Cooperative System Research Articles

Az Europol-együttműködés tapasztalatai

Aim: The aim of the article is to present the practical experience of cooperation between Europol, which plays a key role in international criminal cooperation, and Hungary. Methodology: The author collected knowledge about the operation of Europol and its investigative support services by studying the available EU legislation, and by working as the Head of the Hungarian Liaison Bureau at Europol, as well as by carrying out the tasks of the former expert in the cyber-attacks priority and the deputy national EMPACT coordinator. Findings: Europol’s system of cooperation with the Member States and operational and strategic partners provides the law enforcement agencies of the countries concerned with an opportunity that no other agency, institution or organisation can offer. In addition to supporting specific investigations, the institutional system also provides countries with IT, strategic and financial support. Value: The article aims to provide a practical and comprehensive overview of the state of cooperation with Europol, to give a deeper insight into the day-to-day work of the law enforcement and judicial authorities and to provide the interested reader with contextualized insights into the steps and processes involved.

Experience of the Europol cooperation

Aim: The aim of the article is to present the practical experience of cooperation between Europol, which plays a key role in international criminal cooperation, and Hungary. Methodology: The author collected knowledge about the operation of Europol and its investigative support services by studying the available EU legislation, and by working as the Head of the Hungarian Liaison Bureau at Europol, as well as by carrying out the tasks of the former expert in the cyber-attacks priority and the deputy national EMPACT coordinator. Findings: Europol’s system of cooperation with the Member States and operational and strategic partners provides the law enforcement agencies of the countries concerned with an opportunity that no other agency, institution or organisation can offer. In addition to supporting specific investigations, the institutional system also provides countries with IT, strategic and financial support. Value: The article aims to provide a practical and comprehensive overview of the state of cooperation with Europol, to give a deeper insight into the day-to-day work of the law enforcement and judicial authorities and to provide the interested reader with contextualised insights into the steps and processes involved.

Communication range predicts dolphin alliance size in a cooperative mating system

It is well known that communication range, often termed active space,1 varies with habitat structure, and this variation can influence individual vocal behavior across taxa.2,3 While theoretical predictions imply that communication distances can drive the evolution of mammalian alliance sizes,4 empirical tests of this hypothesis are currently lacking. In Shark Bay, Western Australia, unrelated male bottlenose dolphins form multilevel alliances, where males work together in pairs or trios to herd single estrus females.5,6,7,8 Here, we use empirical measures of male dolphin vocalizations, ambient noise levels, and high-resolution bathymetry data to estimate variation in active space across the study site. We combine this with long-term data on male alliance behavior to determine how active space influences alliance group size and mating success. We show that the active space of vocalizations used by allied males in a reproductive context predicts the number of preferred alliance partners with whom individuals cooperate over the longer term, ultimately contributing significantly to male access to mating opportunities. These results reveal that variation in sensory ecology driven by heterogeneous habitat influences optimal cooperative group size and mating success within a single population of wild animals.

Additive Effects in Metal/Lewis Acid Cooperativity Assessed in a Tetrahedral Copper Hydrazine Complex Featuring an Appended Borane.

Within metal/ligand cooperative systems employing acidic groups, studies that empirically assess distance relationships are needed to maximize cooperative interactions with substrates. We report the formation of two Cu(I)-N2H4 complexes using 1,4,7-triazacyclononane ligand frameworks bearing two tert-butyl groups and either a Lewis acidic trialkylborane or an inert alkyl group. Metal/Lewis acid cooperativity imparts heightened acidification of the hydrazine substrate and plays a key role in the release of substrate to a competitive Lewis acidic group.

Research on Obstacle Avoidance Strategy of Automated Heavy Vehicle Platoon in High-Speed Scenarios

Amidst the rapid progression of the road transport industry, the safety and efficiency of heavy-vehicle platoons have garnered significant attention. The study tackles the challenge of obstacle avoidance presented by vehicles owing to their considerable mass, delayed response times, and line-of-sight impediments, by introducing a cooperative obstacle avoidance system for heavy-vehicle platoons based on deep reinforcement learning. The system comprises three primary modules: perception, decision-making, and control. Initially, the perception module acquires real-time environmental data. Subsequently, the decision-making module formulates obstacle avoidance decisions based on the acquired data. Specifically, it implements a two-stage braking obstacle avoidance strategy under low collision risk scenarios, while employing a fifth-degree polynomial for planning and tracking obstacle avoidance paths under high collision risk conditions suitable for steering maneuvers. The control module utilizes the local multi-agent deep deterministic policy gradient (LADDPG) algorithm to train the heavy-vehicle platoon agents, ensuring the formation’s maintenance while mitigating collisions with other vehicles and obstacles. The effectiveness of the proposed system is substantiated through simulation experiments, demonstrating its adaptability to various traffic conditions, selection of suitable obstacle avoidance strategies, and significant enhancement of obstacle avoidance performance and heavy-vehicle platoon stability.

