Postal Communications, International Regulation

The article provides a concise overview of the rules applicable to postal communications at the international level. Particular attention is paid to the regulations of the Universal Postal Union (UPU), the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS) of the World Trade Organization (WTO), as well as the relationship between the two. Outlook on possible future developments accounting for the rapid technological advances, in particular the Internet, and the liberalisation of markets wraps up the analysis. This is a 2013 update that takes into consideration the changes made in the UPU acts in 2012, as well as the latest developments in the WTO's Doha Round negotiations.

Factors Affecting Post-Capture Survivability of Lobster Homarus Americanus

Technological advances in gear and fishing practices have driven the global expansion of the American lobster live seafood market. These changes have had a positive effect on the lobster industry by increasing capture efficiency. However, it is unknown what effect these improved methods will have on the post-capture fitness and survival of lobsters. This project utilized a repeated measures design to compare the physiological changes that occur in lobsters over time as the result of differences in depth, hauling rate, and storage methodology. The results indicate that lobsters destined for long distance transport or temporary storage in pounds undergo physiological disturbance as part of the capture process. These changes are significant over time for total hemocyte counts, crustacean hyperglycemic hormone, L-lactate, ammonia, and glucose. Repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) for glucose indicates a significant interaction between depth and storage methodology over time for non-survivors. A Gram-negative bacterium, Photobacterium indicum, was identified in pure culture from hemolymph samples of 100% of weak lobsters. Histopathology revealed the presence of Gram-negative bacteria throughout the tissues with evidence of antemortem edema and necrosis suggestive of septicemia. On the basis of these findings, we recommend to the lobster industry that if a reduction in depth and hauling rate is not economically feasible, fishermen should take particular care in handling lobsters and provide them with a recovery period in recirculating seawater prior to land transport. The ecological role of P. indicum is not fully defined at this time. However, it may be an emerging opportunistic pathogen of stressed lobsters. Judicious preemptive antibiotic therapy may be necessary to reduce mortality in susceptible lobsters destined for high-density holding facilities.

Improved Space Object Orbit Determination Using CMOS Detectors

CMOS-sensors, or in general Active Pixel Sensors (APS), are rapidly replacing CCDs in the consumer camera market. Due to significant technological advances during the past years these devices start to compete with CCDs also for demanding scientific imaging applications, in particular in the astronomy community. CMOS detectors offer a series of inherent advantages compared to CCDs, due to the structure of their basic pixel cells, which each contains their own amplifier and readout electronics. The most prominent advantages for space object observations are the extremely fast and flexible readout capabilities, feasibility for electronic shuttering and precise epoch registration,and the potential to perform image processing operations on-chip and in real-time. Here, the major challenges and design drivers for ground-based and space-based optical observation strategies for objects in Earth orbit have been analyzed. CMOS detector characteristics were critically evaluated and compared with the established CCD technology, especially with respect to the above mentioned observations. Finally, we simulated several observation scenarios for ground- and space-based sensor by assuming different observation and sensor properties. We will introduce the analyzed end-to-end simulations of the ground- and spacebased strategies in order to investigate the orbit determination accuracy and its sensitivity which may result from different values for the frame-rate, pixel scale, astrometric and epoch registration accuracies. Two cases were simulated, a survey assuming a ground-based sensor to observe objects in LEO for surveillance applications, and a statistical survey with a space-based sensor orbiting in LEO observing small-size debris in LEO. The ground-based LEO survey uses a dynamical fence close to the Earth shadow a few hours after sunset. For the space-based scenario a sensor in a sun-synchronous LEO orbit, always pointing in the anti-sun direction to achieve optimum illumination conditions for small LEO debris was simulated.

Real-time computer-based visual feedback improves visual acuity in downbeat nystagmus - a pilot study.

