A Procedural Model for Ontological Analyses

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the popularity of ontological analysis of conceptual modelling techniques. To date, related research explores the ontological deficiencies of classical techniques such as ER or UML modelling, as well as business process modelling techniques such as ARIS or even Web Services standards such as BPEL4WS, BPML, ebXML, BPSS and WSCI. While the ontologies that form the basis of these analyses are reasonably mature, it is the actual process of an ontological analysis that still lacks rigour. The current procedure is prone to individual interpretations and is one reason for criticism of the entire ontological analysis. This paper presents a procedural model for ontological analysis based on the use of meta models, multiple coders and metrics. The model is supported by examples from various ontological analyses.

Estimating the burden of disease attributable to urban outdoor air pollution in South Africa in 2000

Objectives To quantify the mortality burden attributed to urban outdoor air pollution in South Africa in 2000. Design The study followed comparative risk assessment (CRA) methodology developed by the World Heath Organization (WHO). In most urban areas, annual mean concentrations of particulate matter (PM) with diameters less than 10 μum (PM10) from monitoring network data and PM with diameters less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) derived using a ratio method were weighted according to population size. PM10 and PM2.5 data from air-quality assessment studies in areas not covered by the network were also included. Population-attributable fractions calculated using risk coefficients presented in the WHO study were weighted by the proportion of the total population (33%) in urban environments, and applied to revised estimates of deaths and years of life lost (YLLs) for South Africa in 2000. Setting South Africa. Subjects Children under 5 years and adults 30 years and older. Outcome measures Mortality and YLLs from lung cancer and cardiopulmonary disease in adults (30 years and older), and from acute respiratory infections (ARIs) in children aged 0 - 4 years. Results Outdoor air pollution in urban areas in South Africa was estimated to cause 3.7% of the national mortality from cardiopulmonary disease and 5.1% of mortality attributable to cancers of the trachea, bronchus and lung in adults aged 30 years and older, and 1.1% of mortality from ARIs in children under 5 years of age. This amounts to 4 637 or 0.9% (95% uncertainty interval 0.3 - 1.5%) of all deaths and about 42 000 YLLs, or 0.4% (95% uncertainty interval 0.1 - 0.7%) of all YLLs in persons in South Africa in 2000. Conclusion Urban air pollution has under-recognised public health impacts in South Africa. Fossil fuel combustion emissions and traffic-related air pollution remain key targets for public health in South Africa.

Lung sickness in Murri kids : a cohort study in urban Indigenous children

QLD, 4Murri Health Group, Caboolture, QLD Introduction Respiratory illnesses with cough as a symptom are predominant causes of morbidity in young Australian Indigenous children. With the exception of ear disease, there are limited studies that have addressed burden and outcome. Also, there are no studies that are specific to urban Indigenous children. Aim: We aim to comprehensively investigate the incidence, aetiology, risk factors for and outcomes of acute respiratory illnesses (ARIs) in this population. Methods A cohort study of Indigenous children aged less than 5 years registered with an urban Indigenous primary health care service. Comprehensive baseline data are collected and children are followed monthly for 12 months to capture ARI events. ARI events are subsequently followed weekly for 4 weeks to determine cough outcomes, with review by a paediatric respiratory physician if cough has not resolved within 28 days. Results To date, 58 children (57% female) have been enrolled and 46 ARIs have been captured over 907 child weeks of observation (5.1 events per 100 child weeks, 95%CI 3.7–6.8). 13 ARIs (28.3%) have resulted in persistent cough for >28 days following onset. Conclusion Our early findings suggest an excess incidence of ARI in this population. The proportion of ARIs resulting in persistent cough for more than 4 weeks is the highest yet reported. Key Words: Indigenous, acute respiratory illness, paediatric.

