Functionality Of System Research Articles

Усовершенствование первичной медико-санитарной помощи с применением цифровых технологий: методология разработки инструментария оценки «цифровой зрелости» и научно обоснованные рекомендации

The digitalization of the economy, especially within the framework of the concept of Industry 4.0, has a significant impact on the medical field. In healthcare, digital technologies such as telemedicine technologies, decision support systems and artificial intelligence increase the availability and quality of medical services. The purpose of the study is to develop scientifically based recommendations for improving primary health care using the developed tools for assessing the «digital maturity» of primary care organizations. Materials and methods. To develop recommendations, a methodology was used to assess the «digital maturity» of medical organizations providing primary health care. Experts assessed the indicators of «digital maturity», and their significance was determined through a weighted average. The results of the assessment made it possible to identify the main, additional and excluded indicators, which became the basis for further development of recommendations. Results. Based on the developed methodology, classifications of the levels of «digital maturity» of medical organizations providing primary health care, ranging from low to high levels, were created. These classifications made it possible to identify key aspects that need improvement, including digital infrastructure, information system functionality, the use of artificial intelligence, as well as digital literacy of medical personnel. Conclusions. The digital transformation of primary health care contributes to improving the quality and accessibility of medical services, especially in remote regions. The developed methodology makes it possible to objectively assess the level of digitalization and formulate recommendations for individual digital transformation strategies in the regions of Russia. It is important to continue monitoring and research to assess the long-term effects of digitalization.

Beyond penal metaphysics: the weakening of the philosophical foundations of punishment

The present work seeks to prove the hypothesis that the history of German penal dogmatics draws a path of gradual weakening of the metaphysical foundations of punishment. Through a bibliography review, the path will begin with Kant, Hegel and the origin of retributive theories. Afterwards, the clash between the Classical School of German Criminal Law, headed by Karl Binding, and the Modern School, led by Franz von Lizst, will be discussed. Edmund Mezger's causalism and Hans Welzel's finalism will be observed, as well as the role of punishment for both authors. Claus Roxin's teleological functionalism, with his proposal to protect legal goods, and Günther Jakobs' systemic functionalism, with the idea of general positive prevention, will be analyzed below. From there we will move on to the critical theories of imputation of Winfried Hassemer and Klaus Günther and, finally, to the arrival of penal abolitionism in Germany, by the hands of Sebastian Scheerer. Finally, we will close by waving towards a weak criminal law, with a post-metaphysical character inspired in Gianni Vattimo’s Philosophy, which is capable of articulating in the half-light in favor of its own reduction, with a view to abolition.

NLRP3 regulates ferroptosis via the JAK2/STAT3 pathway in asthma inflammation: Insights from in vivo and in vitro studies

BackgroundFerroptosis, an iron-dependent form of cell death, plays a pivotal role in the pathologic progression of asthma. Electroacupuncture (EA) has demonstrated considerable efficacy in mitigating asthma airway inflammation, although its underlying mechanisms remain partially elucidated. MethodsWe investigated the regulatory effect of NLRP3 on ferroptosis using a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation model in BEAS-2B cells, where NLRP3 expression was modulated with si-RNA and overexpression plasmids. The levels of inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 were quantified. We also assessed NLRP3 and JAK2/STAT3 pathway-related proteins, and evaluated lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), and antioxidant system functionality. In vivo, we examined the impact of EA on ferroptosis and airway inflammation by modulating NLRP3 activation. Asthma inflammation severity was evaluated using H&E, Masson, and PAS staining, alongside ELISA. NLRP3 and JAK2/STAT3 pathway-related proteins, as well as ferroptosis indicators, were also analyzed. The mechanism by which NLRP3 activates ferroptosis was investigated through in vitro assays. ResultsLPS exposure resulted in increased intracellular inflammatory cytokines, and activation of the NLRP3 and JAK2/STAT3 pathways, leading to enhanced lipid peroxidation, decreased ΔΨm, and disruption of antioxidant system balance, ultimately inducing ferroptosis. Si-NLRP3 countered the effects of LPS, whereas oe-NLRP3 exacerbated symptoms. In vivo studies revealed that EA reduced airway inflammation, inhibited NLRP3 activation, and decreased phosphorylation of JAK2/STAT3, effectively lowering ferroptosis-related indicators. Utilizing JAK2/STAT3 activators and inhibitors, we confirmed that NLRP3 mediates ferroptosis via the JAK2/STAT3 pathway. ConclusionsEA alleviates HDM-induced asthma, primarily through the inhibition of NLRP3 activation, which modulates the JAK2/STAT3 pathway and mediates ferroptosis.

