Degree Of Consistency Research Articles

A transfer fault complex to explain the geodynamics and faulting mechanisms of the 1976 M7.8 Tangshan earthquake China

Abstract The geodynamics and faulting mechanism of the M7.8 Tangshan earthquake (China, 28th July 1976) are re-examined within a framework of a transfer fault complex that has strike slip, thrust and normal faulting components. The locations of the faults are conditioned by the locations of the 30 largest shocks (M > 5) of the sequence from 28th July 1976 to 27th November 1977. We find that the shocks are naturally arranged into three discrete time–space constrained sequences, and two linked transfer fault complexes are required to explain the data. We validate the transfer fault model by comparing the distribution of faults as we map them with the distribution of 247 M > 4 aftershocks that occurred from 1 September 1976 to 31 December 1979, the distribution of recent H2 and He soil gas anomalies from 756 sites spread across the extensive fault zone and the distribution of large animal behaviour and telluric current anomalies. We find a high degree of conformity between the transfer faults as we map them and these other data sets, with some degree of inconsistency that we use to refine the transfer fault model. Our main conclusion is that event 1 (M7.8) of the Tangshan earthquake occurred on the dextral strike slip leg of a transfer fault on the edge of the Bohai Bay Basin and as such is an integral part of the on-going evolution of that basin where a new active rifting phase may have begun during the Quaternary.

Effectiveness of antidepressants in bipolar depression

IntroductionPrescribing antidepressants in the treatment of bipolar depression remains highly controversial due to the inconsistency between routine clinical practice and the results of controlled trials.ObjectivesTo assess the validity of antidepressants use in bipolar depression from the point of view of evidence-based medicine.MethodsDatabase search (Scopus and MEDLINE) followed by analysis of studies concerning the efficacy and safety of antidepressants in the bipolar depression treatment.ResultsThe search found 23 studies. There was a high degree of inconsistency in the results, apparently related to the methodology. Only two studies compared the effectiveness of antidepressants in monotherapy with placebo. No differences were found in the study with 740 participants but in the study with 70 participants with type 2 bipolar disorder antidepressants were found to be more effective than placebo. Nevertheless, both studies had significant methodological issues. In 6 studies comparing the effectiveness of the combination of antidepressants with mood stabilizers against the combination of mood stabilizers with placebo, only the effectiveness of fluoxetine in combination with olanzapine was confirmed, other antidepressants were ineffective. At the same time, studies where antidepressants were compared with each other in combination with mood stabilizers revealed a significant clinical response to therapy. Risk of the treatment emergency adverse events were relatively low for SSRI.ConclusionsDespite the contradictory literature data, the use of antidepressants in bipolar depression is justified from the point of view of evidence-based medicine for certain groups of patients with taking into account risk factors.

An Empirical Investigation of U.K. Environmental Targets Disclosure: The Role of Environmental Governance and Performance

ABSTRACT Although an increasing number of companies have publicly declared environmental targets (ETs), scant research has been conducted in this area. This study, therefore, investigates the extent of corporate environmental targets disclosure (ETD) and empirically examines whether environmental governance and performance influence the ETD of companies in the U.K. during the 2005–2013 period. We find that firms show a large degree of variability and inconsistency in their reporting of ETs. The results indicate that U.K. firms, particularly those with high environmental sensitivity, tend to disclose symbolic soft or semi-hard ETs to manage stakeholder perceptions and legitimize their existence. Moreover, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) guidelines, sustainability committees, and sustainability assurance show positive relationships with ETD. We also find that U.K. firms that perform well environmentally are likely to set and disclose hard ETs. These results support stakeholder, legitimacy, and impression management theories. We suggest that there is a need for regulations that will not only enhance the usefulness of ETD but also encourage companies to take serious proactive action to reduce negative environmental impacts, possibly creating ‘win-win’ solutions. Our findings have important implications for policy-makers and various stakeholder groups.

``I don't care about cookies!" Platform Data Disclosure and Time-Inconsistent Users

Time-inconsistent internet users neglect future privacy costs and release too much data to be monetized by digital platforms. We study how regulations that require user consent for data processing affect platform profits, welfare and user surplus, depending on business models and the degree of time inconsistency. Consent mechanisms increase user surplus or welfare only if their design facilitates consent refusal. If platforms can make it difficult to opt out, it may be better for society as a whole if the former choose the disclosure level, even though it tends to be excessive from a user point of view. Voluntary caps on usage, as recently adopted by some platforms, can raise profits by making some users consent to more disclosure.

