Index Creation Research Articles

Bibliometric perspectives in mapping the progress of river water quality index studies

ABSTRACT This paper employs a bibliometric analysis to guide researchers in forecasting the trajectory of research related to the development of the river water quality index. It scrutinizes issues such as variable selection, weight allocation, and the formulation of the function, which are key concerns in the river WQI development. This study also addresses gaps in the existing literature by examining how information about river water quality indices is disseminated, focusing on aspects such as contributing research and prevalent keywords. While bibliometric analysis has been widely applied in various research domains, its use in developing river water quality indices has been comparatively limited. To address this, the current study conducts a bibliometric analysis to identify trends in index creation and to assess the current state of the literature in the field of water quality indices. This examination includes a comprehensive review of papers published in the Scopus database from 1973 to 2024, relevant to the river WQI. Utilizing tools such as R, VOSviewer, and BiblioMagika, the research uncovers patterns in publication among authors and organizations. A finding is that China and India have emerged as leading contributors to publications in this field, indicating their pivotal role in the advancing river water quality index research.

Innovative development indices for the national economies: on the way to the “ideal” assessment of innovation processes in the countries of the world

Purpose: is to develop recommendations for the construction of new indices of innovative development designed for cross-country comparisons.Methods: the conventional general scientific methods were used in the article, such as the ones of description, comparison, system analysis and historical comparison. The study was based on the documents describing calculation methods of the economic indices and scientific publications covering the history, specifics and problems of the practical application of those indices.Results: it is shown that since the 1930s, when the creation of economic indices drew attention of economic science, indices have evolved from the relatively simple statistical indicators to the complex tools with sophisticated calculation methods. Using several of the most famous or remarkable indices as an example, the principal methods currently used in assessing the level of innovative development are revealed. Basing on the conducted research, the major requirements for composing innovative development indices are stipulated.Conclusions and Relevance: it has been found out that in order to achieve the maximum objectivity in compiling indices of innovative development, the widest possible range of significant indicators should be used and a pool of experts should be engaged in their selection. It is also advisable to engage the pool in compiling the index formula, in particular the indicators weights. Data normalization should be used to ensure comparability of incommensurable indicators, and statistical outliers are advised to be neutralized through standardization techniques. It is also necessary to take into account the goals of the index compiled. At the same time, in the future it is necessary to take into account relationships between the actors of national innovation systems and between different innovation systems, effects of scale and, when possible, sectoral specialization of countries and other national specifics.

Assessing Ecological Environment in Dar es Salaam City: A Settlement Surface Ecological Index (SSEI) Analysis

Urbanization dramatically alters landscapes and ecological conditions. This study examines the environmental conditions within Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, using the Settlement Surface Ecological Index (SSEI). The SSEI combines biophysical parameters from satellite imagery to assess ecological health, revealing disparities across diverse urban typologies. This study’s methodology demonstrates advancements in using the Calculate Composite Index tool for streamlined index creation and greater flexibility in urban analysis. Statistical analysis reveals crucial relationships between ecological conditions and variables like tree cover, impervious surfaces, vegetation moisture, and Land Surface Temperature (LST). Multivariate clustering highlights distinct areas of high and Low SSEI, emphasizing disparities in urban ecological health. This study demonstrates how composite indices like the SSEI can inform targeted urban planning, promote green infrastructure, and mitigate the negative impacts of urbanization, ensuring both equitable and sustainable development in the face of climate change.

Investigating the factors affecting outward FDI of Vietnam: Does political index matter?

Considering the important role of foreign direct investment (FDI) in economic growth and integration, this paper seeks to thoroughly analyze the outward FDI pattern of Vietnam to its 15 major FDI recipients (accounting for approximately 94% of Vietnam's OFDI) using the gravity theory and a robust panel data approach for the comprehensive annual data over the period of 2007 – 2022. By determining the main destinations of Vietnam’s Outward FDI through the creation of social, economic, and political indices via the principle component analysis (PCA), the empirical results conclusively prove the positive impacts of the political index, social index, the existence of a common border, and accession to the WTO on the Vietnamese OFDI volume, while geographical distance is found to negatively impact the flow. As the main practical policy implications, issuing policies for sustainable economic growth, creating the novel strategy of FDI neighborhood policy, and fostering regionalism through FTAs (Free Trade agreements) are highly recommended.

