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

Rutting assessment of crumb rubber modifier modified warm mix asphalt incorporating warm asphalt additive

Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) as a green technology, permits production of asphalt mixtures at lower temperatures compared to conventional HMA; emissions and energy consumption reduction, were among the key success of this technology, thus, enhancing social, economic, and environmental sustainability. But due to the reduced production temperature, WMA are more prone to rutting, to improve the rutting resistance of WMA mixtures and minimize pollution resulting from waste rubber tire. Therefore, the effect of wet processed Crumb Rubber Modifier (CRM) on rutting depth of WMA mixtures incorporating 2.5% Sasobit by weight of base binders were assessed in the laboratory. In this study, the asphalt mixtures were fabricated in accordance with Superpave, using; crush granite aggregate of 9.5mm NMAS and the four binders that were produced by blending the PG 64 binder with different contents of 40 mesh size CRM (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%, by weight of the base binder). Rutting depths of the mixtures were assessed on 150mm diameter and 70mm thick cylindrical samples using wheel tracker, the wheel tracking test were carried out at 45oC and 60oC, in accordance with BS 598 Part 110 (1998). Based on the results of wheel tracking tests, CRM could improve the resistance of the WMA mixtures to rutting. It was also found from statistical Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), that the two influence factors; CRM, and the test temperature both having p-values less than the assumed significance at 95% confidence level, therefore they have significant effect on rutting in WMA

Significance of Hepatitis B Virus Diagnosis by Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction over Serological Markers in Hepatitis B Virus Patients

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is the leading cause of viral hepatitis, as currently over 2 billion people have HBV infection worldwide. Nucleic acid assay and quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) have been developed for diagnostic and therapeutic monitoring of patients with HBV infection. These tests might also show correlation between HBV DNA and HBs serostatus. The study aimed to find and analyze the frequency and impact of HBsAg seropositivity among patients revealed HBV DNA negative level through quantitative estimation of both seromarkers. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Elecsys assays were used for quantitative estimation of HBV DNA and HBs antigen, respectively. A total of 256 blood samples were used from patients referred for either diagnostic purpose and/or HBV viral load monitoring after antiviral therapy. Blood profile analysis showed 12.26% HBs antigen seropositivity among patients revealed negative for nucleic acid assay for HBV DNA. Positive HBs antigen titers ranged from 1000–50,000 COI, with seronegative anti-HBs antibody test for all samples tested positive for HBs antigen. This study delineated that negative or undetectable quantitation of HBV DNA level does not exclude HBV infection; as the level might fluctuate in different phases of HBV replication. This gives an impression and raising a question about significance of replacing test for HBsAg with quantitation of HBV DNA PCR assay. Thus, the study refers to a special HBV profile outside the classical pattern

Optimization of the Agar-gel Method for Isolation of Migrating Ascaris suum Larvae From the Liver and Lungs of Pigs

Experiments on use of an agar-gel method for recovery of migrating Ascaris suum larvae from the liver and lungs of pigs were conducted to obtain fast standardized methods. Subsamples of blended tissues of pig liver and lungs were mixed with agar to a final concentration of 1% agar and the larvae allowed to migrate out of the agar-gel into 0.9% NaCl at 38°C. The results showed that within 3 h more than 88% of the recoverable larvae migrated out of the liver agar-gel and more than 83% of the obtained larvae migrated out of the lung agar-gel. The larvae were subsequently available in a very clean suspension which reduced the sample counting time. Blending the liver for 60 sec in a commercial blender showed significantly higher larvae recovery than blending for 30 sec. Addition of gentamycin to reduce bacterial growth during incubation, glucose to increase larval motility during migration or ice to increase sedimentation of migrated larvae did not influence larvae recovery significantly

A Quality-of-Things Model for Assessing the Internet-of-Thing’s Non-Functional Properties

