Computer Aided ECG Analysis - State of the Art and Upcoming Challenges

In this paper we present current achievements in computer aided ECG analysis and their applicability in real world medical diagnosis process. Most of the current work is covering problems of removing noise, detecting heartbeats and rhythm-based analysis. There are some advancements in particular ECG segments detection and beat classifications but with limited evaluations and without clinical approvals. This paper presents state of the art advancements in those areas till present day. Besides this short computer science and signal processing literature review, paper covers future challenges regarding the ECG signal morphology analysis deriving from the medical literature review. Paper is concluded with identified gaps in current advancements and testing, upcoming challenges for future research and a bullseye test is suggested for morphology analysis evaluation.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, IEEE EUROCON 2013 International conference on computer as a tool, 1-4 July 2013, Zagreb, Croati

From component manufacturer to service provider : Case: Company X

This research identifies the best practices of servitization process (e.g. transition stages, change process, overcoming challenges and achieved benefits) and provides useful information on optimisation and creation of the maintenance service offering. The research is provided as an assignment for a case company operating in civil defence shelter industry which aims to expand its business from component manufacturer to a service provider. The study is entirely qualitative. The first research question examines what has to be changed inside the case company so that maintenance services can be provided to the customers. This is studied through a literature review of existing servitization theories and theme interviews with experts from three Finnish industrial companies. The second research question examines how to make the customers interested in the case company’s services. This is approached with structured questionnaires which are sent to three different customer segments: 1) potential residential building customers and property managers, 2) construction companies and end users, and 3) the existing customers. According to the findings of this research, the case company should take into close consideration the following entities when setting up the maintenance service business: 1) defining a service strategy, 2) building organisational structure, 3) transforming organisational culture, 4) creating optimal service offering, 5) managing service knowledge and communication, and 6) pursued benefits and possible success factors. Based on the results of the semi-structured interviews, potential new customers must be made aware of the need of civil shelter maintenance services and the case company should offer services which include 1) inspection of the current state of civil shelter, 2) individual inspections and repairs, 3) leak tests and maintenance activities, and 4) maintenance contracts and training. Lastly, it is found that the case company should consider different options when selling maintenance services to the customers, such as face-to-face type of sale, collaboration with different business partners and/or offering the services as part of larger service packages

The CAPM, National Stock Market Betas, and Macroeconomic Covariates: a Global Analysis

Using global data on aggregate stock markets, this paper finds that the capital asset pricing model fares much better than suggested previously. At shorter time horizons, our results also show that the positive risk-reward relation can collapse during times of high volatility. Compared to other countries, we retrieve evidence of lower systematic risks across frontier equity portfolios. We find that countries characterized by higher levels of openness, exchange rate volatility, and larger economic size are exposed to higher systematic covariances with the world stock market. Conversely, we obtain an inverse link between international reserves and systematic risks in national equity

Taxation, Debt and Relative Prices in the Long Run: the Irish Experience.

This paper investigates the effects of public debt and distortionary labour taxation on the long-run behaviour of Irish relative non-traded goods prices. We highlight that higher public debt, acting through higher taxes, has an equivocal impact on the relative supply of non-traded goods and, correspondingly, relative prices. Our empirical analysis for Ireland suggests that taxes and public debt play significant roles in the long run, comoving negatively with the relative price of non-tradables. Accordingly, shifts in public debt and taxation bear implications for the country’s international price competitiveness

Measuring Returns on Investment in Education: Lessons for Sustainable and Innovative Education Policy

The relationship between education and labor market is significant and complex. Education increases employment opportunities and reduces the chance of occurrence and duration of unemployment. Earnings, among other things, represent private returns on investment in education and are in the center of the analysis of this article. The main aim of this article is to estimate private and social returns on investment in primary, secondary and tertiary education in selected old and new member states of the European Union (EU) by using two methods (Earnings function and Short-cut method) based on the Mincer equation. Results have shown that there is no statistically significant difference between the estimated private and social returns on investment in primary, secondary and tertiary education in groups of old and new EU members. New members converge towards the old members, at least when it comes to returns on investment in these three education levels. The results also indicate the existence of low and negative returns on investment in education in both old and new EU members. Thus, this article with its new findings contributes significantly to the literature that studies the universality of conclusions on returns on investment in education and the methodology that is used

