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Implementation of the casting system on the new production line OT3 in Talum
Get PDFV zaključnem delu je predstavljena izvedba avtomatiziranega sistema za litje aluminija na novi proizvodni liniji v podjetju Talum. Avtomatizacija in računalniško vodena proizvodnja omogočata doseganje visoke kakovosti izdelkov, saj zagotavljata natančnost in zmanjšanje napak v procesu. Ob tem se zmanjšajo stroški delovanja, vzdrževanja in proizvodnje, kar pozitivno vpliva na konkurenčnost podjetja. Zaključno delo opisuje potek načrtovanja livnega sistema ter pregled uporabljene opreme, prilagojene specifičnim proizvodnim potrebam. Predstavljena je izdelava elektrotehnične dokumentacije in razvoj programa, pri čemer je poseben poudarek na regulaciji. V sklepnem delu so predstavljeni odzivi, na podlagi katerih so predlagane možne izboljšave za optimizacijo delovanja sistema.The thesis is about an automated aluminum casting system implemented on the new production line in Talum. Automation and computer-controlled production are key in ensuring high product quality by enhancing accuracy and reducing errors in the process. Additionally, operating, maintenance, and production costs are lowered, which positively impacts the company\u27s competitiveness. This thesis describes the design of the casting system and an overview of the equipment used, which must meet the required conditions. It also covers the development of electrical documentation and software, with a particular focus on regulation. The final part of the thesis discusses the system\u27s responses and suggests possible improvements for system optimization based on the conclusions
Overcoming stagnation in metaheuristic algorithms with MsMA’s adaptive meta-level partitioning
Get PDFStagnation remains a persistent challenge in optimization with metaheuristic algorithms (MAs), often leading to premature convergence and inefficient use of the remaining evaluation budget. This study introduces , a novel meta-level strategy that externally monitors MAs to detect stagnation and adaptively partitions computational resources. When stagnation occurs, divides the optimization run into partitions, restarting the MA for each partition with function evaluations guided by solution history, enhancing efficiency without modifying the MA’s internal logic, unlike algorithm-specific stagnation controls. The experimental results on the CEC’24 benchmark suite, which includes 29 diverse test functions, and on a real-world Load Flow Analysis (LFA) optimization problem demonstrate that MsMA consistently enhances the performance of all tested algorithms. In particular, Self-Adapting Differential Evolution (jDE), Manta Ray Foraging Optimization (MRFO), and the Coral Reefs Optimization Algorithm (CRO) showed significant improvements when paired with MsMA. Although MRFO originally performed poorly on the CEC’24 suite, it achieved the best performance on the LFA problem when used with MsMA. Additionally, the combination of MsMA with Long-Term Memory Assistance (LTMA), a lookup-based approach that eliminates redundant evaluations, resulted in further performance gains and highlighted the potential of layered meta-strategies. This meta-level strategy pairing provides a versatile foundation for the development of stagnation-aware optimization techniques
Mednarodna znanstvena konferenca »Raziskovanje in izobraževanje v zdravstveni negi«
Get PDFUniversity of Maribor Faculty of Health Sciences is organising the lnternational Scientific Conference "Research and Education in Nursing". It will be held on June 5th 2024 in Maribor and will include the most recent findings of domestic and foreign researchers in nursing and other healthcare fields. The conference aims to explore advances in nursing and health care research as well as research-based education, in the Slovenian and international arena. Furthermore, it will provide an opportunity far practitioners and educators to exchange research evidence, models of best practice and innovative ideas.Univerza v Mariboru Fakulteta za zdravstvene vede letos organizira mednarodno znanstveno konferenco »Raziskovanje in izobraževanje v zdravstveni negi«. Konferenca bo potekala 5. junija 2025 na fakulteti in bo vključevala prispevke in predavanja domačih in tujih strokovnjakov ter študentov s področja zdravstvene nege in zdravstvenih ved. Namen konference je predstaviti napredek na področju raziskovanja in izobraževanja v zdravstveni negi v slovenskem in mednarodnem prostoru. Poleg tega bo to odlična priložnost za zdravstvene delavce in visokošolske učitelje, da izmenjajo raziskovalne dokaze, modele dobrih praks in inovativne ideje
The influence of benefits and trust on consumers’ attitudes towards artificial intelligence
Get PDFBackground/Purpose
This article explores consumers’ perception of the benefits of intelligent service robots (ISR) in the purchasing process, their trust in artificial intelligence (AI), their perception of AI-related threats, and the impact of these variables on consumer attitudes toward AI. Additionally, the study examines the moderating effect of perceived AI-related threats on the relationship between perceived benefits and trust on one side and the formation of consumer attitudes toward AI on the other.
