Similarities In Use Research Articles

Cardiovascular disease healthcare trajectories: descriptions, similarities, mortality rates of heart failure in France.

The primary objectives of this study were to analyse the nationwide healthcare trajectories of heart failure (HF) patients in France, 2years after their first hospitalization, and to measure sequence similarities. Secondary objectives were to identify the association between trajectories and the risk of mortality. A retrospective, observational study was conducted using data extracted from the Echantillon Généraliste des Bénéficiaires database, covering the period from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2018. Follow-up concluded upon death or at the end of the study. We developed a methodology specific to healthcare data by extracting frequent healthcare trajectories and measuring their similarity for use in a survival machine learning analysis. In total, 11488 HF patients were included and followed up for an average of 2.9±1.3years. The mean age of the patients was 78.0±13.2years. The first-year mortality rate was 31.7% and increased to 78.8% at 5years. Fifty per cent of patients experienced re-hospitalization for reasons related to cardiovascular diseases. We identified 1707 hospitalization sequences, and 21 sequences were associated with survival, while 15 sequences were linked to mortality. In all our models, age and gender emerged as the most significant predictors of mortality (permutation feature importance: 0.099±0.00078 and 0.0087±0.00018, respectively; weights could be interpreted in relative terms). Specifically, the age at initial hospitalization for HF was positively associated with mortality. Gender (male: 49.5%) was associated with poorer prognoses. Healthcare trajectories, including non-surgical device treatments, valve replacements, and atrial fibrillation ablation, were associated with a better prognosis (permutation feature importance: 0.0047±0.00011, 0.0014±0.000073, and 0.00095±0.000097, respectively), except in cases where these invasive treatments preceded or followed hospitalization for cardiac decompensation. The predominant negative prognosis sequences were mostly those that included HF-related hospitalizations before or after other-related hospitalizations (permutation feature importance: 0.0007±0.000091 and 0.00011±0.000045, respectively). We highlight the value of healthcare trajectories on frequent hospitalization sequences, mortality, and prognosis and indicate the necessary prognostic value of HF re-hospitalization. Our work may be an essential tool for better identification of at-risk patients in order to increase and improve personalized care in the future.

Translating and Analyzing Hedging in Tikriti Dialect from Arabic into English

Hedging is a linguistic phenomenon used in spoken engagement to communicate interpersonal messages. It is a communicative strategy that allows speakers to soften or regulate the assertiveness of their words. It stems from various characteristics such as uncertainty, doubt, tentativeness. ambiguity, neutrality, mitigation, and subjectivity. Hedging is routinely used in most talks to make statements acceptable to listeners.
 The current study aims at comparing and analyzing the frequency, types, and purposes of hedges in Tikrit dialect. The study tries to solve the main problem is that there is no research that links the use of hedges with the dialect as a social characteristic. This study is an attempt to fill that gap.
 The accurate study tries to hypothesize that hedging devices in Tikrit dialect are difficult to be translated into English. And the translators keep the grammatical structure of the hedging devices in the SLTS when translating them into their equivalent TLTs. And hedging devices in Tikrit dialect have the same functions in English.
 The data selected for the study consists of twenty-three samples taken randomly from 200 typed Tikrit dialect conversations which contain hedging devices. These conversations are of different contexts. Some of them are family conversations, others are street conversations and some others are café conversations. They all share the common feature of being informal.
 The method of translation (whether covert or overt) used by the translators is going to be figured out. At last, a table for each device is given to summarize the analysis and a proposed translation is offered. Then findings are drawn statistically.
 The study also draws some key conclusions, the most important of which are that both Arabic and English use hedging devices to show the meaning of hedging devices, and interpreters struggle to render Arabic hedging devices into English. The fundamental cause of these devices' poor representation is their similarity in use. Because they have no experience with this form of translation, the translators do not look for viable counterparts for these devices. As a result, they attempt to avoid utilizing hedging devices whenever possible. and as a result, interpreters are generally weak at applying hedging devices.

