Positive Feedback Research Articles

A review of Dr Wrangham’s book, ‘the Goodness Paradox . . . ‘, and insights into the evolution of human language, aesthetics, and free will

Dr Richard Wrangham’s book and YouTubes are helping to explain our evolved psychology as primarily occurring in African hunter-gatherer bands before the end of the last ice age. This perspective is supported by the exquisite cave paintings and tool artifacts from this ancient time. The most important evidence about our origins, however, comes from recent anthropological studies of current bands that represent the earlier age. Results showed that 5-psychosocial-behaviors produced both the environment and the natural selection for our psychology. These are: 1) language, coalitional activities and egalitarianism organization, 2) problems of bullies for egalitarianism, 3) management of the problems by gossip, ostracism and executions, 4) those targeted by the management had shorter lives and fewer children demonstrating strong natural selection, 5) reduced targeting occurred for those showing high-quality activities or high status, which increased the complexity of the selection to include all of our psychological abilities. The evolved psychological abilities include those highlighted by Dr Wrangham: emotions, intelligence, conscience and personality, as well as those with only supporting evidence: developmental and social learning, theory of mind, language, aesthetics, and free will. Further support for the importance of the 5-psychosocial-behaviors is provided by evidence from the domestication syndrome, natural selection pressure, and a positive feedback model. In addition, these perspectives can explain issues such as why 50% of our thoughts and behaviors comes from our environment and development as demonstrated in identical twin studies, and why we experience life with agency and free will. Dr Wrangham’s work is producing a new explanation of our nature that can help us all to understand why we are the way we are.

E-Commerce Fake Reviews Detection Using LSTM with Word2Vec Embedding

Customer reviews inform potential buyers' decisions, but fake reviews in e-commerce can skew perceptions as customers may feel pressured to leave positive feedback. Detecting fake reviews in e-commerce platforms is a critical challenge, impacting online shopping and deceiving customers. Effective detection strategies, employing deep learning architectures and word embeddings, are essential to combat this issue. Specifically, the study presented in this paper employed a 1-layer Simple LSTM model, a 1D Convolutional model, and a combined CNN+LSTM model. These models were trained using different pre-trained word embeddings including Word2Vec, GloVe, FastText, and Keras embeddings, to convert the text data into vector form. The models were evaluated based on accuracy and F1-score to provide a comprehensive measure of their performance. The results indicated that the Simple LSTM model with Word2Vec embeddings achieved an accuracy of nearly 91% and an F1-score of 0.9024, outperforming all other model-embedding combinations. The 1D convolutional model performed best without any embeddings, suggesting its ability to extract meaningful features from the raw text. The transformer-based models, BERT and DistilBERT, showed progressive learning but struggled with generalization, indicating the need for strategies such as early stopping, dropout, or regularization to prevent overfitting. Notably, the DistilBERT model consistently outperformed the LSTM model, achieving optimal performance with an accuracy of 96% and an F1-score of 0.9639 using a batch size of 32 and a learning rate of 4.00E-05.

WoTs-TDGV: Thing Description Generator and Validator

The breakneck evolution of the Web of Things (WoT) has led to a burgeoning demand for reliable tools that facilitate the automatic generation and validation of Thing Descriptions (TD). However, emerging tools that generate or validate TD automatically have suffered from abounding limitations and constraints. In this paper, we propose and implement an automatic web-based Thing Description Generator and Validator (TDGV) application. TDGV automates and simplifies TDs generation while ensuring the compliance with the WoT standards. The application generates more accurate thing description results. In order to evaluate the usability of the TDGV, a Concurrent Think-aloud usability study was conducted with a sample of 150 developers. The study revealed positive feedback regarding the user interface and the TDGV usability. The study results highlight areas for enhancement, such as TDGV navigation. TDGV is a convenient and robust Thing Description Generator and Validator web application. It provides a valuable tool for users in the WoT domain, enabling them to automatically and easily generate and validate TDs.

