Evaluation Process Research Articles

Shared decision-making support program for older patients with advanced cancer using a question prompt list and geriatric assessment: A pilot randomized controlled trial

IntroductionOlder patients with cancer are less likely to express their treatment preferences than younger patients. Question prompt lists (QPLs) facilitate communication between patients and physicians. Geriatric assessment (GA) is recommended when older patients with cancer make treatment decisions. This study estimated the effect size of a shared decision-making (SDM) support program combining QPLs with GA in terms of patients' subjective evaluation of the SDM process for a future definitive randomized controlled trial. We also evaluated the number and quality of aging-related communication during consultations, and feasibility and acceptability of the study for exploratory purposes. Materials and MethodsThis is a pilot study with randomized allocation and blind evaluation. Patients aged 65 years or older at the National Cancer Center Hospital, Tokyo, Japan, scheduled to discuss the changes of their treatment, were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the SDM support program or usual care. This program consisted of 30–60 min of face-to-face coaching, with QPLs and GA provided before the coaching. As the primary endpoint, the decisional conflict scores given by the patients immediately after the consultation were compared between the two groups. For the secondary endpoints, the number and quality of aging-related communications during the consultations were assessed by evaluators (blinded) using audio-recordings. Adherence, burden, and usefulness were assessed for evaluating feasibility and acceptability of the SDM support program. ResultsForty patients were enrolled. All patients completed the GA questionnaire, for which 70% did not require any individual assistance. Answering the questionnaires took approximately 11 min. The decisional conflict scores were mean [standard deviation (SD)]: 19.3 [10.8] vs. 18.0 [11.1] (effect size: Cohen's d = 0.12) for the SDM support program and usual care groups, respectively. The number of aging-related communications during the consultation for the new treatment was higher in the SDM support program group than the usual care (mean [SD]: 3.3 [1.2] vs. 2.2 [1.5], effect size: cohen's d = 1.32). Patients felt that the SDM support program was useful but not burdensome or difficult. DiscussionThe SDM support program was considered useful and feasible for older patients and able to facilitate communication regarding aging-related concerns. Trial registration numberThe study protocol was registered on September 23, 2020, in the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000041867).

URL and Malicious Link Prediction

Abstract: In response to the pressing cybersecurity challenges posed by the proliferation of phishing URLs and malicious links, this research introduces a ground breaking approach centered on transfer learning within deep neural networks. By leveraging transfer learning, intricate patterns within URLs and their content are unveiled, culminating in the development of a model seamlessly integrating Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM) and Bidirectional Gated Recurrent Unit (BiGRU) networks. These architectures effectively capture sequential dependencies, enhanced by their bidirectional variants accessing both past and future states to comprehend temporal dynamics and improve performance. Through meticulous evaluation and fine-tuning processes, the proposed cybersecurity solution demonstrates robustness and efficacy in defending against evolving threats. This research contributes significantly to advancing the cybersecurity domain, introducing an adaptive strategy that harnesses the strengths of BiLSTM and BiGRU networks within the framework of transfer learning, thus paving the way for more resilient and effective cybersecurity solutions.

Framework of managerial wisdom: an analysis using the TOPSIS and MICMAC process

PurposeBehavioral characteristics and the existence of personal knowledge and skills that are essential in forming a capable manager with specialized insight, is one of the most important evaluation processes in appointing a manager. Wisdom as a trait of a set of personal characteristics and cognitive knowledge of a capable manager will gain competitive advantages for the company and external stakeholders. The purpose of this study is to present the framework of managerial financial wisdom through qualitative and quantitative research methodologies.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses grounded theory methodology to identify factors for managerial financial wisdom and uses a MICMAC process to evaluate the power of driving and dependence among factors. MaxQDA software was used for data coding and analysis. The MICMAC process by determining the location of each of the sub-themes in the four-dimensional matrix, seeks to determine the most effective criterion in the context of the study. The method of data collection is mixed and in terms of philosophical nature, this study is inductive/comparative.FindingsThe results of the research in the qualitative part indicate the presentation of a framework based on two categories, four components, and thirty themes. The results of the quantitative part of the study also showed that the most important factor of managerial financial wisdom is market-oriented values. Finally, it was found that the social trust caused by managerial financial wisdom is considered a factor in gaining more shares in the capital market due to the positive stimulus in this dimension.Originality/valueThe study is relevant for both practitioners and academia and has significant implications. For practitioners, the structural linkages identified will help enhance managerial wisdom effectiveness and drive the critical metrics for financial decisions and shareholders' rights protection. The study may help financial market practitioners better understand future policies. Academia and researchers can take reference from methodologies used in this study for exploring factors of interest and developing matrix linkages among them.

