bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Indian Real-world Evidence of Rivaroxaban Use in Coronary Artery Disease – A Prospective Observational Cohort Study (IN-RECORD): Study Design and Baseline Characteristics
Authors: Jayagopal P. B. , Raghuraman Bagirath , Khetan Anup , Magarkar Vilas , Premchand Rajendra Kumar , Ezhilan J. , Sharma Vinod , Kumar A. Sreenivas , Dabhade Dhammdeep , Shewale Rishikesh , Suryawanshi Sachin , Vikneswaran G.
Published: December 2023

Background:

Antiplatelet therapy (APT) is the cornerstone for cardiovascular (CV) prevention in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). However, there is potential for greater effectiveness in vascular prevention for patients with stable CAD or peripheral artery disease (PAD) through the use of rivaroxaban alone or in combination with aspirin, surpassing the benefits offered by aspirin alone.

Materials and Methods:

INdian Real world EvidenCe Of Rivaroxaban use in coronary artery Disease – A prospective observational cohort study (IN-RECORD) study is designed as a prospective, observational study. The objective of this study is to compare the real-world effectiveness and safety of rivaroxaban in combination with APT (dual pathway inhibition therapy [DPIT]) versus dual APT (DAPT) in Indian patients with CAD and peripheral arterial disease (PAD). The study will encompass multiple clinical sites across the Indian geography. The study’s primary outcome is the comparison of net clinical benefit between the two groups which is defined as the composite of effectiveness (reduction in incidence of CV death, stroke, and myocardial infarction [MI]) and safety (life-threatening or fatal bleeding).

Results:

From June 2021 to December 2022, we enrolled 374 patients from the participating sites from India. We enrolled 225 and 149 patients in the DAPT and DPIT groups, respectively. The mean observed age and weight at the baseline were 63.05 ± 10.09 years and 64.15 ± 11.43 kg, respectively. There was a male preponderance observed in the enrolled patients (males: 86.63%, females: 13.37%). The most frequent comorbidity observed in CAD patients was hypertension, followed by diabetes and MI. At baseline, a significant percentage of patients were taking antiplatelet medications besides aspirin.

Conclusion:

IN-RECORD will provide information on the efficacy and safety of rivaroxaban in combination with APT versus APT in the Indian patient population in real-life clinical scenario.
Successful Use of Angiotensin Receptor–Neprilysin Inhibitor along with Intravenous Inotropes, in a Postcardiac Surgery Child with an Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery Repair
Authors: Rajeev Meera , Sahu Manoj Kumar , Singh Ummed , Singh Sarvesh Pal , Satsanghi Amitabh , Talwar Sachin
Published: December 2023

Treating heart failure (HF) in postoperative congenital cardiac repair in children with an anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a daunting task. Regular anti-failure measures with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors may become inadequate or resistant in certain situations. Angiotensin receptor–neprilysin inhibitor (ARNI) in place of ACE inhibitors can be an alternative to help these postcardiac surgical children convalesce better. Sacubitril/valsartan is an ARNI-approved treatment for HF in adults, and in pediatric HF patients, it is showing promising benefits. However, in postcardiac surgical children with HF, its effects are not known. We used ARNI successfully in one of our postcardiac surgical infants with ALCAPA repair in HF, and we describe this case here.
Autonomic Neuropathy in Ambulatory Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients: A Single-arm Prospective, Observational Study
Authors: Saha Kaustav , Mukherjee Shatavisa , Maiti Animesh , Tripathi Santanu Kumar
Published: December 2023

Introduction:

Diabetic autonomic neuropathy (DAN), a serious complication of diabetes, is a significant contributor to increased morbidity and mortality. Although DAN often coexists with different peripheral neuropathies and other complications, it may also present in isolation. The present study aimed to understand the DAN status of a cohort of ambulatory type 2 diabetics in a tertiary care setting.

Methods:

A single-arm prospective observational study was carried out, where enrolled patients were interviewed for basic demographics and comorbidities, screened for symptoms of autonomic dysregulation, and other risk factors such as smoking and alcoholism. Based on the presence of overt symptoms, they were divided into two groups with or without any overt symptoms of autonomic neuropathy. Both groups were subjected to a battery of autonomic neuropathy tests, and their DAN status was characterized based on the observed scores.

Results:

The overall prevalence of DAN, as observed in our study, was 36%. Of 108 patients, 97 presented with one or more symptoms of autonomic dysregulation, whereas the rest, 10.1%, were without any symptoms. Among heart rate-based tests, a significant (P < 0.001) decrease followed by an increase in the Valsalva ratio was observed in 6 months and 12 months, respectively. A significant decrease (P < 0.001) in deep breathing test (E: I) values was observed in the 12th month. Most of the DAN patients presented with moderate autonomic dysfunction, followed by mild and severe, respectively. However, no significant change in DAN severity was noted with time.

