Comprehensive Procedure Research Articles

Empirical Reality versus Theoretical Framework: Street-Level Bureaucrats' Behavior in Driver's License Services at Pinrang Police Resort, Indonesia

This study investigates the behavioral dynamics of street-level bureaucrats (SLBs) in the driver's license (SIM) service at the Pinrang Resort Police (Polres Pinrang) in Indonesia, juxtaposing empirical findings with Michael Lipsky's seminal theory of street-level bureaucracy. Employing a qualitative phenomenological methodology, the research seeks to elucidate the influence of working conditions on SLBs' behavioral patterns and the consequent impact on public service quality. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with SLBs and service recipients, non-participant observations, and document analysis, then subjected to iterative thematic analysis using interactive model. The findings reveal notable divergences from Lipsky's theoretical propositions. SLBs at Polres Pinrang encounter reduced ambiguity in policy objectives and performance evaluation, attributable to effective communication channels, comprehensive standard operating procedures, and a robust performance appraisal system. Despite resource limitations and escalating service demands, SLBs exhibit adaptability in delivering responsive services through access rationing strategies, task routinization, and collaborative partnerships with interdepartmental units and community stakeholders. Contrary to the nonvoluntary client interactions posited by Lipsky, SLB-SIM applicant engagements are characterized by enhanced humanization and responsiveness. Nevertheless, Lipsky's theoretical insights maintain relevance in the broader landscape of public service provision. The study underscores the criticality of striking a balance between procedural adherence and client-centric responsiveness to optimize service quality.

Development of a web-based platform for rainwater retention facility design

ABSTRACT This study develops a web-based operational platform to streamline the integration of GIS technologies, hydrological analyses, and regulation inspections in the design process of rainwater retention facilities. The system incorporates a comprehensive design procedure, which entails: (1) selecting the type and size of the retention facility based on predefined options, (2) conducting hydrological analyses specific to the development site, and (3) verifying the design’s compliance with relevant regulations. Users can visualize flow hydrographs before and after development, estimate the increase in runoff volume resulting from development, and assess the reduction in peak outflow achieved by the retention facility. The system can also validate the adequacy of the retention facility design in alignment with regional flood control objectives. It offers a user-friendly geographical interface for designing retention facilities and drainageways at development sites. Furthermore, design information displayed on the platform can be conveniently shared with regulatory authorities through a web link.

The Impact of Insurance-Specific Risk on Firm Performance of Listed Insurance Companies in Sri Lanka

Insurance-specific risk includes challenges and uncertainties specific to the operations and functioning of insurance companies. The study therefore investigates the effect of these insurance-specific risks on the profitability of listed insurance companies in Sri Lanka over 11 years (2012-2022) with a sample size of 27 firms. Three variables, such as reinsurance, technical provisions, and underwriting risks, have been used to measure insurance-specific risk as independent variables. The Return on Equity (ROE) and Re-turn on Assets (ROA) were used to measure firm performance as the dependent variable. The study is based on the Ex-Post Facto Research Design, which uses data already collected. The study used secondary data from their annual reports. The results of the fixed effect regression model showed that the technical provision risk and reinsurance risks had a negative and significant impact on ROE, while the underwriting risk had a negative and insignificant impact on ROE. The study concludes that the best model for the evaluation of Insurance firm performance is ROE rather than ROA. Due to the arguments, ROE and ROA are both considered performance indicators where ROA is not significant with variables. The study recommends that insurance companies in Sri Lanka should make sufficient provision for outstanding claims by conducting an adequate assessment of their liabilities and also taking into account experience to develop a comprehensive procedure for effectively monitoring and controlling their outstanding claims. Further, listed insurance companies in Sri Lanka will consider their reinsurance policies and risk retention ratios and listed insurance companies need to enhance their ability to cover most incurred claims by themselves.

