Scalable and energy-efficient task allocation in industry 4.0: Leveraging distributed auction and IBPSO.

Industry 4.0 has transformed manufacturing with the integration of cutting-edge technology, posing crucial issues in the efficient task assignment to multi-tasking robots within smart factories. The paper outlines a unique method of decentralizing auctions to handle basic tasks.

Mangrove Conservation in Macao SAR, China: The Role of Environmental Education among School Students.

Mangrove forests are one of the most ecologically valuable ecosystems in the world and provide a wide variety of ecosystem services to coastal communities, including cities. Macao, a highly urbanized coastal city located on the southern coast of China west of the Pearl River, is home to several species of mangroves with many associated flora and fauna. Mangrove forests in Macao are vulnerable to threats due to pressure from rapid and massive urban developments in the area, which led to mangrove loss in the past decades.

Comparison of Treatment Modalities in Postirradiation Carotid Blowout Syndrome: A Multicenter Retrospective Review.

Background: Carotid blowout syndrome (CBS) is not uncommon in our locality, where head and neck cancers, especially nasopharyngeal carcinoma, are prevalent. Traditionally, CBS has resulted in high morbidity and mortality. The treatment paradigm has evolved from open surgery to endovascular interventions, and each treatment modality has its merits and drawbacks.

Intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of the Penn Spasm Frequency Scale in People with chronic traumatic spinal cord injury.

Study Design: Psychometric study.

Objectives: Evaluate the intra-rater and inter-rater reliability of the Penn Spasm Frequency Scale (PSFS) in people with chronic traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI).

Setting: Community setting.

Tensile strength and ultrastructure of a compomer and a composite in aqueous and non-aqueous storage media.

Purpose: To compare the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of a compomer (Dyract AP) and a composite (Spectrum TPH) that were stored in an aqueous or a non-aqueous medium for up to 180 days.

Methods: 156 hourglass-shaped specimens of each material with cylindrical cross-sectional areas along the test regions were prepared. For each material, 12 beams were stressed to failure using a microtensile testing method to obtain the baseline UTS data.