Proactive Removal Research Articles

Research on proactive defense and dynamic repair of complex networks considering cascading effects

Cascading effects can result in the nonlinear propagation of failures in complex networks, ultimately leading to network collapse. Research on the fault propagation principles, defense strategies, and repair strategies can help mitigate the effects of cascading failures. Especially, proactive defense and dynamic repair are flexible and effective methods to ensure network security. Most studies on the cascade of complex networks are based on the unprocessed initial information of the network. However, marginal nodes are a type of node that cloaks the initial information of the network. In this study, we rank the importance of nodes according to the intensity of network energy confusion after the removal of this node, clarify the meaning of marginal nodes and proposed two methods to screen marginal nodes. The results indicated that the proactive removal of marginal nodes can effectively reduce the effect of cascading failures without causing any negative disturbance to the energy flow of the network. In addition, network repair according to the proposed strategy can minimize the cascade effect in the repair process and improve repair efficiency.

Frontiers: Pirating Foes or Creative Friends? Effects of User-Generated Condensed Clips on Demand for Streaming Services

The proactive removal of condensed clips from TikTok decreased demand for corresponding full-length originals by 3%, revealing their positive impact to TV industry.

The impact of maxillary non-impacted third molars on the distal alveolar bone of adjacent teeth using CBCT: a retrospective study.

The purpose of the study was to determine how the maxillary non-impacted third molars impact the distal region of alveolar bone of adjacent second molars. The periodontal condition of maxillary second molars for which the neighboring third molars were missing (NM3- group) and those with intact non-impacted third molars (NM3+ group) was analyzed in a retrospective study. Using CBCT, the patients were categorized based on the presence or absence of periodontitis, and the alveolar bone resorption parameters in the distal area of the second molars were measured. A total of 135 patients with 200 maxillary second molars were enrolled in this retrospective study. Compared to the NM3- group, the second molars of the NM3+ group exhibited greater odds of increasing alveolar bone resorption in the distal region (health, OR = 3.60; periodontitis, OR = 7.68), regardless of the presence or absence of periodontitis. In healthy patients, factors such as female sex (OR = 1.48) and age above 25 years old (OR = 2.22) were linked to an elevated risk of alveolar bone resorption in the distal region of the second molars. In patients with periodontitis, male sex (OR = 3.63) and age above 45 years old (OR = 3.97) served as risk factors. Advanced age, sex, and the presence of non-impacted third molars are risk factors associated with alveolar bone resorption in individuals with adjacent second molars. In addition, the detrimental effects of non-impacted third molars in the population with periodontitis may be exacerbated. From a periodontal perspective, this serves as supportive evidence for the proactive removal of non-impacted third molars.

Ecological and archaeological consequences of ongoing, largely human-mediated colonisation of endemic soft, shelly habitats by mangroves in a northern New Zealand embayment

ABSTRACT Areal extent of native mangroves, Avicennia marina, has doubled in Bay of Islands since 1951. This expansion is widely attributed to deforestation and poor land-use practices beginning in the late 1800s to early 1900s, and led to greatly transformed intertidal and supratidal habitats. One example has been the ecological isolation and crowding (sometimes, colonisation) by mangroves of shelly beaches, together with their associated ‘chenier-like’ spits – themselves now among the rarest of New Zealand’s inshore marine habitats, with only six still relatively intact ecologically out of at least 44 in the Bay of Islands. These shores were also where pre Contact Māori often gathered to harvest intertidal cockles Austrovenus stutchburyi and to fish, archaeological signatures typically becoming obscured once mangroves colonised upper shores. Although recent seaward intrusion by mangroves into the cockle habitat of the Parekura Bay study site appears to have been proportionately small, there may be potential for more as elevated levels of sedimentation persist. With wholesale mangrove removals demonstrably ineffective in re-establishing original communities, the ongoing ecological and archaeological disruption of endemic soft, shelly contexts through largely human-mediated mangrove colonisation might be curbed in certain situations through strategic, proactive removal of new mangrove recruits, particularly on expanding edges.