KEGG: biological systems database as a model of the real world.

KEGG (https://www.kegg.jp/) is a database resource for representation and analysis of biological systems. Pathway maps are the primary dataset in KEGG representing systemic functions of the cell and the organism in terms of molecular interaction and reaction networks. The KEGG Orthology (KO) system is a mechanism for linking genes and proteins to pathway maps and other molecular networks. Each KO is a generic gene identifier and each pathway map is created as a network of KO nodes. This architecture enables KEGG pathway mapping to uncover systemic features from KO assigned genomes and metagenomes. Additional roles of KOs include characterization of conserved genes and conserved units of genes in organism groups, which can be done by taxonomy mapping. A new tool has been developed for identifying conserved gene orders in chromosomes, in which gene orders are treated as sequences of KOs. Furthermore, a new dataset called VOG (virus ortholog group) is computationally generated from virus proteins and expanded to proteins of cellular organisms, allowing gene orders to be compared as VOG sequences as well. Together with these datasets and analysis tools, new types of pathway maps are being developed to present a global view of biological processes involving multiple organism groups.

Constructing Lyapunov–Krasovskii functionals for linear positive continuous time difference systems

Abstract In this paper, a linear positive functional difference system with discrete and distributed delays is studied. It is proved that if the considered system is exponentially stable, then it admits both linear and diagonal quadratic Lyapunov–Krasovskii functionals. In addition, new exponential stability conditions for switched linear positive functional difference systems are obtained on the basis of a constructive approach to the design of common Lyapunov–Krasovskii functionals for the associated families of subsystems.

Determinants of the functionality of cost accounting systems in social welfare organizations: Exploratory study using cluster analysis

This paper presents a quantitative exploration of the functionality of cost accounting systems and their determinants in social welfare organizations. We conducted a questionnaire survey of managers of social welfare organizations running special nursing homes for the elderly and conducted a cluster analysis based on the data collected. The questionnaire was created based on the scales used in previous studies, with some new scales developed. For data analysis, the statistical analysis environment R was used. The clValid package of R was used to assess the validity of the cluster analysis. Based on the results of the analysis in this paper, it is expected that social welfare organizations that pursue cost leadership strategies and have a strong public interest orientation will benefit greatly by being able to utilize a highly functional cost accounting system. Such organizations will be able to improve their business efficiency by utilizing cost information, and their social contribution activities based on the resulting resources will truly be a contribution to public welfare. The findings from this study are of practical significance because they can be used by business managers of social welfare organizations to review the functionality of their cost accounting systems. We also focus on the degree to which nonprofit organizations focus on social contribution activities (in this paper, we call this public interest orientation). The public interest orientation of an organization is thought to affect the functionality of the cost accounting system in the same way as the organization’s strategy, but there has not been enough quantitative research on this point. By focusing on the public interest orientation of social welfare organizations, this study contributes to deepening our knowledge in this area.

Diabetes self-care intervention strategies and their effectiveness in Sub-Saharan Africa: A systematic review.

