Rank Level Research Articles

Effects of Three Retrograde Filling Materials on Production of Inflammatory Cytokines and Resorbing Mediators

: Root-end filling materials are typically used following endodontic surgeries, and due to their different chemical compositions, they have varying effects on the survival and differentiation of tissues around the root apex. The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effects of three retrograde filling materials—ProRoot MTA, Super ethoxy benzoic acid (EBA), and Geristore—on the production of pro-inflammatory and resorptive cytokines (RANK, RANK-L, OPG, IL-1β, and TNF-α). After mixing and setting, the experimental materials were exposed to UV rays and then applied to the prepared cells. This study used osteoblast (MG-63) and THP-1 monocyte cell lines, as well as peripheral blood monocytes (PBM). The evaluation times for RANK-L and OPG were 24 and 48 hours, while IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) were evaluated at 24 hours. The RANK levels were measured using flow cytometry, and monocyte survival was assessed at different times using the MTT assay. The results were analyzed using Minitab statistical software, which indicated that the type of material significantly affected cytokine production. Exposure of monocytes to EBA resulted in a decrease in TNF-α and IL-1β secretion compared to the other groups. However, in the THP-1 cell line, there was no significant difference in the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines between the groups. Conversely, Geristore induced the highest level of RANK-L and the lowest level of OPG in cultures with the MG-63 cell line. According to the MTT assay, the viability order of the materials from early to late was Geristore < EBA < MTA.

Elevated tissue expression of RANKL and RANK is associated with poorer survival rates in pancreatic cancer patients.

Pancreatic cancer is a highly lethal malignancy with a growing incidence reported worldwide. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common type of pancreatic cancer, which is often diagnosed at advanced stages, making its prognosis and medical management difficult. The identification of histopathological biomarkers has allowed a more precise stratification of pancreatic cancer patients, providing additional information about their prognosis and offering possible therapeutic targets to be explored. The prognostic value of the receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B (RANK) and its ligand (RANKL) has been evaluated in breast and prostate tumors, however, their usefulness has not been assessed in pancreatic cancer. In the present work, we analyzed the relationship between the protein expression of RANK and RANKL with the survival of 41 patients with pancreatic cancer followed for 60 months, by performing immunohistochemistry and Kaplan-Meier curves. Our results demonstrate a direct association of high expression levels of RANK and RANKL with poorer survival of pancreatic cancer patients in comparison to those with low/medium and null expression levels of both markers. Further studies should be conducted to explore the carcinogenic role of both components in this type of tumor, as well as additional promising translational uses.

Accuracy of Gingival Crevicular Fluid Biomarkers of MMP8, TIMP1, RANK, RANKL, and OPG in Differentiating Symptomatic and Asymptomatic Apical Periodontitis.

Apical periodontitis (AP) is the most prevalent chronic inflammatory disease of the teeth. Bone resorption dynamics in symptomatic and asymptomatic AP are still unrecognized. This study examined different inflammatory markers within gingival crevicular fluid, including matrix metalloproteinases 8 (MMP8), tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP1), receptor activator of nuclear factor κB (RANK), its ligand (RANKL), and osteoprotegerin (OPG), to be used in comparing symptomatic apical periodontitis (SAP) and asymptomatic apical periodontitis (AAP) versus healthy teeth. Subjects with SAP, AAP, and a control group were recruited and GCF samples were collected by Periopaper strips. Clinical and radiographical measures were used for diagnosing AP. Levels of MMP8, TIMP, RANK, RANKL, and OPG were determined by ELISA and their abilities to discriminate between examined sites were evaluated by receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves. All examined biomarkers were statistically significant higher (p < 0.05) in SAP than AAP and the control group, apart from RANK. Significant positive correlations (p < 0.05) were identified between all SAP and AAP biomarkers except TIMP1 and RANK in AAP teeth. TIMP1 and OPG exhibited the highest ability to distinguish between SAP and AAP with areas under the curve of 0.824 and 0.763 in comparing SAP and the control group, and 0.732 and 0.73 when comparing AAP and the control group, respectively. Additionally, TIMP1 and OPG showed the highest AUC of 0.778 and 0.747 when SAP and AAP were compared, respectively. This study concluded that GCF levels of TIMP1 and OPG can be used to differentiate between SAP, AAP, and healthy teeth.

