High Technical Skills Research Articles

A Study of Design Change Management for Infrastructure Development Projects in New Zealand

Design changes seem to be an inevitable part of engineering, procurement and construction EPC projects. Such changes create a need for a proactive approach to adjusting project scope, cost and time (the triple constraints) for efficiency and effectiveness in overall delivery. This study investigates the causes and implications of design changes in order to improve design change management practices. Data for the study were obtained through online interviews with New Zealand industry practitioners. Thematic analysis was used to collate the results into meaningful data. The study found that design changes were predominantly caused by clients’ inadequate strategic planning, insufficient attention to design, EPC contractors’ inadequate design ability, and on-site variations. There were three categories of such design changes: direct impact on the project, the reciprocal and complementary effect on stakeholders, and the far-reaching impact on the community. The study concludes by suggesting improvements, such as strengthening the integration of project teams to enhance design quality, strategic alignment of stakeholders at the planning stage, early contractor involvement (ECI) between the planning and design phases, and improving collaboration between design and construction teams. Further, a combination of high technical skills (e.g., design ability) and soft skills (can-do attitude, interpersonal skills, problem-solving skills, documentation skills, etc.) are needed to generate the desired improvement in design change management.

The relationship between undergraduate students’ digital literacy and self-regulation in online interaction

ABSTRACT The present study explored the relationship between undergraduate students’ digital literacy and self-regulation in online interaction (student-content, student-teacher, student-student). Investigating this relationship can facilitate identifying areas for improvement of support programmes and provide insights for effective online teaching and learning practices. The researchers collected data from 195 undergraduate students during the Covid-19 pandemic. Canonical correlation results indicated a significant and positive correlation (Rc = .41), meaning that having a positive attitude and high technical knowledge and skills regarding digital technologies can help students manage online teacher, peer, and content interactions. Moreover, the study identified that the digital literacy scale’s technical variable contributes to the correlation more than the attitude variable. This result implies that developing technical knowledge and skills might be more critical to promoting self-regulation in online interaction. Based on these results, the implications for online education and recommendations for supporting self-regulation in student interactions are discussed.

An Update on Non-invasive Approaches for Genetic Testing of the Preimplantation Embryo.

Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT) aims to reduce the chance of an affected pregnancy or improve success in an assisted reproduction cycle. Since the first established pregnancies in 1990, methodological approaches have greatly evolved, combined with significant advances in the embryological laboratory. The application of preimplantation testing has expanded, while the accuracy and reliability of monogenic and chromosomal analysis have improved. The procedure traditionally employs an invasive approach to assess the nucleic acid content of embryos. All biopsy procedures require high technical skill, and costly equipment, and may impact both the accuracy of genetic testing and embryo viability. To overcome these limitations, many researchers have focused on the analysis of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) at the preimplantation stage, sampled either from the blastocoel or embryo culture media, to determine the genetic status of the embryo non-invasively. Studies have assessed the origin of cfDNA and its application in non-invasive testing for monogenic disease and chromosomal aneuploidies. Herein, we discuss the state-of-the-art for modern non-invasive embryonic genetic material assessment in the context of PGT. The results are difficult to integrate due to numerous methodological differences between the studies, while further work is required to assess the suitability of cfDNA analysis for clinical application.

Surgeons’ dilemma: Balancing the risks and benefits of audio-video recording

Audio-video (AV) recording in the operating room (OR) brings a multitude of potential benefits to both patients and surgeons. Video-based case presentations are common at conferences, facilitating education and knowledge dissemination, and case recordings are easily accessible online for viewers of all backgrounds. Video-based surgical coaching has been shown to improve technical skills in both trainees and attending surgeons.1,2 Additionally, the identification of an association between high technical skill and fewer patient complications represents an opportunity for improved patient outcomes through surgeon self-reflection via video review.

