Precision Detection of Real-Time Conditions of Dairy Cows Using an Advanced Artificial Intelligence Hub

One of the main challenges in the adoption of artificial intelligence-based tools, such as integrated decision support systems, is the complexities of their application. This study aimed to define the relevant parameters that can be used as indicators for real-time detection of heat stress and subclinical mastitis in dairy cows. Moreover, this study aimed to demonstrate the use of a developed data-mining hub as an artificial intelligence-based tool that integrates the defined relevant information (parameters or traits) in accurately identifying the condition of the cow. A comprehensive theoretical framework of the data-mining hub is demonstrated, the selection of the parameters that were used for the data-mining hub is listed, and the relevance of the traits is discussed. The practical application of the data-mining hub has shown that using 21 parameters instead of 13 and 8 parameters resulted in a high overall accuracy of detecting heat stress and subclinical mastitis in dairy cows with a high precision effect reflecting a low percentage of misclassifying the conditions of the dairy cows. This study has developed an innovative approach in which combined information from different independent data was used to accurately detect the health and wellness status of the dairy cows. It can also be implied that an artificial intelligence-based tool such as the proposed theoretical data-mining hub of dairy cows could maximize the use of continuously generated and underutilized data in farms, thus ultimately simplifying repetitive and difficult decision-making tasks in dairy farming.

Preface

2021 3rd Asia Conference on Automation Engineering (ACAE 2021) was held as a virtual event August 27-29, 2021. The conference provided an opportunity to highlight recent developments and to identify emerging and future areas of growth in this exciting field. As coronavirus spreads worldwide, after careful consideration and following some participants’ advices, the organizing committees decided to convert ACAE 2021 into a fully virtual conference. It has been a very difficult decision, but it has also given to all of us an opportunity to innovate and to test a new style of conference in a safer and convenient way in this special period. Researchers from all the world attended the Conference from home and saw the live broadcast of the invited and contributed speeches. The success of the conference is due to the high scientific level of all the contributions as well as to the enthusiasm of all the attendees. The member of the Technical Committee did a precious job in selecting the papers that were accepted for presentation and for inclusion in this book of proceedings among those that were initially submitted. Beside the authors, the attendees and the TC members, we would like to thank members of the organizing committee, anonymous reviewers and volunteers, whose work was fundamental for assuring the smooth running of the Conference. Without their contribution, dedication and commitment, we would not have achieved so much. We hope this success can develop into persistent success in future years, involving attendees and speakers from all corners of the globe and all countries. And we believe with the strong support of all participants, professors, scholars, etc., this conference will be more distinctive. ACAE 2021 Organizing Committee August 27-29, 2021 List of Statement of Peer Review, Conference Committee and this titles are available in this pdf.

Council liability for leaky buildings in New Zealand: An analysis of McNamara v Auckland City Council

<p>This paper discusses the Supreme Court decision in McNamara v Auckland City Council. As McNamara is on the fringes of the existing body of law, the Supreme Court had a difficult decision on whether to extend liability, in line with the general development of this area of law or to restrict liability and reverse the earlier trends. William Young, McGrath and Blanchard JJ in the majority held that the Auckland City Council was not in a proximate relationship. The Council owed no duty of care to inspect the procedural validity of the building certificates or the validity of the code compliance certificate in the LIM report. Joined by Tipping J, the majority further concluded the s50(3) good faith defence would also prevail in both situations. Elias CJ dissented on all issues. This paper analyses the decisions and available facts against the accepted negligence framework and analyses policy issues concluding that the approach of Elias CJ is to be preferred to harmonise defective building law.</p>

Council liability for leaky buildings in New Zealand: An analysis of McNamara v Auckland City Council

<p>This paper discusses the Supreme Court decision in McNamara v Auckland City Council. As McNamara is on the fringes of the existing body of law, the Supreme Court had a difficult decision on whether to extend liability, in line with the general development of this area of law or to restrict liability and reverse the earlier trends. William Young, McGrath and Blanchard JJ in the majority held that the Auckland City Council was not in a proximate relationship. The Council owed no duty of care to inspect the procedural validity of the building certificates or the validity of the code compliance certificate in the LIM report. Joined by Tipping J, the majority further concluded the s50(3) good faith defence would also prevail in both situations. Elias CJ dissented on all issues. This paper analyses the decisions and available facts against the accepted negligence framework and analyses policy issues concluding that the approach of Elias CJ is to be preferred to harmonise defective building law.</p>

Much ado about something: a response to “COVID-19: underpowered randomised trials, or no randomised trials?”

Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) for infectious diseases such as COVID-19 are particularly challenging given the complexities of what is both practical and ethical to randomize. We are often faced with the difficult decision between having weak trials or not having a trial at all. In a recent article, Dr. Atle Fretheim argues that statistically underpowered studies are still valuable, particularly in conjunction with other similar studies in meta-analysis in the context of the DANMASK-19 trial, asking “Surely, some trial evidence must be better than no trial evidence?” However, informative trials are not always feasible, and feasible trials are not always informative. In some cases, even a well-conducted but weakly designed and/or underpowered trial such as DANMASK-19 may be uninformative or worse, both individually and in a body of literature. Meta-analysis, for example, can only resolve issues of statistical power if there is a reasonable expectation of compatible well-designed trials. Uninformative designs may also invite misinformation. Here, we make the case that—when considering informativeness, ethics, and opportunity costs in addition to statistical power—“nothing” is often the better choice.

