Technological Assistance Research Articles

Navigated versus conventionally instrumented total knee arthroplasty techniques: No difference in functional alignment or balance.

Much debate exists about the superiority of navigated versus conventional instrumentation for achieving optimal balance and alignment during total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Recent registry data indicate no long-term survivorship benefit for TKAs performed using technology assistance, despite the added resource and financial costs. However, outcome comparisons are confounded by varying surgeon techniques and targets for ideal balance and alignment. This study aimed to investigate alignment or balance outcome differences between navigated and conventionally instrumented TKAs performed using an identical operative sequence and alignment strategy. Fifty navigated and 50 conventionally instrumented primary TKAs, using an identical inverse kinematic alignment strategy, were included. Navigation equipment was used intraoperatively to 'post-cut' record the conventionally instrumented TKAs. Intraoperative balance, range, and alignment; and post-operative radiographic accuracy for restoration of constitutional alignment were compared. Forty-nine navigated and 49 conventionally instrumented TKAs were compared (n = 2 excluded due to inadequate radiographs). No preoperative demographic or deformity severity differences existed. No intraoperative balance, range or alignment difference existed. Neither technique was more accurate for restoration of constitutional alignment. Whilst large registry data may be confounded by uncaptured variables such as surgeon balancing techniques or surgeon alignment strategy preferences, this study found no alignment or balance differences between navigated versus conventionally instrumented TKA techniques for a surgeon and technique-controlled study. Although the increased resources necessary for technology assistance are not justified by this study, further studies may identify significance using larger samples or comparison of alternative outcomes. Level II.

Evolution of hospital clinical pharmacy services in Finland in the period 2017–2022: the third nationwide follow-up survey

Background and objectivesPharmacists’ involvement in patient care became more common in Finnish hospitals during the period of 2011–2016. The first national survey was conducted in 2011 and repeated using the...

Improving Argumentation Skills through AI-Driven Dialogues: A Transdisciplinary Approach

This article investigates the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) as a dynamic tool to enhance argumentation skills in education. By engaging students in real-time dialogues with AI, this study provides insights into a transdisciplinary approach that encourages critical thinking and helps students build persuasive, well-structured arguments across various subjects. Recognizing the growing need for argumentation proficiency in digital-age learning, we outline a methodological framework that leverages AI-driven dialogue tools to challenge students' assumptions, refine their thinking, and expose them to diverse perspectives. This research explores the ethical and pedagogical considerations essential to responsibly integrating AI into educational settings, focusing on balancing technological assistance with human oversight. The findings support AI's role as a valuable educational partner, offering a practical and innovative strategy for developing students' argumentation skills and preparing them for a technologically integrated future. For instance, the study highlights practical use cases where AI-driven dialogue systems in education foster critical engagement and personalized feedback, showing promise in large and resource-constrained classrooms.

Definition of a measurement technique for hexapod circular smart fixators' perioperative assembly parameters and investigation of alignment and correlation with postoperative measurements: a retrospective cohort study.