BEP analysis of L-PPM modulated cooperative VLC system with perfect and imperfect CSI

BEP analysis of L-PPM modulated cooperative VLC system with perfect and imperfect CSI

Perspectives on the Toxic Effects of Micro- and Nanoplastics on the Environment: A Bibliometric Analysis of the 2014 to 2023 Period.

Over the past decade, micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) have garnered significant attention due to their frequent detection in and potential toxic effects on the environment and organisms, making them a serious threat to human health. To comprehensively understand the research on MNPs' toxicity, we employed the R language-based Bibliometrix toolkit (version 4.3.0), VOSviewer (version 1.6.11) and CiteSpace (version 6.3.R1) to perform statistical and visual analyses of 3541 articles pertaining to MNPs' toxicity between 2014 and 2023, which were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database. The analysis revealed that research related to MNPs' toxicity has experienced a rapid increase in recent years. China's particularly prominent influence in the field of MNPs' toxicity is evidenced by its academic exchanges and the establishment of a mature cooperation system with other countries (regions), such as the USA and Germany. Studies related to MNPs' toxicity are primarily published in leading journals, including the Science of the Total Environment, Environmental Pollution, and the Journal of Hazardous Materials. The Chinese Academy of Sciences was identified as the leading institution in terms of research on MNPs' toxicity, contributing 203 papers to the total number of studies published. Keyword co-occurrence and burst analyses indicated that the current research on MNPs' toxicity mainly focuses on the toxic effects of MNPs on aquatic organisms, the combined toxicity of MNPs and other contaminants, and the toxic effects and mechanisms of MNPs. Future research should integrate computational toxicology and toxicomics to enhance our understanding of MNPs' toxicity mechanisms and assess the potential health risks posed by atmospheric MNPs.

Involvement of public health nurses in supporting mothers after maternity health checkups

Objectives This study aimed to analyze and clarify the role of public health nurses (PHNs) in assisting mothers who need assistance during antenatal checkups.Methods This study was conducted in core city, A. The study participants were PHNs who experienced supporting at least three mothers who required support during maternity health checkups. We interviewed the respondents about their observations, decision points, difficulties in coordination, and other aspects of support. Data were extracted from verbatim transcripts and analyzed inductively.Results Sixteen PHNs participants had an average of 9.3 years of experience. The analysis included 10 categories, 43 subcategories, and four themes. PHNs connected with mothers early depending on the mothers' wants, based on information gathered during the gestational period (theme 1). PHNs make early telephone visits to mothers based on information obtained during the gestational period. If the mother did not respond to the initial visit, the PHNs attempted to establish contact through other means.PHNs carefully observed and assessed mothers' childcare routines and mental and physical conditions (theme 2). To assess the mothers' mental health status, they were interviewed in detail using the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale. Determining the mother's condition was challenging; therefore, several PHNs conducted multiple visits and repeated the observations to achieve accurate assessments.The PHNs stayed close to their mothers and carefully supported them toward independence while assessing their progress (theme 3). PHNs established trusting relationships with mothers.PHNs served as coordinators in resolving problems and provided ongoing support in cooperation with medical institutions and related organizations (theme 4). The PHNs carefully coordinated consultations and encouraged mothers to consult psychiatrists if appropriate. Conclusion Although PHNs provided attentive care to mothers requiring assistance, difficulties arise in accurately diagnosing postpartum depression and connecting mothers to psychiatric services. Guidelines that standardize the assessment of and responses to mental health issues are required. It is necessary to organize the problems faced by mothers and develop a system of cooperation among various organizations.

