937 resultados para Editor of flow analysis methods
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Background Kneipp Therapy (KT) is a form of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) that includes a combination of hydrotherapy, herbal medicine, mind-body medicine, physical activities, and healthy eating. Since 2007, some nursing homes for older adults in Germany began to integrate CAM in the form of KT in care. The study investigated how KT is used in daily routine care and explored the health status of residents and caregivers involved in KT. Methods We performed a cross-sectional pilot study with a mixed methods approach that collected both quantitative and qualitative data in four German nursing homes in 2011. Assessments in the quantitative component included the Quality of Life in Dementia (QUALIDEM), the Short Form 12 Health Survey (SF-12), the Barthel-Index for residents and the Work Ability Index (WAI) and SF-12 for caregivers. The qualitative component addressed the residents and caregivers subjectively experienced changes after integration of KT. It was conceptualized as an ethnographic rapid appraisal by conducting participant observation and semi-structured interviews in two of the four nursing homes. Results The quantitative component included 64 residents (53 female, 83.28.1 years (mean and SD)) and 29 caregivers (all female, 42.011.7 years). Residents were multimorbid (83 diagnoses), and activities of daily living were restricted (Barthel-Index 60.624.4). The caregivers results indicated good work ability (WAI 37.45.1), health related quality of life was superior to the German sample (SF-12 physical CSS 49.28.0; mental CSS 54.16.6). Among both caregivers and residents, 89% considered KT to be positive for well-being. The qualitative analysis showed that caregivers perceived emotional and functional benefits from more content and calmer residents, a larger variety in basic care practices, and a more self-determined scope of action. Residents reported gains in attention and caring, and recognition of their lay knowledge. Conclusion Residents showed typical characteristics of nursing home inhabitants. Caregivers demonstrated good work ability. Both reported to have benefits from KT. The results provide a good basis for future projects, e.g. controlled studies to evaluate the effects of CAM in nursing homes.
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Objective. The goal of this study is to characterize the current workforce of CIHs, the lengths of professional practice careers of the past and current CIHs.^ Methods. This is a secondary data analysis of data compiled from all of the nearly 50 annual roster listings of the American Board of Industrial Hygiene (ABIH) for Certified Industrial Hygienists active in each year since 1960. Survival analysis was performed as a technique to measure the primary outcome of interest. The technique which was involved in this study was the Kaplan-Meier method for estimating the survival function.^ Study subjects: The population to be studied is all Certified Industrial Hygienists (CIHs). A CIH is defined by the ABIH as an individual who has achieved the minimum requirements for education, working experience and through examination, has demonstrated a minimum level of knowledge and competency in the prevention of occupational illnesses. ^ Results. A Cox-proportional hazards model analysis was performed by different start-time cohorts of CIHs. In this model we chose cohort 1 as the reference cohort. The estimated relative risk of the event (defined as retirement, or absent from 5 consecutive years of listing) occurred for CIHs for cohorts 2,3,4,5 relative to cohort 1 is 0.385, 0.214, 0.234, 0.299 relatively. The result show that cohort 2 (CIHs issued from 1970-1980) has the lowest hazard ratio which indicates the lowest retirement rate.^ Conclusion. The manpower of CIHs (still actively practicing up to the end of 2009) increased tremendously starting in 1980 and grew into a plateau in recent decades. This indicates that the supply and demand of the profession may have reached equilibrium. More demographic information and variables are needed to actually predict the future number of CIHs needed. ^
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An extension of k-ratio multiple comparison methods to rank-based analyses is described. The new method is analogous to the Duncan-Godbold approximate k-ratio procedure for unequal sample sizes or correlated means. The close parallel of the new methods to the Duncan-Godbold approach is shown by demonstrating that they are based upon different parameterizations as starting points.^ A semi-parametric basis for the new methods is shown by starting from the Cox proportional hazards model, using Wald statistics. From there the log-rank and Gehan-Breslow-Wilcoxon methods may be seen as score statistic based methods.^ Simulations and analysis of a published data set are used to show the performance of the new methods. ^
