Logo IIIS


International Institute of
Informatics and Systemics

Proceedings of the 15th International Multi-Conference on
Complexity, Informatics and Cybernetics: IMCIC 2024

PAPERS


A Customer Service Chatbot Using Python, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence

Ebsen, Ty; Segall, Richard S.; Aboudja, Hyacinthe; Berleant, Daniel (United States)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.148

ABSTRACT:
This report shows that with the most recent advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) using generative-pretrained transformers, we can develop robust AI applications to assist customer service departments with question answer systems. This paper addresses the question answering task using an OpenAI Application Programming Interface (API). This report examines how to create an AI question answering application from documents that generated correct answers to questions about those documents. We used two different approaches to create the question answering system. One was to use just the OpenAI API. The other was to use the LangChain framework and libraries. Both applications did answer questions correctly. LangChain used less code with a higher learning curve. The OpenAI API used more code and provided more detailed answers.

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A Passive Assessment of Homecare Need with a Rasch Model

Bouchet, Pierre; Toinard, Christian; Jacquot, Sophie (France)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.40

ABSTRACT:
This article proposes a new way of passively assessing homecare need for older people living at home. The main advantage is to provide a precise measure with a limited effort for the caregivers. Research proposition is based on a Rasch model that uses available daily activities of care, which are performed by the professional caregivers. The proposed approach follows the idea of a precision and personalized care where the collected data provide a dedicated measure for the recipient’s homecare needs. Then from the latter, the recipient’s autonomy can be approached. Data from 531 recipients were used. They are collected by a French company providing a Cloud service hosting different homecare services. The proposed Rasch model aims at completing the available geriatric level of autonomy (GIR) in order to have a precise and continuous evaluation of the autonomy. No significant misfit appeared on the considered items of the Rasch model. Thus, a satisfying Rasch model is proposed for the different GIR levels showing a consistent relation with this widespread scale. The proposed assessment enables a continuous evaluation of the evolution of the loss of autonomy for each recipient through the assessment of each recipient’s homecare need. Moreover, it provides a wide range of uses and is a good starting point to bring forth new indicators towards a precision care. Indeed, our assessment is more responsive but dependent on the GIR scale. For example, a changepoint detection on a recipient’s need curve can open discussions amongst the various stakeholders and thus new means of care can be submitted regarding the evolution of autonomy. This approach’s purpose is to help the stakeholders, especially the professional caregivers, to adapt their action plan. It addresses the complexity of having better indicators for the caregiving needs of older persons living at home.

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Advancements in Digital Twin Application in the Metalforming Industry: State of the Art and Challenges

Brandão Júnior, Paulo S.; Shigaki, Yukio (Brazil)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.46

ABSTRACT:
The application of Digital Twin in the metalforming industry has proven promising in enhancing procedural control and predictive maintenance. A Digital Twin is a digital replica of a physical system used to predict behaviors and optimize processes. Key challenges faced include the acquisition and quality of production data, validation of the digital environment and the reliability of results, as well as system automation, which can be hindered by the dynamic nature of physical processes. Thus, the main objective of this study is to develop an architecture that can act in the automation of the DT. This article presents the state of the art of Digital Twin (DT) technology in the metalforming industry, highlighting its growth and diverse applications in intelligent manufacturing, predictive maintenance, and structural analysis. Additionally, it proposes a Digital Twin architecture for fault prediction and process control in the forming industry, considering data acquisition and quality, digital environment validation, and system automation as the main challenges to be addressed. In the proposed architecture, the inferential base distinguishes itself, contributing to the system operating autonomously through four stages: perception, cognition, decision, and execution.

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An Assessment of Voice Quality and QoS in Real VoIP Calls Using Multiple Voice Codecs

Ortega Ortega, Martín; Ortega Ortega, Josué (Ecuador)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.79

ABSTRACT:
To get an excellent voice quality in Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls you need to analyze and evaluate the perception that the user has in these calls, in addition to their Quality of Service (QoS). Thus, the analysis of the Mean Opinion Score (MOS) and the technical theoretical values of QoS, such as latency, jitter, and packet loss, were carried out in this research. For this we used different case scenarios based on the Intra-Wireless Local Area Network (Intra-WLAN) belonging to the institution of higher education in Ecuador, where the present research work was carried out, using also an External WLAN or a plan of Internet services and mobile data. In the case scenarios, real VoIP calls were made, of which 64 were documented. These calls were made through three softphone applications with Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) accounts installed in two terminal equipment (smartphones). Within the three applications, the following 8 voice codecs were configured: G.711u, G.711a, G.722 (wideband), G.726-32 (between wideband and narrowband), and GSM 06.10, G.729, Speex-8 and iLBC-13.33 (narrowband). In the tests performed during VoIP calls regarding MOS and QoS, the best result was obtained with the iLBC-13.33 codec.

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Analyzing Spatiotemporal Congestion Value on Urban Road Networks Based on Taxi GPS Data

Alshikhe, Rania *; Jindal, Vinita **; Harland, James * (* Australia, ** India)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.32

ABSTRACT:
Traffic congestion poses significant challenges, impacting travel times, decreasing fuel efficiency, and intensifying air pollution. Consequently, individuals face difficulties in punctually reaching work or school, while the increased fuel consumption contributes to elevated gas prices. Furthermore, air pollution arising from congestion leads to various health complications. This paper provides a spatiotemporal congestion analysis, the level of traffic congestion in a specific area is evaluated and understood for a specific time. Furthermore, this paper proposed the Road Congestion Matrix (RCM) which provides a novel definition of traffic congestion as that vehicle traffic flow on road networks involves the movement of vehicles on individual road segments. In the proposed method, we consider the congestion value for each edge. As a result, congested edges can be obtained within the given amount of time. Based on the congestion value of the road segment itself, we expect the answer to be able to identify the congested seed of traffic diffusion. In addition, since most exits are two-way roads, the proposed algorithm also takes into account the properties of the road segment facing in the opposite direction with considering the local and global thresholds on the proposed model. This study illustrates the effectiveness of our method by using real GPS taxi data and providing detailed analysis of the results.

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Application of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the Planning and Construction of a Building

Baracho, Renata Maria Abrantes; Santiago, Luiz Gustavo da Silva; Silva, Antonio Tagore Assumpção Mendoza e; Porto, Marcelo Franco (Brazil)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.216

ABSTRACT:
This paper aims to introduce Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology into the process of construction to achieve more efficient buildings, considering sustainability, economic improvements, reduced waste, and time optimization. The study involves the design, 3D modeling, planning, and monitoring of the work to assess the advantages and limitations of BIM through a real simulation. The methodology comprises theoretical foundations, 3D modeling, budgeting, and work monitoring. The project commenced with a 2D blueprint using Autodesk AutoCAD, followed by 3D modeling in Autodesk Revit. The resultant building, serving as an information system with a database and 3D modeling, allows for automated budgeting. The advantages of BIM encompass an interface between project and program, an interface between software, realistic renderings, precise material specifications, and family modeling. Limitations include the absence of material families, reformatting of Autodesk Revit tables when transferred to the Microsoft Excel program, generic family models with distorted renderings of reality, and heavy files. Despite these limitations, the implementation of BIM in buildings proves beneficial for projects. Collaborative work among stakeholders, optimization of project stages, and the reduction of expenses and rework can be achieved.

