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1 – 10 of over 55000Premaratne Samaranayake, Ann Dadich, Kate J Hayes and Terrence Sloan
The purpose of this paper is to present a business process reengineering (BPR) framework of process and data integration with patient journey as the basis for process evaluation…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a business process reengineering (BPR) framework of process and data integration with patient journey as the basis for process evaluation and the improvement of patient-flow.
Design/methodology/approach
A BPR framework is developed using a mixed-method research design, which incorporated a case study to demonstrate a healthcare scenario with associated processes and data elements, using process models based on event-driven process chain methodology as well as patient and data models, based on unitary structuring technique. The framework includes key processes including patient booking and rebooking, and associated inputs, outputs, and control parameters. In this case, the framework is demonstrated through application to computed tomography (CT) services in a hospital to improve patient-flow, with numerical simulation of CT data collected over time.
Findings
The framework supports flexible patient scheduling and the associated planning of healthcare operations and logistics – this in turn helps to improve patient-flow. Furthermore, mathematical modelling and simulation precisely reveal the impact of booking and rebooking on the performance of the CT department.
Research limitations/implications
This innovative framework has potential value for other services, within and beyond the hospital setting.
Originality/value
The proposed framework of process modelling, data, and patient journey addresses the lack of a holistic approach to monitoring and evaluating service performance in hospital settings. Patient journey modelling is an integral part of process and data models that can be implemented in an integrated system environment such as an enterprise resource planning system for real-time monitoring of patient-flow under dynamic conditions.
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Kabiru Abdullahi Ahmad, Norhidayah Abdul Hassan, Mohd Ezree Abdullah, Munder A.M. Bilema, Nura Usman, Al Allam Musbah Al Allam and Mohd Rosli Bin Hainin
In order to fully understand the properties of porous asphalt, investigation should be conducted from different point of views. This is from the fact that porous asphalt mixture…
Abstract
Purpose
In order to fully understand the properties of porous asphalt, investigation should be conducted from different point of views. This is from the fact that porous asphalt mixture designed with the same aggregate gradation and air void content can give different infiltration rate due to the different formation of the internal structure. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the micro-structural properties and functional performance of porous asphalt simultaneously.
Design/methodology/approach
The aim is to develop imaging techniques to process and analyze the internal structure of porous asphalt mixture. A few parameters were established to analyze the air void properties and aggregate interlock within the gyratory compacted samples captured using a non-destructive scanning technique of X-ray computed tomography (CT) throughout the samples. The results were then compared with the functional performance in terms of permeability. Four aggregate gradations used in different countries, i.e. Malaysia, Australia, the USA and Singapore. The samples were tested for resilient modulus and permeability. Quantitative analysis of the microstructure was used to establish the relationships between the air void properties and aggregate interlock and the resilient modulus and permeability.
Findings
Based on the results, it was found that the micro-structural properties investigated have successfully described the internal structure formation and they reflect the results of resilient modulus and permeability. In addition, the imaging technique which includes the image processing and image analysis for internal structure quantification seems to be very useful and perform well with the X-ray CT images based on the reliable results obtained from the analysis.
Research limitations/implications
In this study, attention was limited to the study of internal structure of porous asphalt samples prepared in the laboratory using X-ray CT but can also be used to assess the quality of finished asphalt pavements by taking core samples for quantitative and qualitative analysis. The use of CT for material characterization presents a lot of possibilities in the future of asphalt concrete mix design.
Originality/value
Based on the validation process which includes comparisons between the values obtained from the image analysis and those from the performance test and it was found that the developed procedure satisfactorily assesses the air voids distribution and the aggregate interlock for this reason, it can be used.
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Ntogas Nikolaos and Ventzas Dimitrios
The purpose of this paper is to introduce an innovative procedure for digital historical documents image binarization based on image pre‐processing and image condition…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to introduce an innovative procedure for digital historical documents image binarization based on image pre‐processing and image condition classification. The estimated results for each class of images and each method have shown improved image quality for the six categories of document images described by their separate characteristics.
Design/methodology/approach
The applied technique consists of five stages, i.e. text image acquisition, image preparation, denoising, image type classification in six categories according to image condition, image thresholding and final refinement, a very effective approach to binarize document images. The results achieved by the authors' method require minimal pre‐processing steps for best quality of the image and increased text readability. This methodology performs better compared to current state‐of‐the‐art adaptive thresholding techniques.
