bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementation of fuzzy logic method for automation of decision making of Boeing aircraft landing
Authors: Pratiwi Winda , Sofwan Aghus , Setiawan Iwan
Published: August 2021

In the landing process, airplanes have many safety factors that must be protected. Weather advice and information is very important as a consideration in determining the feasibility of landing an aircraft. The main objective of this research is the implementation of Mamdani fuzzy simulation in determining the feasibility of landing aircraft at Ahmad Yani Airport in Semarang using ATC police and pilot coordination on runway number 31. Wind direction, wind velocity, visibility, and pilot experience are used to determine eligibility aircraft landing. An intelligent system based on fuzzy logic produces three decisions that are feasible, careful, and not feasible in landing an aircraft on a runway. The results of the study concluded from an intelligent system based on fuzzy logic can be used to determine aircraft landing decisions on the runway of Ahmad Yani Airport Semarang on runway number 31.
The implementation of intelligent systems in automating vehicle detection on the road
Authors: Susanto Susanto , Budiarjo Dimas Dwi , Hendrawan Aria , Pungkasanti Prind Triajeng
Published: August 2021

Indonesia is a country with a high population, especially in big cities. The road always crowded with various types of vehicles. Sometimes the growth of vehicles is not matched by road construction. During peak hours, too many vehicles can cause traffic jams on the road. The road is needed to be widened to accommodate the number of vehicles that pass each day. In order for road widening to be precise at locations that frequently occur in traffic jams, data on the number and classification of vehicles passing is required. Therefore, a system that can calculate and recognize the type of vehicle that passes is needed. The development of various studies on artificial intelligence especially about object detection can classify and calculate the type of vehicle. In this study, the authors used the you only look once (YOLO) object detection system using a convolution neural network (CNN) method to classify and count vehicles that pass automatically. The author uses a dataset of 600 images with 4 classes which are car, truck, bus, and motorbikes that pass through the road. The results showed that the YOLO object detection system can recognize objects consistently with accuracy more than 80% on CCTV video that installed on the road.
Conceptual model of the recursive entity modelling method after revision
Authors: Amal Rifai , Mohamed Amine Tzemmout , Abdelalime Sadiq
Published: August 2021

In this work, we present the rectifications that we brought on recursive entity modeling method into lasts articles. Then, we establish the recursive entity modeling method global conceptual diagram in order to conceive a space name and database for this method in future works. Therefore, in the first section, we present an overview of the recursive entity modeling method conceptual model; then, in the second section, we present recursive entity modeling method revisited elements (relationships, component, roles, conception, path, node, connection); and in the third section, we conceive a general conceptual diagram describing the components of the recursive entity modeling method.
Fish survival prediction in an aquatic environment using random forest model
Authors: Islam Md. Monirul , Kashem Mohammod Abul , Uddin Jia
Published: August 2021

In the real world, it is very difficult for fish farmers to select the perfect fish species for aquaculture in a specific aquatic environment. The main goal of this research is to build a machine learning that can predict the perfect fish species in an aquatic environment. In this paper, we have utilized a model using random forest (RF). To validate the model, we have used a dataset of aquatic environment for 11 different fishes. To predict the fish species, we utilized the different characteristics of aquatic environment including pH, temperature, and turbidity. As a performance metrics, we measured accuracy, true positive (TP) rate, and kappa statistics. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed RF-based prediction model shows accuracy 88.48%, kappa statistic 87.11% and TP rate 88.5% for the tested dataset. In addition, we compare the proposed model with the state-of-art models J48, RF, k-nearest neighbor (k-NN), and classification and regression trees (CART). The proposed model outperforms than the existing models by exhibiting the higher accuracy score, TP rate and kappa statistics.
Empirical Bayesian network to improve service delivery and performance dependability on a campus network
Authors: Ojugo Arnold Adimabua , Eboka Andrew Okonji
Published: August 2021

An effective systemic approach to task will lead to efficient communication and resource sharing within a network. This has become imperative as it aids alternative delivery. With communication properly etched into the fabrics of today’s society via effective integration of informatics and communication technology, the constant upgrades to existing network infrastructure are only a start to meeting with the ever-increasing challenges. There are various criteria responsible for network performance, scalability, and resilience. To ensure best practices, we analyze the network and select parameters required to improve performance irrespective of bottlenecks, potentials, and expansion capabilities of the network infrastructure. Study compute feats via Bayesian network design alongside upgrades implementation to result in a prototype design, capable of addressing users need(s). Thus, to ensure functionality, the experimental network uses known simulation kits such as riverbed modeler edition 17.5 and cisco packet tracer 6.0.1-to conduct standardized tests such as throughput test, application response-time test, and availability test.
Accelerating the training of deep reinforcement learning in autonomous driving
Authors: Iroegbu Emmanuel Ifeanyi , Madhavi Devaraj
Published: August 2021