A methodological framework for modeling sustainability visions: A case study of groundwater management in Faizpur distributary, Pakistan

Over the last two decades, participatory modeling has been advocated as an effective method towards integrated, adaptive, and collaborative water resources management. However, in developing countries, such as Pakistan, its adaptation is limited due to high cost, time, and technical skills of stakeholders. The proposed research aims to develop a stepwise participatory modeling framework with special focus to the problem of groundwater depletion in the Faizpur distributary of Bari Doab basin, Pakistan. Currently, due to absence of a well define groundwater management policy together with low social awareness level, groundwater sustainability is at risk in term of its quality and quantity. For participatory modeling individual causal loop diagrams were developed with potential stakeholders, followed by a merged causal loop diagram to represent a holistic view of the complete system. The final merged diagram helps in understanding different system processes and allows for a more comprehensive qualitative assessment of stakeholder proposed policies. Among other proposed policies (e.g., revise cropping pattern, gray water reuse, and construction of dams) water pricing is found to be the most effective policy. This policy proved to be helpful in improving irrigation efficiency and hence helps in reducing groundwater extraction. The policy may face resistance from upstream farmers due to excessive and cheap availability of irrigation water in their area, but can help in water reallocation and shift traditional methods of farming to more advanced techniques. The results point to social-economic aspects of groundwater management that have not been considered by other modeling studies to date. Moreover, this approach can improve the role of local stakeholder in decision-making processes concerning socio-environmental regulation and climate change mitigation policies.

Sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay for Quantification of Callose.

The existing methods of callose quantification include epifluorescence microscopy and fluorescence spectrophotometry of aniline blue-stained callose particles, immuno-fluorescence microscopy and indirect assessment of both callose synthase and β-(1,3)-glucanase enzyme activities. Some of these methods are laborious, time consuming, not callose-specific, biased and require high technical skills. Here, we describe a method of callose quantification based on Sandwich Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (S-ELISA). Tissue culture-derived banana plantlets were inoculated with Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum (Xcm) bacteria as a biotic stress factor inducing callose production. Banana leaf, pseudostem and corm tissue samples were collected at 14 days post-inoculation (dpi) for callose quantification. Callose levels were significantly different in banana tissues of Xcm-inoculated and control groups except in the pseudostems of both banana genotypes. The method described here could be applied for the quantification of callose in different plant species with satisfactory level of specificity to callose, and reproducibility. Additionally, the use of 96-well plate makes this method suitable for high throughput callose quantification studies with minimal sampling and analysis biases. We provide step-by-step detailed descriptions of the method.

Photosynthetic Microorganisms Consortium as Bioindicators for Heavy Metals

Heavy metals that are discharged through industrial and agricultural activities cause contamination, especially to the water sources, and bring about negative impacts on the flora and fauna in the ecosystem. The monitoring of heavy metals in the environment requires high technical skills with sophisticated equipment and is also time-consuming. In this study, the potential of using natural photosynthetic microorganism consortiums collected from natural water bodies as bioindicators for the screening of heavy metals was explored. The photosynthetic microorganism consortiums were first cultured in lab, immobilized, and then exposed to different heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Ni and Co) at different concentrations (0.01 mg.L-1, 0.05 mg.L-1, 0.10 mg.L-1, 0.50 mg.L-1, 1.00 mg.L-1 and 5.00 mg.L-1). The fluorometric responses before and after the exposure to heavy metals were measured. The results revealed that consortium cells responded to a wide range of heavy metals within a short period of exposure. The responses showed that the consortium cells can detect the presence of Cd, Cu, Ni, and Co within the range of 0.05-5.00 mg.L-1. The study confirmed that the photosynthetic microorganism consortiums collected from natural water bodies could be used as bioindicators for the screening of heavy metals.

Effects of Passion, Experience, and Cultural Politics on Classical Musicians' Practice During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The widespread cancelation of cultural events during the early 2020 stages of the COVID-19 pandemic led professional performing musicians across the world to experience an increasing economic fragility that threatened their health and wellbeing. Within this “new normal,” developing countries have been at a higher risk due to their vulnerable health systems and cultural policies. Even in such difficult times, the music profession requires musicians to keep up their practicing routines, even if they have no professional commitments. This is because high level technical and expressive skills are crucial to sustaining a music career at a high performance level. However, it could be expected that not all musicians might have had the same engagement with music practice during lockdowns. In this study, we studied the experiences of 309 professional classical musicians based in European and Latin American countries with different levels of performing experience to examine their passionate (or lack thereof) engagement with music practice. Through the mixed methods combination of multigroup invariance and narrative analyses, we identified distinct profiles of musicians who displayed more harmonious or more obsessive passion orientations before and at the peak of the pandemic. We observed that musicians with higher levels of harmonious passion in particular were more capable of sustaining their practice at the peak of the pandemic and that these musicians were mostly located in Latin America—a paradox, considering that cultural politics supporting the careers of professional performing musicians and entrepreneurial education in Latin America are lacking to a great extent, especially in comparison with the European context. We explain this in terms of the “forced” self-management embraced by musicians in Latin American countries who want to engage with music practice both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic even if the music profession does not generate enough revenue for them.

