Collective Task Research Articles

Reduction of environmental risk of industrially developed territory through the early warning system: the example of northern and arctic territories of The Russian Federation

Within early warning and technological hazards, the need to notify, and to identify, assess and provide the necessary information about the sources of potential hazards is of particular importance. Since there may be causal links between natural and technological disasters, there are increasing concerns that the available knowledge base does not allow for timely warning or relief measures for many hazards.Any early warning system aims to reduce risk as a measure of potential environmental and economic damage. Such reduction, as a rule, is achieved by continuous study of information on the state of functioning of the naturaltechnical system. Hence the task of systematic collection, accumulation, processing and analysis of information arises. The system of continuous observation, control and analysis of the environmental situation for subsequent diagnosis and forecasting of the state of natural objects is realized within the framework of monitoring, which is performed at three levels – global (planetary), regional and local.The Sakha Republic (Yakutia) is the largest region of the Russian Federation with a highly concentrated natural-resource potential, providing full-scale projects of national economic development of interregional and federal significance. Yakutia, the area of which is 20 % of Russia’s territory, is a giant natural enclave in geotechnical terms, the administrative boundaries of which cross many geographically heterogeneous ecosystems of seven neighboring territories (administratively independent subjects of ownership). The article considers and reveals the main directions of the early warning system to prevent socio-natural risk as applied to Yakutia, taking into account its natural-territorial uniqueness.

Pengaruh Pertumbuhan Ekonomi dan Upah Minimum Terhadap Jumlah Pengangguran di Provinsi Nusa Tenggara Timur

A country that is actively trying to improve the welfare of its population is Indonesia, which is still considered a backward country. The government has implemented various steps to achieve social welfare, although there are still several obstacles that have not been fully overcome, such as the issue of unemployment. Resolving this problem is a collective task that must be addressed effectively and continuously. This research aims to determine the influence of economic growth and regional minimum wages on the number of unemployed in East Nusa Tenggara Province. The research method uses quantitative methods with secondary data from publications from the Central Statistics Agency of East Nusa Tenggara Province. The data used is panel data, covering the 2018-2022 time series and cross-sections from 22 districts/cities. Based on the research results, economic growth has a positive and significant effect on the number of unemployed. and also, the regional minimum wage has a positive but insignificant effect on the number of unemployed.

Observer-based leader-following cluster consensus for positive multi-agent systems with input time-varying delay

ABSTRACT This work aims to analyse the cluster consensus for positive multi-agent systems (MASs) with nonlinearities. This study focuses on introducing an observer-based controller with the aim of achieving cluster consensus in the considered positive nonlinear MASs, where the controller includes time-varying delay. Specifically in cluster consensus, agents are divided into multiple clusters to accomplish various collective tasks, each influenced by distinct inter-cluster and intra-cluster communications. In this study, a fixed directed graph is employed to express the communication among agents. By designing a proper Lyapunov-Krasovskii functional and utilising the properties of graph, a set of conditions required for cluster consensus of the examined MASs is established as linear matrix inequalities. Finally, the effectiveness of the derived theoretical findings is confirmed through numerical examples.

A TEACHER “ON A SMARTPHONE” OR MOBILE APPLICATIONS AS AN INNOVATIVE TOOL FOR LEARNING UKRAINIAN AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

The application of collective teaching methods leads to the development of language and conversational competence and directs to the creating a stable motivation to learn the Ukrainian language in a foreign language audience. The article considers the possibilities of using a collective method as a means of activating language and speech activity in the process of teaching Ukrainian to high-competence Polish students. It was analyzed the current state of the problem, and characterized modern collective game-like teaching technologies, which play a significant role in the process of effective learning of Ukrainian as a foreign language by means of professional language, and help to achieve the level of free foreign language communication in professional process. The purpose of the tasks and their impact on the development of the student’s personality and increase his level of knowledge were highlighted in the manuscript. The most effective for foreign (Polish) student audience training exercises for collective performance were analyzed, and features and the benefit of their application in the educational process were indicated. The expediency of using of collective game-like tasks for deepening and mastering the terminology of museology in classes with foreigners was analyzed. The examples of non-standard games aimed the developing students’ skills in analyzing and solving everyday situations were offered. The application of collective game-like teaching methods increases the efficiency of students’ learning, enriches the change of the educational process, enhances the motivation to learn the Ukrainian language, makes impossible the domination of participants in the educational process, creates conditions for closer cooperation between teachers and foreign language authorization. Key words: terminology of museology, Ukrainian language as a foreign language, collective method of teaching, high competence, exercise, game.

