Assistive Techniques Research Articles

Optimisation goals for efficient construction from reused materials towards a circular built environment

Building materials that are reused in a circular economy context are often non-standard because previous usage has altered their original properties. Material matching algorithms aid design and construction by matching components in stock with those needed in a design. The efficiency of these matches is assessed based on factors such as waste, logistics, and structural applicability. In this paper, we evaluate the efficacy and practicality for design evolution of construction-relevant optimisation goals. We evaluate goals based on their construction-time and design time results, using a software pipeline optimising both the mapping and design. One design was also constructed based on the optimised matching, to assess additional considerations when working component-specific designs. Based on difficulties and inefficiencies observed during fabrication, we propose two alternate matching strategies and compare their effects on the chosen factors. The study reveals that component allocation systems frequently overlook the need for both contingency planning and redundancy in the construction process. Additionally, inaccuracies in inventory tracking can significantly compromise the feasibility of the planned design. The stability of these design assistive techniques strongly affects their ability to be applied in large-volume projects. This implies the need for a new set of objective factors to be incorporated into existing methods of design optimisation.

Randomized Trial of Assisted Hybrid Closed-Loop Therapy Versus Sensor-Augmented Pump Therapy in Pregnancy.

Objective: Examine gestational safety, glycemic and health outcomes, of a hybrid closed-loop (HCL) system without pregnancy-specific glucose targets. Research Design: This was a pilot feasibility investigator-initiated, two-site, single-blind, randomized controlled trial of sensor-augmented pump therapy (SAPT) versus HCL therapy in type 1 diabetes pregnancies. Participants were enrolled in the first trimester and randomized at 14-18 weeks of gestation and used SAPT or HCL until 4-6 weeks postpartum. We compared continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) metrics, severe hypoglycemia (SH), diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), adverse skin reactions, and pregnancy outcomes between groups. Results: Baseline characteristics were similar between groups (n = 11 HCL and n = 12 SAPT). There was no SH or DKA episode after randomization. Time spent <54 mg/dL did not differ between groups. Time spent <63 mg/dL decreased in both groups, significantly in the HCL group (3.5% [1.3% standard error] second trimester and 2.8% [1.3%] third trimester vs. 7.9% [1.3%] run-in phase, P < 0.05 for both). Mean sensor glucose was lower with SAPT compared to HCL therapy in the third trimester (119 [4] mg/dL SAPT vs. 132 [4] mg/dL HCL, P < 0.05). Third trimester time-in-range (TIR; 63-140 mg/dL) increased with SAPT (68.2% [3.1%] vs. 64.3% [3.1%] run-in phase, P < 0.05). Gestational health outcomes did not differ between groups. The HCL group used assistive techniques, such as fake carbohydrate boluses and exiting HCL overnight. Conclusions: CGM within group differences were seen for time <63 mg/dL favoring HCL therapy and TIR favoring SAPT (third trimester vs. baseline). Safety and adverse pregnancy outcomes were similar between groups.

Object recognition via echoes: quantifying the crossmodal transfer of three-dimensional shape information between echolocation, vision, and haptics.

Active echolocation allows blind individuals to explore their surroundings via self-generated sounds, similarly to dolphins and other echolocating animals. Echolocators emit sounds, such as finger snaps or mouth clicks, and parse the returning echoes for information about their surroundings, including the location, size, and material composition of objects. Because a crucial function of perceiving objects is to enable effective interaction with them, it is important to understand the degree to which three-dimensional shape information extracted from object echoes is useful in the context of other modalities such as haptics or vision. Here, we investigated the resolution of crossmodal transfer of object-level information between acoustic echoes and other senses. First, in a delayed match-to-sample task, blind expert echolocators and sighted control participants inspected common (everyday) and novel target objects using echolocation, then distinguished the target object from a distractor using only haptic information. For blind participants, discrimination accuracy was overall above chance and similar for both common and novel objects, whereas as a group, sighted participants performed above chance for the common, but not novel objects, suggesting that some coarse object information (a) is available to both expert blind and novice sighted echolocators, (b) transfers from auditory to haptic modalities, and (c) may be facilitated by prior object familiarity and/or material differences, particularly for novice echolocators. Next, to estimate an equivalent resolution in visual terms, we briefly presented blurred images of the novel stimuli to sighted participants (N = 22), who then performed the same haptic discrimination task. We found that visuo-haptic discrimination performance approximately matched echo-haptic discrimination for a Gaussian blur kernel σ of ~2.5°. In this way, by matching visual and echo-based contributions to object discrimination, we can estimate the quality of echoacoustic information that transfers to other sensory modalities, predict theoretical bounds on perception, and inform the design of assistive techniques and technology available for blind individuals.