Early detection of N, P, K deficiency in Choy Sum using hyperspectral imaging-based spatial spectral feature mining

Leafy vegetables are widely consumed around the world for their rich nutritional qualities. To ensure a reliable and cost-effective supply of leafy vegetables in the future, advancements in their production are essential. Deficiencies of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) impair growth of leafy vegetables and the ensuing visual symptoms make the plants unmarketable. We studied the use of non-contact large area hyperspectral imaging (HSI) for early detection of N, P and K deficiencies in the leafy vegetable, Choy Sum, before the appearance of visual symptoms. The wide spectral data of 500–900 nm extracted from the plants were subjected to advanced feature mining, facilitating the creation of novel spectral indices tailored to each vital nutrient by leveraging the Pearson’s correlations of 0.85 for N, 0.64 for P, and 0.68 for K with gold standard elemental concentration data. Early detection of deficiencies and timely replenishment of macronutrient(s) can prevent the development of obvious symptoms and thus maintain the visual quality of Choy Sum. These newly created spectral indices hold the potential to provide non-destructive estimation of nutrient content in plants, offering a promising avenue for future advancements in precision agriculture and resource-efficient crop management.

Doege-Potter syndrome due to a solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura: a case report

BackgroundDoege-Potter syndrome is a rare paraneoplastic phenomenon associated with solitary fibrous tumors of the pleura (SFTPs). It is characterized by the presence of severe, sustained, and treatment-refractory hypoglycemia. Hypoglycaemia, which may be the sole symptom at disease onset, is mediated by the secretion of high-molecular-weight insulin-like growth factor (IGF-2). Most tumors exhibit benign behavior, with a 100% survival rate at 5 years. However, 10% of these tumors may display aggressive behavior with local or metastatic recurrence. We present a clinical case of a patient with a benign solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura who presented with symptomatic hypoglycemia and required pulmonary and pleural surgical resection to control the paraneoplastic phenomenon.Case presentationA Hispanic 46-year-old man presented with a 15-day history of transient alterations in consciousness worsened by fasting. The relevant medical history included obstructive sleep apnea treated with continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) and previous smoking. In-hospital studies revealed noninsulinemic hypoglycemia and a benign SFTP. Complete surgical resection was performed while the patient received dextrose fluids and corticosteroids perioperatively for hypoglycemia. Subsequently, the hypoglycemia resolved, and the patient was followed-up without disease recurrence.ConclusionDoege-Potter syndrome is challenging to recognize. However, effective treatment can be achieved with a high survival rate. Raising awareness among healthcare professionals about the recognition of this paraneoplasic syndrome patients will improve diagnostic suspicion, biochemical confirmation, the development of diagnostic and therapeutic guidelines, and the creation of predictive indices for aggressive presentations requiring closer monitoring.

Research on the Construction of a Digital Twin System for the Long-Term Service Monitoring of Port Terminals

Structural damage is a prevalent issue in long-term operations of harbor terminals. Addressing the lack of transparency in terminal infrastructure components, the limited integration of sensor monitoring data, and the insufficient support for feedback on service performance, we propose a novel digital twin system construction methodology tailored for the long-term monitoring of port terminals. This study elaborates on the organization and processing of foundational geospatial data, sensor monitoring information, and oceanic hydrometeorological data essential for constructing a digital twin of the terminal. By mapping relationships between physical and virtual spaces, we developed comprehensive dynamic and static models of terminal facilities. Employing a “particle model” approach, we visually represented oceanic and meteorological elements. Additionally, we developed a multi-source heterogeneous data fusion model to facilitate the rapid creation of data indexes for harbor elements under high concurrency conditions, effectively addressing performance issues related to scene-rendering visualization and real-time sensor data storage efficiency. Experimental validation demonstrates that this method enables the rapid construction of digital twin systems for port terminals and supports practical application in business scenarios. Data analysis and comparison confirm the feasibility of the proposed method, providing an effective approach for the long-term monitoring of port terminal operations.

