•Existing power line inspection methods are reviewed.•Tasks and potential data sources for automatic vision-based inspection are summarized.•Existing automatic vision-based power line inspection ...systems are surveyed.•A novel automatic autonomous vision-based power line inspection concept is proposed.•Possibilities and challenges of deep vision approaches for inspection are identified.
To maintain the reliability, availability, and sustainability of electricity supply, electricity companies regularly perform visual inspections on their transmission and distribution networks. These inspections have been typically carried out using foot patrol and/or helicopter-assisted methods to plan for necessary repair or replacement works before any major damage, which may cause power outage. This solution is quite slow, expensive, and potentially dangerous. In recent years, numerous researches have been conducted to automate the visual inspections by using automated helicopters, flying robots, and/or climbing robots. However, due to the high accuracy requirements of the task and its unique challenges, automatic vision-based inspection has not been widely adopted. In this paper, with the aim of providing a good starting point for researchers who are interested in developing a fully automatic autonomous vision-based power line inspection system, we conduct an extensive literature review. First, we examine existing power line inspection methods with special attention paid to highlight their advantages and disadvantages. Next, we summarize well-suited tasks and review potential data sources for automatic vision-based inspection. Then, we survey existing automatic vision-based power line inspection systems. Based on that, we propose a new automatic autonomous vision-based power line inspection concept that uses Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) inspection as the main inspection method, optical images as the primary data source, and deep learning as the backbone of data analysis and inspection. Then, we present an overview of possibilities and challenges of deep vision (deep learning for computer vision) approaches for both UAV navigation and UAV inspection and discuss possible solutions to the challenges. Finally, we conclude the paper with an outlook for the future of this field and propose potential next steps for implementing the concept.
Research has frequently found that students use their information and communication technologies—such as smartphones and laptops—for non-academic uses in the classroom. These uses include sending ...messages as well as checking email and social media accounts. This study aimed to examine students’ in-class information and communication technology use, their motivations for it, and perceptions of it, as well as their attitudes toward restriction and integration of information and communication technologies in the classroom. It was found that students most frequently engage in non-academic information and communication technology use when they feel that they would not miss any new class content, or when they feel disengaged. Students perceived that their non-academic information and communication technology use had costs, especially distraction. However, students also reported negative attitudes toward policies that would restrict their information and communication technology use in the classroom but had positive perceptions of attempts to integrate information and communication technology use. We propose that information and communication technology integration can be an effective method of increasing student engagement—and therefore decreasing non-academic information and communication technology use.
Background
Immunization rates for children and adults are rising, but coverage levels have not reached optimal goals. As a result, vaccine‐preventable diseases still occur. In an era of increasing ...complexity of immunization schedules, rising expectations about the performance of primary care, and large demands on primary care providers, it is important to understand and promote interventions that work in primary care settings to increase immunization coverage. One common theme across immunization programs in many nations involves the challenge of implementing a population‐based approach and identifying all eligible recipients, for example the children who should receive the measles vaccine. However, this issue is gradually being addressed through the availability of immunization registries and electronic health records. A second common theme is identifying the best strategies to promote high vaccination rates. Three types of strategies have been studied: (1) patient‐oriented interventions, such as patient reminder or recall, (2) provider interventions, and (3) system interventions, such as school laws. One of the most prominent intervention strategies, and perhaps best studied, involves patient reminder or recall systems. This is an update of a previously published review.
Objectives
To evaluate and compare the effectiveness of various types of patient reminder and recall interventions to improve receipt of immunizations.
Search methods
We searched CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase and CINAHL to January 2017. We also searched grey literature and trial registers to January 2017.
Selection criteria
We included randomized trials, controlled before and after studies, and interrupted time series evaluating immunization‐focused patient reminder or recall interventions in children, adolescents, and adults who receive immunizations in any setting. We included no‐intervention control groups, standard practice activities that did not include immunization patient reminder or recall, media‐based activities aimed at promoting immunizations, or simple practice‐based awareness campaigns. We included receipt of any immunizations as eligible outcome measures, excluding special travel immunizations. We excluded patients who were hospitalized for the duration of the study period.
