An agent approach to improving radio frequency identification enabled Returnable Transport Equipment

Returnable transport equipment (RTE) such as pallets form an integral part of the supply chain and poor management leads to costly losses. Companies often address this matter by outsourcing the management of RTE to logistics service providers (LSPs). LSPs are faced with the task to provide logistical expertise to reduce RTE related waste, whilst differentiating their own services to remain competitive. In the current challenging economic climate, the role of the LSP to deliver innovative ways to achieve competitive advantage has never been so important. It is reported that radio frequency identification (RFID) application to RTE enables LSPs such as DHL to gain competitive advantage and offer clients improvements such as loss reduction, process efficiency improvement and effective security. However, the increased visibility and functionality of RFID enabled RTE requires further investigation in regards to decision‐making. The distributed nature of the RTE network favours a decentralised decision‐making format. Agents are an effective way to represent objects from the bottom‐up, capturing the behaviour and enabling localised decision‐making. Therefore, an agent based system is proposed to represent the RTE network and utilise the visibility and data gathered from RFID tags. Two types of agents are developed in order to represent the trucks and RTE, which have bespoke rules and algorithms in order to facilitate negotiations. The aim is to create schedules, which integrate RTE pick‐ups as the trucks go back to the depot. The findings assert that: - agent based modelling provides an autonomous tool, which is effective in modelling RFID enabled RTE in a decentralised utilising the real‐time data facility. ‐ the RFID enabled RTE model developed enables autonomous agent interaction, which leads to a feasible schedule integrating both forward and reverse flows for each RTE batch. ‐ the RTE agent scheduling algorithm developed promotes the utilisation of RTE by including an automatic return flow for each batch of RTE, whilst considering the fleet costs andutilisation rates. ‐ the research conducted contributes an agent based platform, which LSPs can use in order to assess the most appropriate strategies to implement for RTE network improvement for each of their clients.

English commonhold:a failed experiment?

Commonhold is a new modified form of freehold tenure and represents the meritworthy objective of better spreading around the freehold ownership of land and the bringing to an end the notion of leasehold tenure in relation to phsyically interdependent buildings. This article considers the nature of English Commonhold as a new modified species of freehold tenure for physically interdependent buildings and seeks to investigate the reason(s) as to its non-use in England and Wales. The paper surveys current literature so as to highlight various contemporary academic and professional criticisms of the current Commonhold Scheme as laid out in the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002 and it also includes the results of an emprical survey commissioned by the author which details the perception of Commonhold from the perspective of conveyancing solciitors and their clients. Certain conclusions are drawn which attempt to explain the lack of enthusiasm for Commonhold amongst the property industry and a number of reccommendations are made as to how the use of Commonhold in England and Wales can be increased.

From 3LSP (Third Party Logistics Service Provider) to 4LSP (Fourth Party Logistics Service Provider):a case study from Ireland

Increased competition, geographically expanded marketplaces, technology replication and an ever discerning consumer base, are reasons why companies need to regularly reappraise their competencies in terms of activities and functions they perform themselves. Where viable alternatives exist, companies should consider outsourcing of non-core activities and functions. Within SCM (Supply Chain Management) it could be preferable if a “one stop shop” existed for companies seeking to outsource functions identified as non-core. “Traditionally” structured LSP’s who have concentrated their service offer around providing warehousing and transport activities are potentially at a crossroads – clients and potential clients requiring “new” services which could increase LSP’s revenues if provided, whilst failure to provide could perhaps result in clients seeking outsourced services elsewhere.

Translating specialised texts:an overview of key factors involved in translator training for specialized translation

Translators wishing to work on translating specialised texts are traditionally recommended to spend much time and effort acquiring specialist knowledge of the domain involved, and for some areas of specialised activity, this is clearly essential. For other types of translation-based, domain-specific of communication, however, it is possible to develop a systematic approach to the task which will allow for the production of target texts which are adequate for purpose, in a range of specialised domains, without necessarily having formal qualifications in those areas. For Esselink (2000) translation agencies, and individual clients, would tend to prefer a subject expert who also happens to have competence in one or more languages over a trained translator with a high degree of translation competence, including the ability to deal with specialised translation tasks. The problem, for the would-be translator, is persuading prospective clients that he or she is capable of this. This paper will offer an overview of the principles used to design training intended to teach trainee translators how to use a systematic approach to specialised translation, in order to extend the range of areas in which they can tackle translation, without compromising quality or reliability. This approach will be described within the context of the functionalist approach developed in particular by Reiss and Vermeer (1984), Nord (1991, 1997) inter alia.

