Autism Spectrum Disorder Therapy: Analysis of Artificial Intelligence integrated Robotic Approach

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental disorder that may manifest in a myriad of ways such as difficulties in social interaction and a tendency to engage in repetitive patterns of behaviour. Over the years, several kinds of treatment protocols have been proposed and implemented. One such area that is attracting the attention of researchers in the field is a robot-based approach in the treatment of children diagnosed with the disorder. Here we propose a viable method via the integration of apex technological methods like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning and Medical Robotics, coupling it with problem specific algorithms in OpenCV along with principles of Applied Behavioural Analysis to help possibly alleviate a key symptom displayed by children in terms of level of social interaction - that of eye-contact. This would be achieved via an AI-integrated Robotic Framework. The project also considers the possibility of inclusion of the growing research field of Quantum Computing to realize the process and investigates its viability as a potential source of innovation in the future.

Precious Arks of the 18th century Russian State Seals: the evolution of the iconography and manufacturing technology

The article presents the results of the trace-wear analysis and elemental composition of the arks of the pendant seals of 1700—1801 from the charters of Russian Emperors Peter the Greate, Catherine I, Peter II, Anna Ioannovna, Elizabeth Petrovna, Catherine the Greate and Paul I. The objects were studied in terms of their iconography, technological features, and metal composition. Comparison with historical documents shows that in the manufacture of all the arks the masters followed the iconography, regulated by decrees, and in general the artifacts reflect heraldic innovations of different periods. The peculiarities of the technological methods of the master jewelers of different periods, used in the production of these status items, have been identified. The evolution of the technology of making Russian seal arks has been revealed. The earliest ark (1700) was identified as belonging to the European technological tradition. The other arks belong to a different technological tradition, inclined to a more decorative depiction and the use of small complex embossings. Two of the arks show signs of later surface plating with electroplated gilding.

The Use of Different Technological Methods for Teaching Basic Suturing Skills to Medical Students: A Literature Review

Suturing skills are usually acquired by medical students through observation and then practice. There is a pressing need to develop more efficient teaching methods as students are often unprepared to perform suturing in clinical practice. This study therefore aims to investigate the benefits and limitations of different technological teaching methods and determine if technological methods are superior to conventional teaching. The search was conducted using ScienceDirect, PubMed and Scopus with different combinations of the key terms “suturing”, “suture”, “knot-tying”, “suturing skill”, “surgical skill”, “teaching methods” and “medical students”. Overall, 19 relevant articles were shortlisted, discussing the use of virtual reality, augmented reality, videos and programmes in teaching suturing skills. The use of instructional videos is a good alternative to the traditional lab-based method while video self-reflection was found to be an effective enhancement. Integration of these methods could be a valuable addition to the current curriculum.

Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions against COVID-19 Pandemic: Review of Contact Tracing and Social Distancing Technologies, Protocols, Apps, Security and Open Research Directions

The COVID-19 Pandemic has punched a devastating blow on the majority of the world’s population. Millions of people have been infected while hundreds of thousands have died of the disease throwing many families into mourning and other psychological torments. It has also crippled the economy of many countries of the world leading to job losses, high inflation, and dwindling Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The duo of social distancing and contact tracing are the major technological-based non-pharmaceutical public health intervention strategies adopted for combating the dreaded disease. These technologies have been deployed by different countries around the world to achieve effective and efficient means of maintaining appropriate distance and tracking the transmission pattern of the diseases or identifying those at high risk of infecting others. This paper aims to synthesize the research efforts on contact tracing and social distancing to minimize the spread of COVID-19. The paper critically and comprehensively reviews contact tracing technologies, protocols, and mobile applications (apps) that were recently developed and deployed against the coronavirus disease. Furthermore, the paper discusses social distancing technologies, appropriate methods to maintain distances, regulations, isolation/quarantine, and interaction strategies. In addition, the paper highlights different security/privacy vulnerabilities identified in contact tracing and social distancing technologies and solutions against these vulnerabilities. We also x-rayed the strengths and weaknesses of the various technologies concerning their application in contact tracing and social distancing. Finally, the paper proposed insightful recommendations and open research directions in contact tracing and social distancing that could assist researchers, developers, and governments in implementing new technological methods to combat the menace of COVID-19.