Perspectives and discourses on teaching evaluations in a South African university

ABSTRACT The paper reports on a study that explored selected lecturers’ perspectives and discourses on a university's Student Evaluation of Teaching (SET) policy in South Africa; particularly what the policy prioritised in terms of purpose and evaluation processes. It also reports on the lecturers’ reflections on the additional questions they included in the self-designed evaluation tools. A questionnaire, informal group conversations, and extended observations were used to collect data, and Latour (2005). Reassembling the Social: An Introduction to Actor-Network Theory. Oxford University Press and Latour (2013). An Inquiry Into Modes of Existence. Translated by C. Porter. London: Harvard University Press works helped make sense of the lecturers’ perspectives and discourses. Findings indicate a partial grasp of what the SET policy promotes. Lecturers’ understanding seemed to emphasise teaching evaluations’ professional development and accountability functions. Little attention was paid to the context in which teaching and learning occurred. The conclusion suggests ways in which the guidance given to lecturers could be improved to help them understand and work more effectively with their university’s SET policy.

Age Is Just a Number for Older Kidney Transplant Patients.

The rise in the mean age of the global population has led to an increase in older kidney transplant (KT) patients. This demographic shift, coupled with the ongoing organ shortage, requires a nuanced understanding of which older adults are most suitable for KT. Recognizing the increased heterogeneity among older adults and the limitations of solely relying on chronological age, there is a need to explore alternative aging metrics beyond chronological age. In this review, we discuss the impact of older age on access to KT and postoperative outcomes. Emphasizing the need for a comprehensive evaluation that extends beyond chronological age, we explore alternative aging metrics such as frailty, sarcopenia, and cognitive function, underscoring their potential role in enhancing the KT evaluation process. Most importantly, we aim to contribute to the ongoing discourse, fostering an optimized approach to KT for the rapidly growing population of older adults.

Protocol for process evaluation of ARTEMIS cluster randomised controlled trial: an intervention for management of depression and suicide among adolescents living in slums in India

IntroductionThere are around 250 million adolescents (10–19 years) in India. The prevalence of mental health-related morbidity among adolescents in India is approximately 7.3%. Vulnerable subpopulations among adolescents such as those...

Non-linear Kernel Optimisation of Support Vector Machine Algorithm for Online Marketplace Sentiment Analysis

Twitter is a social media platform that is very important in the digital world. Fast communication and interaction make Twitter a vital information center in sentiment analysis. The purpose of this research is to classify public opinion about the presence of marketplaces in Indonesia, both positive and negative sentiments, using a Non-linear SVM algorithm based on 1276 tweets. This research involves the stages of data pre-processing, labeling, feature extraction using TF-IDF, and data division into three scenarios: 80% training data and 20% test data, 50% training data and 50% test data scenario, and 20% training data and 80% test data scenario. The last process, GridSearchCV, combines cross-validation and non-linear SVM parameters for model evaluation using a confusion matrix. The best SVM model resulting from the scenario was 80% training and 20% test data, with hyperparameters Gamma = 100 and C = 0.01, achieving 89% accuracy. When tested on never-before-seen data, the accuracy increased to 90%, with an f1-score of 91%, precision of 88%, and recall of 95% on negative sentiments. In conclusion, evaluating the performance of non-linear SVM kernels with a combination of hyperparameter values can improve accuracy, especially on public response information about online marketplaces and public sentiment.

