Identical Processes Research Articles

Impact of Quality Management Systems on Corporate Efficiency in Public Health Providers

The quality management system (QMS) develops an ethnicity of constant development and legal obedience, which advanced minor errors, process efficacy and develop manufactured goods quality, these benefits are increase corporate effectiveness. Inferior expanses, improved client approval, and residential corporate efficiency (CE) are inferences of QMS. The study investigates the impact of QMSs on the CE of Indian public health providers. Research dataset was gathered from a survey of 380 Indian public healthcare providers, involving respondents (178) from various categories. Data evaluates Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software utilizing factor analysis, one-way analyses of variance (ANOVA), and correlation analysis. This investigation exposed the QMSs of these Indian public health care providers necessitate a separate sector devoted to excellence and fundamental quality opinion. The results reveal that subjective and objective performance (SOP) is the most significant factor influencing performance in healthcare, with the highest P-value of 0.004. This indicates a strong impact on organizational performance. Moreover, it was explored how these QMS elevated the company’s perceived performance levels while having a minor optimistic outcome on financial presentation. QMSs in Indian public health providers recover CE and foster a quality and responsibility ethnicity by inserting an importance on identical processes, continuous enlargement and patient care.

Unmanned smart hotel: applications and examples

PurposeIn the tourism sector, fully unmanned and partially unmanned hotel models serving customer segments from different income groups are increasing. Analyzing examples of unmanned hotels worldwide and their practices is crucial for understanding the automation systems used, the smart technologies employed, and the opportunities and challenges these hotels present, as well as for gaining insights into their impacts on the tourism sector.Design/methodology/approachThe data used in this research were obtained from secondary sources. One of the qualitative research methods, document analysis, was used for the analysis of these sources. The content analysis technique was used in the analysis of the data. A seven-stage systematic review process was used in the research. This seven-stage review process consists of the following stages: (1) determining the review objectives and formulating research questions; (2) identifying search terms and selection criteria; (3) conducting a search for unmanned hotel applications before clarifying exclusion and inclusion criteria; (4) evaluating the quality and relevance of unmanned hotel applications; (5) identifying content analysis review variables; (6) conducting content analysis; and (7) analyzing and reporting the findings.FindingsIn traditional hotel management, the innovations brought by digitalization and automation are transforming the guest experience and increasing operational efficiency. Unmanned smart hotels are equipped with various technological solutions, such as voice-controlled AI assistants, smart room control systems, AI-based concierge services, and robotic room service. These hotels are redefining roles and expectations within traditional hotel management, while simultaneously reducing costs and enhancing efficiency. Analyses indicate that unmanned smart hotels particularly appeal to specific customer segments, such as business travelers, and are becoming increasingly popular. These hotels offer advantages such as allowing guests to perform self-check-in, control their rooms, and receive necessary services via robots.Research limitations/implicationsThe universe of the research consists of all currently operating unmanned hotels worldwide. As a result of the research, 18 examples of unmanned smart hotels were identified. Hotels within the same chain with identical applications and processes were considered as a single example. Therefore, the research sample consists of 18 hotels.Originality/valueBy integrating these technological advancements, the hospitality and tourism industries can mitigate the impact of staff shortages, maintain high service standards, and improve operational efficiency. This approach allows businesses to adapt to changing workforce dynamics while continuing to deliver exceptional guest experiences. In conclusion, the significance and impact of unmanned smart hotels in the travel industry are growing. These hotels have the potential to shape the role of technology in the hospitality sector and influence future trends. Therefore, the adoption and development of unmanned smart hotels are important considerations for hotel operators and industry experts.