Data collection and analysis
We used the standard methodological procedures expected by Cochrane and the Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care (EPOC) Group. We present results for individual studies as relative rates using risk ratios, and risk differences for randomized trials, and as absolute changes in percentage points for controlled before‐after studies. We present pooled results for randomized trials using the random‐effects model.
Main results
The 75 included studies involved child, adolescent, and adult participants in outpatient, community‐based, primary care, and other settings in 10 countries.
Patient reminder or recall interventions, including telephone and autodialer calls, letters, postcards, text messages, combination of mail or telephone, or a combination of patient reminder or recall with outreach, probably improve the proportion of participants who receive immunization (risk ratio (RR) of 1.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.23 to 1.35; risk difference of 8%) based on moderate certainty evidence from 55 studies with 138,625 participants.
Three types of single‐method reminders improve receipt of immunizations based on high certainty evidence: the use of postcards (RR 1.18, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.30; eight studies; 27,734 participants), text messages (RR 1.29, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.44; six studies; 7772 participants), and autodialer (RR 1.17, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.32; five studies; 11,947 participants). Two types of single‐method reminders probably improve receipt of immunizations based on moderate certainty evidence: the use of telephone calls (RR 1.75, 95% CI 1.20 to 2.54; seven studies; 9120 participants) and letters to patients (RR 1.29, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.38; 27 studies; 81,100 participants).
Based on high certainty evidence, reminders improve receipt of immunizations for childhood (RR 1.22, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.29; risk difference of 8%; 23 studies; 31,099 participants) and adolescent vaccinations (RR 1.29, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.42; risk difference of 7%; 10 studies; 30,868 participants). Reminders probably improve receipt of vaccinations for childhood influenza (RR 1.51, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.99; risk difference of 22%; five studies; 9265 participants) and adult influenza (RR 1.29, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.43; risk difference of 9%; 15 studies; 59,328 participants) based on moderate certainty evidence. They may improve receipt of vaccinations for adult pneumococcus, tetanus, hepatitis B, and other non‐influenza vaccinations based on low certainty evidence although the confidence interval includes no effect of these interventions (RR 2.08, 95% CI 0.91 to 4.78; four studies; 8065 participants).
Authors' conclusions
Patient reminder and recall systems, in primary care settings, are likely to be effective at improving the proportion of the target population who receive immunizations.
During recent years, one of the most familiar names scaling new heights and creating a benchmark in the world is the Internet of Things (IoT). It is indeed the future of communication that has ...transformed things (objects) of the real-world into smart objects. The functional aspect of IoT is to unite every object of the world under one common infrastructure; in such a manner that humans not only have the ability to control those objects; but to provide regular and timely updates on the current status. IoT concepts were proposed a couple of years ago and it may not be incorrect to quote that this term has become a benchmark for establishing communication among objects. In context to the present standings of IoT, a comprehensive review of literature has been undertaken on various aspects of IoT, i.e., technologies, applications, challenges, etc. This paper evaluates various contributions of researchers in different areas of applications. These papers were investigated on various parameters identified in each application domain. Furthermore, existing challenges in these areas are highlighted. Future research directions in the field of IoT have also been highlighted in the study to equip novel researchers in this area to assess the current standings of IoT and to improve upon them with innovative ideas.
Smart cities use information and communication technologies (ICTs) to scale services include utilities and transportation to a growing population. In this paper, we discuss how smart city ICTs can ...also improve healthcare effectiveness and lower healthcare cost for smart city residents. We survey current literature and introduce original research to offer an overview of how smart city infrastructure supports strategic healthcare using both mobile and ambient sensors combined with machine learning. Finally, we consider challenges that will be faced as healthcare providers make use of these opportunities.
Background
Telemedicine (TM) is the use of telecommunication systems to deliver health care at a distance. It has the potential to improve patient health outcomes, access to health care and reduce ...healthcare costs. As TM applications continue to evolve it is important to understand the impact TM might have on patients, healthcare professionals and the organisation of care.
