Influence of the Trends Robotics and Digitalisation on Ladle Slide Gate Development

The article focuses on the influence of operator and process safety and the trends of robotics and digitalisation on a ladle slide gate that was introduced to the market 6 years ago[1].After more than 50 installations,customer experience was gathered and new features were added to a system upgrade.These upgrades are related to safety,ease of operation,and low operational costs.Especially a newly introduced“open check”feature increases the confidence level of the operators and can boost performance.With growing requirements to increase safety for people and processes in the ladle preparation area and on the continuous casting floor,automation has become increasingly important in steel plants.A slide gate prototype is currently underway to launch an innovative new gate design striving for full automation.Several critical process steps are already available and successfully used in the steel plants,such as cylinder connection,slag detection integration,and ladle gate preparation area automation.Fully automated operation will be followed by digitalisation,allowing for tracking of performance,safety,and quality.This paper summarises new features available for slide gates and outlines individual initiatives towards fully automated operation and data acquisition examples of digitalisation.

The Practices and Experience of Digitalisation of Tax Administration in Singapore

Tax administrations around the world have been digitalising to improve services delivery and internal processes.This article provides an overview of the Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore’s digitalisation strategies,focusing on enhancing customers’experiences,modernising systems,adopting Artificial Intelligence and analytics,and empowering its people through capability building.

Evaluating Methods of Visual Assistance for Workers to Improve Quality and Usability in Individualized Kitchen Cabinet Assembly

In times of digitalisation, visual assistance systems in assembly are increasingly important. The design of these assembly systems needs to be highly complex to meet the requirements. Due to the increasing number of variants in production processes, as well as shorter innovation and product life cycles, assistance systems should improve quality and reduce complexity of assembly processes. However, many large kitchen manufacturers still assemble kitchen cabinets manually, due to the high variety of components, such as rails and fittings. This paper focuses on the analysis and evaluation of virtual assistance systems to improve quality and usability in individualised kitchen cabinet assembly processes at a large German manufacturer. A solution is identified and detailed.

Digitalis Medication in Treatment of Heart Failure

In Mexico, digitalis was known since the 16th century and was used to treat patients with bloating, and it was not until the 20th century that it began to be used as a medicine for heart failure. In conjunction with diuretics. Digitalis was later used in combination individualized with the new medications, for this purpose and research has shown that the combination of medications on an individualized basis is what is currently successfully available for the medical treatment of heart failure.

Digitalisation of Tax Administrations:A Business Perspective

The rapid trend of digitalisation in government services,and in particular for tax administrations,is a key strategic business topic with great potential to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of business and government operations in general.As many tax administrations digitalise their processes,businesses are faced with interesting dynamics where they need to adapt their systems and processes to information and communication technology systems designed by the public sector,which could increase administrative complexity and compliance costs for businesses.ICC supports continued efforts to ensure that digitalisation enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of processes for both businesses and tax administrations and is of the view that closer collaboration with all stakeholders,and the consideration and application of key principles in digitalisation strategies and processes,will help ensure that these systems are a benefit,rather than a hindrance,to business supply chains and government operations.This article explores COVID-19 implications on tax digitalisation;key principles and objectives for digitalisation,as well as the key components of a successful digital transformation and the pre-requisites from a business perspective.It highlights how these steps will play an integral role in realising optimal benefits of efficient digitalisation for tax administrations and businesses.

Homo Faber Scapegoated, or Apocalyptic Artificial Intelligence: Rethinking the Technological Singularity Concept From the Synergetic Historicism Position

The article is focused on discussing a new methodological approach to the study on specifics of transferring human beings to the posthuman cyber society.The approach in question assists in rethinking interconnected problems both of human origins in the universe and mankind’s digital future.And,besides,such an approach allows to deal with self-organising interconversions between the poles of the cardinal dual opposition of the Global Noosphere Brain and the Artificial General Intelligence.Herewith such phenomena of digital social life as Global Digitalisation,Digital Immortality,Mindcloning,and Technological Zombification being the constituents of Technological Singularity Concept,are rethought as paving the way for oncoming Posthuman Digital Era.This concept is evidently exemplified by a bifurcation resulting in two alternatives to be chosen by human beings,to wit,either to be undergone Mindcloning and become digitally immortal or being destroyed by powerful intelligent machines.The investigation in question is based on such a progressive methodology as the Law of Self-Organizing Ideals,as well as on the Method of Dual Oppositions.Rethinking interrelationships between the problem of a sense of social history and the meaning-of-life of local societies members which any intelligent machine is devoid of permits to substantiate specific regularities of Self-Transforming Homo Faber into Homo Digitalis and Technological Zombies ready to be transferred to posthuman cyberspace.

