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BackgroundThe dataset from genes used to predict hepatitis C virus outcome was evaluated in a previous study using a conventional statistical methodology. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to reanalyze this same dataset using the data mining approach in order to find models that improve the classification accuracy of the genes studied. MethodsWe built predictive models using different subsets of factors, selected according to their importance in predicting patient classification. We then evaluated each independent model and also a combination of them, leading to a better predictive model. ResultsOur data mining approach identified genetic patterns that escaped detection using conventional statistics. More specifically, the partial decision trees and ensemble models increased the classification accuracy of hepatitis C virus outcome compared with conventional methods. ConclusionsData mining can be used more extensively in biomedicine, facilitating knowledge building and management of human diseases.

BackgroundThe methods used for the motor rehabilitation of patients with neurological disorders include a number of different rehabilitation exercises. For patients who have been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), the performance of motor rehabilitation exercises is essential. Nevertheless, this rehabilitation may be tedious, negatively influencing patients’ motivation and adherence to treatment. ObjectiveWe present RemoviEM, a system based on Kinect that uses virtual reality (VR) and natural user interfaces (NUI) to offer patients with MS an intuitive and motivating way to perform several motor rehabilitation exercises. It offers therapists a new motor rehabilitation tool for the rehabilitation process, providing feedback on the patient’s progress. Moreover, it is a low-cost system, a feature that can facilitate its integration in clinical rehabilitation centers. MethodsA randomized and controlled single blinded study was carried out to assess the influence of a Kinect-based virtual rehabilitation system on the balance rehabilitation of patients with MS. This study describes RemoviEM and evaluates its effectiveness compared to standard rehabilitation. To achieve this objective, a clinical trial was carried out. Eleven patients from a MS association participated in the clinical trial. The mean age was 44.82 (SD 10.44) and the mean time from diagnosis (years) was 9.77 (SD 10.40). Clinical effectiveness was evaluated using clinical balance scales. ResultsSignificant group-by-time interaction was detected in the scores of the Berg Balance Scale (P=.011) and the Anterior Reach Test in standing position (P=.011). Post-hoc analysis showed greater improvement in the experimental group for these variables than in the control group for these variables. The Suitability Evaluation Questionnaire (SEQ) showed good results in usability, acceptance, security, and safety for the evaluated system. ConclusionsThe results obtained suggest that RemoviEM represents a motivational and effective alternative to traditional motor rehabilitation for MS patients. These results have encouraged us to improve the system with new exercises, which are currently being developed.

The 3-year migration of the computing faculty for three undergraduate programs from ad hoc teaching to three accredited programs is the focus of this paper. This journey started after numerous international accreditation organizations were surveyed, and ABET was chosen as the faculty's target. In this paper, the timelines and processes for covering missing data, persuading instructors to collaborate, involving students in the process, and building an assessment model are discussed. Evidence from one of the three programs, the Information Systems program, is provided. In addition, during the 3 years, an accreditation system called AIMS was developed using Oracle to reduce the cost of writing numerous reports in different formats. This system aided the faculty in receiving accreditation from ABET for three programs in addition to other accreditation systems at low cost.

In this paper, the authors present a cloud system that incorporate tools developed in HTML5 and JQuery technologies, which are offered to professors and students in the development of a teaching methodology called flipped classroom, where the theoretical content is usually delivered by video files and self-assessment tools that students can display from home. This system aims to eliminate the technical limitations to facilitate communication and a real learning process by monitoring and evaluating the students and teachers. Highlighting main functions, the authors do find: the wizard of quality content, visual interactive wizard, the audio note as tool for audio records, and finally the graphical evaluator that provides a graphical and intuitive result, providing a clear image of the theoretical and practical difficulties that students experience.

At the current classrooms, teachers continue using traditional techniques for monitoring the class. However, there are more participation of mobile devices, and concretely, the tablets. In addition, the network access by both students and teachers in daily life is something usual and a routine work. For this reason, the authors propose the introduction at the classes of a system whose target is to facilitate teacher's labour in the common tasks that are done over the class session. Thus, through a mobile application and a centralized platform of students' data, the authors obtain an interactive and modern system that facilitates teacher's labour.