Technical and tactical performance in professional female futsal players: a descriptive analysis depending on teams level and playing group

ABSTRACT Among the many factors that can affect women’s futsal performance, technical and tactical actions can obscure relevant game data, even affecting specialists in both the programming and design of training tasks. This study describes the technical and tactical actions in elite futsal teams, analysing performance measures according to the playing group and team ranking level. One hundred and twenty-eight games from an Elite League in the 2020/2021 season were observed. The variables analysed were grouped into three groups: “Goals and Rules”, “Attack” and “Defence”. The two-way mixed ANOVA analysis revealed significant effects in attacking variables such as Shots to the Post (STP) variable (F1.2 =19.13, p = .04, η2 = .90) and Throw-in For (TIF) variable (F1.2 =75.00, p = .01, η2 = .97), as well as in defensive Interception (INT) variable (F2.4 = 8.74, p = .03, η2 = .81) in the playing group condition. This study observed how consistently those teams positioned at the top developed a higher goal average compared to those teams further down the ranking. The study highlights the significance of the offensive part and the number of goals in the game system and how achieving good numbers in this area can influence. Coaches and athletes can use the intraclass correlation coefficient to demonstrate how specific technical and tactical actions impact performance.

Building expert consensus regarding sharing of individual research results in Alzheimer’s disease research: a Delphi study protocol

IntroductionInformed decisions to enrol in the clinical investigations of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) require careful consideration of complex risks and uncertain benefits. Decisions regarding whether to receive information...

Fault diagnosis of early internal short circuit for power battery systems based on the evolution of the cell charging voltage slope in variable voltage window

Internal short circuit (ISC) is one of the main causes of thermal runaway (TR) accident in power battery systems, to effectively avoid the development of early stage ISC towards TR, this paper innovatively proposes an ISC fault diagnosis method based on the evolution of the cell charging voltage slope (CCVS) in variable voltage window (VVW). Firstly, the ISC characterisation parameter, i.e. CCVS, is extracted through battery cell aging and equivalent ISC experimental studies. This parameter has two advantages: on the one hand, the charging voltage slopes of different cycles of one cell in different voltage windows keep the same evolution law, so that the mechanism of VVW can be established, and the generalisation ability of the algorithm is improved. On the other hand, the charging voltage data of one cell as the research object effectively avoids the interference of inconsistent factors between battery cells. Then, the battery data are preprocessed using wavelet denoising, and a sliding window strategy is introduced to calculate the positional ranking of the CCVS in the historical data, which represents the capacity ranking level of the cell in this charging segment, defined as the capacity rating factor (CRF). Further, a double-layer diagnostic strategy based on the 3 σ criterion and distance factor assessment is used to localise the fault, which can effectively avoid the occurrence of false alarms. Finally, experimental and real-world vehicle data validate the effectiveness of the method, different types of battery data verify the applicability of the method, and the comparison results of the same type of model show that the proposed method is significantly superior in terms of robustness, accuracy and computational efficiency.

Relationship of adaptive expertise of health professions educators with age, experience, academic rank, and their work performance during an altered academic environment

BackgroundHealth professionals and health professions educators (HPEs) worldwide were confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted standard practice and forced HPEs to develop creative, alternative modes of training and education. The ability of people to work successfully and efficiently in non-standard situations can be called adaptive expertise in which people quickly overcome changes in work requirements using their expert knowledge in novel ways. The objectives of the current study were to investigate how the adaptive expertise of a group of HPEs influenced perceived work performance in a non-standard situation and to see whether there were relationships between the level of adaptive expertise and academic ranking and work experience of HPEs.MethodsA descriptive, cross-sectional, single-site study was conducted using a self-reported study tool about adaptive expertise developed by Carbonell et al. (2016), and three questions were asked about participants’ perceptions of work performance, amount of work done, and teaching quality. The sample consisted of HPEs from the University of Twente, Netherlands.ResultsAmong 123 eligible participants, 40 individuals completed the survey. Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin and Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity indicated the adequacy of the sample size (KMO = 0.633, P < 0.0001). Participants were lecturers, senior lecturers, assistant professors, associate professors and full professors. The average adaptive expertise score of the sample was 4.18 ± 0.57 on a scale from 1 (low) to 5 (high). The domain and innovative skills are the principal distinct dimensions of adaptive expertise among HPEs. Professors showed higher adaptive expertise scores than the other ranks. Statistically significant correlations were found between scores of adaptive expertise and perceived work performance (r = 0.41, p < 0.05 and academic ranking (r = 0.42, p < 0.05). Adaptive expertise scores were not associated with work experience or HPEs’ age.ConclusionsOur finding of a lack of relationships between self-reported level of adaptive expertise and experience and age but significant relationships with work performance and academic ranking of HPEs suggests that adaptive expertise is not auto-generated or acquired with seniority and experience but is a ‘mastery’ that should be developed deliberately.

