bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of plasma-rich platelet injection to perianal sphincters on incontinence and quality of life in patients with rectal cancer after low anterior or intersphincteric resection: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Haksal M. , Akın M. S. , Karagoz E. , Kocak M. , Korkut E. , Shahhosseini R. , Gögenur I. , Oncel M.
Published: August 2024

Background

Incontinence is not rare after rectal cancer surgery. Platelet-rich plasma may promote tissue repair and generation but has never been tested for the treatment of anal incontinence. This study evaluated the impact of platelet-rich plasma injection on the severity of incontinence and quality of life after low rectal cancer surgery.

Methods

This is a prospective cohort proof of concept study in a colorectal cancer institution. Patients had undergone low anterior or intersphincteric resection for low rectal cancer and had a Wexner score > 4. Ten milliliters of platelet-rich plasma were injected into the internal and external sphincters under endoanal ultrasound (EAUS) guidance. Primary outcome measure was > 2 point improvement in Wexner score (improved group). The patients were assessed with endo-anal ultrasound examination, manometry, the Wexner Questionnaire and SF-36 Health Surveys, and patients were asked whether they used pads and antidiarrheal medications before and 6 months after PRP injection.

Results

Of 20 patients included in the study, 14 (70%) were men, and the average age was 56.8 (SD = 9.5) years. No statistically significant difference was found in Wexner scores before and after PRP injection (p = 0.66). Seven (35%) patients experienced a > 2 point improvement in Wexner score. Rectal manometry demonstrated improved squeezing pressure (p = 0.0096). Furthermore, physical functioning scoring (p = 0.023), role limitation (p = 0.016), emotional well-being (p = 0.0057) and social functioning (p = 0.043) domains on the SF-36 questionnaire improved. One (5%) and three (15%) patients stopped using pads and antidiarrheal medications.

Conclusion

Platelet-rich plasma injection does not restore Wexner scores, but more than one-third of patients may benefit from this application with an improvement of > 2 points in their scores. Platelet-rich plasma injection may improve squeezing pressure and certain life quality measures for incontinent patients after rectal cancer surgery.
Die EU-Verordnung über die Wiederherstellung der Natur – Ein Überblick
Authors: Bodenbender Lukas
Published: August 2024

Der massive Rückgang der Artenvielfalt ist spätestens seit der Verabschiedung des Kunming-Montreal
Global Biodiversity Framework 2022 in der breiten Politik und Öffentlichkeit angekommen. Dem europäischen
Gesetzgeber gelingt nun mit seiner Verordnung über die Wiederherstellung der Natur ein Meilenstein
des Naturschutzes, der an die Schutzkonzepte der Vogelschutzrichtlinie und der Flora-Fauna-Habitat-Richtlinie
anknüpft und diese durch unmittelbar verbindliche Ziele flankiert. Der hiesige Beitrag stellt die
wesentlichen Inhalte im Überblick dar.
Household Financial Fragility, Debt and Income in a Dynamic Model
Authors: Calcagnini Giorgio , Favaretto Federico , Giombini Germana , Tramontana Fabio
Published: August 2024

We develop a novel dynamic model for household debt and household income change studying the interaction between financial fragility and financial literacy. We compare the results to the U.S. data under several parameterizations. Households react pro-cyclically to income shocks and are better able to represent aggregate data when financial literacy is low.
Artificial intelligence and myocarditis—a systematic review of current applications
Authors: Łajczak Paweł Marek , Jóźwik Kamil
Published: August 2024

Myocarditis, marked by heart muscle inflammation, poses significant clinical challenges. This study, guided by PRISMA guidelines, explores the expanding role of artificial intelligence (AI) in myocarditis, aiming to consolidate current knowledge and guide future research. Following PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review was conducted across PubMed, Cochrane Reviews, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science databases. MeSH terms including artificial intelligence, deep learning, machine learning, myocarditis, and inflammatory cardiomyopathy were used. Inclusion criteria involved original articles utilizing AI for myocarditis, while exclusion criteria eliminated reviews, editorials, and non-AI-focused studies. The search yielded 616 articles, with 42 meeting inclusion criteria after screening. The identified articles, spanning diagnostic, survival prediction, and molecular analysis aspects, were analyzed in each subsection. Diagnostic studies showcased the versatility of AI algorithms, achieving high accuracies in myocarditis detection. Survival prediction models exhibited robust discriminatory power, particularly in emergency settings and pediatric populations. Molecular analyses demonstrated AI’s potential in deciphering complex immune interactions. This systematic review provides a comprehensive overview of AI applications in myocarditis, highlighting transformative potential in diagnostics, survival prediction, and molecular understanding. Collaborative efforts are crucial for overcoming limitations and realizing AI’s full potential in improving myocarditis care.
Long-term outcomes of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in octogenarians
Authors: Kozhuharov Nikola , Karim Nabeela , Creta Antonio , Leung Lisa W. M. , Veasey Rick , Osmanagic Armin , Kefala Anna , Pope Mike , Vouliotis Apostolos , Knecht Sven , Krisai Philipp , Jaïs Pierre , Martin Claire , Sticherling Christian , Ginks Matthew , Ullah Waqas , Balasubramaniam Richard , Kalla Manish , Gallagher Mark M. , Hunter Ross J. , Wong Tom , Gupta Dhiraj
Published: August 2024

Background and aims

Catheter ablation is superior to pharmacological therapy in controlling atrial fibrillation (AF). There are few data on the long-term outcome of AF ablation in octogenarian patients. This analysis aims to evaluate the outcome of AF ablation in octogenarians vs. younger patients.

