Probabilistic Approach to Design of Large Antenna Arrays

2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: 78A50

Formal professional relationships between general practitioners and specialists: possible associations with patient health and pharmacy costs

This article investigates whether the strength of formal professional relationships between general practitioners (GPs) and specialists (SPs) affects either the health status of patients or their pharmacy costs. To this end, it measures the strength of formal professional relationships between GPs and SPs through the number of shared patients and proxies the patient health status by the number of comorbidities diagnosed and treated. In strong GP–SP relationships, the patient health status is expected to be high, due to efficient care coordination, and the pharmacy costs low, due to effective use of resources. To test these hypotheses and compare the characteristics of the strongest GP–SP connections with those of the weakest, this article concentrates on diabetes—a chronic condition where patient care coordination is likely important. Diabetes generates the largest shared patient cohort in Hungary, with the highest traffic of specialist medication prescriptions. This article finds that stronger ties result in lower pharmacy costs, but not in higher patient health statuses. Key points for decision makers • The number of shared patients may be used to measure the strength of formal professional relationships between general practitioners and specialists. • A large number of shared patients indicates a strong, collaborative tie between general practitioners and specialists, whereas a low number indicates a weak, fragmented tie. • Tie strength does not affect patient health—strong, collaborative ties between general practitioners and specialists do not involve better patient health than weak, fragmented ties. • Tie strength does affect pharmacy costs—strong, collaborative ties between general practitioners and specialists involve significantly lower pharmacy costs than weak, fragmented ties. • Pharmacy costs may be reduced by lowering patient care fragmentation through channelling a general practitioner’s patients to a small number of specialists and increasing collaboration between general practitioner and specialists. • Limited patient choice is financially more beneficial than complete freedom of choice, and no more detrimental to patient health.

Three empirical essays on startups' survival using the Kauffman Firm Survey

This dissertation studies newly founded U.S. firms' survival using three different releases of the Kauffman Firm Survey. I study firms' survival from a different perspective in each chapter. ^ The first essay studies firms' survival through an analysis of their initial state at startup and the current state of the firms as they gain maturity. The probability of survival is determined using three probit models, using both firm-specific variables and an industry scale variable to control for the environment of operation. The firm's specific variables include size, experience and leverage as a debt-to-value ratio. The results indicate that size and relevant experience are both positive predictors for the initial and current states. Debt appears to be a predictor of exit if not justified wisely by acquiring assets. As suggested previously in the literature, entering a smaller-scale industry is a positive predictor of survival from birth. Finally, a smaller-scale industry diminishes the negative effects of debt. ^ The second essay makes use of a hazard model to confirm that new service-providing (SP) firms are more likely to survive than new product providers (PPs). I investigate the possible explanations for the higher survival rate of SPs using a Cox proportional hazard model. I examine six hypotheses (variations in capital per worker, expenses per worker, owners' experience, industry wages, assets and size), none of which appear to explain why SPs are more likely than PPs to survive. Two other possibilities are discussed: tax evasion and human/social relations, but these could not be tested due to lack of data. ^ The third essay investigates women-owned firms' higher failure rates using a Cox proportional hazard on two models. I make use of a never-before used variable that proxies for owners' confidence. This variable represents the owners' self-evaluated competitive advantage. ^ The first empirical model allows me to compare women's and men's hazard rates for each variable. In the second model I successively add the variables that could potentially explain why women have a higher failure rate. Unfortunately, I am not able to fully explain the gender effect on the firms' survival. Nonetheless, the second empirical approach allows me to confirm that social and psychological differences among genders are important in explaining the higher likelihood to fail in women-owned firms.^

Otimização da extração de polissacarídeos sulfatados da alga vermelha Gracilaria birdiae e análise da atividade anticoagulante e antioxidante

The sulfated polysaccharides (SP) from the edible red seaweed Gracilaria birdiae were obtained using five different condition extraction (GB1: Water; GB1p: Water/proteolysis; GB1s: Water/sonication; GB1sp: Water/sonication/proteolysis; GB2s: NaOH/sonication; GB2sp: NaOH/sonication/proteolysis. The yield (g) increased in the following order GB2sp>GB1sp>GB1p>GB2s>GB1s>GB1. However, the amount of SP extracted increased in different way GB2sp>GB1p>GB1>GB1sp>GB1s>GB2s. Infrared and electrophoresis analysis showed that all conditions extracted the same SP. In addition, monosaccharide composition showed that ultrasound promotes the extraction of other polysaccharides than SP. In the prothrombin time (PT) test, which evaluates the extrinsic coagulation pathway, none of the samples showed anticoagulant activity. While in the activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) test, which evaluates the intrinsic coagulation pathway, all samples showed anticoagulant activity, except GB2s. The aPTT activity decreased in the order of GB1sp>GB2sp>GB1p>GB1>GB1s>GB2s. Total capacity antioxidant (TCA) of the SP was also affected by condition extraction, since GB2s and GB1 showed lower activity in comparison to the other conditions. In conclusion, the conditions of SP extraction influence their biological activities and chemical composition. The data showed NaOH/sonication/proteolysis was the best condition to extract anticoagulant and antioxidant SPs from Gracilaria birdiae.

