Expert Opinion Survey Research Articles

Trichodynia and telogen effluvium in COVID-19 patients: Results of an international expert opinion survey on diagnosis and management

BackgroundThe cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19 may be useful disease markers and prognostic indicators. Recently, postinfectious telogen effluvium and trichodynia have also been reported.ObjectiveTo evaluate the presence of trichodynia and telogen effluvium in patients with COVID-19 and describe their characteristics in relation to the other signs and symptoms of the disease.MethodsPatients with a history of COVID-19 presenting to the clinics of a group of hair experts because of telogen effluvium and/or scalp symptoms were questioned about their hair signs and symptoms in relation to the severity of COVID-19 and associated symptoms.ResultsData from 128 patients were collected. Telogen effluvium was observed in 66.3% of the patients and trichodynia in 58.4%. Trichodynia was associated with telogen effluvium in 42.4% of the cases and anosmia and ageusia in 66.1% and 44.1% of the cases, respectively. In majority (62.5%) of the patients, the hair signs and symptoms started within the first month after COVID-19 diagnosis, and in 47.8% of the patients, these started after 12 weeks or more.LimitationsThe recruitment of patients in specialized hair clinics, lack of a control group, and lack of recording of patient comorbidities.ConclusionThe severity of postviral telogen effluvium observed in patients with a history of COVID-19 infection may be influenced by COVID-19 severity. We identified early-onset (<4 weeks) and late-onset (>12 weeks) telogen effluvium.

Evaluating Supply Chain Collaboration Barriers in Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises

The disruption has a significant impact on supply chain collaboration (SCC) which is an important task to improve performance for many enterprises. This is especially critical for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We developed a decision-modeling framework for analyzing SCC barriers in SMEs for the emerging economy in Bangladesh. Through literature review and expert opinion survey, we have identified a comprehensive list of SCC barriers under four main categories, namely, information-related, communication-related, intra-organizational, and inter-organizational barriers. Then we applied the Grey DEMATEL and Fuzzy Best-Worst methods to evaluate these SCC barriers and compared the results. We also conducted a sensitivity analysis to assess the robustness of the proposed approach. The study reveals that lack of communication is the most crucial barrier in SCC, providing a model for assessing barriers in other emerging economies. This study contributes to the literature by analyzing SCC barriers and by comparing the results obtained from two different MCDM methods. The findings of this study can help decision-makers to plan for overcoming the most prioritized SCC barriers which ultimately contribute to improving the resilience and sustainability performances of SMEs.

스테레오와 공간음향 음악 비교 분석

Recently, as Virtual Reality and Metaverse have become popular, music has also emerged with spatial sound, a new form of music tailored to the flow of the times. The purpose of this work is to identify the industrial activation potential of music using spatial sound technology, and to organize the theoretical background for the implementation of spatial sound. As a result, for comparative analysis of stereo music and music produced by spatial sound, frequency band image analysis, listening evaluation, and industry expert opinion survey were conducted. As a result, first, there was a clear difference in production progress between music produced by spatial sound and stereo music, as well as significant differences in frequency bands and stereo images. Secondly, the public felt that spatial sound music was unfamiliar, but they impressed about the realistic and lively spatial sound. Third, experts said that standardization of production pipelines and the distribution of devices are a priority for music content applied with spatial sound to be spread in the market. Music content using spatial sound still has clear limits to be solved, but it is a field with sufficient possibilities.

Sport-Related Structural Brain Injury and Return to Play: Systematic Review and Expert Insight.