Diabetes poses a significant public health challenge, predominantly affecting low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), including in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The evolving landscape characterized by resource constraints, gaps in availability and functionality of healthcare system, and socio-demographic impediments has compounded these challenges. As an example, self-care interventions have played a crucial role in diabetes care. However, the effectiveness of these interventions in the SSA remains insufficiently explored. Therefore, this systematic review evaluated the effectiveness and implementation approach of diabetes self-care interventions in SSA. A comprehensive search was conducted across electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, to identify studies focusing on diabetes self-care interventions in SSA from 2013 to 2023. The included studies reported interventions targeting dietary adherence, physical activity, medication adherence, blood glucose monitoring, foot care, and educational or support programs. The quality of the studies was assessed using the JBI checklist. Effectiveness was assessed through outcomes including glycemic control, adherence rate, complication reduction, and improvement in patient outcomes. Overall, 38.5% of interventions result showed positive changes in either primary or secondary outcomes. Studies that employed diabetes self-management education showed positive changes in approximately 28.6% of cases. However, SMS text messaging interventions did not demonstrate significant changes in the measured outcomes. Of the 13 studies reviewed, 12 used randomized controlled trial designs, whereas one study employed a quasi-experimental approach. The total of participants across intervention and control groups was 3172 adults with diabetes. The interventions employed various strategies including diabetes self-management education led by nurses and other professionals, SMS text messaging for treatment adherence, and other targeted approaches. The duration of these interventions varied from 2 to 12 months. Specific interventions, such as glucose machine provision with training, family support with culturally tailored educations, and periodontal treatment, exhibited notable improvement in adherences and reductions in HbA1c levels. The review underscores the significance of diabetes self-care interventions in SSA, showing varying effectiveness levels across different strategies. It emphasizes the importance of tailored approaches and highlight interventions that have shown promising outcomes, providing insights for future research, policy, and healthcare strategies in the region.

Investigating the determinants of homestay satisfaction on Airbnb using multiple techniques

Peer-to-peer accommodation has gained prominence in the sharing economy and e-commerce sectors, with big data playing a crucial role in understanding customer preferences and evaluating homestay satisfaction. This study proposes a novel methodology that integrates Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques, a Random Forest model, and Geographic Information System (GIS) functionalities to quantify the complex relationship between homestay satisfaction and diverse customer preferences. Notably, this study addresses the positive bias inherent in listing scores by segmenting homestays into three categories (satisfactory, moderate, and dissatisfactory) based on sentiment analysis from online reviews. Furthermore, this study not only identifies eight key determinants of homestay satisfaction but also unveils the nonlinear relationships and interactions between them. More significantly, we identify specific threshold values for geographic determinants, offering actionable recommendations for homestay planning and layout. These findings provide valuable insights that can be leveraged to improve homestay experiences and promote the sustainable development of urban homestays.

The metalloproteinase ADAM10 sheds angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) from the pulmonary endothelium as a soluble, functionally active convertase.

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) plays a critical role in the regulation of blood pressure and fluid balance, with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) being a key transmembrane enzyme that converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II. Hence, ACE activity is an important drug target in cardiovascular pathologies such as hypertension. Our study demonstrates that human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs) are an important source of proteolytically released ACE. The proteolytic release of transmembrane proteins, a process known as ectodomain shedding, is facilitated by membrane proteases called sheddases. By knockout and inhibition studies, we identified ADAM10 (A disintegrin and metalloprotease 10) as a primary sheddase responsible for ACE release in HEK293 cells. The function of ADAM10 as primary, constitutive sheddase of ACE was confirmed in HPMECs. Moreover, we demonstrated the physiological relevance of ADAM10 for ACE shedding in exvivo precision cut lung slices (PCLS) from human and mouse lungs. Notably, ADAM17 activity is not directly involved in ACE shedding but indirectly by regulating ACE mRNA and protein levels, leading to increased ADAM10-mediated ACE shedding. Importantly, soluble ACE generated by shedding is enzymatically active and can thereby participate in systemic RAAS functions. Taken together, our findings highlight the critical role of ADAM10 (directly) and ADAM17 (indirectly) in ACE shedding and RAAS modulation.