BACKGROUND Patients with downbeat nystagmus syndrome suffer from oscillopsia, which leads to an unstable visual perception and therefore impaired visual acuity. The aim of this study was to use real-time computer-based visual feedback to compensate for the destabilizing slow phase eye movements. METHODS The patients were sitting in front of a computer screen with the head fixed on a chin rest. The eye movements were recorded by an eye tracking system (EyeSeeCam®). We tested the visual acuity with a fixed Landolt C (static) and during real-time feedback driven condition (dynamic) in gaze straight ahead and (20°) sideward gaze. In the dynamic condition, the Landolt C moved according to the slow phase eye velocity of the downbeat nystagmus. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to test for normal distribution and one-way ANOVA for comparison. RESULTS Ten patients with downbeat nystagmus were included in the study. Median age was 76 years and the median duration of symptoms was 6.3 years (SD +/- 3.1y). The mean slow phase velocity was moderate during gaze straight ahead (1.44°/s, SD +/- 1.18°/s) and increased significantly in sideward gaze (mean left 3.36°/s; right 3.58°/s). In gaze straight ahead, we found no difference between the static and feedback driven condition. In sideward gaze, visual acuity improved in five out of ten subjects during the feedback-driven condition (p = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS This study provides proof of concept that non-invasive real-time computer-based visual feedback compensates for the SPV in DBN. Therefore, real-time visual feedback may be a promising aid for patients suffering from oscillopsia and impaired text reading on screen. Recent technological advances in the area of virtual reality displays might soon render this approach feasible in fully mobile settings.

Communication services

This is a concise encyclopedia entry that discusses the applicable law of the World Trade Organization (WTO) with regard to telecommunications, audiovisual, postal and courier services, which are framed in terms of existing WTO classification under the common heading of 'Communication Services'. The chapter analyzes the pertinent rules of the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), the present state of commitments, the problems faced in light of the recent technological advances that affect, albeit differently, all these sectors. It includes insights from the case-law and a brief overall appraisal of the prospects for change.

A STUDY OF THE ATTITUDES OF ELDERLY CONSUMERS TOWARD DENTAL CARE AND ORAL HEALTH

This paper describes a study of the attitudes of elderly consumers toward dental care and oral health. Four hundred and two respondents ages 60-97 were interviewed with a 62 item questionnaire. Attitudes were measured regarding: quality of care, sufficient utilization of care, priority of oral health, patient-provider interaction, individual control over health, powerful others control of health, and chance as the locus of control over health. Analysis of variance was performed on the sample of males and females separately. Fifty-four hypotheses were tested on each sex. Race and self-concept were excellent predictors of attitude for both sexes and SES (socioeconomic status) and self-reported health were good predictors for females. There was no statistically significant relationship between the frequency with which the elderly utilize dental care and their attitudes toward the quality of care they receive. Foremost reason for non-utilization was that of no felt need. Those selecting this reason were likely to be Anglo females, wearers of dentures, in good health. Those selecting cost as the foremost reason for non-utilization were Black, in fair health, of either sex, missing some teeth, but with no dentures. Overall attitudes toward quality of dental care were positive, despite the fact that this group was exposed to dental care in its infancy. This may suggest that the elderly recognize the importance of technological advances in dentistry. Women with low income and education levels were more likely to have positive attitudes about quality of care than other females. Attitudes about interaction between patient and provider were overall negative. The sample scored high on individual control over health, and scored lower, but nonetheless positively, on feelings that persons other than themselves are most essential to maintaining health. Overall these elderly persons did not agree that they relied on chance in matters of health. Those who did choose this locus were female, with lower SES and health status. Though males scored high on internal control of health, those with lowest scores were Mexican-American or had never been married. Sex and ethnicity were the best predictors of attitude across all measures in the study.^

Healthy aging : Free time of adults

El trabajo que aquí se presenta surge de la necesidad de conceptualizar y profundizar sobre el uso productivo del tiempo libre de las personas adultas mayores. Se llevará a cabo una aproximación teórica sobre las diferentes concepciones de tiempo libre y ocio como dimensiones interdisciplinarias que involucran elementos referidos al entorno en donde personas y comunidades buscan integrarse en un tiempo y espacio determinado

The computer paradigm in vocational guidance

The technological advances in last decades have transformed the external resources of Vocational Counseling, Occupational Information and assessment of clients. Most computer systems follow a behaviorist-cognitive approach. However, the use of vocational counseling software is not exclusive to one conceptual approach. Computers are introduced in education from primary school; counselors and other educators are expected to use those systems. The attitude of counselors ranges from enthusiastic acceptance to complete refusal. Many counselors fear that computers will replace them. An underlying theory holds that counseling is based on the counselor-client interaction. A computer- client interaction cannot be considered vocational counseling. Counseling has five basic aims: prevention, assistance, education and development, service of diverse groups and research. The most relevant trends in computer-based counseling are: tests and questionnaires based on computers, adaptive development, computarized information, vocational counseling systems and research. Basic aims and the potential role of computers in achieving them are discussed. Present vocational counselors can use the technology of computers to link the past of our profession to its promising future. In view of these premises we have developed two computer systems that assist the vocational counseling process: "Professional Interests Questionnaire, Computer Version", and "Computer-based System of Vocational Counseling".