An experimental study of micro-end-milling operations

Cutting tools less than 2mm diameter can be considered as micro-tool. Microtools are used in variety of applications where precision and accuracy are indispensable. In micro-machining operations, a small amount of material is removed and very small cutting forces are created. The small cross sectional area of the micro-tools drastically reduces their strength and makes their useful life short and unpredictable; so cutting parameters should be selected carefully to avoid premature tool breakage. The main objective of this study is to develop new techniques to select the optimal cutting conditions with minimum number of experiments and to evaluate the tool wear in machining operations. Several experimental setups were prepared and used to investigate the characteristics of cutting force and AE signals during the micro-end-milling of different materials including steel, aluminum and graphite electrodes. The proposed optimal cutting condition selection method required fewer experiments than conventional approaches and avoided premature tool breakage. The developed tool wear monitoring technique estimated the used tool life with ±10% accuracy from the machining data collected during the end-milling of non-metal materials.

Extensões na arquitetura SDN para o provisionamento de QoS através do monitoramento e uso de múltiplos caminhos

The substantial increase in the number of applications offered through the computer networks, as well as in the volume of traffic forwarded through the network, have hampered to assure adequate service level to users. The Quality of Service (QoS) offer, honoring specified parameters in Service Level Agreements (SLA), established between the service providers and their clients, composes a traditional and extensive computer networks’ research area. Several schemes proposals for the provision of QoS were presented in the last three decades, but the acting scope of these proposals is always limited due to some factors, including the limited development of the network hardware and software, generally belonging to a single manufacturer. The advent of Software Defined Networking (SDN), along with the maturation of its main materialization, the OpenFlow protocol, allowed the decoupling between network hardware and software, through an architecture which provides a control plane and a data plane. This eases the computer networks scenario, allowing that new abstractions are applied in the hardware composing the data plane, through the development of new software pieces which are executed in the control plane. This dissertation investigates the QoS offer through the use and extension of the SDN architecture. Based on the proposal of two new modules, one to perform the data plane monitoring, SDNMon, and the second, MP-ROUTING, developed to determine the use of multiple paths in the forwarding of data referring to a flow, we demonstrated in this work that some QoS metrics specified in the SLAs, such as bandwidth, can be honored. Both modules were implemented and evaluated through a prototype. The evaluation results referring to several aspects of both proposed modules are presented in this dissertation, showing the obtained accuracy of the monitoring module SDNMon and the QoS gains due to the utilization of multiple paths defined by the MP-Routing, when forwarding data flow through the SDN.

Dealing with Shifting Labor Employment Sands

Changes in regulations and tighter interpretations of existing regulations engaged participants in 14th annual Labor and Employment Roundtable, hosted by the Cornell Institute for Hospitality Labor and Employment Relations. They also reviewed changes in union organizing rules. Two Supreme Court decisions dealt with the challenging application of accommodating workers’ health and religious needs, while a new ruling by the National Labor Relations Board calls into question the supposedly arm’s length relationship of employee leasing firms and their clients, as well as franchisors and franchisees. The NLRB also has shortened the campaign time for union elections. In one Supreme Court case, Young v. United Parcel Services, Inc., the Court pointed to a simple principle when employers implement policies for those with illness or medical conditions. Policies must be consistent with regard to how on-job and off-job health issues are treated, and the company’s policy must not be driven by economic considerations. That is, the Court stated that an employer’s denial of a light-duty assignment for an employee could not be based on cost or convenience. The case relating to religious accommodation also involved an economic hinge. In an earlier case, the Court had held that religious accommodations are limited to that which would have no more than a de minimus cost on the employer. In this case, EEOC v. Abercrombie & Fitch Stores Inc., Abercrombie had declined to hire a woman wearing a headscarf on the assumption that she would need a religious accommodation. The Court frowned on the idea that an employer would take religious accommodations into account when deciding whether to hire a person. The franchising industry is attempting to make sense of the NLRB ruling regarding joint employment, in which the board ruled that franchisors that maintain some kind of control over their franchisees’ employees should be considered joint employers of those employees. This is a complicated matter, and the situation is still in flux. Finally, with regard to the telescoped union campaign ruling, these are supposed to benefit the unions. So far, however, there’s no indication that the change has affected the overall outcome of union election campaigns.

