An Architecture for Emotional and Context-Aware Associative Learning for Robot Companions

This work proposes a theoretical architectural model based on the brain's fear learning system with the purpose of generating artificial fear conditioning at both stimuli and context abstraction levels in robot companions. The proposed architecture is inspired by the different brain regions involved in fear learning, here divided into four modules that work in an integrated and parallel manner: the sensory system, the amygdala system, the hippocampal system and the working memory. Each of these modules is based on a different approach and performs a different task in the process of learning and memorizing environmental cues to predict the occurrence of unpleasant situations. The main contribution of the model proposed here is the integration of fear learning and context awareness in order to fuse emotional and contextual artificial memories. The purpose is to provide robots with more believable social responses, leading to more natural interactions between humans and robots

Experience of a Medical School in the Philippines on the Sudden Shift to Online Learning amidst COVID-19

Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic forced educational institutions to adapt to a full online learning environment. Medical schools in particular were disrupted by this shift since the majority of the learning objectives, skills, and necessary competencies are learned through classroom and hospital face-to-face activities. Objective The purpose of this paper is to describe the experiences of a medical school in the country as it navigated the sudden shift to full online learning vis-à-vis a framework on the barriers and solutions to online learning. Method This is a descriptive paper written from the perspective and observations of an administrator who participated in crafting the immediate response of the school to the sudden shift to online delivery and who worked with the stakeholders of the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health (ASMPH). Results To address concerns on time, skills and infrastructure, the school reprioritized its learning objectives for the remainder of the school year. It conducted in-service sessions for faculty while also immediately setting up a learning management system and a technical support team that was available on demand. Strategies employed included a deliberate switch to asynchronous learning, curation of content and creativity in delivery and assessment, and the reshaping of the management and public health activities into the online platform. To manage attitudes and provide institutional support, the school worked collaboratively with stakeholders and transformed its traditional support services of campus ministry, counselling, formation, and physical and mental health to be readily available online. Conclusion We described the experience of ASMPH when medical schools were forced to completely shift to online delivery of their programs because of the pandemic. We identified the barriers and solutions of online learning in medical education. The unique context of the ASMPH for having a dual degree in medicine and management; having an inter-disciplinal, non-departmentalized set-up at each year level; and, possessing the traditions of Jesuit education were instrumental in the school’s ability to navigate this sudden shift

Influence of Feeding Enzymatically Hydrolyzed Yeast Cell Wall on Growth Performance and Digestive Function of Feedlot Cattle during Periods of Elevated Ambient Temperature.

In experiment 1, eighty crossbred steers (239±15 kg) were used in a 229-d experiment to evaluate the effects of increasing levels of enzymatically hydrolyzed yeast (EHY) cell wall in diets on growth performance feedlot cattle during periods of elevated ambient temperature. Treatments consisted of steam-flaked corn-based diets supplemented to provide 0, 1, 2, or 3 g EHY/hd/d. There were no effects on growth performance during the initial 139-d period. However, from d 139 to harvest, when 24-h temperature humidity index averaged 80, EHY increased dry matter intake (DMI) (linear effect, p<0.01) and average daily gain (ADG) (linear effect, p = 0.01). There were no treatment effects (p>0.10) on carcass characteristics. In experiment 2, four Holstein steers (292±5 kg) with cannulas in the rumen and proximal duodenum were used in a 4×4 Latin Square design experiment to evaluate treatments effects on characteristics of ruminal and total tract digestion in steers. There were no treatment effects (p>0.10) on ruminal pH, total volatile fatty acid, molar proportions of acetate, butyrate, or estimated methane production. Supplemental EHY decreased ruminal molar proportion of acetate (p = 0.08), increased molar proportion of propionate (p = 0.09), and decreased acetate:propionate molar ratio (p = 0.07) and estimated ruminal methane production (p = 0.09). It is concluded that supplemental EHY may enhance DMI and ADG of feedlot steers during periods of high ambient temperature. Supplemental EHY may also enhance ruminal fiber digestion and decrease ruminal acetate:propionate molar ratios in feedlot steers fed steam-flaked corn-based finishing diets

Lean Manufacturing Production Management Model using the Johnson Method Approach to Reduce Delivery Delays for Printing Production Lines in the Digital Graphic Design Industry

Several factors compel graphic design companies to improve efficiency and competitiveness in their production lines. However, these companies are not prepared to take on this challenge, as they report delays in 20% of their deliveries, caused by high setup times, low machine availability, and poor work scheduling. In this context, this study proposes a new production management model fed by the interaction of lean manufacturing tools and the Johnson scheduling method. This model has been validated by direct application at the SISSA. The results obtained were the reduction of the setup time to 15 minutes, increased machine availability up to 24%, and an efficient scheduling of its tasks. All of these reduced the percentage of delivery delays from 20% to 6%

