Qais A. Khasawneh^1,3, Mohammad Abdel Kareem Jaradat^1,2, Mohammad Al-Shabi⁴, Hala Khalaf¹

Intelligent Automation & Soft Computing, Vol.24, No.2, pp. 443-457, 2018, DOI:10.31209/2018.100000008

Abstract This work presents a new micro-positioning system that is implemented in an inchworm robot to move into desired locations. The system consists of four-bar mechanism; one link is fixed, and each one of the remaining links carries a piezoelectric actuator (PZT). PZTs are specifically chosen since they provide fast response and small displacements; up to ±30 µm for ±100 Volts. The system’s mathematical model is derived and is numerically simulated by MATLAB. Three fuzzy PI controllers, which are tuned automatically by genetic algorithm, are designed to control the system. Results indicate an error of less More >

E. Grigoroudis, F. Kanellos, V. S. Kouikoglou, Y. A. Phillis

Intelligent Automation & Soft Computing, Vol.24, No.2, pp. 319-330, 2018, DOI:10.1080/10798587.2017.1292716

Abstract Climate change due to anthropogenic CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions has had and will continue to have widespread negative impacts on human society and natural ecosystems. Drastic and concerted actions should be undertaken immediately if such impacts are to be prevented. The Paris Agreement on climate change aims to limit global mean temperature below 2 °C compared to the pre-industrial level. Using simulation and optimization tools and the most recent data, this paper investigates optimal emissions policies satisfying certain temperature constraints. The results show that only if we consider negative emissions coupled with drastic emissions… More >

Moeiz Miraoui^a, Sherif El-Etriby^b, Chakib Tadj^c, Abdulbasit Zaid Abid^a

Intelligent Automation & Soft Computing, Vol.24, No.2, pp. 299-308, 2018, DOI:10.1080/10798587.2017.1281565

Abstract Smart spaces have attracted considerable amount of interest over the past few years. The introduction of sensor networks, powerful electronics and communication infrastructures have helped a lot in the realization of smart homes. The main objective of smart homes is the automation of tasks that might be complex or tedious for inhabitants by distracting them from concentrating on setting and configuring home appliances. Such automation could improve comfort, energy savings, security, and tremendous benefits for elderly persons living alone or persons with disabilities. Context awareness is a key enabling feature for development of smart homes.… More >

Li-Hong Juang^a, Ming-Ni Wu^b

Intelligent Automation & Soft Computing, Vol.24, No.2, pp. 257-266, 2018, DOI:10.1080/10798587.2016.1272778

Abstract In this paper we explore these math approaches for medical image applications. The application of the proposed method for detection tumor will be able to distinguish exactly tumor size and region. In this research, some major design and experimental results of tumor objects detection method for medical brain images is developed to utilize an automatic multi-thresholding method to handle this problem by combining the histogram analysis and the Otsu clustering. The histogram evaluations can decide the superior number of clusters firstly. The Otsu classification algorithm solves the given medical image by continuously separating the input More >

Wen Jiang, Chunhe Xie, Boya Wei, Yongchuan Tang

Intelligent Automation & Soft Computing, Vol.24, No.1, pp. 165-172, 2018, DOI:10.1080/10798587.2017.1327158

Abstract The main objective of this paper is to propose a new method for failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) based on Z-numbers. In the proposed method, firstly, Z-numbers are used to perform the valuations (Z-valuation) of the risk factors like occurrence (O), severity (S) and detection (D). Secondly, the Z-valuations of the risk factors are integrated by fuzzy weighted mean method. A new risk priority number named as ZRPN is calculated to prioritize failure modes based on a modified method of ranking fuzzy numbers. Finally, a case study for the rotor blades of an aircraft More >

Yunlan Xue^a, Lingyu Xu^b, Jie Yu^b, Gaowei Zhang^b

Intelligent Automation & Soft Computing, Vol.24, No.1, pp. 97-106, 2018, DOI:10.1080/10798587.2016.1267247

Abstract The increase of scale and complexity of Internet big data presents unprecedented opportunities on Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS). The incompleteness and incredibility of Internet big data are challenging issues for confirming the event influence scope. To solve the above problem, we propose CyberPhysical Space Event Model (CPSEM) to analyze event influence in multi-viewer, which maps real data into Cyber Space (CS) and Physical Space (PS). In addition, we propose Event Influence Scope Detection Algorithm (EISDA) to detect the scope of a hot event in Cyber Space and Physical Space. More >

Eliana Al Haddad^1*, Damien J. LaPar^1*, Jeffrey Dayton², Elizabeth H. Stephens¹, Emile Bacha¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.6, pp. 997-1004, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12666

Abstract Background: Congenital heart defects affect nearly 1% of all children born per year in the United States, and complete atrioventricular canal (CAVC) accounts for 2%‐9%. While several patch materials have been used for septal defect closure during CAVC repair, clear superiority of one material over another has yet to be established.
Methods: A retrospective review of clinical outcomes following CAVC repair at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital/Columbia University was performed on opera‐ tions conducted from March 2010 to September 2017. Univariate and Kaplan‐Meir survival analyses were utilized to evaluate primary outcomes of interest following CAVC repair in the… More >

Ashley E. Neal¹, Elizabeth Lehto¹, Karen Hughes Miller², Erin Davis³, Craig Ziegler²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.5, pp. 788-793, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12626

Abstract Objective: The 2016 American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) content outline is comprehensive, including more than 50 cardiology-specific objectives within eight content areas. This study complements the quantitative analysis of a Kentucky-wide survey of trainees, pediatricians, and pediatric cardiologists asking them to identify “most important” cardiology content by analyzing their open-ended comments about “what should be added” and “why?” within these eight categories.
Design, Methods, Outcome Measures: This cross-sectional study used an original, online survey instrument based on the 2016 ABP cardiology-specific objectives. We began an initial analysis of the qualitative data using Pandit’s version of Glaser and… More >

Sherry L. Farr¹, Karrie F. Downing^1,2, Tiffany Riehle-Colarusso¹, Ginnie Abarbanell^1,3

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.4, pp. 633-639, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12621

Abstract Objective: To examine how cognitive and motor limitations in children with heart disease are associated with education and participation in extracurricular activities.
Design: Using 2009–2010 parent-reported data from the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN), we examined prevalence of five functional limitations (learning/ concentration, communication, self-care, gross motor skills, and fine motor skills) by diagnosed heart disease status using chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression. Among CSHCN with heart disease, we examined the associations between severity of each functional limitation and missing ≥11 days of school in the past year, receiving special education… More >

Jia-Wang Xiao, Qi-Guang Wang, Duan-Zhen Zhang, Chun-Sheng Cui, Xiumin Han, Po Zhang, Chuangju Hou, Xian-Yang Zhu

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.2, pp. 305-310, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12572

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy, safety, and long-term outcomes of percutaneous closure (PC) and surgical repair of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (RSVA).
Methods: Eighty-five consecutive patients with RSVA were included in this study. Patients were considered candidates for PC if they met the criterion, surgical repair was performed on patients who were unsuitable or failed PC. Of them, 30 patients underwent PC, while the other 55 patients had surgical repair.
Results: RSVA was successfully occluded in 29 of 30 patients who were treated by PC. The mean narrowest diameter at the ruptured site was 6.45 ±… More >