Techniques for portal vein targeting during a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.

A transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is one of the most challenging procedures in interventional radiology. Hepatic and portal venous anatomy can be highly variable, and access to the portal vein, which can be quite difficult even for experienced surgeons, is the most critical step in a TIPS. Although there are multiple techniques to achieve a portal venous puncture, each access technique carries a unique set of risks and benefits. Thus, knowledge of these assistive techniques will add to the resources available to the surgeon when planning and subsequently performing a TIPS and, ultimately, increase the likelihood of a safe and successful procedure.

Natural language processing in assistive technologies

Natural language processing expanded in the last 30 years, arising to cover a wide range of applications in various domains, among them assistive technologies, helping people with disabilities due to accidents, aging, or genetic heritance, to enhance their social integration and their daily life. The growing need in assistive techniques has led to the involvement in the usual devices of intelligent modules to improve and facilitate their use, natural language processing attaining nowadays a high applicability in this domain. The paper discusses first basic methodologies involved in natural language processing like speech recognition, speech synthesis and text processing. Some possible applications are then presented with accent on experimental realization of intelligent modules for assistive devices in the laboratory of our university.

Assistive techniques and their added value for tremor classification in multiple sclerosis.

Assistive techniques and their added value for tremor classification in multiple sclerosis.

Recanalization of Proximal Fallopian Tube Obstruction in the Treatment of Infertility.

Infertility affects approximately 15% of patients worldwide, with up to 40% of cases attributed to tubal disease, and up to 25% of those being proximal fallopian tube obstruction (FTO). Evaluation of tubal patency can be performed via laparoscopic chromopertubation, hysterosalpingography, or hysterosalpingo-contrast-sonography (HyCoSy). In patients with proximal tubal obstruction, fallopian tube recanalization (FTR) can result in up to 100% technical success rate with pregnancy rates of 12.8 to 51%. More pregnancies occur when oil-soluble contrast media are used versus water-soluble contrast media. Complications of FTR are rare and include tubal perforation, ectopic pregnancy, and pelvic infection. Reocclusion of fallopian tubes may occur in 20 to 50% of patients; however, FTR may be repeated in these cases. Overall, FTR is underutilized in the treatment of infertility secondary to proximal FTO and it can obviate costly and time-consuming assistive reproductive techniques such as in vitro fertilization in some patients, as well as decreasing physical and emotional stress.

Onco-TESE (Testicular Sperm Extraction): Insights from a Tertiary Center and Comprehensive Literature Analysis.

