Prototype & Test: AID Tools and Use Cases

Context:Handwriting analysis is a unique, specialized and emerging scientific process that has been carried out and applied for centuries now. However, its reliability and effectiveness as a method of assessing personality and behavior is not established and is still a debatable issue. The present paper aimed to examine the possibility of a correlation between clinical diagnosis and graphological analysis and to explore the key links between the underlying personality traits and its manifestations in handwriting among children.Aim:The aim was to study the possibility of a correlation between clinical diagnosis and graphological analysis.Objectives:To explore the key links between the underlying personality traits and its manifestations in handwriting among children. To study the possibility of using Graphotherapy as a remedial tool in aid of teaching/learning techniques and behavior modifications.Hypothesis:There are no significant and concrete differences between the psychodiagnostic assessment of personality through Children's Personality Questionnaire (CPQ) and handwriting analysis.Materials and Methods:N = 60, age group = 8-12 years. Tools: CPQ - a 16 personality factor scale and a semi-structured proforma. Simple random sampling technique was used.Results:The P values for the study sample were found to be greater than 0.05 at 5% level of significance to all the 14 dimensions of personality hence going in line with the null hypothesis that states “there are no significant and concrete differences between the psychodiagnostic assessment of Personality through CPQ and handwriting analysis.” Graphologists were thoroughly trained to interpret on the same 14 dimensions of personality as that of CPQ, most samples were analyzed to have a lying loop, a trait, which might also be attributed to the difference found in Trait-H, further asserting the subjective limitations of most psychological tests.

Although much has been published concerning the optimality of a single-type inspection process, relatively little attention has been paid in the literature of maintenance modelling to the practice of multiple nested inspections. In this paper a novel model addressing multiple nested inspections of production plant at different intervals is established based upon the delay time concept. A branch-and-bound algorithm is developed for finding the optimal intervals for all the inspections which minimizes the long-term expected total cost per unit time. The modelling can be readily extended to model downtime or reliability. Necessary mathematics is presented and proofs are given. A numerical example is also given to illustrate the modelling and solution processes. Scope and purpose The performance of a production plant can be improved by appropriate inspection scheduling. This paper presents a novel model and an associated algorithm for obtaining the optimal solution of an inspection scheduling problem of a production plant, that is, for determining the optimal inspection intervals in terms of a criterion of interest. It is assumed that multiple nested inspections at different intervals are performed and the modelling objective is to find the optimal multiple nested inspection intervals, which minimize the long-term expected total cost per unit time. The model established is based upon the delay time concept and is the very first to address and optimize multiple nested inspection simultaneously. The model and algorithm developed in this paper are useful both to researchers and practitioners in which mathematics behind the model and algorithm are fully explored and the algorithm can be readily used as a tool in aid of inspection decision making if the modelling assumptions are satisfied.

The use of geophysical methods in environmental studies increased thoroughly in the last years, as tool of aid in the detection phase and limitation of contaminant in underground. The methods more used they are the Ground-penetration Radar (GPR), Electromagnetic (EM) and Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES). The technique of GPR presents advantages in this study type, due to the easiness of acquisition of data, possibility of execution of profiles, versatility of the equipment in field, among others. However, the penetration depth is limited in the presence of layers high conductivity. The present work proposes a comparative analysis of data obtained through GPR in a five year-old interval, with the purpose of determining the current position of a contaminant plume. Starting from the obtained results, it will be possible to evaluate the potential of this technique in the stage of monitoring of contaminated areas.

Formulation of a color identity to the built environment has to take into consideration group of constrains such as the broad meaning of environment, its traditions, special value, and other creative aspects. The spread of urban development within the age of globalization has caused the transition of specific colors between different places worldwide to paint buildings with similar colors though culture, civilization and environmental differences between these places. Moreover, the obvious chaotic and random use of colors in Cairo and several Arab and Islamic cities and capitals, requires solutions for such problem to help rebuilding the identity and associate sense of belonging to the community and the surrounding environment. This paper's aim is to propose a solution to this problematic issue through setting a systematic methodology to deduce and derive group of color patterns that has been mentioned in the Holy Quran. An analytical and deductive approach are used to serve the different parts of the research, in order to reach a color map that could be an aiding tool in reinforcing the identity, revitalizing, and distinguishing the urban fabric in the Islamic cities and capitals.

