bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
"Has Any Great Harm Been Done?" Canadian Women Breaking Barriers During the First World War
Authors: Morin-Pelletier Mélanie
Published: May 2024

Abstract: This article follows the journey of Maude Blake Holton, likely the first Canadian woman sergeant, as well as 20 Canadian nurses who trained and worked as anaesthetists overseas during the First World War. These stories bring to light the significant and little-known contributions made by a group of Canadian women who broke gender and professional barriers during the war. Maude Blake Holton's status was deemed irregular and contested by the Canadian military authorities after the war while the employment of nurse-anaesthetists was officially approved in 1918. Although emphasizing gender-based barriers, this article reveals that some of the officers and men overseas valued saving lives and standards of care over conventional gender roles. It also shows how far military leaders and government officials were willing to go to minimize the extent of these women's contributions and to restore the status quo ante bellum. Abstract: Cet article suit le parcours de Maude Blake Holton, qui fut vraisemblablement la première femme sergent au Canada, ainsi que celui de 20 infirmières canadiennes qui ont été formées et qui ont servi comme anesthésistes outre-mer pendant la Première Guerre mondiale. Ces histoires mettent en lumière les contributions considérables et méconnues de Canadiennes qui ont franchi des barrières professionnelles et liées au genre pendant la guerre. Le statut de Maude Blake Holton a été jugé irrégulier et contesté par les autorités militaires canadiennes après la guerre, alors que l'emploi d'infirmières-anesthésistes a officiellement été approuvé en 1918. Tout en mettant l'accent sur les obstacles liés au genre, cet article montre toutefois que certains officiers et militaires en poste à l'étranger accordaient plus d'importance à sauver des vies et à la qualité des soins qu'aux rôles genrés conventionnels. Il révèle également les limites que les dirigeants militaires et les responsables gouvernementaux étaient prêts à franchir pour minimiser la portée de la contribution de ces femmes et rétablir le statu quo ante bellum.
A New Approach to the Parental Mediation Theory From Adolescents' Perspective: Inclusion of Participatory Use and Participatory Learning
Authors: Priya Nandhini , Maheswari P. Uma
Published: May 2024

Abstract: Parents use a variety of mediation strategies, such as rule-setting, instructing, co-using, and monitoring, centered on their intentions to mediate their children's smartphone use. Common parental aims for mediation often include the facts of ensuring children's online safety and encouraging children's involvement to explore online opportunities. Recent literature reiterates that parental mediation theory should also consider parents' aspirations to be participatory with their adolescents rather than being focused only on parental protection and "good parent" motives. The current study proposes examining the existence of two new parental mediation strategies, participatory use (PU) and participatory learning (PL) intended for sharing and learning, using the data collected from adolescents ( N = 420, aged 13–17). The study also explores the other common mediation strategies practiced during adolescent smart-phone use. In addition, a structural equation model was tested in order to comprehend the relation of PU and PL to other parental mediation strategies. Incorporating PU and PL into the current parental mediation framework builds significance for a deeper understanding of the media relationships between parents and adolescents.
Juramentos and Firmas : Narrating Assemblages in Afro-Cuban Religions
Authors: Otero Solimar , Wirtz Kristina
Published: May 2024

Abstract: This essay examines narratives produced with entities in Cuban Palo traditions for the purpose of invoking copresences through the assemblage of images, words, and bodies. The dead, nkisi, tell multilayered, coded stories of strife and affliction in ways that weaponize practitioners and objects. We bring together primary sources from the Lydia Cabrera Papers, alongside ethnographic encounters in Cuba with Congo-inspired material, culture, and spiritual elders to trace the afterlives of narrating assemblages. Following Édouard Glissant, we further argue for an understanding of Palo narratives as sites of revelation and opacity whose fugitivity pushes against colonial practices of knowability and appropriation.
Pediatric Decision-Making: ethical aspects specific to neonates
Authors: Malone Jay R. , Mercurio Mark R. , Kopelman Loretta M.
Published: May 2024

Abstract: Recently published consensus recommendations on pediatric decision-making by Salter and colleagues (2023) did not address neonatal decision-making, due to the unique complexities of neonatal care. This essay explores three areas that impact neonatal decision-making: legal and policy considerations, rapid technological advancement, and the unique emotional burdens faced by parents and clinicians during the medical care of neonates. The authors evaluate the six consensus recommendations related to these considerations and conclude that the consensus recommendations apply to neonates.
Ruler Stakes: Chaucer's Theseus, Agamben, and the Rivals to Sovereign Power
Authors: Bertolet Craig E.
Published: May 2024

Abstract: In chaucer's Knight's Tale , Theseus is faced with four political rivals whom he defeats in battle: Ypolita, Emilye, Palamon, and Arcite. He marries Ypolita but imprisons Emilye, Palamon, and Arcite perpetually because they are more dangerous free and too problematic to kill. Giorgio Agamben's study of the homo sacer helps to show how these three imprisoned characters have only 'bare life', that they can be killed but not sacrificed. Their lives only gain value when they serve to improve or adumbrate Theseus's sovereign power. For Theseus, his military successes must be paired with rhetorical effectiveness in justifying exceptions to his previous rulings and maintaining his power in an unstable world.
Abiding Tides: Oceanic Influences on Geoffrey Chaucer's The Franklin's Tale
Authors: Shields Rachel Linn
Published: May 2024