Centralization can jeopardize local wild plant-based food security

Centralization is one mechanism of authoritative control, where citizens receive operation guidelines from a single source. This can impact various spheres of life including local gastronomic knowledge, a cornerstone of biocultural diversity. We explored how to evaluate the effects of Soviet centralization on wild food plant local gastronomic knowledge. We considered four case studies of ethnic communities that are divided by political borders. In total, we conducted 581 semi-structured interviews. Our results suggest three main findings. The first regards the high similarity of use of wild food plants among the communities living in Russia and Finland. The second involves the higher proportion of simple preparations made with wild food plants in Soviet contexts, which is not evident in adjacent non-Soviet countries. The third concerns the low(er) number of distinct wild plant-based foods retained by non-Soviet countries and, in post-Soviet contexts, those that refer to past uses. We argue that the erosion of wild food plant-based local gastronomic knowledge guided by homogenization and repression poses a serious risk to local food security.

Quantifying spatial similarity for use as constraints in map generalisation

ABSTRACT Quantitatively expressing spatial similarity is a prerequisite of using it as constraints in map generalization; nevertheless, it has not yet been well solved. To fill the gap, this study firstly proposes the methods for calculating spatial similarity degree between an individual object (or an object group) at a larger scale and its generalized counterpart at a smaller scale, and forms formulae for calculating spatial similarity degree using change of map scale and vice versa. Based on the quantification methods of spatial similarity, potential use of spatial similarity as constraints in map generalization are given.

TELEMEDICINE USE IN HEALTH FACILITY DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC: LITERATURE REVIEW

Background: The policy of imposing restrictions on community activities during the Covid-19 pandemic is a challenge to the accessibility of health services. Therefore, we need the best solution for safe access to health services. Aims: This study aims to analyze telemedicine use in health facilities during the Covid-19 pandemic by looking at comparisons and similarities in use and reviewing the inhibiting and supporting factors for the success of telemedicine. Methods: The research method is a literature review that was obtained through the Scopus database and published in 2020-2021 in English. Cleaning of articles was carried out with the inclusion and exclusion criteria so that seven articles were reviewed. Results: The lack of multidisciplinary use, healthcare practitioners' inability to connect with patients, under-integrated systems, and lack of technological knowledge and capacity all hinder telemedicine adoption. Positive patient feedback, a well-supported telemedicine service system, and partnerships with specialists all help make telemedicine more effective. Conclusion: During a pandemic, the use of telemedicine in healthcare settings is extremely beneficial for healthcare providers and patients during healthcare consultations, and there are supporting aspects such as WHO recognition and simplicity of operation. However, obstacles remain, such as a lack of specialized knowledge and multidisciplinary technology.

USO DE HÁBITAT POR ZORRO GRIS (Urocyon cinereoargenteus, CARNIVORA: CANIDAE) EN UN ECOSISTEMA TROPICAL ANTROPIZADO

<p><strong>Background. </strong>Gray fox, <em>Urocyon cinereoargenteus</em> is tolerant to habitat disturbance, but the biotic and abiotic factors that determine the selection of space in the subperennial medium forest (SMF) with different degrees of anthropization are not known, which is relevant to explain a fraction of an animal’s niche. <strong>Objective.</strong> We described the use of habitat by the gray fox, in four habitat units in the SMF, with different degrees of anthropization. <strong>Methodology.</strong> We classified four habitat units with vegetation structure criteria: Sugar cane-coffee plantation, Coffee plantation-forest, forest and Coffee plantation, where we evaluated parameters such as number of carnivores and potential prey and plant cover. In addition, we evaluated the altitude, temperature, precipitation and evaporation. Using indirect techniques, we obtained gray fox records in each habitat unit, which we related to biotic and abiotic parameters through a χ<sup>2</sup> test and a partial least squares analysis; we applied a dendrogram to estimate the similarity of use of the habitats; and a response surface-based model to describe habitat use. <strong>Results.</strong> We associated fourteen independent records of gray fox and six of them with the Coffee plantation-SMF habitat, where it was correlated with temperature. <strong>Implications.</strong> Shrub coverage, the number of competitors and evaporation in SMF and Coffee plantation-SMF are factors correlated with a low number of gray fox records. <strong>Conclusion.</strong> In this ecosystem anthropized by the production of coffee and sugarcane, the gray fox may be using open habitats for hunting and closed habitats to seek refuge while it is not active.</p>