Evaluation of Electro-Fenton Process for Removal of Amoxicillin from Simulated Wastewater

<p>The purpose of this work is to examine the efficiency of the Electro-Fenton process (Fenton oxidation) for the elimination of amoxicillin from simulated wastewater through response surface methodology (RSM). The effect three operating parameters that were selected for this evaluation were electrolysis time, hydrogen peroxide concentration, and the current density. The Electro-Fenton method was assessed by a set of experiments that were designed using the Box-Behnken model. The results conclude optimum parameters conditions, at 30 min electrolysis time, 30 ppm H2O2, and current density 2 amps by fixing the other two parameters; 20 ppm concentration of amoxicillin and pH of 3. The maximum removal efficiency at these conditions was 98.11%. The mathematical model concluded has a high correlation coefficient (R2= 98.3). Depending on the results, the Electro-Fenton process has proven an excellent method for the elimination of antibiotics from wastewater.</p>

Machine Learning for the Model Prediction of Final Semester Assessment (FSA) using the Multiple Linear Regression Method

Corona virus (COVID-19) is the reason behind the collapse of the National Assembly. The first is the Final Semester Assessment (FSA) , which is a component of the student's graduation. The aforementioned evaluation process is a crucial consideration for the teacher since it uses several intricate surveys and mark components. A prediction model is employed to assist teachers in providing suitable results for student learning. The method that is used is called the multiple linear regression. This multiple linear regression algorithm yields an accuracy level of approximately 92%. The analysis results using the method are used as a guide to understanding student’s index. This index is a rating that appears based on the Minimum Credit Count (MCC). Therefore, the goal of this study is to determine students' understanding of the FSA prediction value, which will be taken into consideration through the results of the MCC weights in the form of a range in the form of "Grade." Additionally, the research aims to determine the accuracy of the results from the model obtained using multiple linear regression algorithms in predicting students' FSA.

Professionalising health technology assessment in South Africa

Health technology encompasses interventions developed to prevent, diagnose or treat medical conditions; promote health; provide rehabilitation or organise healthcare delivery. The intervention can be a test, device, medicine, vaccine, procedure, program or system.[1] Health technology assessment (HTA) is a multidisciplinary evaluation process that assesses the properties of health technologies and interventions. It uses specific methods to determine the value of a health technology at different points in its lifecycle. The purpose of the HTA is to inform decision-making to promote equitable, efficient and high-quality health and health care systems. [1,2] It bridges the gap between the realms of research, policy making and service delivery.

Choosing Health: acceptability and feasibility of a theory-based, online-delivered, tailored weight loss, and weight loss maintenance intervention.

Few weight loss and weight loss maintenance interventions are tailored to include factors demonstrated to predict the user's behavior. Establishing the feasibility and acceptability of such interventions is crucial. The aim of this study wasto assess the acceptability and feasibility of a theory-based, tailored, online-delivered weight loss and weight loss maintenance intervention (Choosing Health). We conducted a mixed methods process evaluation of the Choosing Health tailored intervention, nested in a randomized controlled trial (N = 288) with an embedded N-of-1 study, investigating participants' and implementers' experiences related to intervention context, implementation, and mechanisms of impact. Measures included: (i) surveys, (ii) data-prompted interviews (DPIs) with study participants, (iii) semi-structured interviews with implementers, and (iv) intervention access and engagement data. Five themes described the acceptability of the intervention to participants: (i) monitoring behavior change and personal progress to better understand the weight management process, (ii) working collaboratively with the intervention implementers to achieve participants' goals, (iii) perceived benefits of non-judgmental and problem-solving tone of the intervention, (iv) changes in personal perception of the weight management process due to intervention tailoring, and (v) insufficient intervention content tailoring. The intervention delivery was feasible, however, emails and text messages differed in terms of accessibility and resources required to deliver the content. The use of Ecological Momentary Assessment as a technique to gather personal data for further tailoring was acceptable, and facilitated behavior change monitoring. Personalization of the intervention content above and beyond domain-specific issues, for example, by addressing participants' social roles may better match their needs. Support from the implementers and feedback on body composition changes may increase participants' engagement.

