Teaching and Learning in Statistics: Harnessing the power of modern statistical software to improve students statistical reasoning and thinking

[EN] The reproducibility crisis in science has launched global discussion about the need to restructure the way statistics is taught across a wide range of disciplines. While this need has been recognized and discussed in the academic community for many years, the impetus for educational reform of statistics was boosted by Ioannidis (2005), which resulted in a great deal of attention on issues regarding the inappropriate use of statistical reasoning. The availability of data across business and research has increased dramatically in recent years. This access to data has resulted in almost every member of society needing a skill set that allows them to think critically about the inferences that can validly be drawn to improve decisions based on data. One way of improving statistical literacy and thinking is through the identification and use of appropriate statistical software that will allow students, and other practitioners with basic training, access to modern statistical modeling techniques on a platform that allows them to focus on outcomes. A key component of using AutoStat for teaching statistical thinking is in alleviating the need for coding, which allows the instructors to focus on key concepts, questions and outcomes.Alston-Knox, C.; Strickland, C.; Gazos, T.; Mengersen, K. (2019). Teaching and Learning in Statistics: Harnessing the power of modern statistical software to improve students statistical reasoning and thinking. En HEAD'19. 5th International Conference on Higher Education Advances. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 1171-1178. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAD19.2019.9239OCS1171117

Expanding the circularity of plastic and biochar materials by developing alternative low environmental footprint sensors

Flexible screen-printing technology combined with the use of a nano/material coating for improving electrode functionalities boosted the manufacturing of highly sensitive electrochemical sensors addressing the need for fast and easy-to-handle tests in different application fields. However, due to the large-scale production and disposable and single-use nature of these devices, their environmental footprint should be taken into careful consideration. Herein, the innovative reuse of post-consumer polyethene terephthalate (PET) plastics as an alternative substrate coupled with biochar as an environmentally friendly and cost-effective modifier is described as a sustainable alternative for the production of robust electrochemical sensors. The good printability of reused plastics with graphite inks despite the chemical heterogeneity, different crystallinity, and surface roughness was demonstrated using atomic force microscopy and attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Functionalization with brewers' spent grain biochar enabled the fabrication of highly performing electrochemical sensors for nitrite detection in water having a limit of detection and a limit of quantification of 3.3 nM and 10.3 nM, respectively, with a linear range spanning from 0.01 to 500 & mu;M, and good reproducibility (RSD% 8%). The innovative intervention of the biochar-multilayer system markedly enhanced the electron transfer process at the electrode interface while simultaneously serving as an absorptive material for the investigated analyte. This work lays a foundation for repurposing end-of-life plastics for the electronics industry and presents a customizable reuse strategy aimed to keep the value of plastics in the economy and reduce waste and leakage into the natural environment

A General Simulation Framework for Supply Chain Modeling: State of the Art and Case Study

Nowadays there is a large availability of discrete event simulation software that can be easily used in different domains: from industry to supply chain, from healthcare to business management, from training to complex systems design. Simulation engines of commercial discrete event simulation software use specific rules and logics for simulation time and events management. Difficulties and limitations come up when commercial discrete event simulation software are used for modeling complex real world-systems (i.e. supply chains, industrial plants). The objective of this paper is twofold: first a state of the art on commercial discrete event simulation software and an overview on discrete event simulation models development by using general purpose programming languages are presented; then a Supply Chain Order Performance Simulator (SCOPS, developed in C++) for investigating the inventory management problem along the supply chain under different supply chain scenarios is proposed to readers.Comment: International Journal of Computer Science Issues online at http://ijcsi.org/articles/A-General-Simulation-Framework-for-Supply-Chain-Modeling-State-of-the-Art-and-Case-Study.ph

Upper gastrointestinal symptoms in autoimmune gastritis. A cross-sectional study

Autoimmune gastritis is often suspected for its hematologic findings, and rarely the diagnosis is made for the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms. Aims of this cross-sectional study were to assess in a large cohort of patients affected by autoimmune gastritis the occurrence and the pattern of gastrointestinal symptoms and to evaluate whether symptomatic patients are characterized by specific clinical features. Gastrointestinal symptoms of 379 consecutive autoimmune gastritis patients were systematically assessed and classified following Rome III Criteria. Association between symptoms and anemia pattern, positivity to gastric autoantibodies, Helicobacter pylori infection, and concomitant autoimmune disease were evaluated. In total, 70.2% of patients were female, median age 55 years (range 17-83). Pernicious anemia (53.6%), iron deficiency anemia (34.8%), gastric autoantibodies (68.8%), and autoimmune disorders (41.7%) were present. However, 56.7% of patients complained of gastrointestinal symptoms, 69.8% of them had exclusively upper symptoms, 15.8% only lower and 14.4% concomitant upper and lower symptoms. Dyspepsia, subtype postprandial distress syndrome was the most represented, being present in 60.2% of symptomatic patients. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that age <55 years (OR 1.6 [CI:1-2.5]), absence of smoking habit (OR 2.2 [CI:1.2-4]), and absence of anemia (OR 3.1 [CI:1.5-6.4]) were independent factors associated to dyspepsia. Autoimmune gastritis is associated in almost 60% of cases with gastrointestinal symptoms, in particular dyspepsia. Dyspepsia is strictly related to younger age, no smoking, and absence of anemia. © 2017 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc

Оценка готовности транспортной инфраструктуры города Санкт-Петербург для электротранспорта

The article presents an assessment of electric vehicle readiness of the transport infrastructure of the city of St. Petersburg. The relevance of the topic is obvious since today there is an active growth in the electric vehicle market, and its further development is on the official agenda of the transport industry. It is noted that the active use of electric vehicles in Russia implies the corresponding development of infrastructure, especially in such large cities as St. Petersburg.The authors have described core studies on the prerequisites and prospects for development of the electric vehicle market and relevant transport infrastructure. The analysis of various factors for popularisation of electric vehicles allowed to conclude that scientific literature does not contain fully developed methodology for assessing the rate of electric vehicle readiness of the transport infrastructure. The most significant factors influencing the scaling of electric vehicles have been identified and analysed allowing to identify criteria and indicators for assessing the electric vehicle readiness of infrastructure, to determine the weight of each criterion and to carry out an analysis of the current state of the urban infrastructure. Achieving of the objective of the research which is the assessment of electric vehicle readiness of the transport infrastructure of the city of St. Petersburg, was facilitated by authors’ system approach, analysis, integrated and expert assessments.The methodology for calculating the rate of readiness to use new transport solutions comprises assessment of four components. The analysis of scientific works helped to identify the factors influencing development and popularisation of electric vehicles. It was revealed that the most significant factor determining the pace of dissemination of electric vehicles is the availability of infrastructure.The conclusion is made about the better development in the city of such elements as operation of an electric charging stations (ECS) and an information system. The calculation of final assessment of the transport infrastructure of St. Petersburg is shown in the table.The study has allowed to obtain a general assessment of the electric vehicle readiness of the transport infrastructure, as well as to assess each element of electric vehicle system.В статье представлена оценка готовности транспортной инфраструктуры г. Санкт-Петербург для электротранспорта. Актуальность темы очевидна, так как сегодня наблюдается активный рост рынка электротранспорта, а его дальнейшее развитие входит в официальную повестку транспортной отрасли. Поясняется, что активное использование электротранспорта в России предполагает соответствующее развитие инфраструктуры, особенно в таких крупных городах, как Санкт-Петербург.Авторами дана характеристика основных исследований, посвящённых предпосылкам и перспективам развития рынка электротранспорта и транспортной инфраструктуры.Проведён анализ различных факторов популяризации электротранспорта, сделан вывод об отсутствии в научной литературе сложившейся методики оценки уровня готовности транспортной инфраструктуры для электротранспорта.Выявлены и проанализированы наиболее значимые факторы, влияющие на масштабирование электротранспорта, определены критерии и показатели оценки готовности инфраструктуры для электротранспорта, определён вес каждого критерия, проведён текущий анализ состояния инфраструктуры.Достижению цели исследования – проведению оценки готовности транспортной инфраструктуры г. Санкт-Петербурга для электротранспорта, способствовали оригинальный системный подход, анализ, интегральная и экспертная оценки.Представленная методика расчёта индекса готовности к использованию новых транспортных решений включает оценку четырёх компонентов. На основе анализа научных работ выделены факторы, влияющие на развитие и популяризацию электротранспорта. Выявлено, что наиболее существенным фактором, определяющим темпы масштабирования электротранспорта, является наличие инфраструктуры.Сделан вывод о наибольшем развитии таких элементов, как работа электрической заправочной станции (ЭЗС) и информационной системы. Расчёт итоговой оценки транспортной инфраструктуры г. Санкт-Петербург приведён в таблице.На основе проведённого анализа была получена общая оценка готовности транспортной инфраструктуры к масштабированию электротранспорта, а также оценки каждого элемента электротранспорта

FEM array control software user's guide

Finite Element method (FEM) Array Control Software (FACS) is a user-friendly, interactive software package designed to provide a user interface to the FEM. The use of the FACS commands are described

Analysis of key trends and ways to improve the marketing activities of domestic manufacturers of municipal equipment

The results of the marketing analysis of the market of special equipment for housing and communal services of Russia are presented. Market trends have been analysed, the sales dynamics of municipal machinery have been characterised and segments of the product portfolio of domestic manufacturers have been identified. The article analyzes the features of the development of two key product segments - the segment of snowplows and snow loaders, as well as the segment of garbage trucks. It is proved that they have a high market potential and objective prerequisites for import substitution, but they need to improve marketing support. The authors proposed and justified a set of measures to improve marketing activities, including development of financial instruments to support customers, expansion of the product line, improvement of distribution strategies, optimisation of call centers and the development of exports using state support tools