Digital Commons Network^™

Performance Evaluation Of Ingenious Crow Search Optimization Algorithm For Protein Structure Prediction, Ahmad M. Alshamrani, Akash Saxena, Shalini Shekhawat, Hossam Zawbaa, Ali Wagdy Mohamed

Articles

Protein structure prediction is one of the important aspects while dealing with critical diseases. An early prediction of protein folding helps in clinical diagnosis. In recent years, applications of metaheuristic algorithms have been substantially increased due to the fact that this problem is computationally complex and time-consuming. Metaheuristics are proven to be an adequate tool for dealing with complex problems with higher computational efficiency than conventional tools. The work presented in this paper is the development and testing of the Ingenious Crow Search Algorithm (ICSA). First, the algorithm is tested on standard mathematical functions with known properties. Then, the application …

A Multi–Objective Gaining–Sharing Knowledge-Based Optimization Algorithm For Solving Engineering Problems, Nour Elhouda Chalabi, Abdelouahab Attia, Khalid Abdulaziz Alnowibet, Hossam Zawbaa, Hatem Masri, Ali Wagdy Mohamed

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Metaheuristics in recent years has proven its effectiveness; however, robust algorithms that can solve real-world problems are always needed. In this paper, we suggest the first extended version of the recently introduced gaining–sharing knowledge optimization (GSK) algorithm, named multiobjective gaining–sharing knowledge optimization (MOGSK), to deal with multiobjective optimization problems (MOPs). MOGSK employs an external archive population to store the nondominated solutions generated thus far, with the aim of guiding the solutions during the exploration process. Furthermore, fast nondominated sorting with crowding distance was incorporated to sustain the diversity of the solutions and ensure the convergence towards the Pareto optimal set, …

An Integrated Model For Information Adoption&Trust In Mobile Social Commerce, Fulya Acikgoz, Abdelsalam Busalim, James Gaskin, Shahla Asadi

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ABSTRACT Despite the growing importance of mobile social commerce (ms-commerce), little research has been conducted on the effects of informational and social factors on users’ post-adoption behavior. We, therefore, build on the understanding of mobile social commerce in the UK market and how it affects users’ post-adoption behaviors. Our theoretical model leverages the information adoption model, social support theory, and social influence theory. Data was gathered from 377 ms-commerce users from the UK and analyzed via Partial Least Squares (PLS-SEM). The research findings show that both informational and social factors have a positive impact on information adoption in ms-commerce apps. …

Argframe: A Multi-Layer, Web, Argument-Based Framework For Quantitative Reasoning, Lucas Rizzo

Articles

Multiple systems have been proposed to perform computational argumentation activities, but there is a lack of options for dealing with quantitative inferences. This multi-layer, web, argument-based framework has been proposed as a tool to perform automated reasoning with numerical data. It is able to use boolean logic for the creation of if-then rules and attacking rules. In turn, these rules/arguments can be activated or not by some input data, have their attacks solved (following some Dung or rank-based semantics), and finally aggregated in different fashions in order to produce a prediction (a number). The framework is implemented in PHP for …

Assessing The Impact Of Contact Tracing With An Agent-Based Model For Simulating The Spread Of Covid-19: The Irish Experience, Elizabeth Hunter, Sudipta Saha, Jwenish Kumawat, Ciara Carroll, John Kelleher, Claire Buckley, Conor Mcaloon, Patricia Kearney, Michelle Gilbert, Greg Martin

Articles

Contact tracing is an important tool in managing infectious disease outbreaks and Ireland used a comprehensive contact tracing program to slow the spread of COVID-19. Although the benefits of contact tracing seem obvious, it is difficult to estimate the actual impact contact tracing has on an outbreak because it is hard to separate the effects of contact tracing from other behavioural changes or interventions. To understand the impact contact tracing had in Ireland, we used an agent-based model that is designed to simulate the spread of COVID-19 through Ireland. The model uses real contact tracing data from the first year …

Enhancing The Prediction For Shunt‑Dependent Hydrocephalus After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Using A Machine Learning Approach, Dietmar Frey, Adam Hilbert, Anton Früh, Vince Istvan Madai, Tabea Kossen, Julia Kiewitz, Jenny Sommerfeld, Peter Vajkoczy, Meike Unteroberdörster, Esra Zihni, Sophie Charlotte Brune, Stefan Wolf, Nora Franziska Dengler

