An augmented Lanczos algorithm for the efficient computation of a dot-product of a function of a large sparse symmetric matrix

The Lanczos algorithm is appreciated in many situations due to its speed. and economy of storage. However, the advantage that the Lanczos basis vectors need not be kept is lost when the algorithm is used to compute the action of a matrix function on a vector. Either the basis vectors need to be kept, or the Lanczos process needs to be applied twice. In this study we describe an augmented Lanczos algorithm to compute a dot product relative to a function of a large sparse symmetric matrix, without keeping the basis vectors.

A comparison of model laws as a starting point for the development of an enforceable international consumer protection regime

This article is concerned primarily with an examination and comparison of select aspects of the model international consumer protection laws proposed by the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU), and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), using the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Australia) as a basis for examination and comparison. As a secondary consideration, it also broadly examines the content of, and differences between, the model laws. The motive for this article is that any future enforceable international consumer protection regime (possibly in the form of an international treaty or convention) would need to take into account the UN, EU and OECD guidelines. A cross-comparison of those model laws, and a comparison of them with the consumer protection provisions of a well established national consumer protection law, should provide a useful starting point for the development of such a regime. The 'select aspects' of the model laws in question are the various provisions of those laws which could relate to situations involving the wrong delivery or non-delivery of goods.

An advanced method for eliminating impacts from frequency deviations in power system signal processing

Frequency deviation is a common problem for power system signal processing. Many power system measurements are carried out in a fixed sampling rate assuming the system operates in its nominal frequency (50 or 60 Hz). However, the actual frequency may deviate from the normal value from time to time due to various reasons such as disturbances and subsequent system transients. Measurement of signals based on a fixed sampling rate may introduce errors under such situations. In order to achieve high precision signal measurement appropriate algorithms need to be employed to reduce the impact from frequency deviation in the power system data acquisition process. This paper proposes an advanced algorithm to enhance Fourier transform for power system signal processing. The algorithm is able to effectively correct frequency deviation under fixed sampling rate. Accurate measurement of power system signals is essential for the secure and reliable operation of power systems. The algorithm is readily applicable to such occasions where signal processing is affected by frequency deviation. Both mathematical proof and numerical simulation are given in this paper to illustrate robustness and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. Crown Copyright (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Managing urinary incontinence across the lifespan

In the 1996 baseline surveys of the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women's Health (ALSWH), 36.1% of mid-age women (45-50) and 35% of older women (70-75) reported leaking urine. This study aimed to investigate (a) the range of self-management strategies used to deal with urinary incontinence (UI); (b) the reasons why many women who report leaking urine do not seek help for UI; and (c) the types of health professionals consulted and treatment provided, and perceptions of satisfaction with these, among a sample of women in each age group who reported leaking urine often' at baseline. Five hundred participants were randomly selected from women in each of the mid-age and older cohorts of the ALSWH who had reported leaking urine often in a previous survey. Details about UI (frequency, severity, and situations), self-management behaviors and help-seeking for UI, types of health professional consulted, recommended treatment for the problem, and satisfaction with the service provided by health care professionals and the outcomes of recommended treatments were sought through a self-report mailed follow-up survey. Most respondents had leaked urine in the last month (94% and 91% of mid-age and older women, respectively), and 72.2% and 73. 1% of mid-aged and older women, respectively, had sought help or advice about their UI. In both age groups, the likelihood of having sought help significantly increased with severity of incontinence. The most common reasons for not seeking help were that the women felt they could manage the problem themselves or they did not consider it to be a problem.. Many women in both cohorts had employed avoidance techniques in an attempt to prevent leaking urine, including reducing their liquid consumption, going to the toilet just in case, and rushing to the toilet the minute they felt the need to. Strategies are needed to inform women who experience UI of more effective management techniques and the possible health risks associated with commonly used avoidance behaviors. There may be a need to better publicize existing incontinence services and improve access to these services for women of all ages.