Assessing the impact of women’s underrepresentation on public service delivery in Afghanistan

ABSTRACT In the wake of the political upheaval witnessed in Afghanistan in August 2021, there has been a noticeable curtailment of women’s involvement in the public sector. This quantitative cross-sectional study, grounded in representative bureaucracy theory, examines the perceived effects of this underrepresentation through a diverse and representative sample of 349 employees from various government departments. Employing a 21-item questionnaire with 5-point Likert scales, the survey assessed service accessibility, quality, responsiveness, accountability, and innovation dimensions. Snowball sampling was utilized due to access limitations post-August 2021, with a minimum one-year work experience as the inclusion criterion. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, index creation for service dimensions, correlation analysis, and ANOVA to examine differences based on participant characteristics like grade, education, and age. The findings indicate that the lack of female representation significantly impairs service delivery across dimensions like accessibility, quality, innovation, and accountability, particularly concerning women. The study underscores the detrimental consequences of gender homogeneity on formulating gender-sensitive policies and maintaining inclusive, high-quality public services. These results emphasize the necessity of promoting gender diversity within the Afghan public sector to ensure responsive and equitable service delivery aligning with the needs of all societal segments.

A unified framework for creating soundscape perception indices based on the SSID Protocol

The soundscape approach provides a basis for considering the holistic perception of sound environments, in context. While steady advancements have been made in methods for assessment and analysis, a gap exists for comparing soundscapes and quantifying improvements in the multi-dimensional perception of a soundscape. To this end, there is a need for the creation of single value indices to compare soundscape quality which incorporate context, aural diversity, and specific design goals. Just as a variety of decibel-based indices have been developed for various purposes (e.g., LAeq, LCeq, L90, Lden, etc.), the soundscape approach requires the ability to create novel indices for different uses, but which share a common language and understanding. We therefore propose a unified framework for creating both bespoke and archetypal single index measures of soundscape perception based on the soundscape circumplex model, allowing for new indices to be defined in the future. The implementation of this framework is demonstrated through the creation of a public space typology-based index using survey data collected under the SSID Protocol. Indices developed under this framework can enable a broader and more efficient application of the soundscape approach in design, planning, and regulation.

Efficient indexing method based on autoencoder for large-scale data products

Abstract Traditional indexing methods fail to meet the power industry’s needs for rapid content retrieval and collaborative management of heterogeneous data. This study proposes a learning-based hashing function using autoencoders, which compresses raw data into binary hash codes by learning data features and reconstruction. Extensive experiments demonstrate its advantages in reducing collision rates and computation time. Compared to various models, this method shows clear benefits in search and index creation times, better addressing the indexing requirements of power data and supporting intelligent processing in power systems.

Curso de Escritura Académica. Edición, maquetación y revisión con MS Word

Second article in the series of four from the “Academic Writing Course”. This article reviews the essential functionalities of Microsoft Word. The main options are examined from the perspective of editing, formatting, and reviewing texts. The first section highlights the advanced options of Word, and then details layout options such as configuration, page orientation, line spacing, and line numbers. Next, the References menu is examined, focusing on the creation of indexes and tables of contents among other features. In the review section, comments, spell check, track changes, and split screen are highlighted. In short, this article provides a quick guide to the aspects of Word that we must master if we want to write fluently and present professional documents.

