ABSTRACT
This article describes the changing linguistic landscape on the North Shore of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, during the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic. I present an account of the visual representation of change along the area's parks and trails, which remained open for socially-distanced exercise during the province's lockdown. Following the principles of visual, walking ethnography, I walked through numerous locations, observing and recording the visual representations of the province's policies and discourses of lockdown and social distancing. Examples of change were most evident in the rapid addition to social space of top-down signs, characterised mainly by multimodality and monolingualism, strategically placed in ways that encouraged local people to abide by social-distancing. However, through this process of observation and exploration, I noticed grassroots semiotic artefacts such as illustrated stones with images and messages that complemented the official signs of the provincial government. As was the case with the official signs and messages, through a process of discursive convergence, these grassroots artefacts performed a role of conveying messages and discourses of social distancing, public pedagogy, and community care.
ABSTRACT
Social history museums strive to present exhibitions that will connect to their local audience and provoke conversation as well as provide information. The aim of this article is to describe an exhibition about a decommissioned former mental hospital that is still significant for many in the local community. The exhibition consisted of various "collections” of objects and artworks assembled by the researchers in collaboration with museum staff, along with stories collected during our research into the asylum. Some "collections” included historical images and stories from the past alongside others of creative work and technology responding to the present. Community members were keenly interested in the exhibition, but the COVID-19 pandemic and consequent border closures in Australia meant that visitors needed to attend online presentations and virtual tours rather than see the exhibits in person. The use of digital presentations along with physical artefacts brought about a new way of thinking about presenting social history to future audiences.
ABSTRACT
Lung ultrasound is used to detect various artifacts in the lungs that support the diagnosis of different conditions. There is ongoing research to support the automatic detection of such artifacts using machine learning. We propose a solution that uses analytical computer vision methods to detect two types of lung artifacts, namely A- and B-lines. We evaluate the proposed approach on the POCUS dataset and data acquired from a hospital. We show that by using the Fourier transform, we can analyze lung ultrasound images in real-time and classify videos with an accuracy above 70%. We also evaluate the method's applicability for segmentation, showcasing its high success rate for B-lines (89% accuracy) and its shortcomings for A-line detection. We then propose a hybrid solution that uses a combination of neural networks and analytical methods to increase accuracy in horizontal line detection, emphasizing the pleura.
ABSTRACT
Recent years have witnessed the publication of many research articles regarding the contactless measurement and monitoring of heart rate signals deduced from facial video recordings. The techniques presented in these articles, such as examining the changes in the heart rate of an infant, provide a noninvasive assessment in many cases where the direct placement of any hardware equipment is undesirable. However, performing accurate measurements in cases that include noise motion artifacts still presents an obstacle to overcome. In this research article, a two-stage method for noise reduction in facial video recording is proposed. The first stage of the system consists of dividing each (30) seconds of the acquired signal into (60) partitions and then shifting each partition to the mean level before recombining them to form the estimated heart rate signal. The second stage utilizes the wavelet transform for denoising the signal obtained from the first stage. The denoised signal is compared to a reference signal acquired from a pulse oximeter, resulting in the mean bias error (0.13), root mean square error (3.41) and correlation coefficient (0.97). The proposed algorithm is applied to (33) individuals being subjected to a normal webcam for acquiring their video recording, which can easily be performed at homes, hospitals, or any other environment. Finally, it is worth noting that this noninvasive remote technique is useful for acquiring the heart signal while preserving social distancing, which is a desirable feature in the current period of COVID-19.
ABSTRACT
The spread of Covid-19 has made facemask a critical artifact for people all over the world. Mediating between (non-)wearers and their environment, facemask makes people aware of a set of morally relevant distinctions and sometimes forces decisions on them. In fact, the semiotics of "facemask in use” largely shapes the parameters for human practice and experience in the epidemic. Drawing on the techno-moral mediation concept [Verbeek, 2008. "Obstetric Ultrasound and the Technological Mediation of Morality: A Postphenomenological Analysis.” Human Studies 31 (1): 11–26], we explore how anti-epidemic promotional videos released by Chinese authorities build facemask-related narratives in the Covid-19 epidemic. Findings reveal that "facemask in use” links people's "smaller love” for family to a "bigger love” for Chinese people in general;transforms an individual to member of a large group of commoner-turned-protectors;or marks the military's loyalty and obedience to the Party-State, which makes possible the "Chinese speed” in saving lives. We add to extant literature by unraveling an entanglement between the moralization of facemask-wearing and China's traditional values, social institutions and media newsroom culture about disaster coverage. This scrutiny into the "face-masking morality in the making” implies that the power to frame the cultural significance of facemask induces an alternative mode of techno-moral change, which may outlast the epidemic itself.
