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The purpose of this manuscript is to detect heart fault using Electrocardiogram. Mutually low and high frequency noises such as electromyography (EMG) and power line interference (PLI) degrades the performance of ECG signals.

The ECG record depicts the procedural electrical movement of the heart, which is non-invasive foot age obtained by placing surface electrodes on designated locations of the patient’s skin. The main concept of this manuscript is to present a novel filtering method to cancel the unwanted noises in ECG signal. Here, intrinsic time scale decomposition (ITD) is introduced to suppress the effect of PLI from ECG signals.

In the existing ITD, the gain control parameter is a constant value; however, in this paper it is an adaptive feature that varies according to certain constraints. Simulation outcomes show that the proposed method effectively reduces the effect of PLI and quantitatively express the effectiveness with different evaluation metrics.

The results found by the proposed method are compared with Fourier decomposition technique and eigen value decomposition methods (EDM) to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method.

The purpose of this paper is to exploit the multiple-Toeplitz matrices reconstruction method combined with quadratic spatial smoothing processing to improve the direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation performance of coherent signals at low signal-to-noise ratio (SNRs).

An improved multiple-Toeplitz matrices reconstruction method is proposed via quadratic spatial smoothing processing. Our proposed method takes advantage of the available information contained in the auto-covariance matrices of individual Toeplitz matrices and the cross-covariance matrices of different Toeplitz matrices, which results in a higher noise suppression ability.

Theoretical analysis and simulation results show that, compared with the existing Toeplitz matrix processing methods, the proposed method improves the DOA estimation performance in cases with a low SNR. Especially for the cases with a low SNR and small snapshot number as well as with closely spaced sources, the proposed method can achieve much better performance on estimation accuracy and resolution probability.

The study investigates the possibility of reusing pre-existing designs for the DOA estimation of the coherent signals. The proposed technique enables achieve good estimation performance at low SNRs.

The paper includes implications for the DOA problem at low SNRs in communication systems.

The proposed method proved to be useful for the DOA estimation at low SNR.

This study aims to investigate the optimal process parameters of the wire-cut electrical discharge machining (WCEDM) for the machining of the GZR-AA7475 hybrid metal matrix composite (HMMC). HMMCs are prepared with 2 Wt.% graphite and 4 Wt.% zirconium dioxide reinforced with aluminium alloy 7475 (GZR-AA7475) composite by using the stir casting method. The objective is to enhance the mechanical properties of the material while preserving its unique features. WCEDM with a 0.18 mm molybdenum wire electrode is used for machining the composite.

To conduct experimental studies, a Taguchi L27 orthogonal array was adopted. Input variables such as peak current (I_p), pulse-on-time (T_ON) and flushing pressure (P_F) were used. The effect of process parameters on the output responses, such as material removal rate (MRR), surface roughness rate (SRR) and wire wear ratio (WWR), were investigated. The grey relational analysis (GRA) is used to obtain the optimal combination of the process parameters. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was also used to identify the significant process parameters affecting the output responses.

Results from the current study concluded that the optimal condition for grey relational grade is obtained at T_ON = 105 µs, I_p = 100 A and P_F = 90 kg/cm². Peak current is the most prominent parameter influencing the MRR, whereas SRR and WRR are highly influenced by flushing pressure.

Identifying the optimal process parameters in WCEDM for machining of GZR-AA7475 HMMC. ANOVA and GRA are used to obtain the optimal combination of the process parameters.

Confidence intervals play a crucial role in economics and finance, providing a credible range of values for an unknown parameter along with a corresponding level of certainty. Their applications encompass economic forecasting, market research, financial forecasting, econometric analysis, policy analysis, financial reporting, investment decision-making, credit risk assessment and consumer confidence surveys. Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) finds applications in economics and finance across various domains such as economic forecasting, financial modeling, market analysis and risk assessment. A high SNR indicates a robust and dependable signal, simplifying the process of making well-informed decisions. On the other hand, a low SNR indicates a weak signal that could be obscured by noise, so decision-making procedures need to take this into serious consideration. This research focuses on the development of confidence intervals for functions derived from the SNR and explores their application in the fields of economics and finance.

