Types Of Functions Research Articles

Non-government advocacy for health equity: evidence from Australia.

The aim of this paper is to identify non-governmental organizations (NGOs) advocating for policy and practices to address rising health inequities in Australia. NGOs can play a critical role in shaping and influencing governance processes including public policy relating to the social and commercial determinants of health inequities. However, scholarship on who the NGOs are that are advocating to address health inequities in Australia and how they operate is sparse. Through desktop analysis in 2022, we searched NGO websites and documents for evidence of advocacy activities related to health inequities between 2017 and 2022. A database of the NGOs was compiled, noting the type of organization, function, advocacy activities and main issues their advocacy covered. A total of 137 NGOs were identified as engaging in activities advocating for change to address health inequities either directly (e.g. advocating directly to address health inequities) or indirectly (e.g. advocating on social determinants of health inequities such as housing and linking to their unequal health impacts). We noted the primary issues they advocated on, including topic categories: risk factor, disease-specific, broader health system, social determinants of health equity, and health workforce and service issues. The results indicate that Australian NGOs from multiple sectors are active in advocacy to address heath inequities on a variety of topics and through a variety of activities. This study provides a template for similar studies in other countries and suggests further research is needed to understand the role and impact of civil society advocacy to address growing health inequities.

Quantifying Uncertainty Costs in Renewable Energy Systems Considering Probability Function Behavior and CVaR at Low-Probability Generation Extremes using Deterministic Equations

The increase and integration of renewable energy sources in electrical power systems implies an increase in uncertainty variables, both in costs and production, of economic dispatch (ED) and currently have a significant influence on wholesale electricity markets (MEM). Uncertainty costs refer to the quantification of additional expenses or economic losses associated with the variability inherent in the generation of renewable energy, such as wind, solar, or hydroelectric. Therefore, this article presents deterministic equations related to cost overestimation and underestimation, as well as CVaR, to model and evaluate the stochasticity of risks associated with the integration of renewable sources, allowing system operators and planners to make informed decisions. To mitigate or use said risks in energy systems with high penetration of elements, mainly smart networks. In this study, a mathematical analysis is carried out using the histogram spectrum formed by the power generated by the probability density function (PDF) for solar generation, although it is possible to consider other types of functions to determine energy generation. The objective of the proposed model is to provide another tool to the system operator for energy management and planning, which relieves a little of the weight of the computational load and at the same time presents more precision in the results by being able to work with a database. Historical data if these values are available. Commonly, for this type of analysis, values are estimated using probabilistic calculations by density functions when integrating these functions, or in other recent cases by estimating them by analytical methods of the same functions. A validation of the model is presented by comparing the result with the Monte Carlo simulation, developing the total cost of uncertainty only from "low probability generation extremes". Furthermore, the results are presented through analytical uncertainty cost functions (AUCF). This analysis includes the calculation of uncertainty costs for low and high-probability energy generation, determined by the Conditional Value at Risk (CVaR), using deterministic equations.

A Compositional Approach to the Simulation of Queuing Systems with Random Parameters

A general approach to modeling random service processes under conditions of disturbances and uncertainty of the initial data is substantiated. A compositional approach to constructing simulation models of queuing with parametric uncertainty based on phase-type distributions and phase functions is proposed. The calculation and comparison of the characteristics of the developed simulation models with analytical solutions were carried out to confirm their effectiveness and accuracy. The problems of uncertainty of the initial data and their impact on the modeling of service systems are highlighted. The importance of taking into account parametric uncertainty in simulation models is emphasized in order to increase their adequacy and applicability in practice. The study includes a description of a general approach to modeling random service processes with uncertainty, as well as methodological foundations for the application of phase distributions and functions in compositional modeling. Four classes of service models are considered, differing in the type of integral core and phase function, which makes it possible to implement a variety of random service processes, taking into account their characteristics and conditions of their occurrence. The analysis of a model with an exponential integral core and various types of phase functions is carried out, which demonstrates the flexibility and wide possibilities of the proposed compositional approach to the study and modeling of service systems. The results of simulation modeling are presented, confirming analytical studies and showing the applicability and effectiveness of the developed approach in the construction and analysis of models of service systems with random parameters. The practical significance of the compositional method for the design and modernization of information and computing systems at various stages of their development, taking into account the uncertainty of the initial data, is noted. The work is focused on the development of simulation methods for queuing systems and opens up new prospects for their research and optimization in conditions of uncertainty of initial parameters.

