Quality evaluation through self-assessment: a novel method to gain insight into ERCP performance

AbstractThe article discusses the utilitarian problem of the mobile collection of waste electrical and electronic equipment. Due to its $$\mathcal {NP}$$ NP -hard nature, implies the application of approximate methods to discover suboptimal solutions in an acceptable time. The paper presents the proposal of a novel method of designing the Evolutionary and Memetic Algorithms, which determine favorable route plans. The recommended methods are determined using quality evaluation indicators for the techniques applied herein, subject to the limits characterizing the given company. The proposed Memetic Algorithm with Tabu Search provides much better results than the metaheuristics described in the available literature.

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A Unified Approach of Object-Level Saliency Detection in Images and Videos

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.765-767.1401 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 765-767 ◽

pp. 1401-1405

Author(s):

Chi Zhang ◽

Wei Qiang Wang

Keyword(s):

Quality Evaluation ◽

Saliency Detection ◽

Visual Saliency ◽

Unified Approach ◽

Feature Maps ◽

Still Images ◽

Saliency Maps ◽

Novel Method ◽

Object Level ◽

Important Branch

Object-level saliency detection is an important branch of visual saliency. In this paper, we propose a novel method which can conduct object-level saliency detection in both images and videos in a unified way. We employ a more effective spatial compactness assumption to measure saliency instead of the popular contrast assumption. In addition, we present a combination framework which integrates multiple saliency maps generated in different feature maps. The proposed algorithm can automatically select saliency maps of high quality according to the quality evaluation score we define. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms all state-of-the-art methods on both of the datasets of still images and video sequences.

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A Review of Quality Criteria Supporting Supplier Selection

Journal of Quality and Reliability Engineering ◽

10.1155/2013/621073 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Mohammad Abdolshah

Keyword(s):

Supplier Selection ◽

Quality Evaluation ◽

Selection Process ◽

Quality Criteria ◽

Loss Functions ◽

Decision Criteria ◽

Academic Literature ◽

Extensive Search ◽

Novel Method

This paper presents a review of decision criteria reported in the literature for supporting the supplier selection process. The review is based on an extensive search in the academic literature. After a literature review of decision criteria, we discuss the most important criteria: quality. Then different methods and factors for assessing the quality of supplier are discussed. Results showed that all methods and factors mentioned in this paper are not appropriate tools for quality evaluation. Moreover, we propose a novel method (using loss functions) in order to assess the quality of suppliers.

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A Tutorial for Implementing Strategic Questioning in the Clinical Teaching Environment

Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups ◽

10.1044/2019_pers-sig11-2019-0015 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (6) ◽

pp. 1465-1472

Author(s):

Samantha J. Dalessio (Procaccini)

Keyword(s):

Clinical Teaching ◽

Higher Order Thinking ◽

Thinking Skills ◽

Teaching Methodology ◽

Self Assessment ◽

Teaching Environment ◽

Higher Order Thinking Skills ◽

Teaching Context ◽

Clinical Educators ◽

Insight Into

Purpose The implementation of strategic questioning within the clinical teaching context has recently gained appeal among clinical educators as a method for stimulating critical thinking and other higher order thinking skills. This article will (a) address evidence for the use of strategic questioning approaches in the clinical teaching environment, (b) examine some of the complexities associated with effectively selecting and implementing questioning types, and (c) discuss the potential significance that supervisory training and self-assessment may have on effective application of strategic questioning. Conclusion Strategic questioning can be a highly valuable teaching methodology within the clinical teaching context. Current available external evidence, albeit limited, provides some insight into the complexities involved with effectively implementing strategic questioning methods. Further research is needed to explore the efficacy and feasibility of specific strategic questioning approaches within the scope of communication sciences and disorders.

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Common Assessment Framework – Improving Organizational Performance of Municipalities in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Economic Analysis ◽

10.28934/ea.18.51.12.pp37-46 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 51 (1-2) ◽

pp. 37

Author(s):

Daut Bajramovic ◽

Manfred Gram

Keyword(s):

Total Quality Management ◽

Organizational Performance ◽

Bosnia And Herzegovina ◽

International Organizations ◽

Assessment Tool ◽

International Organization ◽

Assessment Framework ◽

Total Quality ◽

Self Assessment ◽

Insight Into

Common Assessment Framework (CAF), a European Total Quality Management (TQM) methodology, has been applied by municipalities across Bosnia and Herzegovina for a number of years. Municipalities have used CAF as a self-assessment tool to identify and meet their own development needs and improve organizational performance. Along with International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and Business Friendly Certificate (BFC) standards, CAF has been promoted by domestic non-governmental and international organizations as a TQM tool for public sector. This article provides an insight into experience of municipalities in BiH with implementation of CAF by focusing on their thematic priorities, organizational efficiency, output, outcome and citizens’ satisfaction.

