19 research outputs found
A Real-Time Computer Vision Based Framework For Urban Traffic Safety Assessment and Driver Behavior Modeling Using Virtual Traffic Lanes
No full textVehicle recognition and trajectory tracking plays an integral role in many aspects of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) applications; from behavioral modeling and car-following analyses to congestion prevention, crash prediction, dynamic signal timing, and active traffic management. This dissertation aims to improve the tasks of multi-object detection and tracking (MOT) as it pertains to urban traffic by utilizing the domain knowledge of traffic flow then utilize this improvement for applications in real-time traffic performance assessment, safety evaluation, and driver behavior modeling. First, the author proposes an ad-hoc framework for real-time turn count and trajectory reconstruction for vehicles passing through urban intersections. This framework introduces the concept of virtual traffic lanes representing the eight standard National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) movements within an intersection as spatio-temporal clusters utilized for movement classification and vehicle re-identification. The proposed framework runs as an additional layer to any multi-object tracker with minimal additional computation. The results obtained for a case study and on the AI City benchmark dataset indicate the high ability of the proposed framework in obtaining reliable turn count, speed estimates, and efficiently resolving the vehicle identity switches which occur within the intersection due to detection errors and occlusion. The author then proposes the utilization of the high accuracy and granularity trajectories obtained from video inference to develop a real-time safety-based driver behavior model, which managed to effectively capture the observed driving behavior in the site of study. Finally, the developed model was implemented as an external driver model in VISSIM and managed to reproduce the observed behavior and safety conflicts in simulation, providing an effective decision-support tool to identify appropriate safety interventions that would mitigate those conflicts. The work presented in this dissertation provides an efficient end-to-end framework and blueprint for trajectory extraction from road-side traffic video data, driver behavior modeling, and their applications for real-time traffic performance and safety assessment, as well as improved modeling of safety interventions via microscopic simulation.Doctor of PhilosophyTraffic crashes are one of the leading causes of death in the world, averaging over 3,000 deaths per day according to the World Health Organization. In the United States alone, there are around 40,000 traffic fatalities annually. Approximately, 21.5% of all traffic fatalities occur due to intersection-related crashes. Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) is a field of traffic engineering that aims to transform traffic systems to make safer, more coordinated, and 'smarter' use of transport networks. Vehicle recognition and trajectory tracking, the process of identifying a specific vehicle's movement through time and space, plays an integral role in many aspects of ITS applications; from understanding how people drive and modeling that behavior, to congestion prevention, on-board crash avoidance systems, adaptive signal timing, and active traffic management. This dissertation aims to bridge the gaps in the application of ITS, computer vision, and traffic flow theory and create tools that will aid in evaluating and proactively addressing traffic safety concerns at urban intersections. The author presents an efficient, real-time framework for extracting reliable vehicle trajectories from roadside cameras, then proposes a safety-based driving behavior model that succeeds in capturing the observed driving behavior. This work is concluded by implementing this model in simulation software to replicate the existing safety concerns for an area of study, allowing practitioners to accurately model the existing safety conflicts and evaluate the different operation and safety interventions that would best mitigate them to proactively prevent crashes
GENERAL POLYHEDRAL FINITE ELEMENTS FOR RAPID NONLINEAR ANALYSIS
No full textAn analysis system for solid mechanics applications is described in which a new finite element method that can accommodate general polyhedral elements is exploited. The essence of the method is direct polynomial approximation of the shape functions on the physical element, without transformation to a canonical element. The main motive is elimination of the requirement that all elements be similar to a canonical element via the usual isoparametric mapping. It is this topological restriction that largely drives the design of mesh-generation algorithms, and ultimately leads to the considerable human effort required to perform complex analyses. An integrated analysis system is described in which the flexibility of the polyhedral element method is leveraged via a robust computational geometry processor.T he role of the latter is to perform rapid Boolean intersection operations between hex meshes and surface representations of the body to be analyzed. A typical procedure is to create a space-filling structured hex mesh that contains the body, and then extract a polyhedral mesh of the body by intersecting the hex mesh and the body's surface. The result is a mesh that is directly usable in the polyhedral finite element method. Some example applications are: 1) simulation on very complex geometries; 2) rapid geometry modification and re-analysis; and 3) analysis of material-removal process steps following deformation processing. This last class of problems is particularly challenging for the conventional FE methodology, because the element boundaries are, in general, not aligned with the †Corresponding author
Post-conflict private sector development : promoting durable peace : What are the characteristics and short comings of economic development in post-independent, sub-Saharan Africa : examples from Mozambique?
