COVID-19 prediction through X-ray images using various layers in convolutional neural network

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to focus on the prediction of Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) using X-ray image. Design/methodology/approach This study proposed convolutional neural network (CNN) approach to predict COVID-19. Findings Prediction of COVID-19 using CNN. Originality/value The work has implemented multiple CNN models to classify chest X-ray of affected patients by using their chest scans. According to three models, the ResNet-50 is advantageous because of its high service reliability.

Cypher Cab - A Blockchain enabled Transportation Application

Ridesharing is a transportation strategy that allows drivers to share their trips with other people which results in less travel expenses. It also minimizes traffic congestions and carbon emissions. Currently, most of the existing ride-sharing services rely on a central third party, like Uber, Ola, Didi which charges high service fees. In this paper, we are using blockchain technology to build a smart ride-sharing platform - CypherCab. All the services from registering as a driver, to using this platform for ridesharing will be written directly to the blockchain distributed ledger. Utilizing the decentralized nature of blockchain, the data stored in the blocks will be stored in a distributed ledger, hence removing the dependency on a central third-party server. Moreover, blockchain enables us to remove intermediaries and allows direct transactions between the driver and passengers. In this paper, we have implemented a prototype using smart contracts in the Ethereum network and Ganache test network.

Reported Barriers to Healthcare Access and Service Disruptions Caused by COVID-19 in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and Nigeria: A Telephone Survey

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic may have short-term and long-term impacts on health services across sub-Saharan African countries. A telephone survey in Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, and Nigeria was conducted to assess the effects of the pandemic on healthcare services from the perspectives of healthcare providers (HCPs) and community members. A total of 900 HCPs (300 from each country) and 1,797 adult community members (approximately 600 from each country) participated in the study. Adjusted risk ratios (ARRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed using modified Poisson regression. According to the HCPs, more than half (56%) of essential health services were affected. Child health services and HIV/surgical/other services had a slightly higher percentage of interruption (33%) compared with maternal health services (31%). A total of 21.8%, 19.3%, and 7.7% of the community members reported that their family members and themselves had difficulty accessing childcare services, maternal health, and other health services, respectively. Nurses had a lower risk of reporting high service interruptions than physicians (ARR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.56–0.95). HCPs at private facilities (ARR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.59–0.84) had a lower risk of reporting high service interruptions than those at governmental facilities. Health services in Nigeria were more likely to be interrupted than those in Burkina Faso (ARR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.19–1.59). Health authorities should work with multiple stakeholders to ensure routine health services and identify novel and adaptive approaches to recover referral services, medical care, maternal and child health, family planning, immunization and health promotion, and prevention during the COVID-19 era.

Facets of the Hospitality Philosophy: Filotexnia

Purpose. Considers the possibility of establishing the Hospitality Philosophy as an independent field of philosophical knowledge. Theoretical basis. Theoretical basis for this issue is the numerous philosophical researches on the topic of hospitality (anthropological, phenomenological, ethical, social-philosophical etc.) and the analysis of its essence and paradigmatic antinomy in the historicalphilosophical way. Scientific novelty. The article attempts to revitalise the notion of philotechnics (φιλοτεχνία) as 'the art of taking care of the guest's welfare' as a possible basic concept of contemporary philosophy of hospitality, which is able to reflect its nature most concisely, including its utilitarian and extra-utilitarian functions – not only a high service level, but also a “humane” attitude towards the guest. Findings. It has been summarized that modern hospitality as a specific human activity needs its own philosophy, which would comprehensively analyze the concept, study the facets and forms of its manifestations, define the worldview paradigm, form a methodology and be able to lead to an understanding of the goals of hospitality, to orient modern hospitality models to achieve certain and clear quality indicators while respecting historically verified value constants.

Experimental Study of the Effect of High Service Temperature on the Flexural Performance of Near-Surface Mounted (NSM) Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (CFRP)-Strengthened Concrete Beams

This paper presents a study of the effect of high service temperature (near or beyond glass transition temperature (Tg) of structural epoxy adhesive) on the behavior of near-surface mounted (NSM) carbon fiber-reinforced polymer (CFRP)-strengthened reinforced concrete (RC) beams. The study includes experimental work as well as analytical and numerical analysis. To this end, fourteen beams have been tested up to failure in two different series. In series 1, specimens with three different CFRP areas have been tested at two different temperatures (i.e., 20 and 40 °C). In series 2, and with the aim of evaluating the effect of higher temperatures, only one CFRP area was tested under four different temperatures (i.e., 20, 60, 70, and 85 °C). Experimental results are evaluated in terms of load–deflections, failure modes, and bond performance. Furthermore, the experimental load–deflection curves are satisfactorily compared to both analytical predictions and finite element (FE) numerical simulations. In both cases, shrinkage and temperature effects on the short-term response of flexural elements have been accounted for. No significant reduction in stiffness and ultimate load was observed for specimens being tested up to 60 °C (in the range of epoxy Tg), showing FRP rupture failure in all of them. For specimens under 70 and 85 °C, the failure mode changed from FRP rupture to FRP end debonding and concrete crushing, respectively.