Quantitative structure–activity relationships of chemical bioactivity toward proteins associated with molecular initiating events of organ-specific toxicity

The adverse outcome pathway (AOP) concept has gained attention as a way to explore the mechanism of chemical toxicity. In this study, quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) models were developed to predict compound activity toward protein targets relevant to molecular initiating events (MIE) upstream of organ-specific toxicities, namely liver steatosis, cholestasis, nephrotoxicity, neural tube closure defects, and cognitive functional defects. Utilizing bioactivity data from the ChEMBL 33 database, various machine learning algorithms, chemical features and methods to assess prediction reliability were compared and applied to develop robust models to predict compound activity. The results demonstrate high predictive performance across multiple targets, with balanced accuracy exceeding 0.80 for the majority of models. Furthermore, stability checks confirmed the consistency of predictive performance across multiple training-test splits. The results obtained by using QSAR predictions to identify known markers of adversities highlighted the utility of the models for risk assessment and for prioritizing compounds for further experimental evaluation.Scientific contributionThe work describes the development of QSAR models as tools for screening chemicals with potential systemic toxicity, thus contributing to resource savings and providing indications for further better-targeted testing. This study provides advances in the field of computational modeling of MIEs and information from AOP which is still relatively young and unexplored. The comprehensive modeling procedure is highly generalizable, and offers a robust framework for predicting a wide range of toxicological endpoints.

Design of dual peak star shaped metamaterial absorber for S and C band sensing applications

This paper presents the detailed design configuration and investigation of a small-scale dual-band metamaterial absorber (MTMA) for solid and liquid sensing applications. The overall dimension of the MTMA unit cell is 10 × 10 × 1.57 mm3 and constitutes an affordable FR-4 substrate. The absorber exhibits dual absorption peaks at 3.470 GHz for the S-band and 7.219 GHz for the C-band, respectively. Both absorption characteristics have been validated through comprehensive simulation and experimental procedures. The dual-band absorption rate exceeded 99% during simulations, and experimental validation showed an absorption rate above 98%. For sensing applications, various solid materials, including different Rogers substrates ( RT 5880, RT 5870, RT 4003 and RT 4835) and liquids such as sunflower and crown oil, were utilized. Our findings indicate that the proposed MTMA achieves a maximum Q-factor of 191 and a sensitivity of up to 2.5 for both solid and liquid sensing applications compared to previous studies. The simulation and experimental validation of the result indicate that suggested MTMA can be effectively used in different sensing applications such as the medical and communications industry.

BLINKRESNET: COST-EFFECTIVE EYELID LOCALIZATION FOR USE IN A BLINK REFLEXOMETER

Four keypoints corresponding to upper and lower eyelid positions may be localized in the scan videos of a blink reflexometer, an edge device. Images from prior reflexometer scans are tagged in order to train a residual neural network, dubbed BlinkResNet. In order to provide adequate demographic coverage, comprehensive data collection procedures are implemented. The architecture is thoroughly parameterized, allowing for a multidimensional space of compatible architectures to be swept through using a random search. Experimental results on a dataset of annotated reflexometer frames demonstrate significant improvement over a previous algorithm for eyelid localization. A random search identified variants of BlinkResNet best-suited for reflexometer frame annotation, with BlinkResNet-Default achieving a [Formula: see text] score of 0.966 on the validation dataset. Requirements for deployment on an edge device are met: training ease, generalizable inference performance, and low computational cost. A sweep may be conducted on any combination of hyperparameters and datasets, making it an adaptable tool for the continual development of customized machine learning architectures. The analysis of sweep results provides valuable insights into optimal model organization for specific tasks. Thus, methodical data annotation and sweeps over a parameterized machine learning routine are investigated as measures to achieve rapid, accurate inference results.

Evaluating overhanging slope failure mechanisms and rockfall trajectories through integrated UAV imagery and discrete element modeling

AbstractTo evaluate the threat of rockfall from an overhanging slope above a bridge, this study proposes a comprehensive analysis procedure to assess the failure mechanisms of the slope and the associated rockfall trajectories. The analysis utilizes high-resolution point cloud data obtained through integrated UAV-based imagery technology, enabling a detailed evaluation of joint configurations and slope stability. The geometric reconstruction of unstable rock blocks, combined with stereographic projections, provides an in-depth analysis of potential failure modes. Discrete element modeling (DEM) is employed to simulate the failure processes and predict rockfall trajectories, with particular emphasis on the potential risks to the underlying bridge. The results indicate that rockfall events near the bridge are primarily driven by wedge-shaped failures, a finding confirmed by both the proposed inverted three-dimensional projection method and DEM simulations. The analysis identifies critical rock blocks near the bridge, underscoring the need for targeted mitigation strategies. This case study demonstrates the effectiveness of integrating UAV-derived data with DEM for assessing overhanging slope failures and managing rockfall risks in similar geological settings.

Narrative Review: Telemedicine Quality after the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency: Time to Reevaluate?