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Applying Intelligent System to Sandplay Psychological Status Detection – Transdisciplinary Collaboration

Wu, Yung Gi; Chen, Jwu Jenq; Xie, Jia Ying (Taiwan)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.95

ABSTRACT:
Sandplay psychotherapy, employing sand, water, and miniatures, facilitates the non-verbal expression of clients' inner worlds. Challenges include a lack of standardized tools and interpretation difficulties. Applying intelligent systems addresses these, enhancing assessment accuracy, providing feedback, and reducing training costs. Transdisciplinary collaboration is essential, merging psychology, computer science, and art. Our project integrates AI into sandplay diagnosis, aiming for improved therapeutic outcomes.

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Behind the Numbers: Decoding the Victimization Rate in Albania and Advocating for a Data Revolution

Rokaj, Iv; Leka, Adrian (Albania)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.297

ABSTRACT:
This paper is an effort to explore three important dimensions of victimological research in Albania. Firstly, it investigates the conceptualization of the victim within the Albanian legal system and its evolution. Secondly, the paper critically examines the availability and reliability of victimization statistics in Albania, assessing current data completeness and areas for improvement. Lastly, it conducts an in-depth analysis of relevant statistics to detect victimization patterns and associated risks, providing meaningful insights into the dynamics of victimization in the Albanian context. The combined analysis of these aspects highlights the challenges posed by the scarcity of victimization data. Territorial disparities, demographic influences, and a detailed analysis of crime categories contribute to unveiling what is known about victimhood in Albania, making this the first research of this kind to be conducted in Albania. The paper advocates for a data revolution, underscoring the importance of improved data collection and reporting practices to inform effective interventions and policies in Albania's dynamic landscape. Thus, the paper offers a comprehensive perspective on victimological research in Albania, laying the groundwork for informed policies in the evolving landscape of crime and victimhood in the country.

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Benefits of Effective Root Cause Analysis in Software Testing

Nenov, Hristo; Djambazoff, Phil (Bulgaria)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.70

ABSTRACT:
This article describes the problematic reality of software error investigation, and its short and long-term financial burden [1]. The short-term financial aspect includes the cost involved in completing the software error [2] investigation concerning a single issue. The long-term financial weight pays attention on metrics, such as software stability in production environment, user’s churn rate probability of increase, potential disapproval of investment, etc.
The proposed solution is enclosed in a simple testing approach [3], which is based on a multi-layer validation technic [4] within a single runtime session.

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Business Intelligence (BI) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Tools in a Coordinated Strategy for Handling and Controlling Outbreaks of African Swine Fever

Nalesso, Giacomo; Urbani, Rachele; Tassinato, Clara; Tregnaghi, Vittoria; Mazzucato, Matteo; Trolese, Matteo; Lorenzetto, Monica; Rizzo, Simone; Mulatti, Paolo; Di Martino, Guido; Manca, Grazia (Italy)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.294

ABSTRACT:
African Swine Fever (ASF), a severe swine disease with potential zoonotic implications, historically limited to Sardinia in Italy since 1978, made its mainland debut in January 2022, raising concerns. The genotype found in northwest Italy (genotype II) differs from the Sardinian strain (genotype I). By January 2024, the epidemic had escalated, with 1435 wild boar cases and 21 domestic pig outbreaks reported [6]. The Epidemiology department of the "Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie" (IZSVe) responded with innovative tools. These included a comprehensive data warehouse, integrating farm, processing centre, and slaughterhouse data with Laboratory Information Management Systems and geospatial information. Additionally, an "African Swine Fever/Manager" (ASF-Manager) tracked outbreak specifics, while "IZSVe GIS African Swine Fever" (IZSVeGIS-ASF) provided real-time monitoring and support for control measures. IZSVeGIS-ASF facilitates spatial analysis and filtering of data, offering insights into animal demographics and premises characteristics. Currently exclusive to IZSVe's Epidemiology department, efforts are underway to expand access to local and regional veterinary services, fostering collaborative ASF management. Ongoing enhancements aim to optimize functionality and broaden utilization during ASF outbreaks.

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Business Processes in the Artificial Transformation of Industry 5.0

Babica, Viktorija; Sceulovs, Deniss (Latvia)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.170

ABSTRACT:
In the realm of industrial evolution, the emergence of the Fifth Industrial Revolution (Industry 5.0) has sparked scholarly discourse since 2017, merely six years after the widespread recognition of Industry 4.0. Industry 5.0 emerges as a response to the mechanistic tendencies of Industry 4.0, aiming to introduce a more humanistic approach to address global challenges. However, this evolution is controversial, particularly concerning its relationship with its predecessor, Industry 4.0. Authors have meticulously charted a map highlighting the most pivotal elements of each industrial revolution, spanning from the third to the sixth. This study endeavours to scrutinise and differentiate the implications and significance of technologies and methodologies advocated by the Industry 5.0 paradigm on business processes while concurrently delineating synthetic transformation.

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Cell Sorting Using Diagonal Bottom Grooves in Microchannel

Yamamoto, Kota; Hashimoto, Shigehiro (Japan)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.27

ABSTRACT:
Cell shape and deformability are related to cell function. For the purpose of cell sorting, a channel with diagonal grooves on the bottom was designed. Cells suspension was poured into a channel created by micromachining, and cell sorting according to size was confirmed. Based on the experimental results, a microchannel for cell sorting using diagonal bottom grooves in microchannel was proposed.

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Control of Biological Cell Orientation on Scaffold

Saito, Keisuke; Hashimoto, Shigehiro (Japan)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.14

ABSTRACT:
Individual cells have directionality. Cell orientation leads to tissue orientation. The orientation of cells and tissues is related to their functions. Cell orientation depends on neighboring cells and the surrounding environment: mechanical fields (gravity, fluid force), electric fields, magnetic fields, scaffolding, etc. Methods for controlling the direction of cells include waves and light. This paper introduces the latest research results on cell orientation control by type (micropattern, electric field, ultrasound, magnetic field) and discusses future research directions. A method that combines electrical stimulation and ultrasound stimulation is advantageous from the viewpoint of non-contact and minimally invasive methods. Application to multiple types of cells and tissue formation is desired.