The construction of the confidence intervals involved the application of various methodologies. For the SNR, confidence intervals were formed using the generalized confidence interval (GCI), large sample and Bayesian approaches. The difference between SNRs was estimated through the GCI, large sample, method of variance estimates recovery (MOVER), parametric bootstrap and Bayesian approaches. Additionally, confidence intervals for the common SNR were constructed using the GCI, adjusted MOVER, computational and Bayesian approaches. The performance of these confidence intervals was assessed using coverage probability and average length, evaluated through Monte Carlo simulation.

The GCI approach demonstrated superior performance over other approaches in terms of both coverage probability and average length for the SNR and the difference between SNRs. Hence, employing the GCI approach is advised for constructing confidence intervals for these parameters. As for the common SNR, the Bayesian approach exhibited the shortest average length. Consequently, the Bayesian approach is recommended for constructing confidence intervals for the common SNR.

This research presents confidence intervals for functions of the SNR to assess SNR estimation in the fields of economics and finance.

The criteria importance through intercriteria correlation (CRITIC) and range of value (ROV) combined methods were used to determine a single index for all multiple responses.

This paper used cold metal transfer (CMT) and pulse metal-inert gas (MIG) welding processes to study the weld-on-bead geometry of AA2099-T86 alloy. This study used Taguchi's approach to find the optimal setting of the input welding parameters. The welding current, welding speed and contact-tip-to workpiece distance were the input welding parameters for finding the output responses, i.e. weld penetration, dilution and heat input. The L9 orthogonal array of Taguchi's approach was used to find out the optimal setting of the input parameters.

The optimal input welding parameters were determined with combined output responses. The predicted optimum welding input parameters were validated through confirmation tests. Analysis of variance showed that welding speed is the most influential factor in determining the weld bead geometry of the CMT and pulse MIG welding techniques.

The heat input and weld bead geometry are compared in both welding processes. The CMT welding samples show superior defect-free weld beads than pulse MIG welding due to lesser heat input and lesser dilution.

In this study, experimental studies were carried out using different process parameters of the soft pneumatic gripper (SPG) fabricated by the fused deposition modeling method. In the experimental studies, the surface quality of the gripper was examined by determining four different levels and factors. The experiment was designed to estimate the surface roughness of the SPG.

The methodology consists of an experimental phase in which the SPG is fabricated and the surface roughness is measured. Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) flex filament material was used in the fabrication of SPG. The control factors used in the Taguchi L16 vertical array experimental design and their level values were determined. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to observe the effect of printing parameters on the surface quality. Finally, regression analysis was applied to mathematically model the surface roughness values obtained from the experimental measurements.

Based on the Taguchi signal-to-noise ratio and ANOVA, layer height is the most influential parameter for surface roughness. The best surface quality value was obtained with a surface roughness value of 18.752 µm using the combination of 100 µm layer height, 2 mm wall thickness, 200 °C nozzle temperature and 120 mm/s printing speed. The developed model predicted the surface roughness of SPG with 95% confidence intervals.

It is essential to examine the surface quality of parts fabricated in additive manufacturing using different variables. In the literature, surface roughness has been examined using different factors and levels. However, the surface roughness of a soft gripper fabricated with TPU material has not been examined previously. The surface quality of parts fabricated using flexible materials is very important.

This study aims to provide a response to the commentary by Yuan on the paper “Marketing or Methodology” in this issue of EJM.

Conceptual argument and statistical discussion.

The authors find that some of Yuan’s arguments are incorrect, or unclear. Further, rather than contradicting the authors’ conclusions, the material provided by Yuan in his commentary actually provides additional reasons to avoid partial least squares (PLS) in marketing research. As such, Yuan’s commentary is best understood as additional evidence speaking against the use of PLS in real-world research.