Interaction of solitons in nonlocal media under competing nonlinearities with gradual nonlocality

We have numerically studied the interaction of in-phase and out-of-phase bright solitons in nematic liquid crystals with competing nonlinearities. In particular, we propose the nonlocality management technique to steer the beam interaction in nematic liquid crystals with competing nonlinearities. By controlling the degree of nonlocality of the material, three methods of regulating the degree of nonlocality were proposed to control soliton interactions. It was found that out-of-phase soliton pairs exhibit approximately adiabatic propagation under cosine function type regression control. To our knowledge, this is the first observation of adiabatic propagation of out-of-phase soliton pairs in nonlocal media with competing nonlinearities. Controlling soliton interactions by regulating the degree of nonlocality may provide theoretical guidance for the experimental realization of all-optical interconnections and all-optical devices.

Input / Output Relationships for the Primary Hippocampal Circuit.

The hippocampus is the most studied brain region but little is known about signal throughput -- the simplest, yet most essential of circuit operations -- across its multiple stages from perforant path input to CA1 output. Using hippocampal slices derived from male mice, we have found that single-pulse lateral perforant path (LPP) stimulation produces a two-part CA1 response generated by LPP projections to CA3 ('direct path') and the dentate gyrus ('indirect path'). The latter, indirect path was far more potent in driving CA1 but did so only after a lengthy delay. Rather than operating as expected from the much discussed trisynaptic circuit argument, the indirect path used the massive CA3 recurrent collateral system to trigger a high frequency sequence of fEPSPs and spikes. The latter events promoted reliable signal transfer to CA1 but the mobilization time for the stereotyped, CA3 response resulted in surprisingly slow throughput. The circuit transmitted theta (5Hz) but not gamma (50Hz) frequency input, thus acting as a low-pass filter. It reliably transmitted short bursts of gamma input separated by the period of theta wave - CA1 spiking output under these conditions closely resembled the input signal. In all, the primary hippocampal circuit does not behave as a linear, three-part system but instead uses novel filtering and amplification steps to shape throughput and restrict effective input to select patterns. We suggest that the operations described here constitute a default mode for processing cortical inputs with other types of functions being enabled by projections from outside the extended hippocampus.Significance statement Despite intense interest in hippocampal contributions to behavior, surprisingly little is known about how signals are processed across the network linking cortical input to CA1 output. Here, we describe the first input/output relationship for the system with results challenging the traditional tri-synaptic circuit concept. Signal throughput requires mobilization of recurrent activity within CA3 to amplify sparse input from the dentate gyrus into an unexpectedly stereotyped composite response. Potent low-pass filters determine effective input patterns. These results open the way to new analyses of how variables such as aging affect hippocampus and its contributions to behavior while providing material needed for biologically realistic models of the structure.

Improvement of the functional layouts of multifunctional soil-cultivating sowing units

