scholarly journals Cynical Hostility and Loneliness in Older Adult Married Couples: An Indirect Effect Through Friendships

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dikla Segel-Karpas ◽  
Ashley Ermer
Keyword(s):  
Older Adult ◽  
Indirect Effect ◽  
Married Couples ◽  
Cognitive Schema ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Significance Levels ◽  
Cynical Hostility ◽  
Path Models ◽  
Retirement Study

Abstract Objectives Cynical hostility is a cognitive schema according to which people cannot be trusted, and it has associations with individuals’ loneliness. The present study takes a dyadic approach to examine whether cynical hostility is related to one’s own and their spouse’s loneliness. We further explore whether friendship factors serve as a mediator between individuals’ and spouses’ cynical hostility and loneliness. Method We used 2 waves of the Health and Retirement Study (N = 1,065 couples) and Actor-Partner Interdependence Models (APIMs) with mediation to examine the proposed model. Mediation was tested with the construction of path models and significance levels were reached using bootstrapping. Results For both husbands and wives, cynical hostility was significantly associated with loneliness. Husband’s loneliness was also significantly associated with his wife’s cynical hostility, but wife’s loneliness was not associated with her husband’s cynical hostility. We further found that the association between wife’s own cynical hostility and loneliness was mediated by lower levels of contact with, and support from friends. Friendship factors did not serve as mediators for husbands. Discussion Husbands and wives who have higher levels of cynical hostility may be more vulnerable to loneliness. High levels of cynical hostility in women may be related to deficits in their quantity and quality of friendship, and thus be associated with loneliness. Men who are married to women with a higher level of cynical hostility may experience increased loneliness, but this relationship is not explained by men’s friendships.

Model and Method for Contributor’s Quality Assessment in Community Image Tagging Systems

2018 ◽  
pp. 45-51
Author(s):  
A. V. Ponomarev
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Preference Relation ◽  
Pairwise Comparison ◽  
Ground Truth ◽  
Comparison Method ◽  
Characteristic Matrix ◽  
Image Tagging ◽  
Proposed Model

Introduction: Large-scale human-computer systems involving people of various skills and motivation into the information processing process are currently used in a wide spectrum of applications. An acute problem in such systems is assessing the expected quality of each contributor; for example, in order to penalize incompetent or inaccurate ones and to promote diligent ones.Purpose: To develop a method of assessing the expected contributor’s quality in community tagging systems. This method should only use generally unreliable and incomplete information provided by contributors (with ground truth tags unknown).Results:A mathematical model is proposed for community image tagging (including the model of a contributor), along with a method of assessing the expected contributor’s quality. The method is based on comparing tag sets provided by different contributors for the same images, being a modification of pairwise comparison method with preference relation replaced by a special domination characteristic. Expected contributors’ quality is evaluated as a positive eigenvector of a pairwise domination characteristic matrix. Community tagging simulation has confirmed that the proposed method allows you to adequately estimate the expected quality of community tagging system contributors (provided that the contributors' behavior fits the proposed model).Practical relevance: The obtained results can be used in the development of systems based on coordinated efforts of community (primarily, community tagging systems). 

scholarly journals Nodule Detection with Convolutional Neural Network Using Apache Spark and GPU Frameworks

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 2838
Author(s):  
Nikitha Johnsirani Venkatesan ◽  
Dong Ryeol Shin ◽  
Choon Sung Nam
Keyword(s):  
Neural Network ◽  
Radiation Dose ◽  
Convolutional Neural Network ◽  
Model Performance ◽  
Performance Comparison ◽  
Apache Spark ◽  
Training Time ◽  
Learning Framework ◽  
Proposed Model

In the pharmaceutical field, early detection of lung nodules is indispensable for increasing patient survival. We can enhance the quality of the medical images by intensifying the radiation dose. High radiation dose provokes cancer, which forces experts to use limited radiation. Using abrupt radiation generates noise in CT scans. We propose an optimal Convolutional Neural Network model in which Gaussian noise is removed for better classification and increased training accuracy. Experimental demonstration on the LUNA16 dataset of size 160 GB shows that our proposed method exhibit superior results. Classification accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, Precision, Recall, F1 measurement, and area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the model performance are taken as evaluation metrics. We conducted a performance comparison of our proposed model on numerous platforms, like Apache Spark, GPU, and CPU, to depreciate the training time without compromising the accuracy percentage. Our results show that Apache Spark, integrated with a deep learning framework, is suitable for parallel training computation with high accuracy.