İletişim Çalışmalarında İçerik Analizi ve Metin Madenciliğinin Kullanımı

Methodological approaches that consider the concept of big data are emerging in communication studies. In this regard, combined usage of content analysis and text mining were observed. This approach presents potential to obtain real-time findings, evaluate large data sets, and obtain effective results. This study aims to present how text mining can be systematically integrated into the deductive content analysis process. In the study, a deductive content analysis process based on text mining is proposed. This process can provide researchers with a methodological roadmap that can be applied to digital text data in different contexts, with different softwares, without high technical skill requirements. In this context, the stages of content analysis have been reviewed, the deductive content analysis approach was discussed, a process was developed in the light of the researcher's past experiences and preliminary research on how traditional content analysis approaches can be realized with text mining processes.

Preparing for the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery Exam: A Survey of Residents in Obstetrics & Gynecology

To describe the actual work-load and experience for first-time resident test takers preparing to meet the new high stakes cognitive and technical skills testing requirement for board certification in Obstetrics and Gynecology. A retrospective observational study. Participating residents completed a 2 page questionnaire about their preparation for the exam. Results are reported in aggregate. This study was conducted at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, an academic medical school affiliated with both a private and public tertiary hospitals. Residents in obstetrics and gynecology who have completed their Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) certification exam between September 1, 2018 and September 31, 2019. Thirty-three PGY-2 and PGY-3 residents completed the survey. Participants spent an average of 6.7 ± 3.1 hours viewing online modules over an average of 3.6 ± 2.1 nonconsecutive days. Utilizing the campus simulation center, residents spent an average of 2.1 ± 2.1 hours on each of the 5 tasks to practice to the established proficiency score. Twenty-two out of 31 residents rated the ligating loop the easiest skill to master and 13/31 residents rated the precision cut the most difficult. The pass rate for the technical skills portion was 100% (33/33 residents) and for the cognitive portion was 93% (31/33 residents). Our data suggest that residents spent upward of 10 hours practicing to proficiency on the simulation tasks, in addition to time spent watching FLS-provided training videos. The 100% pass rate for the technical skills portion at our program may be impacted by a required technical skills curriculum that residents must complete prior to registering for the FLS exam. Obstetrics and gynecology residents and training programs will benefit from understanding the time and resources required for first-time resident test takers preparing to take the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery exam.

Evaluation of Core Stabilization Strenght of Team and Individual Athletes and Sedentary

Aim: This study was carried out to examine the core strength of athletes and sedentary people between the ages of 13-18. Methods: 200 male athletes from Samsun and 51 sedentary men who did not do any sports participated in this study. The Plank Fitness Test was applied to measure core strength and the time they could stand without disturbing the plank position was recorded. IBM SPSS Statistics 21 package program was used in the analysis of the data. Before the analysis of the data, Shapiro-Wilk normality test was applied and it was determined that the data did not show normal distribution (p<0.05). The Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to compare the averages of core duration between the groups. Results: According to the findings obtained in the study, a significant difference was found when the durations of the groups in the core test were examined [X2(2) =92,158, p<.05]. This finding shows that the core strength between the groups is different according to the branch. When the averages of the groups are examined, it is determined that the branch with the highest core duration is judo (190.53 sec.), followed by taekwondo (158.18 sec.), football (158.01 sec.), sedentary (107.73 sec.) and basketball (69.55 sec.) groups, respectively. In addition, it is seen that the results obtained in core times and the results of training age and body mass index values are similar. Conclusion: According to the results of our study, it is noteworthy that those who do individual sports have higher core scores than those who do team sports and sedentary. We think that this difference is due to the fact that the concentration is constantly high in individual sports and the techniques performed accordingly require more core strength. In addition, we can say that the fact that sedentary people get more core points than basketball players is due to the fact that the training age of the participants and the body mass index values of the basketball players are higher than the other participants. In the light of these results, we think that more core training should be included, especially in sports that require high technical skills and strength. Keywords: Team and Individual Sports, Sedentary, Core Strength