Digital Skills Improvement for MSMEs in Rural Areas for Online Marketing

This Community Service (PKM) aims to improve the digital skills of MSME actors in rural areas, especially in online marketing, through online training using the Zoom platform. This activity is motivated by the low digital skills of MSMEs in rural areas, which limits their access to the digital market. The method used is participatory action research (PAR), involving 30 MSME actors who are selected by purposive sampling. The training lasts four weeks and includes two weekly sessions, covering material on digital marketing, the use of social media, e-commerce, and marketing performance monitoring. The results showed a significant improvement in participants' digital skills, with an average pre-test score of 45 increasing to 80 on the post-test. Implementing the skills learned also resulted in an increase in engagement on social media by 40% and an increase in online transactions by 20%-30%. Participants gave positive feedback regarding the relevance of the training and the application of the skills taught. This activity fills the gap in previous research by focusing on practical strategies adapted to the conditions of MSMEs in rural areas. The main obstacle faced is the problem of internet connectivity, which needs to be considered in the next training. Overall, this activity has succeeded in increasing the competitiveness of MSMEs in the digital market

LongT5Rank: A Novel Integrated Hybrid Approach for Text Summarisation

Text summarisation reduces text length while retaining important information, helping individuals, especially students, in managing information overload during research or assignments. However, existing text summarisation methods often lose important details, generate irrelevant or redundant sentences, or produce incoherent summaries. This study introduces a hybrid approach, LongT5Rank (coined in this study), which combines TextRank, an extractive summarisation algorithm, with LongT5, an abstractive summarisation algorithm, to automate the summarisation process. TextRank utilizes GloVe, a pre-trained word embedding model, and PageRank, a graph-based ranking algorithm, to select representative sentences. LongT5, an encoder-decoder transformer model, condenses extracted sentences into a concise and coherent summary, handling input sequences up to 16,384 tokens, for long-range sequence-to-sequence tasks. The LongT5Rank approach has shown significant achievements, including a minimum 60% compression rate, a minimum 0.6 semantic textual similarity score, and an improved F-measure compared to employing TextRank alone. Furthermore, it received positive feedback from Human Level Performance (HLP), underlining the importance of evaluating results directly from human users. This emphasizes the belief that the performance of the proposed solution should be assessed natively by humans. By combining both extractive and abstractive methods, LongT5Rank excels in generating accurate and coherent summaries.

Herbivore regulation of savanna vegetation: Structural complexity, diversity, and the complexity–diversity relationship

AbstractLarge mammalian herbivores exert strong top‐down control on plants, which in turn influence most ecological processes. Accordingly, the decline, displacement, or extinction of wild large herbivores in African savannas is expected to alter the physical structure of vegetation, the diversity of plant communities, and downstream ecosystem functions. However, herbivore impacts on vegetation comprise both direct and indirect effects and often depend on herbivore body size and plant type. Understanding how herbivores affect savanna vegetation requires disaggregating the effects of different herbivores and the responses of different plants, as well as accounting for both the structural complexity and composition of plant assemblages. We combined high‐resolution Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) with field measurements from size‐selective herbivore exclosures in Kenya to determine how herbivores affect the diversity and physical structure of vegetation, how these impacts vary with body size and plant type, and whether there are predictable associations between plant diversity and structural complexity. Herbivores generally reduced the diversity and abundance of both overstory and understory plants, though the magnitude of these impacts varied substantially as a function of body size and plant type: only megaherbivores (elephants and giraffes) affected tree cover, whereas medium‐ and small‐bodied herbivores had stronger effects on herbaceous diversity and abundance. We also found evidence that herbivores altered the strength and direction of interactions between trees and herbaceous plants, with signatures of facilitation in the presence of herbivores and of competition in their absence. While megaherbivores uniquely affected tree structure, medium‐ and small‐bodied species had stronger (and complementary) effects on metrics of herbaceous vegetation structure. Plant structural responses to herbivore exclusion were species‐specific: of five dominant tree species, just three exhibited significant individual morphological variation across exclosure treatments, and the size class of herbivores responsible for these effects varied across species. Irrespective of exclosure treatment, more species‐rich plant communities were more structurally complex. We conclude that the diversity and architecture of savanna vegetation depend on consumptive and nonconsumptive plant–herbivore interactions; the roles of herbivore diversity, body size, and plant traits in mediating those interactions; and a positive feedback between plant diversity and structural complexity.

