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Functional Status Information (FSI) describes physical and mental wellness at the whole-person level, and includes information on activity performance, social role participation, and environmental and personal factors that affect well-being and quality of life. Collecting and analyzing this information is critical to addressing the data needs in caring for aging global populations, and providing effective care for individuals with chronic conditions, multi-morbidity, and disability. In this paper, we present a first step towards the design of Al-enabled system increasing the self-awareness of own functional status. In particular, we focus on the underlying semantic layer of the such an Al-enabled system by presenting two modules extending the HeLiS ontology aiming (i) to represent barriers in improving own functional status and (ii) to support the conceptual representation of the arguments leading to the detection of such barriers. Finally, we show through a running example how these modules can be instantiated.

This paper is aimed at formalizing the interplay among a person to be assisted, an assistive agent-based software, and a caregiver. We propose general principles for designing the interplay between a person to be assisted and an agent based on formal argumentation theory to characterize the agent’s reasoning processes. These principles emerge from a novel perspective to understand assistive technology using the concept of zone of proximal development (ZPD) from social sciences. ZPD can be understood as a measurement of activity development, comparing what a person can perform with or without external help. We characterize a rational agent in four ZPD zones: (I) independent activity execution, agent takes no action; (II) ZPDH: a person supported by another person, agent takes no action; (III) ZPDS: a person is supported by an agent; and (IV) ZPDH+S: a person is supported by a caregiver and a software agent at the same time. An algorithm was developed for the agent to reason about the actions to be selected in different situations, based on formal argumentation theory for allowing non-monotonic reasoning. The formal models and algorithm were implemented in a prototype system using augmented reality as interface. Future work includes evaluating the principles and algorithm in actual use situations.

The aim for the research presented in this thesis is to develop theories, methods and technology which can detect, represent and evaluate purposeful human activity based on information, which is inconsistent, incomplete and which includes information about an individual's needs, goals and motives. The purpose is to provide instruments to the fields of assistive technology and ambient assisted living, which have the potentials to advance the treatment of semantic information for the purpose of making decisions and reasoning about complex human activity in daily life. Furthermore, based on sound interpretations of activity and evaluation of activity performance, tailored recommendations can be provided to the individual. This is achieved by integrating theoretical models of human activity with formal argumentation theory, and in this way create a model for representing the knowledge. Also based on the activity-theoretical models of human activity and argumentation, a computational model for common-sense reasoning was built based on the notion of fragments of activity. Moreover, a calculus model for evaluating activity performance considering the so called activity fragments was developed. These theoretical models were forming a base for implementing an argument-based reasoner engine, which manages incomplete and inconsistent information. These results were implemented in a prototype system designed for aiding an individual in improving health in daily life, for the purpose of testing the theories and methodologies with potential users. Information obtained by the sensors of a mobile phone and by assessments done by the individual regarding priorities, goals and motives were used in the analysis. Preliminary results are fed into further development, and future work includes user studies over a longer period of time. Furthermore, assistive technology for monitoring human activities in different contexts such as mining and construction industries are also being developed

This paper presents a study of the Permanent Magnet Synchronous Machine (PMSM) running under bearing damage. To carry out the study a two-dimensional (2-D) Finite Element Analysis (FEA) is used. Stator current induced harmonics for fault condition were investigated. Advanced signal analysis by means of Continuous and Discrete Wavelet Transforms was performed. Simulation were carried out and compared with experimental., Peer Reviewed, Postprint (published version)

It presents the modeling and the identification of a one grade looseness structure, and also an active LQG comptroller's design, which is intended to reduce the structural vibrations of a floor, facing some seismic vibrations in its base. The controller uses as the source the first level strucutre´s acceleration and its design is based upon the model and the structural system's identification, the one which was carried out. The model was verified by a simulation and experimentation, by exciting the structure at its base with the seismic waves provided by el centro and Armenia, and observing the realtive structure's acceleration decreases, which were up to 63.68% and the relative displacements lower than 1% in height., Presenta el modelado y la identificación de una estructura de un grado de libertad, así como el diseño de un controlador activo LQG que busca reducir las vibraciones de la estructura de un piso ante excitaciones sísmicas en su base. El controlador usa como realimentación la aceleración del primer nivel de la estructura y se diseña con base en el modelado y la identificación del sistema estructural realizado. El modelo se validó experimentalmente y el desempeño del sistema de control se verificó en simulación y experimentalmente, excitando la estructura en su base con los sismos de El Centro y Armenia, observando disminuciones en la aceleración relativa de la estructura hasta en un 63,68% y desplazamientos relativos inferiores al 1% de la altura.

The productive systems were studied in the New Argentina Ejido (community lands), municipality of Maravilla Tenejapa, located in Chiapas State at the southeast of Mexico Republic. Methodologies of Diagnosis and Design (D&D), analysis FADO and the analysis of attributes and pondered for selection of forest species for shade in coffee plantations, were used. The family nuclei of the producers generate a work force and economic revenues (US $135 monthly) product of the agriculture exploitation, inside which stand out the corn production, (10.39%), beans (4.79%), coffee (2.39%) and cocoa (3.69%); the cocoa is the main crop that is marketed, the other ones are used as self-consumption. Cocoa is cultivated in a traditional way, blended with a high diversity of native forest species, which present multiple uses. The most important approaches for the selection of forest species as shade, were as follows: The treetop, the pets resistance, the type and size of the root, the size and rightness of the stem and the woody and no-woody products, the same as the environmental services especially biodiversity. Agroforestry systems with cocoa-plantain-Inga vera willd ssp. Spurias -forest and agroforestry system of cocoa - Inga vera Willd ssp. Spurias validated with the producers., Se estudiaron los sistemas productivos en el Ejido de Nueva Argentina (tierras comunitarias), municipio de Maravilla Tenejapa, Estado de Chiapas al sureste de la República de México. Se utilizaron metodologías de Diagnostico y Diseño (D&D), FODA y el análisis de atributos y ponderados para la selección d especies forestales para sombra en cafetales. Los núcleos familiares de los productores generan una fuerza de trabajo e ingresos económicos (US$ 135 mensuales) producto de la explotación del sector agropecuario, dentro de las cuales se destacan la producción de maíz (10.39%), frijol (4.79%), café (2.39%) y cacao (3.69%); el cacao es el principal producto que se comercializa, los otros son utilizados como autoconsumo. El cacao se encuentra cultivado de manera tradicional, mezclado con una alta diversidad de especies forestales nativas, las cuales presentan múltiples usos. Los criterios mas importantes para la selección de especies forestales como sombra fueron: la copa, la resistencia plagas y enfermedades, el tipo y tamaño de la raíz, el tamaño y rectitud del fuste, y los productos maderables y no maderables que pueda producir, al igual que los servicios ambientales especialmente la biodiversidad. Se propusieron sistemas agroforestales con cacao-plátano-frutales-maderables y sistema agroforestal cacao - Inga vera willd ssp. Spurias) validados con los productores.