An IR-based Approach Towards Automated Integration of Geo-spatial Datasets in Map-based Software Systems

Data is arguably the most valuable asset of the modern world. In this era, the success of any data-intensive solution relies on the quality of data that drives it. Among vast amount of data that are captured, managed, and analyzed everyday, geospatial data are one of the most interesting class of data that hold geographical information of real-world phenomena and can be visualized as digital maps. Geo-spatial data is the source of many enterprise solutions that provide local information and insights. In order to increase the quality of such solutions, companies continuously aggregate geospatial datasets from various sources. However, lack of a global standard model for geospatial datasets makes the task of merging and integrating datasets difficult and error-prone. Traditionally, domain experts manually validate the data integration process by merging new data sources and/or new versions of previous data against conflicts and other requirement violations. However, this approach is not scalable and is hinder toward rapid release, when dealing with frequently changing big datasets. Thus more automated approaches with limited interaction with domain experts is required. As a first step to tackle this problem, in this paper, we leverage Information Retrieval (IR) and geospatial search techniques to propose a systematic and automated conflict identification approach. To evaluate our approach, we conduct a case study in which we measure the accuracy of our approach in several real-world scenarios and we interview with software developers at Localintel Inc. (our industry partner) to get their feedbacks.Comment: ESEC/FSE 2019 - Industry trac

The effect of cardiac arrhythmias simulation software on the nurses’ learning and professional development

Introduction: One of the important tasks of nurses in intensive care unit is interpretation of ECG. The use of training simulator is a new paradigm in the age of computers. This study was performed to evaluate the impact of cardiac arrhythmias simulator software on nurses’ learning in the subspecialty Vali-Asr Hospital in 2016. Methods: This study was conducted by quasi-experimental randomized Salomon four group design with the participation of 120 nurses in subspecialty Vali-Asr Hospital in Tehran, Iran in 2016 that were selected purposefully and allocated in 4 groups. By this design other confounding factors such as the prior information, maturation and the role of sex and age were controlled by Solomon 4 design. The valid and reliable multiple choice test tools were used to gather information; the validity of the test was approved by experts and its reliability was obtained by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient 0.89. At first, the knowledge and skills of the participants were assessed by a pre-test; following the educational intervention with cardiac arrhythmias simulator software during 14 days in ICUs, the mentioned factors were measured for the two groups again by a post-test in the four groups. Data were analyzed using the two way ANOVA. The significance level was considered as p<0.05. Results: Based on randomized four-group Solomon designs and our test results, using cardiac arrhythmias simulator software as an intervention was effective in the nurses’ learning since a significant difference was found between pre-test and post-test in the first group (p<0.05). Also, other comparisons by ANOVA test showed that there was no interaction between pre-test and intervention in all of the three knowledge areas of cardiac arrhythmias, their treatments and their diagnosis (p>0.05). Conclusion: The use of software-based simulator for cardiac arrhythmias was effective in nurses’ learning in light of its attractive components and interactive method. This intervention increased the knowledge of the nurses in cognitive domain of cardiac arrhythmias in addition to their diagnosis and treatment. Also, the package can be used for training in other areas such as continuing medical education

Antimicrobial Effects of SeptiTurbo, Deconex (Solarsept) and 0.525% Sodium Hypochlorite Spray on Alginate Impression Materials

Objectives: Dental impressions are among the potentially infectious items in dentistry. Dental impressions are invariably contaminated with saliva or blood. Such fluids may contain viral or bacterial pathogens including Bacteroides, Fusobacterium, Porphyromonas and Prevotella. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of three different types of disinfectants on alginate impression materials after one, three and five minutes.Methods: In this in vitro experimental study, 126 circular samples of alginate impression materials were contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and were then disinfected with 0.525% sodium hypochlorite, Deconex (Solarsept) and SeptiTurbo spray. Afterwards, the samples were wrapped in moist paper towels and kept in plastic bags for one, three and five minutes. Number of bacterial colonies was counted 24 hours after incubation. Negative and positive controls were included.Results: After five minutes, 0.525% sodium hypochlorite showed the highest disinfection activity against S. aurous as it eradicated over 99.98% of the bacteria. Although the disinfecting agents showed non-significant results in eradicating S. aureus, SeptiTurbo was more effective in elimination of S. aurous . The disinfection activity of different agents increased with time.Conclusion: This study revealed that alginate can be effectively disinfected with SeptiTurbo and sodium hypochlorite by the spraying technique. This study highlighted the efficacy of SeptiTurbo for eradication of S. aurous

Risk-Based Optimal Operation of Coordinated Natural Gas and Reconfigurable Electrical Networks with Integrated Energy Hubs

Abstract This paper elaborates on optimal scheduling of coordinated power and natural gas (NG) networks in the presence of interconnected energy hubs considering reconfiguration as a flexibility source. With regard to the energy hub system consisting of several generation units, storage and conversion technologies, as well as natural gas‐fired units, the high interdependency between gas and electricity carriers should be captured. The hourly reconfiguration capability is developed for the first time in a multi‐energy system to enhance the optimal power dispatch and gas consumption pattern. The realistic interdependency of electrical and NG grids is investigated by employing the steady‐state Weymouth equation and AC‐power flow model for power and gas networks, respectively. Furthermore, to handle the risk associated with strong uncertainty of wind power, load, and real‐time power price, the conditional value at risk approach is employed. The proposed model is implemented on the integrated test system and simulation results are presented for different cases. The impact of the risk aversion level on operating cost and optimal scheduling of controllable units is examined. Numerical results demonstrate that reconfigurable capability reduces the operational cost up to 7.82%