Termination II record, stable isotopes and trace elements of Stagamite MF-3 from Schafsloch Cave

The timing and nature of the penultimate deglaciation, also known as Termination II (T-II), is subject of controversial discussions due to the scarcity of precisely-dated palaeoclimate records. Here we present a new precisely-dated and highly-resolved multi-proxy stalagmite record covering T-II from the high alpine Schafsloch Cave in Switzerland, an area where climate is governed by the North Atlantic. The inception of stalagmite growth at 137.4 ± 1.4 kyr before present (BP) indicates the presence of drip water and cave air temperatures of above 0 °C, and is related to a climate-induced change in the thermal state (from cold-to warm-based) of the glacier above the cave. The cessation of stalagmite growth between 133.1 ± 0.7 and 131.9 ± 0.6 kyr BP is most likely related to distinct drop in temperature associated with Heinrich stadial 11. The resumption of stalagmite growth at 131.9 ± 0.6 kyr BP is accompanied by an abrupt increase in temperature and precipitation as indicated by distinct shifts in the oxygen and carbon isotopic composition as well as in trace element concentrations. The mid-point of T-II is around 131.8 ± 0.6 kyr BP in the Schafsloch Cave record is significantly earlier compared to the age of 129.1 ± 0.1 kyr BP in the Sanbao Cave record from China. The different ages between both records can be best explained by the competing effects of insolation and glacial boundary forcing on seasonality and snow cover extent in Eurasia.

Validation of the English version of the Scale for Psychosocial Factors in Food Allergy and the relationship with mental health, quality of life, and self-efficacy

Background. The Scale for Psychosocial Factors in Food Allergy (SPS-FA) is based on the biopsychosocial model of health and was developed and validated in Chile to measure the interaction between psychological variables and allergy symptoms in the child. We sought to validate this scale in an English speaking population and explore its relationship with parental quality of life, self-efficacy, and mental health. Methods. Parents (n = 434) from the general population in the UK, who had a child with a clinical diagnosis of food allergy, completed the SPS-FA and validated scales on food allergy specific parental quality of life (QoL), parental self-efficacy, and general mental health. Findings. The SPS-FA had good internal consistency (alphas = .61-.86). Higher scores on the SPS-FA significantly correlated with poorer parental QoL, self-efficacy, and mental health. All predictors explained 57% of the variance in SPS-FA scores with QoL as the biggest predictor (β = .52). Discussion. The SPS-FA is a valid scale for use in the UK and provides a holistic view of the impact of food allergy on the family. In conjunction with health-related QoL measures, it can be used by health care practitioners to target care for patients and evaluate psychological interventions for improvement of food allergy management.

Formal Aspects in SDH for Children in Spanish Television: A Descriptive Study

The comprehension of a subtitle goes far beyond the understanding of the meaning of the words it comprises. Formal aspects of subtitles for the d/Deaf and the hard-of-hearing (SDH) can be crucial in the cognitive effort necessary to process the subtitle within its audiovisual context (Perego 2008). The present article studies common practices of formal aspects in SDH for children, focusing on three parameters: layout and positioning of the subtitle; orthotypographic conventions; and resources for the identification of characters in the three TV channels dedicated exclusively to the youngest audiences in Spain. The present piece of research was carried out by analysing and evaluating these three parameters in comparison with the current UNE Standard 153010 (AENOR 2012) and with previous theoretical studies in the field.

