scholarly journals Connected Audiological Rehabilitation: 21st Century Innovations

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (09) ◽  
pp. 768-776 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabrielle H. Saunders ◽  
Theresa H. Chisolm

Background: Tele-audiology provides a means to offer audiologic rehabilitation (AR) in a cost-, resource-, and time-effective manner. If designed appropriately, it also has the capability of personalizing rehabilitation to the user in terms of content, depth of detail, etc., thus permitting selection of the best content for a particular individual. Synchronous/real-time data collection, store and forward telehealth, remote monitoring and mobile health using smartphone applications have each been applied to components of audiologic rehabilitation intervention (sensory management, instruction in the use of technology and control of the listening environment, perceptual and communication strategies training, and counseling). In this article, the current state of tele-audiological rehabilitation interventions are described and discussed. Results: The provision of AR via tele-audiology potentially provides a cost-effective mechanism for addressing barriers to the routine provision of AR beyond provisions of hearing technology. Furthermore, if designed appropriately, it has the capability of personalizing rehabilitation to the user in terms of content, depth of detail, etc., thus permitting selection of the best content for a particular individual. However, effective widespread implementation of tele-audiology will be dependent on good education of patients and clinician alike, and researchers must continue to examine the effectiveness of these new approaches to AR in order to ensure clinicians provide effective evidence-based rehabilitation to their patients. Conclusions: While several barriers to the widespread use of tele-audiology for audiologic rehabilitation currently exist, it is concluded that through education of patients and clinicians alike, it will gain greater support from practitioners and patients over time and will become successfully and widely implemented.

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (3) ◽  
pp. 60408-1-60408-10
Author(s):  
Kenly Maldonado ◽  
Steve Simske

The principal objective of this research is to create a system that is quickly deployable, scalable, adaptable, and intelligent and provides cost-effective surveillance, both locally and globally. The intelligent surveillance system should be capable of rapid implementation to track (monitor) sensitive materials, i.e., radioactive or weapons stockpiles and person(s) within rooms, buildings, and/or areas in order to predict potential incidents proactively (versus reactively) through intelligence, locally and globally. The system will incorporate a combination of electronic systems that include commercial and modifiable off-the-shelf microcomputers to create a microcomputer cluster which acts as a mini supercomputer which leverages real-time data feed if a potential threat is present. Through programming, software, and intelligence (artificial intelligence, machine learning, and neural networks), the system should be capable of monitoring, tracking, and warning (communicating) the system observer operations (command and control) within a few minutes when sensitive materials are at potential risk for loss. The potential customer is government agencies looking to control sensitive materials and/or items in developing world markets intelligently, economically, and quickly.


2001 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 446-450 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Cassidy ◽  
S. Hill ◽  
E. O’Callaghan

SummaryWe sought to establish if a brief psychoeducational intervention for relatives is effective in improving relatives’ knowledge about schizophrenia and reducing rehospitalization. We evaluated 101 relatives of 55 patients with schizophrenia before and after an 8-week psychoeducational group using a self-report method. We also conducted a matched case-control study of the effects on rehospitalisation for 28 of these patients. We calculated the number of hospital days for each index case and control in the 1 and 2 years before and after the intervention.Relatives made significant gains in their knowledge about schizophrenia, particularly about medication. Patients whose relatives attended the group had significantly fewer days in hospital and days per admission compared to controls in the year after the programme but the effect waned in the second year after the intervention. Controls were almost four times more likely to be readmitted at 2 years than cases. Median time to readmission was significantly longer in cases compared to controls. We conclude that a psychoeducational group, which is valued by carers, is effective in increasing their knowledge about schizophrenia as well as reducing and forestalling the rehospitalization of their affected relatives. Such programmes deliver what carers frequently request in a cost-effective manner.


2012 ◽  
Vol 488-489 ◽  
pp. 1624-1630
Author(s):  
Wen An Yang ◽  
Wen He Liao ◽  
Yu Guo

A method of determining the optimal number of inspectors and/or working time required on a specific SPC activity is presented in the study. The issue of inspection manpower planning is handled as a constrained optimization problem. The optimization strategy is not only to minimize the avoidable surplus quality loss due to failure of detecting the out-of-control states but to determine the cost of inspection manpower from the perspective of deploying an appropriate amount of inspection manpower in a cost-effective manner, and meanwhile the values of sample size, sampling interval and control limits of control charts are also determined. The result obtained indicates that the total cost (or loss) can be substantially reduced if implementing control charts was equipped with adequate inspection manpower.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Era Dorihi Kale ◽  
Moses Pandin

