Acceptance Decisions Research Articles

Bayesian Safety and Futility Monitoring in Phase II Trials Using One Utility-Based Rule.

For phase II clinical trials that determine the acceptability of an experimental treatment based on ordinal toxicity and ordinal response, most monitoring methods require each ordinal outcome to be dichotomized using a selected cut-point. This allows two early stopping rules to be constructed that compare marginal probabilities of toxicity and response to respective upper and lower limits. Important problems with this approach are loss of information due to dichotomization, dependence of treatment acceptability decisions on precisely how each ordinal variable is dichotomized, and ignoring association between the two outcomes. To address these problems, we propose a new Bayesian method, which we call U-Bayes, that exploits elicited numerical utilities of the joint ordinal outcomes to construct one early stopping rule that compares the mean utility to a lower limit. U-Bayes avoids the problems noted above by using the entire joint distribution of the ordinal outcomes, and not dichotomizing the outcomes. A step-by-step algorithm is provided for constructing a U-Bayes rule based on elicited utilities and elicited limits on marginal outcome probabilities. A simulation study shows that U-Bayes greatly improves the probability of determining treatment acceptability compared to conventional designs that use two monitoring rules based on marginal probabilities.

Italian survey about intraperitoneal drain use in distal pancreatectomy.

Intraperitoneal prophylactic drain (IPD) use in distal pancreatectomy (DP) is still controversial. A survey was carried out through the Italian community of pancreatic surgeons using institutional emails, Twitter, and Facebook accounts of the Italian Association for the Study of the Pancreas (AISP) and the Italian Association of Hepato-biliary-pancreatic Surgery (AICEP). The survey was structured to learn surgeons' practice in using IPD through questions and one clinical vignette. Respondents were asked to report their regrets for omission and commission regarding the IPD use for the clinical scenario, eliciting a scale between 0 (no regret) and 100 (maximum regret). The threshold model and a multilevel mixed regression were built to identify respondents' attitudes. One hundred six surgeons completed the survey. Sixty-three (59.4%) respondents confirmed using at least 1 drain, while 43 (40.6%) placed 2 IPDs. Only 13 respondents (12.3%) declared a change in IPD strategy in patients at high risk of clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula (CR-POPF), while 9 (9.4%) respondents changed their strategy in low-risk POPF situations. Thirty-five (35.5%) respondents declared they would remove the IPD within the third postoperative day (POD) in the absence of CR-POPF suspicion. The median omission regret, which proved to be the wrong decision, was 80 (50-100, IQR). The median regret due to the commission of IPD, which turned out to be useless, was 2.5 (1-20, IQR). The CR-POPF probability threshold at which drainage omission was the less regrettable choice was 7% (1-35, IQR). The threshold to perceive drain omission as the least regrettable choice was higher in female surgeons (P < 0.001), in surgeons who modulated the strategies based on the risk of CR-POPF, and in high volume centers (p = 0.039). The threshold was lower in surgeons who performed minimally invasive distal pancreatectomy (P < 0.001), adopted a closed system (P < 0.001), placed two IPDs (P < 0.001), or perceived the IPD as important to prevent reintervention (p = 0.047). Drain management after DP remains very heterogeneous among surgeons. The regret model suggested that IPD omission could be performed in low-risk patients (7% of CR-POPF), leading to low regret in the case of the wrong decision, making it an acceptable clinical decision.

Impact of deceased-donor characteristics on early graft function: outcome of kidney donor pairs accepted for transplantation.