With the assistance of smart fixator technologies, the correction of complex deformities has been facilitated; however, the accurate integration of specialized radiographs and measurements into the system remains the greatest disadvantage, necessitating specialized imaging and an experienced team. When inexperienced technicians and doctors perform these specialized postoperative radiographs, excessive exposure of the patient and team to radioactive rays exacerbates inadequacies in measurements and delays the correction of residual deformities due to angular and translational adjustments. In this study, we compared postoperative measurements with those taken peroperatively via fluoroscopy, hypothesizing that it reduces the exposure of the patient and team to radioactive rays, allows for more accurate and timely correction of deformities and assembly parameters, and reduces time and costs. Between 2013 and 2022, 84 patients with bone deformities were retrospectively reviewed. All patients had bone deformities and were treated with computer-assisted circular external fixator systems (Ca-CEF). Assembly parameter measurements began to be corrected via artificial neural network software via peroperative fluoroscopy in 37 patients and postoperative radiography in 47 patients. The surgical duration for all patients, peroperative measurement values, and number of radiographs taken on postoperative day 1, week, and month until deformity correction were recorded. The duration until deformity correction was shorter in patients who underwent postoperative measurements (mean 50.24days) than in those who underwent peroperative measurements (mean 42.31days), but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.102). The surgical duration was significantly shorter in patients with postoperative measurements (mean of 130.37min) than in those with peroperative measurements (mean of 155.88min) (p = 0.045). For patients with postoperative measurements, 56.04 postoperative radiographs were taken. In contrast, patients with peroperative measurements had fewer radiographs totaling 28.7. This difference was statistically significant (p < 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the fluoroscopy dose between patients with postoperative measurements (mean 18.54mGy) and those with peroperative measurements (mean 22.22mGy) (p = 0.105). To achieve accurate assembly parameters, minimizing X-ray exposure is crucial but can pose challenges. Our results showed that despite an average increase of 25min in surgical duration, the time taken for deformity correction was shorter. Additionally, we obtained fewer postoperative radiographs, indicating reduced radiation exposure.

Perceptions of functional tax advisors on artiicial intelligence-based applications in the context of performance improvement efforts

This study aims to analyze the influence of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based applications on the willingness of functional tax instructors to use these AI-based applications. The data used in this study are primary data from questionnaire surveys distributed to functional tax extension officers from all Regional Offices of the Directorate General of Taxes from October to December 2023. In addition, this study also uses secondary data sourced from regulatory documents and other data related to the performance of tax extension officers from the Directorate General of Taxes. Data from 104 respondents were analyzed using multiple linear regression. This study concludes that the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of AI-based applications have a positive and significant effect on the willingness of Functional Tax Instructors to use AI-based applications. Functional extension workers need to continue to try to work side by side with technology so that work becomes faster and easier. With the help of AI technology, it is not impossible that the implementation of taxation counseling can be partially delegated to technological assistance so that tax education can be more massive and comprehensive.

Technology-Assisted EFL Academic Writing and Its Relation to Academic Writing Anxiety

Research practice is given top priority in universities worldwide. Scholars are pushed to write and publish articles in high-ranking journals with high citation indexes, mostly English-medium journals. English as a foreign language (EFL) scholars are anxious to publish articles in Anglophone journals and one of these obstacles is academic writing skills. Studies on academic writing paid more attention to the process and obstacles of EFL students of different ages. A few studies focus on strategies EFL scholars adopt, especially those related to technology. Hence, this paper bridged the gap by investigating the relationship between EFL scholars’ academic writing strategies with the assistance of technology and their second language academic writing anxiety (SLAWA) in China. This study is a quantitative study with 140 Chinese scholars participating. Participants used technology to gain online databases most frequently. It also showed that technological strategies in the planning stage positively relate to SLAWA. In contrast, technological strategies in the problem-solving stage have no relation with SLAWA. In addition, participants' characteristics such as age and gender have no significance with SLAWA. The findings of this study suggest that more academic writing training related to technology is needed especially in the before-writing stage where scholars complain about SLAWA mostly.

A yeast surface display platform for screening of non-enzymatic protein secretion in Kluyveromyces lactis.

Enhancing the secretion of recombinant proteins, particularly non-enzymatic proteins that predominate in food and pharmaceutic protein products, remains a significant challenge due to limitations in high-throughput screening methods. This study addresses this bottleneck by establishing a yeast surface display system in the food-grade microorganism Kluyveromyces lactis, enabling efficient display of model target proteins on the yeast cell surface. To assess its potential as a universal high-throughput screening tool for enhanced non-enzymatic protein secretion, we evaluated the consistency between protein display levels and secretion efficiency under the influence of various genetic factors. Our results revealed a strong correlation between these two properties. Furthermore, screening in a random mutagenesis library successfully identified a mutant with improved secretion. These findings demonstrate the potential of the K. lactis surface display system as a powerful and universal tool for high-throughput screening of strains with superior non-enzymatic protein secretion capacity. We believe this study could pave the way for efficient large-scale production of heterologous food and therapeutic proteins in industries. KEY POINTS: • A YSD (yeast surface display) system was established in Kluyveromyces lactis • This system enables high-throughput screening of non-enzymatic protein secretion • This technology assists industrial production of food and therapeutic proteins.