Lean Manufacturing Production Management Model focused on Worker Empowerment aimed at increasing Production Efficiency in the textile sector

For companies operating within the garment manufacturing industry, having frequent downtimes in their production flows is an extremely common issue. In this context, a balanced production line is required to prevent high waiting times due to limited productive capacity. A well-balanced assembly line allows products to be produced in an optimum time while using less resources, such as machines, materials, or labour, since the right number of products is produced with the exact amount of resources, thus generating savings in production costs. This paper seeks to foster optimum resource allocation through the line balancing tool. Finally, to define a work methodology, best practices were selected, and a procedures manual was developed focusing on Standardization. Both tools were implemented after implementing changes to the company culture by means of the Employee Empowerment tool. As a result of this implementation, workers acquired greater accountability and control over the resources, methods, and equipment of their work areas. After the proposed improvements had been deployed, the company reported an increase of over 20% in production line quality, performance, and efficiency

Maintenance Management Model under the TPM approach to Reduce Machine Breakdowns in Peruvian Giant Squid Processing SMEs

In recent years, the giant squid processing industry in Peru exhibited a 59% increase in exports with respect to 2018. According to estimates, this industry generates approximately 30,900 jobs per year. However, some SMEs experience low productivity, such as the PECEPE company, due to plant downtime. This represents 26% of the available time, which translates into the loss of 1760 tons every year. The most constraining external factor the sector faces is uncertainty in resource availability caused by changing weather conditions and informal fishing activities. Although there is a large number of research studies on the fishing industry and resource extraction, literature on processing plant operations is scarce. Within this context, this study seeks to promote a high impact sector in Peru, as well as fostering processing plant competitiveness and productivity. Hence, to address these issues, the authors propose a maintenance management model under the TPM approach. As part of the results from model implementation, a 39% decrease was reported in plant downtime, while maintenance costs also decreased by 16%, which, in turn, increased machine availability and production by 784 tons per year

NUMERICAL STUDY OF THE ERYTHRITOL MELTING PROCESS IN A TRIDIMENSIONAL RECTANGULAR CAVITY

Many areas of engineering, such as the petrochemical and food industries, use thermal energy storage to achieve better performance. Thermal energy storage can be used as a heat source or a heat sink. The thermal storage/release technology, based on the use of phase change materials (PCMs), which possess a great capacity of heat accumulation, has raised an important practical interest. Indeed, the improved storage density and the constant temperature release of energy allow a more compact heat exchange design and simplify system management. Phase change phenomena occurring during PCM melting and PCM solidification need to be carefully controlled. The aim of the present numerical study is to investigate the heat transfer and hydrodynamic characteristics of a phase change material (PCM) in a rectangular cavity and the melting process dependence on the cavity height. The geometry consists of a mini rectangular cavity which contains PCM. Water or steam flows in the longitudinal direction of the cavity, thus heating or cooling the PCM in the cavity. The computational domain is made of three materials: air, aluminum and PCM. The grid mesh is structured, hexaedrical and refined near the walls. The study is developed with different operation conditions of the mass flow and water temperature. The numerical simulation is developed through CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) with the Fluent code. The mathematical model was validated using results available in the literature. Results of temperature, velocity and volume fraction fields indicate that the cavity height has no impact on the melting process

Resilience of Coral-Associated Bacterial Communities Exposed to Fish Farm Effluent

10.1371/journal.pone.0007319PLoS ONE410

Warehouse management model using FEFO, 5s, and chaotic storage to improve product loading times in small- and medium-sized non-metallic mining companies

This article addresses one of the main problems faced by small- and medium-sized business in the non-metallic mining sector in Peru. These companies own warehouses and face the major problem of failing to deliver orders correctly and in a timely manner. This problem usually occurs when the business grows from a small- to medium-sized company in a short span of time; this situation leads to new processes within warehouses that are mostly not standardized. Besides, facilities are no longer optimal in space and the workers are not properly trained. The case study shows that the orders were not delivered on time due to factors such as lack of product identification, although the products have an expiration date and a warehouse without signaling and surrounded by traffic. To tackle this situation, a labeling process has been designed for the products, an adequate distribution technique is used in the warehouse through a newly designed warehouse layout, and a First Expired, First Out system has been implemented. Similarly, the design is accompanied by the 5s tool to provide a basis for order and continuous improvement. The results show that deliveries with delays were reduced from 38% to 10%. These results show that companies can grow rapidly and maintain quality of service through orderly management