Combination Of Statistical Data Research Articles

The Critical Role of SREs in Safeguarding Healthcare Data Integrity and Availability

This article explores the critical role of Site Reliability Engineers (SREs) in the rapidly evolving landscape of healthcare technology. As healthcare organizations increasingly adopt digital solutions, SREs have become indispensable in ensuring data integrity, system availability, and regulatory compliance. The article discusses the unique challenges faced by SREs in healthcare environments, including managing vast amounts of sensitive patient data, implementing robust security measures, and maintaining high system reliability. It examines the key responsibilities of SREs, such as proactive monitoring, incident response, data consistency management, and security compliance. Furthermore, the article highlights the significant impact of SRE practices on healthcare delivery, including enhanced patient care, improved operational efficiency, risk mitigation, and cost reduction. Through a combination of statistical data and industry insights, this work underscores the growing importance of SREs in shaping the future of healthcare technology and improving overall patient outcomes.

Mapping analysis of biomass potential on Java Island for supporting power plant: A review

The utilization of biomass residue for energy production holds significant importance within the context of sustainable energy initiatives in Indonesia, aligning with the guidelines set forth in Government Regulation No. 79 of 2014 on national energy development. This paper aims to comprehensively review the mapping analysis of biomass potential on Java to support fueling the steam powerplants, with biomass energy sources. This study also places emphasis on the assessment of residual resources, considering it a strategic tool to delineate their distribution and contribute to achieving the mandated target of biofuel constituting over 5% of the total energy supply by 2025. The methodology introduced in this review aims to outline a systematic approach for evaluating energy production from biomass residue, positioning it as a critical element in the country’s energy development trajectory. The estimation of overall residue availability relies on a combination of statistical data and on-site observations. Additionally, the determination of key parameters such as residue-to-product ratio, moisture content, and heating value draws insights from relevant scholarly works. Through this comprehensive analytical approach, the study seeks to provide a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted aspects associated with the utilization of biomass residue for energy production.

Systemic Poverty Modelling: Case of Central Asia

Poverty is one of the most controversial issues in the academic discourse. The numerous theories and their different interpretations make theoretical approaches to poverty applicable to achieve different goals but not the one of its eradication. The politization of the problem and the motivation of political actors to harness the issue of poverty result in significant restrictions for objective assessment of the situation. Central Asia has been facing the problem of poverty for a long time, but this issue remains unresolved. The state of affairs differs a lot from one state to another in the region, however all of them are exposed to high risks since poverty in Central Asia has acquired the character of a systemic phenomenon. The abovementioned theses determine adaptation of the existing academic findings to regional specifics. The article hypothesizes that in Central Asian countries the factors of poverty persistence are linked to each other in vicious circles, the rupture of which is possible through systemic solutions in three public spheres – education, labor market and development institutions. To verify this hypothesis, the nature of poverty is put under test for consistency, the key characteristics of the problem for each of the Central Asian countries are highlighted. The major factors, contributing to the preservation of poverty are analyzed; the most important of them are revealed and logically connected to the three public spheres mentioned. The latter proves to be the most significant for the regional approach to poverty issues. The combination of statistical data, the poor quality of which represent a major limitation of the study, and the results of empirical conclusions has made it possible to identify the existence of two related “vicious circles” of poverty in the region – a vicious circle of factors of poverty persistence and a vicious circle of poverty and its consequences. Based on the data obtained through econometric modeling, a number of recommendations aimed at further reducing the severity of the problem in the Central Asian states have been developed. The proposed recommendations are formed considering the complexity and unrealizability of complex and simultaneous solutions to the problem of poverty and are designed to launch a mechanism for assessing the situation and its initial resolution.