Sport-related structural brain injury (SRSBI) is intracranial pathology incurred during sport. Management mirrors that of non-sport-related brain injury. An empirical vacuum exists regarding return to play (RTP) following SRSBI. To provide key insight for operative management and RTP following SRSBI using a (1) focused systematic review and (2) survey of expert opinions. A systematic literature review of SRSBI from 2012 to present in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and a cross-sectional survey of RTP in SRSBI by 31 international neurosurgeons was conducted. Of 27 included articles out of 241 systematically reviewed, 9 (33.0%) case reports provided RTP information for 12 athletes. To assess expert opinion, 31 of 32 neurosurgeons (96.9%) provided survey responses. For acute, asymptomatic SRSBI, 12 (38.7%) would not operate. Of the 19 (61.3%) who would operate, midline shift (63.2%) and hemorrhage size>10mm(52.6%) were the most common indications. Following SRSBI with resolved hemorrhage, with or without burr holes, the majority of experts (>75%) allowed RTP to high-contact/collision sports at 6 to 12 mo. Approximately 80% of experts did not endorse RTP to high-contact/collision sports for athletes with persistent hemorrhage. Following craniotomy for SRSBI, 40% to 50% of experts considered RTP at 6 to 12 mo. Linear regression revealed that experts allowed earlier RTP at higher levels of play (β = -0.58, 95% CI -0.111, -0.005, P=.033). RTP decisions following structural brain injury in athletes are markedly heterogeneous. While individualized RTP decisions are critical, aggregated expert opinions from 31 international sports neurosurgeons provide key insight. Level of play was found to be an important consideration in RTP determinations.

The Key Parts of Hip Arthroscopy for Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome: Implications for the Learning Curve

Background:Hip arthroscopy is a rapidly growing surgical approach to treat femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) syndrome with a significant learning curve pertaining to complication risk, reoperation rate, and total hip arthroplasty conversion. Hip arthroscopy is more frequently being taught in residency and fellowship training. The key, or critical, parts of the technique have not yet been defined.Purpose:To identify the key components required to perform arthroscopic treatment of FAI syndrome.Study Design:Consensus statement.Methods:A 3-question survey comprising questions on hip arthroscopy for FAI was sent to a convenience sample of 101 high-volume arthroscopic hip surgeons in the United States. Surgeon career length (years) and maintenance volume (cases per year) were queried. Hip arthroscopy was divided into 10 steps using a Delphi technique to achieve a convergence of expert opinion. A step was considered “key” if it could (1) avoid complications, (2) reduce risk of revision arthroscopy, (3) reduce risk of total hip arthroplasty conversion, or (4) optimize patient-reported outcomes. Based on previous literature, steps with >90% of participants were defined as key. Descriptive and correlation statistics were calculated.Results:A total of 64 surgeons (63% response rate) reported 5.6 ± 2.1 steps as key (median, 6; range, 1-9). Most surgeons (56.3%) had been performing hip arthroscopy for >5 years. Most surgeons (71.9%) had performed >100 hip arthroscopy procedures per year. Labral treatment (97% agreement) and cam correction (91% agreement) were the 2 key steps of hip arthroscopy for FAI. Pincer/subspine correction (86% agreement), dynamic examination before capsular closure (63% agreement), and capsular management/closure (63% agreement) were selected by a majority of respondents but did not meet the study definition of key. There was no significant correlation between surgeon experience and designation of certain steps as key.Conclusion:Based on a Delphi technique and expert opinion survey of high-volume surgeons, labral treatment and cam correction are the 2 key parts of hip arthroscopy for FAI syndrome.

Optimal management of older people with frailty non-weight bearing after lower limb fracture: a scoping review.

BackgroundPatients with lower limb fractures who are non-weight bearing are at risk of the complications of the associated immobility and disability, particularly people with frailty, but there is lack of clarity about what constitutes optimal care for such patients. A scoping literature review was conducted to explore what evidence is available for the management of this patient group.MethodsMEDLINE (PubMed) CINAHL, EMBASE and the Cochrane databases of published literature and the HMIC and SIGLE sites for grey literature were searched for primary research studies and expert reports, using an iterative approach initially including the key term ‘non-weight bearing’. All study types were included. Analysis was by narrative synthesis.ResultsNo papers were identified from a search using the key phrase ‘non-weight bearing’. With this term removed, 11 indirectly relevant articles on lower limb fractures were retrieved from the searches of the electronic databases comprising three observational studies, five non-systematic review articles, a systematic review, an opinion piece and a survey of expert opinion that had relevance to restricted weight bearing patients. The observational studies indicated depression, cognition and nutrition affect outcome and hence have indirect relevance to management. The non-systematic reviews articles emphasised the importance of maintaining strength and range of movement during immobilisation and advised an orthogeriatric model of care. Fourteen UK and 97 non-UK guidelines relevant to fragility fractures, falls and osteoporosis management were found in the grey literature, but none made specific recommendations regarding the management of any period of non-weight bearing.DiscussionThese findings provide a summary of the evidence base that can be used in the development of a clinical guideline for these patients but is not sufficient. We propose that, a guideline should be developed for these patients using an expert consensus process.

