Sensor-driven agenda for intelligent home care of the elderly

The exponential increase of home-bound persons who live alone and are in need of continuous monitoring requires new solutions to current problems. Most of these cases present illnesses such as motor or psychological disabilities that deprive of a normal living. Common events such as forgetfulness or falls are quite common and have to be prevented or dealt with. This paper introduces a platform to guide and assist these persons (mostly elderly people) by providing multisensory monitoring and intelligent assistance. The platform operates at three levels. The lower level, denominated ������Data acquisition and processing������performs the usual tasks of a monitoring system, collecting and processing data from the sensors for the purpose of detecting and tracking humans. The aim is to identify their activities in an intermediate level called ������activity detection������. The upper level, ������Scheduling and decision-making������, consists of a scheduler which provides warnings, schedules events in an intelligent manner and serves as an interface to the rest of the platform. The idea is to use mobile and static sensors performing constant monitoring of the user and his/her environment, providing a safe environment and an immediate response to severe problems. A case study on elderly fall detection in a nursery home bedroom demonstrates the usefulness of the proposal.

Active Assistance for Senior Healthcare: A Wearable System for Fall Detection

Elders lose independence and wellbeing, accompanied by decreased functions in terms of hearing, vision, strength and coordination abilities. These factors contribute to balance difficulties that eventually lead to falls. The injuries due to falls, at this age, are risky, since most of the times may cause a significant ��� and permanent ��� decrease of quality of life or, in extreme cases, death. In this context, a fall detection system can bring an added value to assist elderly people.This paper describes a system consisting of a wearable sensor unit, a smartphone and a website. When the sensor detects a fall it sends an alert using the smartphone via Bluetooth 4.0, to notify the family members or stakeholders. The sensor device includes an inertial unit, a barometer, and a temperature and humidity sensor. The website displays the log of previous falls and enables the configuration of emergency contact numbers. The proposed fall detection system is one of multiple components within a larger project under development that offers a holistic perspective on falls; the complete wearable solution will also feature, among others, physical protection (minimizing the impact of falls that occur).

A laparoscopic surgery training interface

Laparoscopy is a surgical procedure on which operations in the abdomen are performed through small incisions using several specialized instruments. The laparoscopic surgery success greatly depends on surgeon skills and training. To achieve these technical high-standards, different apprenticeship methods have been developed, many based on in vivo training, an approach that involves high costs and complex setup procedures. This paper explores Virtual Reality (VR) simulation as an alternative for novice surgeons training. Even though several simulators are available on the market claiming successful training experiences, their use is extremely limited due to the economic costs involved. In this work, we present a low-cost laparoscopy simulator able to monitor and assist the trainee���s surgical movements. The developed prototype consists of a set of inexpensive sensors, namely an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a magnetometer and a flex sensor, attached to specific laparoscopic instruments. Our approach allows repeated assisted training of an exercise, without time constraints or additional costs, since no human artificial model is needed. A case study of our simulator applied to instrument manipulation practice (hand-eye coordination) is also presented.

Type checking cryptography implementations

Cryptographic software development is a challenging eld: high performance must be achieved, while ensuring correctness and com- pliance with low-level security policies. CAO is a domain speci c language designed to assist development of cryptographic software. An important feature of this language is the design of a novel type system introducing native types such as prede ned sized vectors, matrices and bit strings, residue classes modulo an integer, nite elds and nite eld extensions, allowing for extensive static validation of source code. We present the formalisation, validation and implementation of this type system

Poder�� ser a criminaliza����o do ass��dio moral e/ou mobbing, rectius no trabalho, respeitadora dos princ��pios constitucionais da necessidade, adequa����o, proporcionalidade e interven����o m��nima penais? - A les��o dos direitos fundamentais constitucionais dos trabalhadores: o caso portugu��s1

