Smooth Introduction Research Articles

Safe Implementation of Robotic Surgery for Gynecologic Diseases at a Tertiary Center: Retrospective Analysis of 149 Cases and Review of the Literature

Abstract Objectives: The initial learning curve is a barrier to introducing robotic surgery. Evidence regarding appropriate simulation programs that allow for a smooth introduction of gynecological robotic surgery remains limited. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 149 patients who underwent robotic surgery for gynecologic diseases. Before their first procedure, the surgeons completed a robotic surgery training program. Assistant surgeons also completed simulation programs, including setup procedures and manipulation of the robotic arm. Results: The mean (± standard deviation) operative, setup, and console times were 170 ± 54 min, 22 ± 8 min, and 126 ± 51 min, respectively. No patient required blood transfusion or conversion to laparoscopy or laparotomy. Patients undergoing surgery by the same surgeon were divided into three groups (first-third, middle-third, and last-third of patients undergoing surgery) to assess chronological changes. No statistically significant differences were found between the operative and console times among these groups. The setup times for the middle and last third of patients were 20 ± 7 min and 18 ± 7 min, respectively, which were statistically significantly shorter than those for the first third of patients. No significant differences in the operative and console times done by five physicians who completed programs were observed between the first 75 and the latter 74 procedures; however, the setup times of the latter 74 procedures were significantly shorter than those of the first 74 procedures (25 ± 9 min vs. 19 ± 6 min; P < 0.001). Conclusion: The setup time was influenced by clinical experience. An appropriate simulation program allowed a safe implementation of robotic surgery.

외국인 유학생의 학술글에 나타나는 서술 양상과 질적 제고를 위한 개선방안

This study is to analyze the academic writings of foreign students, identify is sues, and examine tasks to address and resolve them. Foreign students have progressed to the point of incorporating almost all the required content and components of academic writing. However, despite achieving this academic writing structure, critical issues need to be examined to qualitatively improve the writing. These issues remain to be addressed through classes, tutoring, and discussions. In particular, to develop the capability of a scholar, it is crucial to clearly express one's thoughts and argue coherently. This study discusses several important issues that need to be addressed, such as sharpening the focus of the subject, academic words used in titles and tables of contents, a smooth introduction and rich background discussion, appropriate data and argumentation in the body, and accurate citation and referencing. To address and improve the issues evident in the writing of foreign students, this study proposes tasks and activities to be implemented in future assignments and during class. This involves enabling students to practice argumentation by having a clear understanding of their own topics and providing assistance, such as lectures and writing corrections throughout this process. Moreover, it encourages students to familiarize themselves with tasks, such as finding sources and adhering to academic writing formats. Using this process, it is possible to contribute to the qualitative growth of academic writing produced by foreign students.

CsAlB3O6Cl: the rational construction of a KBBF-type structure with aligned 2∞[AlB3O6Cl] layers via introducing unprecedented [AlO3Cl] tetrahedra.

The first chloroaluminoborate, CsAlB3O6Cl, with innovative AlO3Cl tetrahedra and a perfect planar arrangement of [B3O6] groups, was structurally designed and synthesized via chlorination of [AlO4] tetrahedra. Simultaneously, the smooth introduction of the [AlO3Cl] group into borates initiates the development of a chloroaluminoborate and greatly enriches the structural chemistry of aluminoborates.

Post-metallation functionalization of the [(C^C)Au(P^P)]+ scaffold through a hydrothiolation reaction.

Complex 1 [(C^C)Au(dppv)]PF6 (dppv = cis-1,2-diphenylphosphinoethylene) is reported to react efficiently and selectively with aliphatic and aromatic thiols in the presence of a base. This methodology enables the smooth introduction of various functional groups on the [(C^C)Au(P^P)]+ scaffold.

