bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of Artificial Neural Networks for Prediction of Received Signal Strength Indication and Signal-to-Noise Ratio in Amazonian Wooded Environments
Authors: Barbosa Brenda S. de S. , Cruz Hugo A. O. , Macedo Alex S. , Cardoso Caio M. M. , Fernandes Filipe C. , Eras Leslye E. C. , Araújo Jasmine P. L. de , Calvacante Gervásio P. S. , Barros Fabrício J. B.
Published: April 2024

The presence of green areas in urbanized cities is crucial to reduce the negative impacts of urbanization. However, these areas can influence the signal quality of IoT devices that use wireless communication, such as LoRa technology. Vegetation attenuates electromagnetic waves, interfering with the data transmission between IoT devices, resulting in the need for signal propagation modeling, which considers the effect of vegetation on its propagation. In this context, this research was conducted at the Federal University of Pará, using measurements in a wooded environment composed of the Pau-Mulato species, typical of the Amazon. Two machine learning-based propagation models, GRNN and MLPNN, were developed to consider the effect of Amazonian trees on propagation, analyzing different factors, such as the transmitter’s height relative to the trunk, the beginning of foliage, and the middle of the tree canopy, as well as the LoRa spreading factor (SF) 12, and the co-polarization of the transmitter and receiver antennas. The proposed models demonstrated higher accuracy, achieving values of root mean square error (RMSE) of 3.86 dB and standard deviation (SD) of 3.8614 dB, respectively, compared to existing empirical models like CI, FI, Early ITU-R, COST235, Weissberger, and FITU-R. The significance of this study lies in its potential to boost wireless communications in wooded environments. Furthermore, this research contributes to enhancing more efficient and robust LoRa networks for applications in agriculture, environmental monitoring, and smart urban infrastructure.
Flextory: Flexible Software Factory of IoT Data Consumers
Authors: López-Gómez Rafael , Panizo Laura , Gallardo María-del-Mar
Published: April 2024

The success of the Internet of Things (IoT) has driven the development, among others, of many different software architectures for producing, processing, and analyzing heterogeneous data. In many cases, IoT applications share common features, such as the use of a platform or middleware, also known as message broker, that collects and manages data traffic between endpoints. However, in general, data processing is very dependent on the case study (sensors that send temperature data, drones that send images, etc.). Thus, the applications responsible for receiving and processing data, which we call consumers, have to be built ad hoc, since some of their elements have to be specially configured to solve specific needs of the case study. This paper presents Flextory, a software factory tool to make it easier for IoT developers to automatically construct configurable consumer applications, which we call FLEX-consumers. Flextory guides developers through the process of generating Java consumers by selecting some desired features such as, for instance, the particular communication protocol to be used. This way, the developer only has to concentrate on designing the algorithm to process the data. In short, the use of Flextory will result in consumer applications with configurable behavior, namely FLEX-consumers, that can connect to a messaging server (for example RabbitMQ) and process the received messages.
Learning-Based Control of Autonomous Vehicles Using an Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System and the Linear Matrix Inequality Approach
Authors: Sheikhsamad Mohammad , Puig Vicenç
Published: April 2024

This paper proposes a learning-based control approach for autonomous vehicles. An explicit Takagi–Sugeno (TS) controller is learned using input and output data from a preexisting controller, employing the Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) algorithm. At the same time, the vehicle model is identified in the TS model form for closed-loop stability assessment using Lyapunov theory and LMIs. The proposed approach is applied to learn the control law from an MPC controller, thus avoiding the use of online optimization. This reduces the computational burden of the control loop and facilitates real-time implementation. Finally, the proposed approach is assessed through simulation using a small-scale autonomous racing car.
RCEAU-Net: Cascade Multi-Scale Convolution and Attention-Mechanism-Based Network for Laser Beam Target Image Segmentation with Complex Background in Coal Mine
Authors: Yang Wenjuan , Wang Yanqun , Zhang Xuhui , Zhu Le , Ren Zhiteng , Ji Yang , Li Long , Xie Yanbin
Published: April 2024

Accurate and reliable pose estimation of boom-type roadheaders is the key to the forming quality of the tunneling face in coal mines, which is of great importance to improve tunneling efficiency and ensure the safety of coal mine production. The multi-laser-beam target-based visual localization method is an effective way to realize accurate and reliable pose estimation of a roadheader body. However, the complex background interference in coal mines brings great challenges to the stable and accurate segmentation and extraction of laser beam features, which has become the main problem faced by the long-distance visual positioning method of underground equipment. In this paper, a semantic segmentation network for underground laser beams in coal mines, RCEAU-Net, is proposed based on U-Net. The network introduces residual connections in the convolution of the encoder and decoder parts, which effectively fuses the underlying feature information and improves the gradient circulation performance of the network. At the same time, by introducing cascade multi-scale convolution in the skipping connection section, which compensates for the lack of contextual semantic information in U-Net and improves the segmentation effect of the network model on tiny laser beams at long distance. Finally, the introduction of an efficient multi-scale attention module with cross-spatial learning in the encoder enhances the feature extraction capability of the network. Furthermore, the laser beam target dataset (LBTD) is constructed based on laser beam target images collected from several coal mines, and the proposed RCEAU-Net model is then tested and verified. The experimental results show that, compared with the original U-Net, RCEAU-Net can ensure the real-time performance of laser beam segmentation while increasing the Accuracy by 0.19%, Precision by 2.53%, Recall by 22.01%, and Intersection and Union Ratio by 8.48%, which can meet the requirements of multi-laser-beam feature segmentation and extraction under complex backgrounds in coal mines, so as to further ensure the accuracy and stability of long-distance visual positioning for boom-type roadheaders and ensure the safe production in the working face.
Systematic Review: Seventy-Seven Cases of Signet Ring Cell Adenocarcinoma of the Bladder
Authors: Chew Kenneth Keen Yip , Boot Madison , Wilson Katelyn , Sowter Cameron , Xuan Wei , Stanton Raymond , Bergamin Paul
Published: April 2024

