One of the factors causing rice production disturbance in Indonesia is that farmers lack knowledge of early symptoms of rice plant diseases. These diseases are increasingly rampant because of the lack of experts. This study aimed to overcome this problem by providing an Expert System that helps farmers to make an early diagnosis of rice plant diseases. Data of rice plant pests and diseases in 2016 were taken from Samarinda, East Kalimantan, Indonesia using an in-depth survey, and rice experts from the Department of Food Crops and Horticulture of East Kalimantan Province were recruited for the project. The Expert System for Rice Plant Disease Diagnosis, ESforRPD2, was developed based on the pest and disease experiences of the rice experts and uses a Waterfall Paradigm and Unified Modeling Language. This Expert System can detect 48 symptoms and 8 types of diseases of rice plants from 16 data tests with a sensitivity of 87.5%. The system can also provide recommendations for the treatment of identified diseases. ESforRPD2 is available in Indonesian at http://esforrpd2.blog.unmul.ac.id.

UNASSIGNED: Transtibial prosthetic sockets are often grouped into patella tendon bearing (PTB) or total surface bearing (TSB) designs, but many variations in rectifications are used to apply these principles to an individual\'s personalised socket. Prosthetists currently have little objective evidence to assist them as they make design choices.
UNASSIGNED: To compare rectifications made by experienced prosthetists across a range of patient demographics and limb shapes to improve understanding of socket design strategies.
UNASSIGNED: 163 residual limb surface scans and corresponding CAD/CAM sockets were analysed for 134 randomly selected individuals in a UK prosthetics service. This included 142 PTB and 21 TSB designs. The limb and socket scans were compared to determine the location and size of rectifications. Rectifications were compiled for PTB and TSB designs, and associations between different rectification sizes were assessed using a variety of methods including linear regression, kernel density estimation (KDE) and a Naïve Bayes (NB) classification.
UNASSIGNED: Differences in design features were apparent between PTB and TSB sockets, notably for paratibial carves, gross volume reduction and distal end elongation. However, socket designs varied across a spectrum, with most showing a hybrid of the PTB and TSB principles. Pairwise correlations were observed between the size of some rectifications (e.g., paratibial carves; fibular head build and gross volume reduction). Conversely, the patellar tendon carve depth was not associated significantly with any other rectification, indicating its relative design insensitivity. The Naïve Bayes classifier produced design patterns consistent with expert clinician practice. For example, subtle local rectifications were associated with a large volume reduction (i.e., a TSB-like design), whereas more substantial local rectifications (i.e., a PTB-like design) were associated with a low volume reduction.
UNASSIGNED: This study demonstrates how we might learn from design records to support education and enhance evidence-based socket design. The method could be used to predict design features for newly presenting patients, based on categorisations of their limb shape and other demographics, implemented alongside expert clinical judgement as smart CAD/CAM design templates.

Preservation of cultural relics is crucial for cultural sustainability, particularly in the case of cave temples, which are a unique and immovable part of our heritage, nested within mountains. These structures bear immense historical significance and possess considerable economic value, making them vulnerable to criminal activities, notably theft. Establishing a robust physical protection system (PPS) is imperative to safeguard these relics from potential damage. This paper proposes a novel approach for assessing the vulnerability of cave temples\' PPS. Based on the fuzzy Petri net (FPN) principle, a comprehensive vulnerability assessment index system was developed within the PPS framework, considering the unique characteristics of cave temples. This study refines the formal definition of the FPN, enhancing its precision and effectiveness for vulnerability assessment. The practicality and effectiveness of the proposed method are verified through simulation experiments. An illustrative example is provided to demonstrate this approach.