Assessment of Low-Level Laser Therapy Effects After Extraction of Impacted Lower Third Molar Surgery

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) on pain, swelling and maximum mouth opening in patients undergoing third molar surgery.Methods: A prospective, randomized double-blind study was undertaken on 44 patients at the Dental School, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, in 2015. A low-level laser was randomly applied on one of the two sides after surgery of 15 patients. The experimental side received 18 J/cm2 of energy density, wavelength of 980 nm, and output power of 1.8 W. On the control side, a hand-piece was applied intra-orally, but laser was not activated. In addition, in order to evaluate trismus, 13 patients were treated by unilateral laser therapy and 16 patients did not receive laser therapy at all. The laser was administered intraorally on two points of vestibular and lingual sides at 1 cm from the surgery site, and extraorally at the emergence of the masseter muscle, immediately after surgery, and repeated 24 hours later. The pain, swelling and maximum mouth opening (MMO) were compared between the two groups at 24 hours and a week after surgery.Results: The mean score of pain 24 hours after surgery in the laser therapy group (2.3 ± 3.5) was significantly lower than the mean score of pain in the drug therapy (4.19 ± 3.09) (P = 0.036). Moreover, the mean score of pain at one week after surgery in the laser therapy group (0.13 ± 2.33) was significantly lower than the drug therapy group (1.43 ± 2.45) (P = 0.046). The amount of swelling according to different measurements did not significantly differ between the two groups neither at 24 hours nor at 1 week after surgery.Conclusion: Our findings showed that LLLT was useful in reducing pain and could slightly reduce swelling compared to drug therapy in impacted third molar surgery

Maximizing the Hydraulic Performance of Khomam Water Distribution Network with Optimal Planning of the Number and Speed of Pumps

In recent decades, due to the limitations of water resources, much research has been done in relation to the optimal operation of water distribution networks. In this regard, the use of appropriate methods to control and set the performance of pumps, valves, reservoirs and tanks in these systems are of considerable importance. In this paper, the aim is to regulate the optimal number and speed of pumps in pumping stations to maximize the hydraulic performance of water distribution networks. For this purpose, a new index is presented based on the pump speed optimization process to determine the number of turn-on pumps. In addition, the Nodal Pressure Reliability Index (NPRI) is used to evaluate the hydraulic performance of the network. The hydraulic analysis of the network is performed using EPANET and the optimization process is performed using the Modified Standard Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm (MSPSO), both of which are done in MATLAB code. The proposed method has been implemented in the form of four scenarios on the Khomam water distribution network, Gilan province. Scenarios include current status with Single Speed Pumps (SSP), Best Setting of Rotational Speed Pumps (BSRSP), Best Number of Turn on Single Speed Pumps (BNTSSP) and Best Number and Speed of Turn on Rotational Speed Pumps (BNSTRSP). Comparison of the results shows that the BSRSP and BNSTRSP scenarios with the slightest difference have the highest reliability and the lowest leakage. So that they increase the reliability of the network by 66.10 and 66.06 percent, respectively, and reduce the leakage by 23.53 and 23.48 percent, respectively. However, in the BNSTRSP scenario, the number of turn-on pumps is 13.16 percent less than the BSRSP scenario. Also, in the BNTSSP scenario where the number of turn-on pumps is less than the SSP scenario, the reliability of the network increases 21.36 percent and the leakage rate decreases by 10.36 percent, which emphasizes the efficiency of the NTPI index in improving network performance. In general, determining the number of turn-on pumps in pumping stations and optimizing the speed of variable speed pumps has a significant effect on increasing the hydraulic performance of water distribution networks, which can be very effective in saving energy and water resources and increasing network performance

Hub Covering Location Problem Considering Queuing and Capacity Constraints

In this paper, a hub covering location problem is considered. Hubs, which are the most congested part of a network, are modeled as M/M/C queuing system and located in placeswhere the entrance flows are more than a predetermined value.A fuzzy constraint is considered in order to limit the transportation time between all origin-destination pairs in the network.On modeling, a nonlinear mathematical program is presented.Then, the nonlinear constraints are convertedto linear ones.Due to the computational complexity of the problem,genetic algorithm (GA),particle swarm optimization (PSO)based heuristics, and improved hybrid PSO are developedto solve the problem. Since the performance of the given heuristics is affected by the corresponding parameters of each, Taguchi method is appliedin order to tune the parameters. Finally,the efficiency ofthe proposed heuristicsis studied while designing a number of test problems with different sizes.The computational results indicated the greater efficiency of the heuristic GA compared to the other methods for solving the proble

Libman-Sacks endocarditis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus with secondary antiphospholipid syndrome

Background: Libman-Sacks endocarditis (LSE) is characterized by sterile lesions that commonly affect the aortic and mitral heart valves. Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have been associated with LSE. Cardiac manifestations including LSE could be interrelated with other manifestations and early diagnosis could help in preventing further complications. Case presentation: Here, we report three cases of LSE in SLE patients with secondary APS. All patients presented with neurological manifestations and LSE was diagnosed by Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). All three patients were treated for the underlying disease and also received anticoagulant therapy. Conclusion: In all patients with SLE and secondary APS, LSE should be considered if a patient manifests any evidence of neurologic involvement