Methods
The research was conducted in the first half of 2024 on a judgmental sample of 224 employed consumers in the Republic of Slovenia. Data were collected through a structured online questionnaire. For the empirical analysis, a non-parametric approach using SEM-PLS modelling was applied to examine relationships between the studied research constructs.
Results
The findings indicate that perceived benefits of ISR have a strong and positive impact on consumer attitudes toward AI, while perceived AI-related threats strongly and negatively influence these attitudes. Moreover, the results reveal that perceived AI-related threats significantly and negatively moderate the effect of consumers’ perceived trust in AI on the formation of their attitudes toward AI.
Conclusion
The results of this study contribute significantly to the theoretical understanding of employed consumers’ attitudes toward AI. They also provide practical implications for companies in developing predictive models of consumer behaviour and defining effective marketing strategies to encourage AI adoption in the purchasing process
Fiscal multiplier and the role of income and wealth inequality
Get PDFThere is a lack of research concerning the influence of economic inequality on the size of fiscal multipliers. To address this, we apply a VAR methodological framework to assess the magnitude of fiscal multipliers for 47 economies, using a new quarterly dataset spanning the period from 1995 to 2021. We then gauge the impact of the battery of income and wealth inequality measures on the size of government consumption multipliers. To ensure the robustness of the results, a yearly panel data sample was also tested. The key findings of our empirical exercise can be outlined as follows. First, the estimated government consumption multipliers exhibit a generally positive trajectory throughout the forecast horizon in approximately 66% of the countries analysed, while in 19% of the sample, they remain largely negative, and in the remaining 15% of cases, they display a mixed pattern, being positive only during certain periods. Second, in 53% of the countries examined, the fiscal multiplier exceeds the threshold of one at least once during the forecast period, suggesting a greater output effect of fiscal expansion in these countries. Third, the more pronounced the income and wealth inequality in a country, the higher the value of the fiscal multiplier. This research outcome supports the proposition that higher economic inequality, especially income inequality, will generate greater government spending effects
NiaAutoARM: automated framework for constructing and evaluating association rule mining pipelines
Get PDFNumerical Association Rule Mining (NARM), which simultaneously handles both numerical and categorical attributes, is a powerful approach for uncovering meaningful associations in heterogeneous datasets. However, designing effective NARM solutions is a complex task involving multiple sequential steps, such as data preprocessing, algorithm selection, hyper-parameter tuning, and the definition of rule quality metrics, which together form a complete processing pipeline. In this paper, we introduce NiaAutoARM, a novel Automated Machine Learning (AutoML) framework that leverages stochastic population-based metaheuristics to automatically construct full association rule mining pipelines. Extensive experimental evaluation on ten benchmark datasets demonstrated that NiaAutoARM consistently identifies high-quality pipelines, improving both rule accuracy and interpretability compared to baseline configurations. Furthermore, NiaAutoARM achieves superior or comparable performance to the state-of-the-art VARDE algorithm while offering greater flexibility and automation. These results highlight the framework’s practical value for automating NARM tasks, reducing the need for manual tuning, and enabling broader adoption of association rule mining in real-world applications
A coupled multilevel vial lyophilization model for the pressure coupling in a freeze dryer
Get PDFWith computational modeling of lyophilization in vials, the pressure coupling between the sublimation front and the drying chamber has traditionally been calculated using a simplified mass transfer resistance model in the form of a model, which takes into account the headspace and the stopper in a simplified way. In developing a 3D CFD-based digital twin of lyophilization in vials, a need arises for a mass flow rate-dependent vial headspace/stopper model, as it enables a more accurate calculation of the pressure conditions above the shelf as well as pressure conditions directly at the sublimation front, the latter directly affecting the sublimation mass transfer rate as well as the temperature inside the product, which is crucial for determining the risk of product collapse. The local pressure variations at a shelf level affect the heat transfer conditions due to heat conduction in the low pressure environment of the drying chamber. In the present work the development of a coupled multilevel vial lyophilization model for the freeze-drying of vials is reported, with the time-dependent 1D heat and mass transfer model at the vial level coupled with the time-dependent 3D low-pressure CFD model of the flow of the water vapor–air mixture in the drying chamber heated by the shelves. A direct pressure coupling between the sublimation front and the drying chamber space in form of vial type specific headspace/stopper resistance model is implemented. The developed multilevel lyophilization model is used to study the pressure build-up above the shelf and the headspace of the vial and its influence on the product temperature at the bottom of the vial using simulations carried out for different chamber pressures (6 Pa and 22 Pa), shelf temperatures (−20 oC and +10 oC) and vial types (10R and 15R). By implementing previously developed vial headspace/stopper pressure resistance models, the computational results show that the pressure build-up above the shelf and vial headspace significantly affect the product temperature at the bottom of the vial, especially at low chamber pressures ( Pa) and small gap sizes between the rubber stopper and the shelf above it. The increased pressure outside the vial leads also to higher heat transfer by conduction, which is particularly pronounced at the central shelf positions and within smaller shelf gaps. These results underline the importance of using a coupled multilevel model when analyzing the relationship between the local pressure variations above the shelf and their direct influence on product drying conditions, further improving the predictive capabilities of CFD based multilevel lyophilization models, especially with respect to detecting the product collapse temperature