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The role of clinical chemistry has traditionally been to evaluate acutely ill or hospitalized patients. Traditional statistical methods have serious drawbacks in that they use univariate techniques. To demonstrate alternative methodology, a multivariate analysis of covariance model was developed and applied to the data from the Cooperative Study of Sickle Cell Disease.^ The purpose of developing the model for the laboratory data from the CSSCD was to evaluate the comparability of the results from the different clinics. Several variables were incorporated into the model in order to control for possible differences among the clinics that might confound any real laboratory differences.^ Differences for LDH, alkaline phosphatase and SGOT were identified which will necessitate adjustments by clinic whenever these data are used. In addition, aberrant clinic values for LDH, creatinine and BUN were also identified.^ The use of any statistical technique including multivariate analysis without thoughtful consideration may lead to spurious conclusions that may not be corrected for some time, if ever. However, the advantages of multivariate analysis far outweigh its potential problems. If its use increases as it should, the applicability to the analysis of laboratory data in prospective patient monitoring, quality control programs, and interpretation of data from cooperative studies could well have a major impact on the health and well being of a large number of individuals. ^
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This article presents and illustrates a practical approach to the dataow analysis of constraint logic programming languages using abstract interpretation. It is rst argued that from the framework point of view it suces to propose relatively simple extensions of traditional analysis methods which have already been proved useful and practical and for exist. This is shown by proposing a simple extension of Bruynooghes traditional framework which allows it to analyze constraint logic programs. Then and using this generalized framework two abstract domains and their required abstract functions are presented the rst abstract domain approximates deniteness information and the second one freeness. Finally an approach for cobining those domains is proposed The two domains and their combination have been implemented and used in the analysis of CLP and Prolog III applications. Results from this implementation showing its performance and accuracy are also presented
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This paper addresses the issue of the practicality of global flow analysis in logic program compilation, in terms of speed of the analysis, precisin, and usefulness of the information obtained. To this end, design and implementation aspects are discussed for two practical abstract interpretation-based flow analysis systems: MA , the MCC And-parallel Analyzer and Annotator; and Ms, an experimental mode inference system developed for SB-Prolog. The paper also provides performance data obtained (rom these implementations and, as an example of an application, a study of the usefulness of the mode information obtained in reducing run-time checks in independent and-parallelism.Based on the results obtained, it is concluded that the overhead of global flow analysis is not prohibitive, while the results of analysis can be quite precise and useful.
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This paper presents a study of the effectiveness of global analysis in the parallelization of logic programs using strict independence. A number of well-known approximation domains are selected and tlieir usefulness for the application in hand is explained. Also, methods for using the information provided by such domains to improve parallelization are proposed. Local and global analyses are built using these domains and such analyses are embedded in a complete parallelizing compiler. Then, the performance of the domains (and the system in general) is assessed for this application through a number of experiments. We arge that the results offer significant insight into the characteristics of these domains, the demands of the application, and the tradeoffs involved.
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This paper presents and illustrates with an example a practical approach to the dataflow analysis of programs written in constraint logic programming (CLP) languages using abstract interpretation. It is first argued that, from the framework point of view, it sufnces to propose relatively simple extensions of traditional analysis methods which have already been proved useful and practical and for which efncient fixpoint algorithms have been developed. This is shown by proposing a simple but quite general extensin of Bruynooghe's traditional framework to the analysis of CLP programs. In this extensin constraints are viewed not as "suspended goals" but rather as new information in the store, following the traditional view of CLP. Using this approach, and as an example of its use, a complete, constraint system independent, abstract analysis is presented for approximating definiteness information. The analysis is in fact of quite general applicability. It has been implemented and used in the analysis of CLP(R) and Prolog-III applications. Results from the implementation of this analysis are also presented.