Abstract: Geoffrey Chaucer's The Franklin's Tale often appears in ecocritical analyses because its plot hinges upon a promise to remove rocks from intertidal Brittany. Many scholars have explored the possibilities related to natural or supernatural causes of the eventual disappearance of the rocks. The present essay argues that an analysis that foregrounds tidal influences on the shape of the story allows, firstly, for a more feminist interpretation of the heroine's promise. Secondly, a tidal focus encourages identification of an environmentalist sensibility within the tale; human beings, just like water and rocks, are subject to natural cycles and forces. Finally, this analysis raises the possibility that tidal patterns may have exerted some influence on aspects of the overall form that this story takes as well as the genre of the Breton lai .
'Out, Harrow' and 'Alas!': Chaucer, Shouts and Narrative
Authors: Phillips Helen
Published: May 2024

Abstract: This examination of noise, and particularly shouts, in chaucer's writing focuses especially on the hue and cry, which appears strikingly often in chaucer's narratives. As responses to dangers and assaults, actual and threatened, these cries reflect both drama in chaucer's fictions and the medieval system of public alerts to accidents and crimes, their detection and punishment. chaucer's handling of the theme engages with questions about the reliability of narratives and also with problems of rape and sexual consent, misogynistic narratives and fictions of social class. It also examines how the motif of shouts as alerts to misdeeds can, in different instances, either question or confirm antifeminist and antisemitic narratives.
After Binary Thought? The Wife of Bath and Sexual Difference
Authors: Evans Ruth
Published: May 2024

Abstract: Chaucer's Wife of Bath can be read in completely opposite and seemingly irresolvable ways: as a protofeminist urban guerilla or as the embodiment of the medieval antifeminist stereotype of the quarrelsome, sexually appetitive woman. Feminist psychoanalytic readings take up a third position: that the wife converts her subordinate place in the symbolic order to an affirmation of the feminine. All three positions depend on normative views of sexual difference and femininity. I draw on Jacques Lacan's radical account of sexual difference as neither biology nor cultural construction but as the articulation of an impasse in language to argue for new ways of reading both the wife's femininity and some contemporary feminist dilemmas beyond or after binary thought.
Double-excitation transfer in dimer and trimer three-level systems using laser pulses and single photons
Authors: Aiyejina Abuenameh , Wyke Ethan , Andrews Roger , Greentree Andrew D.
Published: May 2024

We derive and simulate the wavefunctions and double-excitation probabilities for dimer and trimer three-level systems. Perfect state transfer occurs for pulse strengths that are odd multiples of π/2 when the parameter Jt equals odd multiples of π/2 and π/2 for the dimer and trimer, respectively. Near-perfect state transfer with a single photon occurred for photon coupling strength g=2J when Jt=1.99,19.87 in the dimer and Jt=2.62,25.51 in the trimer. The nature of perfect state transfer is due to localization and transfer of double excitations for given pulse strengths and times.
Socioeconomic gradient of lean diabetes in India: Evidence from National Family Health Survey, 2019–21
Authors: Behera Surama Manjari , Behera Priyamadhaba , Mohanty Sanjay K. , Singh Rajeev Ranjan , Patro Binod Kumar , Mukherjee Avinaba , Epari Venkatarao
Published: May 2024

Diabetes is a global public health challenge, particularly in India, affecting millions. Among diabetic patients, lean type 2 diabetes is a severe subtype with higher microvascular complication risks. While studies on the prevalence, variations and risk factors of diabetes are increasingly available, there has been limited research on the prevalence, variations, and socioeconomic disparities of lean diabetes in India. This study used NFHS-5 microdata, and lean diabetes is defined as those with a BMI level of under 25 and random blood glucose levels of over 200 or under diabetic medication. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were conducted to understand lean diabetes variations and related factors. Socioeconomic disparities were measured using concentration curves and the concentration index. The study unveiled important insights into lean diabetes in India. 8.2% of men and 6.0% of women had elevated blood glucose levels, indicating a significant diabetes burden. Notably, 2.9% of men and 2.4% of women were diagnosed with lean diabetes. Among type 2 diabetics, 52.56% of males and 43.57% of females had lean type 2 diabetes. Lean diabetes prevalence varied from 11.6% in the poorest quintile to 1.1% in the richest. The odds of lean type 2 diabetes among those in the poorest quintile was 6.7 compared to the richest quintile. The concentration index of lean type 2 diabetes was -0.42 for men and -0.39 for women, suggesting a disproportionate impact on lower socioeconomic groups. This study advances our understanding of the complex interplay between socioeconomic factors and lean type 2 diabetes in India. To address the rising burden of lean diabetes among lower socioeconomic strata, policymakers and healthcare professionals must prioritise initiatives enhancing healthcare access, promoting healthy lifestyles, and ensuring effective diabetes management. By addressing socioeconomic disparities and implementing interventions for vulnerable populations, India can reduce diabetes-related mortality and enhance its citizens’ overall health.
The effects of person-centred active rehabilitation on symptoms of suspected Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy: A mixed-methods single case design
Authors: Hearn Rachael , Selfe James , Cordero Maria I. , Dobbin Nick
Published: May 2024