Background and Objectives: The peak of incidence of testicular cancer (TC) occurs among individuals in their reproductive age, emphasizing the importance of fertility preservation as an integral aspect of disease management. Sperm cryopreservation performed before orchiectomy is ineffective in azoospermic men, necessitating alternative approaches such as microdissection testicular sperm extraction (mTESE) at the time of orchiectomy (onco-mTESE) to obtain viable sperm. This study presents the findings from our institution's experience with onco-mTESE and critically discusses our results in light of the existing body of literature. Materials and Methods: This is a tertiary center retrospective analysis of onco-mTESE procedures performed at a single center between December 2011 and July 2022. The included patients were post-puberal men with testicular tumors requiring orchiectomy, along with concomitant severe oligozoospermia or azoospermia. Bilateral mTESE was performed in all cases. Surgical outcomes, sperm retrieval rates, the usage of preserved viable sperm, assistive reproductive techniques' results, and post-operative serum testosterone were recorded. Results: A total of nine patients were included, with a median age of 34 (IQR 29-36) years. All patients had germ cell tumors (GCTs), with seminomatous and non-seminomatous GCTs accounting for 44.4% (n = 4) and 55.6% (n = 5) of patients, respectively. Sperm retrieval occurred in three (33%) patients: one patient in the ipsilateral testis, one in the contralateral testis, and one in both testes. No complications were reported during the procedure, and no post-operative hypogonadism was observed. Among the three patients with successful sperm retrieval, an intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) was performed in two patients, resulting in two pregnancies, leading to one healthy live birth and one miscarriage. Conclusions: In the context of TC, it is essential to conduct a thorough evaluation of testicular function, including a semen analysis and cryopreservation. Onco-mTESE has proven its safety in preserving fertility in azoospermic cases while ensuring the efficacy of oncological treatment.

175-OR: Pregnancy Intervention with a Closed-Loop System (PICLS) Study

We performed a parallel, two-site, randomized controlled trial of a commercially available hybrid closed-loop (HCL) system compared to sensor augmented pump therapy (SAPT) in pregnant women with type 1 diabetes (T1D). Participants started SAPT (Medtronic 670G) by 11 weeks gestation, were randomized at 14-18 weeks, and continued therapy until 6 weeks postpartum. The HCL group used assistive techniques, “fake carbohydrate” boluses, to optimize therapy. We performed linear mixed model regression to compare outcomes between groups, adjusted for clinic. There were 24 women randomized and 23 completers. At baseline there were no significant differences between groups (mean baseline A1C 6.8% at 8w5d [SAPT]/9w0d [HCL] enrollment). There were no episodes of severe hypoglycemia or diabetic ketoacidosis after randomization. Adverse skin reactions occurred in 6 participants (5 SAPT vs 1 HCL, p=0.1550) with a median (IQR) number of 1 (1-2) SAPT vs 4 (4-4) HCL (p=0.8774). A1C significantly decreased from baseline to 2nd trimester, and was different between groups in the 3rd trimester (Table 1). There were no differences in time below, within, or above range between groups during the study (Table 1) or in gestational health outcomes (Table 2). In a pilot cohort of pregnant women with T1D, assisted HCL therapy did not increase risk to mothers or fetuses compared to SAPT despite lack of a pregnancy-specific algorithm in the HCL system. Disclosure E.Buschur: Consultant; Beta Bionics, Inc., Research Support; Dexcom, Inc., JDRF, Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust. E.R.Nease: None. S.Polsky: Other Relationship; diaTribe, Research Support; Dexcom, Inc., Medtronic, Hemsley Charitable Trust, JDRF, NIH - National Institutes of Health. J.K.Snell-bergeon: None. L.Pyle: None. R.Garcetti: None. K.M.Dungan: Board Member; Elsevier, Consultant; Eli Lilly and Company, Dexcom, Inc., Other Relationship; UpToDate, Research Support; Dexcom, Inc., Abbott, ViaCyte, Inc., Sanofi, Speaker's Bureau; Academy for Continued Healthcare Learning, Cardiometabolic Health Congress, Medscape, Integritas. S.F.Thung: None. A.Bartholomew: None. T.Summerfield: None. T.Bloks: None. Funding JDRF (2-SRA-2018-666-M-R); Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute; Children’s Diabetes Foundation; National Center for Research Resources (UL1RR02578)

A Case Study of Disaster Risk Reduction in Schools for the Blind in Thailand

In Thailand, 9% of people with disabilities are visually impaired (VI). VI children are vulnerable when disasters occur. This study investigates risk situations and disaster risk reduction (DRR) methods in VI schools to identify present and potential ways that students can be provided skills. An interview was administered in two schools to schoolteachers and administrators. Content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data based on core keywords. DRR for daily risk exposure and fires is the priority. Concerns over VI students are based on the difficulty in orientation. Support is considered crucial for student safety. Supervisory means to limit risk among the VI is uncertain in times of disaster. Students are capable of learning about DRR and, combined with assistive techniques, can limit their risk. DRR policies in VI schools are primarily reactive. Uncomplicated risk awareness information and training could foster an appropriate approach to bringing self-efficacy to deal with risk.