Resumo: O direito constitucional portugu��s ao trabalho: introdu����o �� Algumas ideias sobre o ass��dio moral ou psicol��gico: as principais v��timas, as diferen��as do bullying (e/ou intimida����o ou tiranizar), os fundamentos, o seu estudo �� O contexto do ordenamento jur��dico portugu��s: algumas consequ��ncias do ass��dio moral �� O direito geral �� personalidade �� A distin����o entre o ass��dio moral e outras figuras �� O ass��dio sexual faz parte do ass��dio moral em sentido amplo �� Dentro do problema do ���ass��dio moral���, da ���liberdade moral��� e, nomeadamente, dos crimes contra a liberdade sexual e autodetermina����o sexual, algumas notas, de Direito penal, sobre a ���coa����o sexual���: responsabilidade penal �� O ass��dio moral no ordenamento jur��dico portugu��s e, designadamente, no contexto do Direito do trabalho �� O ass��dio moral como doen��a profissional, a hip��tese de ocorrer suic��dio e a eventual responsabilidade civil �� Conclus��o �� ���Ideia final��� �� Abstract: The Portuguese constitucional law to the work (labour): introduction �� Some ideas on the moral or psychological siege (general mobbing): the main victims, the differences of bullying (and/or intimidation or ���the labour tyrant���), the beddings, its study �� The context of the Portuguese legal system �� The context of the Portuguese legal system: some effects of the moral siege (general mobbing) �� The general right to the personality �� The distinction between the moral siege (general mobbing) and other figures �� The sexual siege (sexual harassement or sexual mobbing) is part of the moral siege(general mobbing) in ample direction �� Inside of the problem of the ���moral siege��� (general mobbing), ���moral freedom��� e, nominated, of the crimes against the sexual freedom and sexual self-determination, some notes, of Criminal law, on the ���sexual coercion���: criminal liability �� The moral siege (general mobbing) in Portuguese legal system and, appointedly, in the context of the Law of the work (labour law) �� The moral siege (general mobbing) as ocupational disease, the hypothesis to occur suicide and the eventual civil liability �� Conclusion �� ���Final Idea���

Profiling consumer behaviour in cross-border tourism destinations

Tourism is a phenomenon that moves millions of people around the world, taking as a major driver of the global economy. Such relevance is reflected in the proliferation of studies in the overall area known as tourism, under various perspectives and backgrounds. In the light of such multitude of insights our study aims at gaining a deeper understanding of customer profiling and behavior in cross-border tourism destinations. Previous studies conducted in such contexts suggest that cross-border regions (CBRs) are an attractive and desirable idea, yet requiring further theoretical and empirical research. The new configuration of many CBRs calls for a debate on issues concerning its development, raising up important dimensions, such as, organization and planning of common tourism destinations. There is still a gap in the understanding of destination management in CBRs and the customer profile and motivations. Overall this research aims at attaining a deeper understanding of the profile and behavior of consumers in tourism settings, addressing the predisposition for the destination. The study addresses the following research question: ���What factors influence customer behavior and attitudes in a CBRs tourism destination?��� To address our question we will take an interdisciplinary perspective bringing together inputs from marketing, tourism and local economics. When addressing consumer behavior in tourism previous studies considered the following constructs: involvement, place attachment, satisfaction and destination loyalty. In order to establish the causal relationships in our theoretical model, we intend to develop a predominant quantitative design, yet we plan to conduct exploratory interviews. In the analysis and discussion of results, we intend to use Structural Equation Modeling. It will further allow understanding how the constructs in the research model relate to each other in the specified context. Results are also expected to have managerial implications. Consequently our results may assist decision makers in developing their local policies.