Advanced microfluidic techniques for in situ PLGA microparticle formation: A dynamic solvent extraction approach

Microencapsulation processes often use the "solvent extraction/evaporation" technique, which involves (i) dissolving a polymer in an organic solvent (optionally with a bioactive component), (ii) forming microdroplets, (iii) removing the solvent, and finally (iv) harvesting and drying the particles ex situ. These last two steps lack control over the solidification processes, which adversely affects the morphology and size distribution of the final microparticles. In this study, we present a continuous production process for solid PLGA microparticles within a microfluidic chip, covering droplet formation, solvent extraction, and solidification. This method offers the advantage of enhanced control over the solidification process within a closed system, leading to morphologically uniform particles. The setup includes a co-axial junction integrated into a chip with an 80 cm long serpentine channel. We generated droplets with various PLGA/ethyl acetate concentrations and tracked their shrinkage until solidification. Results showed that all droplets underwent identical shrinkage processes with consistent rates, velocity profiles, and sizes. The shrinkage rate was linear and unaffected by PLGA concentration, which only influenced final particle size.To demonstrate our setup's advantages, we compared it with the conventional off-chip method, where droplets shrink in a beaker. Off-chip shrinkage was non-linear and inconsistent, influenced by factors such as the number of surrounding droplets and production time. Droplets produced within a 10-s difference had solidification delays up to 250 s. In contrast, on-chip production was uniform, predictable, and 4–10 times faster. SEM imaging confirmed that on-chip particles were consistently spherical with a rough, wrinkled surface, unlike the irregular, bumpy off-chip particles.In summary, on-chip production and shrinkage of PLGA particles is faster and produces more uniformly shaped particles compared to off-chip methods. This study suggests that on-chip production could significantly enhance the efficiency and quality of drug-loaded microparticles, particularly for drug delivery applications.

Sustainable synergistic approach to chemolithotrophs—supported bioremediation of wastewater and flue gas

Flue gas emissions are the waste gases produced during the combustion of fuel in industrial processes, which are released into the atmosphere. These identical processes also produce a significant amount of wastewater that is released into the environment. The current investigation aims to assess the viability of simultaneously mitigating flue gas emissions and remediating wastewater in a bubble column bioreactor utilizing bacterial consortia. A comparative study was done on different growth media prepared using wastewater. The highest biomass yield of 3.66 g L−1 was achieved with the highest removal efficiencies of 89.80, 77.30, and 80.77% for CO2, SO2, and NO, respectively. The study investigated pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and biochemical and chemical oxygen demand to assess their influence on the process. The nutrient balance validated the ability of bacteria to utilize compounds in flue gas and wastewater for biomass production. The Fourier Transform–Infrared Spectrometry (FT–IR) and Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) analyses detected commercial-use long-chain hydrocarbons, fatty alcohols, carboxylic acids, and esters in the biomass samples. The nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) metabolomics detected the potential mechanism pathways followed by the bacteria for mitigation. The techno-economic assessment determined a feasible total capital investment of 245.74$ to operate the reactor for 288 h. The bioreactor’s practicability was determined by mass transfer and thermodynamics assessment. Therefore, this study introduces a novel approach that utilizes bacteria and a bioreactor to mitigate flue gas and remediate wastewater.

Low‐Defect Quantum Dot Lasers Directly Grown on Silicon Exhibiting Low Threshold Current and High Output Power at Elevated Temperatures

The direct growth of III‐V materials on silicon is a key enabler for developing monolithically integrated lasers, offering substantial potential for ultradense photonic integration in vital communications and computing technologies. However, the III‐V/Si lattice and thermal expansion mismatch pose significant hurdles, leading to defects that degrade lasing performance. This study overcomes this challenge, demonstrating InAs/GaAs‐on‐Si lasers that perform on par with top‐tier lasers on native GaAs substrates. This is achieved through a newly developed epitaxial approach comprising a series of rigorously optimized growth strategies. Atomic‐resolution scanning tunneling microscopy and spectroscopy experiments reveal exceptional material quality in the active region and elucidate the impact of each growth strategy on defect dynamics. The optimized III‐V‐on‐silicon ridge‐waveguide lasers demonstrate a continuous‐wave threshold current as low as 6 mA and high‐temperature operation reaching 165 °C. At 80 °C, critical for data center applications, they maintain a 12 mA threshold and 35 mW output power. Furthermore, lasers fabricated on both Si and GaAs substrates using identical processes exhibit virtually identical average threshold current. By eliminating the performance limitations associated with the GaAs/Si mismatch, this study paves the way for robust and high‐density integration of a broad spectrum of critical III‐V photonic technologies into the silicon ecosystem.