Assistance and application of skewer smoothing and sharpening machine technology to increase the productivity of skewer craftsmen

Pasangsari Village, situated in Windusari District, stands out for its severe poverty levels, necessitating swift intervention to alleviate these challenges by leveraging its potential. Brigasan Kidul Hamlet, located within Pasangsari Village, is primarily inhabited by farmers. Despite its economic reliance on agriculture, the hamlet, positioned at an altitude of 100 meters above sea level, is densely covered with bamboo trees. Notably, bamboo serves as a crucial resource for the production of skewers, contributing to the local economy. The skewer industry, owing to its zero-waste production process, stands as a key factor in enhancing both capacity and product quality. The objective of this community service initiative is to enhance the quality and quantity of skewer products through technological implementation, thereby increasing the income of craftsmen in Brigasan Hamlet. The methods employed in this community engagement include socialization, the introduction of smoothing and sharpening machine technology, reinforcing administrative and institutional aspects, as well as mentoring, monitoring, and evaluation. The program's outcomes encompass an improvement in the quality and quantity of skewer products, coupled with the implementation of simple bookkeeping practices that facilitate the monitoring process.

Pirmosios Baltijos šalyse taikomos robotinės chirurgijos sistemos „Versius“ daugiadisciplinis diegimas

On June, 2023, Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos started robotic-assisted operations using VERSIUS robotic surgery system (CMR, Cambridge, UK) and performed 29 robotic surgeries within the first 3 weeks. This surgical system was purchased with funding from the European Regional Development Fund. Comprehensive three-month-long learning courses were organized for a total number of 32 persons, forming 8 independent teams, each consisting of 2 surgeons and 2 nurses. Learning courses consisted of online theoretical training modules, a one-week learning course including technical skills training with a simulator and dry runs as well as cadaveric surgical cases. Furthermore, an additional learning module included dry runs in the operating room prior to the first surgeries, following live and online proctored surgical cases. This enabled a rapid and smooth introduction of the robotic surgical system into clinical practice without putting patients at risk. Abdominal surgeons, urologists, and gynecologists have already performed surgeries using the VERSIUS surgical system and no major complications have been reported. Thoracic surgeons are underway to begin thoracic robotic-assisted surgeries, completing the multidisciplinary VERSIUS surgical system implementation process. Our goal is to share initial experience with robotic VERSIUS surgical system and evaluate its implementation in Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos.

6G Network Architecture – A Proposal for Early Alignment: Network evolution to support the 6G vision, use cases and requirements within the 2030 time frame is a topic of great interest in the telecommunications industry today. To ensure the smooth introduction of 6G, and the ability to monetize on it from day one, Ericsson advocates early alignment on a common

6G Network Architecture – A Proposal for Early Alignment: Network evolution to support the 6G vision, use cases and requirements within the 2030 time frame is a topic of great interest in the telecommunications industry today. To ensure the smooth introduction of 6G, and the ability to monetize on it from day one, Ericsson advocates early alignment on a common

Hiding task-oriented programming complexity: an industrial case study

ABSTRACT The ease of use of robot programming interfaces represents a barrier to robot adoption in several manufacturing sectors because of the need for more expertise from the end-users. Current robot programming methods are mostly the past heritage, with robot programmers reluctant to adopt new programming paradigms. This work aims to evaluate the impact on non-expert users of introducing a new task-oriented programming interface that hides the complexity of a programming framework based on ROS. The paper compares the programming performance of such an interface with a classic robot-oriented programming method based on a state-of-the-art robot teach pendant. An experimental campaign involved 22 non-expert users working on the programming of two industrial tasks. Task-oriented and robot-oriented programming showed comparable learning time, programming time and the number of questions raised during the programming phases, highlighting the possibility of a smooth introduction to task-oriented programming even to non-expert users.