Do environmental taxes and renewable energy consumption play a role in climate change mitigation? International evidence from developing economies

Climate change and environmental degradation are largely attributed to increased carbon dioxide emissions (CO2). This study investigates the effectiveness of environmental taxes and renewable energy consumption on reducing CO2 emissions in 36 developing countries from 1994 to 2018, using the Cross-Sectional Autoregressive Distributed Lag (CS-ARDL) panel data methodology. Our findings indicate that renewable energy consumption plays a crucial role in lowering CO2 emissions, underscoring the need for increased investment in renewable energy infrastructure and technological advancements. Conversely, environmental taxes do not have a significant impact on emissions reduction in these countries, possibly due to inadequate implementation and institutional constraints. These findings suggest that policies promoting renewable energy, such as subsidies, incentives, and investments in research and development, are crucial for achieving meaningful emission reductions. Therefore, international efforts may be more effective by providing financial support and technological assistance rather than emphasizing environmental taxes, which may not be suitable for developing nations.

A reinforcement learning-based algorithm for discrete dynamic stochastic recognition of speech dialog emotions

Abstract At present, the most common speech dialogue emotion discrete dynamic random recognition calculation natural language processing is mostly independent processing of object data, and the recognition efficiency is low, resulting in the infinite increase of the final FRP value. According to the current recognition requirements, speech data resource collection and speech recognition are carried out first, and a multi-level method is adopted to improve the recognition efficiency and realize multi-level processing and sentiment analysis of natural speech. Based on this, a discrete dynamic random recognition calculation model of reinforcement learning speech dialogue emotion was constructed, and the multi-cycle automatic synchronous correction method was used to realize the random recognition processing. The test results show that for the six randomly selected test periods, compared with the improved emotion model random recognition method and the artificial intelligence emotion random recognition method, the final FRP value of the reinforcement learning emotion random recognition method designed this time is well controlled 15%, which indicates that with the assistance of reinforcement learning technology, the designed calculation method is more flexible and changeable. Furthermore, its inherent random recognition mechanism is more comprehensive, efficient, and targeted, thereby rendering it highly valuable and significant for applications under complex background conditions.

Weld seam positioning method for structural reinforcement based on 3D point cloud

Abstract Machine vision technology assists welding robot weld positioning, which can significantly improve welding accuracy and efficiency. This paper delves into a 3D point cloud-based positioning technique specifically tailored for structural reinforcement welds, utilizing the high-precision 3D structured light camera to get 3D point cloud data from the surface of the reinforcement structures, subsequently conducting a comprehensive analysis of the weld’s geometric characteristics. When the weld seam position can be directly collected, the side plate plane and the bottom plate plane of the reinforcement can be divided by the random sample consensus method. The weld points with rich curvature characteristics can be quickly and reliably selected according to the plane constraint. When the weld position cannot be measured directly, the prediction of the weld position is realized by extracting the edge of the upper surface of the reinforcing rib in the depth map and combining the plane normal vector of the base plate and the point laser correction vector. The experimental results show that this method can accurately locate the weld seam with high accuracy in both working scenarios.