The impact of deceased donor characteristics on kidney transplant outcomes is controversial. Correspondingly, the predictive performance of deceased donor scores remains moderate, and many transplant centers lack validated criteria for graft acceptance decisions. To better dissect donor-related risk from recipient and periprocedural variables, we analyzed outcomes of kidney donor pairs transplanted in different individuals. This study explored (a)symmetry of early outcomes of 328 cadaveric kidney transplant recipients from 164 donor pairs transplanted at three Eurotransplant centers. The primary discriminatory factor was (a)symmetry of partner graft function, defined as early graft loss or impaired graft function [estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <30 mL/min] 3 months after transplantation. We reasoned that a relevant impact of donor factors would result in a high concordance rate of limited graft function or failure. The observed number of symmetric graft failure after transplantation was less than statistically expected (3 months: 1 versus 2, p = 0.89; and 12 months: 3 versus 5, p = 0.26). However, we found a trend toward an impaired 5-year graft survival of grafts with good function 3 months after transplantation but a failed or impaired partner graft compared to symmetrically well-functioning grafts (p = 0.09). Subsequently, we explored the impact of individual donor and recipient variables on early transplant outcomes. Generalized estimating equations after feature selection with LassoGEE bootstrap selected donor age, donor body mass index, and donor eGFR as the relevant risk factors. Our findings indicate that donor factors impact early outcomes in kidney transplantation but may have a limited role in long-term graft survival, once a graft has been accepted for transplantation. Utilizing donor-based clinical scores has the potential to aid clinicians in acceptance decisions, giving them an estimate of individual posttransplant outcomes. However, the ultimate decision for acceptance should rest with clinicians, who must consider the complex interplay of donor factors, as well as recipient and periprocedural characteristics.

Optimizing a Dynamic Vehicle Routing Problem with Deep Reinforcement Learning: Analyzing State-Space Components

Background: The dynamic vehicle routing problem (DVRP) is a complex optimization problem that is crucial for applications such as last-mile delivery. Our goal is to develop an application that can make real-time decisions to maximize total performance while adapting to the dynamic nature of incoming orders. We formulate the DVRP as a vehicle routing problem where new customer requests arrive dynamically, requiring immediate acceptance or rejection decisions. Methods: This study leverages reinforcement learning (RL), a machine learning paradigm that operates via feedback-driven decisions, to tackle the DVRP. We present a detailed RL formulation and systematically investigate the impacts of various state-space components on algorithm performance. Our approach involves incrementally modifying the state space, including analyzing the impacts of individual components, applying data transformation methods, and incorporating derived features. Results: Our findings demonstrate that a carefully designed state space in the formulation of the DVRP significantly improves RL performance. Notably, incorporating derived features and selectively applying feature transformation enhanced the model’s decision-making capabilities. The combination of all enhancements led to a statistically significant improvement in the results compared with the basic state formulation. Conclusions: This research provides insights into RL modeling for DVRPs, highlighting the importance of state-space design. The proposed approach offers a flexible framework that is applicable to various variants of the DVRP, with potential for validation using real-world data.

Позитивні та негативні аспекти медіації і примирення сторін в адміністративному судочинстві: розмежування та проблеми застосування

The article addresses the issue of distinguishing mediation and reconciliation in administrative proceedings as two key mechanisms of alternative dispute resolution. With the development of legal systems and judicial practice in Ukraine and worldwide, alternative dispute resolution methods have gained special significance. This issue is particularly relevant in administrative proceedings, which focus on conflicts between citizens and the state or its bodies. Since administrative disputes often involve important issues of public interest, alternative methods of resolving such disputes, including mediation and reconciliation, play an important role in achieving a fair balance between private and public interests. However, in practice, questions arise regarding the differences between mediation and reconciliation of the parties. These procedures are often confused, as both involve reaching an agreement between the conflicting parties without resolving the case by a court ruling on the merits. However, each of these methods has its unique characteristics, legal frameworks, and opportunities for use. The purpose of this article is to investigate and provide a detailed analysis of the main differences between mediation and reconciliation in administrative proceedings in Ukraine, as well as assess their legal status and practical effectiveness. It examines the legal foundations of mediation and reconciliation, identifies their key differences and common features, and explores the practical aspects of their application in resolving administrative disputes. The focus is on analyzing the legal regulation of mediation in Ukraine, the role of the judge in reconciliation, and the appropriateness of using these mechanisms to improve the efficiency of administrative justice. An important aspect is the study of foreign experience and the possibility of adapting it to the Ukrainian legal system. Mediation is viewed as a process in which a neutral mediator helps the parties reach a mutually acceptable decision, whereas reconciliation involves the active participation of the court in resolving the conflict. The article also highlights the main problems and prospects for introducing mediation in administrative disputes, including issues of accessibility to mediation for citizens, legal culture, and the need to develop appropriate institutional mechanisms to ensure the effectiveness of this process.