OBJECTIVE: This narrative review explores concerns and potential solutions for improving the quality of synchronous telemedicine visits for high utilizers like primary care, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A literature review identified studies published within the past 10 years focusing on telemedicine quality, primary care, and related aspects like liability, virtual exams, and patient safety. RESULTS: Despite the surge in popularity of telemedicine visits, concerns regarding their quality linger. These concerns encompass various aspects of the patient experience, administrative processes, and potential safety risks. Limitations in physical exam capabilities and the lack of readily available vital signs during telemedicine visits raise concerns about the accuracy of diagnoses. This is particularly true for situations requiring a more comprehensive physical assessment. Incomplete documentation due to abbreviated patient histories, missing physical exam findings, and the reliance on generic templates pose liability risks. This lack of thorough information makes it challenging to accurately capture the patient's condition and raises concerns about the quality of care provided. Patients themselves have expressed concerns about accuracy of a virtual visit, thus raising questions about the effectiveness of telemedicine in building rapport and ensuring clear communication. From an administrative standpoint, fears of misdiagnosis due to the limitations of virtual exams, inconsistencies in insurance coverage for telemedicine services, and unclear reimbursement standards for thorough visits continue to pose challenges. These uncertainties create ambiguity and make it difficult for healthcare providers to fully embrace telemedicine as a viable option. Finally, although mirroring in-person visit protocols for patient safety is considered crucial, many organizations currently lack standardized measures to ensure safety throughout the entire telemedicine journey. This includes potential risks during scheduling, appointment execution, and post-visit follow-up, highlighting the need for more robust safety protocols specifically designed for the telemedicine setting. Addressing these concerns is essential for ensuring the quality and sustainability of telemedicine integration. CONCLUSION: While telemedicine offers significant benefits, improving quality is essential for its sustainable integration into primary care. Standardizing protocols, educating clinicians and patients, implementing comprehensive physical exam procedures, and ensuring patient safety throughout the visit are key areas for improvement. Continuous monitoring and data analysis are crucial for identifying and addressing weaknesses and ensuring quality telemedicine care.

Bird-View Exploration of Internal Controls and Financial Performance of Selected Savings and Credit Co-Operative Societies in Moyo District, Uganda

This article explores internal controls and financial performance of selected savings and credit cooperative societies in Moyo district, Uganda. Utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, a descriptive cross-sectional research design was employed. The population consists of 56 participants. Data was collected with surveys and interviews. Findings revealed that internal controls are the pillar of any financial institution and SACCOs are not excluded and good financial performance is the motive for having good internal controls implemented in the SACCOs. In spite of the role played by internal controls, SACCOs have continued to face challenges relating to liquidity, profitability, efficiency; in terms of cost per borrower, and alleged malpractices. The above challenges could be attributed to weak internal control system, as this sets a base for misappropriation of organization’s resources. It is on this note that the study calls for the implementation of a systematic risk assessment process that identifies, assesses, and mitigates risks. Regularly update risk assessments to adapt to changing circumstances. More so, there is need to maintain effective internal control communication and proper flow of information down, across, and up within all sections of the organization. This includes clear communication of roles and responsibilities. Invest in continuous training and education for SACCO staff and members to ensure they have a strong understanding of internal controls, ethics, and risk management. Develop and regularly update comprehensive policies and procedures that clearly outline internal control processes, responsibilities, and expectations. This can serve as a guide for staff and members and ensure consistency in control activities. Keywords: Credits, Cooperative societies, Financial performance, Internal controls, Savings.

Quantitative assessment of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in aqueous film forming foam (AFFF)-impacted soils: a comparison of analytical protocols.