“Cinderella seems so easy”: Archetypal Characterisation in Bob Dylan and T.S. Eliot’s Wastelands

This article presents an intertextual study of T.S. Eliot’s The Waste Land (1922) and Bob Dylan’s ‘Desolation Row’ (1965) – the original version in the album Highway 61 Revisited. Only a few scholars dedicated to the works of Bob Dylan have ‘Desolation Row’ being a vague rather than an explicit allusion to The Waste Land. This study will demonstrate how the themes and topics in both texts are not only similar, but how the piece by Dylan contains direct references to Eliot’s poem as well as to other literary and cultural phenomena which Eliot references in his Wasteland – “alluding to allusions”, therefore. All this will be illustrated through the nearly identical processes of archetypal characterisation led by the two authors and the rhetorical use of multiplicity of voice. [Article copies available for a fee from The Transformative Studies Institute. E-mail address: journal@transformativestudies.org Website: http://www.transformativestudies.org ©2024 by The Transformative Studies Institute. All rights reserved.]

Assessing the Performance of Deep Learning Algorithms With and Without Transfer Learning in Similar or Identical Wastewater Treatment Processes

This study assessed the feasibility of transfer learning from one wastewater treatment process to another using two popular deep learning algorithms. Specifically, convolutional neural network (CNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM), which consisted of four and three hidden layers, respectively, were used as benchmark algorithms for transfer learning. Input data for both deep learning and transfer learning were provided from two wastewater treatment plants with identical treatment trains in series (located in Jinju and Cheongju City) over the five-year period from 2018 to 2022. Performance evaluation was also done not only against two deep learning algorithms but also against those adopting two transfer learning strategies, one for freezing all hidden layers developed from the pre-trained model and the other for training the last hidden layer only among multiple ones, with respect to Mean Squared Error (MSE). We found that the performance of both CNN and LSTM was relatively comparative regardless of dependent variables, discharge and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), whereas the prediction accuracy of both algorithms was slightly higher for discharge than for BOD due to its low variability. When transfer learning which froze all hidden layers of the existing model was applied to two benchmark algorithms, the predictive performance of both algorithms was found to slightly improved only for discharge. Also, there was no measurable variation in the prediction accuracy of benchmark algorithms using the other transfer learning approach. Potential applications of transfer learning include the rapid reuse of the existing models (developed from source domains) for target domains which are hard to develop new prediction models due to the lack of data in deep learning.

Equivalent converter method for analyzing complex DC–DC converting systems

AbstractThis paper introduces a new approach for analyzing the dynamics of DC–DC converters. Currently, the primary widely accepted method for examining dynamic processes is the Small Signal Analysis technique. However, when applied to modern complex converters, this method poses additional challenges in formulating and solving systems of differential equations. The method proposed in this paper is based on its application to the analysis of dynamic modes of energy functions—Lagrangians. These functions make it possible to define simple criteria to describe the course of dynamic processes, and in the end define an equivalent (approximating) conventional converter identical to the original one with respect to the course of dynamics. If the magnetic and electrical energies in the Lagrangians of both the converters are equal, the outcome is practically identical transient processes. These findings were confirmed by both theoretical analysis and experimentally modelling the dynamics of the initial converter and an equivalent to it in the Matlab–Simscape program. An additional possibility of using the transfer functions of a conventional boost converter for the theoretical analysis of the converters of much greater orders is also discussed. The authors’ experiments confirm the correctness of their theoretical conclusions.

Geographic variability in headward erosion of marsh tidal creeks: Ecological and physical causes