Methods

In this retrospective study in 13 centres in the UK, France, and Switzerland, the long-term outcomes of 473 consecutive octogenarian patients undergoing ablation for AF were compared to 473 matched younger controls (median age 81.3 [80.0, 83.0] vs. 64.4 [56.5, 70.7] years, 54.3% vs. 35.1% females; p-value for both < 0.001). The primary endpoint was the recurrence of atrial arrhythmia after a blanking period of 90 days within 365 days of follow-up.

Results

Acute ablation success as defined as isolation of all pulmonary veins was achieved in 97% of octogenarians. Octogenarians experienced more procedural complications (11.4% vs 7.0%, p = 0.018). The median follow-up time was 281 [106, 365] days vs. 354 [220, 365] days for octogenarians vs. non-octogenarians (p < 0.001). Among octogenarians, 27.7% (131 patients) experienced a recurrence of atrial arrhythmia, in contrast to 23.5% (111 patients) in the younger group (odds ratio 1.49; 95% confidence interval 1.16–1.92; p = 0.002). In a multivariable regression model including gender, previous AF ablation, vascular disease, chronic kidney disease, CHA2DS2-VASc score, left atrial dilatation, and indwelling cardiac implantable electronic device, age above 80 remained an independent predictor of recurrence of arrhythmia.

Conclusion

Ablation for AF is effective in octogenarians, but is associated with slightly higher procedural complication rate and recurrence of atrial arrhythmia than in younger patients.

Graphical Abstract
Inferring Kinetics and Entropy Production from Observable Transitions in Partially Accessible, Periodically Driven Markov Networks
Authors: Maier Alexander M. , Degünther Julius , van der Meer Jann , Seifert Udo
Published: August 2024

For a network of discrete states with a periodically driven Markovian dynamics, we develop an inference scheme for an external observer who has access to some transitions. Based on waiting-time distributions between these transitions, the periodic probabilities of states connected by these observed transitions and their time-dependent transition rates can be inferred. Moreover, the smallest number of hidden transitions between accessible ones and some of their transition rates can be extracted. We prove and conjecture lower bounds on the total entropy production for such periodic stationary states. Even though our techniques are based on generalizations of known methods for steady states, we obtain original results for those as well.
Nanocomposite polyphenyleneoxide with amino-functionalized silica: structural characterization based on thermal analysis
Authors: Petreanu Irina , Niculescu Violeta-Carolina , Soare Amalia , Iacob Ciprian , Teodorescu Mircea
Published: August 2024

A polymer nanocomposite based on sulfonated polyphenylene oxide with amino-functionalized mesoporous silica was designed, synthesized, and tested as a new material for proton exchange membrane (PEM preparation. Characterization of the intermediate and final products of synthesis was realized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and thermal analysis. Broadband Dielectric Spectroscopy (BDS) was used to determine dielectric properties including ionic conductivity. Thermogravimetric analysis has provided important information regarding the composition and thermal stability of the three compounds, subject to thermal degradation: 1) the amino-silica with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) template inside the pores (MS-NH2I), 2) the mesoporous amino-silica after removing the template (MS-NH2II) and 3) the polymer nanocomposite (sPPO-MS-NH2). The thermal decomposition of the composite samples occurs in three stages: in the first, up to 150 °C, water and organic solvents were lost; the second stage, between 200-300 °C, was due to breaking the organic functionalities (-NH2, amino and -SO3H, sulfonic acid), and the third stage, above 400 °C was due to polymer chain degradation. The final residue at 700 °C reflects the contribution of inorganic silica. The proton conductivity, for polymeric (sPPO) and composite (sPPO-MS-NH2) membranes was determined from BDS dates, both in dry and hydrated states. For dried samples, the higher values of proton conductivities were: 0.16 mS cm−1 (sPPO, 70 °C) and 0.03 mS cm−1 (sPPO-MS-NH2, 120 °C), and the higher values of proton conductivity increased for the hydrated samples with two orders of magnitude: 36.5 mS cm−1 (sPPO, 40 °C) and 22.4 mS cm−1 (sPPO-MS-NH2, 50 °C). However, the proton conductivity is still dependent on the hydration state, even for the composite membrane.
Ties that Sever: Losing the Right to Belong in Denmark
Authors: Carlson Kerstin Bree
Published: August 2024