Quantitatively assessing all per- and poly fluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in an environmental sample, particularly soils impacted by aqueous film forming foams (AFFFs), has proven to be a challenge. To make such an assessment, a comprehensive sample processing procedure and analytical tool must be used. However, doubts remain whether current analytical tools such as high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) with targeted quantitation and semi-quantitative analysis of suspects (Semi-Q HRMS) or total organic fluorine (TOF) are capable of accurately quantifying all non-polymeric PFASs in a sample. Further, current comprehensive soil PFAS HRMS methods are incompatible with TOF, preventing direct comparisons of the approaches. To enable direct comparisons, a soil sample processing procedure that is comprehensive as well as compatible with multiple analytical tools is needed. In this study, we assessed the performance of a previously developed soil PFAS method, EPA Method 1633, and a hybrid solid phase extraction (SPE)-based method for characterizing AFFF-impacted soil composites while maintaining compatibility with multiple analytical tools (i.e., Semi-Q HRMS and TOF). Comparative results for AFFF-impacted soil composites indicate analysis via EPA Method 1633 (as compared to the novel hybrid method) results in maybeup to 75% of the PFAS mass being missed by only analyzing for compounds listed in EPA Method 1633. Simply expanding the EPA Method 1633 analyte list was insufficient to account for the missing mass: up to 69% of the PFAS mass was still missed because of EPA Method 1633's extraction and cleanup bias. Additionally, the novel method developed offers a more comprehensive analysis with minimal reductions to sensitivity when compared to those reported in EPA Method 1633, with limits of quantification ranging from 0.12 to 2.4 ng/g as compared to 0.16-4.0 ng/g, respectively. For these reasons, an alternative hybrid SPE-based method is proposed for comprehensive evaluation of PFASs in AFFF-impacted soils.

A Mixed Methods Systematic Review of the Effectiveness, Acceptability, and Feasibility of Advanced Care Plans for Older Adults Without Life-Limiting Conditions

Context: Advance care planning (ACP) is a comprehensive procedure aimed at helping individuals understand and articulate their values, life goals, and preferences concerning future medical treatment. Despite extensive research on ACP in populations with terminal illnesses, dementia, and those in long-term care, there is a lack of focus on its impact among older adults without life-limiting conditions. Objectives: To investigate the effectiveness, acceptability, and feasibility of ACP for older adults without life-limiting conditions. Methods: We searched 11 electronic databases, spanning from inception to November 2023, complemented by extensive grey literature and reference searches. Rigorous quality assessments were conducted using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Our approach adopted a dynamic convergent mixed-methods design, incorporating thematic and narrative synthesis. Findings: From over 12,600 citations, a total of 16 studies, comprising four randomised controlled trials (RCTs), nine qualitative studies, and three mixed methods studies met the inclusion criteria. Limited findings indicate that ACP interventions are generally effective in improving document completion rates and reducing hospital readmissions. Acceptability and feasibility of these interventions were high, although significantly influenced by cultural and religious factors. Limitations: Evidence supporting the effectiveness, acceptability, and feasibility of ACP in reducing unplanned hospital admissions in older adults without life-limiting conditions was limited. We excluded observations based on unwell older people, though some material with unclear distinctions may have been included. Quality assessments revealed that one of four RCTs had a high risk of bias, three had unclear risks; all nine qualitative studies had low risk; and one of three mixed methods studies had low risk while two had unclear risks. Implications: Further targeted research is necessary to assess the intervention’s value for this population. Rigorous real-world evidence studies involving older adults without life-limiting conditions and their proxies is crucial to enabling providers to tailor ACPs to diverse populations, whilst respecting individuals’ religious and cultural beliefs.

Assessment of Ensemble-Based Machine Learning Algorithms for Exoplanet Identification

This paper presents a comprehensive assessment procedure for evaluating Ensemble-based Machine Learning algorithms in the context of exoplanet classification. Each of the algorithm hyperparameter values were tuned. Deployments were carried out using the cross-validation method. Performance metrics, including accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, precision, and F1 score, were evaluated using confusion matrices generated from each implementation. Machine Learning (ML) algorithms were trained and used to identify exoplanet data. Most of the current research deals with traditional ML algorithms for this purpose. The Ensemble algorithm is another type of ML technique that combines the prediction performance of two or more algorithms to obtain an improved final prediction. Few studies have applied Ensemble algorithms to predict exoplanets. To the best of our knowledge, no paper that has exclusively assessed Ensemble algorithms exists, highlighting a significant gap in the literature about the potential of Ensemble methods. Five Ensemble algorithms were evaluated in this paper: Adaboost, Random Forest, Stacking, Random Subspace Method, and Extremely Randomized Trees. They achieved an average performance of more than 80% in all metrics. The results underscore the substantial benefits of fine tuning hyperparameters to enhance predictive performance. The Stacking algorithm achieved a higher performance than the other algorithms. This aspect is discussed in this paper. The results of this work show that it is worth increasing the use of Ensemble algorithms to improve exoplanet identification.

