Abstract: In this paper the problem of the application of
temporal reasoning and case-based reasoning in intelligent decision
support systems is considered. The method of case-based reasoning
with temporal dependences for the solution of problems of real-time
diagnostics and forecasting in intelligent decision support systems is
described. This paper demonstrates how the temporal case-based
reasoning system can be used in intelligent decision support systems
of the car access control. This work was supported by RFBR.
Abstract: With the growing of computer and network, digital
data can be spread to anywhere in the world quickly. In addition,
digital data can also be copied or tampered easily so that the security
issue becomes an important topic in the protection of digital data.
Digital watermark is a method to protect the ownership of digital data.
Embedding the watermark will influence the quality certainly. In this
paper, Vector Quantization (VQ) is used to embed the watermark into
the image to fulfill the goal of data hiding. This kind of watermarking
is invisible which means that the users will not conscious the existing
of embedded watermark even though the embedded image has tiny
difference compared to the original image. Meanwhile, VQ needs a lot
of computation burden so that we adopt a fast VQ encoding scheme by
partial distortion searching (PDS) and mean approximation scheme to
speed up the data hiding process.
The watermarks we hide to the image could be gray, bi-level and
color images. Texts are also can be regarded as watermark to embed.
In order to test the robustness of the system, we adopt Photoshop to
fulfill sharpen, cropping and altering to check if the extracted
watermark is still recognizable. Experimental results demonstrate that
the proposed system can resist the above three kinds of tampering in
general cases.
Abstract: Design concepts of real-time embedded system can be
realized initially by introducing novel design approaches. In this
literature, model based design approach and in-the-loop testing were
employed early in the conceptual and preliminary phase to formulate
design requirements and perform quick real-time verification. The
design and analysis methodology includes simulation analysis, model
based testing, and in-the-loop testing. The design of conceptual driveby-
wire, or DBW, algorithm for electronic control unit, or ECU, was
presented to demonstrate the conceptual design process, analysis, and
functionality evaluation. The concepts of DBW ECU function can be
implemented in the vehicle system to improve electric vehicle, or EV,
conversion drivability. However, within a new development process,
conceptual ECU functions and parameters are needed to be evaluated.
As a result, the testing system was employed to support conceptual
DBW ECU functions evaluation. For the current setup, the system
components were consisted of actual DBW ECU hardware, electric
vehicle models, and control area network or CAN protocol. The
vehicle models and CAN bus interface were both implemented as
real-time applications where ECU and CAN protocol functionality
were verified according to the design requirements. The proposed
system could potentially benefit in performing rapid real-time
analysis of design parameters for conceptual system or software
algorithm development.
Abstract: This work is the first dowel in a rather wide research
activity in collaboration with Euro Mediterranean Center for Climate
Changes, aimed at introducing scalable approaches in Ocean
Circulation Models. We discuss designing and implementation of
a parallel algorithm for solving the Variational Data Assimilation
(DA) problem on Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). The algorithm
is based on the fully scalable 3DVar DA model, previously proposed
by the authors, which uses a Domain Decomposition approach
(we refer to this model as the DD-DA model). We proceed with
an incremental porting process consisting of 3 distinct stages:
requirements and source code analysis, incremental development of
CUDA kernels, testing and optimization. Experiments confirm the
theoretic performance analysis based on the so-called scale up factor
demonstrating that the DD-DA model can be suitably mapped on
GPU architectures.
Abstract: During the post-Civil War era, the city of Nashville,
Tennessee, had the highest mortality rate in the United States. The
elevated death and disease rates among former slaves were
attributable to lack of quality healthcare. To address the paucity of
healthcare services, Meharry Medical College, an institution with the
mission of educating minority professionals and serving the
underserved population, was established in 1876.
Purpose: The social ecological framework and partial least squares
(PLS) path modeling were used to quantify the impact of
socioeconomic status and adverse health outcome on primary care
professionals serving the disadvantaged community. Thus, the study
results could demonstrate the accomplishment of the College’s
mission of training primary care professionals to serve in underserved
areas.