Ranking of gridded precipitation datasets by merging compromise programming and global performance index: a case study of the Amu Darya basin

Accurate representation of precipitation over time and space is vital for hydro-climatic studies. Appropriate selection of gridded precipitation data (GPD) is important for regions where long-term in situ records are unavailable and gauging stations are sparse. This study was an attempt to identify the best GPD for the data-poor Amu Darya River basin, a major source of freshwater in Central Asia. The performance of seven GPDs and 55 precipitation gauge locations was assessed. A novel algorithm, based on the integration of a compromise programming index (CPI) and a global performance index (GPI) as part of a multi-criteria group decision-making (MCGDM) method, was employed to evaluate the performance of the GPDs. The CPI and GPI were estimated using six statistical indices representing the degree of similarity between in situ and GPD properties. The results indicated a great degree of variability and inconsistency in the performance of the different GPDs. The CPI ranked the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) precipitation as the best product for 20 out of 55 stations analysed, followed by the Princeton University Global Meteorological Forcing (PGF) and Climate Hazards Group Infrared Precipitation with Station (CHIRPS). Conversely, GPI ranked the CPC product the best product for 25 of the stations, followed by PGF and CHRIPS. Integration of CPI and GPI ranking through MCGDM revealed that the CPC was the best precipitation product for the Amu River basin. The performance of PGF was also closely aligned with that of CPC.

Research on dynamic behavior of bubble under the action of electric field

Based on the assumption of the creeping flow with small Reynolds number, a coupled model of bubble rising and mass transfer was established. Through numerical simulation, the velocity field inside and outside the bubble and the deformation of the bubble at different time under different voltage conditions were studied. The behavior characteristics of bubbles under different electric fields were compared and analyzed. The results show that the electric field force has an effect on the flow field and the shape of bubble rising. Under the action of voltage, the bubbles are elongated and deformed along the field strength direction. The electric stress on the bubble interface is the key factor of bubble deformation. With the electric field applied, the flow rate of liquid and the volume fraction of vapor near heat source increase. The degree of inconsistency increases with the improvement of electric field intensity. Electric field enhances convection and disturbance of fluid. The thermal efficiency of fluid near heat source improves. The process of bubble growth and detachment accelerates. The thermal resistance between the heat source and the fluid decreases, and the heat transfer efficiency increases. The research results can be guided for further studying the mechanism of electric field enhanced boiling heat transfer.

Meta-analysis of the operative treatment of lumbar disc herniation via transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic discectomy versus interlaminar percutaneous endoscopic discectomy in randomized trials.

Backgrounds:Transforaminal percutaneous endoscopic discectomy (TF-PELD) and interlaminar percutaneous endoscopic discectomy (IL-PELD) are the most common alternative treatments of lumbar disc herniation. The aim of this study was to compare the operation time duration and X-ray exposure as well as outcomes of TF-PELD and IL-PELD as indicated by the published clinical evidences within randomized trials.Methods:We included randomized, controlled studies reporting operation duration and X-ray exposure as well as clinical outcome evaluations, comparing TF-PELD to IL-PELD with a minimum of 10 patients per group. The included data measures were operation duration, X-ray exposure and postoperation evaluations. Data were synthesized and analyzed using ReviewManager version 5.3. Publication bias was evaluated via funnel plot. The Cochran Q test and the degree of inconsistency (I2) were used to assess heterogeneity. Lowly biased and heterogenous dichotomous data were calculated by odds ratio and continuous data were calculated by mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).Results:Thirteen studies published from January 1970 to March 2018, with a total of 770 lumbar disc herniation patients, including 361 cases of TF-PELD and 409 cases of IL-PELD, were finally included. Meta-analysis of data extracted from these studies revealed that the postoperation outcomes of both surgery methods did not differ significantly, but the surgery duration was significantly shorter in the IL-PELD group than in the TF-PELD group (MD 21.69; 95% CI 12.94–30.27; P = .00001), and the fluoroscopy times demanded in the IL-PELD group was significantly fewer than those in the TF-PELD group (MD 7.57; 95% CI 6.22–8.93; P = .00001).Conclusion:The main finding of the study is that IL-PELD approach can decrease radiation exposure as their demanded duration of operation and fluoroscopy times were significantly shorter and fewer in the IL-PELD group, which they achieve similar outcomes comparing to TF-PELD. The study is limited at a lack of samples with lumbar disc herniation levels out of L5/S1. The findings implicate selection of IL-PELD approach over TF-PELD at applicable circumstances for lower lumbar disc herniation. Physicians should consider this data when choosing between TF-PELD and IL-PELD.