Creation of watershed streams erosion and energy indices

Creation of watershed streams erosion and energy indices

Resource Indexing and Querying in Large Connected Environments

The proliferation of sensor and actuator devices in Internet of things (IoT) networks has garnered significant attention in recent years. However, the increasing number of IoT devices, and the corresponding resources, has introduced various challenges, particularly in indexing and querying. In essence, resource management has become more complex due to the non-uniform distribution of related devices and their limited capacity. Additionally, the diverse demands of users have further complicated resource indexing. This paper proposes a distributed resource indexing and querying algorithm for large connected environments, specifically designed to address the challenges posed by IoT networks. The algorithm considers both the limited device capacity and the non-uniform distribution of devices, acknowledging that devices cannot store information about the entire environment. Furthermore, it places special emphasis on uncovered zones, to reduce the response time of queries related to these areas. Moreover, the algorithm introduces different types of queries, to cater to various user needs, including fast queries and urgent queries suitable for different scenarios. The effectiveness of the proposed approach was evaluated through extensive experiments covering index creation, coverage, and query execution, yielding promising and insightful results.

How to construct a frailty index from an existing dataset in 10 steps.

The frailty index is commonly used in research and clinical practice to quantify health. Using a health deficit accumulation model, a frailty index can be calculated retrospectively from data collected via survey, interview, performance test, laboratory report, clinical or administrative medical record, or any combination of these. Here, we offer a detailed 10-step approach to frailty index creation, with a worked example. We identified 10 steps to guide the creation of a valid and reliable frailty index. We then used data from waves 5 to 12 of the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) to illustrate the steps. The 10 steps are as follows: (1) select every variable that measures a health problem; (2) exclude variables with more than 5% missing values; (3) recode the responses to 0 (no deficit) through 1 (deficit); (4) exclude variables when coded deficits are too rare (< 1%) or too common (> 80%); (5) screen the variables for association with age; (6) screen the variables for correlation with each other; (7) count the variables retained; (8) calculate the frailty index scores; (9) test the characteristics of the frailty index; (10) use the frailty index in analyses. In our worked example, we created a 61-item frailty index following these 10 steps. This 10-step procedure can be used as a template to create one continuous health variable. The resulting high-information variable is suitable for use as an exposure, predictor or control variable, or an outcome measure of overall health and ageing.

Facilitating the discovery of diverse content: some notes from Sotheby's Institute of Art

When the diversification of collections is a priority for a library, making diverse content in existing holdings more discoverable is a useful complement to the acquisition of new resources. Artists and authors from diverse groups, and material written from diverse perspectives, can be made more visible to patrons, either through enhancements to catalogue records or the creation of standalone indexes focussed on those groups. With the conscious, ethical diversification of collections a relatively new enterprise for many libraries, certain aspects of how best to proceed are not yet clear, meaning librarians need to make time to reflect on, and review, the methods they are using to improve discoverability.

Measuring Financial Inclusion Index for Developing Countries

This research focuses on the multifaceted realm of financial inclusion within Developing Countries. It unfolds a meticulous exploration by formulating a financial inclusion index based on data extracted from a sample comprising 75 Developing Countries, spanning the period from 2010 to 2018. The index's creation comprises of two distinct stages. In stage one, a principal component analysis is applied to derive sub-indices encapsulating the dimensions of access, utilization of financial services, technological advancements, and infrastructure, drawing from an array of 24 financial indicators. Subsequently, the second stage normalizes values within each dimension, culminating in an overall index through the application of the Euclidean Formula. The findings of this study emphasized the pivotal role of a National Financial Inclusion Strategy in enhancing financial inclusion in each respective country. Customization of these strategies to align with specific economic goals of each nation is paramount. Central to these objectives are primary priorities, which diverge among countries. Notably, countries like Romania, Serbia, and Mauritius place a premium on fostering financial literacy, while others such as Pakistan, Costa Rica, Rwanda, and Guinea emphasize the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises. In contrast, nations like Guatemala, Mauritania, Thailand, and Ukraine concentrate on expanding their financial networks. Furthermore, countries grappling with low levels of financial inclusion attribute this challenge to factors such as deficient financial literacy, the absence of a well-defined financial inclusion strategy, financial constraints, a preference for traditional financial services, and limited awareness surrounding digital innovations. Conversely, nations boasting moderate levels of financial inclusion, yet not progressing towards higher levels, point to the dearth of technological innovation and restricted prudential measures as pivotal stumbling blocks. This comprehensive analysis underscores the necessity of dynamic strategies tailored to individual countries to achieve robust financial inclusion on a global scale.