Methods: Various statistical methods were used to analyze alumni
data from 1975 – 2013. K-means cluster analysis was utilized to
identify individual medical and dental graduates in the cluster groups
of the practice communities (Disadvantaged or Non-disadvantaged
Communities). Discriminant analysis was implemented to verify the
classification accuracy of cluster analysis. The independent t-test was
performed to detect the significant mean differences of respective
clustering and criterion variables. Chi-square test was used to test if
the proportions of primary care and non-primary care specialists are
consistent with those of medical and dental graduates practicing in
the designated community clusters. Finally, the PLS path model was
constructed to explore the construct validity of analytic model by
providing the magnitude effects of socioeconomic status and adverse
health outcome on primary care professionals serving the
disadvantaged community.
Results: Approximately 83% (3,192/3,864) of Meharry Medical
College’s medical and dental graduates from 1975 to 2013 were
practicing in disadvantaged communities. Independent t-test confirmed the content validity of the cluster analysis model. Also, the
PLS path modeling demonstrated that alumni served as primary care
professionals in communities with significantly lower socioeconomic
status and higher adverse health outcome (p < .001). The PLS path
modeling exhibited the meaningful interrelation between primary
care professionals practicing communities and surrounding
environments (socioeconomic statues and adverse health outcome),
which yielded model reliability, validity, and applicability.
Conclusion: This study applied social ecological theory and
analytic modeling approaches to assess the attainment of Meharry
Medical College’s mission of training primary care professionals to
serve in underserved areas, particularly in communities with low
socioeconomic status and high rates of adverse health outcomes. In
summary, the majority of medical and dental graduates from Meharry
Medical College provided primary care services to disadvantaged
communities with low socioeconomic status and high adverse health
outcome, which demonstrated that Meharry Medical College has
fulfilled its mission. The high reliability, validity, and applicability of
this model imply that it could be replicated for comparable
universities and colleges elsewhere.
Abstract: Introduction: There are multiple social, individual and
cultural factors that influence an individual’s decision to adopt family
planning methods especially among non-users in patriarchal societies
like Pakistan. Non-users, if targeted efficiently, can contribute
significantly to country’s CPR. A research study showed that nonusers
if convinced to adopt lactational amenorrhea method can shift
to long term methods in future. Research shows that if non users are
targeted efficiently a 59% reduction in unintended pregnancies in
Saharan Africa and South-Central and South-East Asia is anticipated.
Methods: We did secondary data analysis on Pakistan
Demographic Heath Survey (2012-13) dataset. Use of contraception
(never-use/ever-use) was the outcome variable. At univariate level
Chi-square/Fisher Exact test was used to assess relationship of
baseline covariates with contraception use. Then variables to be
incorporated in the model were checked for multicollinearity,
confounding and interaction. Then binary logistic regression (with an
urban-rural stratification) was done to find relationship between
contraception use and baseline demographic and social variables.
Results: The multivariate analyses of the study showed that
younger women (≤ 29 years)were more prone to be never users as
compared to those who were >30 years and this trend was seen in
urban areas (AOR 1.92, CI 1.453-2.536) as well as rural areas (AOR
1.809, CI 1.421-2.303). While looking at regional variation, women
from urban Sindh (AOR 1.548, CI 1.142-2.099) and urban
Balochistan (AOR 2.403, CI 1.504-3.839) had more never users as
compared to other urban regions. Women in the rich wealth quintile
were more never users and this was seen both in urban and rural
localities (urban (AOR 1.106 CI .753-1.624); rural areas (AOR 1.162,
CI .887-1.524)) even though these were not statistically significant.
Women idealizing more children (>4) are more never users as
compared to those idealizing less children in both urban (AOR 1.854,
CI 1.275-2.697) and rural areas (AOR 2.101, CI 1.514-2.916).
Women who never lost a pregnancy were more inclined to be nonusers
in rural areas (AOR 1.394, CI 1.127-1.723) .Women familiar
with only traditional or no method had more never users in rural areas
(AOR 1.717, CI 1.127-1.723) but in urban areas it wasn’t significant.