Banks, Digital Banking Initiatives and the Financial Safety Net: Theory and Analytical Framework

This report presents an analytical framework for exploring the implications of Fintech innovations for incumbent banks and for provision of the financial safety net.The focus is on“digital banking initiatives”,that is,on Fintech initiatives that provide retail financial services akin to those traditionally provided by banks.Banks perform a wide range of functions for individual and institutional customers that help facilitate large-scale economic activity.In fact,in most economies the system of financial intermediation centres on banks and relies on their core products and services for financing of the economy and the maintenance of liquidity.On account of the central role banks play in the financial system,along with concerns about potential systemic instability linked to the riskiness of their activities,these institutions have long been regarded as“special”,as reflected in their prudential regulation and coverage under the various provisions of the financial safety net.Recent developments raise questions about the special status of banks.Two sets of questions are addressed herein:To what extent do new digital banking initiatives change the role that incumbent banks play in the financial system and the way that they perform their functions?To what extent are some of the new digital banking initiatives securing the benefits of the financial safety net without paying the commensurate price?To help address these questions the report first revisits the literature on core functions of the financial system to provide a framework for analysing recent developments.Particular attention is paid in this context to banks and their products and services.The“special”role of banks is discussed,which links to the provisions of the traditional safety net.These overview sections are followed by evidence on Fintech innovations that overlap the core banking products.Based on an examination of the characteristics of these new initiatives,the study then touches on the issue of whether banks are still special and whether some of these initiatives are or should be covered by financial safety net provisions.

Study of synovialization of non-synovial tendon and its significance

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Combination of Pretreatments with Acetic Acid and Sodium Methoxide for Efficient Digoxin Preparation from Digitalis Glycosides in Digitalis lanata Leaves

We previously developed an HPLC method for determination of lanatoside C, digoxin and α-acetyldigoxin in digitalis glycosides isolated from Digitalis lanata leaves. Here, we present an improved HPLC-UV method to determine those compounds and deslanoside. We used the improved method to examine the effects of various pretreatments on the amounts of the four compounds isolated from the leaves, with the aim of maximizing the yield of digoxin. Leaves were extracted with 50% methanol, followed by clean-up on a Sep-Pak C18 cartridge prior to HPLC analysis. The amounts of lanatoside C, digoxin and α-acetyldigoxin per 100 mg of the leaves without pretreatment were 115.6, 7.45 and 23.8 μg, respectively (deslanoside was not detected). Pretreatment with acetic acid, which activated deglucosylation mediated by digilanidase present in the leaves, increased the amounts of digoxin and α-acetyldigoxin, while lanatoside C and deslanoside were not detected. Pretreatment with sodium methoxide, which hydrolyzed lanatoside C to deslanoside, increased the yields of deslanoside and digoxin, while lanatoside C and α-acetyldigoxin were not detected. The combination of both pretreatments afforded only digoxin in a yield of 115.1 μg/100 mg leaves. Use of the combined pretreatments appears to be effective for maximizing the yield of digoxin from the leaves.

Improving Tax Services and Optimising the Business Environment:Insights from the Experience of Hong Kong SAR,China

To keep pace with the global trend of digital transformation,the Inland Revenue Department of Hong Kong SAR,China(HKIRD)has embarked on its digital transformation journey to upgrade its information technology(IT)infrastructure and pave the way for full adoption of electronic filing(e-filing)of profits tax returns for businesses(the e-filing project).The e-filing project was implemented in phases starting from June 2020 and expects full implementation by June 2025.The first phase of the digital transformation was successfully implemented earlier this year allowing more businesses to voluntarily e-file their profits tax returns.This article discusses the motivations behind the HKIRD’s e-filing project,the implementation process as well as its implications for Hong Kong SAR,China.Digital transformation is an inevitable development in the society and commerce.To keep pace with the global trend of digital transformation,the public sectors in various jurisdictions have been digitalising financial and tax reporting over the past decades to harness IT to improve delivery of public services to customers and enhance the standard of information collection and administration.