Deep Learning-Driven Analysis of a Six-Bar Mechanism for Personalized Gait Rehabilitation

Abstract Recent advances in robotics and artificial intelligence have highlighted the potential for the integration of computational intelligence in enhancing the functionality and adaptability of robotic systems, particularly in rehabilitation. Designing robotic exoskeletons for the lower limb rehabilitation of post-stroke patients requires frequent adjustments to accommodate individual differences in leg anatomy. This complex engineering challenge necessitates a deep understanding of human physiology, robotics, and optimization to develop adaptive robotic systems and also to swiftly quantify the required adjustments and implement them for each patient. The conventional approaches, which mostly rely on heuristics and manual tuning, often struggle to achieve optimal results. This paper presents a novel method that integrates a genetic algorithm (GA) with a deep learning approach to generate a gait trajectory of the ankle joint from a six-bar linkage mechanism of fixed dimensions. Later, using the same approach, the inverse kinematics solution for this mechanism is also devised whereby, the set of the link dimensions of the six-bar linkage mechanism is obtained for the given gait trajectory of an individual to achieve customization. We simulated the kinematic behavior of the six-bar linkage mechanism within defined mechanical constraints and utilized the generated data for training a feedforward neural network and long short-term memory models. The proposed model, when trained, can produce accurate lengths for the desired gait trajectories in the sagittal plane and vice-versa which further validates our proposed approach for inverse kinematics solution.

Association Between Dairy Production System and Milk Functionality Based on Analysis of miRNAs in Exosomes from Milk.

Dairy farming practices significantly affect the nutritional and functional properties of milk. This study compares miRNAs in milk exosomes from extensive and intensive dairy systems and explores their potential implications for human consumers. Extensive systems are believed to produce milk of higher quality with better animal welfare compared to intensive systems. Milk samples from eight extensive and nine intensive dairy farms were analysed. Milk-derived extracellular vesicles were isolated through sequential ultracentrifugation and characterised through Dynamic Light Scattering and Nanosight to determine the size and the concentration of the extracellular vesicles, in addition to immunoblotting to ensure the presence of exosome-specific proteins in their membrane. miRNA levels were quantified using RT-qPCR, and metabolic pathways associated with miRNAs showing significant differences between farm groups were analysed. EVs from extensive farms had higher concentrations. Notably, bta-miR-451 levels were significantly higher in milk from extensive farms (p = 0.021). Like human miRNA hsa-miR-451, it is linked to pathways related to Parkinson's disease and cancer. Our research suggests that milk production in extensive systems not only provides socioeconomic and environmental benefits but may also have positive effects on human health. Further research is warranted to explore the bioactive potential of these miRNAs and their implications for human health.

Inventory Management System Using Economic Order Quantity And Reorder Point

The inventory management system for car workshops is still using Excel, which makes it inefficient and inaccurate for complex stock calculations. The solution is to design an inventory application that uses the Economic Order Quantity and Reorder Point methods. The application will provide timely stock replenishment information and optimize order quantities, increasing inventory management efficiency and accuracy. The Software Development Life Cycle used in this study is Rapid Application Development, a process emphasizing short development cycles. User Acceptance Test results show that users received the inventory management system very well, with an average satisfaction level of 98.44% for Admins and 97% for general users, indicating high satisfaction with the system's features and functionality.

Systemic Implications of Bullous Pemphigoid: Bridging Dermatology and Internal Medicine.

Background: Bullous pemphigoid is an autoimmune bullous disease that frequently affects a large skin surface area, but it can also present in localized areas. It has been hypothesized that bullous pemphigoid affects the systemic functioning of different organs because inflammatory cells and cytokines circulate throughout numerous organs. Results: Recent clinical and experimental studies have revealed an association between bullous pemphigoid and systemic organ disorders. To avoid the emergence of systemic organ diseases, the significance of systemic treatment in cases of severe bullous pemphigoid should be emphasized. Conclusions: Here, we discuss the specific molecular processes underlying typical systemic organ inflammatory diseases associated with bullous pemphigoids.

SISTEM INFORMASI PERPUSTAKAAN MENGGUNAKAN QR CODE PADA SMP NEGERI 6 KEMPAS BERBASIS WEB

Information technology has developed very rapidly nowadays, this has had a significant influence on human activities, such as making various fields of human work easier. One of these technological developments is the Library Information System. The Library of SMP Negeri 6 Kempas currently still uses media in the form of master books as storage media to manage library data. Storage that uses master books has the potential to experience many problems such as data loss because master books are easily torn, faded or lost, inaccuracies in reports, the length of the book management process and many other problems. The aim of this research is to produce a website-based library information system using QR Codes that can be used to handle the service process and book data management at the SMP Negeri 6 Kempas library and overcome the problems and weaknesses that occur when using the old system that is currently in use. The result of this research is to produce a Web-based QR Code Library Information System and has passed system Functionality testing with a score of 100% and Usability with a score of 81.6%.