Acute Bed Avoidance, Direct Admissions from Frailty at the Front Door to Rehabilitation Beds in Partnership with the ICPOP Team

Abstract Background A key priority outlined in the Programme for Government is to support older people to live in dignity and independence in their own home. In line with the Slainte care vision for easier access of Right Care, Right Place and Right Time Clontarf Hospital have developed a pathway with the ICPOP Team/ FITT Team admitting patients directly from the front door of the acute hospital into a more appropriate environment, thus avoiding Acute Hospital admission or admitting directly from the community thus avoiding the Emergency Department presentation. The patients are over 65 years of age with multi comorbidities and complexities. Methods Both pathways have been developed and embedded. The ICPOP Consultant Geriatrician and the Patient Flow Teams in both Clontarf Hospital and the Mater Hospital collaborated to establish a seamless FITT to Rehab pathway which is person centred. At least 1 Rehabilitation bed is offered by Clontarf Hospital to the FITT ED Team 5 days a week Monday- Friday. An electronic communication group was instated to refer patients directly from the Emergency Department MMUH to Clontarf Hospital. The Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment Tool is utilised to refer and handover all patients. The data is collected on Clontarf Hospital Electronic Dash Board since the introduction of the service including: Results Since the start of the service mid-2022, 174 patients have been admitted saving acute hospital bed days. The MLOS is 22 days and ALOS is 27 bed days. Over 72% of patients are discharged directly home. There has been significant positive feedback from patients and families. Conclusion The establishment of a direct admission pathway from the Emergency Department and the community to a rehabilitation hospital has demonstrated positive patient outcomes and overall benefits to the healthcare system.

PH and ROS Dual-Responsive Autocatalytic Release System Potentiates Immunotherapy of Colorectal Cancer.

The immunosuppressive microenvironment severely limits the responsiveness of colorectal cancer (CRC) to immunotherapy. Herein, a pH and reactive oxygen species (ROS) dual-responsive autocatalytic release system (TPDM/PGA) is constructed to reverse the immunosuppressive microenvironment and potentiate CRC immunotherapy. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) and mitoxantrone (MTO) are conjugated to ROS-responsive polyethylenimine (TP) via a ROS-cleavable linker, respectively, and then coated with polyglutamic acid (PGA) to endow pH and ROS dual-responsiveness. The dissociation of PGA within the acidic TME facilitates its deep penetration and cell internalization, while the intracellular released DHA and MTO in response to high levels of H2O2 further produced a large amount of ROS, forming positive feedback to accelerate drug release and exacerbate oxidative stress. TPDM/PGA collaboratively reversed the immunosuppressive microenvironment and induced a strong anti-tumor immune response when combined with anti-PD-L1 antibody, significantly inhibiting tumor growth and prolonging the survival time of CT26 and MC38 tumor-bearing mice. The excellent therapeutic effect, together with the good tolerance, make TPDM/PGA a promising candidate for enhanced immunotherapy of colorectal cancer.

Evaluation of an Occupational Therapy led Cognitive Stimulation Therapy Programme in an Integrated Care Programme for Older Persons

Abstract Background Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) is a non-pharmacological, evidence-based approach specifically designed to support people with dementia to maintain their cognitive functions e.g. reminiscence, higher executive skills, sensory integration, orientation, memory strategies and day-to-day activities. Methods Participants referred to a community specialist ICPOP team were identified for CST following Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA), where cognitive impairment or dementia was identified. Inclusion criteria: Rockwood Clinical Frailty Scale ≤5, Barthel Index of Activities of Daily Living ≥11, Lawton Brody Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale (IADL) ≥4, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) ≥10, and ability to consent to participate. Addenbrooks Cognitive Examination (ACE-III) scores were obtained pre and post CST, alongside post CST feedback questionnaires. Results 5 CST programmes of seven weeks duration were conducted over a ten-month period. 31 (male=16, female=15) participants completed the programme. 3 participants dropped out due to lack of transport/interest. The average ACE-III score pre-CST was 68.3 +/- 14.31; post-CST was 76.1 +/- 11.4. 28 participants completed feedback questionnaires. Positive feedback included “Got a great sense of achievement with each session, and eagerly looked forward to the coming weeks”, “Each session topped the previous session” “Gave me a reason to get out, a routine to my week”. 45 % commented that they felt safe sharing difficulties/problems with the group. 71% reflected that CST provided an opportunity to meet others in a similar situation. 100% would recommend CST to others. Conclusion Experience of CST was overwhelmingly positive demonstrating benefit not only from a cognitive perspective but from informal peer support and connections made in group settings. Participants commented on lack of follow-on programmes, identifying the need to develop maintenance CST programmes led by trained community stakeholders which would sustain these benefits long-term as well as increasing awareness and knowledge of dementia within communities.