Lifestyle Risk Factors for Serrated Colorectal Polyps: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background & Aims: Certain subsets of colorectal serrated polyps (SP) have malignant potential. Weperformed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the association between modifiablelifestyle factors and risk for SPs. 
Methods: We conducted a systematic search of Medline, Embase, and Web of Science, forobservational or interventional studies that contained the terms risk or risk factor, and serrated orhyperplastic, and polyps or adenomas, and colorectal (or synonymous terms), published by March2016. Titles and abstracts of identified articles were independently reviewed by at least 2 reviewers.Adjusted relative risks (RR) and 95% CIs were combined using random effects meta-analyses toassess the risk of SP, when possible. 
Results: We identified 43 studies of SP risk associated with 7 different lifestyle factors: smoking,alcohol, body fatness, diet, physical activity, medication and/or hormone replacement therapy.When we compared the highest and lowest categories of exposure, factors we found to significantlyincrease risk for SP included tobacco smoking (RR, 2.47; 95% CI, 2.12–2.87), alcohol intake (RR, 1.33;95% CI, 1.17–1.52), body mass index (RR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.22–1.61), and high intake of fat or meat.Direct associations for smoking and alcohol, but not body fat, tended to be stronger for sessileserrated adenomas/polyps than hyperplastic polyps. In contrast, factors we found to significantlydecrease risks for SP included use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (RR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.65–0.92) or aspirin (RR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.67–0.99), as well as high intake of folate, calcium, or fiber. Nosignificant associations were detected between SP risk and physical activity or hormone replacementtherapy. 
Conclusions: Several lifestyle factors, most notably smoking and alcohol, are associated with SP risk.These findings enhance our understanding of mechanisms of SP development and indicate that riskof serrated pathway colorectal neoplasms could be reduced with lifestyle changes.

Development of a transitioning approach to reduce surface water volumes in combined sewer systems

The overarching goal of this research is to establish a successful forum for a transition from the existing paradigm of managing wastewater infrastructure to a more sustainable paradigm that achieves a more efficient utilisation of wastewater assets. A transitioning approach to support a more efficient utilisation of surface water and wastewater assets and infrastructure is proposed and developed. The determined transitioning approach possesses key stages namely developing the arena, developing the agenda, case study, and monitoring. The case study stage investigates a drainage utility identifying their improvement drivers, the removal of surface water through detailed drainage modelling and the financial examination of the costs incurred under the various scenarios conducted. Understanding the implications of removing/attenuating surface water from the network is improved through obtaining data by detailed drainage modelling. Infoworks software is used to investigate and assess the current and future operational scenarios of a wastewater system operating over one calendar year. Modelling scenarios were conducted removing surface water from selected areas focusing on the volumes requiring pumping and durations of pumping station(s) operation prior to treatment during storm conditions. The financial implication of removing surface water in combined sewer systems is examined in three main components. Firstly the costs of electricity incurred at the single sewage pumping station (SPS) investigated during the various scenarios modelled require to be addressed. Secondly the costs to retrofit sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS) solutions needs to be identified. Thirdly the implications of removing surface water for the drainage utility at the national level and the potential saving for householder’s committing to a surface water disconnection rebate scheme. When addressed at the macro level i.e., with over 2,100 pumping stations, some operating in sequence and contained within one drainage utility annually treating 315,360 megalitres the significance of the same multiple quantifiable and intangible benefits becomes amplified. The research aims, objectives and findings are presented to the identified and convened stakeholders. The transitioning approach developed encourages positive discourse between stakeholders. The level of success of the transitioning approach determined is then tested using a quantitative methodology through the completion of questionnaires. From the questionnaires completed the respondents unanimously agreed that surface water flows should be removed as well as reduced from the combined sewer system. The respondents agreed that the removal of surface water from a typical combined sewer system is justified by applying a transitioning approach focusing on the energy consumption required to pump increased volumes during storm events. This response is significant based upon the economic evidence and is contrary to the respondents previous position that finance was their most influencing factor. When provided with other potentially available benefits the respondents were even more supportive of the justification to remove surface water from the combined sewer system. The combined findings of the work presented in this thesis provide further justification that the transitioning approach applied to the removal of surface water from a typical combined sewer system, as determined in this research has been successful.

Study and development of UV photodetectors envisaging COMPASS RICH-1 upgrade and applications

COMPASS is an experiment at CERN’s SPS whose goal is to study hadron structure and spectroscopy. The experiment includes a wide acceptance RICH detector, operating since 2001 and subject to a major upgrade of the central region of its photodetectors in 2006. The remaining 75% of the photodetection area are still using MWPCs from the original design, who suffer from limitations in gain due to aging of the photocathodes from ion bombardment and due to ion-induced instabilities. Besides the mentioned limitations, the increased luminosity conditions expected for the upcoming years of the experiment make an upgrade to the remaining detectors pertinent. This upgrade should be accomplished in 2016, using hybrid detectors composed of ThGEMs and MICROMEGAS. This work presents the study, development and characterization of gaseous photon detectors envisaging the foreseen upgrade, and the progress in production and evaluation techniques necessary to reach increasingly larger area detectors with the performances required. It includes reports on the studies performed under particle beam environment of such detectors. MPGD structures can also be used in a variety of other applications, of which nuclear medical imaging is a notorious example. This work includes, additionally, the initial steps in simulating, assembling and characterizing a prototype of a gaseous detector for application as a Compton Camera.