Application of Strategic Management Through Military Leadership

The Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) unit has specific duties as mandated by Law No. 34 of 2004. Soldiers are expected to adhere to values derived from the nation's military doctrine, encapsulated in the Sapta Marga, the Soldier's Oath, and the 8 Obligations of the Indonesian National Armed Forces. Essential qualities for soldiers include loyalty to superiors, decisiveness, discipline, and responsibility towards their duties. The Indonesian National Armed Forces organizational structure is permanent and non-profit, which limits social interactions among soldiers, particularly those from different units or ranks. There are no specific guidelines for leadership styles at different rank levels, leading leaders to rely on the organizational culture established during military training. According to Wawan (2020), leadership in the military, underpinned by organizational culture values, motivates soldiers to improve their performance. Leaders play a critical role in applying organizational culture by making decisions based on Indonesian National Armed Forces doctrines. The responsibilities of officers within the Indonesian Army (TNI AD) evolve with their rank. Career development is determined by rank following the completion of general development education (Dikbangum), which involves rigorous selection processes evaluating various aspects supporting the required skills and competencies for higher ranks. Proportional stratified random sampling was used among officer students in Dikbangum for Secapa, Selapa, Sesko Indonesian National Armed Forces, and Seskoad. The study included 640 respondents: 111 from Secapa, 278 from Selapa, 190 from Seskoad, and 61 from Sesko Indonesian National Armed Forces. Research findings indicate that leadership positively affects soldier performance through organizational culture and work motivation within the Indonesian National Army. However, data from the overall sample revealed a negative impact of work motivation on soldier performance, both directly and through leadership roles incorporating work motivation elements. This negative effect is attributed to age, rank, job responsibility, and unit type differences among the research subjects in each cluster group. The study on officer students undergoing general development education in 2023 within the Indonesian National Army shows that leadership directly influences soldier performance, positively affects work motivation, and impacts organizational culture. Leadership also affects performance through work motivation and organizational culture. Leadership approaches at different rank levels have positively influenced soldiers' responses, enabling them to perform their duties effectively in accordance with directives from higher units, such as MABES Indonesian National Armed Forces.

A PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF THE SUBFAMILY ARISTOLOCHIOIDEAE (ARISTOLOCHIACEAE)

A cladistic analysis of the subfamily Aristolochioideae (Aristolochiaceae) based on morphological characters is presented. The analysis includes 65 taxa within the ingroup, which represent all the tribes, subtribes, genera, and infrageneric taxa formally described within the subfamily Aristolochioideae sensu Schmidt. The analysis shows that Aristolochia s.l. is paraphyletic and that Euglypha and Holostylis are not different lineages from Aristolochia. Two of the three subgenera recognized within Aristolochia (Siphisia and Pararistolochia) are shown to be monophyletic. The third subgenus (Aristolochia) is paraphyletic. Most taxa at lower rank levels (sections, subsections, series, and subseries) are shown to be either polyphyletic or paraphyletic. The characters traditionally used for the recognition of these taxa are evaluated and new characters are introduced. Finally, a revised system of classification of the Aristolochioideae based on monophyletic groupings and consisting of two tribes, two subtribes, and five genera is proposed here.

