Water Pipeline Leakage Detection Based on Machine Learning and Wireless Sensor Networks

The detection of water pipeline leakage is important to ensure that water supply networks can operate safely and conserve water resources. To address the lack of intelligent and the low efficiency of conventional leakage detection methods, this paper designs a leakage detection method based on machine learning and wireless sensor networks (WSNs). The system employs wireless sensors installed on pipelines to collect data and utilizes the 4G network to perform remote data transmission. A leakage triggered networking method is proposed to reduce the wireless sensor network’s energy consumption and prolong the system life cycle effectively. To enhance the precision and intelligence of leakage detection, we propose a leakage identification method that employs the intrinsic mode function, approximate entropy, and principal component analysis to construct a signal feature set and that uses a support vector machine (SVM) as a classifier to perform leakage detection. Simulation analysis and experimental results indicate that the proposed leakage identification method can effectively identify the water pipeline leakage and has lower energy consumption than the networking methods used in conventional wireless sensor networks

Neurocognition, Cognitive Remediation and Functional Outcome in Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders

Employment rates in schizophrenia are consistently low. Considerable research has identified both societal/external barriers and internal, illness related barriers to employment. Neurocognitive impairments are a hallmark of schizophrenia spectrum disorders, contributing to impaired real-world functioning in general and significant occupational disability in particular. The consequences of these deficits are profound and largely consistent over time. The main aim of the current thesis was to further investigate neurocognition in participants with broad schizophrenia spectrum disorders as measured with the MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB). Findings from Paper I revealed significant impairments on all neurocognitive domains, supporting findings from similar studies. Neurocognitive performance differentiated between academic levels and previous work history and overlapped with social functioning. Further we sought to investigate whether neurocognitive test performance was associated with different aspects of occupational outcome; i.e. workplace assessments. Paper II found significant associations between all MCCB domains except Verbal Learning and vocational cognitive functioning at the beginning of vocational rehabilitation. Processing Speed and Attention predicted work behavior and neurocognitive performance was also associated with task complexity and type of work. Participants performing low complexity jobs performed worse on all neurocognitive domains with a similar pattern emerging for participants in sheltered work, performing poorer on all neurocognitive tests than participants in competitive work. In Paper III, we examined the effects of the Job Management Program (JUMP); i.e. cognitive remediation (CR) in combination with vocational rehabilitation on neurocognition and occupational outcomes compared to cognitive behavioral therapy techniques (CBT) augmented vocational rehabilitation (VR). We found neurocognition to improve after both CBT- and CR-augmented vocational rehabilitation, with the greatest improvement in the CR group. There was also an increase in number of participants working and the amount of time they were working throughout the project period. The positive change in Working Memory and the Neurocognitive Composite Score predicted number of hours worked in the CR group. These findings indicate neurocognitive dysfunctions in participants with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and that these dysfunctions are relevant for occupational functioning. Particularly, Processing Speed and Attention predicted different aspects of work behavior. This ties in with findings from similar studies, showing Processing Speed to be one of the strongest correlates to functional outcome and Attention to be of particular relevance at the beginning of vocational rehabilitation. Our findings further indicate that implementing a combination of vocational rehabilitation, cognitive behavioral techniques or cognitive remediation may help participants attain and maintain work. Employment numbers increased significantly throughout the intervention period and remained high at follow-up. Positive neurocognitive change between baseline and post treatment in the Working Memory domain and the Neurocognitive Composite Score predicted number of hours worked 2 years after inclusion in the study. Our findings underline the need for future studies that investigate which subgroups profit more (or less) from cognitive remediation and vocational rehabilitation. Stratifying on degree of impairment may thus shed further light on this matter. Also, assessing learning potential and motivation as possible mediators between neurocognition and real-world functioning may be of importance. Lastly, additive effects of strategy learning, both in general and task specific should be addressed as it may enhance gains on neurocognitive performance and in turn, functional outcome