Background: Signet ring cell adenocarcinoma (SRCC) of the bladder is a rare and aggressive histological subtype of bladder cancer. Due to its infrequency, the understanding of its clinical behaviour, treatment strategies, and outcomes remains limited, being primarily derived from isolated case reports and series. Objective: To systematically review and analyse the available literature on SRCC of the bladder, emphasizing its clinical characteristics, diagnostic approaches, treatment modalities, and outcomes. Material and Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, and Medline following the PRISMA guidelines, including case reports, case series, observational studies, and clinical trials reporting on bladder SRCC. Results: We included 38 articles reporting on 77 patients, primarily males (79.2%), with a median age of 64 years. The most common presenting symptoms were haematuria (64.8%) and lower urinary tract symptoms (46.3%). All the diagnoses were based on histopathological examination of bladder tissue samples and immunohistochemistry. Mixed histological types of bladder cancer were found in 20.7% of cases, most commonly urothelial carcinoma (61.1%). The treatments varied, with 53.2% of patients undergoing radical cystectomy, 24.7% receiving radiotherapy, and 16.9% receiving chemotherapy. The five-year survival rates were 9.4%. Conclusion: Bladder SRCC presents aggressively, with varied treatment strategies; however, radical cystectomy appears to be the optimal means of surgical management for organ-confined disease. The overall survival rate is low, highlighting the need for further research to understand and manage this rare bladder cancer variant. All patients should undergo evaluation to exclude extravesical primaries. This systematic review contributes to a better understanding of this disease and may guide clinical management strategies.
Sustainable Development Goal Attainment in the Wake of COVID-19: Simulating an Ambitious Policy Push
Authors: Hanna Taylor , Hughes Barry B. , Irfan Mohammod T. , Bohl David K. , Solórzano José , Abidoye Babatunde , Patterson Laurel , Moyer Jonathan D.
Published: April 2024

Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the world was not on course to meet key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). Some significant degree of additional effort was needed before the pandemic, and the challenge is now greater. Analyzing the prospects for meeting these goals requires attention to the combined effects of the pandemic and such additional impetus. This article assesses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on progress toward the SDGs and explores strategies to recover and accelerate development. Utilizing the International Futures (IFs) forecasting system and recognizing the near impossibility of meeting the goals by 2030, three scenarios are examined through to 2050: A pre-COVID-19 trajectory (No COVID-19), the current path influenced by the pandemic (Current Path), and a transformative SDG-focused approach prioritizing key policy strategies to accelerate outcomes (SDG Push). The pandemic led to a rise in extreme poverty and hunger, with recovery projected to be slow. The SDG Push scenario effectively addresses this, surpassing the Current Path and achieving significant global improvements in poverty, malnutrition, and human development by 2050 even relative to the No COVID-19 path. The findings emphasize the need for integrated, transformative actions to propel sustainable development.
Assessing Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids in the Subsurface Using the Soil Gas Rn Deficit Technique: A Literature Overview of Field Studies
Authors: Cecconi Alessandra , Verginelli Iason , Baciocchi Renato
Published: April 2024

222Radon (Rn) was proposed in the late 1990s as a naturally occurring tracer for light non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPLs) in the subsurface, due to its preferential partitioning behavior in the non-aqueous phase, resulting in a reduction in Rn activities in areas with LNAPLs in the subsurface compared to unimpacted areas (Rn deficit). The Rn deficit technique emerged as a cost-effective, non-invasive, and sustainable method to rapidly identify and quantify LNAPLs, for the characterization and monitoring of contaminated sites. This paper presents an overview of the technique and its field applications, with a specific focus on the use of the method in the vadose zone based on soil gas Rn measurements. Although various configurations have shown favorable outcomes, limitations persist in the application of the soil gas Rn deficit technique. Deep LNAPL contamination, soil matrix heterogeneity, and temporal variations in Rn emissions pose challenges to quantitative evaluations of LNAPL contamination. Recognizing these factors is crucial for site-specific assessments. This review aims to highlight both the strengths and limitations of the method, providing insights into potential areas for future research while acknowledging the positive outcomes achieved in different configurations over the past decades.
Exploring AAM Acceptance in Tourism: Environmental Consciousness’s Influence on Hedonic Motivation and Intention to Use
Authors: Suo Yining , Li Chenglong , Tang Li , Huang Longyang
Published: April 2024