Solving distributed assembly blocking flowshop with order acceptance by knowledge-driven multiobjective algorithm

In the era of Industry 4.0, industrial artificial intelligence technologies make production planning and scheduling systems more flexible. A new distributed assembly blocking flowshop problem with order acceptance and scheduling decisions (DABFSP_OAS) was investigated in this paper. Specifically, three objectives—the makespan, total energy consumption (TEC), and total profit (TP)—were addressed simultaneously. To address this problem, we established a knowledge-driven non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (KDNSGAII). First, three initialization schemes based on the problem-specific property were introduced to generate diverse initial population. Then, to accelerate the convergence process, we developed multiple Pareto-based crossover and mutation operators. In addition, two novel destructive reinsertion strategies based on product and job sequence length were implemented to enhance the development ability of the algorithm. Finally, the designed strategies were evaluated. Comparisons and discussions showed that the KDNSGAII outperformed the other state-of-art multi-objective algorithms in solving DABFSP_OAS.

Peer Review Declaration

The Organiser and/or the Editor(s) are required to declare details about their peer review processes. Therefore, please provide the following information: ➢ Type of peer review: Single-blind (the identity of reviewers is not known by the authors) Criteria used by reviewers: The papers underwent assessment based on their scientific substance, the novelty of the information they presented, language accuracy, and the quality of their presentation. Reviewers were provided with a structured review form encompassing sections on novelty, contextual relevance, manuscript coherence (including communication effectiveness and result clarity), abstract adequacy, language proficiency, and absence of commercial bias. Additionally, reviewers were required to provide constructive comments and suggestions for authors in designated sections. They were further tasked with recommending papers for publication, revision, or rejection. Subsequently, reviewers' feedback, facilitated by the track director, was relayed to the authors, who were then responsible for revising their papers in accordance with the reviewers' input and resubmitting them. Final acceptance (or rejection) decisions were made by the conference track director only after authors had made the necessary revisions. ➢ Conference submission management system: Open Conference System (https://siarcongress.eu/index.php/mvt/2022) ➢ Number of submissions received: 107 ➢ Number of submissions sent for review: 67 ➢ Number of submissions accepted:53 ➢ Acceptance Rate (Number of Submissions Accepted / Number of Submissions Received X 100): 49.53 % ➢ Average number of reviews per paper: 2 ➢ Total number of reviewers involved: 20 ➢ As additional info on review process the papers were checked for plagiarism with www.turnitinn.com platform (the papers ware uploaded in the platform, verified and presented a report with ➢ Contact person for queries: Liviu MIHON, Politehnica University of Timisoara, Romania, email: liviu.mihon@upt.ro

A dual-level consensus model for large-scale group decision-making driven by trust relationships in social networks

In large-scale group decision-making, obtaining reasonable and reliable decision results is the research focus. To this end, a dual-level consensus model for large-scale group decision-making is constructed. In the model, we first presented a method for measuring the two-dimensional similarity between decision-makers. The method considered the opinion similarity at evaluation scales and ranking results level, which provided a more comprehensive measure of the opinion differences between decision-makers. A hierarchical clustering algorithm based on the two-dimensional similarity-trust matrix is proposed. By considering the two-dimensional similarity and trust relationships among decision-makers, the method contributed to the formation of subgroups with excellent cooperative and communicative atmospheres. Furthermore, we introduced a dual-level consensus measures method to comprehensively and accurately assess the group consensus level. To increase the efficiency of decision-making and the satisfaction of decision-makers, we proposed a personalized feedback adjustment mechanism for decision-makers. Additionally, for the subgroups that have not reached consensus, a social networks DeGroot model is constructed to adjust the opinion of subgroups. Finally, a case study of low-carbon supplier selection verified the feasibility and applicability of the model. The effectiveness and superiority of the model are demonstrated by comparative and simulation analysis. The analysis results show that the model is conducive to promoting cooperation and coordination among decision-makers and obtaining highly acceptable and quality decision results.

