Search

Personalized services provided by Location Based Services (LBS) are becoming increasingly prevalent to the large population of semi-literate users living in emerging economies due to the low costs and ubiquity. However, usage of LBS is still threatened by location privacy threats as it keeps track of the individuals’ location. Studies typically only addressed how to mitigate location privacy apprehensions for the literate users and not the semi-literate users. To fill that gap and better understand location privacy apprehensions among different communities, this study draws upon theories of Restrict Access/Limited Control and Familiarity to identify the antecedents of location privacy apprehensions related to personalized services provided by LBS and user literacy. The proposed research model is empirically tested in a laboratory experiment. The findings show that the different types of LBS do affect the degree of location privacy apprehensions between the literate and semi-literate users. Implications for enhancing usage intentions and mitigating location privacy apprehensions for different types of mobile applications are discussed.

Population Stereotype tells interaction designers just one-half of the complete story. It informs them only about the level of general consensus regarding each representation generated by different participants. It does not provide answers to those questions, which ask how the representation is to be achieved. Identification of different representation strategies adopted by different participants can reveal the rest of the story. In the presence of more than one or no strong contenders (population stereotype), adoption of the right representation strategy can be really beneficial. As most of the representational strategies are complementary to each other, the combination of different representational strategies can lead towards a more representative icon development.

The reduction of crop yield losses caused by pests is a major challenge to productive and sustainable food production for preventing food insecurity and emergencies, and for alleviating world food crisis. Multiple regression (MR) and artificial neural network (ANN) are two widely adopted modelling approaches for the prediction of crop pest risks, which are based on empirical statistics and artificial intelligence, respectively. Each of the two alternative approaches has its advantages and disadvantages. This study evaluates the two models from two aspects: their performances on pest risk prediction, and their methodological advantages and disadvantages. Two pest species are modelled using the two approaches as case studies, which are the melon thrip Thrips palmi Karny (T. palmi) and the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (L.) (P. xylostella). Results show that ANN has higher prediction accuracy for both species. However, ANN has some methodological demerits compared to MR modelling.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT), also known as inflammatory pseudotumor, is a benign lesion predominantly found in the lung and abdomen. Sporadic cases have been reported in the trunk, genitourinary tract, and extremities as well as in the head and neck. Of critical importance is this entity's correct histopathologic diagnosis that differentiate it from malignant neoplasms such as spindle cell carcinoma and fibrosarcoma, benign tumors such as neurofibroma, and other pseudoneoplastic lesions such as nodular fasciitis. Correct diagnosis is followed by wide local excision to prevent recurrence; however, treatment must be tailored to the location of tumor and the condition of the patient. We present a unique case of IMT of the trachea presenting with acute upper airway obstruction in a pregnant woman. Diagnostic considerations as well as the anesthetic and surgical approach are discussed.

With the rapid development of technology, smartphone and Internet adoption in the rural areas will continue to increase in the coming years. These technologies can easily support multimedia elements and are strong platforms to deliver added value. However, constraints faced by the rural population, including low literacy level and lack of exposure to electronic devices must be considered in order to develop suitable solutions. This paper introduces VillageTree, a unique suite of intelligent pest management solutions with the integration of analytical capabilities with simplicity in usability, to meet the needs of agricultural communities in developed and developing countries.

Permanent or transient reduction of blood flow to the hindbrain is often responsible for symptoms of disequilibrium, dizziness and occasionally sensorineural hearing loss. Recent advances in CT technology and the development of continuous rapid rotational CT brain scanning now permit a practical and relatively non-invasive method for evaluation of regional brain circulation. It is the purpose of this presentation to review displays of normal CT hindbrain circulation and compare them with displays from patients with hindbrain ischemia. Dynamic CT provides a useful clinical index of brain blood circulation and can be used to detect and differentiate insufficiency due to pathology of the brain, of the artery supplying it, or of the cardiovascular system. Finally, the quantitative hemodynamic benefit from surgery of the carotid or vertebral arteries can be properly evaluated by this technique.