The Development of Entrepreneurial Social Competence and Business Network to Improve Competitive Advantage and Business Performance of Small Medium Sized Enterprises: A Case Study of Batik Industry in Indonesia

Predicting the behavior of shares in the stock market is a complex problem, that involves variables not always known and can undergo various influences, from the collective emotion to high-profile news. Such volatility, can represent considerable financial losses for investors. In order to anticipate such changes in the market, it has been proposed various mechanisms to try to predict the behavior of an asset in the stock market, based on previously existing information. Such mechanisms include statistical data only, without considering the collective feeling. This article, is going to use natural language processing algorithms (LPN) to determine the collective mood on assets and later with the help of the SVM algorithm to extract patterns in an attempt to predict the active behavior. Nevertheless it is important to note that such approach is not intended to be the main factor in the decision making process, but rather an aid tool, which combined with other information, can provide higher accuracy for the solution of this problem.

Despite the increasingly positive role of portable communication technologies for socioeconomic development and their growing use in global health and other emergency contexts, several challenges still hinder exploring the full potential of mobile phones as effective mitigation tools in natural disasters, public health emergencies and in the aftermath of extreme disruptive events. Mobile devices are designed and advertised to withstand predominantly the demands of normal daily situations, being fraught with fragilities that limit their utility for effective communication and coordination of help in emergency situations. We discuss ways to overcome some of these limitations in the future by the incorporation of features to increase their resilience and effectiveness as aid tools at relatively low cost. Improvements in autonomous energy generation and use, based on existing and rapidly emerging technologies, as well as further improvements in physical durability and off-line operability are encouraged. We also identify the possibility to combine capabilities from other devices, such as space-based telecommunication systems and traditional two-way radios, to enhance the utility of mobile devices for these applications. The solutions we propose can help millions of citizens around the world to manage the risks and impacts of natural and health-related hazards. They should also promote further resilience to avoiding and recovering from such events, especially in vulnerable regions with limited infrastructure.

Frontal bone fracture treatment is still an issue of research in craniofacial surgery and neurosurgery. The aims of the treatment are to reduce the complication risks and to keep the aesthetic of the face. Before the management of this fracture type, it is necessary to consider the permanence or not of the frontal sinus function. Rapid prototyping has been an aid tool on planning and simulation of the surgical procedure, improving the diagnostic quality and the implant manufacture, beyond reducing the operative time. Among the used materials on treatment of these fractures, titanium mesh shows large versatility and ease of handling. Poly(methyl methacrylate) has been used in defects of partial thickness or irregularities on cranial surface. The aim of this study is to report a case of a patient presenting sequelae of large fracture of anterior wall of frontal bone, treated by a titanium mesh associated with the customized poly(methyl methacrylate) implant from the rapid prototyping. It could be concluded that the use of this technique showed itself effective on patient treatment, and rapid prototyping demonstrated being a valuable tool showing predictable and satisfactory results.

The barbell piercing can be used as an assistive device that allows people with severe disabilities, such as tetraplegia, to control their environments using the movement of the tongue. The human tongue can move rapidly and accurately, such that the tip can touch every tooth. Lingual control systems allow people with disabilities to take advantage of their residual skills for easier communication and to improve the control of mobility and the surrounding environment. The aim of this study was to conduct a narrative review of the development and dissemination of the assistive technologies based on tongue control by means of the barbell piercing. The design of the study was based on: (I) an overview of Pubmed complemented with other databases and Web searches (also institutional); (II) an organization according to a standardized checklist for narrative reviews; (III) an arrangement with four different perspectives: the trends in the scientific literature, technological evolution and categorization, dominant approaches, issues of incorporation into the health domain—such as acceptance, safety, and regulations. The results have highlighted: (1) that the volume of scientific productions, which started in this sector before the smartphone expansion, has not increased; (2) that it is possible to make a map point of the technological evolution and categorization; (3) that these assistive technologies have a high degree of acceptance and performance, especially when integrated with aid tools with mechatronics; (4) and the complexity of the regulatory framework in this area. The study, from a general point of view, highlighted the high potential of these systems and we suggest investing the energy into agreement tools for assistive technologies (AT)s, such as health technology assessment studies, comparative assessment analysis, or consensus conferences that could allow a better diffusion and use of ATs, including these systems.