The COVID-19 Pandemic has changed many parts of the world, turning everything upside down in its path. Everything has changed, not just education, which has seen some unexpected changes in many places worldwide. There has been a rapid transition to online education in Arab nations due to COVID-19, which has both positives and cons. Most institutions can already adapt to education's digital teaching and learning-based future. In this study, a narrative non- systematic review methodology was used to examine the influence of COVID-19 on postsecondary education, the function of academic leaders, and the administration of Arab nations. For this investigation, a total of twenty-six pertinent scientific publications published by Arab countries were considered. Findings revealed that the psyche and emotions of students have been suffering from the limitations of the online higher education system. It was also noticed that students and teachers faced huge problems during this pandemic. The review also explored the strength of existing Middle Eastern countries' digital infrastructure facilities. Despite many limitations, instructors, institutions, and students learned many essential things during this critical COVID-19 period. Additionally, they learned how to adapt to a technology environment, which is crucial for professional success. The study's findings support the attitudes of students, teachers, leaders, managers, and other stakeholders toward online learning in challenging circumstances also in the field of logistics and transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we propose a new generalization for the notion of homogeneous functions. We show some properties and how it appears in some scenarios. Finally, we show how this generalization can be used in order to provide a new paradigm for decision-making theory called consistent influenced/disturbed decision making. In order to illustrate the applicability of this new paradigm, we provide a toy example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online social networks are part of our daily life. They are widely used among university students. These platforms have positive and negative aspects. Focusing on the positive aspects, positive reinforcement social networks (PRSNs) have been used to improve the participation of high school students in the classroom. The main objective of this study is to analyze online social interaction on PRSNs, in order to find out if they have a positive impact on classroom participation and students' self-perceptions of their own social skills, especially in the supposedly difficult STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects, where engagement tends to be lower. An education-oriented PRSN platform has been developed and used by the experimental group of students to promote discussion and facilitate the sharing of different types of materials. These materials had to be related to students' academic and professional life, but not necessarily related to Mathematics. A total of 72 Geometry students (K–12) and their teacher participated in a semester-long experimental study. Analyses of the interactions through the proposed platform combined with classroom participation revealed that students from the experimental group showed an improvement not found in the control group. Moreover, perceptions of students' own online skills were analyzed, showing a positive impact after the experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Present attempt inspects the entropy analysis and melting effect in flow of hybrid nanomaterials consisting of CNTs nanoparticles and engine oil Flow is by a stretching cylinder. Formulation is accountable to the viscous dissipation, velocity slip and thermal radiation impacts. In order to estimate the disorder within the thermo-physical frame, second-order analysis has been used. The governing system with the imposed boundary condition is dimensionless via proper variables. Numerical outcomes are expressed graphically and analyzed. Comparison of hybrid nanomaterial, nanomaterials and regular liquid is expressed graphically. Outcomes indicate that the hybrid nanomaterials have great impact throughout the inspection than the ordinary nanomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the cluster consensus problem for multi‐agent networks via a new method. Firstly, a distributed cluster consensus protocol is proposed by constructing a new Laplacian matrix, which is not required to be row‐zero‐sum. It is shown that the cluster consensus of directed multi‐agent networks can be achieved under the presented protocol, and the final cluster consensus values of the considered system are also given in this paper, which only depend on the initial states of all agents. Next, a pinning cluster consensus law is provided to force the dynamics of the agents to the desired trajectory. Furthermore, it is found that the cluster consensus of directed networks can be reached even in presence of arbitrary finite communication delays. Finally, effectiveness of the obtained results is demonstrated by numerical examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This article describes the development and evaluation of a distributed user interface (DUI) application to assess visuomotor organization ability. This application enables therapists to evaluate the acquired brain injury (ABI) on patients, and patients, to perform the assessment on a touch screen while therapists can observe the assessment process in real time on a separated monitor without interfering patients during the process as in traditional methodologies employing physical elements.Objectives: The main goal of this research is the evaluation of the quality in use of DUIs in the Pegboard Construction assessment with patients with ABI from the therapist perspective in the area of occupational therapy.Methods: To evaluate our system, we have performed a usability evaluation following the ISO/IEC 25010 and ISO/IEC 25062 standards to evaluate software usability and quality and it was conducted in collaboration with therapists and psychologists that have previously worked with people with ABI in diagnostic and assessment tasks.Results: We show the results of the evaluation collected in a table that shows the completeness rate for each user for both, assisted (i.e., the percentage of tasks where participants performed with test director assistance) and unassisted tasks (i.e., the percentage of tasks where participants completed tasks autonomously), the total time participants required to complete proposed tasks, the number of mistakes participants performed during the session, and the number of assists they required to finish proposed tasks. In addition, we also evaluated the user satisfaction regarding our application using the system usability scale.Conclusion: The use of information technologies in this field enables therapists to perform these evaluations in a simpler, efficient, and automated way. This proposal enables patients to perform the assessment as it is performed traditionally using paper providing them with a touch screen in which they can easily insert a set of pins into the holes. The usability evaluation of the proposal meets the appropriate design standards for applications of this type, and this is demonstrated by the high degree of satisfaction of the participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]