283 research outputs found
Assistive technologies : short overview and trends
This paper gives a brief overview of currently existing assistive technologies for different kinds of disabilities. An elaborate discussion of all types of assistive technologies is beyond the scope of this paper. Assistive technologies have evolved dramatically in recent years and will continue to be further developed thanks to major progress in artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, and other areas. Previously, assistive technologies were highly specialized and were often difficult or expensive to acquire. Today, however, many assistive technologies are included in mainstream products and services. An introduction and state of the art of assistive technologies are presented first. These are followed by an overview of technological trends in assistive technologies and a conclusion
Accessible user interface support for multi-device ubiquitous applications: architectural modifiability considerations
The market for personal computing devices is rapidly expanding from PC, to mobile, home entertainment systems, and even the automotive industry. When developing software targeting such ubiquitous devices, the balance between development costs and market coverage has turned out to be a challenging issue. With the rise of Web technology and the Internet of things, ubiquitous applications have become a reality. Nonetheless, the diversity of presentation and interaction modalities still drastically limit the number of targetable devices and the accessibility toward end users. This paper presents webinos, a multi-device application middleware platform founded on the Future Internet infrastructure. Hereto, the platform's architectural modifiability considerations are described and evaluated as a generic enabler for supporting applications, which are executed in ubiquitous computing environments
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Construction of a novel phagemid to produce custom DNA origami scaffolds.
DNA origami, a method for constructing nanoscale objects, relies on a long single strand of DNA to act as the 'scaffold' to template assembly of numerous short DNA oligonucleotide 'staples'. The ability to generate custom scaffold sequences can greatly benefit DNA origami design processes. Custom scaffold sequences can provide better control of the overall size of the final object and better control of low-level structural details, such as locations of specific base pairs within an object. Filamentous bacteriophages and related phagemids can work well as sources of custom scaffold DNA. However, scaffolds derived from phages require inclusion of multi-kilobase DNA sequences in order to grow in host bacteria, and those sequences cannot be altered or removed. These fixed-sequence regions constrain the design possibilities of DNA origami. Here, we report the construction of a novel phagemid, pScaf, to produce scaffolds that have a custom sequence with a much smaller fixed region of 393 bases. We used pScaf to generate new scaffolds ranging in size from 1512 to 10 080 bases and demonstrated their use in various DNA origami shapes and assemblies. We anticipate our pScaf phagemid will enhance development of the DNA origami method and its future applications
Acciones de incentivo y apoyo a la lactancia en el periodo postnatal en Brasil
O trabalho analisa as publicações sobre ações de incentivo e apoio ao aleitamento materno no perÃodo pós-natal realizadas no Brasil. A seleção dos estudos de intervenção, randomizados ou não em periódicos, realizou-se nas bases de dados MEDLINE, LILACS, SciELO e Cochrane Library, no perÃodo de 1994 a 2012. Identificaram-se 134 estudos no total, sendo que 47 foram triados e 10 atenderam aos critérios de inclusão. A maioria das ações aconteceu pela implantação de programas recomendados pela Organização Mundial da Saúde de promoção ao aleitamento materno com a participação dos serviços de saúde. As estratégias estendidas após a alta hospitalar, por meio de visitas domiciliares, favoreceram as taxas, iniciação e a duração da amamentação. As ações de incentivo e apoio à amamentação no perÃodo pós-natal se concentram em algumas regiões do paÃs e, diante dos resultados positivos, devem ser divulgadas e implementadas no Sistema Único de Saúde com acessibilidade a todas as mulheres para fortalecer a saúde do bebê e da mãe. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThis investigation analyses publications on postnatal promotion and support of breastfeeding carried out in Brazil. The search of randomized or non randomized studies was carried out in MEDLINE, LILACS, SciELO and Cochrane Library from 1994 to 2012. There were 134 studies identified, 47 studies were retrieved and 10 studies fulfilled inclusion criteria. Most actions included programs recommended by the World Health Organization to promote breastfeeding with participation of the health services. Strategies after hospital discharge, through home visits, favor the rate, initiation and the duration of breastfeeding. Actions to encourage breastfeeding in the postnatal period occur in certain regions of the country and, because of their success, should be disseminated and implemented in the National Health System with accessibility to all women to strengthen the health of the baby and mother. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ RESUMENEl trabajo analiza las publicaciones de acciones realizadas en Brasil de incentivo y apoyo a la lactancia materna en el periodo posnatal. La selección de estudios de intervención, aleatorizados o no, en periódicos se realizó en MEDLINE, LILACS, SciELO y Cochrane Library entre 1994 y 2012. Un total de 134 estudios fueron identificados, 47 fueron recuperados y 10 cumplieron con los criterios de inclusión. La mayorÃa de las acciones se dio por la implantación de programas recomendados por la Organización Mundial de la Salud de promoción a la lactancia materna con la participación de los servicios de salud. Las estrategias utilizadas tras el alta hospitalaria, mediante visitas domiciliarias, favorecieron las tasas, iniciación y la duración del amamantamiento. Esas acciones de incentivo y apoyo a la lactancia materna en el periodo posnatal ocurren en algunas regiones del paÃs, y ante su éxito, deberÃan ser diseminadas e implementadas en el Sistema Nacional de Salud con accesibilidad a todas las mujeres para lograr fortalecer la salud del bebé y la madre
Can we improve the health system with pay-for-performance?