Conclusion:

Using simple cardiovascular tests, DAN can be detected during the asymptomatic phase of the disease.
Cor triatriatum with Partial Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection: Role of Multimodal Imaging
Authors: Mital Tanya , Das Sambhunath , Devagourou V.
Published: December 2023

Both cor triatriatum (CorT) and partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection (PAPVC) come under the rare spectrum of congenital heart diseases. These entities may coexist in a patient or may appear independent of each other. The diagnosis is established routinely by echocardiography. Here, we describe the case of a 45-year-old female presenting with exertional dyspnea and palpitations. She was diagnosed to have CorT in the preoperative echocardiography; later, intraoperatively, transesophageal echocardiography revealed the additional presence of PAPVC with CorT. This case report highlights the limitations of echocardiographic findings in the patient and the importance of multimodal imaging techniques in such situations.
Acute Psychological Stress, Coronary Artery Spasm, Iatrogenic Coronary Dissection, In-stent Restenosis, and Atherosclerosis: A Rare Association of Multiple Etiologies for Recurrent Acute Coronary Syndrome
Authors: Jariwala Pankaj , Kulkarni Gururaj Pramod , Gude Dilip , Boorugu Hari Kishan , Punjani Arshad
Published: December 2023

Nonobstructive coronary artery lesions are seen in two-thirds of patients with angina and verified ischemia using a stress test who undergo coronary angiography. Ischaemia with no obstructed coronary artery disease (INOCA) is becoming more well recognized as a significant medical illness due to its relationship to decreased quality of life and an increased risk of cardiac events. This association between acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and high levels of psychological stress has been thoroughly investigated, and it has been found to be substantial. The microvascular function of the coronary arteries is endothelium-dependent, and this plays a role in how the heart reacts to psychological stress. Although coronary artery spasm (CAS) is likely to play a role in the etiology of INOCA, it is frequently misdiagnosed and underreported. In this article, we discuss a case of a young woman who came with recurrent ACS related to CAS, which was exacerbated by iatrogenic coronary dissection due to the presence of arteria lusoria, an atherosclerotic coronary artery disease leading to in-stent restenosis of the previous stent.
Cardiology Update December 2023: Key Takeaways from Landmark Trials
Authors: Kumar Devesh , Yadav Satyavir
Published: December 2023

Contemporary practice of cardiology is inspired by epistemological principles of Evidence Based Medicine. With rapidly evolving scientific data, it is imperative that clinicians are updated with the most recent evidence. We intend to review some of the most recent trials that may in the future impact our clinical practice. We discuss the most recent evidence on intra-vascular imaging, newer advances in heart failure, atrial fibrillation and conclude with a brief overview of trials in Structural Heart disease.
Assessment of frailty and its predictors in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Dutta Sharmistha , Goel Nitin , Kumar Raj
Published: December 2023

Background:

Frailty represents a state of risk in which a relatively small stressor results in a disproportionate decline in health status. This study aims to determine the prevalence of frailty among patients with COPD in the Indian population and its associated risk factors.

Methods:

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 150 COPD patients. Frailty was assessed using the frailty phenotype method.

Results:

The mean age (SD) of the study population was 60.59 (5.9) years with 88.67% males and 53.33% ex-smokers. The prevalence of frailty was 51.33% (n = 77). Most of the frail patients belonged to GOLD group D (66.23%) (P < 0.0001). Post-bronchodilator FEV1(%) was lowest in the frail group (40 [36–47]%) (P < 0.0001). Risk of frailty significantly correlated with smoking pack years (1.036; 1.001–1.074), history of 1 exacerbation in last year (6.810; 2.036–22.779), post-bronchodilator FVC(%) (0.955; 0.926–0.985), post-bronchodilator FEV1(%) (0.940; 0.913–0.968), distance covered in 6-minute walk test [0.975; 0.965–0.986] and dyspnoea severity [1.044; 1.024–1.063]. In multivariate regression, 6-minute walk distance and GOLD group B were the independent predictors of frailty in COPD.

Conclusion:

The prevalence of frailty in Indian patients with COPD was 51.33%. Six-minute walk distance is an important predictor of frailty. Early identification of frailty will lead to prompt intervention and rehabilitation.
Effect of somatotypes on lung volumes, capacities and respiratory impedance: A pilot study
Authors: Jaiswal Kumar Nischay , Talwar Anjana , Vayyat Shyam , Bade Geetanjali G.
Published: December 2023

Background:

The current morphological condition of an individual is described by a somatotype, which is a three-number scale. The endomorph, mesomorph and ectomorph components are presented in the same sequence, and each number corresponds to one of the three basic components of body composition.

Methods:

We recruited 50 healthy male subjects with a mean age of 24.10 ± 4.55 yrs. Somatotype was determined by the Heath and Carter method. Impulse oscillometry was performed followed by spirometry according to the European Respiratory Society (ERS) or American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidelines. Resistance at 5 Hz (R5) %pred, R20%pred, R5–R20, X5%pred, X20, area of reactance (Ax) and resonant frequency (Fres) were obtained by doing impulse oscillometry. Slow vital capacity (SVC), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC ratio and maximum mid-expiratory flow (MMEF) were assessed by doing spirometry.

