1. The influence of human age on order picking performance with collaborative robots : Experimental InsightsThilini Ranasinghe, Minqi Zhang, Eric Grosse, Dominic Loske, Jakob Marolt, Tone Lerher, 2025, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: This study investigates the impact of integrating autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) into order picking, with a particular focus on how age influence human performance. Our research employs a multimethod approach, combining descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and post-experiment survey data analysis to evaluate the effects of AMR-assisted picking compared to manual cart picking. The results demonstrate that AMRs significantly reduce order-picking times (OPTs) and variability in performance across both age groups, with the older group showing an OPT improvement of 23.68%, and the younger group 29.40%. The ANOVA revealed that age significantly influenced OPTs. Additionally, the survey data indicated that participants perceived AMRs as simple to use and collaborative, with a strong positive correlation between AMR positioning and collaboration experience. These findings highlight the benefits of AMRs in enhancing efficiency and consistency in warehouse operations. The study underscores the importance of considering human factors in the design and implementation of robotic systems, paving the way for a human-centric Industry 5.0. Future research should attempt to achieve empirical data from real industrial operations, with the focus on larger sample sizes and the long-term effects of AMR integration on job satisfaction and overall performance. Keywords: order picking, aging, autonomous mobile robots, experimental study Published in DKUM: 27.03.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 1
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2. Razkritje in izkoriščanje potenciala v gig ekonomiji: perspektiva s strani podjetja ter svobodnjaka (freelancerja)Nina Zhang, 2024, undergraduate thesis Abstract: V diplomskem delu obravnavamo pomen in razsežnost gig ekonomije v Evropski uniji. Za lažje razumevanje delovanja podjetij in freelancerjev v EU na digitalnih platformah obravnavamo poleg gig ekonomije tudi platformno ekonomijo, ki prispeva h globljemu razumevanju freelancinga v sodobni digitalni dobi. Kvalitativna metoda raziskovanja omogoča vpogled v perspektivo podjetij in perspektivo freelancerjev v ekonomskem modelu gig ekonomije. Globinski intervjuji razkrivajo po eni strani dejavnike najemanja freelancerjev in po drugi strani dejavnike sprejemanja specifičnih opravil, nalog, gig del ali projektov. Skozi raziskavo smo ugotovili številne vrzeli, ki jih obravnavamo kot neizkoriščene potenciale v gig ekonomiji in nudijo priložnosti za izboljšave tega ekonomskega modela. Keywords: razkritje potenciala, izkoriščanje potenciala, gig ekonomija, perspektiva podjetja, perspektiva svobodnjaka, freelancing. Published in DKUM: 18.12.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 27
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3. Network representation of multicellular activity in pancreatic islets : Technical considerations for functional connectivity analysisMarko Šterk, Yaowen Zhang, Viljem Pohorec, Eva Paradiž, Jurij Dolenšek, Richard K. P. Benninger, Andraž Stožer, Vira Kravets, Marko Gosak, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Within the islets of Langerhans, beta cells orchestrate synchronized insulin secretion, a pivotal aspect of metabolic homeostasis. Despite the inherent heterogeneity and multimodal activity of individual cells, intercellular coupling acts as a homogenizing force, enabling coordinated responses through the propagation of intercellular waves. Disruptions in this coordination are implicated in irregular insulin secretion, a hallmark of diabetes. Recently, innovative approaches, such as integrating multicellular calcium imaging with network analysis, have emerged for a quantitative assessment of the cellular activity in islets. However, different groups use distinct experimental preparations, microscopic techniques, apply different methods to process the measured signals and use various methods to derive functional connectivity patterns. This makes comparisons between findings and their integration into a bigger picture difficult and has led to disputes in functional connectivity interpretations. To address these issues, we present here a systematic analysis of how different approaches influence the network representation of islet activity. Our findings show that the choice of methods used to construct networks is not crucial, although care is needed when combining data from different islets. Conversely, the conclusions drawn from network analysis can be heavily affected by the pre-processing of the time series, the type of the oscillatory component in the signals, and by the experimental preparation. Our tutorial-like investigation aims to resolve interpretational issues, reconcile conflicting views, advance functional implications, and encourage researchers to adopt connectivity analysis. As we conclude, we outline challenges for future research, emphasizing the broader applicability of our conclusions to other tissues exhibiting complex multicellular dynamics. Keywords: islets of Langerhans, beta cells, calcium signaling, intercellular communication, functional networks, myosin model Published in DKUM: 09.12.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 4