An agenda to develop Pediatric Palliative care programs to serve children with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

Medical advances have increased the number of children living with life-threatening/life-limiting illnesses worldwide, including in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. Pediatric palliative care (PPC) is a relatively young subspecialty that cares for children with life-threatening/life-limiting illnesses and their families. PPC aims to alleviate physical, psychological, and social distress in children with life-threatening/life-limiting illnesses and their families and improve their quality of life. PPC is an essential service that should be implemented in all nations, as it is a human right. Moreover, a core value of PPC services is to alleviate children's suffering, irrespective of cure availability. Hence, the global consensus on palliative services must be universal and include developing countries with limited resources. While PPC services are growing internationally, the GCC countries have yet to implement these valuable services in the region. This work aims to define the local base information important to facilitating the PPC program. We explored and identified the information vital for establishing a successful program, which was then categorized and mapped into subgroups. In doing so, we outline a roadmap to facilitate the smooth introduction of PPC in GCC countries to benefit the lives of children with life-limiting illnesses.

Adoption of water reuse technologies: An assessment under different regulatory and operational scenarios

Water reuse technologies may alleviate the water scarcity problems that affect many world regions, but their adoption is still limited. In particular, key actors in the adoption of water reuse technologies are water utilities, that provide both urban water and wastewater treatment services. Water utilities are embedded in the urban water system, which includes several stakeholders (urban water users, citizens at large, the environment) that may drive or pose barriers to water reuse adoption. Therefore, to ensure a smooth introduction of water reuse technologies, it is fundamental to understand how water reuse interacts with the existing urban water system and impacts its stakeholders. This paper contributes to the ongoing debate on water reuse by conceptualizing the interaction between water reuse technologies and the urban water system and its stakeholders, and addressing the adoption decision of water utilities by assessing its economic and environmental consequences. Based on a review of literature, policy and other secondary documents, and on primary data coming from interviews with experts from a water utility operating in Southern Italy, the study models the utility's response to a shift from urban to reuse water. It then simulates how reuse water introduction impacts on the utility and other stakeholders of the water system, under various regulatory and operational scenarios defined through a thorough analysis of policy documents and literature. Results show that the adoption of water reuse reduces the utility's margin by cannibalizing urban water demand, but appropriate policy measures may enhance the economic sustainability of reuse. System-level performances, such as impact on freshwater savings, costs for users, effects on the public budget, are also assessed, showing how different regulatory options moderate the intensity of impacts for the different stakeholders of the water system. Furthermore, the adoption of reuse water by the most distant users is found to enhance the economic sustainability of reuse and positively impact the utility's margin.

Measuring user acceptance of satellite broadband in the UAE

The Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) sector provides different connectivity solutions in urban areas. Unfortunately, market players make little effort to ensure connectivity to underserved markets. The analysis of the existing ICT market revealed the possibility of a solution to this problem by utilizing the latest advances in satellite communication. It is recognized that connectivity through satellites is generally not a popular option in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), although there are still some underserved markets in the UAE that require better connectivity solutions. In this study, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) has been used to assess users’ acceptance in the UAE market to introduce NGSO satellite broadband connectivity. We consider the main two independent variables of the model: perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEU). Additional two variables had been proposed which significantly affect UAE consumers’ intention to use satellite broadband which are: innovativeness (INN) and satisfaction with current services (SAT). The study results support that PU, PEU, and INN will positively influence the UAE population’s intention to use the service. The hypothesis that PEU will positively affect PU was also supported. The hypothesis that SAT will negatively influence the UAE population’s intention to the service was not supported. Additionally, the study also shows that UAE consumers’ intention to use satellite broadband is unrelated to gender or age group. A set of recommendations were drawn to support the smooth introduction of NGSO satellite broadband service in the UAE.

Egocentric Gesture Recognition Using 3D Convolutional Neural Networks for the Spatiotemporal Adaptation of Collaborative Robots.

