Selective Search Research Articles

Bi-Objective Integrated Scheduling of Job Shop Problems and Material Handling Robots with Setup Time

This work investigates the bi-objective integrated scheduling of job shop problems and material handling robots with setup time. The objective is to minimize the maximum completion time and the mean of earliness and tardiness simultaneously. First, a mathematical model is established to describe the problems. Then, different meta-heuristics and their variants are developed to solve the problems, including genetic algorithms, particle swarm optimization, and artificial bee colonies. To improve the performance of algorithms, seven local search operators are proposed. Moreover, two reinforcement learning algorithms, Q-learning and SARSA, are designed to help the algorithm select appropriate local search operators during iterations, further improving the convergence of algorithms. Finally, based on 82 benchmark cases with different scales, the effectiveness of the suggested algorithms is evaluated by comprehensive numerical experiments. The experimental results and discussions show that the genetic algorithm with SARSA is more competitive than its peers.

Lung Transplantation - Indications, Follow-Up Care and Long-Term Results.

Lung transplantation is the treatment of choice for end-stage nonmalignant lung disease. It has become a routine procedure through advances in donor lung preservation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, immunosuppression, intensive care medicine, and follow-up care. This review is based on publications about lung transplantation that were retrieved by a selective literature search, and on the procedures and experience of two large-volume lung transplantation centers. The mean survival time after lung transplantation is six years, which is the shortest after the transplantation of any solid organ. Chronic graft dysfunction is present in 41% of patients at five years and is the main cause of death after lung transplantation, followed by infection and cancer. Despite all the advances in lung transplantation, acute and - above all - chronic graft dysfunction still pose a major challenge for large-volume transplantation centers. Immunosuppression that is individually tailored to prevent both graft rejection and infection is important for these patients' long-term survival. Xenotransplantation and so-called lung bioengineering may become available in the future as alternatives to allotransplantation.

The Intrauterine Treatment of Open Spinal Dysraphism.

Open spinal dysraphism is a congenital malformation that causes major morbidity. Its consequences include sensory and motor impairment as well as bladder- and bowel dysfunction. It is often also associated with prenatal ventriculomegaly, which, in turn, necessitates postnatal treatment with a ventriculoperitoneal shunt in approximately 80% of cases. Prenatal therapy with coverage of neural tube defect can reduce the shunt rate and preserve motor function. In this review, we describe the different surgical procedures and their outcomes. This review is based on publications that were retrieved by a selective literature search in the MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, Scopus, and Cochrane databases, employing pertinent keywords. Studies of all types (except case reports) that were published in English or German in the period 2010-2024 were included. The randomized, controlled MOMS trial showed that intrauterine surgery for defect closure resulted in less progressive neural tissue damage than postnatal surgery and reduced the need for shunting by approximately half (40% vs. 82%). Since the publication of these results, various prenatal surgical procedures have been established, including hysterotomy-assisted, percutaneous fetoscopic, and laparotomy-assisted fetoscopic closure. The individual surgical methods yield comparable results in terms of motor function and shunt rate. A problem with these procedures is that they increase the likelihood of preterm birth, to an extent that varies from one type of procedure to another. Prenatal surgery improves motor function and reduces the shunt rate but long-term outcomes beyond adolescence are still lacking. Transparent and interdisciplinary counseling is essential in prenatal communication to inform parents not only about the potential benefits of this treatment, but also about its limitations and risks.

Blockchain Technology, Regulatory Environment and Competitive Edge in Renewable Energy Sector in Kenya: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract: This systematic review of literature bears the objective of exploring the potential of transformative novel blockchain technology, its regulation, and the substantive impact it bears on renewable energy firms' competitive advantage. The study provides a minutiae of the current trends in research, their implications, and blockchain implementation and innovation between 2019 to 2024. The methodology comprised a comprehensive search of scholarly databases, selection, and analysis of the relevant research studies. The findings revealed that Blockchain is essential based on its transparency, traceability, data privacy, and decentralization features which enhance trust, transparency, and traceability across the supply chain. Furthermore, blockchain technology is relevant in the renewable energy sector in Kenya ranging from p2p trading platforms, digitization by IoT, E-mobility, and decentralized trading platforms. The distributed ledger technology is a promising disruption for a wide area of service and product management in the energy sector ranging from the producers, transmitters, regulators, and distributors involved. The review concludes with future research recommendations and the practical implications for the industry players and the regulators.