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Cyber Risks: Systematic Literature Analysis

Bahmanova, Alona; Lace, Natalja (Latvia)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.177

ABSTRACT:
This systematic literature review focuses on the digitalization theme and its associated risks, particularly cyber risks. Conducted through a comprehensive exploration of the Scopus database over two decades, employing keywords such as "digitalization," "digitization," and "digital risks," this research aimed to understand the evolution of terminology and scholarly discourse in this domain. The investigation initially targeted "digital risks" but shifted towards keywords like "cyber risks," "cybersecurity," and "cyber resilience" to reflect the changing landscape. The review traces the origins of the often-employed keyword "industry 4.0" and its impact on research interests, prompting a focus on more recent publications due to the rapid pace of development in the field. The study follows a structured process for systematic literature review, providing insights into researchers' perceptions, challenges, and approaches in addressing cyber risks and related concepts. Each section of the study offers a concise overview based on the findings in published articles, contributing to a deeper understanding of cyber risks across interdisciplinary perspectives.

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D-CIDE: An Interactive Code Learning Program

Grant, Lukas; Tennyson, Matthew F.; Owen, Jason (United States)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.245

ABSTRACT:
This paper introduces D-CIDE (Distributed Classroom Integrated Development Environment), a tool that is designed to improve student-teacher interactions in programming classes. D-CIDE’s main objective is to provide more meaningful interactions between teachers and students. Its goal is to create a more seamless and interactive learning environment for everyone who uses it. D-CIDE is a distributed integrated development environment (IDE), where the teacher (host) can manage and interact with the IDEs of all students (clients). It makes use of server-client interactions to allow live sharing and editing of code, making it a useful tool for demonstrating coding techniques and quickly addressing student questions. The front-end was developed using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and provides a way for the students and teachers to interact with each other. The back-end is made with JavaScript and NodeJS and handles data processing and transmission. The effectiveness of D-CIDE was analyzed through a classroom case study involving a small group of students. The study measured students' engagement, enjoyment, and learning outcomes using D-CIDE compared to traditional teaching methods. Results indicated an increase in student engagement and satisfaction when D-CIDE was used, as well as an improvement in students' learning experiences.

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Deep Learning for Predicting Cerebral Metabolism Changes Along the Alzheimer’s Disease Continuum

García-Gutiérrez, Fernando; Hernández-Lorenzo, Laura; Cabrera-Martín, María Nieves; Matias-Guiu, Jordi A.; Ayala, José L. (Spain)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.115

ABSTRACT:
In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) techniques in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, current research primarily focuses on differentiating clinical phenotypes based on cross-sectional designs. In this study, we hypothesize that modeling additional aspects of the disease, such as variations in brain metabolism measured by [18F]- fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDGPET), is possible, and can provide valuable insights into AD progression. For this purpose, we first identified the brain regions with the most pronounced brain hypometabolism in AD. Subsequently, Deep Learning (DL) models, based on feed-forward networks (FFNs) and convolutional neural networks (CNNs), were used to model variations in brain metabolism. Our findings demonstrated the feasibility of predicting trends in brain metabolism along the AD continuum. Overall, this study introduces a novel dimension to predictive modeling in AD, highlighting the relevance of predicting variations in brain metabolism.

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Device for Sorting of Biological Cells

Haramura, Ten; Hashimoto, Shigehiro (Japan)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.1

ABSTRACT:
Cells differ by type not only in shape but also in mechanical, electrical, and magnetic properties. Cells can be sorted using these properties. Based on each principle, devices for cell sorting have been designed. This is a technology applied to cell diagnosis and tissue formation promotion. In this research, the advantages and disadvantages of devices have been compared and the direction of future research was discussed. This technology is expected to be applied to the elucidation of cell properties, disease diagnosis, and regenerative medicine.

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Digital Humanities as a Transdisciplinary Communication Paradigm in the Age of AI

Makhachashvili, Rusudan; Semenist, Ivan (Ukraine)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.286

ABSTRACT:
Transformative shifts in the knowledge economy of the XXI century, Industry 4.0 and Web 4.0 development and elaboration of networked society, emergency digitization of all social communicative spheres due to pandemic measures have imposed pressing revisions onto interdisciplinary and cross-sectorial job market demands of university level education, curriculum design and learning outcomes. As a product of modern civilization, digital reality has become an independent format of being. Accordingly, electronic media act not only as a means of transmitting information but also reveal their own world-creating, meaning-making, and, as a consequence, communicative potential. The global digital realm stands as an integral environment, demanding new cognition and perception ways via complex philosophic, cultural, social, and linguistic approaches, providing unlimited opportunities for human intellect, communicative development, and research.
The consequent functional tasks to meet this challenge in the educational sphere worldwide are estimated as 1) to adapt the existent educational scenarios to digital, remote and hybrid formats; 2) to upgrade e-competence and digital literacy of all stakeholders of the educational process and industry; 3) to activate complex interdisciplinary skillsets, otherwise latent or underutilized in the professional interaction; 4) to introduce functional technical solutions for facilitation of formal and informal educational workflow and communication.
The context of the erupted military intervention in Ukraine and the ensuing information warfare in various digital ambients (social media, news coverage, digital communications), the specific value is allocated to the enhanced role of digital humanism as a tool of the internationally broadcast strife for freedom and sovereignty.

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Effect of Periodical Wall Shear Stress on Cultured Cell: Design of Couette Flow Device

Takabe, Yuuki; Hashimoto, Shigehiro (Japan)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.20

ABSTRACT:
Endothelial cells are oriented in the direction of blood flow on the inner wall of blood vessels. Endothelial cells are exposed to pulsatile flow and are subjected to periodic wall shear stress. In this study, a device was designed to apply periodically fluctuating shear stress to cells. A Couette-type flow was generated in the culture medium sandwiched between a rotating disk and a stationary culture plate. By periodically varying the rotational speed of the disk in a rectangular wave pattern, periodically varying shear stress was applied to the culture wall surface. The device was placed in an incubator so that cells in culture could be continuously observed under a microscope while being exposed to a cyclic shear stress field. The flow of the culture medium was measured by tracking the floating cells as tracers. It was confirmed that the flow fluctuated in a rectangular wave pattern following the rotation of the disk. This device allows observation of the behavior of cultured cells under periodic wall shear stress. Research on cellular responses to mechanical stimulation is expected to be applied to regenerative medicine through tissue formation.