Cultural-historical models of verification the effectiveness of psychotherapy

The article analyses the leading trends and methods used in studies on the efficiency of psychotherapy from the cultural-historical perspective. The article stresses that experimental-examining methods are applied for verification of psycho­therapeutic effects within the classical approach; this approach is represented by meta-analyzes, i.e. a statistical combination of data from several studies. The main effects of cognitive-behavioral therapy were confirmed by this way. During the crisis of modernism, hermeneutic methods and the non-classical approaches to evaluate the psychotherapy results became popular; they were used primarily for psychodynamic therapies. During the early postmodern period, the post-non-classical approach to psychotherapy evaluation was developed; here, existential-phenomenological analysis of psychotherapeutic cases was used. The linguistic turn in late postmodern psychotherapy was based on various discursive analyses and, first of all, the intent-analysis. In addition, narrative analysis could be presented as a verbalized triangular model that takes into account deep intentions and the social context of a client’s life. The latest era of meta-modernism proposes a new turn to performance in psychotherapy, when quantitative and qualitative methods testing psychotherapy efficiency are united and used flexibly, as well as the methods of artistic and aesthetic development of reality are applied in the form of art therapy and involved into result evaluation.

К вопросу изучения имиджа крупнейших туристских урбодестинаций Мира в русскоговорящем сегменте интернета

The increasing turbulence of the global tourism market determines the development of the marketing aspect of a destination, the emerging image of which is an important factor in the behavior of a potential tourist. In the presence of a theoretical basis, the development of this direction requires the search for new approaches, modern sources of information and the definition of a research algorithm, which is of particular relevance for global cities that form a unique category of tourist destinations or urban destinations. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the perception of New York, Tokyo, London, Paris, Los Angeles, Singapore, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Seoul in the Russian-speaking segment of the Internet (Runet) on the basis of a combination of various techniques and the use of social media analysis capabilities. The authors offer a conceptual scheme for the implementation of the study, the database of which consists of four blocks, including: the combination of statistical data and international ratings of urban destinations; the number of search queries from Runet users; the frequency and context of mentions of urban locations in different social media (VK, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.); the results of a sociological survey held by means of an Internet questionnaire in the regions of Russia and abroad. Based on the analysis, the effectiveness of various mechanisms of image formation of the world’s largest urban communities with a relatively modest role of the media is evaluated; the level of destinations’ attractiveness among the Runet audience is revealed. A generalizing scheme of the “supporting framework” of the image of urban destination is presented, reflecting the secondary importance of affective components and the dominance of urban realities with a special role of the categories of “metropolitan”, urban localities and architectural brands. At the same time, significant differences have been established in the field of formation, focus, the ratio of cognitive and affective components of the image, and in general a high degree of its individuality, which in practice involves the use of a range of fine-tuning marketing settings for the largest tourist urban destinations in the world.

The Bayesian Approach to Capital Allocation at Operational Risk: A Combination of Statistical Data and Expert Opinion

Operational risk management remains a major concern for financial institutions. Indeed, institutions are bound to manage their own funds to hedge this risk. In this paper, we propose an approach to allocate one’s own funds based on a combination of historical data and expert opinion using the loss distribution approach (LDA) and Bayesian logic. The results show that internal models are of great importance in the process of allocating one’s own funds, and the use of the Delphi method for modelling expert opinion is very useful in ensuring the reliability of estimates.

Can the Concept of Lifestyle Migration be applied to Return Migration? The Case of Estonians in the UK

AbstractThis article makes the case for using the concept of lifestyle migration to understand return migration. The key argument is that there are several advantages for engaging with lifestyle migration literature when analysing people's return, of which the prime reason is to draw attention away from the affective and emotional aspects of return migration and view it as a conscious decision related to future planning. A combination of statistical data and interviews with highly skilled Estonian migrants in the UK shows how the return of these migrants is often related to moving from one life stage to another. In the conscious process of planning for a family, several aspects related to both countries were evaluated and the return was often explained as benefitting the (potential) family. The article also claims that there is a need for lifestyle migration research to engage more actively on interlinkages between lifestyle and life stage.