Results:

Endomorphs (0.05 (0.00–0.09) vs 0.01 (0.00–0.04); P < 0.0001) and mesomorphs (0.04 (0.000.09) vs 0.01 (0.00–0.04); P = 0.002) had significantly higher R5–R20 than ectomorphs. Similarly, endomorphs (0.32 (0.07–0.82) vs 0.15 (0.08–0.35); P = 0.001) and mesomorphs (0.28 (0.17–0.64) vs 0.15 (0.08–0.35); P = 0.015) also showed significantly higher Ax than ectomorphs, Fres of endomorphs (15.37 (8.43–21.85) vs 10.08 (8.94–14.30); P < 0.0001) and mesomorphs (14.32 (10.24–20.86) vs 10.08 (8.94-14.30); P < 0.0001) were significantly high than ectomorphs. Moreover, spirometric measures reveal significant variation in which mesomorphs had significantly higher values of % predicted of FVC than ectomorphs (92.49 ± 7.211 vs 83.86 ± 7.861; P = 0.042) and the ratio of FEV1 to FVC was significantly higher in ectomorphs than in endomorphs (89.00 ± 5.80 vs 85.04 ± 5.73; P = 0.03).

Conclusion:

Peripheral airway dysfunction was observed in endomorphs and mesomorphs as compared to ectomorphs. Mesomorphs had a relatively higher FVC that may be due to their greater muscular strength.
Impact of Limited English Proficiency on Medication-Related Problems and Emergency Room Visits Among Community-Dwelling Older People
Authors: Zhu Yujun , Enguidanos Susan
Published: December 2023

Background Older people have higher risk of experiencing medication-related problems (MRPs), leading to increased morbidity, health care use, and mortality. Few studies have examined the pathway between limited English proficiency (LEP) among older people and health service
use through MRPs. Objective This study aimed to explore the association of LEP among Latino older people with MRPs and their relationship to emergency room (ER) visits. Methods Researchers used secondary enrollment data from a community medication program
for older people (N = 180). Researchers conducted linear regression to examine the relationship between ethnicity/English proficiency and MRPs, and logistic regression to explore the association between MRPs and ER visits. Generalized structural equation modeling (GSEM) with bootstrapping
was used to test the indirect effect between LEP Latino through MRPs to ER visits. Results The sample included 70% non-Latino participants, 12% English-speaking Latinos, and 18% LEP Latinos. Analysis LEP Latinos were associated with having 3.4 more MRPs than non-Latino
participants, after controlling for covariates. Additionally, each additional MRP was associated with a 10% increased probability of having an ER visit. The GSEM results illustrated there was a significant indirect effect between LEP through MRPs to ER visits (β = 0.27, 95% CI 0.07-0.61).
Conclusion Though LEP was not directly related to increased ER visits, it may have inhibited the ability of Latinos to read and understand medication instructions, contributing to their elevated risk of experiencing MRPs, thus indirectly increasing potential risks of having
ER visits.
Patient Attitudes Toward Deprescribing Among Community-Dwelling Older Mainers
Authors: Carver Joshua , Springer Sydney P.
Published: December 2023

Background The excess use of medications has become an increasingly prevalent issue in health care. Deprescribing can be an important tool in combating polypharmacy. Objective To assess the attitudes of community-dwelling older persons in Maine toward
their medications and the concept of deprescription. An additional aim of this research was to assess the association between the revised Patient Attitudes Toward Deprescribing Questionnaire (rPATDQ) domains by polypharmacy status. Methods Researchers conducted a cross-sectional
study utilizing the rPATDQ. Authors recruited older Mainers via a longitudinal cohort study through the University of New England Center for Excellence in Aging in Health. Respondents were stratified by polypharmacy status (fewer than five medications, five or more medications). Results
Total daily medications ranged from 1 to 30 (average of 8.6). Overall, 83.6% of respondents agreed/strongly agreed to the statement “If my doctor said it was possible, I would be willing to stop one or more of my regular medicines.” 70.6% agreed/ strongly agreed to the statement
“Overall, I am satisfied with my current medicines.” Those with and without polypharmacy experienced low overall medication burden and a high belief in the appropriateness of their medications. There were no statistically significant differences between polypharmacy groups.
Conclusion The results of this survey indicate that the factors affecting attitudes toward deprescribing are complex. While many indicated willingness to deprescribe at least one medication, there was a high degree of satisfaction with current medication regimens. This study
highlights the need for further qualitative research to identify potential barriers to deprescribing.
Antipsychotics in Perspective: Past, Present, and Future
Authors: Levenson Steven A.
Published: December 2023