Tourist destinations thrive on sustainable development. Electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, representing energy-efficient advancements in aviation that are pivotal to advanced air mobility (AAM), have garnered attention. Yet, the discourse on eVTOLs’ role in tourism remains scant. This study, drawing from 450 samples in the Mogan Mountain Scenic Area, introduces the AAM-tourism acceptance model (ATAM). It integrates the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and technology acceptance model (TAM) theoretical frameworks, incorporating environmental consciousness, perceived safety, hedonic motivation, and personal innovativeness, assessing their influence on tourists’ eVTOL usage intention through a structural equation model (SEM). The results reveal that environmental consciousness significantly impacts hedonic motivation and perceived usefulness, driving eVTOL adoption. Furthermore, personal innovativeness influences intention through hedonic motivation and perceived behavioral control. Therefore, environmental consciousness and hedonic motivation align deeply with eVTOL attributes, both significantly positively influencing intention to use. Thus, the study validates eVTOL’s viability in tourism and its potential for sectoral expansion. Moreover, it offers insights into how psychological factors shape eVTOL adoption, guiding the promotion of eVTOL sightseeing services and informing research on AAM acceptance across various domains.
Progress in Multi-Soil-Layering Systems for Wastewater Treatment
Authors: Ma Teng-Fei , Wu Jin , Feng Li , Chen Xin-Ping , He Jing
Published: April 2024

The use of decentralized wastewater treatment technologies is a reasonable solution for rural areas. As a decentralized treatment technology, the multi-soil-layering (MSL) system has recently drawn an increasing amount of attention owing to its merits, such as a high hydraulic load rate, small land area occupation, low probability of clogging, low investment, and low operation cost. This review summarizes the progress in MSL systems in the past decade, focusing on the directions of efforts for system optimization, the latest applications of MSL systems to various wastewater treatments, and the integration of MSL with other technologies. The great application potential of MSL systems is illustrated, and future research directions regarding better application of MSL systems are provided.
Enhancing Electric Bus Charging Scheduling: An Energy-Integrated Dynamic Bus Replacement Strategy with Time-of-Use Pricing
Authors: Liu Yang , Zeng Bing , Long Kejun , Wu Wei
Published: April 2024

Existing studies on electric bus (EB) scheduling mainly focus on the arrangement of bus charging at the bus terminals, which may lead to inflexible charging plans, high scheduling costs, and low utilization of electricity energy. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a dynamic bus replacement strategy. When the power of an in-service EB is insufficient, a standby EB stationed at nearby charging stations is dispatched in advance to replace this in-service EB at a designated bus stop. Passengers then transfer to the standby bus to complete their journey. The replaced bus proceeds to the charging station and transitions into a “standby bus” status after recharging. A mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) model is established to determine the dispatching plan for both standby and in-service EBs while also designing optimal charging schemes (i.e., the charging time, location, and the amount of charged power) for electric bus systems. Additionally, this study also incorporates the strategy of time-of-use electricity prices to mitigate the adverse impact on the power grid. The proposed model is linearized to the mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model and efficiently solved by commercial solvers (e.g., GUROBI). The case study demonstrates that EBs with different energy levels can be dynamically assigned to different bus lines using bus replacement strategies, resulting in reduced electricity costs for EB systems without compromising on scheduling efficiency.
Impact of HPV Vaccination on the Incidence of High-Grade Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN2+) in Women Aged 20–25 in the Northern Part of Norway: A 15-Year Study
Authors: Mikalsen Marte Pettersen , Simonsen Gunnar Skov , Sørbye Sveinung Wergeland
Published: April 2024

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV), the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection globally, is a key risk factor for high-grade cervical lesions and cervical cancer. Since 2009, HPV vaccination has been part of the national immunization program for girls in 7th grade in Norway (women born 1997 and later). This study aimed to assess the impact of HPV vaccination on the incidence of high-grade cervical precursors (CIN2+) among women aged 20–25 in Troms and Finnmark over a 15-year period. Materials and Methods: In this time series study, we analyzed cervical screening data from 15,328 women aged 20–25 in Troms and Finnmark, collected between 2008 and 2022. Statistical methods, including linear and logistic regression, were employed to evaluate changes in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 and worse (CIN2+) incidence and compare risks between vaccine-offered cohorts and pre-vaccine cohorts. Results: The incidence of CIN2+ initially increased from 31 cases per year in 2008 to 110 cases in 2018, then significantly decreased to 44 cases per year by 2022 (p < 0.01). Women in pre-vaccine cohorts had a substantially higher risk of CIN2+ (OR 9.02, 95% CI 5.9–13.8) and CIN3+ (OR 19.6, 95% CI 7.3–52.6). Notably, no vaccinated women with CIN2+ tested positive for HPV types 16 or 18. Furthermore, none of the 13 cervical cancer cases recorded during the study were from the vaccinated cohorts. Interpretation: The findings suggest a significant reduction in the incidence of high-grade cervical precursors following the introduction of the HPV vaccine in Norway’s national immunization program, highlighting its effectiveness in cervical cancer prevention among young women in Northern Norway.
A TriAdj-Adjuvanted Chlamydia trachomatis CPAF Protein Vaccine Is Highly Immunogenic in Pigs
Authors: Proctor Jessica , Stadler Maria , Cortes Lizette M. , Brodsky David , Poisson Lydia , Gerdts Volker , Smirnov Alex I. , Smirnova Tatyana I. , Barua Subarna , Leahy Darren , Beagley Kenneth W. , Harris Jonathan M. , Darville Toni , Käser Tobias
Published: April 2024

Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) infections are the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). Despite effective antibiotics for Ct, undetected infections or delayed treatment can lead to infertility, ectopic pregnancies, and chronic pelvic pain. Besides humans, chlamydia poses similar health challenges in animals such as C. suis (Cs) in pigs. Based on the similarities between humans and pigs, as well as their chlamydia species, we use pigs as a large biomedical animal model for chlamydia research. In this study, we used the pig model to develop a vaccine candidate against Ct. The vaccine candidate consists of TriAdj-adjuvanted chlamydial-protease-like activity factor (CPAF) protein. We tested two weekly administration options—twice intranasal (IN) followed by twice intramuscular (IM) and twice IM followed by twice IN. We assessed the humoral immune response in both serum using CPAF-specific IgG (including antibody avidity determination) and also in cervical and rectal swabs using CPAF-specific IgG and IgA ELISAs. The systemic T-cell response was analyzed following in vitro CPAF restimulation via IFN-γ and IL-17 ELISpots, as well as intracellular cytokine staining flow cytometry. Our data demonstrate that while the IN/IM vaccination mainly led to non-significant systemic immune responses, the vaccine candidate is highly immunogenic if administered IM/IN. This vaccination strategy induced high serum anti-CPAF IgG levels with strong avidity, as well as high IgA and IgG levels in vaginal and rectal swabs and in uterine horn flushes. In addition, this vaccination strategy prompted a pronounced cellular immune response. Besides inducing IL-17 production, the vaccine candidate induced a strong IFN-γ response with CD4 T cells. In IM/IN-vaccinated pigs, these cells also significantly downregulated their CCR7 expression, a sign of differentiation into peripheral-tissue-homing effector/memory cells. Conclusively, this study demonstrates the strong immunogenicity of the IM/IN-administered TriAdj-adjuvanted Ct CPAF vaccine candidate. Future studies will test the vaccine efficacy of this promising Ct vaccine candidate. In addition, this project demonstrates the suitability of the Cs pre-exposed outbred pig model for Ct vaccine development. Thereby, we aim to open the bottleneck of large animal models to facilitate the progression of Ct vaccine candidates into clinical trials.
Identifying and Interpreting Hydrological Model Structural Nonstationarity Using the Bayesian Model Averaging Method
Authors: Gui Ziling , Zhang Feng , Yue Kedong , Lu Xiaorong , Chen Lin , Wang Hao
Published: April 2024

Understanding hydrological nonstationarity under climate change is important for runoff prediction and it enables more robust decisions. Regarding the multiple structural hypotheses, this study aims to identify and interpret hydrological structural nonstationarity using the Bayesian Model Averaging (BMA) method by (i) constructing a nonstationary model through the Bayesian weighted averaging of two lumped conceptual rainfall–runoff (RR) models (the Xinanjiang and GR4J model) with time-varying weights; and (ii) detecting the temporal variation in the optimized Bayesian weights under climate change conditions. By combining the BMA method with period partition and time sliding windows, the efficacy of adopting time-varying model structures is investigated over three basins located in the U.S. and Australia. The results show that (i) the nonstationary ensemble-averaged model with time-varying weights surpasses both individual models and the ensemble-averaged model with time-invariant weights, improving NSE[Q] from 0.04 to 0.15; (ii) the optimized weights of Xinanjiang model increase and that of GR4J declines with larger precipitation, and vice versa; (iii) the change in the optimized weights is proportional to that of precipitation under monotonic climate change, as otherwise the mechanism changes significantly. Overall, it is recommended to adopt nonstationary structures in hydrological modeling.
Turismo en la provincia de Pichincha, Ecuador año 2022: Impacto Económico y Diversidad de Atractivos.
Authors: Marcillo Fabricio , Plaza Carlos , Parrales Ángeles , Ocampo Eduardo , Yánez Bismark
Published: April 2024

El turismo en la provincia de Pichincha, Ecuador, en 2022, desempeñó un papel fundamental en la economía de la región, generando ingresos totales de 1,569.3 millones de dólares, lo que representa un 46.88% del total a nivel nacional. Esta provincia se destaca por su diversidad de atractivos turísticos, desde su impresionante patrimonio natural hasta sus ricas tradiciones culturales. Las festividades, celebraciones y costumbres locales ofrecen una experiencia enriquecedora tanto para los residentes como para los visitantes. Además, Pichincha se enorgullece de ser el hogar de lugares emblemáticos como el Centro Histórico de Quito, la Reserva Geobotánica Pululahua y la Reserva del Chocó Andino, lo que la convierte en un destino turístico integral. El análisis económico de los ingresos por turismo en Pichincha muestra que la alimentación, el alojamiento, el transporte aéreo y la operación en intermediación desempeñaron roles cruciales en el impulso de la economía local, destacando la importancia de la conectividad aérea en la atracción de visitantes. El turismo es un motor económico esencial en la provincia, y su diversificación en diferentes sectores contribuye al crecimiento sostenible y al desarrollo turístico en Pichincha, consolidándola como un destino vibrante y atractivo para quienes buscan explorar la riqueza cultural y natural de la región.
Aplicación de las pruebas no paramétricas de signos y Wilcoxon en la toma de decisiones empresariales
Authors: Flores Tapia Carlos Ernesto , Flores Cevallos Karla Lissette
Published: April 2024