ABSTRACT
Artifacts are a primary source of information for fashion history students participating in object-based learning through careful observation, analysis and interpretation. Object-based learning is an advantage that allows students to connect the course material with the physical artifact in-person. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, classes at a Midwestern university moved midterm to an online format. Artifacts previously viewed in person were posted digitally, thus this was the first semester that artifact analysis included both in-person and online. Students evaluated their learning experience in artifact analysis in-person and online with the goal to understand their perspective on advantages and disadvantages. In-person, students could examine details such as textile weave and hand or machine stitching. Online, multiple views of a garment on a mannequin were available to better understand the shape and silhouette of the garment. In the future, we will incorporate both venues, taking advantage of the best student learning experiences from each. © 2022 ITAA.
ABSTRACT
Following the innovations and new discoveries of the last 10 years in the field of lung ultrasound (LUS), a multidisciplinary panel of international LUS experts from six countries and from different fields (clinical and technical) reviewed and updated the original international consensus for point-of-care LUS, dated 2012. As a result, a total of 20 statements have been produced. Each statement is complemented by guidelines and future developments proposals. The statements are furthermore classified based on their nature as technical (5), clinical (11), educational (3), and safety (1) statements.
ABSTRACT
This panel will discuss the role of different knowledge artifacts in creating, maintaining, and circulating knowledge within the engineering education community. The past decade has seen a significant increase in the venues available for sharing engineering education research and as the field grows and builds more knowledge, it is equally important to also take stock of prior work and of strategies to create novelty. Within this context, what is the role of different knowledge encapsulating artifacts and why do those who engage with creating these artifacts do so? In this panel we touch upon these issues while taking stock of the knowledge base in the field. We will also discuss what the future of knowledge creation in the field might look like given the move towards open access online publications as the primary form of knowledge circulation. Finally, in the post-COVID context, what will and should be the role of in-person events in this process. In terms of equity of participation, what potential avenues are available?. © 2022 IEEE.
ABSTRACT
Usage of mobile dating apps has been a rising trend in recent times, including during the COVID-19 lockdown periods. One of the key concerns about the use of such apps is in the amount and types of user data collected (e.g., personal and sensitive information such as sexual orientation, and information about online activities such as intimate messages and browsing behaviors). Since it is relatively easy and inexpensive to setup a man-in-the-middle attack and intercept dating app communication, a natural question is then whether the communication is encrypted and/or how much 'useful' information an attacker can infer from the intercepted communication, for example using freely available tools. Seeking to answer this question, we focus on the Badoo dating applications for both Android and iOS mobile devices (i.e., app version 5.187.0 on iPphone 7 (iOS 14.2), and app version 5.198.1 on Moto G5 Plus (Android v7.0)). Specifically, we explain the types of information an individual could obtain using only a laptop and Wireshark, a freely available network capture tool.
ABSTRACT
Artifacts are a primary source of information for fashion history students participating in object-based learning through careful observation, analysis and interpretation. Object-based learning is an advantage that allows students to connect the course material with the physical artifact in-person. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, classes at a Midwestern university moved midterm to an online format. Artifacts previously viewed in person were posted digitally, thus this was the first semester that artifact analysis included both in-person and online. Students evaluated their learning experience in artifact analysis in-person and online with the goal to understand their perspective on advantages and disadvantages. In-person, students could examine details such as textile weave and hand or machine stitching. Online, multiple views of a garment on a mannequin were available to better understand the shape and silhouette of the garment. In the future, we will incorporate both venues, taking advantage of the best student learning experiences from each.
ABSTRACT
This contribution draws on the voices and reflections from young people as co-researchers in the Growing-Up Under Covid-19 project – a longitudinal ethnographic action research project to document, share, and respond to impacts of the pandemic on different spheres of young people’s lives. The research was conducted entirely online over 18 months in seven countries and has involved youth-led approaches to research, including video diaries and the use of artefacts and visual material to convey their experiences and support reflection and dialogue across research groups and with external stakeholders. In this contribution, the young co-researchers reflect on their rationale for using different visual media and why this was important for them. They also reflect on the significance of the representations in the visual images and how these images communicate how young people’s understanding of COVID and its impact on young people has changed (or given new meaning to) and how this in turn has given rise to particular responses and opportunities for young people. The article draws on examples of different visual forms selected by young people in Singapore, Italy, Lebanon, and the UK nations, including video, drawing, photography, and crafts. These different media and links to videos were included in the accompanying document. The contribution explores the different narratives and meanings behind the visuals, using the words of young people themselves, interspersed with narration from the adult researchers.