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A Clinician-Free Method Using Top-View Photography for Screening and Monitoring Hallux Valgus

Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association ◽

10.7547/19-167 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 111 (5) ◽

Author(s):

Daniel T.P. Fong ◽

Marabelle Li-wen Heng ◽

Jing Wen Pan ◽

Yi Yan Lim ◽

Pei-Yueng Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hallux Valgus ◽

Intraclass Correlation ◽

Self Assessment ◽

Digital Photograph ◽

Receiver Operating Characteristic Curves ◽

Novel Method ◽

Grade 3 ◽

Straight Lines ◽

Top View ◽

Severe Grade

Background Hallux valgus is a progressive foot deformity that commonly affects middle-aged women. The aim of this study was to develop a novel method using only top-view photographs to assess hallux valgus severity. Methods A top-view digital photograph was taken of each foot of 70 female participants. Two straight lines were drawn along the medial edge of the great toe and forefoot, and the included angle (termed bunion angle) was measured using a free software program. Each foot was also assessed by a clinician using the Manchester scale as no (grade 1), mild (grade 2), moderate (grade 3), or severe (grade 4) deformity. Results The mean bunion angles of the 140 feet were 6.7°, 13.5°, and 16.2° for Manchester grades 1, 2, and 3, respectively (no foot was in grade 4). The reliability was excellent for both intrarater (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC] = 0.93–0.95) and interrater (ICC = 0.90) assessments. Receiver operating characteristic curves determined the optimal bunion angle cutoff value for screening hallux valgus to be 9°, which gives 89.2% sensitivity and 74.2% specificity. Conclusions The bunion angle is a reliable, clinician-free method that can potentially be integrated into a smartphone app for easy and inexpensive self-assessment of hallux valgus.

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Evaluating website quality: which decision criteria do consumers use to evaluate website quality?

Information Technology and People ◽

10.1108/itp-05-2020-0328 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽

Author(s):

Phil Longstreet ◽

Stoney Brooks ◽

Mauricio Featherman ◽

Eleanor Loiacono

Keyword(s):

Quality Evaluation ◽

Survey Methodology ◽

Explanatory Power ◽

Consumer Decision Making ◽

Website Quality ◽

Cue Utilization ◽

Content Type ◽

Quality Dimensions ◽

Nomological Validity ◽

Insight Into

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to determine which design and operational attributes of e-commerce websites consumers use to assess website quality. Cue utilization theory is used to examine the explanatory power, robustness and relevance of the WebQual model. Results indicate which WebQual dimensions are the most relevant and salient to website users. These dimensions are categorized by their perceived and confidence values. A second study is conducted about how website users evaluate and utilize the WebQual dimensions.Design/methodology/approachSurvey methodology was utilized to provide insight into the nomological validity of the WebQual model by examining it through a cue utilization lens.FindingsThe first study categorizes the WebQual dimensions on their ability to provide a diagnostic measure of website quality, and consumer confidence in their ability to use these cues when judging the website's overall quality. The second study presents results of each dimension in relation to the quality evaluation of an actual e-commerce website. Additional analysis also revealed gender differences in cue utilization.Originality/valueThis study provided insight into WebQual-based research and identified original differences in cue utilization across genders. Results suggest that it may be beneficial for brand managers to focus on a subset of quality dimensions, rather than assume that consumers are comfortable using all website attributes to formulate quality judgments. These, results contribute to multiple literatures by providing a model that developers can utilize to focus on the deterministic characteristics of overall website quality. Further, the cue utilization perspective provides additional avenues for fruitful further research into consumer decision-making in the e-commerce context.

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Using images of noise to estimate image processing behavior for image quality evaluation

Electronic Imaging ◽

10.2352/issn.2470-1173.2021.9.iqsp-217 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2021 (9) ◽

pp. 217-1-217-6

Author(s):

Norman L. Koren

Keyword(s):

