Ethnographic and epidemiologic approaches for the programming of prenatal and birth services in Mesa los Hornos, Mexico

The investigator conducted an action-oriented investigation of pregnancy and birth among the women of Mesa los Hornos, an urban squatter slum in Mexico City. Three aims guided the project: (1) To obtain information for improving prenatal and maternity service utilization; (2) To examine the utility of rapid ethnographic and epidemiologic assessment methodologies; (3) To cultivate community involvement in health development.^ Viewing service utilization as a culturally-bound decision, the study included a qualitative phase to explore women's cognition of pregnancy and birth, their perceived needs during pregnancy, and their criteria of service acceptability. A probability-based community survey delineated parameters of service utilization and pregnancy health events, and probed reasons for decisions to use medical services, lay midwives, or other sources of prenatal and labor and delivery assistance. Qualitative survey of service providers at relevant clinics, hospitals, and practices contributed information on service availability and access, and on coordination among private, social security, and public assistance health service sectors. The ethnographic approach to exploring the rationale for use or non-use of services provided a necessary complement to conventional barrier-based assessment, to inform planning of culturally appropriate interventions.^ Information collection and interpretation was conducted under the aegis of an advisory committee of community residents and service agency representatives; the residents' committee formulated recommendations for action based on findings, and forwarded the mandate to governmental social and urban development offices. Recommendations were designed to inform and develop community participation in health care decision-making.^ Rapid research methods are powerful tools for achieving community-based empowerment toward investigation and resolution of local health problems. But while ethnography works well in synergy with quantitative assessment approaches to strengthen the validity and richness of short-term field work, the author strongly urges caution in application of Rapid Ethnographic Assessments. An ethnographic sensibility is essential to the research enterprise for the development of an active and cooperative community base, the design and use of quantitative instruments, the appropriate use of qualitative techniques, and the interpretation of culturally-oriented information. However, prescribed and standardized Rapid Ethnographic Assessment techniques are counter-productive if used as research short-cuts before locale- and subject-specific cultural understanding is achieved. ^

Las funcionalidades Web 2.0 en la interface de usuario de los OPACs Web de Latinoamérica

Se presenta el proyecto de investigación aprobado y subsidiado en el marco de la Programación Científica UBACYT 2011-2014 sobre la problemática de las interfaces de usuario de los catálogos en línea de acceso público (OPACs) en entorno web de las bibliotecas nacionales, universitarias, especializadas y públicas de Latinoamérica, a fin de examinar las funcionalidades propias de las áreas de control de operaciones, formulación de la búsqueda y puntos de acceso, control de salida y asistencia al usuario, así como también las funcionalidades Web 2.0. Se adopta una metodología cuantitativa. Se plantea aplicar a una muestra representada por 102 unidades, extraída por muestreo aleatorio simple (de una población compuesta por 846 casos), la lista de funcionalidades que proporciona Hildreth (1982) actualizada; comparar, mediante un diseño experimental de muestras relacionadas, las variaciones producidas en cuanto a presencia/ausencia de funcionalidades y tipo de software adoptado en relación con la situación existente ya verificada en investigaciones previas; identificar, a partir de la observación de las interfaces de los OPACs que constituyen la muestra, la presencia/ausencia de funcionalidades Web 2.0; utilizar para ello como instrumento de recolección la lista de funcionalidades deseables en los OPACs 2.0 confeccionada por Margaix-Arnal (2007); aplicar diferentes pruebas estadísticas para describir las características de la interface de usuario de los OPACs Web de la región a partir del supuesto de que ha aumentado el uso de Sistemas Integrados de Gestión Bibliotecaria y la presencia de funcionalidades en aquellas unidades que han adoptado estos sistemas, aunque carecen aún de funcionalidades 2.0.