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Examining the Social Determinants of Seeking Help for Postpartum Mental Health

Agustin, Antonni Mikela; Briones, Daryl John; Mallari, Miguel Alberto; Ong, Cristyanna Minda; Paboroquez, Annielov; Rufino, Neki Lora; Sanchez, Janna Mikaela; Adarlo, Genejane (Philippines)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.100

ABSTRACT:
Postpartum is a vulnerable period for women's health, and postpartum mental health issues, including postpartum depression, are growing concerns. Despite the increased awareness of mental health, several factors hinder women from seeking help for mental health concerns during the postpartum period. Hence, this qualitative study used the World Health Organization’s Social Determinants of Health Framework to examine the structural and intermediary determinants that shape women’s help-seeking behaviors regarding mental health during the postpartum period. A thematic analysis of interviews with 12 new mothers revealed that the structural determinants of help-seeking behaviors for postpartum mental health include employment status and working conditions as enablers and social perceptions of mental health, societal expectations of motherhood, and financial capabilities as barriers. This study also showed that intermediary determinants that enable help-seeking for postpartum mental health include effective communication, familiarity, informational support, perceptions of formal sources of help, and the severity of the situation. Conversely, hindrances include gaps in communication, inadequate emotional support, fear of being misunderstood, being gossiped about, and being a burden, belief in the responsibilities associated with motherhood, and belief in self-reliance. These findings can be used to develop initiatives to promote postpartum mental health.

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Exploring Programmatic Thinking: Efficient Code Generation in Programming Languages with Generative Artificial Intelligence for System Simulation

More Valencia, Rubén A.; Tume Ruíz, Juan M.; Rangel Vega, Antia; Puicon Zapata, Hoower A.; Saavedra Arango, Moises D. (Peru)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.139

ABSTRACT:
The study on the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, specifically in computational programming languages and system simulation, proposes a procedure as part of a structured process to develop libraries in the R language. In the coding phase, students seek assistance from Generative AI, which generates code while students create instructions to assess its quality.
This iterative approach allows continuous improvements in the code. The evaluation phase involves students working on programming and simulation tasks validated by the instructor, establishing a structured evaluation framework.
During the simulation phase, students analyse the results, collaborating with the instructor to validate their findings. The final stage, reporting and presentation, emphasizes creating additional scenarios to compare and validate models, with students presenting reports to the instructor and showcasing results to the class.
Regarding results, the effectiveness of Generative AI in rapidly and efficiently generating code is highlighted, showing robust adaptability to different programming languages. Instructor evaluations suggest some diversity in the quality of students' work, particularly in code clarity and readability. Students demonstrate strengths in optimizing code efficiency and handling exceptions and errors, showcasing their ability to interact and scale algorithmic knowledge.
The study suggests areas for future research, such as exploring approaches to enhance the clarity and readability of code generated by Generative AI, as well as further optimizing efficiency in the practical application of programming and system simulation through artificial intelligence.

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Face Authentication by Constructing a 3D Face Image from 2D Face Images, and Encoding a Unique Identification

Domb, Menachem; Zadok, Ayelet (Israel)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.65

ABSTRACT:
With the vast spread of automation, the significant demand for communication services, the addition of IoT to the Internet, and the corresponding increase and sophistication in malicious attacks utilizing system vulnerabilities to penetrate systems. Identification and Authentication are heavily used in every access trial towards any electronic resource and communication networks. The traditional approach to coping with such challenges is using passwords, encryption, Secure ID, Firewall, Etc. More safety methods use Biometrics, which suffer from spoofing. The access control market is a fast-growing and highly volatile market that poses significant challenges for investors seeking to make secured decisions. As the market continues to evolve and become more mainstream, there is a growing demand for new identification and authentication technologies. This paper proposes expanding the number of features extracted from a 3D image, with unique features evolved during the generation of the 3D image of the prospect at the access control stage. Experiments support the proposed approach.

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Factors Influencing Positive Financial Performance: The Assessment Given by Latvian Companies

Kasperovica, Ludmila; Lace, Natalja; Ciemleja, Guna (Latvia)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.192

ABSTRACT:
The paper summarises the factors influencing positive financial performance (profit) in the digital age and the dynamic business environment. Based on the qualitative and quantitative literature analysis, 33 dominating financial and non-financial factors were selected, which the authors emphasize as important for sustainable and profitable business development. Web of Science-indexed research papers and a bibliometric analysis were used to assess them. The selected factors were approved and extended. A survey among Latvian businessmen was carried out to assess the practical influence of the specified factors on small and medium-sized companies. The survey involved 77 companies of various sectors and sizes. Turnover is taken as a unit to measure a company's size. In general, the businessmen evaluated the essential influence of the selected factors on the positive financial performance of small and medium-sized companies (profit). However, in additional comments, they specified risks or deeper views of the influence of the factors.

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Financially Effective Intellectual Property Defense Through Secured Remote Testing

Nenov, Hristo; Djambazoff, Phil (Bulgaria)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.75

ABSTRACT:
For a startup, remotely testing their new launching UI (User Interface) feature on a real device might be a concern when it comes to intellectual property rights (IPR) and its safe possession. Today’s approach using a testing farm [1] is not only quite an expensive service, but also the intellectual property defense of the testable content is under a great question mark.
We propose a testing approach with the usage of a reverse proxy mechanism set up against an exposed local port, which will allow us to run tests from any location while keeping the new design and functionality of the launching feature within the physical borders of the startup entity itself.

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From Expert Computational Knowledge to Interdisciplinary Communication

Dokladalova, Eva; Hamouche, Rédha; Kocik, Rémy (France)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.235

ABSTRACT:
In the contemporary landscape, the fields of cybernetics, artificial intelligence, and digital technology significantly impact society, reshaping production processes, decision-making frameworks, and human behaviors. Training engineers with transversal skills becomes imperative to navigate workflow complexities and communicate across these disciplines. We propose a new learning approach structured around expert prerequisites, integrating AI principles dedicated to Embedded Systems engineering track. Our module focuses on creating an autonomous driving vehicle using an autonomous robot kit, fostering interdisciplinary learning. Real-time demonstrations assess learning outcomes, emphasizing problem-solving skills. Inspired from recent evaluation concept of interdisciplinary assessment. Our evaluation criteria emphasize functionality, integrated idea defense, and written reports. The defense organization scheme fosters positive perceptions of interdisciplinary links.