UNASSIGNED: The vocational guidance process in educational institutions faces important challenges in managing trials and errors in diagnoses. Technological tools are identified as an effective solution to address these problems. This research seeks to improve career guidance in educational institutions through the implementation of an expert system. The main objective is to reduce test processing time and achieve greater efficiency in students\' self-knowledge regarding their interests, based on the personalities of the Holland Test.
UNASSIGNED: The development of the expert system followed a six-model approach. First, an organisational model was created to assess the scope and feasibility of the project. Next, a task and agent model was developed to investigate the impact and look for improvements. A knowledge model was then developed to analyse the relevant knowledge bases. A communication model was also developed to evaluate the communication interface of the system. Next, a design model was created to provide guidelines for the implementation of the system. Finally, the implementation of the knowledge system was carried out to ensure its correct functioning.
UNASSIGNED: The implementation of the expert system has shown significant improvements in the vocational guidance process. It was possible to reduce the time needed to apply the test, thus optimising the psychologist\'s time and allowing a greater capacity for analysis. In addition, an improvement in the effectiveness of the students\' self-knowledge in relation to their vocational interests based on the personalities of the Holland Test was observed.
UNASSIGNED: This study contributes to career guidance in educational institutions by introducing an innovative expert system. This technological solution optimizes the career guidance process, benefiting psychologists administering tests and students seeking self-knowledge about their career interests.

UNASSIGNED: To compare the laboratory tests conducted in real-life settings for patients with anemia with the expected prescriptions derived from an optimal checkup.
UNASSIGNED: A panel of experts formulated an \"optimal laboratory test assessment\" specific to each anemia profile. A retrospective analysis was done of the laboratory tests conducted according to the type of anemia (microcytic, normocytic or macrocytic). Using an algorithmic system, the laboratory tests performed in real-life practice were compared with the recommendations suggested in the \"optimal laboratory test assessment\" and with seemingly \"unnecessary\" laboratory tests.
UNASSIGNED: In the analysis of the \"optimal laboratory test assessment\", of the 1179 patients with microcytic anemia, 269 (22.8%) had had one of the three tests recommended by the expert system, and only 33 (2.8%) had all three tests. For normocytic anemia, 1054 of 2313 patients (45.6%) had one of the eleven recommended tests, and none had all eleven. Of the 384 patients with macrocytic anemia, 196 (51%) had one of the four recommended tests, and none had all four. In the analysis of \"unnecessary laboratory tests\", one lab test was unnecessarily done in 727/3876 patients (18.8%), i.e. 339 of 1179 (28.8%) microcytic, 171 of 2313 (7.4%) normocytic, and 217 of 384 (56.5 %) macrocytic anemias.
UNASSIGNED: Laboratory investigations of anemia remain imperfect as more than half of the cases did not receive the expected tests. Analyzing other diagnostic domains, the authors are currently developing an artificial intelligence system to assist physicians in enhancing the efficiency of their laboratory test prescriptions.

UNASSIGNED: Maternal complications are health challenges linked to pregnancy, encompassing conditions like gestational diabetes, maternal sepsis, sexually transmitted diseases, obesity, anemia, urinary tract infections, hypertension, and heart disease. The diagnosis of common pregnancy complications is challenging due to the similarity in signs and symptoms with general pregnancy indicators, especially in settings with scarce resources where access to healthcare professionals, diagnostic tools, and patient record management is limited. This paper presents a rule-based expert system tailored for diagnosing three prevalent maternal complications: preeclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and maternal sepsis.
UNASSIGNED: The risk factors associated with each disease were identified from various sources, including local health facilities and literature reviews. Attributes and rules were then formulated for diagnosing the disease, with a Mamdani-style fuzzy inference system serving as the inference engine. To enhance usability and accessibility, a web-based user interface has been also developed for the expert system. This interface allows users to interact with the system seamlessly, making it easy for them to input relevant information and obtain accurate disease diagnose.
UNASSIGNED: The proposed expert system demonstrated a 94% accuracy rate in identifying the three maternal complications (preeclampsia, GDM, and maternal sepsis) using a set of risk factors. The system was deployed to a custom-designed web-based user interface to improve ease of use.
UNASSIGNED: With the potential to support health services provided during antenatal care visits and improve pregnant women\'s health outcomes, this system can be a significant advancement in low-resource setting maternal healthcare.