Comparison and Evaluation of Learning Capabilities of Deep Learning Methods for Predicting Ship Motions

The development of intelligent ship control systems in real-world conditions relies heavily on the accurate identification and prediction of ship seakeeping and maneuvering trajectories. In this study, we comprehensively evaluate a selection of deep learning methods to assess their learning capabilities in terms of idealizing ship motion behavior in realistic operational environments. To recover real conditions, we utilize historical Automatic Identification System (AIS) data and a time domain 6 Degree of Freedom (6- DoF) grounding dynamics model to generate ship motion sequences for a Ro-Ro passenger ship operating in the Gulf of Finland. Via a rigorous evaluation process, we validate the performance of these methods using extensive data streams. The analysis includes the identification and estimation of uncertainties between two ports. The paper demonstrates the proficiency of the selected deep learning methods in capturing ship maneuvering features, their potential use in the design of ship control and intelligent decision support systems.

Merits and Demerits of English Language Coursebooks Designs: A Scoping Review

The evaluation process of English coursebooks in Saudi schools began long back when the English curriculum was updated in the 1980s. This paper reviews the works that have surveyed the Saudi English syllabi from the 1990s to the present. It aims to explore the timeline of the most prominent evaluation endeavors. The findings reveal that the common components of evaluations include content, form, learning tasks, and instruction methods. The majority of these attempts were executed using standardized checklists but implemented on a relatively small number of respondents. However, one study was conducted as part of a project launched by the Ministry of Education (MOE) for the development of the English curriculum. The distinctive satisfaction themes of merits among all evaluations were the visuals, syllabi appearance, and overall content. While teaching methods and the difficulty of tasks were highlighted as demerits. From a cultural perspective, syllabi tend to be contextualized in a Western way, based on the local Saudi culture. This paper recommends conducting a more comprehensive evaluation process online to cover more participants, developing a well-tailored checklist that suits the content and culture of Saudi Arabia, and considering the new technological changes in coursebooks.

Evaluation of the accelerate stunting reduction program through stunting care houses (Rumah Pesta) Wakatobi district

Wakatobi Regency as an island region in 2022 has a stunting prevalence of 29.9%, higher than the average prevalence rate for Southeast Sulawesi province of 27.7%. This regency has a high commitment to accelerating the reduction of stunting prevalence through the strategic initiative of stunting care home innovation activities (Rumah Pesta). Serving as a venue for organizing the mobilization and execution of internalizing the acceleration of the reduction of stunting through synchronization and cooperation between stakeholders, village administrations, and agencies. To evaluate the stunting reduction acceleration program through the Stunting Care House (Rumah Pesta) Wakatobi Regency. Qualitative descriptive research, content analysis was carried out on the conditions of natural objects from the context in which the event occurred in an effort to describe the incident through key informants, main informants and supporting informants based on knowledge about the stunting reduction acceleration program policy. This research uses in-depth interviews with tools in the form of recording devices, interview guides, review of rules and documents to answer research objectives using the CIPP model evaluation approach. In the context evaluation, the regional stunting reduction acceleration program policy has influenced the prevalence of stunting through the the Stunting Care House or Rumah Peduli Stunting (Rumah Pesta) innovation program which was implemented through the Decree of the Head of the P2 & KB Department. Input evaluation: The main budgetary support for activities comes from self-help, including the APBN and APBD budgets through related SKPD intermediaries who are directly involved in stunting activities. Human resource capacity is inadequate and there is no support for sustainable training programs through Rumah Pesta. Support for facilities and infrastructure for service activities in the building is inadequate, there are facilities to support stunting activities. Evaluation process: Activity planning house party activities are participatory in nature as a form of implementation of policies to accelerate stunting reduction to realize the mobilization of strategic initiative steps by the relevant SKPD leaders in the form of innovation activities, referring to 29 main indicator service coverage designed through creativity in the form of independent activities with at-risk families, local cultural approaches. Product Evaluation: Contributing directly to reducing the prevalence of stunting in Wakatobi district through interventions through assistance activities for at-risk families which are still ongoing today, Sustainability of programs or activities to accelerate stunting reduction requires synergy and support from data sources, use of accurate data through a good human resource availability approach, supporting infrastructure that meets standards at all levels of implementation of activities to accelerate stunting reduction.