An enhanced dung beetle optimizer with adaptive node selection and dynamic step search for mobile robots path planning

An enhanced dung beetle optimizer with adaptive node selection and dynamic step search for mobile robots path planning

A Catalyst to Better Searching: Tackling Health Inequities with a Novel Interactive eResource.

This paper describes a web-based resource that aims to improve health disparities research by providing guidance and tools for searching and evaluating information on vulnerable populations. The resource integrates electronic books on equity, diversity, and inclusion with interactive tutorials and modules teaching users to formulate research questions, select appropriate search terms, and appraise their searches. The resource also addresses the issue of biased and outdated searching terminology and offers alternative strategies for finding literature. The paper explains the rationale, design, and development process of the resource, as well as its potential benefits and challenges for health disparities researchers and educators.

Psilocybin as a Disease-Modifying Drug—a Salutogenic Approach in Psychiatry.

Treatment with so-called psychedelic drugs, including psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), and others, is among the most promising recent developments in psychiatry. This review focuses on psilocybin, a substance found in all mushrooms of the genus Psilocybe, because the largest amount of available evidence relates to this drug. This review is based on pertinent publications (since 1969) that were retrieved by a selective search carried out in August 2024 in the PubMed and ScienceDirect databases employing the keywords "psilocybin" AND "long-term effects" AND "mental disorders", with an emphasis on randomized, controlled clinical trials (RCTs). The available RCTs document the efficacy of psilocybin mainly against depression, including otherwise medically refratory depression. Most of the trials revealed a strong effect, with Cohen's d ranging from 0.67 to 2.6; they used a variety of depression scales and follow-up intervals. Evidence was also found for the efficacy of psilocybin against substance use disorders (alcohol in particular) and symptoms of anxiety accompanying life-threatening somatic illnesses, such as cancer. Initial uncontrolled studies have also shown significant improvement after the administration of psilocybin for other indications. Treatment with psilocybin differs fundamentally from classic psychopharmacotherapy. Its potentially transdiagnostic, rapid, and sustainable efficacy and its positive effect on further dimensions of mental health beyond the patient's symptoms and psychopathology imply that it may have disease-modifying and salutogenic mechanisms of action. Psychotherapy accompanied by the administration of psychedelic drugs may turn out to be the first disease-modifying treatment in the history of psychiatry.

Spinal Intramedullary Tumors.

Intramedullary tumors are a subgroup of spinal tumors and are associated with high morbidity and mortality. The estimated incidence of spinal tumors in general is 0.74 to 1.6 per 100 000 persons per year, with intramedullary tumors making up 10% to 30% of the total. The diagnosis is often delayed because of the insidious onset of symptoms, which are often nonspecific at first. This review is based on pertinent publications about intramedullary tumors that were retrieved by a selective search in the PubMed database. Intramedullary tumors often cause diffuse neurologic symptoms of gradually increasing severity, progressing, in advanced cases, to a complete spinal cord transection syndrome. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine without and with intravenous contrast is the standard diagnostic technique. The histopathological origin of most intramedullary tumors is from glial cells, but other types of intramedullary tumor exist as well. The primary treatment of all intramedullary tumors is surgical resection. 9% to 34% of patients may experience a worse neurological deficit after surgery than before, but such problems resolve completely in 25% to 41% of cases. The extent of resection is the main factor affecting the risk of tumor recurrence and progression. The extent of resection also determines the possible indication for adjuvant treatment, which is needed, in particular, for high-grade and subtotally resected tumors, and for those that display progression. The treatment of intramedullary tumors is based on case series, retrospective analyses, and case reports, as randomized trials are lacking. Patients with intramedullary tumors should be cared for, as much as possible, in the setting of prospective, uniform studies of their spontaneous course and the outcomes after treatment. This will yield better evidence on the treatment of these tumors in the future.