Collegiate Athlete Experiences with COVID-19 and Attitudes About Returning to Sport

When COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, collegiate athletic departments faced the difficult decision to postpone or cancel sport activities. Aside from concerns of transmission, disruptions in sport impacted college athletes broadly. This study was designed to investigate athletes’ experiences during the pandemic toward developing a better understanding of athletes’ attitudes about COVID-19 and returning to sport. Participants included 245 varsity collegiate athletes across NCAA sports and divisions who voluntarily completed an online survey between August and October 2020. Collegiate athletes reported significant impacts of COVID-19 on areas including mental health, physical fitness, and academic progress. Approximately one in four participants reported that they had tested positive for COVID-19 at some point between the onset of the pandemic and completing the survey. Less than half of the respondents, however, endorsed worry about exposure to COVID-19 while participating in their sport. Most collegiate athletes reported satisfaction with their athletic department’s response to COVID-19 and adherence to guidelines and recommendations. Temperature checks, sanitation of equipment and regular COVID-19 testing were among the top recommended procedures endorsed by participants. Some athletes, however, reported concerns about feasibility of safety procedures for their particular sport. Overall, respondents demonstrated eagerness to return to sport despite COVID-19 related risks.

The Incompatibility of Motherhood and Professional Women's Football in England

There has been an advancement of professionalisation of women's football globally. Professional women's football in England has grown exponentially since the inception of the Football Association (FA) Women's Super League in 2011. This article offers an examination of the gender-specific needs of women as professional footballers, focusing specifically on the distinctive aspect of maternity policy. Sportswomen often feel compelled to make the difficult decision between motherhood and an athletic career. Contracts have become an essential component of the work-life of professional women footballers. However, these contracts pose questions regarding organisational intentions and motivations. This study draws on 30 semi-structured interviews with professional women footballers in England. Our key considerations include contracts, employment, motherhood, and athletes' bodies. This examination will develop our understanding of the complexities associated with professional football as a career choice for women.

Pre-decision regret before transition of dependents with severe dementia to long-term care

Background: To place a dependent with severe dementia in a nursing home is a painful and difficult decision to make. In collectivistic oriented societies or families, children tend to be socialised to care for ageing parents and to experience guilt and shame if they violate this principle. Leaving the care to professional caregivers does not conform with the cultural expectations of many ethnic groups and becomes a sign of the family’s moral failure. Research design: Qualitative design with individual in-depth interviews with nurses, family members and dementia care coordinators in Norway, Montenegro, Serbia and South Africa. Braun and Clarke’s six analytic phases were used. Ethical considerations: The project was approved by the Regional Committee for Research, South-Eastern Norway; the Norwegian Centre for Research Data; the Ethics Committee; University of Limpopo, MEDUNSA Campus, South Africa; and by the local heads of the respective nursing homes or home care services. Interviewees were informed orally and in writing and signed an informed consent form. Findings: Healthcare professionals tend to be contacted only when the situation becomes unmanageable. Interviewees talked about feelings of obligation, shame and stigma in their societies regarding dementia, particularly in connection with institutionalisation of family members. Many lacked support during the decision-making process and were in a squeeze between their own needs and the patients’ need of professional care, and the feeling of duty and worry about being stigmatised by their surroundings. This conflict may be a source of pre-decision regret. Conclusion: Family caregivers need help to understand the behaviours of persons with dementia and how to access the formal and informal services available. Thus, they may provide effective support to patients and family carers alike. Supportive interventions for caregivers need to be tailored to meet the individual needs of both the caregiver and the persons with dementia.

Difficulties Detecting Clinically Relevant Factor Xa Inhibitor Levels Prior to Reversal With Andexanet Alfa for Intracranial Hemorrhage

Coagulation factor Xa (recombinant), inactivated-zhzo (andexanet alfa) is approved for reversal of life-threatening bleeding with rivaroxaban and apixaban use. Clinical decision-making to initiate reversal is reliant on dose taken and timing of last dose. In practice, timing of last dose may be unknown, and the turnaround time for drug-specific anti-factor Xa levels at some institutions may be prolonged, leaving clinicians balancing a difficult decision with limited tools. This report includes a series of 3 patients who presented to our institution with an intracranial hemorrhage and received andexanet alfa for apixaban reversal. These cases highlight the challenges clinicians are facing when using andexanet alfa for emergent rivaroxaban or apixaban reversal when the timing of last dose is unknown, or patients fall outside of the recommended timeframe for use and clinically relevant drug levels are still suspected. Based on our experiences, we encourage other institutions to evaluate their abilities to rapidly and accurately detect the presence of clinically relevant rivaroxaban and apixaban levels when utilizing andexanet alfa.