“Pathfinder Filled The Gap And Linked In With The Necessary Services” Service User Perceptions Of The Pathfinder Service

Abstract Background Pathfinder is a service designed to keep older adults who phone 999 at home by utilising alternative care pathways, when it is safe to do so. Pathfinder responds to adults aged 65 and older who present with low acuity complaints. The service is delivered by Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Advanced Paramedics and is embedded between acute and community care. The aim of this study is to capture how the service user found their interaction with this novel service. Methods As part of routine service evaluation, semi-structured brief telephone interviews with closed and open-ended questions were completed with a number of service users (the patient or their primary care giver). Interviews were completed at least one week after their discharge from the service, by a member of the team who had not been involved in their care. Interviews were then analysed using Microsoft Excel® for closed ended questions and thematic analysis for open ended questions. Results One hundred service users were contacted, of which 76 completed the brief telephone interviews. 99% of respondents felt Pathfinder treated them with respect and dignity, 100% felt Pathfinder communicated clearly and 97% rated the service as excellent. Five key themes were identified from open-ended questions (1) the prompt arrival of care, (2) the thorough examination and reassurance provided, (3) the benefit of follow-up after the initial 999 call, (4) the domino effect of onward referrals and (5) the holistic approach to care given. Conclusion There was universal positive feedback for the Pathfinder service reported by both older adults who engaged with the service and their primary care givers. Key elements of the service delivery were complimented including the assessment, the follow up service provided and the onward referral to acute and community services.

Reconditioning For Discharge; An OT-Led Initiative

Abstract Background Deconditioning is the loss of functional ability in frail older adults (BGS, 2017). Many initiatives such as #EndPJParalysis address the importance of preventing functional decline in acute settings. Occupational therapists (OTs) are best equipped to lead these initiatives due to the holistic nature of the profession. This initiative aimed to complete an educational campaign among staff, patients and families about the importance of preventing deconditioning. Audit approval was granted by hospital Clinical Audit Committee. Methods An observational audit of patient presentation at ward level was completed. Data was gathered on clothing and sitting out status as a baseline measurement. A PR and staff education campaign was instigated. Information leaflets and posters for patients, families and staff were distributed. A re-audit was completed after 1 month. Results Patients in their own clothing/pyjamas increased by 8%. Patients sitting out of bed increased by 11%. Informal positive feedback from patients, families and staff suggested a cultural shift on the ward with regards to promoting patients independence. Conclusion Improvements post initiative were noted, however, a longer duration of the initiative would be beneficial to further promote reconditioning. OTs’ comprehensive approach is best placed to champion this reconditioning initiative. Further roll out of the campaign throughout the hospital may be of benefit. There is a wealth of educational/PR resources available for same. Reference British Geriatrics Society (2017) Deconditioning awareness, British Geriatrics Society. Available at: https://www.bgs.org.uk/resources/deconditioning-awareness (Accessed: 19 April 2024).