BACKGROUND: Menopause is a period of women\'s life that has the especial physical, psychological and social challenges. So provision of an effective, practical and affordable way for meeting women\'s related needs is important. In addition, women should be able to incorporate such programs into their daily work. Considering the dearth of suitable services in this regard, this study will be conducted with the aim of designing, validating and evaluating the \"Healthy Menopause\" expert system on the management of menopausal symptoms.
METHODS: A mixed methods exploratory design will be used to conduct this study in 3 phases. The first phase is a qualitative conventional content analysis study with purposes of exploring the women\'s experience of menopausal symptoms and extracting their needs, and collecting data about their expectations from a healthy menopause expert system.. The purposive sampling (In his phase data will be gathered through interviewing menopaused women aged 40 to 60 years old and other persons that have rich information in this regard and will be continued until data saturation. The second phase includes designing a healthy menopause expert system in this stage, the needs will be extracted from the qualitative findings along with a comprehensive literature review. The extracted needs will be again confirmed by the participants. Then, through a participatory approach (Participatory Design) using nominal group or Delphi technique the experts\' opinion about the priority needs of menopaused women and related solutions will be explored based on the categories of identified needs. Such findings will be used to design a healthy menopause expert system at this stage. The third phase of study is a quantitative research in which the evaluation of the healthy menopause expert system will be done through a randomized controlled clinical trial with the aim of determining the effect of the healthy menopause expert system on the management of menopause symptoms by menopausal women themselves.
CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study that uses a mixed method approach for designing, validating and evaluating of the expert system \"Healthy Menopause\". This study will fill the research gap in the field of improving menopausal symptoms and designing a healthy menopause expert system based on the needs of the large group of menopause women. We hope that by applying this expert system, the menopausal women be empowered to management and improving their health with an easy and affordable manner.
Menopause is a period of women’s life that has the especial physical, psychological and social challenges. So provision of an effective, easy for use and affordable way for managing related problems and meeting related needs is important. Menopause is a period of women’s life that has physical, psychological and social consequences. It is important to identify methods that are effective, practical and affordable. New technologies can increase women’s ability to access educational information. This is the first study for designing, validating and evaluating of the expert system “Healthy Menopause”. A mixed methods exploratory design will be used to conduct this study in 3 phases. The first phase (qualitative): The conventional content analysis method will be used. The second phase: Designing a healthy menopause expert system: It is based on the codes of women’s challenges from the first phase, along with conducting interviews and literature review. The participatory approach (Participatory Design) through nominal group or if needed, Delphi method based on the categories of needs and solutions by considering the opinions of the participants, available experts related to this issue will be listed. It should be used to design a healthy menopause expert system at this stage. The third phase (quantitative): The evaluation of the healthy menopause expert system will be a randomized clinical trial that determine the effect of the healthy menopause expert system on the management of menopause symptoms. In the present study an expert system (ES) will be designed that can be installed on mobile phones and computers. This tool is not only educational but also interactively helps to adapt to continuous changes, so by asking questions about menopause the system will respond as if an expert (midwife or gynecologist) is giving advice.