Social partnership and its role in economic growth in EU countries

Social partnership as a system of institutional cooperation between government, trade unions and employers is a major phenomenon for continental Western Europe, which is a guarantee of inclusive development and establishment of peace. Depending on the country's economic situation and changes in the world economy, the government can be more or less dependent on the behaviors imposed by the trade unions. As the economic situation worsens, the government focuses more directly on the political situation and trade union proposals, and conversely, when the economic situation improves, the government is less dependent on the behavior of trade unions. Keywords: Social Partnership; Corporatism; Interest Groups; Trade Unions.

Impact of early-stage cooperative vehicle infrastructure systems on traffic and energy consumption under various traffic conditions: From application to policy

Cooperative Vehicle Infrastructure Systems (CVIS) play a crucial role in promoting sustainable transportation. Existing studies have primarily focused on the theoretical algorithms of CVIS, with insufficient research on energy consumption evaluation using practical data, particularly under diverse traffic conditions. This study addresses this gap by collecting long-term sequential application data (2.19 million) of CVIS across a wide region, analyzing the performance trends of CVIS under various traffic conditions, and offering practical policy recommendations for optimizing and deploying CVIS effectively. The data from drivers using CVIS are categorized into passive CVIS (P-CVIS) or active CVIS (A-CVIS) based on the utilization of the speed guidance function. The study reveals that drivers with insufficient proficiency in A-CVIS tend to engage in more aggressive driving behaviors, characterized by higher acceleration rates and greater variability in acceleration distribution in response to recommended speeds. These behaviors lead to increased acceleration energy consumption for both vehicles (2.7 % and 9.0 %) and road networks (65.2 % and 24.7 %) during peak and off-peak hours, respectively. While A-CVIS can still play an optimizing role during peak hours, the majority of optimization metrics are slightly lower compared to off-peak periods. The study concludes by offering recommendations and regulatory measures to enhance A-CVIS.

Analytical model and swapping policy assessment of a vertical lift module – buffer integrated storage system

To meet the rising demands of global trade and e-commerce, efficient warehousing relies on integrated and cooperative material handling systems. This paper investigates the extension of Vertical Lift Module (VLM) storage capability with a Buffer System and assesses the impact of this integration on performance. We developed an analytical model to calculate the expected dual command cycles, forming the basis for evaluating the VLM – Buffer integrated storage system’s performance. Our research emphasises minimising unnecessary swaps between the VLM and the Buffer System to enhance throughput performance. We introduce the Look Ahead Strategy (LAS) to minimise inter-system swaps and develop a Binary Integer Program (BIP) to benchmark its performance. The results indicate that LAS performs on par with BIP, due to its ability to consider product popularity during the final selection of the outbound swapping tote. Through a comprehensive analysis of the analytical model with an empirical correction, utilising Pareto-based order sequences, the results show deviations of less than 1% on average, affirming the analytical model’s accuracy. Our research provides insights on using the VLM-Buffer integrated storage system, emphasising efficient tote swapping policies like LAS for enhanced warehouse operations, and allows managers to assess system performance through scenario-based analyses.

Resource optimization for cooperative SWIPT-NOMA systems with imperfect SIC

This paper investigates a cooperative non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) system designed for multiple users. It integrates simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) while accounting for the imperfections in successive interference cancellation (SIC). In this scenario, a nearby user functions as a relay for a more distant user. Through the utilization of a power splitting (PS) protocol, the nearby user adeptly manages both energy harvesting and decoding signals from users. A user pairing strategy is employed, aiming to guarantee a significant contrast in channel gains between users within each pair. Subsequently, the power allocation coefficients and PS factor for each cluster are derived to optimize the performance of nearby users and amplify the overall system throughput. This optimization takes into account the individual target rates of each user while accommodating the presence of imperfect SIC. Numerical results affirm the enhanced performance of the nearby user, showcasing greater system throughput and minimal outage probability compared to existing schemes, even in the presence of imperfect SIC.

Adaptive-Duplex Relay Selection for Cooperative Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access Networks

To further improve the spectral efficiency of the cooperative non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) network with half-duplex (HD) relaying and avoid the zero diversity gain due to the imperfect self interference estimation at high signa-to-noise ratio (SNR) value with full-duplex (FD) relaying, this paper developed a novel two-stage relay selection for a two-user multi-relay cooperative NOMA systems with adaptive-duplex (AD) relaying which can switch opportunistically between HD and FD relaying modes. An adaptive duplex based on fixed power allocation factor relay selection (AD-FPA-RS) scheme for cooperative NOMA networks is proposed in this paper, the relay can switch the work mode to the FD or HD state adaptively according to the current channel state information and the result of decode at the relay. Futhermore, the exact outage probability for the proposed AD-FPA-RS scheme is obtained in closed-form expression. The simulation and numerical results show that the proposed AD-FPA-RS scheme not only outperforms the existing HD-FPARS and FD-FPA-RS schemes in terms of outage behavior significantly, but also can obtain full diversity gain without the floor outage performance at high SNR region.