Consumer behavior and profile in cross border tourism destinations

Tourism is a phenomenon that moves millions of people around the world, taking as a major driver of the global economy. Such relevance is reflected in the proliferation of studies in the overall area known as tourism, under various perspectives and backgrounds. In the light of such multitude of insights our study aims at gaining a deeper understanding of customer profiling and behavior in cross-border tourism destinations. Previous studies conducted in such contexts suggest that cross-border regions (CBRs) are an attractive and desirable idea, yet requiring further theoretical and empirical research. The new configuration of many CBRs calls for a debate on issues concerning its development, raising up important dimensions, such as, organization and planning of common tourism destinations. There is still a gap in the understanding of destination management in CBRs and the customer profile and motivations. Overall this research aims at attaining a deeper understanding of the profile and behavior of consumers in tourism settings, addressing the predisposition for the destination. The study addresses the following research question: ���What factors influence customer behavior and attitudes in a CBRs tourism destination?��� To address our question we will take an interdisciplinary perspective bringing together inputs from marketing, tourism and local economics. When addressing consumer behavior in tourism previous studies considered the following constructs: involvement, place attachment, satisfaction and destination loyalty. In order to establish the causal relationships in our theoretical model, we intend to develop a predominant quantitative design, yet we plan to conduct exploratory interviews. In the analysis and discussion of results, we intend to use Structural Equation Modeling. It will further allow understanding how the constructs in the research model relate to each other in the specified context. Results are also expected to have managerial implications. Consequently our results may assist decision makers in developing their local policies.

Conceptual design of a conveyer system for supporting basic quality of life of bedridden elderly people

With the increasing number of aged people, especially in developed countries, Ambient Assisted Living solutions have become an important subject to be explored and developed. Currently, as specialized Institutions in geriatric care cannot cope with the increasing requests for support of quality of life, patients have to remain at their homes having as caregiver the other member of the couple or a member of close family. A solution for supporting the caregiver, during assisting the bedridden person with some basic tasks as eating, taking a bath and/or hygiene care is of utmost importance. This paper presents an approach for supporting the caregiver in moving and repositioning the bedridden elderly people (BEP) with the assistance of a mechanical system conveyer. The conceptual design of the mechanical system must be devoted to assist the caregiver in the handling and repositioning of the BEP. The proposed mechatronic system must, ideally, minimize the system's handling complexity, reduce the number of caregivers and the amount of spended and needed effort.

Conceptual design of a mechatronic system for supporting basic quality of life of bedridden elderly people

Ambient Assisted Living is an important subject to be explored and developed, especially in developed countries, due to the increasing number of aged people. In this context the development of mechatronic support systems for bedridden elderly people (BEP) living in their homes is essential in order to support independence, autonomy and improve their quality of life. Some basic tasks as eating, taking a bath and/or hygiene cares become difficult to execute, regarding that often the main caregiver is the other element of the aged couple (husband or wife). This paper presents the conceptual design of a mechanical system especially devoted to assist the caregiver in the handling and repositioning of the BEP. Issues as reducing the number of caregivers, to only one, and reducing the system's handling complexity (because most of the time it will be used by an aged person) are considered. The expertise obtained from the visits to rehabilitation centers and hospitals, and from working meetings, are considered in the development of the proposed mechatronic system.

Hand-held robotic device for laparoscopic surgery and training

Laparoscopic surgery (LS) has revolutionized traditional surgical techniques introducing minimally invasive procedures for diagnosis and local therapies. LSs have undeniable advantages, such as small patient incisions, reduced postoperative pain and faster recovery. On the other hand, restricted vision of the anatomical target, difficult handling of the surgical instruments, restricted mobility inside the human body, need of dexterity to hand-eye coordination and inadequate and non-ergonomic surgical instruments may restrict LS only to more specialized surgeons. To overcome the referred limitations, this work presents a new robotic surgical handheld system ��� the EndoRobot. The EndoRobot was designed to be used in clinical practice or even as a surgical simulator. It integrates an electromechanical system with 3 degrees of freedom. Each degree can be manipulated independently and combined with different levels of sensitivity allowing fast and slow movements. As other features, the EndoRobot has battery power or external power supply, enables the use of bipolar radiofrequency to prevent bleeding while cutting and allows plug-and-play of the laparoscopic forceps for rapid exchange. As a surgical simulator, the system was also instrumented to measure and transmit, in real time, its position and orientation for a training software able to monitor and assist the trainee���s surgical movements.

