Open Access

The book is the fourth of four volumes on data science and artificial intelligence. This fourth volume covers fundamentals of reinforcement learning including tabular and approximate value function methods as well as the basics of policy gradient algorithms.

Background: The well-being of people with dementia in residential care facilities can be increased through targeted activation and/or reassurance by staff. Multisensory products can provide helpful support. Methods: All nursing homes (n = 8,734) in Germany were invited to participate in a nationwide online survey. The survey asked about the willingness of executives to pay for the developed multisensory product. In addition, the use, need and characteristics of the product as well as its effects on well-being were discussed. Results. The information provided by the participants resulted in an optimal price of 33 euros for the developed product. Music, card games or books are primarily used. There is a need for activity boards, grasping braids and threading balls. Activation and calming down occurred equally regularly. Multisensory products should focus primarily on visual, tactile-haptic and acoustic senses. Conclusions: Multisensory products can support caregivers' activation and reassurance of people with dementia. The willingness to pay is very low and is below the production costs of the developed product.

Background: As a result of demographic change, a further increase in the number of people in need of care in Germany can be expected in the future. Nursing activities performed by family members are a central component of care provision. The assumption of support services is increasingly associated with an additional physical and psychological burden on informal caregivers. The aim of this study is to identify and characterize groups of informal caregivers with regard to their well-being. Methodology: The empirical study was based on a survey on home care in Saxony from 2019, which was intended as exploratory work to provide insights into the care situation in Saxony. The central component is a two-step cluster analysis with exclusively informal caregivers. Results: The net sample size for the cluster analysis comprised 178 subjects who were involved in caring for relatives. The cluster analysis revealed two groups of caregiving relatives in Saxony, which were differentiated by a different experience of stress and various sociodemographic factors. Discussion: Informal caregivers in Saxony are not a homogeneous group. Depending on various sociodemographic factors or the care effort and situation, they are confronted with different challenges in caring for relatives, which are directly reflected in their well-being. In order to achieve a targeted reduction in the burden on family caregivers, cooperation and constructive collaboration between political decision-makers, care and health insurers, and the various players in health and care provision is required.

The fast-paced evolution of supply chains poses increasing challenges as networks have become more complex and dynamic. The intense interaction between information technology and business drives the spread of the physical internet as a supply chain paradigm. While some of the classic supply chain models provide approaches towards the integration of advanced technologies, few publications focus on a comparison or further development of these models. We strived to critically discuss existing supply chain models and to suggest an improved approach for modelling the digital supply chain. We applied the design science research methodology to systematically analyse and critically evaluate four selected supply chain modelling approaches. Based on a literature review and benefit analysis, we present an outlook on the potential future applicability and provide a roadmap for modelling advanced technology integration for supply chains. The comprehensive analysis highlights if and how selected s upply chain models can remain relevant regarding the digitalisation of supply chains. Thus, this article informs researchers on future research opportunities and suggests a potential roadmap for practitioners.