Unified InterPlanetary Smart Parking Network for Maximum End-User Flexibility

Technological breakthroughs have offered innovative solutions for smart parking systems, independent of the use of computer vision, smart sensors, gap sensing, and other variations. We now have a high degree of confidence in spot classification or object detection at the parking level. The only thing missing is end-user satisfaction, as users are forced to use multiple interfaces to find a parking spot in a geographical area. We propose a trustless federated model that will add a layer of abstraction between the technology and the human interface to facilitate user adoption and responsible data acquisition by leveraging a federated identity protocol based on Zero Knowledge Cryptography. No central authority is needed for the model to work; thus, it is trustless. Chained trust relationships generate a graph of trustworthiness, which is necessary to bridge the gap from one smart parking program to an intelligent system that enables smart cities. With the help of Zero Knowledge Cryptography, end users can attain a high degree of mobility and anonymity while using a diverse array of service providers. From an investor’s standpoint, the usage of IPFS (InterPlanetary File System) lowers operational costs, increases service resilience, and decentralizes the network of smart parking solutions. A peer-to-peer content addressing system ensures that the data are moved close to the users without deploying expensive cloud-based infrastructure. The result is a macro system with independent actors that feed each other data and expose information in a common protocol. Different client implementations can offer the same experience, even though the parking providers use different technologies. We call this InterPlanetary Smart Parking Architecture NOW—IPSPAN.

A VR-Enabled Chatbot Supporting Design and Manufacturing of Large and Complex Power Transformers

Virtual reality (VR) immersive technology allows users to experience enhanced reality using human–computer interfaces (HCI). Many systems have implemented VR with improved HCI to provide strategic market advantages for industry and engineering applications. An intelligent chatbot is a conversational system capable of natural language communication allowing users to ask questions and receive answers online to enhance customer services. This research develops and implements a system framework for a VR-enabled large industrial power transformer mass-customization chatbot. The research collected 1272 frequently asked questions (FAQs) from a power transformer manufacturers’ knowledge base that is used for question matching and answer retrieval. More than 1.2 million Wikipedia engineering pages were used to train a word-embedding model for natural language understanding of question intent. The complex engineering questions and answers are integrated with an immersive VR computer human interface. The system enables users to ask questions and receive explicit and detailed answers combined with 3D immersive images of industrial sized power transformer assemblies. The user interfaces can be projected into the VR headwear or computer screen and manipulated with a controller. The unique immersive VR consultation chatbot system is to support real-time design consultation for the design and manufacturing of complex power transformers.

I Want to Control Your Move: Human-Human Interface (HHI) Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulator (NMES)

Neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has been widely used in rehabilitation hubs to restore or replace the motor function of individuals who have upper neuron damage such as stroke and spinal cord injury. However, the utilization of sensors in NMES is limited and results in the lack of data for upper limb movement analysis. The proposed system implemented NMES integrated with human-to-human interface (HHI) in the rehabilitation process for stroke patients. The therapist (controller) can coach the motion of patients (subject) by injecting his own signal for patients to follow. Ten (10) subjects were tested with five (5) repeating trials. The EMG value was extracted from the finger flexion and extension at the controller side, then injected into the control unit for further stimulation of the subject. In order to evaluate the repeating motion by the subject, an accelerometer was attached to the finger. Performance evaluation of the subject was executed by comparing the flexion angle with the controller side. The result showed that the error of the system was less than 10.29 % for the first trial and gradually reduced to 1 % after 5 trials.