NBA: defensive distillation for backdoor removal via neural behavior alignment

Recently, deep neural networks have been shown to be vulnerable to backdoor attacks. A backdoor is inserted into neural networks via this attack paradigm, thus compromising the integrity of the network. As soon as an attacker presents a trigger during the testing phase, the backdoor in the model is activated, allowing the network to make specific wrong predictions. It is extremely important to defend against backdoor attacks since they are very stealthy and dangerous. In this paper, we propose a novel defense mechanism, Neural Behavioral Alignment (NBA), for backdoor removal. NBA optimizes the distillation process in terms of knowledge form and distillation samples to improve defense performance according to the characteristics of backdoor defense. NBA builds high-level representations of neural behavior within networks in order to facilitate the transfer of knowledge. Additionally, NBA crafts pseudo samples to induce student models exhibit backdoor neural behavior. By aligning the backdoor neural behavior from the student network with the benign neural behavior from the teacher network, NBA enables the proactive removal of backdoors. Extensive experiments show that NBA can effectively defend against six different backdoor attacks and outperform five state-of-the-art defenses.

Clinical experience of use of percutaneous peripheral arterial cannulation in sick neonates in a developing country

BackgroundContinuous invasive arterial monitoring is necessary in sick neonates needing hemodynamic and ventilatory support. The primary objective of our study was to describe clinical experience with percutaneous peripheral arterial cannulation (PAC) in sick neonates.MethodsNeonates needing PAC were prospectively enrolled in the study. Inclusion criteria were: neonates needing respiratory support (invasive or non-invasive), neonates requiring vasoactive medications or neonate likely to need more than 5 sampling pricks in 24 h.ResultsOne hundred eight neonates (93.1%) needed cannulation of one arterial site while 8 (6.9%) needed cannulation of 2 arterial sites, thus giving a total of 124 cannulations. Out of the 124 cannulations, 102 (82%) were performed in first attempt, while 22 (18%) cannulations needed 2 or more attempts. Serious complications like discolouration of digits, blanching of skin or bleeding were seen in 6 (4.9%) cannulations. These resolved after removal of arterial line and no long term consequences were noted. On comparing neonates having radial arterial cannulation(n = 108) with posterior tibial arterial cannulation (n = 16) there was no difference in duration of arterial line between radial artery group (mean, SD 53.30 ± 22.56) and posterior tibial artery group (mean, SD 48.25 ± 27.39). However, more attempts were needed to cannulate post tibial artery (mean, SD 2.25 ± 1.32) as compared to radial artery (mean 1.22 ± 0.789) and this difference was statistically significant (MD -1.02, 95% CI − 1.75 to − 0.30). There was no difference in incidence of serious complications between the radial artery group (3.7%, n = 4) as compared to posterior tibial group (5.5%, n = 1, OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.06–5.51, p = 0.63).ConclusionsPeripheral arterial cannulation is a safe method for hemodynamic monitoring and blood sampling in sick neonates. Complications can be minimized by diligent monitoring and proactive removal of line if there is damping of tracing.

Polluting shipwrecks in Swedish waters: investigations, risk assessment methodology and oil removal operations

ABSTRACT Large amounts of oil exists in old shipwrecks worldwide, both as cargo and bunker. This oil will eventually enter the marine environment as the ship hulls deteriorate or as other types of activities affect the wrecks. Oil being a complex mixture of hazardous substances will when released into the marine environment be a source of both lethal and sub-lethal effects to organisms. Costs of an oil spill in the marine environment, including clean-up actions, socioeconomic and environmental costs is often substantial. Sweden has a ten year nationally funded program where oil removal operations on shipwrecks are performed. From a list of 300 potentially polluting shipwrecks, 31 wrecks have initially been selected for oil removal operations. In a first stage extensive gathering of information was performed regarding each wreck, both archive data and in-situ data at the wreck site. Secondly, a risk analysis was carried out. Based on the probability of oil leakage, amount of oil in the wreck and sensitivity of recipients, a prioritization for oil removal operations was made of the 31 wrecks. Based on the prioritization, time of the year and cost of an operation wrecks are finally selected for oil removal operation. So far, since 2017, five operations have been performed. During 2019 and 2020, two successful oil removal operations were carried out. The ship Lindesnäs wrecked 1957 in a snow storm close to the lighthouse Norra Kränkan on the Swedish east coast with a cargo of kerosene and diesel as bunker fuel. The operation from mobilization to demobilization lasted for 22 days, and 299 m3 of oil and a large ghost net was removed from the wreck. Secondly, Finnbirch, which wrecked in 2006 east of the island of Öland and started to leak oil during the end of 2018, was salvaged in a two-part operation. In 2019, 60 m3 of diesel fuel and lubricant oil were salvaged, during a fourteen-day operation. In 2020, 114 m3 of heavy fuel oil (HFO) was salvaged from the wreck during a fifteen-day operation. The costs per ton of removed oil were far less than cost for oil clean-up operations in Swedish waters. In conclusion, using a risk-based approach for prioritization of potentially polluting shipwrecks and the subsequent proactive removal of oil from shipwrecks is a cost-effective approach to alleviate the problem.