The Internet of Things (IoT) is in a “desperate” need for a practical model that would help in differentiating things according to their non-functional properties. Unfortunately, despite IoT growth, such properties either lack or ill-defined resulting into ad-hoc ways of selecting similar functional things. This paper discusses how things’ non-functional properties are combined into a Quality-of-Things (QoT) model. This model includes properties that define the performance of things’ duties related to sensing, actuating, and communicating. Since the values of QoT properties might not always be available or confirmed, providers of things can tentatively define these values and submit them to an Independent Regulatory Authority (IRA) whose role is to ensure fair competition among all providers. The IRA assesses the values of non-functional properties of things prior to recommending those that could satisfy users’ needs. To evaluate the technical doability of the QoT model, a set of comprehensive experiments are conducted using real datasets. The results depict an acceptable level of the QoT estimation accuracy

Design and implementation of an oil leakage monitoring system based on wireless network

Monitoring pipeline leaks is one of the recent hot studies. Leakage may occur because of time corrosion in the tube raw materials. To reduce the negative consequences of this leak, an effective leak detection system is used to prevent serious leakage accidents and damage in oil pipelines. Buildings, ecosystems, air pollution, and human life are all at risk in case of leakage occurs which could lead to fires. This paper introduces one of the research methods for the detection of pipeline leaks with a particular focus on software-based methods. The computer board interface (CBI) and wireless sensor networks have been used beside Arduino as a micro-monitor for the entire system. ZigBee is also utilized to send read data from sensors to the monitoring system displayed on the LabVIEW graphical user interface (GUI). The operator can take direct action when a leak occurs. The effectiveness of the leakage monitoring process and its practical use are demonstrated by the introduction of computerized techniques based on pressure gauge analysis on a specific pipeline in the laboratory. The result showed that the system is widely covered, accurate data transmission and robust real-time performance which reduces economic losses and environmental pollution

Exploring cucumber extract for skin rejuvenation

This study was designed to develop a topical skin-care cream water in oil (w/o) emulsion of 3% cucumber extracts versus its vehicle (Base) as control and evaluates its effects on skin-melanin, skin erythema, skin moisture, skin sebum and transepidermal water loss (TEWL).  Hydroalcohol.c cucumber (Cucumis sativus) fruit extract was entrapped in the inner aqueous phase of w/o emulsion. Base containing no extract and a formulation containing 3% concentrated extract of C. sativus was formulated. The odour was adjusted with few drops of lemon oil. Both the base and formulation were stored at different storage conditions for a period of 4 weeks to predict their stability. Different stability parameters that is: Physical stability, centrifugation and pH were monitored at different time intervals. Both the base and formulation were applied to the cheeks of 21 healthy human volunteers for a period of 4 weeks. The expected pharmaceutical stability of creams was achieved from 4 weeks in vitro study period. Odour disappeared with passage of time due to volatilization of lemon oil. The base showed insignificant (p > 0.05) effects on all skin parameters except sebum that was not significant, whereas the formulation showed statistically significant (p.0.05) effects on skin sebum secretion. TEWL and erythema was increased while skin melanin and skin hydration level was decreased by formulation. However these effects were statistically insignificant (p > 0.05). The results showed a good stability over 4 weeks of observation period of both base and formulation and the formulation has anti sebum secretion, bleaching and moisturizing effects.Key words: Cucumber extract, melanin, skin moisture, skin sebum, transepidermal water loss (TEWL)

Voltage Stability Analysis of Grid-Connected Wind Farms with FACTS: Static and Dynamic Analysis

Recently, analysis of some major blackouts and failures of power system shows that voltage instability problem has been one of the main reasons of these disturbances and networks collapse. In this paper, a systematic approach to voltage stability analysis using various techniques for the IEEE 14-bus case study, is presented. Static analysis is used to analyze the voltage stability of the system under study, whilst the dynamic analysis is used to evaluate the performance of compensators. The static techniques used are Power Flow, V–P curve analysis, and Q–V modal analysis. In this study, Flexible Alternating Current Transmission system (FACTS) devices- namely, Static Synchronous Compensators (STATCOMs) and Static Var Compensators (SVCs) - are used as reactive power compensators, taking into account maintaining the violated voltage magnitudes of the weak buses within the acceptable limits defined in ANSI C84.1. Simulation results validate that both the STATCOMs and the SVCs can be effectively used to enhance the static voltage stability and increasing network loadability margin. Additionally, based on the dynamic analysis results, it has been shown that STATCOMs have superior performance, in dynamic voltage stability enhancement, compared to SVCs