Regional discrepancies in spatiotemporal variations and driving forces of open crop residue burning emissions in China

As a major source of secondary organic aerosol, open crop residue burning (OCB) emits a large number of trace gases and particulates to the atmosphere. Extensive OCB is detected during harvest seasons in most regions of China. Emissions from OCB have been widely investigated in China, but few studies have focused on regional discrepancies in spatiotemporal variations with a long timescale. In this study, emissions from OCB in three typical regions of China, including Northeast China, Chengdu-Chongqing and Guangdong, from 2003 to 2016, were estimated using a combination of statistical data and the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) observations, and regional discrepancies in spatiotemporal variations and driving forces were analyzed in detail. The results showed that OCB emissions of CO and PM2.5 in 2016 were 3.63 × 106 and 6.96 × 105 tons in Northeast China, 9.77 × 105 and 1.36 × 105 tons in Chengdu-Chongqing, and 1.24 × 105 and 1.19 × 104 tons in Guangdong, respectively. The OCB emissions in Northeast China maintained an overall increasing trend, which were mainly dominated by rural economic development and agricultural modernization, with great potential for reduction. In Chengdu-Chongqing, emissions increased until 2013 and then decreased, due to the impact of policies prohibiting OCB. In Guangdong, emissions showed annual fluctuations with a slightly decreasing trend influenced by metrological conditions and related policies. The analysis of the driving forces behind the regional discrepancies among these typical regions indicated that OCB emissions in China were characterized by uneven rural economic development, control policies, and natural conditions, suggesting that region-dependent control measures are needed for reducing OCB emissions. This study provided a better understanding of OCB emission characteristics in the three typical regions and revealed the diversity of OCB emission characteristics in China.

Fossil Diesel Substitution Potential of Biodiesel Produced from Rubber Seed Oil as a Byproduct of Rubber Wood Plantation

Rubber seed oil (RSO) is a well-known non-edible oil currently not commercially used because no major application has been identified. Recently, studies of biodiesel produced from RSO have been reported. However, RSO biodiesel production potential and fossil diesel substitution potential have not been clarified. We report here estimates of the biodiesel production potential from rubber seed in natural-rubber-producing countries, with a combination of statistical data and original experimental data. The result shows that Indonesia has a RSO production potential of 889 098 tons/year as the highest country. In Nigeria, 15.1% of current fossil diesel consumption can potentially be replaced by biodiesel produced from an annual output of RSO locally. The usage of RSO for producing biodiesel is one option of reducing the biodiesel production dependency upon edible oil in these countries. The development of biodiesel production using RSO could play an important role in the natural-rubber-producing countries, such...

Crisis, Inequality and Consumption - a Dutch Perspective

Inequalities have been exacerbating in the Netherlands since the economic crisis hit ground in 2008, with poverty increasing substantially. The amount of the Dutch population living under the poverty line increased from 7,4 % in 2010 to 10,3 % in 2013. Different types of household are affected: single parent and one-person households, as well as those with migration background. Moreover, life course influences are inherent in the rising amount of children and of elderly in poverty. The aim of this paper is to provide empirical evidence on how new inequalities impact the consumption of food, housing and mobility. Inequalities in food consumption are manifested in the growing amount of food packages handed out by foodbanks increased by 30 % (2012-2013). Housing cost makes up a substantial share of the total expenditure for consumers with lower income and social inequalities become visible in the increasing late payments on mortgages as well as on energy and water consumption. Mobility is of interest, because low-income households appear to cut expenditure on mobility, considering the proportion low-income households spent on mobility is lower as households above the poverty line (7 and 11 % respectively). This paper sheds empirical light on consumption inequalities by providing quantitative empirical evidence. A combination of statistical data is analysed. Life-course influences thereby indicate different peculiarities of consumption inequalities in the types of households affected by poverty.

Discovering the Purchase Behaviour towards Solar Products for Domestic Appliances-using Structural Equation Model

Worldwide draining of fuel resources like coal, oil and gas has activated debates in many forums in India stressing the importance of renewable energy sources like solar, hydro, wind and bio gas for forthcoming sustenance of civilization. Anticipating a shift of the consumer mind set towards solar products have recognized this niche market and knowing about their purchase behaviour and factors that influence buying intention has put forth for the study. This paper aims to analyse the factors influencing buying intention, selection criteria and purchase behaviour towards the solar products using structural equation models (SEM) with observed and latent variables. SEM is a statistical technique for testing and estimating relationships amongst variables, using a combination of statistical data and qualitative causal assumptions. Primary data have been collected and 513 samples were used for analysis. The model fit summary shows that the model is perfectly fit.