Diagnostic models to predict structural spinal osteoarthritis on lumbar radiographs in older adults with back pain: Development and internal validation

ObjectiveIt is difficult for health care providers to diagnose structural spinal osteoarthritis (OA), because current guidelines recommend against imaging in patients with back pain. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop and internally validate multivariable diagnostic prediction models based on a set of clinical and demographic features to be used for the diagnosis of structural spinal OA on lumbar radiographs in older patients with back pain. DesignThree diagnostic prediction models, for structural spinal OA on lumbar radiographs (i.e. multilevel osteophytes, multilevel disc space narrowing (DSN), and both combined), were developed and internally validated in the ‘Back Complaints in Older Adults’ (BACE) cohort (N ​= ​669). Model performance (i.e. overall performance, discrimination and calibration) and clinical utility (i.e. decision curve analysis) were assessed. Internal validation was performed by bootstrapping. ResultsMean age of the cohort was 66.9 years (±7.6 years) and 59% were female. All three models included age, gender, back pain duration and duration of spinal morning stiffness as predictors. The combined model additionally included restricted lateral flexion and spinal morning stiffness severity, and exhibited the best model performance (optimism adjusted c-statistic 0.661; good calibration with intercept −0.030 and slope of 0.886) and acceptable clinical utility. The other models showed suboptimal discrimination, good calibration and acceptable decision curves. ConclusionAll three models for structural spinal OA displayed lesuboptimal discrimination and need improvement. However, these internally validated models have potential to inform primary care clinicians about a patient with risk of having structural spinal OA on lumbar radiographs. External validation before implementation in clinical care is recommended.

Lost in Transplantation: Characterizing Racial Gaps in Physician Organ Offer Acceptance.

There are known racial disparities in the organ transplant allocation system in the United States. However, prior work has yet to establish if transplant center decisions on offer acceptance-the final step in the allocation process-contribute to these disparities. To estimate racial differences in the acceptance of organ offers by transplant center physicians on behalf of their patients. Retrospective cohort analysis using data from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients (SRTR) on patients who received an offer for a heart, liver, or lung transplant between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2020. Nationwide, waitlist-based. 32,268 heart transplant candidates, 102,823 liver candidates, and 25,780 lung candidates, all aged 18 or older. 1) Association between offer acceptance and two race-based variables: candidate race and donor-candidate race match; 2) association between offer rejection and time to patient mortality. Black race was associated with significantly lower odds of offer acceptance for livers (OR=0.93, CI: 0.88-0.98) and lungs (OR=0.80, CI: 0.73-0.87). Donor-candidate race match was associated with significantly higher odds of offer acceptance for hearts (OR=1.11, CI: 1.06-1.16), livers (OR=1.10, CI: 1.06-1.13), and lungs (OR=1.13, CI: 1.07-1.19). Rejecting an offer was associated with lower survival times for all three organs (heart hazard ratio=1.16, CI: 1.09-1.23; liver HR=1.74, CI: 1.66-1.82; lung HR=1.21, CI: 1.15-1.28). Our study analyzed the observational SRTR dataset, which has known limitations. Offer acceptance decisions are associated with inequity in the organ allocation system. Our findings demonstrate the additional barriers that Black patients face in accessing organ transplants and demonstrate the need for standardized practice, continuous distribution policies, and better organ procurement.

How Sure is the Driver? Modelling Drivers’ Confidence in Left-Turn Gap Acceptance Decisions

When a person makes a decision, it is automatically accompanied by a subjective probability judgment of the decision being correct, in other words, a confidence judgment. A better understanding of the mechanisms responsible for these confidence judgments could provide novel insights into human behavior. However, so far confidence judgments have been mostly studied in simplistic laboratory tasks while little is known about confidence in naturalistic dynamic tasks such as driving. In this study, we made a first attempt of connecting fundamental research on confidence with naturalistic driver behavior. We investigated the confidence of drivers in left-turn gap acceptance decisions in a driver simulator experiment (N = 17). We found that confidence in these decisions depends on the size of the gap to the oncoming vehicle. Specifically, confidence increased with the gap size for trials in which the gap was accepted, and decreased with the gap size for rejected gaps. Similarly to more basic tasks, confidence was negatively related to the response times and correlated with action dynamics during decision execution. Finally, we found that confidence judgments can be captured with an extended dynamic drift–diffusion model. In the model, the drift rate of the evidence accumulator as well as the decision boundaries are functions of the gap size. Furthermore, we demonstrated that allowing for post-decision evidence accumulation in the model increases its ability to describe confidence judgments in rejected gap decisions. Overall, our study confirmed that principles known from fundamental confidence research extend to confidence judgments in dynamic decisions during a naturalistic task.