Collaborative robots are currently deployed in professional environments, in collaboration with professional human operators, helping to strike the right balance between mechanization and manual intervention in manufacturing processes required by Industry 4.0. In this paper, the contribution of gesture recognition and pose estimation to the smooth introduction of cobots into an industrial assembly line is described, with a view to performing actions in parallel with the human operators and enabling interaction between them. The proposed active vision system uses two RGB-D cameras that record different points of view of gestures and poses of the operator, to build an external perception layer for the robot that facilitates spatiotemporal adaptation, in accordance with the human's behavior. The use-case of this work is concerned with LCD TV assembly of an appliance manufacturer, comprising of two parts. The first part of the above-mentioned operation is assigned to a robot, strengthening the assembly line. The second part is assigned to a human operator. Gesture recognition, pose estimation, physical interaction, and sonic notification, create a multimodal human-robot interaction system. Five experiments are performed, to test if gesture recognition and pose estimation can reduce the cycle time and range of motion of the operator, respectively. Physical interaction is achieved using the force sensor of the cobot. Pose estimation through a skeleton-tracking algorithm provides the cobot with human pose information and makes it spatially adjustable. Sonic notification is added for the case of unexpected incidents. A real-time gesture recognition module is implemented through a Deep Learning architecture consisting of Convolutional layers, trained in an egocentric view and reducing the cycle time of the routine by almost 20%. This constitutes an added value in this work, as it affords the potential of recognizing gestures independently of the anthropometric characteristics and the background. Common metrics derived from the literature are used for the evaluation of the proposed system. The percentage of spatial adaptation of the cobot is proposed as a new KPI for a collaborative system and the opinion of the human operator is measured through a questionnaire that concerns the various affective states of the operator during the collaboration.

Full Duplex and Dynamic TDD: Pushing the Limits of Spectrum Reuse in Multi-Cell Communications

Although in cellular networks full duplex and dynamic time-division duplexing promise increased spectrum efficiency, their potential is so far challenged by increased interference. While previous studies have shown that self-interference can be suppressed to a sufficient level, we show that the cross-link interference for both duplexing modes, especially from base station to base station, is the remaining challenge in multi-cell networks, restricting the uplink performance. Using beamforming techniques of low complexity, we show that this interference can be mitigated, and that full duplex and dynamic time-division duplexing can substantially increase the capacity of multi-cell networks. Our results suggest that if we can control the cross-link interference in full duplex, we can almost double the multi-cell network capacity as well as user throughput. Therefore, the techniques in this article have the potential to enable a smooth introduction of full duplex into cellular systems.

The impact of using program visualization techniques on learning basic programming concepts at the K–12 level

AbstractNovices enrolled in introductory programming courses often face many difficulties. These difficulties are more emphasized when novices are K–12 students. Many new visual programming languages have primarily been designed to provide a smooth introduction to programming for children. However, at some point, a general‐purpose text‐based programming language should be used. A well‐known and studied method is to visualize program execution to assist novices in forming correct mental models. Although many studies have investigated the effects of using visualizations in teaching and learning, most of them focus on courses taught at the university level. Studies that focus on investigating the impact of program visualizations at the K–12 level are, to the best of our knowledge, scarce. Therefore, we investigated the impact of using program visualizations with a group of K–12 students. Because of the underrepresentation of girls in computer science and known gender stereotypes, we additionally investigated student performance based on gender. Our research included 98 fifth‐grade students from three elementary schools. The lectures in the experimental group included different visualization techniques, including a program visualization tool and PowerPoint animations, whereas the control group had no program visualizations. All students learned Python as part of their curriculum. We present the results of our research in this paper.

