15 research outputs found
AI and Business Intelligence Integration for Improved Efficiency and Reporting Accuracy in Small U.S. Financial Institutions
No full textThis article seeks to examine how AI is more than merely a device for automation — how it is also a mechanism for structural change, inclusion and trust in financial systems. The article integrates secondary data with expert opinion, and demonstrates how in Uzbekistan, AI in fintech is becoming the “invisible hand” of market effectiveness and the “visible hand” of digital governance. Personal reflections are also singled out in this paper. Tags: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning (ML), Natural Language Processing (NLP), FinTech, Credit Scoring, Fraud Detection, Customer experience, Biometric Authentication, Digital Banking, Government Strategy, Uzbekistan, Innovation
The Impact of AI-Integrated Dashboards and Automation on CRM Workflow Optimization in U.S. Small and Mid-Sized Brokerage Firms
No full textThis article examines how effectively AI-driven dashboards and automated tools are being utilized by small and mid-sized brokerage firms in the United States to enhance CRM workflows. Drawing on responses from 200 CRM professionals, the study explores the extent of AI adoption, its perceived usefulness, organizational readiness, reasons for non-adoption, and future expansion plans. The findings show that slightly more than half of the participants (55.5%) currently use AI dashboards, and most users report favorable experiences. The analysis reveals a strong association between AI dashboard usage and an organization’s decision to adopt AI, while challenges such as employee resistance and insufficient training reduce its effectiveness and limit future adoption. Factor analysis and reliability testing confirm that the scales measuring AI effectiveness and barriers are sound. Overall, the results indicate that although AI tools contribute to smoother CRM processes, organizations continue to encounter both structural and technical obstacles. The study provides practical insights for CRM practitioners, software developers, and policymakers seeking to advance digital transformation in the U.S. brokerage industry
AI-Powered Fraud Detection: Strengthening Risk Monitoring with Business Intelligence in U.S. Financial Institutions
No full textThe growing complexity of financial fraud in the United States has pushed organizations to adopt advanced technologies for more effective risk monitoring. This study examines how various U.S. financial institutions—including banks, fintech firms, and credit unions—implement AI and business intelligence (BI) tools for fraud detection. A survey of 400 professionals from these sectors investigates how AI adoption relates to trust in the technology, staff training levels, BI usage, and future investment intentions. In addition to standard statistical analyses, machine learning models were applied to uncover hidden patterns influencing adoption behavior. The results indicate that AI integration is driven mainly by investment readiness, confidence in AI, the extent of BI utilization, and perceived AI speed, whereas individual perceptual factors alone show limited significance. Overall, the findings suggest that successful AI adoption is shaped by organizational strategy, institutional culture, and existing technological infrastructure. To maximize the effectiveness of fraud detection, U.S. financial institutions should adopt integrated AI–BI solutions, maintain regulatory compliance, and enhance workforce skills to fully leverage the capabilities of AI
The Back of Beyond: A Spatial Study of J.M. Coetzee Novels
No full textAt the center of J.M. Coetzee’s fiction lies the question of how one may navigate a world defined by the racial tension of a settler-colonial state. While Coetzee’s work samples multiple perspectives and pockets of society, a common theme of his novels is a character’s struggle to find spaces where they can experience individual freedom. The struggles evident within Coetzee’s work, evocative of the challenge of placing the author within a particular literary sphere, seem to reach all characters, regardless of their identity as either settler or Indigene. Through a spatial reading of three of Coetzee’s apartheid-era novels, as well as one more recent work published after the dismantling of South Africa’s apartheid, this study analyzes how a character struggles for liberation, and what steps may be necessary in order to find a place of one’s own
Register variation in William Godwin: a multidimensional analysis
No full textRegister variation studies have varied the way of producing the analysis in recent years
showing different perspectives on how to consider a piece of writing or oral production. Biber
p
roposes a way to analyse texts which gives more reliable results
, the Multi
-
Dimensional
(MD) linguistic analysis.
This methodological approach identifies the agreeing and
disagreeing treats by means of dimensions, used to trace different degrees of formali
ty in
spoken o
r written registers. For this reason, in this
analysis
the MD approach
has been used to
illustrate th
e divergence between
the registers of both texts
, one being far more informal than
the other
.
Upon examination of these sources, it becomes o
bvious that the targeted audience
of both is different showing a great amount of variation in their language and structure as it
was expected by the author.