Development and tests of the 499.8 MHz srf cryomodules for HEPS

A 499.8 MHz single-cell superconducting cavity has been proposed as the active third-harmonic cavity for the High Energy Photon Source (HEPS), a 6 GeV diffraction-limited synchrotron light source currently under construction in Beijing. Two 499.8 MHz cryomodules are required to provide a total of 3.5 MV of rf voltage and 400 kW of beam power. A mechanically enhanced cavity design, based on the original KEKB-type cavity, was developed to meet the specifications of HEPS. Three cryomodules have been assembled and subjected to horizontal tests. A comprehensive clean-assembly procedure was developed, resulting in excellent rf performance maintained from vertical tests to horizontal tests at cryogenic temperatures. The unloaded quality factors of all three modules exceeded 2.45×109 at 1.75 MV, significantly surpassing the design goal. No field emissions were observed throughout the tests. These are the highest-performing 500 MHz modules treated by buffered chemical polishing, also outperforming the average performance of their electropolished counterparts. Following dedicated analyses and multiple road tests, one cryomodule was successfully transported in its entirety from the test platform to the HEPS tunnel, with well-controlled accelerations on delicate components. Vacuum integrity and performance were well maintained. The module has been accelerating electron beams since August 2024 for the HEPS commissioning. This paper presents the design, fabrication, assembly, cryogenic tests, and transportation of the mechanically improved 499.8 MHz single-cell srf cryomodule.

Firm Characteristics, Interest Rate And Financial Performance Of Microfinance Banks In Kenya

Microfinance Banks gives the forte to improve the economic activity of low-income individuals and eliminate poverty, resulting in economic progress. However, microfinance's Banks financial performance in Kenya has declined over time. The objective of this study is to investigate firm characteristics, interest rate and financial performance of microfinance banks in Kenya. The study was grounded on buffer capital, efficiency structure and interest rate parity theories. The study research methodology rested on positivism research philosophy. Research design was explanatory non-experimental design. Secondary panel data was utilized. 13 microfinance banks in Kenya were target. Information was gathered using secondary data sources from microfinance banks accounting report from 2016 to 2022. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study used multiple regressions and Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation analysis. All ethical considerations were appropriately observed. Findings indicated that adequacy of capital exerts a notable and direct effect on financial performance, underscoring the importance for microfinance banks in Kenya to prioritize maintaining sufficient capital levels to support their overall stability and financial outcomes. Conversely, quality of asset demonstrates a significant and adverse influence on performance financially, highlighting the need for microfinance banks to enhance their credit assessment processes to ensure the quality of their loan portfolios. The research revealed that efficiency of management has an insignificant direct influence on financial performance of Microfinance banks. To address this, microfinance banks are advised to invest in comprehensive management training programs and capacitybuilding initiatives to improve operational effectiveness and decision-making processes. Earning ability, on the other hand, exhibits a considerable and direct influence on financial performance. Microfinance banks should thus focus on continuous innovation of their products and services to enhance their earning potential and overall financial outcomes. Liquidity levels exhibit an insignificant and inverse effect on the financial performance outcomes. To mitigate potential risks, microfinance banks should establish comprehensive policies and procedures to monitor and manage liquidity effectively. Interestingly, the study reveals that the connection concerning firm-level attributes and financial outcomes for microfinance institutions in Kenya does not appear to be subject to a substantial moderating influence from interest rate movements. Therefore, the survey recommends that microfinance banks concentrate on improving governance structures, operational efficiency, risk management practices, and asset quality. This can be achieved through capacity-building programs, training initiatives, and adopting best practices from successful microfinance institutions. Strengthening these firm characteristics will enable microfinance banks to enhance their financial performance, irrespective of interest rate fluctuations

Adopting health revenue cycle management best practices among public or private healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia: a pilot study

AbstractThe new era of healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia where all covered beneficiaries will receive valued based medicine with cost effectiveness. Healthcare Transformation in Saudi Arabia: healthcare transformation is aiming to restructure the healthcare providers by Health Sector Transformation Program (HSTP) including revenue cycle management project; which is the core of our study. The literature lacks evidence of scoring systems for health revenue cycle management (HRCM) assessment in Saudi Arabia. We established a gap analysis scoring system to classify healthcare providers’ HRCM readiness. This pilot study aimed to assess the rate of adopting health revenue cycle management best practices among public or private healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia. This pilot study included ten healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia. The providers were assessed during the period from August 2022 to May 2023. The HRCM phases were: contract management, pre-service, time-of-service, and post-service. Contract management and preservice assessment revealed that all of the healthcare providers had missed some or most of their sub-major functions. For time-of-service, all healthcare providers required comprehensive gap analysis and the establishment of policies and procedures. Post-service was assessed in seven healthcare providers but was absent in three. All healthcare providers required training and the activation of reporting protocols and KPIs. Overall, the assessment revealed that one HCP had a low classification, seven had a moderate classification, and two had a high classification. All healthcare providers can be enhanced by training, comprehensive gap analysis, implementing policies and procedures with ongoing monitoring. Additionally, patient satisfaction research and the development of IT/technical solutions.

