bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assembly line balancing and activity scheduling for customised products manufacturing
Authors: Pilati Francesco , Lelli Giovanni , Regattieri Alberto , Ferrari Emilio 
Published: March 2022

AbstractNowadays, end customers require personalized products to match their specific needs. Thus, production systems must be extremely flexible. Companies typically exploit assembly lines to manufacture produces in great volumes. The development of assembly lines distinguished by mixed or multi models increases their flexibility concerning the number of product variants able to be manufactured. However, few scientific contributions deal with customizable products, i.e., produces which can be designed and ordered requiring or not a large set of available accessories.This manuscript proposes an original two-step procedure to deal with the multi-manned assembly lines for customized product manufacturing. The first step of the procedure groups the accessories together in clusters according to a specific similarity index. The accessories belonging to a cluster are typically requested together by customers and necessitate a significant mounting time. Thus, this procedure aims to split accessories belonging to the same cluster to different assembly operators avoiding their overloads.The second procedure step consists of an innovative optimization model which defines tasks and accessory assignment to operators. Furthermore, the developed model defines the activity time schedule in compliance with the task precedencies maximizing the operator workload balance. An industrial case study is adopted to test and validate the proposed procedure. The obtained results suggest superior balancing of such assembly lines, with an average worker utilization rate greater than 90%. Furthermore, in the worst case scenario in terms of customer accessories requirement, just 4 line operators out of 16 are distinguished by a maximum workload greater than the cycle time.
A note on the Severi problem for toric surfaces
Authors: Lang Lionel , Tyomkin Ilya 
Published: March 2022

AbstractIn this note, we make a step towards the classification of toric surfaces admitting reducible Severi varieties. We provide two families of toric surfaces admitting reducible Severi varieties. The first family is general, and is obtained by a quotient construction. The second family is exceptional, and corresponds to certain narrow polygons, which we call kites. We introduce two types of invariants that distinguish between the components of the Severi varieties, and allow us to provide lower bounds on the numbers of the components. The sharpness of the bounds is verified in some cases, and is expected to hold in general for ample enough linear systems. In the appendix, we establish a connection between the Severi problem and the topological classification of univariate polynomials.
Set-theoretic solutions of the Yang–Baxter equation associated to weak braces
Authors: Catino Francesco , Mazzotta Marzia , Miccoli Maria Maddalena , Stefanelli Paola 
Published: March 2022

AbstractWe investigate a new algebraic structure which always gives rise to a set-theoretic solution of the Yang–Baxter equation. Specifically, a weak (left) brace is a non-empty set S endowed with two binary operations $$+$$
+
and $$\circ $$
∘
such that both $$(S,+)$$

(
S
,
+
)

and $$(S, \circ )$$

(
S
,
∘
)

are inverse semigroups and $$\begin{aligned} a \circ \left( b+c\right) = \left( a\circ b\right) - a + \left( a\circ c\right) \qquad \text {and} \qquad a\circ a^- = - a + a \end{aligned}$$

a
∘

b
+
c

=

a
∘
b

-
a
+

a
∘
c

and

a
∘

a
-

=
-
a
+
a

hold, for all $$a,b,c \in S$$

a
,
b
,
c
∈
S

, where $$-a$$

-
a

and $$a^-$$

a
-

are the inverses of a with respect to $$+$$
+
and $$\circ $$
∘
, respectively. In particular, such structures include that of skew braces and form a subclass of inverse semi-braces. Any solution r associated to an arbitrary weak brace S has a behavior close to bijectivity, namely r is a completely regular element in the full transformation semigroup on $$S\times S$$

S
×
S

. In addition, we provide some methods to construct weak braces.
Patient-reported outcomes following bilateral prophylactic mastectomy and immediate breast reconstruction: comparing implant-based with autologous breast reconstruction
Authors: Miseré Renée M. L. , Joosen Milou E. M. , Claassens Eva L. , de Grzymala Andrzej A. Piatkowski , Heuts Esther M. , van der Hulst René R. W. J. 
Published: March 2022

Abstract

Background
Since the number of breast cancer genetic gene testing is increasing, more women opt for bilateral prophylactic mastectomy (BPM) followed by breast reconstruction. However, little is known about the differences in Quality of Life (QoL) after various reconstructive surgeries in this population. In this study, the long-term breast-related, body-related, and health-related QoL between immediate implant-based breast reconstruction (IBBR) and autologous breast reconstruction (ABR) were compared, in women who underwent BPM.