BACKGROUND: With the technology evolution, the use of combined machines and units has become more in demand. From the numerous studies that were carried out during the operation of machines of this type, it can be seen that the cost of raw materials and financial costs have been significantly reduced, and the number of other advantages has been identified as well. AIM: Improvement of the functional layouts of multifunctional tillage sowing units for a more optimal combination of structural layouts and parameters of its use. METHODS: Engineers use the method of changing working bodies designed as layouts aiming to turn the machines into the modules capable of performing various types of operations based on working conditions. Thanks to this method, sets of individual working bodies and combinations are prepared for any kind of conditions (soil, climate, etc.). In addition to the advantages, this system has a number of disadvantages. One of these is that at the factory-built modules that are part of the original basis of the unit cannot be fully adapted to environmental conditions and economic factors of production. In this regard, combination of structural layouts and selection of the necessary parameters become problem causing. It is difficult to choose necessary parameters that are capable of ensuring minimal losses and adjusting the unit to the necessary operating mode. The objects of study are the devices and production processes, the main task of which is performing tillage and sowing operations. The practical value of this study presented in the form of: building the algorithm capable of structuring the analysis and synthesis of the structural layout of the tillage-sowing unit to find the working links for various types of unit functions; finding the methods and improved combinations of working bodies, comparison of similar mechanical analogues with the original properties of systems. RESULTS: When studying the studies of Wilde, who gave a description of the combined units, as well as the studies of Runchev, who determined the generalization of the combined machines, the relevant typology of agricultural machinery was developed. In this typology, one of the most important characteristics is multifunctionality, which has developed from the need for the versatility of units and the compilation of combinations of several units. The developed technology contains a number of characteristics that are fundamental for the choice of agricultural machinery. CONCLUSION: As a result of the study, it was determined at which velocity of the unit the system is balanced.

A high-fidelity finite volume scheme for ideal magnetohydrodynamics equations using boundary variation diminishing algorithm

A high-fidelity finite volume scheme based on the BVD (boundary variation diminishing) principle is proposed in this study to solve ideal magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) equations. A hybrid spatial reconstruction profile, based on a quadratic polynomial and a steepness-adjustable hyperbolic tangent function, is adopted to reproduce accurate solutions of complex magnetohydrodynamics flows. The BVD principle is used to find an optimal combination of these two types of functions by comparing variations between reconstructed interface values. Non-physical oscillations around discontinuities are removed by switching the quadratic polynomial to the step-shaped function. Additionally, an eight-wave method is applied in this study to control divergence errors of the magnetic field. The widely used numerical tests in one- and two-dimensional cases were checked in this study. The proposed scheme can achieve the accuracy of a third-order linear scheme in convergence tests for both advection and MHD equations and capture strong MHD shock waves without spurious oscillations. In comparison with a third-order WENO (weighted essentially non-oscillatory) scheme, the proposed one gains more accurate solutions for not only strong discontinuities but also smooth structures across scales. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to build a high-fidelity model for ideal MHD equations by the BVD algorithm. Numerical results demonstrate that the BVD algorithm has promising potential to build practical models for various MHD flows.

Zero-carbon-oriented optimal power scheduling of electric vehicles considering V2G response

Abstract This paper presents an electric vehicle (EV) optimization scheduling method that incorporates vehicle-to-grid (V2G) responses within the framework of a carbon market. Initially, the method characterizes the grid-connected and off-grid operational states of EVs. These states are represented by three types of probability density functions derived from historical data. Subsequently, a V2G response model is formulated based on consumer psychology theory. The approach then integrates the impact of carbon trading on the charging and discharging schedules of EVs, aiming to minimize carbon trading costs. The resulting optimization scheduling model is solved using the CPLEX solver.

Intuitionistic Fuzzy Z-Contractions and Common Fixed Points with Applications

In the context of $b$-metric spaces, this paper introduces two concepts: admissible hybrid intuitionistic fuzzy $\mathcal{Z}$-contractions and pairwise admissible hybrid intuitionistic fuzzy $\mathcal{Z}$-contractions and establishes criteria for intuitionistic fuzzy fixed points under such contractions. It is demonstrated that a pair of set-valued maps possesses a common fixed point. Various illustrative examples are provided to validate these results. Moreover, the significant implications of our main theorem are explored and analyzed across different types of simulation functions. Furthermore, we derive several fixed point results in the context of partially ordered b-metric spaces, offering insights from an application-oriented perspective. These outcomes extend and generalize several prior results documented in the literature.