Objectives
To assess the effectiveness, acceptability and costs of interactive TM as an alternative to, or in addition to, usual care (i.e. face‐to‐face care, or telephone consultation).
Search methods
We searched the Effective Practice and Organisation of Care (EPOC) Group's specialised register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, five other databases and two trials registers to June 2013, together with reference checking, citation searching, handsearching and contact with study authors to identify additional studies.
Selection criteria
We considered randomised controlled trials of interactive TM that involved direct patient‐provider interaction and was delivered in addition to, or substituting for, usual care compared with usual care alone, to participants with any clinical condition. We excluded telephone only interventions and wholly automatic self‐management TM interventions.
Data collection and analysis
For each condition, we pooled outcome data that were sufficiently homogenous using fixed effect meta‐analysis. We reported risk ratios (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for dichotomous outcomes, and mean differences (MD) for continuous outcomes.
Main results
We included 93 eligible trials (N = 22,047 participants), which evaluated the effectiveness of interactive TM delivered in addition to (32% of studies), as an alternative to (57% of studies), or partly substituted for usual care (11%) as compared to usual care alone.
The included studies recruited patients with the following clinical conditions: cardiovascular disease (36), diabetes (21), respiratory conditions (9), mental health or substance abuse conditions (7), conditions requiring a specialist consultation (6), co morbidities (3), urogenital conditions (3), neurological injuries and conditions (2), gastrointestinal conditions (2), neonatal conditions requiring specialist care (2), solid organ transplantation (1), and cancer (1).
Telemedicine provided remote monitoring (55 studies), or real‐time video‐conferencing (38 studies), which was used either alone or in combination. The main TM function varied depending on clinical condition, but fell typically into one of the following six categories, with some overlap: i) monitoring of a chronic condition to detect early signs of deterioration and prompt treatment and advice, (41); ii) provision of treatment or rehabilitation (12), for example the delivery of cognitive behavioural therapy, or incontinence training; iii) education and advice for self‐management (23), for example nurses delivering education to patients with diabetes or providing support to parents of very low birth weight infants or to patients with home parenteral nutrition; iv) specialist consultations for diagnosis and treatment decisions (8), v) real‐time assessment of clinical status, for example post‐operative assessment after minor operation or follow‐up after solid organ transplantation (8) vi), screening, for angina (1).
The type of data transmitted by the patient, the frequency of data transfer, (e.g. telephone, e‐mail, SMS) and frequency of interactions between patient and healthcare provider varied across studies, as did the type of healthcare provider/s and healthcare system involved in delivering the intervention.
We found no difference between groups for all‐cause mortality for patients with heart failure (16 studies; N = 5239; RR:0.89, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.03, P = 0.12; I2 = 44%) (moderate to high certainty of evidence) at a median of six months follow‐up. Admissions to hospital (11 studies; N = 4529) ranged from a decrease of 64% to an increase of 60% at median eight months follow‐up (moderate certainty of evidence). We found some evidence of improved quality of life (five studies; N = 482; MD:‐4.39, 95% CI ‐7.94 to ‐0.83; P < 0.02; I2 = 0%) (moderate certainty of evidence) for those allocated to TM as compared with usual care at a median three months follow‐up. In studies recruiting participants with diabetes (16 studies; N = 2768) we found lower glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c %) levels in those allocated to TM than in controls (MD ‐0.31, 95% CI ‐0.37 to ‐0.24; P < 0.00001; I2= 42%, P = 0.04) (high certainty of evidence) at a median of nine months follow‐up. We found some evidence for a decrease in LDL (four studies, N = 1692; MD ‐12.45, 95% CI ‐14.23 to ‐10.68; P < 0.00001; I2 = 0%) (moderate certainty of evidence), and blood pressure (four studies, N = 1770: MD: SBP:‐4.33, 95% CI ‐5.30 to ‐3.35, P < 0.00001; I2 = 17%; DBP: ‐2.75 95% CI ‐3.28 to ‐2.22, P < 0.00001; I2 = 45% (moderate certainty evidence), in TM as compared with usual care.