The global anthropogenic gallium system: determinants of demand, supply and efficiency improvements.

Gallium has been labeled as a critical metal due to rapidly growing consumption, importance for low-carbon technologies such as solid state lighting and photovoltaics, and being produced only as a byproduct of other metals (mainly aluminum). The global system of primary production, manufacturing, use and recycling has not yet been described or quantified in the literature. This prevents predictions of future demand, supply and possibilities for efficiency improvements on a system level. We present a description of the global anthropogenic gallium system and quantify the system using a combination of statistical data and technical parameters. We estimated that gallium was produced from 8 to 21% of alumina plants in 2011. The most important applications of gallium are NdFeB permanent magnets, integrated circuits and GaAs/GaP-based light-emitting diodes, demanding 22-37%, 16-27%, and 11-21% of primary metal production, respectively. GaN-based light-emitting diodes and photovoltaics are less important, both with 2-6%. We estimated that 120-170 tons, corresponding to 40-60% of primary production, ended up in production wastes that were either disposed of or stored. While demand for gallium is expected to rise in the future, our results indicated that it is possible to increase primary production substantially with conventional technology, as well as improve the system-wide material efficiency.

Identification of geochemical factors in regression to mineralization endogenous variables using structural equation modeling

Structural equation modeling (SEM) is a statistical technique for testing and estimating causal relations using a combination of statistical data and qualitative causal assumptions. It can be considered as an extended statistical hypotheses testing with pre-defined structural model. However, when the SEM is applied as an exploratory technique in data mining, the traditional model depicts a fundamental limitation of incapacity of generating and refining structural model. A new SEM method is proposed in this paper, which combines the principles of cluster and regression analysis. Thus, the new mathematical model can not only generate factors to form model structure but also ensure the optimum relationship to the objective variables. The method is applied to a data set of lake sediment geochemical compositions for identifying gold mineralization associated factors in Southern Nova Scotia, Canada. A SEM model consisting of three measurement sub-models and one structural sub-model is created on the basis of the concentration values of 16 elements from 671 lake sediment samples. The calculated results show that the factors obtained by the new SEM model represent three geochemical factors that are associated with As and dominated by Cu, Zn and W, respectively.

Leading factors in job satisfaction of Chinese seafarers

One needs special skills and training to become a seafarer. Seafarers are unique and the most important human resources for the shipping industry. As a major seafarer supply nation, China has to improve quality and increase retention rate to achieve sustainable development for its shipping industry. This paper is to investigate the main factors that contribute to job satisfaction of Chinese seafarer, which factor has a significant bearing on the retention rate in the seafaring profession. The data used in this study was collected through questionnaires, and a structural equation modelling (SEM) method is used to test and estimate causal relations by using a combination of statistical data and qualitative causal assumptions. The results show that the promotion is the most significant factor in job satisfaction, followed by salary and benefits, working environment and feeling of status. This paper further examines relevant measures that can be taken at both national and management levels to increase the retention rate of seafarers. The study provides a scientific basis for policy-making in national maritime education and training, and ship and crew management.

Reward and attitudes: The unintended outcomes of an effective performance appraisal