Incidental Pulmonary Nodules: Differential Diagnosis and Clinical Management.

According to data from the USA, the incidence of incidentally discovered pulmonary nodules is 5.8 per 100 000 person-years for women and 5.2 per 100 000 person-years for men. Their management as recommended in the pertinent guidelines can substantially improve clinical outcomes. More than 95% of all pulmonary nodules revealed by computed tomography (CT) are benign, but many cases are not managed in conformity with the guidelines. In this article, we summarize the appropriate clinical approach and provide an overview of the pertinent diagnostic studies and when they should be performed. This review is based on relevant publications retrieved by a selective search in PubMed. The authors examined English-language recommendations issued since 2010 for the management of pulmonary nodules, supplemented by comments from the German lung cancer guideline. In general, the risk that an incidentally discovered pulmonary nodule is malignant is low but rises markedly with increasing size and the presence of risk factors. When such a nodule is detected, the further recommendation, depending on size, is either for follow-up examinations with chest CT or else for an extended evaluation with positron emission tomography-CT and biopsy for histology. The diagnostic evaluation should include consideration of any earlier imaging studies that may be available as an indication of possible growth over time. Single nodules measuring less than 6 mm, in patients with few or no risk factors, do not require any follow-up. Lung cancer is diagnosed in just under 10% of patients with a nodule measuring more than 8 mm. The recommendations of the guidelines for the management of incidentally discovered pulmonary nodules are intended to prevent both over- and undertreatment. If a tumor is suspected, further care should be provided by an interdisciplinary team.

The Diagnosis and Treatment of Neuropathic Pain.

The reported prevalence of neuropathic pain in the general population in Germany is from 6.9% to 10%. There are both medical and surgical treatment options. This review is based on pertinent publications retrieved by a selective search in PubMed, with consideration of clinical trials, meta-analyses, and guidelines. Neuropathic pain is diagnosed when pain of the appropriate character is accompanied by further features such as hypesthesia/anesthesia, allodynia, or hyperalgesia. It is generally treated initially with drugs (antidepressant drugs, anticonvulsant drugs, opioids, topical agents, and others); the number needed to treat (NNT) is between 7 and 8 for gabapentin and 3.6 for amitryptiline, as estimated in meta-analyses. For nerve compression and entrapment syndromes, surgical decompression is a treatment directed against the cause of the problem, which can therefore be curative. Microvascular decompression (MVD) is often used to treat supposed compression syndromes of cranial nerves, above all classic trigeminal neuralgia; according to a meta-analysis, MVD brings about a pain-free state in 92.9% [89.1; 96.8] of patients after 5 months to 5 years of follow-up. Ablative surgical procedures are used for symptom control in patients with refractory and/or cancer-related pain. Further symptom-directed treatment options for medically intractable neuropathic pain include neuromodulatory techniques, which involve minimally invasive electrical stimulation of neural structures, and the chronic intrathecal application of drugs such as opioids and ziconotide. The treatment of neuropathic pain can be either cause-directed or symptom-directed, depending on its origin. Multidisciplinary collaboration can facilitate both the diagnostic evaluation and the selection of the optional modality and timing of treatment.

The Diagnosis and Treatment of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) with or without left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction is a common primary myocardial disease, with a prevalence of 1:500. It is characterized by thickening of the myocardium. Its diagnostic evaluation includes history-taking and physical examination, genetic studies, transthoracic echocardiography, and cardiac MRI. When optimally treated, it carries a mortality of less than 1% per year. This review is based on pertinent publications retrieved by a selective literature search, including the current guidelines. In symptomatic patients with high LVOT gradients (≥ 50 mm Hg), the treatment of first choice is pharmacotherapy with non-vasodilating beta-blockers or non-dihydropyridine-type calcium channel antagonists. Common side effects include bradycardia and hypotension, and there is a risk of AV nodal blockade. Both substance classes lower the LVOT gradient. Beta-blockers alleviate dyspnea and improve patients' quality of life. Verapamil can increase physical resilience. A further option is mavacamten, a myosin inhibitor that gained approval in Germany in mid-2023: it, too, lowers the LVOT gradient and improves quality of life. In 7-10% of patients, there is a reversible reduction of the left ventricular ejection fraction to less than 50%. Septal reduction treatments can be considered if drug therapy fails. Attention must also be paid to the management of sequelae such as atrial fibrillation, malignant arrhythmias, and mitral valve insufficiency. Patients with HCM have a near-normal life expectancy if the disease is diagnosed early and treated according to the guidelines. The treatment of HCM and HOCM (hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy) have been studied in no more than a few clinical trials, and randomized studies with clinical endpoints are needed.