Analysis of the performance measurement process of a 3PL provider: the case of a multinational company

Performance measurement is considered a critical strategic process for companies operating in the logistics sector, as they need to perform high service levels under conditions of uncertainty. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the process of performance measurement in a multinational 3PL provider with a subsidiary in Fortaleza, Ceará. 31 indicators used by the company were identified and described, and its process of performance measurement was mapped. It was found that the company does not have a clear and well-structured process for performance measurement, which can lead to misinterpretations and management failures. In addition, the decision-making process proved to be mostly centered on the individual experience of employees, who might make decisions not aligned with the organizational objectives. The study discusses some manners to improve the process of performance measurement in the case investigated and proposes opportunities for further research in the field.

Social and Monopoly Optimization in Observable Queues

Standard economic theory suggests that monopolies result in outputs lower and prices higher than socially desirable. In service systems, customers are often reluctant to join overly crowded systems because their service valuation decreases with system congestion. Thus a high service price is associated with better service through low congestion levels, that is, low system output. But can a monopolist profit more by providing lots of customers with poor service for a very low price? In our work, we introduce a unified approach, relying on the concept of observable queues, for studying the phenomena of monopoly overpricing in service systems. We explain why, in most observable queue models, the monopolist tends to underexploit capacity by overcharging its service. Yet we discuss cases in which the monopolist may prefer to attract demand by charging less than the socially optimal price.

ANALISIS OPTIMALISASI WAKTU LAYANAN POTONG RAMBUT PADA TAKILISH BARBER SHOP DENGAN MODEL ANTRIAN

This study aims to analyze the optimization of haircut service time at the Takilish Barber Shop using a single channel - single phase queue model. Primary data from observations and interviews with the concerned visitors used in this study were processed using Microsoft Excel with a single phase single channel queue structure and model A (MM/1) of queuing model. The results showed that the service at Takilish Barber Shop is not yet optimal, including in terms of service time, because of the high service level of the server, which causing a lot of free time that is not used optimally.

Predicting high-cost care in a mental health setting

Background The density of information in digital health records offers new potential opportunities for automated prediction of cost-relevant outcomes. Aims We investigated the extent to which routinely recorded data held in the electronic health record (EHR) predict priority service outcomes and whether natural language processing tools enhance the predictions. We evaluated three high priority outcomes: in-patient duration, readmission following in-patient care and high service cost after first presentation. Method We used data obtained from a clinical database derived from the EHR of a large mental healthcare provider within the UK. We combined structured data with text-derived data relating to diagnosis statements, medication and psychiatric symptomatology. Predictors of the three different clinical outcomes were modelled using logistic regression with performance evaluated against a validation set to derive areas under receiver operating characteristic curves. Results In validation samples, the full models (using all available data) achieved areas under receiver operating characteristic curves between 0.59 and 0.85 (in-patient duration 0.63, readmission 0.59, high service use 0.85). Adding natural language processing-derived data to the models increased the variance explained across all clinical scenarios (observed increase in r2 = 12–46%). Conclusions EHR data offer the potential to improve routine clinical predictions by utilising previously inaccessible data. Of our scenarios, prediction of high service use after initial presentation achieved the highest performance.

Examining empathy and responsiveness in a high-service context

Purpose The delivery of high-quality service is critical for the success, or otherwise, of many retailers. However, despite calls to examine the efficacy of the dimensions of quality in different service contexts, it is still largely unknown how dimensions such as empathy and responsiveness interact to determine consumers’ perceptions of service quality. Recent research also suggests that loyalty strategies may not be equally effective across all services contexts. The purpose of this paper is, therefore, to contribute to the service quality literature by providing a better understanding of how marketing strategy is effectively operationalised into improved services and consumer loyalty in physical stores. Design/methodology/approach Consumers from ten stores of one pharmacy retailer were surveyed. The retailer provides high-service levels at present and is examining ways of how to deliver a better quality service to its prescription and non-prescription account holding consumers. By examining consumer loyalties in high-services contexts in pharmacy retailing, the authors also propose how retailers in other sectors can learn to operationalise services quality into increased loyalties. Findings The findings of this research demonstrate that empathy, rather than responsiveness, is more important in a high service delivery context such as pharmacy retailing. Non-prescription account holding and non-store loyal consumers also do not perceive that high service responsiveness is compromised by offering of a highly empathetic (and possibly more time consuming) service by the retailer. Originality/value These findings present specific implications for retailers in the development of consumer loyalty in a high-service context. Moreover, the findings of this research also illustrate how retailers can more effectively target their investments in service design to enhance service quality and consumer loyalty.