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Journal of Environmental Management Jul 2023Resource depletion and environmental pollution are increasingly a matter of concern for their adverse effects on ecosystems, human health, and the economy. Circular... (Review)
Review
Resource depletion and environmental pollution are increasingly a matter of concern for their adverse effects on ecosystems, human health, and the economy. Circular Economy (CE) practices can help us address these challenges. This paper proposes a composite circularity index (CI) to assess the level of implementation of CE practices. The main advantage of the proposed index is its ability to combine multiple indicators of circularity for different units operating in a given sector (given as inputs), using a 'Benefit of the Doubt' model. This new model is innovative in the manner it deals with ordinal scales and also by considering both relative and absolute performance indices. These indices are computed using mathematical programming tools, building on ideas from Data Envelopment Analysis models. Although the model can be applied to any sector, this work addresses the hotel industry in particular. The selection of indicators for this CI was based on seven blocks of the Circular Economy Action Plan and a literature review of circular practices. An application of the proposed index is performed by using data from Portuguese and Spanish hotels. The proposed CI allows the identification of the organizations with the best and worst performance in implementing the CE practices and clarifying the benchmarks they could follow to improve their level of circularity. Moreover, the index analysis also provides specific targets for improvement, indicating which circular practices should be improved for the lower performers to reach the implementation levels of the best performers.
Topics: Humans; Ecosystem; Industry; Environmental Pollution
PubMed: 36966633
DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117752 -
IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis... Sep 2023Convolutional Neural Networks are the de facto models for image recognition. However 3D CNNs, the straight forward extension of 2D CNNs for video recognition, have not...
Convolutional Neural Networks are the de facto models for image recognition. However 3D CNNs, the straight forward extension of 2D CNNs for video recognition, have not achieved the same success on standard action recognition benchmarks. One of the main reasons for this reduced performance of 3D CNNs is the increased computational complexity requiring large scale annotated datasets to train them in scale. 3D kernel factorization approaches have been proposed to reduce the complexity of 3D CNNs. Existing kernel factorization approaches follow hand-designed and hard-wired techniques. In this paper we propose Gate-Shift-Fuse (GSF), a novel spatio-temporal feature extraction module which controls interactions in spatio-temporal decomposition and learns to adaptively route features through time and combine them in a data dependent manner. GSF leverages grouped spatial gating to decompose input tensor and channel weighting to fuse the decomposed tensors. GSF can be inserted into existing 2D CNNs to convert them into an efficient and high performing spatio-temporal feature extractor, with negligible parameter and compute overhead. We perform an extensive analysis of GSF using two popular 2D CNN families and achieve state-of-the-art or competitive performance on five standard action recognition benchmarks.
PubMed: 37074899
DOI: 10.1109/TPAMI.2023.3268134 -
Frontiers in Neuroscience 2023A spiking neural network (SNN) is a bottom-up tool used to describe information processing in brain microcircuits. It is becoming a crucial neuromorphic computational...
A spiking neural network (SNN) is a bottom-up tool used to describe information processing in brain microcircuits. It is becoming a crucial neuromorphic computational model. Spike-timing-dependent plasticity (STDP) is an unsupervised brain-like learning rule implemented in many SNNs and neuromorphic chips. However, a significant performance gap exists between ideal model simulation and neuromorphic implementation. The performance of STDP learning in neuromorphic chips deteriorates because the resolution of synaptic efficacy in such chips is generally restricted to 6 bits or less, whereas simulations employ the entire 64-bit floating-point precision available on digital computers. Previously, we introduced a bio-inspired learning rule named adaptive STDP and demonstrated numerical simulation that adaptive STDP (using only 4-bit fixed-point synaptic efficacy) performs similarly to STDP learning (using 64-bit floating-point precision) in a noisy spike pattern detection model. Herein, we present the experimental results demonstrating the performance of adaptive STDP learning. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that demonstrates unsupervised noisy spatiotemporal spike pattern detection to perform well and maintain the simulation performance on a mixed-signal CMOS neuromorphic chip with low-resolution synaptic efficacy. The chip was designed in Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) 250 nm CMOS technology node and comprises a soma circuit and 256 synapse circuits along with their learning circuitry.
PubMed: 37521704
DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1203956 -
The Hastings Center Report Sep 2023Building trust between academic medical centers and certain communities they depend on in the research process is hard, particularly when those communities consist of...