AbstractExpansion of drainage networks through the headward erosion of tidal creeks is an eco‐geomorphologic response of salt marshes to accelerated sea‐level rise (SLR). This response can counter the negative impacts of an elevation deficit by increasing drainage and encouraging plant health, thereby reducing potential for submergence and marsh platform loss. In the wetlands of Cape Romain, SC, intense bioturbation near creek heads by the common marsh crab Sesarma reticulatum has been found to facilitate sediment erosion and rapid creek growth. This keystone grazer has been recently observed to have increasing influence on landscape evolution throughout the southeast US coast. Here, we compare measurements taken at Sapelo Island, GA, with those previously collected at Cape Romain, to confirm that eco‐geomorphic feedbacks facilitating creek growth at each location are similar, and to compare these processes under differing background conditions. We use sediment cores, precise elevation measurements and historical imagery to compare substrate properties, elevation within the tidal frame, creek growth rates and drainage morphology at both sites. Our results show identical processes; however, the higher elevation of the marsh at Sapelo Island leads to shallower and shorter periods of tidal inundation, explaining the greater soil strength and lower belowground biomass compared with the marsh at Cape Romain. The smaller tidal range at the site in Cape Romain compared with Sapelo Island translates to a proportionally shallower depth of tidal creeks, which therefore requires less erosion to produce headward creek extension. These effects are likely to have contributed to slower growth rates of tidal creeks at Sapelo Island during the past several decades of SLR. Our findings highlight the similarities in process but differences in rates in how marshes are responding to climate‐related stress.

Synchronic development of hydrocele and groin hernia during pregnancy: a case report

IntroductionHydroceles of the canal of Nuck are rare, and have not been described in relation to pregnancy.Case presentationA 34-year-old Caucasian female patient had bilateral groin swelling debuted during her pregnancy. A preoperative magnetic resonance imaging scan found bilateral hydroceles of the canal of Nuck. Operative findings and histological examinations revealed a left-sided inguinal hernia and a right-sided hydrocele. The patient was discharged well and without signs of postoperative complications or hernia recurrence.DiscussionIn this case, a hydrocele and a hernia sac were morphologically identical in terms of preoperative appearance and development. Given the morphological correlation, it was surprising to find different operative findings confirmed by the histopathological examination.ConclusionThis is the first ever report of the synchronic development of two morphologically identical cystic processes, with one being a hydrocele and the other a hernia sac. In addition, the hydrocele developed during pregnancy, making this case even more unique.

New physics of supersonic ruptures

AbstractUntil recently, it is believed that the rupture speed above the pressure wave is impossible since spontaneously propagating ruptures are driven by the energy released due to the rupture motion, which is transferred through the medium to the rupture tip region at the maximum speed equal to the pressure wave speed. However, the apparent violation of classic theories has been revealed by new experimental results demonstrating supersonic shear ruptures. This paper presents a detailed analysis of the recently discovered shear rupture mechanism (fan hinged), which suggests a new physics of energy supply to the tip of supersonic ruptures. The key element of this mechanism is the fan‐shaped structure of the head of extreme ruptures, which is formed as a result of an intense tensile cracking process with the creation of intercrack slabs that act as hinges between the shearing rupture faces. The fan structure is featured with the following extraordinary properties: extremely low friction approaching zero; amplification of shear stresses above the material strength at low applied shear stresses; creation of a self‐disbalancing stress state causing a spontaneous rupture growth; abnormally high energy release; generation of driving energy directly at the rupture tip which excludes the need to transfer energy through the medium. The fan mechanism operates in intact rocks at stress conditions corresponding to seismogenic depths and in pre‐existing extremely smooth interfaces due to identical tensile cracking processes at these conditions. This is Paper 1 (of two companion papers) which discusses the fan theory and extreme ruptures in experiments on extremely smooth interfaces. Paper 2 entitled “Fan‐hinged shear instead of frictional stick‐slip as the main and most dangerous mechanism of natural, induced and volcanic earthquakes in the earth's crust” considers extreme ruptures in intact rocks. Further study of this subject is a major challenge for deep underground science, earthquake and fracture mechanics, physics, and tribology.

Proliferation of atmospheric datasets can hinder policy making: a data blending technique offers a solution.

The proliferation of atmospheric datasets is a key outcome from the continued development and advancement of our collective scientific understanding. Yet often datasets describing ostensibly identical processes or atmospheric variables provide widely varying results. As an example, we analyze several datasets representing rainfall over Nepal. We show that estimates of extreme rainfall are highly variable depending on which dataset you choose to look at. This leads to confusion and inaction from policy-focused decision makers. Scientifically, we should use datasets that sample a range of creation methodologies and prioritize the use of data science techniques that have the flexibility to incorporate these multiple sources of data. We demonstrate the use of a statistically interpretable data blending technique to help discern and communicate a consensus result, rather than imposing a priori judgment on the choice of dataset, for the benefit of policy decision making.