Evaluation of VOR function with vHIT in unilateral pediatric cochlear implant users

ObjectiveThe changes in the inner ear affect both the cochlea and the vestibule and these effects are observed after cochlear implantation surgery. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the effect of unilateral cochlear implant use on vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) in children. MethodsIn the current study, 29 cochlear implanted children, aged 7–18 years, were include as the study group and 32 children, in the same age range, were included with normal-hearing as the control group. vHIT was used to evaluate VOR and the results of unilateral CI users were compared with the control group. The study group was evaluated in two different situations: cochlear implant sound processor on (CI-ON) and cochlear implant sound processor off (CI-OFF). The data obtained in the evaluations were compared between the implanted ear and the non-implanted ear between the CI-ON and CI-OFF states within the study group and between the study group and the control group. ResultsWhen the CI-ON and CI-OFF conditions in the study group were compared, no significant difference was found (p > 0.05). Similarly, no significant difference was found between the implanted ear and the non-implanted ear (p > 0.05). Also, there was no significant difference in the comparisons between the study group and the control group (p > 0.05). ConclusionvHIT is a functional test method that can be used in children to test vestibular function after cochlear implant. vHIT is a comfortable test to use after cochlear implantation to demonstrate the functionality of the vestibular system. And it provides consistent results regardless of whether the speech processor is on or off.

Clinical research perspective on moxibustion treatment for urinary incontinence: A perspective review.

This study provides an in-depth perspective of moxibustion as a treatment option for urinary incontinence (UI), focusing on its clinical efficacy, underlying mechanisms, and potential integration into standard care practices. Moxibustion, rooted in traditional Chinese medicine, involves the targeted application of heat from burning moxa at specific acupoints. Analyzing data from randomized controlled trials and retrospective studies, the study suggests that moxibustion effectively reduces UI symptoms and improves quality of life with minimal adverse effects. The therapeutic benefits are attributed to enhanced blood circulation, improved neurological functions, and hormonal balance, facilitating tissue repair, and urinary system functionality. Despite encouraging outcomes, existing research exhibits limitations, including small sample sizes, and inconsistent methodologies. Future research should aim to address these gaps by conducting larger, standardized multicenter trials to provide more definitive evidence of moxibustion's effectiveness. Additionally, integrating moxibustion into comprehensive treatment strategies for UI and promoting its inclusion in clinical guidelines could enhance its acceptance and application in modern medical practice. This study underscores the potential of moxibustion as a non-alternative in the management of UI, warranting further exploration and validation in clinical settings.

Automated image-based fire detection and alarm system using edge computing and cloud-based platform

To tackle the increasing wildfire challenges, this paper presents an automated image-based fire detection and alarm system utilizing edge computing and a cloud-based platform, specifically designed for urban building fire detection. The system captures both RGB and infrared images from thermal cameras and employs existing computer vision techniques to detect fire characteristics such as flames and smoke. By integrating edge computing, the system minimizes latency to enhance the accuracy of fire detection and alarm activation. The cloud platform supports extensive data storage, analysis, and remote monitoring, which can ensure data accessibility and scalable data management. The proposed system descriptions include a detailed system architecture design, data collection, and the selection and application of detection algorithms that leverage both RGB and thermal image data for fire detection. Using the campus building and surrounding risk-prone areas as a testbed, the proposed system demonstrated desired fire detection capabilities and a robust solution to quickly identify and respond to fire incidents within the urban area. The proposed system functionalities can be scaled and adapted to other fire risk-prone areas.