Comparing verbal and visual rhetoric – and the danger of “empirical shorthands”

Abstract This paper will evaluate the quantitative content analysis of visual rhetoric which has been put forward by George Rossolatos in the context of audio-visuality and marketing research. Rossolatos bases his taxonomy of visual rhetorical figures on Groupe µ’s adaptation of classical rhetoric in Rhétorique génerale (1970). With the aim of creating a systematic model for marketing analysis, he and his collaborators have coded and classified an extensive number of audiovisual commercials from the top international strata of economically valuable brands. For comparison, I have during a period of four years given undergraduates the task of collecting and categorizing a minimum of ten audio-visual commercials, each of which should exemplify one of the figures referred to by Rossolatos. The outcomes of the task indicate that a random explorative study with a minimum of operationalization and training of coders is enough for obtaining results akin to those reported by Rossolatos. This may be regarded as a positive outcome from a pedagogical point of view, but it may also raise the suspicion that Rossolatos’s criteria are merely intuitive. If the incidence of visual rhetorical figures is to be studied as an independent content variable of audio-visual enunciations, the values/figures should be described with greater caution.

Interpersonal heart rate synchrony predicts effective information processing in a naturalistic group decision-making task

Groups often outperform individuals in problem-solving. Nevertheless, failure to critically evaluate ideas risks suboptimal outcomes through so-called groupthink. Prior studies have shown that people who hold shared goals, perspectives, or understanding of the environment show similar patterns of brain activity, which itself can be enhanced by consensus-building discussions. Whether shared arousal alone can predict collective decision-making outcomes, however, remains unknown. To address this gap, we computed interpersonal heart rate synchrony, a peripheral index of shared arousal associated with joint attention, empathic accuracy, and group cohesion, in 44 groups (n = 204) performing a collective decision-making task. The task required critical examination of all available information to override inferior, default options and make the right choice. Using multidimensional recurrence quantification analysis (MdRQA) and machine learning, we found that heart rate synchrony predicted the probability of groups reaching the correct consensus decision with >70% cross-validation accuracy-significantly higher than that predicted by the duration of discussions, subjective assessment of team function or baseline heart rates alone. We propose that heart rate synchrony during group discussion provides a biomarker of interpersonal engagement that facilitates adaptive learning and effective information sharing during collective decision-making.