Deep reinforcement learning has been successful in solving common autonomous driving tasks such as lane-keeping by simply using pixel data from the front view camera as input. However, raw pixel data contains a very high-dimensional observation that affects the learning quality of the agent due to the complexity imposed by a 'realistic' urban environment. Ergo, we investigate how compressing the raw pixel data from high-dimensional state to low-dimensional latent space offline using a variational autoencoder can significantly improve the training of a deep reinforcement learning agent. We evaluated our method on a simulated autonomous vehicle in car learning to act and compared our results with many baselines including deep deterministic policy gradient, proximal policy optimization, and soft actorcritic. The result shows that the method greatly accelerates the training time and there was a remarkable improvement in the quality of the deep reinforcement learning agent.
Hybrid of convolutional neural network algorithm and autoregressive integrated moving average model for skin cancer classification among Malaysian
Authors: Chin Chee Ka , Awang Mat Dayang Azra binti , Saleh Abdulrazak Yahya
Published: August 2021

Skin cancer is a widely spreading cause of mortality among the people specifically living on or near the equatorial belt. Early detection of skin cancer significantly improves the recovery prevalence and the chance of surviving. Without the assist of computer-aided decision (CAD) system, skin cancer classification is the challenging task for the dermatologist to differentiate the type of skin cancer and provide the suitable treatment. Recently, the development of machine learning and pretrained deep neural network (DNN) shows the tremendous performance in image classification task which also provide the promising performance in medical field. However, these machine learning methods cannot get the deep features from network flow which resulting in low accuracy and the pretrained DNN has the complex network with a huge number of parameters causes the limited classification accuracy. This paper focuses on the classification of skin cancer to identify whether it is basal cell carcinoma, melanoma or squamous cell carcinoma by using the development of hybrid convolutional neural network algorithm and autoregressive integrated moving average model (CNN-ARIMA). The CNNARIMA model was trained and found to produce the best accuracy of 92.25%.
Classification of adult autistic spectrum disorder using machine learning approach
Authors: Mashudi Nurul Amirah , Ahmad Norulhusna , Noor Norliza Mohd
Published: August 2021

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological-related disorder. Patients with ASD have poor social interaction and lack of communication that lead to restricted activities. Thus, early diagnosis with a reliable system is crucial as the symptoms may affect the patient’s entire lifetime. Machine learning approaches are an effective and efficient method for the prediction of ASD disease. The study mainly aims to achieve the accuracy of ASD classification using a variety of machine learning approaches. The dataset comprises 16 selected attributes that are inclusive of 703 patients and non-patients. The experiments are performed within the simulation environment and analyzed using the Waikato environment for knowledge analysis (WEKA) platform. Linear support vector machine (SVM), k-nearest neighbours (k-NN), J48, Bagging, Stacking, AdaBoost, and naïve bayes are the methods used to compute the prediction of ASD status on the subject using 3, 5, and 10-folds cross validation. The analysis is then computed to evaluate the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the proposed methods. The comparative result between the machine learning approaches has shown that linear SVM, J48, Bagging, Stacking, and naïve bayes produce the highest accuracy at 100% with the lowest error rate.
Novel approach of association rule mining for tree canopy assessment
Authors: More Nilkamal , Nikam V. B. , Banerjee Biplab
Published: August 2021

The evolution of technology and availability of voluminous satellite images are bringing a new scenario in satellite image classification where a performance efficient method for predictive analysis of satellite images for land cover classification needs to be devised. As urban areas are growing at faster rate, special attention needs to be given to solve tree canopy assessment problem. Vegetation indices are calculated from spectral information of satellite images. Hundreds of such vegetation indices are available to detect vegetation from a satellite image. The contribution of this paper is designing an improved Apriori algorithm to select optimal number of vegetation indices for tree canopy assessment. In this research, we propose a novel computational approach that allows the improvement of results. It selects optimal combination of vegetation indices and applies principal component analysis on it. It uses a greedy approach based on Apriori algorithm. This study emphasizes on assessment of tree canopy using GPU-enabled environment for performance-efficient assessment. The results achieved, are comparable to state-of-the-art techniques, with an accuracy of 96%. The research has considered 4 years data for Mumbai city of India. This research is useful for Green India Mission of India to assess tree canopy of urban region.
Quality of Learning during the Pandemic based on cognitive and affective aspects in Indonesia
Authors: Ramadhana Muhammad Aulia , Hani Kiki Nofita , Palupi Desy Andri Tri , Pradypta Bagas
Published: August 2021

The purpose of this study is to (1) analyze the quality of learning during the pandemic, and (2) to analyze learning constraints during the pandemic. This research uses qualitative descriptive research methods. The use of qualitative descriptive methods in the study aimed to describe phenomena that focused on interrelationships between activities. The sampling technique is done by purposive sampling, which is based on provinces that have high cases of covid 19 in Indonesia. The quality of learning decreases because students do not have learning motivation. Many of the obstacles experienced during learning related to school unpreparedness relate to aspects of learning evaluation and affective. The quality of learning during the pandemic is largely determined by the optimization of information technology.
South Africa in the Installation Phase of a New Techno-economic Paradigm
Authors: Stewart Peter
Published: August 2021