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Desde que el Hombre era morador de las cavernas ha sido manifiesto su deseo innato por grabar y reproducir "instantneas con las que perpetuarse o sobre las que mirarse ". La aparicin y desarrollo de la fotografa como medio para poder captar y fijar "la imagen directa de la realidad circundante " pronto se convierte en un nuevo lenguaje esttico y potico que permite al artista la interpretacin y reflexin de lo observado. Se imprime a la imagen el carcter de la mirada del fotgrafo, estableciendo un dilogo conceptual con el juego de luces. La presente Tesis plantea la creacin de una nueva piel de arquitectura mediante la impresin fotogrfica sobre materiales ptreos. La bsqueda de la expresividad de los materiales como soporte de expresin artstica implica un cambio de escala al trasladar la instantnea fotogrfica a la arquitectura y la aplicacin de un nuevo soporte al imprimir la fotografa sobre materiales arquitectnicos. Se justifica la eleccin del dispositivo lser CO2 como sistema de impresin fotogrfica sobre los materiales ptreos arquitectnicos, como la tcnica que permite la unin fsica de la imagen y el proyecto arquitectnico, generando un valor aadido a travs del arte de la fotografa. Se justifica la eleccin de los materiales investigados, Silestone Blanco Zeus y GRC con TX Active Aria, de forma que la investigacin de esta nueva piel de arquitectura abarca tanto la envolvente del edificio como su volumen interior, permitiendo cerrar el crculo arquitectnico "in&out" y dota al proyecto arquitectnico de un valor aadido al introducir conceptos sostenibles de carcter esttico y medioambiental. Se realiza una consulta a las empresas del sector arquitectnico relacionadas directamente con la produccin y distribucin de los materiales Silestone y GRC, as como a las empresas especializadas en sistemas de impresin fotogrfica sobre materiales, acerca del estado del arte. Se recorre la Historia de la fotografa desde sus orgenes hasta el desarrollo de la era digital y se analiza su condicin artstica. Se recopilan los sistemas de impresin fotogrfica que han evolucionado en paralelo con los dispositivos de captura de la instantnea fotogrfica y se describe en profundidad el sistema de impresin fotogrfica mediante dispositivo lser CO2. Se describen los procesos de fabricacin, las caractersticas tcnicas, cualidades y aplicaciones de los materiales ptreos arquitectnicos Silestone Blanco Zeus y GRC con TX Active Aria. Se explica la tcnica utilizada para la captacin de la imagen fotogrfica, su justificacin artstica y su proceso de impresin mediante dispositivo lser CO2 bajo diferentes parmetros sobre muestras de los materiales arquitectnicos investigados. Se comprueba la viabilidad de desarrollo de la nueva piel de arquitectura sobre Silestone Blanco Zeus y GRC con TX Active Aria sometiendo a las piezas impresas bajo diferentes parmetros a tres ensayos de laboratorio. En cada uno de ellos se concreta el objetivo y procedimiento del ensayo, la enumeracin de las muestras ensayadas y los parmetros bajo los que han sido impresas, el anlisis de los resultados del ensayo y las conclusiones del ensayo. Ensayo de amplitud trmica. Se determina el grado de afectacin de las imgenes impresas bajo la accin de contrastes trmicos. Series de muestras de Silestone Blanco Zeus y GRC con TX Active Aria impresas con lser CO2 se someten a ciclos de contraste fro-calor de 12 horas de duracin para una amplitud trmica total de 102C. Se realiza una toma sistemtica de fotografas microscpicas con lupa de aumento de cada pieza antes y despus de los ciclos fro-calor y la observacin de las transformaciones que experimentan los materiales bajo la accin del lser CO2. Ensayo de exposicin a la accin de la radiacin ultravioleta (UV). Se determina el grado de afectacin de las imgenes impresas al activar la capacidad autolimpiante de partculas orgnicas. Una serie de muestras de GRC con TX Active Aria impresa con lser CO2 se someten a ciclos de exposicin de radiacin ultravioleta de 26 horas de duracin. Se somete la serie a un procedimiento de activacin del aditivo TX Active. Se simula la contaminacin orgnica mediante la aplicacin controlada de Rodamina B, tinte orgnico, y se simula la radiacin UV mediante el empleo de una bombilla de emisin de rayos ultravioleta. Se realiza una toma sistemtica de fotografas macroscpicas de la serie de muestras ensayadas: antes de aplicacin de la Rodamina B, momento 00:00h, momento 04:00h y momento 26:00h del ensayo. Se procede a la descarga y anlisis del histograma de las fotografas como registro de la actividad fotocataltica. Ensayo de la capacidad autodescontaminante del GRC con TX Active impreso con lser CO2. Se comprueba si la capacidad autodescontaminante del GRC con TX Active se ve