The computer paradigm in vocational guidance

The technological advances in last decades have transformed the external resources of Vocational Counseling, Occupational Information and assessment of clients. Most computer systems follow a behaviorist-cognitive approach. However, the use of vocational counseling software is not exclusive to one conceptual approach. Computers are introduced in education from primary school; counselors and other educators are expected to use those systems. The attitude of counselors ranges from enthusiastic acceptance to complete refusal. Many counselors fear that computers will replace them. An underlying theory holds that counseling is based on the counselor-client interaction. A computer- client interaction cannot be considered vocational counseling. Counseling has five basic aims: prevention, assistance, education and development, service of diverse groups and research. The most relevant trends in computer-based counseling are: tests and questionnaires based on computers, adaptive development, computarized information, vocational counseling systems and research. Basic aims and the potential role of computers in achieving them are discussed. Present vocational counselors can use the technology of computers to link the past of our profession to its promising future. In view of these premises we have developed two computer systems that assist the vocational counseling process: "Professional Interests Questionnaire, Computer Version", and "Computer-based System of Vocational Counseling".

Healthy aging : Free time of adults

El trabajo que aquí se presenta surge de la necesidad de conceptualizar y profundizar sobre el uso productivo del tiempo libre de las personas adultas mayores. Se llevará a cabo una aproximación teórica sobre las diferentes concepciones de tiempo libre y ocio como dimensiones interdisciplinarias que involucran elementos referidos al entorno en donde personas y comunidades buscan integrarse en un tiempo y espacio determinado

Healthy aging : Free time of adults

El trabajo que aquí se presenta surge de la necesidad de conceptualizar y profundizar sobre el uso productivo del tiempo libre de las personas adultas mayores. Se llevará a cabo una aproximación teórica sobre las diferentes concepciones de tiempo libre y ocio como dimensiones interdisciplinarias que involucran elementos referidos al entorno en donde personas y comunidades buscan integrarse en un tiempo y espacio determinado

The computer paradigm in vocational guidance

The technological advances in last decades have transformed the external resources of Vocational Counseling, Occupational Information and assessment of clients. Most computer systems follow a behaviorist-cognitive approach. However, the use of vocational counseling software is not exclusive to one conceptual approach. Computers are introduced in education from primary school; counselors and other educators are expected to use those systems. The attitude of counselors ranges from enthusiastic acceptance to complete refusal. Many counselors fear that computers will replace them. An underlying theory holds that counseling is based on the counselor-client interaction. A computer- client interaction cannot be considered vocational counseling. Counseling has five basic aims: prevention, assistance, education and development, service of diverse groups and research. The most relevant trends in computer-based counseling are: tests and questionnaires based on computers, adaptive development, computarized information, vocational counseling systems and research. Basic aims and the potential role of computers in achieving them are discussed. Present vocational counselors can use the technology of computers to link the past of our profession to its promising future. In view of these premises we have developed two computer systems that assist the vocational counseling process: "Professional Interests Questionnaire, Computer Version", and "Computer-based System of Vocational Counseling".

Segmentación de Secuencias de Vídeo: análisis y desarrollo de estrategias para la detección de cambios de toma y para la detección de objetos móviles

