Human-Centric Process-Aware Information Systems (HC-PAIS)

Process-Aware Information Systems (PAIS) support organizations in managing and automating their processes. A full automation of processes is in particular industries, such as service-oriented markets, not practicable. The integration of humans in PAIS is necessary to manage and perform processes that require human capabilities, judgments and decisions. A challenge of interdisciplinary PAIS research is to provide concepts and solutions that support human integration in PAIS and human orientation of PAIS in a way that provably increase the PAIS users' satisfaction and motivation with working with the Human-Centric Process Aware Information System (HC-PAIS) and consequently influence users' performance of tasks. This work is an initial step of research that aims at providing a definition of Human-Centric Process Aware Information Systems (HC-PAIS) and future research challenges of HC-PAIS. Results of focus group research are presented.Comment: 8 page

An evolutionary model of parabolic dune development: blowout to mature parabolic, Padre Island National Seashore, Texas

The Texas barrier islands have been studied and well documented in relation to barrier island evolution and morphology (Leatherman, 1979; Morton, 1994; White and Weise, 1980). The detailed analysis and mapping of various dune types and systems that comprise Padre Island National Seashore, specifically parabolic dunes, is the focus of this research. Dune surveys and doqq’s, along with wind and weather records were used to develop an improved morphodynamic model for parabolic dunes. The wind records were provided by the Padre Island National Seashore, the National Data Climate Center, and the Texas Coastal Ocean Observation Network. Individual dune surveys were preformed on three separate parabolic dunes for this research. These dune surveys were converted to digital elevation models and raster data, were geospatial analysis was performed. This research project investigates the geomorphic process of parabolic dunes in three parts. The first part/question of this project will be to access the accuracy and completeness of current models (Pye, 1982; Thompson, 1983) in a barrier island environment different from the environments used in previous model development. The second part of the project will attempt to answer if long term wind and weather data provide insights into conditions that are related to dune growth or change. The third part of this project utilized the recent surveys and GPS data, along with doqq’s from 1996 and 2004 to assess the migration of parabolic dunes on Padre Island National Seashore. Rates of parabolic dune movement ranged from 1.7 m a-1 for dune 1, to 17.7 m a-1 for dune 3. A new parabolic dune model was developed involving seven separate stages. The model may help to provide an increased understanding of the geomorphic evolution of parabolic dunes

Happiness as a Determining Factor for Health and Illness: A Literature Review

The population’s level of happiness in Portugal is below the levels of most European countries. Besides, chronic health conditions, including cardiometabolic and mental health disorders, are also highly prevalent. However, recent years saw a significant body of research independently associating the presence of happiness and well-being with a lower mortality risk, and with an improved physical and mental health status. Nonetheless, the mechanisms involved with such effect are still unclear. The aims of this dissertation are: to review the literature regarding the main pathways that link happiness to health, to compile strategies to improve populations’ happiness and wellbeing, and to discuss the implications and approaches to incorporate the enhancement of happiness as a national goal for Portugal. To do so, MEDLINE, EMBASE, ISI Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases were queried using a combination of key words, such as: “happiness”, “health”, “disease”, “well-being”, “subjective well-being”, “measurements”, “interventions”, and “Portugal”. Following a short introduction, the concepts and definitions associated with health, illness, happiness, and well-being were discussed, then common constructs related to the latter were considered. Additionally, the available methods to measure happiness and well-being, and its limitations, were analysed. Afterwards, the processes through which stress and negative emotions lead to illness were summarised; and then the main pathways that link mental to physical well-being were discussed, including: 1) neurobiological processes, 2) the indirect impact on health behaviours, 3) the promotion of protective psychosocial resources, 4) and stress buffering effects. Subsequently, strategies to enhance happiness and wellbeing at the individual and population level were examined and transposed to suit the case of Portugal. Even though the exact mechanisms that link happiness to health are not yet fully uncovered, preliminary research on the topic is well funded and promising. Thus, given that the happiness and health of the Portuguese population is far from reaching is full potential, it is important to consider the enhancement of happiness as a health promoting tool in Portugal.Os níveis de felicidade da população portuguesa estão abaixo dos níveis da maioria dos países europeus. Além disso, as doenças crónicas, incluindo doenças mentais e cardiometabólicas, são altamente prevalentes. Contudo, a evidência científica tem relacionado a presença de felicidade e bem-estar com: menor risco de mortalidade e um melhor estado de saúde física e mental. No entanto, os mecanismos envolvidos com esses efeitos ainda não são claros. Assim, os objetivos desta dissertação são: rever a literatura quanto às principais vias que relacionam a felicidade e a saúde, compilar estratégias para aumentar a felicidade e o bemestar, e discutir as implicações e abordagens para incorporar a promoção da felicidade como um objetivo nacional em Portugal. Para tal, foi realizada uma pesquisa bibliográfica nas bases de dados MEDLINE, EMBASE, ISI Web of Science e Cochrane Library, utilizando palavras-chave como: “happiness”, “health”, “disease”, “well-being”, “subjective well-being”, “measurements”, “interventions” e “Portugal”. Após uma breve introdução, os conceitos e definições associados a saúde, doença, felicidade e bem-estar foram discutidos, assim como as conceções relacionadas com bem-estar. Além disso, as metodologias disponíveis para avaliar a felicidade e o bem-estar e respetivas limitações foram analisadas. De seguida, os processos através dos quais o stress e as emoções negativas condicionam a doença foram sumariados e, depois, foram discutidas as vias que ligam o bem-estar mental ao bem-estar físico, incluindo: 1) processos neurobiológicos, 2) efeito indireto nos comportamentos, 3) promoção de recursos psicossociais protetores e 4) amortecimento dos efeitos relacionados com o stress. Finalmente, foram avaliadas as estratégias para aumentar a felicidade e o bem-estar a nível individual e populacional, que foram posteriormente adaptadas para o caso de Portugal. Apesar de os mecanismos que ligam a felicidade à saúde ainda não estarem completamente revelados, a investigação preliminar é promissora e bem fundamentada. Assim, uma vez que a felicidade e a saúde da população portuguesa estão longe de atingir o seu verdadeiro potencial, é pertinente considerar o aumento da felicidade como uma ferramenta para a promoção da saúde em Portugal