Methods
In this cross-sectional study, women who underwent postmastectomy breast reconstruction between January 2015 and December 2018 were invited for an online questionnaire, in which the BREAST-Q, the BODY-Q and the SF-36 were included. Women who underwent BPM and immediate breast reconstruction were included for analysis. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to adjust mean differences in patient-reported outcomes between IBBR and ABR for potential confounders.

Results
Of the included women (n = 47), 33 underwent ABR and 14 women underwent IBBR following BPM. BREAST-Q scores were in favor of the ABR group before and after adjustment, with statistically significance on Satisfaction with breasts (mean difference 15.8, p = 0.019) and Physical well-being (mean difference 13.5, p = 0.033). None of the mean differences in BODY-Q and SF-36 scores between groups, before and after adjustment, were statistically significant.

Conclusion
This study suggests that there is a higher satisfaction with breasts and better physical well-being in women who underwent immediate ABR compared to those who underwent immediate IBBR after BPM. However, these data should be interpreted carefully as a result of selection bias and a small sample size.
Level of Evidence: Level III, risk study.
Privatsphärefreundliches maschinelles Lernen
Authors: Stock Joshua , Petersen Tom , Behrendt Christian-Alexander , Federrath Hannes , Kreutzburg Thea 
Published: March 2022

ZusammenfassungMaschinelle Lernverfahren finden seit einigen Jahren in immer mehr Bereichen vielfältige Anwendung, wodurch die Relevanz der dabei verwendeten Techniken deutlich wird. Unter dem Begriff des maschinellen Lernens (ML, oft auch „künstliche Intelligenz“) existieren zahlreiche Algorithmen, die unterschiedliche Komplexität und verschiedene Eigenschaften mit sich bringen. Für das Training dieser Algorithmen sind meist große Mengen an Daten notwendig. Insbesondere bei der Verwendung von personenbezogenen Daten stellen sich hierbei Fragen rund um den Datenschutz und die Privatsphäre von Betroffenen.Dies ist der erste Teil eines zweiteiligen Artikels zum Thema privatsphärefreundliches ML. Dieser erste Teil bietet einen leicht verständlichen Einstieg in das Thema des ML und geht dabei auf die wichtigsten Grundbegriffe ein. Außerdem werden einige der meistverwendeten ML-Verfahren, wie Entscheidungsbäume und neuronale Netze, vorgestellt. Im zweiten Teil, der in der kommenden Ausgabe des Informatik Spektrums erscheint, werden Privatsphäreangriffe und datenschutzfördernde Maßnahmen im Kontext von ML behandelt.
Disease progression in cardiac morphology and function in heart failure: ATTR cardiac amyloidosis versus hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy
Authors: Henein M. Y. , Pilebro B. , Lindqvist Per 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background
Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) is today more frequently recognized but the rate of progression of cardiac dysfunction is not well established. The aim of this study is to investigate the nature of cardiac structure and function changes, over time, in a retrospective cohort of ATTR-CA patients.

Methods
Fifty-one patients with ATTR-CA (mean age 78 ± 7 years, 30 females) were compared with 20 patients with heart failure but no amyloidosis (HFnCA) (mean age 76 ± 7 years, 5 females), all with septal thickness >  = 14 mm. All patients underwent DPD scintigraphy and an echocardiogram (Echo 2) which was compared with a previous echocardiographic examination (Echo 1), performed at least 3 years before.

Results
Over the follow-up period, the interventricular septal thickness (IVST) and relative wall thickness (RWT) in ATTR-CA increased from 16 (4) to 18 (5) mm and from 0.51 (0.17) to 0.62 (0.21) respectively, p < 0.001 for both, by a mean increase of 0.4 mm/year and 0.03 mm/year, (p = 0.009 and p = 0.002 compared with HFnCA), respectively. RWT > 0.45 (AUC = 0.77) and RELAPS > 2.0 (AUC 0.86) both predicted positive DPD diagnosis for ATTR-CA.

Conclusion
In ATTR-CA patients, the overtime-increase in RWT and IVST was worse than that seen in patients with heart failure but no cardiac amyloidosis. Also, RWT and relative apical sparing predicted diagnosis of ATTR-CA, thus could strengthen the use of follow-up echocardiographic findings as red flag for the diagnosis of ATTR-CA.
Patient perspectives on key symptoms and preferences for follow-up after upper gastro-intestinal cancer surgery
Authors: Pucher Philip H. , Coombes Annie , Evans Orla , Taylor Joanna , Moore Jonathan L. , White Annabelle , Lagergren Jesper , Baker Cara , Kelly Mark , Gossage James A. , Dunn Jason , Zeki Sebastian , Byrne Ben E. , Andreyev Jervoise , Davies Andrew R. ,   On behalf of the RESTORE study group, Guy’s, St Thomas’ Oesophago-gastric research group
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Purpose
Long-lasting symptoms and reductions in quality of life are common after oesophago-gastric surgery. Post-operative follow-up has traditionally focussed on tumour recurrence and survival, but there is a growing need to also identify and treat functional sequelae to improve patients’ recovery.

Methods
An electronic survey was circulated via a British national charity for patients undergoing oesophago-gastric surgery and their families. Patients were asked about post-operative symptoms they deemed important to their quality of life, as well as satisfaction and preferences for post-operative follow-up. Differences between satisfied and dissatisfied patients with reference to follow-up were assessed.

Results
Among 362 respondents with a median follow-up of 58 months since surgery (range 3–412), 36 different symptoms were reported as being important to recovery and quality of life after surgery, with a median of 13 symptoms per patient. Most (84%) respondents indicated satisfaction with follow-up. Satisfied patients were more likely to have received longer follow-up (5-year or longer follow-up 60% among satisfied patients vs 27% among unsatisfied, p < 0.001). These were also less likely to have seen a dietitian as part of routine follow-up (37% vs 58%, p = 0.005).

Conclusion
This patient survey highlights preferences regarding follow-up after oesophago-gastrectomy. Longer follow-up and dietician involvement improved patient satisfaction. Patients reported being concerned by a large number of gastrointestinal and non-gastrointestinal symptoms, highlighting the need for multidisciplinary input and a consensus on how to manage the poly-symptomatic patient.
Purely venous compression in trigeminal neuralgia—can we predict the outcome of surgery
Authors: Baldauf Jörg , Refaee Ehab El , Marx Sascha , Matthes Marc , Fleck Steffen , Schroeder Henry W. S. 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Purpose
Controversies regarding venous compression and trigeminal neuralgia (TN) still exist. The study demonstrates our experience for microvascular decompression (MVD) in TN caused by purely venous compression. The goal was to identify prognostic anatomical or surgical factors that may influence the outcome.

Methods
Between 2004 and 2020, 49 patients were operated with purely venous compression. Average age was 58.4 years. Mean history of TN was 7.8 years. Microsurgical procedures included transposition or separation of the vein, coagulation, and division. Several features have been analyzed with respect to BNI scores.

Results
Evaluation on discharge revealed a complete pain relief in 39 (80%), partial improvement in 7 (14%), and no benefit in 3 (6%) patients. Facial hypesthesia was reported by 14 (28.6%) patients. Mean follow-up (FU) was 42.1 months. BNI pain intensity score on FU revealed 71.4% excellent to very good scores (score 1: 32 (65.3%); 2: 3 (6.1%)). BNI facial numbness score 2 could be detected in 13 patients (26.5%) during FU. There was no statistical relationship between immediate pain improvement or BNI pain intensity score on FU with respect to surgical procedure, size of trigeminal cistern, type of venous compression, venous caliber, trigeminal nerve indentation, or neurovascular adherence. BNI facial numbness score was dependent on type of venous compression (p < 0.05).

Conclusion
We did not find typical anatomical features that could either predict or influence the outcome regarding pain improvement or resolution in any form. Neither classic microvascular decompression (interposition/transposition) nor sacrificing the offending vein made any difference in outcome.
Reduced vagal activity in borderline personality disorder is unaffected by intranasal oxytocin administration, but predicted by the interaction between childhood trauma and attachment insecurity
Authors: Back Sarah N. , Schmitz Marius , Koenig Julian , Zettl Max , Kleindienst Nikolaus , Herpertz Sabine C. , Bertsch Katja 
Published: March 2022

AbstractIndividuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) show self-regulatory deficits, associated with reduced heart-rate variability (HRV). However, results on reduced HRV in BPD remain heterogeneous, thus encouraging the search for developmental constructs explaining this heterogeneity. The present study first examined predictors of reduced resting-state HRV in BPD, namely the interaction between self-reported adult attachment insecurity and childhood trauma. Second, we investigated if alterations in resting-state HRV are modified by intranasal oxytocin administration, as oxytocin may enhance HRV and is implicated in the interaction between childhood trauma and disturbed attachment for the pathogenesis of BPD. In a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 53 unmedicated women with BPD and 60 healthy controls (HC) self-administered either 24 I.U. of oxytocin or placebo and underwent a 4-min electrocardiogram. Our results replicate significantly reduced HRV in women with BPD, explained up to 16% by variations in childhood trauma and attachment insecurity. At high levels of acute attachment insecurity, higher levels of childhood trauma significantly predicted reduced HRV in BPD. However, our results do not support a significant effect of oxytocin on mean HRV, and no interaction effect emerged including childhood trauma and attachment insecurity. Our findings highlight a complex interaction between reduced vagal activity and developmental factors in BPD.
Self-reported impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on young patients with tic disorders: findings from a case–control study
Authors: Termine Cristiano , Galli Vera , Dui Linda Greta , Berlusconi Valentina , Taras Rachele , Vergani Marta , Lunardini Francesca , Ferrante Simona , Cavanna Andrea Eugenio 
Published: March 2022

Abstract
Background
Little is known about the perceived impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown measures on young patients with tic disorders. Previous studies focused on clinician and parent ratings of tic severity, whereas the only international self-report data are available for adult populations. We present the first findings from a case–control study on children and adolescents with tics during lockdown in Italy.

Methods
We surveyed 49 patients aged 6–18 years and 245 matched controls with a newly developed questionnaire covering socio-demographic and clinical data, as well as lockdown-related changes to daily life activities.

Results
About half (53.2%) of the Italian school-age patients who took part in our survey experienced changes in tic severity during lockdown. Perceived increases in tic severity (29.8%) were reported more often than decreases (23.4%). Analogous trends were reported for perceived restlessness and, more significantly, irritability, whereas changes in pain symptoms were less common and were similar in both directions. The presence of tics was associated with increased difficulties with remote learning (p = 0.01), but decreased feelings of missing out on social interactions with schoolmates (p = 0.03).

Conclusions
Self-reported data on the impact of COVID-19 lockdown in school-age patients with tic disorders indicate perceived changes in tic severity, as well as restlessness and irritability, in about half of the cases. These findings could guide both clinicians and teachers in the implementation of targeted adjustments in the delivery of care and educational strategies, respectively.
High removal of nitrogen and phosphorus from black-odorous water using a novel aeration-adsorption system
Authors: Zhu Guocheng , Chen Junming , Zhang Shanshan , Zhao Zilong , Luo Huihao , Hursthouse Andrew S. , Wan Peng , Fan Gongduan 
Published: March 2022