For more than half a century, there has been controversy and conflict over using psychotropic medications ("psychotropics") as strategies to modulate behavior, enhance mood, and address cognitive issues for nursing home residents. The current situation reflects a long history
of investigation, reports, discussions, government and professional activity, and other attempted improvement. Although attention has focused primarily on the use of antipsychotics, particularly to manage symptoms associated with dementia, there are much broader issues. The use of all psychotropics
has arguably been challenging and inconsistent. Although antipsychotic use in nursing homes has been reduced substantially, many controversies and concerns remain, such as the continuing significant use of other psychotropics. It is tempting to conclude that efforts to reduce the use of these
medications might have been deliberately stymied, and that more drastic—if not coercive—measures are needed to correct these issues. However, many other compelling considerations must be defined accurately and addressed. Further improvement in the current situation requires reconsidering
some current beliefs and approaches. A pause and reopening of meaningful discussion is needed. This 3-part series (in this and the next 2 issues of The Senior Care Pharmacist) will examine the history of the issues (this month), various perspectives on the issues (part 2), and lessons
and recommended approaches for the future (part 3).
A cocyclic construction of $S^1$-equivariant homology and application to string topology
Authors: Wang Yi
Published: December 2023

Given a space with a circle action, we study certain cocyclic chain complexes and prove a theorem relating cyclic homology to

S^1

-equivariant homology, in the spirit of celebrated work of Jones. As an application, we describe a chain level refinement of the gravity algebra structure on the (negative)

S^1

-equivariant homology of the free loop space of a closed oriented smooth manifold, based on work of Irie on chain level string topology and work of Ward on an

S^1

-equivariant version of operadic Deligne’s conjecture.
Analysis and Correction of Atmospheric Refraction Effects on
MLAT
Authors: Yu Wenkang , Gong Fengxun
Published: December 2023

The non-uniformity of the atmospheric medium induces the refraction effect in
signal propagation, causing the bending of propagation paths and a propagation
velocity slower than the speed of light. Consequently, it affects the time of
arrival and, in turn, influences the performance of Multilateration
systems(MLAT). This research analyze the influencing factors of atmospheric
refraction and employs Innsbruck sounding data to fit a refractive index
profile. The proposed model demonstrates superior performance in predicting the
refractive index for the Innsbruck region compared to the three traditional
models: the three-segment model, the exponential model, and the double
exponential model. Furthermore, this study unveils the impact of atmospheric
refraction on time difference observations and the mechanism leading to
positioning errors. To address this, a novel atmospheric refraction correction
algorithm based on the Taylor method is introduced and its effectiveness is
verified.
Research on Gear Vibration Evaluation Approach of E-Drive System
Based on Order Analysis
Authors: Jing Haihong , Deng Feng , Zhang Ni , Wang Xicheng , Wu Xiaolong , Wang Yiping
Published: December 2023

Gear vibration and noise evaluation approaches are commonly proposed with a
variety of way in a transmission system while complicated and obscured, it is
difficult to provide a feasible basis for the gear development of E-drive
system. Based on the vibration mechanism of E-drive gear meshing and order
tracking theory on rotating machinery, this paper expressed the details of gear
vibration evaluation approach accordingly during E-drive system’s development
phase, combined with objective testing and subjective evaluation correlation
analysis, raised the meshing gear order vibration evaluation approach by the
means of the testing data target curve-fitting, also verify the reasonableness
and validity of this approach on a HEV matched with E-drive system by means of
subjective evaluation and objective measurement before and after the gears’
optimization, the clarification shows that significant correlation between
subjective evaluation and objective measurement of the meshing gears both of the
23rd and 46th order, It’s been further proved that this approach is reasonable,
effective and feasible for the vibration measurement and evaluation of the
meshing gears of the E-Motor transmission system. Meanwhile, it also can be used
as a reference for the development and diagnosis of powertrain and vehicle.
Hierarchical Control Strategy for Active Suspension Equipped with an
Electromagnetic Actuator
Authors: Lai Jiewen , Zhang Bangji , Qin An , Zeng Sheng , Wang Shichen
Published: December 2023

Electromagnetic suspension systems have increasingly gained widespread attention
due to their superiority in improving ride comfort while providing fast
response, excellent controllability and high mechanical efficiency, but their
applications are limited due to the accuracy of the underlying control actuation
tracking. For addressing this problem, this study presents a novel hierarchical
control strategy for an electromagnetic active suspension (EMAS) system equipped
with an electromagnetic actuator (EMA) structure. The structure of the EMA
device and the working principle of the motion conversion model are introduced
in detail first, and the motion conversion equation is derived based on the
force-torque relationship. Based on this, a linear quadratic regulator (LQR)
control method is proposed to be applied to a half-vehicle suspension system to
improve the vibration isolation performance of the vehicle and ensure the ride
comfort. Then, the underlying layer control of the permanent magnet synchronous
motor (PMSM) based on field-oriented control (FOC) is adopted to tracking the
active control forces generated by the upper LQR controller. Immediately
afterwards, the EMA converts the torque generated by the motor into vertical
forces acting on the suspension through rational synergies between the upper LQR
controller and the underlying motor controller, which ultimately achieves active
control of the vehicle suspension system. The simulations are carried out from
the perspective of the half-vehicle integrated with the EMA, which demonstrate
that the proposed EMAS system has greatly reduced vehicle vertical and pitch
accelerations compared to the conventional passive suspension, significantly
improving the ride comfort and vibration isolation effect on external
excitation.
Analysis of the Game-Based Human-Machine Co-steering Control on
Low-Adhesion Road Surfaces
Authors: Guo Hongyan , Hu Shibo , Shi Wanqing , Liu Jun
Published: December 2023

