An Improved CREAM Model Based on DS Evidence Theory and DEMATEL

Cognitive Reliability and Error Analysis Method(CREAM)is widely used in human reliability analysis(HRA).It defines nine common performance conditions(CPCs),which represent the factors thatmay affect human reliability and are used to modify the cognitive failure probability(CFP).However,the levels of CPCs are usually determined by domain experts,whichmay be subjective and uncertain.What’smore,the classicCREAMassumes that the CPCs are independent,which is unrealistic.Ignoring the dependence among CPCs will result in repeated calculations of the influence of the CPCs on CFP and lead to unreasonable reliability evaluation.To address the issue of uncertain information modeling and processing,this paper introduces evidence theory to evaluate the CPC levels in specific scenarios.To address the issue of dependence modeling,the Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory(DEMATEL)method is used to process the dependence among CPCs and calculate the relative weights of each CPC,thus modifying the multiplier of the CPCs.The detailed process of the proposed method is illustrated in this paper and the CFP estimated by the proposed method is more reasonable.

Genetic Evidence for Causal Association Between Hypertension and Chronic Pain:A Bidirectional Two-Sample Mendelian Randomization Study

Objective The extent to which the association between hypertension and chronic pain in observational studies is either causally linked or influenced by other shared risk factors has not been substantially addressed.In the present study,Mendelian randomization(MR)was employed to examine the potential causal relationship between hypertension and risk of chronic pain.Methods The study data were derived from the pooled dataset of the genome-wide association study(GWAS),enabling the evaluation of the causal effects of hypertension on various types of chronic pain including chronic headache as well as chest,abdominal,joint,back,limb,and multisite chronic pain.We performed a bidirectional two-sample MR analysis using random effect inverse variance weighting(IVW),MR-Egger,weighted median,and weighted mode,quantified by odds ratio(OR).Results Genetically predicted essential hypertension was associated with an increased risk of chronic headache(OR=1.007,95%CI:1.003-1.011,P=0.002)and limb pain(OR=1.219,95%CI:1.033-1.439,P=0.019).No potential causal associations were identified between chronic pain and essential hypertension in the reverse direction MR(P>0.05).In addition,there was no potential causal association between secondary hypertension and chronic pain(P>0.05).Conclusion This study provided genetic evidence that a unidirectional causal relationship exists between essential hypertension and the increased risks of chronic headache and limb pain,and no causal relationship was found between secondary hypertension and chronic pain.These findings offer theoretical underpinnings for future research on managing hypertension and chronic pain.

An Evidence-Based CoCoSo Framework with Double Hierarchy Linguistic Data for Viable Selection of Hydrogen Storage Methods

Hydrogen is the new age alternative energy source to combat energy demand and climate change.Storage of hydrogen is vital for a nation’s growth.Works of literature provide different methods for storing the produced hydrogen,and the rational selection of a viable method is crucial for promoting sustainability and green practices.Typically,hydrogen storage is associated with diverse sustainable and circular economy(SCE)criteria.As a result,the authors consider the situation a multi-criteria decision-making(MCDM)problem.Studies infer that previous models for hydrogen storage method(HSM)selection(i)do not consider preferences in the natural language form;(ii)weights of experts are not methodically determined;(iii)hesitation of experts during criteria weight assessment is not effectively explored;and(iv)three-stage solution of a suitable selection of HSM is unexplored.Driven by these gaps,in this paper,authors put forward a new integrated framework,which considers double hierarchy linguistic information for rating,criteria importance through inter-criteria correlation(CRITIC)for expert weight calculation,evidence-based Bayesian method for criteria weight estimation,and combined compromise solution(CoCoSo)for ranking HSMs.The applicability of the developed framework is testified by using a case example of HSM selection in India.Sensitivity and comparative analysis reveal the merits and limitations of the developed framework.

