascular anomalies, and a reduction in hospital admissions for chronic disease patients through AI-enabled remote monitoring. Despite these advancements, challenges remain, including data security, algorithmic bias, and the high cost of implementing AI and IoT systems. This review explores future directions for overcoming these obstacles, emphasizing the potential of multi-dimensional data integration, real-time predictive analytics, and personalized AI models to further revolutionize healthcare. Additionally, the accompanying Graphic Abstract visually illustrates how AI-driven insights, generated from IoT-enabled devices, are transforming healthcare delivery by facilitating real-time monitoring, personalized interventions, and proactive patient care. The article concludes with recommendations for addressing the technological, ethical, and regulatory challenges that must be overcome to fully realize the potential of AI and IoT in healthcare.

In a previous companion study, satellite data were used to describe peculiar characteristics of ocean surface wave fields, generated by two extra-tropical cyclones (ETCs) rapidly propagating in the North Atlantic. Based on a 2D parametric wave model, further details are now provided to analyse and interpret the spatio-temporal evolution of ETC very intense generated waves. Significant wave height and wavelength values are shown to reach extreme values, 18 m and 500 m, respectively. Resulting energetic swell systems waves then radiate in the whole eastern part of North Atlantic, and more particularly in the Norwegian sea region. Moving to higher latitudes, wind forcing characteristics of ETCs evolve, with the shape of the wind field changing from quasi-cyclonic to "air jets/Icelandic lows". In this paper, the resulting swell generation and propagation, after the deformation of an individual ETC, are studied, as well. Confirmed with comparisons with multi-satellite observations, the application of the parametric-2D wave-ray model is demonstrated to provide robust and highly detailed information on wave generation under very complex wind regime changes.

Modern organizations have migrated from localized physical offices to work-from-home environments. This surge in remote work culture has exponentially increased the demand and usage of Virtual Private Network (VPN), which permits remote employees to access corporate offices effectively. However, the technology raise concerns including security threats, latency, throughput, and scalability, among others. These Newer generation threats are more complex and frequent, which makes the legacy approach to security ineffective. The research paper gives an overview of contemporary technologies used across enterprises including VPN and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), Proxy Servers, Secure Shell (SSH) Tunnels, Software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN), and Secure Access Service Edge (SASE). This paper also presents a comprehensive cybersecurity framework named Zero Trust VPN (ZTVPN), which is a VPN solution based on Zero Trust principles. The proposed framework is aimed to enhance IT security and privacy for modern enterprises in remote work environments and addresses concerns of latency, throughput, scalability, and security. Finally, the paper demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed framework in various enterprise scenarios, highlighting its ability to prevent data leaks, manage access permissions, and provide seamless security transitions. The findings underscore the importance of adopting ZTVPN to fortify cybersecurity frameworks, offering an effective protection tool against contemporary cyber threats. This research serves as a valuable reference for organizations aiming to enhance their security posture in an increasingly hostile threat landscape.

Telemedicine has emerged as a transformative tool in modern healthcare, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, which catalyzed its rapid expansion. Despite its demonstrated potential in enhancing remote patient monitoring, AI-driven diagnostics, and telepsychiatry, widespread adoption of telemedicine remains constrained by persistent barriers. This review examines the current state of telemedicine, identifying major advancements alongside key challenges that impede its full integration into global healthcare systems. These barriers include the digital divide, regulatory inconsistencies across regions, and patient concerns about data security and the quality of virtual care. Addressing these issues requires a coordinated multi-sectoral approach, emphasizing infrastructure development, regulatory harmonization, patient education, and the incorporation of emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain, and virtual reality. By overcoming these challenges, telemedicine can be established as a cornerstone of equitable, accessible, and patient-centered healthcare worldwide.

Research question/problem: This comprehensive review and comparative analysis aims to investigate the significance of enhancing oxygen provision in the context of COVID-19, focusing on the implications for healthcare policies and services.Background/context: The study addresses the shift in the oxygen dissociation curve of blood in COVID-19 patients, emphasizing the impact on oxygen delivery to tissues and the challenges it poses for clinical management. It also explores the disruption of healthcare systems due to the pandemic and the integration of social determinants of health in clinical environments.Methodology: The research incorporates a thorough literature review, comparative analysis of diverse approaches to oxygen delivery, and examination of successful interventions through case studies and best practices. Data collection techniques include the review of scholarly articles, case studies, and policy documents.Results/Key findings: The study highlights the imperative for augmented oxygen supply and the significance of maintaining appropriate oxygen saturation levels, especially in the context of respiratory illnesses like COVID-19. It also emphasizes the positive correlation between increased oxygen saturation levels and life expectancy, indicating potential health benefits of enhanced oxygen availability.Conclusions/Implications: The findings underscore the need for a structured approach to oxygen therapy and the importance of equitable distribution of oxygen to underserved regions. The implications of the research extend to enhancing healthcare policies and services regarding oxygen provision during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in rural and remote areas.

Synthetic Aperture RADAR (SAR) is a radar imaging technique in which the relative motion of the sensor is used to synthesize a very long antenna and obtain high spatial resolution. Standard SAR raw data processing techniques assume uniform motion of the satellite (or aerial vehicle) and a fixed antenna beam pointing sideway orthogonally to the motion path, assumed rectilinear. Despite SAR data processing is a well established imaging technology that has become fundamental in several fields and applications, in this paper a novel approach has been used to exploit coherent illumination, demonstrating the possibility of extracting a large part of the ancillary data information from the raw data itself, to be used in the focusing procedure. In this work an effort has been carried out to try to focus the raw SAR complex data matrix without the knowledge of anyof the parameters needed in standard focusing procedures as Range Doppler (RD) algorithm, ω - K algorithm and Chirp Scaling (CS) algorithm. All the literature references regarding the algorithms needed to obtain a precise image from raw data use such parameters that refer both to the SAR system acquisition geometry and its radiometric specific parameters. In [12], authors introduced a preliminary work dealing with this problem and able to obtain, in the presence of a strong point scatterer in the observed scene, good quality images, if compared to the standard processing techniques. In this work the proposed technique is described and performances parameters are extracted to compare the proposed approach to RD.

Recent technological advancements in produced water for the oil and gas industry have a long history that spreads over centuries and has roots with many mathematicians, physicists, engineers, and inventors. Working to understand the many ideas and questions has helped to bring the produced water technologies to where we are today. Fluid mechanics is an essential factor in the world of engineering because it comes with significant benefits when designing the necessary equipment to overcome the challenging endeavors of daily operations. Many of us believe certain ideas or products were developed within a specific year not fully understanding the idea or concept might be hundreds of years old. For example, when we think of fluid mechanics, we do not think of Archimedes' immersing King Hiero II crown in water. Archimedes did this to determine the displacement of the water as he knew gold was denser than silver. Archimedes was one of the pioneers who was part of the beginning of fluid mechanics. Another interesting fact is the first valve invented was in 1 AD by Heron of Alexandria. This valve can be described as the very first hydraulic valve. The evolution of technology over hundreds of years has made considerable innovations benefiting engineers all over the world. These innovations come in the form of PLCs, RTUs, PIDs, mathematical formulas, processing methods, and SCADA systems.