Modeling Methods for Discrete Choice Analysis

This paper introduces new forms, sampling and estimation approaches fordiscrete choice models. The new models include behavioral specifications oflatent class choice models, multinomial probit, hybrid logit, andnon-parametric methods. Recent contributions also include new specializedchoice based sample designs that permit greater efficiency in datacollection. Finally, the paper describes recent developments in the use ofsimulation methods for model estimation. These developments are designed toallow the applications of discrete choice models to a wider variety ofdiscrete choice problems.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/47225/1/11002_2004_Article_138116.pd

Ethnomedical survey of plants used by the Orang Asli in Kampung Bawong, Perak, West Malaysia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A qualitative ethnomedical survey was carried out among a local Orang Asli tribe to gather information on the use of medicinal plants in the region of Kampung Bawong, Perak of West Malaysia in order to evaluate the potential medicinal uses of local plants used in curing different diseases and illnesses.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Sixteen informants ranging in age from 35 to 65 years were interviewed. A total of 62 species of plants used by Orang Asli are described in this study based on field surveys and direct face to face communication. These plants belonged to 36 families and are used to treat a wide range of discomforts and diseases.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results of this study showed that majority of the Orang Asli, of Kampung Bawong are still dependent on local plants as their primary source of medication. As the first ethnomedical study in this area, publishing this work is expected to open up more studies to identify and assess the pharmacological and toxicological action of the plants from this region.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Preservation and recording of ethnobotanical and ethnomedical uses of traditional medicinal plants is an indispensable obligation for sustaining the medicinal and cultural resource of mankind. Extensive research on such traditional plants is of prime importance to scientifically validate their ethnomedical claims.</p

A nationwide study of adults admitted to hospital with diabetic ketoacidosis or hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state and COVID‐19

AimsTo investigate characteristics of people hospitalized with coronavirus-disease-2019 (COVID-19) and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or hyperosmolar hyperglycaemic state (HHS), and to identify risk factors for mortality and intensive care admission.Materials and methodsRetrospective cohort study with anonymized data from the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists nationwide audit of hospital admissions with COVID-19 and diabetes, from start of pandemic to November 2021. The primary outcome was inpatient mortality. DKA and HHS were adjudicated against national criteria. Age-adjusted odds ratios were calculated using logistic regression.ResultsIn total, 85 confirmed DKA cases, and 20 HHS, occurred among 4073 people (211 type 1 diabetes, 3748 type 2 diabetes, 114 unknown type) hospitalized with COVID-19. Mean (SD) age was 60 (18.2) years in DKA and 74 (11.8) years in HHS (p < .001). A higher proportion of patients with HHS than with DKA were of non-White ethnicity (71.4% vs 39.0% p = .038). Mortality in DKA was 36.8% (n = 57) and 3.8% (n = 26) in type 2 and type 1 diabetes respectively. Among people with type 2 diabetes and DKA, mortality was lower in insulin users compared with non-users [21.4% vs. 52.2%; age-adjusted odds ratio 0.13 (95% CI 0.03-0.60)]. Crude mortality was lower in DKA than HHS (25.9% vs. 65.0%, p = .001) and in statin users versus non-users (36.4% vs. 100%; p = .035) but these were not statistically significant after age adjustment.ConclusionsHospitalization with COVID-19 and adjudicated DKA is four times more common than HHS but both associate with substantial mortality. There is a strong association of previous insulin therapy with survival in type 2 diabetes-associated DKA

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Modeling heterogeneity in discrete choice proceses : application to travel demand

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 1995.Includes bibliographical references (p. 337-360).by Dinesh Ambat Gopinath.Ph.D

Using Augmented Reality technology to improve health and safety for workers in Human Robot Collaboration environment: A literature review

