Utilising semantic technologies for decision support in dementia care

The main objective of this work is to discuss our experience in utilising semantic technologies for building decision support in Dementia care systems that are based on the non-intrusive on the non-intrusive monitoring of the patient’s behaviour. Our approach adopts context-aware modelling of the patient’s condition to facilitate the analysis of the patient’s behaviour within the inhabited environment (movement and room occupancy patterns, use of equipment, etc.) with reference to the semantic knowledge about the patient’s condition (history of present of illness, dependable behaviour patterns, etc.). The reported work especially focuses on the critical role of the semantic reasoning engine in inferring medical advice, and by means of practical experimentation and critical analysis suggests important findings related to the methodology of deploying the appropriate semantic rules systems, and the dynamics of the efficient utilisation of complex event processing technology in order to the meet the requirements of decision support for remote healthcare systems

Semantic-based decision support for remote care of dementia patients

This paper investigates the challenges in developing a semantic-based Dementia Care Decision Support System based on the non-intrusive monitoring of the patient's behaviour. Semantic-based approaches are well suited for modelling context-aware scenarios similar to Dementia care systems, where the patient's dynamic behaviour observations (occupants movement, equipment use) need to be analysed against the semantic knowledge about the patient's condition (illness history, medical advice, known symptoms) in an integrated knowledgebase. However, our research findings establish that the ability of semantic technologies to reason upon the complex interrelated events emanating from the behaviour monitoring sensors to infer knowledge assisting medical advice represents a major challenge. We attempt to address this problem by introducing a new approach that relies on propositional calculus modelling to segregate complex events that are amenable for semantic reasoning from events that require pre-processing outside the semantic engine before they can be reasoned upon. The event pre-processing activity also controls the timing of triggering the reasoning process in order to further improve the efficiency of the inference process. Using regression analysis, we evaluate the response-time as the number of monitored patients increases and conclude that the incurred overhead on the response time of the prototype decision support systems remains tolerable

Nucleon Tensor Charge from Exclusive πo\pi^o Electroproduction

Exclusive $\pi^o$ electroproduction from nucleons is suggested for extracting the tensor charge and other quantities related to transversity from experimental data. This process isolates C-parity odd and chiral odd combinations of t-channel exchange quantum numbers. In a hadronic picture it connects the meson production amplitudes to C-odd Regge exchanges with final state interactions. In a description based on partonic degrees of freedom, the helicity structure for this C-odd process relates to the quark helicity flip, or chiral odd generalized parton distributions. This differs markedly from deeply virtual Compton scattering, and both vector meson and charged $\pi$ electroproduction, where the axial charge can enter the amplitudes. Contrarily the tensor charge enters the $\pi^o$ process. The connection through the helicity description of the process to both the partonic and hadronic perspectives is studied and exploited in model calculations to indicate how the tensor charge and other transversity parameters can be related to cross section and spin asymmetry measurements over a broad range of kinematics.Comment: 40 pages, 14 figures Revised text clarifying main points, fixing typos, adding reference

An Object-Based Approach to Modelling and Analysis of Failure Properties

In protection systems, when traditional technology is replaced by software, the functionality and complexity of the system is likely to increase. The quantitative evidence normally provided for safety certification of traditional systems cannot be relied upon in software-based systems. Instead there is a need to provide qualitative evidence. As a basis for the required qualitative evidence, we propose an object-based approach that allows modelling of both the application and software domains. From the object class model of a system and a formal specification of the failure properties of its components, we generate a graph of failure propagation over object classes, which is then used to generate a graph in terms of object instances in order to conduct fault tree analysis. The model is validated by comparing the resulting minimal cut sets with those obtained from the fault tree analysis of the original system. The approach is illustrated on a case study based on a protection system from..

Exploring inter-generational influence on entrepreneurial intention: the mediating role of perceived desirability and perceived feasibility

Children of self-employed parents are twice as likely as other children to become self-employed themselves, as family background exerts a significant influence on the values, attitudes, and behaviour one adopts. This study explores how entrepreneurial intentions are transmitted across generations within families. Using the data from 805 respondents and expanding upon Shapero and Sokol's model of intention in entrepreneurial events (SEE), we analyse the role of an entrepreneurial family background as an intergenerational influence on entrepreneurial intention and the underlying mediating effect of perceived desirability and perceived feasibility in starting a business

A Multi-level Study of Entrepreneurship Education among Pakistani University Students

This study examines how a university’s support impacts students’ entrepreneurial intentions and finds that entrepreneurship education, concept-development support, and business-development support increase such intentions. The university role is critical to the growth of entrepreneurial intentions, and we argue that an individual’s decision in favor of or against becoming an entrepreneur depends on the multi-level context provided by the university. Our findings suggest that students perceive the education and concept-development support (educational and cognitive) from their universities as highly influential on their entrepreneurial intentions. We conclude that a multi-level perspective offers a meaningful understanding of entrepreneurship and offer suggestions for university management and policy-makers for enhancing entrepreneurship. A sample of 805 undergraduate students in universities in Pakistan took part in the study

Diptheria vaccine awareness survey among the general populace of Kaduna State

Aim: The aim of the study is to find the knowledge of Kaduna state populace on diphtheria vaccine which is the most effective way of tackling the disease as the Diphtheria antitoxin is not readily available for use in the country. Method: A survey conducted with a designed questionnaire at a confidence level of 95%, confidence interval of 12.5 showed Kaduna State populace’s responses on diphtheria, its vaccine and booster doses, the questionnaire was self administered and responses were collated using simple descriptive statistics. Results: A total number of 64 people responded; majority (37 of 64) were from the child bearing age fifty six, 56(88%), fifty nine, 59 (92%) were vaccinated against diphtheria but only eighteen, 18 (28%) knew about its booster doses. Twenty eight, 28 (45%) took their children for vaccine but only fourteen, 14 (11%) ever took them to receive the booster dose from among the respondents. Conclusion: Kaduna state residents have generally inconsequential awareness on diphtheria, its prevention and management. Key words: Diphtheria toxin; Diphtheria toxoid; Vaccine; Knowledge; Populac

Energy-momentum Density of Gravitational Waves

In this paper, we elaborate the problem of energy-momentum in general relativity by energy-momentum prescriptions theory. Our aim is to calculate energy and momentum densities for the general form of gravitational waves. In this connection, we have extended the previous works by using the prescriptions of Bergmann and Tolman. It is shown that they are finite and reasonable. In addition, using Tolman prescription, exactly, leads to same results that have been obtained by Einstein and Papapetrou prescriptions.Comment: LaTeX, 9 pages, 1 table: added reference