alterada como consecuencia de la impresin de la imagen fotogrfica impresa con lser CO2. Serie de muestras de GRC con TX Active Aria impresa con lser CO2 se someten a test de capacidad autodescontaminante: atmsfera controlada y contaminada con xidos de nitrgeno en los que se coloca cada pieza ensayada bajo la accin de una lmpara de emisin de radiacin ultravioleta (UV). Se registra la actividad fotocataltica en base a la variacin de concentracin de xido de nitrgeno. Se recopila el anlisis e interpretacin de los resultados de los ensayos de laboratorio y se elaboran las conclusiones generales de la investigacin. Se sintetizan las futuras lneas de investigacin que, a partir de las investigaciones realizadas y de sus conclusiones generales, podran desarrollarse en el mbito de la impresin fotogrfica sobre materiales arquitectnicos. Se describe el rendimiento tecnolgico y artstico generado por las investigaciones previas que han dado origen y desarrollo a la Tesis Doctoral. ABSTRACT Since ancient time, humanity has been driven by an innate wish to reproduce and engrave "snapshots that could help to perpetate or to look at one self". Photography's birth and its development as a mean to capture and fix "the direct image of the surrounding reality" quickly becomes a new aesthetical and poetical language allowing the artist to interpret and think over what has been observed. The photographer's eye is imprinted onto the image, and so the conceptual dialogue between the artist and the light beams begins. The current thesis suggests the creation of a new architectural skin through photography imprinting over stony materials. The search for material's expressiveness as a medium of artistic expression involves a change of scale as it transfers photographic snapshot into architecture and the use of a new photographic printing support over architectural materials. CO2 laser is the chosen printing system for this technique as it allows the physical union of the image and the architectonic project, generating an added value through the art of photography. The researched materials selected were Silestone, Blanco Zeus and GRC with TX Active Aria. This new architectural skin contains the building surrounding as well as its interior volume, closing the architectonic "in & out" circle and adding a value to the project by introducing aesthetical and environmental sustainable concepts. Architecture companies related to the production and distribution of materials like Silestone and GRC, as well as companies specialized in photography printing over materials were consulted to obtain a State of the Art. A thorough analysis of photography's History from its origins to the digital era development was made and its artistic condition was studied in this thesis. In this study the author also makes a compilation of several photographic printing systems that evolved together with photographic snapshot devices. The CO2 laser-based photographic printing system is also described in depth. Regarding stony materials of architecture like Silestone, Blanco Zeus and GRC with TX Active Aria, the present study also describes their manufacture processes as well as technical features, quality and application. There is also an explanation about the technique to capture the photographic image, its artistic justification and its CO2 laser-based printing system over the researched materials under different parameters. We also tested the feasibility of this new architectural skin over Silestone Blanco Zeus and GRC with TX Active Aria. The pieces were tested under different parameters in three laboratory trials. Each trial comprises of an explanation of its objective and its process, the samples were numbered and the printing parameters were specified. Finally, with the analysis of the results some conclusions were drawn. In the thermal amplitude trial we tried to determine how printed images were affected as a result of the action of thermal contrasts. Series of samples of Silestone Blanco Zeus and GRC with TX Active Aria printed with CO2 laser were subjected to several 12h warm-cold cycles for thermal total amplitude of 102oc. Each sample was captured systematically with microscopic enhanced lenses before and after cold-warm cycles. The changes experienced by these materials under the effect of CO2 laser were observed and recorded. Trial regarding the Ultraviolet Radiation (UR) effect on images. We determined to which extent printed images were affected once the self-cleaning organic particles were activated. This time GRC with TX Active Aria samples printed with CO2 laser were exposed to a 26h UR cycle. The samples were subjected to the activation of TX Active additive. Through the controlled application of Rodamine B and organic dye we were able to simulate the