The preparations of radiopharmaceuticals must follow the parameters of quality, efficacy, and safety (pharmaceutical and nuclear), complying with all the requirements established in good manufacturing practices, guaranteed by the physical structure, layout, safety, and radiological protection, which are also fundamental for the correct flow to be followed for excellence in the functioning of the service. One of the main problems is related to the flow of radiopharmaceuticals, which implies exposure to ionizing radiation, which in turn poses serious biological risks to the human body. simple erythema (redness) to the acute radiation syndrome, which can even be lethal. Factors like this corroborate the need for training that simulate real situations, however, situations like this are limited, due to the risk to which a non-specialized professional can be exposed if radioprotection standards are not obeyed. The present work aims to propose and evaluate the use of virtual reality (VR) technology for training and qualification of professionals in a radiopharmacy. The applied methodology was divided into four stages, initially the rules and regulations regarding the Nuclear Medicine Service published by ANVISA, CNEN and international recommendations by the IAEA were analyzed in detail, in the second stage visits were carried out in public and private hospitals in the Rio de Janeiro that present the nuclear medicine service, in the third stage the virtual environment (simulator) was built, and the fourth stage proposed strategies to carry out training, considering a new technique for teaching. The use of virtual reality, through a simulator, allowed the creation of a graphical environment with a realistic appearance, in which the user can navigate in this environment and manipulate the virtual world. Therefore, it is expected that this tool can help in the planning and training of radiopharmacy professionals.

This paper presents a novel hardware resource allocation technique for hardware/software partitioning. It allocates hardware resources to the hardware data-path using information such as data-dependencies between operations in the application, and profiling information. The algorithm is useful as a designer's/design tool's aid to generate good hardware allocations for use in hardware/software partitioning. The algorithm has been implemented in a tool under the LYCOS system. The results show that the allocations produced by the algorithm come close to the best allocations obtained by exhaustive search.

This paper examines the effectiveness of remittances and official development assistance (ODA) in developing countries. It compares the outcomes of aid poured into the economies of the Third World for decades without any visible effect and remittances transferred by emigrants to their countries of origin which proved to be quite effective. We find that remittances have a stronger net positive effect on the increase of GDP per capita in developing economies than development aid. In addition, remittances tend to be higher than ODA funds, they are absorbed by 80-90 per cent (in comparison with 50 per cent of aid budgets spent on administrative and other costs) and do not hinge on institutional quality. The paper advocates the importance of remittances over ODA and supports the wide usage of coherent development policies executed by the developed Western economies with an aim to enhance transparent and efficient remittance transfers as one of the best methods to promote development in less-developed countries (e.g. economies in Africa, Asia or Latin America).

Aim This study investigated whether time-estimation task exposure influences the severity of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), as well as theta band activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex. Material and methods Twenty-two patients with ADHD participated in a crossover experiment with a visual time-estimation task under control conditions (without exposure to time estimation tasks) and experimental (thirty days exposure to time-estimation tasks) in association with electroencephalographic analysis of theta band. Results ADHD patients with thirty days of time-estimation task exposure presented a worse performance of the time-estimation task, as revealed by the measurements of the absolute error and relative error (p ≤ 0.05). However, our findings show the improvement of self-reported symptoms of attention, impulsivity, and emotional control in patients after the time-estimation task exposure (p = 0.0001). Moreover, the theta band oscillations in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and in the ventrolateral prefrontal increased with thirty days of time-estimation task exposure (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusion We propose that the decrease in EEG theta power may indicate an efficient accumulation of temporal pulses, which could be responsible for the improvement in the patient cognitive aspects as demonstrated by the current study. Time-estimation task improves ADHD cognitive symptoms, with a substantial increase in cortical areas activity related to attention and memory, suggesting its use as a tool for cognitive timing function management and non-invasive therapeutic aid in ADHD.

Satellite derived measurements are essential inputs to monitor water management and agricultural production for improving regional food security. Near real-time satellites observations can be used to mitigate the adverse impacts of extreme events and promote climate resilience. Population growth and demand of resources in developing countries will increase vulnerability in agriculture production and are likely to be exacerbated by the effects of climate change. This paper introduces wetness and temperature products as important factors in decision and policy making, especially in regions with sparse surface observations. These objective satellite data serve as: (1) an early detector of growing conditions and thus food supply; (2) an index for insurance programs (i.e. risk management) that can more quickly trigger release of catastrophic bonds to farmers to mitigate crop failure impact; (3) an important educational and informational tool in crop selection, resource management, and other adaptation or mitigation strategies; (4) an important tool in food aid and transport; (5) and management of water resource allocation. The two new indices (surface wetness and temperature) are meant to complement currently available datasets, such as the greenness index, soil moisture measurements, and river guages.

Assessment of the national antimicrobial resistance monitoring system (NARMS) and its value in critical decision-making