In 2018, the Danish Supreme Court revoked Adam Johansen’s citizenship in conjunction with his conviction for terrorism. Applying a proportionality test adapted from European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) jurisprudence for naturalised, not natural, citizens, the Danish court determined that Johansen’s Muslim faith tied him to Tunisia, his father’s country, rather than to Denmark. In March 2022, the ECtHR unanimously upheld this judgment. In so doing, the ECtHR solidified an emerging standard in cases of citizenship revocation for natural citizens, which standard is weaker than the protections enjoyed by naturalised citizens. This article reviews the Danish and ECtHR jurisprudence to show how the explosive expansion of citizenship revocation in relation to terror crimes, combined with the ECtHR’s emerging jurisprudence rejecting substantive review for such revocation, demonstrates a significant, multidirectional weakening of rights protections in Europe.
Generative artificial intelligence: a systematic review and applications
Authors: Sengar Sandeep Singh , Hasan Affan Bin , Kumar Sanjay , Carroll Fiona
Published: August 2024

In recent years, the study of artificial intelligence (AI) has undergone a paradigm shift. This has been propelled by the groundbreaking capabilities of generative models both in supervised and unsupervised learning scenarios. Generative AI has shown state-of-the-art performance in solving perplexing real-world conundrums in fields such as image translation, medical diagnostics, textual imagery fusion, natural language processing, and beyond. This paper documents the systematic review and analysis of recent advancements and techniques in Generative AI with a detailed discussion of their applications including application-specific models. Indeed, the major impact that generative AI has made to date, has been in language generation with the development of large language models, in the field of image translation and several other interdisciplinary applications of generative AI. Moreover, the primary contribution of this paper lies in its coherent synthesis of the latest advancements in these areas, seamlessly weaving together contemporary breakthroughs in the field. Particularly, how it shares an exploration of the future trajectory for generative AI. In conclusion, the paper ends with a discussion of Responsible AI principles, and the necessary ethical considerations for the sustainability and growth of these generative models.
Relationship Between Weight Loss, Changes in Serum hs-CRP Levels and apo A-1 Lipoprotein, and High-Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol Ratios as Predictors for Improved Cardiovascular Risk Factors After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy
Authors: Hany Mohamed , Demerdash Hala M. , Abouelnasr Anwar Ashraf , Agayby Ann Samy Shafiq , Ibrahim Mohamed , Arida Ramy E. , Torensma Bart
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Obesity, a major global health concern, is a known risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), often due to dyslipidemia and insulin resistance. Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is an effective weight reduction surgery that not only alters body metabolism and gastrointestinal physiology but also significantly lowers cardiovascular disease risk.

Methods

This study explores the impact of weight loss on serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), an established inflammatory marker, and changes in cardiovascular risk factors, particularly high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) ratios, serum apo A-1, lipid profile, and HOMA-IR in severe obesity undergoing LSG. Anthropometric measurements and blood samples were collected preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively to hs-CRP, HOMA-IR, lipid profile, apo A-1, and low- and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C/HDL-C) ratios, total cholesterol to HDL-C (TC/HDL-C) ratio, and monocyte to high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol ratio (MHR).

Results

In total, 70 patients were analyzed after 6 months and reached %TWL 27.4 ± 9.5 and %EWL 62.0 ± 15.4. Significant improvements were noted in all measured biomarkers. Analysis showed that each unit reduction in BMI significantly affected hs-CRP and HDL-C. Furthermore, moderate associations between hs-CRP and various cardiovascular disease risk biomarkers, including a negative correlation with apo A-1 and positive correlations with total cholesterol (TC), TC/HDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C, along with a mild positive correlation with HOMA-IR.

Conclusion

Weight loss following LSG significantly reduced inflammation and improved atheroprotection. Improved inflammation markers were associated with favorable changes in cardiovascular risk factors, including HDL-C ratios particularly TC/HDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C, and apo A-1.

Graphical Abstract
miR-92a-3p and miR-320a are Upregulated in Plasma Neuron-Derived Extracellular Vesicles of Patients with Frontotemporal Dementia
Authors: Manzini Valeria , Cappelletti Pamela , Orefice Nicola S. , Brentari Ilaria , Rigby Michael J. , Lo Giudice Maria , Feligioni Marco , Rivabene Roberto , Crestini Alessio , Manfredi Francesco , Talarico Giuseppina , Bruno Giuseppe , Corbo Massimo , Puglielli Luigi , Denti Michela A. , Piscopo Paola
Published: August 2024

Despite the efforts to identify fluid biomarkers to improve diagnosis of Frontotemporal dementia (FTD), only a few candidates have been described in recent years. In a previous study, we identified three circulating miRNAs (miR-92a-3p, miR-320a and miR-320b) differentially expressed in FTD patients with respect to healthy controls and/or Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. Now, we investigated whether those changes could be due to miRNAs contained in neuron-derived extracellular vesicles (NDEVs). We also evaluated miRNAs content in total plasma EVs and in CSF samples. The analysis of plasma NDEVs carried out on 40 subjects including controls (n = 13), FTD (n = 13) and AD (n = 14) patients, showed that both miR-92a-3p and miR-320a levels were triplicated in the FTD group if compared with CT and AD patients. Increased levels of the same miRNAs were found also in CSF derived from FTD group compared to CTs. No differences were observed in expression levels of miR-320b among the three groups. Worthy of note, all miRNAs analysed were increased in an FTD cell model, MAPT IVS10 + 16 neurons. Our results suggest that miR-92a and miR-320a in NDEVs could be proposed as FTD biomarkers.
Optimization of energy consumption in vertical mobility systems of high-rise office buildings: A case study from a developing economy
Authors: Thebuwena A. C. H. J. , Samarakoon S. M. Samindi M. K. , Ratnayake R. M. Chandima
Published: August 2024