The purpose of this paper resides on tracing
register
variation
analysing a selection of linguistic
features
and chapters. Different written registers
were
selected using two books from t
he eighteenth century
written by the same author, William
Godwin. One them is a narrative,
Caleb Williams,
and the other is a theoretical work,
An
Enquiry Concerning Po
litical Justice
.
This means that the present study
, by analysing
both
books
with the MD
approach
,
reinforces the common belief that depending on the reader,
whether he was educated or not (
with an increasing rise of the middle
-
class reading public
),
the la
nguage varies
, therefore its register,
so it can reach its recipie
nts
Experiencing Multiculturalism through Literature: The Fruitfulness of the Student-Centered Approach of Teaching Literature
No full textExtremism occurring in this world and, specifically, in Indonesia recently is one form of the failure of education which does not accommodate multiculturalism. Terrorism is obviously the result of the distorted education which only focuses on mono-cultural values. Later, this will develop exclusivism in which there is no room for pluralism. This one-sided way of communication is dangerous for multiculturalism, which is, in fact, basic for human being. Therefore, the paper will explore how literature is fruitful for the students to experience multiculturalism and freely communicating its values. Literature is one of the best ways to lead the students to experience multiculturalism. This is supported by the fact that it is multi-interpretable. Even literature itself has so many definitions though it means nothing without appropriate appreciation. When asked to read and interpret particular literary text there will be so many ideas different one another. This is in point of fact the real representation of multiculturalism in its specific and particular definition. In addition, these colorful interpretations come about as a consequence of the different milieu of the author, the work it self and the reader: be it social, cultural, and religious background. The communication of the readers’ and authors’ values through literature is what most matters in teaching literature. Additionally, the teaching-learning process must emphasize more to embed, grow, and develop the affective side of the students than the cognitive one. And since the students as the readers are from different backgrounds, those differences must be highly appreciated and it will enrich the teaching-learning process. This is possible if the student-centered approach is employed consistently and should be explicitly stated in the course syllabus and also lesson plan. To conclude, it is evident that the communication of the different and various values of life becomes the key of teaching literature in multicultural context. If this kind of teaching-learning process works well, one-sided way of communicating values, which is obviously dangerous, will no longer have a place to grow up, for the affective mission of literature is to be sensitive and to understand others. The students will be more open-minded and will not be trapped in the destructive extremism as differences are basic for human being. They will see life in this world not as black and white but as the rainbow, which is always beautiful through times. Key words: experiencing multiculturalism, student-centered approach, teaching literature, communication of value
Comparison of Patients Undergoing 1st MTP Fusion With and Without Lag Screw Fixation for the Treatment of Hallux Rigidus
No full textCategory: Midfoot/Forefoot Introduction/Purpose: First metatarso-phalangeal joint arthrodesis is a common procedure for the treatment of end stage hallux rigidus and other conditions like severe hallux valgus deformity, hallux varus and advanced degenerative disease in association to inflammatory arthropathy. Successful fusions provide pain relief, adequate stability for the first ray during gait at the expense of sacrificing motion. Reported fusion rates range between 90 and 100% (Womack JW 2009). The time to fusion has shown more variability, with reported percentages of fusion ranging between 74 and 92% at 6 weeks (al. 2010). Hallux rigidus is a common arthritic condition affecting the first Metatarso-phalangeal joint. The progressive degenerative changes and limited motion lead to increasing pain and compromise of daily activities. Treatment includes non-surgical measures like NSAIDS, injections, shoe wear and activity modifications. Surgical options include Cheilectomy and proximal phalanx dorsiflexion osteotomies for initial stages, whereas first metatarsophalangeal arthrodesis is the standard of care for hallux rigidus with end stage arthritis. Different means for fixation include kirschner wires, single and crossed screws, staples or plates. The main goal of our study is to retrospectively compare two groups of patients who underwent first MTP fusion with and without lag screw performed by the senior attending, between 2011 and 2015 and evaluate for radiological outcomes including differences in the final coronal and sagittal metatarso phalangeal angles and union rates. Severe hallux valgus and advanced degenerative changes related to inflammatory arthropathy subjected to first metatarsophalangeal arthrodesis using a locking plate construct with or without the use of a lag screw for compression and the main purpose to evaluate differences in postoperative first metatarso phalangeal angles in the sagittal and coronal planes, rate of fusion and postoperative complications. The hypothesis is that there would be no significant differences between groups with and without the compression screw fixation. Methods: A retrospective review comparing patient that underwent first metatarso-phalangeal fusion by a single surgeon (Senior author) between 2011 and 2015 with conical joint preparation and stabilization with a locking plate placed in compression mode or with a lag screw to provide compression followed by placement of a locking plate. Inclusion criteria: age between 18 and 80 years old, end stage first metatarsophalangeal joint in relation to Hallux rigidus, se abscense of toe infection Demographics, Time to fusion, postoperative alignment, and complications were compared between the two groups and subjected to statistical analysis. Results: 98 patients were subjected to 1st MTP arthrodesis between 2011 and 2015. 