This paper presents the first application of discrete Shark Smell Optimization (SSO) for solving multiple-row, non-identical machine layout problems. The tool, which minimizes the total rectilinear material travel distance, was applied to job shop design problems with high product variety. The work used a systematic design of experiments approach to identify appropriate parameter settings. Experiments were conducted using five benchmark datasets obtained from the literature and comparisons were made with other common nature-inspired algorithms. The results indicated that the SSO performed better than other metaheuristics for the larger problems. Novel modifications were made to the discrete SSO to further improve its performance: (i) the shark rotation movement was modified to incorporate a neighbourhood search operator; (ii) a method for selecting candidate solutions based on the flow intensity between facility pairs was included; and (iii) the number of shark rotations was increased to improve local search. The SSO was also hybridized with the Marine Predator and Whale Optimization Algorithms. The modified and hybridized SSOs were evaluated using ten datasets, which found variants that were superior up to 6.5
Background/aims The emotional response to Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) (visual hallucinations in individuals with sight loss) is associated with negative affect, suggesting a link between psychological measures and hallucination characteristics. This study set out to investigate whether the association extends to a broader range of hallucination attributes and psychological measures, taking into account clinical factors likely to influence such associations.Methods 70 participants with self-reported CBS completed an online survey assessing hallucination attributes of frequency, duration, emotional valence, distress, level of control over hallucinations and impact on quality of life (QoL). Anxiety and depression were measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale while loneliness was assessed using the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Loneliness Scale. All three measures were combined as a mental health factor. Regression models tested relationships between hallucination attributes and mental health, controlling for age, sex assigned at birth, years of sight loss, years experiencing hallucinations, presence of migraine and visual field loss.Results All visual hallucination attributes except level of control were associated with the mental health factor; higher factor scores were associated with more frequent, longer lasting, more unpleasant and more distressing hallucinations and also with a more negative impact of hallucinations on QoL. These associations were independent of years of sight loss and CBS.Conclusion Mental health measures are linked to a wider range of CBS attributes than previously recognised, with greater clinical attention required to identify people with CBS who are experiencing psychological difficulties to help provide appropriate treatment and support.Limitations The study did not include a control group of visually impaired participants without hallucinations and has an uneven representation across age and gender with a small sample size for the sub-group analysis. The study relied on self-reported online data without clinical assessment; details of participants’ medication use were not collected.
Domestic higher education has fully entered the stage of massification, and the traditional development model relying solely on expanding institutional scale can no longer meet the practical demands for high-quality, connotative development. To continuously improve educational standards, universities must promptly update their management philosophies and refine their internal governance systems. Currently, the focus of higher education development has shifted significantly—institutional scale is no longer the sole criterion for measuring institutional strength, while governance system construction and internal management capabilities are gradually becoming key factors in enhancing overall competitiveness and core strengths. The quality of university governance directly affects the effectiveness of three core functions: talent cultivation, scientific research innovation, and social service, and serves as a crucial basis for evaluating institutional performance. Existing research reveals notable gaps in comparative studies between Chinese and foreign university governance. Most studies remain superficial, focusing merely on surface-level model comparisons without deeply analyzing essential differences in educational systems or exploring core aspects such as power and responsibility mechanisms, university-government collaboration, and refined management. As a result, there is a relative scarcity of localized research grounded in China's actual university context that can directly guide reform efforts. Based on comparative education theory and drawing from firsthand experience in university administration, this paper examines the strengths and weaknesses of mainstream Western university governance models and identifies practical governance challenges faced by Chinese institutions in areas such as authority allocation, multi-party collaboration, and daily operations. By integrating the unique characteristics of China’s higher education development, the paper proposes optimization strategies at three levels—institutional building, empowerment of stakeholders, and smart governance—to offer feasible reference points for advancing modernization of governance and achieving sustainable, high-quality development in Chinese universities.
Introduction The transition from hospital to home is a vulnerable stage in the patient pathway. Patients and carers often report unmet information needs regarding diagnoses, medication changes, follow-up arrangements and escalation pathways during the post-hospital discharge period. Digital information interventions—such as electronic health records, patient portals or remote communication systems—have been proposed to improve discharge pathways. However, evidence on their impact is unproven. The aim of this review is to understand what works for whom, how, why and in what circumstances in relation to digital information interventions during the hospital-to-home journey.Methods and analysis Pawson’s realist review approach will be used. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols and Realist and Meta-narrative Evidence Syntheses: Evolving Standards quality and reporting standards will also be followed. The review will follow five steps: (1) Development of the initial programme theory; (2) evidence search; (3) selection and appraisal of data; (4) extraction and organisation of data and (5) data synthesis and analysis. The search will be conducted in MEDLINE (Ovid); Embase; PsycINFO; Web of Science and Cochrane Library and supplemented with citation tracking, grey literature, relevant organisational websites, programme evaluation reports and through consultation with stakeholders. The realist review will be an iterative process, and the initial realist programme theory will be tested (confirmed, refuted or refined) in response to the data searches and stakeholder discussions. Patient and public involvement and engagement will be embedded throughout the review. Patients, carers and health and care stakeholders will contribute to refining the initial programme theory, interpreting emerging programme theory and co-developing dissemination outputs to ensure findings remain grounded in lived realities.Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval is not required for this review as it involves secondary analysis of published literature. The review will be conducted in accordance with principles of research integrity, transparency and responsible stakeholder involvement. Findings will inform the co-design of future digital discharge interventions and contribute to national priorities around digital transformation, safety and equity in transitional care. Dissemination will include conference presentations, a peer-reviewed journal article and accessible summaries co-developed with stakeholders to support equitable implementation and impact.