Women unaware of Lady Health Worker’s presence in their area
were more never users especially in rural areas (AOR 1.276, CI
1.014-1.607). Women who did not visit any care provider were more
never users (urban (AOR 11.738, CI 9.112-15.121) rural areas (AOR
7.832, CI 6.243-9.826)).
Discussion/Conclusion: This study concluded that government,
policy makers and private sector family planning programs should
focus on the untapped pool of never users (younger women from underserved provinces, in higher wealth quintiles, who desire more
children.). We need to make sure to cover catchment areas where
there are less LHWs and less providers as ignorance to modern
methods and never been visited by an LHW are important
determinants of never use. This all is in sync with previous literate
from similar developing countries.
Abstract: Crosstalk among interconnects and printed-circuit
board (PCB) traces is a major limiting factor of signal quality in highspeed
digital and communication equipments especially when fast
data buses are involved. Such a bus is considered as a planar
multiconductor transmission line. This paper will demonstrate how
the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method provides an exact
solution of the transmission-line equations to analyze the near end
and the far end crosstalk. In addition, this study makes it possible to
analyze the rise time effect on the near and far end voltages of the
victim conductor. The paper also discusses a statistical analysis,
based upon a set of several simulations. Such analysis leads to a
better understanding of the phenomenon and yields useful
information.
Abstract: Theory of Mind (ToM) refers to the ability to infer
another’s mental state. With appropriate ToM, one can behave well in
social interactions. A growing body of evidence has demonstrated that
patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) may damage ToM by
affecting on regions of the underlying neural network of ToM.
However, the question of whether there is cerebral laterality for ToM
functions remains open. This study aimed to examine whether there is
cerebral lateralization for ToM abilities in TLE patients. Sixty-seven
adult TLE patients and 30 matched healthy controls (HC) were
recruited. Patients were classified into right (RTLE), left (LTLE), and
bilateral (BTLE) TLE groups on the basis of a consensus panel review
of their seizure semiology, EEG findings, and brain imaging results.
All participants completed an intellectual test and four tasks measuring
basic and advanced ToM. The results showed that, on all ToM tasks,
(1) each patient group performed worse than HC; (2) there were no
significant differences between LTLE and RTLE groups; and (3) the
BTLE group performed the worst. It appears that the neural network
responsible for ToM is distributed evenly between the cerebral
hemispheres.
Abstract: The largest share of policy and money within the
European Union goes to agriculture. The Union’s Common
Agricultural Policy has undergone several transformations in the last
five decades, with the main change taking place in the 1990s. This
change influenced agriculture in the Czech Republic, inasmuch as the
fledgling republic was preparing to join the European Union and
adopt its policies. In the 1990s, Czech agriculture passed from
a centrally planned economy to a market economy and subsequently
adopted the terms of the Common Agricultural Policy. The Czech
Republic is also characterized by a significant diversification of
landscape sphere. Agricultural entrepreneurs in the Czech Republic
are still not accustomed to the possibility of grants from the European
Union. They focus rather on national or regional subsidies. Only half
of all agricultural entrepreneurs in the Czech Republic use European
subsidies. This article focuses on the introduction of the Common
Agricultural Policy to the Czech Republic and its subsequent
influence on Czech agriculture. It is demonstrated through the
implementation rate of the CAP in the EU Member States and
a closer focus on Czech integration.