This rejoinder, coupled with Yuan’s comment, continues to support the strong implication that researchers should avoid using PLS in marketing and related research.

Marketing researchers should avoid using PLS in their work.

This rejoinder supports the earlier conclusions of “Marketing or Methodology,” with additional argumentation and evidence.

The natural control, feedback, stimuli and protection of these subsequent principles founded this project. Via properly conducted experiments, a multilayer computer rehabilitation system was created that integrated natural interaction assisted by electroencephalogram (EEG), which enabled the movements in the virtual environment and real wheelchair. For blind wheelchair operator patients, this paper involved of expounding the proper methodology. For educating the value of life and independence of blind wheelchair users, outcomes have proven that virtual reality (VR) with EEG signals has that potential.

Individuals face numerous challenges with many disorders, particularly when multiple dysfunctions are diagnosed and especially for visually effected wheelchair users. This scenario, in reality, creates in a degree of incapacity on the part of the wheelchair user in terms of performing simple activities. Based on their specific medical needs, confined patients are treated in a modified method. Independent navigation is secured for individuals with vision and motor disabilities. There is a necessity for communication which justifies the use of VR in this navigation situation. For the effective integration of locomotion besides, it must be under natural guidance. EEG, which uses random brain impulses, has made significant progress in the field of health. The custom of an automated audio announcement system modified to have the help of VR and EEG for the training of locomotion and individualized interaction of wheelchair users with visual disability is demonstrated in this study through an experiment. Enabling the patients who were otherwise deemed incapacitated to participate in social activities, as the aim was to have efficient connections.

To protect their life straightaway and to report all these disputes, the military system should have high speed, more precise portable prototype device for nursing the soldier health, recognition of solider location and report about health sharing system to the concerned system. Field programmable gate array (FPGA)-based soldier’s health observing and position gratitude system is proposed in this paper. Reliant on heart rate which is centered on EEG signals, the soldier’s health is observed on systematic bases. By emerging Verilog hardware description language (HDL) programming language and executing on Artix-7 development FPGA board of part name XC7ACSG100t the whole work is approved in a Vivado Design Suite. Classification of different abnormalities and cloud storage of EEG along with the type of abnormalities, artifact elimination, abnormalities identification based on feature extraction, exist in the segment of suggested architecture. Irregularity circumstances are noticed through developed prototype system and alert the physically challenged (PHC) individual via an audio announcement. An actual method for eradicating motion artifacts from EEG signals that have anomalies in the PHC person’s brain has been established, and the established system is a portable device that can deliver differences in brain signal variation intensity. Primarily the EEG signals can be taken and the undesirable artifact can be detached, later structures can be mined by discrete wavelet transform these are the two stages through which artifact deletion can be completed. The anomalies in signal can be noticed and recognized by using machine learning algorithms known as multirate support vector machine classifiers when the features have been extracted using a combination of hidden Markov model (HMM) and Gaussian mixture model (GMM). Intended for capable declaration about action taken by a blind person, these result signals are protected in storage devices and conveyed to the controller. Pretending daily motion schedules allows the pretentious EEG signals to be caught. Aimed at the validation of planned system, the database can be used and continued with numerous recorded signals of EEG. The projected strategy executes better in terms of re-storing theta, delta, alpha and beta complexes of the original EEG with less alteration and a higher signal to noise ratio (SNR) value of the EEG signal, which illustrates in the quantitative analysis. The projected method used Verilog HDL and MATLAB software for both formation and authorization of results to yield improved results. Since from the achieved results, it is initiated that 32% enhancement in SNR, 14% in mean squared error (MSE) and 65% enhancement in recognition of anomalies, hence design is effectively certified and proved for standard EEG signals data sets on FPGA.