Techniques and tools of lean production: multiple case studies in brazilian agribusiness units

Abstract The literature regarding Lean Production philosophy is vast depicting historical aspects, implementation challenges, benefits of its adoption and other topics applied to various industries and services. However, the agribusiness segment, one of the major segments of the global economy features a large gap in national and international literature. This article aims to conduct a research through multiple case studies concerning the use of techniques and tools of Lean Production System in agribusiness organizations. Multiple type case studies were conducted in eight agribusiness units from different segments through the application of structured interviews, on site visits and document analysis. The research carried has identified that Lean Production techniques and tools are applicable to agribusiness environments, and that the ones which involve improvements in process control, production flow and logistics have higher emphasis on research units. Techniques and tools such as long-term supplier and customer relationship, production smoothing/heijunka and value stream mapping distinguished themselves by the similarity of use when compared to previous studies in agribusiness environment. It was also identified that there are differences concerning the adoption of the techniques and tools in research units that operate in production environments of the type Make to Order or Make to Stock. Such differences are imposed by specificities that affect agribusiness organizations, which is indicative for future studies.

Plants used in traditional medicine in the Comoros archipelago. A review

Introduction. In the Comoros archipelago, as in many places in Africa, traditional medicine is the first reflex people have when it comes to finding a cure. This work illustrates the diversity of remedies found in this group of islands. The plant species potentially effective from a pharmaceutical point of view can be targeted through the comparison of different databases. The present study also illustrates the importance of preventing the loss of traditional knowledge based on hundreds of years of observations. Literature. The information in this paper originates from databases built by ethnobotanists as well as peer reviewed scientific articles. In addition, some information also come from work done by locals working with recognized organisms. Conclusions. The scientific literature cites 207 different species that are used for traditional practices in the Comoros archipelago, among which 9 are endemic. These species were compared to the pharmacopoeias of other islands and surroundings from the Indian Ocean in terms of similarities and differences between targeted ailments. Only 3% of the cited species present similarities in use among the islands of the Indian Ocean and surroundings.

Who is ‘the user’ of climate services? Unpacking the use of national climate scenarios in Switzerland beyond sectors, numeracy and the research–practice binary

By whom are national climate scenarios taken up, and which products are used? Despite numerous (national) climate scenarios being published by countries across the globe, studies of their actual uptake and application remain low. Analysing a survey and group interviews on the ways the Swiss climate scenarios CH2011 have been actually used by the Swiss adaptation community, we encoded the emerging differences in a new typology of observers, sailors, and divers. Taking an iceberg as a metaphor for climate scenarios, most respondents were sailors, accessing only key findings above the waterline (i.e., summary brochures). However, the vast majority of climate scenario data remains below the surface (i.e., downscaled climate model data), accessible only to the quarter of respondents labelled divers. Lastly, another quarter are observers, interested in the iceberg from afar, but without applying the climate information directly to their work. By describing three ways of using climate scenarios, we aim to clarify the often vague notion of ‘user’ circulating prominently in discussions around climate services and knowledge co-production. In addition, our results question the adequacy of simplifying climate scenario use by a user’s easily observable characteristics – such as being a researcher or practitioner, by sector or by numeracy. Our typology thus highlights the diversity of use(r)s within sectors or academia, but is also able to characterise various similarities of use(r)s between sectors, researchers and practitioners. Our findings assist in more nuanced and informed discussions of how ‘users’ are imagined and characterised in future developments of usable climate services.

Age differences in cue utilization during prospective and retrospective memory monitoring.