Influence of Technical Reasons on Cost Overruns of Infrastructural Projects: A Sustainable Development Perspective

Cost overruns are a significant issue in infrastructure projects, adversely affecting not only economic performance but also sustainability goals by straining resources and extending project timelines. There is consensus among researchers about the persistence of cost overruns and the importance of accurate estimates. However, there are significant differences in the explanation of the reasons for the overruns. While we recognize the importance of understanding the reasons for cost overruns at all stages of project development, we have focused on the reasons for cost overruns after contract award due to the rarely available real and valid data collected at the source of the information. We analyze the deviations between actual and contracted costs, as well as the dependence of cost deviations of individual project types on the size of the contract. For example, the size of the tunnel significantly affects relative cost deviations, while for standard viaducts or road sections this effect is minimal. The results confirmed that cost overruns are less frequent in standard facilities than in those where the experience factor has little influence on the final cost estimate. For example, deviations in the average value of the contracted costs for highway sections range between −12.1% and 27.9% of the contracted value, and for standardized viaduct projects they range between −16.73% and 6.27% of the contracted value. The type of distribution function of deviations between actual and contractually agreed costs was investigated, and a predictive model for estimating future cost deviations of project programs was presented. The goal is to improve economic sustainability and the related optimization of resources in the development of infrastructure, which contributes to the broader agenda of sustainable development. The results encourage the adoption of improved project documentation and forecasting tools, which are essential for sustainable project management.

The Adsorption and Sensing Characteristics of Metal‐Calix[4]Arenes Toward Hydrogen Molecule: Density Functional Theory, Perturbation Theory and Molecular Dynamics Approaches

AbstractCalixarenes, which can be functionalized in a wide range of derivatives, are one of the chemicals that should be considered for safe energy storage. This research focused on utilization Density Functional Theory (DFT) method to investigate the hydrogen sensing and adsorption characteristics of two distinct calix[4]arene compounds and their corresponding metal complexes. In the study, electronic sensor properties were investigated by using different approaches. In addition, the dynamic stability was determined by Molecular dynamics (MD) calculations. Perturbation theory analysis has revealed the importance of the relationship between Fe and S atoms. The adsorption energy on the C1 structure with the best adsorption ability was calculated as −10.3 kJ/mol. According to RDG analysis, weak van der Waals interactions play a role in adsorption. The C2‐Fe complex with a substantial decrease in the HOMO–LUMO gap has been identified and explained as an applicant material for electronic sensor against hydrogen molecule. Moreover, it was also determined that the C2‐Fe complex has work function type gas sensor property against hydrogen molecule. According to the results, metal‐calixarene complexes can play an important role in hydrogen safety in the future.

Attention as the dimension that deteriorates first in patients with cognitive impairment after myocardial infarction

Abstract Background Previous publications by our team indicated a high prevalence (approximately 35%) of cognitive impairment (CI) in patients after myocardial infarction (MI). Moreover, we observed that the presence of peri-infarction deficits was not always associated with their occurrence after 6 months of follow-up and vice versa. This was the basis for distinguishing 4 groups of patients: a) group 1 – CI present peri-infarction and after 6 months; b) group 2 – CI present only peri-infarction; c) group 3 – CI present only after 6 months; d) group 4 – no CI during the study. Purpose The aim of the current study is to analyse the type of CI in patients after MI with a focus on its changes within the 4 groups mentioned. Methods The study included 326 patients hospitalised for MI treated by percutaneous coronary intervention. Cognitive function was assessed twice using the Mini–Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Clock Drawing Test (CDT)-Shulman version during the first hospitalisation (on day 2-3 after MI) and 6 months later. In addition, the occurrence of sleep, aggression and mood disorders was assessed. The constructed research model was analysed with artificial intelligence algorithms. Results Persistent CI (group1) was found in 8.9%, peri-infarct CI (group 2) in 16.3%, and only after 6 months (group 3) in 7.7% of study participants (as assessed by MMSE). Analysis of the cognitive domains showed that in those who improve (group 2) or worsen cognitive function (group 3), analogous changes in attention function occurred, respectively improving in 81% and worsening in 100% of subjects in a given group. It was observed that there is a group of patients with a CI on the MMSE who perform CDT correctly, 12% peri-infarct and 11% at 6-month follow-up, respectively. Patients with a normal CDT score but CIs found in the MMSE have impaired attentional function regardless of the time of assessment. Conclusion CIs can occur both immediately after MI and during subsequent follow-up. However, after 6 months of intensive anti-atherosclerotic treatment (post-MI), cognitive functions improve in some patients, and deteriorate in others. At the same time, the cognitive function that undergoes similar changes in these groups is attention. The uniform type of impaired cognitive function and the lack of specific differences between the 4 groups allow us to assume a uniform etiology of cognitive deficits. Patients with normal CDT and disorders present in MMSE show deficits in attention functions. Performing CDT and using the MMSE component assessing attention function could prove sufficient for the initial assessment of cognitive functions in the population of patients after MI. The results require confirmation in a larger patient population.