Interface de recuperación para catálogos en línea con salidas ordenadas por probable relevancia

Se presenta el desarrollo de una interface de recuperación de información para catálogos en línea de acceso público (plataforma CDS/ISIS), basada en el concepto de similaridad para generar los resultados de una búsqueda ordenados por posible relevancia. Se expresan los fundamentos teóricos involucrados, para luego detallar la forma en que se efectuó su aplicación tecnológica, explícita a nivel de programación. Para finalizar se esbozan los problemas de implementación según el entorno

Interface de recuperación para catálogos en línea con salidas ordenadas por probable relevancia

Se presenta el desarrollo de una interface de recuperación de información para catálogos en línea de acceso público (plataforma CDS/ISIS), basada en el concepto de similaridad para generar los resultados de una búsqueda ordenados por posible relevancia. Se expresan los fundamentos teóricos involucrados, para luego detallar la forma en que se efectuó su aplicación tecnológica, explícita a nivel de programación. Para finalizar se esbozan los problemas de implementación según el entorno

Las funcionalidades Web 2.0 en la interface de usuario de los OPACs Web de Latinoamérica

Se presenta el proyecto de investigación aprobado y subsidiado en el marco de la Programación Científica UBACYT 2011-2014 sobre la problemática de las interfaces de usuario de los catálogos en línea de acceso público (OPACs) en entorno web de las bibliotecas nacionales, universitarias, especializadas y públicas de Latinoamérica, a fin de examinar las funcionalidades propias de las áreas de control de operaciones, formulación de la búsqueda y puntos de acceso, control de salida y asistencia al usuario, así como también las funcionalidades Web 2.0. Se adopta una metodología cuantitativa. Se plantea aplicar a una muestra representada por 102 unidades, extraída por muestreo aleatorio simple (de una población compuesta por 846 casos), la lista de funcionalidades que proporciona Hildreth (1982) actualizada; comparar, mediante un diseño experimental de muestras relacionadas, las variaciones producidas en cuanto a presencia/ausencia de funcionalidades y tipo de software adoptado en relación con la situación existente ya verificada en investigaciones previas; identificar, a partir de la observación de las interfaces de los OPACs que constituyen la muestra, la presencia/ausencia de funcionalidades Web 2.0; utilizar para ello como instrumento de recolección la lista de funcionalidades deseables en los OPACs 2.0 confeccionada por Margaix-Arnal (2007); aplicar diferentes pruebas estadísticas para describir las características de la interface de usuario de los OPACs Web de la región a partir del supuesto de que ha aumentado el uso de Sistemas Integrados de Gestión Bibliotecaria y la presencia de funcionalidades en aquellas unidades que han adoptado estos sistemas, aunque carecen aún de funcionalidades 2.0.

Las funcionalidades Web 2.0 en la interface de usuario de los OPACs Web de Latinoamérica

Se presenta el proyecto de investigación aprobado y subsidiado en el marco de la Programación Científica UBACYT 2011-2014 sobre la problemática de las interfaces de usuario de los catálogos en línea de acceso público (OPACs) en entorno web de las bibliotecas nacionales, universitarias, especializadas y públicas de Latinoamérica, a fin de examinar las funcionalidades propias de las áreas de control de operaciones, formulación de la búsqueda y puntos de acceso, control de salida y asistencia al usuario, así como también las funcionalidades Web 2.0. Se adopta una metodología cuantitativa. Se plantea aplicar a una muestra representada por 102 unidades, extraída por muestreo aleatorio simple (de una población compuesta por 846 casos), la lista de funcionalidades que proporciona Hildreth (1982) actualizada; comparar, mediante un diseño experimental de muestras relacionadas, las variaciones producidas en cuanto a presencia/ausencia de funcionalidades y tipo de software adoptado en relación con la situación existente ya verificada en investigaciones previas; identificar, a partir de la observación de las interfaces de los OPACs que constituyen la muestra, la presencia/ausencia de funcionalidades Web 2.0; utilizar para ello como instrumento de recolección la lista de funcionalidades deseables en los OPACs 2.0 confeccionada por Margaix-Arnal (2007); aplicar diferentes pruebas estadísticas para describir las características de la interface de usuario de los OPACs Web de la región a partir del supuesto de que ha aumentado el uso de Sistemas Integrados de Gestión Bibliotecaria y la presencia de funcionalidades en aquellas unidades que han adoptado estos sistemas, aunque carecen aún de funcionalidades 2.0.

