Measuring the acceptability of EQ-5D-3L health states for different ages: a new adaptive survey methodology

Background Acceptable health and sufficientarianism are emerging concepts in health resource allocation. We defined acceptability as the proportion of the general population who consider a health state acceptable for a given age. Previous studies surveyed the acceptability of health problems separately per EQ-5D-3L domain, while the acceptability of health states with co-occurring problems was barely explored. Objective To quantify the acceptability of 243 EQ-5D-3L health states for six ages from 30 to 80 years: 1458 health state–age combinations (HAcs), denoted as the acceptability set of EQ-5D-3L. Methods In 2019, an online representative survey was conducted in the Hungarian general population. We developed a novel adaptive survey algorithm and a matching statistical measurement model. The acceptability of problems was evaluated separately per EQ-5D-3L domain, followed by joint evaluation of up to 15 HAcs. The selection of HAcs depended on respondents’ previous responses. We used an empirical Bayes measurement model to estimate the full acceptability set. Results 1375 respondents (female: 50.7%) were included with mean (SD) age of 46.7 (14.6) years. We demonstrated that single problems that were acceptable separately for a given age were less acceptable when co-occurring jointly (p < 0.001). For 30 years of age, EQ-5D-3L health states of ‘11112’ (11.9%) and ‘33333’ (1%), while for 80 years of age ‘21111’ (93.3%) and ‘33333’ (7.4%) had highest and lowest acceptability (% of population), respectively. Conclusion The acceptability set of EQ-5D-3L quantifies societal preferences concerning age and disease severity. Its measurement profiles and potential role in health resource allocation needs further exploration.

Traffic Refinery

Network management often relies on machine learning to make predictions about performance and security from network traffic. Often, the representation of the traffic is as important as the choice of the model. The features that the model relies on, and the representation of those features, ultimately determine model accuracy, as well as where and whether the model can be deployed in practice. Thus, the design and evaluation of these models ultimately requires understanding not only model accuracy but also the systems costs associated with deploying the model in an operational network. Towards this goal, this paper develops a new framework and system that enables a joint evaluation of both the conventional notions of machine learning performance (e.g., model accuracy) and the systems-level costs of different representations of network traffic. We highlight these two dimensions for two practical network management tasks, video streaming quality inference and malware detection, to demonstrate the importance of exploring different representations to find the appropriate operating point. We demonstrate the benefit of exploring a range of representations of network traffic and present Traffic Refinery, a proof-of-concept implementation that both monitors network traffic at 10~Gbps and transforms traffic in real time to produce a variety of feature representations for machine learning. Traffic Refinery both highlights this design space and makes it possible to explore different representations for learning, balancing systems costs related to feature extraction and model training against model accuracy.

Implementation of the Andragogy Learning Model in Andragogy Competency Training for PKBM Tutors

This study aims to determine the implementation of the Andragogy Learning Model in Andragogy Competency Training for PKBM Tutors in Kampar Regency. The method used is descriptive qualitative. Researchers used observation, interviews and documentation. Sources of data are 2 tutors 5 students. The results showed that the implementation of the andragogy learning model was the delivery of material from the tutor/training instructor according to the material that had been mutually agreed upon, then there was a question and answer or discussion for joint evaluation. The results of the andragogy learning model showed that there was an increase and change in terms of knowledge, attitudes and skills. In knowledge knowing about andragogy competencies and how to apply them in adult learning. In attitude that the trainees are very good in attitude, behavior and activity so that enthusiasm in learning is very good. In terms of skills, participants have been able to practice in learning about andragogy competencies because they have in-depth understanding of andragogy competencies for tutors after training. The supporting factors are the enthusiasm of the participants, the focus of the participants, supported by PKBM Mutiara Kampar, the network between PKBM and tutors who are able to guide the participants well, and teach the material as expected. The inhibiting factor is the timing and delivery of materials that adapt to the understanding of the participants.

Pancasila dalam Politik Pencitraan di Indonesia

This study aims to measure the level of appreciation and practice of the values of Pancasila as the ideology of the Indonesian nation as a whole so that the values in it can really be applied in the life of the nation and state. This research uses a normative-empirical method, namely by combining legal research methods that not only view the law as a prescriptive and applied discipline but also have a descriptive nature based on the reality of the development of law itself in society. There are several phenomenal events that are closely related to Pancasila, where these events illustrate that noble values that are actually respected and upheld are still vulnerable to being exploited by their sensitivity by some groups for imaging purposes without paying attention to the noble values of Pancasila. Pancasila is vulnerable to being used as a political commodity so that certain groups feel that it is Pancasilaist and other groups are not Pancasilaist. The results of this study provide an indication that all groups should be able to place Pancasila as an ideology in the nation and state and become a joint evaluation in revitalizing the noble values contained in Pancasila as the basic rules, guidelines, and philosophy of life of the Indonesian nation that must be practiced as the embodiment of Bhineka Tunggal Ika.Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengukur tingkat penghayatan dan pengamalan nilai-nilai Pancasila sebagai ideologi bangsa Indonesia secara utuh, sehingga nilai-nilai di dalamnya benar-benar dapat diterapkan dalam kehidupan berbangsa dan bernegara. Penelitian ini menggunakan metode normatif-empiris, yaitu dengan cara melakukan penggabungan metode penelitian hukum yang tidak hanya memandang hukum sebagai disiplin yang bersifat preskriftif dan terapan, namun sekaligus bersifat deskriptif yang didasarkan pada kenyataan perkembangan hukum itu sendiri di masyarakat. Ada beberapa peristiwa fenomenal yang erat hubungannya dengan Pancasila, di mana peristiwa ini memberi gambaran bahwa nilai-nilai luhur yang sejatinya dihormati dan dijunjung tinggi masih rentan dimanfaatkan sensitivitasnya oleh sebagian kelompok untuk kepentingan pencitraan tanpa memperhatikan nilai-nilai luhur Pancasila. Pancasila rentan dijadikan sebagai komoditas politik, sehingga meng­anggap bahwa golongan tertentu merasa Pancasilais dan kelompok lain tidak Pancasilais. Hasil penelitian ini memberikan petunjuk bahwa seharusnya semua kelompok dapat menempatkan Pancasila sebagai ideologi dalam berbangsa dan bernegara, dan menjadi evaluasi bersama dalam merevitalisasi nilai-nilai luhur yang terkandung dalam Pancasila sebagai aturan dasar, pedoman dan falsafah hidup bangsa Indonesia yang harus diamalkan sebagai perwujudan Bhineka Tunggal Ika.

Microbiological, serological and molecular diagnosis of abscess of withers in equine in the State of Pará

There are several infectious diseases that affect equines and can cause large economic losses in this sector and damage to animal welfare. In this species, abscessing lesions of a purulent character preferentially in the withers are strongly suggestive of brucellosis. However, few studies have been carried out on the disease in this species, making its identification and control difficult due to the lack of standardization in the interpretation of results. Therefore, samples of whole blood, serum and purulent secretion were collected from three horses. The animals came from the state of Pará. The diagnostic methods selected were the Rose-Bengal plate test (RBPT) and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), for the negative molecular results for brucellosis, microbiological analysis were chosen. Although part of the samples were positive for brucellosis in serological tests, all of them showed negative results for PCR. In bacterial cultivation, species were isolated Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus, Enterococcus faecalis e Staphylococcus sciuri subsp. lentus., which showed resistance to antibacterials, especially the E. faecalis isolate classified as MDR (multi drug resistant). In conclusion, the best form of diagnosis is the joint evaluation of several tests, both screening and confirmatory, in order to obtain a definitive diagnosis with assertiveness.