Supported Decision-Making and Paradigm Shifts: Word Play or Real Change?

Article 12(3) CRPD requires states parties to provide access by persons with disabilities to the support they may require in exercising their legal capacity. This is to ensure that the rights, will and preferences of persons with disabilities are enjoyed on an equal basis with others [Articles 12(1)(2) and (4) CRPD]. Moreover, the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities has made it clear that supported decision-making must replace substitute decision-making arrangements as these are discriminatory and deny equal enjoyment of the right to exercise of legal capacity for persons. At the same time, there is ongoing debate as to whether or not the absence of substitute decision-making regimes is essential for the non-discriminatory realization of an individual's rights, will and preferences to be achieved. To resolve this debate, however, specific attention needs to be paid to the CRPD message on what it actually means to give effect to the equal and non-discriminatory enjoyment of rights for all. In the context of persons with mental disabilities this requires looking beyond human rights simply in terms of limiting unwarranted interventions to the proactive removal of obstacles to full rights enjoyment and the creation of environments that respect and support such enjoyment. With this in mind this paper will therefore critically consider the use of supported decision-making within existing substitute decision-making regimes with particular reference to Scotland's mental health and capacity laws. It will consider the challenges this poses and whether it is indeed possible to adapt existing regimes to achieve CRPD compliance. In doing so, it is suggested that a full appreciation of the overarching CRPD message about equality and non-discrimination in the enjoyment of rights is required to bring about such compliance.

The effect of a multidisciplinary care bundle on the incidence of delirium after hip fracture surgery: a quality improvement study.

Delirium is a common complication following hip fracture surgery. We introduced a peri-operative care bundle that standardised management in the emergency department, operating theatre and ward. This incorporated: use of fascia iliaca blocks; rationalisation of analgesia; avoidance of drugs known to trigger delirium; a regular education program for staff; and continuous auditing of compliance. The study was conducted between June 2017 and December 2018. We recruited 150 patients before (control group) and 150 patients after (care bundle group) the introduction of the care bundle. In patients having surgery for a hip fracture, there was a lower incidence of delirium on the third postoperative day in the care bundle group compared with the control group (33 patients (22%) vs. 49 patients (33%)), respectively; p=0.04). Patients in the care bundle group had an adjusted OR of 2.2 (95%CI 1.1-4.4) (p=0.03) for the avoidance of delirium on the third postoperative day. There was no difference between groups for the secondary outcome measures (measured at 30days postoperatively) including: all-cause mortality; composite morbidity; institutionalisation; and walking status. During the study period, compliance with elements of the care bundle improved in the emergency department (49 patients (33%) compared with 85 patients (59%); p<0.001) and anaesthetic department (40 patients (27%) compared with 104 patients (69%); p<0.001), while orthogeriatrics maintained a high level of compliance (140 patients (93%) compared with 143 patients (95%); p=0.45). There was a clinically and statistically significant reduction in the incidence of delirium following hip fracture surgery in patients treated with a multidisciplinary care bundle.

Early identification of bottlenecks in very large scale system of systems software development

System of systems are of high complexity, and for each system, many different requirements are implemented in parallel. Systems are developed with some degree of managerial independence but later on have to work together. In this situation, many requirements are written, implemented, and tested in parallel for different systems that are to be integrated. This makes identifying bottlenecks challenging, and visualizations often used on project level (such as Kanban boards or burndown charts) have to be extended/complemented to cope with the increased complexity. In response to these challenges, the contributions of this study are to propose the following: (i) a visualization for early identification and proactive removal of bottlenecks; (ii) a visualization to check on the success of bottleneck resolution; and (iii) to provide an industry evaluation of the visualizations in a case study of a system of systems developed at Ericsson AB in Sweden. The feedback by the practitioners showed that the visualizations were perceived as useful in improving throughput and lead time. The quantitative analysis showed that the visualizations were able in identifying bottlenecks and showing improvements or the lack thereof. On the basis of the qualitative and quantitative data collected, we conclude that the visualizations are useful in bottleneck identification and resolution. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A database and model to support proactive management of sediment-related sewer blockages