Elevator systems serve as the primary mode of transportation in tall buildings which consumes approximately 5–15% of a building's total energy demand. This research explores the potential for energy savings in elevator systems while maintaining passenger comfort through the implementation of green approaches. The research concentrates on a contemporary high-rise office building situated in the central business district of a developing economy. It employs a case study methodology involving traffic simulation to determine optimal elevator specifications for industry-standard service levels. By conducting the simulation, the researchers identified the optimal number of elevators, elevator capacity, speed, and the most suitable elevator management system. Following that, a range of green measures were implemented, including the incorporation of a regenerative system, to effectively reduce the electrical energy consumption of the elevator system. Subsequently, a passenger traffic simulation model was integrated with an energy calculation model to jointly simulate and calculate the elevator system's overall energy consumption and regeneration. The elevator energy requirements were optimized, while maintaining user-friendliness and requirements related to guidelines given in the standards. The results showed that 36% of the energy consumption was reduced by incorporating an energy regenerative option into the elevator system in addition to selecting efficient mechanical components and implementing an efficient elevator traffic management system. This research contributes to the limited body of literature on energy optimization in elevators and emphasizes the importance of balancing energy efficiency with service quality. These findings provide guidance for establishing benchmarks in reducing energy consumption, in relation to elevator systems.
Prognostic value of a novel myeloid-to-lymphoid ratio biomarker in advanced gastric cancer
Authors: Pan Yuting , Ma Yue , Dai Guanghai
Published: August 2024

Background

Currently, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have excellent performance in the clinical treatment of advanced gastric cancer (AGC). However, precisely selecting AGC patients who can benefit from immunotherapy is an urgent difficulty. In this study, we investigated the immunoprognostic role of myeloid-to-lymphocyte ratio (M:L) in AGC patients.

Methods

We collected information on 268 AGC patients who were hospitalized in the Department of Medical Oncology of PLA General Hospital from December 2014 to May 2021. The patients were divided into low M: L group (< 3.76) and high M:L group (≥ 3.76). Survival differences between different M: L level groups at baseline and after treatment were analyzed by methods such as Kaplan–Meier, Cox or Logistic regression model.

Results

Progression free survival (PFS) (5.8 months vs. 3.4 months, p = 0.001) and overall survival (OS) (14.1 months vs. 9.0 months, p = 0.001) were significantly longer in the low M:L group than in the high M:L group. After analyses of Cox regression modeling it was concluded that M:L was an independent prognostic factor for PFS (HR 1.371 95%CI 1.057–1.777 p = 0.017) and OS (HR 1.352 95%CI 1.003–1.824 p = 0.048), respectively. Subsequent subgroup analyses performed across immunotherapy lines, regimens, PD-1 inhibitor agents, and age groups revealed a poorer prognosis in the high M:L group. Notably, an increase in the value of M:L after treatment significantly increased the risk of poor prognosis.

Conclusions

M:L ≥ 3.76 is associated with poor prognostic outcomes in AGC patients receiving immunotherapy and may be a predictive biomarker of prognosis. This result needs to be confirmed by larger prospective studies.
How university management decision making affects academic educators’ wellbeing, decision making and ability to change
Authors: Bamforth Jill , Turner Kristina , Levin Elizabeth , Wu Bin , Waters Jeff , Gallagher Sean
Published: August 2024

University policy setting and implementation has the potential to significantly affect the quality and delivery of teaching and learning by effecting academic wellbeing and performance, particularly during times of significant change. Existing research predominately focuses on student wellbeing, largely overlooking academic wellbeing. This article presents a study which illustrates how university decision making can affect academic wellbeing. Fifteen academics were interviewed in June 2023 to explore how change shaped their teaching. Applying the lens of Self Determination Theory (SDT), the data were then analysed to identify how the university’s response to environmental change affected academic wellbeing and performance. The findings suggest that how institutions implement policy decisions, particularly in high stress environments, is critical to understanding how academics respond. This study provides a rationale for why, in times of significant change, clear upper management decision making, and effective resource management systems are essential to support academics in adopting wellbeing and coping behaviours. The authors conclude by recommending that the application of SDT may offer a structured approach for higher education policy makers and management decision makers to identify possible impacts of change on academic motivation, wellbeing and decision making.
On the rise or a return to pre-pandemic levels? A cross-sectional online survey on nicotine, alcohol, and illicit drug use among youth
Authors: Fanninger Selina , Mayer Anna , Goreis Andreas , Kothgassner Oswald D. , Matjazic Julia , Schoegl Paul , Schmelzle Nicolas , Wollenek Valentin , Skala Katrin
Published: August 2024

Objectives

The COVID-19 pandemic has had unprecedented and deteriorating effects on the mental health of adolescents and young adults. Various studies have described changes regarding substance abuse, but findings are conflicting.