South Africa’s situation of financialization, low growth, unemployment, and inequality is linked here to the ‘installation phase’ of a new technology as described by Carlotta Perez. South Africa’s informational economy is examined, and the role of the financial sector is summarized. The article then considers the strengths and weaknesses of the manufacturing and service sectors, and the embeddedness in them of digital technologies. The article concludes by supporting manufacturing as the best route to a new productive economic core while other sites of digital industry take deeper root. The need to shape finance to more national ends is also affirmed.
Does Linguistic Similarity Affect Early Simultaneous Bilingual Language Acquisition?
Authors: Gampe Anja , Quick Antje Endesfelder , Daum Moritz M.
Published: August 2021

It is well established that L2 acquisition is faster when the L2 is more closely related to the learner’s L1. In the current study we investigated whether language similarity has a comparable facilitative effect in early simultaneous bilingual children. The similarity between each bilingual child’s two languages was determined using phonological and typological scales. We compared the vocabulary size of bilingual toddlers learning different pairs of languages. Results show that the vocabulary size of bilingual children is indeed influenced by similarity: the more similar the languages, the larger the children’s vocabulary.
Emergence of a Bilingual Grammar: Word Order Differences in Monolingual Basque vs. Bilingual Basque-Spanish Predicative Constructions
Authors: Lantto Hanna
Published: August 2021

This article compares the monolingual Basque predicative constructions with bilingual Basque-Spanish predicative constructions. The speech data for the study were collected in the Greater Bilbao area of the Basque Country between 2005 and 2012. The results suggest that code-switching may trigger the convergence of predicative constructions and have a significant impact on the general word order patterns. The monolingual predicative constructions in the data mostly follow the canonical Basque sxv word order (~81%), but the bilingual predicative constructions diverge from this word order in that the predicative element is located in a post-verbal position, as in Spanish (~80%). The Spanish lexical elements seem to be strongly associated with the corresponding Spanish construction, the word order of which is then applied to otherwise Basque predicative constructions. I explain the predominance of the Spanish word order in the bilingual constructions by a combination of processing-related factors and sociolinguistic factors.
Directional Idioms in English and Welsh: A Usage-Based Perspective on Language Contact
Authors: Rottet Kevin J.
Published: August 2021

The English verb-particle construction or phrasal verb (pv) has undergone dramatic semantic extensions from the expression of literal motion events (the ball rolled down the hill) – a pattern known as satellite-framing – to idiomatic figurative uses (the company will roll out a new plan) where selection of the particle is motivated by Conceptual Metaphors. Over the course of its long contact with English, Welsh – also satellite-framed with literal motion events – has extended the use of its verb-particle construction to replicate even highly idiomatic English pv s. Through a case study of ten metaphorical uses of up and its Welsh equivalent, we argue that this dramatic contact outcome points to the convergence by bilingual speakers on a single set of Conceptual Metaphors motivating the pv combinations. A residual Celtic possessive construction (lit. she rose on her sitting ‘she sat up’) competes with English-like pv s to express change of bodily posture.
Complex Items and Units in Extra-Sentential Code Switching. Spanish and English in Gibraltar
Authors: Goria Eugenio
Published: August 2021

As is well-known, code-mixing is particularly frequent at clause boundaries and with elements expressing pragmatic meaning. However, most of the literature has focussed on switching of simple elements such as conjunctions and discourse markers. This paper, in contrast, analyses clause peripheral switching involving two complex constructions: left dislocations and pseudo-clefts. The data are from English-Spanish bilingual conversations recorded in Gibraltar. A great majority of the bilingual constructions in the corpus belong to a few types occurring with a restricted set of lexical items. A vast amount of such highly recurrent strings in the data confirm the hypothesis that complex multi word strings that are switched together constitute units in code-mixing, i.e. they are processed as single lexical items.
Investigating a Substance Abuse Screening in a Trauma Setting
Authors: Tuli Rahul , Romero Stephanie Anne , Figueroa Cesar , Tay Erika , Saadat Soheil , Barrios Cristobal
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Drug and alcohol consumption are often associated with trauma-related injuries. Various studies have been conducted which have shown the benefits of screening and brief intervention (SBI) tools for alcohol consumption. Despite their success, there are few SBI tools utilized for substance use and minimal reports of computerized versions. We hypothesized that a computerized SBI tool for drug use would be effective at identifying patients at risk of substance abuse in a trauma setting.

Methods

This was a prospective evaluation of a computerized alcohol and drug screening and brief intervention survey derived from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. The survey was given to all eligible trauma patients at UCI’s Level 1 trauma facility between February 2019 and March 2020. Based on self-reported answers, a substance involvement (SI) score was generated which classified a patient’s drug abuse risk as none (0), low (1-3), moderate (4-26), or high (27+). Statistical tests were then used to examine associations between demographic variables and risk categorization.

