Extracting Requirements for Ubiquitous Computing Technology-based IS Using Factor Analysis

The paper describes a methodology for extracting the requirements for ubiquitous computing technology-based information system (IS) using factor analysis. The early idea of ubiquitous computing was articulated by Mark Weiser in 1988 and since then has been constantly developed. However, so far there was no any or few research on application of ubiquitous computing to IS. Prior to the development of a ubiquitous computing-based IS model necessary requirements are to be identified. To derive the requirements we refer to conventional research on ubiquitous computing, ubiquitous service and ubiquitous environment, and hence, to their characteristics. Having specified those requirements using factor analysis technique it will be easier to develop a consistent ubiquitous computing-based IS

Volcanic Ash from the 1999 Eruption of Mount Cameroon Volcano: Characterization and Implications to Health Hazards

Volcanic ash from the 1999 eruption of Mount Cameroon volcano has been characterized for its particle size and shape (by scanning electron microscopy, SEM), and mineralogy (by X-ray diffractometry, XRD). Also the total fluorine (F) content of the ash was determined by the selective ion electrode method. The results show that the Mount Cameroon ash particles have a variety of shapes including fibrous, rounded, subrounded, irregular, angular, eleongated and bladed. All the ash samples have a significant proportion (~ 30%) of ash < 4 ƒÊm in size and thisis classified in occupational medicine as 'thoracic' and 'respirable' ash that is considered harmful to health. The XRD patterns show that the ash contains plagioclase feldspar, enstatite, augite and chromite, which, if fine enough may cause irritation of the respiratory tract, but they are relatively insoluble in the alveolar region. The ash lacks free silica, the main mineral in volcanic ash responsible for causing silicosis. The F concentration in the ash ranges from 46 ƒÊg/ g to 189ƒÊg/g. This is high considering that the lethal dose of F is set internationally at ~ 100ƒÊg/g. This study forms the basis for a long term monitoring of volcanic ash risk and possible mitigation measures of the Mount Cameroon volcano.Keywords: volcanic ash, Mt. Cameroon, health hazardsCendre de Volcan de L'Eruption de 1999 du Mont Cameroun: Caracterisation et Implications aux Risques Sanitaires.La cendre de volcan de l'eruption de 1999 du mont Cameroun a ete caracterisee pour la dimension et la forme de ces particules (en utilisant la microscopie electronique a balayant, SEM), et mineralogie (diffractometrie a rayon X, XRD). En outre toute la teneur en fluor (F) de la cendre a ete determinee par la methode selective d'electrode d'ion. Les resultats prouvent que les particules de cendre du mont Cameroun ont une variete de formes comprenant : les fibreux, les arrondies, les sous arrondies, les irreguliers, les angulaires et les ovales. Tous les echantillons de cendreont une proportion significative de (~ 30 %) de cendre ayant la taille < 4 m et ceci est classifie dans la medecine du travail comme la cendre 'thoracique' et 'respirable' qui est consideree nocif a la sante. Les modeles de XRD montre que la cendre contient le feldspath de plagioclase, l'enstatite, l'augite et la chromite qui, s'ils sont assez fins, peuvent produire l'irritation de la cavite nasale mais sont relativement insolubles dans la region d'aveolaire. La cendre manque de la silice libre, qui est le minerai principal de la cendre volcanique responsable d'engendrer la silicose. La concentration de F dans la cendre s'echelonne de 189 g/g. Ceci est eleve considerant que la dose mortelle de F est place internationalement aux environs de ~ 100 g/g. Cette etude forme la base pour une surveillance a long terme du risque volcanique et des mesures possibles de reduction du volcan de mont Cameroun.Mots cles : cendre de volcan, Mont Cameroun, risques sanitaire

Simulation of the deflected cutting tool trajectory in complex surface milling

Since industry is rapidly developing, either locally or globally, manufacturers witness harder challenges due to the growing competitivity. This urges them to better consider the four factors linked to production and output: quality, quantity, cost and price, quality being of course the most important factor which constitutes their main concern. Efforts will be concentrated—in this research—on improving the quality and securing more accuracy for a machined surface in ball-end milling. Quality and precision are two essential criteria in industrial milling. However, milling errors and imperfections, duemainly to the cutting tool deflection, hinder the full achieving of these targets. Our task, all along this paper, consists in studying and realizing the simulation of the deflected cutting tool trajectory, by using the methods which are available. In a future stage, and in the frame of a deeper research, the simulation process will help to carry out the correction and the compensation of the errors resulting from the tool deflection. The corrected trajectory which is obtained by the method mirror will be sent to the machine. To achieve this goal, the next process consists—as a first step—in selecting a model of cutting forces for a ball-end mill. This allows to define—later on—the behavior of this tool, and the emergence of three methods namely the analytical model, the finite elements method, and the experimental method. It is possible to tackle the cutting forces simulation, all along the tool trajectory, while this latter is carrying out the sweeping of the part to be machined in milling and taking into consideration the cutting conditions, as well as the geography of the workpiece. A simulation of the deflected cutting tool trajectory dependent on the cutting forces has been realized