ABSTRACT
COVID-19 presented new challenges to museums in 2020 and 2021 as they were required to either temporarily close or reduce capacity and adhere to strict health and safety guidelines. These changes required finding new approaches to safely provide accessible content to visitors, as traditional solutions involve sharing objects, technologies, or gathering in groups to listen to a docent, read exhibit signage, or touch an artifact. We address this challenge using an approach we call BYOAD (Bring Your Own Accessible Device), where visitors’ personal mobile devices are used to access museum content. We believe this approach supports a more accessible and autonomous experience for visitors during social distancing and beyond. We describe our work partnering with a New York City museum to make a BYOAD web-based mobile guide that was available to all visitors and replaced their accessibility offerings. The guide features visual descriptions of artifacts, non-visual wayfinding directions to exhibitions, summaries of exhibit content in easy-to-read bullet points, open-captioned videos kept under two minutes, video transcripts, and photos with alt text. Our mobile guide launched in September 2020 and has been viewed over 9,000 times to date. We have conducted on-site observations and interviewed six members of the museums’ advisory council to understand the impact and potential for this approach. This article provides recommendations for researchers and practitioners on the design of BYOAD mobile guides, including: (1) designing accessible guides that are appropriate for cultural constraints;(2) building the guide using the web;and (3) leveraging existing technology to deepen visitors understanding of museum content.
ABSTRACT
Pulse oximeters are now a part of every household first-aid kit, pulse oximeters have actually helped to primarily identify the severity of covid19 infection in a person's body. These devices measure the saturated blood oxygen level (SpO2) in a person's body, there by the displayed level of SpO2 helps medical professionals to hypothesize the situation and provide a better aid for the patient. Since the process is non-invasive, the devices are widely implemented. Pulse oximeters acquire photoplethysmographic (PPG) signals, these signals contain the volumetric changes in human blood, that on being exposed to mathematical principles give the SpO2 reading and other data. The process of obtaining the PPG signals through pulse oximetry employs a mechanism of emitting and detecting the IR and Red signals through human tissues, however during the capturing of reflected signals through detector, the detected signal comes along with noise referred as motion artifact (MA). These MAs arises due to the voluntary/involuntary movements of human causing volumetric changes in flow of blood at the source and detector sensor locations. The presence of MAs in such signals turns up to erroneous SpO2 level estimation, that creates a problem for medical professionals in treating the diseases. To improve the reliability of SpO2 estimation, by a pulse oximeter, the PPG signal quality is to be enhanced. In this paper, the authors tried to describe on the work of enhancing the acquired PPG signal quality by reducing MAs with effective methods. © 2022 IEEE.
ABSTRACT
On June 4, the AIAA San Diego Section held its annual awards gala for the first time in two years since the start of Covid restrictions. This annual event serves to install the new section officers, present the Reuben H. Fleet scholarship winners, and recognize local section and aerospace community award winners. The event was held at the Allen Airways Museum at Gillespie Field Airport in El Cajon. Guests had the opportunity to view the entire museum collection, including the historic aircraft, aerospace artifacts, and art during the cocktail reception.
ABSTRACT
Monitoring patient's blood oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) levels using pulse oximeter is important to physician. SpO(2) is also one of the major parameter that is being monitored to assess the respiratory health in Covid-19 infected patients during the ongoing pandemic. In pulse oximeters, the motion artifacts (MA), due to voluntary or involuntary movement of patient, will disturb the morphology of the photoplethysmographic (PPG) signals acquired through a finger/forehead sensor resulting in inaccurate SpO(2) values. The current work is focused on an efficient adaptive filtering method for MA reduction, which uses a wavelet reconstructed secondary MA noise as reference signal. It eliminates the use of an external sensor to be employed for estimating MA signal. This method while reducing the MA restored the PPG morphology and respiratory components facilitating accurate estimation SpO(2), heart rate (HR).