A Spectral-Based Blade Fault Detection in Shot Blast Machines with XGBoost and Feature Importance

The optimal functionality and dependability of mechanical systems are important for the sustained productivity and operational reliability of industrial machinery, and have a direct impact on its longevity and profitability. Therefore, the failure of a mechanical system or any of its components would be detrimental to production continuity and availability. Consequently, this study proposes a robust diagnostic framework for analyzing the blade conditions of shot blast industrial machinery. The framework explores the spectral characteristics of the vibration signals generated by the industrial shot blast for discriminative feature excitement. Furthermore, a peak detection algorithm is introduced to identify and extract the unique features present in the peak magnitudes of each signal spectrum. A feature importance algorithm is then deployed as the feature selection tool, and these selected features are fed into ten machine learning classifiers (MLCs), with extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost (version 2.1.1)) as the core classifier. The results show that the XGBoost classifier achieved the best accuracy of 98.05%, with a cost-efficient computational cost of 0.83 s. Other global assessment metrics were also implemented in the study to further validate the model.

Enhancing the Functionalities of Personal Health Record Systems: Empirical Study Based on the HL7 Personal Health Record System Functional Model Release 1.

The increasing demand for personal health record (PHR) systems is driven by individuals' desire to actively manage their health care. However, the limited functionality of current PHR systems has affected users' willingness to adopt them, leading to lower-than-expected usage rates. The HL7 (Health Level Seven) PHR System Functional Model (PHR-S FM) was proposed to address this issue, outlining all possible functionalities in PHR systems. Although the PHR-S FM provides a comprehensive theoretical framework, its practical effectiveness and applicability have not been fully explored. This study aimed to design and develop a tethered PHR prototype in accordance with the guidelines of the PHR-S FM. It sought to explore the feasibility of applying the PHR-S FM in PHR systems by comparing the prototype with the results of previous research. The PHR-S FM profile was defined to meet broad clinical data management requirements based on previous research. We designed and developed a PHR prototype as a web application using the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources R4 (FHIR) and Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC) coding system for interoperability and data consistency. We validated the prototype using the Synthea dataset, which provided realistic synthetic medical records. In addition, we compared the results produced by the prototype with those of previous studies to evaluate the feasibility and implementation of the PHR-S FM framework. The PHR prototype was developed based on the PHR-S FM profile. We verified its functionality by demonstrating its ability to synchronize data with the FHIR server, effectively managing and displaying various health data types. Validation using the Synthea dataset confirmed the prototype's accuracy, achieving 100% coverage across 1157 data items. A comparison with the findings of previous studies indicated the feasibility of implementing the PHR-S FM and highlighted areas for future research and improvements. The results of this study offer valuable insights into the potential for practical application and broad adoption of the PHR-S FM in real-world health care settings.

Visual placebo and nocebo effects.

Placebo and nocebo effects modulate symptom perception through expectations and learning processes in various domains. Predominantly, their impact has been investigated on pain and physical performance. However, the influence of placebos and nocebos on visual system functionality has yet to be explored. The present study aimed to test whether placebo and nocebo effects can intervene in altering participants' performance outcomes during a novel visual accuracy task and to examine the underlying neural mechanisms through EEG. After performing a baseline session, visual accuracy was said to be enhanced or disrupted by a sham transcranial electrical stimulation over the occipital lobe. Behavioural results showed a significant increase in visual accuracy for the placebo group, from the baseline session to the test session, whereas the nocebo group showed a decrease in visual accuracy. EEG analyses on the event-related potential P300 component, conducted on both a centro-parietal electrode patch and a parieto-occipital, one displayed an increase in the amplitude of P300 for the placebo group, and a decrease in the nocebo group. These findings suggest for the first time that placebo and nocebo effects can influence visual perception and attentional processes linked to it. Overall, the present study contributes to understanding how expectations affect sensory perception beyond pain and the motor system, paving the way for investigating these phenomena in other sensory modalities such as auditory or olfactory perception. KEY POINTS: Placebo and nocebo effects have been studied predominantly in pain and motor performance fields. In a novel visual task, the impact of placebo and nocebo effects on the visual system has been evaluated, in both early components (stimuli-related) and late components (attention-related). The placebo group showed an increase in visual accuracy and EEG-evoked potential amplitudes, whereas the nocebo group showed a decrease in both. This study shows how expectations and the related placebo and nocebo effects can shape basic stimuli sensory perception in the visual domain.