Lessons from the Wreck of the Exxon Valdez: The Need for Imagination, Empathy, and Courage

1998 ◽  
Vol 8 (S1) ◽  
pp. 109-122
Author(s):  
Larue T. Hosmer
Keyword(s):  
Human Error ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
High Impact ◽  
Organizational Systems ◽  
Legal Analysis ◽  
Industrial Accidents ◽  
Alternative Approaches ◽  
Low Probability ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Managerial Responsibility

Abstract:Investigations of large scale industrial accidents generally take one of two alternative approaches to identifying the cause or causes of those destructive events. The first is legal analysis, which focuses on the mechanical failure or human error that immediately preceded the accident. The second is socio-technical reasoning, which centers on the complexities of the interlocking technological and organizational systems that brought about the accident. Both are retrospective, and provide little insight into the means of avoiding industrial accidents in the future. This article looks at six levels of managerial responsibility within a firm, and suggests specific changes at all levels that should logically help in the prevention or mitigation of these high impact/low probability events. The most basic need, however, is for imagination, empathy, and courage at the most senior level of the firm.

Lessons From The Wreck Of The Exxon Valdez

ruffin_darden ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 109-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larue Tone Hosmer ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Error ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Mechanical Failure ◽  
Organizational Systems ◽  
Legal Analysis ◽  
Industrial Accidents ◽  
Alternative Approaches ◽  
Technical Reasoning ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Managerial Responsibility

Investigations of large scale industrial accidents generally take one of two alternative approaches to identifying the cause or causes of those destructive events. The first is legal analysis, which focuses on the mechanical failure or human error that immediately preceded the accident. The second is socio-technical reasoning, which centers on the complexities of the interlocking technological and organizational systems that brought about the accident. Both are retrospective, and provide little insight into the means of avoiding industrial accidents in the future. This article looks at six levels of managerial responsibility within a firm, and suggests specific changes at all levels that should logically help in the prevention or mitigation of these high impactllow probability events. The most basicneed, however, is for imagination, empathy, and courage at the most senior level of the firm.

scholarly journals Interpretable modeling of genotype-phenotype landscapes with state-of-the-art predictive power

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter D Tonner ◽  
Abe Pressman ◽  
David Ross
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Predictive Power ◽  
Predictive Accuracy ◽  
Feature Space ◽  
Biological Mechanisms ◽  
Biochemical System ◽  
Latent Space ◽  
Alternative Approaches ◽  
Low Dimensional ◽  
Insight Into

Large-scale measurements linking genetic background to biological function have driven a need for models that can incorporate these data for reliable predictions and insight into the underlying biochemical system. Recent modeling efforts, however, prioritize predictive accuracy at the expense of model interpretability. Here, we present LANTERN (https://github.com/usnistgov/lantern), a hierarchical Bayesian model that distills genotype-phenotype landscape(GPL) measurements into a low-dimensional feature-space that represents the fundamental biological mechanisms of the system while also enabling straightforward, explainable predictions. Across a benchmark of large-scale datasets, LANTERN equals or outperforms all alternative approaches, including deep neural networks. LANTERN furthermore extracts useful insights into the landscape including its inherent dimensionality, a latent space of additive mutational effects, and novel metrics of landscape structure. LANTERN facilitates straightforward discovery of fundamental mechanisms in GPLs, while also reliably extrapolating to unexplored regions of genotypic-space.

Tiered Sampling

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 1-52
Author(s):  
Lorenzo De Stefani ◽  
Erisa Terolli ◽  
Eli Upfal
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Analysis Of Algorithms ◽  
Base Layer ◽  
Single Edge ◽  
Real World Data ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Large Graphs ◽  
Massive Graphs ◽  
Variance Estimate ◽  
Low Probability