Image Processing ◽

Image Quality ◽

Quality Evaluation ◽

Bilateral Filter ◽

Important Application ◽

Maximum Effect ◽

Bilateral Filtering ◽

Fine Detail ◽

Flat Field ◽

Insight Into

Noise is an extremely important image quality factor. Camera manufacturers go to great lengths to source sensors and develop algorithms to minimize it. Illustrations of its effects are familiar, but it is not well known that noise itself, which is not constant over an image, can be represented as an image. Noise varies over images for two reasons. (1) Noise voltage in raw images is predicted to be proportional to a constant plus the square root of the number of photons reaching each pixel. (2) The most commonly applied image processing in consumer cameras, bilateral filtering [1], sharpens regions of the image near contrasty features such as edges and smooths (applies lowpass filtering to reduce noise) the image elsewhere. Noise is normally measured in flat, uniformly-illuminated patches, where bilateral filter smoothing has its maximum effect, often at the expense of fine detail. Significant insight into the behavior of image processing can be gained by measuring the noise throughout the image, not just in flat patches. We describe a method for obtaining noise images, then illustrate an important application— observing texture loss— and compare noise images for JPEG and raw-converted images. The method, derived from the EMVA 1288 analysis of flat-field images, requires the acquisition of a large number of identical images. It is somewhat cumbersome when individual image files need to be saved, but it’s fast and convenient when direct image acquisition is available.

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A Novel Method for Predicting Disease-Associated LncRNA-MiRNA Pairs Based on the Higher-Order Orthogonal Iteration

Computational and Mathematical Methods in Medicine ◽

10.1155/2019/7614850 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2019 ◽

pp. 1-13 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Zhanwei Xuan ◽

Xiang Feng ◽

Jingwen Yu ◽

Pengyao Ping ◽

Haochen Zhao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Higher Order ◽

System Level ◽

Cell Proliferation And Differentiation ◽

Proliferation And Differentiation ◽

Great Insight ◽

Novel Method ◽

Global And Local ◽

Novel Model ◽

Insight Into ◽

Orthogonal Iteration

A lot of research studies have shown that many complex human diseases are associated not only with microRNAs (miRNAs) but also with long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). However, most of the current existing studies focus on the prediction of disease-related miRNAs or lncRNAs, and to our knowledge, until now, there are few literature studies reported to pay attention to the study of impact of miRNA-lncRNA pairs on diseases, although more and more studies have shown that both lncRNAs and miRNAs play important roles in cell proliferation and differentiation during the recent years. The identification of disease-related genes provides great insight into the underlying pathogenesis of diseases at a system level. In this study, a novel model called PADLMHOOI was proposed to predict potential associations between diseases and lncRNA-miRNA pairs based on the higher-order orthogonal iteration, and in order to evaluate its prediction performance, the global and local LOOCV were implemented, respectively, and simulation results demonstrated that PADLMHOOI could achieve reliable AUCs of 0.9545 and 0.8874 in global and local LOOCV separately. Moreover, case studies further demonstrated the effectiveness of PADLMHOOI to infer unknown disease-related lncRNA-miRNA pairs.

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Dissociating self-reported cognitive complaint from clinical insight in schizophrenia

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2008.12.010 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 24 (4) ◽

pp. 251-258 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Sophie Bayard ◽

Delphine Capdevielle ◽

Jean-Philippe Boulenger ◽

Stéphane Raffard

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairments ◽

Rehabilitation Program ◽

Therapeutic Effects ◽

Strong Correlations ◽

Self Assessment ◽

Duration Of Illness ◽

Cognitive Complaint ◽

Partial Overlap ◽

Insight Into Illness ◽

Insight Into

AbstractWhereas new pharmacological treatments are developed for cognitive impairments in schizophrenia, self-assessment of cognitive dysfunctioning besides their objective validity could be of interest in evaluating patients' motivation to engage in rehabilitation program. Nevertheless insight into symptoms is severely impaired in schizophrenia and is negatively linked with poor compliance. But it is yet unknown if patients with poor insight into their symptoms could have some insight into their cognitive impairments. The aim of this study was to explore the relationships existing between the cognitive complaint and the level of awareness of the disease in patients with schizophrenia. A total of 101 patients with DSM-IV schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder and 60 control participants were recruited. Insight was assessed using the Scale to assess Unawareness of Mental Disorder (SUMD) and cognitive complaint intensity was assessed with the Scale to Investigate Cognition in Schizophrenia (SSTICS). Participants with schizophrenia displayed the same level of cognitive complaint when compared to healthy controls. Strong correlations were observed between SSTICS total score and duration of illness, levels of depression and state anxiety. Patients with a good insight into the therapeutic effects achieved with medication expressed a more important cognitive complaint. No correlations were found between the four others SUMD insight dimensions and total SSTICS score. The partial overlap of insight into illness and cognitive complaint suggests that insight is modular in schizophrenia. Assessment of cognitive complaint and awareness of illness need to be assessed before engagement in rehabilitation program.

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