Negotiating indeterminacy in studio teaching: Using the zones of material and immaterial play to shape pedagogies and practices in art

The processes of studio-based teaching in visual art are often still tied to traditional models of discrete disciplines and largely immersed in skill-based learning. These approaches to training artists are also tied to an individual model of art practice that is clearly defined by the boundaries of those disciplines. This paper will explain how the open studio program at QUT can be broadly understood as an action research model of learning that ‘plays’ with the post-medium, post-studio genealogies and zones of contemporary art. This emphasises developing conceptual, contextual and formal skills as essential for engaging with and practicing in the often-indeterminate spatio-temporal sites of studio teaching. It will explore how this approach looks to Sutton-Smith’s observations on the role of play and Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development in early childhood learning as a way to develop strategies for promoting creative learning environments that are collaborative and self sustainable. Social, cultural, political and philosophical dialogues are examined as they relate to art practice with the aim of forming the shared interests, aims, and ambitions of graduating students into self initiated collectives or ARIs.

The respiratory health of urban Indigenous children aged less than 5 years: Study protocol for a prospective cohort study

Background Despite the burden of acute respiratory illnesses (ARI) among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children being a substantial cause of childhood morbidity and associated costs to families, communities and the health system, data on disease burden in urban children are lacking. Consequently evidence-based decision-making, data management guidelines, health resourcing for primary health care services and prevention strategies are lacking. This study aims to comprehensively describe the epidemiology, impact and outcomes of ARI in urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children (hereafter referred to as Indigenous) in the greater Brisbane area. Methods/design A prospective cohort study of Indigenous children aged less than five years registered with a primary health care service in Northern Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Children are recruited at time of presentation to the service for any reason. Demographic, epidemiological, risk factor, microbiological, economic and clinical data are collected at enrolment. Enrolled children are followed for 12 months during which time ARI events, changes in child characteristics over time and monthly nasal swabs are collected. Children who develop an ARI with cough as a symptom during the study period are more intensely followed-up for 28(±3) days including weekly nasal swabs and parent completed cough diary cards. Children with persistent cough at day 28 post-ARI are reviewed by a paediatrician. Discussion Our study will be one of the first to comprehensively evaluate the natural history, epidemiology, aetiology, economic impact and outcomes of ARIs in this population. The results will inform studies for the development of evidence-based guidelines to improve the early detection, prevention and management of chronic cough and setting of priorities in children during and after ARI.

Cough and ARI outcomes in urban Indigenous Children

Aim To identify cough epidemiology and outcomes in urban Indigenous children Methods An ongoing prospective cohort study of Indigenous children aged <5 years registered with at an urban Indigenous primary health care centre, Brisbane. Detailed baseline data are collected and, children are followed monthly for 12 months to capture ARI events. Children who develop cough as a symptom at any time over the 12 months have weekly follow-up for four weeks to ascertain cough outcomes. Results To date, 118 children have been enrolled (535 child-months of observation); Respiratory illnesses accounted for 23 (19 %) of overall reported reasons for presentation, however respiratory symptoms were present in 41 (35%) of all visits; a dry cough in 22 (18%), wet cough in 31 (26%). To date, 99 ARI’s have been recorded with an incidence of 18.4 episodes/100 child months. Seventeen children (14.4%) had persistent cough at day 28. Conclusion This is the first study to comprehensively describe the incidence and outcomes of cough in urban Indigenous children. Early data suggest respiratory illnesses are the most common illnesses for which these children seek medical advice and there is a high prevalence of wet cough.

Hautamuistomerkki elämän ja kuoleman tulkitsijana : Heikki Häiväojan, Kain Tapperin ja Matti Peltokankaan tekemät hautamuistomerkit 1952-2002