Comparative analysis between statistical and artificial intelligence models in business failure prediction

A growing number of predicting corporate failure models has emerged since 60s. Economic and social consequences of business failure can be dramatic, thus it is not surprise that the issue has been of growing interest in academic research as well as in business context. The main purpose of this study is to compare the predictive ability of five developed models based on three statistical techniques (Discriminant Analysis, Logit and Probit) and two models based on Artificial Intelligence (Neural Networks and Rough Sets). The five models were employed to a dataset of 420 non-bankrupt firms and 125 bankrupt firms belonging to the textile and clothing industry, over the period 2003���09. Results show that all the models performed well, with an overall correct classification level higher than 90%, and a type II error always less than 2%. The type I error increases as we move away from the year prior to failure. Our models contribute to the discussion of corporate financial distress causes. Moreover it can be used to assist decisions of creditors, investors and auditors. Additionally, this research can be of great contribution to devisers of national economic policies that aim to reduce industrial unemployment.

PACOTE ANTI-CORRUP����O DE DILMA?

Olhemos para uma folha de S��o Paulo no meio do tr��nsito ca��tico e dos milhares de arranha-c��us, enquanto passam centenas de buzinantes motoqueiros suicidas a uma velocidade estonteante��� Depois de milh��es de pessoas se terem manifestado no Brasil por causa de megas-processos de corrup����o que t��m sido descobertos, entre os quais o Petrol��o, no qual as investiga����es apontam que a propina (suborno) foi o triplo do caso Mensal��o, eis que a Presidenta Dilma avan��a para um pacote anti-corrup����o. A opera����o Lava Jato j�� fala em milhares de milh��es de reais. Mas, importante, �� que apenas uma medida tem efeitos de aplica����o imediata! S��o 7 as medidas. �� Let us look for a Folha de Sao Paulo in the middle of chaotic traffic and thousands of skyscrapers, as they pass hundreds of suicide motorcycle at breakneck speed ... After millions of people have expressed in Brazil because of corruption mega-processes that have been discovered, including the Petrol��o in which investigations indicate that the bribe (bribery) was triple the Mensal��o case, behold, the President Dilma advances to an anti-corruption package. Operation Lava Jet is already talking about billions of reais. But, importantly, it is that only a measure takes effect immediately applicable! There are 7 steps.

Comparative Analysis between Statistical and Artificial Intelligence Models in Business Failure Prediction

A growing number of predicting corporate failure models has emerged since 60s. Economic and social consequences of business failure can be dramatic, thus it is not surprise that the issue has been of growing interest in academic research as well as in business context. The main purpose of this study is to compare the predictive ability of five developed models based on three statistical techniques (Discriminant Analysis, Logit and Probit) and two models based on Artificial Intelligence (Neural Networks and Rough Sets). The five models were employed to a dataset of 420 non-bankrupt firms and 125 bankrupt firms belonging to the textile and clothing industry, over the period 2003���09. Results show that all the models performed well, with an overall correct classification level higher than 90%, and a type II error always less than 2%. The type I error increases as we move away from the year prior to failure. Our models contribute to the discussion of corporate financial distress causes. Moreover it can be used to assist decisions of creditors, investors and auditors. Additionally, this research can be of great contribution to devisers of national economic policies that aim to reduce industrial unemployment.

The internationally standardized process of public accounting: the perspective of different stakeholders in Portugal

New Public Management (NPM) led to great pressures for to introduce and adapt businesslike accounting in the public sector (Hood, 1995; Lapsley, 2008; Lapsley et al., 2009), specially the transition from cash basis to accrual-based accounting. In consequence, since the last 20 years we assist to a movement towards internationally standardized of public sector accounting that led to the publication of 32 International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) for all public sector entities from national central governments to local governments (IFAC, 2008). These standards are accrual-basis and they emphasize the balance sheet approach, the fair value measurement and the revenue-expense approach (Hints, 2007). The main innovations are associated with the use of the balance sheet approach and the fair value measurement because, traditionally, public accounting systems are mainly focused on the revenue-expense approach and on historical cost valuation (Oulasvirta, 2014).