Results

A total of 1801 patients completed the entire survey. Of those, 346 (19.3%) patients reported use of illicit drugs: 10 for non-medical prescription use (.6%), 308 (17.1%) for non-prescription drug use, and 28 (1.6%) for both. Secondary analysis revealed a greater number of males were eligible for further SI assessment (25.1% vs 11.0%, P < .001). Of those, a greater proportion of men were classified as moderate/high risk (81.6% vs 61.5%, P < .001). Further breakdown revealed a greater proportion of patients ≤25 years old reported use of drugs compared to >85 years old (37.0% vs .5%, P < .001). In contrast to the self-reported data, there was an overall positive rate of toxicology of 48.51%.

Conclusion

The analysis shows that the electronic survey identifies patients at risk of drug abuse, allowing for real-time intervention. Furthermore, it is granular enough to specify at-risk groups. However, a lower self-reported rate, as expected, was elucidated. Further studies to evaluate for improved screening and targeted intervention are warranted.
Homicide, Acquisitive Crime, and Inflation: A City-Level Longitudinal Analysis
Authors: Rosenfeld Richard , Vogel Matt
Published: August 2021

Building on research by Rosenfeld et al., citylevel random coefficients panel models reveal a significant association between inflation and homicide rates that is only partially mediated by acquisitive crime. Inflation is more strongly associated with homicide rates in more disadvantaged cities. The impact of inflation on public safety should be considered when setting and evaluating economic policy. Future research should address the mechanisms, in addition to acquisitive crime, that link homicide and inflation.
Combating misinformation: The effects of infographics in verifying false vaccine news
Authors: Domgaard Shawn , Park Mina
Published: August 2021

Objective:

False news about vaccination shared in digital spaces is a major problem that harms informed health choices. Drawing from processing fluency theory, we propose that an infographic – a visual representation of information – reduces cognitive load, thereby helping people retain and process the necessary information to discern truth from falsehood in health news.

Design:

Web-administered experiment.

Setting:

US web-based experiment on Qualtrics.

Method:

A national sample of participants was randomly assigned to one of the three conditions: a news literacy infographic, the same information but text-only, or a control group (a blank page). After the short intervention, study participants were shown false news about vaccinations and asked to make judgements about this news.

Results:

Our study found that people in the infographic condition were better able to verify false news than others. They also showed lower trust in false news articles and higher confidence in their judgement than those in the control condition.

Conclusion:

Findings further our understanding of how visuals accompanied by text, such as an infographic, can improve the quality of health education. During the current problem of digital spaces filled with misinformation, using a short intervention with visuals can help audiences determine the credibility of information they encounter about vaccines.
Impact of Environmental Tax on Comparative Advantage of Food and Food Products: A Study of G20 Countries in Light of Environmentally Sensitive Goods
Authors: Mahajan Alisha , Majumdar Kakali
Published: August 2021

Many countries are under constant fear that environmental policies might negatively influence the international competitiveness of polluting industries. In this study, we aim to evaluate the relationship and impact of the environmental tax on comparative advantage of trade in food and food products industry, considered to be one of the highly environmentally sensitive industries. This study also investigates, whether this relationship differs among countries covered in G20, with the help of correlation analysis. We select panel autoregressive distributed lag approach for this study as it can analyse long-run as well as short-run association even when the variables are stationary at different orders of integration. Using panel data from G20 countries over the period of 21 years that is from 1994 to 2015, it is concluded that when we allow environmental taxes to interact with the revealed comparative advantage (RCA) of G20 nations, the overall impact of the environmental tax on the RCA is negative in the long period. It is therefore suggested that countries should follow Porter hypothesis to stimulate innovations resulting from strict environmental regulations that affect the environment in least possible manner.

JEL Codes: C01, C23, C33, F18, O57, Q5
Voluntary oral dosing for precise experimental compound delivery in adult rats
Authors: Chesler Kyle C , Motz Cara T , Bales Katie L , Allen Rachael A , Vo Harrison K , Pardue Machelle T
Published: August 2021

Preclinical drug studies routinely administer experimental compounds to animal models with the goal of minimizing potential adverse events from the procedure. In this study, we assessed the ability to train adult male Long Evans rats to accept daily voluntarily syringe feedings of l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) compared to intraperitoneal (IP) injections. Rats were trained to become familiar with the syringe and then fed a training solution that did not contain the experimental compound. If the rat was compliant during the training phase, the dilution of training solution was continuously decreased and replaced with the experimental solution. Voluntary oral dosing compliance was recorded and quantified throughout the study. To assess drug activity within the drug-targeted tissues, the striatum and retina were collected and analyzed for L-DOPA, dopamine and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) levels by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Drug delivery efficiency by oral dosing was directly compared to IP injection by collecting plasma and analyzing L-DOPA levels with HPLC. Adult male rats had high compliance for voluntary oral dosing. HPLC showed that oral administration of the compound at the same dose as IP injection yielded significantly lower plasma levels, and that higher oral L-DOPA doses yield higher plasma L-DOPA content. This study describes detailed methodology to train adult rats to syringe feed experimental compounds and provides important preclinical research on drug dosing and drug delivery to the striatum and retina.
Have you considered the opposite? A debiasing strategy for judgment in criminal investigation
Authors: Fahsing Ivar , Rachlew Asbjørn , May Lennart
Published: August 2021