Findings
An innovative procedure for digital historical documents image binarization based on image pre‐processing, image type classification in categories according to image condition and further enhancement. This methodology is robust and simple, with minimal pre‐processing steps for best quality of the image, increased text readability and it performs better compared to available thresholding techniques.
Research limitations/implications
The technique consists of limited but optimized pre‐processing sequential steps, and attention should be given in document image preparation and denoising, and on image condition classification for thresholding and refinement, since bad results in a single stage corrupt the final document image quality and text readability.
Originality/value
The paper contributes in digital image binarization of text images suggesting a procedure based on image preparation, image type classification and thresholding and image refinement with applicability on Byzantine historical documents.
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– The purpose of this paper is to present a new multi-image registration methodology that is able to align a set of hand-held bracketed shots.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a new multi-image registration methodology that is able to align a set of hand-held bracketed shots.
Design/methodology/approach
The procedure is a two-step algorithm where corresponding multi-image points are automatically extracted from the bracketed image sequence and a least squares adjustment recovers transformation parameters.
Findings
The images can be processed with high dynamic range algorithms to combine multiple low dynamic range pictures into a single mosaic with a superior radiometric quality.
Originality/value
Simulated and real examples are illustrated to prove the effectiveness of the developed affine-based procedure.
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G D van Albada, J M Lagerberg and A Visser
Outlines research work to design a robot calibration system which isportable, accurate and low‐cost. Describes prototype measuring systemwhich is based on a camera in the robot…
Abstract
Outlines research work to design a robot calibration system which is portable, accurate and low‐cost. Describes prototype measuring system which is based on a camera in the robot hand, plus a known reference object in the robot workspace. Gives details of the measuring procedure, the camera lens, the reference plate and the possible sources of measurement errors. Concludes that this method, based on photogrammetry to obtain measurements for the calibration of robot systems, has been implemented and tested and provides promising results for practical application.
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Mehdi Dehghani, Mahdi Ahmadi, Alireza Khayatian, Mohamad Eghtesad and Mehran Yazdi
The purpose of this paper is to present a vision-based method for the kinematic calibration of a six-degrees-of-freedom parallel robot named Hexa using only one Universal Serial…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a vision-based method for the kinematic calibration of a six-degrees-of-freedom parallel robot named Hexa using only one Universal Serial Bus (USB) camera and a chess pattern installed on the robot's mobile platform. Such an approach avoids using any internal sensors or complex three-dimensional measurement systems to obtain the pose (position/orientation) of the robot's end-effector or the joint coordinates.
Design/methodology/approach
The setup of the proposed method is very simple; only one USB camera connected to a laptop computer is needed and no contact with the robot is necessary during the calibration procedure. For camera modeling, a pinhole model is used; it is then modified by considering some distortion coefficients. Intrinsic and extrinsic parameters and the distortion coefficients are found by an offline minimization algorithm. The chess pattern makes image corner detection very straightforward; this detection leads to finding the camera and then the kinematic parameters. To carry out the calibration procedure, several trajectories are run (the results of two of them are presented here) and sufficient specifications of the poses (positions/orientations) are calculated to find the kinematic parameters of the robot. Experimental results obtained when applying the calibration procedure on a Hexa parallel robot show that vision-based kinematic calibration yields enhanced and efficient positioning accuracy. After successful calibration and addition of an appropriate control scheme, the robot has been considered as a color-painting prototype robot to serve in relevant industries.
Findings
Experimental results obtained when applying the calibration procedure on a Hexa parallel robot show that vision-based kinematic calibration yields enhanced and efficient positioning accuracy.
Originality/value
The enhanced results show the advantages of this method in comparison with the previous calibration methods.
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Abstract
Purpose
The control of weld penetration in gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) is required for a “teach and playback” robot to overcome the gap variation in the welding process. This paper aims to investigate this subject.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents a robotic system based on the real‐time vision measurement. The primary objective has been to demonstrate the feasibility of using vision‐based image processing to measure the seam gap in real‐time and adjust welding current and wire‐feed rate to realize the penetration control during the robot‐welding process.
Findings
The paper finds that vision‐based measurement of the seam gap can be used in the welding robot, in real‐time, to control weld penetration. It helps the “teach and playback” robot to adjust the welding procedures according to the gap variation.
Research limitations/implications
The system requires that the seam edges can be accurately identified using a correlation method.
