Multi-agent system specification for distributed scheduling in home health care

Nowadays, scheduling and allocation of resources and tasks becomes a huge and complex challenge to the most diverse industrial areas, markets, services and health. The problem with current scheduling systems is that their management is still done manually or using classical optimization methods (usually static, time-consuming) and centralized approaches. However, opportunities arise to decentralize solutions with smart systems, which enable the distribution of the computational effort, the flexibility of behaviours and the minimization of operating times and operational planning costs. The paper proposes the specification of a Multi-agent System (MAS) for the Home Health Care (HHC) scheduling and allocation. The MAS technology enables the scheduling of intelligent behaviours and functionalities based on the interaction of agents, and allows the evolution of current strategies and algorithms, as it can guarantee the fast response to condition changes, flexibility and responsiveness in existing planning systems. An experimental HHC case study was considered to test the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed MAS approach, the results demonstrating promising qualitative and quantitative indicators regarding the efficiency and responsiveness of the HHC scheduling.This work has been supported by FCT—Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia within the R&D Units Projects Scope: UIDB/00319/2020 and UIDB/05757/2020. Filipe Alves is supported by FCT Doctorate Grant Reference SFRH/BD/143745/2019

Deployment of a smart and predictive maintenance system in an industrial case study

Industrial manufacturing environments are often characterized as being stochastic, dynamic and chaotic, being crucial the implementation of proper maintenance strategies to ensure the production efficiency, since the machines? breakdown leads to a degradation of the system performance, causing the loss of productivity and business opportunities. In this context, the use of emergent ICT technologies, such as Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning and augmented reality, allows to develop smart and predictive maintenance systems, contributing for the reduction of unplanned machines? downtime by predicting possible failures and recovering faster when they occur. This paper describes the deployment of a smart and predictive maintenance system in an industrial case study, that considers IoT and machine learning technologies to support the online and real-time data collection and analysis for the earlier detection of machine failures, allowing the visualization, monitoring and schedule of maintenance interventions to mitigate the occurrence of such failures. The deployed system also integrates machine learning and augmented reality technologies to support the technicians during the execution of maintenance interventions.2411-78B2-7CDB | Pedro Miguel MoreiraN/

GAMMA RADIATION AS A METHOD FOR STERILIZATION OF ALL-IN-ONE ADMIXTURES BAGS FOR CLINICAL USE: A STUDY OF STABILITY

Objective: The aim of this work was to evaluate the stability of all-in-one (AIO) admixtures exposed to gamma irradiation sterilization.Methods: The samples were divided into four groups with 10 bags each: a) Group I: control samples (bags without sterilization or inoculation with microorganisms); b) Group II: bags sterilized by gamma irradiation; c) Group III: bags inoculated and then irradiated and, d) Group IV: bags only inoculated. The following studies were performed: macroscopic analysis of admixtures; physicochemical stability; degree of lipoperoxidation (LPO), and microbiological tests.Results: Gamma irradiation sterilization was 100% effective, since no irradiated sample showed growth of microorganisms. All groups exhibited similar particle size distribution, but a longer storage time led to a smaller percentage of large particles. In general, irradiated samples showed reduced LPO.Conclusion: Gamma irradiation sterilization of these admixtures can be extended to clinical practice, as it results in physicochemically stable admixtures