Interactive Malaysian Childhood Healthy Lifestyle (i-MaCHeL) programme: a single-arm pilot study

BackgroundThe growing obesity epidemic in Malaysia presents a public health challenge that requires innovative intervention strategies. In an effort to address this problem, an Interactive Malaysian Childhood Healthy Lifestyle (i-MaCHeL) programme, which is a web-based initiative designed for preschool child–parent dyads offers a novel approach. Nevertheless, the success of such a web-based intervention depends on several interrelated factors. This research aims to examine the feasibility of i-MaCHeL in the Malaysian context, its usability for preschool child–parent dyads, and the acceptability of the programme among these user groups.MethodsThis was a single-arm pilot study involving 46 child–parent dyads recruited from six government preschools in Terengganu, Malaysia. The preschools were selected using a cluster random sampling technique at the preschool level. The intervention feasibility was determined based on the retention rate of participants in the pilot study. The System Usability Scale (SUS) and intervention process evaluation were used to assess the usability and acceptability of the web-based i-MaCHeL programme.ResultsThe retention data demonstrated that 42 out of 46 participants completed the 13-week intervention programme, which showed that the overall retention rate was 91.3%. A mean (SD) SUS score of 84.70 (13.82) was obtained from parents, indicating that the web-based i-MaCHeL had an acceptable usability level. The mean scores of the process evaluation items ranged from 4.52 (0.63) to 4.83 (0.38), demonstrating that the web-based i-MaCHeL was highly accepted by the parents. The acceptability data also indicated that at least 92.9% (39/42) of the parents agreed/strongly agreed that the web content, programme duration, intervention dose, WhatsApp group, and delivery mode were appropriate.ConclusionsAccording to these findings, the i-MaCHeL intervention using a web-based approach was feasible, usable, and acceptable as part of a weight-related behaviour change intervention for preschool child–parent dyads. This pilot study demonstrated that the web-based i-MaCHeL was feasible and promising for delivering weight-related behavioural intervention to child–parent dyads.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04711525. Registered on January 15, 2021.

Room Interior Generation Using Stable Diffusion Models

The present paper puts forward an innovative method for the fine tuning of Stable Diffusion with the use of Dreambooth, which is a very fast technique in the image generation task. In particular, our approach covers the topic of room interior generation. It offers a quick option to instruct the algorithm with the most recent concepts, without the need to retrain it. Using a shortened list of instance and class prompts as examples we introduce a revolutionary training pipeline where class and instance information interacts to order a model's learning process. By conducting elaborate trials where we demonstrate that our methodology out-perform the competitors in the realistic visualization, which is based on the given theme. We use an extensive evaluation process to prove the effectiveness of the method on many datasets, which can ensure its generalization capacity to unseen various layouts of the rooms and their interior design. On one hand, precise ablation studies are carried out in order to evaluate the influence of the distinguished components in the given model. This paper shows the encompassing work of Dreambooth as a tool of choice for the personalized room interior synthesis. The new possibilities to fine-tune the generative models are also becoming a subject for futurological research in the interior design area.

Automatic Resume Quality Assessment

In the ever-evolving and competitive job market, presenting a compelling resume has become critical for job seekers to secure interviews and land their desired positions. However, manually reviewing and assessing a vast number of resumes can be a time- consuming and laborious task for re- cruiters, often leading to inefficiencies and potential biases in the hiring process. Automatic Resume Quality Assessment (ARQA) systems have emerged as promising solutions to address these challenges, leveraging the power of artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP) techniques to automate the resume evaluation process. This survey paper delves into the fascinating world of ARQA, providing a comprehensive overview of the existing approaches, techniques, challenges, and promisingfuture directions.