Fundamental challenges in human decision-making pose a serious threat to fair evidence evaluation, verdicts in court proceedings, and the administration of justice. Drawing on cognitive psychology, we examined whether a consider-the-opposite approach can assist police officers with positive guidance on how to implement crucial legal thresholds such as the presumption of innocence. In an experiment with sworn police officers ( N = 100), we compared a consider-the-opposite condition and a control condition (with no further instructions) and measured the formulated alternative hypotheses. The results show a promising debiasing effect of the consider-the-opposite approach which may strengthen fundamental principles of criminal law.
What Not to Worry About in the Policy–Academy Gap Debate: A Contrarian Take
Authors: Feaver Peter
Published: August 2021

This assessment of the “policy-academy” gap is part of a special forum stimulated by Michael Desch’s book, Cult of the Irrelevant. Those who write about the academy–policy gap worry that the gap is too narrow, resulting in ethical compromise, or too wide, resulting in marginalization of key academic voices. I argue both concerns are overdrawn. In particular, I argue that there is a healthy exchange between academic specialists and the policy community, at least as healthy as any during a mythical golden era. Moreover, quantitative methods are not a bogeyman exacerbating the gap; high-quality quantitative scholarship can make important contributions. Finally, claims that academic realists face unfair disadvantages in contributing to policy are not well-supported by the evidence. In truth, there is a fairly healthy marketplace of ideas in the policy community, at least as healthy as what prevails in the academy.
“Our Family’s Path:” Couples’ Perspectives on the Developmental Trajectories of Families in Urban Southern Angola
Authors: Simões Tchilissila Alicerces , Alberto Isabel Marques
Published: August 2021

The aim of the present study was to explore and to understand how 36 urban Southern Angolan couples perceived their family’s development across the lifetime. The study sought to compare those results with three systemic approaches of family development, two Western and another indigenous. Through semi-structured interviews, the existence of two trajectories of family life, with similar life events, were identified. The life events of these two trajectories were organized in a different chronological order, based on the religious commitment of the individuals. The results showed discrepancies with the Western models on the composition of the household (i.e., big backyard families and families with a third element) as well as the type of events considered to be important milestones within the family trajectory (e.g., the inexistence of the empty nest). This study provides support for the indigenous framework proposed by Simões and Alberto (2015) and contributes to a better comprehension of the family functioning of the urban Southern Angolan families.
Guaranteed or conditional child maintenance? Examining the 2016 reform in Sweden
Authors: Fernqvist Stina , Sépulchre Marie
Published: August 2021

Family policies promoting gender equality and parents’ shared responsibility for their children tend to assume good parental collaboration post separation. However, this assumption obscures the reality of conflict and intimate partner violence (IPV) in some separated families. Focusing on Sweden, this article examines the 2016 reform which implies that the state ceases acting as an intermediary to organise child maintenance unless ‘special reasons’, including the experience of IPV, are invoked. Thus, the Swedish guaranteed child maintenance scheme became conditional. Drawing on interviews with resident parents and case officers at the Swedish Social Insurance Agency (SSIA), this article suggests that the reform increases the vulnerability of resident parents in several ways. Moreover, the ‘special reasons’ exemption creates a new distinction between ‘violent’ and ‘normal’ families, which case workers struggle to administer, and which leads to a withdrawal of state support for many families.
The precarious inclusion of homeless EU migrants in Norwegian public social welfare: Moral bordering and social workers’ dilemmas
Authors: Misje Turid
Published: August 2021

This article discusses public social welfare provision to homeless EU migrants in Norway. Most of these migrants have no or weak affiliations with the formal labour market, resulting in restricted rights to public social assistance. Drawing on the concept of precarious inclusion, I suggest that rather than being simply excluded from public social welfare, homeless EU migrants are included in the welfare state but in fragile and insecure ways through provisions directed at safeguarding bodily survival. I understand these limited inclusionary policies and practices as forming part of the Norwegian state’s management of ‘undesired’ migrants. Building on interviews with social workers in the public social welfare administration, I reflect on how assessments of cases involving homeless EU migrants signal hierarchical conceptions and differentiation of human worth within Norway’s borders and how territorial belonging emerges as a prerequisite for ‘deservingness’ in social workers’ accounts.
Introduction to the special issue: No longer second-order? Explaining the European Parliament elections of 2019
Authors: Gattermann Katjana , de Vreese Claes H , van der Brug Wouter
Published: August 2021