Sedimentary environment and organic matter accumulation of Wufeng-Longmaxi shales,southwest Yangtze Plate,China:Insights from geochemical and petrological evidence

Upper Ordovician-Lower Silurian Wufeng-Longmaxi Formation is the most developed strata of shale gas in southern China.Due to the complex sedimentary environment adjacent to the Kangdian Uplift,the favorable area for organic-rich shale development is still undetermined.The authors,therefore,focus on the mechanism of accumulation of organic matter and the characterization of the sedimentary environment of the Wufeng-Longmaxi Shales to have a more complete understanding and new discovering of organic matter enrichment and favorable area in the marginal region around Sichuan Basin.Multiple methods were applied in this study,including thin section identification,scanning electron microscopy(SEM)observations and X-ray diffraction(XRD),and elemental analysis on outcrop samples.Five lithofacies have been defined according to the mineralogical and petrological analyses,including mudstone,bioclastic limestone,silty shale,dolomitic shale,and carbonaceous siliceous shale.The paleo-environments have been reconstructed and the organic enrichment mechanism has been identified as a reduced environment and high productivity.The Wufeng period is generally a suboxic environment and the early Longmaxi period is a reducing environment based on geochemical characterization.High dolomite content in the study area is accompanied by high TOC,which may potentially indicate the restricted anoxic environment formed by biological flourishing in shallower water.And for the area close to the Kangdian Uplift,the shale gas generation capability is comparatively favorable.The geochemical parameters implied that new favorable areas for shale gas exploration could be targeted,and more shale gas resources in the mountain-basin transitional zone might be identified in the future.

Levels of evidence and grades of recommendation supporting European society for medical oncology clinical practice guidelines

Background:The European Society for Medical Oncology(ESMO)guidelines are among the most comprehensive and widely used clinical practice guidelines(CPGs)globally.However,the level of scientific evidence supporting ESMO CPG recommendations has not been systematically investigated.This study assessed ESMO CPG levels of evidence(LOE)and grades of recommendations(GOR),as well as their trends over time across various cancer settings.Methods:We manually extracted every recommendation with the Infectious Diseases Society of America(IDSA)classification from each CPG.We examined the distribution of LOE and GOR in all available ESMO CPG guidelines across different topics and cancer types.Results:Among the 1,823 recommendations in the current CPG,30%were classified as LOEⅠ,and 43%were classified as GOR A.Overall,there was a slight decrease in LOEⅠ(−2%)and an increase in the proportion of GOR A(+1%)in the current CPG compared to previous versions.The proportion of GOR A recommendations based on higher levels of evidence such as randomized trials(LOEⅠ–Ⅱ)shows a decrease(71%vs.63%,p=0.009)while recommendations based on lower levels of evidence(LOEⅢ–Ⅴ)show an increase(29%vs.37%,p=0.01)between previous and current version.In the current versions,the highest proportion of LOEⅠ(42%)was found in recommendations related to pharmacotherapy,while the highest proportion of GOR A recommendations was found in the areas of pathology(50%)and diagnostic(50%)recommendations.Significant variability in LOEⅠand GOR A recommendations and their changes over time was observed across different cancer types.Conclusion:One-third of the current ESMO CPG recommendations are supported by the highest level of evidence.More well-designed randomized clinical trials are needed to increase the proportion of LOEⅠand GOR A recommendations,ultimately leading to improved outcomes for cancer patients.

Are case reports valuable?Exploring their role in evidence based medicine and patient care

Case reports,often overlooked in evidence-based medicine(EBM),play a pivotal role in healthcare research.They provide unique insights into rare conditions,novel treatments,and adverse effects,serving as valuable educational tools and generating new hypothesis.Despite their limitations in generalizability,case reports contribute significantly to evidence-based practice by offering detailed clinical information and fostering critical thinking among healthcare professionals.By acknowledging their limitations and adhering to reporting guidelines,case reports can contribute significantly to medical knowledge and patient care within the evolving landscape of EBM.This editorial explores the intrinsic value of case reports in EBM and patient care.

Real-World Evidence in Localized Pancreatic: Coping with Uncertainty in Unselected Populations