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Early and reliable prediction of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus (SDHC) after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorhage (a SAH) may decrease the duration of in-hospital stay and reduce the risk of catheter-associated meningitis. Machine learning (ML) may improve predictions of SDHC in comparison to traditional non-ML methods. ML models were trained for CHESS and SDASH and two combined individual feature sets with clinical, radiographic, and laboratory variables. Seven different algorithms were used including three types of generalized linear models (GLM) as well as a tree boosting (Cat Boost) algorithm, a Nave Bayes (NB) classifier, and a multilayer perceptron (MLP) artificial neural net. The discrimination of …

Interpreting Disentangled Representations Of Person-Specific Convolutional Variational Autoencoders Of Spatially Preserving Eeg Topographic Maps Via Clustering And Visual Plausibility, Taufique Ahmed, Luca Longo

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Dimensionality reduction and producing simple representations of electroencephalography (EEG) signals are challenging problems. Variational autoencoders (VAEs) have been employed for EEG data creation, augmentation, and automatic feature extraction. In most of the studies, VAE latent space interpretation is used to detect only the out-of-order distribution latent variable for anomaly detection. However, the interpretation and visualisation of all latent space components disclose information about how the model arrives at its conclusion. The main contribution of this study is interpreting the disentangled representation of VAE by activating only one latent component at a time, whereas the values for the remaining components are …

Survey Data On Dysfunctional Attitudes, Personality Traits, And Agreement With Persuasive Techniques, Annye Braca, Pierpaolo Dondio

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Persuasion techniques play a vital role in human commu- nication, influencing various aspects of our lives. With the increasing prevalence of digital platforms, these techniques have permeated online spaces such as websites, mobile apps, games, and social media. This article presents a dataset col- lected via a survey, designed to gather information about in- dividuals’ demographics, personality traits, dysfunctional at- titudes, and their responses to statements embedded with persuasion techniques. Core messages promoting paid news subscriptions, blood donations, and exercise serve as the fo- cus, while definitions and examples of persuasive techniques are provided. By analyzing this comprehensive dataset, re- …

The Potential And Limitations Of Conversational Agents For Chronic Conditions And Well-Being, Ekaterina Uetova, Lucy Hederman, Robert J. Ross, Dympna O'Sullivan

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Conversational agents are becoming more common in the health and wellness domains in part due to assumptions regarding potential improvements in individuals’ outcomes. This paper presents initial findings from a review of conversational agent use in healthcare for chronic conditions and well-being. A search of the literature was performed on electronic databases PubMed, ACM Digital Library, Scopus and IEEE Xplore. Studies were included if they were focused on chronic disorder management, disease prevention or lifestyle change and if systems were tested on target user groups. This paper investigates the health domains, the user profiles and reasons why conversational agents may …

Developing Persuasive Systems For Marketing: The Interplay Of Persuasion Techniques, Customer Traits And Persuasive Message Design, Annye Braca, Pierpaolo Dondio

Articles

This paper presents a comprehensive review of persuasion techniques and their applications in the context of designing persuasive communication systems for marketing purposes. The study provides a condensed taxonomy of techniques and offers examples to guide the development of effective persuasive messages. Furthermore, the paper explores how attitudes, personality traits, and emotions can be leveraged as input data in predictive models, including machine learning approaches. The study's findings offer valuable insights for the design and implementation of persuasive communication systems across diverse contexts, including marketing and advertising, public health campaigns, and political messaging. This paper has the potential to serve …

Nonlinear Two-Dimensional Water Waves With Arbitrary Vorticity, Delia Ionescu-Kruse, Rossen Ivanov

Articles

We consider the two-dimensional water-wave problem with a general non-zero vorticity field in a fluid volume with a flat bed and a free surface. The nonlinear equations of motion for the chosen surface and volume variables are expressed with the aid of the Dirichlet-Neumann operator and the Green function of the Laplace operator in the fluid domain. Moreover, we provide new explicit expressions for both objects. The field of a point vortex and its interaction with the free surface is studied as an example. In the small-amplitude long-wave Boussinesq and KdV regimes, we obtain appropriate systems of coupled equations for …

Turbulence Phenomena In Magnetohydrodynamic Phase Transitions, Giovambattista Amendola, Mauro Fabrizio, John Murrough Golden

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The model developed in (Fabrizio in J. Eng. Math., 2023) and (Fabrizio in Int. J. Eng. Sci. 44:529–539, 2006), involving the use of a local Reynolds number, is applied to describe phase transitions in a fluid. Specifically, it is applied in a magnetohydrodynamics context to study the evolution of turbulence in certain phenomena. The relevant equations describing the system are those of Navier-Stokes, Ginzburg-Landau and the magnetohydrodynamic equations, all suitably interconnected.