No full textIncludes abstract.In times of war the private sector adapts, often to function informally, and can serve to either perpetuate conflict or to incentivize peace. Accordingly, the private sector is a powerful tool that can be utilized during post-conflict reconstruction to enable sustain- able peace and economic development. After a conflict, in an effort to establish a means of survival outside of the war economy, there is a pressing need for the population to have a means by which to provide a livelihood and productively contribute to society. Establishing sustainable economic exchange and developing social capital between various members of society is one mechanism by which to achieve restorative justice and disincentivize conflict. ...this paper argues for a hybrid approach to private sector development that includes both the investment climate and interventionist methods to disincentivize a return to conflict
The 100 most cited manuscripts in emergency abdominal surgery: a bibliometrics analysis
No full textBackground: The number of citations a scientific article receives provides a good indication of its impact
within any given field. This bibliometric analysis aimed to identify the 100 most cited articles in
Emergency Abdominal Surgery (EAS), to highlight key areas of interest and identify those that have most
significantly shaped contemporary clinical practice in this newly evolving surgical specialty. This is of
increasing relevance as concerns grow regarding the variable and suboptimal outcomes in Emergency
General Surgery.
Materials and methods: The Thomson Reuters Web of Science database was used to search using the
terms [Emergency AND Abdom* AND Surg*] to identify all English language, full manuscripts. Results
were ranked according to citation number. The top 100 articles were further analysed by subject, author,
journal, year of publication, institution, and country of origin.
Results: The median (range) citation number of the top 100 out of 7433 eligible papers was 131 (1569-
97). The most cited paper (by Goldman et al., Massachusetts General Hospital, New England Journal of
Medicine; 1569 citations) focused on cardiac risk stratification in non-cardiac surgery. The Journal of
Trauma, Injury, Infection and Critical Care published the most papers and received most citations
(n ¼ 19; 2954 citations. The majority of papers were published by centres in the USA (n ¼ 52; 9422
citations), followed by the UK (n ¼ 13; 1816 citations). The most common topics of publication concerned
abdominal aneurysm management (n ¼ 26) and emergency gastrointestinal surgery (n ¼ 26).
Conclusion: Vascular surgery, risk assessment and gastrointestinal surgery were the areas of focus for
59% of the contemporary most cited emergency abdominal surgery manuscripts. By providing the most
influential references this work serves as a guide to what makes a citable emergency surgery paper
Surgical academic reach: the higher degree effect quantified
No full textAbstract
Introduction
Proof of professional specific academic attainment is embedded within the Joint Committee on Surgical Training 2013 general surgery curriculum, mandating that all higher general surgical trainees (HST) obtain three peer-reviewed publications to qualify for Certification of Completion of Training. Yet, Modernising Medical Careers (MMC) has been associated with a trend away from the gold standard postgraduate credentials of higher degrees by research. This study aimed to evaluate the academic achievements of a post-MMC UK Deanery HST cohort to determine what additional benefits higher degree study might confer.
Method
The Scopus bibliographic database (Elsevier, RELX Group) was used to characterise the academic profiles of 101 consecutive HSTs and supplemented with Intercollegiate Surgical Programme Curriculum data. Primary outcome measures were numbers of publications, citations and Hirsch indices (HI).
Results
Thirty-seven HSTs (36.6%) had been awarded higher degrees (29 Doctor of Medicine, 8 Doctor of Philosophy). Academic profiles of HSTs with higher degrees were stronger than those of HSTs without, specifically: median (range) publication numbers 16 (2–57) vs 2 (0–11, P<0.001), citations 93 (0–1600) vs 6 (0–132, P<0.001), first author publications 6 (0–33) vs 3 (0–106, P<0.001), communications to learnt societies 30 (5–79) vs 8 (2–35, P<0.001) and HI 6 (1–26) vs 1 (0–6, P<0.001).
Conclusion
Proof of academic reach by higher degree was associated with important enhanced professional credentials, strengthening HIs sixfold. Trainers and trainees alike should be aware of the relative magnitude of such benefits when planning educational programmes.
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Surgical education's 100 most cited articles: A bibliometric analysis
No full textBACKGROUND:
Bibliometric analysis highlights the key topics and publications, which have shaped surgical education. Here, the 100 most cited articles in the arena of surgical education were analyzed.
METHODS:
Thomson Reuters Web of Science was interrogated using the keyword search terms "surgery" and ("learning" or "skills" or "competence" or "assessment" or "training" or "procedure-based assessments" or "performance" or "technical skills" or "curriculum" or "education" or "mentoring"] to identify all English language full articles, and the 100 most cited articles were analyzed by topic, journal, author, year, institution, and country of origin.