Due to increasing customer and political pressures, and more stringent environmental regulations, sediment and other blockage issues are now a high priority when assessing sewer system operational performance. Blockages caused by sediment deposits reduce sewer system reliability and demand remedial action at considerable operational cost. Consequently, procedures are required for identifying which parts of the sewer system are in most need of proactive removal of sediments. This paper presents an exceptionally long (7.5 years) and spatially detailed (9658 grid squares – 0.03 km2 each – covering a population of nearly 7.5 million) data set obtained from a customer complaints database in Bogotá (Colombia). The sediment-related blockage data are modelled using homogeneous and non-homogeneous Poisson process models. In most of the analysed areas the inter-arrival time between blockages can be represented by the homogeneous process, but there are a considerable number of areas (up to 34%) for which there is strong evidence of non-stationarity. In most of these cases, the mean blockage rate increases over time, signifying a continual deterioration of the system despite repairs, this being particularly marked for pipe and gully pot related blockages. The physical properties of the system (mean pipe slope, diameter and pipe length) have a clear but weak influence on observed blockage rates. The Bogotá case study illustrates the potential value of customer complaints databases and formal analysis frameworks for proactive sewerage maintenance scheduling in large cities.

A long-term observational study of the impact of badger removal on herd restrictions due to bovine TB in the Irish midlands during 1989–2004

An observational study was carried out, using data collected from four areas in the Irish midlands, between 1989 and 2004, to critically evaluate the long-term effects of proactive badger culling and to provide insights into reactive badger culling tuberculosis (TB) prevalence in cattle. Confirmed cattle herd TB incidence is the outcome measure used throughout. Relative to reactive culling, proactive badger culling was associated with a decrease in incidence in each of the 16 years of observation, which encompassed periods of both intensive and less-intensive badger removal. By 2004, we observed a decrease of 22% [95% confidence interval (CI) 15-29, P<0.001] in the entire proactive and 37% (95% CI 25-47, P<0.001), in the inner proactive removal areas. The size of the decrease increased with time (P=0.055). There was a decrease (constant over time) of at least 14% (95% CI 76-97, P=0.013) in incidence in the inner compared to the outer control area (herds < or = 2 km, >2 km, from proactive removal area boundaries, respectively). Incidence in the outer proactive removal area (herds < 1.6 km from the proactive removal boundary) was similar to the inner control area (P=0.890). Incidence in the outer control area and total control area, compared to a neighbouring area some distance away, increased over the course of the study. Differences with the total control area were not statistically significant but the outer control area was 11% higher than the neighbouring area by 2004 (borderline significance P=0.057).

Landscape Regeneration by Seeds and Successional Pathways to Restore Fragile Tropandean Slopelands

Although land abandonment in the equatorial Andes is a process that complicates the mosaic of land uses in Tropandean landscapes, in some cases land abandonment further contributes to the process of degradation. This includes not only soil but also the species composition and community structure of montane forest patches and, where succession fails, recalcitrant pasture grasses. In order to examine failed succession, studies were undertaken on the lack of seed input, the ability of seed dispersers, the efficacy of avian roosting from perches, the removal of seeds, germination from seeded scats, seedlings among the tussock grasses, and the recruitment of saplings of montane forest trees. It is suggested that regeneration by seeding may be possible only if proactive removal techniques of the aerial tillers of grass species and their extensive root mass is eliminated. However, pasture conversion to forest using Psidium guajaba as pioneer tree to enhance dispersal outwards from the forest edge, coupled with seasonally-driven seed rain episodes, is a posteriori. Land-use and land-clearing patterns dictate the outcome of the regenerating phenosystem. This means that policies and practices of montane forest clearing must include treefall 'survivors' to enhance frugivory, to provide shade and regeneration of interspersed patches, and to stimulate dispersal for rapid initiation of ecological succession. RESUME Rigindration du paysage par ensemencement et voies de succession pour la restauration des sols pentusfragiles des Andes tropicales. Bien que l'abandon des terres dans les Andes equatoriales constitue un processus compliquant la mosaique d'exploitation des terres dans les Andes tropicales, il contribue dans certains cas au processus de degradation. Ce processus n'affecte pas seulement le sol, mais

The Proactive Removal of Discriminatory Barriers: Affirmative Action as Effective Help

A review of the empirical literature shows that affirmative action has been moderately successful in increasing the representation of women and minorities in many organizations. However, the affirmative action recipient often must bear the stigma of “preferentially selected” —a stigma that can raise self‐doubts about one's ability and status. To account for these effects, we proposed a social psychological model of affirmative action as help (Turner &amp; Pratkanis, 1994c). According to this model, help that does not conform to societal values and implies the recipient lacks certain abilities can be threatening and induce defensive behaviors. On the other hand, help that is directed toward removing discriminatory barriers does not produce these negative effects and can further the goals of an affirmative action program. We conclude by describing twelve principles for making affirmative action more effective.

The Economics of Enforcement of an Antidiscrimination Law: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Previous articleNext article No AccessThe Economics of Enforcement of an Antidiscrimination Law: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964Andrea H. BellerAndrea H. Beller Search for more articles by this author PDFPDF PLUS Add to favoritesDownload CitationTrack CitationsPermissionsReprints Share onFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail SectionsMoreDetailsFiguresReferencesCited by The Journal of Law and Economics Volume 21, Number 2Oct., 1978 Sponsored by The University of Chicago Booth School of Business and The University of Chicago Law School Article DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1086/466925 Views: 15Total views on this site Citations: 16Citations are reported from Crossref Copyright 1978 The University of Chicago Law SchoolPDF download Crossref reports the following articles citing this article:Nishith Prakash The impact of employment quotas on the economic lives of disadvantaged minorities in India, Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization 180 (Dec 2020): 494–509.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jebo.2020.10.017Joni Hersch, Jennifer Bennett Shinall FIFTY YEARS LATER: THE LEGACY OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964, Journal of Policy Analysis and Management 34, no.22 (Feb 2015): 424–456.https://doi.org/10.1002/pam.21824Joni Hersch, Jennifer Bennett Shinall Fifty Years Later: The Legacy of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, SSRN Electronic Journal (Jan 2014).https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2523481Justin McCrary The Effect of Court-Ordered Hiring Quotas on the Composition and Quality of Police, American Economic Review 97, no.11 (Feb 2007): 318–353.https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.97.1.318William J Collins Race, Roosevelt, and Wartime Production: Fair Employment in World War II Labor Markets, American Economic Review 91, no.11 (Mar 2001): 272–286.https://doi.org/10.1257/aer.91.1.272Kenneth Y. Chay The Impact of Federal Civil Rights Policy on Black Economic Progress: Evidence from the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972, ILR Review 51, no.44 (Jul 1998): 608–632.https://doi.org/10.1177/001979399805100404Anthony R. Pratkanis, Marlene E. Turner The Proactive Removal of Discriminatory Barriers: Affirmative Action as Effective Help, Journal of Social Issues 52, no.44 (Jan 1996): 111–132.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4560.1996.tb01853.xMarlene Turner, Anthony Pratkanis Affirmative Action as Help: A Review of Recipient Reactions to Preferential Selection and Affirmative Action, Basic and Applied Social Psychology 15, no.11 (Apr 1994): 43–69.https://doi.org/10.1207/s15324834basp1501&amp;2_3Jonathan S Leonard The Impact of Affirmative Action Regulation and Equal Employment Law on Black Employment, Journal of Economic Perspectives 4, no.44 (Nov 1990): 47–63.https://doi.org/10.1257/jep.4.4.47William R. Beer Sociology and the effects of affirmative action: A case of neglect, The American Sociologist 19, no.33 (Sep 1988): 218–231.https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02691981S. Dex, P. J. Sloane DETECTING AND REMOVING DISCRIMINATION UNDER EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES POLICIES, Journal of Economic Surveys 2, no.11 (Mar 1988): 1–27.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6419.1988.tb00034.xMwangi S. Kimenyi, William F. Shughart, Robert D. Tollison Affirmative action and unemployment, European Journal of Political Economy 4, no.44 (Jan 1988): 479–490.https://doi.org/10.1016/0176-2680(88)90012-2Clifford B Hawley, Tom S. Witt DISCRIMINATION AND THE EFFICIENCY OF AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AGENCY*, Policy Studies Journal 15, no.11 (Sep 1986): 17–27.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1541-0072.1986.tb00441.xCharles A. Register Racial Employment and Earnings Differentials: The Impact of the Reagan Administration, The Review of Black Political Economy 15, no.11 (Jul 2018): 59–69.https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02903859Lonnie K. Stevans, Charles Register, Paul Grimes Civil Rights Legislation and Racial Employment Differentials, The Review of Black Political Economy 13, no.33 (Jul 2018): 49–59.https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02899913Louis Ferleger A CRITIQUE OF CONVENTIONAL EXPLANATION OF LABOR MARKET, CONDITIONS FOR EMPLOYED BLACKS*, Policy Studies Journal 10, no.33 (Sep 2005): 539–555.https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1541-0072.1982.tb00702.x