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Geodata Processing Methodology on GIS Platforms When Creating Spatial Development Plans of Territorial Communities: Case of Ukraine

Kopishynska, Olena; Utkin, Yurii; Sliusar, Ihor; Flehantov, Leonid; Somych, Mykola; Yakovlieva, Oksana; Scryl, Olena (Ukraine)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.251

ABSTRACT:
The article offers a detailed expert analysis on handling spatial information of territorial communities amid administrative and land reforms. The authors have developed multiple methodological recommendations and justified the selection of efficient tools for contemporary GIS systems. It also delves into the essence of GIS technologies, the nuances of working with geodata, and provides a concise overview of the world's most prevalent GIS platforms. The paper outlines an algorithm for developing a land resource management strategy for communities in preparation for land reform. Through the analysis and visualization of spatial data, the paper highlights enhancements in economic valuation and the ability to pinpoint risks and infringements of property rights.
The study selects the Cadastr.UA system on the Soft.Farm platform, developed by Ukrainian company Quart Soft, as a notably user-friendly and promising GIS for land accounting and auditing. Research based on the experimental practical application of most functions of GIS Cadastr.UA indicates that this system aligns well with the needs for land plot accounting and auditing within the framework of Ukraine's Public cadastral map. The paper details the practical implementation of GIS technologies, using Cadastr.UA as a case study, and illustrates how to employ selected GIS tools in various scenarios and tasks.

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How to Link Educational Purposes and Immersive Video Games Development? An Ontological Approach Proposal

Aky, Nathan (France)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.208

ABSTRACT:
Video games offer a interesting approach for enhancing educational experiences across various domains. Whether repurposing existing games, such as Sim City for teaching budget management, or developing dedicated serious games, they enrich the spectrum of educational resources available.
Nevertheless, creating immersive gaming and learning environments presents challenges. The absence of consensus on comprehensive tools or models poses an initial hurdle. Furthermore, designing such experiences entails intricate considerations, including multidisciplinary collaboration and the inherent complexity of open nature of learning experiences.
Our proposed ontology addresses these challenges by integrating concepts from education, immersive game design, and virtual environments. This integration facilitates the alignment of learning objectives with game-design elements, leveraging the multi-agent systems paradigm for coherence.
Serving as a semantic hub, our ontology enhances communication among interdisciplinary teams by employing clearly defined terms. Additionally, it provides a robust conceptual framework to navigate the complexity inherent in educational game development.
We assess the efficacy of our ontology by instantiating it with several existing games or game engine. This instantiation validates its expressiveness and completeness, while logical consistency is confirmed through inference engine verification. Through these efforts, our ontology emerges as a valuable tool for advancing the design and development of educational video games.

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How to Overcome the Challenges Faced to Enhance the Efficiency of Islamic Banking in the Asian Region

Mehmood, Khalid; Oganisjana, Karine; Lace, Natalja (Latvia)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.200

ABSTRACT:
Islamic banking (IB) has emerged as an essential part of the global banking network. Despite the rapid rise of Asian Islamic banking, previous research has largely focused on Islamic banks in specific countries. This study aims to fill the gap in the literature by proposing ways to solve the issues faced by Islamic banks in the Asian region. In this study, the methodology employed was qualitative content analysis. Researchers collected qualitative data from scientific literature written by Muslim and non-Muslim authors. This approach systematically analyses textual content, integrating qualitative and quantitative aspects. The paper covered various potential solutions for the betterment of Islamic banks, introducing innovative products, standardizing Sharia governance, modernizing financial policies and marketing strategies, and developing a strong alliance with Conventional banks (CB) and other organizations, which will enhance the effectiveness and growth of Islamic banks. In addition to these solutions, the study acknowledges that other solutions also develop the establishment and expansion of Islamic banking in the region. Identifying and onboarding these solutions will help stakeholders and policymakers in Islamic banking implement effective strategies and policies to address today’s most pressing challenges and prepare for and prevent the challenges of tomorrow.

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Identifying the Features of Graduated Students of the Computer Science Degree of the National University of Asuncion

Roman Mancuello, Jesus Gabriel; Rios Alvarez, Luis Fernando; Paciello Coronel, Julio Manuel; Mendez Xavier, Ellen Lujan; Von Lucken Martinez, Christian Daniel (Paraguay)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.89

ABSTRACT:
This study addresses identifying characteristics of graduated Computer Science students in Paraguay. Using Data Mining (DM) and Educational Data Mining (EDM) techniques, data from 1751 students was analyzed, uncovering patterns and crucial factors that influence student success. Attribute selection techniques, including ANOVA and Chi-Square Test of Independence, were implemented, significantly reducing the dataset and increasing the precision of the analysis. Machine learning algorithms were employed within the H20 framework, focusing on supervised models. The experiments showed that appropriate attribute selection notably improves performance, achieving an F1 metric of up to 80% for predicting student graduation. This work highlights the importance of analyzing academic data to better understand the factors contributing to the success of computer science students, proposing a model that can be a valuable tool for decision-making in the educational field.

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Information Literacy, Information Transparency and Information Accessibility – Distinctive Features of Cyber Security

Denchev, Stoyan; Peteva, Irena; Yordanova, Steliana (Bulgaria)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.145

ABSTRACT:
The study analyzes the concept of security, and the distinctive characteristics of this concept in particular, related to information literacy and to the opportunities to access various information intended for public use. Based on existing theories on security, perceived as a building block and a logical state of society, a natural pattern is analyzed, associated with the level of information literacy of specialists who study security issues. This pattern occurs primarily in the depths of the conclusions in the process of the category definition and redefinition of the topics, related to the regulatory function of cyber security in the process of building and developing a culture of information transparency.
Background and problem oriented conclusions.
The category of "security" has been researched as a universal category, reflecting the essential aspects of existence of natural and social systems, mainly related to the measure and the transition from one situation to another of the respective tangible and intangible systems [5]. The study is based on the main thesis that without the acquiring, availability, development and practical use of respective levels of information literacy, the so-called security professionals demean the category "security" itself and turn it into a label and declarative concept, which gradually passes on to the "dead zone" of scientific knowledge. The study pays special attention to the regulating function of security. From this position fusion between the desires and the possibilities for total transparency is made, a transparency accomplished on the basis of high level of information literacy, unrestricted access to public information and the necessary regulatory activities of the state, ensuring the appropriate degree of general and cyber security on a national, regional or international level.
Results.
Analyzed problems give reason to sum up that acquiring knowledge and skills in the field of security necessarily requires reaching maximum levels of information literacy, which permanently transform into information competency. As a result, basic and upgraded knowledge is synthesized. Every specialist on security issues, depending on their professional orientation, must possess this knowledge in order to be functionally literate. Of course, this basic and upgraded knowledge, as conceptualization of the functional literacy, should be differentiated depending on the narrow experience and professional qualifications of specialists involved in the process.

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Integrating Generative AI in Active Learning Environments: Enhancing Metacognition and Technological Skills

ElSayary, Areej (United Arab Emirates)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.135

ABSTRACT:
This paper explores the innovative integration of Generative AI (GenAI) in active learning environments to augment metacognitive knowledge and technological skill development among students. While active learning has been pivotal in promoting student engagement and learning, the incorporation of GenAI presents a novel approach to further enhance these outcomes. The study investigates how GenAI tools can be utilized within a reflective practice model to bolster metacognitive regulation and technological proficiency. By discussing the synergistic relationship between GenAI, active learning, and metacognitive strategies, this paper provides insights into the evolving landscape of educational technology and its impact on student learning processes. The paper offers a theoretical framework based on established concepts in metacognition, active learning, reflective practice, and technological skills, contextualized within the realm of GenAI. This paper contributes to the understanding of how GenAI can be harnessed as an educational tool, facilitating deeper and more effective learning experiences.