RESULTS:
A total of 403,733 eligible articles were returned and the median citation number was 164 (range: 107-1018). The most cited article (by Seymour, Yale University School of Medicine, Annals of Surgery, 1018 citations) focused on the use of virtual reality surgical simulation training. Annals of Surgery published the highest number of articles and received the most citations (n = 16, 3715 citations). The countries with the greatest number of publications were the USA (n = 45), Canada (n = 19), and the UK (n = 18). The commonest topics included simulation (n = 45) and assessment of clinical competence (n = 40).
CONCLUSION:
Surgical skill acquisition and assessment was the area of focus of 85% of the most cited contemporary articles, and this study provides the most cited references, serving as a guide as to what makes a citable published work in the field of surgical education
Neuraminidase Inhibitors and Hospital Length of Stay: A Meta-analysis of Individual Participant Data to Determine Treatment Effectiveness Among Patients Hospitalized With Nonfatal 2009 Pandemic Influenza A(H1N1) Virus Infection
No full text© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail: [email protected]. BACKGROUND: The effect of neuraminidase inhibitor (NAI) treatment on length of stay (LoS) in patients hospitalized with influenza is unclear. METHODS: We conducted a one-stage individual participant data (IPD) meta-analysis exploring the association between NAI treatment and LoS in patients hospitalized with 2009 influenza A(H1N1) virus (A[H1N1]pdm09) infection. Using mixed-effects negative binomial regression and adjusting for the propensity to receive NAI, antibiotic, and corticosteroid treatment, we calculated incidence rate ratios (IRRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Patients with a LoS o
International Conference on Industry, Engineering, and Management Systems (2008 : Cocoa Beach, Fla.)
No full textDigitized and published in SOAR: Shocker Open Access Repository by Wichita State University Libraries Technical Services, May 2022.The IEMS'08 conference committee: California State University Stanislaus Department of Management, Operations, and Marketing Department (Sponsor); Nael Aly (Conference Co-Chair); Ahmad Elshennawy (Conference Co-Chair); Alfred Petrosky (Program Chair); Adel Ali (Program Coordinator); Nabeel Yousef (Publications Editor)Includes author index.This book features the proceedings of the 14th Annual International Conference on Industry, Engineering and Management Systems (IEMS'08) held March 10-12, 2008 in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Proceedings includes 32 papers presented at the conference.Sponsor: Management, Operations, and Marketing Department, California State University, StanislausEvaluating the Security Vulnerabilities in Milk Collection and Transport / Shalini Jajpuria and Suraj M. Alexander -- Improving the Logistics of Milk Collection and Transport / Praveen Janjirala and Suraj M. Alexander -- A Look at Closing Loop in the Undergraduate Project Management Class / Stephen Allen -- Information and Telecommunications Technology: Blueprint for Social-Economic Growth in Developing Nations / Shahram Amiri -- Dedicated Account Teams: Worth the Costs? / Gordon Arbogast -- Process Focus and Commitment: The Key to ISO 9001 Implementation / Michael Bell and Vincent Omachonu -- Hydrographic Mission Planning Prototype Combing GIS and AutoSurvey / Donald Brandon, Brian Bourgeois, Ashley Morris -- Supply Chain Management: Past, Present, and Future / John J. Burbridge, Jr. and Coleman Rich -- Changing the Human Dimension in Information Security / Deborah S. Carstens and Stephanie M. Rockfield -- The New Approach Based on RSM and Ants Colony System for Multiobjective Optimization Problem: A Case Study / Thien-My Dao -- Barthelemy H.Ateme-Nguema, and Victor Songmene -- Process Improvement in the Emergency Department at Moses Cone Hospital / Y. Desai, E. Park, P. Demattos, J. Park -- Development of a Web-Based Manufacturing Education Tool / Daniel J. Fonseca, Terry Brumback, Christopher M. Greene, Matthew E. Elam -- Minimizing Line of Duty Deaths (LODD) for Firefighters through Proposing a Tracking System to Track Fire Fighters at Fire Scenes / Nabeel Yousef and Tarig Ali -- Addressing the Engineering Needs of the Nuclear Power Industry / Wei Zhan, Jacob Schulz, John Crenshaw and Tim Hurst -- Partial Discharge (PD): PSPICE Simulations / Andrzej Gapinski -- On Learning Performance Analogy Between Some Psycho-Learning Experiment Work and Ant Colony System Optimization / H.M. Hassan and Saleh M. Al-Saleem -- A Multivariate Statistical Approach to Analyze Nursing Errors / Xiaochun Jiang, BaaSheba Rice, Gerald Watson, and Eui Park / Implementing Innovative