Code and readme of a MATLAB-based graphical user interface program for computing functionals of the geopotential

We present a novel graphical user interface program GrafLab (GRAvity Field LABoratory) for spherical harmonic synthesis (SHS) created in MATLAB®. This program allows to comfortably compute 38 various functionals of the geopotential up to ultra-high degrees and orders of spherical harmonic expansion. For the most difficult part of the SHS, namely the evaluation of the fully normalized associated Legendre functions (fnALFs), we used three different approaches according to required maximum degree: (i) the standard forward column method (up to maximum degree 1800, in some cases up to degree 2190); (ii) the modified forward column method combined with Horner's scheme (up to maximum degree 2700); (iii) the extended-range arithmetic (up to an arbitrary maximum degree). For the maximum degree 2190, the SHS with fnALFs evaluated using the extended-range arithmetic approach takes only approximately 2-3 times longer than its standard arithmetic counterpart, i.e. the standard forward column method. In the GrafLab, the functionals of the geopotential can be evaluated on a regular grid or point-wise, while the input coordinates can either be read from a data file or entered manually. For the computation on a regular grid we decided to apply the lumped coefficients approach due to significant time-efficiency of this method. Furthermore, if a full variance-covariance matrix of spherical harmonic coefficients is available, it is possible to compute the commission errors of the functionals. When computing on a regular grid, the output functionals or their commission errors may be depicted on a map using automatically selected cartographic projection.

Influence of the vitreomacular interface on the efficacy of intravitreal therapy for uveitis-associated cystoid macular oedema.

PURPOSE To evaluate the effect of the vitreomacular interface (VMI) on treatment efficacy of intravitreal therapy in uveitic cystoid macular oedema (CME). METHODS Retrospective analysis of CME resolution, CME recurrence rate and monthly course of central retinal thickness (CRT), retinal volume (RV) and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after intravitreal injection with respect to the VMI configuration on spectral-domain OCT using chi-squared test and repeated measures anova adjusted for confounding covariates epiretinal membrane, administered drug and subretinal fluid. RESULTS Fifty-nine eyes of 53 patients (mean age: 47.4 ± 16.9 years) were included. VMI status had no effect on complete CME resolution rate (p = 0.16, corrected p-value: 0.32), time until resolution (p = 0.09, corrected p-value: 0.27) or CME relapse rate (p = 0.29, corrected p-value: 0.29). Change over time did not differ among the VMI configuration groups for BVCA (p = 0.82) and RV (p = 0.18), but CRT decrease was greater and faster in the posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) group compared to the posterior vitreous attachment (PVA) and vitreous macular adhesion (VMA) groups (p = 0.04). Also, the percentage of patients experiencing a ≥ 20% CRT thickness decrease after intravitreal injection was greater in the PVD group (83%) compared to the VMA (64%) and the PVA (16%) group (p = 0.027), however, not after correction for multiple testing (corrected p-value: 0.11). CONCLUSION The VMI configuration seems to be a factor contributing to treatment efficacy in uveitic CME in terms of CRT decrease, although BCVA outcome did not differ according to VMI status.

Compilation, application and challenge of IDE-JETRO's International Input-Output tables

International input-output tables are among the most useful tools for economic analysis. Since these tables provide detailed information about international production networks, they have recently attracted considerable attention in research on spatial economics, global value chains, and issues relating to trade in value-added. The Institute of Developing Economies at the Japan External Trade Organization (IDE-JETRO) has more than 40 years of experience in the construction and analysis of international input-output tables. This paper explains the development of IDE-JETRO’s multi-regional input-output projects including the construction of the Asian International Input-Output table and the Transnational Interregional Input-Output table between China and Japan. To help users understand the features of the tables, this paper also gives examples of their application.