Hospital satisfaction among older adults by European Union health system clusters

Abstract Background Health systems are influenced by political, historical, cultural and socio-economic factors and differ across countries. Classification of EU health systems into 5 clusters has allowed for international comparison and policy recommendations. This study is based on the Andersen’s Behavior Model, that predicts that a sequence of predisposing, enabling and need factors influence satisfaction and utilization of healthcare services. Aim Examine the nature and relationship of predisposing, enabling and need factors associated with hospital satisfaction of older adults across EU nations by health system classification clusters. Methods Data from Wave 9, of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) were examined using a sample of older adults from 10 EU countries. Analysis: Non-parametric one-way ANOVA (Kruskal- Wallis test) and Multinominal Logistics regression were performed to test the null hypothesis that (1) hospital satisfaction is equal across all clusters, and (2) predisposing, enabling, and need factors, are not predictors of hospital satisfaction. Findings There was a statistically significant difference in hospital satisfaction by cluster [Chi Square= 231.44, df = 21; p&amp;lt; .001]. Age, mental health, technology and chronic disease are predictors of healthcare facilities satisfaction. [Chi Square 50.94, df = 3, p&amp;lt; .001], Among those that reported to be highly unsatisfied with healthcare facilities, [chronic disease (Beta = -2.64) and mental health (Beta = -4.41) df = 1 p&amp;lt; .001] significantly predicted hospital satisfaction. Implications for Policy and Practice: Initiatives for the care of older adults should not only aim to increase access to care but also provide targeted services for sub populations such as older adults with mental health and chronic diseases. Further, significant investment is required in technology infrastructure within hospitals and technological assistance or training should be provided to older adults. Key messages • Older adults satisfaction with hospitals varies by health system clusters and is predicted by age, mental health, use of technology and chronic disease. • Chronic disease and mental health are strong predictors of hospital dissatisfaction among older adults.

Redefining Middle Power Diplomacy: South Korea’s Strategic Shift towards Global Leadership

This paper explores South Korea’s evolving foreign policy under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, highlighting its shift from a traditional middle power to a “Global Pivotal State” (GPS). The study examines the key drivers behind this transformation, particularly the enhanced U.S.-South Korea alliance, which has allowed South Korea to increase its regional and global influence. Through an analysis of the "Global Pivotal State" policy, the paper delves into how South Korea seeks to expand its leadership role in multilateral diplomacy, focusing on areas such as security, democracy, and climate change. Additionally, the study emphasizes South Korea’s efforts to strengthen bilateral relations, especially with the U.S., Japan, and Europe, while expanding its diplomatic reach to new regions such as the Indo-Pacific. By leveraging its strengths in green growth, technology, and official development assistance (ODA), South Korea aims to secure leadership in key global issues. Ultimately, the Yoon administration’s vision reflects South Korea's ambition to redefine its role in the international order, positioning itself as an influential actor in global governance.

A Trend Analysis of Growth and Development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in India

The Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) review the policies and programmes and make suitable recommendations regarding the promotion and development of products and services to meet the demands of the domestic as well as global marketing. The ministry of MSMEs sector organizes and implements various schemes focusing on financial assistance, technological assistance as well as upgradation, infrastructure development, skill development and training, enhancing market assistance of MSMEs. An overview of the MSMEs Sector, the organizational structure of the Ministry of MSMEs., role of the office of Development commissioner, setting up of National Board for MSMEs as well as recent developments in MSMEs – are depicted in this article.

Research progress on femoral attachment positioning during medial patellofemoral ligament reconstruction