Study design

We conducted a cross-sectional online survey on nicotine, alcohol, and illicit drug use.

Methods

From March to May 2023, 502 participants aged 14–24 from a community-based sample completed the questionnaire.

Results

We found a general trend of declining or stable substance use during the first 2 years of the pandemic; however, in the third year (i.e., 2022), substance use returned to pre-pandemic levels or exceeded it. Compared with young adults (age 19–24), adolescents’ (age 14–18) use increased more clearly. Participants who scored above the cut-off on screening measures for problematic substance use showed a more pronounced increase in the use of cigarettes and illicit drugs but not of alcohol. Higher alcohol consumption during lockdowns was associated with increased likelihood of current problematic alcohol (odds ratio [OR]: 3.03) and cannabis use (OR: 2.60). Furthermore, individuals who reported increased usage of one psychotropic substance during lockdowns were more likely to have increased their use of other substances as well (OR: 2.66–4.87).

Conclusions

Although not optimally generalizable due to the retrospective online format and convenience sampling, our results support the notion that special attention ought to be paid to certain subgroups such as younger people and those who already exhibit problematic substance use during the pandemic. Following up on post-pandemic trends in substance use is crucial for developing prevention measures and targeted interventions.
Criteria and Guidelines for Returning to Running Following a Tibial Bone Stress Injury: A Scoping Review
Authors: George Esther R. M. , Sheerin Kelly R. , Reid Duncan
Published: August 2024

Tibial bone stress injuries (BSIs) are common among long-distance runners. They have a high recurrence rate, and complexity emerges in the wider management and successful return to running. Following a tibial BSI, a critical component of complete rehabilitation is the successful return to running, and there is a lack of consistency or strong evidence to guide this process. The objectives of this review were to outline the criteria used in clinical decision-making prior to resuming running, and to establish evidence-based guidelines for the return to running process following a tibial BSI. Electronic databases including MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, SPORTDiscus and AMED were searched for studies that stated criteria or provided guidelines on the objectives above. Fifty studies met the inclusion criteria and were included. Thirty-nine were reviews or clinical commentaries, three were retrospective cohort studies, two were randomised controlled trials, two were pilot studies, one was a prospective observational study, and three were case studies. Therefore, the recommendations that have been surmised are based on level IV evidence. Decisions on when an athlete should return to running should be shared between clinicians, coaches and the athlete. There are five important components to address prior to introducing running, which are: the resolution of bony tenderness, pain-free walking, evidence of radiological healing in high-risk BSIs, strength, functional and loading tests, and the identification of contributing factors. Effective return to running planning should address the athlete’s risk profile and manage the risk by balancing the athlete’s interests and reinjury prevention. An individualised graduated return to running programme should be initiated, often starting with walk-run intervals, progressing running distance ahead of speed and intensity, with symptom provocation a key consideration. Contributing factors to the initial injury should be addressed throughout the return to run process.
Carbody sway behaviour of railway vehicles due to track irregularity from rail alternate side wear
Authors: Wei Lai , Zeng Jing , Luo Ren , Gan Feng , Gong Jijun , Jiang Jun
Published: August 2024

Track irregularity from rail alternate side wear is manifested as uneven rail wear waveforms alternating in the left and right rails with equal intervals, which will cause carbody sway behaviour of railway vehicles and greatly influences the passenger comfort. In this work, the carbody sway behaviour and mechanism due to track irregularity from rail alternate side wear and possible solutions to this issue were studied by the field testing and numerical calculation approaches. First, the carbody sway of an urban rail transit train is introduced with full-scale field tests, through which the rail alternate side wear is characterized and the formatted track irregularity are presented. Then, multibody vehicle dynamic models are developed to reproduce the carbody sway behaviour induced by the track irregularity from the rail alternate side wear. The creep forces acting on the wheel and rail are preliminarily discussed to study the influence of the carbody sway on the wear of the wheel flange and the rail corner. Finally, some potential solutions, e.g. improving the damping ratio of carbody rigid mode and rail grinding, are proposed to relieve this issue. It is concluded that an increased damping ratio of the carbody mode can alleviate the carbody sway and wheel–rail interactions, while properly maintaining track conditions can improve the vehicle performance.
Proposal for optimizing number of servers in closed BCMP queueing network
Authors: Mizuno Shinya , Komiyama Yuki , Ohba Haruka
Published: August 2024