Memory monitoring is an inferential process that we use to evaluate and make judgments about the contents of our memory. Prior work has shown age-related similarity in prospective monitoring of ongoing memory processes, but age-related deficits when retrospectively monitoring the source of memories. In the current study, we examined how extrinsic and intrinsic cues influence age differences in these 2 forms of memory monitoring. Two experiments were conducted in which young and older adults made prospective judgments of learning (JOLs) to monitor ongoing memory processes as well as retrospective source judgments during retrieval. The emotional valence of words (positive, negative, and neutral) served as an intrinsic cue across experiments. Extrinsic importance cues were manipulated via item-based directed forgetting cues (to-be-remembered versus to-be-forgotten cues) in Experiment 1 and value-based cues (+10 versus -10 cues) in Experiment 2. Results provide novel evidence for age-related similarity in use of extrinsic and intrinsic cues during prospective memory monitoring via JOLs. By contrast, during retrospective source monitoring, older but not young adults showed a bias to attribute positive items to extrinsic cues with higher importance, even when those attributions were inaccurate. These findings suggest that the age-related tendency to favor positive information may lead to systematic errors in retrospective monitoring, which has implications for the credibility of older adults' source judgments when monitoring memory for emotional events. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).

Usage Comparison Between English-Language and French-Language Online Databases in a Bilingual Canadian University

This article reports the results of a quantitative study comparing usage rates between English-language and French-language online databases at the J.N. Desmarais Library of Laurentian University, Canada. Because of discussions surrounding cost and use of French-language electronic resources it became important to determine if French-language subscriptions and purchases are being used to the same level as their English-language counterparts. Although, on the surface, each database collection shared similarities in use, the usage rates do differ between English-language and French-language online database collections, with French-language databases demonstrating consistently lower linear relationships between the size of the collection and its use. However, a cost-per-use analysis revealed next to no difference between the two, with the English-language database collection having a cost-per-search of $0.35 and the French-language collection one of $0.31.

Evaluation of Methods for Sentence Similarity for Use in Intelligent Tutoring System

Evaluation of Methods for Sentence Similarity for Use in Intelligent Tutoring System

European policies on livestock carcasses management did not modify the foraging behavior of a threatened vulture

Policy decisions have the potential to affect biodiversity conservation and modify, among other factors, animal demography, behavior and ecological processes. This became manifest in Europe in the past decade in light of the appearance of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). However, the obvious effects of policy decisions on foraging behavior are lacking. Here, we use data from a long-term study (1992–2015) of the ecology of the bearded vulture Gypaetus barbatus in the Pyrenees to assess whether or not the implementation of health policies in the period 2006–2011 really did affect this vulture's foraging behavior and breeding success. To test this, we used the frequency of nest changeovers (between 1992 and 2015) as a surrogate for the time invested in searching for and obtaining food. Additionally, between 2006 and 2015 we monitored the movements of 20 bearded vultures with GPS satellite transmitters. Our findings show no differences between annual home range sizes and/or the time used to search for food either before, during or after the imposition of health regulations. No differences between periods (during or after health regulations) were found in the use of supplementary feeding sites (SFS). An analysis of food available indicates that this similarity of use in different periods could be explained by the high habitat quality in the Pyrenees and the good availability of trophic resources. Our results suggest that diet plasticity and habitat quality compensate for the sudden effects of food shortages and so question the true usefulness of SFS in buffering a quantitative food deficit. We discuss the implications of these results from both ecological and conservation perspectives.