Gamified learning for sustainability
Get PDFThe transition to sustainable energy systems presents a critical challenge for the 21st century, necessitating both technological advancements and transformative educational strategies to foster awareness and knowledge. Hydrogen technologies are pivotal for decarbonization, yet public understanding and acceptance remain limited. This study introduces and evaluates a novel gamified educational framework, uniquely integrating simulationbased learning, collaborative problem-solving, and adaptive instructional scaffolding to enhance hydrogen literacy and sustainability awareness. Unlike traditional pedagogical approaches, this method actively engages learners in real-world decision-making scenarios, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical applications. This study involved adolescents aged 13–15 from two distinct educational and cultural contexts, one in Europe and one in the Middle East. A pre–post study design assessed knowledge acquisition, gamification engagement, and environmental awareness shifts. Findings reveal statistically significant improvements in technical knowledge and strong positive perceptions of gamified learning as an effective sustainability education tool across both cultural groups (Europe and the Middle East). Variations in engagement across cultural contexts suggest the need for adaptive, context-sensitive educational frameworks. While the findings indicate significant short-term knowledge gains, this study does not assess long-term knowledge retention, which remains an important area for future research. This research contributes to sustainability education by demonstrating how strategically designed gamification can foster behavioral engagement, enhance environmental literacy, and support the global energy transition agenda. This study offers a pioneering perspective on integrating interactive learning methodologies to cultivate sustainability competencies among younger generations
Involving students in school-home cooperation
Get PDFThe paper discusses the importance of involving students in school-home cooperation and its impact on their responsibility, motivation and behaviour. Great emphasis is placed on the active involvement of students, as it contributes to a better understanding of learning objectives, more effective communication between teachers, parents and students, and greater success in achieving educational and behavioural goals. Particular attention is paid to children with special needs, where participation further promotes their independence and enables an inclusive attitude. Based on qualitative research, we conclude that students who participate in three-way conferences are more motivated and better able to monitor their progress. Despite the benefits, there are challenges in implementing such practices, as teachers and parents often doubt students’ ability to participate. On this basis, we propose to increase the systematic involvement of students in school-home cooperation and to provide additional education and training for educators and parents to promote students’ active participation
Mladoletniško prestopništvo v ruralnih in urbanih skupnostih
Get PDFThe doctoral dissertation examines juvenile delinquency patterns in rural and urban environments and seeks to develop and test an Integrated Risk Factor Model of delinquency. The theoretical section discusses the challenging period of adolescence and the emergence of delinquent behavior as normative behavior. It then describes the concepts of juvenile criminality and delinquency, concentrating on specific problematic forms of delinquency and highlighting the importance of studying juvenile delinquency through both official crime statistics and self-report and victimization studies. The dissertation emphasizes the significance of environments and delinquency in urban and rural communities. This is followed by an overview of official statistics on juvenile crime and crime in both urban and rural environments, along with a presentation of key findings from studies on delinquency, victimization, and youth violence in Slovenia since its independence. Special attention is given to findings from the second international study on self-reported juvenile delinquency and victimization (ISRD2). The dissertation then discusses risk and protective factors crucial for studying and understanding delinquency. Finally, the theoretical section examines various criminological theories, focusing particularly on well-known integrated theories, and develops a new Integrated Risk Factor Model of delinquency, which is subsequently tested.
The empirical section of the dissertation tests the hypotheses and answers the following research questions: 1) What are the prevalence rates of self-reported juvenile delinquency in rural and urban areas in Slovenia? 2) Is there a correlation between socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender, immigration status, socioeconomic status, and religion) and involvement in juvenile delinquency? and (3) Can an Integrated Risk Factor Model explain delinquency in rural and urban environments equally well? A series of bivariate and multivariate analyses are performed using data from the 4th international study on self-reported juvenile delinquency and victimization (ISRD4), conducted between October 2022 and March 2023, which involved 2,653 juveniles aged 13–17 from urban and rural environments.
The results reveal variations in the prevalence and most common types of juvenile delinquency between urban and rural areas. It shows that delinquency is not solely a product of urban environments. Context-specific differences in demographic factors and risk factors are observed. The findings show that in rural environments, fewer risk factors influence delinquency. Still, these factors have a stronger impact, while delinquency among urban juveniles arises from a broader range of risk factors. This section also tests the Integrated Risk Factor Model. The model is structured around the relationship of delinquency to three broad concepts: 1) Crime Propensity (moral values and self-control)2) Strain (Family (family bond, parental supervision, and adverse childhood experiences)school (school bond and school crime)and peers (delinquent friends and victimization))and 3) Involvement (time spent in public places, at parties, and with family). The final Integrated Risk Factor Model successfully explains a significant portion of delinquency. However, the tailored model for urban and rural environments explains a slightly larger proportion of delinquency than the general model.