In this study, we use a closed BCMP queueing network model designed for multiple customer classes and servers to optimize the number of servers at each node. This optimization is achieved by setting an upper limit on the number of servers and using an objective function that combines the standard deviation of the average number of customers in the system with the server installation cost. We use a genetic algorithm with parallel computations for the optimization process. Our findings demonstrate that this approach is viable for closed BCMP network models that require extensive computational resources. The optimal server count is validated by comparing the optimization results with the maximum number of servers utilized. Node popularity is predetermined, and a gravity model is employed to generate transition probabilities, rendering the model applicable to real-world scenarios. Our optimization results indicate that both the node popularity and distance between nodes influence the server count. Furthermore, simulations were conducted to evaluate the effect of the number of servers on the optimization outcomes. Allowing variations in the node count, location, and popularity makes this study flexible and adaptable to various real-world scenarios, such as transportation systems, healthcare facilities, and commercial spaces. Moreover, by providing an efficient and scalable solution, this study serves as a cornerstone for future research in this field and offers a practical tool for facility managers aiming to minimize both congestion and operational costs.
Geist, Eros und Jugend
Authors: Kaulen Heinrich
Published: August 2024

Walter Benjamins Abhandlung »Das Leben der Studenten« (1914/15) stellt nicht nur ein aufschlussreiches Dokument der Jugendkulturbewegung, sondern auch einen wichtigen philosophischen Diskussionsbeitrag zur Idee und Aufgabe der Universität dar. In der Kritik der zeitgenössischen Hochschule entfaltet der erst 22 Jahre alte Student das Gegenkonzept einer künftigen Universität, die unter Abweisung aller heteronomen Funktionalisierungen ihre Bestimmung in radikaler und riskanter geistiger Arbeit findet. Diese Vision wurzelt in der strikten Dichotomie von Studium und Beruf, deren Ursprung im deutschen Bildungsidealismus um 1800 liegt, und in der auf Platon rekurrierenden Konzeption des schöpferischen Eros. Das Versprechen lautet, im Zeichen der Jugendbewegung die produktive Synthese von Geist, Eros und Jugend zu restituieren.

Der Beitrag umreißt, nach einem Kommentar zu dieser wenig beachteten Arbeit (I.), den zeitgenössischen Kontext sowie die Grundlinien der Ideengeschichte zwischen Kant, Fichte und Nietzsche, auf die Benjamin mit seinem Konzept rekurriert (II.). Im Zentrum steht jedoch der von der Konstellationsforschung inspirierte kritische Vergleich mit den Universitätskonzepten, die zwischen 1917 und 1923 von Max Weber, Martin Heidegger und Karl Jaspers entwickelt worden sind (III.–V.) Zwar handelt es sich nicht um eine Debatte im eigentlichen Sinn. Dennoch erlaubt es die Rekonstruktion dieser ideengeschichtlichen Konstellation, die Widersprüche und Defizite, aber auch das Erkenntnispotenzial und die mögliche Aktualität von Benjamins Abhandlung vor einem erweiterten Horizont präzise greifbar zu machen.
Energy Community Resilience Improvement Through a Storage System
Authors: Mar Adriana , Pereira Pedro , Martins João F.
Published: August 2024

Energy communities serve as vital stakeholders within contemporary power grids. Nevertheless, managing these communities presents formidable challenges, owing to the intricate nature of the task, the presence of uncertainties, and competing objectives. This paper aims to demonstrate the positive impact of incorporating a storage system into an energy community, ensuring the welfare of every community member during grid malfunctions. The research investigates two separate energy communities, considering both uncontrollable and controllable devices within individual households as consumption sources, in addition to power supply sources like PV systems installed in community residences, as well as power derived from the main grid or the storage system.
On singularity and the Stoics: why Stoicism offers a valuable approach to navigating the risks of AI (Artificial Intelligence)
Authors: Bolaños Guerra Bernardo , Morton Gutierrez Jorge Luis
Published: August 2024

The potential benefits and risks of artificial intelligence technologies have sparked a wide-ranging debate in both academic and public circles. On one hand, there is an urgent call to address the immediate and avoidable challenges associated with these tools, such as accountability, privacy, bias, understandability, and transparency; on the other hand, prominent figures like Geoffrey Hinton and Elon Musk have voiced concerns over the potential rise of Super Artificial Intelligence, whose singularity could pose an existential threat to humanity. Coordinating the efforts of thousands of decentralized entities to prevent such a hypothetical event may seem insurmountable in our intricate and multipolar world. Thus, drawing from both perspectives, this work suggests employing the tools and framework of Stoic philosophy, particularly the concept of the dichotomy of control—focusing on what is within our power. This Stoic principle offers a practical and epistemological approach to managing the complexities of AI, and it encourages individuals to organize their efforts around what they can influence while adapting to the constraints of external factors. Within this framework, the essay found that Stoic wisdom is essential for assessing risks, courage is necessary to face contemporary challenges, and temperance and tranquility are indispensable; and these lessons can inform ongoing public and academic discourse, aiding in the development of more effective policy proposals for aligning Narrow AI and General AI with human values.
Competing with autonomous model vehicles: a software stack for driving in smart city environments
Authors: Bächle Julius , Häringer Jakob , Köhler Noah , Özer Kadir-Kaan , Enzweiler Markus , Marchthaler Reiner
Published: August 2024