Industry 4.0 concept as an incentive to increase the competitiveness of the food and processing industries of the Russian Federation

This work is devoted to the analysis of “Industry 4.0” concepts as an incentive to increase the competitiveness of the food and processing industry of the Russian Federation. The article explores the phenomenon of the fourth industrial revolution as a modern stage of scientific, technical and technological progress. The upcoming fourth industrial revolution is a serious challenge for the government. The main competition of the new revolution is not so much in the technologies themselves but in the skills and education that are necessary for their use. Competition is escalating at the level of education systems but ready-made specialists in the context of globalization still need to be kept, and nowadays the low level of salaries in Russia contributes to a further brain drain. Finally, in the development of Industry 4.0 a systematic approach is important taking into account national characteristics but today it is not in Russia. The development of individual elements of the new industrial revolution is unstable that is why the additional advantages of interdisciplinary research and development are missed. A new round in the development of production will greatly change the social landscape. In order to prevent fatal mass technological unemployment it is necessary to create a social ecosystem for the smooth introduction of technologies with their social design. It is shown that it is accompanied by increased integration, concentration of economic assets under the control of larger business entities. In this regard, the possible consequences of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in the social and humanitarian sphere are examined, and the problem is also raised regarding the development of the Russian food and processing industry of the Russian Federation.

Viability limits of the renewable source in an electricity mix: Application to the French mix with anamorphic evolutions

This article is the second part of a work devoted to the study of the physical and economic limits of the addition of renewable power sources to an electricity mix on a territory. In the first part of the work, devoted to methodology, we discuss three criteria of viability of the electricity mix, based on the spectral and statistical analysis of the load fluctuations, taking into account the intermittent nature of the production of the mandatory renewable sources. The present paper is devoted to the application of the MIXOPTIM software, which includes this methodological toolbox, to the metropolitan French mix. Starting from the French mix 2015, we change its composition in controlled and mandatory power sources by anamorphic deformations, and analyze, with the MIXOPTIM toolbox, the viability and performance indicators of the modified mix. The viability criteria determine the maximum amount of mandatory fluctuating sources that can be tolerated in the mix if frequent power cuts are to be avoided. They provide a tool to assess the respective merits of the controllable (e.g., coal, gas, nuclear, ... sources according to their agility and what would be gained if this agility could be improved. The study takes into account the influence of interconnection between the considered territory and its neighbors, and evaluates to what extent an increase of the interconnection capacity increases the physically allowable proportion of renewable power sources in the mix. We also evaluate the beneficial influence of demand smoothing, and of electricity storage facilities, and calculate to what extent the introduction of demand smoothing or storage facilities move the physical limits of the introduction of renewable mandatory fluctuating sources in the metropolitan French mix. In the last part of the article, we investigate the conditions under which a 100% renewable electricity mix might be viable in France.

Viability limits of the renewable source in an electricity mix: The MIXOPTIM analysis methodology

In this article, we use a spectral and statistical analysis of load fluctuations to calculate plausible conditions that an electricity mix of power sources must satisfy to fulfill a variable power demand on a territory. These criteria can be applied to electricity mixes with a variable composition in controlled (dispatchable) and mandatory (non-dispatchable) sources in order to derive the maximum amount of mandatory fluctuating sources that can be tolerated in the mix if frequent power cuts are to be avoided. These criteria take into account the intermittent nature of the production of the mandatory renewable sources. Incorporated in the MIXOPTIM software, the three criteria can be used to assess the respective merits of the controllable power sources (e.g., coal, gas, nuclear, ... according to their agility, and what would be gained if this agility could be improved. These criteria take into account the influence of interconnection between the considered territory and its neighbors, and allows one to calculate to what extent an increase of the interconnection capacity increases the physically allowable proportion of renewable power sources in the mix. They also make it possible to evaluate the beneficial influence of demand smoothing, and of electricity storage facilities, and to calculate to what extent the introduction of demand smoothing or storage facilities move the physical limits of introduction of renewable mandatory fluctuating sources in the mix. We also investigate how these physical limits evolve if the renewable fluctuating sources are no longer considered as mandatory, and become controlled sources, with curtailment of their excess output when this excess power is not needed. This paper is devoted to the description of this methodological toolbox; a separate paper is devoted to its application to the French mix.