organic contamination process. UR was simulated using an ultraviolet beam emission bulb. A systematic capture of macroscopic pictures of the tested sample series was performed at different time points: before Rodamine B application, at moment 00:00h, moment 04:00h and moment 26:00h of the trial. Picture's histogram was downloaded and analyzed as a log of photocatalytic activity. Trial regarding the self-decontaminating ability of GRC with TX Active printed with CO2 laser. We tested if this self-decontaminating ability is altered as a result of CO2 laser printed image. GRC with TX Active Aria samples printed with CO2 laser, were subject to self-decontaminating ability tests with controlled and nitrogen oxide contaminated atmosphere. Each piece was put under the action of an UR emission lamp. Photocatalytic activity was recorded according to the variation in nitrogen oxide concentration. The results of the trial and their interpretation as well as the general conclusions of the research are also compiled in the present study. Study conclusions enable to draw future research lines of potential applications of photographic printing over architecture materials. Previous research generated an artistic and technological outcome that led to the development of this doctoral thesis.
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It is a known fact that noise analysis is a suitable method for sensor performance surveillance. In particular, controlling the response time of a sensor is an efficient way to anticipate failures and to have the opportunity to prevent them. In this work the response times of several sensors of Trillo NPP are estimated by means of noise analysis. The procedure applied consists of modeling each sensor with autoregressive methods and getting the searched parameter by analyzing the response of the model when a ramp is simulated as the input signal. Core exit thermocouples and in core self-powered neutron detectors are the main sensors analyzed but other plant sensors are studied as well. Since several measurement campaigns have been carried out, it has been also possible to analyze the evolution of the estimated parameters during more than one fuel cycle. Some sensitivity studies for the sample frequency of the signals and its influence on the response time are also included. Calculations and analysis have been done in the frame of a collaboration agreement between Trillo NPP operator (CNAT) and the School of Mines of Madrid.
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This article describes a knowledge-based application in the domain of road traffic management that we have developed following a knowledge modeling approach and the notion of problem-solving method. The article presents first a domain-independent model for real-time decision support as a structured collection of problem solving methods. Then, it is described how this general model is used to develop an operational version for the domain of traffic management. For this purpose, a particular knowledge modeling tool, called KSM (Knowledge Structure Manager), was applied. Finally, the article shows an application developed for a traffic network of the city of Madrid and it is compared with a second application developed for a different traffic area of the city of Barcelona.
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The main problem to study vertical drainage from the moisture distribution, on a vertisol profile, is searching for suitable methods using these procedures. Our aim was to design a digital image processing methodology and its analysis to characterize the moisture content distribution of a vertisol profile. In this research, twelve soil pits were excavated on a ba re Mazic Pellic Vertisols ix of them in May 13/2011 and the rest in May 19 /2011 after a moderate rainfall event. Digital RGB images were taken from each vertisol pit using a Kodak? camera selecting a size of 1600x945 pixels. Each soil image was processed to homogenized brightness and then a spatial filter with several window sizes was applied to select the optimum one. The RGB image obtained were divided in each matrix color selecting the best thresholds for each one, maximum and minimum, to be applied and get a digital binary pattern. This one was analyzed by estimating two fractal scaling exponents box counting dimension D BC) and interface fractal dimension (D) In addition, three pre-fractal scaling coefficients were determinate at maximum resolution: total number of boxes intercepting the foreground pattern (A), fractal lacunarity (?1) and Shannon entropy S1). For all the images processed the spatial filter 9x9 was the optimum based on entropy, cluster and histogram criteria. Thresholds for each color were selected based on bimodal histograms.
