1,721,002 research outputs found
Discrete-event simulation study of a COVID-19 mass vaccination centre
No full textThe global spread of COVID-19 and the declaration of the pandemic status made by the World Health Organization (WHO) led to the establishment of mass vaccination campaigns. The challenges posed by the request to immunise the entire population necessitated the set-up of new vaccination sites, named Mass Vaccination Centres (MVCs), capable of handling large numbers of patients rapidly and safely. The present study focused on the evolution of MVC performances, in terms of the maximum number of vaccinated patients and primary resource utilisation ratio, while involving statistics belonging to the patient dimension. The research involved the creation of a digital model of the MVC, using the Discrete-Event Simulation (DES) software (FlexSim Healthcare), and consequent what-if analyses. The results were derived from the study of an existing facility, located within a sports centre in the province of Bergamo (Italy) and operating with an advanced MVC organisational model, in compliance with the national anti-SARS-CoV-2 legislation. The research provided additional evidence on innovative MVC organisational models, identifying an optimal MVC configuration. Besides, the obtained results remain relevant for countries where a significant portion of the population has not yet addressed the emergency, either for upcoming vaccination treatments. Furthermore, the methodology adopted in the present article proved to be a valuable resource in the analysis of the healthcare processes
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Full text link“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
Full text linkWe provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
Evaluation of the Integration of Topological Optimisation in the Process Chain for Manufacturing Customised Orthopaedic Devices via Additive Manufacturing
Full text linkPurpose: The effectiveness of the customised solutions compared to the conventional ones and the emergence of advanced production technologies, such as Additive Manufacturing (AM) techniques, strengthened the trend towards an enhanced individualization of the clinical treatments. In the present research, the value of topological optimisation (TO) in the manufacturing process of tailor-made orthopaedic appliance (upper-limb orthosis) was analysed. Methodology: From the morphology of a patient’s arm, orthotic models were developed. Nonparametric optimization (Simulia Tosca) was performed, based on the Finite Element Analysis (FEA) program (Abaqus), and contributed to the development of TO orthotic models with diverse levels of volume reduction fraction. The modelling and manufacturing framework for customising orthotic solutions was evaluated with a discussion on the feasibility of lightweight and high-performance products, encompassing production time and cost. Pilot products were produced with a Material Extrusion (MEX) printer. Findings: TO proved to be a practical and valuable approach for the advanced customisation of orthopaedic devices, offering lightweight solutions able to withstand stresses also during patient rehabilitation and remission. From the rapid prototyping perspective, specific strategies must be adopted to prevent the escalation of production costs and time. Originality: The research delves into the overall benefit of implementing an advanced modelling technique within the context of manufacturing highly customised orthoses, analysing how TO activity impacts the rapid prototyping process. Beyond product evaluation, the analysis explores broader implications, including the assessment of feasibility and the development of strategies for integrating the approach into clinical workflows and hospital settings
Customized Wrist Immobilization Splints Produced via Additive Manufacturing—A Comprehensive Evaluation of the Viable Configurations
Full text linkOrthopedic splints are external medical devices designed to support and protect the functions of the human musculoskeletal system from pathological conditions or traumatic events. Tailoring these medical solutions to the morphology of the patient’s limb is essential to ensure a correct and rapid rehabilitation pathway. Although traditional splinting techniques might achieve a unique fit, the procedures are highly dependent on the skill and experience of the medical operator, affecting the quality of the care treatment. In response to the drawbacks associated with traditional splinting techniques, the present article proposed an innovative and structured methodology to manufacture customized wrist immobilization splints, prioritizing simplicity and user-friendliness in fabrication activities. The customized splint manufacturing was based on the integration of reverse engineering (RE) and additive manufacturing (AM) techniques. The research designed a baseline model of a wrist splint, varying over different thickness values and manufacturing materials (ABS, nylon, PLA, PC, PA6-GF25, PA6-CF20). For every splint model, the production times and material costs were assessed. Technical tests were performed via finite element analysis (FEA). The conducted analysis and the resulting charts empower medical perators to select the most appropriate solution, ensuring a well-informed and effective decision-making approach
Simulation Study of the Impact of COVID-19 Policies on the Efficiency of a Smart Clinic MRI Service
Full text linkThe present study examines the impact of the policies against the proliferation of SARS-CoV-2 on outpatient facilities through a direct comparison of the key performance indicators measured in an ordinary and pandemic scenario. The subject of the analysis is a diagnostic imaging department of a Smart Clinic (SC) of Gruppo San Donato (GSD). The operations are virtually replicated through a Discrete-Event Simulation (DES) software called FlexSim Healthcare. Operational and productivity indicators are defined and quantified. As hypothesized, anti-contagious practices affect the normal execution of medical activities and their performance, resulting in an unpleasant scenario compared to the baseline one. A reduction in the number of diagnoses by 19% and a decrease in the utilization rate of the diagnostic machine by 21% are shown. Consequently, the development of strategies that restore balance and improve the execution of outpatient activities in a pandemic setting is necessary
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
Full text linkWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
- …