We introduce Tiered Sampling , a novel technique for estimating the count of sparse motifs in massive graphs whose edges are observed in a stream. Our technique requires only a single pass on the data and uses a memory of fixed size M , which can be magnitudes smaller than the number of edges. Our methods address the challenging task of counting sparse motifs—sub-graph patterns—that have a low probability of appearing in a sample of M edges in the graph, which is the maximum amount of data available to the algorithms in each step. To obtain an unbiased and low variance estimate of the count, we partition the available memory into tiers (layers) of reservoir samples. While the base layer is a standard reservoir sample of edges, other layers are reservoir samples of sub-structures of the desired motif. By storing more frequent sub-structures of the motif, we increase the probability of detecting an occurrence of the sparse motif we are counting, thus decreasing the variance and error of the estimate. While we focus on the designing and analysis of algorithms for counting 4-cliques, we present a method which allows generalizing Tiered Sampling to obtain high-quality estimates for the number of occurrence of any sub-graph of interest, while reducing the analysis effort due to specific properties of the pattern of interest. We present a complete analytical analysis and extensive experimental evaluation of our proposed method using both synthetic and real-world data. Our results demonstrate the advantage of our method in obtaining high-quality approximations for the number of 4 and 5-cliques for large graphs using a very limited amount of memory, significantly outperforming the single edge sample approach for counting sparse motifs in large scale graphs.

scholarly journals A simple and efficient automated microvolume radiosynthesis of [18F]Florbetaben

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ksenia Lisova ◽  
Jia Wang ◽  
Philip H. Chao ◽  
R. Michael van Dam
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Solid Phase ◽  
Acetonitrile Solution ◽  
Synthesis Methods ◽  
Pet Tracers ◽  
Molar Activity ◽  
Alternative Approaches ◽  
High Yields ◽  
Sufficient Concentration

Abstract Background Current automated radiosynthesizers are generally optimized for producing large batches of PET tracers. Preclinical imaging studies, however, often require only a small portion of a regular batch, which cannot be economically produced on a conventional synthesizer. Alternative approaches are desired to produce small to moderate batches to reduce cost and the amount of reagents and radioisotope needed to produce PET tracers with high molar activity. In this work we describe the first reported microvolume method for production of [18F]Florbetaben for use in imaging of Alzheimer’s disease. Procedures The microscale synthesis of [18F]Florbetaben was adapted from conventional-scale synthesis methods. Aqueous [18F]fluoride was azeotropically dried with K2CO3/K222 (275/383 nmol) complex prior to radiofluorination of the Boc-protected precursor (80 nmol) in 10 μL DMSO at 130 °C for 5 min. The resulting intermediate was deprotected with HCl at 90 °C for 3 min and recovered from the chip in aqueous acetonitrile solution. The crude product was purified via analytical scale HPLC and the collected fraction reformulated via solid-phase extraction using a miniature C18 cartridge. Results Starting with 270 ± 100 MBq (n = 3) of [18F]Fluoride, the method affords formulated product with 49 ± 3% (decay-corrected) yield,> 98% radiochemical purity and a molar activity of 338 ± 55 GBq/μmol. The miniature C18 cartridge enables efficient elution with only 150 μL of ethanol which is diluted to a final volume of 1.0 mL, thus providing a sufficient concentration for in vivo imaging. The whole procedure can be completed in 55 min. Conclusions This work describes an efficient and reliable procedure to produce [18F]Florbetaben in quantities sufficient for large-scale preclinical applications. This method provides very high yields and molar activities compared to reported literature methods. This method can be applied to higher starting activities with special consideration given to automation and radiolysis prevention.

scholarly journals Geo-Spatial Analysis of Population Density and Annual Income to Identify Large-Scale Socio-Demographic Disparities

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 432
Author(s):  
Nicolai Moos ◽  
Carsten Juergens ◽  
Andreas P. Redecker
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Spatial Relationship ◽  
Postal Code ◽  
Annual Income ◽  
Choropleth Maps ◽  
Clustering Approach ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
Insight Into

This paper describes a methodological approach that is able to analyse socio-demographic and -economic data in large-scale spatial detail. Based on the two variables, population density and annual income, one investigates the spatial relationship of these variables to identify locations of imbalance or disparities assisted by bivariate choropleth maps. The aim is to gain a deeper insight into spatial components of socioeconomic nexuses, such as the relationships between the two variables, especially for high-resolution spatial units. The used methodology is able to assist political decision-making, target group advertising in the field of geo-marketing and for the site searches of new shop locations, as well as further socioeconomic research and urban planning. The developed methodology was tested in a national case study in Germany and is easily transferrable to other countries with comparable datasets. The analysis was carried out utilising data about population density and average annual income linked to spatially referenced polygons of postal codes. These were disaggregated initially via a readapted three-class dasymetric mapping approach and allocated to large-scale city block polygons. Univariate and bivariate choropleth maps generated from the resulting datasets were then used to identify and compare spatial economic disparities for a study area in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany. Subsequently, based on these variables, a multivariate clustering approach was conducted for a demonstration area in Dortmund. In the result, it was obvious that the spatially disaggregated data allow more detailed insight into spatial patterns of socioeconomic attributes than the coarser data related to postal code polygons.