A 3D indicator for guiding AI applications in the energy sector

The utilisation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications in the energy sector is gaining momentum, withincreasingly intensive search for suitable, high-quality and trustworthy solutions that displayed promisingresults in research. The growing interest comes from decision makers of both the industry and policydomains, searching for applications to increase companies’ profitability, raise efficiency and facilitate theenergy transition. This paper aims to provide a novel three-dimensional (3D) indicator for AI applicationsin the energy sector, based on their respective maturity level, regulatory risks and potential benefits. Casestudies are used to exemplify the application of the 3D indicator, showcasing how the developed frameworkcan be used to filter promising AI applications eligible for governmental funding or business development.In addition, the 3D indicator is used to rank AI applications considering different stakeholder preferences(risk-avoidance, profit-seeking, balanced). These results allow AI applications to be better categorised in theface of rapidly emerging national and intergovernmental AI strategies and regulations that constrain the useof AI applications in critical infrastructures.

Enhancing Tax Administration Capacity

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us the societal importance of tax administration service delivery capacities and agility.Tax administration capacity is a key factor for nurturing both societal resilience and domestic resource mobilisation.Tax administrations around the globe are implementing new digital technologies to enhance taxpayer service quality,reduce operational and compliance burdens and increase revenues.In addition to the ongoing incremental improvement of the core tax administration functions,there are also increasing signs of transformation towards a more fundamental change in the nature of tax administration.This concerns a more system-wide compliance management approach in which tax administrations try to closely engage with the natural systems that taxpayers use to manage their business,engage in transactions and communicate in order to reduce errors,minimise burdens and increasingly build tax compliance.This paper explores the way in which tax administrations are enhancing the capacity of core functions and are preparing for a more holistic compliance management approach,including using an increasing amount of digital data sources facilitated by the introduction of new digital innovations.

The role of information and communication technologies in a country’s GDP:A comparative analysis between developed and developing economies

The accelerating diffusion of information and communication technologies(ICTs)opens up increasing interactions between nations and between social groups at all development levels.The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of ICTs on the gross domestic product(GDP)of countries at different development levels.The investigation of this study shows that in developing nations,the growth of the ICT sector is mostly consumer-oriented and focussed on the provision of electronic services for ultimate customers.On the contrary,in developed countries,it concentrates on the expansion of digitalisation with increasing socio-economic interaction.In developing nations,the ICT sector’s contribution to the GDP is unlikely to increase.A few exceptions are China,India,Malaysia,and Serbia,which are among the top ten leading economies in terms of the growth of the ICT sector.In general,the role of ICTs in the GDP largely depends on the production structure,level of economic development,and employment rate.The results of this study can be useful for countries’strategic development in ICTs and for improving their digital indicators in the future.

More Than Just Tax Administration——Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore

This article is about the efforts of Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore in embracing agility through innovation and digitalisation to provide excellent taxpayer-centred experiences.

Article 5 of the OECD Model Convention:Overview and Open Issues

Even though Article 5 is one of the most relevant and long-standing articles of the OECD model,its application often tends to raise issues.This is given by the circumstance that the application of this article heavily depends on the interpretation of both factual and legal circumstances and that there are still several open issues that were never clearly dealt with by the OECD Commentary.Finally,even though the last amendments made to Article 5(especially to the agency permanent establishment rules)seem to be effective in order to counteract some common practices used to avoid giving rise to a permanent establishment,such amendments fall short of tackling the main challenge of our time:the digitalisation of economy.

Enhancing Tax Administration Capacity Building

This article tracks how OECD capacity building has evolved since 1992,alongside the evolution of international taxation,tax administrations,and their needs for support.In doing so it identifies some of the key lessons for tax administrations and their partners in building the capacity to respond to the current challenges and opportunities.It places a particular focus on digitalisation and the implications for tax administrations,both in respect to the implementation of the Two-Pillar Solution to the taxation of the digitalising economy,and digitalisation of the tax administration itself.