A Short History of Individual Placement and Support in Norway

Objective: Norway is a high-income and high-cost society with a generous welfare system, and it has the largest mental health–related unemployment gap of the OECD countries. The aim of the current article was to present a short history of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) services to increase work participation in Norway. Method: We provide a narrative overview of the developments and research on IPS in Norway, from the introduction of supported employment to recent and ongoing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effectiveness of IPS for various target groups. Findings: While vocational rehabilitation services in Norway have traditionally followed a train-then-place approach, the introduction of supported employment in the early 1990s led to a range of new initiatives to increase work participation. Early implementations were inspired by supported employment but did not follow the evidence-based IPS methodology. More recent developments include a shift toward evidence-based IPS, and the first Norwegian RCT of IPS showed effectiveness on both work- and health-related outcomes among people with moderate to severe mental illness. Several ongoing trials are currently investigating IPS for new target groups, including chronic pain patients and refugees. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: The results suggest that IPS is more effective than traditional approaches to increase work participation, even in the Norwegian context of a high-cost welfare society. IPS has shown effectiveness in severe as well as more common types of mental illness in Norway, and results from ongoing trials will further reveal whether IPS may be expanded to various new target groups.acceptedVersio

Factor analyzing the Norwegian MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery

Aim: The MATRICS Consensus Cognitive Battery (MCCB) assesses seven cognitive domains with 10 subtests. This domain structure has not been demonstrated. Three factors have been produced in US samples. We examined the dimensional structure of the Norwegian MCCB. In addition, we studied the contribution of each subtest to the battery sum score. Methods: The participants were 131 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and 300 healthy controls. Their Norwegian MCCB test scores were subject to exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis and regression analysis. Results: The theoretical MCCB factor structure was not shown. In the patient group, three‐factor and two‐factor models had acceptable fit. In both groups, the Symbol Coding, Spatial Span, Letter–Number Span, and Visual Learning subtests contributed most to the sum score. Conclusion: The theoretical domain structure of the MCCB could not be demonstrated in these Norwegian participants. Consonant with US studies, models with three and two factors had mediocre fit, and in the schizophrenia spectrum disorder group only. In both groups, the subtests Symbol Coding, Working Memory, and Learning were the most sensitive in tapping general neurocognitive performance, supporting US results. We conclude that in both Norway and the USA, the MCCB generates the same cognitive domains through factor analysis, but that these domains are not the ones suggested by the MATRICS project. This research has been published in Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences. © 2017 Wile

A Short History of Individual Placement and Support in Norway

bjective: Norway is a high-income and high-cost society with a generous welfare system, and it has the largest mental health–related unemployment gap of the OECD countries. The aim of the current article was to present a short history of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) services to increase work participation in Norway. Method: We provide a narrative overview of the developments and research on IPS in Norway, from the introduction of supported employment to recent and ongoing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effectiveness of IPS for various target groups. Findings: While vocational rehabilitation services in Norway have traditionally followed a train-then-place approach, the introduction of supported employment in the early 1990s led to a range of new initiatives to increase work participation. Early implementations were inspired by supported employment but did not follow the evidence-based IPS methodology. More recent developments include a shift toward evidence-based IPS, and the first Norwegian RCT of IPS showed effectiveness on both work- and health-related outcomes among people with moderate to severe mental illness. Several ongoing trials are currently investigating IPS for new target groups, including chronic pain patients and refugees. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: The results suggest that IPS is more effective than traditional approaches to increase work participation, even in the Norwegian context of a high-cost welfare society. IPS has shown effectiveness in severe as well as more common types of mental illness in Norway, and results from ongoing trials will further reveal whether IPS may be expanded to various new target groups

Employment outcome and predictors of competitive employment at 2-year follow-up of a vocational rehabilitation programme for individuals with schizophrenia in a high-income welfare society