A Theory on the Nonlinear Relationship of Sexual Behavior and Aggression

Objective: Claims have been made that more sexual liberalism in society than what generally existed in human history is necessary to promote societal tranquility and reduce violence. This research was conducted to investigate the real relationship between sexual behavior and aggression based on scientific data especially from the perspective of physiological psychology. Method: This study was a narrative review and utilized evidence-based findings from neuropsychology, psychophysiology, laboratory research, and field studies. Databases were explored for related terms until sufficiency was reached. The findings were categorized and analyzed descriptively and interpretively to establish connections between the findings. Ultimately, a comprehensive conceptualization was developed to conclude a theory on the relationship between sexual behavior, sexual satiety, and aggression. Results: The study indicated that unrestrained sexual behavior leads to an escalation of the behavior, rather than satiation, and aggression rather than calmness. This may be due to positive feedback in the nervous and hormonal systems, specifically mediated by the medial preoptic area (MPA) and testosterone, leading to aggressive behavior. However, since sexual deprivation can potentially lead to aggression, it is advisable to view the relationship between sexual activity and violence as a non-linear one. Conclusion: This paper establishes that the intensification of sexual behaviors leads to increased violence and aggression in society, ultimately elevating levels of public insecurity. Therefore, limiting sexual behavior within the framework of the relationship of married couples may serve as a moderating factor for this phenomenon.

Bridging The Gap: Between an Older Adult Attending The Ambulatory Day Unit and An Acute Hospital Presentation

Abstract Background Older adults attending the ambulatory day units within the hospital group have a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) completed. This identifies the older adult’s functional, physical, social, environmental and psychological baseline, in order to develop and implement a coordinated plan of care and follow up. The CGA is the gold standard in caring for older adults who are frail or at risk of frailty (HSE, 2016). The units are off site from the main hospital, therefore valuable information may not be available to the acute hospital. Valuable information from the CGA can provide the older adult’s functional and cognitive baseline and prevent unnecessary duplication of assessments and increased length of stay. Methods Plan-Do- Study-Act (PDSA) cycle was used. A questionnaire was produced to ascertain acute care staff’s understanding of; whether an older adult is attending the ambulatory unit? Would this information and a review by the RANP Gerontology be beneficial? A Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner (RANP) Gerontology Pathway was developed. Education was provided to nursing, and the wider multidisciplinary team. An alert sheet was introduced and provided to older adult attending the ambulatory day units. The alert was for the older adult to produce, if attending or admitted to the acute hospital. This initiates the RANP pathway. Older adults are then seen by the RANP at source of admission. Clinic letters with baseline is documented in the Healthcare record, including advice plan and follow-up. Post-implementation questionnaire and verbal feedback were obtained. Results Positive feedback from older adults, family and staff. Avoidance of unnecessary duplication of assessments, data sharing, optimization of plan of care, treatment and rehabilitation potential. Effective discharge planning, reduction of unnecessary transfer to residential care. Conclusion Bridging the gap promotes positive outcomes: Reducing length of stay, positive impact on overall wellbeing, and an organizational cost containment.

Gerontological Simulation Lab: Process Mapping a New Virtual Ward for the Nursing Home Liaison Service

Abstract Background Simulation-based training is an increasingly accepted way for multidisciplinary teams to learn together. Its use in geriatric departments around Ireland is increasingly visible. The application of simulation to pathway and process development however is less common. We decided therefore to deploy a simulation lab to test a new virtual ward platform for local nursing homes. Methods We developed, in partnership with a digital provider, a piece of software that could enable the efficient and safe operation of a virtual ward. Our simulation was conducted in two phases. Phase 1 involved bench simulation of the platform in order to identify any obvious software issues. Phase 2 involved the development of two simulated patient scenarios that would specifically test the operation of the pathway. Nursing staff from our local nursing homes and specialist MDT members from our own department were invited to the Sim lab in order to work through the developed scenarios. Results Bench simulation of the software during phase 1 identified three significant limitations to the software developed. These were resolved before progressing to phase II testing. The simulated scenarios at our lab worked well and participants shared positive feedback regarding the pathway and technology. They found the software easy to navigate, practical and agreed unanimously to its future use. There were further minor technical issues identified that have been fed back to the software company for resolution. The simulation facilitated training using the “live” system for both the staff at our nursing homes and our own team members. Conclusion The simulation lab proved to be an ideal environment for testing both our new virtual ward pathway and the digital technology developed for its enablement. It facilitated the creation of a comprehensive process map and ensures that all stakeholders had a clear understanding of the new pathway.