To review research progress on femoral attachment positioning during medial patellofemoral ligament (MPFL) reconstruction, so as to provide a reference for accurate positioning in clinic. The literature at home and abroad on femoral attachment positioning during MPFL reconstruction was extensively reviewed and summarized. MPFL is the main ligament that restricts patellar outward migration, so MPFL reconstruction is the main treatment for patellar dislocation, but the accuracy of intraoperative femoral attachment positioning will significantly affect the effectiveness. At present, there are three main methods for femoral attachment positioning in MPFL reconstruction, including imaging positioning, bony landmark positioning, and new technology. Among them, the main imaging positioning method is the "Schöttle point" method, but it has high requirements for fluoroscopic positioning, and can only be accurately positioned under standard lateral fluoroscopy of the femur. The bony landmark positioning method mainly locates the femoral attachment by touching or dissecting the bony landmarks such as adductor tubercles and medial epicondyle of femur, but its disadvantages are that the positioning is not accurate enough, the intraoperative visual field exposure requirements are high, and a large incision is required. In order to avoid the problem that the simple bony landmark positioning method, in recent years, the combination of bony landmarks combined with arthroscopy, three-dimensional (3D) printing technology, and robot-assisted positioning methods have begun to be used in clinical practice. New technology localization methods have shown good results by preparing guides before operation, planning positioning paths in advance, or directly using robots to assist positioning during operation. The accurate positioning of the femoral attachment in MPFL reconstruction is crucial, and the method of accurate and rapid intraoperative determination needs to be further improved and optimized. In the future, it is expected that the combination of computer image recognition correction technology and intraoperative position assistance will solve this problem.

Elucidating structure and metabolism of insect biomaterials by solid-state NMR

Among the many natural biomaterials for which information on atomic-level structure and reorientational motion can offer essential clues to function, insoluble multi-component composites with limited degrees of order are among the most challenging to study. Despite its limited sensitivity, solid-state NMR (ssNMR) is often the technique of choice to ferret out these details in carbon- and nitrogen-rich materials: this spectroscopic approach can probe many biomaterials in their native or near-native states, either with or without the introduction of stable NMR-active isotopes, or with the assistance of dynamic nuclear polarization technology. During a span of close to four decades, such research targets and ssNMR approaches have been exemplified by insects, a diverse and evolutionarily agile group of organisms with global impacts that include ecology, agriculture, and human disease. In this short review, we present case studies on insect cuticles that range from protective exoskeletons and egg capsules to the wing structures that enable flight and showcase nature's awe-inspiring beauty, highlighting the use of ssNMR spectroscopy to profile chemical composition, elucidate macromolecular architecture, and monitor metabolic development in these fascinating biological assemblies.

Clinical Trends and Outcomes in Technology-Assisted Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Background/Objectives: In recent years, there has been a widespread focus on implementing technology in total hip arthroplasty (THA) to further improve precision and outcomes. This study aimed to identify recent trends in the utilization, clinical variables, and rate of adverse events for technology-assisted THA (TA-THA) and compare the outcomes to those of conventional THA. Methods: This retrospective cohort analysis of the ACS-NSQIP database queried data on THA patients (CPT 27130) from 2015 to 2020. Technology assistance was identified with CPT 20985, 0054T, and 0055T. Matched cohorts were created to compare clinical comorbidities and adverse events. Results: This analysis included 219,216 conventional THAs and 2258 cases utilizing TA-THA. The number and percentage of surgeries utilizing technology, as well as the average operative time, consistently rose from 2015 to 2019, with all declining in 2020. Length of stay decreased yearly from 2015 to 2019, with an increase in 2020. There were no significant differences in the incidence of adverse events by year. Matched cohort analysis demonstrated that TA-THA led to longer operative times (102.6 ± 35.6 vs. 91.6 ± 37.4 min, p < 0.001) and a shorter average length of stay (1.6 ± 1.4 vs. 2.0 ± 1.9 days, p < 0.001). Transfusion rates were higher in the TA-THA cohort (6.0% vs. 4.4%, p = 0.013). Conclusions: The usage of TA-THA increased from 2015 to 2019, with declines during 2020. TA-THA led to longer operative times, increased transfusion rates, and no difference in the incidence of adverse events compared to conventional arthroplasty. These findings demonstrate that TA-THA is growing in popularity without a significant improvement in short-term complication rates.