With the progressing autonomy of driving technology, machine is assuming greater
responsibility for driving tasks to enhance safety. Leveraging this potential,
this paper introduces a novel human-machine co-steering control strategy based
on model predictive control. The strategy is designed to address the
difficulties faced by drivers when driving on surfaces with low adhesion.
Firstly, the proposed strategy utilizes a parallel human-machine co-steering
framework with a weight allocation concept between the controller and the
driver. Moreover, the nonlinear controller dynamics model and linear driver
dynamics model are developed to characterize the interaction behaviors between
human and machine under low-adhesion road surface conditions. And a nonlinear
game optimization problem is formulated to capture the cooperative interaction
relationship between human and machine. Finally, to solve the nonlinear game
optimization problem, piecewise affine linearization method is employed to
derive the analytical solution of the human-machine co-steering optimal
strategy. This approach enables the determination of the optimal co-steering
control strategy for both human and machine components under low-adhesion road
surface conditions. Experimental results demonstrate that assigning a higher
driving weight to either the controller or the driver leads to increased
human-machine driving conflicts. Conversely, assigning equal driving weights to
both the controller and the driver minimizes the human-machine driving conflict,
where the driver has virtually no influence on the driving of the intelligent
vehicle. Furthermore, the human-machine driving conflict is smaller in scenarios
where the driving weights are equal. The results show that the proposed method
provides an effective assistance for drivers on low-adhesion surfaces.
A Dynamic Variable Speed Limit Control Method for Dispersal of Queue
Effects in Traffic Accidents
Authors: Shi XiaoMin , Wang Bo , Ke Guo
Published: December 2023

To mitigate the repercussions arising from traffic accidents on highways and
prevent the cascading effect of queued vehicles, a comprehensive model is
devised. This model is built upon the foundation of a traffic accident impact
determination framework, which considers the merging capacity at entry lanes, as
well as a dynamic and adaptable variable speed limit model to dissipate queuing
congestion. The objective is to promptly restore vehicle flow after accidents,
thereby eradicating queueing effects in the affected zone. The efficacy of this
approach has been validated using data from the Sutong Bridge accident, and its
effectiveness in eliminating vehicle queues has been verified through simulation
data in the SUMO platform. Analysis of average speeds before and after
implementing varying speed limits reveals that the proposed method can
significantly enhance overall traffic efficiency by 37%. Moreover, the model’s
versatile parameters demonstrate good applicability, providing theoretical and
practical support to highway operation and management authorities.
High-Precision Modeling and Online Validation of a 200kW-Class Series
Hybrid Power System in Aviation
Authors: Diao Bo , Li Po , Zhu Jianfeng , Huang Guochen , She Yunfeng , Xing Yaoren
Published: December 2023

Taking into account the high rotor speed of the generator and the trend of high
voltage in direct current microgrids in high-power aviation hybrid propulsion
systems, a hybrid power system with a power of 200 kilowatts (kW), a voltage of
540 volts (V), and a rated generator speed of 10500 r/min was established.
Anticipating the demands of future high-power system tests, a matching
simulation model was developed. The paper discusses various aspects including
model construction, test design, and result validation, proposing an overall
control strategy for series hybrid aviation propulsion systems – utilizing
lithium-ion batteries to stabilize grid voltage and using the
turboshaft-generator unit as the primary power source to meet the main power
demands of the electric propulsion system. The established model consists of
four modules: turboshaft engine, power generator, voltage-stabilizing battery,
and electric motor/propeller. These modules are independently controlled and are
unified into a microgrid through a direct current bus. In the designed cases,
the simulation data including generator speed, gas turbine speed, grid voltage,
and component power were compared and analyzed against experimental data. The
results indicate that both steady-state and dynamic errors of the simulation are
controlled within 10%. This implies that the constructed simulation model
accurately replicates the operational state of the 200 kW-level series hybrid
aviation propulsion system. It serves as a pre-research platform for testing
system control strategies and developing new control algorithms. Finally, the
feasibility of a strategy to appropriately increase the power of the
turboshaft-generator set and maintain battery output power fluctuations within 0
kW was validated within the simulation system, providing a reference for future
experiments.
Safe Architecture Design of Flight Control System for
eVTOL
Authors: Ning Chengwei , Zhang Hao , Weng Haimin , Ma Ran
Published: December 2023