Grave sculpture as interpreter of life and death. Grave sculptures done by Heikki Häiväoja, Kain Tapper and Matti Peltokangas 1952-2002. The thoughts of Philippe Ariès and Erwin Panofsky on western funeral art constitute the starting point of this study. These scholars speak about the 20th century as a period of decline regarding western funeral art. The reason for this situation lies, according to them, in the fact that death has been rejected and become a private affair in modern society. Especially Panofsky sees an important reason for the decay of funeral art also in the separation of death from religion. In this study, I approach the view of Ariès and Panofsky from the angle of Finnish funeral art. The subject of the study is grave sculptures of three Finnish sculptors: Heikki Häiväoja, Kain Tapper and Matti Peltokangas, from 1952 to 2002. (The analysis of the grave sculptures has been performed with the Iconology of Erwin Panofsky. The analysis has been deepened by the ideas of a graveyard as a semiotic text according to Werner Enninger and Christa Schwens. In order to confirm their argumentation, they analyse the graveyard text with the model of communicative functions of Roman Jakobson and verify that the graveyard is a cultural text according to Juri Lotman.) Results of the study In the grave sculptures of the sculptors, different worldviews appear alongside Christian thoughts indicating a new stage in the tradition of funeral art. In the grave sculptures characterised as Christian, the view of life after death is included. In these memorials the direction of life is prospective, pointing to the life beyond. Death is a border, beyond which one is unable to see. Nevertheless the border is open or marked by the cross. On this open border, death is absence of pain, glory and new unity. In memorials with different worldviews, the life beyond is a possibility which is not excluded. Memorials interpret life retrospectively; life is a precious memory which wakens grief and longing. Many memorials have metaphysical and mystic features. In spite of democratization the order and valuation of social classes appear in some memorials. The old order also materializes in the war memorials relating the same destiny of the deceased. Different burial places, nevertheless, do not indicate social inequality but are rather signs of diversity. The sculptors' abstract means of modern funeral art deepen the handling of the subject matter of death and reveal the mystery of it. Grave sculptures are a part of Finnish and sacral modern art, and there is an interaction between funeral art and modern art. Modern art acquires a new dimension, when grave sculptures become a part of its field. Grave sculptures offer an alternative to anonymous burying. The memorial is a sign of the end of life; it gives death significance and publicity and creates a relation to the past of the society. In this way, grave sculptures are a part of the chain of memory of the western funeral art, which extends throughout Antiquity until ancient Egypt. (In this study I have spoken of funeral art as a chain of memory using the thoughts of Danièle Hervieu-Léger.) There are no signs of decay in the grave sculptures, on the contrary the tradition of funeral art continues in them as a search for the meaning of life and death and as an intuitive interpretation of death. As such, grave sculptures are part of the Finnish discussion of death.

Probiotics in the prevention of clinical manifestations of common infectious diseases in children and in the elderly

Infectious diseases put an enormous burden on both children and the elderly in the forms of respiratory, gastrointestinal and oral infections. There is evidence suggesting that specific probiotics may be antagonistic to pathogens and may enhance the immune system, but the clinical evidence is still too sparce to make general conclusions on the disease-preventive effects of probiotics. This thesis, consisting of four independent, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials, investigated whether Lactobacillus GG (LGG) or a specific probiotic combination containing LGG would reduce the risk of common infections or the prevalence of pathogens in healthy and infection-prone children and in independent and institutionalised elderly people. In healthy day-care children, the 7-month consumption of probiotic milk containing Lactobacillus GG appeared to postpone the first acute respiratory infection (ARI) by one week (p=0.03, adjusted p=0.16), and to reduce complicated infections (39% vs. 47%, p<0.05, adjusted p=0.13), as well as the need for antibiotic treatment (44% vs. 54%, p=0.03, adjusted p=0.08) and day-care absences (4.9 vs. 5.8 days, p=0.03, adjusted p=0.09) compared to the placebo milk. In infection-prone children, the 6-month consumption of a combination of four probiotic bacteria (LGG, L. rhamnosus LC705, Propionibacterium freudenreichii JS, Bifidobacterium breve 99) taken in capsules appeared to reduce recurrent ARIs (72% vs. 82%, p<0.05; adjusted p=0.06), and the effect was particularly noticeable in a subgroup of children with allergic diseases (12% vs. 33%, p=0.03), although no effect on the presence of nasopharyngeal rhinovirus or enterovirus was seen. The 5-month consumption of the same probiotic combination did not show any beneficial effects on the respiratory infections in frail, institutionalised elderly subjects. In healthy children receiving Lactobacillus GG, the reduction in complications resulted in a marginal reduction in the occurrence of acute otitis media (AOM) (31% vs. 39%, p=0.08; adjusted p=0.19), and the postponement of the first AOM episode by 12 days (p=0.04; adjusted p=0.09). However, in otitis-prone children, a probiotic combination did not reduce the occurrence of AOM or the total prevalence of common AOM pathogens (Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis), except in the case of children with allergic diseases, in whom probiotics reduced recurrent AOM episodes (0% vs. 14%, p=0.03). In addition, interaction between probiotics and bacterial carriage was seen: probiot-ics reduced AOM in children who did not carry any bacterial pathogens (63% vs. 83%), but the effect was the reverse in children carrying bacteria in the nasopharynx (74% vs 62%) (p<0.05). Long-term probiotic treatment, either LGG given in milk to healthy children for 7 months or a combination of probiotics given in capsules to institutionalised elderly subjects for 5 months, did not reduce the occurrence of acute diarrhoea. However, when the probiotic combination (LGG, L. rhamnosus LC705, Propionibacterium JS) was given in cheese to independent elderly subjects for 4 months, the oral carriage of high Candida counts was reduced in the probiotic group vs. the placebo group (21% vs. 34%, p=0.01, adjusted p=0.004). The risk of hyposalivation was also reduced in the probiotic group (p=0.05). In conclusion, probiotics appear to slightly alleviate the severity of infections by postponing their appearance, by reducing complications and the need for antimicrobial treatments. In addition, they appear to prevent recurrent infections in certain subgroups of children, such as in infection-prone children with allergic diseases. Alleviating ARI by probiotics may lead to a marginal reduction in the occurrence of AOM in healthy children but not in infection-prone children with disturbed nasopharyngeal microbiota. On the basis of these results it could be supposed that Lactobacillus GG or a specific combination containing LGG are effective against viral but not against bacterial otitis, and the mechanism is probably mediated through the stimulation of the immune system. A specific probiotic combination does not reduce respiratory infections in frail elderly subjects. Acute diarrhoea, either in children or in the elderly, is not prevented by the continuous, long-term consumption of probiotics, but the consumption of a specific probiotic combination in a food matrix is beneficial to the oral health of the elderly, through the reduction of the carriage of Candida.