Toxic leadership in higher education: a typology of behaviours

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to create a psychometrically valid and reliable toxic leadership scale (TLS) for use in higher education workplace environments. The TLS was administered to a sample of 482 faculty members employed by three public universities in Jordan. Another aim of the study was to determine the level of toxic leadership based on the perceptions of faculty members. In addition, the current study sought to ascertain how perceptions of toxic leadership varied according to differences in gender, level of education, experience, and academic rank. The findings of the study revealed that the TLS is composed of 15 items spread over three factors named managerial harassment, falsified show, and dictatorship. Results also indicated the presence of toxic leadership in public higher education with a low degree for the managerial harassment factor. However, moderate degrees of toxic leadership were found for the falsified show and dictatorship factors. Regarding the demographics of faculty members, the findings showed that lower academic ranks and less experienced faculty members had lower views of toxic leadership, while men had greater perceptions of toxic leadership. The study provided numerous recommendations for theory development and practitioners in higher education.

ОЦЕНКА СФОРМИРОВАННОСТИ ЭКОЛОГИЧЕСКОЙ КОМПЕТЕНЦИИ СТУДЕНТОВ ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКИХ СПЕЦИАЛЬНОСТЕЙ

The article conducts research into the formation of students' ecological maturity in the educational process. The results of a survey of students, graduates and teachers are presented. The survey was conducted from February to April 2023, primarily online, and resulted in a very significant response rate, with respondents returning 460 questionnaires. The general analysis is presented at two levels: analysis by groups of respondents and analysis by variables (indicators). The analysis by group will present the results separately for each of the 4 groups (teachers, graduates and employers), showing in each case what the representatives of these groups considered most and least important, as well as how they assess the degree of achievement of these competencies. The differences between degree of importance and degree of achievement are also analyzed to clarify what should be considered in the future. At the second level, an analysis was carried out according to three parameters (importance, level of achievement and ranking), which will make it possible to see responses regarding variables in a comparative perspective between groups, highlighting the degree of correlation between them. The obtained questionnaire data made it possible to assess the degree of importance and level of mastery of knowledge and skills of environmental competence.

Are Viruses Taxonomic Units? A Protein Domain and Loop-Centric Phylogenomic Assessment.

Virus taxonomy uses a Linnaean-like subsumption hierarchy to classify viruses into taxonomic units at species and higher rank levels. Virus species are considered monophyletic groups of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) often delimited by the phylogenetic analysis of aligned genomic or metagenomic sequences. Taxonomic units are assumed to be independent organizational, functional and evolutionary units that follow a 'natural history' rationale. Here, I use phylogenomic and other arguments to show that viruses are not self-standing genetically-driven systems acting as evolutionary units. Instead, they are crucial components of holobionts, which are units of biological organization that dynamically integrate the genetics, epigenetic, physiological and functional properties of their co-evolving members. Remarkably, phylogenomic analyses show that viruses share protein domains and loops with cells throughout history via massive processes of reticulate evolution, helping spread evolutionary innovations across a wider taxonomic spectrum. Thus, viruses are not merely MGEs or microbes. Instead, their genomes and proteomes conduct cellularly integrated processes akin to those cataloged by the GO Consortium. This prompts the generation of compositional hierarchies that replace the 'is-a-kind-of' by a 'is-a-part-of' logic to better describe the mereology of integrated cellular and viral makeup. My analysis demands a new paradigm that integrates virus taxonomy into a modern evolutionarily centered taxonomy of organisms.

Role of OPG/RANKL/RANK/TLR4 signaling pathway in sepsis-associated acute kidney injury

BackgroundSepsis-associated acute kidney injury (SA-AKI) has high mortality rates. The osteoprotegerin (OPG)/receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL)/receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (RANK)/Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) pathway and its potential role in SA-AKI pathogenesis remain to be fully understood. Herein, we addressed this issue using mouse models.MethodsAn SA-AKI mouse model was established using the cecal ligation and puncture method (CLP). Mice were grouped into sham, CLP model, CLP + recombinant RANKL, and CLP + anti-RANKL groups. Serum creatinine (Scr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were measured to assess kidney function. ELISA was used to detect serum IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels. Real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot were used to detect the mRNA and protein expression levels of OPG, RANKL, RANK, and TLR4 in kidney tissues. HE staining was performed to evaluate the pathological changes.ResultsThe CLP model group showed higher levels of Scr and BUN, indicating impaired kidney function in SA-AKI, compared to the sham group. Treatment with recombinant RANKL in the CLP + recombinant RANKL group reduced Scr and BUN levels, while anti-RANKL treatment in the CLP + anti-RANKL group elevated their levels. Moreover, the CLP model group had significantly increased IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 than the sham group, indicating elevated inflammation in SA-AKI. The CLP + recombinant RANKL group demonstrated decreased cytokine levels, whereas the CLP + anti-RANKL group showed an increase. Additionally, the histopathological evaluation revealed distinct kidney tissue damage in the CLP model group. Recombinant RANKL treatment reduced this damage, while anti-RANKL treatment exacerbated it. Mechanically, the mRNA and protein expression of RANKL were significantly decreased, while those of OPG, RANK, and TLR4 were significantly increased in the CLP model group and the CLP + anti-RANKL group. Interestingly, treatment with recombinant RANKL reversed these changes, as evidenced by significantly increased RANKL but decreased OPG, RANK, and TLR4.ConclusionThe OPG/RANKL/RANK/TLR4 pathway is involved in SA-AKI pathogenesis. Recombinant RANKL treatment attenuates the inflammatory response and kidney tissue damage in SA-AKI, possibly via regulating this pathway. This pathway shows promise as a therapeutic target for SA-AKI.