Hello, computer. Approaches to designing speech-based user experiences

<p>The burgeoning field of speech–based user interfaces, pushed heavily by most major technology vendors, including Google (with Assistant), Apple (Siri), Amazon (Alexa), and Microsoft (Cortana), presents a new challenge in designing end user experiences; one where we cannot rely on there being a visual element at all. With the individual interests of the vendors, we have seen a growth of very distinct guidelines and platforms, resulting in a lack of consistency across the field. There is an opportunity to consider these platforms and this modality of interaction, and how we can design for it more generally. By reviewing the current array of literature on voice and conversational user interfaces, as well as general speech and user interface metaphors, an understand- ing and framing for the potential of this field is to be achieved. The different core vendors and their corporate attitudes and business goals are examined to find issues that may affect building for them. Thematic analysis of the current vendor and platform-specific guidelines (such as Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines) will allow for determining important commonalities, feeding the creation of a set of voice-focused usability heuristics to evaluate these designs. Finally, the broader research is distilled into a systematic approach for designing speech–based experiences. Technical case study work is informed, and reciprocally informs this approach, ensuring it works in practice.</p>

Hello, computer. Approaches to designing speech-based user experiences

<p>The burgeoning field of speech–based user interfaces, pushed heavily by most major technology vendors, including Google (with Assistant), Apple (Siri), Amazon (Alexa), and Microsoft (Cortana), presents a new challenge in designing end user experiences; one where we cannot rely on there being a visual element at all. With the individual interests of the vendors, we have seen a growth of very distinct guidelines and platforms, resulting in a lack of consistency across the field. There is an opportunity to consider these platforms and this modality of interaction, and how we can design for it more generally. By reviewing the current array of literature on voice and conversational user interfaces, as well as general speech and user interface metaphors, an understand- ing and framing for the potential of this field is to be achieved. The different core vendors and their corporate attitudes and business goals are examined to find issues that may affect building for them. Thematic analysis of the current vendor and platform-specific guidelines (such as Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines) will allow for determining important commonalities, feeding the creation of a set of voice-focused usability heuristics to evaluate these designs. Finally, the broader research is distilled into a systematic approach for designing speech–based experiences. Technical case study work is informed, and reciprocally informs this approach, ensuring it works in practice.</p>

Constrained medical oxygen supply chain in India during COVID-19: Red-tapism, the elephant in the room?

Background: Recent disruption of medical oxygen during second wave of COVID-19 has caused nationwide panic. This study attempts to objectively analyze the medical oxygen supply chain in India along the principles of value stream mapping (VSM), identify bottlenecks and recommend systemic improvements. Methodology: Process mapping of the medical oxygen supply chain in India was done. Different licenses & approvals, their conditions, compliances, renewals among others were factored-in. All relevant circulars, official orders, amendments and gazette notifications pertaining to medical oxygen since April 2020 were studied and corroborated with information from PESO official website. Findings: All steps of medical oxygen supply chain right from oxygen manufacture to filling, storage and transport up to the end users; have regulatory bottlenecks. Consequently flow of materials is sluggish and very poor information flow has aggravated the inherent inefficiencies of the system. Government of India has been loosening regulatory norms at every stage, which is reactive rather than proactive policy making. Discussion: Regulatory bottlenecks have indirectly fuelled the informal sector over the years, which is not under Government’s control. This has also caused difficulties in clamping down black-marketing and hoarding. Technology enabled, data-driven regulatory processes with minimum discretionary human interface is the way to go.

Adaptation, spread and transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in farmed minks and associated humans in the Netherlands

In the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (April 2020), SARS-CoV-2 was detected in farmed minks and genomic sequencing was performed on mink farms and farm personnel. Here, we describe the outbreak and use sequence data with Bayesian phylodynamic methods to explore SARS-CoV-2 transmission in minks and humans on farms. High number of farm infections (68/126) in minks and farm workers (>50% of farms) were detected, with limited community spread. Three of five initial introductions of SARS-CoV-2 led to subsequent spread between mink farms until November 2020. Viruses belonging to the largest cluster acquired an amino acid substitution in the receptor binding domain of the Spike protein (position 486), evolved faster and spread longer and more widely. Movement of people and distance between farms were statistically significant predictors of virus dispersal between farms. Our study provides novel insights into SARS-CoV-2 transmission between mink farms and highlights the importance of combining genetic information with epidemiological information when investigating outbreaks at the animal-human interface.