The dominant perspective of European Parliament (EP) elections is that these are second-order national elections where little is at stake. This Special Issue asks whether this perspective is still valid in view of increased politicisation of European integration and in view of the higher turnout levels at the last EP elections. This introduction provides a general framework for the Special Issue and reflects upon some of its main findings. We argue that EP elections can only be considered first-order if they are primarily about the policies, rather than the polity. Some of the contributions in this Special Issue suggest that this is indeed the case. We reflect upon this and argue that there are reasons to expect that EP elections will become first-order elections in the future.
Simulating Study Data to Support Expected Value of Sample Information Calculations: A Tutorial
Authors: Heath Anna , Strong Mark , Glynn David , Kunst Natalia , Welton Nicky J. , Goldhaber-Fiebert Jeremy D.
Published: August 2021

The expected value of sample information (EVSI) can be used to prioritize avenues for future research and design studies that support medical decision making and offer value for money spent. EVSI is calculated based on 3 key elements. Two of these, a probabilistic model-based economic evaluation and updating model uncertainty based on simulated data, have been frequently discussed in the literature. By contrast, the third element, simulating data from the proposed studies, has received little attention. This tutorial contributes to bridging this gap by providing a step-by-step guide to simulating study data for EVSI calculations. We discuss a general-purpose algorithm for simulating data and demonstrate its use to simulate 3 different outcome types. We then discuss how to induce correlations in the generated data, how to adjust for common issues in study implementation such as missingness and censoring, and how individual patient data from previous studies can be leveraged to undertake EVSI calculations. For all examples, we provide comprehensive code written in the R language and, where possible, Excel spreadsheets in the supplementary materials. This tutorial facilitates practical EVSI calculations and allows EVSI to be used to prioritize research and design studies.
The attachments of ‘autonomous’ vehicles
Authors: Tennant Chris , Stilgoe Jack
Published: August 2021

The ideal of the self-driving car replaces an error-prone human with an infallible, artificially intelligent driver. This narrative of autonomy promises liberation from the downsides of automobility, even if that means taking control away from autonomous, free-moving individuals. We look behind this narrative to understand the attachments that so-called ‘autonomous’ vehicles (AVs) are likely to have to the world. Drawing on 50 interviews with AV developers, researchers and other stakeholders, we explore the social and technological attachments that stakeholders see inside the vehicle, on the road and with the wider world. These range from software and hardware to the behaviours of other road users and the material, social and economic infrastructure that supports driving and self-driving. We describe how innovators understand, engage with or seek to escape from these attachments in three categories: ‘brute force’, which sees attachments as problems to be solved with more data, ‘solve the world one place at a time’, which sees attachments as limits on the technology’s reach and ‘reduce the complexity of the space’, which sees attachments as solutions to the problems encountered by technology developers. Understanding attachments provides a powerful way to anticipate various possible constitutions for the technology.
Risk factor identification and predictive models for central line requirements for patients on vasopressors
Authors: Haimovich Adrian D , Jiang Ruoyi , Taylor Richard A , Belsky Justin B
Published: August 2021

Vasopressors are ubiquitous in intensive care units. While central venous catheters are the preferred route of infusion, recent evidence suggests peripheral administration may be safe for short, single-agent courses. Here, we identify risk factors and develop a predictive model for patient central venous catheter requirement using the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care, a single-centre dataset of patients admitted to an intensive care unit between 2008 and 2019. Using prior literature, a composite endpoint of prolonged single-agent courses (>24 hours) or multi-agent courses of any duration was used to identify likely central venous catheter requirement. From a cohort of 69,619 intensive care unit stays, there were 17,053 vasopressor courses involving one or more vasopressors that met study inclusion criteria. In total, 3807 (22.3%) vasopressor courses involved a single vasopressor for less than six hours, 7952 (46.6%) courses for less than 24 hours and 5757 (33.8%) involved multiple vasopressors of any duration. Of these, 3047 (80.0%) less than six-hour and 6423 (80.8%) less than 24-hour single vasopressor courses used a central venous catheter. Logistic regression models identified associations between the composite endpoint and intubation (odds ratio (OR) 2.36, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 2.16 to 2.58), cardiac diagnosis (OR 0.72, CI 0.65 to 0.80), renal impairment (OR 1.61, CI 1.50 to 1.74), older age (OR 1.002, Cl 1.000 to 1.005) and vital signs in the hour before initiation (heart rate, OR 1.006, CI 1.003 to 1.009; oxygen saturation, OR 0.996, CI 0.993 to 0.999). A logistic regression model predicting the composite endpoint had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (standard deviation) of 0.747 (0.013) and an accuracy of 0.691 (0.012). This retrospective study reveals a high prevalence of short vasopressor courses in intensive care unit settings, a majority of which were administered using central venous catheters. We identify several important risk factors that may help guide clinicians deciding between peripheral and central venous catheter administration, and present a predictive model that may inform future prospective trials.
E-scooter accidents: A rising cause of kidney injury
Authors: Bianchi Alberto , Gallina Sebastian , Cianflone Francesco , Tafuri Alessandro , Cerruto Maria Angela , Antonelli Alessandro
Published: August 2021

Introduction:

E-scooters recently gained mass expansion, leading to increased use-related injuries, most commonly head trauma, facial, and extremity fractures, while abdominal trauma with kidney involvement is less frequent. Here we present two cases of e-scooter-related high-grade blunt kidney trauma.