Indicators of The Quality of The Didactic Process in Higher Education from The Student’s Perspective

Abstract Quality in education represents a predictor of education for sustainability development. This article aims to measure: (a) the level of satisfaction perceived by students regarding the development of the didactic communication process (OS1) (b) the assessment of the importance given by the student to the organizational and didactic practices necessary to increase the quality of university education (OS2). The research is quantitative, and its specific tools were designed considering the following variables: (a) dependent variables: satisfaction, and knowledge, and (b) independent variables: indicators of effective communication quality, teacher competencies, effective learning practices, quality of training, importance and performance in training professional and transversal skills, indicators of conflict of interest and ethical dilemmas. The data processing aimed at determining the average scores for each dimension investigated and their ranking was based on the values obtained for each provided subsample. The resulting values have an average score of 1.45 and 1.34, respectively, revealing a relatively small distance between those two dimensions. This leads us to appreciate that students know the role, place and importance of the learning environment in increasing academic performance. Providing support services for students is also perceived as important since the average score obtained is 1.23 - not far from the average of those related to the learning environment. Didactic communication contributes to the efficiency of the didactic process; it is appreciated that empathy, personal integrity and expressiveness are the attributes that any teacher must possess; compliance with the rules can be considered a pillar of academic quality and academic success. At the ranking level, those dimensions rank first in importance, followed by “learning autonomy” (second place), ensuring an adequate learning environment (third place) and providing support services for students (fourth place).

Association of overexpression of TNF receptor superfamily members (CD40, BAFFR, LTβR and RANK) with favorable prognosis in patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma.

e15516 Background: Numerous studies by our and other groups have highlighted the implication of NF-κB in colorectal cancer (CRC) through the deterioration of classical and alternative pathway signaling. The alternative pathway of NF-κB can be activated by members of TNF superfamily, such as lymphotoxin β (LTβ), tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 5 (CD40L), B-cell activation factor (BAFF) and receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL). We have previously shown that alternative pathway of NF-κΒ is deteriorated in CRC. In the present study, we investigated the clinical significance of the aforementioned receptors in patients with CRC as well as their relation with effector transcription factors NF-κB2 and RELB. Methods: Gene expression of CD40, BAFFR, LT β R, RANK, NF- κ B2 and RELB, quantified by using real-time qRT-PCT and specific primers and probes, was assessed in 97 cancerous and 61 paired non-neoplastic tumor-adjacent formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue specimens from CRC patients who were surgically managed in the University Hospital of Patras, Greece. Concurrently, we assessed protein expression of the same molecules by immunohistochemistry in the same cohort of patients. Both, mRNA and protein levels of the receptors were analyzed in association with clinicopathological parameters and clinical outcome of the patients in terms of time to disease progression. Results: Cytoplasmic expression of all molecules was higher in cancer compared to tumor-adjacent epithelial cells ( p= 0.047 for CD40, p= 0.007 for BAFFR, p&lt; 0.001 for LTβR and p= 0.003 for RANK) and in stromal cells ( p&lt; 0.001 for all molecules), while the reverse pattern (lower in neoplastic epithelial cells) was observed for nuclear expression ( p&lt; 0.001 for all molecules). Similarly, mRNA levels of LTβR and RANK were higher in cancer compared to adjacent non-neoplastic tissues ( p= 0.019 and p= 0.037, respectively). Notably, patients with high mRNA levels of all studied receptors had significantly longer time to disease progression ( p= 0.026 for CD40, p= 0.023 for BAFFR, p= 0.027 for LTβR and p= 0.038 for RANK). In addition, mRNA levels of BAFFR, LTβR and RANK levels were higher in ulcerative tumors compared to polypoid tumors ( p= 0.002, p= 0.005 and p= 0.011, respectively). RELB mRNA levels were positively correlated with mRNA levels of CD40, BAFFR and LTβR in cancerous ( p&lt; 0.001 for all molecules) and non-cancerous tissues (p &lt; 0.001 for all molecules). Surprisingly, NF-κB2 mRNA levels were positively correlated with BAFFR and LTβR mRNA levels in malignant tissues, while in non-malignant tissues were positively correlated with all receptors’ mRNA levels ( p&lt; 0.001 for all molecules). Conclusions: This study suggests a prognostic value for CD40, BAFFR, LTβR and RANK expression in patients with CRC and further supports the role of the alternative pathway of NF-κB in CRC.