Performance Improvement Practices: Effects of Workplace Deception / Jerry W. Koehler and Thomas W. Philippe -- Developing an Information Strategy for Civil Aviation Competitiveness: The Joint Technical Data Integration (JTDI) Project at Morgan State University / Cynthia Brown-LaVeist, S.K. Hargrove, J. Doswell, Deborah Ihezie -- Dimensions of Service Quality for TV Satellite Channel Programs - A Framework for Quality Improvement / Ashraf H. Galal and Tamer A. Mohamed -- An Intelligent Expert System for Those Who Wish to Become Billionaires / Robert L. Mullen -- An Intelligent Expert System for Those Entering the Internet/Web Industry / Robert L. Mullen -- Asessing Six Sigma Project Improvements - A Statistical Perspective / Ali Ahmad and Isabelina Nahmens -- A Novel Method to Investigate the Possible Locations of Human Body Injuries During a Vertical Fall / Imshaan Somani, Ha Van Vo, and R. Radharamanan -- Product and Process Improvement in Electronic Manufacturing / Angela P. Ansuj and R. Radharamanan -- Determining the Most Effective Midsole Material Thickness in Preventing Calcaneal Fractures / Jonathan B. Ksor, Ha Van Vo, and R. Radharamanan -- Developing a Database that Executes Comprehensive Comparative Analysis Among Undergraduate Industrial Engineering Programs Nationwide -- / Federica Robinson, Mario Marin, Serge Sala-Diakanda, Jose Sepulveda, Luis Rabelo, Kent Williams -- Applying Six Sigma to Service Organizations: A Case for the Florida Department of Children and Families / Alicia Combs, Mihaela Petrova-Bolli, Eric Tucker, and Dana Johnston -- Resource Utilizations: A Study on How to Implement a Communication System / Kendra Lee, LaShaveria Keeton, Carsolina Walton, Tiki L. Suarez-Brown -- The Revolution of Six-Sigma: An Analysis of its Theory and Application / Dominque Drake and J.S. Sutterfield -- The Use of Taguchi Methods to Optimize Shape Factors for Maximum Water Jet Stability / J.S. Sutterfield, Sade L. Chaney, and Tiffany R. Davis -- In's and Out's of Produce Placement / Kaylene C. Williams, Al. Petrosky, Edward H. Hernandez and Robert Pag
Young-IFSO Bariatric/Metabolic Surgery Training and Education Survey
No full textBackground This international Young-IFSO survey aims to address variations, trends, and obstacles in bariatric/metabolic surgery (BMS) training globally, since expectations and resources differ among young surgeons.Methods The Young-IFSO scientific team designed an online confidential questionnaire with 50 questions analyzing the individual BMS training. The survey link was sent to all IFSO/ASMBS members and was shared in social media. All Young-IFSO members (age up to 45 years) were invited to participate between 16 December 2022 and 4 February 2023.Results A total of 240 respondents from 61 countries took the survey. Most respondents (70.24%) described their current position as a consultant surgeon with an average of 5.43 years' experience working in BMS, and 55% are working in a bariatric center of excellence. More than 50% of the respondents performed none or less than 10 BMS during residency. Preparation of the stomach and stapling during sleeve gastrectomy (SG) were the first steps performed, and SG was the first BMS completed as a first operating surgeon by most of the respondents (74%). In total, 201 (84.45%) surgeons reported to perform scientific work. Most respondents (90.13%) reported that surgical mentorship had improved their surgical skills.Conclusion This international experts' survey underlines the lack of a standardized global surgical curriculum of BMS during residency. It shows that SG is the single most performed procedure by young surgeons. These data might underline the importance of advancing surgical education in BMS, and accredited fellowship programs should be offered globally to maintain and raise quality of BMS
Effectiveness and safety of long-term treatment with sulfonylureas in patients with neonatal diabetes due to KCNJ11 mutations: an international cohort study
No full textThis is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordThere is another ORE record for this publication: http://hdl.handle.net/10871/33435BACKGROUND: KCNJ11 mutations cause permanent neonatal diabetes through pancreatic ATP-sensitive potassium channel activation. 