Ingesta de calcio en mujeres posmenopáusicas con osteoporosis que acuden a los hospitales Vicente Corral y José Carrasco, Cuenca, 2009

El calcio es el mineral que más abunda en el cuerpo humano y se necesita en cantidades importantes ya que tiene muchas propiedades, siendo más conocido por nutrir los huesos. Objetivo: conocer y establecer la ingesta de calcio en mujeres posmenopáusicas con osteoporosis que acudan a los hospitales Vicente Corral y José Carrasco de la ciudad de Cuenca. Materiales y Métodos: se realizó un estudio de tipo descriptivo. La muestra correspondió a 108 mujeres posmenopáusicas con osteoporosis que acudieron a los hospitales Vicente Corral y José Carrasco . Se evaluó la ingesta de calcio en los alimentos consumidos diariamente por cada paciente mediante una encuesta de recordatorio de 24 horas validada durante 3 días; previamente se determinó la osteoporosis en las pacientes postmenopáusicas a través de una densitometría axial y femoral. Para el análisis estadístico se utilizó el programa FP2 y el software SPS y se describieron medidas de tendencia central, diferencias de medias, porcentajes. Resultados: 97.32% de mujeres posmenopáusicas con osteoporosis presentaron una deficiente ingesta de calcio. El promedio de calcio ingerido fue 530.18 mg/día, cifra menor a lo recomendado por la OMS, mientras que el 1.79% de las personas encuestadas ingerían calcio en cantidades normales y el 0.89 % de las personas presentaron un consumo alto. El 65.18% perteneció a una condición socioeconómica media alta y 46.43% presentó un estado nutricional adecuado. Conclusión: En el presente estudio existió un predominio de mujeres Posmenopausicas con osteoporosis con ingesta inferior a 1200mg/día de calcio en pacientes que acuden a la consulta de los hospitales Vicente Corral y José Carrasco . AU

Being more certain about random assignment in social policy evaluations

Social experiments have been widely utilised in evaluations of social programmes in the US to identify ‘what works’, whilst in the UK their use is more controversial. This paper explores the paradigmatic, technical and practical issues evaluators confront in using randomised experiments to evaluate social policies. Possible remedies to some of these problems are outlined. It is argued that although no evaluation methodology is problem-free, policy makers and researchers should be more confident about the merits of using random assignment, provided it is used in conjunction with other methodologies more suited to understanding why and how interventions work.

Policy Implications of Ageing Sexualities

This article aims to open up debate on the policy implications of ageing sexualities. The article begins by discussing the heteronormative perspective that frames current discourse on older people’s needs and citizenship. It then presents data from an empirical study to highlight the concerns that older lesbians and gay men have about housing, health and social service provision, work and job security, and relationship recognition. The article illustrates how the heterosexual assumption that informs policy making can limit the development of effective strategies for supporting older lesbians and gay men; and raises broader questions about policy making, social inclusion and citizenship.

Management of presenteeism. The effects on productivity of a food processing company

Presenteeism consists in going to work without conditions to produce, which can have a much higher impact than absenteeism on the productivity of an organisation. Presenteeism translates in both physical as psychological perturbations. It is a difficult to quantify reality, as is its translation into direct and indirect costs within the organisation. Our goal was to analyse the effects of presenteeism on the productivity of a company in the food-procession sector through a descriptive and transversal study of exploratory nature. The Stanford Presenteeism Scale SPS-6 (validated by Ferreira et al, 2010) and a semi-structured interview were used. Most of the workers referred having already gone to work feeling ill at least two days in the last year, mentioning that their health condition affected their performance, made them feel desperate and lacking pleasure from work. Management mentioned that presenteeism has a direct impact on productivity without, however, being able to quantify the true costs. Presenteeism is a reality in organisational scenarios, exceling in the educational and health sectors. We underline the importance of making organisations aware of the psychosocial risks and the importance of having healthy leaderships, work stress control and the presence of clinical psychologists and professional coaches.