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4. Ergonomic evaluation of human–robot collaborative order picking : a combined laboratory and simulation studyMinqi Zhang, Jakob Marolt, Primož Bencak, Eric Grosse, Tone Lerher, 2024, published scientific conference contribution Abstract: Thanks to rapid technological developments in robotics, various automation technologies are being applied in warehouses today. Order picking, as a key process in warehouse operations, has drawn attention in academia and practice for decades. In addition to many studies dedicated to manual and fully automated order picking, efforts have also been made to study semi-automated warehouses in which humans and robots collaborate. However, these studies mostly focused on system efficiency and ignored ergonomic aspects. Order picking was confirmed as a labor-intensive process in an environment in which workers are at a high risk of developing health problems. Therefore, this study addresses the investigation of physical human working conditions in both manual and robot-assisted order picking systems via real-life laboratory experiments and simulation modeling. We used a motion capture system to assess human working postures when working with and without robot assistance. In addition, we estimated the daily workload by applying the energy expenditure concept. Using simulation experiments, we were able to extend the results to various practical scenarios with different design variables, for example warehouse layouts, order sizes, and human-robot team configuration. Our preliminary results reveal that human-robot collaboration can reduce human workload. Posture evaluation also shows a slight improvement. Keywords: order picking, autonomous mobile robot, human factors, ergonomics, assisted order picking, hybrid order picking, simulation, performance evaluation Published in DKUM: 21.11.2024; Views: 0; Downloads: 4
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5. Study of V[sub]2CT[sub]x-MXene Based Immunosensor for Sensitive Label-Free Impedimetric Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Spike ProteinNikola Tasić, Ivan Konjević, Alnilan Cristina Barros Lobato, Dino Metarapi, Matjaž Finšgar, Filipa M. Oliveira, Zdeněk Sofer, Rui Gusmão, Xueji Zhang, Samo B. Hočevar, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Rapid and reliable immunosensing is undoubtedly one of the priorities in the efficient management and combat against a pandemic, as society has experienced with the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak; simple and cost-effective sensing strategies are at the forefront of these efforts. In this regard, 2D-layered MXenes hold great potential for electrochemical biosensing due to their attractive physicochemical properties. Herein, we present a V$_2$CT$_x$ MXene-based sensing layer as an integral part of a label-free immunosensor for sensitive and selective detection of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. The sensor was fabricated on a supporting screen-printed carbon electrode using Nafion as an immobilizing agent for MXene and glutaraldehyde, the latter enabling effective binding of protein A for further site-oriented immobilization of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. A thorough structural analysis of the sensor architecture was carried out, and several key parameters affecting the fabrication and analytical performance of the immunosensor were investigated and optimized. The immunosensor showed excellent electroanalytical performance in combination with an impedimetric approach and exhibited a low detection limit of only 45 fM SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Its practical applicability was successfully demonstrated by measuring the spike protein in a spiked artificial nasopharyngeal fluid sample. Keywords: imunosenzorji, polprevodniške nanostrukture, proteini, spike protein, immunosensors, SARS-CoV-2, V2CTxMXene Published in DKUM: 29.08.2024; Views: 42; Downloads: 4