Perceção da autoeficácia do terapeuta e aliança terapêutica na perspetiva do cliente

Estudos recentes apontam para a necessidade de explorar o processo psicoterapêutico, na perspetiva do cliente e do terapeuta. Apesar da importância reconhecida do estudo dos mecanismos de transformação terapêutica, existe uma lacuna na investigação no que respeita à associação entre a autoeficácia dos terapeutas e a aliança terapêutica. Com efeito, o objetivo principal do presente estudo foi analisar de que forma a perceção de autoeficácia do terapeuta se relaciona com o modo como o cliente perceciona a aliança terapêutica. Participaram neste estudo 128 participantes, distribuídos por 32 terapeutas e 96 clientes, numa proporção de três clientes para cada terapeuta. A autoeficácia dos terapeutas foi avaliada através do Counselor Activity Self-Efficacy Scales (CASES-G) e a aliança terapêutica percecionada pelos clientes através do Inventário de Aliança Terapêutica (IAT; versão C reduzida). O resultados revelaram que os terapeutas percecionaram-se como eficazes em relação ao processo psicoterapêutico e que os clientes reportaram uma forte aliança terapêutica. As análises de correlação indicaram que a subescala “gestão de sessão” do CASES-G se associou negativamente à subescala “tarefas” do IAT. Estes dados sugerem que um terapeuta mais confiante na sua capacidade para desempenhar competências técnicas específicas no que respeita à gestão da sessão, poderá ter mais dificuldade em investir no cliente e no processo psicoterapêutico, o que se poderá traduzir numa menor sincronia entre ambos e num indicador de perda da qualidade da aliança terapêutica.

In-situ Molibdenum X-ray powder diffraction study of the early hydration of cementitious systems on a humidity chamber

The durability of cement-based construction materials depends on the environmental conditions during their service life. A further factor is the microstructure of the cement bulk, established by formation of cement hydrates. The development of the phases and microstructure under given conditions is responsible of the high strength of cementitious materials. The investigation on the early hydration behavior of cements and cementing systems has been for a long time a very important area of research: understanding the chemical reactions that lead to hardening is fundamental for the prediction of performances and durability of the materials. The production of 1 ton of Ordinary Portland Cement, OPC, releases into the atmosphere ~0.97 tons of CO2. This implies that the overall CO2 emissions from the cement industry are 6% of all anthropogenic carbon dioxide. An alternative to reduce the CO2 footprint consists on the development of eco-cements composed by less calcite demanding phases, such as belite and ye'elimite. That is the case of Belite-Ye’elimite cements (BY). Since the reactivity of belite is not quick enough, these materials develop low mechanical strengths at intermediate hydration ages. A possible solution to this problem goes through the production of cements which jointly contain alite with the two previously mentioned phases, named as Belite-Alite-Ye’elimite (BAY) cements. The reaction of alite and ye'elimite with water will develop cements with high mechanical strengths at early ages, while belite will contribute to later values. The final goal is to understand the hydration mechanisms of a variety of cementing systems (OPC, BAY and pure phases) as a function of water content, superplasticizer additives and type and content of sulfate source. In order to do so, in-situ laboratory humidity chambers with Molybdenum X-ray Powder diffraction are employed. In the first 2h of hydration, reaction degree (α) of ye'elimite had been decreased for superplasticizer.

Violência contra as mulheres trabalhadoras do sexo e vulnerabilidade ao HIV/AIDS em 10 cidades brasileiras

Tese (doutorado)—Universidade de Brasília, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, 2016.