Objective

The objective was to investigate the effectiveness of a person-centred active rehabilitation programme on symptoms associated with suspected Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). This was accomplished by (1) assessing the effect that a person-centred active rehabilitation programme had on participant symptoms, and (2) exploring how temporal contextual factors affected the participants’ experience with, and perceived effectiveness of, the active rehabilitation programme.

Methods

A twelve-month mixed-methods single case experimental research design was used with six cases (participants). Individual cases were involved in a 51-week study period including an initial interview and three-week baseline phase. Cases were then randomly allocated to one of two n-of-1 study designs (i.e., A-B, B-A, B-A, A-B or B-A, A-B, A-B, B-A) where A and B represent a non-intervention and intervention phase, respectively. Interviews were conducted regularly throughout the study whilst outcome measures were assessed at each follow-up. Analysis of the data included visual, statistical, and qualitative analysis.

Results

Visual and statistical analysis of cognitive and executive function, and mindful attention, demonstrated trivial-to-large effects with the summary reflecting positive or unclear results. A mixed picture was observed for mood and behaviour with effects considered trivial-to-large, and the summary demonstrating positive, unclear and negative effects. Qualitative analysis indicated a perceived improvement in outcome measures such as memory, attention, anxiety, and emotional control despite mixed quantitative findings whilst a clear impact of contextual factors, such as COVID-19, the political atmosphere, exercise tolerance, programme progression, and motivation were evident during the intervention.

Conclusions

This study has provided primary-level evidence to suggest active rehabilitation as a potential intervention for the management of suspected CTE symptoms. This study has also demonstrated the benefit of a person-centred approach to both clinical research and practice, particularly by considering contextual factors for a better understanding of an intervention effect.
Machine learning model based on radiomics features for AO/OTA classification of pelvic fractures on pelvic radiographs
Authors: Park Jun Young , Lee Seung Hwan , Kim Young Jae , Kim Kwang Gi , Lee Gil Jae
Published: May 2024

Depending on the degree of fracture, pelvic fracture can be accompanied by vascular damage, and in severe cases, it may progress to hemorrhagic shock. Pelvic radiography can quickly diagnose pelvic fractures, and the Association for Osteosynthesis Foundation and Orthopedic Trauma Association (AO/OTA) classification system is useful for evaluating pelvic fracture instability. This study aimed to develop a radiomics-based machine-learning algorithm to quickly diagnose fractures on pelvic X-ray and classify their instability. data used were pelvic anteroposterior radiographs of 990 adults over 18 years of age diagnosed with pelvic fractures, and 200 normal subjects. A total of 93 features were extracted based on radiomics:18 first-order, 24 GLCM, 16 GLRLM, 16 GLSZM, 5 NGTDM, and 14 GLDM features. To improve the performance of machine learning, the feature selection methods RFE, SFS, LASSO, and Ridge were used, and the machine learning models used LR, SVM, RF, XGB, MLP, KNN, and LGBM. Performance measurement was evaluated by area under the curve (AUC) by analyzing the receiver operating characteristic curve. The machine learning model was trained based on the selected features using four feature-selection methods. When the RFE feature selection method was used, the average AUC was higher than that of the other methods. Among them, the combination with the machine learning model SVM showed the best performance, with an average AUC of 0.75±0.06. By obtaining a feature-importance graph for the combination of RFE and SVM, it is possible to identify features with high importance. The AO/OTA classification of normal pelvic rings and pelvic fractures on pelvic AP radiographs using a radiomics-based machine learning model showed the highest AUC when using the SVM classification combination. Further research on the radiomic features of each part of the pelvic bone constituting the pelvic ring is needed.
Static palpation ain’t easy: Evaluating palpation precision using a topographical map of the lumbar spine as a reference
Authors: Hvidkær Inge Strøh , Harsted Steen , Hadizadeh Maliheh , O’Neill Søren , Kawchuk Gregory Neil , Nim Casper
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Clinicians commonly use manual therapy to treat low back pain by palpating the spine to identify the spinous processes. This study aims to evaluate the ability of experienced clinicians to consistently locate the spinous processes from S1 to T12 through palpation. The results will be compared to topographical data representing the lumbar lordosis at baseline and four follow-up time points.