Integrating Mentorship in Workplace-Integrated Learning Curriculum

When instructing and supporting Business Degree students through work-integrated learning (WIL) courses, instructors noted high technical skill competence, but less preparedness pertaining to interpersonal and professional interactions. The inability to effectively navigate relationships and workplace contexts could impact the perceived competence of the student/employee. In increasingly dynamic and challenging workplaces, a graduate’s breadth of skills within both interpersonal and technical competencies are critically important. In this paper, we describe experiences and conditions related to the re-design and implementation of the Practicum and Capstone courses. Both utilize the integration of mentorship in curriculum to increase the learning, development, and experience of soon-to-be graduates. This approach may be an effective method to support students through the transition from post-secondary to the workplace more successfully. This paper considers the effectiveness of the re-design and the future of the related work.

Effects of Low-Cost Repair Techniques on Restoration of Mechanical Properties of Fire-Damaged Concrete

Researchers have conducted numerous investigations on various repair techniques to restore the mechanical properties of fire-damaged concrete. However, most of the techniques are either expensive or require high technical skills. As a continuous work, this study involved an experimental investigation of the effects of various low-cost repair techniques to restore the mechanical properties of fire-damaged concrete. Sixty cylindrical concrete samples were subjected to heat ranging from 400°C to 800°C in a propane gas furnace. The samples were categorized into six groups, including the following: undamaged, fire-damaged, and fire-damaged and repaired using water curing; fire-damaged and repaired using cement-based slurry injection; re-curing fire-damaged and repaired with steel wire mesh along with epoxy resin wrapping; and fire-damaged and repaired using epoxy injection. The samples were tested for non-destructive and destructive tests, including ultrasonic pulse velocity, rebound hammer, and compressive strength. The results showed that the use of cement-based slurry injection along with the water-curing repair technique could regain almost 90% of its ultimate strength and secant stiffness, making it the most effective low-cost repair technique for fire-damaged concrete exposed up to 700°C.

Inefficient practice of flint heat treatment at Hasankeyf Höyük: An anti-functional view

This paper investigates the heat treatment of flint practiced at the Neolithic site of Hasankeyf Höyük in southeast Turkey. It does not involve petrographic or geochemical analysis to identify the physical and chemical evidence of heat treatment but aims to understand cultural aspects of the use of ancient lithic technology, using heat treatment as a case study. Heat treatment is a lithic production technique in which siliceous rocks are heated by controlled fire in order to improve their flaking quality. Archaeological evidence of heat treatment is seen all over the world, and numerous studies have contributed to the better understanding of this technique. However, what is particularly intriguing in the case of Hasankeyf Höyük is that there are many flint artefacts which were apparently overheated and unusable due to the frequent failure in achieving successful heat treatment. On the other hand, experimental studies using an electrical furnace and open fire show that once the appropriate heating time and temperature are learnt, the heat treatment of local flint at Hasankeyf Höyük is an easy process and does not require high technical skill. It is therefore suggested that heat treatment at this site was exercised along non-economic principles by people who were not very keen on improving technological efficiency, even when they could have easily done so.

EP.TH.589Comparison of Surgeon Gaze Behaviour Against Objective Skill Assessment in Open Inguinal Hernia Repair – A Pilot Study

Abstract Aims Technical skill is associated with improved postoperative outcomes. Adoption of a formalised high-stakes assessment of surgical skill is technically challenging and limited by the financial and human resources available. We aimed to assess the ability to adopt gaze behaviour analysis as an assessment of surgical skill within live open inguinal herniorrhaphy. Methods Surgeons’ gaze was measured with Tobii Pro eye-tracking Glasses 2 (Tobii AB). All grades of surgeons were included. Primary outcomes were dwell time (%) and fixation frequency (count/s), as markers of cognition, on areas of interest correlated to mean Objective Skill Assessment of Technical Skill score. Secondary outcomes assessed effort and concentration levels through maximum pupil diameter (mm) and rate of pupil change (mm/s) correlated to perceived workload (SURG-TLX). Three operative segments underwent analysis: mesh preparation, fixation and muscle closure. Spearman’s and Pearson’s correlation were performed with significance set at p < 0.05. Results 5 cases were analysed, totalling 270 minutes of video footage. All participants were senior surgical trainees and right-hand-dominant. The median number of hernia operations performed was 160 (range:100-500). The median ASA score of each patient participant was 2 (range:1-2). The median operation length was 45 mins (range:40-90 mins). There were no statistically significant primary outcomes from this pilot data (p > 0.05). Conclusions This pilot study demonstrated the feasibility of recording gaze behaviours for comparison against formal skills assessment to determine the role of eye tracking in live high stakes technical skills assessment. A full study will now commence based on formal power calculation.