Students’ Attitude toward Mathematics and its Relationship with Mathematics Achievement

The relationship between students’ attitudes toward mathematics and mathematics achievement has garnered tremendous attention from researchers. However, there is a degree of inconsistency in the findings regarding this relationship. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the profiles of students’ attitudes toward mathematics and examine their relationship with mathematics achievement. Using latent profile analysis, we examined data from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study conducted in Singapore in 2019. We identified four profiles of attitudes toward mathematics, namely very negative (5.44%), negative (41.38%), neutral (38.77%), and positive (14.41%). We also confirmed the literature describing students’ attitude toward mathematics as a multidimensionally integrated construct, comprising ‘like mathematics,’ ‘value mathematics,’ and ‘confidence in mathematics.’ Moreover, we discovered a positive relationship between students’ attitudes toward mathematics and mathematics achievement. These results showed that the following students are more likely to have high mathematics achievement: (a) those who like to study mathematics and pursue mathematics-related activities, (b) those who believe that learning mathematics will result in a positive outcome (e.g., success in school and job opportunities), and (c) those who trust in their mathematical abilities. Therefore, educators need to examine students’ attitudes toward mathematics and provide appropriate support to stimulate the development of a positive attitude toward mathematics.

Did Securitization Fail to Contain the Covid-19 Pandemic? The Case of Greece

In response to the COVID-19 Pandemic many European governments responded by securitizing the pandemic and adopting a series of emergency measures in order to curb the spread of the pandemic. However, in most cases the measures were unsuccessful. Does this constitute a failure of securitization? In order to address this question, we will analyze the case of Greece. The case of Greece is particularly interesting because it was one of the first countries to adopt emergency measures and for a time it was heralded as a success story in countering the effects of the pandemic. According to the findings of this brief, the case of Greece does not constitute a failure of securitization. The Greek government did show a degree of inconsistency in its efforts of securitizing the pandemic but that was consistent with the fluctuation of the number of confirmed cases and COVID-19 related deaths and the impact of the pandemic on the Greek economy and attitude of the general population.

Configurations of Boundary Management Practices among Knowledge Workers

While the literature in relation to managing the work-nonwork boundary retains a strong focus on the consistent use of segmenting or integrating boundary management practices, recent studies indicate that individuals’ behaviours are often inconsistent. To add to this emerging strand of research, this article is set in the context of flexible working to examine how knowledge workers use time, space and objects to demarcate the work-nonwork boundary. The analysis identifies three configurations of boundary management practices with differing degrees of inconsistency in the use of time, space and objects. Its contribution is three-fold: (1) it provides an original, systematic exploration of boundary management practices that do not represent consistency; (2) it creates a framework within which differing degrees of inconsistency in people’s boundary management practices can be observed; and (3) it demonstrates new and crucial differences between distinct inconsistent approaches to demarcating the work-nonwork boundary.

The Influence of Criteria Selection Method on Consistency of Pairwise Comparison

The more criteria a human decision involves, the more inconsistent the decision. This study experimentally examines the effect on the degree of pairwise comparison inconsistency by using the (im)possibility of selecting the criteria for the evaluation and the size of the decision-making problem. A total of 358 participants completed objective and subjective tasks. While the former was associated with one possible correct solution, there was no single correct solution for the latter. The design of the experiment enabled the acquisition of eight groups in which the degree of inconsistency was quantified using three inconsistency indices (the Consistency Index, the Consistency Ratio and the Euclidean distance) and these were analysed by the repeated measures ANOVA. The results show a significant dependence of the degree of inconsistency on the method of determining the criteria for pairwise evaluation. If participants are randomly given the criteria, then with more criteria, the overall inconsistency of the comparison decreases. If the participants can themselves choose the criteria for the comparison, then with more criteria, the overall inconsistency of the comparison increases. This statistical dependence exists only for males. For females, the dependence is the opposite, but it is not statistically significant.

Evidence inconsistency degrees of freedom in Bayesian network meta-analysis

ABSTRACT Network meta-analysis (NMA) is a popular tool to synthesize direct and indirect evidence for simultaneously comparing multiple treatments, while evidence inconsistency greatly threatens its validity. One may use the inconsistency degrees of freedom (ICDF) to assess the potential that an NMA might suffer from inconsistency. Multi-arm studies provide intrinsically consistent evidence and complicate the ICDF’s calculation; they commonly appear in NMAs. The existing ICDF measure may not feasibly handle multi-arm studies. Motivated from the effective numbers of parameters of Bayesian hierarchical models, we propose new ICDF measures in generic NMAs that may contain multi-arm studies. Under the fixed- or random-effects setting, the new ICDF measure is the difference between the effective numbers of parameters of the consistency and inconsistency NMA models. We used artificial NMAs created based on an illustrative example and 39 empirical NMAs to evaluate the performance of the existing and new measures. In NMAs with two-arm studies only, the proposed ICDF measure under the fixed-effects setting was nearly the same with the existing measure. Among the empirical NMAs, 27 (69%) contained at least one multi-arm study. The existing measure was not applicable to them, while the proposed measures led to interpretable ICDFs in all NMAs.