Materials and methods

In a prior prospective randomized trial, experienced clinicians used palpation to locate the lumbar spinous processes (S1—T12) and then digitized these locations in three-dimensional space. The same digitizing equipment was then used to continuously collect three-dimensional position data of a wheel that rolled along the back’s surface through a trajectory that connected the previously digitized locations of the spinous processes. This process was repeated at 4 days, 1, 4, and 12 weeks.

The resulting lordosis trajectories were plotted and aligned using the most anterior point in the lordosis to compare the locations of the spinous processes identified in different trials. This way, spinous palpation points could be compared to surface topography over time. Intra- and interrater reliability and agreement were estimated using intraclass correlations of agreement and Bland-Altman limits of agreement.

Results

Five clinicians palpated a total of 119 participants. The results showed a large degree of variation in precision estimates, with a mean total value of 13 mm (95%CI = 11;15). This precision error was consistent across all time points. The smallest precision error was found at L5, followed by S1 File, after which the error increased superiorly. Intra- and interrater reliability was poor to moderate.

Conclusions

Comparison of palpation results to a topographic standard representing the lumbar lordosis is a new approach for evaluating palpation. Our results confirm the results of prior studies that find palpation of lumbar spinous processes imprecise, even for experienced clinicians.
Association between human blood metabolome and the risk of gastrointestinal tumors
Authors: Lu Jiamin , Feng Yuqian , Guo Kaibo , Sun Leitao , Ruan Shanming , Zhang Kai
Published: May 2024

Background

The prevalence of gastrointestinal tumors continues to be significant. To uncover promising therapeutic targets for these tumors, we rigorously executed a Mendelian randomization (MR) study to comprehensively screen the blood metabolomes for potential causal mediators of five frequently encountered gastrointestinal tumors (Liver Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Esophageal Cancer, Gastric Cancer and Pancreatic Cancer).

Methods

We selected a comprehensive set of 137 distinct blood metabolites derived from three large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWASs) involving a total of 147827 participants of European ancestry. The gastrointestinal tumors-related data were obtained from a GWAS conducted within the Finnish study. Through meticulous MR analyses, we thoroughly assessed the associations between blood metabolites and gastrointestinal tumors. Additionally, a phenome-wide MR (Phe-MR) analysis was employed to investigate the potential on-target side effects of metabolite interventions.

Results

We have identified 1 blood metabolites, namely isovalerylcarnitine (ORlog10: 1.01; 95%CI, 1.01–1.02; P = 1.81×10−7), as the potential causal mediators for liver cancer. However, no potential pathogenic mediators were detected for the other four tumors.

Conclusions

The current systematic MR analysis elucidated the potential role of isovalerylcarnitine as a causal mediator in the development of liver cancer. Leveraging the power of Phe-MR study facilitated the identification of potential adverse effects associated with drug targets for liver cancer prevention. Considering the weighing of pros and cons, isovalerylcarnitine emerges as a promising candidate for targeted drug interventions in the realm of liver cancer prevention.
The Beneficial Effect of Two Nutraceuticals in Flea Allergy Dermatitis Itch Control: A Comparative Study
Authors: Cornegliani Luisa , Guidi Eleonora Alice , Persico Paola , Crisi Paolo Emidio , Pignataro Giulia , Belà Benedetta , Gramenzi Alessandro
Published: May 2024

This prospective randomized double-blinded multicentric study aimed to assess the efficacy of a new nutraceutical in controlling itch and skin lesions caused by flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) and compare it with another oral product of proven efficacy.

Forty-three dogs, of different age, breed and sex, with FAD were included and divided into two groups: 24 received product A and 19 product B. Both groups received the same antiparasitic treatment. A modified canine atopic lesion index (mCADLI) and pruritus visual analogic scale (pVAS) were recorded at days 0, 30 and 60. pVAS was evaluated both by the examining veterinarian (vpVAS) and the owner (opVAS). Results obtained were compared between the two groups at each time point.

In both groups of dogs, a significant decrease of mCADLI, vpVAS and opVAS at day 30 and 60, compared to day 0, was observed. At baseline, the mCADLI scores of Group B were significantly higher than Group A (95% CI: -4.0 to 0.0, p < 0.05), with no differences at D30 and D60 (not significant, p > 0.05). In Group B, significantly lower values of vpVAS were observed at D30 compared to Group A (95% CI: -2.5 to 0.0, p < 0.05), but not at D60 (not significant, p > 0.05). The median values of pVAS in Group B were lower compared to Group A at both D30 (95% CI: -2.5 to 0.4, p < 0.01) and D60 (95% CI: -3.0 to 0.3, p < 0.05).