Modeling drivers’ dilemma at unsignalized T-intersections under mixed traffic conditions: A case study from India

Objective At unsignalized T-intersections, right turning drivers from major or minor roads have to accept or reject the available gap and cross the intersection. Poor judgment may arise risk of collision with the major road conflicting vehicles. Subject drivers intending to cross the intersection encounter wide range of gaps. Drivers accept large gaps and reject small gaps. However, drivers experience dilemma over a wide range of gaps. This study aims to examine dilemma experienced by the right turning drivers by modeling gap acceptance and rejection decisions for estimating dilemma zone boundaries on major road. Methods Videographic method was considered for collecting traffic movement data at unsignalized T-intersections. Traffic video data was collected at three specific unsignalized T-intersections with varying degree of channelization. After this, accepted and rejected gaps with different traffic characteristics of offending vehicles (subject drivers) and conflicting vehicles such as speed, distance, vehicle type, etc. for right turning movements were extracted from the video data to analyze gap acceptance and rejection decisions of the drivers and estimate dilemma zone boundaries. Results Gap decisions (acceptance or rejection) were modeled using Generalized Linear Model (GLM) as a function of conflicting vehicle type, speed, and distance from the intersection along with degree of channelization for major and minor roads. The results showed that gap rejection probability increased with increment in conflicting vehicle’s speed and decrement in conflicting vehicle’s distance from the intersection. Dilemma zone boundaries were obtained using developed GLM models by estimating the conflicting vehicle distance from the intersection for 90% and 10% gap rejection probabilities. Dilemma zone boundaries were observed to shift farther from the intersection with increase in vehicle speed and vehicle size. The analysis revealed that subject drivers experienced more dilemma while accepting a gap from major road as compared to minor road. Conclusions This study showed that channelization plays a major role in mitigating dilemma of the subject drivers. Overall, the study identified dilemma zone boundaries for unsignalized T-intersections which may assist the right turning subject drivers to cross the intersection safely.

RETRACTION NOTICE: Venezuelan Immigration and Social Stigmatization in Peru

Retraction note: Duche Pérez, A. B, Ruiz Fernández, Y. R., &amp; Peralta Valencia, V. D. M. (2023). Venezuelan Immigration and Social Stigmatization in Peru. TECHNO REVIEW. International Technology, Science and Society Review Revista Internacional De Tecnología, Ciencia Y Sociedad, 15(1), 21–38. https://doi.org/10.37467/revtechno.v15.5050 The Editorial Office of Eurasia Academic Publishing Group has retracted this article. An investigation carried out by our Research Integrity Department has found a group of articles, among which this one is found, that are not within the thematic scope of the journal. We believe that the editorial process was manipulated and, furthermore, acceptance decisions were made under possibly inappropriate peer review.

RETRACTION NOTICE: Adequacy of Community Social Work in favor of Partcipation in Chile

Retraction note: Sanhueza Cisterna, A. (2022). Adequacy of Community Social Work in favor of Partcipation in Chile. TECHNO REVIEW. International Technology, Science and Society Review Revista Internacional De Tecnología, Ciencia Y Sociedad, 11(4), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.37467/revtechno.v11.4443 The Editorial Office of Eurasia Academic Publishing Group has retracted this article. An investigation carried out by our Research Integrity Department has found a group of articles, among which this one is found, that are not within the thematic scope of the journal. We believe that the editorial process was manipulated and, furthermore, acceptance decisions were made under possibly inappropriate peer review.