Interest rate volatility and macroeconomic dynamics: Heterogeneity matters

We examine the relation between real interest rate volatility and aggregate fluctuations for a diverse sample of countries. Compiling a new dataset including emerging and advanced countries, the substantial variation in our data yields novel results: (a) stochastic volatility outperforms Markovswitching in representing interest rates, (b) some advanced economies can be more volatile than emerging markets, and (c) creditors take on more debt following volatility shocks. We show how an equilibrium business cycle model with uncertainty shocks can generate these facts. Sample heterogeneity produces significant parameter differences, playing an important role in distinguishing the effects of volatility shocks

Business Process Management Practices in a Small Transition Economy: Current Status and Research Opportunities

The main objective of this research is to contribute to an improved understanding of BPM practices in transition economies. The paper offers an overview of the key motives for BPM implementation within different business processes and across industry sectors, as currently practiced by 240 (large and small) companies in a small transition economy of Bosnia & Herzegovina. Being the first of its kind for this particular country, this research also contributes to an important body of knowledge on BPM in transition economies of a particular type. Our research also identifies an important limitation of prior research in this area, where BPM studies are often de-contextualized from their very unique context of transition economies. Consequently, we propose to expand the current research on BPM in transition economies to include further research on BPM for transition economies

EcoSmart Energy and Health Care Promotion in Senior Tourism

Recent studies show that seniors will soon become one of the major prospective segments in hospitality and travel industry. Given that population aged 65+ is usually retired with pensions, they have leisure time for travelling at any time of the year. They are also the most demanding expecting services excellence and high-level security while at the same time 63% of seniors aged 65-74 reported some sort of chronic illness. Hence, energy-efficient and health-focused facilities can be a significant potential for tourism development in Sarajevo region, which is a popular destination considering its unique nature, rich gastronomic, cultural and historical heritage. However, currently there is no market segmentation tailored to specific needs of senior tourists and research aims to explore opportunities and potential for this type of services with the objective of introducing accommodation facilities for elderly based on eco-smart solutions with highlighted focus on well-being and health. Setting of still water machines and installation of renewable energy system for electricity, ventilation and heat can have various positive effects increasing security, providing more healthy conditions, influencing life expectancy and counteracting the aging. Thus, research goal is creating feasibility study on eco-smart and health-focused facility for senior tourists in Sarajevo region using strategic management tools as a methodology instruments, including application of PEST concept, determining industry development phase as well as evaluating its structure, attractiveness and profitability via five forces of Porter model. Recommendations for future studies as well as practical implications for appropriate business actions are given in the conclusion relating to senior tourism development in Sarajevo region. This work is licensed under a&nbsp;Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.</p

Effects of Video Self-Modeling on Prosocial Behaviors among Children Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Meta-Analysis of single-case research

Abstract The prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in children has significantly increased since it was first identified in the 1930s. This increase has been attributed to the changes in the reporting practices within the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. To address this increase, many treatments have emerged, including video self-modeling (VSM). VSM has demonstrated efficacy as an intervention in treating a variety of ASD symptoms, ranging from communication deficits to maladaptive behaviors. VSM uses edited video clips that allow a child to watch him or herself successfully performing the targeted skill. To classify VSM as evidence-based practice, research is generally recognized as the most valid source of evidence for determining efficacy especially when synthesized across multiple, high-quality, experimental studies. The present meta-analysis focused on the available literature to determine the efficacy of VSM as an intervention to increase prosocial behaviors in children diagnosed with ASD. The theoretical foundation of VSM and this meta-analysis are based on Bandura’s theories: social learning theory and observational learning theory. The meta-analysis used Cohen’s d and percentage of nonoverlapping data (PND) as metrics of effect size. According to Cohen’s d results (Intervention d = 1.0; Maintenance d =1.5), VSM was found to be an effective intervention for children and adolescents diagnosed with ASD. While analysis of PND failed to provide equally robust findings this can be accounted for by variability of baseline data is some studies. Positive social change implications include support for increasing VSM use with children with ASD should increase individuals’ self-efficacy and independence