Biological alterations associated with the orthodontic treatment with conventional appliances and aligners: A systematic review of clinical and preclinical evidence

Background&objectivesMechanical forces applied during an orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) propel several biochemical and molecular responses in the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. Here, we compile the existing clinical and preclinical evidence on these biological changes, aiming to provide a comprehensive discussion on the influence of the mechanical parameters of the OTM in the biological profile of the periodontium. Material and methodsThis systematic integrative review was conducted according to PICOS strategy and PRISMA guidelines. A bibliographic search was performed in three electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) to find research articles published until 2023 and written in English. This search resulted in a total of 2279 publications, which were independently assessed by two evaluators using appropriate tools. ResultsForty-six studies were selected for this review. These revealed that compression, and stretching of the periodontal ligament fibers and cells are observed in the initial phase of the OTM. Specifically, on the tension side, high levels of IL-1β, OPG, and TIMPs are identified. On the compression side, an increase of RANKL, RANK, and MMPs levels predominate. ConclusionThis paper describes the release profile of common biomarkers according to the orthodontic protocol, suggesting the most appropriate parameters to keep the teeth and their supporting structures healthy. Overall, this manuscript provides a better understanding of the OTM-associated biological phenomena, also highlighting the importance of early evaluation of oral health, and thus it contributes as a fundamental basis for the development of more effective and safe orthodontic treatments with conventional appliances and aligners.

A systematic reliability-centred maintenance framework with fuzzy computational integration – a case study of manufacturing process machinery

PurposeThis study presents a systematic framework for maintenance strategy development of manufacturing process machinery. The framework is developed based on the reliability-centred maintenance (RCM) approach to minimise the high downtime of a production line, thus increasing its reliability and availability. A case study of a production line from the ghee and soap manufacturing industry in Taiz, Yemen, is presented for framework validation purposes. The framework provides a systematic process to identify the critical system(s) and guide further investigation for functional significant items (FSIs) based on quantitative and qualitative analyses before recommending appropriate maintenance strategies and specific tasks.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed framework integrates conventional RCM procedure with the fuzzy computational process to improve FSIs criticality estimation, which is the main part of failure mode effect criticality analysis (FMECA) applications. The framework consists of four main implementation stages: identification of the critical system(s), technical analysis, Fuzzy-FMECA application for FSIs criticality estimation and maintenance strategy selection. Each stage has its objective(s) and related scientific techniques that are applied to systematically guide the framework implementation.FindingsThe proposed framework validation is summarised as follows. The first stage results demonstrate that the seaming system (top and bottom systems) caused 50% of the total production line downtime, indicating it is a critical system that requires further analysis. The outcomes of the second stage provide significant technical information on the subject (seaming system), helping team members to identify and understand the structure and functional complexities of the seaming system. This stage also provides a better understanding of how the seaming system functions and how it can fail. In stage 3, the application of FMECA with the fuzzy computation integration process presents a systematic way to analyse the failure mode, effect and cause of items (components of the seaming system). This stage also includes items’ criticality estimation and ranking assessment. Finally, stage four guides team members in recommending the appropriate countermeasures (maintenance strategies and task selection) based on their priority level.Originality/valueThis paper proposes an original maintenance strategies development framework based on the RCM approach for production system equipment. Specifically, it considers a fuzzy computational process based on the Gaussian function in the third stage of the proposed framework. Adopting the fuzzy computational process improves the risk priority number (RPN) estimation, resulting in better criticality ranking determination. Another significant contribution is introducing an extended item criticality ranking assessment process to provide maximum levels of criticality item ranking. Finally, the proposed RCM framework also provides detailed guidance on maintenance strategy selection based on criticality levels, unique functionality and failure characteristics of each FSI.