Regulatory framework for the assessment of the impacts of plant protection products on biodiversity: review of strengths and limits.

The placing of plant protection products (PPPs) on the market in the European Union is governed by numerous regulations. These regulations are among the most stringent in the world, however they have been the subject of criticisms especially because of the decline in biodiversity. The objectives of this work were to review (1) the functioning and actors involved in the PPP framework processes, (2) the construction of the environmental risk assessment focused on biodiversity, and (3) the suggested ways to respond to the identified limits. Both literature from social sciences and ecotoxicology were examined. Despite the protective nature of the European regulation on PPPs, the very imperfect consideration of biodiversity in the evaluation process was underlined. The main limits are the multiplicity of applicable rules, the routinization of the evaluation procedures, the lack of consideration of social data, and the lack of independence of the evaluation. Strengths of the regulation are the decision to integrate a systemic approach in the evaluation of PPPs, the development of modeling tools, and the phytopharmacovigilance systems. The avenues for improvement concern the realism of the risk assessment (species used, cocktail effects…), a greater transparency and independence in the conduct of evaluations, and the opening of the evaluation and decision-making processes to actors such as beekeepers or NGOs. Truly interdisciplinary reflections crossing the functioning of the living world, its alteration by PPPs, and how these elements question the users of PPPs would allow to specify social actions, public policies, and their regulation to better protect biodiversity.

Process evaluation of a Structured E-parenting Support (STEPS) in the OPTIMA randomised controlled trial: a protocol.

Structured E-parenting Support (STEPS) is a digital application (app) designed to help parents manage behaviour of their children who are referred to mental health services and are waiting for an assessment or treatment. STEPS is currently being evaluated in the Online Parent Training for the Initial Management of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder randomised controlled trial. Alongside the examination of STEPS' clinical and cost-effectiveness, we are conducting a process evaluation to better understand the contextual factors that may influence study outcomes. The purpose of this protocol is to describe the aims, objectives and methodology of the process evaluation prior to it taking place to add to the fidelity and rigour of the trial process and outcomes. Our goal is to adapt STEPS to optimise its benefits in future applications. In line with the Medical Research Council guidelines for evaluating complex interventions, the process evaluation will adopt a mixed method design using qualitative data collected from clinicians and parent interviews and app usage data from participants assigned to the intervention arm. Qualitative data from semistructured interviews and free text box responses included in trial questionnaires will be analysed thematically using framework analysis to better understand how parents use STEPS, how it works and key factors that could aid or hinder its effective implementation in routine clinical practice. The application for ethical approval for the study was submitted to the North West-Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee and received a favourable opinion on further information on 26 November 2021, reference number 21/NW/0319. The process evaluation aims to explore how a digital app might support parents in managing their child's behaviour. Implications for policy and research will be explored and the clinical implications of offering the app to a wider audience to address the lack of support to parents as highlighted in this paper. We plan to publish findings in international, peer-reviewed journals as well as present at conferences. The trial has been prospectively registered on 18 November 2021; ISRCTN816523503. https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN16523503.

Validity and norms for young adults for the Aggie Figures Learning Test.

The purpose of the present study was to demonstrate the convergent validity of the AFLT and to provide norms for an adult population ranging from 18 to 58. 140 healthy volunteers participated in the study. They ranged in age from 18 to 58 years, with 12 to 25 years of education. Subjects were assessed with a comprehensive neuropsychological battery which included the ALFT (A version) and the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF). Positive correlations were found between the scores of both tests for recent memory (r = 0.606, p < 0.01), delayed free recall (r = 0.534, p < 0.01) and recognition memory (r = 0.202, p < 0.05). These results demonstrate the convergent validity of the AFLT. The AFLT is a visual memory assessment tool with adequate psychometric properties, which allows a comprehensive evaluation of visual memory processes.