Advanced flight control system, aviation battery and motor technologies are
driving the rapid development of eVTOL to offer possibilities for Urban Air
Mobility. The safety and airworthiness of eVTOL aircraft and systems are the
critical issues to be considered in eVTOL design process. Regarding to the
flight control system, its complexity of design and interfaces with other
airborne systems require detailed safety assessment through the development
process. Based on SAE ARP4754A, a forward architecture design process with
comprehensive safety assessment is introduced to achieve complete safety and
hazard analysis. The new features of flight control system for eVTOL are
described to start function capture and architecture design. Model-based system
engineering method is applied to establish the functional architecture in a
traceable way. SFHA and STPA methods are applied in a complementary way to
identify the potential safety risk caused by failure and unsafe control action.
PSSA with FTA assists to allocate safety requirements and modify the
architecture of flight control system. Through the practice of safety-oriented
architecture design of flight control system for eVTOL, safety requirements are
identified, and related modifications and design are implemented to optimize the
system architecture design. Comparing to the safety assessment method with only
ARP4761 methods, the combination of ARP4761 and STPA will extend the perspective
to deal with potential unsafety issues. Hazards caused by random failure and
incorrected control are all tackled. The work of this paper can serve as a
useful reference for the system safety assessment and architecture design for
eVTOL and airborne systems.
TD3 Tuned PID Controller for Autonomous Vehicle
Platooning
Authors: Chen Xinhai , Wang Rukang , Cui Yanan , Jin Xiaoxin , Feng Chengjun , Xie Bo , Deng Zejian , Chu Duanfeng
Published: December 2023

The main objective of platoon control is coordinated motion of autonomous vehicle
platooning with small intervehicle spacing while maintaining the same speed and
acceleration as the leading vehicle, which can save energy consumption and
improve traffic throughput. The conventional platoon control methods are
confronted with the problem of manual parameter tuning. In order to addres this
isue, a novel bifold platoon control approach leveraging a deep reinforcement
learning-based model is proposed, which enables the platoon adapt to the complex
traffic environment, and guarantees the safety of platoon. The upper layer
controller based on the TD3 tuned PID algorithm outputs the desired
acceleration. This integration mitigates the inconvenience of frequent manual
parameter tuning asociated with the conventional PID algorithm. The lower layer
controller tracks the desired acceleration based on the inverse vehicle dynamics
model and feedback control. Through this dynamic inverse model, the desired
acceleration of the platoon vehicle is transformed into a feedforward control
input. This input is then supplemented by feedback from a PID controller. A
comprehensive validation of the proposed approach is conducted through a
collaborative simulation experiment using Carmaker/Simulink. The results show
the trajectory of the desired acceleration is smooth, indicating a ride comfort
of vehicle. Moreover, the platoon vehicle is able to make a quick response to
the speed change of the predecesor. The maximum error in the distance between
vehicles in the platoon is 2.5m. In summary, the proposed control method of
connected and automated vehicle platoon based on TD3 tuned PID effectively
realizes cooperative control of platoon vehicles.
Vehicle Trajectory Prediction in Highway Merging Area Using
Interactive Graph Attention Mechanism
Authors: Wu Xigang , Chu Duanfeng , Deng Zejian , Xin Guipeng , Liu Hongxiang , Lu Liping
Published: December 2023

Accurately predicting the future trajectories of surrounding traffic agents is
important for ensuring the safety of autonomous vehicles. To address the
scenario of frequent interactions among traffic agents in the highway merging
area, this paper proposes a trajectory prediction method based on interactive
graph attention mechanism. Our approach integrates an interactive graph model to
capture the complex interactions among traffic agents as well as the
interactions between these agents and the contextual map of the highway merging
area. By leveraging this interactive graph model, we establish an agent-agent
interactive graph and an agent-map interactive graph. Moreover, we employ Graph
Attention Network (GAT) to extract spatial interactions among trajectories,
enhancing our predictions. To capture temporal dependencies within trajectories,
we employ a Transformer-based multi-head self-attention mechanism. Additionally,
GAT are utilized to model the interactions between traffic agents and the map.
The method we propose comprehensively incorporates the influences of time,
space, and the map on trajectories. The interactive graph models can serve as
effective prior knowledge for learning-based approaches, thereby enhancing the
acquisition of interaction patterns among traffic scenarios and facilitating the
interpretability of the method. We evaluate the performances of our method using
real-world trajectory datasets from the highway merging area, i.e., the Exits
and Entries Drone Dataset (exiD). Comparative analysis against
classical algorithms demonstrates a reduced trajectory prediction error for
prediction horizons of both 3s and 4s.
Integrated Decision-Making and Planning Method for Autonomous
Vehicles Based on an Improved Driving Risk Field
Authors: Li Penghao , Hu Wen , Deng Yuanwang , Zhang Pingyi
Published: December 2023

The driving risk field model offers a feasible approach for assessing driving
risks and planning safe trajectory in complex traffic scenarios. However, the
conventional risk field fails to account for the vehicle size and acceleration,
results in the same trajectories are generated when facing different vehicle
types and unable to make safe decisions in emergency situations. Therefore, this
paper firstly introduces the acceleration and vehicle size of surrounding
vehicles for improving the driving risk model. Then, an integrated
decision-making and planning model is proposed based on the combination of the
novelty risk field and model predictive control (MPC), in which driving risk and
vehicle dynamics constraints are taken into consideration. Finally, the multiple
driving scenarios are designed and analyzed for validate the proposed model. The
results demonstrate that the proposed decision-making and planning method
exhibits superior performance in addressing discrepancies related to vehicle
acceleration and geometric. Besides, the improved driving risk field model is
able to effectively model the various driving behavior in complex traffic
scenarios, and has superior performance for reflecting the realistic driving
risk distribution.
A Local Trajectory Planning Method Based on Asymmetric Driving
Aggressiveness Model
Authors: Ma Zhaoxuan , Hu Wen , Zhang Jie , Jin Qiutan , Zhang Pingyi , Dai Di , Wu Chao
Published: December 2023