Both nutraceuticals can be useful to control discomfort, skin lesions and pruritus due to flea allergy dermatitis and can be a valuable replacement for antipruritic drugs antihistamines, steroids or Il-31 inhibitors.
Mechanical Characterization and Water Absorption Behavior of Waste Coconut Leaf Stalk Fiber Reinforced Hybrid Polymer Composite: Impact of Chemical Treatment
Authors: Nagaraju Sharath Ballupete , Puttegowda Madhu , Thyavihalli Girijappa Yashas Gowda , Rawat Nitin Kishore , Verma Akarsh , Rangappa Sanjay Mavinkere , Siengchin Suchart
Published: May 2024

In recent times, there has been a significant enhancement in the focus on composite materials that are reinforced with natural fibers, primarily driven by the growing environmental awareness. Naturally occurring fibers offer several advantages, that includes renewability, cost-effectiveness, complete or partial reusability, and biodegradability. The utilization of agricultural waste fibers for the fabrication of polymer composites has commercial potential. This study focuses on the production of polymer composites using coconut leaf stalk fibers to investigate their mechanical properties, including tensile, flexural, impact strengths, as well as their water absorption characteristics. The impact of chemical treatment is being investigated through the utilization of sodium hydroxide on the fibers of coconut leaf stalks. The findings indicate that untreated fiber composites demonstrate superior mechanical properties, including tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength, as well as water absorption behavior, compared to alkali-treated fiber composites. These findings would help to accelerate the applications of biofibers based composite materials.
Searching for the original portrait of Afonso de Albuquerque – new revelations from the Viceroys Gallery of Goa
Authors: Reis Teresa , Valadas Sara , Machado Ana , Piorro Luís , Carriço Nuno , Cardoso Ana , Caldeira Ana Teresa , Baptista Pereira Fernando António , Candeias António
Published: May 2024

This paper is dedicated to the research undertaken to discover the original portrait of Afonso de Albuquerque from the Viceroys Gallery of Goa. Following a previous research which confirmed that the portrait exhibited at the National Museum of Ancient Art, in Lisbon is, in fact, the result of successive interventions over another Governor’s painting, the question arose whether the original portrait still existed among the remaining collection, in Goa. In the context of the project Old Goa Revelations, where a team of Portuguese and Indian researchers carried out, for the first time, a joint scientific study on portraits from this collection, it was possible to collect new data in this regard. Indeed, associating the results from multianalytical and multispectral examinations with historical and iconographic sources, the location of the lost portrait was finally revealed. It was discovered that the panel had been reused for the depiction of a later Governor.
Peter Newmark’s Contribution to Legal Translation
Authors: Klabal Ondřej
Published: May 2024

This paper reflects upon the relevance of the ideas of Peter Newmark to legal translation. Even though legal translation was not the focus of Newmark’s interest, he makes several references to legal translation in his writings, mostly in relation to authoritative statements, which is a broad category of texts introduced by Newmark and including legal and administrative texts. The paper provides a critical analysis of his ideas and puts them into today’s legal translation studies context. The second part of the paper includes a brief and non-exhaustive overview of Newmark’s con-cepts that have been echoed in legal translation studies, namely his list of translation techniques, and his dichotomy of semantic and communicative translation.
Translator Trainers’ Meeting in the Heart of the Golden Prague
Authors: Mikhailov Mikhail
Published: May 2024

Report
Research on recovery strategies of supply chain network under disruption propagation using memetic algorithm
Authors: Li Z.Y. , Zhao P.X. , Wang C.L. , Mi Y.Z.
Published: May 2024

In the context of the economic globalization, there is an increased disruption risk in the supply chain network due to the outsourcing, complexity and uncertainty. At the same time, the disruption may propagate across the entire supply chain network because of the interdependence. With the resource constraints, appropriate recovery strategies which can minimize the impact of disruption propagation and effectively improve the supply chain network resilience have attracted a great deal of attention. In this paper, we first construct the disruption propagation model considering the recovery strategy based on the characteristics of the competitiveness, time delay and underload cascading failure in the supply chain network. This model uses the memetic algorithm to determine the set of recovery nodes among all disruption nodes, which can minimize the impact of disruption propagation. And then, the simulation analysis is conducted on the synthetic network and the real-world supply chain network. We compare the proposed recovery strategy with other strategies (according to the genetic algorithm, according to the descending order of the load of failure node, according to the ascending order of the load of failure node, according to the descending order of the node degree, according to the ascending order of the node degree) and provide decision-making reference against supply chain disruptions.
Human-robot collaboration assembly line balancing considering cross-station tasks and the carbon emissions
Authors: Li Y.C. , Wang X.
Published: May 2024

With the growth of industrialization, the global manufacturing industry is continually evolving and reforming in the direction of intelligence and green production. Industrial robots have replaced human workers because of the benefit of production efficiency. However, the large-scale application of robots requires a large amount of energy consumption and generates a large amount of CO2, which will lead to energy waste and environmental pollution. In addition, in term of performing some particular tasks, current robot technology cannot achieve the same level of intelligence as human. Therefore, the design trend of assembly lines in industry has shifted from traditional configuration to human-robot collaboration to achieve higher productivity and flexibility. This paper investigates the human-robot collaboration (HRC) assembly line balancing problem, taking cycle time and carbon emission as primary and secondary objectives. A new mixed-integer programming model that features a cross-station design is formulated. A particle swarm algorithm (PSO) with two improvement rules is designed to solve the problems. The comparative experiments on ten benchmark datasets are conducted to assess the performance of the proposed algorithm. The experimental results indicate that the improved particle swarm algorithm is superior to the other two heuristics: simulated annealing (SA) and the late acceptance hill-climbing heuristic (LAHC).
The investigation of production variance in a module-based assembly system: A Markovian Arrival Process approach
Authors: Zhong C.W. , Zhang H. , Zhang Z.W. , Wu Z.Q. , Lu M.L.
Published: May 2024

