Can "using" be used as an unattached participle, like "considering", "assuming" etc.? It has become very common in mathematical texts. For example:
Then, using this argument, if U is a set of 5 vertices, then U contains a clique.
Or:
Note that A>B>C (using inequality (3)).
There are, in what you'd expect to be decently-edited publications, plenty of instances to be found of Using... at the start of a sentence where its understood subject is not the subject of the main clause it's attached to, so I'd say yes.
The instances below all come from the News On the Web corpus, and I didn't have to dig particularly hard to find them either.
As an example of the stark price differences and value available in Santa Maria Valley, hotel price comparisons were pulled from Trip Advisor in early May for the weekend of June 24-26, 2022. The comparison includes the average hotel cost based on the top three traveler-ranked hotels with prices listed based on one room, double occupancy. Using this metric, the average hotel night in Santa Maria Valley costs $119 a night; compared to much higher price tags in neighboring markets including $461 a night in nearby Pismo Beach; $477.33 a night in Paso Robles; $343.66 a night in Solvang; $633.66 a night in Santa Ynez; $438.33 a night in Temecula and $813.33 a night in Napa Valley. (AP)
Neutral evolution has previously been quantified using the distribution of the cumulative number of mutations in the tumor with respect to inverse allelic frequency (1/f power-law distribution)5. We simulate sequencing (over time) for both patients and quantify the linearity of the 1/f power-law distribution (Fig. 4e, f) and repeat the analysis subject to spatial constraints on ten anthropomorphic breast phantom ductal network reconstructions shown in Fig. 4c. Although all tumors (regardless of spatial constraints) initially are quantitatively shown to be non-neutral (Fig. 4e, f), all eventually progress to a neutral or nearly-neutral evolutionary mode (the neutral minimum threshold of 0.985 shown in black). Using this metric, initial high spatial constraints (green bars) transition to neutral evolution more slowly than lack of spatial constraints (blue), especially for patient DC16 (Fig. 4f). When tumor growth is more spatially constrained it, therefore, consists of a smaller population, enabling easier subclonal expansion of more fit clones (see Supplementary Figs. 8 and 9; Video V6). (Nature)
Most central point A contested one, this: several calculation methods have been used, including the “centroid”, the point at which a cardboard cut-out of the country would balance on a pencil tip. Using this strategy, Great Britain’s centroid point is at Whitendale Hanging Stones in the Forest of Bowland, Lancashire. (Telegraph)
He calls to “broaden the definition of brain death to include irreversibly comatose patients on life support. Using this definition, these patients would be legally dead regardless of whether a machine restored the beating of their heart.” (Daily Caller)
For population data purposes, disability is defined as a limitation or impairment lasting at least six months that impacts everyday activities. Using this definition, 18% of Australians have a disability. But nearly half of all Australians (47%) have at least one chronic condition that restricts ability, and 19% have two or more. (Canadian Inquirer)
Now remember that a human life is not of infinite value, indeed the Health and Safety Executive puts it at £2.1 million. Using this figure, Labour’s proposed policy doesn’t stand up to a cost-benefit analysis. (Spectator)