Lock-free Parallel Dynamic Programming

We show a method for parallelizing top down dynamic programs in a straightforward way by a careful choice of a lock-free shared hash table implementation and randomization of the order in which the dynamic program computes its subproblems. This generic approach is applied to dynamic programs for knapsack, shortest paths, and RNA structure alignment, as well as to a state-of-the-art solution for minimizing the máximum number of open stacks. Experimental results are provided on three different modern multicore architectures which show that this parallelization is effective and reasonably scalable. In particular, we obtain over 10 times speedup for 32 threads on the open stacks problem.

Si(100) versus Ge(100): Watching the interface formation for the growth of III-V-based solar cells on abundant substrates

We investigated the atomic surface properties of differently prepared silicon and germanium (100) surfaces during metal-organic vapour phase epitaxy/chemical vapour deposition (MOVPE/MOCVD), in particular the impact of the MOVPE ambient, and applied reflectance anisotropy/difference spectroscopy (RAS/RDS) in our MOVPE reactor to in-situ watch and control the preparation on the atomic length scale for subsequent III-V-nucleation. The technological interest in the predominant opto-electronic properties of III-V-compounds drives the research for their heteroepitaxial integration on more abundant and cheaper standard substrates such as Si(100) or Ge(100). In these cases, a general task must be accomplished successfully, i.e. the growth of polar materials on non-polar substrates and, beyond that, very specific variations such as the individual interface formation and the atomic step structure, have to be controlled. Above all, the method of choice to grow industrial relevant high-performance device structures is MOVPE, not normally compatible with surface and interface sensitive characterization tools, which are commonly based on ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) ambients. A dedicated sample transfer system from MOVPE environment to UHV enabled us to benchmark the optical in-situ spectra with results from various surfaces science instruments without considering disruptive contaminants. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) provided direct observation of different terminations such as arsenic and phosphorous and verified oxide removal under various specific process parameters. Absorption lines in Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra were used to identify specific stretch modes of coupled hydrides and the polarization dependence of the anti-symmetric stretch modes distinguished different dimer orientations. Scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) studied the atomic arrangement of dimers and steps and tip-induced H-desorption proved the saturation of dangling bonds after preparati- n. In-situ RAS was employed to display details transiently such as the presence of H on the surface at lower temperatures (T <; 800°C) and the absence of Si-H bonds at elevated annealing temperature and also surface terminations. Ge buffer growth by the use of GeH4 enables the preparation of smooth surfaces and leads to a more pronounced amplitude of the features in the spectra which indicates improvements of the surface quality.

Unimanual and Bimanual Weight Perception of Virtual Objects with a new Multi-finger Haptic Interface

Accurate weight perception is important particularly in tasks where the user has to apply vertical forces to ensure safe landing of a fragile object or precise penetration of a surface with a probe. Moreover, depending on physical properties of objects such as weight and size we may switch between unimanual and bimanual manipulation during a task. Research has shown that bimanual manipulation of real objects results in a misperception of their weight: they tend to feel lighter than similarly heavy objects which are handled with one hand only [8]. Effective simulation of bimanual manipulation with desktop haptic interfaces should be able to replicate this effect of bimanual manipulation on weight perception. Here, we present the MasterFinger-2, a new multi-finger haptic interface allowing bimanual manipulation of virtual objects with precision grip and we conduct weight discrimination experiments to evaluate its capacity to simulate unimanual and bimanual weight. We found that the bimanual ‘lighter’ bias is also observed with the MasterFinger-2 but the sensitivity to changes of virtual weights deteriorated.

A speech interface for air traffic control terminals

Several issues concerning the current use of speech interfaces are discussed and the design and development of a speech interface that enables air traffic controllers to command and control their terminals by voice is presented. A special emphasis is made in the comparison between laboratory experiments and field experiments in which a set of ergonomics-related effects are detected that cannot be observed in the controlled laboratory experiments. The paper presents both objective and subjective performance obtained in field evaluation of the system with student controllers at an air traffic control (ATC) training facility. The system exhibits high word recognition test rates (0.4% error in Spanish and 1.5% in English) and low command error (6% error in Spanish and 10.6% error in English in the field tests). Subjective impression has also been positive, encouraging future development and integration phases in the Spanish ATC terminals designed by Aeropuertos Españoles y Navegación Aérea (AENA).