Inconsistency in the use of the term "validation" in studies reporting the performance of deep learning algorithms in providing diagnosis from medical imaging.

The development of deep learning (DL) algorithms is a three-step process-training, tuning, and testing. Studies are inconsistent in the use of the term "validation", with some using it to refer to tuning and others testing, which hinders accurate delivery of information and may inadvertently exaggerate the performance of DL algorithms. We investigated the extent of inconsistency in usage of the term "validation" in studies on the accuracy of DL algorithms in providing diagnosis from medical imaging. We analyzed the full texts of research papers cited in two recent systematic reviews. The papers were categorized according to whether the term "validation" was used to refer to tuning alone, both tuning and testing, or testing alone. We analyzed whether paper characteristics (i.e., journal category, field of study, year of print publication, journal impact factor [JIF], and nature of test data) were associated with the usage of the terminology using multivariable logistic regression analysis with generalized estimating equations. Of 201 papers published in 125 journals, 118 (58.7%), 9 (4.5%), and 74 (36.8%) used the term to refer to tuning alone, both tuning and testing, and testing alone, respectively. A weak association was noted between higher JIF and using the term to refer to testing (i.e., testing alone or both tuning and testing) instead of tuning alone (vs. JIF <5; JIF 5 to 10: adjusted odds ratio 2.11, P = 0.042; JIF >10: adjusted odds ratio 2.41, P = 0.089). Journal category, field of study, year of print publication, and nature of test data were not significantly associated with the terminology usage. Existing literature has a significant degree of inconsistency in using the term "validation" when referring to the steps in DL algorithm development. Efforts are needed to improve the accuracy and clarity in the terminology usage.

Consistency-index-driven group decision making under the environment of triangular fuzzy numbers

Group decision making (GDM) under a fuzzy environment is one of the research focuses recently. Triangular fuzzy number can be used as an effective tool to capture the vagueness encountered by decision makers (DMs). In this study, a novel GDM model is proposed when triangular fuzzy multiplicative reciprocal matrices (TFMRMs) are adopted to express the opinions of DMs. A generalized consistency index is constructed to quantify the inconsistency degree of TFMRMs, which reflects the basic idea of fuzzy set theory that everything has some elasticity. The interesting properties of the new consistency index are studied, and acceptable consistency of TFMRMs is discussed. Then, based on the proposed consistency index, an operator is proposed to aggregate the individual TFMRMs. The properties of the collective TFMRM are further investigated. Finally, a new algorithm for solving a GDM problem with TFMRMs is elaborated on. Numerical results are reported to illustrate the advantages and novelty of the proposed consistency-index-driven GDM model.

Preceptor Criteria Revisited.

Preceptor selection criteria based on demographic data has been shown to yield inconsistent degrees of success in the role. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to determine if preceptors with different levels of innovativeness identified different benefits and challenges when implementing the preceptor role. A mixed-methods study was conducted using online surveys to determine each participants' individual level of innovativeness. Interviews were conducted with preceptors from each innovator category to identify benefits and challenges in implementing the preceptor role. Preceptors who scored lower in innovativeness identified challenges that were not discussed by preceptors who scored higher in innovativeness. Conversely, preceptors who scored higher in innovativeness identified benefits that were not common to preceptors with lower levels of innovativeness. Opportunities for nurse educators and facility nurse leaders were presented to meet the diverse needs of the preceptor and provide for more consistent implementation of the preceptor role. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2020;51(9):425-432.].

A novel intuitionistic fuzzy co-clustering algorithm for brain images

Segmentation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) Brain images is a very important step in detection of brain tumor. This process is hand operated in labs which is rather an enervating and a long drawn out task and the resultant data so obtained has high degree of erroneity and inconsistency. Hence, automated segmentation systems have become the need of the hour. This paper presents a novel technique to automatically detect brain tumor. Also, segmentation of three main brain tissues is carried out namely white matter, gray matter and cerebrospinal fluid from real time Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) images. The Intuitionistic Fuzzy Set theory is incorporated as it is more suitable for handling uncertainty as compared to fuzzy sets theory. The algorithm is based on the Co-Clustering approach as it offers the advantage of assigning membership functions to both object as well as features. The parameters in the IFCC algorithm are optimized using Particle Swarm Optimization(PSO). The performance of the algorithm is evaluated on the basis of quantitative measures such as match score, accuracy score, dice score and Jaccard’s similarity coefficient.