Enhancing Wellbeing for Older Adults With Serious Mental Illnesses: Co-Producing a Positive Psychology Course With Certified Older Adult Peer Specialists

2021 ◽  
pp. 104973232199204
Author(s):  
Lydia P. Ogden
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Positive Psychology ◽  
Older Adult ◽  
Mental Illnesses ◽  
Subjective Experiences ◽  
Individual Interviews ◽  
Peer Specialists ◽  
Psychology Course ◽  
Serious Mental Illnesses

Compared to peers in the general population, persons aging with serious mental illnesses (SMIs) face physical health disparities, increased isolation, and decreased subjective experiences of quality of life and wellbeing. To date, limited intervention research focuses on addressing specific needs of persons aging with SMIs and no interventions targeted for that population are informed by the theory and science of positive psychology. With the aim of co-producing a positive-psychology-based program to enhance wellbeing for older adults with SMIs, the author held a series of focus groups and individual interviews with six certified older adult peer specialists. Analysis of the data developed in-depth insights into helpful processes, values, and priorities of individuals aging with SMIs, as well as the creation of a wellbeing-enhancing course curriculum.

scholarly journals Key Determinants of Airline Loyalty Modeling in Thailand

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 4165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dissakoon Chonsalasin ◽  
Sajjakaj Jomnonkwao ◽  
Vatanavongs Ratanavaraha
Keyword(s):  
Airline Industry ◽  
Structural Equation ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Perceived Quality ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Structural Factors ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
Airline Passengers ◽  
Domestic Airline

The airline industry in Thailand has grown enormously over the past decade. Competition among airline companies to reach market share and profit has been intense, requiring strong strategic abilities. To increase the service quality of such companies, identifying factors related to the context of airlines is important for policymakers. Thus, this study aims to present empirical data on structural factors related to the loyalty of domestic airline passengers. Structural equation modeling was used to confirm the proposed model. The questionnaire was used to survey and collect data from 1600 airline passengers. The results indicate that satisfaction, trust, perceived quality, relationship, and image of airlines positively influenced loyalty with a statistical significance of α = 0.05. Moreover, the study found that expectation and perceived quality indirectly influenced loyalty. The findings provide a reference for airline operators to clearly understand the factors that motivate passenger loyalty, which can be used to develop the sustainability of marketing strategies and support competitiveness.

A Hybrid Inpainting Model Combining Diffusion and Enhanced Exemplar Methods

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Sreelakshmy I. J. ◽  
Binsu C. Kovoor
Keyword(s):  
Patch Size ◽  
Image Inpainting ◽  
Qualitative Evaluation ◽  
Natural Images ◽  
External Information ◽  
Image Editing ◽  
Model Combining ◽  
Proposed Model ◽  
The World

Image inpainting is a technique in the world of image editing where missing portions of the image are estimated and filled with the help of available or external information. In the proposed model, a novel hybrid inpainting algorithm is implemented, which adds the benefits of a diffusion-based inpainting method to an enhanced exemplar algorithm. The structure part of the image is dealt with a diffusion-based method, followed by applying an adaptive patch size–based exemplar inpainting. Due to its hybrid nature, the proposed model exceeds the quality of output obtained by applying conventional methods individually. A new term, coefficient of smoothness, is introduced in the model, which is used in the computation of adaptive patch size for the enhanced exemplar method. An automatic mask generation module relieves the user from the burden of creating additional mask input. Quantitative and qualitative evaluation is performed on images from various datasets. The results provide a testimonial to the fact that the proposed model is faster in the case of smooth images. Moreover, the proposed model provides good quality results while inpainting natural images with both texture and structure regions.

scholarly journals Dementia Caregiving, Care Recipient Health, and Financial Burdens

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 56-56
Author(s):  
Rashmita Basu
Keyword(s):  
Physical Health ◽  
Healthcare Costs ◽  
Financial Burden ◽  
Care Recipient ◽  
Positive Feeling ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Financial Burdens ◽  
Health Deterioration ◽  
Retirement Study