This paper provides an in-depth study of the assembly production variance problem through the largest supplier of General Motors China. We focus on the production variance problem in an unreliable assembly (MOBA) system with a finite inter-station buffer, focusing on two of the central issues, namely the output variance as well as the delivery schedule variance. We model every subsystem's departure procedure in the MOBA system using the Markov Arrival Process (MAP) approach. Through the approximate use of MAP, we successfully shorten the time needed to calculate the output variance as well as delivery schedule variance of a large-scale MOBA system, which improves the efficiency of the system while ensuring that it meets the customer's needs. The relationship between production variance and system parameters is also studied, which is of substantial significance for optimizing the productivity of MOBA systems and improving customer satisfaction.
A comparative study of machine learning regression models for production systems condition monitoring
Authors: Jankovic D. , Simic M. , Herakovic N.
Published: May 2024

This research investigates the benefits of different Machine Learning (ML) approaches in production systems, with respect to the given use case of considering the forming process and different friction conditions on hydraulic press response in between the phases of the sheet metal bending cycle, i.e. bending, levelling and movement. A framework for enhancing production systems with ML facilitates the transition to smarter processes and enables fast, accurate predictions integrated into decision-making and adaptive control. Comparative ML analysis provides insights into predictive regression models for hydraulic press condition recognition, enhancing process improvement. Our results are supported by performance evaluation metrics of predictive accuracy RMSE, MAE, MSE and R2 for Linear Regression (LR), Decision Trees (DT), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Gaussian Process Regression (GPR) and Neural Network (NN) models. Given the remarkable predictive accuracy of the regression models with R2 values between 0.9483 and 0.9995, it is noteworthy that less complex models exhibit significantly shorter training times, up to 437 times shorter than more complex models. In addition, simpler models have up to 36 times better prediction rates, compared to more complex models. The fundamentals illustrate the trade-offs between model complexity, accuracy and computational training and prediction rate.
Outlier Summarization via Human Interpretable Rules
Authors: Deng Yuhao , Wang Yu , Cao Lei , Qiao Lianpeng , Wang Yuping , Xu Jingzhe , Yan Yizhou , Madden Samuel
Published: May 2024

Outlier detection is crucial for preventing financial fraud, network intrusions, and device failures. Users often expect systems to automatically summarize and interpret outlier detection results to reduce human effort and convert outliers into actionable insights. However, existing methods fail to effectively assist users in identifying the root causes of outliers, as they only pinpoint data attributes without considering outliers in the same subspace may have different causes.

To fill this gap, we propose STAIR, which learns concise and human-understandable
rules
to summarize and explain outlier detection results with
finer
granularity. These rules consider both attributes and associated values. STAIR employs an interpretation-aware optimization objective to generate a small number of rules with minimal complexity for strong interpretability. The learning algorithm of STAIR produces a rule set by iteratively splitting the large rules and is optimal in maximizing this objective in each iteration. Moreover, to effectively handle high dimensional, highly complex data sets that are hard to summarize with simple rules, we propose a localized STAIR approach, called L-STAIR. Taking data locality into consideration, it simultaneously partitions data and learns a set of localized rules for each partition. Our experimental study on many outlier benchmark datasets shows that STAIR significantly reduces the complexity of the rules required to summarize the outlier detection results, thus more amenable for humans to understand and evaluate.
X-TED: Massive Parallelization of Tree Edit Distance
Authors: Fan Dayi , Lee Rubao , Zhang Xiaodong
Published: May 2024

The tree edit distance (TED) has been found in a wide spectrum of applications in artificial intelligence, bioinformatics, and other areas, which serves as a metric to quantify the dissimilarity between two trees. As applications continue to scale in data size, with a growing demand for fast response time, TED has become even more increasingly data- and computing-intensive. Over the years, researchers have made dedicated efforts to improve sequential TED algorithms by reducing their high complexity. However, achieving efficient parallel TED computation in both algorithm and implementation is challenging due to its dynamic programming nature involving non-trivial issues of data dependency, runtime execution pattern changes, and optimal utilization of limited parallel resources.