This article introduces an open-source software stack designed for autonomous 1:10 scale model vehicles. Initially developed for the Bosch Future Mobility Challenge (BFMC) student competition, this versatile software stack is applicable to a variety of autonomous driving competitions. The stack comprises perception, planning, and control modules, each essential for precise and reliable scene understanding in complex environments such as a miniature smart city in the context of BFMC. Given the limited computing power of model vehicles and the necessity for low-latency real-time applications, the stack is implemented in C++, employs YOLO Version 5 s for environmental perception, and leverages the state-of-the-art Robot Operating System (ROS) for inter-process communication. We believe that this article and the accompanying open-source software will be a valuable resource for future teams participating in autonomous driving student competitions. Our work can serve as a foundational tool for novice teams and a reference for more experienced participants. The code and data are publicly available on GitHub.
Many-Objective Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm (MaOGOA): A New Many-Objective Optimization Technique for Solving Engineering Design Problems
Authors: Kalita Kanak , Jangir Pradeep , Čep Robert , Pandya Sundaram B. , Abualigah Laith
Published: August 2024

In metaheuristic multi-objective optimization, the term effectiveness is used to describe the performance of a metaheuristic algorithm in achieving two main goals—converging its solutions towards the Pareto front and ensuring these solutions are well-spread across the front. Achieving these objectives is particularly challenging in optimization problems with more than three objectives, known as many-objective optimization problems. Multi-objective algorithms often fall short in exerting adequate selection pressure towards the Pareto front in these scenarios and difficult to keep solutions evenly distributed, especially in cases with irregular Pareto fronts. In this study, the focus is on overcoming these challenges by developing an innovative and efficient a novel Many-Objective Grasshopper Optimisation Algorithm (MaOGOA). MaOGOA incorporates reference point, niche preserve and information feedback mechanism (IFM) for superior convergence and diversity. A comprehensive array of quality metrics is utilized to characterize the preferred attributes of Pareto Front approximations, focusing on convergence, uniformity and expansiveness diversity in terms of IGD, HV and RT metrics. It acknowledged that MaOGOA algorithm is efficient for many-objective optimization challenges. These findings confirm the approach effectiveness and competitive performance. The MaOGOA efficiency is thoroughly examined on WFG1-WFG9 benchmark problem with 5, 7 and 9 objectives and five real-world (RWMaOP1- RWMaOP5) problem, contrasting it with MaOSCA, MaOPSO, MOEA/DD, NSGA-III, KnEA, RvEA and GrEA algorithms. The findings demonstrate MaOGOA superior performance against these algorithms.
A Systematic Review of Wave Speed and Wave Intensity Measures in the Human Carotid Arteries
Authors: Neumann Sandra , Parker Kim H. , Hughes Alun D. , Biglino Giovanni
Published: August 2024

Wave intensity and wave speed are measures used to assess the dynamic properties of the arteries and travelling waves within the circulation. Wave intensity and wave speed measured in the carotid artery have the potential to provide hemodynamic and biophysical insights that can advance our understanding of the physiology of cerebral circulation. However, whilst studies have been performed in different patient cohorts exploring different methodological implementations of wave intensity analysis (WIA), to date little work has been done to unify wave measures or provide reference ranges on which to build the field of research and inform clinical practice. This review thus focuses on wave speed and wave intensity in the carotid artery in man with the aim to summarise the current knowledge of the field. From this review, the different methods of measurement and the disparity of the reported values currently hinder efforts to construct reference ranges for a comparator or intervention to be assessed.
Attitudes of university students towards people with mental health disorders: a survey-based study
Authors: Omar Rukhsar Muhammad , Ahmed Sirwan Khalid , Haji Ramand Mohammed
Published: August 2024

Background

Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan face significant challenges regarding mental disorders. Individuals with mental health disorders often conceal their conditions, particularly in certain cultural contexts, due to the negative attitudes they face. This study aims to explore the attitudes of university students towards individuals with mental health disorders.

Methods

A sample of 294 university students from five distinct colleges within a public university in the Kurdistan region of Iraq was selected to participate in an attitudinal survey. The participants were chosen using convenience sampling. The survey encompassed 34 items, which were categorized into six overarching conceptual sub-scales: benevolence, separatism, stereotyping, restrictiveness, pessimistic prediction, and stigmatization. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to analyze the gathered data.

Results

The findings indicate that the majority of participants held negative attitudes towards individuals with mental health disorder. Furthermore, the study identified statistically significant associations between socio-demographic variables and students’ attitudes across most of the subscales.