Conventional trajectory planning methods encounter various challenges: Inability
to better distinguish different types of vehicles, and failure to consider the
difference between perceived threats or risks during asymmetric and symmetric
interactions for autonomous vehicles. To solve these issues, the insufficiency
of the traditional risk-field model is analyzed, and an asymmetric
aggressiveness model is investigated in this study, which quantifies the
suffered aggressiveness of vehicles. Then, the asymmetric aggressiveness model
and the static potential risk field describing the road structure are used as
the control objectives of the optimal controller to avoid collisions.
Furthermore, a three-degree-of-freedom vehicle dynamics model is constructed,
and the optimal feasible trajectory is planned by using the model predictive
control algorithm. Finally, the results demonstrate that the proposed trajectory
planning method can reliably plan trajectories to avoid collisions with
environmental vehicles in complex scenarios, including car-following and
lane-changing while satisfying the vehicle dynamics constraints. Moreover, the
proposed method also can generate the differentiated driving trajectories when
interacting with different types of vehicles.
A Study on the Implementation of Storytelling Therapy on the Level of Hospitalization Anxiety in Preschool Children in the Emergency Room of Kendari City Regional General Hospital
Authors: Umrana Siti , Masri Hilda Arini , Risnawati Risnawati
Published: December 2023

Kecemasan merupakan efek samping rawat inap yang dapat muncul pada usia anak yang terpapar rangsangan di lingkungan perawatan rumah sakit. Rawat inap adalah proses menerima perawatan dan perawatan di rumah sakit sampai kondisi anak membaik. Kecemasan pada anak yang mendapat perawatan di rumah sakit untuk pengobatan dapat memperpanjang terapi, memperburuk kecemasan, dan berdampak negatif pada kesehatan anak. Pengasuh dapat menggunakan terapi bercerita untuk membantu meningkatkan pemikiran anak dan mengalihkan pandangan mereka tentang stres ke lingkungan yang kurang menakutkan. Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk melihat pengaruh penerapan terapi bercerita terhadap tingkat kecemasan pada anak usia dini yang disebabkan oleh rawat inap. Pendekatan penelitian ini merupakan penerapan studi kasus dengan menggunakan teknik purposive sampling. Bentuk desain yang digunakan adalah desain one-group pretest-posttest. Skala yang digunakan adalah SCAS (Spance Children's Anxiety Scale Preschool). Kecemasan rawat inap anak sebelum dan sesudah perawatan naratif dengan flashcard berbeda secara signifikan dan menunjukkan penurunan tingkat kecemasan setelah memberikan terapi mendongeng pada anak
Human Rights Litigation in Africa Under Attack
Authors: Jamali Ayyoub , Faix Martin
Published: December 2023

Human rights values, to which international organisations adhere, serve not only as the working premise for achieving their goals but also constitute an inherent part of their legal framework and judicial decisions. Established by States that claim to share a fundamental set of values from the outset and are committed to reflecting these values throughout their activities, the African Union is no exception. The organisation articulated its fundamental principles and values in its founding Treaties, which include, among others, ‘respect for democratic principles, human rights, the rule of law, and good governance.’ Over time, various preventive, monitoring, and enforcement mechanisms have been developed to realise these human rights objectives in the continent. This progress includes the establishment of the African Commission in 1987 and the creation of the African Court in 1998, as well as the expansion of human rights jurisdiction of sub-regional courts over time. This article delves into the resistance faced by the judicial mechanisms used to enforce human rights in Africa. As demonstrated, in all cases under discussion, a State subject to an adverse ruling of the court responded by questioning its legitimacy and authority, advocating for institutional reforms to weaken the fledgling human rights system on the continent. The article highlights the similarities and differences between all cases, illustrating that the impact of political reaction in the case of the continental African Court and the SADC Tribunal has been much more severe than the ECOWAS and the EACJ court. It is argued that the institutional design of the courts, the scale of the community, relative State power, the subject matter of the judgment, the requirement to obtain consensus to revise the founding treaty of the courts, and the engagement of civil societies played crucial roles in determining the type and outcome of backlash in the cases under discussion.
Peculiarities of Labour Rights Protection in the Case Law of the European Court of Human Rights
Authors: Yaroshenko Oleg M. , Anisimova Hanna V. , Prokopiev Roman Ye. , Zhygalkin Ivan P. , Yakovlyev Oleksandr A.
Published: December 2023