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Interdisciplinarity in Smart Systems Applied to Rural School Transport in Brazil

Baracho, Renata Maria Abrantes; Vidigal, Mozart Joaquim Magalhães; Porto, Marcelo Franco; Couto, Beatriz (Brazil)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.222

ABSTRACT:
Interdisciplinarity applied to rural transport in Brazil through expert systems is the focus of this paper. Rural school transport is a challenge, considering the size of Brazil, the great diversity of biomes and insufficient infrastructure. Collaboration between areas by interdisciplinarity articulates individual knowledge through the object and by transdisciplinarity requires developing new knowledge, based on an individual area, going beyond and extrapolating with different criteria. The “Transcolar Rural” intelligent transport system has been developed at the UFMG School of Engineering to plan and manage rural school transport by optimizing routes and costs. The system is used in 13 states in Brazil, 500 municipalities and manages the daily transport of more than 400 thousand students in rural areas. Reducing transportation costs allows resources to be reallocated to other educational activities. The project highlights Brazil's limited resources, recognized by the government, to meet the population's health, education and transport priorities. Transparent information helps managers make decisions and supervise citizens, allowing both parties to determine priorities for resource allocation. The Project demonstrates how interdisciplinarity is effective for complex problems. The project comprehensively addresses the challenges of transporting children in Brazil by integrating technology, exact sciences and applied social sciences.

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Interdisciplinary Digital Skills Development for Educational Communication: Emergency and Ai-Enhanced Digitization

Makhachashvili, Rusudan; Semenist, Ivan; Prihodko, Ganna; Kolegaeva, Irina; Prykhodchenko, Olexandra; Tupakhina, Olena (Ukraine)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.281

ABSTRACT:
The wartime emergency induced amplified digitalization measures in the higher education sphere, informed by the need to take quick comprehensive action in order to achieve the overarching result to transform educational scenarios into interdisciplinary digital, blended, and hybrid frameworks. Taking into account the context of the erupted military intervention on Ukraine in February 2022, and the ensuing information warfare in various digital environments (social media, news coverage, digital communications), the specific value of the learning outcomes and outputs is allocated to the digitally enhanced foreign languages education as a tool of the internationally broadcast strife of Ukraine for freedom and sovereignty. The study results disclose the comprehensive review of dynamics of the metadigital skills development and application to construe interdisciplinary competencies of students of European (English, Spanish, French, Italian, German) and Asian (Mandarin Chinese, Japanese) Languages major programs in Ukraine through the span of educational activities in the time-frame of wartime emergency digitization measures of 2022-2023.

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Iron Deficiency Anemia and Supplementation Practices with Polymaltosed Iron in Mothers with 4 - 5 Months Infants in a Rural Andean Health Center

Soto Carrión, Carolina; Cervantes Carrión, Justina; Ccasani Contreras, Mariluz Roxana; De La Cruz Quispe, Fidel; Bravo Mendoza, Guido; Jimenez Mendoza, Wilber (Peru)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.123

ABSTRACT:
The Childhood anemia is a latent problem and according to the WHO more than half of Children who suffer from anemia in the world suffer from iron deficiency. Aim: Determine the relationship between the level of knowledge of iron deficiency anemia and practices with polymaltose iron supplementation in mothers with 4 – 5-month-old infants in an Andean rural health center. Materials and Methods: Quantitative approach, type cross-sectional correlational prospective, the hypothetical-deductive method was applied Prospective, the population corresponds to 52 mothers with their respective infants of 4 and 5 months. The survey technique was applied and the questionnaire was used as an instrument for collection. of data, validated through expert judgment, taking as a contrast the hypothesis the Spearman's Rho statistical test. Results: More than 50% of mothers present ages between 26-35 years and have completed secondary school. 26.9% of mothers have a high level of knowledge and presented risky practices; while 17.3% have a medium level of knowledge and presented good practices; and 13.5% have a level low knowledge and presented risky practices. Conclusion: The level of Knowledge of iron deficiency anemia is not directly related to health care practices, supplementation with polymaltose iron and whether it is related to the educational level of nursing mothers of 4 and 5 months of the Andean Rural Health Center the p-value (sig) for all tests was greater than 0.05.

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Measurement of Biological Cell Deformability

Iinuma, Sota; Hashimoto, Shigehiro (Japan)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.5

ABSTRACT:
Cell shape changes depending on the surrounding environment: mechanical fields (gravitational and fluid forces), electric fields, magnetic fields, electrochemical interactions at interfaces, etc. Deformation responses to environmental stimuli represent cell properties and activities. Stimuli that cause deformation include mechanical fields, electric fields, and magnetic fields. By restricting cell movement in the flow path, cell deformation can be observed: the shape of the channel wall, gaps, etc. The deformability of a cell is related to its function. For example, red blood cells that are insufficiently deformable cannot pass through capillaries and continue to circulate in the blood circulation system. Cancer cells are thought to have different deformability from normal cells. Measuring the deformability of cells can be applied to disease diagnosis and cell selection. This paper reviews research on measuring the deformability of cells and provides an outlook for future research developments.

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Microchannel Design for Cell Sorting by Dielectrophoresis

Ono, Ryuya; Hashimoto, Shigehiro (Japan)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.9

ABSTRACT:
Cell sorting is a useful technique that can be applied to disease diagnosis and tissue formation technology. Dielectrophoresis has been attempted to be applied to cell sorting as a label-free, microinvasive sorting technique. This study aimed to create a device suitable for myoblast cell sorting based on previous research results. Using photolithography technology, microchannels with surface electrodes were designed and fabricated.

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Mobile Augmented Reality Application for Digital Storytelling in High School Education

Bustos, Henrry; Camogliano, Josealdo; Subauste, Daniel (Peru)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.54

ABSTRACT:
Since the beginning of the pandemic, high education has been significantly affected, due to the sudden change from in-person to remote mode, which has led to not all teaching methods adapting to this new modality. In this context, the storytelling technique, which in face-to-face mode is effective, in the remote mode presents significant deficiencies since it cannot be interacted with in a shared space and with objects between students and the teacher. In this situation, some applications are poorly adapted for high education to solve this lack, which leads us in this work to present the development of a mobile application as a complement to the teaching of high education with storytelling using augmented reality, which leads to improving how to tell stories between students and teachers in remote teaching using digital storytelling, supported with augmented reality, a more participatory and interactive way of telling stories.