Antibacterial bio pores as a river flow filter for the development of "Ndeso Park" water tourism

The realization of the full potential of natural resources in each village for the benefit of the local community has been observed as a significant challenge. The national village-owned enterprises program encourages villages to optimize the utilization of their existing natural and human resources with the objective of fostering their economic independence. The program entails the optimization of the national village-owned enterprises program in the tourism sector, specifically in the context of Taman Ndeso. The objective of this community service activity is to provide technological assistance and address the issue of river water filtration as a pool water source. The impetus for this activity is the declining tourism activities at Taman Ndeso due to the presence of turbid water in the pool, which was deemed unsuitable for use. The activity is realized through the construction of a water purification filtration system to produce clean and healthy water. The antibacterial biopores are applied as filtration technology. This technology is designed to capture bacteria from river water that flow into the pond. This research adopted the direct exploration method, which was divided into a number of stages, including planning and preparation, implementation, evaluation, and reporting. The research outcome manifests into the restoration of the Taman Ndeso water tourism pool, which will be capable of attracting tourists and reviving village income to the maximum extent possible, with the management of the village-owned business entity.

Dispositional learning analytics and formative assessment: an inseparable twinship

Educational innovations, particularly those in online education and technology-enhanced learning, some accelerated by the recent pandemic, take centre stage in this journal. Examples include the resurgence of the flipped classroom methodology, supported by instructional technology, the utilization of formative assessment with technological assistance to provide effective learning feedback, and the integration of learning analytics within technology-enhanced learning. Despite empirical studies addressing these advancements individually, they tend to focus predominantly on the initial phase of learning feedback: where the learner currently stands. This paper contends that isolated depictions of formative assessment overlook the broader progress in technology-enhanced learning. Our contribution highlights the significance of dispositional learning analytics, which combines learning and learner data to offer insights into learners' current status, future trajectory, and methods to facilitate their advancement. We advocate for strengthening the integration of formative assessment data within learning analytics to fully harness their combined potential. An empirical study is presented to illustrate the predictive value of formative practice behaviour on module performance and explore the link between students' learning dispositions and their engagement with e-tutorials. By delineating student profiles based on practice behaviour and examining variations in learning dispositions, our aim is to enhance our comprehension of effectively supporting learners in technology-enhanced educational environments.

Nigeria-Türkiye Relations: A Multifaceted Partnership in the 21st Century

This analysis examines the partnership between Nigeria and Türkiye, two nations with substantial diplomatic relations since 1960, though their historical ties go back much further. Their relationship appearscrucial in the transformation of both nations.This analysisconsiders the main aspects of their cooperation and the implications of this partnership for the future. Considering the economic cooperation, their joint strategic partnerships have promoted bilateral trade. Türkiye’s increasing economic presence in Nigeria seems linked to its strategic aim to become a key development partner in Africa. Another critical dimension is the defense cooperation, with Türkiye as an important security partner. Military and technological assistance along with training in response to the security challenges Nigeria faces highlights Türkiye’s strategic significance. The humanitarian and socio-cultural aspects facilitate their relationship development further. Turkish education initiatives and humanitarian endeavors strengthen ties and support Türkiye’s foreign policy aimed at ensuring stability and growth in Africa. With some trade imbalances and possible overreliance on Turkish military technologies, the countries have to develop an effective strategy to address the challenges and ensure a viable presence in the current multipolar world.

Improving the Performance of Islamic Banking through Technological Innovation and Human Resource Management

This study base on few islamic banks those aplicate syariah law in runing their business. And the question is what the reason the principal of syaria would be executed? Which human resources those will be prepared to for running syariah bank activities? How the application of technology in assistance of bank syariah performance? The results of study are those; many syaria bank run its system not much different from commercial banks. Just change many terms in arabic language. This happen cause the commercial bank system easier and safer than syariah system. To run the syaria system, so be required better quality resources in running of businesss more than comercial banks. So, it need some analysis experts and business supervisors those more professional, to reduce the level of loses. Beside that, with the assistance of technology can help in coordination and communication with other people, especiallly between shohibul mal. Mudharib and partnership