In Which Time Slots Can People Save Power? An Analysis Using a Japanese Survey on Time Use

Residential demand-side management (DSM) of electricity has been gaining attention as a way to reduce energy consumption at home and as a way of maximizing the utilization of fluctuating solar power generation. To promote the smooth introduction of DSM into homes, power usage trends according to the time of the day should be examined for individuals in relation to their lifestyles. The analyses of power usage trends can identify the types of home appliances that should be utilized differently in order to increase energy efficiency. Such analyses can also predict the individual behavioral changes that should result in home appliances being used in the time slots in which solar power is more conveniently available. The purpose of this research was to estimate and observe the amount of power saving potential for each daily time slot with respect to an individual’s particular attributes, and to derive the power saving potential of the whole country by accumulating these data on individuals. This was achieved by using the Survey on Time Use and Leisure Activities (STULA) and Energy-Saving Performance Catalog (ESPC) in Japan. According to the results of our estimation, a meaningful power saving potential is sufficient to address a power supply shortage after a disaster such as an earthquake. It is possible to save power by replacing existing home appliances with more energy efficient ones, by making environmentally conscious choices when using home appliances, and by discontinuing the use of home appliances during electricity shortages within the community as a whole. Using the estimated power saving potentials, we examined the effects of two DSMs: (1) adjusting the time for which home appliances are used; and (2) aggregating the power demand of households with different attributes. The results showed that these DSMs would contribute to a more stable power system operation. Future research might address the rapid penetration of community energy management systems and demand response systems.

Mammography Dose Survey Using International Quality Standards

Digital mammography is the current standard for breast cancer screening. The absence of any dosimetric data, the quality standards, and the fear of radiation detriment, sometimes, hampers the smooth introduction of this technology and the launch of breast cancer screening programmes. As the breast cancer screening programmes are in development in Morocco, quality standards have been set in this study, so that any new breast cancer screening service could get started with their first analysis. The purpose of this study was to report the first Moroccan breast dose and to test quality standards compared with European guidelines. A dosimetric study is conducted by calculating mean glandular dose (MGD) for patients' breasts and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) for each thickness from recorded radiographic factors and X-ray tube (output and half-value layer) measurements using Dance's model for a digital mammography system. This is carried out to determine the correlation between phantom and patient measurements.The mean MGD for patient data was 1.02 ± 0.5 mGy and the compressed breast thickness was 55 ± 14 mm. For compressed breast thickness range of 50–60 mm, the MGD was 0.94 ± 0.3 mGy and the dose calculated with PMMA phantom for the same range thickness was 1.33 mGy. The results of MGD as a function of PMMA thickness is lower than the achievable limit curve proposed in the European guidelines. The average doses, which depend on the technical parameters of the mammography equipment, are in line with values obtained in European guidelines. In addition, an investigation is needed throughout the Moroccan territory, in the sense of optimization of radiological practices and techniques in mammographic centres aligning with the international recommendations.

Involve the user! Changing attitudes toward robots by user participation in a robot prototyping process

Are students willing to accept robotic support for learning when their attitudes toward educational robots are moderate? Probably not, as evidence from psychological research has suggested that attitudes predict how people will behave toward an attitude object. Consequently, a negative view of robots could represent a strong barrier to the deployment of robots in educational environments. Attitude change might facilitate a smooth introduction of educational robots into learning settings. Thus, the present research builds on the fact that actively including end users in the prototyping process of a robot might increase positive attitudes toward it. Indeed, our research is among the first works which demonstratethat participation in the prototyping process of an educational robot positively affected attitudes toward educational robots in general and significantly reduced educational robot anxiety. However, students' behavioral intentions toward educational robots were not influenced by participation. These findings raise intriguing questions regarding the relevance of user involvement in the development of robots. Therefore, the discussion focuses on how to improve this process and how user involvement in robot design processes provides a valuable contribution to the acceptance of social robots in everyday life.