Orientation: Focus was on the role of reward and attitudes as major determinants in enhancing the effectiveness of performance appraisal systems. Research purpose: To develop a structural model from the qualitative and quantitative findings from which to address the identified gaps in order to improve the effectiveness of appraisals. Motivation for the study: The attention that role players tended to give to the rewarding of employees during the appraisal process made it appear as the only important determinant of an appraisal’s success. In appraisals in many public institutions, reward has been given unnecessary prominence over other drivers, such as management and development. That led most key role players (leaders, managers and employees) to perceive the current employee performance management and development system (EPMDS) to be purely for monetary (salary increments and cash bonuses) and non-monetary (promotion) purposes, which, in turn, compromised its effectiveness. Research design, approach and method: Structural equation modelling (SEM) was utilised as a statistical technique for testing and estimating causal relations using a combination of statistical data and qualitative causal assumptions. This allowed both confirmatory and exploratory modelling to be undertaken, which is suited to both theory testing and theory development. A triangulation of quantitative (questionnaire) and qualitative (interview) study was conducted. A total of 300 questionnaires were distributed to nine government hospitals in the Free State province, namely Mofumahadi Manapo Mopeli, Dihlabeng, and Boitumelo regional hospitals, as well as Elizabeth Ross, Thebe, Phekolong, Mpumelelo, Reitz and Ficksburg district hospitals. There was a high response rate of 96 per cent, a total of 287 completed questionnaires. Respondents ranged from top executives, middle management, line management, to employees of all categories. Main findings: Reward and attitudes were found to the unintended outcomes of an effective performance appraisal. Practical/managerial implications: Remunerative rewards should be part of a holistic appraisal approach and not simply a one-sided approach. Contribution/value-add: This article addressed the void or the wrong perception regarding the role of reward and attitudes in appraisals, and established that they were outcomes, and not determinants, of appraisal effectiveness.

구조방정식을 이용한 도시부 4지 신호교차로의 사고원인 분석

PURPOSES : Traffic accidents at intersections have been increased annually so that it is required to examine the causations to reduce the accidents. However, the current existing accident models were developed mainly with non-linear regression models such as Poisson methods. These non-linear regression methods lack to reveal complicated causations for traffic accidents, though they are right choices to study randomness and non-linearity of accidents. Therefore, to reveal the complicated causations of traffic accidents, this study used structural equation methods(SEM). METHODS : SEM used in this study is a statistical technique for estimating causal relations using a combination of statistical data and qualitative causal assumptions. SEM allow exploratory modeling, meaning they are suited to theory development. The method is tested against the obtained measurement data to determine how well the model fits the data. Among the strengths of SEM is the ability to construct latent variables: variables which are not measured directly, but are estimated in the model from several measured variables. This allows the modeler to explicitly capture the unreliability of measurement in the model, which allows the structural relations between latent variables to be accurately estimated. RESULTS : The study results showed that causal factors could be grouped into 3. Factor 1 includes traffic variables, and Factor 2 contains turning traffic variables. Factor 3 consists of other road element variables such as speed limits or signal cycles. CONCLUSIONS : Non-linear regression models can be used to develop accident predictions models. However, they lack to estimate causal factors, because they select only few significant variables to raise the accuracy of the model performance. Compared to the regressions, SEM has merits to estimate causal factors affecting accidents, because it allows the structural relations between latent variables. Therefore, this study used SEM to estimate causal factors affecting accident at urban signalized intersections.

Determinants of biosecurity behaviour of British cattle and sheep farmers—A behavioural economics analysis

The paper analyses the impact of a priori determinants of biosecurity behaviour of farmers in Great Britain. We use a dataset collected through a stratified telephone survey of 900 cattle and sheep farmers in Great Britain (400 in England and a further 250 in Wales and Scotland respectively) which took place between 25 March 2010 and 18 June 2010. The survey was stratified by farm type, farm size and region.To test the influence of a priori determinants on biosecurity behaviour we used a behavioural economics method, structural equation modelling (SEM) with observed and latent variables. SEM is a statistical technique for testing and estimating causal relationships amongst variables, some of which may be latent using a combination of statistical data and qualitative causal assumptions.Thirteen latent variables were identified and extracted, expressing the behaviour and the underlying determining factors. The variables were: experience, economic factors, organic certification of farm, membership in a cattle/sheep health scheme, perceived usefulness of biosecurity information sources, knowledge about biosecurity measures, perceived importance of specific biosecurity strategies, perceived effect (on farm business in the past five years) of welfare/health regulation, perceived effect of severe outbreaks of animal diseases, attitudes towards livestock biosecurity, attitudes towards animal welfare, influence on decision to apply biosecurity measures and biosecurity behaviour.The SEM model applied on the Great Britain sample has an adequate fit according to the measures of absolute, incremental and parsimonious fit. The results suggest that farmers’ perceived importance of specific biosecurity strategies, organic certification of farm, knowledge about biosecurity measures, attitudes towards animal welfare, perceived usefulness of biosecurity information sources, perceived effect on business during the past five years of severe outbreaks of animal diseases, membership in a cattle/sheep health scheme, attitudes towards livestock biosecurity, influence on decision to apply biosecurity measures, experience and economic factors are significantly influencing behaviour (overall explaining 64% of the variance in behaviour).Three other models were run for the individual regions (England, Scotland and Wales). A smaller number of variables were included in each model to account for the smaller sample sizes. Results show lower but still high levels of variance explained for the individual models (about 40% for each country). The individual models’ results are consistent with those of the total sample model. The results might suggest that ways to achieve behavioural change could include ensuring increased access of farmers to biosecurity information and advice sources.