scholarly journals Algorithmic Pricing and Price Gouging. Consequences of High-Impact, Low Probability Events

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 2542
Author(s):  
Juan Manuel Sánchez-Cartas ◽  
Alberto Tejero ◽  
Gonzalo León
Keyword(s):  
Algorithm Design ◽  
High Impact ◽  
Design Features ◽  
Market Conditions ◽  
External Market ◽  
Contestable Markets ◽  
Terror Attacks ◽  
Low Probability ◽  
Price Gouging ◽  
Impact Events

Algorithmic pricing may lead to more efficient and contestable markets, but high-impact, low-probability events such as terror attacks or heavy storms may lead to price gouging, which may trigger injunctions or get sellers banned from platforms such as Amazon or eBay. This work addresses how such events may impact prices when set by an algorithm and how different markets may be affected. We analyze how to mitigate these high-impact events by paying attention to external (market conditions) and internal (algorithm design) features surrounding the algorithms. We find that both forces may help in partially mitigating price gouging, but it remains unknown which forces or features may lead to complete mitigation.

scholarly journals Induced sterility in fish and its potential and challenges for aquaculture and germ cell transplantation technology: a review

Biologia ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 71 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amin Golpour ◽  
Mohammad Abdul Momin Siddique ◽  
Diógenes Henrique Siqueira-Silva ◽  
Martin Pšenička
Keyword(s):  
Germ Cell ◽  
Cell Transplantation ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Hormonal Treatment ◽  
Important Species ◽  
Genetic Ablation ◽  
Germ Cell Transplantation ◽  
Commercially Important ◽  
Alternative Approaches ◽  
Hormone Signalling

AbstractInterest in reproductively sterile fish in aquaculture has prompted research into their production. Several methods are available for inducing sterility and optimizing its application in the global fishery industry. Sterilization can potentially be accomplished through irradiation, surgery, or chemical and hormonal treatment. Alternative approaches include triploidization, hybridization, and generation of new lines via advanced biotechnological techniques. Triploids of many commercially important species have been studied extensively and have been produced on a large scale for many years. Novel approaches, including disruption of gonadotropin releasing hormone signalling and genetic ablation of germ cells, have been developed that are effective in producing infertile fish but have the disadvantage of not being 100% reliable or are impractical for large-scale aquaculture. We review currently used technologies and recent advances in induction of sterility in fish, especially those intended for use in germ cell transplantation. Knowledge of the implications of these approaches remains incomplete, imposing considerable limitations.

scholarly journals Metachronal waves in magnetic micro-robotic paddles for artificial cilia

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew T. Bryan ◽  
Elizabeth L. Martin ◽  
Aleksandra Pac ◽  
Andrew D. Gilbert ◽  
Feodor Y. Ogrin
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Point Of Care ◽  
Hydrodynamic Response ◽  
Flow Speeds ◽  
Break Time ◽  
Large Scale Manufacture ◽  
Fresh Insight ◽  
Metachronal Waves ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Phase Differences

AbstractBiological cilia generate fluid movement within viscosity-dominated environments using beating motions that break time-reversal symmetry. This creates a metachronal wave, which enhances flow efficiency. Artificially mimicking this behaviour could improve microfluidic point-of-care devices, since viscosity-dominated fluid dynamics impede fluid flow and mixing of reagents, limiting potential for multiplexing diagnostic tests. However, current biomimicry schemes require either variation in the hydrodynamic response across a cilia array or a complex magnetic anisotropy configuration to synchronise the actuation sequence with the driving field. Here, we show that simple modifications to the structural design introduce phase differences between individual actuators, leading to the spontaneous formation of metachronal waves. This generates flow speeds of up to 16 μm/s as far as 675 μm above the actuator plane. By introducing metachronal waves through lithographic structuring, large scale manufacture becomes feasible. Additionally, by demonstrating that metachronal waves emerge from non-uniformity in internal structural mechanics, we offer fresh insight into the mechanics of cilia coordination.

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