Conclusion

The study highlights the prevalence of negative attitudes towards individuals with mental health disorder among university students. It suggests the establishment of a psychological and guidance counseling center at the university to promote awareness about mental health disorder and provide guidance and training to mitigate its severity, similar to physical illnesses.
A novel model based on a transformer for intent detection and slot filling
Authors: Li Dapeng , Wang Shuliang , Zhao Boxiang , Ma Zhiqiang , Li Leixiao
Published: August 2024

Building task-oriented dialogue systems has become a topic of interest in the research community and industry. The task-oriented dialogue system is a closed-domain dialogue system that can perform specific tasks for users. The natural language understanding module of a task-oriented dialogue system is crucial because it is related to a task-oriented dialogue system that provides correctional services for users. The natural language understanding module of a task-oriented dialogue system performs two tasks: intent detection and slot filling. The intent detection task can be regarded as a text classification task; a classification model is trained to predict the intention of the user from the user’s input information. The slot filling task can be regarded as a sequence analysis task; a sequence analysis model is trained to predict the details of the user’s intention. In this paper, we proposed a novel model based on a transformer encoder for intent detection and slot filling. It follows the encoder-decoder structure, including a vanilla Transformer encoder, a bidirectional LSTM encoder, a linear classification decoder for intent detection, and a conditional random field decoder for slot filling. The experimental results on two public datasets show that our proposed model outperforms the existing methods based on the Transformer and can be combined with BERT to achieve better intent detection and slot filling results.
The dilemma of coastal management: Exploitation or conservation?
Authors: Martínez M. Luisa , Silva Rodolfo , Pérez-Maqueo Octavio , Chávez Valeria , Mendoza-González Gabriela , Maximiliano-Cordova Carmelo
Published: August 2024

The real estate business on sandy coasts and coastal dunes has increased dramatically over the last decades because of the growing demands for leisure activities which, consequently, have yielded important economic gains. Such ravaging exploitation results in the replacement of sandy ecosystems with tourism-oriented settlements, infrastructure, and facilities. As the sandy beaches and coastal dunes become deteriorated or eliminated, their protective role is lost, and the hydrometeorological risks to which the increasing human coastal populations are exposed grow, especially in a climate change scenario with increasing storminess. Furthermore, when possible, the expansion of the tourism industry continues searching for new, unspoiled locations, and the cycle begins again. This situation leads to the dilemma of coastal management: should we continue with the over-exploitation of sandy coasts for growing economic benefits? Or should we preserve the coasts for protection against the impact of increasing storms and sea level rise and to benefit biodiversity? Although scientific evidence demonstrates the relevance of protecting the coasts, coastal development plans continue to ignore these findings. What are the key drivers for these trends? We first looked for scientific evidence of the appraisal of the esthetic beauty of the beach and coastal dunes, as highly important drivers of urbanization and coastal environmental change. We then looked for evidence that demonstrated how coastal dunes offer storm protection Finally, we examined if the conservation of beaches and coastal dunes can be compatible with non-intrusive tourism. In summary, through the literature review and our own data, we show how different alternatives may help achieve a more sustainable coastal tourism by combining economic necessities with environmental concerns.
Addressing the conflicts between climate-related renewable energy goals and environmental protection interests under the RED Directive
Authors: Montini Massimiliano
Published: August 2024

The aim of the contribution is to focus on the conflicts arising between climate-related renewable energy goals vis-a-vis environmental protection interests. To this effect, the analysis will firstly investigate the origin of such types of conflicts, which may also be named intra-environmental conflicts, and define their main characteristics; secondly, the regulatory choices made by the RED II and the RED III Directives to manage these conflicts will be presented and compared, with a particular focus on the three key features of the recently approved RED III Directive; thirdly, an alternative approach to address such types of conflicts will be proposed. This is based on the principle of integration, to be interpreted with an ecological sustainability reading of the principle of sustainable development.
The boundary layer instability beneath internal solitary waves and its sensitivity to vortex wakes
Authors: Posada-Bedoya Andres , Olsthoorn Jason , Boegman Leon
Published: August 2024

We investigated the stability of the bottom boundary layer (BBL) beneath periodic internal solitary waves (ISWs) of depression over a flat bottom through two-dimensional direct numerical simulations. We explored the convective versus absolute/global nature of the BBL instability in response to changes in Reynolds number, and the sensitivity of the instability to seeding noise in the front of the ISW – spanning laboratory to geophysical scales. The BBL was laminar at

$Re_{ISW}=90$

and convectively unstable at

$Re_{ISW}=300$

. At laboratory-scale

$Re_{ISW}=300$

, the convective wave packet was periodically amplified by each successive ISW, until vortex shedding occurred. The associated noise-amplification behaviour potentially explains the discrepancies of the critical

$Re_{ISW}$

between the lock–release laboratory experiments and our Dubreil–Jacotin–Long-initialized numerical simulations as the result of the difference in background noise. Instability energy decreased under the front shoulder of the ISW, analogous to flow relaminarization under a favourable pressure gradient. At geophysical-scale

$Re_{ISW}=900$

, the BBL was initially convectively unstable, and then the instability tracked with the ISW, appearing phenomenologically similar to a global instability. The simulated initial convective instability at both

$Re_{ISW}=300$

and

$Re_{ISW}=900$

is in agreement with local linear stability analysis which predicts that the instability group speed is always lower than the ISW celerity. Increased free stream perturbations in front of the ISW and larger

$Re_{ISW}$

shift the location of vortex shedding (and enhanced bed shear stress) beneath the wave, closer to the ISW trough, thereby potentially changing the location of maximum sediment resuspension, in agreement with field observations at higher

$Re_{ISW}$

.