Impacto da relação entre médico veterinário e proprietário no tratamento recebido por felinos domésticos

Dissertação de Mestrado Integrado em Medicina Veterinária

Modelo predictivo para uso del condón y consumo de alcohol como conductas de riesgo relacionadas con el contagio de VIH/SIDA en trabajadoras sexuales de Bogotá- 2015

Objetivo: Determinar un modelo predictivo para uso del condón y consumo de alcohol como conductas de riesgo relacionadas el contagio de VIH/Sida en mujeres trabajadoras sexuales de la ciudad de Bogotá en el año 2015. Métodos Estudio de tipo transversal con diseño observacional, se tomaron 255 mujeres trabajadoras sexuales de la ciudad de Bogotá; La información analizada fue tomada del estudio realizado en cinco ciudades de Colombia en el año 2015, las hipótesis planteadas se soportaron en la asociación entre las condiciones sociodemográficas, de conocimiento, practicas, hábitos, apoyo social y de ocupación propia de las mujeres trabajadoras sexuales que podían explicar y predecir la adopción de conductas riesgosas para VIH/sida como son el uso del condón y el consumo de alcohol en ejercicio de su ocupación. Resultados El promedio de edad de inicio en el trabajo sexual fue 22,1±7,1 años, tres cuartas partes son solteras y residen en estrato dos y tres; el 96,5% dijo usar el condón con el último cliente y el 27,8% de ellas consumió alcohol durante su último servicio. En la conducta de riesgo uso del condón, se encontraron asociados entre otras, la edad [OR=1,10(1,03-1,17)], vivir en estrato dos [OR=7,7(1,5-39,5)], el ingreso por trabajo sexual [OR=1,0(1,0-1,0)], la disponibilidad del condón para el servicio [OR=0,03(0,008-0,16)] y contar con otro método de planificación (ligadura de trompas) [OR=4,47(1,0-18,3)]. En la conducta de riesgo consumo de alcohol, se encontró asociado ente otros: estrato socioeconómico dos [OR=5,8(1,54-22,3)], nivel de escolaridad secundaria [OR=0,12(0,16-0,96)], vivir con otros familiares [OR=3,45(1,7-7,02)], ingreso por trabajo sexual [OR=1,0(1,0-1,0)] y el sitio donde se ofrece el servicio [OR=0,07(0,04-0,15)]. Después de ajustar, se encontró que las variables que mejor explican el uso del condón fueron edad [OR=1,1(1,02-1,17)] y disponibilidad del condón [OR=0,04(0,008-0,024)], el modelo tuvo poca sensibilidad 33,3% y buena capacidad predictiva (84,6%). Las variables que mejor explicaron el consumo de alcohol durante el servicio fueron edad [OR= 0,95(0,91-0,98)], Número de clientes por semana [OR=0,9(0,90-0,98)], sitio donde ofrece el servicio [OR=7,1(3,45-14,8)], y estrato socioeconómico [OR=1,8 (0,90-3,83)], resultando un modelo con buena sensibilidad (71,8%) y buena capacidad predictiva (86,4%). Conclusiones Aspectos como la edad, el estrato socioeconómico, escolaridad, estado civil, ingreso económico por trabajo sexual, edad de inicio en el trabajo sexual, número de clientes antiguos en la última semana, disponibilidad del condón para prestar el servicio y ligadura de trompas como método diferente de planificación, se asociaron estadísticamente con el uso del condón. Sin embargo al ajustar las variables solo la edad y la disponibilidad del condón se mantuvieron como variables explicativas. Cabe anotar, que aunque el modelo mostró buena capacidad predictiva (84,6%), la precisión en sus estimaciones fue baja debido a la poca frecuencia del no uso del condón con el ultimo cliente (3,5%), y la sensibilidad del modelo apenas fue del 33,3%. Por otro lado, factores como la edad, el estrato socioeconómico, nivel educativo, ingreso económico, sitio de oferta del servicio, composición familiar, número de hijos, número de clientes atendidos en la última semana y número de clientes antiguos mostraron asociación estadística con el consumo de alcohol. Sin embargo, al ajustar las variables solo edad, estrato socioeconómico, sitio donde se ofrece el servicio y número de clientes por semana mantuvieron asociación estadística; observándose además que el estrato socioeconómico (uno y dos) y sitio donde se ofrece el servicio (establecimiento), son factores de riesgo para el consumo de alcohol en ejercicio de la ocupación y la poca edad y un número reducido de clientes por semana se comportan como factores de protección para el consumo de alcohol. El modelo predictivo que se desarrolló para la conducta de riesgo de consumo de alcohol, con una sensibilidad del 71,8% y un poder predictivo del 86,4%. .

Educating Clients with speech and language impairments

Speech and language impairments can result in communication disabilities that can affect clients' capacity to read, write and participate in conversations and social situations.