Evaluation of urban transport-environment sustainable indicators during Odd–Even scheme in India

Identification of the most relevant parameters of a sustainable transportation system is regarded as a significant choice that influences the success of policy-related intervention to improve efficiency. A hybrid-based approach has been used to analyze the data in multiple steps to improve accuracy and objectivity. In the first step, evidence on social, economic, and environmental indicators was formed for each opinion and then combined. The second step proposed a mathematical framework to treat indecision on the indicators collected from multiple sources, viz. expert and public opinion survey, models, and actual measurement during pre- and post-implementation stages of the Odd–Even scheme. By setting up, a reliability function and consistency index are used to evaluate and rank the Odd–Even transportation scheme introduced by the Government of Delhi. A case study in South Delhi's surrounding areas has been examined to demonstrate the proposed hybrid approach and evaluate the parameters in terms of the index. The result shows that the indicators like trip cost, trip time, safety and security, user’s satisfaction, congestion level, parking demand, and fuel consumption affected positively by 1766.6, 22.9, 283.3, 19.1, 187.5, 200, and 17.2 percent, respectively, after the implementation of the scheme. The overall increase in the index was found as 28.2%, which favors the “Odd–Even” scheme as a sustainable transportation measure in Delhi.

Using market mechanism to stimulate sustainable use of the non-renewable environmental resource (groundwater) in Barind Tract of Bangladesh

Agriculture, the main economic driver of Barind Tract, is highly dependent on groundwater for surface water paucity in the area. Notwithstanding, farmers use water capriciously due to its low price that makes a substantial drop in the water table. In this context, the research attempts to determine a market-based water pricing mechanism to encourage an optimal use of the scarce non-renewable resource. Required data was collected by questionnaire survey, Focus Group Discussion (FGD), Contingent Valuation Method, expert-opinion survey and subsequent literature works. The results reveal that depletion level has arrived at 20, 11, 7.5 feet in high, mid and low tract respectively over the last 22 years, which results in a number of economic-environmental externalities in the area. The research monetarily evaluated the cost of externalities and incorporated it with the marginal cost of extraction to increase efficiency of an existing pricing system. Regarding human reaction to price elasticity, the new price can be a reliable attempt to reduce an overconsumption pattern of water. Quantity of consumed water can be reduced to 14190.4 m3, 17759.59 m3 and 38510.6 m3 in a year in high, mid and low tract area respectively with its implementation. The research will serve as an initiative to conserve the valuable groundwater resource for future generations by managing consumer practice.

Suggestions for Improving South Korea’s Fall Accidents Prevention Technology in the Construction Industry: Focused on Analyzing Laws and Programs of the United States

Since the enactment of the Occupational Safety and Health Act in 1981, the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency has endeavored to prevent fall accidents in the construction industry. However, many fatalities still occur in the South Korean construction industry. Meanwhile, the United States improved various systems and conducted studies to prevent fall accidents, significantly reducing such occurrences in the construction industry. The objective of this study is to present improvements to South Korea’s fall prevention technology by analyzing the laws and programs of the United States. To achieve this, this study has analyzed the United States’ fall prevention technology and derived improvements applicable in South Korea through an expert opinion survey. This study suggests to (1) set the height standard of a fall accident to 2 m, (2) adopt an active fall prevention system, (3) create a map of fallen fatalities, and (4) employ safety experts to support foreign workers. In the future, the results of this study are expected to be used as basic data for policies and programs related to fall accidents in the construction industry.