Probabilistic Network Analysis Of Social-Ecological Relationships Emerging From Eu Life Projects For Nature And Biodiversity: An Application Of Ergm Models In The Case Study Of The Veneto Region (Italy), Elena Andriollo, Laura Secco, Alberto Caimo, Elena Pisani

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Considering social-ecological relationships in managing protected areas is fundamental to ensuring effective biodiversity conservation and restoration governance. Network analysis offers valuable methods to disentangle intangible relations between and within the social and ecological systems. In this way, it could be possible to identify and integrate multiple social and ecological variables that inevitably affect collaborative environmental governance's effectiveness. Nevertheless, this research area is still nascent, with few methodologies and concrete applications reported in the scientific literature. With this study, we aim to propose a robust novel application of a network methodology to enrich the evaluation of the effectiveness of collaborative environmental …

A Covariance Formula For The Number Of Excursion Set Components Of Gaussian Fields And Applications, Dmitry Beliaev, Michael Mcauley, Stephen Muirhead

Articles

We derive a covariance formula for the number of excursion or level set components of a smooth stationary Gaussian field on R^d contained in compact domains. We also present two applications of this formula: (1) for fields whose correlations are integrable we prove that the variance of the component count in large domains is of volume order and give an expression for the leading constant, and (2) for fields with slower decay of correlation we give an upper bound on the variance which is of optimal order if correlations are regularly varying, and improves on best-known bounds if correlations …

Review Of The Valorization Initiatives Of Brewing And Distilling Byproducts, Ekene C. Umego, Catherine Barry-Ryan

Articles

Beer and spirits are two of the most consumed alcoholic beverages in the world, and their production generates enormous amounts of by-product materials. This ranges from spent grain, spent yeast, spent kieselguhr, trub, carbon dioxide, pot ale, and distilled gin spent botanicals. The present circular economy dynamics and increased awareness on resource use for enhanced sustainable production practices have driven changes and innovations in the management practices and utilisation of these by-products. These include food product development, functional food applications, biotechnological applications, and bioactive compounds extraction. As a result, the brewing and distilling sector of the food and drinks industry …

Enhancing Control Room Operator Decision Making: An Application Of Dynamic Influence Diagrams In Formaldehyde Manufacturing, Joseph Mietkiewicz, Anders L. Madsen

Articles

Intoday’s rapidly evolving industrial landscape, control room operators must grapple with an ever-growing array of tasks and respon sibilities. One major challenge facing these operators is the potential for task overload, which can lead to decision fatigue and increased reliance on cognitive biases. To address this issue, we propose the use of dynamic influence diagrams (DID) as the core of our decision support system. By monitoring the process over time and identifying anomalies, DIDs can recommend the most effective course of action based on a probabilistic assessment of future outcomes. Instead of letting the operator choose or search for the …

Do The Culturable Microbial Groups Present In Cutaway Bogs Change According To Temporal Variation? Pilot Study Based On The Midlands In The Republic Of Ireland, Gouri Nilakshika Atapattu, Tara Battersby, Michelle Giltrap, Furong Tian

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Cutaway peatlands in the midlands of the Republic of Ireland are rarely the focus of scientific studies. The soil quality and related microenvironment have been severely impacted by peat extraction. Returning them to a ‘near-natural state' would require greater insights into this ecological niche. The current research took the initiative to study the microbiology of vast cutaway sites in the midlands of Ireland. Peat was collected over two seasons in January, February and April. Homogenised peat was aseptically cultured on a range of specific and non-specific culture media. Microbial enumeration, Gram staining and other microscopic observations of morphologically distinct microorganisms …

Series-Fed Omnidirectional Mm-Wave Dipole Array, Neeraj Kumar Maurya, Max Ammann, Patrick Mcevoy

Articles

THE rapid expansion in the millimeter-wave (mm-wave) frequency domain has completely changed the course of wireless communication. One of the most important steps to make smart cities, the Internet-of-Things (IoT), smart homes, and vehicular communication a reality is to use mm-wave frequencies for wireless applications. The rise in the number of wireless appliances has also led to a rise in data traffic [1]. The adoption of mm-wave frequencies enabled several gigahertz of bandwidth, allowing data rate and latency limits to be exceeded. The availability of a broad electromagnetic spectrum and frequency reusability are the most important characteristics of mm-wave deployment …

Valorisation Of Crustacean And Bivalve Processing Side Streams For Industrial Fast Time-To-Market Products: A Review From The European Union Regulation Perspective, Yang Zou, Marc Heyndrickx, Jane Debode Jane Debode, Katleen Raes, Donatella De Pascale, Patrice Behan, Michelle Giltrap, Christine O'Connor, Runar Gjerp Solstad, Kjersi Lian, Themistoklis Altintzoglou, Ragnhild Dragoy, Nathalie Maria Scheers, Ingrid Undeland, Johan Robbens