Effects of baroreceptor reflex modification on efficacy of ablation for atrial fibrillation

Abstract Background The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a significant role in atrial fibrillation (AF). Catheter ablation (CA) is a well-established treatment method for AF and significantly affects ANS, including baroreceptors (BR) function. However, little is known about the changes in the BR function caused by radiofrequency (RF) or cryo-energy (CB) influence the efficacy of AF ablation. Purpose To assess one-year efficacy of CA of AF in relation to BR function modification and type of ablation energy used. Methods The study group consisted of 78 patients (25 females, mean age 58±9 years) with paroxysmal AF and first CA (39 patients (RF group) and 39 (CB group)). The BR function was assessed non-invasively using tilt testing and three parameters: event count (BREC) depicting overall BR activity, slope mean depicting BR sensitivity (BRS) and BR effectiveness index (BEI). The efficacy of CA was assessed at 3, 6, and 12 months after CA using 24-hour Holter ECG recordings and dedicated scale (University of Toronto Atrial Fibrillation Severity Scale (AFSS)). Results After CA, BR function decreased in the whole group (mean BREC 12.0±3.0-22.0 vs 6.0±3.0-18.0, p=0.004; mean BRS 4.8±3.6-6.8 vs 4.0±3.0-5.8, p=0.014; mean BEI 18.7±8.3-27.4 vs 12.0±5.1-21.0, p=0.009). BREC was significantly more decreased in the CB vs RF (mean 12.0±3.0-22.0 vs 6.0±3.0-18.0, p=0.004). Similar trend was noted for BRS and BEI. On repeated Holter ECG monitorings efficacy of CB and RF was similar (89.7% vs 82.9% p=0.502, 89.7 vs 85.7%; p=0.727 and 84.6 vs 80%; p=0.602, respectively). According to AFSS, the AF symptoms were significantly reduced in both groups (CB baseline vs 3, 6 a and 12 months, respectively (median): 6.0 (IQR 2.0 – 13.0) vs 2.5 (IQR 1.0 – 4.0), p<0.001; 6.0 (IQR 2.0 – 13.0) vs 1.5 (IQR 0.0 – 4.0), p<0.001; 6.0 (IQR 2.0 – 13.0) vs 1.5 (IQR 0.0 – 4.0), p=0.002; RF baseline vs 3, 6 and 12 months, respectively (median): 10.5 (IQR 5.0 – 14.0) vs 7.0 (IQR 1.0 – 12.0), p=0.173; 10.5 (IQR 5.0 – 14.0) vs: 6.0 (IQR 2.0 – 12.0), p=0.015; 10.5 (IQR 5.0 – 14.0) vs 6.5 (IQR 2.0 – 12.0), p=0.005). After the adjustment for baseline there was no significant differencies between both groups (Table). Conclusions CA significantly affected BR function. These changes were more pronounced following CB than RF CA. However, the efficacy of RF and CB was similar.

Spherical Shepard-Bernoulli operator

AbstractWe consider the problem of interpolating large sets of scattered data on the sphere using Shepard-Bernoulli operators constructed based on two types of basis functions. We study the interpolation properties and the approximation errors of the methods proposed here. We evaluate the efficiency using several test functions and the practical applicability through two real-data problems.

The Protective Role of Baicalin in the Regulation of NLRP3 Inflammasome in Different Diseases.