A holistic and proactive approach to forecasting cyber threats

Traditionally, cyber-attack detection relies on reactive, assistive techniques, where pattern-matching algorithms help human experts to scan system logs and network traffic for known virus or malware signatures. Recent research has introduced effective Machine Learning (ML) models for cyber-attack detection, promising to automate the task of detecting, tracking and blocking malware and intruders. Much less effort has been devoted to cyber-attack prediction, especially beyond the short-term time scale of hours and days. Approaches that can forecast attacks likely to happen in the longer term are desirable, as this gives defenders more time to develop and share defensive actions and tools. Today, long-term predictions of attack waves are mostly based on the subjective perceptiveness of experienced human experts, which can be impaired by the scarcity of cyber-security expertise. This paper introduces a novel ML-based approach that leverages unstructured big data and logs to forecast the trend of cyber-attacks at a large scale, years in advance. To this end, we put forward a framework that utilises a monthly dataset of major cyber incidents in 36 countries over the past 11 years, with new features extracted from three major categories of big data sources, namely the scientific research literature, news, blogs, and tweets. Our framework not only identifies future attack trends in an automated fashion, but also generates a threat cycle that drills down into five key phases that constitute the life cycle of all 42 known cyber threats.

Strategizing Assistive Heating Techniques on Delignification of Empty Fruit Bunch with Incorporation of Deep Eutectic Solvent

Strategizing Assistive Heating Techniques on Delignification of Empty Fruit Bunch with Incorporation of Deep Eutectic Solvent

Self-devised assistive techniques by university students with learning disabilities.

Access to assistive technology for disabilities is limited in low-resource settings. Therefore, existing research focuses on accessibility challenges. This article focuses on how students with learning disabilities manage learning in the absence of assistive technology, a subject that receives less scholarly attention. This article aims to provide insights on how students with learning disabilities manage learning in the face of limited access to assistive technology. It explores conversion factors that influence access to assistive technology. This qualitative study used semistructured interviews to collect data from students with learning disabilities and respective university staff members who were recruited using convenience and snowballing techniques. Data were analysed thematically and supported by thick descriptions of experiences. This study established that students have limited access to assistive technology, and they manage learning through self-devised means that are more socially than technologically or scientifically inspired such as self-affirmation, animal therapy, family support and prayer. Conversion factors, which affect ability by either enabling or constraining access to assistive technology, were identified at personal and institutional or environmental levels. The article concludes that even though students with learning disabilities devise unconventional assistive ways to manage learning, failure to access assistive technology is a capability deprivation that promotes inequalities. This article provides insights that shift perspectives that students with disabilities are passive recipients of support; rather, they can be active agents who innovate nontechnological ways to manage learning in the absence of assistive technology.

Tips and tricks about surgeon-modified fenestrated stent grafting for celiac truncus.

Currently, thoracic endovascular aortic repair is usually the first-line treatment option for descending aortic pathologies. Supra-aortic or visceral branches sometimes involve assistive thoracic endovascular aortic repair techniques; hybrid procedures or intentional coverage may be performed during the procedure to achieve a sufficient proximal or distal landing zone. Most surgeons may agree on selective coverage of celiac truncus, but revascularization is preferred to reduce the risk of ischemic complications. Herein, we present the first successful surgeonmodified fenestrated stent graft procedure for celiac truncus in a patient with Crawford type V descending aortic aneurysm in Türkiye.