Multiple hemodynamic effects of endogenous hydrogen sulfide on central nervous system in rats

Background Endogenous hydrogen sulfide is a new neuromodulator which takes part in the regulation of central nervous system physiology and diseases. Whether endogenous hydrogen sulfide in the central nervous system regulates cardiovascular activity is not known. In the present study, we observed the hemodynamic changes of hydrogen sulfide or its precursor by intracerebroventricular injection, and investigate the possible roles of endogenous digitalis like factors and sympathetic activity in the regulation. Methods Ninety-four Sprague-Dawley rats underwent a right cerebroventricular puncture, then the hydrogen sulfide saturation buffer or its precursor injected by intrcerebroventricular catheter. A heperin-filled catheter was inserted into the right femoral artery or into the left ventricle, and changes of blood pressure or cardiac function recorded by a Powerlab/4S instrument. Phentolamine or metoprolol were pre-injected to observe the possible role in autonomic nerve activity. After rats were sacrificed, plasma was collected and endogenous digitalis-like factors were measured with a commercial radioimmunoassay kit. The aortic, cardiac sarcolemmal vesicles were isolated and the activity of Na＋-K＋-ATPase was measured as ouabain-sensitive ATP hydrolysis under maximal velocity conditions by measuring the release of inorganic phosphate from ATP. Unpaired Student＇s ttest for two groups or analysis of variances （ANOVA） for multiple groups were used to compare the differences of the changes. Results Intracerebroventricular injection of hydrogen sulfide induced a transient hypotension, then dramatic hypertenive effects in a dose-dependent manner. Bolus injection of L-cysteine or beta-mercaptopyruvate also increased mean arterial pressure （P 〈0.01）, whereas hydroxylamine-a cystathionine beta synthase inhibitor decreased the arterial pressure （P 〈0.01）. Hydrogen sulfide and L-cysteine increased mean arterial pressure, left ventricular develop pressure and left-ventricle maximal rate of systolic and diastolic pressure; these functions were decreased by hydroxylamine （P 〈0.01）. Glibenclamide （a KATP channel blocker） blocked the transient hypotensive effect, phentolamine （an alpha-adrenergic receptor blocker） blocked the hypertensive effect, and metoprolol （a selective beta 1 receptor blocker） blocked the positive inoptropic effect of central nervous system hydrogen sulfide. The endogenous digitalis-like factors in plasma were elevated （P 〈0.01） after treatment with L-cysteine, association with decreasing Na＋-K＋-ATPase activity in cardiac or aortic sarcolemmal vesicles （P 〈0.01）. Hydroxylamine injection reduced the endogenous digitalis-like factors level in plasma association with increasing Na＋-K＋-ATPase activity in cardiac and aortic sarcolemmal vesicles. Conclusion Central nervous system endogenous hydrogen sulfide upregulated mean arterial pressure and cardiac systolic function by activation of sympathetic nerves or release of endogenous digitalis-like factors.

Optimizing Growth Conditions for Digoxin Production in Digitalis lanata Ehrh

Objective: Digoxin is a therapeutic cardenolide widely used to treat various heart conditions such as atrial flutter, atrial fibrillation and heart failure in both Western as well as Chinese medicine. Digoxin is extracted from cultivated Digitalis lanata Ehrh. plants, known as Mao Hua Yang Di Huang in Chinese medicine. This manuscript presents two studies that were conducted to optimize the cultivation conditions for digoxin production in the TCM Mao Hua Yan Di Huang in a greenhouse under GAP conditions.Methods: Two experiments were designed in which 4 growth conditions were compared. Levels of digoxin, gitoxin, digitoxin, α-acetyldigoxin, β-acetyl-digoxin were measured using HPLC-UV and compared between the conditions.Results: Normal soil, no CO_2 enrichment combined with a cold shock was found to be the optimal condition for producing digoxin in the first experiment. Gitoxin content was significantly lower in plants grown in this condition. Mechanical stress as well as the time of harvesting showed no statistically significant differences in the production of cardenolides. In the second experiment the optimal condition was found to be a combination of cold nights, sun screen, fertilizer use and no milled soil.Conclusion: This study shows that digoxin production can be increased by controlling the growth conditions of D. lanata Ehrh. The effect of cold was important in both experiments for improving digoxin production. Cultivating Chinese herbal medicines in optimized greenhouse conditions might be an economically attractive alternative to regular open air cultivation.

The Use of Technology to Enhance Taxpayer Service and Improve Tax Compliance——Experience of Hong Kong, China

The Inland Revenue Department(IRD)is the authority which administers the tax law in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.This article shares the IRD’s experience in applying digitalised tax administration to enhance taxpayer services and improve tax compliance.This can be achieved through developing user-friendly digital platforms for filing and communication,the use of prepopulated tax returns,fillable PDF public forms and online systems for paying taxes,and providing accessible and easy-to-understand tax information on the Internet.