Development of a Structural Robustness Index against tsunamis for hospitals

ABSTRACT The structural robustness of buildings in a hospital contributes significantly to its overall robustness. This study describes the development of a structural robustness assessment tool with a focus on natural hazards using a Rapid Visual Screening method. First, robustness attributes were identified, along with well-defined assessment criteria. Then the relative importance of each attribute was obtained through expert opinion surveys using a pairwise comparison method following the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). This led to the defining of a Structural Robustness Index (SRI), using the well-established Papathoma Tsunami Vulnerability Assessment (PTVA) method as a guide, but deviating significantly from it when necessary. The tool was applied in a case study for assessing the tsunami robustness of buildings in six hospitals. Results showed that SRI is a better index of robustness compared to the PTVA, both because it yields a greater index range across the buildings assessed, and also because it signals as robust, structural forms that are well known to be so. The construction material and number of storeys were found to be the most significant building attributes responsible for variations in the SRI, while shielding from surrounding buildings and protection from natural barriers the most significant surroundings attributes.

Using Interviews to Evaluate Location-Based Games: Lessons and Challenges

Games User Research (GUR) is an interdisciplinary field of study that aims to measure, analyze, and understand the interaction and experience of players with digital games. Joining efforts to the advances in GUR, this work focuses on the evaluation of player interaction with Location-Based Games (LBGs), seeking to understand which aspects of this interaction can be explored through interviews and how researchers and practitioners have been using this method. We analyzed 23 studies that applied interviews to this end and conducted an expert opinion survey with the authors of these studies. As a result, we presented lessons and research challenges for the use of interviews in this type of evaluation, in hopes to encourage the conscious and systematic application of this method, in addition to guiding practitioners and researchers, especially beginners.

Integrating Exploitative and Explorative Thinking in Business Process Analysis: A Conceptual Model and Method

Ambidextrous BPM has gained increasing interest from researchers and practitioners in the last years. It refers to the ability to use exploitative and explorative capabilities in BPM projects. In this paper, we investigate how the integration of exploitative and explorative ideas can leverage the analysis of business processes. The key contributions of this paper are a conceptual model and a method that integrate ambidextrous thinking in a complementary way. Both artefacts were evaluated by means of an expert opinion survey. We also present a case study at an organisation that has implemented our proposed method. We believe that ambidextrous analysis of business processes enables organisations tackling current operational bottlenecks while simultaneously exploring external opportunities for designing innovation in business processes.

Genitourinary Medical Oncology Expert Opinion Survey Regarding Treatment Management in the COVID-19 Pandemic.

BackgroundThe worldwide Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health pandemic has restructured clinical care of patients with cancer throughout the world. The specific changes in the management of genitourinary (GU) cancers in different cancer centers owing to COVID-19 are not known, and some clinical scenarios remain controversial. We conducted an opinion survey to determine what changes in cancer treatment strategies are occurring owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.Materials and MethodsA 20-item online survey was sent on May 25, 2020 to 170 expert GU medical oncologists from Europe and North America. The survey solicited responses to changes in GU cancer management in the setting of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data was collected and managed via a secure REDCap Database.ResultsSurveys were completed by 78 (45.8%) of 170 GU oncologists between May 25, 2020 and June 25, 2020. Clinical practice changes owing to COVID-19 in at least one scenario were reported by 79.1% of responders, most pronounced in prostate cancer (71.8%) and least pronounced in urothelial cancer (23%). Preferences for change in management varied by country, with 78% (37/47) of United States oncologists indicating a change in their practice, 57% (4/7) of Canadian oncologists, and 79% (19/24) of European oncologists.ConclusionsThis study suggests international practice changes are occurring in GU cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic. The variability in practice changes between countries may reflect differences in COVID-19 case load during the time point of data collection. These results, based on expert opinion during this rapidly changing crisis, may inform the oncologic community regarding the effects of COVID-19 on GU cancer care.