Onconephrology: The Significance of Renal Function for the Development, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Cancer.

Modern treatment strategies have markedly improved the chances of survival for patients with cancer. As the population ages, cancer is becoming more common, as is chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD increases the risk of cancer; conversely, cancer treatments can cause CKD. This review is based on publications retrieved by a selective literature search concerning the epidemiology and comorbidities of cancer and kidney diseases, the renal side effects of new anticancer drugs, and the need to consider renal function in cancer treatment. The prevalence of severe CKD in Germany is 2.3%. Persons who have CKD, are on dialysis, or have undergone kidney transplantation are 1.2 to 3.5 times more likely to develop cancer than the general population. For patients who have CKD or are dialysis-dependent, the doses of approximately 67% of anticancer drugs need to be adjusted on the basis of their glomerular filtration rate and the renally excreted fraction of the drug. The optimal efficacy of therapeutic drugs, as well as of those used for diagnostic purposes, and the minimization of side effects, depend critically on adapted dosing and on proper timing of administration before or after dialysis. Modern anticancer drugs can also cause acute kidney damage (incidence with checkpoint inhibitors: 2-16%). Patients who have CKD, are on dialysis, or have undergone kidney transplantation make up a considerable fraction of persons being treated for cancer, and they need interdisciplinary treatment.

Sexually dimorphic response to tobacco in the development of chronic kidney disease: a systematic review

IntroductionChronic kidney disease (CKD) demonstrates a complex interaction with tobacco exposure and sex differences, where females and males may experience varying risks and outcomes. This study aims to investigate how sex differences mediate the relationship between tobacco exposure and CKD development, with a secondary focus on regional variability and social determinants of health.Study selection and criteriaComprehensive searches on MEDLINE, EMBASE, clinicaltrials.gov, and MedRxiv until October 6, 2022, were conducted. Eligibility criteria involved any study that reported primary data on the prevalence of CKD, with information pertaining to both sex and tobacco exposure.Data extractionData retrieved include patient socio-demographic characteristics, general study information, diagnostic methods, social determinants of health, and the cause of CKD (e.g., tobacco-related or non-tobacco-related).ResultsStudies were selected through a comprehensive search using key terms such as "chronic kidney disease," "smoking," and "sex differences," which identified 3,025 articles, of which 28 were selected for full texts after screening titles, abstracts. Among the 28 included studies, smoking was consistently identified as a significant risk factor for CKD, with notable disparities related to sex, socioeconomic status, race, and urban versus rural settings. Significant geographical variability in CKD prevalence was observed, ranging from 2.5% to 68.1%, with the highest prevalence in Asia. However, due to high heterogeneity and methodological limitations, a meta-analysis of CKD prevalence stratified by sex and tobacco exposure was not feasible.ConclusionsThe findings emphasize the need for further research to comprehend the intricate relationship between, tobacco exposure, sex, and CKD management, as well as the consideration of cultural, geographical, socioeconomic, political, and structural factors when understanding the pathophysiology and management of CKD.