Background: Employment is an important part of recovery for individuals with schizophrenia. The employment rate for this group is as low as 10% in Norway, and major system related barriers to employment are evident. Aims: This study reports the competitive employment outcome at 2-year follow-up of a vocational rehabilitation study augmented with cognitive remediation (CR) or elements from cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. It also investigates if global functioning, self-esteem, and depression at baseline predicts employment outcome, and if change in these variables during the intervention period is associated with employment outcome. Method: One hundred and forty-eight participants with schizophrenia spectrum disorders in six Norwegian counties received 10 months vocational rehabilitation augmented with either CBT (n = 84) or CR (n = 64). Both competitive and sheltered workplaces were used. Participants were assessed at baseline, at the end of the intervention period, and at 2-year follow-up. Results: At 2-year follow-up, 21.2% had obtained competitive employment. A further 25.3% had work placements in competitive workplaces. Significant improvements were found in global functioning, self-esteem, and depression during the intervention period, but no significant differences between the two intervention groups. High baseline global functioning and self-esteem, as well as positive change in these variables during the intervention period, were significantly associated with higher competitive employment outcome at 2-year follow-up. Conclusion: The results add to existing evidence that competitive employment is attainable for individuals with schizophrenia. High global functioning and self-esteem were strongly associated with competitive employment outcome. “This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Nordic Journal of Psychiatry on 24 Oct 2016, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/08039488.2016.124719

Caring for Coronavirus Healthcare Workers: Lessons Learned from Long-Term Monitoring of Military Peacekeepers

Background: The current outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is of unprecedented proportions in several regards. Recent reports suggest that many frontline healthcare workers (HCWs) suffer from mental health problems, including posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). Previous studies have identified several key factors associated with short-term PTSS in pandemic HCWs, yet limited data is available on factors associated with long-term PTSS. Understanding the psychological impact of the pandemic on HCWs is important in planning for future outbreaks of emerging infectious diseases. In the current study, we look to findings from a highly relevant subsection of the trauma field, the military domain. Objective: Pandemic HCWs and military peacekeepers may experience similar stressors in the line of duty. This study investigated whether factors linked to short-term PTSS in pandemic HCWs were also associated with long-term PTSS in military peacekeepers. Materials and Methods: Peacekeepers who reported pandemic-relevant stressors during deployment to a UN peacekeeping mission were included in the study (N = 1,627). PTSS was self-reported using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist – Military Version. Descriptive instruments were used to assess possible factors associated with PTSS. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed to explore associations between these factors and PTSS. Results: Our model accounted for 50% of the variance in PTSS, F(1503,11) = 139.00, p < 0.001. Age, relationship and employment status, preparedness, working environment, social support after deployment, barriers to disclose, recognition, and loneliness were all significantly associated with PTSS on average 30 years after deployment. The most important risk factors of long-term PTSS were personal barriers to disclose one’s experiences and current unemployment. Conclusion: Several factors linked to short-term PTSS in pandemic HCWs were associated with long-term PTSS in peacekeepers. We discuss how these findings may be used to prevent long-term PTSS in HCWs involved in the current COVID-19 outbreak

Vocational rehabilitation augmented with cognitive behavioral therapy or cognitive remediation for individuals with schizophrenia: a 5-year follow-up study

Introduction: Although employment is an important part of recovery for individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, the employment rate for this group remains low. Increasing evidence supports the use of augmented vocational rehabilitation (VR) programs to improve occupational outcome. The aim of this study is to explore 5-year follow-up registry data from the JUMP study, a VR program for individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, specifically with regard to competitive employment outcome and predictors of competitive employment. The VR was augmented with either cognitive remediation (CR) or elements from cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). Methods: One hundred and forty eight participants with schizophrenia spectrum disorders from six Norwegian counties received 10 months VR augmented with either CR (n ¼ 64) or CBT (n ¼ 84). Both competitive and sheltered workplaces were used. Assessments were conducted at baseline, at post intervention and at 2-year follow-up. Data on employment status at 5-year follow-up was obtained by registry. Results: At 5-year follow-up 55.4% were engaged in working activity, of which 22.3% had obtained competitive employment. A further 18.2% had work placements in competitive workplaces. Number of received intervention hours and competitive employment at 2-year follow-up emerged as significant predictors of competitive employment. IQ and intervention type in marginal favor of CBT were predictors on trend level. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study investigating competitive employment at 5-year follow-up for individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. The results add to existing evidence that competitive employment is attainable for this group