The important technological advances experienced along the last years have resulted in an important demand for new and efficient computer vision applications. On the one hand, the increasing use of video editing software has given rise to a necessity for faster and more efficient editing tools that, in a first step, perform a temporal segmentation in shots. On the other hand, the number of electronic devices with integrated cameras has grown enormously. These devices require new, fast, and efficient computer vision applications that include moving object detection strategies. In this dissertation, we propose a temporal segmentation strategy and several moving object detection strategies, which are suitable for the last generation of computer vision applications requiring both low computational cost and high quality results. First, a novel real-time high-quality shot detection strategy is proposed. While abrupt transitions are detected through a very fast pixel-based analysis, gradual transitions are obtained from an efficient edge-based analysis. Both analyses are reinforced with a motion analysis that allows to detect and discard false detections. This analysis is carried out exclusively over a reduced amount of candidate transitions, thus maintaining the computational requirements. On the other hand, a moving object detection strategy, which is based on the popular Mixture of Gaussians method, is proposed. This strategy, taking into account the recent history of each image pixel, adapts dynamically the amount of Gaussians that are required to model its variations. As a result, we improve significantly the computational efficiency with respect to other similar methods and, additionally, we reduce the influence of the used parameters in the results. Alternatively, in order to improve the quality of the results in complex scenarios containing dynamic backgrounds, we propose different non-parametric based moving object detection strategies that model both background and foreground. To obtain high quality results regardless of the characteristics of the analyzed sequence we dynamically estimate the most adequate bandwidth matrices for the kernels that are used in the background and foreground modeling. Moreover, the application of a particle filter allows to update the spatial information and provides a priori knowledge about the areas to analyze in the following images, enabling an important reduction in the computational requirements and improving the segmentation results. Additionally, we propose the use of an innovative combination of chromaticity and gradients that allows to reduce the influence of shadows and reflects in the detections.

Desarrollos para la explotación de datos integrados mediante fotogrametría y láser escáner en proyectos de patrimonio arquitectónico

La presente tesis doctoral describe los desarrollos realizados, y finalmente materializados en patentes con registro de la propiedad intelectual, para la integración de las nuevas tecnologías de documentación fotogramétrica y las bases de datos de los barredores láser terrestres, en los procesos de elaboración, redacción y ejecución de proyectos de restauración y rehabilitación arquitectónicos. Los avances tecnológicos aparecidos en control métrico, junto con las técnicas de imagen digital y los desarrollos fotogramétricos, pueden aportar mejoras significativas en el proceso proyectual y permiten aplicar nuevos procedimientos de extracción de datos para generar de forma sencilla, bajo el control directo y supervisión de los responsables del proyecto, la información métrica y documental más adecuada. Se establecen como principios, y por tanto como base para el diseño de dicha herramienta, que los desarrollos aparecidos sí han producido el uso extendido del sistema CAD (como instrumento de dibujo) así como el uso de la imagen digital como herramienta de documentación. La herramienta a diseñar se fundamenta por tanto en la imagen digital (imágenes digitales, imágenes rectificadas, ortofotografías, estéreo- modelos, estereo- ortofotografías) así como su integración en autocad para un tratamiento interactivo. En la aplicación de la fotogrametría a la disciplina arquitectónica, se considera de interés estructurar aplicaciones con carácter integrador que, con mayores capacidades de interactuación y a partir de información veraz y rigurosa, permitan completar o elaborar documentos de interés proyectual, ABSTRACT This doctoral thesis explains the developments carried out, and finally patented with intellectual property rights, for the integration of the new photogrammetric technology documentation and terrestrial scanner databases in the preparation, documentation and implementation processes of restoration projects and architectural renovation. The technological advances in metric control, as well as the digital image techniques and photogrammetric developments, can together bring a significant improvement to the projecting process, and, under the direct control and supervision of those in charge of the project, can allow new data extraction processes to be applied in order to easily generate the most appropriate metric information and documentation. The principles and, therefore, the basis for the design of this tool are that the developments have indeed produced the widespread use of the CAD system (as a drawing instrument) and the use of digital images as a documentation tool. The tool to be designed is therefore based on digital images (rectify images, orthophotos, stereomodels, stereo-orthophotos) as well as its integration in Autocad for interactive processing. In the application of photogrammetry to the architectural discipline, what interests us is to structure applications of an integrative nature which, with a greater capacity for interaction and from accurate and thorough information, enable the completion or elaboration of documents that are of interest to the project.