리빙랩에서의 집단학습과 매개 활동에 대한 사례연구

Objectives A group of various stakeholders itself cannot automatically guarantee learning for co-creation. For the creation of collective knowledge, intermediary activities that can interconnect and integrate several subjects with different interests, backgrounds, experiences, and knowledge are essential. Living Lab is a place of collective learning based on the horizontal cooperative relationship between private, public, industry, and academia, and is a representative form of co-creation. However, in the case of Living Lab in Korea, research from the perspective of collective learning through co-creation has hardly been conducted. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the collective learning of Living Lab and derive implications, focusing on intermediary activities. Methods A qualitative case study was conducted on the ‘Smart Farm Planning Living Lab for Revitalizing the Old Urban Community’ held in Innovation District, Incheon. In order to structure interactions for collective learning, ac-tivities and tasks for each stage of the Living Lab were organized around the process and results of collective learn-ing, and then classified and analyzed as detailed intermediary activities of facilitating, configuring, brokering ac-cording to the definition of Hakkarainen & Hyysalo(2016). Results In all three stages of Living Lab, the proportion of facilitating was the highest, and brokering were common. This can be interpreted as a result showing that intermediary activities that facilitate actors' activities and broker connections between actors are essential in the process of co-creation to solve social problems. Next, through the three stages of Living Lab, all detailed intermediary activities of the facilitating, configuring, brokering appeared, and it was confirmed that the proportion of detailed intermediary activities was different for each stage of progress. This shows that it is necessary to pay attention to the importance and multifacetedness of interme-diary activities that are overlooked in co-creation through Living Lab. Conclusions This study supports the results of previous studies that the intermediary activities that contribute to collecitve learning and co-creation of Living Lab need to be extended and understood into three types: configuring and brokering as well as facilitating. In addition, the diversity of intermediary activities has important implications for the practical guidelines for Living Lab operation, which are characterized by a spiral development structure that changes according to the results of interaction and learning. Finally, the recognition of the intermediary's unique interactional expertise and the need for research on practical curriculum development and field operation guide-lines based on it were proposed.

"Proud, brave, and tough": women in the Canadian combat arms.

Canada's defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, emphasizes the importance of leveraging Canada's diversity to strengthen the Canadian Armed Forces. Currently, women in the Canadian military are underrepresented across most elements and occupations, especially in the combat arms occupations, including among officers and non-commissioned personnel in combat units such as infantry, armored corps, artillery, and combat engineering. Research suggests that the benefits associated with the inclusion of women in combat arms occupations include an increase in collective intelligence, operational effectiveness, task cohesion, and diversity. This article explores the gender gap in the Canadian combat arms by examining the findings from two recent qualitative research studies on the perceptions of women in the Regular Force and Primary Reserve. The authors analyze female military personnel's perceptions of women serving in the combat arms, and the ways to increase their inclusion in the military. The key findings reveal the following themes on women's perceptions of servicewomen in the combat arms: great job for those who want it; challenging environment (e.g., working within a masculinized culture, necessary toughness, tokenism and the "pink list," being treated differently, and family loyalty); unique challenges faced by women in combat roles; combat takes a toll on women's mental and physical health; and benefits of women's participation in multinational operations. The discussion highlights the need to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion, promote a culture change that fosters greater inclusion of women in the combat arms, and increase operational effectiveness through training and policies.

Body and Brain Quality-Diversity in Robot Swarms

In biological societies, complex interactions between the behavior and morphology of evolving organisms and their environment have given rise to a wide range of complex and diverse social structures. Similarly, in artificial counterparts such as swarm-robotics systems, collective behaviors emerge via the interconnected dynamics of robot morphology (sensory-motor configuration), behavior (controller), and environment (task). Various studies have demonstrated morphological and behavioral diversity enables biological groups to exhibit adaptive, robust, and resilient collective behavior across changing environments. However, in artificial (swarm robotic) systems there is little research on the impact of changing environments on morphological and behavioral (body-brain) diversity in emergent collective behavior, and the benefits of such diversity. This study uses evolutionary collective robotics as an experimental platform to investigate the impact of increasing task environment complexity (collective behavior task difficulty) on the evolution and benefits of morphological and behavioral diversity in robotic swarms. Results indicate that body-brain evolution using coupled behavior and morphology diversity maintenance yields higher behavioral and morphological diversity, which is beneficial for collective behavior task performance across task environments. Results also indicate that such behavioral and morphological diversity maintenance coupled with body-brain evolution produces neuro-morpho complexity that does not increase concomitantly with task complexity.