Background: Localized pancreatic cancer, including resectable (R), borderline resectable (BR) and locally advanced unresectable disease (LAU), is considered in clinical guidelines for diverse treatment options based on clinical trials in selected populations. Hence, exploring with real world evidence (RWE) clinicians’ preferences for treatment options and their results seems pertinent. Methods: In a set of consecutive patients with localized pancreatic cancer assisted in a third level hospital from January 2013 to December 2022, medical records, symptoms, diagnostic process, distribution between subtypes, and treatment plans, with safety and efficacy results, were assessed. Results: A total of 152 patients with localized disease were included (43.4% R, 21.0% BR, 33.6% LAU). The population characteristics exemplified differences between daily practice and clinical trials. Tumor location and symptoms were as expected. Treatment plan was conditioned by PS or comorbidities in 23.0% of patients. In patients with R disease, surgery followed by different adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) regimes was the antineoplastic treatment of choice (64.8%) with efficacy results (OS 37.5 months;95% CI 18.4 - 56.7), in the range of contemporary standards. The common use of neoadjuvant CT for BR disease (94.4%), with surgery in 50% of them, and its results (OS 30.8 months;95% CI 10.5 - 51.2) reflected current controversies of treatment recommendations and evolution in this scenario. Paliative CT with or without radiotherapy was the standard specific treatment in LAU disease (95.1%) with survival results (PFS: 10.8 months;95% CI 8.8 - 12.7. OS: 20.3 months;95% CI 13.5 - 27.2) that justify the distinct character and the specific study of this entity. Conclusion: RWE for localized pancreatic cancer aroused from the analysis of this population confirms the distinct nature of patients assisted in daily practice, as well as mirrors the complexity of decision making in clinical assumptions in which achieving stronger evidence should be paramount.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in type 2 diabetes:Emerging evidence of benefit of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors agonists and incretin-based therapies

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD)is a global epidemic,affecting more than half of the people living with type 2 diabetes(T2D).The relationship between NAFLD and T2D is bidirectional and the presence of one perpetuates the other,which significantly increases the hepatic as well as extrahepatic complications.Until recently,there was no approved pharmacological treatment for NAFLD/nonalcoholic steatohepatitits(NASH).However,there is evidence that drugs used for diabetes may have beneficial effects on NAFLD.Insulin sensitizers acting through peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor(PPAR)modulation act on multiple levels of NAFLD pathogenesis.Pioglitazone(PPARγ agonist)and saroglitazar(PPARα/γagonist)are particularly beneficial and recommended by several authoritative bodies for treating NAFLD in T2D,although data on biopsyproven NASH are lacking with the latter.Initial data on elafibanor(PPARα/δ agonist)and Lanifibranor(pan PPAR agonist)are promising.On the other hand,incretin therapies based on glucagon-like peptide-1(GLP-1)receptor agonists(GLP-1RA)and dual-and triple-hormone receptor co-agonists reported impressive weight loss and may have anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic properties.GLP-1 RAs have shown beneficial effects on NAFLD/NASH and more studies on potential direct effects on liver function by dual-and triple-agonists are required.Furthermore,the long-term safety of these therapies in NAFLD needs to be established.Collaborative efforts among healthcare providers such as primary care doctors,hepatologists,and endocrinologists are warranted for selecting patients for the best possible management of NAFLD in T2D.

Preceptors'experiences in guiding nursing students to use research findings and to implement evidence-based practice

Objective:Evidence-based practices(EBPs)have been taught to students by identifying the best evidence/evidence from research results.However,the experiences of Indonesian nurse preceptors in helping students implement research findings have not been explored thoroughly.This study aimed to explore Indonesian nurse preceptors in guiding nursing students to use research findings.Methods:This study used interpretive phenomenology analysis that involves 9 nurse preceptors from hospitals in West Kalimantan,Indonesia.Semi-structured in-depth interviews were recorded and then transcribed verbatim.Results:Three themes were generated during the analysis:“types of student supervision,”“issues during supervision,”and“the need for research literacy and supervision.”Conclusions:Nurse preceptors need support to supervise the nursing students to use research findings.In addition to upgrading nursing skills,nurse preceptors must receive training in research and its utilization.Developing an appropriate strategy to assist students in using research findings will enhance the promotion of evidence-based nursing practices on a daily basis.

Security Risk Assessment in Container Terminals:Empirical Evidence from Greece

The most prominent risk assessment techniques are founded on the values of measuring and controlling the frequency and the consequences of risks in order to assure an“acceptable level”of“safeness”mainly in the lines of environmental,health and hygiene and port product issues.This paper examines security risk assessment approaches within the emerging role of ports.This paper contributes to the current literature by considering the ports of Greece as a case in point and by measuring the degree of its security risk orientation based on certain valid risk factors drawn from the current literature.Moreover,it presents a security risk assessment methodology into the domain of port container terminals.Their potential for ports were quantitatively and qualitatively assessed by discussing issues of security approaches within the maritime industry,in order to facilitate improvement strategies.A two-dimension empirical study was conducted,in a time range of ten years(2010-2020)in order to provide evidence regarding security risk assessment in the port container terminal of Thessaloniki,in Greece.The findings of this study have significant strategic policy implications and shed more light on the role of security risks in the overall risk orientation of container terminals in practice.Finally,further research directions in security risk in ports are proposed.

