EMD Based Semantic User Similarity using Past Travel Histories

The cost-effective and easy availability of handheld mobile devices and ubiquity of location acquisition services such as GPS and GSM networks has helped expedient logging and sharing of location histories of mobile users. This work aims to find semantic user similarity using their past travel histories. Application of the semantic similarity measure can be found in tourism-related recommender systems and information retrieval. The paper presents Earth Mover’s Distance (EMD) based semantic user similarity measure using users' GPS logs. The similarity measure is applied and evaluated on the GPS dataset of 182 users collected from April 2007 to August 2012 by Microsoft's GeoLife project. The proposed similarity measure is compared with conventional similarity measures used in literature such as Jaccard, Dice, and Pearsons’ Correlation. The percentage improvement of EMD based approach over existing approaches in terms of average RMSE is 10.70%, and average MAE is 5.73%.

EMD-Based Semantic User Similarity Using Past Travel Histories

The cost-effective and easy availability of handheld mobile devices and ubiquity of location acquisition services such as GPS and GSM networks has helped expedient logging and sharing of location histories of mobile users. This work aims to find semantic user similarity using their past travel histories. Application of the semantic similarity measure can be found in tourism-related recommender systems and information retrieval. The paper presents Earth Mover’s Distance (EMD) based semantic user similarity measure using users' GPS logs. The similarity measure is applied and evaluated on the GPS dataset of 182 users collected from April 2007 to August 2012 by Microsoft's GeoLife project. The proposed similarity measure is compared with conventional similarity measures used in literature such as Jaccard, Dice, and Pearsons’ Correlation. The percentage improvement of EMD based approach over existing approaches in terms of average RMSE is 10.70%, and average MAE is 5.73%.

I3rab: A New Arabic Dependency Treebank Based on Arabic Grammatical Theory

Treebanks are valuable linguistic resources that include the syntactic structure of a language sentence in addition to part-of-speech tags and morphological features. They are mainly utilized in modeling statistical parsers. Although the statistical natural language parser has recently become more accurate for languages such as English, those for the Arabic language still have low accuracy. The purpose of this article is to construct a new Arabic dependency treebank based on the traditional Arabic grammatical theory and the characteristics of the Arabic language, to investigate their effects on the accuracy of statistical parsers. The proposed Arabic dependency treebank, called I3rab, contrasts with existing Arabic dependency treebanks in two main concepts. The first concept is the approach of determining the main word of the sentence, and the second concept is the representation of the joined and covert pronouns. To evaluate I3rab, we compared its performance against a subset of Prague Arabic Dependency Treebank that shares a comparable level of details. The conducted experiments show that the percentage improvement reached up to 10.24% in UAS and 18.42% in LAS.

Exploring culturally acceptable, nutritious, affordable, and low climatic impact diet for Japanese diets: Proof of concept of applying a new modelling approach using Data Envelopment Analysis

A future sustainable dietary pattern for Japanese is yet undefined. This study aimed to explore more sustainable Japanese diets, that are nutritious, affordable, and with low greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE) and particular emphasis on cultural acceptability. A newly developed Data Envelopment Analysis diet model was applied to 4-d dietary record data among 184 healthy Japanese men and 185 women volunteers aged 21–69 y. Alternative diets were calculated as the linear combinations of observed diets. Firstly, for each individual, four modelled diets were calculated that maximised cultural acceptability (i.e. minimize dietary change from observed diet), maximised nutritional quality assessed by the Nutrient-Rich Food Index (NRF), minimized monetary diet costs, or minimized diet-related GHGE. The final modelled diet combined all four indicators. In the first four models, the largest improvement was obtained for each targeted indicator separately, while relatively small improvements or unwanted changes were observed for other indicator. When all indicators were aimed to optimize, the NRF score and diet-related GHGE was improved by 8–13% with the lower monetary cost than observed diets, although the percentage improvement was a bit smaller than the separate models. The final modelled diets demanded increased intakes for whole grains, fruits, milk/cream/yoghurt, legumes/nuts, and decreased intakes for red and processed meat, sugar/confectionaries, alcoholic and sweetened beverages, and seasonings in both sexes. In conclusion, more sustainable dietary patterns considering several indicators are possible for Japanese while total improvement is moderate due to trade-offs between indicators and methodological limitation of DEA diet model.

An improved algorithm to minimize the total completion time in a two-machine no-wait flow-shop with uncertain setup times

Since scheduling literature has a wide range of uncertainties, it is crucial to take these into account when solving performance measure problems. Otherwise, the performance may severely be affected in a negative way. In this paper, an algorithm is proposed to minimize the total completion time (TCT) of a two-machine no-wait flowshop with uncertain setup times within lower and upper bounds. The results are compared to the best existing algorithm in scheduling literature: the programming language Python is used to generate random samples with respect to various distributions, and the TCT of the proposed algorithm is compared to that of the best existing one. Results reveal that the proposed one significantly outperforms the best one given in literature for all considered distributions. Specifically, the average percentage improvement of the proposed algorithm over the best existing one is over 90%. A test of hypothesis is conducted to further confirm the results.