Urinary incontinence across the lifespan

Aims: The objectives of the current study were (1) to measure type and severity of urinary leakage and (2) to investigate the association between these factors and age-related life events and conditions in three groups of Australian women with a history of urinary leakage. Methods: Five hundred participants were randomly selected from women in the young (aged 18-22 in 1996), mid-age (4550),and older (70-75) cohorts of the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women's Health (ALSWH) who had reported leaking urine in the 1996 baseline survey. Details about leaking urine (frequency, severity, situations) and associated factors (pregnancy, childbirth, body mass index [BMI]) were sought through self-report mailed follow-up surveys in 1999. Results & Conclusions: Response rates were 50, 83, and 80% in the young, mid-age, and older women, respectively. Most women confirmed that they had, leaked urine in the past month, and the majority of these were cases of mixed incontinence. Incontinence severity tended to increase with BMI for women of all ages, and increased severity scores were associated with having urine that burns or stings. Additional independent risk factors for increasing incontinence severity were heavy smoking in young women, past or present use of hormone replacement therapy in older women, and BMI and history of hysterectomy in mid-age women. (C) 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Time will tell: Ambiguous non-responses on internet relay chat

The design of Internet Relay Chat (IRC) affords for, and itself produces, non-response situations that are not possible in FTF or telephone interaction. These system-occasioned nonresponses produce almost isomorphic stimuli to participant non-responses. Situations thus arise in which non-responses are interpersonally accountable despite agentive ambiguity. This study explores four intersections of participant-action and system-occasioned non-responses. An extension to Pomerantz's (1984b) 'pursuing a response' problems/solutions is proposed. The impact of IRC's design on its popularity is discussed in contrast to more recent chat systems. Suggestions are made for active and passive presence and non-response accounting features in future chat systems.

Genotype and environment effects on dynamics of harvest index during grain filling in sorghum

An approach based on a linear rate of increase in harvest index (141) with time after anthesis has been used as a simple means-to predict grain growth and yield in many crop simulation models. When applied to diverse situations, however, this approach has been found to introduce significant error in grain yield predictions. Accordingly, this study was undertaken to examine the stability of the HI approach for yield prediction in sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. Four field experiments were conducted under nonlimiting water. and N conditions. The experiments were sown at times that ensured a broad range in temperature and radiation conditions. Treatments consisted of two population densities and three genotypes varying in maturity. Frequent sequential harvests were used to monitor crop growth, yield, and the dynamics of 111. Experiments varied greatly in yield and final HI. There was also a tendency for lower HI with later maturity. Harvest index dynamics also varied among experiments and, to a lesser extent, among treatments within experiments. The variation was associated mostly with the linear rate of increase in HI and timing of cessation of that increase. The average rate of HI increase was 0.0198 d(-1), but this was reduced considerably (0.0147) in one experiment that matured in cool conditions. The variations found in IN dynamics could be largely explained by differences in assimilation during grain filling and remobilization of preanthesis assimilate. We concluded that this level of variation in HI dynamics limited the general applicability of the HI approach in yield prediction and suggested a potential alternative for testing.

The relationship of adult attachment dimensions to depression and agoraphobia

We examined the unique relations between the five dimensions of the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ; Feeney, Noller, & Hanrahan, 1994) and depression and agoraphobic behavior (i.e., avoidance of situations where high anxiety is experienced). In addition, we examined mediation models in an attempt to clarify the link between adult attachment and these two dimensions of psychopathology. In testing these models, we administered the ASQ, General Self-Efficacy Scale, Agoraphobic Catastrophic Cognitions Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, and the Mobility Inventory for Agoraphobia (a measure of the degree to which situations are avoided that are typically anxiety provoking for people with agoraphobia) to 122 participants (44 with agoraphobia, 25 with a current major depressive disorder, and 53 with no current psychopathology). The results showed that the insecure attachment dimensions of need for approval, preoccupation with relationships, and relationships as secondary were uniquely associated with depression and that general self-efficacy partly mediated the relationship between need for approval and depression. In contrast, only preoccupation with relationships was uniquely associated with agoraphobic behavior, and catastrophic cognitions about bodily sensations partly mediated this association.