<i>Garcinia lucida</i> Vesque (Clusiaceae): from traditional uses to pharmacopeic monograph for an emerging local plant-based drug development

Objectives: This paper seeks to assess information on the identity, traditional uses, safety and efficacy of Garcinia lucida Vesque (Essok in Boulou and Ewondo local language), in order to highlight it potential as species to be registered in medicinal plant list and formularies needed for the development of monographs leading to local production of phytomedicines. Methodology and Results: Ethnobotanical survey was carried in the Bipindi-Akom II region (South Cameroon) with the help of interviews based on standardised questionnaires addressed to key-informants. Bark and seeds were the major parts used, highly appreciated due to its properties in preventing consumers from poison, diarrhoea and headaches. The most important therapeutic indications were additive to palm wine, antidote to poisoning, gastritis and snake bite. Other uses in treating included gynaecological pains and infections, sexual diseases and cancers. The bark was also believed by local people to act on the stability of chemical antibiotic drugs in pharmacy, while leaves were used as insect repellent against mosquitoes and cockroaches. Conclusions and application of findings: As an additive in palm wine processing, poisoning antidote, aphrodisiac and medicines, bark and seeds are widely used in the Bipindi-Lolodorf-Akom II area, in the Centre and South regions of Cameroon, in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, in Central Africa and West Africa. This similarity of use across many regions is considered as important biological activity marker tools guiding plant parts or species selection in drug discovery and development using ethnopharmacological approach. Through the ethnobotanical and biological tests, assessed, accurate information is provided to substantiate safety and efficacy of G. lucida and to satisfy the requirements of official compendia such as pharmacopoeia. Further studies are needed to understand the effects of bark and seeds as additive to palm wine, as well as the interaction between bark and chemical antibiotic drugs. Keywords: Garcinia lucida , traditional uses, medicinal plant list, monograph, pharmacopoeia, phytomedicine production

To use or not to use? Compulsive behavior and its role in smartphone addiction

Global smartphone penetration has led to unprecedented addictive behaviors. To develop a smartphone use/non-use pattern by mobile application (App) in order to identify problematic smartphone use, a total of 79 college students were monitored by the App for 1 month. The App-generated parameters included the daily use/non-use frequency, the total duration and the daily median of the duration per epoch. We introduced two other parameters, the root mean square of the successive differences (RMSSD) and the Similarity Index, in order to explore the similarity in use and non-use between participants. The non-use frequency, non-use duration and non-use-median parameters were able to significantly predict problematic smartphone use. A lower value for the RMSSD and Similarity Index, which represent a higher use/non-use similarity, were also associated with the problematic smartphone use. The use/non-use similarity is able to predict problematic smartphone use and reach beyond just determining whether a person shows excessive use.

The discourse connector list: a multi-genre cross-cultural corpus analysis

AbstractThis study examines the linguistic feature known as discourse connector using a corpus-informed approach. The study applies a taxonomy which classifies and describes 632 discourse connectors in eight broad classes with 17 categories. The frequency of use of each discourse connector listed was analyzed in the three different registers of spoken, non-academic and academic English in the two different cultural contexts of British and American English. The resulting data on discourse connector frequency were compiled in a database and processed with various statistical formulae to highlight multi-register and cross-cultural differences and similarities of use of each discourse connector. An interpretation of the use of this database, which is free to download and use, is included in the study as well as a discussion of the results and the potential for use as a research and pedagogical tool.

The Pain of Complexity

In the scholarly community, the concept of complexity is typically associated with science. However, the consumer view on complexity is different. To understand the conceptual structure of complexity, the author analyzed self-declared interests harvested from complexity-related blogs in LiveJournal. The author arranged the interests into a semantic network, based on their similarity of use. The network has a modular structure and consists of four clusters linked with four aspects of complexity: Science, Philosophy, Art and Soul. Apparently laypersons perceive complexity not only as a scientific phenomenon but also as an intricacy associated with creativity, search for wisdom, and a potentially painful soul search.

