Energy-based decision engine for household human activity recognition

We propose a framework for energy-based human activity recognition in a household environment. We apply machine learning techniques to infer the state of household appliances from their energy consumption data and use rulebased scenarios that exploit these states to detect human activity. Our decision engine achieved a 99.1% accuracy for real-world data collected in the kitchens of two smart homes

DIPE: A Distributed Environment for Medical Image Processing

. DIPE is a distributed environment that provides image processing services over integrated teleradiology services networks. DIPE integrates existing and new image processing software and employs sophisticated execution scheduling mechanisms for the efficient management of computational resources within a distributed environment. It can also be extended to provide various addedvalue services, such as management and retrieval of image processing software modules, as well as advanced charging procedures based on quality of service. DIPE can be viewed as the natural evolution of the legacy field of medical image processing towards a service over the emergent health care telematics networks. 1. Introduction In recent years, advances in information technology and telecommunications have acted as catalysts for significant developments in the sector of health care. These technological advances have had a particularly strong impact in the field of medical imaging, where film radiographic tech..

Agent-Based Workflow Processing for Functional Integration and Process Re-Engineering in the Healthcare Domain

This paper elaborates on our approach to functional integration of health care information systems. Functional integration involves mainly automated workflow management to streamline and coordinate medical procedures in terms of quality, throughput, and reliability. This is especially significant for reducing health care costs, satisfying demands for shortened examination time, and better responsiveness to patient needs. Workflow management requires a process definition stage, an appropriate workflow processing environment, and tools to support run-time interaction. In this paper we present the architecture of a workflow processing environment that supports run-time control functions for workflow management. It should be noted that build-time and run-time interaction functions are not the subject of this work, but are presented elsewhere. More specifically, build-time functions for the formal description of health care processes are currently being designed by the Center of Medical Informatics and Health Telematics Applications (CMI/HTA) at ICS-FORTH, based on the functional integration approach described in [1], while run-time interactions can be handled by a worklist manager as presented in [2]. ENVIRONMENT CHARACTERISTIC

European Alien Species Information Network (EASIN): supporting European policies and scientific research

International audienceThe European Alien Species Information Network (EASIN) was launched in 2012 by the European Commission to facilitate the exploration of existing alien species information and to assist the implementation of European policies on biological invasions. At the core of EASIN, there is an inventory of all known alien and cryptogenic species in Europe (the EASIN Catalogue, herein published), which includes relevant information, such as taxonomic classification, pathways of introduction, year and country of first introduction. Spatial records of species occurrence in Europe are stored in the EASIN geo-databases, integrating data from many data providers and the literature. All this information is publicly available through a widget framework, providing easy to use and flexible tools for searching and mapping. The EASIN datasets have been used for pan-European or regional assessments of pathways and gateways of alien invasions, towards the fulfilment of the related targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity and of European policies. Moreover, in support of the new EU Regulation on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species in Europe, an Early Warning and Rapid Response System is being developed by EASIN

The EASIN Editorial Board: quality assurance, exchange and sharing of alien species information in Europe

The European Alien Species Information Network (EASIN) aims to facilitate the exploration of alien species information in Europe, and is recognized as the information system supporting European Union Member States in the implementation of the recently published Invasive Alien Species Regulation. In this paper, we present the role and activities of the EASIN Editorial Board (EB), which is responsible for the quality assurance, safeguarding and constant improvement of EASIN. The EB is supported by a web platform that facilitates online discussions about alien species. This platform creates a virtual community by providing a forum-like interface that is moderated by the EB Members but is freely accessible to the scientific community and the general public. It allows all registered users to make comments, raise questions and share experience and expertise on alien species in Europe. Moreover, it provides a means for exchanging opinions and solving disputes in a transparent way. The overall EB activity is commonly agreed upon procedures and standards