O combate ?? viol??ncia contra a mulher: a luta entre antigos valores e novos padr??es de pol??ticas p??blicas

O caso relata uma situa????o de viol??ncia dom??stica vivenciada por uma mulher negra e os obst??culos por ela enfrentados para denunciar o agressor e fazer valer seus direitos. Mostra a contradi????o entre normas e sua efetiva aplica????o, quando o comportamento de agentes p??blicos ainda conserva padr??es e valores de um Estado autorit??rio, patriarcal e escravocrata. O caso ?? fict??cio, mas espelha situa????es reais coletadas em documentos e relat??rios da Ouvidoria da Secretaria de Pol??ticas para as Mulheres- SPM/PR. O estudo suscita discuss??es sobre a dimens??o ??tica da atividade de agentes p??blicos de um Estado democr??tico, englobando quest??es referentes aos direitos humanos, direitos e deveres do Estado e da sociedade, o papel da transpar??ncia, do controle social e da responsabiliza????o por resultados (accountability) etc. Pode ser aplicado em cursos sobre ??tica e servi??o p??blico, pol??ticas p??blicas de g??nero e ra??a e atendimento ao cidad??o

Desenvolvimento sustent??vel: o desafio da admininstra????o p??blica brasileira nas dimens??es da relev??ncia social, da prud??ncia ecol??gica e da viabilidade econ??mica

Partindo do conceito de bem-estar social, definido em lei como de responsabilidade da administra????o p??blica, especialmente no que diz respeito ?? preserva????o dos recursos naturais para a manuten????o da decente qualidade de vida dos cidad??os, o artigo foi estruturado a partir do relat??rio de pesquisa de inicia????o cient??fica financiada pela Funda????o de Amparo ?? Pesquisa do Estado de S??o Paulo (Fapesp) e desenvolvido na Universidade Estadual de S??o Paulo (Unesp). Tal relat??rio objetivou investigar os par??metros de regularidade da administra????o p??blica, analisando-se a jurisprud??ncia dos tribunais. Foram evidenciadas irregularidades na atua????o da administra????o p??blica, constatando a desarticula????o da gest??o p??blica ao gerir as tr??s dimens??es que definem o desenvolvimento sustent??vel: a relev??ncia social, a viabilidade econ??mica e a prud??ncia ecol??gica. Foi poss??vel constatar com esta pesquisa que a administra????o p??blica brasileira d?? mais import??ncia para a quest??o econ??mica que ??s quest??es sociais e ambientais. Pudemos perceber que enquanto o meio ambiente ?? degradado e a sociedade prejudicada com a piora da qualidade de vida, o econ??mico vem sendo privilegiado constantemente. Sendo assim, evidenciaremos esse descaso propondo algumas mudan??as para a melhora da gest??o das tr??s dimens??es do desenvolvimento sustent??vel; por??m, em contrapartida, mostraremos a seriedade na atua????o dos ??rg??os colegiados ambientais e institui????es do poder p??blico, tais como o Minist??rio P??blico, que hoje atuam em parceria com a popula????o, crescentemente envolvida no processo mediante a pr??tica de den??ncias e reclama????es.

Educa????o do campo no Estado de S??o Paulo: an??lise do n??vel de ruralidade das escolas no desempenho escolar

Este trabalho tem como objetivo central analisar a influ??ncia da localiza????o da escola e da origem dos alunos (rural e urbano) na taxa de evas??o, na taxa de aprova????o/reprova????o, no desempenho obtido no Ideb e na Prova Brasil. Para tanto, foram considerados os alunos do 5?? ano (quarta s??rie) do ensino fundamental das redes municipais e estaduais do Estado de S??o Paulo. A tipologia do IBGE para classifica????o das escolas em rurais e urbanas e o local de moradia dos alunos foram utilizados como forma de caracterizar o n??vel de ruralidade das escolas. O trabalho organiza um diagn??stico das pol??ticas em andamento; aponta algumas diretrizes para o aperfei??oamento das futuras interven????es na ??rea espec??fica de atua????o governamental; e mostra que, em v??rias situa????es, o desempenho das escolas ???rurais???, considerando os itens analisados, ?? inferior ao desempenho das escolas urbanas

Suporte de identifica????o e enfrentamento de situa????es-problema (Siesp)

Desenvolve e aplica o Suporte de Identifica????o e Enfrentamento de Situa????es Problema (Siesp). Sob o ponto de vista descritivo, esse recurso busca ampliar e explicitar informa????es sobre situa????es problema existentes nas organiza????es, mas que n??o s??o facilmente percebidas. Sob o ponto de vista prescritivo, esse Suporte baseado na Metodologia de Sistemas Flex??veis (MSF) busca ampliar e explicitar conhecimentos a serem aproveitados para converter decis??es bem informadas em a????es oportunas de confronto da situa????o antes enquadrada como problem??tica, porque ela causa ou tem potencial para causar consequ??ncias indesej??veis. O contexto focalizado ?? o sistema de informa????o da Ag??ncia Nacional de Energia El??trica (ANEEL). O resultado desse trabalho ?? relatado neste artigo. Novos trabalhos poder??o ser realizados com o prop??sito de aplicar o SIESP em outras realidades organizacionais, com vistas a consolid??-lo como recurso ??til destinado a ampliar, explicitar e aproveitar conhecimentos.