International comparisons of school-level geoscience education– the UNESCO/IGEO expert opinion survey

ABSTRACT An international survey of geoscience education has been carried out jointly by UNESCO and the International Geoscience Education Organisation (IGEO) to address the question of ‘How does school-level Earth science education compare across the globe? The survey gathered data from experts in 51 countries, comprising more than half the global population. Most countries (75%) had national standards covering Earth science but these were not followed or are absent in more than half the countries surveyed. Only around 25% of the countries with standardised assessments have Earth science-specific questions. Most teachers of Earth science are non-specialist teachers, whilst support of these teachers through courses and professional development is generally low, with very little financial support provided. Earth science teaching materials are reported to be generally of moderate to poor quality. However, there is good support globally for informal Earth science education and there are enthusiastic groups of educators attempting to address the rather bleak formal education situation. Strategies being used include the publication of an international syllabus with free-to-download supporting textbooks, websites of high-quality interactive teaching materials, national champions promoting interactive geoscience education, and global support for these initiatives.

Augmented Intelligence: Surveys of Literature and Expert Opinion to Understand Relations Between Human Intelligence and Artificial Intelligence

Augmented intelligence (AuI) integrates human intelligence (HI) and artificial intelligence (AI) to harness their strengths and mitigate their weaknesses. The combination of HI and AI has seen to improve both human and machine capabilities, and achieve a better performance compared to separate HI and AI approaches. In this paper, we present a survey of literature to understand how AuI has been applied in the literature, including the roles of HI and AI, AI approaches, features, and applications. Due to the limited literature related to this topic, we also present a survey of expert opinion to answer four main questions to understand the experts’ implications of AuI, including: a) the definition of AuI and the significance of HI in AuI; b) the roles of HI in AuI; c) the current and future applications of AuI in research, industry, and public, as well as the advantages and shortcomings of AuI; and d) end users’ view of the application of AuI. We also present recommendations to improve AuI, and provide a comparison between the findings from the surveys of both literature and expert opinion. The discussion of this paper shows the promising potential of AuI compared to separate HI and AI approaches.

Development of 3-Dementional Conceptual Model of Teaching Practicum in Korea

The aim of this study is to develop a conceptual model of teaching practicum for systematic understanding of the phenomenon of the teaching practicum and the efficiency of its operation. In this study, the core elements of a teaching practicum were derived through literature analysis. First, the 'phase' of teaching practicum, second, the 'type' of teaching practicum, and third, the 'support system' for teaching practicum . The researchers developed a 3D teaching practicum concept model using these three elements as the three axes of the model. The conceptual model-of-teaching practicum developed in this way was validated by an opinion survey undertaken by two groups of experts. The expert opinion survey was conducted with a group of 20 university professors and 13 professional teachers. As a result of analyzing the survey data, the CVR value was analyzed to be 0.42 or higher in the 1st expert group (professor group) and the CVR value above 0.62 in the 2nd expert group (13 professional teachers). As a result, the conceptual model of teaching practicum developed in this study was verified and the dimensions, sub-elements, and definitions of each were valid. The conceptual model-of-teaching practicum created through a theoretical approach can be used as basicdata for systematic understanding and efficient operation of the phenomenon of the teaching practicum.

A standardized definition of near-fatal child maltreatment: Results of a multidisciplinary Delphi process

BackgroundThe 2016 Presidential Commission to Eliminate Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities identified systematic review of all cases of near-fatal child maltreatment as a necessary step towards prevention of child maltreatment fatalities. A critical barrier to adoption of this recommendation is the lack of a standard definition of “near-fatality” in the context of suspected child maltreatment. ObjectiveTo develop a consensus definition of near-fatal child maltreatment to be used in practice, policy, and research. Participants and SettingA multidisciplinary expert panel of 23 individuals from across the U.S. including child abuse pediatricians, pediatric intensivists, pediatric emergency medicine physicians, child welfare administrators, child welfare researchers, and child injury/fatality researchers. MethodsA modified Delphi process reflecting an iterative process of 3 rounds of surveys of expert opinion, statistical summary of survey response, and feedback of summary statistics. Consensus was defined as 75 % of panelists ranking an element as required (≥80 on a scale of 0–100) to meet a definition of near-fatality (75th% threshold). ResultsExperts defined near-fatal child maltreatment as life-threatening cardiopulmonary dysfunction directly attributable to suspected abuse or neglect as evidenced by (a) respiratory insufficiency/failure requiring intubation and mechanical ventilation, (b) respiratory insufficiency/failure requiring medications to reverse effects of toxic ingestion, or (c) cardiac arrhythmia with/without cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). ConclusionsA consensus definition of near-fatal child maltreatment should be introduced in child protective services processes and in child fatality/near-fatality reviews to improve our ability to identify, review, and respond to trends in near-fatal child maltreatment at local, regional, and national levels.

