Knowledge assistant: A sensor fusion framework for robotic environmental characterization

A prototype sensor fusion framework called the {open_quotes}Knowledge Assistant{close_quotes} has been developed and tested on a gantry robot at Sandia National Laboratories. This Knowledge Assistant guides the robot operator during the planning, execution, and post analysis stages of the characterization process. During the planning stage, the Knowledge Assistant suggests robot paths and speeds based on knowledge of sensors available and their physical characteristics. During execution, the Knowledge Assistant coordinates the collection of data through a data acquisition {open_quotes}specialist.{close_quotes} During execution and post analysis, the Knowledge Assistant sends raw data to other {open_quotes}specialists,{close_quotes} which include statistical pattern recognition software, a neural network, and model-based search software. After the specialists return their results, the Knowledge Assistant consolidates the information and returns a report to the robot control system where the sensed objects and their attributes (e.g. estimated dimensions, weight, material composition, etc.) are displayed in the world model. This paper highlights the major components of this system

The advising behaviour of healthcare professionals; considerations of dieticians and general practitioners regarding dairy and probiotic interventions

Dairy and probiotics are examples of products that contain ingredients that provide health benefits beyond the basic nutritional components of the food itself. However, strong evidence based on randomised controlled trials is generally lacking, which in turn leads to weak guidelines and recommendations for clinical practice. Interestingly, despite the limited regulation of probiotics, for example, a significant proportion of healthcare professionals still recommend these products. We set out studying the advising behaviour of general practitioners (GPs) and dieticians and their underlying motivations whether to advise probiotics, a relatively new intervention, and dairy, an older intervention by conducting interviews and setting out a questionnaire. This study found that the vast majority of GPs and dieticians recommended dairy and probiotics. The proportion of dieticians that do not advise both dairy and probiotics was too small for statistical analysis, therefore, the results are mainly focused on GPs. Considerations that appeared to be associated with GP advising behaviour were related to compliance with protocols and guidelines in regard to both dairy and probiotics. For probiotics in particular, GPs' knowledge and patients' interest in using probiotics was related to advising behaviour of GPs. Considerations solely related to recommending dairy were related to GPs' perceptions about the amount of evidence of dairy efficacy and the recommendation of dairy in scientific journals. The study highlights the influence of authority-driven, expertise-driven and patient-driven considerations on whether or not to proceed with recommending an intervention. Insights into the drivers of GPs to advise, gives input to stakeholders in the nutrition innovation system to understand and allow to use appropriate tools to support GPs in making an informed decision to increase the quality of care provided

Comparing expert and non-expert conceptualisations of the land: An analysis of crowdsourced land cover data

This research compares expert and non-expert conceptualisations of land cover data collected through a Google Earth web-based interface. In so doing it seeks to determine the impacts of varying landscape conceptualisations held by different groups of VGI contributors on decisions that may be made using crowdsourced data, in this case to select the best global land cover dataset in each location. Whilst much other work has considered the quality of VGI, as yet little research has considered the impact of varying semantics and conceptualisations on the use of VGI in formal scientific analyses. This study found that conceptualisation of cropland varies between experts and non-experts. A number of areas for further research are outlined