Case reports:

The first case was a 24-year-old male presenting with right abdominal pain after e-scooter autonomous right fall. Focused assessment with sonography for trauma (FAST) was negative, while abdominal CT showed a 3 cm middle-renal laceration. Six-day CT showed minimal urinary extravasation. Neither anemization nor impaired kidney function was observed; the patient was discharged after 9 days. The second case was a 42-year-old male presenting with right flank pain and ipsilateral chest pain after autonomous right fall. Thoracic X-ray revealed multiple rib fractures, while abdominal echography showed a non-homogeneous right kidney with a 1.5 cm perirenal fluid layer. Abdominal CT revealed 2.5 × 4 × 3.5 cm full-thickness middle-upper renal parenchyma laceration and confirmed the perirenal hematoma, while demonstrating two hepatic lesions. A series of CT and ultrasounds confirmed the stability of the aforementioned lesions and reduction of the perirenal hematoma; laboratory findings didn’t show anemization nor impaired renal function. The patient was discharged after 10 days.

Discussion:

Widespread usage of e-scooter is accompanied by an uptick in traumatic events. The chance of renal trauma increases when lateral fall occurs. In our cases patients were hemodynamically stable, the kidney injury severity was high-grade, and non-operative management was effective.

Conclusion:

E-scooter accidents could lead to high-grade renal injuries, amenable of non-operative management; these events are expected to raise.
Polylactic acid flame-retarded by nano-compound of form II ammonium polyphosphate with montmorillonite
Authors: Liu Yinglin , Liu Yina , Yang Rongjie
Published: August 2021

It is reported a convenient method to obtain flame-retardant polylactic acid composite by adding low amount of crystal form II ammonium polyphosphate (APP-II) or nano-compound of crystal form II ammonium polyphosphate with calcium-based montmorillonite. The structures and thermal properties of the crystal form II ammonium polyphosphate and crystal form II ammonium polyphosphate with calcium-based montmorillonite were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. Crystallography and morphologies of the polylactic acid and its composites with the crystal form II ammonium polyphosphate and crystal form II ammonium polyphosphate with calcium-based montmorillonite were measured through differential scanning calorimeter and scanning electron microscopy. In flame retardancy of the polylactic acid composites, the 5 wt% crystal form II ammonium polyphosphate could make the polylactic acid achieve the UL-94 vertical burning V-0 rating and limited oxygen index 27.3%. When using crystal form II ammonium polyphosphate with calcium-based montmorillonite in flame-retarding polylactic acid, only 3 wt% nano-compound can result in the same V-0 rating level and the limited oxygen index of 28.0%. Meanwhile, polylactic acid with crystal form II ammonium polyphosphate or crystal form II ammonium polyphosphate with calcium-based montmorillonite still keeps the good mechanical properties. The developed systems are environmentally friendly and highly effective flame retarding, which show a promising future in practical large-scale polylactic acid application.
Prolonged blood coagulation time among occupationally exposed automobile technicians in Abeokuta, Nigeria
Authors: Akinwande Kazeem S , Olateru-Olagbegi Oluwakemi , Okwor Chika J , Uche Chukwuemelie Z , Eni Bassey B , Edem Victory F
Published: August 2021

Automobile technicians in resource-poor settings often work in poor environments and are exposed to chemicals that put them at risk of ill health and disease. These chemical exposures could affect blood coagulation, leading to bleeding disorders or thrombosis. The present study is aimed at assessing prothrombin test (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin test (aPTT) values, serum zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) concentrations, and blood lead level (BLL) among occupationally exposed automobile technicians compared to unexposed controls. A total of 140 consenting participants comprising 70 automobile technicians and 70 unexposed controls were recruited for this case–control study. A 6-mL blood sample was drawn from each participant for estimation of BLL, serum Zn and Cu concentrations, and PT and aPTT values. Blood lead level, and serum Zn and Cu concentrations were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry, while PT and aPTT values were determined using Innovin PT and Actin FS Activated PTT reagents on the Sysmex CA-101 coagulation analyser. Data were analysed using t-tests, chi-square tests, and logistic and multiple linear regression analyses with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. The mean BLL, serum Zn concentration, and PT and aPTT values were significantly higher in automobile technicians compared to controls. Binary logistic regression showed that automobile technicians had higher odds of elevated PT value (OR = 21.769; p = 0.000), aPTT value (OR = 1.348; p = 0.018), BLL (OR = 1.261; p = 0.000) and serum Zn concentration (OR = 1.063; p = 0.005) than unexposed controls. Linear regression showed significant positive association of PT value with BLL and with serum Zn concentration. Higher PT and aPTT values reflect prolonged blood coagulation time among automobile technicians, which indicates impairment of extrinsic and intrinsic coagulation pathways associated with work-related exposures.
Modern communications technology: An essential tool for optimizing hospital operations and improving outcomes
Authors: Kanter Benjamin
Published: August 2021