Abstract: Breast cancer is considered as a substantial health
concern and practicing mammography screening [MS] is important in
minimizing its related morbidity. So it is essential to have a better
understanding of breast cancer screening behaviors of women and
factors that influence utilization of them. The aim of this study is to
identify the factors that are linked to MS behaviors among the
Egyptian women. A cross-sectional descriptive design was carried
out to provide a snapshot of the factors that are linked to MS
behaviors. A convenience sample of 311 women was utilized and all
eligible participants admitted to the Women Imaging Unit who are 40
years of age or above, coming for mammography assessment, not
pregnant or breast feeding and who accepted to participate in the
study were included. A structured questionnaire was developed by
the researchers and contains three parts; Socio-demographic data;
Motivating factors associated with MS; and association between MS
and model of behavior change. The analyzed data indicated that most
of the participated women (66.6%) belonged to the age group of 40-
49.A high proportion of participants (58.1%) of group having
previous MS influenced by their neighbors to practice MS, whereas
32.7 % in group not having previous MS were influenced by family
members which indicated significant differences (P
Abstract: The exponential growth of social media arouses much
attention on public opinion information. The online forums, blogs,
micro blogs are proving to be extremely valuable resources and are
having bulk volume of information. However, most of the social
media data is unstructured and semi structured form. So that it is
more difficult to decipher automatically. Therefore, it is very much
essential to understand and analyze those data for making a right
decision. The online forums hotspot detection is a promising research
field in the web mining and it guides to motivate the user to take right
decision in right time. The proposed system consist of a novel
approach to detect a hotspot forum for any given time period. It uses
aging theory to find the hot terms and E-K-means for detecting the
hotspot forum. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed
approach outperforms k-means for detecting the hotspot forums with
the improved accuracy.
Abstract: The authors propose the identification, analysis and
prognosis of the quantitative and qualitative evolution of the elderly
population in the functional urban areas. The present paper takes into
account the analysis of some representative indicators (the weight of
the elderly population, ageing index, dynamic index of economic
ageing of productive population etc.) and the elaboration of an
integrated indicator that would help differentiate the population
ageing forms in the 48 functional urban areas that were defined based
on demographic and social-economic criteria for all large and
medium cities in Romania.
Abstract: Indonesian higher education has experienced
significant changes over the last decade. In 1999, the government
published an overall strategy for decentralisation and enhancement of
local autonomy in many sectors, including (higher) education.
Indonesian higher education reforms have forced universities to
restructure their internal university governance to become more
entrepreneurial. These new types of internal university governance
are likely to affect the institutions’ leadership and management. This
paper discusses the approach and findings of a study on the
managerial leadership styles of deans in Indonesian universities. The
study aims to get a better understanding of styles exhibited by deans
manifested in their behaviours. Using the theories of reasoned action
and planned behaviour, in combination with the competing values
framework, a large-scale survey was conducted to gather information
on the deans’ behaviours, attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived
behavioural control. Based on the responses of a sample of 218
deans, the study identifies a number of leadership styles: the Master,
the Competitive Consultant, the Consensual Goal-Setter, the Focused
Team Captain, and the Informed Trust-Builder style. The study
demonstrates that attitudes are the primary determinant of the styles
that were found. Perceived behavioural control is a factor that
explains some managerial leadership styles. By understanding the
attitudes of deans in Indonesian universities, and their leadership
styles, universities can strengthen their management and governance,
and thus improve their effectiveness.
Abstract: The first part of the paper analyzes the dynamics of
the total fertility rate both at the national and regional level, pointing
out the regional disparities in the distribution of this indicator. At the
same time, we also focus on the collapse of the number of live births,
on the changes in the fertility rate by birth rank, as well as on the
failure of acquiring the desired number of children. The second part
of the study centres upon a survey applied to urban families with 3
and more than 3 offspring. The preliminary analysis highlights the
fact that an increased fertility (more than 3rd rank) is triggered by the
parents’ above the average material condition and superior education.
The current situation of Romania, which is still passing through a
period of relatively rapid demographic changes, marked by numerous
convulsions, requires a new approach, in compliance with the recent
interpretations appropriate to a new post-transitional demographic
regime.