Modelización de contactos termoelastohidrodinámicos

La mejora en la eficiencia energética y la reducción de la tasa de fallos en los contactos lubricados son aspectos que resultan de gran interés en numerosos sectores de la industria, y plantean en estos momentos nuevas dificultades operativas y retos para un futuro próximo. Los avances tecnológicos han incrementado las exigencias técnicas que se requieren a los aceites para cumplir su función al extender sus variables operativas a un mayor espectro de aplicaciones, tanto de condiciones de funcionamiento como a la gran variedad de nuevos materiales constitutivos de los engranajes en los que se tiene que utilizar. Por ello, actualmente se está incentivado el desarrollo de nuevos procedimientos que permitan comprender el comportamiento de este tipo de contactos lubricados, con el fin de lograr mejoras técnicas en su diseño y la correcta selección del aceite. En esta Tesis Doctoral se presenta una metodología de cálculo numérico que permite simular el comportamiento de contactos elastohidrodinámicos (EHD) puntuales, como puede ser el caso de un rodamiento. La resolución de este problema presenta diversas complejidades matemáticas y exige el desarrollo de un elaborado procedimiento de cálculo basado en técnicas multinivel. Para hacer del procedimiento una herramienta válida en un gran número de condiciones de funcionamiento y tipos de lubricantes, se ha tenido en cuenta en el cálculo la posible aparición de comportamientos no-Newtonianos del lubricante y fenómenos de generación y disipación de calor, provocados por el movimiento relativo del fluido y las superficies en contacto. Para la validación del procedimiento, se han contrastado los resultados numéricos obtenidos con nuestro método, con los resultados numéricos y experimentales publicados por otros autores y con valores experimentales propios medidos en un equipo de ensayo de contacto puntual tipo MTM. El desarrollo de este programa ha dotado a la División de Ingeniería de Máquinas de una herramienta que ha permitido, y sobre todo va permitir, evaluar la importancia de cada uno de los parámetros reológicos en los diferentes problemas que va a tener que abordar, evaluación que hasta el momento se realizaba con métodos aproximados que describen la fenomenología con mucha menos precisión. A la hora de emplear nuestro procedimiento numérico para simular situaciones reales, nos hemos encontrado con el obstáculo de que es muy complicado encontrar, en la bibliografía y bases de datos, los parámetros que caracterizan el comportamiento reológico del lubricante en las condiciones de presión, temperatura y grado de cizallamiento habituales en las que se trabaja en este tipo de contactos, y las pocas medidas que existen para estas condiciones de funcionamiento son poco fiables. Por ello como complemento al objetivo principal de esta Tesis hemos desarrollado una metodología para caracterizar los lubricantes en estas condiciones extremas. Dicha metodología está basada en la buena descripción que hace nuestro programa del coeficiente de fricción, lo que nos ha permitido obtener los parámetros reológicos del III lubricante a partir de las medidas experimentales del coeficiente de fricción generado en un equipo MTM lubricado con el lubricante que se desea caracterizar. Madrid, Octubre de 2012 IV Improving energy efficiency and reducing the failure rate in lubricated contacts are issues that are of great interest in many sectors of industry, and right now posed operational difficulties and new challenges for the near future. Technological advances have increased the technical demands required to oils to fulfil its role by extending its operational variables to a wider range of applications, both operating conditions and to the wide variety of new materials which constitute the gear in which must be used. For this reason, has being encouraged currently to develop new procedures to understand the behaviour of this type of lubricated contacts, in order to achieve improvements in design techniques and the correct oil selection. In this Thesis we present a numerical methodology to simulate the puntual elastohydrodynamic contact behaviour (EHD), such as a roller bearing. The resolution of this problem presents various mathematical complexities and requires the development of an elaborate calculation procedure based on multilevel techniques. To make the procedure a valid tool in a wide range of operating conditions and types of lubricants, has been taken into account in calculating the possible occurrence of non-Newtonian behaviour of the lubricant and phenomena of generation and dissipation of heat, caused by the fluid relative motion and contacting surfaces. For the validation of the method, we have compared the numerical results obtained with our method with numerical and experimental results published by other authors also with own experimental values measured on point-contact test equipment MTM. The development of this program has provided the Machines Engineering Division of a tool that has allowed, and especially will allow to evaluate the importance of each of the rheological parameters on the various problems that will have to be addressed, evaluation performed hitherto described methods that phenomenology approximated with much less accuracy. When using our numerical procedure to simulate real situations we have encountered the obstacle that is very difficult to find, in the literature and database, parameters characterizing the rheological behaviour of the lubricant in the usual conditions of pressure, temperature and shear rate in which you work in this type of contact, and the few measures that exist for these operating conditions are unreliable. Thus in addition to the main objective of this thesis, we have developed a methodology to characterize the lubricants in these extreme conditions. This methodology is based on the good description, which makes our program, of the coefficient of friction, that allowed us to obtain the lubricant rheological parameters from experimental measurements of the friction coefficient generated on lubricated MTM equipment with the lubricant to be characterized.