Radiofrequency Ablation of Subpleural Lung Malignancy: Reduced Pain Using an Artificially Created Pneumothorax

One of the main issues with radiofrequency (RF) ablation of the subpleural lung malignancy is pain management during and after RF ablation. In this article, we present a case that utilized a technique to decrease the pain associated with RF ablation of a malignancy located within the subpleural lung. Under CT guidance, we created an artificial pneumothorax prior to the RF ablation, which resulted in minimizing the pain usually experienced during and after the procedure. It also decreased the amount of pain medications usually used in patients undergoing RF ablation of a subpleural lung lesion

Population ageing research: a family of disciplines

To study life course trajectories and ageing, scientific expertise is needed beyond epidemiology. More specifically, appropriate models of life course require a theoretical micro-foundation, need to incorporate multi-level context conditions and the interplay between them. It also requires the application of additional social scientific research methods that go beyond the application of statistical methods based on the multi-stage life table. These research theories and methods are available in disciplines like sociology, cultural anthropology, psychology, demography and economics. To effectively study healthy ageing of populations the individual approach of epidemiology has to be extended with the macro-population and socio-cultural approach of (social) demography and the institutional and network approaches of sociology

Observation of Coherent Elastic Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering

The coherent elastic scattering of neutrinos off nuclei has eluded detection for four decades, even though its predicted cross-section is the largest by far of all low-energy neutrino couplings. This mode of interaction provides new opportunities to study neutrino properties, and leads to a miniaturization of detector size, with potential technological applications. We observe this process at a 6.7-sigma confidence level, using a low-background, 14.6-kg CsI[Na] scintillator exposed to the neutrino emissions from the Spallation Neutron Source (SNS) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Characteristic signatures in energy and time, predicted by the Standard Model for this process, are observed in high signal-to-background conditions. Improved constraints on non-standard neutrino interactions with quarks are derived from this initial dataset

Light regime characterization in an airlift photobioreactor for production of microalgae with high starch content

The slow development of microalgal biotechnology is due to the failure in the design of large-scale photobioreactors (PBRs) where light energy is efficiently utilized. In this work, both the quality and the amount of light reaching a given point of the PBR were determined and correlated with cell density, light path length, and PBR geometry. This was made for two different geometries of the downcomer of an airlift PBR using optical fiber technology that allows to obtain information about quantitative and qualitative aspects of light patterns. This is important since the ability of microalgae to use the energy of photons is different, depending on the wavelength of the radiation. The results show that the circular geometry allows a more efficient light penetration, especially in the locations with a higher radial coordinate (r) when compared to the plane geometry; these observations were confirmed by the occurrence of a higher fraction of illuminated volume of the PBR for this geometry. An equation is proposed to correlate the relative light intensity with the penetration distance for both geometries and different microalgae cell concentrations. It was shown that the attenuation of light intensity is dependent on its wavelength, cell concentration, geometry of PBR, and the penetration distance of light.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Adenocarcinoma of the caecum metastatic to the bladder: an unusual cause of haematuria

BACKGROUND: Primary malignancies of colorectal origin can metastasise to the bladder. Reports are however extremely rare, particularly from the caecum. CASE REPORT: The report describes the case of a 45-year old male with Duke's B caecal carcinoma treated with a laparoscopically-assisted right hemicolectomy and adjuvant 5-Fluorouracil chemotherapy. Subsequently, a metastatic lesion to the bladder was demonstrated and successfully excised by partial cystectomy. CONCLUSION: In order that optimal therapeutic options can be determined, it is important for clinicians to distinguish between primary disease of the bladder and other causes of haematuria. Various immunohistochemical techniques attempt to differentiate primary adenocarcinoma of the bladder from secondary colorectal adenocarcinoma. Suspicion of metastatic disease must be raised when histologically unusual bladder tumours are identified

Can Social News Websites Pay for Content and Curation? The SteemIt Cryptocurrency Model

This is an accepted manuscript of an article published by SAGE Publishing in Journal of Information Science on 15/12/2017, available online: https://doi.org/10.1177/0165551517748290 The accepted version of the publication may differ from the final published version.SteemIt is a Reddit-like social news site that pays members for posting and curating content. It uses micropayments backed by a tradeable currency, exploiting the Bitcoin cryptocurrency generation model to finance content provision in conjunction with advertising. If successful, this paradigm might change the way in which volunteer-based sites operate. This paper investigates 925,092 new members’ first posts for insights into what drives financial success in the site. Initial blog posts on average received $0.01, although the maximum accrued was$20,680.83. Longer, more sentiment-rich or more positive comments with personal information received the greatest financial reward in contrast to more informational or topical content. Thus, there is a clear financial value in starting with a friendly introduction rather than immediately attempting to provide useful content, despite the latter being the ultimate site goal. Follow-up posts also tended to be more successful when more personal, suggesting that interpersonal communication rather than quality content provision has driven the site so far. It remains to be seen whether the model of small typical rewards and the possibility that a post might generate substantially more are enough to incentivise long term participation or a greater focus on informational posts in the long term