An extensive reef system at the Amazon River mouth

Large rivers create major gaps in reef distribution along tropical shelves. The Amazon River represents 20% of the global riverine discharge to the ocean, generating up to a 1.3 x 10(6)-km(2) plume, and extensive muddy bottoms in the equatorial margin of South America. As a result, a wide area of the tropical North Atlantic is heavily affected in terms of salinity, pH, light penetration, and sedimentation. Such unfavorable conditions were thought to imprint a major gap in Western Atlantic reefs. We present an extensive carbonate system off the Amazon mouth, underneath the river plume. Significant carbonate sedimentation occurred during lowstand sea level, and still occurs in the outer shelf, resulting in complex hard-bottom topography. A permanent near-bottom wedge of ocean water, together with the seasonal nature of the plume's eastward retroflection, conditions the existence of this extensive (similar to 9500 km(2)) hard-bottom mosaic. The Amazon reefs transition from accretive to erosional structures and encompass extensive rhodolith beds. Carbonate structures function as a connectivity corridor for wide depth-ranging reef-associated species, being heavily colonized by large sponges and other structure-forming filter feeders that dwell under low light and high levels of particulates. The oxycline between the plume and subplume is associated with chemoautotrophic and anaerobic microbial metabolisms. The system described here provides several insights about the responses of tropical reefs to suboptimal and marginal reef-building conditions, which are accelerating worldwide due to global changes.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq)Coordenadoria de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES)Fundacao Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERS)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)BrasoilMCTIBrazilian NavyU.S. NSFGordon and Betty Moore Foundation (GBMF)Univ Fed Rio de Janeiro UFRJ, Inst Biol, BR-21941599 Rio De Janeiro, RJ, BrazilUniv Fed Rio de Janeiro, COPPE, Inst Alberto Luiz Coimbra Posgrad & Pesquisa Engn, Lab Sistemas Avancados Gestao Prod, BR-21941972 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilInst Pesquisas Jardim Bot Rio de Janeiro, BR-22460030 Rio De Janeiro, RJ, BrazilUniv Sao Paulo, Inst Oceanog, BR-05508120 Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Espirito Santo, Dept Oceanog, BR-29199970 Vitoria, ES, BrazilUniv Estadual Norte Fluminense, Lab Ciencias Ambientais, Ctr Biociencias & Biotecnol, BR-28013602 Campos Dos Goytacazes, RJ, BrazilUniv Fed Fluminense, Inst Geociencias, BR-24210346 Niteroi, RJ, BrazilUniv Fed Fluminense, Inst Biol, BR-24210130 Niteroi, RJ, BrazilUniv Fed Rio de Janeiro, Museo Nacl, BR-20940040 Rio De Janeiro, RJ, BrazilFed Univ Para, Inst Estudos Costeiros, BR-68600000 Braganca, PA, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ciencias Mar, BR-11070100 Santos, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Pernambuco, Dept Oceanog, BR-50670901 Recife, PE, BrazilUniv Georgia, Dept Marine Sci, Athens, GA 30602 USAUniv Fed Paraiba, BR-58297000 Rio Tinto, PB, BrazilUniv Estadual Santa Cruz, Dept Ciencias Biol, BR-45650000 Ilheus, BA, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Ciencias Mar, BR-11070100 Santos, SP, BrazilU.S. NSF: OCE-0934095GBMF: 2293GBMF: 2928Web of Scienc

Sleep study, respiratory mechanics, chemosensitive response and quality of life in morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery: a prospective, randomized, controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Obesity is a major public health problem in both developed and developing countries alike and leads to a series of changes in respiratory physiology. There is a strong correlation between obesity and cardiopulmonary sleep disorders. Weight loss among such patients leads to a reduction in these alterations in respiratory physiology, but clinical treatment is not effective for a long period of time. Thus, bariatric surgery is a viable option.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>The present study involves patients with morbid obesity (BMI of 40 kg/m²or 35 kg/m²to 39.9 kg/m²with comorbidities), candidates for bariatric surgery, screened at the Santa Casa de Misericórdia Hospital in the city of Sao Paulo (Brazil). The inclusion criteria are grade III morbid obesity, an indication for bariatric surgery, agreement to participate in the study and a signed term of informed consent. The exclusion criteria are BMI above 55 kg/m², clinically significant or unstable mental health concerns, an unrealistic postoperative target weight and/or unrealistic expectations of surgical treatment. Bariatric surgery candidates who meet the inclusion criteria will be referred to Santa Casa de Misericórdia Hospital and will be reviewed again 30, 90 and 360 days following surgery. Data collection will involve patient records, personal data collection, objective assessment of HR, BP, neck circumference, chest and abdomen, collection and analysis of clinical preoperative findings, polysomnography, pulmonary function test and a questionnaire on sleepiness.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This paper describes a randomised controlled trial of morbidly obese patients. Polysomnography, respiratory mechanics, chemosensitive response and quality of life will be assessed in patients undergoing or not undergoing bariatric surgery.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>The protocol for this study is registered with the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials - ReBEC (RBR-9k9hhv).</p