INFLUENCE OF BOND AND FRICTION ON TENSILE STRENGTH OF PERFORATED STEEL PLATE CONNECTOR UNDER CONFINEMENT

Concrete-filled steel tube (CFST) columns are commonly used in Japan, which utilize onsite full-strength welded splices between columns. However, onsite welding requires high technical skill and a controlled environment. Further, this type of splice is expensive and, in most cases, is not necessary for dependable building performance under severe earthquake loading conditions. Recently, new types of CFST column splices have been developed that enhance constructability and avoid the need for onsite welding. In the proposed column splice method, perforated steel plates are placed on each column half and are welded into place. To evaluate the performance of this splice, it is important to determine the pull-out strength and behavior modes of the perforated steel plates embedded into the CFSTs. In this paper, a pull-out experiment with perforated steel plates embedded into a square CFST stub is conducted. The experimental parameters are the bond between the steel plate and the concrete, the embedded length of the perforation, and the extra length of the steel plate. The effect of the bond and friction strength between the steel and concrete are discussed, and a design formula for the pull-out strength of the perforated steel plate is examined.

Effects of carbohydrate and caffeine combination mouth rinse on anaerobic performance of highly trained male athletes

ABSTRACT The ergogenic effects of carbohydrate (CHO) and caffeine (CAF) mouth rinse (MR) methods on anaerobic performance remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of CHO, CAF, and CHO + CAF combination solutions in mouth on repeated vertical jumping (RVJ) performance in highly trained male athletes. Eight male athletes (mean age: 22 years) underwent test sessions four times with minimum 24-h intervals under fasting conditions. Participants rinsed their mouths with four different 25-ml solutions, namely, CHO (6.4% maltodextrin = 1.6 g), CAF (1.2% caffeine = 300 mg), placebo (PLA, saccharin), or CHO + CAF (6.4%+1.2%) combination, for 10 s and performed a 30-s RVJ test twice with a 5-min interval. Peak power output, vertical jump height, blood lactate level, fatigue index, and rate of perceived exertion of the RVJ tests for different intervention sessions were compared. The statistical significance level was set at p ≤ 0.05. Analyses demonstrated that CHO- (Δ: 3.4), CAF- (Δ: −0.8), and CHO + CAF-MR (Δ: −1.8) interventions led to similar RVJ performance changes compared to PLA. All differences in the dependent variables were statistically insignificant and had moderate and lower effect sizes between interventions (p > 0.05, g < 0.94). Our study did not elicit sufficient evidence to recommend highly trained male athletes the use of CHO- and CAF-MR separately or in combination to enhance jump performance. However, the fact that some differences have medium to large effect sizes suggests that the issue is still worth to be a potential topic for further research. Highlights Effects of CHO + CAF-MR on anaerobic performance in highly trained athletes have not been investigated using performance tasks requiring high technical skills. There is not enough evidence to suggest that CHO, CAF and CHO + CAF-MR interventions have beneficial effects on RVJ performance compared to PLA in highly trained male athletes. Some statistically insignificant differences have medium to large effect sizes. Therefore, the issue is still worth to be a potential topic for further research.