Effects of thickness profile and inner/outer of localized thin area defects on the remaining strength of pressure equipment

When encountering pressure equipment with a structural defect such as a local thinning defect (LTA), a critical question often arises regarding the safety of continued operation. This is primarily determined by the strength at the LTA zone, as it represents the weakest point of the structure. The remaining strength factor (RSF) is proposed as an indicator to evaluate the remaining strength and life of pressure equipment when a severe LTA is identified. The API 579/ASME FFS standard offers a series of practical engineering approaches for field engineers to follow, which have achieved great success. However, it has been found that the simpler Level 1 and Level 2 approaches sometimes fail to differentiate between LTAs on the inner or outer surface of the pressure equipment, yielding identical numerical processes and results. Moreover, the use of critical thickness profiles to replace the actual thickness profile in analysis can lead to overly optimistic estimation of the RSF, posing a potential danger when the RSF is close to the allowable limit. Key issues investigated in this study include: (a) discrepancies caused by the use of simplified critical thickness profiles or parabolic profiles, as API 579 suggested, on the RSF; (b) differences in RSFs when the same LTA is on the inner and outer wall; and (c) comparisons of membrane stress and bending stress, as well as their influences on the RSF at the cross-section of the vessel wall. It can be concluded with certainty that all simplified geometries (CTP and PTP) tend to underestimate the RSF and should be used with caution. Additionally, the actual remaining strength of the outer LTA was found to be slightly lower than that of the inner LTA of identical size. Therefore, when remaining life and derating for prolonged operation are of interest, finite element analysis on pressure equipment with the LTA is recommended.

On the Performance Analysis of Epidemic Routing in Non-Sparse Delay Tolerant Networks

We study the behavior of epidemic routing in a delay tolerant network as a function of node density. Focusing on the probability of successful delivery to a destination within a deadline (PS), we show that PS experiences a phase transition as node density increases. Specifically, we prove that PS exhibits a phase transition when nodes are placed according to a Poisson process and allowed to move according to independent and identical processes with limited speed. We then propose four fluid approximations to evaluate the performance of epidemic routing in non-sparse networks. An ordinary differential equation (ODE) is proposed for supercritical networks based on approximation of the infection rate as a function of time. Other ODEs are based on the approximation of the pairwise infection rate. Two of them, one for subcritical networks and another for supercritical networks, use the pairwise infection rate as a function of the number of infected nodes. The other ODE uses pairwise infection rate as a function of time, and can be applied for both subcritical and supercritical networks achieving good accuracy. The ODE for subcritical networks is accurate when density is not close to the percolation critical density. Moreover, the ODEs that target only supercritical regime are accurate.

System of redistribution of non-used resource work in non-rhythmic flow-lines

The article proposes to reduce the duration of non-rhythmic flow lines on technologically identical processes by using the resource of «flow-line non-critical» divisions on interdependent works. In non-rhythmic flow-line construction, there are processes with a reserve of non-used resources with adjacent works («flow-line non-rhythmic» works). As a result of the system study, it is proposed to characterize «flow-line non-critical» works as having an increased period of deployment or convolution of flow lines. The work volume is redistributed on technologically identical processes, for which interdependent divisions are determined. General new working deadlines are limited by the target function. Additional restrictions determine the limits of change in the term of work on intermediate divisions. Optimized works are performed in two variants for three and two shifts. This method is more effective in reducing construction and complements the optimization method by reducing the deployment period.

An insight on the N-glycome of notochordal cell-rich porcine nucleus pulposus during maturation.