El presente artículo contrasta las hipótesis planteadas por la gerencia en tres estudios de caso empresariales, para lo cual se aplicaron las pruebas estadísticas no paramétricas de signos, Wilcoxon para muestras dependientes y Wilcox para muestras independientes. Se buscó la solución mediante procedimientos estándar y con el uso de herramientas informáticas especializadas que agilizan los tiempos de procesamiento y ahorran costos a las organizaciones, demostrándose la aplicabilidad y utilidad de estas pruebas no paramétricas particularmente en escenarios empresariales complejos, como los generados por la post-crisis del COVID-19.
Puesta en marcha de un WooCommerce para pequeñas y medianas empresas, Caso de estudio: Empresa Ondina, Esmeraldas, Ecuador
Authors: Marcillo Fabricio , Begnini Lucia , Chamorro Cristina
Published: April 2024

Las PYMES, o Pequeñas y Medianas Empresas, son negocios de tamaño reducido que desempeñan un papel fundamental en la economía, caracterizándose por su flexibilidad y capacidad para adaptarse rápidamente a las demandas del mercado. Los comercios móviles, por su parte, son plataformas y aplicaciones diseñadas para operar en dispositivos móviles como smartphones y tabletas. Estos comercios móviles sirven como canales de venta y promoción, permitiendo a las PYMES llegar a un público más amplio, optimizar la experiencia del cliente y mejorar su rentabilidad al ampliar su alcance y ofrecer comodidad a los consumidores. Se evidenció que una interfaz de usuario eficiente y amigable tiene un impacto directo en la satisfacción del cliente y en la conversión de ventas, lo que influye positivamente en los ingresos. Sin embargo, se reconoció que la rentabilidad óptima puede variar según el contexto empresarial, tamaño y metas, subrayando la necesidad de análisis continuo y estrategias adaptables para mantener la rentabilidad en un entorno empresarial en constante evolución.
Curso de Patrulhamento Tático Motorizado (PATAMO): uma análise histórica e evolutiva do Curso PATAMO na Polícia Militar do Estado do Paraná e sua relevância na corporação
Authors: Silva Fabio Henrique Nunes da
Published: April 2024

A presente pesquisa tem por objetivo apresentar ao leitor uma análise de componentes e contextos do curso de patrulhamento tático motorizado da Polícias Militares dos Estados do Paraná comparando com os Estados de São Paulo (PMESP), Goiás (PMGO), Distrito Federal (PMDF), Rio Grande do Sul (BMRS). Sendo necessário uma introdução conceitual sobre o tema Patrulhamento Tático Motorizado (PATAMO), apresentação histórica e evolutiva do Curso PATAMO na Polícia Militar do Paraná (PMPR) passando a apresentar e analisar individualmente de cada Estado sobre a temática principal que é o Curso de Patrulhamento Tático Motorizado e assim concluir semelhanças e pontos em comum nos cursos especializados das cinco instituições e determinar a relevância da continuidade de um curso PATAMO na PMPR. A metodologia utilizada é a revisão documental e a pesquisa empírica através de questionário online elaborado pelo autor desta pesquisa e enviado a militares estaduais atuantes na coordenação e instrução dos cursos PATAMO.
Information technologies of management decisions supporting in the rolled metal manufacturing
Authors: I.K. Ziborov
Published: April 2024

The purpose of the study is the development of information technology to support management decisions in the processes of charging, deoxidation and mechanical proper-ties forecasting of rolled metallurgy finished products, based on the hybrid evolutionary method of multi-criteria optimization. The information technology basis for management decisions supporting in rolling production is the integrated decision support system (DSS) for the management of multi-stage rolling production. The DSS approaches are described in detail in [14]. The pro-posed information technology includes range of tasks to optimize charge, ferroalloys us-age, and the mechanical properties of finished products forecasting model. The optimal solutions of defined problems are considered to be real number vectors in the result of the HIPSO method applying, which describe parameters in accordance with the mathemati-cal model of the problem. The functions of information technology, respectively, should consist of the determination, storage, and transfer of mathematical models of problems, as well as receiving, processing and storage of data being the output of appropriate opti-mization problem or solution result. The information technology was validated on the example of decisions made by the operator of the converter shop of PLC "DMZ" in Dnipro during 2018 - 2019 (12,039 melt-ing) to produce six steel grades. At the considered meltings, the cost of steel, obtained by applying information technology, decreased in comparison to calculated charging according to the traditional method, by 2.4-2.5% while performing large orders; by 3-4% - while producing small ones. The economic effect at least at the stage of charging of the information technology implementation could be at least at the stage of charging from 904 to 1,413 thousand UAH per month for two-shift work. The implementation of the proposed information technology to support manage-ment decisions during the deoxidation of steel and establish the dependence between me-chanical properties and finished products on the chemical composition of the heated steel in the oxygen converter allows to significantly increase the physical correspondence of the models to the processes. At the same time, the applied penalty function on the dimension of the approximation polynomial enabled to obtain the models of optimal complexity through self-organization. The economic effect of saving ferroalloys (in 2021 prices) on 4,013 melting of the test sample amounted to UAH 4.626 million, which provides monthly savings at the level of UAH 578.18 thousand, annual savings of about UAH 6.938 million.
The sentinel skin free flap in solid organ transplantation: patient perspectives
Authors: Davies Matthew J , Karagiannis Phaethon , Moisidis Elias , Jansz Paul , Illie Vlad
Published: April 2024