The Relationship between Foreign Direct Investment and The Air Pollution in Developing Countries

The relationship between foreign direct investment and the environmental pollution is controversial in the field of economics. Using the dataset of 20 developing countries collected in the period 1995- 2012, the research provides an estimation of the impact of inflows of FDI to developing countries on the air pollution. A time series- cross section data with a fixed effect and heterogeneous slopes is implemented to identify the variation between countries by Error Correction Model (ECM). It was evident based on the results that the air pollution was not affected by FDI inflows. Moreover, the assessed results indicated the non-existence of an efficient policy that works on controlling pollution emissions in most of the countries. Furthermore, most of the countries lack technological methods and did not adopt efficient policies to regulate the pollution emissions. Finally, the coefficient of manufacturing value added in Lebanon was positive and significant, thus suggesting that the techniques of production utilized in domestic industry cause air pollution.

High-Temperature Single-Electron Transistors Based on Molecules and Small Nanoparticles.

The material of the defense of the dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences – the first in Russia doctoral dissertation on molecular singe-electronics is presented. The relevance of the development, creation and research of single-electron transistorswith high charge energy and operating temperature for the creation of fundamentally new nanoelectronic devices applicable in wide practice and ensuring breakthrough research in various fields is noted, the necessity of using quantum dots (molecules/nanoparticles) of atomic-molecular scale for this is shown, the formulation of the research problems is formulated, the physical and technological methods of fabrication and analysis used are listed, the main results of the work are presented and their significance for the development of highly sensitive sensing, quantum informatics and quantum metrology is discussed.

PROCESSING OF HARDENED CYLINDRICAL GEAR WHEELS OF THE CUTTING GEARBOX OF THE COMBINE UKD 200-500

The article discusses the latest developments of unique technological methods of gear milling of cylindrical gears for preliminary blade gear processing of hardened cylindrical gears of the cutting reducer of the UKD200-500 coal mining harvester for the final gear grinding of gear teeth with modulus m = 16 mm, with hardness HRC 56 ... 62. The peculiarity of the design of special hob cutters is that a circle passing through the lower boundary points of the involute is used as the palloid of the machine gearing of the tool and part. Pre-cutting the teeth of hardened wheels with carbide milling cutters allows you to remove the main allowance for the final gear grinding.

Features of design, construction and technology of manufacturing galvanoplastic jewellery

The features of design, construction and manufacturing technology of electroplated jewellery are considered. The classification of jewellery made by the method of electroforming, based on their areas of application, is presented. The technological features of the formation of the surface of products with a “posi-tive” and “negative” build-up of the deposited metal, ways of reducing the roughness of the deposited coat-ings with an increase in their thickness are considered. Methods of creating suspension and fastening ele-ments of the product structure are described. The main modern trends in the development of technology and design of products made by the method of electroforming are considered: the use of 3D technologies in the development and creation of models, the use of conductive polymer compositions for the manufacture of models, computerization of the technological process of forming metal deposits of precious alloys of a cer-tain carat and colour. Modern technological methods allow raising the level of electroplated jewellery de-sign to a new level.

Advanced Methods for Hydroxylation of Vegetable Oils, Unsaturated Fatty Acids and Their Alkyl Esters

Vegetable oils and their derivatives have great potential as renewable and sustainable raw materials for the production of polyurethanes and bio-based polyols. For industry an important process is their modification. Chemical reactions that are carried out on vegetable oils and their derivatives are: transesterification, auto-oxidation, hydrogenation, epoxidation, hydroxylation, acrylation, isocyanation and others. One of the modifications are reactions performed on double bonds and/or carbonyl moieties of plants oils and their derivatives. These reactions result in products that are actively used as binders in coating materials due to their unique structural properties. In this manuscript, we describe important technological methods for the introduction of hydroxyl groups: opening of oxirane rings by nucleophilic reagents such as: water, alcohols, glycols, amino alcohols, carboxylic acids; direct hydroxylation of unsaturated bonds with carboxylic peracids in combination with hydrolysis of carboxyl groups and hydration; hydroformylation of unsaturated bonds with subsequent hydrogenation and alkoxylation; and ozonolysis of unsaturated bonds in combination with subsequent hydrogenation and alkoxylation.