PEAT SURFACE COMPRESSION REDUCES SMOULDERING FIRE POTENTIAL AS A NOVEL FUEL TREATMENT FOR BOREAL PEATLANDS

The wildfire regime in Canada’s boreal region is changing; extended fire seasons are characterized by more frequent large fires (≥200 ha) burning greater areas of land, whilst climate-mediated drying is increasing the vulnerability of peatlands to deep burning. Proactive management strategies, such as fuel modification treatments, are necessary to reduce fire danger at the wildland-human interface (WHI). Novel approaches to fuel management are especially needed in peatlands where deep smouldering combustion is a challenge to suppression efforts and releases harmful emissions. Here, we integrate surface compression within conventional stand treatments to examine the potential for reducing smouldering of near-surface moss and peat. A linear model (adj. R2=0.62, p=2.2e-16) revealed that ground cover (F(2,101)=60.97, p<0.001) and compression (F(1,101)=56.46, p<0.001) had the greatest effects on smouldering potential, while stand treatment did not have a significant effect (F(3,101)=0.44, p=0.727). On average, compressed Sphagnum and feather moss plots showed 57.1% and 58.7% lower smouldering potential, respectively, when compared to uncompressed analogs. While practical evaluation is warranted to better understand the evolving effectiveness of this strategy, these findings demonstrate that a compression treatment can be successfully incorporated within both managed and unmanaged peatlands to reduce fire danger at the WHI.

Occurrence and multidrug resistance of Campylobacter spp. at duck farms and associated environmental and anthropogenic risk factors in Bangladesh

Background The alarming rise in multi-drug resistant (MDR) zoonotic pathogens, including Campylobacter spp., has been threatening the health sector globally. In Bangladesh, despite rapid growth in poultry sector little is known about the potential risks of zoonotic pathogens in homestead duck flocks. The aim of this study was to understand the occurrence, species diversity, and multi-drug resistance in Campylobacter spp., and identify the associated risk factors in duck farms in Bangladesh. Methods The study involved 20 duck farms at 6 sub-districts of Mymensingh, Bangladesh. Monthly occurrence of Campylobacter spp. in potential sources at the farms during February-September, 2018, was detected by culture and PCR-based methods. Campylobacter isolates were examined for resistance to different antimicrobials. Risk factors, concerning climatic and environmental disposition, farm management, and anthropogenic practices, of Campylobacter infection were estimated by participatory epidemiological tools. Results Occurrence of Campylobacter spp. was detected in overall 36.90% (155/420) samples, more frequently in drinking water (60%, 30/50), followed by cloacal swab (37.50%, 75/200), egg surface swab (35%, 35/100) and soil of the duck resting places (30%, 15/50) but was not detected in feed samples (n = 20). PCR assays distinguished the majority (61.30%, 95/155) of the isolates as C. coli, while the rest (38.70%, 60/155) were C. jejuni. Notably, 41.7% (25/60) and 31.6% (30/95) strains of C. jejuni and C. coli, respectively, were observed to be MDR. The dynamics of Campylobacter spp., distinctly showing higher abundance during summer and late-monsoon, correlated significantly with temperature, humidity, and rainfall, while sunshine hours had a negative influence. Anthropogenic management-related factors, including, inadequate hygiene practices, use of untreated river water, wet duck shed, flock age (1–6 months), and unscrupulous use of antimicrobials were identified to enhance the risk of MDR Campylobacter infection. Conclusion The present study clearly demonstrates that duck farms contribute to the enhanced occurrence and spread of potentially pathogenic and MDR C. coli and C. jejuni strains and the bacterial dynamics are governed by a combined interaction of environmental and anthropogenic factors. A long-term holistic research at the environment-animal-human interface would be integral to divulge health risk reduction approaches tackling the spread of Campylobacter spp. from duck farms.