Early and midterm outcomes of thoracic endovascular aortic repair with Lifetech Ankura™ thoracic endograft: A single tertiary center experience

Aim: Thoracic aortic pathologies describe a wide spectrum of potentially life-threatening diseases almost always in a comorbid aged patient cohort. Thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) is a less invasive treatment choice, offering reduced mortality and morbidity compared to open surgery. We decided to reveal our experience over safety and efficacy data with Lifetech Ankura™ Thoracic endografts with early and midterm outcomes, retrospectivelytiology. Material and Methods: Between January 2018 and January 2023, for a 5-year period, 203 patients who experienced TEVAR procedure with Lifetech Ankura™ Thoracic endograft were retrospectively evaluated. For the patients who required revascularization of the vessel branches originating from the aortic segments, all types of assistive techniques were performed. Intentional coverage of Left subclavian artery was also performed mostly in urgent patients. Results: 251 endografts were implanted in 203 patients. The most frequent aortic pathologies were the thoracic aortic fusiform aneurysm (56.6%) and type B aortic dissection (25.6%), respectively. Early (30-day/in-hospital) mortality occurred in 9 patients in total (4.4%). Technical success rate was 100%, and there was no conversion to open surgery. No other major adverse event, including cerebral, cardiac, or renal complication requiring dialysis, was observed. The average intensive care unit time was 16.9±11 hours (2-160), length of stay was 5.1±3.2 days. CSF drainage was performed in 51 patients inserted before the procedure prophylactically (25.1%). All patients who survived the operation were followed for 18.6±9.3 months. In the follow up period, four patients needed extension for endoleaks and two additive petticoat procedures were performed. One patient who had TEVAR due to a malperfused type B aortic dissection in the acute phase experienced RTAD 2 weeks after the initial procedure. Conclusion: TEVAR with LifeTech Ankura™ Thoracic Stent Graft system provides a safe, effective, and durable treatment with successful early outcomes and technical success. Wide spectrum in length and non-identical radiopaque proximal markers seem to facilitate some advanced endovascular skills. Long-term durability of the endograft should be tested.

Smart home Management System with Face Recognition Based on ArcFace Model in Deep Convolutional Neural Network

In recent years, artificial intelligence has proved its potential in many fields, especially in computer vision. Facial recognition is one of the most essential tasks in the field of computer vision with various prospective applications from academic research to intelligence service. In this paper, we propose an efficient deep learning approach to facial recognition. Our approach utilizes the architecture of ArcFace model based on the backbone MobileNet V2, in deep convolutional neural network (DCNN). Assistive techniques to increase highly distinguishing features in facial recognition. With the supports of the facial authentication combines with hand gestures recognition, users will be able to monitor and control his home through his mobile phone/tablet/PC. Moreover, they communicate with data and connect to smart devices easily through IoT technology. The overall proposed model is 97% of accuracy and a processing speed of 25 FPS. The interface of the smart home demonstrates the successful functions of real-time operations.

A Review Article on Assistive and Rehabilitation Technology in Cerebellar Ataxia

Cerebellar ataxia can be induced by a variety of factors, and symptoms include a lack of coordination in one's balance and cadence, extremities, as well as eye movements. Cerebellar ataxia leads to cerebellar dysfunction with impaired balance and shows Romberg’s sign positive as assisted by the therapist. Suspension therapy is given to bear patients’ weight and improve their gait by supporting their bodies. Treadmill training to assist gait speed, gait endurance, and step length of the patient. Rehabilitation techniques are used to control balance and coordination. As a result Gait variability is common and can be caused by a union of equilibrium issues, a lack of synchronization between the limbs, postural activity, and leg movement facilitation. The unprejudiced study is to ascertain the potential of assistive and rehabilitative technology in cerebellar ataxia. This study was taken from different data sources here four databases were used for searching the last fifteen years of research articles. Here articles for cerebellar ataxia on assistive and rehabilitation were chosen for study. Assistive techniques like bruce protocol, treadmill, and suspension therapy are useful in various cerebral dysfunctional conditions, but this study focuses on cerebellar ataxia.