Advanced healthcare systems are moving toward greater efficiency, transparency and accountability, and this trend is not likely to change
There is no single measure that will improve service delivery and patient outcomes, ensure financial sustainability and increase accountability and transparency in a health system
The jury is still out on whether financial incentive mechanisms, such as pay-for-performance, work as intended and deliver value for money
The research literature is rich in lessons policymakers need to keep in mind when developing and rolling out pay-for-performance programs:
Program design
Build on what already exists
Formulate a clear business case that defines the objectives of the program in terms of the desired outcomes
Define performance using absolute and relative thresholds, ensure target can be adjusted over time and attribute credit for performance to participants in ways that foster care across serviced populations and not on a case-by-case basis
Ensure methodologies for risk adjustment are developed prior to the program’s introduction
Model and evaluate the program carefully before implementation and at regular intervals afterward. Pilot the program before rolling it out in a phased approach
Consider regional disparities when modelling and evaluating the program prior and post implementation
Design the program to drive improvement and quality across a range of service providers performing at various levels and not just reward current high performers
Performance targets must be perceived as being achievable although not without some additional effort
Allow room for innovation and flexibility
Data collection
Ensure strong health information systems are in place
Use rigorous and verifiable data collection methods and analysis, allow for health service providers to review/correct/supplement data and determine rewards using long-term data trends
Incentives
Incentives should be sufficient, equitable and transparent in order to have any effect
Incentives should reach various levels within an organisation
Financial incentives are more likely to have the intended effect where there is one single funder
Stakeholders
Secure strong political and management support
Design the program collaboratively with health service providers and professional health associations and organisation
Keep in mind
Pay-for-performance can yield small gains at large costs, particularly when targets are set in the absence of a good baseline
Potential perverse and unintended consequences need to be carefully considered
Not everything can be measured. Current pay-for-performance programs focus on clinical and organisational measures, which may be relatively easy to measure through objective data or observation, but there are other aspects that are less easily quantified and are only briefly considered in many pay-for-performance programs such as: continuity of care, ease of access to care, strength of the patient-doctor relationship and patient satisfaction
Beyond pay-for-performance
Payment systems and financial incentive programs cannot do everything. Many of their key objectives, such as lowering costs, improving quality and driving appropriate change, are goals that are achievable in concert with other policy initiatives
Invest in outcomes and health service researc
Defending The Country on The Movement of The Younger Generation in Lafran Pane’s Perspective
This research discusses the defensive attitude of the younger generation, especially the younger generation of muslims, based on Lafran Pane’s thoughts. Lafran Pane is one of the hero figures in Indonesia who had a significant influence on maintaining Indonesia's independence. This research aims to determine and understand Lafran Pane’s thoughts on defending the country by the younger generation, especially the younger generation of muslims in Indonesia. The method used in this research is the descriptive qualitative research method. This study found that Lafran Pane emphasized the young age to maintain Indonesian independence by returning to the Islamic teachings and practicing them in all activities. He has reformed thoughts in various fields, created a new education system, made Islamic and Indonesian-ness the starting point for the movement
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