An ability to rapidly convert data from multiple different sources into actionable information is embodied in a concept called Real-time Health Systems (RTHS). The foundational component of RTHS is a modern Clinical Communication and Collaboration (CC&C) Platform, which translates organizational knowledge into action. Effective communication is the key. A CC&C Platform that can receive data from multiple hospital systems, analyze the data, arbitrate any resulting actions and determine the relative priorities to distribute work to the right person or teams–can lead to improved operational efficiencies and better patient outcomes.
Socioeconomic Position and Late-Onset Dementia: A Nationwide Register-Based Study
Authors: Appel Andreas M. , Brønnum-Hansen Henrik , Garde Anne H. , Hansen Åse Marie , Ishtiak-Ahmed Kazi , Islamoska Sabrina , Mortensen Erik L. , Osler Merete , Nabe-Nielsen Kirsten
Published: August 2021

Objectives

Previous research on the association between socioeconomic position (SEP) and dementia has not sufficiently accounted for the complex relationship between education and occupation. We investigated the independent and joint effects of educational attainment and occupation-based SEP on dementia.

Methods

We used register-based information about educational attainment, occupation-based SEP, and dementia from 1,210,720 individuals. Information about cognitive ability at conscription was available for a subsample of men.

Results

When mutually adjusted, lower educational attainment and occupation-based SEP were associated with higher dementia risk in a dose–response manner. Higher occupation-based SEP partly mitigated the higher dementia risk associated with lower educational attainment. After adjusting for cognitive ability in a subgroup of men, only unskilled work was associated with higher dementia risk.

Discussion

Occupation-based SEP is independently associated with dementia and may mitigate the higher dementia risk associated with short education. Future research should elucidate the mechanisms underlying social inequality in dementia.
Afterword: Brokerage as social practice
Authors: Bierschenk Thomas
Published: August 2021

This afterword argues for a narrow and analytically strong concept of brokerage, which is oriented towards the classical definition by Boissevain. His ideal type emphasises the agency of brokers who actively pursue their own interests and act at an equal distance to the groups between which they mediate. Furthermore, the text argues for thinking of brokerage as a bundle of social practices instead of as brokers in the sense of a social type. While few social actors are fully-fledged brokers, many of them engage in brokerage.
Empowered in Business or Penalised in Marriage: Experiences of Single Female Entrepreneurs in China
Authors: Song Jing , Li Lulu
Published: August 2021

In China, entrepreneurship remains a non-traditional career for women, but little is known about how young single women may opt for entrepreneurship against the social penalty. This study focuses on single female entrepreneurs and finds them being stigmatised as doing inappropriate jobs and (consequently) staying single. The interviewees responded differently, by (1) coordinating their career and family formation plans to make them compatible, (2) justifying their being single based on their entrepreneurial achievements and (3) compensating for their deviance and using their economic capability to fulfil other family roles. In contrast to the ‘androcentric’ business model based on carefree agents, female entrepreneurs illustrate different forms of agency to accommodate career aspirations and family duties. Given China’s market-oriented reforms, persisting gender beliefs and the socialist legacy, this study illustrates women’s fluid and interactive agency in response to the gendered penalty in non-traditional careers.
Generation mechanism modeling of surface topography in tangential ultrasonic vibration-assisted grinding with green silicon carbide abrasive wheel
Authors: Qiu Yutong , Yin Jingfei , Cao Yang , Ding Wenfeng
Published: August 2021

Tangential ultrasonic vibration-assisted grinding (TUAG) has a wide prospect in machining difficult-to-machine materials. However, the surface generation mechanism in TUAG is not fully recovered. This study proposes an analytical model of the surface topography produced by TUAG. Based on the model, the surface topography and roughness are predicted and experimentally verified. In addition, the influence of the grinding parameters on the surface topography is analyzed. The predicted surface topography well coincides with experimental measurements, and the prediction error in surface roughness Ra by the proposed model is less than 5%. Compared with conventional grinding, TUAG produces a surface with more uniform scratches and surface roughness Ra was reduced by up to 27% with the proper parameters. However, the improvement of surface roughness in TUAG is weakened when grinding speed or depth of cut increases. Moreover, the influence of the ultrasonic vibration amplitude on the surface roughness is not monotonous. With the grinding parameters selected in this study, TUAG with an ultrasonic amplitude of 7.5 μm produces the minimum surface roughness.