84 patients met inclusion criteria and were analyzed in our study. Average age was 59 years (38-84). 67.9% female versus 32.1% male. Average Follow up was 7.6 months (min 1.4 – max 37.9) Preoperative HV angles did not show a significant difference between patients subjected to screw fixation and neutralization plate or compression plate. Postoperative HV angles Varied between the groups with and without lag screw in patients with hallux rigidus (p=0.006) in contrast to patients with hallux valgus that showed no variation (p=0.3). Patients with hallux valgus underwent a larger correction of HV angle (mean 20.2 deg) compared to patients with hallux rigidus (mean 5.8 deg) (P < 0.001) No difference found in degree of correction between patients that underwent Lag screw and neutralization plate or no lag screw and Compression plate. The Dorsiflexion angle showed a mean of 26 degrees after 1st MTP fusion in patients with hallux valgus and hallux rigidus, no difference was noted. (P=0.4) The percentage of fusion was lower in patients with hallux valgus and autoimmune disease compared to hallux rigidus and hallux varus. Patients with hallux valgus without lag screw fixation showed the highest non-union rate. Lag screw fixation did not make a difference in the rate of fusion in hallux rigidus (P=0.5). 8.3% of the patients had diabetes and 30% reported tobacco abuse. A 43% nonunion rate was associated to diabetes whereas a 24% nonunion rate was associated to smoking tobacco. Patients with diabetes had a 43% rate of complications. Tobacco was associated with complications in 20% 19% of the patients sustained complications. Highest in patients with autoimmune disease (50%), followed by hallux valgus (25.8%), hallux varus (25%) and hallux rigidus (9.3%) 8 patients had painful hardware, 4 sustained deep infections that required irrigation and debridement with hardware removal, 4 had failure of hardware associated with nonunion and 2 patients sustained superficial wound infections. Conclusion: Final alignment in the coronal (HV angle) or the Sagittal (Dorsiflexion angle) was not dependent on the method of fixation. The Union rates were highest after MTP fusion in patients with hallux rigidus compared to hallux valgus or autoimmune disease. 1st MTP fusion without lag screw showed higher rates of non union amongst patients with Hallux Valgus. No association was noted between Diabetes, Smoking and complications or rates of nonunion. Success of 1st MTP fusions may be related to the quality of preparation and surgical technique rather than the method of fixation. The increased number of no unions in hallux valgus patients may be related to the degree of deformity correction and fixation without lag screw compression although this did not show to be significant. Higher numbers of patients with comorbities like Diabetes and Smoking are needed to show statistically significant differences
Efficacy of Tai Chi and qigong for the prevention of stroke and stroke risk factors
No full textCopyright © 2017 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. Background: This review aims to summarize the evidence of Tai Chi and qigong interventions for the primary prevention of stroke, including the effects on populations with major stroke risk factors. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted on January 16, 2017 using the PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL databases. Randomized controlled trials examining the efficacy of Tai Chi or qigong for stroke prevention and stroke risk factors were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool. Results: Twenty-one trials with n = 1604 patients with hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes, overweight or obesity, or metabolic syndrome were included. No trials were found that examined the effects of Tai Chi/qigong on stroke incidence. Meta-analyses revealed significant, but not robust, benefits of Tai Chi/qigong over no interventions for hypertension (systolic blood pressure: -15.55 mm Hg (95% CI: -21.16; -9.95); diastolic blood pressure: -10.66 mm Hg (95% CI: -14.90, -6.43); the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) index (-2.86%; 95% CI: -5.35, -0.38) and fasting blood glucose (-9.6 mg/dL; 95% CI: -17.28, -1.91), and for the body mass index compared with exercise controls (-1.65 kg/m 2; 95% CI: -3.11, -0.20). Risk of bias was unclear or high for the majority of trials and domains, and heterogeneity between trials was high. Only 6 trials adequately reported safety. No recommendation for the use of Tai Chi/qigong for the prevention of stroke can be given. Conclusion: Although Tai Chi and qigong show some potential more robust studies are required to provide conclusive evidence on the efficacy and safety of Tai Chi and qigong for reducing major stroke risk factors
(The) man, his body, and his society: masculinity and the male experience in English and Scottish medicine c.1640-c.1780.