A prospective cohort study of a separate skin-based transplant as a sentry for heart/lung transplant rejection.
Bali—12 Oct 2002
Authors: Vijayasekaran Vijith
Published: April 2024

October 12 2022 marked the 20th anniversary of the Bali bombings. Vijith Vijayasekaran ruminates on how this moment has shaped his, and his wife Priya Thalayasingam’s, practice.
Using a breast reduction to access a pedicled myocutaneous pectoralis major flap for anterior neck defect reconstruction: a case report
Authors: Boodhun Wali S , Zinn Richard
Published: April 2024

The authors describe a case where the pectoralis major flap was used to reconstruct a supraclavicular defect with a simultaneous breast reduction.
Salvage of a free latissimus dorsi flap using catheter-directed thrombolysis: a case report
Authors: Evans Jonathan , Westcott Mark , Grinsell Damien
Published: April 2024

The authors present a single case of delayed compromise in a free latissimus dorsi flap successfully treated with catheter-directed thrombolysis.
Surgical treatment of benign subungual tumours—a systematic review and case series
Authors: Lim Pelicia , Yue Brian , Cavallo Andrew
Published: April 2024

**Background**: Proper surgical technique is critical in the excision of benign subungual tumours to ensure complete tumour removal and prevent nail deformities. A systematic literature review was performed to identify approaches to excision and their clinical outcome. We present a series of rare benign subungual tumours to highlight different approaches and their outcomes.**Methods**: A systematic review of English language literature was conducted using the PubMed database between 1 January 1962 and 31 December 2021 for studies describing surgical approaches to benign subungual tumours. Search terms include ‘glomus tumour’, ‘subungual exostosis’, ‘osteoid osteoma’, ‘fibro-osseous pseudotumour of the digit’, ‘enchondroma’ and ‘implantation dermoid tumour’. We performed a retrospective review of patient records from our institute from 2021–2022. Six patients with subungual tumours were selected.**Results**: Twenty-one studies (with a total of 228 participants) described various techniques for excision of benign subungual tumours. The majority of the studies (n = 18) described the transungual approach, which allows maximum tumour exposure but with risk of nail deformity postoperatively. Other approaches described include lateral subperiosteal (n = 3), periungual (n = 2), nail bed margin (n = 1) and fish mouth (n = 2). Outcomes were measured using the rate of postoperative nail deformity and rate of tumour recurrence. Our series of patients were treated with excision using the transungual (5 of 6) and periungual approach (1 of 6), with good results. **Conclusion**: The available literature demonstrates that the transungual approach is the most widely used technique for removal of subungual tumours. This technique provides excellent tumour exposure; however, it is associated with damage to the nail bed. Our case series suggests that risk of nail dystrophy can be minimised by meticulous nail bed repair.
A New Species Richness Measure Improved From Margalef And Menhinick Indices
Authors: Özkan Kürşad , Özdemir Serkan , Şenol Ali , Küçüksille Ecir
Published: April 2024

In the present study, a new estimator ((_ ^(α^*))D_MM ) is proposed to measure species richness. Its’ essential inputs are alfa (α) scale parameters of Margalef (D_MG ) and Menhinick (D_MN ) indices. To evaluate the performance of (_ ^(α^*))D_MM , both hypothetical and natural community datasets were used. The computations were performed using a spreadsheet program created for (_ ^(α^*))D_MM . The new proposed estimator is also integrated into the BİÇEB software. According to estimation results, (_ ^(α^*))D_MM seems to be a better form rather than D_MG and D_MN. Therefore it may be employed for comparing species richness of the natural communities. To better understand the performance of (_ ^(α^*))D_MM , further studies should be generated using various types of real ecological data.
Reducción lagrangiana de sistemas mecánicos discretos con vínculos no holónomos
Authors:   , Tori Cora Inés
Published: April 2024

El propósito de esta tesis es avanzar en el estudio de la reducción de sistemas mecánicos discretos con vínculos no holónomos. En este tipo de sistemas los vínculos variacionales no se deducen de los vínculos cinemáticos, es por esto que consideramos que la reducción de sistemas mecánicos discretos no holónomos es la contraparte discreta de la reducción de sistemas no holónomos generalizados tratada por Cendra, Ferraro y Grillo.
Tesis y Tesistas 2023
Authors:   Facultad de Informática
Published: April 2024