Seven studies that recruited participants with different mental health and substance abuse problems, reported no differences in the effect of therapy delivered over video‐conferencing, as compared to face‐to‐face delivery. Findings from the other studies were inconsistent; there was some evidence that monitoring via TM improved blood pressure control in participants with hypertension, and a few studies reported improved symptom scores for those with a respiratory condition. Studies recruiting participants requiring mental health services and those requiring specialist consultation for a dermatological condition reported no differences between groups.
Authors' conclusions
The findings in our review indicate that the use of TM in the management of heart failure appears to lead to similar health outcomes as face‐to‐face or telephone delivery of care; there is evidence that TM can improve the control of blood glucose in those with diabetes. The cost to a health service, and acceptability by patients and healthcare professionals, is not clear due to limited data reported for these outcomes. The effectiveness of TM may depend on a number of different factors, including those related to the study population e.g. the severity of the condition and the disease trajectory of the participants, the function of the intervention e.g., if it is used for monitoring a chronic condition, or to provide access to diagnostic services, as well as the healthcare provider and healthcare system involved in delivering the intervention.
•Motivational factors of Performance Expectancy and Perceived Enjoyment are examined.•Presence of negative effect between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation is conditional.•Controlled extrinsic ...motivation undermines intrinsic motivation that precedes it.•Autonomous extrinsic motivation augments such intrinsic motivation.
Despite a large body of research on motivation in psychology, few in information systems have related it to the information and communication technology acceptance research. This study investigates the relation between the Self-Determination Theory of Motivation and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) Model and confirms significant relationship across the two theories. In addition, this study investigates the effect of time sequential introduction of different types of motivation and finds the presence of the negative effect between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation is conditional on the type of extrinsic motivation. Controlled extrinsic motivation undermines intrinsic motivation that precedes it, but autonomous extrinsic motivation augments such intrinsic motivation. Implications of these findings are discussed.
The rapid developments of globalization promote interaction among countries and people around the globe through the fast mode of information and telecommunication technology (ICT). ICT development ...also contributes to economic growth through various channels, but it may influence the environment on the other hand. Considering this concern, the present study focuses on examining the relationship between ICT developments and carbon emissions through the globalization channel. The study employs robust panel data estimation methods, continuously updated fully modified, and continuously updated bias corrected estimators, for the data set of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) economies spanning from 1990 to 2015. Findings of the study are robust against heteroskedasticity, endogeneity, and cross‐sectional dependence issues. The robust panel data estimators reveal that ICT has a favourable effect on carbon emissions in BRICS countries. Also, globalization leads to environmental pollution by contributing to an increase in CO2 emissions. These findings provide new insights to the policymakers in combatting environmental challenges.
The extent to which technology may be able to support people with dementia and their carers along the care pathway and in different care settings is of interest to policy makers and governments. In ...this paper we provide an overview of the role of technology in dementia care, treatment and support by mapping existing technologies – by function, target user and disease progression. Technologies identified are classified into seven functions: memory support, treatment, safety and security, training, care delivery, social interaction and other. Different groups of potential users are distinguished: people with mild cognitive impairment and early stages of dementia, people with moderate to severe dementia and unpaid carers and health- and social care professionals. We also identified the care settings, in which the technologies are used (or for which the technologies are developed): at home in the community and in institutional care settings. The evidence has been drawn from a rapid review of the literature, expert interviews and web and social media searches. The largest number of technologies identified aim to enhance the safety and security of people with dementia living in the community. These devices are often passive monitors, such as smoke detectors. Other safety interventions, such as panic buttons, require active intervention. The second largest number of interventions aims to enhance people’s memory and includes global positioning systems devices and voice prompts. These technologies mostly target people in the early stages of dementia. A third group focusing on treatment and care delivery emerged from the literature. These interventions focus on technology-aided reminiscence or therapeutic aspects of care for people with dementia and their carers. While the review found a range of technologies available for people with dementia and carers there is very little evidence of widespread practical application. Instead, it appears that stakeholders frequently rely on everyday technologies re-purposed to meet their needs.
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