Using the network scale-up method to characterise kidney trafficking in Kalai Upazila, Bangladesh.

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of illegal kidney sales in Kalai Upazila, Bangladesh, using the Network Scale-Up Method (NSUM), an ego-centric network survey-based technique used to estimate the size of hidden populations. The study estimated the size of the kidney seller population, analysed the profiles of kidney sellers and kidney brokers and investigated the characteristics of villagers who are more likely to be connected to kidney sellers to identify possible biases of the NSUM estimate. The study found that the prevalence of kidney trafficking in Kalai Upazila was between 1.

Explainable AI: A Neurally-Inspired Decision Stack Framework.

European law now requires AI to be explainable in the context of adverse decisions affecting the European Union (EU) citizens. At the same time, we expect increasing instances of AI failure as it operates on imperfect data. This paper puts forward a neurally inspired theoretical framework called "decision stacks" that can provide a way forward in research to develop Explainable Artificial Intelligence (X-AI).

Identifying kidney trade networks using web scraping data.

Kidney trade has been on the rise despite the domestic and international law enforcement aiming to protect the vulnerable population from potential exploitation. Regional hubs are emerging in several parts of the world including South Asia, Central America, the Middle East and East Asia. Kidney trade networks reported in these hot spots are often complex systems involving several players such as buyers, sellers and surgery countries operating across international borders so that they can bypass domestic laws in sellers and buyers' countries.

Cost-effectiveness of Babesia microti antibody and nucleic acid blood donation screening using results from prospective investigational studies.

Background: Babesia microti causes transfusion-transmitted babesiosis (TTB); currently, blood donor screening assays are unlicensed but used investigationally.

Study Design And Methods: We developed a decision tree model assessing the comparative- and cost-effectiveness of B. microti blood donation screening strategies in endemic areas compared to the status quo (question regarding a history of babesiosis), including testing by: (1) universal antibody (Ab), (2) universal polymerase chain reaction (PCR), (3) universal Ab/PCR, and (4) recipient risk-targeted Ab/PCR.

A socio-technical, probabilistic risk assessment model for surgical site infections in ambulatory surgery centers.

Background: To understand how structural and process elements may affect the risk for surgical site infections (SSIs) in the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) environment, the researchers employed a tool known as socio-technical probabilistic risk assessment (ST-PRA). ST-PRA is particularly helpful for estimating risks in outcomes that are very rare, such as the risk of SSI in ASCs.

Objective: Study objectives were to (1) identify the risk factors associated with SSIs resulting from procedures performed at ASCs and (2) design an intervention to mitigate the likelihood of SSIs for the most common risk factors that were identified by the ST-PRA for a particular surgical procedure.