Each human face is unique. It has its own shape, topology, and distinguishing features. As such, developing and testing facial tracking systems are challenging tasks. The existing face recognition and tracking algorithms in Computer Vision mainly specify concrete situations according to particular goals and applications, requiring validation methodologies with data that fits their purposes. How...

Potential of front-face fluorescence spectroscopy was evaluated to classify muscles according to their chemical and rheological characteristics. Seven bovine muscles (Semitendinosus, Semimembranosus, Tensor fasciae latae, Rectus abdominis, Longissimus thoracis et lumborum, Triceps branchii and Infraspinatus) were taken from 14 animals of the Charolais breed. Chemical characteristics and rheolog...

In this work we explore the multivariate empirical mode decomposition combined with a Neural Network classifier as technique for face recognition tasks. Images are simultaneously decomposed by means of EMD and then the distance between the modes of the image and the modes of the representative image of each class is calculated using three different distance measures. Then, a neural network is t...

A SensAble Omni force feedback device has been modified to increase the face validity of a needle insertion simulation. The new end effector uses a real needle hub and shortened needle shaft in place of the Omni's pre-fitted pen shaped end effector. This modification facilitates correct procedural training through the simulation of co-located visual and haptic cues in an augmented reality appro...

Pressure ulcer (PU) prevention is a care imperative supported by substantive evidence, but translating that knowledge into clinical decision-making at the point of care remains challenging. The purpose of this study was to create a succinct, evidence-based algorithm for inclusion in an existing industry-sponsored, evidence-based wound care program that will: 1) help clinicians assess and docume...

OBJECTIVE Fatigue is an important outcome for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The purpose of this study was to identify the scales being used to measure RA fatigue, and to systematically examine the evidence for their validation. METHODS Articles measuring fatigue in RA were sought using the terms RA and fatigue, and RA and tiredness, plus scale, questionnaire, inventory, and checkli...

The main weakness of the k-Nearest Neighbor algorithm in face recognition is calculating the distance and sort all training data on each prediction which can be slow if there are a large number of training instances. This problem can be solved by utilizing the priority k-d tree search to speed up the process of k-NN classification. This paper proposes a method for student attendance systems in ...

OBJECTIVE To design and develop an instrument to assess the degree of organisational development achieved in primary medical care organisations. DESIGN An iterative development, feasibility and validation study of an organisational assessment instrument. SETTING Primary medical care organisations. PARTICIPANTS Primary care teams and external facilitators. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Responses...

The activity of electrical network Control Centres is supported by a large number of computer applications. However, Control Centre operators usually have to face critical situations without the support of efficient decision support tools. During the last years, electrical utilities began to install intelligent applications in their Control Centres. These applications are mainly intended to pro...

Developers of computer codes, analysts who use the codes, and decision makers who rely on the results of the analyses face a critical question: How should confidence in modeling and simulation be critically assessed? Verification and validation (V&V) of computational simulations are the primary methods for building and quantifying this confidence. Briefly, verification is the assessment of the ...