In the final section, three Integrated Risk Factor Models are presented: the general Integrated Risk Factor Model, the Urban Risk Factor Model, and the Rural Risk Factor Model. The conclusion addresses the implications of the findings for the hypotheses and research questions and provides suggestions for further work as well as recommendations for policy and practice.Doktorska disertacija se osredotoča na raziskovanje vzorcev mladoletniškega prestopništva v ruralnih in urbanih okoljih ter poskuša aplicirati okoljski integracijski model. V teoretičnem delu predstavi težavno obdobje mladostništva in adolescence kakor tudi nastanek delinkventnega vedenja. Nato predstavi pojem mladoletniške kriminalitete in mladoletniškega prestopništva, se fokusira na specifične problematične oblike prestopništva ter predstavi pomembnost preučevanja mladoletniškega prestopništva skozi prizmo uradnih statistik o kriminaliteti kakor tudi samonaznanitvenih in viktimizacijskih študij. Nato predstavi pomembnost okolij in prestopništva v urbanih in ruralnih skupnostih, saj mladoletniško prestopništvo ne pozna geografskih omejitev. Sledi predstavitev tako uradnih statistik splošne mladoletniške kriminalitete kot kriminalitete po urbanih in ruralnih okoljih, kakor tudi predstavitev glavnih ugotovitev študij o prestopništvu, viktimizaciji in nasilju med mladimi v Sloveniji, od njene osamosvojitve dalje, in podrobneje predstavi ugotovitve 2. mednarodne študije o samonaznanitvi mladoletniškega prestopništva in viktimizacije (ISRD2). Prav tako predstavi dejavnike tveganja in zaščitne dejavnike, ki so ključnega pomena za preučevanje in razumevanje prestopništva. Za konec teoretičnega dela se dotakne raznovrstnih kriminoloških teorij. Še posebno se usmeri v predstavitev znanih integracijskih teorij, in na njihovi podlagi ustvari svoj integracijski model, ki ga v nadaljevanju tudi testira.
V empiričnem delu doktorske disertacije testiramo in analiziramo prej zastavljene hipoteze in odgovarjamo na raziskovalna vprašanja. Na podlagi podatkov iz 4. mednarodne študije o samonaznanitvi mladoletniškega prestopništva in viktimizacije (ISRD4), ki smo jo izvedli med oktobrom 2022 in marcem 2023 in v katero smo zajeli 2.653 13–17 let starih mladoletnikov iz urbanih in ruralnih okolij, izvedemo vrsto bivariatnih in multivariatnih analiz. Rezultati analiz podatkov razkrijejo, da prihaja do variacij v prevalenci mladoletniškega prestopništva in najbolj pogostih vrstah prestopništva glede na vrsto okolja. Prestopništvo nedvomno ni le produkt urbanih okolij. Prav tako prihaja do kontekstualno specifičnih razlik v demografskih faktorjih in dejavnikih tveganja. Rezultati pokažejo, da v ruralnih okoljih prihaja do vpliva manjšega števila dejavnikov tveganja, vendar imajo te močnejše vplive na prestopništvo, medtem ko prestopništvo med urbanimi mladoletniki izvira iz širšega nabora dejavnikov tveganja. V tem delu testiramo tudi integracijski model, ki smo ga oblikovali sami na podlagi prejšnjih študij in prestopniških teorij. Integracijski model je oblikovan na podlagi povezanosti prestopništva s tremi koncepti: 1) nagnjenosti h kriminaliteti (moralne vrednote in samokontrola), 2) stresorjev (družina (družinska navezanost, starševski nadzor in travmatične izkušnje iz otroštva)šola (navezanost na šolo in kriminaliteta v šoliin prijatelji (prestopniški prijatelji in viktimizacija), in 3) vpletenost (preživljanje časa na javnih mestih, na zabavah in z družino). Končni splošni okoljski integracijski model, ki vsebuje manjše število dejavnikov tveganja, sicer uspešno razloži velik del prestopništva, vendar prilagojena modela za urbana in ruralna okolja razložita še malo večji delež prestopništva.
V zadnjem delu prikažemo in predstavimo tri integracijski modele, splošni okoljski model, urbani model in ruralni model, za katere predlagamo, da se aplicirajo v bodočih raziskavah. V zaključku odgovorimo na zastavljene hipoteze in raziskovalna vprašanja ter podamo predloge za nadaljnje delo in priporočila za politiko in prakso