Having comprehensively investigated the bottlenecks in the existing parallel TED algorithms, we develop a massive parallel computation framework for TED and its implementation on GPU, which is called X-TED. For a given TED computation, X-TED applies a fast preprocessing algorithm to identify dependency relationships among millions of dynamic programming tables. Subsequently, it adopts a dynamic parallel strategy to handle various processing stages, aiming to best utilize GPU cores and the limited device memory in an adaptive and automatic way. Our intensive experimental results demonstrate that X-TED surpasses all existing solutions, achieving up to 42x speedup over the state-of-the-art sequential AP-TED, and outperforming the existing multicore parallel MC-TED by an average speedup of 31x.
Regional prevalence and spatial modeling of hypertension in South Africa
Authors: Rudasingwa Guillaume , Cho Sung-il , Ishimwe Nancy Clemence
Published: May 2024

Background

In 2000, hypertension was the cause of nearly 47,000 deaths in South Africa. Since then, its prevalence has increased from 25% to over 40% of the population. Diabetes, sedentary lifestyle, diet, psychosocial stress, and certain medications are all risk factors for hypertension. The purpose of this research is to assess the regional prevalence and risk factors for hypertension, as well as to conduct spatial modeling of hypertension in South Africa.

Method

The study analyzed data from the 2016 South African Demographic and Health Survey, with a focus on participants aged 15 and older. Hypertension was defined as a diastolic blood pressure level of 90 mmHg or higher or a systolic blood pressure level of 140 mmHg or higher. Logistic regression analysis was employed to investigate significant factors associated with hypertension (p  ≤ 0.05). Additionally, ArcGIS was utilized to conduct spatial scans and hotspot analyses to identify regions with unusually high hypertension prevalence. Geostatistical modeling was performed using R.

Results

Hypertension was common in South Africa, accounting for 43.0%. The provinces of the Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Free State, and Mpumalanga had a noticeably higher risk of hypertension with 55.7, 52.8, 52.4, and 50.7%, respectively. Older age, unmarried status, and diabetes or pre-diabetes were statistically associated with hypertension, with AOR [95% CI]: 2.32 [1.77–3.04], 1.63 [1.20–2.23], and 1.61 [1.12–2.31], respectively. Having an increased level of education and residing in the North West (0.45 [0.29–0.72]) and Limpopo (0.27 [0.17–0.43]) provinces showed to have a protective effect on hypertension. Significant hotspots of hypertension prevalence were detected among residents of coastal communities.
Corrosion behavior study on heat treated API X70 pipeline steel exposed in different aggressive environments
Authors: Sharma L. , Kumar N. , Jakhar A. , Mshra S. , Chhibber R.
Published: May 2024

API pipeline steels are designed to withstand elevated temperatures and pressures in a variety of environmental conditions. The microstructure of API X70 pipeline steel is characterised by a very fine grain, which contributes to its exceptional strength and ductility. This paper investigates the corrosion behavior of API X70 steel when subjected to appropriate heat treatment processes. The study involves a comprehensive weight loss analysis over 50 days to evaluate the susceptibility of the material to corrosion in various corrosive environments. The specimens were exposed to three different corrosive environments (fresh water pH 7, seawater pH 8 and sodium thiosulfate solution pH 5) for 50 days. Macroscopic analysis was carried out at 4 day intervals. The microstructure of the heat treated samples shows the existence of different phases formed during the heat treatment process. A corrosion rate of 9.056 mils per year (mpy, 1 mil equals 0.001 inch) in the base metal as against 8.131 mpy in the heat treated specimen was observed for the specimen immersed in fresh water medium. In seawater medium, the corrosion rate of 11.685 mpy was observed for the base metal while 10.580 mpy was observed for the heat treated specimen.
Cause analysis of the cracking at the gas outlet edge of a gas turbine combustor
Authors: Zhang H. , Zhang G. , Zhao T , Liu L. , Dong C. , Qu S. , Zhang Z.
Published: May 2024

Following a 100-hour bench test, multiple cracks were detected at the gas outlet edge of a can-annular combustor. Macro- and microscopic inspections show local distortion and discoloration in the semi-circular overheating zone and cracks propagated along both dendritic boundaries and grain boundaries. Detailed metallographic inspections reveal the microstructural transformation in the overheating zone, where fine disperse phases exhibiting higher hardness precipitated and reduced the plastic deformation capacity of the material. Nonuniform distribution of the combustor flame resulted in elevated cyclic thermal strain which mainly undertook by dendritic boundaries, leading to premature thermal fatigue cracking. Relevant suggestions are proposed to improve service safety.
The moderating effect of corporate governance on the relationship between diversification and operational performance in Mexican companies
Authors: Arango Herrera Eduardo , Briseño García Arturo , García Mata Osvaldo , Rubalcava de Leon Cristian Alejandro
Published: May 2024

This paper aims to analyze the moderating effect of corporate governance on the relationship between business diversification and operational performance. The diversification literature shows empirical evidence that diversification can generate negative and positive returns in the firm; however, to our knowledge, few empirical studies have considered the impact of corporate governance to shed light on this relationship. We use data from 134 companies listed on the Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV, from its Spanish acronym) during the 2011-2018 period. Secondary data from 134 companies listed on the BMV during the period 2011-2018 were used and subjected to panel data analysis techniques. The main finding shows a positive effect on the implementation of corporate governance practices when diversification occurs in its unrelated form. This finding allows to identify the conditions under which diversification achieves better results for companies that use this growth strategy.
Análisis de la problemática socioambiental de residuos sólidos urbanos con habitantes de la comunidad de Las Vigas en la Costa Chica de Guerrero, México
Authors: Bedolla Solano Ramón , Bedolla Solano Juan José , Miranda Esteban Adriana
Published: May 2024

Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo analizar la problemática de los residuos sólidos urbanos (RSU) en la comunidad de Las Vigas, en La Costa Chica de Guerrero, México. Fue un estudio mixto donde se realizaron observaciones, encuestas a 56 ciudadanos y entrevistas a 42 informantes clave. Con la observación se identificaron problemas en la gestión de RSU, incluyendo prácticas inadecuadas como falta de separación, disposición incorrecta de RSU y actitudes ciudadanas (falta de conciencia ambiental). La encuesta reveló deficiencias socioeconómicas y baja percepción sobre la contaminación por RSU (63% de los encuestados). El 68% percibió consecuencias sociales de la contaminación y conocimiento sobre intervenciones (separación, reciclaje de RSU), además se identificó la necesidad de promover habilidades y conocimientos sobre cultura ambiental. En lo económico-político, el 46% consideró que la basura es un problema que requiere acción conjunta entre la sociedad y las autoridades para implementar acciones sustentables de RSU. Las entrevistas proporcionaron información sociopolítica y socioambiental. Se concluye que los RSU son un problema y se requiere una gestión responsable y sostenible de estos en la comunidad.
Memoria, exilio interior y trauma en De algún tiempo a esta parte, de Max Aub: de lo individual a lo colectivo
Authors: Segura-Amancio Andrés de Jesús
Published: May 2024

De algún tiempo a esta parte (1939) es el monólogo escrito por Max Aub que inaugura su literatura compuesta en el exilio. La obra refleja la realidad conflictiva de la Europa del momento a través de Emma. Mediante este personaje, una suerte de trasunto literario, Aub también expondrá las consecuencias del exilio y denunciará las atrocidades de los gobiernos totalitarios europeos. En consecuencia, este artículo explora la construcción de la memoria colectiva a partir del testimonio de un personaje individual, el exilio interior en el que dicho personaje se encuentra y el trauma que conlleva sobrevivir en un contexto trágico, estableciendo paralelismos con la situación real de Au.
Caracterización de muestras policristalinas para fines arqueológicos por cinemática de difracción de rayos X y refinamiento Rietveld
Authors: Moya Frank , Lizarraga Luis , Zeballos-Velásquez Elvira , Prieto Gabriel , Asto Esteban , Andía Miguel
Published: May 2024

Muestras geológicas de arcilla del valle de Moche fueron investigadas con el objetivo de continuar elaborando una base de datos de arcillas que se pueda contrastar con la composición mineralógica de muestras arqueológicas. Un estudio de pigmentos blancos de mural, con fines de preservación y puesta en valor, forma parte de esta investigación. En ambos casos, el objetivo fue determinar cualitativa y cuantitativamente la composición mineralógica de los materiales, aplicando difracción de rayos X. Las medidas de difracción fueron analizadas por refinamiento Rietveld para determinar el porcentaje en peso de las fases previamente identificadas. De la identificación, las muestras geológicas de arcilla presentaron fases de cuarzo y diversas arcillas, particularmente la anortita como fase mayoritaria; también se identificó albita. La presencia de estas dos últimas fases podría ser un indicador para determinar la procedencia de materiales utilizados en la elaboración y preparación de los cerámicos arqueológicos. Por otro lado, en todas las muestras de pigmento fueron identificadas fases de cuarzo, arcillas, calcita, yeso y halita; la calcita y el yeso serían los responsables del color en los pigmentos, en tanto que la halita sería un contaminante externo proveniente de la brisa marina.
Post-COVID Insurance Purchase Intention: The Roles of Referral, Agent Characteristics, Influencer Credibility, Plan Value, and Trust
Authors: Kristabel Agatha Jane , Wijaya Serli , Jaolis Ferry
Published: May 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened public awareness regarding the importance of health insurance. Several factors influencing the choice of an insurance brand include the plan value, agent characteristics, referrals, and consumer trust. Over the past five years, the use of influencers has expanded as they are believed to influence consumer intentions to purchase insurance services. Primary data was collected through a survey of 181 respondents who did not have an insurance policy but had seen the content of the insurance company’s marketing communications presented by influencers. Using SEM-PLS to analyze the primary data, the study found that agent characteristics and influencer credibility directly affect an insurance brand’s consumer trust and purchase intention. Meanwhile, referrals have a significant direct effect on consumer trust but not directly on purchase intention. Conversely, the plan value offered by insurance companies directly affects purchase intention but has no direct influence on consumer trust. Despite finding that consumer trust was insignificant in mediating the effect of referrals, agent characteristics, plan values, and influencer credibility on purchase intention, this study validates the role of agent characteristics, plan values, and influencer credibility in influencing consumer’s intention to purchase insurance products.