Analisis Efektifitas Pengelolaan dan Sistem Pengendalian Piutang pada Koperasi Makmur Mandiri di Rengasdengklok

Cooperatives, as business entities, are always encouraged to play an active role in providing credit services needed by the community. By providing credit to small and medium businesses, it is hoped that this sector can improve the quality of its activities. This research aims to test and analyze the effectiveness of the Receivables Management and Control System at the Makmur Mandiri Cooperative in Rengasdengklok. The research method used is descriptive with a qualitative approach, with data collection techniques in the form of interviews, observation and documentation. The analytical methods used include analysis of Receivable Turn Over (RTO), Average Collection Period (ACP), Arrears Ratio, Collection Ratio, as well as evaluation of the cooperative control system. The research results show that internal control of receivables at the Makmur Mandiri Cooperative has been implemented in accordance with COSO standards. Although providing credit to cooperatives from 2018 to 2022 is considered quite effective, it still fluctuates every year due to the significant impact of Covid-19 which causes economic uncertainty, resulting in many cooperative members experiencing delays in paying loans at maturity.

AI-Assisted Self-Powered Vehicle-Road Integrated Electronics for Intelligent Transportation Collaborative Perception.

Collaborative perception between a vehicle and the road has the potential to enhance the limited perception capability of autonomous driving technologies. With this background, self-powered vehicle-road integrated electronics (SVRIE) with a multilevel fractal structure is designed to play a dual role, including a SVRIE device integrated into vehicle tires and a SVRIE array embedded into a road surface. The pressure sensing capability and anti-crosstalk performance of the SVRIE array are characterized separately to validate the feasibility of applying the SVRIE in a cooperative vehicle-infrastructure system. It is demonstrated that the SVRIE based on the multi-layered fractal structure exhibits maximum performance in collaborative sensing and interaction between vehicles and road information, such as vehicle motion, road surface condition, and tire life cycle health monitoring. Traditional data analysis methods are often of questionable accuracy. Therefore, a convolutional neural network is used to classify the vehicle and road conditions with accuracy of at least 88.3%. The transfer learning model is constructed to enhance the road surface identification capabilities with 100% accuracy. The accuracies of the vehicle tire motion recognition and tire health monitoring are 97% and 99%, respectively. This work provides new ideas for collaborative perception between vehicles and roadsides.

Online control parameter optimization design for multi-machine coordinated loading system of hazardous substances

To address the parameter instability issues in hazardous materials handling during multi-machine loading and unloading operations, we propose a Full-Scale Smart Parameter Optimization Control (FSPOC) system specifically designed for multi-machine coordination. This system leverages a novel fish scale prediction algorithm tailored for cooperative multi-machine environments. Initially, the fish scale prediction algorithm, inspired by bionic fish scales, is developed to predict future system behavior by analyzing historical data. Building on this algorithm, we introduce a disturbance cancellation control theorem and design a parameter optimization controller to enhance stability in high-dimensional nonlinear spaces. The FSPOC method is then applied to a multi-machine cooperative system, enabling online distributed parameter optimization for complex systems with multiple degrees of freedom. The effectiveness of the proposed method was validated through simulations, where it was compared with two other optimization techniques: Genetic Algorithm-based PID (GAPID) and Chaotic Atomic Search Algorithm-based PID (CHASO). The simulation results confirm the superiority of the FSPOC method.