The education of Walter Kohn and the creation of density functional theory

The theoretical solid-state physicist Walter Kohn was awarded one-half of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his mid-1960's creation of an approach to the many-particle problem in quantum mechanics called density functional theory (DFT). In its exact form, DFT establishes that the total charge density of any system of electrons and nuclei provides all the information needed for a complete description of that system. This was a breakthrough for the study of atoms, molecules, gases, liquids, and solids. Before DFT, it was thought that only the vastly more complicated many-electron wave function was needed for a complete description of such systems. Today, fifty years after its introduction, DFT (in one of its approximate forms) is the method of choice used by most scientists to calculate the physical properties of materials of all kinds. In this paper, I present a biographical essay of Kohn's educational experiences and professional career up to and including the creation of DFT

Disorders of Sex Development

The birth of a new baby is one of the most dramatic events in a family, and the first question is usually "is it a boy or a girl?" The newborn infant with ambiguous external genitalia often comes as a surprise for the doctors as well as the parents and is sometimes described as an endocrine emergency situation presenting a problem of sex assignment. The nomenclature such as 'intersex', 'hermaphrodite', and 'pseudohermaphrodite' is out of date as well as confusing, and many urologists are concerned that these confusing terms could be perceived to be pejorative by some affected families. In response to concerns regarding outdated and controversial terms, the Chicago Consensus held in 2005 recommended new terminology based on the umbrella term disorders of sex differentiation (DSDs). The term DSD has a comprehensive definition including any problem noted at birth in which the genitalia are atypical in relation to the chromosomes or gonads. The karyotype is used as a prefix defining the classification of DSD. DSDs are rare and complex. The optimal management of patients with DSD must be individualized and multidisciplinary, considering all aspects, including psychological care and full disclosure of alternatives relating to surgery type and timing. Although further studies are necessary to confirm guidelines and recommendations fitting for the individual patients with DSD, this article is an attempt to provide a balanced perspective for new taxonomy, clinical evaluation, and medical, surgical, and psychological management of DSD

Beyond the Cosmological Standard Model

After a decade and a half of research motivated by the accelerating universe, theory and experiment have a reached a certain level of maturity. The development of theoretical models beyond \Lambda, or smooth dark energy, often called modified gravity, has led to broader insights into a path forward, and a host of observational and experimental tests have been developed. In this review we present the current state of the field and describe a framework for anticipating developments in the next decade. We identify the guiding principles for rigorous and consistent modifications of the standard model, and discuss the prospects for empirical tests. We begin by reviewing attempts to consistently modify Einstein gravity in the infrared, focusing on the notion that additional degrees of freedom introduced by the modification must screen themselves from local tests of gravity. We categorize screening mechanisms into three broad classes: mechanisms which become active in regions of high Newtonian potential, those in which first derivatives become important, and those for which second derivatives are important. Examples of the first class, such as f(R) gravity, employ the familiar chameleon or symmetron mechanisms, whereas examples of the last class are galileon and massive gravity theories, employing the Vainshtein mechanism. In each case, we describe the theories as effective theories. We describe experimental tests, summarizing laboratory and solar system tests and describing in some detail astrophysical and cosmological tests. We discuss future tests which will be sensitive to different signatures of new physics in the gravitational sector. Parts that are more relevant to theorists vs. observers/experimentalists are clearly indicated, in the hope that this will serve as a useful reference for both audiences, as well as helping those interested in bridging the gap between them.Comment: 175 pages, 24 figures. v2: Minor corrections, added references. Review article, comments welcom

Sensorial feedback contribution to the sense of embodiment in brain-machine interfaces: a systematic review

The sense of embodiment (SoE) is an essential element of human perception that allows individuals to control and perceive the movements of their body parts. Brain–machine interface (BMI) technology can induce SoE in real time, and adding sensory feedback through various modalities has been shown to improve BMI control and elicit SoEe. In this study, we conducted a systematic review to study BMI performance in studies that integrated SoE variables and analyzed the contribution of single or multimodal sensory stimulation. Out of 493 results, only 20 studies analyzed the SoE of humans using BMIs. Analysis of these articles revealed that 40% of the studies relating BMIs with sensory stimulation and SoE primarily focused on manipulating visual stimuli, particularly in terms of coherence (i.e., synchronous vs. asynchronous stimuli) and realism (i.e., humanoid or robotic appearance). However, no study has analyzed the independent contributions of different sensory modalities to SoE and BMI performance. These results suggest that providing a detailed description of the outcomes resulting from independent and combined effects of different sensory modalities on the experience of SoE during BMI control may be relevant for the design of neurorehabilitation programs.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio