For companies active in various sectors, the implementation of transport services and other logistics activities has become one of the key factors of efficiency in the total supply chain. Logistics outsourcing is becoming more and more important, and there is an increasing number of third party logistics providers. In this paper, logistics providers were evaluated using the Rough SWARA (Step-Wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis) and Rough WASPAS (Weighted Aggregated Sum Product Assessment) models. The significance of the eight criteria on the basis of which evaluation was carried out was determined using the Rough SWARA method. In order to allow for a more precise consensus in group decision-making, the Rough Dombi aggregator was developed in order to determine the initial rough matrix of multi-criteria decision-making. A total of 10 logistics providers dealing with the transport of dangerous goods for chemical industry companies were evaluated using the Rough WASPAS approach. The obtained results demonstrate that the first logistics provider is also the best one, a conclusion confirmed by a sensitivity analysis comprised of three parts. In the first part, parameter ρ was altered through 10 scenarios in which only alternatives four and five change their ranks. In the second part of the sensitivity analysis, a calculation was performed using the following approaches: Rough SAW (Simple Additive Weighting), Rough EDAS (Evaluation Based on Distance from Average Solution), Rough MABAC (MultiAttributive Border Approximation Area Comparison), and Rough TOPSIS (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution). They showed a high correlation of ranks determined by applying Spearman’s correlation coefficient in the third part of the sensitivity analysis.

Analysis of flow around the high-speed body with an irregular shape (such as fragments/shrapnels formed after the detonation of high explosive projectiles) was performed using the method of numerical simulations. For supersonic motion regime, pressure and velocity flow fields, as well as the formation of shock waves, around an irregularly shaped body were analyzed. Also, streamlines around an irregularly shaped body moving through the atmosphere were visualized (Ansys Fluent) and analyzed.

Aim To determine the relationship of homocysteine (HCY), uric acid (UA) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in serum of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) prior to application of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and their level of correlation in serum of patients with normal and elevated CRP (predictor of worse cardiovascular outcomes). Methods The study involved 85 patients with diagnosed AMI. Before the PCI, venous blood samples were taken into the vacuum test tubes. The analysis of HCY, UA, inflammatory markers CRP and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as well as lipoprotein status were performed on a different type of analysers and according to accepted protocols of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC). Results Elevated level of both HCY and UA in AMI patients as well as a positive correlation between HCY and UA level was observed. Classification of patients on the basis of mean UA concentration showed significant difference at the level of HCY concentration (p=0.022). Conclusion Since HCY and UA participate in the atherosclerotic process and their metabolism, as well as the effects on the cardiovascular system show significant overlaps, their serum level should be analysed synchronously with the level of CRP and NLR (indicators of significant inflammatory process in vessels). Considering a potential link between all parameters observed, further research involving a greater number of patients and including the post treatment effects should be conducted.

Continuous digitalization in the industry leads to new, highly complex systems that increase configuration costs. In particular, software and hardware changes cause major downtime. To dynamically reconfigure control system and avoid downtime, it is necessary to calculate valid or optimal deployment configurations. Previous research applies Design Space Exploration (DSE) techniques embedded into model-based design methodologies to calculate deployment configurations. However, current research either aims domains other than industrial automation or applies simple and, for real-life problems, not applicable constraints and objectives. Thus, the deployment of software components to hardware components is still an exhausting and manual task. In this work, we take first steps towards an automatically optimized deployment of the industrial automation systems. In particular, we propose applying DSE to calculate deployment configurations of IEC 61499-based control applications. In order to reduce the exploration space, we identify domain-specific constraints and objectives. Furthermore, we extend the IEC 61499 System and Application models' descriptions by proposing relevant hardware and software annotations. We exhibit the applicability of the identified annotations, constraints and objectives on the example of an Industry 4.0 relevant case study.

Existing research has shown that people often attribute human-like attributes to robots, which is generally known as the “anthropomorphism” phenomenon. We use the notion of “multi-dimensional anthropomorphism,” to perform a more fine-grained analysis of anthropomorphism in relation to robots in terms of several dimensions (e.g., uniquely and typically human, being alive or not, having emotions or not). Additionally, we expand on existing work, which has mostly focused on organism-based robot designs, by including object-based robot designs in our study of robot anthropomorphism. The results of an online survey study with 775 U.S. (393) and Chinese (382) participants show how people's personal characteristics (e.g., nationality) affect their perceptions of the anthropomorphism of robots, and how such perceptions differ between organism- and object-based robot designs. The effect on people's multi-dimensional anthropomorphism perceptions suggests new design implications for robotic technologies.

In recent years, great strides have been taken in the characterization of complex, heterogeneous ancient materials to gain a better understanding of their structure-function relationships. In this work, we apply a new set of high throughput characterization tools to study ancient Roman concrete, which is a particularly interesting material that shows heterogeneities and complexity across multiple scales, each of which are important for understanding its mechanics, its resilience, how it degrades, and for making informed decisions regarding its preservation.

AbstractPromoting the use of naturally available materials as a partial substitute to portland cement can be a viable solution for producing low carbon footprint and durable cements. This work asse...

Aim To examine whether there are differences in the experience in giving informed consent of patients whose surgery was elective compared to emergency surgery in the same department. Methods A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of University Clinical Hospital Mostar during a 6-month period. The sample of respondents consisted of two groups of patients, 145 with elective surgery and 90 patients with emergency surgery. The study was conducted using an anonymous questionnaire. Results Patients in both examined groups were equally satisfied with the procedure of informed consent. Most patients signed the informed consent at the request of a nurse, 195 (83%). During the process of consenting, almost all patients, regardless of whether they had elective or emergency surgery, claimed that they understood the form, which had to be signed, it was important to them, 230 (97.9%), except the patients who had elective surgery, 130 (90.3%), regularly stated that having an opportunity to ask questions was important to them. Respondents with emergency surgery more frequently agreed to sign whatever was in the form, 42 (46.7%). Conclusion Patients who had a planned surgery and patients who had an urgent surgery, mostly declare contentment with the use of informed consent although they did not have the same experience about informed consent.