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6. A game theoretical model for the stimulation of public cooperation in environmental collaborative governanceYinhai Fang, Matjaž Perc, Hui Zhang, 2022, original scientific article Abstract: Digital technologies provide a convenient way for the public to participate in environmental governance. Therefore, by means of a two-stage evolutionary model, a new mechanism for promoting public cooperation is proposed to accomplish environmental collaborative governance. Interactive effects of government-enterprise environmental governance are firstly explored, which is the external atmosphere for public behaviour. Second, the evolutionary dynamics of public behaviour is analysed to reveal the internal mechanism of the emergence of public cooperation in environmental collaborative governance projects. Simulations reveal that the interaction of resource elements between government and enterprise is an important basis for environmental governance performance, and that governments can improve this as well as public cooperation by increasing the marginal governance propensity. Similarly, an increase in the government's fixed expenditure item of environmental governance can also significantly improve government-enterprise performance and public cooperation. And finally, the effect of government's marginal incentive propensity on public environmental governance is moderated by enterprises' marginal environmental governance propensity, so that simply increasing the government's marginal incentive propensity cannot improve the evolutionary stable state of public behaviour under the scenario where enterprises’ marginal environmental governance propensity is low. Keywords: game theory, human behaviour, cooperation, mathematical model, common goods Published in DKUM: 28.05.2024; Views: 219; Downloads: 17
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7. Recycling of acetate and ammonium from digestate for single cell protein production by a hybrid electrochemical-membrane fermentation processDanfei Zeng, Yufeng Jiang, Carina Schneider, Yanyan Su, Claus Hélix-Nielsen, Yifeng Zhang, 2023, original scientific article Keywords: resource reclamation, single cell protein, electrodialysis, forward osmosis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae Published in DKUM: 10.05.2024; Views: 180; Downloads: 20
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8. String Universality and Non-Simply-Connected Gauge Groups in 8DMirjam Cvetič, Markus Dierigl, Ling Lin, Hao Y. Zhang, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: We present a consistency condition for 8D N 1 supergravity theories with nontrivial global structure G=Z for the non-Abelian gauge group, based on an anomaly involving the Z 1-form center symmetry. The interplay with other swampland criteria identifies the majority of 8D theories with gauge group G=Z, which have no string theory realization, as inconsistent quantum theories when coupled to gravity. While this condition is equivalent to geometric properties of elliptic K3 surfaces in F-theory compactifications, it constrains the unexplored landscape of gauge groups in other 8D string models. Keywords: supergravity theories, string theory, 8D string models Published in DKUM: 16.10.2023; Views: 557; Downloads: 27
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9. Yukawa hierarchies in global F-theory modelsMirjam Cvetič, Ling Lin, Mingqiang Liu, Hao Y. Zhang, Gianluca Zoccarato, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: We argue that global F-theory compactifications to four dimensions gener- ally exhibit higher rank Yukawa matrices from multiple geometric contributions known as Yukawa points. The holomorphic couplings furthermore have large hierarchies for generic complex structure moduli. Unlike local considerations, the compact setup realizes these features all through geometry, and requires no instanton corrections. As an example, we consider a concrete toy model with SU(5) x U(1) gauge symmetry. From the geometry, we find two Yukawa points for the 10-25-4 coupling, producing a rank two Yukawa matrix. Our methods allow us to track all complex structure dependencies of the holomorphic couplings and study the ratio numerically. This reveals hierarchies of O(10(5)) and larger on a full-dimensional subspace of the moduli space. Keywords: F-theory, supersymmetric effective theories Published in DKUM: 16.10.2023; Views: 262; Downloads: 21
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10. Gauge group topology of 8D Chaudhuri-Hockney-Lykken vacuaMirjam Cvetič, Markus Dierigl, Ling Lin, Hao Y. Zhang, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: Compactifications of the Chaudhuri-Hockney-Lykken (CHL) string to eight dimensions can be characterized by embeddings of root lattices into the rank 12 momentum lattice ΛM, the so-called Mikhailov lattice. Based on these data, we devise a method to determine the global gauge group structure including all Uð1Þ factors. The key observation is that, while the physical states correspond to vectors in the momentum lattice, the gauge group topology is encoded in its dual. Interpreting a nontrivial π1ðGÞ ≡ Z for the non-Abelian gauge group G as having gauged a Z 1-form symmetry, we also prove that all CHL gauge groups are free of a certain anomaly [1] that would obstruct this gauging. We verify this by explicitly computing Z for all 8D CHL vacua with rankðGÞ ¼ 10. Since our method applies also to T2 compactifications of heterotic strings, we further establish a map that determines any CHL gauge group topology from that of a “parent” heterotic model. Keywords: astrophysics, compactification, string dualities, string and branes, discrete symmetries, symmetries, gauge symmetries Published in DKUM: 13.10.2023; Views: 402; Downloads: 23
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