Chat-ePRO: Development and pilot study of an electronic patient-reported outcomes system based on ChatGPT

ObjectiveChatbots have the potential to improve user compliance in electronic Patient-Reported Outcome (ePRO) system. Compared to rule-based chatbots, Large Language Model (LLM) offers advantages such as simplifying the development process and increasing conversational flexibility. However, there is currently a lack of practical applications of LLMs in ePRO systems. Therefore, this study utilized ChatGPT to develop the Chat-ePRO system and designed a pilot study to explore the feasibility of building an ePRO system based on LLM. Materials and MethodsThis study employed prompt engineering and offline knowledge distillation to design a dialogue algorithm and built the Chat-ePRO system on the WeChat Mini Program platform. In order to compare Chat-ePRO with the form-based ePRO and rule-based chatbot ePRO used in previous studies, we conducted a pilot study applying the three ePRO systems sequentially at the Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital to collect patients’ PRO data. ResultChat-ePRO is capable of correctly generating conversation based on PRO forms (success rate: 95.7 %) and accurately extracting the PRO data instantaneously from conversation (Macro-F1: 0.95). The majority of subjective evaluations from doctors (>70 %) suggest that Chat-ePRO is able to comprehend questions and consistently generate responses. Pilot study shows that Chat-ePRO demonstrates higher response rate (9/10, 90 %) and longer interaction time (10.86 s/turn) compared to the other two methods. ConclusionOur study demonstrated the feasibility of utilizing algorithms such as prompt engineering to drive LLM in completing ePRO data collection tasks, and validated that the Chat-ePRO system can effectively enhance patient compliance.

Event-Triggered Cluster Consensus of Multi-Agent Systems via a Modified Genetic Algorithm.

This article is concerned with the event-triggered output feedback cluster consensus of leader-following multi-agent systems (MASs) under limited communication resources. Specifically, the distributed agents are divided into several clusters to accomplish different collective tasks under diverse intracluster and intercluster communications. First, to alleviate excessive communication resource consumption, two sampled-data-based event-triggered schemes are developed to distinguish agent-to-agent communications within clusters and between clusters. Based on these schemes, an event-based cluster consensus control protocol is proposed to solve the problem. Then, sufficient criteria on asymptotic stability of the resulting closed-loop system are derived and expressed in terms of matrix inequalities. It is noteworthy that the derived criteria for controller design are nonlinear and nonconvex with respect to the output feedback control gains and triggering parameters. To handle this issue, a modified genetic algorithm (MGA) with multiple subpopulations is proposed, where the subpopulations are independent of each other. The key feature of the designed MGA lies in that the fitness value is described as an accumulation of initial value and weighing value of each matrix inequality. Finally, an application of satellite formation flying is exemplified to demonstrate the effectiveness of the derived theoretical results.

AoI-Guaranteed Incentive Mechanism for Mobile Crowdsensing With Freshness Concerns

With the explosive spread of smart mobile devices, Mobile CrowdSensing (MCS) has been becoming a promising paradigm, by which a platform can coordinate a group of workers to complete large-scale data collection tasks using their mobile devices. In this paper, we investigate the incentive mechanism design in MCS systems, taking the freshness of collected data and social benefits into consideration. First, the Age of Information (AoI) metric is introduced to measure the freshness of data. Then, we model the incentive mechanism design with AoI guarantees as an incomplete information two-stage Stackelberg game with multiple constraints. Next, we consider the scenario that all participants share the public utility function parameters of the Stackelberg game. By deriving the optimal remuneration paid by the platform and the optimal data update frequency for each worker, and proving the existence of a unique Stackelberg equilibrium, we propose an AoI-guaranteed Incentive Mechanism (AIM) that enables the platform and all workers to maximize their utilities simultaneously. Furthermore, we extend AIM to a general scenario where each participant has no prior knowledge of the utility function parameters of the game. By resorting to the Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) technique and modeling the two-stage Stackelberg game as a Markov decision process, we propose a DRL-based Incentive Mechanism (DIM) with AoI guarantees, which makes each participant effectively seek its optimal strategy through trial and error. Meanwhile, the system can guarantee that the AoI values of all data uploaded to the platform are not larger than a given threshold. Finally, numerical experiments on real-world traces are conducted to validate the efficacy and efficiency of AIM and DIM.