RETRACTION NOTICE: Challenges to decolonize the university

Retraction note: García Rangel, F. (2022). Challenges to decolonize the university: Cognitive justice from the epistemologies of the South. TECHNO REVIEW. International Technology, Science and Society Review Revista Internacional De Tecnología, Ciencia Y Sociedad, 12(3), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.37467/revtechno.v11.4415 The Editorial Office of Eurasia Academic Publishing Group has retracted this article. An investigation carried out by our Research Integrity Department has found a group of articles, among which this one is found, that are not within the thematic scope of the journal. We believe that the editorial process was manipulated and, furthermore, acceptance decisions were made under possibly inappropriate peer review.

RETRACTION NOTICE: Musical creation through time

Retraction note: Castro-Alonso, V. &amp; Chao-Fernández, R. (2022). Musical creation through time: Curriculum review in secondary education. TECHNO REVIEW. International Technology, Science and Society Review Revista Internacional De Tecnología, Ciencia Y Sociedad, 12(3), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.37467/revtechno.v11.4410 The Editorial Office of Eurasia Academic Publishing Group has retracted this article. An investigation carried out by our Research Integrity Department has found a group of articles, among which this one is found, that are not within the thematic scope of the journal. We believe that the editorial process was manipulated and, furthermore, acceptance decisions were made under possibly inappropriate peer review.

RETRACTION NOTICE: Female teachers in the nineteenth century

Retraction note: Vázquez Domínguez, C. (2022). Female teachers in the nineteenth century: Admission and evolution in the studies of Escuela Normal in the city of Cádiz. TECHNO REVIEW. International Technology, Science and Society Review Revista Internacional De Tecnología, Ciencia Y Sociedad, 12(3), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.37467/revtechno.v11.4424 The Editorial Office of Eurasia Academic Publishing Group has retracted this article. An investigation carried out by our Research Integrity Department has found a group of articles, among which this one is found, that are not within the thematic scope of the journal. We believe that the editorial process was manipulated and, furthermore, acceptance decisions were made under possibly inappropriate peer review.

RETRACTION NOTICE: Job satisfaction measurement scale

Retraction note: Alvarez Velázquez, E., Vargas Hernández, A. N. &amp; Martínez Sánchez, C. E. (2023). Job satisfaction measurement scale. HUMAN REVIEW. International Humanities Revista Internacional De Humanidades, 17(3), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.37467/revhuman.v12.4730 The Editorial Office of Eurasia Academic Publishing Group has retracted this article. An investigation carried out by our Research Integrity Department has found a group of articles, among which this one is found, that are not within the thematic scope of the journal. We believe that the editorial process was manipulated and, furthermore, acceptance decisions were made under possibly inappropriate peer review.

RETRACTION NOTICE: Engaged Learning-Transversal Legacies in Didactics of Social Sciences in English

Retraction note: Lechuga Jiménez, C. &amp; Griffith, M. (2022). Engaged Learning-Transversal Legacies in Didactics of Social Sciences in English. TECHNO REVIEW. International Technology, Science and Society Review Revista Internacional De Tecnología, Ciencia Y Sociedad, 12(3), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.37467/revtechno.v11.4417 The Editorial Office of Eurasia Academic Publishing Group has retracted this article. An investigation carried out by our Research Integrity Department has found a group of articles, among which this one is found, that are not within the thematic scope of the journal. We believe that the editorial process was manipulated and, furthermore, acceptance decisions were made under possibly inappropriate peer review.

RETRACTION NOTICE: Sheltered employment in Spain

Retraction note: Ortega Camarero, M. T. (2023). Sheltered employment in Spain: Challenges for a new model of special employment centres. HUMAN REVIEW. International Humanities Revista Internacional De Humanidades, 17(3), 1-15. https://doi.org/10.37467/revhuman.v12.4729 The Editorial Office of Eurasia Academic Publishing Group has retracted this article. An investigation carried out by our Research Integrity Department has found a group of articles, among which this one is found, that are not within the thematic scope of the journal. We believe that the editorial process was manipulated and, furthermore, acceptance decisions were made under possibly inappropriate peer review.