Building trust between academic medical centers and certain communities they depend on in the research process is hard, particularly when those communities consist of minoritized or historically marginalized populations. Some believe that engagement activities like the creation of advisory boards, town halls, or a research workforce that looks more like community members will establish or reestablish trust between academic medical centers and racialized communities. However, without systematic approaches to dismantle racism, those well-intended actions become public performativity, and trust building will fail. In this essay, we draw upon foundational ethical principles of trust, distrust, and trust building; apply the concept of bounded justice to performative trust acts; and center the works of Black and Indigenous feminist bioethicists to revisit some of the wisdom and valuable lessons they have contributed. Rebuilding trust is hard to do because people and institutions are often not honest about how hard it is and there is no simple box-checking task that can disentangle our society's injustices, but there are steps to take in this direction. Individuals and institutions can recognize valuable relevant work that has already been written, partake in critical reflection, and then apply insights gained to take both small and sustainable steps toward transformational change and deeper trust.
Topics: Humans; Trust; Racism; Ethicists
PubMed: 37963054
DOI: 10.1002/hast.1527 -
Current Opinion in Insect Science Feb 2024Studies of division of labor have focused mainly on individual workers performing tasks. Here I propose a shift in perspective: colonies perform tasks, and task... (Review)
Review
Studies of division of labor have focused mainly on individual workers performing tasks. Here I propose a shift in perspective: colonies perform tasks, and task performance should be evaluated at the colony level. I then review studies from the recent literature from this perspective, on topics including evaluating task performance; specialization and efficiency; flexibility and task performance; response threshold models; and variation in behavior arising from diverse sensory experiences and learning. The use of specialized workers is only one of a variety of strategies that colonies may follow in performing tasks. The ability of colonies to produce consistent responses and to compensate for changes in the labor pool supports the idea of a task allocation system that precedes specialization. The colony-level perspective raises new questions about how tasks are done and the strategies used to improve colony task performance.
Topics: Animals; Social Behavior; Behavior, Animal; Insecta
PubMed: 38109969
DOI: 10.1016/j.cois.2023.101155 -
American Journal of Physical Medicine &... Jul 2023This study established the age-related performance trajectories in Para powerlifters, thereby presenting valuable information for athlete development.
OBJECTIVE
This study established the age-related performance trajectories in Para powerlifters, thereby presenting valuable information for athlete development.
DESIGN
Data on athlete date of birth, body mass, and weight lifted in competition were analyzed for 2079 athletes between 1994 and 2019.
RESULTS
Age-related performance trajectories showed that men and women lift their heaviest weights in competition at 36 and 41 yrs of age, respectively. This correspond to the mean age of competitors in the heaviest bodyweight categories at elite competitions (men 36 yrs, women 43 yrs), who were older than competitors in lighter bodyweight categories. It is possible that para powerlifters "move up" bodyweight categories as they get older and before lifting their heaviest weights in competition. High-performing athletes lifted their heaviest weight in competition 2.6 yrs earlier than lower performing peers, and the best performances in most bodyweight categories were achieved by athletes between 31 and 35 yrs of age.
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that para powerlifters should reach their peak performance in their early to mid-30s and before age-related changes to neural and hormonal processes impact muscular strength. This information can help coaches and athletes evaluate their strategies for achieving success in para powerlifting.
Topics: Male; Humans; Female; Adult; Weight Lifting; Muscle Strength; Athletes
PubMed: 35687764
DOI: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000002051 -
Journal of Strength and Conditioning... Dec 2023Thompson, AG, Ramadan, JH, Alexander, JS, and Galster, SM. Psychophysiology, cognitive function, and musculoskeletal status holistically explain tactical performance...
Thompson, AG, Ramadan, JH, Alexander, JS, and Galster, SM. Psychophysiology, cognitive function, and musculoskeletal status holistically explain tactical performance readiness and resilience. J Strength Cond Res 37(12): 2443-2456, 2023-This study aimed to advance the techniques used in quantifying holistic readiness and resilience within military personnel. Tactical performers, instructors, and applied human performance scientists designed a weeklong competition to reflect realistic operational demands, test specific underlying performance constructs, and elucidate how modernized assessments could drive programmatic action. By placing first in their installation's local preliminary competition, 34 active-duty Marines earned the opportunity to compete in a series of 7 intense events for the title of champion. All inferential statistics were set to a p ≤ 0.05 level of significance. Morning heart rate variability identified top from bottom quartile finishers before a single competition event. By day 3, morning countermovement jump force production (normalized reactive strength index-modified) and cognitive psychomotor vigilance were significant indicators of performance resilience and final competition group rank. Heart rate variability also tracked performer readiness across time, identifying within-group and between-group differences among top, bottom, and field. Collectively, these holistic assessments proved significant markers of acute and chronic tactical performance capabilities. In summary, the incorporation of psychophysiological monitoring, cognitive performance testing, and musculoskeletal force plate evaluations could help inform selection and support needs, drive workload or recovery modulation, and provide critical metrics for evaluating training efficacy and operational readiness. Defense organizations should consider routinely incorporating and actioning similar holistic status monitoring strategies in training and operational settings. Moreover, leveraging other tactical competitions may provide key opportunities for advancing the standard of practice through additional scientific investigation.