VERO: A vacuum‐cleaner‐equipped quadruped robot for efficient litter removal

AbstractLitter nowadays presents a significant threat to the equilibrium of many ecosystems. An example is the sea, where litter coming from coasts and cities via gutters, streets, and waterways, releases toxic chemicals and microplastics during its decomposition. Litter removal is often carried out manually by humans, which inherently lowers the amount of waste that can be effectively collected from the environment. In this paper, we present a novel quadruped robot prototype that, thanks to its natural mobility, is able to collect cigarette butts (CBs) autonomously, the second most common undisposed waste worldwide, in terrains that are hard to reach for wheeled and tracked robots. The core of our approach is a convolutional neural network for litter detection, followed by a time‐optimal planner for reducing the time needed to collect all the target objects. Precise litter removal is then performed by a visual‐servoing procedure which drives the nozzle of a vacuum cleaner that is attached to one of the robot legs on top of the detected CB. As a result of this particular position of the nozzle, we are able to perform the collection task without even stopping the robot's motion, thus greatly increasing the time‐efficiency of the entire procedure. Extensive tests were conducted in six different outdoor scenarios to show the performance of our prototype and method. To the best knowledge of the authors, this is the first time that such a design and method was presented and successfully tested on a legged robot.

Examining How Macroeconomic Variables Influence Regional Autonomy: An Examination of Local Taxing Power

The Indonesian Central Government has granted local governments greater autonomy and authority in resource management, a process called decentralization. The impact of macroeconomic factors on regional autonomy in Jambi Province following fiscal decentralization explores how decentralization empowers local governments to optimize local income. The Financial Relations Law (UU HKPD) underscores the importance of local taxing Power for local administrations. Methodologically, this study utilizes panel data regression to investigate the influence of macroeconomic variables on regional autonomy. The qualitative analysis method is also employed to formulate policy strategies for enhancing local taxing Power. Results reveal some macroeconomic variables have a significant effect on regional autonomy. These are some recommendations to strengthen regional autonomy in Jambi Province, such as the identification of leading sectors regarding income tax, enhancement of supervision and law enforcement, taxpayer education, improvement of public service quality, the establishment of tax collection task forces, and innovation in tax administration.

Геймификация в образовании как фактор формирования актуальных профессиональных компетенций

The article considers aspects of the use of gamification in education as a factor in the formation of professional competencies. In the context of learning, gamification is understood as a certain technology associated with the introduction of game components into the educational process based on the use of algorithms that were previously used in various computer gaming programs. Such trends in educational practice, in the context of the use of gamification, as the systematization of practical experience in the use of gamification and the development of its theoretical and methodological foundations are highlighted; the focus on achieving certain educational results is the formation of professional competencies within the framework of educational activities; the use of gamification in teaching various disciplines of the curriculum: foreign languages, engineering specialties, in inclusive educational practice, in management, in marketing, etc. In the context of digital transformation of education, the implementation of gamification forms the necessary motivation for educational activities, expands the boundaries of professional and personal development for all subjects of educational activity. Gamification allows you to implement various psychological and pedagogical techniques and methods to achieve learning goals, including the differentiation of strategic and tactical goals when completing course assignments, maintaining the necessary level of attention and concentration of students, combining various options for the complexity of tasks performed and on this basis identifying the abilities of participants to solve these tasks in a timely manner, modeling and implementing various game situations for the formation and development of certain professional competencies, etc. In the context of the development of the digital economy, globalization and informatization of educational activities, gamification optimally complements the already existing traditional training, with an emphasis on the use of game techniques in education, the involvement of gamification participants in solving collective tasks, achieving personal and group goals when completing the course in the form of a game, revealing their abilities precisely within the framework of team tasks and, thus, forming the necessary relevant professional competencies within the framework of educational activities.