The practice of defence of labour disputes is quite dynamic. That is why the analysis of labour rights protection in the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) is quite relevant. The purpose of the study is to analyse the current case law of the European Court of Human Rights on the protection of labour rights; to analyse the ECtHR's interpretation of the concept of forced labour and the right to form trade unions; to summarise the problematic issues of the ECtHR's case law in the field of labour rights protection and ways to resolve them. The methodological basis of the study is general and special methods and techniques of cognition. The article substantiates that one cannot complain directly to the ECtHR about deprivation of the opportunity to work, denial of access to the workplace, or refusal to hire. The European Convention explicitly states only 2 rights: the right to form and join trade unions and the prohibition of forced and compulsory labour. The author explains the concepts of forced labour and the right to form trade unions and outlines the problematic issues of the European Court of Human Rights case law in the field of labour rights protection and ways to resolve them.
Possibilities and Approaches of European Court of Human Rights and Court of Justice of the European Union in Fundamental Rights Protection in the Context of Environmental Litigation
Authors: Lazorčáková Tímea
Published: December 2023

Two judicial bodies, but both without right to protect the environment established. This is also how the coexistence of the two important judicial bodies located in the European area could be briefly characterized. The European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union were created for different purposes, but their jurisprudence in the area of environmental protection and the protection of people's lives and health from the negative consequences of climate change overlap more than it might seem at first sight. We find certain similarities in terms of ensuring a certain degree of protection of fundamental rights in the context of the environment. The European Court of Human Rights has a priority in terms of the protection of fundamental rights in Europe, but in the field of the environment it faces several problems. Especially when we are talking about the protection of rights for future generations, where there is no direct victim or direct violation of fundamental rights, only a very high risk of their violation. On the other hand, the Court of Justice of the European Union has a much greater assumption of effectiveness, which has the potential to change the legislation of the member states and thereby indirectly ensure the protection of people's lives and health. Recently, the activity of the European Commission has been increasing in the interest of achieving climate neutrality, and this also means greater pressure on the states in the interest of the complete and correct transposition of European regulations in the field of the environment. In case of deficiencies, the European Commission can intervene by filing a lawsuit according to Article 258 of the TFEU, and achieve the required remedy. Although, such a procedure is not primarily aimed at the protection of fundamental rights, the positive impact on their protection cannot be neglected.
Metropolises - the Contemporary Challenge to Local Governments
Authors: Augustyniak Monika
Published: December 2023

Metropolisation is a process that includes the consequences of global phenomena transferred to the level of metropolitan areas, being the result of various legal and social processes, which is best illustrated by the example of French and Polish institutional solutions. France has been chosen to perform the analysis on due to the uniqueness of its legal regulations in the field of the issues covered in the study (e.g., the institution of metropolitan poles [le pôle métropolitain]). The possibility of creating a metropolis in its current form has existed in France since 2010, but the legislative bodies are still introducing changes to strengthen the legal position of this institution. The French legal order continues to reinforce the role and importance of the metropolis as a unit of inter-municipal cooperation that can take over the department and region’s essential competences to manage the metropolitan area more effectively. In a sense, France is becoming a model of organisation and functioning for contemporary metropolises in Poland, which are beginning to emerge as a certain remedy to the effectiveness issue of performing supra-regional tasks. This article provides an analysis of the law as it stands for legal regulations concerning the organisation and functioning of metropolises both in France and Poland in a comparative and legal context, with the aim of making postulates regarding the choice of a right formula for performing tasks in contemporary local governments.
Framework for Effective Smart Contracting
Authors: Vasiu Ioana , Vasiu Lucian
Published: December 2023

Smart contracts are event-driven computer programs used to automatically execute all or parts of the agreements between two or more entities, pursuant to their specifications. The self-executing and self-enforcing attributes of smart contracts present numerous potential benefits, such as cost efficiency, accuracy, and reliability, as well as the potential to support several sustainable development goals. Smart contracts can be very efficient in many sectors, with important automation, procurement, financial, and other supply chain management features. For this study, a systematic literature review was performed, with a view to assessing, synthesizing, and critique the current state of legal and security aspects of smart contracts. The analysis of publications and reports gathered allowed the identification and mapping of the most relevant aspects and revealed numerous issues and vulnerabilities associated with the use of this technology. This paper provides the following contributions: the study and organization of a large corpus of relevant publications; the review of smart contract definitions, from several perspectives; an outline of smart contract characteristics; a framework for effective smart contracting, addressing legal and security issues and proposing several improvements.
Greener Competition Law via New Guidelines on Horizontal Agreements (?)
Authors: Patakyová Mária Terézia
Published: December 2023

The protection of environment is mentioned already in the preamble of the Treaty on European Union, in the Maastricht Treaty version. The omnipresent climate change reminds us of the importance of this protection. Is it possible to take into account the protection of environment also during the application of competition law? If so, to what extent is this desirable? In order to answer these questions, the article focuses on horizontal agreements, namely the new Guidelines on Horizontal Agreements. After presenting the view on green horizontal agreements on the EU level, the article focuses on application of competition law in the Slovak Republic. The main finding of the article is that, first, the protection of environment may be taken into account when applying competition law. This is very desirable from the perspective of protection of environment. However, the devil is in the detail and it may prove to be a particularly difficult job for a competition authority such as the Antimonopoly Office of the Slovak Republic to enforce Article 101 TFEU with respect to a green agreement. At the same time, it is a tricky job for undertakings to stay in line with Article 101 TFEU when they conclude a horizontal green agreement.