Advantages and disadvantages of BIM use:Differences between experiences of its users and expectations of its non-users

This large-scale study focuses on experienced and expected advantages and disadvantages of building information modelling (BIM) use in the Dutch construction industry, and its subsectors. In total 725 respondents participated in this interview-based study, 235 of them actually used BIM (the BIM users) and 342 knew about BIM but did not use it (the BIM non-users). The remaining 148 did not know about BIM and therefore were not able to answer the questions related to BIM and BIM-use. BIM-users were asked about experienced advantages and disadvantages, while BIM non-users were asked about expected advantages and disadvantages of BIM. Advantages and disadvantages mentioned are related to the influential unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) on the adoption and use of information and communication technology (ICT). The largest differences between expected and experienced advantages were found with the architects and contractors, while the largest differences between expected and experienced disadvantages were found with the mechanical engineers and suppliers

Estland auf dem Weg aus der totalitären Vergangenheit zurück nach Europa

Dieser Aufsatz ist in zwei Kapitel unterteilt, um einen systematischen Überblick über die möglichen Bereiche und Strategien der Entwicklung Estlands geben zu können. Beide Kapitel, die historische Retrospektive wie auch der Überblick über den aktuellen Stand und die Zukunftsperspektiven, gehen auf die drei Bereiche Wirtschaft, Kultur und Politik ein

Multi-electrode nerve cuff recording - model analysis of the effects of finite cuff length

The effect of finite cuff length on the signals recorded by electrodes at different positions along the nerve was analysed in a model study. Relations were derived using a one-dimensional model. These were evaluated in a more realistic axially symmetric 3D model. This evaluation indicated that the cuff appeared shorter because of edge effects at the beginning and end of the cuff. The method for velocity selective filtering introduced by Donaldson was subsequently analysed. In this method, velocity selective filtering is achieved by summing the signals of subsequent tripoles after applying time shifts tuned to a certain conduction velocity. It was also found that the optimum electrode distance for a given cuff length for maximum summed RMS of symmetrical tripoles in the cuff is larger than when evaluating peak-peak amplitudes of single fibre action potentials. Velocity selective filtering yields better selectivity when using symmetrical tripoles, but may yield larger signal RMS when using the wider asymmetrical tripoles, potentially allowing for shorter cuffs. It is speculated that application of a multi-electrode reference may improve velocity selectivity for asymmetrical tripoles

Understanding the NIPF landowners’ attitudes and knowledge about forest management in Michigan

Approximately one-fourth of the non-industrial private forestland (NIPF) owners in the state of Michigan, who collectively own approximately 50% of the private forested land, have conducted commercial timber harvest in recent years. Previous studies indicated that NIPFs preferred to manage their forest for a sustained yield of high-quality timber, but were limited to even-aged regeneration treatments or conversion for uneven-aged silviculture due to previous cuttings. Improved knowledge about NIPF’s intentions and forest management behavior could be useful for successful implementation of sustained yield management. This study’s objective is to identify attitudes of more active NIPFs towards timber management, their forest management practices and whether their forest management behavior leads to management for sustained yield. Phone interviews of 30 NIPFs who have experience with commercial timber harvests were conducted between August and October 2011. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for identifying NIPF’s motivations, attitudes, forest management behavior and forestry related knowledge. Results indicate that interviewees, whether consciously or not, tended to manage their land for a sustained yield and they would be willing to harvest timber for biofuels facility as long as it benefits landowners management goals. Due to small sample of interviewees this study is not aiming for quantitative analysis and conclusion. Collected qualitative information can be used to design further questionnaires and surveys

Exploring Patterns of Activities of Daily Living in the Home Environment

Background: Senior citizens tend to live longer and longer independently. Judging whether a senior person is still capable of living on his own is often based on the occurrence of incidents, with all consequences thereof. In the specific case of early dementia, the symptoms are not immediately apparent and the occurrence and severity of incidents progress gradually over time. In this case, the children or grandchildren are burdened by the question whether or not the elderly adult can still live safely and independently in his or her own home. This decision is only based on input obtained through incidental visits. We believe that the capability of independent living can only be objectively judged, by a health professional, if long term objective information on the elderly person's daily activities of living (ADL) is available

Using combined accelerometer and heart rate data to estimate physical fitness

Description of the results of an experiment performed on a treadmill, in which heart rate and accelerometer parameters were combined to estimate physical fitness. This to ultimately develop a method to estimate physical fitness (VO2max) in the home environment of a patient

Towards a norm-driven design of context-aware e-health applications

In this paper, we explore the usefulness of elaborating process models with norms, especially focusing on the Norm Analysis Method (NAM) as an elaboration tool that can be combined with a process modeling tool, such as Petri Net (PN). The PN-NAM combination has been particularly considered in the paper in relation to a challenge that concerns the design of context-aware applications, namely the challenge of specifying and elaborating complex behaviors that may include alternative (context-driven) processes (we assume that a user context space can be defined and that each context state within this space corresponds to an alternative application service behavior). Hence, the main contribution of our paper comprises an adaptability-driven methodological and modeling support to the design of context-aware applications; modeling guidelines are proposed, considered together with corresponding modeling tools (in particular PN and NAM), and partially illustrated by means of an e-Health-related example. Given the multi-disciplinary nature of the e-Health domain, it is expected that the current research will be useful for it. In particular, e-Health system developers might benefit from the relevant methodological and modeling support, proposed in the paper