En un trabajo conjunto de la Secretaría de Postgrado, la Dirección de Postgrado y la Secretaría Administrativa de Postgrado se presenta el Libro de Tesis y Tesistas correspondiente al año 2023, en la Facultad de Informática de la UNLP. En sus páginas se pueden recorrer la síntesis de las Tesis de Doctorado y Maestría, así como los Trabajos Finales de Especialización aprobados a lo largo del año 2023. Acompañamos estos resúmenes de los datos de los autores, de sus directores y también un listado de los distinguidos profesores e investigadores de Argentina y de Universidades del exterior que han sido Jurados en las Tesis. En los 22 trabajos que se sintetizan y cuyos contenidos completos se pueden obtener del repositorio institucional de la UNLP (SEDICI) se refleja el intenso trabajo que desarrolla el área de Postgrado de la Facultad de Informática, trabajo iniciado en 1995 en la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y consolidado a partir de 1999 en la Facultad de Informática. Es interesante resaltar que de estas 22 Tesis, 3 corresponden a docentes-investigadores con cargos en la Facultad de Informática de la UNLP y 19 no tienen relación directa con nuestra Facultad. Con este libro esperamos contribuir a la difusión de las actividades académicas de Postgrado, así como a la trasmisión de conocimientos generados en la Facultad de Informática de la UNLP. Todos los años el Postgrado de la facultad de informática publica este libro con la recopilación de todas las tesis y TFI defendidas durante el año anterior a su publicación
Simulación de operación de embalse y despacho de potencia y energía del aprovechamiento del río Santa Cruz
Authors: Liscia Sergio Oscar , Del Blanco María Mercedes , Galíndez Juan Manuel
Published: April 2024

En esta publicación se expone la metodología y resultados de la simulación de la operación de embalse y de despacho de potencia y energía de los embalses de los Aprovechamientos Hidroeléctricos del río Santa Cruz, Presidente Dr. Néstor Carlos Kirchner (Condor Cliff) y Gobernador Jorge Cepernic (La Barrancosa). Este estudio responde a una iniciativa de la Universidad Nacional de La Plata cuyo fin es proveer información del principal propósito de la obra, la generación de energía hidroeléctrica, fundamental para los futuros contratos de abastecimiento de energía al sistema interconectado nacional. A tal fin, se analizan los modos de operación de las centrales en términos de la potencia generada y los despachos de energía provistos. El análisis abarca también la operación conjunta de ambas centrales frente a diferentes escenarios y el modo en que esta incide en las matrices de operación que vinculan los diagramas de explotación de las turbinas con las condiciones de generación de las presas. Además, este estudio introduce una metodología innovadora que ofrece información valiosa sobre la operación de las turbinas aun en una etapa previa a su diseño.
Uso de plantas tradicionales en el manejo del covid-19 por estudiantes universitarios en una ciudad del norte peruano
Authors: Weepiu-Samekash Milena
Published: April 2024

Throughout history, medicinal plants have played a crucial role in both nutrition and medicine. Currently, understanding their use becomes imperative. The purpose of this research was to assess the level of knowledge among university students regarding the use of medicinal plants in the treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. This descriptive and cross-sectional study involved 110 students through a questionnaire. The results indicate that university students possess a moderate knowledge of medicinal plants, highlighting ginger, wild garlic, matico, lemon, and onion, primarily used to alleviate symptoms such as headaches, fever, cough, respiratory deficiencies, and muscle pain, proving beneficial in the treatment of COVID-19. The identification of this knowledge reflects students' perception of the benefits and utility in disease treatment, providing valuable insights for the integration of traditional approaches in healthcare management during pandemic situations.
Programa de aplicación para resolver sistemas de ecuaciones no lineales
Authors: Venturo Luis , Chagua-Aduviri Irenio , Carpio Darssy
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Application programs in mathematics have had a significant impact on solving nonlinear systems of equations and are impacting various areas. In a nonlinear equation, it is not always easy to determine its root or convergence point; one must analyze and restrict the behavior of the functions that comprise it. Objective: To develop a mathematical program to solve nonlinear systems of equations, selecting the most efficient method and presenting results that include the analysis of convergence and stability of the implemented iterative methods. Method: To solve the system of type V(X)=0, methods such as Simple Iteration, Gradient, Newton, Modified Newton, and Quasi-Newton were used. Visual C++ 6.0 programming language along with Matlab 6.5 libraries were used for the development of the application program for mathematical notations. Results: An application program named SMENLI (Mathematical Software for solving Nonlinear Equations) was developed, which implemented various iterative methods to solve 20 systems of nonlinear equations. Of these, 15 converged and 5 diverged. Some did not converge due to the initial point provided to the program, which utilizes a lexical analyzer. Additionally, it is important to remember that not all systems of nonlinear equations have a solution. Conclusions: It was found that the Newton and Modified Newton methods are the most efficient in terms of convergence, standing out for their shorter time and fewer iterations compared to other implemented methods. However, in exceptional cases with certain systems of nonlinear equations, the Quasi-Newton method may prove superior to others.
EFFORTS AND OUTCOMES IN ENHANCING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS’ DIGITAL LITERACY AT PAUD INSTITUTIONS
Authors: Nuryanti Rita , Nurhayati Sri , Musa Safuri , Rukanda Nandang
Published: April 2024