Abstract Objective: While about 75% of people with ADRD receive care informally by their family members, relatively little is known about the effect of the quality of caregiving on maintaining carerecipient’s health and financial burden of out-of-pocket (OOP) healthcare costs. The goal of this study is to examine the quality of caregiving on the out-of-pocket healthcare costs among ADRD patients and if caregiving prevents deterioration of physical health of carerecipients. Data and Sample: We used a nationally representative sample of people diagnosed with ADRD from the Aging Demographic and Memory Study, subsample of the Health and Retirement Study. The study sample includes carerecipients whose caregivers participated in the survey (N=261). Outcome measures: Primary outcomes were deterioration of carerecipients’ health (1=yes, 0=no) and annual OOP healthcare costs. The quality of caregiving is captured by if caregiving made them feel good, feel useful and fee closer to carerecipients. More than 70% caregivers reported that caregiving make them feel good or useful. About 60% of carerecipients’ physical health was maintained, and average out-of-pocket costs was $3,701/year ($0-$31,051). Multivariable logit for binary health outcome and OLS regression for OOP cost were estimated. Results: The likelihood of health deterioration was significantly lower for carerecipients whose caregivers reported that caregiving made them feel useful (AOR=5.1, 95% CI: 1.9- 14.5) and lower OOP remained significantly associated with presence of usefulness of caregiving (cost decrease, $3000 [95% CI: $6309-$918). Positive feeling of caregiving is independently associated with lower OOP cost and deterioration of physical health among ADRD patients.

scholarly journals Pain and Hardship Among Older Men: Examining the Buffering Effect of Medicare Insurance Coverage

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1439-1449 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gillian L. Marshall ◽  
Tamara A. Baker ◽  
Chiho Song ◽  
David B. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Insurance Coverage ◽  
Interactive Effect ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Older Men ◽  
The United States ◽  
Pain Severity ◽  
Financial Strain ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Retirement Study

To better understand the health status of men in the United States, this study aimed to assess the association of hardship on the presence of and pain severity among men 50 years of age and older. Cross-sectional multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted using the 2010 wave of the Health and Retirement Study ( N = 3,174) to assess the association between four hardship indicators and the presence of pain and pain severity among this sample of older men. Results suggest that the association between the presence of pain and hardship was statistically significant across all four indicators: ongoing financial hardship (CI [1.05, 1.63], p < .05), difficulty paying bills (CI [1.42, 3.02], p < .001), food insecurity (CI [1.46, 3.15], p < .001), and not taking medication due to cost (CI [1.06, 1.66], p < .05), even after adjusting for all demographic factors. The associations between pain severity and ongoing financial strain (CI [1.23, 2.83], p < .01) and difficulty paying bills (CI [1.02, 3.18], p < .05) were statistically significant. Results also indicate that education was a buffer at all levels. In addition, the interactive effect of hardship and Medicare insurance coverage on pain severity was significant only for ongoing financial strain (CI [1.74, 14.33], p > .001) and difficulty paying bills (CI [1.26, 7.05], p < .05). The evidence is clear that each hardship indicators is associated with the presence of pain and across some of the indicators in pain severity among men aged 50 and older. In addition, these findings stress the importance that Medicare insurance plays in acting as a buffer to alleviate some of the hardships experienced by older men. These findings also highlight the association between the presence of pain and pain severity for the overall quality of life, health outcomes, and financial position of men in later life.

scholarly journals Adaptive Reservation of Network Resources According to Video Classification Scenes

Sensors ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1949
Author(s):  
Lukas Sevcik ◽  
Miroslav Voznak
Keyword(s):  
User Satisfaction ◽  
Quality Evaluation ◽  
Spatial Information ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Video Quality ◽  
Subjective Assessment ◽  
Video Sequences ◽  
Network Resources ◽  
Proposed Model

Video quality evaluation needs a combined approach that includes subjective and objective metrics, testing, and monitoring of the network. This paper deals with the novel approach of mapping quality of service (QoS) to quality of experience (QoE) using QoE metrics to determine user satisfaction limits, and applying QoS tools to provide the minimum QoE expected by users. Our aim was to connect objective estimations of video quality with the subjective estimations. A comprehensive tool for the estimation of the subjective evaluation is proposed. This new idea is based on the evaluation and marking of video sequences using the sentinel flag derived from spatial information (SI) and temporal information (TI) in individual video frames. The authors of this paper created a video database for quality evaluation, and derived SI and TI from each video sequence for classifying the scenes. Video scenes from the database were evaluated by objective and subjective assessment. Based on the results, a new model for prediction of subjective quality is defined and presented in this paper. This quality is predicted using an artificial neural network based on the objective evaluation and the type of video sequences defined by qualitative parameters such as resolution, compression standard, and bitstream. Furthermore, the authors created an optimum mapping function to define the threshold for the variable bitrate setting based on the flag in the video, determining the type of scene in the proposed model. This function allows one to allocate a bitrate dynamically for a particular segment of the scene and maintains the desired quality. Our proposed model can help video service providers with the increasing the comfort of the end users. The variable bitstream ensures consistent video quality and customer satisfaction, while network resources are used effectively. The proposed model can also predict the appropriate bitrate based on the required quality of video sequences, defined using either objective or subjective assessment.

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