No full textThis thesis examines the relationship(s) between medicine, the body and societal codes of masculinity in England and Scotland between c.1640 and c.1780. It responds to the way in which the men in histories of post-1660 masculinity are often disembodied, and to the comparative absence of men’s gendered experiences from the history of medicine. Its findings show that in both centuries the experience of being a man with a body that was the site of health and sickness was an open, candid, and often communal, one, inside and outside of the formal medical encounter. Thus, and on both sides of 1700, ill men had full freedom in the pursuit and acceptance of medical, familial and social assistance, while their physical suffering, and associated emotional distress, was met with sympathy. With their sick bodies the sites of honest self-examination and open discussion, it was in part this very public nature of their sicknesses that allowed men, as a gender and as individuals, independence and agency in their non-commercial health care. Indeed, later-seventeenth- and eighteenth-century men suffered no constraints in their ability to respond to the vulnerabilities of their bodies, even where this involved behaviours or attributes allegedly associated with women and femininity, or inconsistent with ideals of active, independent, masculinity.
These findings indicate, therefore, great continuity across the period 1640-1780, and not only in masculine ideals of and involving the male corporeality. There seems to have been significant consistency across time in men’s social and medical experiences of both sickness and their pre-emptive preparation for it, and in an apparent collective self-confidence concerning their corporeal masculinity, their sex, and, possibly, even their sexual potential. Indeed, these sources suggest that seventeenth- and eighteenth-century men had a resilient sense of self-identity (and personal masculinity), conceptually separable from the corporeal body and its known fragilities
Longitudinal Comparison of Geographic Atrophy Enlargement Using Manual, Semiautomated, and Deep Learning Approaches
No full textObjective: To compare a fully automated artificial intelligence (AI) model, a semiautomated method, and manual planimetry in the longitudinal assessment of geographic atrophy (GA) using fundus autofluorescence images. Design: A retrospective analysis of 3 GA assessment methods: AI, Heidelberg Eye Explorer semiautomated software (RegionFinder), and manual planimetry. Subjects and Controls: One hundred eight patients (185 eyes) with GA from a phase IIb clinical trial by GlaxoSmithKline, which evaluated an experimental drug that did not reduce GA enlargement compared with the placebo. Methods: Fundus autofluorescence images of 185 eyes were annotated using manual planimetry, semiautomated RegionFinder, and a fully automated AI model trained and validated on manual planimetry annotations at screening, year 1, and year 2. Artificial intelligence masks were compared with human-guided methods, and regression errors were assessed by stacking masks from consecutive visits. Agreement between methods was assessed using Bland−Altman plots, Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), and comparisons of GA growth rates. Artificial intelligence performance was evaluated based on its need for human edits and frequency of regression errors. Main Outcome Measures: Agreement between methods was evaluated using Bland−Altman plots, DSC, and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). The mean GA growth rate (mm2/year) and square root transformation of GA size were compared across methods. Artificial intelligence performance was assessed by the percentage of acceptable masks and the frequency of longitudinal regression errors. Results: At screening, the mean GA area was 7.22 mm2 with RegionFinder, 8.37 mm2 with AI, and 8.66 mm2 with manual planimetry. RegionFinder measured smaller GA areas than both AI and manual, with a mean difference of −1.45 mm2 (95% confidence interval [CI]: −1.56, −1.35) versus AI (ICC = 0.945) and −1.87 mm2 (95% CI: −1.99, −1.75) versus manual (ICC = 0.920). Growth rates were comparable between RegionFinder (1.54 mm2/year), AI (1.68 mm2/year), and manual (1.80 mm2/year) (P = 0.25). Artificial intelligence masks were deemed acceptable in 84.8% of visits, and 81.4% of cases showed no regression over time. Conclusions: Artificial intelligence accurately measures GA in approximately 85% of cases, requiring human intervention in only 15%, indicating potential to streamline GA measurement in clinical trials while maintaining human oversight. Financial Disclosure(s): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article