Compliance with TB treatment has now become a problem that must be handled seriously because the high non-adherence rate will give a bad contribution to the success of TB treatment, including MDR-TB and also morbidity and mortality. Many innovations have been made to improve TB treatment adherence, one of which is using mobile-based technology. This article aims to explore the effectiveness of the technology used to improve treatment adherence in TB patients: types, ways of working, advantages, and limitations of each application. This is a systematic review through searching 3 databases, namely Scopus, WoS, and Science Direct. Some of the advantages in applying technology to improve TB treatment adherence are easy to use if you understand how to operate tools/applications are cost-effective because they reduce transportation costs in reaching remote areas or in conditions of transportation difficulties such as after a disaster, the use of this technology provides patient satisfaction in treatment and facilitates the involvement of the family/support system in the treatment of patients. Several things must be considered (limitations) of the technology to be used, including experts, patient knowledge and skills, economic condition, electricity availability, and whether the technology used will not increase the burden on patients related to the stigma of TB disease. We can conclude that the use of technology is indeed very good in supporting the improvement of TB treatment adherence, but the selection of this application must pay attention to the characteristics of the population as well as the advantages and limitations of each application. Keywords: Technology, Adherence, Tuberculosis


2015 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 257-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rameshwar Dubey ◽  
Angappa Gunasekaran

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to build a supply chain talent framework and test it empirically. Design/methodology/approach – The present study adopts extant literature to understand current state of supply chain talent literature and used knowledge and skill constructs and their items from comprehensive literature review to develop an instrument to gather data. The data are further checked for assumptions and further examines the framework using confirmatory factor analysis. Findings – The findings support previous studies and establishes that knowledge-skill framework is scientifically a strong framework which can help to build current supply chain competencies among future supply chain managers. Research limitations/implications – This study considers only a limited number of variables that define the supply chain talent. The framework can be further developed and extended to different industries and countries. Practical implications – The study identifies knowledge-skill framework which can help to develop a training module for current or aspiring supply chain managers. It also can provide significant input to design university supply chain management program to meet future supply chain manager’s requirements. Social implications – Include providing the right education and training in support of supply chain operations and in turn serving the community with products and services on time and that too in a most cost effective manner. Originality/value – This paper develops a new framework for supply chain talent development. This framework has been empirically tested, and major findings and future research directions are highlighted.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Era Dorihi Kale ◽  
Moses Glorino Rumambo Pandin

Abstract Compliance with TB treatment has now become a problem that must be handled seriously because the high non-adherence rate will give a bad contribution to the success of TB treatment, including MDR-TB and also morbidity and mortality. Many innovations have been made to improve TB treatment adherence, one of which is using mobile-based technology. This article aims to explore the effectiveness of the technology used to improve treatment adherence in TB patients: types, ways of working, advantages, and limitations of each application. This is a systematic review through searching 3 databases, namely Scopus, WoS, and Science Direct. Some of the advantages in applying technology to improve TB treatment adherence are easy to use if you understand how to operate tools/applications are cost-effective because they reduce transportation costs in reaching remote areas or in conditions of transportation difficulties such as after a disaster, the use of this technology provides patient satisfaction in treatment and facilitates the involvement of the family/support system in the treatment of patients. Several things must be considered (limitations) of the technology to be used, including experts, patient knowledge and skills, economic condition, electricity availability, and whether the technology used will not increase the burden on patients related to the stigma of TB disease. We can conclude that the use of technology is indeed very good in supporting the improvement of TB treatment adherence, but the selection of this application must pay attention to the characteristics of the population as well as the advantages and limitations of each application.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiarui Xie

Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) is an additive manufacturing technology that can produce complicated structures in a simple-to-use and cost-effective manner. Although promising, the technology is prone to defects, e.g. warping, compromising the quality of the manufactured component. To avoid the adverse effects caused by warping, this thesis utilizes deep-learning algorithms to develop a warping detection system using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN). To create such a system, a real-time data acquisition and analysis pipeline is laid out. The system is responsible for capturing a snapshot of the print layer-bylayer and simultaneously extracting the corners of the component. The extracted region-of-interest is then passed through a CNN outputting the probability of a corner being warped. If a warp is detected, a signal is sent to pause the print, thereby creating a closed-loop monitoring system. The underlying model is tested on a real-time manufacturing environment yielding a mean accuracy of 99.21%.