Corporeidad, herencia y educación : la representación de la infancia en tres poemas castellanos del siglo XIII

Resumen: Tomando como punto de partida el gesto inaugural de Philippe Ariès en lo concerniente a los estudios sobre la niñez, el presente artículo se propone abordar las formas de representación de la infancia presentes en los tres poemas que componen el Ms. K-III-4 de la Biblioteca de San Lorenzo de El Escorial (Libro de Apolonio, Vida de Santa María Egipciaca, Libre dels tres reys d’Orient), buscando así, delinearle un espacio de comprensión a los modos de ser niño que se dejan leer en este códice. Modos de ser que, no sólo permiten rectifi car las afi rmaciones fundantes del historiador francés, sino que a su vez, devienen signo del imaginario y los saberes de un siglo XIII propenso a la condición terrena del hombre.

Transformaciones en el proceso de morir : la eutanasia, una cuestión en debate en la sociedad vasca

VI,533 p.

敏捷供应链管理的综合集成研讨厅

敏捷供应链是企业适应市场环境的变化而演化出的动作模式，是属于开放的复杂巨系统范畴。而处理开放的复杂巨系统的有效方法是综合集成研讨厅体系。论文首先介绍了复杂性、复杂系统；分析了敏捷供应链的复杂性，指出敏捷供应链是一个开放的复杂巨系统；提出用综合集成研讨厅体系的思想研究敏捷供应链管理问题，给出了一个敏捷供应链管理的研讨框架，为敏捷供应链管理问题的研究提供了一个新的思路；提出将ARIS（集成信息系统体系结构）引入到综合集成研讨厅中，对供应链进行建模仿真，以支持核心企业实施敏捷供应链管理。

用综合集成方法解决企业决策问题

介绍了从定性到定量的综合集成以及从定性到定量的综合集成研讨厅体系情况 .提出用综合集成思想来解决企业决策问题 ,并给出企业决策研讨厅体系的框架结构 .将 ARIS集成到研讨厅中 ,以辅助领导者做决策 .用 ARIS对某大型企业建立动态模型 ,在不同初始条件下进行仿真 ,分析仿真结果 ,决策者还可根据经验、信息不断修改仿真条件或模型 ,最终可得出较好的、可行的经营模式 .将解决复杂问题的方法用于企业的经营管理活动中 ,可以帮助企业更好地解决重大或日常决策问题 .