Owing to structural-level, interpersonal-level, and individual-level barriers, Latino men have disproportionately high rates of physical inactivity and experience related chronic diseases. Despite these disparities, few physical activity (PA) interventions are culturally targeted for Latino men.
This study reported the feasibility and acceptability of Hombres Saludables PA intervention for Latino men. We also reported the preliminary efficacy of the intervention on PA change and provided the results of the exploratory moderator and mediator analysis.
We completed a 6-month, single-blind, pilot randomized controlled trial of Hombres Saludables with Latino men aged between 18 and 65 years. Men were randomized to either (1) a theory-driven, individually tailored, internet-based and SMS text message-based, Spanish-language PA intervention arm or (2) a nutrition and wellness attention contact control arm that was also delivered via the web and SMS text message. We assessed the primary study outcomes of feasibility using participant retention and acceptability using postintervention survey and open-ended interview questions. We measured the preliminary efficacy via change in minutes of moderate to vigorous PA per week using ActiGraph wGT3X-BT accelerometry (primary measure) and self-reported minutes per week using 7-day Physical Activity Recall. Participants completed the assessments at study enrollment and after 6 months.
The 38 participants were predominantly Dominican (n=8, 21%) or Guatemalan (n=5, 13%), and the mean age was 38.6 (SD 12.43) years. Retention rates were 91% (21/23) for the PA intervention arm and 100% (15/15) for the control arm. Overall, 95% (19/20) of the intervention arm participants reported that the Hombres study was somewhat to very helpful in getting them to be more physically active. Accelerometry results indicated that participants in the intervention group increased their PA from a median of 13 minutes per week at study enrollment to 34 minutes per week at 6 months, whereas the control group participants showed no increases. On the basis of self-reports, the intervention group was more likely to meet the US PA guidelines of 150 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous PA at 6-month follow-up, with 42% (8/19) of the intervention participants meeting the PA guidelines versus 27% (4/15) of the control participants (odds ratio 3.22, 95% CI 0.95-13.69). Exploratory analyses suggested conditional effects on PA outcomes based on baseline stage of motivational readiness, employment, and neighborhood safety.
The PA intervention demonstrated feasibility and acceptability. Results of this pilot study indicate that the Hombres Saludables intervention is promising for increasing PA in Latino men and suggest that a fully powered trial is warranted. Our technology-based PA intervention provides a potentially scalable approach that can improve health in a population that is disproportionately affected by low PA and related chronic disease.
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03196570; https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03196570.
RR2-10.2196/23690.

The paediatric orthopaedic expert system analyses and predicts the healing time of limb fractures in children using machine learning. As far we know, no published research on the paediatric orthopaedic expert system that predicts paediatric fracture healing time using machine learning has been published. The University Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) offers paediatric orthopaedic data, comprises children under the age of 12 radiographs limb fractures with ages recorded from the date and time of initial trauma. SVR algorithms are used to predict and discover variables associated with fracture healing time. This study developed an expert system capable of predicting healing time, which can assist general practitioners and healthcare practitioners during treatment and follow-up. The system is available online at https://kidsfractureexpert.com/.

BACKGROUND: Comprehensive models of survivorship care are necessary to improve access to and coordination of care. New models of care provide the opportunity to address the complexity of physical and psychosocial problems and long-term health needs experienced by patients following cancer treatment.
OBJECTIVE: This paper presents our expert-informed, rules-based survivorship algorithm to build a nurse-led model of survivorship care to support men living with prostate cancer (PCa). The algorithm is called No Evidence of Disease (Ned) and supports timelier decision-making, enhanced safety, and continuity of care.
METHODS: An initial rule set was developed and refined through working groups with clinical experts across Canada (eg, nurse experts, physician experts, and scientists; n=20), and patient partners (n=3). Algorithm priorities were defined through a multidisciplinary consensus meeting with clinical nurse specialists, nurse scientists, nurse practitioners, urologic oncologists, urologists, and radiation oncologists (n=17). The system was refined and validated using the nominal group technique.
RESULTS: Four levels of alert classification were established, initiated by responses on the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite for Clinical Practice survey, and mediated by changes in minimal clinically important different alert thresholds, alert history, and clinical urgency with patient autonomy influencing clinical acuity. Patient autonomy was supported through tailored education as a first line of response, and alert escalation depending on a patient-initiated request for a nurse consultation.
CONCLUSIONS: The Ned algorithm is positioned to facilitate PCa nurse-led care models with a high nurse-to-patient ratio. This novel expert-informed PCa survivorship care algorithm contains a defined escalation pathway for clinically urgent symptoms while honoring patient preference. Though further validation is required through a pragmatic trial, we anticipate the Ned algorithm will support timelier decision-making and enhance continuity of care through the automation of more frequent automated checkpoints, while empowering patients to self-manage their symptoms more effectively than standard care.
UNASSIGNED: RR2-10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045806.