The NACHT, LRR, and PYD domains-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome consists of pro-caspase-1, NLRP3 and apoptosis-related speckle-like protein (ASC). It can detect multiple microorganisms, endogenous danger signals and environmental stimulus including adenosine triphosphate (ATP), urate, cholesterol crystals, and so on, thereby forming activated NLRP3 inflammasome. During the course of the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, pro-caspase-1 is transformed into activated caspase-1 that results in the maturation and secretion of interleukin-1beta (IL-1β) and IL-18. The dysfunction of NLRP3 inflammasome participates in multiple diseases such as liver diseases, renal diseases, nervous system diseases and diabetes. Baicalin is the primary bioactive component of Scutellaria baicalensis, which has been used since ancient times. Baicalin has many types of biological functions, such as anti-bacterial, anti-tumor and antioxidant. More and more evidence suggests that baicalin regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome is involved in different diseases. However, the mechanism is still elusive. Here, we reviewed the progress of baicalin regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome in many kinds of diseases to lay a foundation for future researches.

Adaptive Privacy-Preserving Coded Computing with Hierarchical Task Partitioning.

Coded computing is recognized as a promising solution to address the privacy leakage problem and the straggling effect in distributed computing. This technique leverages coding theory to recover computation tasks using results from a subset of workers. In this paper, we propose the adaptive privacy-preserving coded computing (APCC) strategy, designed to be applicable to various types of computation tasks, including polynomial and non-polynomial functions, and to adaptively provide accurate or approximated results. We prove the optimality of APCC in terms of encoding rate, defined as the ratio between the computation loads of tasks before and after encoding, based on the optimal recovery threshold of Lagrange Coded Computing. We demonstrate that APCC guarantees information-theoretical data privacy preservation. Mitigation of the straggling effect in APCC is achieved through hierarchical task partitioning and task cancellation, which further reduces computation delays by enabling straggling workers to return partial results of assigned tasks, compared to conventional coded computing strategies. The hierarchical task partitioning problems are formulated as mixed-integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) problems with the objective of minimizing task completion delay. We propose a low-complexity maximum value descent (MVD) algorithm to optimally solve these problems. The simulation results show that APCC can reduce the task completion delay by a range of 20.3% to 47.5% when compared to other state-of-the-art benchmarks.

Stubborn State and Disturbance Observer Co‐Design for Nonlinear Descriptor Systems With δQC$$ \delta \mathrm{QC} $$ via a Dynamic Event‐Triggered Mechanism

ABSTRACTThis article studies the state and disturbance simultaneous estimation problem for a class of nonlinear descriptor systems with using a dynamic event‐triggered mechanism. refers to incremental quadratic constraints, which can provide a unified description of many types of common nonlinear functions. To reduce the negative impact of measurement outliers on the identification estimation, a stubborn state and disturbance observer co‐design scheme is proposed for the first time by embedding dynamic saturation output estimation errors. Meanwhile, a dynamic event‐triggered mechanism is introduced to avoid the need for continuously available output information, which can reduce the pressure on communication resources. By constructing a Lyapunov function, existence conditions of the stubborn state and disturbance observer are obtained in the form of a convex optimization problem so that the error estimation maintains an acceptable estimation performance. Finally, simulation examples illustrate the universality and stubbornness of the proposed observer.

Thematic Relations

This study explores the processing of noun-prep-noun combinations in prepositional phrases in Brazilian Portuguese, focusing on the syntactic-semantic relationship marked by prepositions, implies the semantic sense in which the noun is being modified. We chose to contrast particularly two types of thematic relationships like 'made of' and 'made for’, categorized as: material and function (e.g. ‘toalha de crochê’, crocheted cloth vs. agulha de crochê, crochet needle). To do so, we conducted two psycholinguistic experiments: Experiment 1 consisted of a self-paced reading/picture matching task to investigate the impact of semantic relationship on processing time; and Experiment 2 employed a cloze task (e.g. ‘toalha de ______’) and Likert scale likelihood judgments to norm the stimuli and assess cognitive preferences for the types of relation explored (i.e., material or function). Our results revealed slower reading times for the function type relation, suggesting a higher processing demand, possibly due to covert semantic computations required for this relation. Cloze completions and likelihood ratings also indicated a cognitive preference for this type of relationship. We attribute these observed patterns to the robust syntactic-semantic relationship inherent to functional type relations, coupled with a broader range of potential response options. In contrast, material type relations demonstrated a higher level of convergence among participants for cloze responses, likely due to more restricted response options and, consequently, increased probability. Future EEG studies are proposed to identify specific moments in the cognitive processing of the constituents of these structures and assess possible anticipatory effects of prepositional phrase modifiers. These discoveries make a meaningful contribution to the broader literature on language processing, aligning with analogous patterns observed in different languages with a cognitive distinction between thematic relations and feature-based (i.e., telic and constitutive relations), such as in Wisniewsky & Love, 1998; Estes et al., 2003, 2011; Pustejovsky et al., 2016; Flick et al., 2021.