胶体体系的固化及分离过程的计算机模拟

胶体体系是自然界很重要的组成部分，广泛应用于工业生产和日常生活中。胶体体系在固化的过程中，会形成有序的晶体结构或无序的玻璃态结构。对胶体的结晶和玻璃化的认识对研究相变理论，纳米材料以及自组装有着重要的意义。事实上，在这一领域存在着许多悬而未决的问题。另一方面，胶体的分离也是胶体科学研究中不可或缺的步骤。特别是近年来微流器件技术的进步为流体动力学色谱分离方法带来了进一步发展的机会，这为胶体的分离提供了非常有效的实验手段。然而，由于实际应用过程的复杂性，理论方法还不足以深入探讨胶体粒子体系固化和分离的本质。作为一种可以直接反映物理过程的研究方法，计算机模拟成为一种有效的研究胶体粒子固化和分离的手段。 硬球模型是一种最简单的胶体粒子体系，能够很好地描述具有体积排斥作用的胶体粒子的行为，因此，对于胶体粒子体系固化问题，我们采用分子动力学方法研究了硬球粒子体系的固化过程。此外，对于胶体和高分子体系的分离过程，我们主要采用耗散分子动力学（dissipative particle dynamics DPD）进行研究。论文的主要内容包括： 1)采用硬球分子动力学模型，研究了胶体颗粒在不同的压缩速率下得到的堆积态的结构异质性。我们应用Lubachevsky-Stillinger方法，在不同的压缩速率下得到了一系列的结构受限的硬球堆积状态。这些体系的有序度随着压缩速率的减小而增加，而体系的密度则是先增加后减小又增加，在中间压缩速率时出现最小值。通过测量体系中的局域序参量分布，粒子位置的均方根涨落分布和直接观察受限粒子的位置，发现这些状态中包含有无规区域和结晶区域，存在显著的结构异质性。特别的是低密度状态中许多小的有序区域互相连接成贯穿体系的逾渗网络，说明晶区之间的结构不匹配是生成这些状态的重要机理。 2)用DPD方法模拟了线性高分子链和星形高分子链在穿越纳米孔道的输运过程。对复合管道中小管的半径分别为2.5 和2.0 的两种情况进行了研究。在各种情况下我们都发现了存在一个临界流量Jc，只有当流量大于Jc的时候高分子才能进入纳米孔洞。对于线性高分子，长链的高分子进入同样粗细的小管所需要的临界流量比短链大。线性链和星形链在半径是2.0小管子中的临界流量比通过半径2.5的管子的临界流量大，或者近似相同。在半径2.5的小管中，星形高分子的临界流量要大于同等尺寸的线性高分子。此外，我们没有观察到不同接枝数的星形高分子的临界流量之间的差异。出现这种情况的原因可能是DPD模型中粒子间的相互作用势能很软，所以不能很好地体现出不同接枝数的星形高分子在位阻上的差异。 3）我们利用DPD方法模拟了圆柱形管道中线性高分子链的输运过程。比较了模拟得到的高分子保留时间和DG理论预测值之间的差异。发现分子量越大的高分子对DG理论的偏离越显著。计算了高分子链在流动过程中伸长的情况，发现了链的伸长率S与Weissenberg number 有着明确的标度关系。与狭缝中的情况类似，对于圆柱型管道中流动的线性高分子，如果采用修饰过的Peclet number，则能够更好地满足Aris-Taylor分散的标度关系。 4)我们建立了纳米粒子在DPD模拟的动力学模型，研究了在本体溶液中纳米粒子的自扩散系数和速度关联函数对与胶体粒子的半径定性关系。发现纳米粒子的扩散系数随粒子半径的增加而减小。纳米粒子的半径越大，其速度关联函数的衰减越慢，同样大小纳米粒子的质量越大，其速度关联函数衰减得越慢。我们进一步模拟了在狭缝中纳米粒子的输运过程。通过观察流体受限方向的流速曲线，我们发现由于与器壁之间的体积排斥作用，使得纳米粒子远离流体的边界。对Aris-Taylor分散的研究结果表明，在λ不大的时候，应用不同的Peclet numbers 对分散方程结果的影响不大。