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Recent research has shown large differences between the expected and the actual energy consumption in buildings. The differences have been attributed partially, to the assumptions made during the design phase of buildings when simulation methods are employed. More accurate occupancy profiles on building operation could help to carry out more precise building performance calculations. This study focuses on the post-occupancy evaluation of two apartments, one renovated and one non renovated, in Madrid within the same building complex. The aim of this paper is to present an application of the mixed-methods methodology (Creswell, 2007) to assess thermal comfort and occupancy practices used in the case studies, and to discuss the shortcomings and opportunities associated with it. The mixed-methods methodology offers strategies for integrating qualitative and quantitative methods to investigate complex phenomena. This approach is expected to contribute to the growing knowledge of occupants behaviour and building performance by explaining the differences observed between energy consumption and thermal comfort in relation to peoples saving and comfort practices and the related experiences, preferences and values.
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Acknowledgements The authors acknowledge L. Wicks and B. de Francisco for helping in coral sampling and coral care in the aquaria facilities at SAMS. Thanks to C. Campbell and the CCAP for kind support and help. Scientific party and crew on board the RVs Calanus and Seol Mara, as well as on board the RRS James Cook during the Changing Oceans cruise (JC_073) are greatly acknowledged. Thanks to colleagues at SAMS for their support during our stay at SAMS. We are in debt with A. Olariaga for his help modifying the cylindrical experimental chambers used in the experiments, and C.C. Suckling for assistance with the flume experiment. Many thanks go to G. Kazadinis for preparing the POM used in the feeding experiments. We also thank two anonymous reviewers and the editor for their constructive comments, which contribute to improve the manuscript. This work has been supported by the European Commission through two ASSEMBLE projects (grant agreement no. 227799) conducted in 2010 and 2011 at SAMS, as well as by the UK Ocean Acidification Research Programme's Benthic Consortium project (awards NE/H01747X/1 and NE/H017305/1) funded by NERC. [SS]
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In the analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) are used temporal series that contains the distances between successive heartbeats in order to assess autonomic regulation of the cardiovascular system. These series are obtained from the electrocardiogram (ECG) signal analysis, which can be affected by different types of artifacts leading to incorrect interpretations in the analysis of the HRV signals. Classic approach to deal with these artifacts implies the use of correction methods, some of them based on interpolation, substitution or statistical techniques. However, there are few studies that shows the accuracy and performance of these correction methods on real HRV signals. This study aims to determine the performance of some linear and non-linear correction methods on HRV signals with induced artefacts by quantification of its linear and nonlinear HRV parameters. As part of the methodology, ECG signals of rats measured using the technique of telemetry were used to generate real heart rate variability signals without any error. In these series were simulated missing points (beats) in different quantities in order to emulate a real experimental situation as accurately as possible. In order to compare recovering efficiency, deletion (DEL), linear interpolation (LI), cubic spline interpolation (CI), moving average window (MAW) and nonlinear predictive interpolation (NPI) were used as correction methods for the series with induced artifacts. The accuracy of each correction method was known through the results obtained after the measurement of the mean value of the series (AVNN), standard deviation (SDNN), root mean square error of the differences between successive heartbeats (RMSSD), Lomb\'s periodogram (LSP), Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (DFA), multiscale entropy (MSE) and symbolic dynamics (SD) on each HRV signal with and without artifacts. The results show that, at low levels of missing points the performance of all correction techniques are very similar with very close values for each HRV parameter. However, at higher levels of losses only the NPI method allows to obtain HRV parameters with low error values and low quantity of significant differences in comparison to the values calculated for the same signals without the presence of missing points.