Author(s):  
A. R. Nte ◽  
G. K. Eke

Background: The annual World Breastfeeding Week (WBW) celebration has been a period of massive interaction with stakeholders through various means and sharing of information related to the promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding since its inception in 1992. However, with the advent of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and subsequent uncertainties about the fate of breastfeeding on one hand, and the imposed measures for COVID-19 infection prevention and control on the other, there was need to modify the traditional way of celebrating the Week to ensure that knowledge about the COVID-19-breastfeeding dyad is communicated to relevant stakeholders while complying with the COVID-19 preventive protocols. Aims: To share experiences and document lessons learned from the celebration of the 2020 WBW which can be reflected upon and used for improving on strategies to protect, promote and support breastfeeding even amidst the restrictions imposed by the protocols for the prevention and control of COVID-19 infection. Place of Study: University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Nigeria. Methodology: The Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) Committee of the UPTH has celebrated the annual WBW every 1st to 7th August for the past 22 years (1997-2019). The reports of events of previous WBW Celebrations were retrieved and the format of the various activities was compared with that of activities for the 2020 WBW Celebration, which took place in the era of COVID-19 pandemic. The findings are presented in tables. Results: Activities for the celebration of WBW in the pre-COVID-19 era usually included physical meetings for the sensitisation of the hospital communities/stakeholders, radio/television sessions, information sharing in various places of religious activities and a rally to interact with the community people. During the COVID-19 pandemic, new strategies for celebration of the WBW were adopted, including among others, virtual meetings, decentralisation of sensitisation of the hospital’s clientele and a physical meeting for the sensitisation of the Hospital Management Committee. Positive outcomes of the 2020 Celebration included the management’s commitment to the promotion, protection and support of breastfeeding, participation in the webinars by stakeholders from within and outside the hospital/Rivers State and establishment of collaborations with several partners. Lesson learned included among others, the celebration of the Week by many stakeholders, the reduced cost of celebration due to the absence of physical meetings and their attendant costs. The personalised invitation of all departments, units and professional associations secured their commitments to breastfeeding. Decentralising the celebration facilitated the adaptation of the messages to the needs of different clienteles and strengthening of members from different departments to promote, protect and support breastfeeding in their work environment. However, the poor participation of the hospital community in the virtual meetings attributable to lack of experience and the cost of participation were setbacks to the targets of the Committee. Conclusion: The era of the COVID-19 pandemic provided a good opportunity to engage stakeholders from within and outside the hospital for the support of breastfeeding as a safe infant feeding option in the midst of COVID-19 and introduced a new normal, the use of virtual meetings to promote, protect and support breastfeeding in a cost effective manner. The celebration of the Week reiterated the role of breastfeeding for ensuring planetary health which was being challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic.


2019 ◽  
Vol 63 (6) ◽  
pp. 60408-1-60408-10
Author(s):  
Kenly Maldonado ◽  
Steve Simske

Abstract The principal objective of this research is to create a system that is quickly deployable, scalable, adaptable, and intelligent and provides cost-effective surveillance, both locally and globally. The intelligent surveillance system should be capable of rapid implementation to track (monitor) sensitive materials, i.e., radioactive or weapons stockpiles and person(s) within rooms, buildings, and/or areas in order to predict potential incidents proactively (versus reactively) through intelligence, locally and globally. The system will incorporate a combination of electronic systems that include commercial and modifiable off-the-shelf microcomputers to create a microcomputer cluster which acts as a mini supercomputer which leverages real-time data feed if a potential threat is present. Through programming, software, and intelligence (artificial intelligence, machine learning, and neural networks), the system should be capable of monitoring, tracking, and warning (communicating) the system observer operations (command and control) within a few minutes when sensitive materials are at potential risk for loss. The potential customer is government agencies looking to control sensitive materials and/or items in developing world markets intelligently, economically, and quickly.


2017 ◽  
Vol 100 (6) ◽  
pp. 1624-1635 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olga Wrona ◽  
Katarzyna Rafińska ◽  
Cezary Możeński ◽  
Bogusław Buszewski

Abstract There has been growing interest in the application of supercritical solvents over the last several years, many of the applications industrial in nature. The purpose of plant material extraction is to obtain large amounts of extract rich in the desired active compounds in a time-sensitive and cost-effective manner. The productivity and profitability of a supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) process largely depends on the selection of process parameters, which are elaborated upon in this paper. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most desirable solvent for the supercritical extraction of natural products. Its near-ambient critical temperature makes it suitable for the extraction of thermolabile components without degradation. A new approach has been adopted for SFE in which the solubility of nonpolar supercritical CO2 can be enhanced by the addition of small amounts of cosolvent.


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