Human Robot Collaboration (HRC) allows humans to operate more efficiently by reducing their human effort. Robots can do the majority of difficult and repetitive activities with or without human input. There is a risk of accidents and crashes when people and robots operate together closely. In this area, safety is extremely important. There are various techniques to increase worker safety, and one of the ways is to use Augmented Reality (AR). AR implementation in industries is still in its early stages. The goal of this study is to see how employees' safety may be enhanced when AR is used in an HRC setting. A literature review is carried out, as well as a case study in which managers and engineers from Swedish firms are questioned about their experiences with AR-assisted safety. This is a qualitative exploratory study with the goal of gathering extensive insight into the field, since the goal is to explore approaches for AR to improve safety. Inductive qualitative analysis was used to examine the data. Visualisation, awareness, ergonomics, and communication are the most critical areas where AR may improve safety, according to the studies. When doing a task, augmented reality aids the user in visualizing instructions and information, allowing them to complete the task more quickly and without mistakes. When working near robots, AR enhances awareness and predicts mishaps, as well as worker trust in a collaborative atmosphere. When AR is utilized to engage with collaborative robots, it causes less physical and psychological challenges than when traditional approaches are employed. AR allows operators to communicate with robots without having to touch them, as well as make adjustments. As a result, accidents are avoided and safety is ensured. There is a gap between theoretical study findings and data gathered from interviews in real time. Even though AR and HRC are not new topics, and many studies are being conducted on them, there are key aspects that influence their adoption in sectors. Due to considerations such as education, experience, suitability, system complexity, time, and technology, HRC and AR are employed less for assuring safety in industries by managers in various firms. In this study, possible future solutions to these challenges are also presented

Using Augmented Reality technology to improve health and safety for workers in Human Robot Collaboration environment: A literature review

Human Robot Collaboration (HRC) allows humans to operate more efficiently by reducing their human effort. Robots can do the majority of difficult and repetitive activities with or without human input. There is a risk of accidents and crashes when people and robots operate together closely. In this area, safety is extremely important. There are various techniques to increase worker safety, and one of the ways is to use Augmented Reality (AR). AR implementation in industries is still in its early stages. The goal of this study is to see how employees' safety may be enhanced when AR is used in an HRC setting. A literature review is carried out, as well as a case study in which managers and engineers from Swedish firms are questioned about their experiences with AR-assisted safety. This is a qualitative exploratory study with the goal of gathering extensive insight into the field, since the goal is to explore approaches for AR to improve safety. Inductive qualitative analysis was used to examine the data. Visualisation, awareness, ergonomics, and communication are the most critical areas where AR may improve safety, according to the studies. When doing a task, augmented reality aids the user in visualizing instructions and information, allowing them to complete the task more quickly and without mistakes. When working near robots, AR enhances awareness and predicts mishaps, as well as worker trust in a collaborative atmosphere. When AR is utilized to engage with collaborative robots, it causes less physical and psychological challenges than when traditional approaches are employed. AR allows operators to communicate with robots without having to touch them, as well as make adjustments. As a result, accidents are avoided and safety is ensured. There is a gap between theoretical study findings and data gathered from interviews in real time. Even though AR and HRC are not new topics, and many studies are being conducted on them, there are key aspects that influence their adoption in sectors. Due to considerations such as education, experience, suitability, system complexity, time, and technology, HRC and AR are employed less for assuring safety in industries by managers in various firms. In this study, possible future solutions to these challenges are also presented

Hydrodynamic and geomorphic controls on the morphology of an island ecosystem in the Vembanad Lake, west coast of India

Textural characteristics of the surficial sediments around Perumbalam Island located within the Vembanad Lake, southwest coast of India, were studied on a seasonal basis to understand the geomorphic response of the region. Sediment grain size increased from the northern to southern end of the island, indicating a progressive sorting by tidal currents. In contrast, an increase in the clay and organic carbon content in the sediments of the northern part of region suggests that their distribution is controlled by the productivity of the overlying water column. The evolution of this island is believed to be due to fluvial inputs from Muvattupuzha River. The braid shape of the island is attributed to the high-energy flow along the wedge of the estuary facing the river mouth, which has resulted in a build up of land along the southern boundary. The intense accretion on the southeastern and western sides of the island observed through satellite imagery reveals the fluvial influence on the evolution and morphology of this coastal lagoon