Improving the Response Performance of Anti-Surge Control Valve for Gas Compressors

Anti-surge control valves are used for the protection of gas compressors by opening to relief sudden pressures (surge) which could damage the compressor internals. It is of great importance that the response of the anti-surge valves to surge detection is swift and within a few seconds since a little delay could cause catastrophic damages to the compressor it is meant to protect. In this paper, a design modification was done on an existing anti-surge valve to improve its response time. The modified system was designed and implemented, installed, and commissioned on a mixed refrigerant compressor. The modified system was tested, and the response performance was recorded. Results obtained showed average percentage improvement of 86% to that of the initial system. Also, the response performance of the modified system was less than 3 seconds as compared to the initial set-up which averages 9 seconds. This is indeed a great improvement in comparison to the initial system.

Evidence of Improved Knowledge and Skills Among Hematologists/Oncologists Participating in Online CME-Certified Activities

Background: Several regimens are currently available for the treatment of newly diagnosed or relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (R/R MM). This has subsequently led to the development of a variety of novel management strategies. Because of the rapidly changing treatment landscape, it is challenging for hematologists/oncologists (hem/oncs), particularly those in community-based settings, to stay current on recent data and clinical practice guidelines. Aim: The objective of this study was to determine if a curriculum of online continuing medical education (CME) activities could improve the knowledge, skills, and confidence of hem/oncs as it relates to the treatment of patients with MM. Methods: The curriculum contained online CME-certified activities for clinicians that focused on personalizing treatment, managing adverse events (AEs), and integrating new data and agents into clinical practice for the treatment of MM. All activities were developed with input from a steering committee of expert myeloma physicians and a nurse practitioner. There were 10 activities included in this analysis. The impact of education was examined using a repeated-pair design with a pre-/post-assessment. Questions from all activities were grouped into learning topics. Mean knowledge/skill was calculated across all activities, and included questions designed for longitudinal analysis. Statistical significance was assessed using a McNemar's test (5% significance level, P <.05). Data was collected from when the first activity posted on November 11, 2020 through July 8, 2021. Results: A total of 570 hem/oncs were included in this analysis. A majority practiced in community-based settings (51%), specialized in hematologic malignancies (specialists, 51%), and cared for 1 to 10 patients with MM in a typical month (70%). The percentage of correct responses pre- and post-education across multiple curriculum activities are displayed by subgroup in the Table. Confidence was assessed for various topics on the scale of 1-not confident to 5-very confident. Hem/oncs were considered confident if they rated their confidence a 4 or 5. The pre-/post-education percentage of hem/oncs who were confident (4 or 5 on a scale of 1 to 5) personalizing treatment: 18%/23% academic (P <.01, relative percentage improvement, RI +56%), 17%/31% community (P <.001, RI +82%), 18%/30% specialists (P <.001, RI +67%), 13%/25% average 10 or fewer patients with MM per month (P <.001, RI +91%). Conclusions: The series of CME-certified activities had a significant, positive impact on knowledge, skills, and confidence across all learning themes for all hem/oncs, but especially community-based hem/oncs and specialists in hematologic malignancies. For almost all learning themes, community-based hem/oncs demonstrated similar or higher knowledge/skills post-education than their academic-based counterparts. Community-based hem/oncs also demonstrated larger relative improvements in knowledge/skills than academic-based hem/oncs. Hem/oncs who saw fewer patients with MM on average per month demonstrated a larger relative percentage improvement with these learning themes: foundational knowledge, knowledge of clinical trial data, knowledge of treatment regimens, knowledge of SDM. Hem/oncs who saw a higher number of patients with MM on average per month demonstrated larger relative percentage improvement with these learning themes: knowledge of MRD, skills personalizing treatment, knowledge of AEs, skills managing AEs, skills using SDM. This analysis shows that online CME using multimedia formats can significantly improve the knowledge, skills, and confidence of hem/oncs in multiple areas related to best practices for treating patients with newly diagnosed or R/R MM. The impact on community-based hem/oncs was significant and closed large knowledge and skill gaps compared to their academic peers. Results also suggest the following areas warrant further education: case-based application of treatment options and AE management as well as best practices for individualizing treatment. Acknowledgements: Sukhbir Bahra contributed to data analysis for this research. These CME activities were supported by an independent educational grant from AbbVie, Bristol Myers Squibb, GlaxoSmithKline, Karyopharm Therapeutics, Oncopeptides, and Sanofi Genzyme. Reference: https://www.medscape.org/sites/advances/multiple-myeloma Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Krishnan: BMS: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Speakers Bureau; MAGENTA: Consultancy; REGENERON: Consultancy; SANOFI: Consultancy; GSK: Consultancy; JANSSEN: Consultancy, Research Funding; City of Hope Cancer Center: Current Employment; Amgen: Speakers Bureau. Lonial: Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria; TG Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS/Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; AMGEN: Consultancy, Honoraria; GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Merck: Honoraria. Kurtin: Abbvie, Amgen, BMS, Incyte, Pharmacyclics, GSK, AstraZeneca, Takeda: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Mikhael: Janssen: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy; Oncopeptides: Consultancy; GSK: Consultancy. Landgren: Amgen: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Janssen: Research Funding; Janssen: Other: IDMC; Celgene: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Takeda: Other: IDMC; GSK: Honoraria.