PREDICTION SYSTEM FOR THE AMOUNT OF SUGAR PRODUCTION USING ADAPTIVE NEURO-FUZZY INFERENCE SYSTEM

Sugar is one of the staple foods most Indonesians use, so sugar production needs to be done optimally to meet people's needs. This research will design a prediction system for the amount of sugar production in PTPN XI PG Prajekan using the Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) method. ANFIS is a combined method of two systems, namely a fuzzy logic system and an artificial neural network system. This research consists of data collection, ANFIS system design, ANFIS training, ANFIS testing, accuracy calculation, and result analysis. The prediction system for the amount of sugar production is designed to predict the variable which is the amount of sugar production in the year using the input variables (sugarcane harvested area in year ), (amount of sugarcane in year ), (average of yield in year ), and (number of milling days in year ). The experiments in this research used variations of the type of membership function and the number of membership functions. The best model obtained in this research is a model with a difference between two sigmoidal membership functions and a product of two sigmoidal membership functions with a total of 2 membership functions for each input variable. Both models have the same Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) value, which is 1.79% in the training process and 4.82% in the testing process.

Association between ablation-induced baroreceptor reflex modification and procedure efficacy in patients with atrial fibrillation.

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays a significant role in atrial fibrillation (AF). Catheter ablation (CA) is a well-established treatment method for AF and significantly affects the ANS, including baroreceptor (BR) function. However, little is known about the changes in BR function caused by radiofrequency (RF) or cryoballoon energy (CB) and its impact on future AF recurrences. To assess 1-year efficacy of CA of AF in relation to BR function modification and type of ablation energy used. The study group consisted of 78 patients (25 females, mean age 58 ± 9 years) with paroxysmal AF and first CA (39 patients in the RF group and 39 in the CB group). The BR function was assessed non-invasively, using tilt testing before and after CA, and three BR parameters were calculated: event count (BREC) depicting overall BR activity, slope mean depicting BR sensitivity (BRS), and BR effectiveness index (BEI). The efficacy of CA was assessed during 1-year follow-up, which consisted of ambulatory visits and 24-h Holter ECG recordings at 3, 6, and 12 months after CA. The quality of life was assessed by using a dedicated scale [University of Toronto Atrial Fibrillation Severity Scale (AFSS)]. The two groups did not show differences in terms of clinical or demographic data. One-year follow-up was completed for 35 (89.7%) patients from the CB group and for 34 (87.2%) from the RF group. The rates of efficacy of CB and RF were similar [31/35 (88.6%) vs. 26/34 (76.5%), respectively]. After CA, the BR function decreased in both groups, with a significantly greater decrease in the CB group. The changes in BR parameters were similar in both responders and non-responders after CA in the whole group [BREC 10.0 (2.0-24.0) vs. 12.0 (4.0-21.5), p = 0.939; BRS 5.4 (3.7-6.5) vs. 4.8 (3.6-7.2), p = 0.809; BEI 24.8 (15.9-27.4) vs. 17.5 (8.9-27.5), p = 0.508, respectively]. According to the AFSS, the AF symptoms were significantly reduced in both groups to a similar extent. CA for AF significantly decreased the BR function, especially in patients undergoing CB. There was no correlation between CA-induced changes in BR parameters and ablation outcome.