A social and ecological assessment of tropical land uses at multiple scales: the Sustainable Amazon Network

Science has a critical role to play in guiding more sustainable development trajectories. Here, we present the Sustainable Amazon Network (Rede Amazonia Sustentavel, RAS): a multidisciplinary research initiative involving more than 30 partner organizations working to assess both social and ecological dimensions of land-use sustainability in eastern Brazilian Amazonia. The research approach adopted by RAS offers three advantages for addressing land-use sustainability problems: (i) the collection of synchronized and co-located ecological and socioeconomic data across broad gradients of past and present human use; (ii) a nested sampling design to aid comparison of ecological and socioeconomic conditions associated with different land uses across local, landscape and regional scales; and (iii) a strong engagement with a wide variety of actors and non-research institutions. Here, we elaborate on these key features, and identify the ways in which RAS can help in highlighting those problems in most urgent need of attention, and in guiding improvements in land-use sustainability in Amazonia and elsewhere in the tropics. We also discuss some of the practical lessons, limitations and realities faced during the development of the RAS initiative so far.Keywords: Social–ecological systems, Tropical forests, Land use, Interdisciplinary research, Sustainability, Trade-off

Enhancement of digital elevation models and overland flow path delineation methods for advanced urban flood modelling

The objective of this thesis is to improve existing and develop new DEM enhancement methods and DEM-based overland flow delineation methods in order to generate reliable overland flow networks. These networks can be used in conjunction with existing urban drainage modelling methodologies in order to improve surface flooding simulation results. The objective has been achieved by: developing new methods to merge DEMs; evaluating nad improving available DEM enhancement methods; improving methods to solve DEM flat area problems, and developing novel methods to improve overland flow path delineation. All improvements and new developments have been adapted to the specific characteristics of high-resolution DEMs and urban catchments. The experimental work undertaken in Lisbon, together with two case-studies in the UK, was used to validate the concepts proposed in this thesis. It is concluded that DEM enhancement methods can be used to improve DEMs for overland flow delineation, thereby enhancing the reliability of urban flood modelling. The advanced flow path delineation methods developed here produce more reliable results than conventional overland flow path delineation methods. The hydraulic simulation results obtained confirm the advantages of applying 1D/1D modelling to simulate urban flood events. However, the findings show that the use of these methods needs to be preceded by a thorough analysis and quantification of Dem surface characteristics, and by a detailed calibration and validation procedure. Independent testing carried out by UKWIR has proved the adequacy and reliability of the developed methodology in full scale flood risk mapping applications.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Recommendation system using reinforcement learning for what-if simulation in digital twin

The research about the digital twin concept is growing worldwide, especially in the industrial sector, due to the increasing digitisation level associated to Industry 4.0. The application of the digital twin concept improves performance of a system by implementing monitoring, diagnosis, optimisation, and decision support actions. In particular, the decision-making process is very time consuming since the decision-maker is presented with hundreds of different scenarios that can be simulated and assessed in a what-if perspective. Bearing this in mind, this paper proposes to integrate a digital twin-based what-if simulation with a recommendation system to improve the decision-making cycle. The recommendation system is based on a reinforcement learning technique and takes user knowledge of the system into consideration and trust in the system recommendation. The applicability of the proposed approach is presented in an assembly line case study for recommending the best configurations for the system operation, in terms of the optimal number of AGVs (Autonomous Guided Vehicles) in various scenarios. The achieved results show its successful application and highlight the benefits of using AI-based recommendation systems for what-if simulation in digital twin systems