The function and role of bifaces in the Late Middle Paleolithic of southwestern France: Examples from the Charente and Dordogne to the Basque Country

Abstract While Late Middle Palaeolithic industries are characterized by a well-documented diversity of stone tool types and blank production methods, the latter of which can at times be exclusively represented in certain assemblages, the bifacial tool component sometimes portrays clear similarities in use and manufacture method. Beyond sharing both comparable volumetric structures and arrangement of active and or prehensile areas, the recurrence in several assemblages of specific groups of bifacial tools used mostly for butchery is particularly striking. Here, we address several techno-economic and cognitive aspects of biface production and use combined with a consideration of their context. Is the same degree of variability in function and manufacture method equally visible in the retouched tool component? What scales of mobility or technical use-lives do these different bifacial tools portray? Do certain highly elaborate flake tools also reflect equally complex behaviors? How to interpret the presence of carefully manufactured pieces in non-local raw materials alongside others made in local varieties that are hardly reduced but nevertheless equally functional? Finally, which components may have carried a symbolic value or shed light on technical abilities or functional objectives evident in the conception, elaboration, use, and ultimate fate of these bifacial pieces. Several recently analyzed assemblages with a relatively significant bifacial component from the Charente, Dordogne and the Pyrenees-Atlantiques departements show certain similarities or important differences. In characterizing the coexistence of flake production and bifacial-shaping, we attempt to reveal to what extent and in which ways certain bifacial tools stand out. When combined with technological and cognitive considerations, this approach provides new insights on an important behavioral facet of Neanderthal groups who occupied the Aquitaine Basin after the Last Interglacial.

Methodological and economic evaluations of seven survey modes applied to health service research

Objective: To evaluate methodological outcomes and cost-effectiveness of seven survey modes, using a study of general public views towards pharmacy public health services. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in North West England among people aged =?18 years, using two approaches. Three interviewer-assisted modes were street, door-to-door and telephone. Four self-completion modes were single-and double-mailing to residential addresses, surveys sent to public/private business by post (postal-business), and questionnaires dropped-off at venues (drop-off). The study compared response rates, demographics and two domains ((a) actual use of and (b) willingness to use pharmacy public health services) between modes. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of different modes were assessed against the single-mailing. Key findings: Response rate varied between 5.1% (postal-business) and 34.5% (street). Respondent age, education, employment, socioeconomic and deprivation status varied between different modes. Results for domain (a) were similar for all modes. Interviewer-assisted modes resulted in more positive views on willingness to use advisory services (P < 0.05). The drop-off mode saved ?45.92 (US$72.55) per 1% increase in response rate compared to single mailing, while interviewer-assisted and double-mailing were more costly. At higher response rates, cost-savings by the drop-off mode diminished, but for other survey modes, additional costs decreased. Conclusion: Drop-off mode is cost-effective compared to the standard single mailing, but selection bias is possible. Street surveys are also an efficient method, but may carry a higher risk of social desirability bias. Mixed-modes surveys may reach wider sectors of the population. The similarity in use of services suggests all survey modes reach members of the public relevant to pharmacy researchers.

Hand hygiene compliance in the critical care setting: A comparative study of 2 different alcohol handrub formulations

Hand hygiene (HH) compliance can be affected by the accessibility of products (alcohol-based products or chlorhexidine) and by the formulations of these products. There are few published studies comparing different alcohol-based hand disinfection formulations. This study was conducted in a 41-bed medical-surgical intensive care unit at a private tertiary care hospital. Over a 16-week period, we assessed HH compliance by direct observation of practice using iPods and measurement of the amount of product used [alcohol and chlorhexidine] in two 4-room pods in which an alcohol gel product was used compared with two other 4-room pods in which an alcohol-based foam formulation was used. A total of 3,895 opportunities for HH were observed, and the overall rate of HH compliance was 36.9%. No statistically significant differences were found in overall HH compliance or alcohol-based HH compliance between the alcohol foam unit and the alcohol gel unit. However, there was a statistically significant difference in chlorhexidine HH compliance between the alcohol foam unit and the alcohol gel unit (7.0% [130 of 1,853] vs 3.8% [77 of 2,042]; P < .01). Alcohol handrub use was greater than chlorhexidine use, but HH compliance was low in both units independent of the alcohol formulation available. The similarity of use of both alcohol formulations suggests that health care workers tend to use whatever product is readily available.