This study investigates the efforts made by Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) institutions in kecamatan Sukasari, Bandung, to enhance the digital literacy of early childhood educators. Employing a qualitative approach and case study method, the research involved observations, documents study and in-depth interviews with representatives from four ECCE institutions. Data analysis was conducted through thematic analysis, a systematic method for identifying, analyzing, and reporting patterns within the data. The results indicate positive outcomes, including enhanced teaching methods, increased creativity and resourcefulness, improved student engagement and comprehension, and educators' adaptability to technological changes. This study contributes new knowledge to the field by highlighting comprehensive and dynamic strategies employed by ECCE institutions to enhance teachers' digital literacy. The findings underscore the necessity of a holistic, supportive, and adaptive approach to digital literacy in early childhood education, aligning with current research trends in the field.
Design of Medical Self-Propelled Walking Tricycle as a Post-Stroke Rehabilitation Tool
Authors: Febritasari Rosadila , Korawan Agus Dwi
Published: April 2024

Patients recovering from a stroke may not be able to use all rehabilitation equipment due to their poor muscle strength and coordination. This study proposes to design a self-propelled walking tricycle that is a non-motorized three-wheel vehicle in a delta configuration without a pedal. This study was conducted by considering the post-stroke patient needs. It was done using two analysis methods, finite element analysis, and rapid upper limb analysis, to justify the reliability of the design. The results show that the maximum stress is 38.8 MPa in the connection area of the seat tube and down tube, while the maximum deformation is 0.399 mm in the seat post. The tricycle is constructed with 153 mm of ground clearance. Therefore, patients can lift their legs and drive the tricycle by swinging their legs repeatedly, like walking. The proposed self-propelled walking tricycle can be considered as a rehabilitation tool that can train the lower extremities. It could be used for strengthening the muscles and improve body coordination for the recovery process.
Analysis of Waste Separation Drivers in Urban Centers Using the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Norm Activation Model
Authors: Maghfiroh Meilinda Fitriani Nur , Muqimuddin Muqimuddin , Sartika Widya , Redi Anak Agung Ngurah Perwira , Abdallah Bayu Nur , Hutahaean Glenardo Antoi , Apriani Ratna Agil
Published: April 2024

Urban centers worldwide are grappling with complex waste management challenges, including efficient collection, transportation, processing, and an over-reliance on landfills. A promising approach to mitigate these issues lies in bolstering public participation in waste separation, which could significantly improve recycling efforts. To effectively encourage this practice, it is crucial to understand the underlying factors that motivate community engagement in waste segregation activities. This study utilizes the Theory of Planned Behavior and the Norm Activation Model to identify and analyze determinants influencing individuals' propensity to separate waste in the sampling area of Balikpapan City, Indonesia. Balikpapan, one of the cities in Indonesia, is currently facing several distinct challenges related to waste management. Through the empirical validation of eight hypotheses, it becomes apparent that the presence of market facilitators (H3) and the influence of past behavior (H5) play pivotal roles in shaping the intention to engage in waste separation. The findings suggest that providing accessible, well-maintained market facilities and initiatives designed to enrich the public's waste separation experience are essential strategies. Implementing these strategies could significantly improve waste separation practices within specific urban contexts such as Balikpapan, Indonesia, and other cities facing similar environmental management challenges.
Resistive switching properties in polycrystalline LiNbO3 thin films
Authors: Chen Gongying , Zeng Chao , Liao Ye , Huang Wei , Wang Jianyuan , Lin Guangyang , Li Cheng , Chen Songyan
Published: April 2024

LiNbO3 (LNO) is currently intensively studied as an important ferroelectric material. In this work, polycrystalline LNO films were prepared through a sputtering technique, and their ferroelectricity-related resistive switching property was investigated using a device structure of PtSi/SiO2/LNO/Pt. The device exhibits a volatile resistance switching property at lower positive sweeping voltages and a stable bipolar nonvolatile switching property at higher sweeping voltages. The resistive switching mechanism of the device is discussed based on the domain wall conductivity characteristics of the polycrystalline LNO thin films. The PtSi/SiO2/LNO/Pt memristor device has potential applications in memory and artificial neural synapses.
Evolution of logistics in the context of digital transformation: Common and profile barriers
Authors: Ponkratov-Vaysman B. D.
Published: April 2024

Aim. To investigate the key barriers faced by enterprises in the process of digital transformation in the field of logistics, as well as to identify the profile barrier inherent in logistics processes and offer practical recommendations for overcoming them.

 Objectives. To analyze the development of digital transformation and the impact on the processes of Logistics; to identify the process-barrier relationship; to identify the key barriers arising in the digital transformation at enterprises, including the profile barrier in the processes of logistics; to offer practical recommendations for overcoming barriers in the aspect of the implementation of digital initiatives

Methods. The research is based on multidisciplinary analysis of academic and professional literature, reports of consulting companies, as well as consideration of practical cases from the industry.

Results. An Ishikawa diagram was developed to capture the process-barrier relationship and identification of key barriers arising from digital transformation in logistics enterprises. The profile barrier was identified, in particular the complexity of logistic processes. Recommendations for overcoming barriers in the course of digital transformation at the enterprise were developed.

Conclusions. Digital transformation is important for maintaining competitiveness and development of enterprises, including in the field of logistics. Effective implementation of digital solutions requires both technological and organizational changes. When carrying out digital transformation of enterprises in the field of logistics, one of the key factors of efficiency is the consideration of the profile barrier, i.e. the complexity of logistic processes. Analyzing the impact of all potential barriers of digital transformation, taking into account the specifics of the enterprise’s activities will eventually allow to carry out digital transformation with the greatest efficiency.