Как се прави показалец?

A brief summary is made of prof. Yanakiev's views on the creation of indexes for different types of scientific publications, changes are noted in these views due to the development of electronics and computer-based text processing, and a comparison is provided with Prof. Yanakiev's practice in the book “Stylistics and language learning”.

Consumers' Attitude towards Supermarket and Proximity Stores as Purchasing Outlets of Italian Potato Consumers.

World potato consumption has fallen. Similarly, Italian consumers are buying fewer potatoes, despite the high number of certified quality and innovative potatoes being produced. Moreover, Italian consumers' knowledge of potato characteristics and innovations tends to be limited. To increase consumer engagement and revitalize the market, strategic marketing efforts need to be implemented by addressing the different characteristics of consumers in the different purchase channels. The aim of this study is to explore and differentiate consumer purchasing behavior and attitudes towards potatoes in supermarkets and neighborhood channels. The study collected 855 responses through an online survey. Data processing included the creation of indices of consumers' knowledge of potato nutrition and their propensity to innovate, as well as logistic regression to analyze the determinants of potato-purchasing behavior. The results show that consumers with increased potato consumption, a higher level of education, and employment prefer to buy potatoes in the supermarket. A preference for potato innovation also increases the likelihood that consumers will buy potatoes in supermarkets. Conversely, consumers with elderly relatives at home and a low level of education, but a high level of knowledge about the nutritional properties of potatoes, prefer to shop through neighborhood channels.

Towards an objective measurement of sleep quality in non-human animals; using the horse as a model species for the creation of sleep quality indices.

Sleep disturbance is observed across species, resulting in neurocognitive dysfunction and poor impulse control/regulation of negative emotion. Understanding animal sleep disturbance is thus important to understand how environmental factors influence animal sleep and day-to-day welfare. Self-reporting tools for sleep disturbance are commonly used in human research to determine sleep quality, that cannot be transferred to non-verbal animal species research. Human research has, however, successfully used frequency of awakenings to create an objective measurement of sleep quality. The aim of this study was to utilise a novel sleep quality scoring system for a non-human mammalian species. Five separate sleep quality indices calculations were developed using frequency of awakenings and total sleep time/total time spent in different sleep states. These indices were applied to a pre-existing data set of equine sleep behaviour taken from a study investigating the effects of environmental change (lighting and bedding) on the duration of time in different sleep states. Significant treatment effects for index scores both differed and aligned to the original sleep quantity results, thus sleep quality may be a useful alternative measurement of sleep disturbance that could be used to investigate impactful (emotional, cognitive) effects on the animal.

Data-Driven Models Informed by Spatiotemporal Mobility Patterns for Understanding Infectious Disease Dynamics

Data-driven approaches predict infectious disease dynamics by considering various factors that influence severity and transmission rates. However, these factors may not fully capture the dynamic nature of disease transmission, limiting prediction accuracy and consistency. Our proposed data-driven approach integrates spatiotemporal human mobility patterns from detailed point-of-interest clustering and population flow data. These patterns inform the creation of mobility-informed risk indices, which serve as auxiliary factors in data-driven models for detecting outbreaks and predicting prevalence trends. We evaluated our approach using real-world COVID-19 outbreaks in Beijing and Guangzhou, China. Incorporating the risk indices, our models successfully identified 87% (95% Confidence Interval: 83–90%) of affected subdistricts in Beijing and Guangzhou. These findings highlight the effectiveness of our approach in identifying high-risk areas for targeted disease containment. Our approach was also tested with COVID-19 prevalence data in the United States, which showed that including the risk indices reduced the mean absolute error and improved the R-squared value for predicting weekly case increases at the county level. It demonstrates applicability for spatiotemporal forecasting of widespread diseases, contributing to routine transmission surveillance. By leveraging comprehensive mobility data, we provide valuable insights to optimize control strategies for emerging infectious diseases and facilitate proactive measures against long-standing diseases.