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A massive amount of crustaceans and bivalves are consumed each year, leading to millions of tons of processing side streams from the seafood industry. Considering the current trend of (bio)circular and zero-waste food production, crustacean and bivalve processing side streams (CBPS) seem a promising and emerging resource for producing high-value-added products. This paper highlights the general composition of CBPS with high commercial values, namely, protein, lipids, carotenoids, minerals and chitins. The extraction strategies of these fractions, including conventional chemical and environmentally friendly methods, are also discussed. This review presents and summarises CBPS as raw materials for developing fast time-to-market products …

How Online Discourse Networks Fields Of Practice: The Discursive Negotiation Of Autonomy On Art Organisation About Pages, Tommie Soro

Articles

This article examines how the online discourse of art organisations forges relationships between the artworld and the fields of politics and economy. Combining elements of Pierre Bourdieu’s field analysis and Norman Fairclough’s critical discourse analysis, the article analyses an elite art magazine, e-flux, and an elite art museum, IMMA, and the activities of discourses, genres, and utterances on their about pages. Its results suggest that the about pages of these organisations forge links between the artworld and the fields of politics and economy by mobilising discourse in these fields and by incorporating discourse practices from these fields. The ideological tension …

Editorial: Investigating The Effect Of The Physical Context On Customer Experience, Helen L. Bruce, Ewa Krolikowska, Tara Rooney

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This editorial introduces a special issue of the Journal of Services Marketing, dedicated to articles discussing the effect of the physical context on customer experience. The editorial identifies diverse areas of extant knowledge which researchers might draw upon when investigating the effect of the physical context on customer experience. to inform future research agendas.

Women Microbusiness Owners’ Entrepreneurial Marketing Decision-Making During A Crisis, Helen L. Bruce, Tara Rooney, Ewa Krolikowska

Articles

Understanding effective marketing decision-making is key to driving business performance. However, knowledge of marketing decision-making by microbusiness owners is limited. Moreover, little is known about how microbusiness owners make marketing decisions under crisis conditions. This article explores entrepreneurial marketing decision-making by women microbusiness owners during the COVID-19 pandemic, through qualitative interviews with providers of children’s activities, who migrated their services online during lockdown. Findings shed light on their marketing decision-making by highlighting transitions between causation and effectuation approaches and identifying key resources leveraged in effectuation decision-making. We also observe how distinct principles of effectuation may be combined to make effective …

Watchdogs Of The Economy: The Development Of Irish Economics Profession’S Independent Voice, Joseph K. Fitzgerald, Brendan O'Rourke

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Histories of the development of professions show a profession’s relationship with the state as key to its authority. Yet professions, to gain technocratic authority, also strive to depoliticise their discourses to gain technocratic authority. This dilemmatic tension is particularly true for the economics profession. The historical development of the Irish economics provides an interesting case, where a complicated relationship with the state ultimately strengthened the profession within a society. An initial formalisation trajectory of Irish economics was thrown off course by the formation of an independent Irish state in the 1920s. This marked a period of isolation for the profession …

Sustainability In Supply Chain Management: Using Drawings To Understand Undergraduates’ Perceptions Of Sustainability, Sharon Feeney, John William Hogan

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Purpose – This paper presents an interpretation of freehand drawings produced by supply chain management undergraduates in response to the question: “What is sustainability?” Having to explain sustainability pictorially forced students to distill what the essence of sustainability meant to them and provided insights into how they perceived sustainability and their roles in achieving sustainability in the context of supply chain management. Design/methodology/approach – Students were asked to draw and answer the question “What is sustainability?” These drawings were discussed/interpreted in class. All drawings were initially examined quantitatively, before a sample of four were selected for presentation here. Findings – …

Understanding The Interplay Between Immigrant Nascent Entrepreneurship And Cross-Cultural Adaptation, Lucia Walsh, Thomas M. Cooney

Articles

Purpose – All entrepreneurs face challenges during their venture start-up process, but immigrant entrepreneurs face additional and distinctive challenges due to their contextual newness. This paper focuses on understanding the intertwined journeys of nascent entrepreneurship and cross-cultural adaptation of immigrants in a small Western European country where immigrant entrepreneurship is still a relatively new phenomenon.