Clinical utility of a personalized and long-term monitoring device for Parkinson's disease in a real clinical practice setting: An expert opinion survey on STAT-ON™

BackgroundSTAT-ON™ is an objective tool that registers ON-OFF fluctuations making possible to know the state of the patient at every moment of the day in normal life. Our aim was to analyze the opinion of different Parkinson's disease experts about the STAT-ON™ tool after using the device in a real clinical practice setting (RCPS). MethodsSTAT-ON™ was provided by the Company Sense4Care to Spanish neurologists for using it in a RCPS. Each neurologist had the device for at least three months and could use it in PD patients at his/her own discretion. In February 2020, a survey with 30 questions was sent to all participants. ResultsTwo thirds of neurologists (53.8% females; mean age 44.9±9 years old) worked in a Movement Disorders Unit, the average experience in PD was 16±6.9 years, and 40.7% of them had previously used other devices. A total of 119 evaluations were performed in 114 patients (range 2–9 by neurologist; mean 4.5±2.3). STAT-ON™ was considered “quite” to “very useful” by 74% of the neurologists with an overall opinion of 6.9±1.7 (0, worst; 10, best). STAT-ON™ was considered better than diaries by 70.3% of neurologists and a useful tool for the identification of patients with advanced PD by 81.5%. Proper identification of freezing of gait episodes and falls were frequent limitations reported. ConclusionSTAT-ON™ could be a useful device for using in PD patients in clinical practice.

Benefits and gaps in area-based management tools for the ocean Sustainable Development Goal

Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 provides a vision for the world’s oceans; however, the management interventions that are needed to achieve SDG 14 remain less clear. We assessed the potential contributions of seven key area-based management tools (such as fisheries closures) to SDG 14 targets. We conducted a rapid systematic review of 177 studies and an expert opinion survey to identify evidence of the ecological, social and economic outcomes from each type of tool. We used these data to assess the level of confidence in the outcomes delivered by each tool and qualitatively scored how each tool contributes to each target. We demonstrate that a combination of tools with diverse objectives and management approaches will be necessary to achieve all of the SDG 14 targets. We highlight that some tools, including fully and partially protected areas and locally managed marine areas, may make stronger contributions to SDG 14 compared with other tools. We identified gaps in the suitability of these tools to some targets, particularly targets related to pollution and acidification, as well as evidence gaps for social and economic outcomes. Our findings provide operational guidance to support progress toward SDG 14.

The Impact of Flood Risk on the Activity of the Residential Land Market in a Polish Cultural Heritage Town

The article attempts to determine the effect of perceived flood risk, based on identified flood hazard zones, on the level of activity in the market of land property designated for housing developments in the historical town of Sandomierz, Poland. The study employed graphical, analytical, quantitative methods, and spatial analyses with GIS tools. The proposed methodology, involving spatial interpolation of the phenomenon (Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) and Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW)) and an expert opinion survey, facilitates the assessment of the market activity in towns where transactions are scarce. Trade in property is lower in areas at risk of flooding than for the remaining parts of the town. The potential flood hazard zone affects both the activity of the property market and the average prices of land. The study demonstrated that both a flood and flood risk affect the levels of market activity and the prices of residential land. However, this impact differs at various times and locations and is greater immediately after a flood. Properties located in the most attractive location within an area are characterised by a greater sensitivity to this risk.