Contemporary Results of Bare Platinum Coil Embolization for Wide‐Necked Ruptured Aneurysms: A Subset Analysis of the SMART Registry

BackgroundRupture status and presence of a wide neck are important factors that adversely impact angiographic occlusion after endovascular coiling. A potential strategy to improve occlusion rates in wide‐necked, ruptured aneurysms (WNRA) is modification of coil technology.MethodsWNRA were chosen from the SMART registry that comprises 905 intracranial aneurysms treated with SMART bare platinum coils (Penumbra Inc., Alameda, USA) in the US and Canada. WNRA were defined as neck ≥4 mm, dome‐to‐neck ratio &lt;2, or both. Clinical and angiographic data at presentation and follow‐up were assessed. Outcomes included adequate occlusion rate (Raymond–Roy occlusion class I or II), occlusion at 1 year, and good functional outcome (modified Rankin score 0–2) at 1 year. Angiographic outcome was compared for neck≥4 mm versus &lt;4 mm.ResultsA total of 143 patients (mean age 59.3, 74.1% female) with 143 WNRA were included. Median aneurysm size was 5.8 mm. 46.2% had a neck≥4 mm. Balloon remodeling was used in 35.7% (51/143) and stents in 10.5% (15/143). Intraoperative thromboembolic complication rate was 7.0% (10/143). Overall immediate adequate occlusion rate was 78.3% (112/143); postprocedure occlusion rates were lower (62.1%, 41/66 versus 92.2%, 71/77) for aneurysms with necks ≥4 mm than those with necks &lt;4 mm. At 1 year follow‐up, adequate occlusion was achieved in 82.4% (75/91) patients. Aneurysm occlusion improved in 31.9% (29/91) but worsened in 20.9% (19/91) of all patients at 1 year. Retreatment rate among patients who completed the study was 20.2% (20/99). One instance of intraoperative rupture (0.7%) was noted. Good functional outcome was achieved in 57.7% (41/71).ConclusionThese results suggest that successful embolization of WNRA with new generation SMART coils can be achieved safely. WNRA continue to require assistive techniques at presentation and also retreatment over time. In addition, neck width may have an adverse impact on angiographic outcome.

Review on Haptic Assistive Driving Systems Based on Drivers’ Steering-Wheel Operating Behaviour

With the availability of modern assistive techniques, ambient intelligence, and the Internet of Things (IoT), various innovative assistive environments have been developed, such as driving assistance systems (DAS), where the human driver can be provided with physical and emotional assistance. In this human–machine collaboration system, haptic interaction interfaces are commonly employed because they provide drivers with a more manageable way to interact with other components. From the view of control system theory, this is a typical closed-loop feedback control system with a human in the loop. To make such a system work effectively, both the driving behaviour factors, and the electrical–mechanical components should be considered. However, the main challenge is how to deal with the high degree of uncertainties in human behaviour. This paper aims to provide an insightful overview of the relevant work. The impact of various types of haptic assistive driving systems (haptic guidance and warning systems) on driving behaviour performance is discussed and evaluated. In addition, various driving behaviour modelling systems are extensively investigated. Furthermore, the state-of-the-art driving behaviour controllers are analysed and discussed in driver–vehicle–road systems, with potential improvements and drawbacks addressed. Finally, a prospective approach is recommended to design a robust model-free controller that accounts for uncertainties and individual differences in driving styles in a haptic assistive driving system. The outcome indicated that the haptic feedback system applied to the drivers enhanced their driving performance, lowered their response time, and reduced their mental workload compared to a system with auditory or visual signals or without any haptic system, despite some annoyances and system conflicts. The driving behaviour modelling techniques and the driving behaviour control with a haptic feedback system have shown good matching and improved the steering wheel’s base operation performance. However, mathematical principles, a statistical approach, and the lack of consideration of the individual differences in the driver–vehicle–road system make the modelling and the controller less robust and inefficient for different driving styles.

Innovative endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric neoplasm using intralesional traction and snaring techniques.

Various assistive techniques have emerged to improve the treatment outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) for gastric neoplasms [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]. We report a novel use of assistive intralesional traction, combined with snaring, for gastric ESD ([Fig. 1 a]).