THE ESSENCE AND PECULIARITIES OF THE CONTENT OF PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCE OF OFFICERS – SPECIALISTS IN THE ORGANIZATION OF INTELLIGENCE AND INFORMATION WORK

The professional competence of officers – specialists in the organization of intelligence and information work – is a set of knowledge, skills, abilities and personal qualities that allow them to effectively perform tasks of collecting, analyzing and processing information in the interests of security and protection of national interests. This competence consists of various components that cover technical, social and psychological aspects. The structure of professional competence of officers in the field of intelligence and information work should include technical knowledge, analytical skills, communication skills, leadership skills and ethical standards.The formation of all components of the professional competence of future officers – specialists in the organization of intelligence and information work involves high-quality professional training in higher military educational institutions, taking into account the requirements of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine to the content of educational and professional programs and the requirements of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine in terms of the general level of training of officers.171 № 1(36)2024The structure of professional competence takes into account various aspects and requirements related to the professional competence of officers in the field of intelligence and information work. At the same time, under the legal regime of martial law, the scope of functions assigned to officers of this specialty is significantly increasing, as military functions have been actualized, in particular, planning, organizing and conducting the main types of combined arms battle, organizing the main types of combat support of the unit, countering the enemy in the case of attacks or sabotage, use of firepower available to reconnaissance units, support of servicemen’s vital functions in autonomous conditions in various physical and geographical conditions during combat missions, etc.The effective formation of professional competence to future officers – specialists in the organization of intelligence and information work in higher military educational institutions involves taking into account a number of organizational and pedagogical conditions that cover aspects of content, practical activities, exchange of experience and involvement in research.

Exploring a multimodal approach for utilizing digital biomarkers for childhood mental health screening.

Depression and anxiety are prevalent mental health concerns among children and adolescents. The application of conventional assessment methods, such as survey questionnaires to children, may lead to self-reporting issues. Digital biomarkers provide extensive data, reducing bias in mental health self-reporting, and significantly influence patient screening. Our primary objectives were to accurately assess children's mental health and to investigate the feasibility of using various digital biomarkers. This study included a total of 54 boys and girls aged between 7 to 11 years. Each participant's mental state was assessed using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale. Subsequently, the subjects participated in digital biomarker collection tasks. Heart rate variability (HRV) data were collected using a camera sensor. Eye-tracking data were collected through tasks displaying emotion-face stimuli. Voice data were obtained by recording the participants' voices while they engaged in free speech and description tasks. Depressive symptoms were positively correlated with low frequency (LF, 0.04-0.15 Hz of HRV) in HRV and negatively associated with eye-tracking variables. Anxiety symptoms had a negative correlation with high frequency (HF, 0.15-0.40 Hz of HRV) in HRV and a positive association with LF/HF. Regarding stress, eye-tracking variables indicated a positive correlation, while pNN50, which represents the proportion of NN50 (the number of pairs of successive R-R intervals differing by more than 50 milliseconds) divided by the total number of NN (R-R) intervals, exhibited a negative association. Variables identified for childhood depression included LF and the total time spent looking at a sad face. Those variables recognized for anxiety were LF/HF, heart rate (HR), and pNN50. For childhood stress, HF, LF, and Jitter showed different correlation patterns between the two grade groups. We examined the potential of multimodal biomarkers in children, identifying features linked to childhood depression, particularly LF and the Sad.TF:time. Anxiety was most effectively explained by HRV features. To explore reasons for non-replication of previous studies, we categorized participants by elementary school grades into lower grades (1st, 2nd, 3rd) and upper grades (4th, 5th, 6th). This study confirmed the potential use of multimodal digital biomarkers for children's mental health screening, serving as foundational research.

The advantages of gamification for collecting linguistic data: A case study using Word Ladders

This paper delves into the integration of gamification techniques within the field of linguistics to enhance data collection for academic research purposes. Through an exploration of the Word Ladders mobile application, designed to elicit hierarchical word associations and therefore linguistic data, the study investigates the potential benefits of gamification in terms of data quality, user experience, and motivation in taking part to the research and to the data collection task. The experimental design examines the advantages of a gamified approach compared to traditional research methods (online surveys), through an experimental session followed by a survey (n=189). Results showed that competition between users is a powerful motivator that can be easily integrated in gamified approaches and less so in classic online surveys, driving engagement and potentially enhancing the scalability of data collection while retaining the quality of data collected in classic lab settings. While challenges persist, our research contributes to the understanding of gamification’s impact on data collection, user experience, and motivation, laying the foundation for transformative advancements in the field of language and communication sciences.