Topics: Humans; Cognition; Wakefulness; Military Personnel
PubMed: 38015734
DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004580 -
MedEdPORTAL : the Journal of Teaching... 2023Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3 is associated with a high degree of progression to cervical cancer. Its risk is markedly reduced after excisional treatment. Hence,...
INTRODUCTION
Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3 is associated with a high degree of progression to cervical cancer. Its risk is markedly reduced after excisional treatment. Hence, it is critical that providers accurately diagnose and treat this condition. We present a simulation-based module focused on resident mastery of performance of colposcopy and loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP).
METHODS
Learners were obstetrics and gynecology residents. Guidelines on performance of colposcopy and LEEP were presented prior to module participation. We used pelvic task trainers, kielbasa sausages, and routine equipment for performance of colposcopy and LEEP. Colposcopy and LEEP sessions each lasted 30 minutes. Learners completed questionnaires before and after regarding comfort level on aspects of colposcopy and LEEP performance and level of agreement with statements on performing procedures independently. Comfort levels and degrees of agreement were based on 5-point Likert scales (1 = 3 = 5 = respectively).
RESULTS
Modules were held in November 2021 and May 2022. Thirty-four residents participated. Mean comfort scores significantly increased from 3.1 to 4.3 ( < .001) before and after the module for all steps. There was an increase in level of agreement with statements on being able to independently perform colposcopy (2.2 to 3.5, < .01) and LEEP (2.9 to 3.6, = .06).
DISCUSSION
Simulation-based modules on performance of colposcopy and LEEP significantly increased resident learner comfort in the performance of these procedures. Comfort in performing these procedures is important in providing comprehensive gynecologic care.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Colposcopy; Electrosurgery; Computer Simulation; Obstetrics; Pelvis
PubMed: 37691878
DOI: 10.15766/mep_2374-8265.11344 -
IEEE Journal of Biomedical and Health... Dec 2023Retinal vessel segmentation (RVS) is crucial in medical image analysis as it helps identify and monitor retinal diseases. Deep learning approaches have shown promising...
Retinal vessel segmentation (RVS) is crucial in medical image analysis as it helps identify and monitor retinal diseases. Deep learning approaches have shown promising results for RVS, but designing optimal neural network architecture is challenging and time-consuming. Neural architecture search (NAS) is a recent technique that automates the design of neural network architectures within a predefined search space. This study proposes a new NAS method for U-shaped networks, MedUNAS, that discovers deep neural networks with high segmentation performance and lower inference time for RVS problem. We perform opposition-based differential evolution (ODE) and genetic algorithm (GA) to search for the best network structure and compare discrete and continuous encoding strategies on the proposed search space. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first NAS study that performs ODE for RVS problems. The results show that the MedUNAS ODE and GA yield the best and second-best results regarding segmentation performance with less than 50% of the parameters of U-shaped state-of-the-art methods on most of the compared datasets. In addition, the proposed methods outperform the baseline U-Net on four datasets with networks with up to 15 times fewer parameters. Furthermore, ablation studies are performed to evaluate the generalizability of the generated networks to medical image segmentation problems that differ from the trained domain, revealing that such networks can be effectively adapted to new tasks with fine-tuning. The MedUNAS can be a valuable tool for automated and efficient RVS in clinical practice.
Topics: Humans; Knowledge; Neural Networks, Computer; Retinal Diseases; Retinal Vessels; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
PubMed: 37703164
DOI: 10.1109/JBHI.2023.3314981 -
Frontiers in Psychology 2023Recent investigations on music performances have shown the relevance of singers' body motion for pedagogical as well as performance purposes. However, little is known...
Recent investigations on music performances have shown the relevance of singers' body motion for pedagogical as well as performance purposes. However, little is known about how the perception of voice-matching or task complexity affects choristers' body motion during ensemble singing. This study focussed on the body motion of choral singers who perform in duo along with a pre-recorded tune presented over a loudspeaker. Specifically, we examined the effects of the perception of voice-matching, operationalized in terms of sound spectral envelope, and task complexity on choristers' body motion. Fifteen singers with advanced choral experience first manipulated the spectral components of a pre-recorded short tune composed for the study, by choosing the settings they felt most and least together with. Then, they performed the tune in unison (i.e., singing the same melody simultaneously) and in canon (i.e., singing the same melody but at a temporal delay) with the chosen filter settings. Motion data of the choristers' upper body and audio of the repeated performances were collected and analyzed. Results show that the settings perceived as least together relate to extreme differences between the spectral components of the sound. The singers' wrists and torso motion was more periodic, their upper body posture was more open, and their bodies were more distant from the music stand when singing in unison than in canon. These findings suggest that unison singing promotes an expressive-periodic motion of the upper body.
PubMed: 38187406
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1220904