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Navigating the Missteps: An In-Depth Critique of Albania's Sex Offender Registry

Leka, Adrian; Haxhiu, Brunilda (Albania)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.267

ABSTRACT:
This article critically examines the legislative journey and implications of Albania's Sex Offender Registry Law 62/2023, shedding light on the disconnection between scientific research and public policy formulation. Tracing the historical origins of sex offender registries and contrasting various international models, the study underscores the lack of alignment between the approved law and established research findings. The article highlights the overestimation and misrepresentation of statistical data, the shortcomings in the legislative process, and the absence of a transparent, evidence-based approach. The law's failure to materialize the intended registry within the stipulated timeframe and the inherent limitations of the approved model further emphasize the challenges in creating effective legislation. The findings not only critique the flaws in Law 62/2023 but also reflect broader concerns about utilizing scientific research in shaping legal frameworks, underscoring the need for a more informed and evidence-driven approach to policymaking.

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New Online Tools for the Data Visualization of Bivalve Molluscs' Production Areas of Veneto Region

Franzago, Eleonora; Casarotto, Claudia; Trolese, Matteo; Toson, Marica; Ruzza, Mirko; Dalla Pozza, Manuela; Manca, Grazia; Arcangeli, Giuseppe; Ferrè, Nicola; Bille, Laura (Italy)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.240

ABSTRACT:
The current European Food Hygiene Legislation makes the control and monitoring of all bivalve molluscs (BM) classified production areas mandatory in order to ensure the compliance of the product. Whenever the results of the controls highlight non-compliance, the Local Veterinary Competent Authority (LVCA) issues a measure to limit or suspend harvesting activities in the involved production area. Therefore, it is essential for LVCA accessing to updated information in near real time on sanitary status, laboratory test results and spatial distribution of production areas. In the framework of a project financed by the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (n. 04/INP/20/VE), three Information Technology (IT) tools have been developed to aid the LVCA in their daily control activities. The developed IT tools also indirectly help to ensure a safe product for the end consumer, because they support food safety control activities. Moreover, the open access to information regarding these systematic controls will enhance the consumers’ trust in the local product increasing its value on the market.

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Paraguayan Sign Language Translation Using Machine Learning

Gutierrez, Bethania; Alfonzo, Ever; Paciello, Julio; von Lucken, Christian (Paraguay)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.157

ABSTRACT:
The Paraguayan deaf community often faces daily challenges in interacting with teachers and people who do not understand the Paraguayan Sign language, obstructing their access to standard communication. Paraguay requires more resources to promote the learning and teaching of Paraguayan Sign Language.
By applying machine learning techniques to preprocess Paraguayan Sign Language signs videos, we can create a dataset that serves as a foundation for various applications. These tools can help disseminate knowledge, bridge communication gaps, and enable deaf individuals to communicate effectively, even with those who do not understand Sign Language. Additionally, they can assist in educating the public about this language.

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Peculiarities of the Realization of IT Projects for the Implementation of ERP Systems on the Path of Digitalization of Territorial Communities Activities

Kopishynska, Olena; Utkin, Yurii; Sliusar, Ihor; Makhmudov, Khanlar; Kalashnyk, Olena; Moroz, Svitlana; Kyrychenko, Olena (Ukraine)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.259

ABSTRACT:
This study presents a detailed case analysis focusing on the intricacies involved in preparing a project for implementing an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, aimed at the comprehensive, phased digitalization of resource management and the operations of territorial communities. The urgency of transitioning to a more effective audit and management system for all types of resources in territorial communities is underscored by the current absence of specialized information systems designed for these specific tasks. The authors demonstrate that deploying ERP systems to manage the diverse activities of territorial communities represents a complex, yet innovative solution. Specifically, a Four-Phase Model for implementing each segment of the project have been adopted. Drawing from the extensive experience of university researchers involved in consulting for numerous territorial communities across Ukraine, this work develops principles for constructing main elements for the project. Special emphasis is placed on the careful selection of software to facilitate project activities.

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Quantifying the Risk of Complaints in Public Procurement Tenders in Paraguay Using Machine Learning

López San Martín, Matías; Núñez Benitez, David Ramon; Paciello Coronel, Julio Manuel; Pane Fernandez, Juan Ignacio (Paraguay)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.164

ABSTRACT:
Public procurement processes are critical for effective governance, and they are susceptible to protests, causing delays and possibly added costs. This study aims to assess the risk of protests in paraguayan public procurement tenders using artificial intelligence. The research leveraged machine learning techniques, including a classifier, to analyze historical data from the Public Procurements Office of Paraguay (DNCP for its initials in Spanish) available in the open format of the Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS). Pre-calculated red flags were incorporated into the model as an indicator of potential irregularities. A structured and unified dataset was generated, laying the foundation for future investigations. The model exhibited promising predictive capabilities identifying the procurement tenders at high risk of protests. This work represents a significant step towards proactive protest risk management in public procurement. The combination of complaint-derived data, machine learning, and the structured dataset enhances the potential for technology-driven transparency and efficiency in public procurement processes.

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Serverless Approach in Continued Integration Testing

Djambazoff, Phil (Bulgaria)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.61

ABSTRACT:
This article describes an efficient approach of continuous integration (CI) [1] automated testing in both, labor-intensive, and financial aspects. The current methodology of running integration tests in the cloud is by keeping at least several servers running all the time, and probably another few for backup purposes. That commonly used approach creates a financial burden in the short and long term, and it is also quite labor involved when it comes to setup and maintainability. Our proposal is based on a serverless runtime setup [2], which on one hand eliminates the need to have 24/7 servers running, and a heavy backup plan preparation, and on the other gets the labor contribution decreased in times - due to the usage of preconfigured docker [3] images or other similar container-based image software components.

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Start-up Support Efficiency Assessment

Bistrova, Julija; Lace, Natalja; Kasperovica, Ludmila (Latvia)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.185

ABSTRACT:
Globally, start-up companies receive state support, which is considered to be an investment in future economic growth and regional development. Extensive research consistently demonstrates the efficiency of state aid for newly-established firms. This study adds to the empirical evidence, highlighting the significance and effectiveness of start-up support. An analysis of 112 Latvian supported companies reveals that over half experienced notable improvements in profitability and productivity, often outperforming industry peers at an accelerated rate. The study's findings indicate the importance of the monetary grant’s size: the higher it is, the better productivity and asset profitability results the company achieves after three years of receiving support. These findings emphasize the importance of tailored financial assistance, linking larger grants to enhanced performance metrics. Based on evaluation results and a thorough analysis of scientific literature, the authors present practical recommendations for optimizing the performance indicators of business incubators, providing valuable guidance for policymakers and stakeholders committed to fostering sustainable economic development.