The Development And Implementation Of A Multi-Factorial Falls Assessment Tool In A Pathfinder Service

Abstract Background Falls are a common complaint of older adults who present to the Pathfinder service. Pathfinder offers alternative care pathways to older adults when they phone 999 for low acuity concerns. As part of the service, Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists provide home-based assessments and interventions. The aims of this project were firstly, to develop a falls assessment tool to assist therapists’ compliance with guidelines relating to older adults who have fallen and secondly, to ensure consistency of assessment and intervention among therapists on the team. Methods A falls assessment tool was created in line with the most recent world falls guidelines (Montero-Odasso et al., 2022). The initial roll out began on October 1st, 2024, when the tool was used to assess older adults who presented to the Pathfinder service following a fall. After three months, areas of poor compliance and barriers with usability of the tool were highlighted from a chart review and stakeholder engagement. The document was then revised based on this feedback. From February 1st, 2024, the tool was then used with all older adults who presented to the service. Compliance was re-audited at the end of April 2024 and therapists on the team were surveyed to gather user feedback. Results As a result of the falls assessment tool, compliance with the World Falls Guidelines increased initially from 54% to 86% but continued to improve when reviewed seven months post implementation. Qualitative data was universally positive when stakeholders were surveyed with benefits identified as: improving patient care, consistency across the therapy team and a useful means of communication. Conclusion The development and implementation of a falls assessment tool into the practice of a Pathfinder service increased compliance with the most recent world falls guidelines and received positive feedback from all key stakeholders.

Advancing Specialist Geriatric Medicine Training: A Successful Introduction to Simulation-Based Training

Abstract Background Simulation-based education (SBE) has been adopted by various specialties and is used to complement other aspects of education. Geriatric medicine is a diverse specialty, requiring healthcare professionals (HCPs) to navigate complex social, medical, and ethical issues, necessitating a multifaceted and interdisciplinary approach making SBE the ideal vehicle to train geriatric medicine trainees. SBE is currently not a formal component of geriatric medicine training in Ireland and trainees experience varying levels of exposure to SBE. To address this, WICOPSIM in collaboration with the Royal College of Physicians (RCPI) facilitated a study day for geriatric medicine trainees demonstrating the design and implementation of gerontological SBE. Methods A faculty consisting of RCPI Irish Clinician Educator Track (ICET) training fellow, WICOP simulation fellow and two Consultant Geriatricians coordinated the event. All geriatric medicine trainees were invited to a one-day SBE event hosted by WICOPSIM. Lectures on simulation theory and application preceded a simulation scenario demonstration focusing on the interdisciplinary management of a patient whose capacity was in question; followed by a SBE participant workshop. Results Fifty-two trainees attended the event. Forty-five trainees completed the post-event survey. 98% (n=44) were satisfied with the variety of topics presented and felt more prepared to design and run a scenario. The simulation demonstration, debrief and design workshop met 100% trainees’ expectations. All trainees indicated that SBE should be a routine element of geriatric medicine training. 69% (n=31) intend to run SBE within their own department in the future. Conclusion This event successfully introduced geriatric medicine trainees to the design principles and practices of gerontological SBE. SBE offers trainees the opportunity to practice the technical and non-technical skills required to navigate complex, interdisciplinary and challenging scenarios, in a protected environment. The positive feedback generated suggests SBE is a useful tool to enhance the specialist geriatric medicine training experience and warrants further exploration.

Lack of optimistic bias during social evaluation learning reflects reduced positive self-beliefs in depression and social anxiety, but via distinct mechanisms

Processing social feedback optimistically may maintain positive self-beliefs and stable social relationships. Conversely, a lack of this optimistic bias in depression and social anxiety may perpetuate negative self-beliefs and maintain symptoms. Research investigating this mechanism is scarce, however, and the mechanisms by which depressed and socially anxious individuals respond to social evaluation may also differ. Using a range of computational approaches in two large datasets (mega-analysis of previous studies, n = 450; pre-registered replication study, n = 807), we investigated how depression (PHQ-9) and social anxiety (BFNE) symptoms related to social evaluation learning in a computerized task. Optimistic bias (better learning of positive relative to negative evaluations) was found to be negatively associated with depression and social anxiety. Structural equation models suggested this reflected a heightened sensitivity to negative social feedback in social anxiety, whereas in depression it co-existed with a blunted response to positive social feedback. Computational belief-based learning models further suggested that reduced optimism was driven by less positive trait-like self-beliefs in both depression and social anxiety, with some evidence for a general blunting in belief updating in depression. Recognizing such transdiagnostic similarities and differences in social evaluation learning across disorders may inform approaches to personalizing treatment.