Efficacy and Safety of Intralesional Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy in the Management of Chronic Non-healing Leg Ulcers in our Population

Background: Autologous Platelets Rich Plasma (PRP) therapy not only hastens chronic wounds and ulcers healing but also diminishes the rate of amputations of lower leg caused by non-healing recalcitrant ulcers. In this study we have demonstrated the magical results of intralesional autologous PRP in the healing of resistant to heal chronic leg ulcers. Methods: In this metacentric study 26 patients having 30 chronic leg ulcers of more than 6 weeks duration and various etiologies, were treated with intralesional autologous PRP application on weekly basis for a duration of 8 weeks and the final results were calculated by percentage improvement in the volume and area of the ulcer/wound. Results: In our study 26 patient with 30 chronic recalcitrant leg ulcers/wounds were treated with intralesional autologous PRP therapy on weekly basis. Mean age of the included patients was 34.5 years. 19 were male patients and 7 were female. The mean time period of the healing of chronic ulcers was 5.3 weeks. The final mean percentage improvement outcome in the volume and area of the ulcers was calculated as 86% and 88% respectively. Conclusions: PRP therapy is safe, cost effective office based simple procedure in treating recalcitrant chronic leg ulcer/wounds. Keywords: Non-healing, intralesional, autologous platelet rich plasma, chronic ulcers

Ground Improvement By Using Coir Geo-Textile

For the design of pavement structure the subgrade soil and its properties are important as it gives adequate support to the pavement. To increase the life of pavement the subgrade must be able to support loads transmitted from pavement structure without excessive deformation under adverse climatic and traffic conditions. For using the soil as a good quality pavement material, it is a well-known fact that all soils do not possess all the desirable qualities. The subgrade performance of such soils should be increased by several modification techniques, when such soils cannot be replaced. Among that providing reinforcement to improve subgrade soil nowadays is widely adopted. Nowadays many reinforcing techniques are used to reinforce the soil, among that coir geotextile is most widely used. As it is a natural geotextile it needs treatment to improve the durability. In this study woven coir geotextile are used as soil reinforcement to improve the subgrade soil. The improvement in CBR value when coir geotextile placed at different depth in CBR mould is studied. The coir geocells with an aspect ratio of 0.75, 1 and 1.33 is used. The maximum improvement in CBR value is obtained when geotextile is placed at 1/3H. The CBR value improved when treated coir geotextile is used and the percentage improvement is 66.8% for coir geotextiles placed 1/3H and the percentage increase for treated coir geocells when placed at 1/3H is 37.5%. The optimum height of coir geocells is obtained at an aspect ratio of 1.

Real World Analysis of Response Rate and Efficacy of Oral Ketoconazole in Patients with Recalcitrant Tinea Corporis and Cruris

Recalcitrant dermatophytosis has had an alarming rise in India with concomitant decreased effectiveness of conventional antifungal agents. This has prompted the use of second-line agents for treatment. In this retrospective study, we aimed to analyze the response rate, efficacy, relapse rate, and side effects of oral ketoconazole (KZ) in the treatment of recalcitrant tinea corporis and cruris. Institutional records were reviewed for patients presenting with tinea cruris or corporis who had failed treatment with conventional antifungal drugs and treated with oral KZ. Potassium hydroxide (KOH) findings, culture reports, and response to treatment was noted based on the percentage improvement in lesions and reduction in itching compared with baseline. Fourty-three patients (mean age 31.3 years) with tinea corporis/cruris who had taken prior treatment with antifungals were recruited in the study. KOH mount and culture were positive in 76.7% patients. Trichophyton mentagrophytes was the commonest species, isolated in 62.8% of patients. Ketoconazole showed the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration on antifungal susceptibility tests with various antifungals. With a dose of 400 mg daily, 67.4% of patients were cured of disease with mean duration of 9.4 weeks. Patients having less than 40% clearance at 2 weeks had a 68.9% less probability of getting cured of disease. Of the 29 patients cured, 37.9% relapsed because of various predisposing factors. Two patients developed increase in liver enzymes on treatment. Our analysis suggests that KZ can be used as alternative drug in cases with failure to conventional antifungal drugs. Though there are relapses, these can be partially explained by various predisposing factors that support fungal survival and transmission.