90% of patients successfully transfer from insulin to oral sulfonylureas with excellent initial glycaemic control; however, whether this control is maintained in the long term is unclear. Sulfonylurea failure is seen in about 44% of people with type 2 diabetes after 5 years of treatment. Therefore, we did a 10-year multicentre follow-up study of a large international cohort of patients with KCNJ11 permanent neonatal diabetes to address the key questions relating to long-term efficacy and safety of sulfonylureas in these patients. METHODS: In this multicentre, international cohort study, all patients diagnosed with KCNJ11 permanent neonatal diabetes at five laboratories in Exeter (UK), Rome (Italy), Bergen (Norway), Paris (France), and Krakow (Poland), who transferred from insulin to oral sulfonylureas before Nov 30, 2006, were eligible for inclusion. Clinicians collected clinical characteristics and annual data relating to glycaemic control, sulfonylurea dose, severe hypoglycaemia, side-effects, diabetes complications, and growth. The main outcomes of interest were sulfonylurea failure, defined as permanent reintroduction of daily insulin, and metabolic control, specifically HbA1c and sulfonylurea dose. Neurological features associated with KCNJ11 permanent neonatal diabetes were also assessed. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02624817. FINDINGS: 90 patients were identified as being eligible for inclusion and 81 were enrolled in the study and provided long-term (>5·5 years cut-off) outcome data. Median follow-up duration for the whole cohort was 10·2 years (IQR 9·3-10·8). At most recent follow-up (between Dec 1, 2012, and Oct 4, 2016), 75 (93%) of 81 participants remained on sulfonylurea therapy alone. Excellent glycaemic control was maintained for patients for whom we had paired data on HbA1c and sulfonylurea at all time points (ie, pre-transfer [for HbA1c], year 1, and most recent follow-up; n=64)-median HbA1c was 8·1% (IQR 7·2-9·2; 65·0 mmol/mol [55·2-77·1]) before transfer to sulfonylureas, 5·9% (5·4-6·5; 41·0 mmol/mol [35·5-47·5]; p<0·0001 vs pre-transfer) at 1 year, and 6·4% (5·9-7·3; 46·4 mmol/mol [41·0-56·3]; p<0·0001 vs year 1) at most recent follow-up (median 10·3 years [IQR 9·2-10·9]). In the same patients, median sulfonylurea dose at 1 year was 0·30 mg/kg per day (0·14-0·53) and at most recent follow-up visit was 0·23 mg/kg per day (0·12-0·41; p=0·03). No reports of severe hypoglycaemia were recorded in 809 patient-years of follow-up for the whole cohort (n=81). 11 (14%) patients reported mild, transient side-effects, but did not need to stop sulfonylurea therapy. Seven (9%) patients had microvascular complications; these patients had been taking insulin longer than those without complications (median age at transfer to sulfonylureas 20·5 years [IQR 10·5-24·0] vs 4·1 years [1·3-10·2]; p=0·0005). Initial improvement was noted following transfer to sulfonylureas in 18 (47%) of 38 patients with CNS features. After long-term therapy with sulfonylureas, CNS features were seen in 52 (64%) of 81 patients. INTERPRETATION: High-dose sulfonylurea therapy is an appropriate treatment for patients with KCNJ11 permanent neonatal diabetes from diagnosis. This therapy is safe and highly effective, maintaining excellent glycaemic control for at least 10 years. FUNDING: Wellcome Trust, Diabetes UK, Royal Society, European Research Council, Norwegian Research Council, Kristian Gerhard Jebsen Foundation, Western Norway Regional Health Authority, Southern and Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority, Italian Ministry of Health, Aide aux Jeunes Diabetiques, Societe Francophone du Diabete, Ipsen, Slovak Research and Development Agency, and Research and Development Operational Programme funded by the European Regional Development Fund.We thank Exeter NIHR Clinical Research Facility, and Hélène Cavé (Genetics Department, Robert-Debré Hospital-APHP, Paris, France) and collaborators for the genetic testing of the patients in Paris. ATH and SE are supported by a Wellcome Trust Senior Investigator award (grant number 098395/Z/12/Z). PB has a Sir George Alberti Clinical Research Training Fellowship funded by Diabetes UK (16/0005407). PRN is supported by grants from the European Research Council (293574), the Norwegian Research Council (240413/F20), the Kristian Gerhard Jebsen Foundation, Helse Vest (911745), and the University of Bergen. FB is supported by the Italian Ministry of Health (project PE-2011-02350284). ÅS is supported by grants from the University of Bergen. ERP is supported by a Wellcome Trust investigator award (102820/Z/13/Z). SEF has a Sir Henry Dale Fellowship jointly funded by the Wellcome Trust and the Royal Society (105636/Z/14/Z). The Norwegian Childhood Diabetes Registry is funded by The Southern and Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority. MP and JB were supported by grants from AJD (Aide aux Jeunes Diabétiques) and SFD (Société Francophone du Diabète). MP was supported by an educational grant from Ipsen. IK is supported by the Slovak Research and Development Agency (APVV 0107-12) and the Research and Development Operational Programme funded by the European Regional Development Fund (26240220051 and 26240220071)