Abstract: The aims of this study were to determine the factor
structure and psychometric properties (i.e., reliability and convergent
validity) of the Malaysian Multi-Ethnic Discrimination Scale
(MMEDS). It consists of 71-items measure experience, strategies
used and consequences of ethnic discrimination. A sample of 649
university students from one of the higher education institution in
Malaysia was asked to complete MMEDS, as well as Perceived
Ethnic and Racial Discrimination. The exploratory factor analysis on
ethnic discrimination experience extracted two factors labeled ‘unfair
treatment’ (15 items) and ‘Denial of the ethnic right’ (12 items)
which accounted for 60.92% of the total variance. The two sub scales
demonstrated clear reliability with internal consistency above .70.
The convergent validity of the Scale was supported by an expected
pattern of correlations (positive and significant correlation) between
the score of unfair treatment and denial of the ethnic right and the
score of Perceived Ethnic and Racial Discrimination by Peers Scale.
The results suggest that the MMEDS is a reliable and valid measure.
However, further studies need to be carried out in other groups of
sample as to validate the Scale.
Abstract: The efficiency of the actuation system of exoskeletons
and active orthoses for lower limbs is a significant aspect of the
design of such devices because it affects their efficacy. The F-IVT is
an innovative actuation system to power artificial knee joint with
energy recovery capabilities. Its key and non-conventional elements
are a flywheel that acts as a mechanical energy storage system, and
an Infinitely Variable Transmission (IVT). The design of the F-IVT
can be optimized for a certain walking condition, resulting in a heavy
reduction of both the electric energy consumption and of the electric
peak power. In this work, by means of simulations of level ground
walking at different speeds, it is demonstrated that the F-IVT is still
an advantageous actuator which permits to save energy consumption
and to downsize the electric motor even when it does not work in
nominal conditions.
Abstract: Availability of different genetic tests after completion
of Human Genome Project increases the physicians’ responsibility to
keep themselves update on the potential implementation of these
genetic tests in their daily practice. However, due to numbers of
barriers, still many of physicians are not either aware of these tests or
are not willing to offer or refer their patients for genetic tests. This
study was conducted an anonymous, cross-sectional, mailed-based
survey to develop a primary data of Malaysian physicians’ level of
knowledge and perception of gene profiling. Questionnaire had 29
questions. Total scores on selected questions were used to assess the
level of knowledge. The highest possible score was 11. Descriptive
statistics, one way ANOVA and chi-squared test was used for
statistical analysis. Sixty three completed questionnaires were
returned by 27 general practitioners (GPs) and 36 medical specialists.
Responders’ age ranges from 24 to 55 years old (mean 30.2 ± 6.4).
About 40% of the participants rated themselves as having poor level
of knowledge in genetics in general whilst 60% believed that they
have fair level of knowledge; however, almost half (46%) of the
respondents felt that they were not knowledgeable about available
genetic tests. A majority (94%) of the responders were not aware of
any lab or company which is offering gene profiling services in
Malaysia. Only 4% of participants were aware of using gene profiling
for detection of dosage of some drugs. Respondents perceived greater
utility of gene profiling for breast cancer (38%) compared to the
colorectal familial cancer (3%). The score of knowledge ranged from
2 to 8 (mean 4.38 ± 1.67). Non- significant differences between score
of knowledge of GPs and specialists were observed, with score of
4.19 and 4.58 respectively. There was no significant association
between any demographic factors and level of knowledge. However,
those who graduated between years 2001 to 2005 had higher level of
knowledge. Overall, 83% of participants showed relatively high level
of perception on value of gene profiling to detect patient’s risk of
disease. However, low perception was observed for both statements
of using gene profiling for general population in order to alter their
lifestyle (25%) as well as having the full sequence of a patient
genome for the purpose of determining a patient’s best match for
treatment (18%). The lack of clinical guidelines, limited provider
knowledge and awareness, lack of time and resources to educate
patients, lack of evidence-based clinical information and cost of tests
were the most barriers of ordering gene profiling mentioned by
physicians. In conclusion Malaysian physicians who participate in
this study had mediocre level of knowledge and awareness in gene
profiling. The low exposure to the genetic questions and problems
might be a key predictor of lack of awareness and knowledge on
available genetic tests. Educational and training workshop might be useful in helping Malaysian physicians incorporate genetic profiling
into practice for eligible patients.