Sudoku Puzzle Difficulty Rating based on Fuzzy Logic

In this document, we propose a new fuzzy logic-based rating technique for Sudoku difficulty, which takes into account Sudoku instance parameters such as the number of filled cells as well as parameters relating to the distribution of filled numbers on the cells. This new technique is validated using historical data from a certificate paper [Mantere, 2008], which includes 45 Sudoku instances of all rank levels, three of each level, and the average/max time consumed in 100 runs using different algorithms for each instance. First and foremost, these instances were analyzed and parameterized, and their parameters were quantitatively analyzed to be considered in fuzzy logic. The instance parameters' correlation with their solving time is studied, and dimensionality reduction was performed on these as variables to ensure that no unnecessary variable was included in the study. As solving time parameters, the number of filled cells in the instance, the minimum number of filled cells in rows and columns, and the number of empty sub-squares (3*3) in the instance are all accepted. Because there should be a functional relationship between the Sudoku rank and the time required to solve it, a linear regression model was performed on the historical data between the old rank and the solving time, and the same regression model was performed on the new rank to validate it. As a result, a new clear and simple ranking technique that outputs more correlated ranks with the time required to solve Sudoku puzzles is validated.

Shifting Dynamics of Organizational Culture In Tourism Service Companies In The City Of Surakarta

The aim of this research is to review the dynamics of organizational culture in tourism service companies in the city of Surakarta and also explain the shift in direction of existing organizational culture. In conducting this research, the Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI) was used to assess the condition of the actual company culture and the preferred culture that the company desires to have. It also measures the six dimensions of OCAI and assesses the cultural characteristics of the three samples of tourism service companies in the city of Surakarta. The results of this research show that currently the cultural profile of the three tourism service companies in Solo tends towards a fairly large clan culture pattern and secondly this is followed by a hierarchical culture which also dominates. Meanwhile, the culture that is expected in the next 5 years has shown that the cultural tendencies of hierarchy, adocracy and also the market, considering that in these three patterns of cultural tendencies, considering that the relationship is quite intense and sustainable in accordance with the hierarchical rank levels in each company, will provide greater benefits. intense and certainty in the future of the company regardless of the clan in the three tourism service companies and also some hopes to be increasingly able to compete innovatively by utilizing existing information technology and providing new services to consumers in accordance with what is in the culture adocracy and also culture in the market which is projected for the next 5 years along with a hierarchical culture.

Low-rank human-like agents are trusted more and blamed less in human-autonomy teaming.

If humans are to team with artificial teammates, factors that influence trust and shared accountability must be considered when designing agents. This study investigates the influence of anthropomorphism, rank, decision cost, and task difficulty on trust in human-autonomous teams (HAT) and how blame is apportioned if shared tasks fail. Participants (N = 31) completed repeated trials with an artificial teammate using a low-fidelity variation of an air-traffic control game. We manipulated anthropomorphism (human-like or machine-like), military rank of artificial teammates using three-star (superiors), two-star (peers), or one-star (subordinate) agents, the perceived payload of vehicles with people or supplies onboard, and task difficulty with easy or hard missions using a within-subject design. A behavioural measure of trust was inferred when participants accepted agent recommendations, and a measure of no trust when recommendations were rejected or ignored. We analysed the data for trust using binomial logistic regression. After each trial, blame was apportioned using a 2-item scale and analysed using a one-way repeated measures ANOVA. A post-experiment questionnaire obtained participants' power distance orientation using a seven-item scale. Possible power-related effects on trust and blame apportioning are discussed. Our findings suggest that artificial agents with higher levels of anthropomorphism and lower levels of rank increased trust and shared accountability, with human team members accepting more blame for team failures.