Summary of the Best Evidence for Tube Feeding Intolerance in Critically Ill Children

Objective:To summarize the evidence of tube feeding intolerance in critically ill children,aiming to provide evidence-based information for clinical nursing staff.Methods:Evidence search was done in Chinese and English databases to guide network and professional associations at home and abroad.The search time limit was from January 2014 to January 2024,nearly 10 years of relevant literature,mainly including guidelines,consensus,expert advice,best practice,evidence summary,system evaluation,and meta-analysis.Literature quality evaluation and evidence extraction were independently performed by two researchers.Results:This paper included 13 articles,including three guidelines,three systematic evaluations,three expert opinions,and four expert consensus.Twenty-six pieces of evidence were summarized from 10 aspects of feeding intolerance definition,team building,nutritional assessment,nutritional preparation,feeding protocol,feeding route,feeding management,pipeline management,gastric residual volume,and drug application.Conclusion:This paper summarized the evidence of tube feeding intolerance in critically ill children,which can provide evidence-based information for clinical practice.The abdominal signs should be closely observed when evaluating feeding intolerance,focusing on the prevention and reduction of feeding interruption.

Research on the applicable problems of the rules of the exclusion of the illegal evidences

With the full implementation of the Code of Criminal Procedure, the application of the rules of the exclusion of the illegal evidences is more inclined to the protection of the human rights. However, in the process of the implementation of the new laws, the problems in view of the rules of the exclusion of the illegal evidences are also prominent, which are mainly reflected in the ambiguity of the scope of the application, the start of the program of the exclusion, and the formalization the trial certificates and other aspects. Therefore, in this article, the author starts from the concept of the illegal evidences, and expounds the principles of the exclusion and the abilities of the evidences, and especially explores the abilities of the evidences and the probative forces. From the differences between the two, the author strictly proves the virtualization of the standards, in order to provide the positive solutions for strengthening the exclusionary procedure of the illegal evidences.

Combination method of conflict evidences based on evidence similarity

Aiming at the problem that the traditional Dempster Shafer (D-S) evidence theory cannot deal with conflicted evidences effectively and correctly, this paper points out that the key issue of this problem is to measure the degree of conflict between evidences correctly after analyzing various improved methods. The existing evidence conflict measure methods are analyzed, and a new evidence conflict measure method called evidence similarity measure based on the Tanimoto measure is proposed, while a new evidence combination method is proposed on the basis of evidence similarity measure. Firstly, the conflict degrees between evidences are obtained through the evidence similarity measure. Then the evidence sources are modified based on the credibility of different evidences and the weights of conflicted parts of evidences on different focal elements are determined. Finally, the fusion result is obtained by this method. Numerical examples show that the proposed method can effectively fuse evidences when evidences are consistent or highly conflicted, and it has a fast convergence speed, a high degree of accuracy and good adaptability.

A new fusion approach based on distance of evidences

Based on the framework of evidence theory, data fusion aims at obtaining a single Basic Probability Assignment (BPA) function by combining several belief functions from distinct information sources. Dempster’s rule of combination is the most popular rule of combinations, but it is a poor solution for the management of the conflict between various information sources at the normalization step. Even when it faces high conflict information, the classical Dempster-Shafer’s (D-S) evidence theory can involve counter-intuitive results. This paper presents a modified averaging method to combine conflicting evidence based on the distance of evidences; and also gives the weighted average of the evidence in the system. Numerical examples showed that the proposed method can realize the modification ideas and also will provide reasonable results with good convergence efficiency.

Evidence combination method in time domain based on reliability and importance

In order to achieve the information fusion in the time domain based on the evidence theory, an evidence combination method in the time domain based on reliability and importance is proposed according to the idea of evidence discount. Firstly, the distortion of the time-domain evidence is judged based on single exponential smoothing. The real-time reliability of the evidence at the adjacent time is obtained by the real-time reliability assessment method of the evidence based on the credibility decay model.Then, the relative importance of the evidence at the adjacent time is obtained by comprehensively considering improved conflict degree and uncertainty. Finally, based on the criterion of evidence discount and the Dempster’s rule of combination, the evidence combination is carried out to achieve the sequential combination of time-domain evidence. The numerical simulation and analysis show that this method has fully embodied the dynamic characteristics of time-domain evidence combination, and it has strong processing ability for conflict information and anti-disturbing ability.The proposed method has good applicability to information fusion in the time domain.