Abstract: Introduction: Researchers globally have strived to explore diverse factors that augment the continuation and uptake of family planning methods. Clients’ satisfaction is one of the core determinants facilitating continuation of family planning methods. There is a major debate yet scanty evidence to contrast public and private sectors with respect to client satisfaction. The objective of this study is to compare quality-of-care provided by public and private sectors of Pakistan through a client satisfaction lens. Methods: We used Pakistan Demographic Heath Survey 2012-13 dataset on 3133 women. Ten different multivariate models were made. to explore the relationship between client satisfaction and dependent outcome after adjusting for all known confounding factors and results are presented as OR and AOR (95% CI). Results: Multivariate analyses showed that clients were less satisfied in contraceptive provision from private sector as compared to public sector (AOR 0.92, 95% CI 0.63-1.68) even though the result was not statistically significant. Clients were more satisfied from private sector as compared to the public sector with respect to other determinants of quality-of-care follow-up care (AOR 3.29, 95% CI 1.95-5.55), infection prevention (AOR 2.41, 95% CI 1.60-3.62), counseling services (AOR 2.01, 95% CI 1.27-3.18, timely treatment (AOR 3.37, 95% CI 2.20-5.15), attitude of staff (AOR 2.23, 95% CI 1.50-3.33), punctuality of staff (AOR 2.28, 95% CI 1.92-4.13), timely referring (AOR 2.34, 95% CI 1.63-3.35), staff cooperation (AOR 1.75, 95% CI 1.22-2.51) and complications handling (AOR 2.27, 95% CI 1.56-3.29). Discussion: Public sector has successfully attained substantial satisfaction levels with respect to provision of contraceptives, but it contrasts previous literature from a multi country studies. Our study though in is concordance with a study from Tanzania where public sector was more likely to offer family planning services to clients as compared to private facilities. Conclusion: In majority of the developing countries, public sector is more involved in FP service provision; however, in Pakistan clients’ satisfaction in private sector is more, which opens doors for public-private partnerships and collaboration in the near future.
Abstract: Cortisol is essential to the regulation of the immune
system and yawning is a pathological symptom of multiple sclerosis
(MS). Electromyography activity (EMG) in the jaw muscles typically
rises when the muscles are moved and with yawning is highly
correlated with cortisol levels in healthy people. Saliva samples from
59 participants were collected at the start and after yawning, or at the
end of the presentation of yawning-provoking stimuli, in the absence
of a yawn, together with EMG data and questionnaire data: Hospital
Anxiety and Depression Scale, Yawning Susceptibility Scale,
General Health Questionnaire, demographic, health details. Exclusion
criteria: chronic fatigue, diabetes, fibromyalgia, heart condition, high
blood pressure, hormone replacement therapy, multiple sclerosis,
stroke. Significant differences were found between the saliva cortisol
samples for the yawners, t (23) = -4.263, p = 0.000, as compared with
the non-yawners between rest and post-stimuli, which was nonsignificant.
Significant evidence was found to support the Thompson
Cortisol Hypothesis suggesting that rises in cortisol levels are
associated with yawning. Further research is exploring the use of
cortisol as an early diagnostic tool for MS. Ethics approval granted
and professional code of conduct, confidentiality, and safety issues
are approved therein.
Abstract: A numerical model has been developed to investigate the thermally triggered release kinetics for drug delivery using phase change material as shell of microcapsules. Biocompatible material n-Eicosane is used as demonstration. PCM shell of microcapsule will remain in solid form after the drug is taken, so the drug will be encapsulated by the shell, and will not be released until the target body part of lesion is exposed to external heat source, which will thermally trigger the release kinetics, leading to solid-to-liquid phase change. The findings can lead to better understanding on the key effects influencing the phase change process for drug delivery applications. The facile approach to release drug from core/shell structure of microcapsule can be well integrated with organic solvent free fabrication of microcapsules, using double emulsion as template in microfluidic aqueous two phase system.