Cartografando estratégias de resistência construídas por educadores no cotidiano de trabalho numa escola de Vitória-ES

Este estudo buscou cartografar as estratégias de resistência construídas por professores de uma escola pública municipal de ensino infantil da cidade de Vitória, considerando a dinamicidade da produção de saúde e doença. A cartografia se efetivou por meio de vivência institucional, entrevistas, construção de um diário de campo, questionários, fotografias e confrontação-validação dos resultados com o coletivo de trabalhadores. Apesar de todas as nocividades do ambiente de trabalho, os professores não se deixam paralisar e criam estratégias, novas formas de fazer seu trabalho, buscando condições menos adoecedoras para o desenvolvimento de suas atividades que, quando coletivizadas, potencializam o processo inventivo desses trabalhadores. Os resultados da pesquisa indicam a importância dessas discussões, uma vez que dão visibilidade a essas formas de luta, o que pode promover transformação do que é vivido nas escolas hoje.

Efeitos agudos do alongamento estático no desempenho da força dinâmica em homens jovens

Introdução: O alongamento muscular é frequentemente utilizado nas práticas desportivas, com o objetivo de aumentar a flexibilidade muscular e amplitude articular, assim como diminuir o risco de lesões e melhorar o desempenho atlético. Objetivo: Analisar o efeito agudo do alongamento com diferentes tempos no desempenho da força dinâmica de membros superiores e inferiores em homens jovens. Métodos: Participaram da amostra 14 voluntários do sexo masculino com idade de 23 ± 2 anos, peso corporal de 84 ± 10kg, estatura de178 ± 7cm, IMC de 26 ± 2kg/m2 e percentual de gordura de 11 ± 3%. Eles foram avaliados com o teste de 10RM em três situações distintas: condição sem alongamento (SA), aquecimento especifico seguido do teste de 10-RM; condição com oito minutos de alongamento (AL-8), uma sessão de alongamento estático com oito minutos de duração, seguido do aquecimento e teste de 10RM; e a condição alongamento 16 minutos (AL-16), 16 minutos de alongamento seguidos dos procedimentos descritos anteriormente. Os testes foram feitos no supino reto e leg-press 45º; os alongamentos foram selecionados de forma a atingir as musculaturas solicitadas nos respectivos exercícios. Resultados: Houve redução de 9,2% da força muscular dinâmica de membros superiores em comparação dos grupos SA e AL16, e entre os grupos AL8 e AL16 (p < 0,001). Em membros inferiores essa redução de força (p < 0,001) foi de 4,8% para AL-8 e de 14,3% para AL-16 em comparação com o grupo SA. Conclusão: Sessões de alongamentos estáticos efetuados antes de atividades que envolvam força dinâmica possuem a capacidade de alterar negativamente o desempenho dessa qualidade física, acarretando pior rendimento em longos períodos de alongamento.

Clínica da atividade e cartografia : construindo metodologias de análise do trabalho

As questões formuladas no artigo foram disparadas por experiências vividas ao longo dos últimos anos em pesquisas que partem do princípio de que a temática saúde e trabalho, como objeto de investigação científica, tem uma especificidade que não pode ser tomada com posturas de exterritorialidade no que diz respeito à relação do pesquisador e do objeto a ser investigado. As questões dos mundos do trabalho não podem estar baseadas apenas em quadros analíticos construídos a partir de um distanciamento da complexidade engendrada onde o trabalho acontece. Propõe-se uma direção metodológica de pesquisa que articula investigação e intervenção na direção do diálogo, da interlocução entre os diferentes saberes - disciplinares ou não - com o objetivo de potencializar estratégias utilizadas pelos trabalhadores para lidar com a variabilidade das situações de trabalho. Com esse objetivo, traz a contribuição da Clínica da Atividade como importante ferramenta metodológica.