Practical implications
The system is applicable to storage tank welding of a rocket.
Originality/value
The control algorithm based on the knowledge base has been set up for continuous GTAW. A novel visual image analysis method has been developed in the study for a welding robot.
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Many international radiology societies, including American College of Radiologists (ACR), have established guidelines for optimum forms and contents of medical imaging reports to…
Abstract
Purpose
Many international radiology societies, including American College of Radiologists (ACR), have established guidelines for optimum forms and contents of medical imaging reports to ensure high quality and to guarantee the satisfaction of both the referring physician and the patient. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the criteria of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reports in Jordan according to the standards of the ACR.
Design/methodology/approach
This cross-sectional study was conducted in early January 2021 for two weeks. An invitation letter was sent to 85 MRI centers of various health-care sectors in Jordan to participate in the study. Each invitee was requested to send at least ten different MRI reports. The study used a questionnaire containing the checklist of the latest edition 2020 of ACR’s practice parameter to communicate the diagnostic imaging results and the demographic information of the participating MRI centers. Seven basic elements were assessed for content-related quality of MRI reports, which are administrative data, patient demographics, clinical history, imaging procedures, clinical symptoms, imaging observations and impressions. Statistical analyses were used to evaluate the data.
Findings
Forty-one MRI centers participated in the study with 386 different MRI exam reports. The majority (92%) of the reports were computer-generated. Free texted unstructured reports and head-structured reports had an almost equal percentage of around 40%. Exam and radiologist demography as well as exam findings criteria were 100% available in all reports. The percentage of exam conclusion, and exam description and techniques were 2% and 4.9%, respectively (N = 368). There was a positive association between computer-generated reports and the presence of picture archiving and communication systems (PACS)/health information systems r = 0.443.
Originality/value
Structured and free text unstructured reporting were the common types of MRI exam reports in Jordan. Handwriting exam reporting existed in few MRI centers, particularly in those that had no PACS and radiology information systems.
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Carlos Eduardo Díaz, Roemi Fernández, Manuel Armada and Felipe de Jesús García Gutiérrez
– This paper aims to provide an insight into recent advancements and developments of robotics for Natural Orifice Transluminal Surgery (NOTES) procedures.
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to provide an insight into recent advancements and developments of robotics for Natural Orifice Transluminal Surgery (NOTES) procedures.
Design/methodology/approach
Following an introduction that highlights the evolution from Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) to NOTES in the medical field, this paper reviews the main robotics systems that have been designed and implemented for MIS and NOTES, summarising their advantages and limitations and remarking the technological challenges and the requirements that still should be addressed and fulfilled.
Findings
The state-of-the-art presented in this paper shows that the majority of the platforms created for NOTES are laboratory prototypes, and their performances are still far from being optimal. New solutions are required to solve the problems confronted by the proposed systems such as the limited number of DOFs, the limited resolution, the optimal fixation and stiffening of the instruments for enabling stable and precise operation, the effective transmission of forces to the tip tools, the improvement of the force feedback feeling and the proper visualization and spatial orientation of the surgical field. Advances in robotics can contribute significantly to the development and future implementation of the NOTES procedure.
Originality/value
This paper highlights the current trends and challenges ahead in robotics applied to NOTES procedure.
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Hongbo Ma, Shanchun Wei, Tao Lin, Shanben Chen and Laiping Li
The purpose of this paper is to develop a kind of low cost measuring system based on binocular vision sensor to detect both the weld pool geometry and root gap simultaneously for…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a kind of low cost measuring system based on binocular vision sensor to detect both the weld pool geometry and root gap simultaneously for robot welding process.
Design/methodology/approach
Two normal charge coupled device cameras are used for capturing clear images from two directions; one of them is used to measure the root gap and another one is used to measure the geometric parameters of the weld pool. Efforts are made from both hardware and software aspects to decrease the strong interferences in pulsed gas tungsten arc welding process, so that clear and steady images can be obtained. The grey level distribution characteristics of root gap edge and weld pool edge in images are analyzed and utilized for developing the image processing algorithms.
Findings
A solid foundation for seam tracking and penetration control of robot welding process can be established based on the binocular vision sensor.
Practical implications
The results show that the algorithms can extract the root gap edges and the contour of weld pool effectively, and then some geometric parameters can be calculated from the results.
Originality/value
The binocular vision system provides a new method for sensing of robot welding process.
Details