Genome-wide SNP variation reveals genetic structure and high levels of diversity in a global survey of wild and farmed Pacific white shrimp

Domestication and subsequent artificial selection of Pacific white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) commenced around 1980 and the species is now the most widely farmed crustacean in the world. We documented generally high levels of genetic diversity within 21 globally distributed farmed populations using 44,522 SNP collected using an Illumina SNP chip. The sample set also included 86 wild P. vannamei, facilitating investigation of within population diversity and the extent of divergence between wild shrimp. This revealed weak population structure amongst wild populations from Panama, Honduras, Guatemala and Colombia (FST range 0–3 %) and more significant divergence between those and the wild Mexican animals that should be considered a distinct subpopulation. Comparison between wild and farmed global populations showed low to moderate levels of population differentiation (FST < 6 %) with farmed Asian populations most divergent. Interestingly, SNP chip data documented a marked absence of widespread reduction in the diversity in farmed populations when compared with their wild relatives. To ensure the results were not influenced by ascertainment bias, whole genome sequencing was used to identify 4.13 M SNP in a subset of both farmed and wild shrimp. Observed levels of nucleotide diversity in wild (π = 1.95 × 10−4) and farmed animals (π = 2.05 × 10−4) were similar, suggesting that broad and repeated introductions of wild shrimp have likely contributed to the domestication process. A search for selection sweeps identified a small collection of outlier regions (38 intervals spanning 2.1 Mb) and 20 protein coding genes. The results represent a broad snapshot of the genetic diversity and divergence that exists within this important aquaculture species.

A protein fitness predictive framework based on feature combination and intelligent searching.

Machine learning (ML) constructs predictive models by understanding the relationship between protein sequences and their functions, enabling efficient identification of protein sequences with high fitness values without falling into local optima, like directional evolution. However, how to extract the most pertinent functional feature information from a limited number of protein sequences is vital for optimizing the performance of ML models. Here, we propose scut_ProFP (Protein Fitness Predictor), a predictive framework that integrates feature combination and feature selection techniques. Feature combination offers comprehensive sequence information, while feature selection searches for the most beneficial features to enhance model performance, enabling accurate sequence-to-function mapping. Compared to similar frameworks, scut_ProFP demonstrates superior performance and is also competitive with more complex deep learning models-ECNet, EVmutation, and UniRep. In addition, scut_ProFP enables generalization from low-order mutants to high-order mutants. Finally, we utilized scut_ProFP to simulate the engineering of the fluorescent protein CreiLOV and highly enriched mutants with high fluorescence based on only a small number of low-fluorescence mutants. Essentially, the developed method is advantageous for ML in protein engineering, providing an effective approach to data-driven protein engineering. The code and datasets for scut_ProFP are available at https://github.com/Zhang66-star/scut_ProFP.

Criteria for Re-Irradiation.

The treatment options for patients with progressive malignant tumors despite primary radiotherapy are often limited. In selected cases, re-irradiation can be offered. This article concerns the selection criteria and results of re-irradiation for certain types of cancer. This review is based on pertinent publications retrieved by a selective search in PubMed, with particular attention to glioblastoma, head and neck tumors, and prostatic carcinoma. The published studies of re-irradiation are few in number and often of limited methodological quality. For glioblastoma, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) found that adding re-irradiation to treatment with bevacizumab yielded no significant improvement in either median progression-free survival or median overall survival (hazard ratio [HR] 0.73; p = 0.05 and HR 0.98; p = 0.46, respectively). Re-irradiation is a treatment option for locoregional recurrences of head and neck tumors after primary radiotherapy, but it carries a risk of serious side effects. For unresectable recurrences of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, an RCT has shown that hyperfractionated re-irradiation is more effective than normofractionated re-irradiation (overall survival: HR 0.54, p = 0.014). For locally recurrent prostatic carcinoma after radiotherapy, re-irradiation can yield good oncologic outcomes with an acceptable level of urogenital and gastrointestinal side effects (5-year recurrence-free survival: stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), 58%; high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy, 77%; versus salvage prostatectomy, 72%). RCTs on this topic are lacking. Re-irradiation is a treatment option for selected cancer patients. As the available scientific evidence is limited, multidisciplinary collaboration and participatory decision-making are particularly important.

The Differential Diagnosis of Leg Ulcers.