A char removal protocol to visualize fiber cross‐sections of carbon/epoxy composites subjected to flame

AbstractPost‐crash fires obscure or destroy critical fracture surfaces needed to determine the origin of aircraft structural failures. Our goal is to eliminate combustion residue from carbon fiber‐reinforced polymer composites to enable fractographic examination during aviation accident investigations. In this work, combustion residues were removed from burned Hexcel SGP370‐8H/8552 woven‐fabric carbon/epoxy specimens by nitric/sulfuric acid oxidations. Scanning electron microscopy identified various types of char obscuring the fiber ends. For char removal, the burned specimens were immersed in a nitric acid/sulfuric acid/water solution (0.18 wt.%, 96.25 wt.%, 3.57 wt.%) at elevated temperatures (75–150°C). Higher temperatures enhanced nitric acid decomposition in this highly acidic, low‐water environment, accelerating char oxidation and progressively enhancing the extent of char removal. At lower temperatures (T < 100°C), char deposits were partially oxidized after 60 mins. At 125 and 150°C, the char was removed within 30 mins of immersion. The epoxy matrix both chemically decomposed and oxidized and the char oxidized during these oxidation treatments. Gas evolution and soluble products dissolved in the HNO3/H2SO4 media. The damage morphology created by the sawing action on the fiber ends, created before flame exposure, remained clearly visible after the acid oxidations. This occurs because oxidation rates at the carbon fiber ends are much slower than the char oxidation in these acid treatments. If the acid treatment temperature raised above 185°C, then this sawing‐induced fiber damage morphology will also be destroyed. This preliminary understanding can be applied to develop a comprehensive forensic analysis procedure for post‐crash fire investigations.Highlights Flame exposure of sawed specimen cross‐sections leads to char formation, obscuring fiber damage morphologies. HNO3/H2SO4 oxidations at elevated temperatures (75–150°C) resulted in char removal from fiber ends. Higher temperatures (T = 125 and 150°C) accelerated char oxidation. The sawing of carbon/epoxy composites caused extensive fiber damage and ply delamination. Residual decomposed resin matrix and char oxidized faster than the carbon fibers and the fiber sawing‐induced fiber damage morphologies created before flame exposure and were preserved after char removal.

A comprehensive numerical procedure for high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation of breast tumour on an anatomically realistic breast phantom.

High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) as a promising and impactful modality for breast tumor ablation, entails the precise focalization of high-intensity ultrasonic waves onto the tumor site, culminating in the generation of extreme heat, thus ablation of malignant tissues. In this paper, a comprehensive three-dimensional (3D) Finite Element Method (FEM)-based numerical procedure is introduced, which provides exceptional capacity for simulating the intricate multiphysics phenomena associated with HIFU. Furthermore, the application of numerical procedures to an anatomically realistic breast phantom (ARBP) has not been explored before. The integrity of the present numerical procedure has been established through rigorous validation, incorporating comparative assessments with previous two-dimensional (2D) simulations and empirical data. For ARBP ablation, the administration of a 0.1 MPa pressure input pulse at a frequency of 1.5 MHz, sustained at the focal point for 10 seconds, manifests an ensuing temperature elevation to 80°C. It is noteworthy that, in contrast, the prior 2D simulation using a 2D phantom geometry reached just 72°C temperature under the identical treatment regimen, underscoring the insufficiency of 2D models, ascribed to their inherent limitations in spatially representing acoustic energy, which compromises their overall effectiveness. To underscore the versatility of this numerical platform, a simulation of a more clinically relevant HIFU therapy procedure has been conducted. This scenario involves the repositioning of the ultrasound focal point to three separate lesions, each spaced at 3 mm intervals, with ultrasound exposure durations of 6 seconds each and a 5-second interval for movement between focal points. This approach resulted in a more uniform high-temperature distribution at different areas of the tumour, leading to the ablation of almost all parts of the tumour, including its verges. In the end, the effects of different abnormal tissue shapes are investigated briefly as well. For solid mass tumors, 67.67% was successfully ablated with one lesion, while rim-enhancing tumors showed only 34.48% ablation and non-mass enhancement tumors exhibited 20.32% ablation, underscoring the need for multiple lesions and tailored treatment plans for more complex cases.