Optimization of Clustering and Trajectory for Minimizing Age of Information in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-Assisted Mobile Edge Computing Network.

With the development of the Internet of Things (IoT) technology, massive amounts of sensor data in applications such as fire monitoring need to be transmitted to edge servers for timely processing. However, there is an energy-hole phenomenon in transmitting data only through terrestrial multi-hop networks. In this study, we focus on the data collection task in an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-assisted mobile edge computing (MEC) network, where a UAV is deployed as the mobile data collector for the ground sensor nodes (SNs) to ensure high information freshness. Meanwhile, the UAV is equipped with an edge server for data caching. We first establish a rigorous mathematical model in which the age of information (AoI) is used as a measure of information freshness, related to both the data collection time and the UAV's flight time. Then a mixed-integer non-convex optimization problem is formulated to minimize the peak AoI of the collected data. To solve the problem efficiently, we propose an iterative two-step algorithm named the AoI-minimized association and trajectory planning (AoI-MATP) algorithm. In each iteration, the optimal SN-collection point (CP) associations and CP locations for the parameter ε are first obtained by the affinity propagation clustering algorithm. The optimal UAV trajectory is found using an improved elite genetic algorithm. Simulation results show that based on the optimized ε, the AoI-MATP algorithm can achieve a balance between data collection time and flight time, reducing the peak AoI of the collected data.

A Pilot Study Testing the Novel Use of a Snake Bite Compression Device for Field Hemostasis and Wound Repair in an Animal Model.

A commercially available snake bite device was pilot tested for novel use as a method of hemostasis and wound repair at a noncompressible site in a live swine model. The device is light, is plastic, uses a hook-and-loop strap attachment, and is easily deployed. The device could offer a method for the field repair of an actively bleeding laceration at a noncompressible site in an austere environment. This was an interventional, prospective, controlled study in a large animal model. The study was approved by the Rhode Island Hospital Institutional Review Board (IRB) and the Animal Welfare Committee/Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and the Lifespan Research Conflict of Interest Committee. Each animal acted as its own control. Blood loss was measured and compared between repairs of standardized incisions with and without the device's application. The lacerations were sutured closed. Two proceduralists alternated tasks of wound repair versus blood collection. Blood loss was measured by using gauze sponges to capture the blood during a 30-second free-bleeding period and during the repair itself. Using a one sample t-test (the expected difference in blood loss between the two incision repair methods = 0 if the null hypothesis were true), we calculated the mean difference in the deltas between the repair methods. The mean delta difference was 3.1 g (SE ± 0.97). The t-test demonstrated that there was a significantly greater blood loss during the standard repair method, t(9) = 3.11, P < 0.01 than during the repair with the device in place (see Fig.2). A statistical power analysis conducted showed that with a sample size of 10 animals, there was sufficient statistical power to detect this significant effect (β = 0.82, α < 0.05, one-tailed). There was statistically significantly less blood loss during the repairs with the device's application. This feasibility experiment demonstrates that a commercially available snakebite device may be useful for hemostasis during laceration repair at anatomic sites not amenable to application of tourniquets or compressive dressings. Strengths of the study include the prospective controlled design, including the use of each animal as its own control; alternating proceduralists to account for any variability in suturing efficiency; and the statistical significance of the results despite the small number of subjects. One weakness is that the time required for each repair was not measured. The device's portability and reusability suggest applicability in austere medical environments. Future studies could include timing the repairs, using a skin stapler or wound adhesive instead of sutures, applying a hemostatic agent before the repair, and sequentially applying the device to wounds longer than the device.