Intelligent autism screening using fuzzy agent

In the diagnosis of diseases, either physical or psychological, there are situations causing reaching for second independent opinion very hard. This is especially true in the diagnosis of Autism due to the complex process of diagnosis. Apart from the complex process, the challenges include cost and the availability of experts. This, however, does not change the fact that having regular independent second opinions is crucial. Hence, this study proposes an intelligent autism screening model using fuzzy agent, to assist the expert and non-expert in making the diagnosis. In this study, the fuzzy inputs are assigned based on five categories, which are Communication, Gross Motor, Fine Motor, Problem Solving, and Personal Social, and is specifically for three-year-old children only. The proposed model will be able to produce output in the form of sequences based on lowest to highest mark of the scores for each category. This output will then relate to the suggestion of activities to autistic children by priority (based on the scores obtained)

Traversing the margins of corruption amidst informal economies in Amazonia

This article focuses on local idioms of extra-legal economic activity among indigenous Amazonians in eastern Peru, and its overall argument is that these idioms are part of a broader context in which indigenous people are compelled by a variety of factors to act in a seemingly corrupt manner. I further suggest that within such a context these idioms are not confined to the informal economy but are also used to refer to activities that fall within the formal economy, supporting Hart’s (2009) claim that the informal economy is a way of imagining the orthodox economy. I argue that corruption within Amazonian economies is commonly perceived by non-indigenous people as contrasting with the workings of the orthodox economy without proper consideration of the economic conditions and bureaucratic structures that give rise to it. Lastly, I argue that, here, corruption can contravene bureaucracy by restoring the humanity that Herzfeld (1993) claims bureaucracy rejects through its acts of indifference toward individuals

Mann and gender in Old English prose : a pilot study

It has long been known that OE mann was used in gender-neutral as well as gender-specific contexts. Because of the enormous volume of its attestations in Old English prose, the more precise usage patterns of mann remain, however, largely uncharted, and existing lexicographical tools provide only a basic picture. This article aims to present a preliminary study of the various uses of mann as attested in Old English prose, particularly in its surprisingly consistent use by an individual author, namely that of the ninth-century Old English Martyrology. Patterns emerging from this text are then tested against other prose material. Particular attention is paid to gender-specific usage, examples of which are shown to be exceptional for a word which largely occurs in gender-neutral contexts.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Innovators’ Acts of Framing and Audiences’ Structural Characteristics in Novelty Recognition

We integrate a rhetorical with an audience-mediated perspective on novelty recognition to advance a conceptual framework where recognition of novel ideas is understood as the result of the interplay between an innovator’s acts of framing and audiences’ structural characteristics. Building on storytelling and narrative research, we argue that innovators can overcome the liability of newness of their ideas by framing them so as to shape the evaluation of relevant audiences (e.g., peers, critics, investors or users). We also suggest that non-agentic mechanisms can render a field more or less permeable to the reception of novel ideas. Specifically, we propose that two audience-level characteristics affect novelty evaluation: audience heterogeneity and whether an audience is internal or external to cultural producers’ (including innovators’) professional community. Studying innovators’ acts of framing and marrying them with audience-level characteristics affords a window into a more nuanced understanding of how novel ideas are recognized and eventually accepted in cultural fields, thus offering several contributions to research on innovation and entrepreneurship and, more generally, social evaluation

Digital supply chain management in the videogames industry: a systematic literature review

As industries mature, they rely more heavily on supply chain management (SCM) to ensure effective operations leading to greater levels of organisational performance. SCM has been widely covered in many industrial areas and, in line with other burgeoning sectors such as Tourism, an industry focus provides the opportunity to look in-depth at the context-based factors that affect SCM. Developments in digital distribution and rapid technological innovations have resulted in an increased focus on Digital Supply Chains (DSCs), which bring about significant changes to how consumers, customers, suppliers, and manufacturers interact, affecting supply chain design and processes. Through a systematic review of the Videogames Industry Supply Chain Management literature, which serves as a pertinent contextual example of a DSC, we look at how supply chains are affected by structural, market and technological change, such as increased platformisation, disintermediation and the proliferation of digital distribution. We distil these findings into a new research agenda, which identifies themes in line with extant DSC research, provides a series of relevant practice recommendations and identifies opportunities for future research

Autism spectrum disorder in people with multiple disabilities

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by deficits in communication and social behaviours and by repetitive and stereotyped behaviour. People with an intellectual disability combined with a visual impairment or deafblindness (multiple disabilities) show behaviour patterns similar to ASD. This makes it difficult to diagnose ASD in persons with multiple disabilities. This research was aimed at the development of a diagnostic instrument for ASD in persons with multiple disabilities. Observation of Autism in Sensory and Intellectual Disabilities (OASID) can help in the diagnostic process, by examining characteristics of ASD in a playful manner. Observation is used to score ASD behaviours. This study showed that persons with multiple disabilities without ASD show more social and communicative behaviour than individuals with ASD. Furthermore, it was found that many persons with multiple disabilities show insecure attachment styles. Finally it was found that stress within this population can influence stereotyped and repetitive behaviours, regardless of the presence of ASD

OASID, un instrumento para evaluar los trastornos del espectro autista en personas con discapacidad intelectual combinada con discapacidades visuales o sordoceguera [OASID, an instrument for assessing autism spectrum disorders in individuals with intellectual disabilities combined with visual impairments or deafblindness]

A menudo, se consulta a los profesionales que prestan servicios educativos destinados a personas con discapacidad visual o sordoceguera sobre el comportamiento de este grupo de personas con discapacidades múltiples. Un ámbito de interés específico es la posible presencia de trastornos del espectro autista en esta población. Las características del comportamiento típicas del autismo también se encuentran con frecuencia en personas con discapacidad intelectual combinada con discapacidad visual o sordoceguera. Por causa de la superposición topográfica de características del comportamiento, puede resultar difícil diagnosticar el autismo en este grupo complejo de personas que muestran una combinación de discapacidades sensoriales e intelectuales, no pareciendo apropiados para este tipo de población los instrumentos para diagnosticar el autismo cuyo uso está más generalizado. OASID se ha desarrollado para abordar estos problemas de validez

OASID, an instrument for assessing autism spectrum disorders in individuals with intellectual disabilities combined with visual impairments or deafblindness

Contains fulltext : 231384.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access)9 p