Stochastic modeling of periodic beams under uncertain boundary conditions and environmental fluctuations

Periodic structures have been attracting a great deal of academic and industrial interest lately, due to their distinctive vibration and wave propagation behavior, which can be explored for the development of innovative solutions to structural dynamics and vibroacoustic problems. Although such a potential has been demonstrated in a large number of studies, the investigation of detrimental effects, which can be present in practical applications, is still necessary. This paper reports investigations on the combined influence of uncertainties affecting ambient temperature — which alters material properties and induces stress-stiffening due to constrained thermal dilatation — and boundary conditions (BCs) on the bandgap characteristics of periodic beams. The space-dependent temperature fluctuations are represented as a one-dimensional stationary Gaussian random field, discretized using the Karhunen-Loève expansion, while non-ideal BCs, represented as springs, are modeled as discrete random variables. Sampling-based stochastic analyses of the central frequency and bandwidth of the beam’s attenuation bands are performed using Monte Carlo simulations. The results demonstrate that the variability in the attenuation band features is influenced not only by the coefficients of variation (CVs) of the input random quantities, but also by the correlation length of the random temperature fluctuations. Numerical simulations reveal that the bandgap central frequency is primarily affected by the temperature random field, while the BCs govern the bandwidth. Although low CV and standard deviation values are obtained for the dispersion of the bandgap features, reliability analyses indicate that some designs exhibit low reliability. Increased variability in both the bandgap central frequency and bandwidth is observed for greater temperature correlation lengths and CVs. The contributions of the study include the proposal of a comprehensive stochastic modeling procedure duly accounting for relevant random influences, and evidencing that those influences can be significant, requiring consideration in the design of robust periodic structures.

Маркетинговый аудит в управлении инновационной деятельностью компании: методология и метрики

In today's complex digital business world, almost every company understands the importance of introducing innovations in the process of operation. At the same time, the issues of diagnosing and assessing the results of the chosen innovative path using a marketing audit remain relevant for the reason that there is simply no ready-made template or algorithm for conducting a marketing audit of a company. The problem is the ambiguous definition of a set of indicators for the marketing audit procedure. The purpose of the work was to determine the importance of conducting a marketing audit in the process of managing an innovative company using the algorithm and metrics of a marketing audit. The methodological basis of the study was a review of scientific works of Russian and foreign authors on the issues of conducting marketing audits and an analysis of the operating features of companies involved in the development and implementation of innovations. The specific features of managing an innovative company were identified, and the methodological and methodological problems of conducting a marketing audit of an innovative company were identified. The results of the study showed that the approaches existing in foreign and domestic literature that describe the process and mechanics of conducting a marketing audit are fragmentary. The work proposed its own algorithm for conducting a marketing audit, and identified a set of additional quantitative indicators (metrics) for a more complete and comprehensive procedure for conducting a marketing audit for managing the innovative activities of a company operating in conditions of uncertainty, risks and competition. The article substantiated the importance and relevance of introducing a marketing audit algorithm. The results of the study can be used by innovative companies when conducting a marketing audit procedure.

Speed‐sensorless control for SPMSM via novel exponential super‐twisting ADRC

AbstractAlthough the conventional super‐twisting reaching law (CSTRL) maintains the desired tracking performance for disturbed systems, its implementation is challenging due to its dependence on accurate system dynamics. To mitigate this dependence and reduce chattering of CSTRL, a novel exponential super‐twisting reaching law (NESTRL) is proposed, leveraging the dynamic adaptability of the exponential reaching law and eliminating chattering. By using NESTRL, the proposed controller can achieve a fast response without chattering. Additionally, a comprehensive procedure for finite convergence time analysis is provided. The convergence conditions of the system's state variables are determined using a Lyapunov function, and the stability of system is proven using an algebraic Lyapunov function. Finally, simulations and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach is valid and effective, showing improvements compared to the traditional super‐twisting active disturbance rejection control and linear active disturbance rejection control in sensorless control.