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The Influence of Needs Satisfaction and Support on the Well-Being of Physicians Deployed in Underserved Communities

Bautista, Karl Hendrick; Capillo, Jianna; Lopez, Mari Jazmin Ezekielle; Santos, Edgardo Javier; Severino, Ivan Matthew; Sio, Chloe Angela Mae; Tanchanco, Samantha Marie; Adarlo, Genejane; Eustaquio, Michelle Pia (Philippines)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.108

ABSTRACT:
This study investigated the influence of needs satisfaction and support on the well-being of physicians deployed in underserved communities. Basic Psychological Needs Theory is used as the theoretical framework, positing that fulfilling the three basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness can foster well-being and optimal functioning. The results revealed that meeting basic psychological needs alongside workplace conditions and individual characteristics can play distinct roles in promoting emotional, psychological, and social well-being as well as reducing the likelihood of anxiety and depression. This study suggests that promoting the well-being of human resources for health, particularly among physicians deployed in underserved communities, is crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goal for good health and well-being. By recognizing and addressing the diverse factors that contribute to the well-being of these physicians, healthcare organizations and policymakers can create environments that support their optimal functioning and, consequently, contribute to the overall improvement of health outcomes in underserved communities.

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The Model on Patent Investment Strategy of Technology Portfolio and Industrial Research

Lee, Yen-Feng; Wang, Wei-Tsong (Taiwan)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.159

ABSTRACT:
The concept of portfolio theory is widely applied in financial investment, which would like to search the most valuable result or the lowest risk. In the recent years, some scholars suggest the portfolio theory within technology investment into Technology Portfolio. This article examines the impact of different portfolio strategies with Modified Sharpe Index to examine the values of internal/external technologies investment of companies. Moreover, we surveyed and arranged those research models from journal papers involved technology portfolio to illustrate the paths that technology portfolio theories developed.
Innovative approach of valuing intellectual property is proposed to estimate how technology portfolios may influence product values. Accordingly, technology portfolio strategies of companies can be utilized to identify the standards of product pricing, as well as to improve its sales volume or numbers with appropriate promotion. In this study, the technology portfolio is evaluated by suggested Modified-Sharpe-Index (MSI) function. Portfolio theory in financial is adopted with the concepts of technology development, which also combines the value of tangible and intangible assets along with risk and strategic factors, to evaluate the performance of a technology portfolio. The simulated experimental results may explain technology adoption and diffusion of management and strategies of companies in different industries.

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Transfer Learning for Facial Emotion Recognition on Small Datasets

Barile, Paolo; Bassano, Clara; Piciocchi, Paolo (Italy)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.230

ABSTRACT:
In the context of human interactions, complexity science (CS) provides a way to understand the dynamics that arise from the interplay of different individuals. Recently, the possibility of applying the theory of CS to computer science, has shifted the focus to the research of machine learning methods for studying human behaviors and relational dynamics. Among the various existing AI techniques, facial emotion recognition (FER) has proven to be the best-performing and easiest to use human- computer interaction (HCI) tool for emotion detection. Despite the numerous existing approaches, the task of FER is not trivial, mainly due to the absence of large enough datasets to train deep learning (DL) models. A widely used solution is transfer learning (TL), which allows a model, pre-trained on enough data, to be used for a specific task where there is much less data available. The aim of our work is to test the effectiveness of TL for FER on an extremely small dataset, to understand which parameters need to be optimised to obtain the best outcomes. The results showed an overall accuracy of 85.54% for our model and revealed the concrete possibility of applying computer science to complex systems typical of the human psyche.

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Transformative, Transdisciplinary, Transcendent Digital Education: Synergy, Sustainability and Calamity

Makhachashvili, Rusudan; Semenist, Ivan (Ukraine)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.273

ABSTRACT:
Dynamic transformation of the knowledge economy, enhanced by Industry 4.0/5.0 development and rise of the networked society in the Digital Age, emergency digitization of all social communicative spheres due to pandemic measures have imposed dramatic changes onto transdisciplinary overlap in different areas of human knowledge and experience, induced by the cross-sectorial job market demands of university level education, curriculum design and learning outcomes.
The global pandemic and subsequent warfare in Ukraine induced amplified digitalization measures in the higher education sphere. This end-to end digital shift in the educational processes (communication, content, outcomes and outputs, skills) heralded the introduction of meta-disciplinary dimensions of learning – digital, hybrid and, blended. These meta-disciplinary dimensions can be considered conduits of vertical (endocentric) and horizontal (exocentric) transdisciplinary of digital education as a sustainable dynamic system.
Applied trans-disciplinary lens contributes to the solution of holistic modeling of processes and results of updating models and mechanisms of the highly dynamic communication system of education in the digital environment as a whole and its individual formats in the emergency digitization measures of different types.

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Use of Xception Architecture for the Classification of Skin Lesions

Tejada, Cledmir; Espinoza, Gustavo; Subauste, Daniel (Peru)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.129

ABSTRACT:
This study investigates the application of the Xception architecture for accurate classification of skin lesions, focusing on the early detection of melanoma and other malignant skin conditions. Utilizing deep learning techniques, the research aims to enhance the precision and efficiency of skin lesions diagnosis. The study utilizes the TensorFlow framework and the HAM10000 dataset, comprising a vast collection of benign and malignant skin lesion images, for training and evaluating the Xception model. Preprocessing steps, including data splitting, augmentation, and image resizing, are applied to the dataset. The Xception architecture, a deep convolutional neural network, serves as the foundational model, supplemented with customized classification layers for specialized features and predictions. The model’s performance is evaluated using diverse metrics. The experimental outcomes reveal the Xception architecture’s potential in accurately classifying skin lesions. Moreover, the study underscores the significance of extensive and diverse datasets, as well as rigorous clinical validation, in the development of deep learning models for skin cancer detection. The findings contribute to the advancement of early melanoma detection, thereby improving patient outcomes and alleviating the burden of the disease.

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Utilization of Artificial Intelligence by Students in Interdisciplinary Field of Biomedical Engineering (Invited Paper)

Hashimoto, Shigehiro (Japan)

https://doi.org/10.54808/IMCIC2024.01.302

ABSTRACT:
Students were encouraged to actively use artificial intelligence (AI) in learning and research in the field of biomedical engineering. In this study, student reports in class and the results of student research projects were analyzed. An issue with AI that was often discussed among students was the handling of copyright. In students' graduation research, AI was often used to search for technical terms and references. AI was used to list related technologies and check the feasibility of their ideas. AI was effective for self-learning. Particularly in interdisciplinary fields that require extensive basic knowledge, AI has demonstrated its power in self-learning specialized terminology. It was found that AI can be helpful for students in developing research topics and writing papers.

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