Laser-Assisted Depigmentation-An Introspection of the Science, Techniques, and Perceptions.

Background: Gingival hyperpigmentation is a major concern for a significant number of patients, as a relevant aesthetic or cosmetic need. Oral melanin pigmentation is considered to be multifactorial and could be related to physiological or even pathological reasons and can be the consequence of a variety of local or systemic factors. This pigmentation varies individually across races or age groups and is without any gender predilection. Evidence gleaned from literature is presented from case–control studies and from the authors’ own research work in prospective, split-mouth, double-blinded, clinical trials comparing treatment modalities in effecting depigmentation. Methods: A systematic review of published articles, using suitable assay criteria, was carried out to formulate a consensus on laser-assisted modalities. A total of 295 published sources were subject to critical analysis and resulted in six papers that were subject to data scrutiny. Additionally, evidence is presented on clinical protocols and treatment outcomes. Results: Analysis of randomized clinical studies identified the use of two laser wavelength groups—near infrared diode and erbium group of mid-infrared lasers. Several areas of analysis were examined, and inconsistent degrees of significance were obtained to establish which laser group was optimal and if they were any better than scalpel depigmentation. Conclusion: A definitive conclusion is wanting as studies with scientific and standardized protocols of evaluation are yet to provide a take on comparative assessments between different techniques of depigmentation.

Evaluating top-k queries with inconsistency degrees

We study the problem of augmenting relational tuples with inconsistency awareness and tackling top-k queries under a set of denial constraints (DCs). We define a notion of inconsistent tuples with respect to a set of DCs and define two measures of inconsistency degrees, which consider single and multiple violations of constraints. In order to compute these measures, we leverage two models of provenance, namely why-provenance and provenance polynomials. We investigate top-k queries that allow to rank the answer tuples by their inconsistency degrees. Since one of our measure is monotonic and the other non-monotonic, we design an integrated top-k algorithm to compute the top-k results of a query w.r.t. both inconsistency measures. By means of an extensive experimental study, we gauge the effectiveness of inconsistency-aware query answering and the efficiency of our algorithm with respect to a baseline, where query results are fully computed and ranked afterwards.

Is the Prescription of Antidepressants for Bipolar Depression Justified from the Point of View of Evidence-Based Medicine?

Background: prescribing antidepressants in the treatment of bipolar depression remains highly controversial due to the inconsistence between routine clinical practice and the results of controlled trials. Purpose: to assess the validity of antidepressants use in bipolar depression from the point of view of evidence-based medicine. Material: database search (Scopus and MEDLINE) followed by analysis of studies concerning the efficacy and safety of antidepressants in bipolar depression treatment. Сonclusion: the search found 23 studies. There was a high degree of inconsistency in the results, apparently related to the methodology. Only two studies compared the effectiveness of antidepressants in monotherapy with placebo, with no differences found in the study with 740 participants and in the study with 70 participants with type 2 bipolar disorder antidepressants were found to be more effective than placebo. Nevertheless, both studies had significant methodological issues. In 6 studies comparing the effectiveness of the combination of antidepressants with mood stabilizers against the combination of mood stabilizers with placebo, only the effectiveness of fluoxetine in combination with olanzapine was revealed, other antidepressants were ineffective. At the same time, studies where antidepressants were compared with each other in combination with mood stabilizers revealed a significant clinical response to therapy. Analysis of routine clinical practice studies has shown that antidepressants are prescribed very often, for about 50% of patients with bipolar depression. International guidelines for therapy differ quite widely on the use of antidepressants in bipolar depression, but in principle allow their use. Thus, despite the contradictory literature data, the use of antidepressants in bipolar depression is justified from the point of view of evidence-based medicine for certain groups of patients with taking into account risk factors.

Parsing and Managing Inconsistency in Investor-State Dispute Settlement

Abstract Inconsistency in legal interpretation is among the most salient problems in investor-State dispute settlement (ISDS) and it is one of the key issues being addressed by the reform efforts in the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Working Group III. While some degree of interpretive inconsistency is endemic to any legal order, systemic inconsistency tends to undermine the basic purposes of the investment treaty regime – namely protecting and promoting foreign direct investment through predictable international legal rules and institutions. This article seeks to parse the problem of inconsistency at a more granular level, in order to distinguish between types of norms where a degree of inconsistency is (relatively) manageable and (potentially) tolerable, and those where inconsistency is unacceptable. We argue that it is with regard to structural ‘rules of the game’ where inconsistency is most destructive.