The proposed system can be used in military applications as it is high speed and excellent precise in terms of identification of abnormality, the developed system is portable and very precise. FPGA-based soldier’s health observing and position gratitude system is proposed in this paper. Reliant on heart rate which is centered on EEG signals the soldier health is observed in systematic bases. The proposed system is developed using Verilog HDL programming language and executing on Artix-7 development FPGA board of part name XC7ACSG100t and synthesised using in Vivado Design Suite software tool.

Images taken from construction site interiors often suffer from low illumination and poor natural colors, which restrict their application for high-level site management purposes. The state-of-the-art low-light image enhancement method provides promising image enhancement results. However, they generally require a longer execution time to complete the enhancement. This study aims to develop a refined image enhancement approach to improve execution efficiency and performance accuracy.

To develop the refined illumination enhancement algorithm named enhanced illumination quality (EIQ), a quadratic expression was first added to the initial illumination map. Subsequently, an adjusted weight matrix was added to improve the smoothness of the illumination map. A coordinated descent optimization algorithm was then applied to minimize the processing time. Gamma correction was also applied to further enhance the illumination map. Finally, a frame comparing and averaging method was used to identify interior site progress.

The proposed refined approach took around 4.36–4.52 s to achieve the expected results while outperforming the current low-light image enhancement method. EIQ demonstrated a lower lightness-order error and provided higher object resolution in enhanced images. EIQ also has a higher structural similarity index and peak-signal-to-noise ratio, which indicated better image reconstruction performance.

The proposed approach provides an alternative to shorten the execution time, improve equalization of the illumination map and provide a better image reconstruction. The approach could be applied to low-light video enhancement tasks and other dark or poor jobsite images for object detection processes.

The purpose of this review paper is to address the substantial challenges of the outdated exoskeletons used for rehabilitation and further study the current advancements in this field. The shortcomings and technological developments in sensing the input signals to enable the desired motions, actuation, control and training methods are explained for further improvements in exoskeleton research.

Search platforms such as Web of Science, IEEE, Scopus and PubMed were used to collect the literature. The total number of recent articles referred to in this review paper with relevant keywords is filtered to 143.

Exoskeletons are getting smarter often with the integration of various modern tools to enhance the effectiveness of rehabilitation. The recent applications of bio signal sensing for rehabilitation to perform user-desired actions promote the development of independent exoskeleton systems. The modern concepts of artificial intelligence and machine learning enable the implementation of brain–computer interfacing (BCI) and hybrid BCIs in exoskeletons. Likewise, novel actuation techniques are necessary to overcome the significant challenges seen in conventional exoskeletons, such as the high-power requirements, poor back drivability, bulkiness and low energy efficiency. Implementation of suitable controller algorithms facilitates the instantaneous correction of actuation signals for all joints to obtain the desired motion. Furthermore, applying the traditional rehabilitation training methods is monotonous and exhausting for the user and the trainer. The incorporation of games, virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies in exoskeletons has made rehabilitation training far more effective in recent times. The combination of electroencephalogram and electromyography-based hybrid BCI is desirable for signal sensing and controlling the exoskeletons based on user intentions. The challenges faced with actuation can be resolved by developing advanced power sources with minimal size and weight, easy portability, lower cost and good energy storage capacity. Implementation of novel smart materials enables a colossal scope for actuation in future exoskeleton developments. Improved versions of sliding mode control reported in the literature are suitable for robust control of nonlinear exoskeleton models. Optimizing the controller parameters with the help of evolutionary algorithms is also an effective method for exoskeleton control. The experiments using VR/AR and games for rehabilitation training yielded promising results as the performance of patients improved substantially.

Robotic exoskeleton-based rehabilitation will help to reduce the fatigue of physiotherapists. Repeated and intention-based exercise will improve the recovery of the affected part at a faster pace. Improved rehabilitation training methods like VR/AR-based technologies help in motivating the subject.

The paper describes the recent methods for signal sensing, actuation, control and rehabilitation training approaches used in developing exoskeletons. All these areas are key elements in an exoskeleton where the review papers are published very limitedly. Therefore, this paper will stand as a guide for the researchers working in this domain.