Degeneration of the intervertebral disc is an age-related condition. It also accompanies the disappearance of the notochordal cells, which are remnants of the developmental stages of the nucleus pulposus (NP). Molecular changes such as extracellular matrix catabolism, cellular phenotype, and glycosaminoglycan loss in the NP have been extensively studied. However, as one of the most significant co- and posttranslational modifications, glycosylation has been overlooked in cells in degeneration. Here, we aim to characterize the N-glycome of young and mature NP and identify patterns related to aging. Accordingly, we isolated N-glycans from notochordal cell-rich NP from porcine discs, characterized them using a combined approach of exoglycosidase digestions and analysis with hydrophilic interaction ultra-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. We have assigned over 300 individual N-glycans for each age group. Moreover, we observed a notable abundance of antennary structures, galactosylation, fucosylation, and sialylation in both age groups. In addition, as indicated from our results, increasing outer arm fucosylation and decreasing α(2,3)-linked sialylation with aging suggest that these traits are age-dependent. Lastly, we have focused on an extensive characterization of the N-glycome of the notochordal cell-rich NP in aging without inferred degeneration, describing glycosylation changes specific for aging only. Our findings in combination with those of other studies, suggest that the degeneration of the NP does not involve identical processes as aging.

Total Ionizing Dose Effects of 60Co γ-Ray Radiation on Split-Gate SiC MOSFETs

SiC power devices require resistance to both single-event effects (SEEs) and total ionizing dose effects (TIDs) in a space radiation environment. The split-gate-enhanced VDMOSFET (SGE-VDMOSFET) process can effectively enhance the radiation resistance of SiC VDMOS, but it has a certain impact on the gate oxide reliability of SiC VDMOS. This paper investigates the impact mechanism and regularity of using the SGE process to determine the radiation resistance and long-term reliability of SiC VDMOS under other identical processes and radiation conditions. Our experimental results show that after 60Co γ-ray irradiation, the degradation degrees of the static parameters of SGE-VDMOSFET and planar gate VDMOSFET (PG-VDMOSFET) are similar. The use of the new process leads to more defects in the oxide layer, reducing the long-term reliability of the device, but its stability can recover after high-temperature (HT) accelerated annealing. This research indicates that enhancing the resistance of SEEs using an SGE-VDMOSFET structure requires simultaneously considering the demand for TIDs and long-term reliability.

A ‘Uniform’ for All States?

A ‘Uniform’ for All States?

Fluorescence profile of a nitrogen-vacancy center in a nanodiamond

Nanodiamonds containing luminescent point defects are widely explored for applications in quantum biosensing such as nanoscale magnetometry, thermometry, and electrometry. A key challenge in the development of such applications is the large variation in fluorescence properties observed between particles, even when obtained from the same batch or nominally identical fabrication processes. By theoretically modeling the emission of nitrogen-vacancy color centers in spherical nanoparticles, we are able to show that the fluorescence spectrum varies with the exact position of the emitter within the nanoparticle, with noticeable effects seen when the diamond radius, $a$, is larger than around 100 nm, and significantly modified fluorescence profiles found for larger particles when $a=200$ and 300 nm, with negligible effects below $a=100$ nm. These results show that the reproducible geometry of point defect position within a narrowly sized batch of diamond crystals is necessary for controlling the emission properties. Our results are useful for understanding the extent to which nanodiamonds can be optimized for biosensing applications.

Использование смешанного и гибридного обучения в современной российской педагогической практике

In the conditions of high dynamics of digitalization of all spheres of public life, the active use of blended and hybrid learning in educational practice is of particular importance. These phenomena have been introduced into the Russian education system relatively recently, which requires their careful consideration and detailed analysis. In the course of the study, the author of the article found that in the conditions of Russian pedagogical practice today there is no common understanding of the term “blended learning”, as there is no specifics in the differentiation of blended and hybrid learning, which gives rise to frequent substitution of concepts and the lack of detailing the difference in these phenomena. At the same time, the analysis showed that blended and hybrid learning are, although similar, but still not identical processes. In particular, hybrid learning involves the priority use of online formats, as well as the parallel, rather than sequential, implementation of innovative digital and traditional educational technologies, so that the difference between online participants and face-to-face participants is practically erased. The study also revealed the advantages, disadvantages and main problems in the implementation of blended and hybrid learning in Russia; emphasis is placed on the transformation of the teacher’s functions in the context of the transition to mixed forms. In particular, it has been established that it is not teaching that becomes the dominant function, but the organization and management of the pedagogical process, its methodological support using the synthesis of various educational technologies, advising students at all stages of mastering educational programs.