Design/methodology/approach – The induction-driven, 18-month longitudinal empirical inquiry focused on six early-stage nascent entrepreneurs. Qualitative methods included participant observation during an enterprise program, qualitative interviews and ongoing informal communication.

Findings – The data uncovered the interplay between the nascent immigrant entrepreneurship and crosscultural adaptation. This …

Workplace Accident Analysis In The Algerian Oil And Gas Industry, Hamza Zerrouki

Articles

A total of 42,032 workplace accidents were reported in 2021 by the Algerian National Social Insurance Fund for Salaried Workers in Algeria, of which 38,225 were accidents within the workplace and 3807 were related to traffic accidents or other reasons. Most of these accidents were recorded in the building and construction field, followed by the oil and gas company exploration and drilling, which comes at the forefront of the Sonatrach company. This study aims to analyze accidents in the workplace using quantitative and qualitative methods to determine the corresponding causes. Our study was carried out in collaboration with Sonatrach in …

Effect Of ‘Peatland-Use’ Type On Culturable Microbial Groups In Irish Peatlands In The Midlands, Gouri Atapattu, Samuel Obeng Apori, Tara Battersby, Michelle Giltrap, Furong Tian

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Soil microbial ecology in the Irish wetlands is still poorly understood, although it is crucial in introducing effective rewetting schemes to restore and conserve the Irish peatlands. As an initiative, peatlands with distinct land-use types (cutaway, raised semi-degraded, unimproved grassland and grassland) were collected from farms in the midlands to analyse various microbial populations. Peat was homogenized and serially diluted to culture on a range of specific and non-specific culture media. Culture isolation and microbial enumeration were performed. Gram staining and other microscopic observations of morphologically distinct microorganisms were performed, followed by isolation procedures. The numbers of total viable bacteria …

Extraction Yield And Biological Activity Of Phycobiliproteins From Porphyridium Purpureum Using Atmospheric Cold Plasma Discharge And Jet Systems, Shaba Noore, Brijesh K. Tiwari, Anet R. Jambrak, Josipa Dukic, Janith Wanigasekara, James Curtin, Claudio Fuentes-Grunewald, Colm P. O’Donnell

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Phycobiliproteins (PBPs) extracted from Porphyridium purpureum (P.p) have bioactive properties and are widely used as ingredients in nutraceutical and food applications. This study investigated the use of two cold plasma systems, namely cold plasma discharge system (CPDS) and cold plasma jet system (CPJS), for the aqueous extraction of PBPs from P. p. Three types of PBPs, namely phycoerythrin (PE), phycocyanin (PC) and allophycocyanin (APC) were identified in the crude extracts obtained. The highest PBPs extraction yield (11.31 ± 1.02 mg/g DW P. p) was obtained from CPDS treated samples at 25 kV using N2 for 9 min. CPDS treatments were …

Novel Biorefinery Process For Extraction Of Laminarin, Alginate And Protein From Brown Seaweed Using Hydrodynamic Cavitation, Xianglu Zhu, Laura Healy, Rahel Suchintita Das, M.L. Bhavya, Shanmugapriya Karuppusamy, Da-Wen Sun, Colm O'Donnell, Brijesh K. Tiwari

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This paper investigates a novel biorefinery process designed for the extraction of valuable compounds from brown seaweed Alaria esculenta using hydrodynamic cavitation (HDC). A two-stage process was developed to maximize the value of seaweed biomass by control of the processing time, solvent selection and HDC conditions to extract laminarin, alginate, mannitol and protein in a cascading manner, maximizing the value of seaweed biomass. After the first extraction stage using 0.1 M HCl, membrane ultrafiltration was employed to separate laminarin and mannitol. The purity of the laminarin and mannitol obtained was up to 86.57 ± 3.72 % and 40.49 ± 2.78 …

Recent Insights On The Conformational Changes, Functionality, And Physiological Properties Of Plant-Based Protein–Polyphenol Conjugates, Mehnaza Manzoor, Zaria Fozonne Ngabou Tchameni, Zuhaib F. Bhat, Amit K. Jaiswal, Sundeep Jaglan

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Plant proteins are promising sources of nutrition with enhanced health benefits due to their interaction with bioactive compounds like polyphenols. These interactions can form protein–polyphenol complexes with diverse properties and applications in the food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical industries. To exploit the potential of these conjugates, it is essential to understand how they are formed, characterized, and delivered. Various techniques such as spectroscopy, thermodynamics, and molecular docking simulations can reveal the mechanism and outcomes of protein–polyphenol binding. Moreover, the surface modification of protein–polyphenol conjugation can enhance the pharmacological effects of different drug molecules and enable their targeted delivery to specific tissues …