THE PROBABILITY HYPOTHESIS DENSITY FILTER WITH EVIDENCE FUSION

The original Probability Hypothesis Density (PHD) filter is a tractable algorithm for Multi-Target Tracking (MTT) in Random Finite Set (RFS) frameworks. In this paper,we introduce a novel Evidence PHD (E-PHD) filter which combines the Dempster-Shafer (DS) evidence theory. The proposed filter can deal with the uncertain information,thus it forms target track. We mainly discusses the E-PHD filter under the condition of linear Gaussian. Research shows that the E-PHD filter has an analytic form of Evidence Gaussian Mixture PHD (E-GMPHD). The final experiment shows that the proposed E-GMPHD filter can derive the target identity,state,and number effectively.

Modeling Digital Evidence Management and Dynamics Using Petri Nets

In all phases of forensic investigation, digital evidence is exposed to external influences and coming into contact with many factors. Legal admissibility of digital evidence is the ability of that evidence being accepted as evidence in a court of law. Life cycle of digital evidence is very complex. In each stage there is more impact that can violate a chain of custody and its integrity. Contact with different variables occurs through a life cycle of digital evidence and can disrupt its integrity. In order for the evidence to be accepted by the court as valid, chain of custody for digital evidence must be kept, or it must be known who exactly came into contact with evidence in each stage of the investigation. This paper presents a dynamics and life cycle of digital evidence. The Petri nets will be proposed and used for modeling and simulation of this process.

Investigation on the Clinical Readiness of Nurses’Evidence-Based Practice in a 3A-Level General Hospital in Beijing

Objective:To understand the evidence-based practice readiness of developing evidence application projects in a 3A-level general hospital in Beijing,to identify barriers to evidence-based practice and to promote the successful application of evidence.Methods:All the clinical nurses who were going to participate in the application units of the evidence-based practice project were selected as the survey objects,and the self-made“Basic Information Questionnaire”and“Clinical Readiness to Evidence-based Nursing Assessment(CREBNA)”were used to conduct the survey.The total amounts and subscales were calculated.The factors that influence the score of the total scale were scored and analyzed.Results:The CREBNA total score was(119.87±19.18),the evidence subscale score was(47.94±8.54),the organizational environmental subscale score was(36.09±6.11),and the facilitator subscale score was(35.83±7.56).Univariate analysis showed that the total score of the scale was related to years of work,scientific research experience,knowledge of evidence-based care,and participation in evidence-based practice.Conclusion:The current evidence-based practice preparation situation is good.It is feasible to carry out evidence-based practice activities in the hospital.The follow-up development plan should be made based on the corresponding obstacle factors.

Application of seismic multi-attribute fusion method based on D-S evidence theory in prediction of CBM-enriched area

D-S evidence theory provides a good approach to fuse uncertain inlbrmation. In this article, we introduce seismic multi-attribute fusion based on D-S evidence theory to predict the coalbed methane （CBM） concentrated areas. First, we choose seismic attributes that are most sensitive to CBM content changes with the guidance of CBM content measured at well sites. Then the selected seismic attributes are fused using D-S evidence theory and the fusion results are used to predict CBM-enriched area. The application shows that the predicted CBM content and the measured values are basically consistent. The results indicate that using D-S evidence theory in seismic multi-attribute fusion to predict CBM-enriched areas is feasible.

New weighting factors assignment of evidence theorybased one vidence distance

Evidence theory has been widely used in the information fusion for its effectiveness of the uncertainty reasoning. However, the classical DS evidence theory involves counter-intuitive behaviors when the high conflict information exists. Based on the analysis of some modified methods, Assigning the weighting factors according to the intrinsic characteristics of the existing evidence sources is proposed, which is determined on the evidence distance theory. From the numerical examples, the proposed method provides a reasonable result with good convergence efficiency. In addition, the new rule retrieves to the Yager's formula when all the evidence sources contradict to each other completely.