ABSTRACT
Given that ultrasound use is increasing in healthcare, operators must be familiar with its physics in order to optimise the image and interpret potential artifacts. Ultrasound are sound waves at frequencies above the range of human hearing, that are transmitted from and received by an ultrasound transducer with piezoelectric properties. As it propagates through tissues, some of the ultrasound waves are reflected at tissue boundaries, leading to its detection by the ultrasound transducer. These are processed by the ultrasound machine and result in the generation of an image. Various settings can be adjusted to optimise the image, such as the frequency of the transmitted ultrasound wave, depth of the focal zone and the gain. Artifacts are presentations on the monitor of the ultrasound machine which are added, omitted, or are of improper brightness, location, shape, and size compared with true anatomical features. It can result in falsely perceived objects, missing structures or degraded images. The presence or absence of such artifacts in lung ultrasound can be valuable in the interpretation of the resulting image. In the setting of COVID-19, lung ultrasound has become increasingly useful in evaluating disease progression and providing a point-of-care radiological adjunct in clinical decision making. © World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists 2022.
ABSTRACT
In this work, a feasibility study for lung lesion detection through microwave imaging based on Huygens’ principle (HP) has been performed using multilayer oval shaped phantoms mimicking human torso having a cylindrically shaped inclusion simulating lung lesion. First, validation of the proposed imaging method has been performed through phantom experiments using a dedicated realistic human torso model inside an anechoic chamber, employing a frequency range of 1–5 GHz. Subsequently, the miniaturized torso phantom validation (using both single and double inclusion scenarios) has been accomplished using a microwave imaging (MWI) device, which operates in free space using two antennas in multi-bistatic configuration. The identification of the target’s presence in the lung layer has been achieved on the obtained images after applying both of the following artifact removal procedures: (i) the “rotation subtraction” method using two adjacent transmitting antenna positions, and (ii) the “ideal” artifact removal procedure utilizing the difference between received signals from unhealthy and healthy scenarios. In addition, a quantitative analysis of the obtained images was executed based on the definition of signal to clutter ratio (SCR). The obtained results verify that HP can be utilized successfully to discover the presence and location of the inclusion in the lung-mimicking phantom, achieving an SCR of 9.88 dB.
ABSTRACT
Videoconferencing applications have seen a jump in their userbase owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The security of these applications has certainly been a hot topic since millions of VoIP users’ data is involved. However, research pertaining to VoIP forensics is still limited to Skype and Zoom. This paper presents a detailed forensic analysis of Microsoft Teams, one of the top 3 videoconferencing applications, in the areas of memory, disk-space and network forensics. Extracted artifacts include critical user data, such as emails, user account information, profile photos, exchanged (including deleted) messages, exchanged text/media files, timestamps and Advanced Encryption Standard encryption keys. The encrypted network traffic is investigated to reconstruct client-server connections involved in a Microsoft Teams meeting with IP addresses, timestamps and digital certificates. The conducted analysis demonstrates that, with strong security mechanisms in place, user data can still be extracted from a client’s desktop. The artifacts also serve as digital evidence in the court of Law, in addition to providing forensic analysts a reference for cases involving Microsoft Teams. © 2022, ICST Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering.
ABSTRACT
Independent movie theaters (IMTs) are a part of the cultural infrastructure that offers shared spaces for patron communities to access, share, and engage with cultural artifacts. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, IMTs were mandated to shut down, resulting in unanticipated infrastructural breakdown. Drawing insights from a preliminary survey and interviews with staff members from 18 IMTs in the U.S., this paper attends to how this breakdown disrupted art and community engagement within patron communities. We investigate the sociotechnical practices of maintaining cultural infrastructure through 1) collaborating with community partners and external stakeholders, 2) screening films through online virtual cinema platforms, and 3) retaining community members through online platforms. Our work highlights the tensions and invisible human labor in this maintenance work. Together, this work intends to foreground cultural infrastructure and discuss how HCI can support and contribute to the design and oft-invisible maintenance of cultural infrastructure. © 2022 ACM.
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this paper is to propose an integrated digital transformation system framework (IDTSF) to help support business leaders and teams in making their products, services, and operations more streamlined and competitive. The framework will help organizations to best meet user/customer needs with minimum waste and time and enables businesses to achieve efficiency compared with island and traditional sequential approaches. The proposed framework can also provide insights to help organizations to avoid common failures when deploying digital transformation initiatives. The paper follows the design science research (DSR) and the information systems design science research (ISDSR) methodologies to develop the IDTSF model and a practical design artifact. The main problems were the initiation, execution, and governance challenges associated with digital transformation. After identifying the problems and the objectives, a relevant IDTSF model was synthesized and tested as a design artifact. The results of the test of the proposed artifact showed its effectiveness and efficiency in facilitating the components of the model in creating a cohesive framework.