Chronic wounds on the leg (below the knee) are called leg ulcers. They have many causes, and thus patients with leg ulcers are treated by many different kinds of medical specialist. Appproximately 80% of sufferers have chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) and/or peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD). Knowledge of the relevant differential diagnoses is important for appropriate treatment, particularly for patients with atypical findings or an intractable course. This article is based on publications retrieved by a selective search in PubMed, including current guidelines and expert recommendations. The diagnostic evaluation of a leg ulcer can be structured according to the ABCDE rule. This involves individualized, targeted history-taking (anamnesis); bacteriological testing; clinical examination; ancillary testing, particularly for perfusion (defective vascular system); and extras, such as biopsies. Specifically, we present in this article the main aspects of the complex diagnostic evaluation of venous leg ulcers, arterial leg ulcers, vasculitis, vasculopathy, calciphylaxis, pyoderma gangrenosum, necrobiosis lipoidica, ecthyma, and squamous cell carcinoma. There remain many unsolved problems, including interactions between the various areas of clinical treatment and the relative paucity of relevant high-quality research. A timely differential-diagnostic evaluation for the many diseases that can cause leg ulcers, which require treatment from representatives of many different medical specialties and health professions, is a prerequisite for their effective individualized treatment.

One Question, Many Results—Why Epidemiological Studies Yield Heterogeneous Findings. Part 34 of a Series on Evaluation of Scientific Publications.

Observational epidemiologic studies often yield different results on the same question. In this article, we explain how this comes about. In this review, which is based on publications retrieved by a selective search in PubMed and the Web of Science, we use information from international publications, simulation studies on sampling error, and a quantitative bias analysis on fictitious data to demonstrate why the results of epidemiologic studies are often uncertain, and why it is, therefore, generally necessary to perform more than one study on any particular question. Sampling errors, imprecise measurements, alternative but equally appropriate methods of data analysis, and features of the populations being studied are common reasons why studies on the same question can yield different results. Simulation studies are used to illustrate the fact that effect estimates such as relative risks or odds ratios can deviate markedly from the true value because of sampling error, i.e., by chance alone. Quantitative bias analysis is used to show how strongly effect estimates can be distorted by misclassification of exposures or outcomes. Finally, it is shown through illustrative examples that different but equally appropriate methods of data analysis can lead to divergent study results. The above reasons why epidemiologic study results can be heterogeneous are explained in this review. Quantitative bias analyses and sensitivity analyses with alternative data evaluation strategies can help explain divergent results on one and the same question.

Neuroeducation in the learning process: Considerations from the global south

This article describes neuroscience in the learning process in high school students of the Santa María Monte de Paz Educational Unit located in the Monte Sinai Sector in Guayaquil, Ecuador. This constitutes a case study from the so-called global south. A discussion about applying neuroscience in the classroom is presented. One of the axes is to determine the tools the teacher needs to consider to take advantage of brain functioning and improve the quality of education. The article also discusses the benefits and contributions of neuroeducation, as well as the individuality in learning and brain development. This study was developed from a qualitative approach, with a documentary design and descriptive scope, based on the selective search, analysis, and critical interpretation of printed and electronic documents on the subject of study. A reflexive content analysis of theories and research on neurosciences, neuroeducation, teaching and learning process, and educational quality is used to answer the objective of this research.

An Analytical Review for Search of Optimal Selection &amp; Utilization of Earthwork Equipment in Construction

Different types of equipment with various levels/times application times are the characteristic features of all construction projects. Almost every construction project/industry has the most common problem of slow progress and cost overruns due to increasing downtime and decreasing operational efficiency of construction equipment. Construction equipment is involved in construction to such an extent that without it no construction activity can be performed. In recent years, with the continuous advancement in technology and improvement of urbanization, there have been more and more construction project/equipment requirements resulting in either the project delay or cost enhancement As the most critical element earthwork is responsible for not only successful completion of project within schedule but also for the starting of the project, selection of right equipment for earthwork is necessary. Earthwork complexity further increases due to various soil types and equipment, and adverse environmental conditions The present study is concentrated or focused on soil and various costs based practices adopted for the selection of construction equipment and an attempt has been made to find the optimal solution for the most problematic or responsible activities for the delay in project/cost overrun especially in context to excavation, compression, and earth / material movement equipment utilization.