AbstractBlack-odorous waters are an increasingly common phenomenon characterized by excessive levels of nutrients, the formation of metal sufide precipitates, volatile sulfurous compounds, low dissolved oxygen and high chemical oxygen demand. Black-odorous waters frequently occur in lake and river systems where inputs have restricted circulation. The key remediation issue is the removal of nitrogen and phosphorus. Here, we present a novel aeration-adsorption system using fiber balls and we study treatment parameters and removal mechanism. Kinetics and changes of the solid phase were followed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Results show complete removal of ammonia N, initially at 31 mg/L, and 92.8% removal of total nitrogen, initially at 29 mg/L, after a 24 h reaction time at pH 9.67. At pH 5.67 and 9.67, total phosphorus and phosphate could be significantly reduced by 90–92% at 3.2–5.2 mg/L after 24 h. Treatment met China’s integrated wastewater discharge standards, demonstrating an effective and robust treatment capability. First-order and second-order kinetic models provided a good fit to the treatment data, indicating physical and chemical adsorption were involved in the treatment reactions. The reaction mechanism involved hydrogen substitution and binding to oxygen. These results present a cost effective and robust approach for the removal of N and P from black, odorous water, providing opportunity to abate environmental contamination.
Ensemble of small models as a tool for alien invasive species management planning: evaluation of Vespa velutina (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) under Mediterranean island conditions
Authors: Herrera C. , Jurado-Rivera J. A. , Leza M. 
Published: March 2022

AbstractEcological niche models have proved to be a powerful tool in assessing invasiveness risk of alien species, allowing the optimization of control strategies. Vespa velutina (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) is an invasive species with strong ecological, economical and health impacts in Europe after it was first reported in France in 2004. It was detected for the first time on a Mediterranean island (Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain) in 2015, where a single nest was found in the northwest of the island. Immediately, a control plan was implemented. In this study, we analysed 30 occurrence data in Mallorca island to assess the suitability distribution predicted for Mediterranean island conditions using an ensemble of small models. We obtained high values of AUC (0.9165), Somers’ D (0.8331), Boyce (0.7611) and TSS (0.7754) as quality parameters of the final ensembled model. We show for the first time that there are suitable areas where this species can expand and stablish, mainly in steeper slopes and low isothermality zones. Likewise, the distribution suitability of V. velutina for other Mediterranean islands (Ibiza, Formentera, Menorca, Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, Crete and Cyprus) was also explored, showing potentially suitable zones. This study provides valuable information regarding the areas in the Mediterranean islands under risk of invasion, and it could be used by both scientists and managers for an early detection and control of the invasive species due to its cost-effectiveness in terms of conservation.
Trims and extensions of quadratic APN functions
Authors: Beierle Christof , Leander Gregor , Perrin Léo 
Published: March 2022

AbstractIn this work, we study functions that can be obtained by restricting a vectorial Boolean function$$F :\mathbb {F}_{2}^n \rightarrow \mathbb {F}_{2}^n$$F:F2n→F2nto an affine hyperplane of dimension$$n-1$$n-1and then projecting the output to an$$n-1$$n-1-dimensional space. We show that a multiset of$$2 \cdot (2^n-1)^2$$2·(2n-1)2EA-equivalence classes of such restrictions defines an EA-invariant for vectorial Boolean functions on$$\mathbb {F}_{2}^n$$F2n. Further, for all of the known quadratic APN functions in dimension$$n < 10$$n<10, we determine the restrictions that are also APN. Moreover, we construct 6368 new quadratic APN functions in dimension eight up to EA-equivalence by extending a quadratic APN function in dimension seven. A special focus of this work is on quadratic APN functions with maximum linearity. In particular, we characterize a quadratic APN function$$F :\mathbb {F}_{2}^n \rightarrow \mathbb {F}_{2}^n$$F:F2n→F2nwith linearity of$$2^{n-1}$$2n-1by a property of the ortho-derivative of its restriction to a linear hyperplane. Using the fact that all quadratic APN functions in dimension seven are classified, we are able to obtain a classification of all quadratic 8-bit APN functions with linearity$$2^7$$27up to EA-equivalence.
Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Potentials in Europe by Sector: A Bootstrap-Based Nonparametric Efficiency Analysis
Authors: Krüger Jens J. , Tarach Moritz 
Published: March 2022

AbstractThe reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is the key action to limit global warming. An important source of greenhouse gas emissions and pollution is the inefficiency of production processes. We report results from a stochastic nonparametric efficiency analysis using directional distance functions to take account of undesirable outputs like greenhouse gases. With this approach, we are able to provide estimates of the potential emission reductions for 7 main sectors in 16 European countries. A specially adapted bootstrapping approach allows to implement a bias correction of the estimates and to compute confidence intervals. The results show that static efficiency improvements are a quantitatively important element of the emission reductions which are required to achieve the reduction targets of the European Union.