Application of Structural Equation Modeling in EFL Testing: A Report of Two Iranian Studies

Abstract Structural equation modeling (SEM) is a statistical method used for testing and estimating causal relations using a combination of statistical data and qualitative causal assumptions. This paper reports two studies done by the researchers through the application of SEM. In the first study the relationship between EFL learners' affective constructs and their English achievement was assessed using SEM. Since both Structural coefficient and Goodness of fit are high, we conclude that not only is the model accepted but also the relationship between EFL learners' affective constructs and their English achievement is statistically significant. The second study investigated the relationship between Affective constructs and Study Process of EFL learners through the application of SEM. In this study the Goodness of Fit Index (GFI) turned out to be 0.99. Again like the previous study, since the Goodness of Fit Index (GFI) and structural coefficient are high, we conclude that there is a statistically strong relationship between affective constructs and study process of EFL learners.

A Structural Equation Model of the Factors Influencing British Consumers' Behaviour toward Animal Welfare

Results of national and pan-European consumer surveys and the growth in the demand for so-called “animal-friendly” food products suggest that consumers within the European Union (EU) show a high level of concern for the welfare of farm animals. This article analyses the determinants of British consumers' behaviour toward animal welfare using structural equation models (SEM) with observed and latent variables. SEM is a statistical technique for testing and estimating relationships amongst variables, using a combination of statistical data and qualitative causal assumptions. A data set collected in 2005 through face-to-face interviews of 654 consumers in England is employed. Based on a review of the existing literature on consumers' behaviour toward animal welfare, the article tests and estimates a number of a priori determinants of behaviour, i.e., factors influencing stated purchases of free-range and organic chicken meat. The models have an adequate overall fit to the data. The statistical tests for the model on free-range chicken meat purchasing behaviour show socioeconomic group, education, attitudes toward animal welfare, reasons for buying chicken meat, access to information on animal welfare issues, number of children, and price as significant determinants. With one exception (i.e., reasons for buying chicken meat) all the aforementioned determinants were also found significant in the model on organic chicken meat purchasing behaviour.

Possible relationship among socio-economic determinants, knowledge and practices on lymphatic filariasis and implication for disease elimination in India

To assess the socio-economic determinants, knowledge and practices on lymphatic filariasis in India and discuss the implications for elimination. A case-control study was undertaken to obtain knowledge and practice measures on various dimensions of the Wuchereria bancroftian filarial disease using a structured questionnaire. A structural equation model, a statistical technique for testing and estimating causal relationships using a combination of statistical data and qualitative causal assumptions, was developed. Among the affected individuals, the model was able to explain more than 90% of the variance in awareness about the lymphatic filariasis, 58% of the variance in prevention aspects of the disease and 24% of the variance in people's knowledge about mosquitoes. The corresponding values in non-infected individuals were 49, 24 and 34%, respectively. A significant positive effect of education on awareness and prevention aspects of the disease was noted among the non-infected individuals. However, among the affected individuals, the awareness on various aspects of the disease was completely absent. The present analysis highlights the crucial role played by formal education on creating awareness about lymphatic filariasis and how to prevent this vector-borne disease. The importance of education on intervention measures against mosquito breeding and biting is also dealt with in the analysis for planning an effective and sustainable control program.