Experiment-in-the-Loop system for fast and effective tuning of active vibration controllers

Tuning active controllers is one of the main challenges in the field of active vibration control (AVC). To address this challenge, this study introduces a novel approach called Experiment in the Loop (EITL). The EITL method, unlike traditional techniques, automates the tuning process through an algorithm based on Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO). This algorithm carries out numerous experimental tests on a structure and, at each test, tries a new configuration of the controller, evaluates its performance, and iteratively improves the control parameters. The EITL's innovation lies in its ability to achieve fast and efficient tuning without any numerical model, making it a significant advancement in AVC technology. The EITL approach is validated by tuning five Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) Positive Position Feedback (PPF) active vibration controllers on a composite beam equipped with three piezoelectric sensors and three piezoelectric actuators. Experimental results show that the ‖H‖∞ norm of the composite beam is reduced up to 96.1% on certain modes, and an average reduction of 74.7% is achieved in a frequency range from 0 to 200 Hz with minimal spillover effects. The developed EITL opens the avenue to a fast and effective tuning of AVC without numerical models.

Stability and Control of Car Dynamics with a Quarter Model via a Novel Simple Harmonic Hump under External Force

Effects of the road, such as speed bumps, can significantly affect a car’s stability. This study focuses on how a quarter-car model is affected by a basic harmonic speed hump and how Cubic Negative Velocity Control (CNVC) is used to control the amplitude of disturbances. This study differs from earlier research in considering various control and force kinds that impact the system. The external forces in this context are a component of a non-linear dynamic system. Two-degree-of-freedom (2DOF) differential coupled equations describe the system’s equation. Numerous numerical experiments have been conducted, including proportional derivative (PD), negative derivative feedback (NDF), positive position feedback (PPF), linear negative velocity control (LNVC), and CNVC; the results show that when the hump is represented as a simple harmonic hump, CNVC has the best effect and can regulate vibrations more precisely than the other approaches on this system. Subsequently, the vibration value of the system was numerically analyzed both before and after the control was implemented. Using the frequency response equation and phase plane approaches in conjunction with the Runge–Kutta fourth order method (RK-4) in the context of resonance situation analysis, the stability of the numerical solution has been evaluated.

Targeted inhibition of CHKα and mTOR in models of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: A novel regimen for metastasis

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly metastatic malignancy for which there are currently no effective anti-metastatic therapies. Herein, we employed single-cell RNA sequencing and metabolomics analysis to demonstrate that metastatic cells highly express focal adhesion kinase (FAK), which promotes metastasis by remodeling choline kinase α (CHKα)-dependent choline metabolism. We designed a novel CHKα inhibitor, CHKI-03, and verified its efficacy in inhibiting metastasis in multiple preclinical models. Classical and newly synthesized small-molecule inhibitors have previously been used to assess the therapeutic potential of targeting mTOR and CHKα in various animal models. Mechanistically, FAK activated mTOR and its downstream HIF-1α, thereby elevating CHKα expression and promoting the proliferation, migration, and invasion of PDAC cells, as well as tumor growth and metastasis. Consistently, high expression levels of both FAK and CHKα are correlated with poor prognosis in patients with PDAC. Notably, CHK1-03 inhibited CHKα expression and also suppressed mTORC1 phosphorylation, disrupting the mTORC1-CHKα positive feedback loop. In addition, the combination of CHKI-03 and the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin synergistically inhibited tumor growth and metastasis in PDX models. The combination of CHKI-03 and rapamycin demonstrates considerable therapeutic efficacy in PDO models resistant to gemcitabine. Our findings reveal a pivotal mechanism underlying PDAC metastasis regulated by mTORC1-CHKα loop-dependent choline metabolism reprogramming, highlighting the therapeutic potential of this novel regimen for treating PDAC metastasis.