Open Versus Endoscopic Osteotomy of Posterosuperior Calcaneal Tuberosity for Haglund Syndrome: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background:Although endoscopic calcaneoplasty and retrocalcaneal debridement have been extensively applied to treat Haglund syndrome, evidence of the value of the endoscopic procedure remains to be fully established.Purpose/Hypothesis:The purpose of this study was to compare the postoperative outcomes and the amount of osteotomy between open and endoscopic surgery for the treatment of Haglund syndrome. It was hypothesized that endoscopic calcaneoplasty would lead to higher patient satisfaction and lower complication rates compared with open surgical techniques.Study Design:Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.Methods:The following postoperative outcomes were compared between the open surgery group (n = 20) and the endoscopic surgery group (n = 27): visual analog scale for pain, American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society ankle-hindfoot scale, Foot Function Index, Tegner score, Ankle Activity Score, and 36-Item Short Form Health Survey; postoperative complications; and duration of surgery. To determine the extent of resection, the authors compared the calcaneal height ratio, calcaneal resection ratio, calcaneal resection angle, pitch line, and Haglund deformity height between groups. The learning curve for endoscopic calcaneoplasty was also calculated.Results:There were no significant differences between the open and endoscopic groups on any outcome score. Two patients in the open group reported temporary paresthesia around the incisional site, indicating sural nerve injuries; no complication was reported in the endoscopy group. None of the parameters for extent of resection were statistically significant between the groups. The duration of surgery was 44.90 ± 10.52 and 65.39 ± 11.12 minutes in the open and endoscopy groups, respectively (P = .001). Regarding the learning curve for endoscopic calcaneoplasty (6 surgeons; 27 follow-up patients; 9 patients lost to follow-up), the duration of surgery reached a steady point of 55.68 ± 4.19 minutes after the fourth operation.Conclusion:The results of this study indicated that the endoscopy procedure was as effective as the open procedure. The endoscopic procedure required significantly more time than the open procedure, and the duration of the endoscopic procedure was shortened only after the fourth operation, suggesting that it requires high technical skills and familiarity with the anatomic relationships.

Associations Between Mobile Health Technology use and Self-rated Quality of Life: A Cross-sectional Study on Older Adults with Cognitive Impairment

Background: Quality of life (QoL) is affected even at early stages in older adults with cognitive impairment. The use of mobile health (mHealth) technology can offer support in daily life and improve the physical and mental health of older adults. However, a clarification of how mHealth technology can be used to support the QoL of older adults with cognitive impairment is needed. Objective: To investigate factors affecting mHealth technology use in relation to self-rated QoL among older adults with cognitive impairment. Methods: A cross-sectional research design was used to analyse mHealth technology use and QoL in 1,082 older participants. Baseline data were used from a multi-centered randomized controlled trial including QoL, measured by the Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease (QoL-AD) Scale, as the outcome variable. Data were analyzed using logistic regression models. Results: Having moderately or high technical skills in using mHealth technology and using the internet via mHealth technology on a daily or weekly basis was associated with good to excellent QoL in older adults with cognitive impairment. Conclusions: The variation in technical skills and internet use among the participants can be interpreted as an obstacle for mHealth technology to support QoL.

IoT in modern web development

In recent years, the IoT space has grown tremendously. Today, many IoT devices that previously existed only as a theoretical concept are now readily available on the market. In addition, significant achievements are available in the field of web development. The latest front-end technologies such as React, Angular, and Node.js have matured and become quite understandable. There are many open source IoT platforms to bring technology to life and link IoT and web development. Building web applications using the Internet of Things requires not only additional tools, but also high qualifications and related technical skills. Developers must be prepared not only for the implementation of web projects, but also for the implementation of IoT projects. As a conclusion, we can get that companies will encourage developers to enter the IoT field in order to get a larger share of the profit. This article analyzes the development of modern web applications for IoT devices. The study found that by increasing the performance that the IoT ecosystem provides, you can get a fairly high level of savings. In one of its articles, Wired described one of the most important IoT issues. It is a concept in which not all devices need to be connected to the Internet. Each device should only collect and exchange data if it is really needed. A specific purpose, based on customer utility, may be the only reason the device connects to the Internet [9]. When it comes to the Internet of Things in manufacturing, embedded sensors can improve efficiency and significantly reduce material manufacturing costs. For example, a company called Concrete Sensors uses a device integrated in concrete to monitor the condition of a material. His innovation saves customers approximately $365,000 per floor for an investment of only $30,000. Either way, connected devices need an endpoint that will retrieve, process, and display data. Mobile apps are now mainly used as endpoints for streaming music, entertaining users, or to help them interact with their friends via social media. However, mobile apps can also act as a gateway [10].