Total Hip Arthroplasty Patients Who Have Ostomies Have an Increased Risk of Revisions for Periprosthetic Joint Infection, but Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients Do Not

BackgroundPatient comorbidities can lead to worse outcomes and increase the risk of revisions after total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Sparse research is available on the effects of ostomies on postoperative outcomes. Our study aimed to assess whether patients who have ostomies, who underwent TKA or THA, have worse outcomes and increased rates of all-cause and periprosthetic joint infection (PJI)-related revisions. MethodsWe performed a retrospective cohort study comparing the outcomes of THA and TKA patients who have and do not have a history of ostomy using the Statewide Planning and Research Cooperative System. Patient demographics, ostomy diagnosis, 3-month emergency department visits and readmissions, and revisions were collected. A total of 126,414 THA and 216,037 TKA cases were included. Log-rank testing and a Cox proportional hazards model were used to account for covariates. ResultsIn total, 463 THA patients (0.4%) had ostomies. They had a longer length of stay (4.0 versus 3.1 days, P < 0.001) and were less likely to be discharged home (55.3 versus 62.2%, P = 0.01). They had higher rates of PJI-related revisions (1.9 versus 0.9%, P = 0.02) and had increased odds of PJI-related revision (OR [odds ratio] = 2.2, P = 0.02). Of TKA patients, 619 patients (0.3%) had an ostomy. They had a longer length of stay (3.6 versus 3.3 days, P = 0.02) and was less likely to be discharged home (49.4 versus 52.4%, P = 0.16). However, there was no difference in the rate (1.8 versus 1.4%, P = 0.49) or odds (OR = 1.2, P = 0.53) of PJI-related revision. ConclusionsTHA, but not TKA, patients who have ostomies have an increased risk of PJI-related revisions. The proximity of the surgical incision to the ostomy site may play a role in the risk of PJI in THA patients.

Integrated Sensing and Communication for Effective Multi-Agent Cooperation Systems

Integrated Sensing and Communication for Effective Multi-Agent Cooperation Systems

ASSESSMENT OF THE FINANCIAL RESULT OF PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION USING THE EXAMPLE OF A CONCESSION AGREEMENT

The article is aimed at developing a methodological approach to improving the efficiency of assessing the financial results of implementing Ukrainian and European business projects. In this context, the object of study is a specific individual partnership and cooperation project. The research has established that one of the key informational aspects of such a partnership is the assessment and forecasting of the financial result. The goal of the research is to present the methodological approach to assessing financial performance for an individual project in the most detailed form possible. The article presents an approach based on modern simulation modelling methods, systems analysis methodology, and the method of composite seasonal indices. All modelling processes were conducted using MATLAB software. MATLAB is a high-level programming language and interactive environment for numerical computation, visualization, and programming. This program is widely used for modelling and data processing in fields such as engineering, scientific research, and mathematics. The research result is presented as an approach to the mathematical modelling of assessing the financial performance of partnership projects of Ukraine with representatives of EU business. It is necessary to emphasize that the presented research has limitations related to changes in Ukraine's hyperdynamic external environment provoked by war. Forecasts may vary depending on the development of military actions. Therefore, the prospects for further research should be directed towards improving the informational provision in the system of partnership and cooperation with EU countries to increase their own investment security.

Fixed-Time Distributed Event-Triggered Cooperative Guidance Methods for Multiple Vehicles with Limited Communications to Achieve Simultaneous Arrival

Aiming at the salvo-attack problem of multiple missiles, a distributed cooperative guidance law based on the event-triggered mechanism is proposed, which enables missiles with large differences in spatial location and velocity to achieve simultaneous attacks with only a few dozen information exchanges. It effectively reduces the generation of control commands and communication frequency, thereby reducing channel load and improving communication efficiency and reliability. Compared to traditional periodic sampling communication, the number of communications has been reduced by over 90%. The guidance process is divided into two stages. The first stage is the cooperative guidance stage, where missiles achieve consensus of the time-to-go estimates through information exchange. In this stage, each missile is designed with an event-triggered function based on its own state error, and the missile only updates and transmits its information in the communication network when the error meets the set threshold, effectively reducing the occupancy rate of missile-borne resources during the cooperation process. The second stage is the independent guidance stage, where missiles can hit the target simultaneously while keeping the communication network silent. This is achieved by ensuring that the time-to-go estimates of missiles can represent the real time-to-go after achieving consensus. By the design of the two-stage guidance law and the replacement of the event-triggered function, the cooperative guidance system can be ensured to remain stable in scenarios where the leader missile is present and destroyed, and this excludes Zeno behavior. The stability of the cooperative guidance law is rigorously proved by algebraic graph theory, matrix theory, and the Lyapunov method. Finally, the numerical simulation results demonstrate the validity of the algorithm and the correctness of the stability analysis.