Control Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

We offer a theory and measure for determining powerful nodal positions based on potential inter-actor control in "politically charged" networks, which contain both allies and adversaries. Power is derived from actors that are dependent on the focal actor and sociometrically weak, either due to a lack of alternative allies or from being threatened by others. We create a new Political Independence Index (PII), compare it to other established measures, and illustrate its use in the setting of an international network of alliances and military conflicts from 1946 to 2000. Results show that politically independent nations as measured by PII have smaller increases in military personnel than others over time.

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- Sociology, Anthropology, Social Networks, Politics

With the increase of refugee movements since 2014 in Europe and the Near East, the debate of how to plan appropriate shelters and emergency accommodation has gained a new momentum. Established techno-managerial approaches have been criticised as inappropriate and the professional community of planners and architects was increasingly drawn into debates for alternative solutions. This article traces the “innovations” that promise better, more effective, and more humane emergency shelters using the examples of the “Tempohomes” in Berlin as well as the Jordanian refugee camps of Zaatari and Azraq. In both cases, planners were employed to address the ambivalent reality of protracted refugee camps and include “lessons” from failures of earlier solutions. While the article acknowledges the genuine attempt of planners to engage with the more complex needs and expectations of refugees, a careful look at the results of the planning for better camps reveals ambivalent outcomes. As camps acquir...

- by Philipp Misselwitz
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- Refugee Studies, Political Science, Urban Planning, Control

Mechanisms of the amazing ability of salmon to migrate a long distance from open water to natal streams for spawning are still unknown. Lacustrine sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) in Lake Toya offers an excellent model system for studying the orientation mechanism in open water, because mature fish return to the natal area with a high degree of accuracy. First we examined the percentage of fish returning to the natal area after they were released 7 km south of the natal area. Forty percent of control male mature fish and 25% of the fish blinded by injection of a mixture of carbon toner and corn oil into the eyeball were captured in the natal area within 5 days. Forty-four percent of fish with brass rings (control) and 31% of fish with NdFe magnetic rings which interfere with the magnetic cue were captured in the natal area within 3 days. These experiments suggested that, although the number of blinded fish captured in the natal area was less than that of the controls, the difference was not statistically significant. In the fish captured in the natal area within 3 or 5 days, fish which found the natal area using their olfactory cue after random swimming for a long time and returned to that area may be included. Hence we tracked fish telemetrically using an ultrasonic tracking system, and found that mature males released at a long distance (3.6 or 6.8 km) from the natal area swam straight to the vicinity of the natal area. Interference of the magnetic cue by the attachment of a magnetic ring did not affect their direct return. Blockage of the visual cue caused them to move randomly. These data suggest that lacustrine sockeye salmon return straight to the vicinity of the natal area using their visual cue and finally reach the exact homing point using their olfactory cue.

- by HIROSHI UEDA
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- Control, Biology, Medicine, Biological Sciences

Reçu le 11 octobre 2001 ; accepté après révision le 10 décembre 2001 Note présentée par Pierre Perrier. Résumé On présente les résultats expérimentaux obtenus sur une cavité profonde, proche d'un résonateur de Helmholtz, soumise à un écoulement aérodynamique. La mise en résonance par les tourbillons générés dans la couche de cisaillement est bien observée et quantifiée. L'implantation de petits actionneurs basés sur des éléments piézo-électriques permet de générer une série de tourbillons bidimensionnels forcés à une fréquence différente de la résonance naturelle. Le niveau de bruit dans la cavité s'en trouve considérablement diminué et noyé dans le bruit large bande de la turbulence. Pour citer cet article : X. Amandolese et al., C. R. Mecanique 330 (2002) 101-106.  2002 Académie des sciences/Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS acoustique / aéroacoustique / résonateur / couche de cisaillement / instabilité / contrôle Semi-active reduction of the sound generated by a deep cavity under an airflow

- by Xavier Amandolese
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- Mechanical Engineering, Physics, Acoustics, Control

The paper treats the control problem of a class of hyper-redundant robot constituted by a chain of continuum segments. The technological model basis is a central, long and thin, highly flexible and elastic backbone. The driving system is a decoupled one. The main parameters of the arm control are determined by the curvature and curvature gradient. The dynamic model is inferred. A sliding mode control system is used in order to achieve a desired shape of the arm. The stability of the closed loop control system is proven. Numerical simulations are also provided to verify the effectiveness of the presented approach.

- by Mircea Ivanescu
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- Control

... School of Engineering Springfield, Massachussetts Drag Reduction and Wake Minimization on Marine Vehicles ,,P. ,3 1991 By: , Craig A. Hunter Pasquale Delore Walter M. Presz, Jr. Final Report Office of Naval Research Grant... more

- by Walter Presz
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- Control, Fluid Dynamics, Mixing, Models

Background: Parenteral medications are usually given out in multidose vials (MDVs) and can be used for a prolonged period for 1 or more patients. The risk of extrinsic contamination of MDVs and its consequences may be serious and may lead to an outbreak, especially in hospitals. Therefore, bacterial contamination of multiple-dose medication vials in Namazi Hospital, the major referral teaching hospital, in Shiraz, southwestern Iran, was evaluated. Methods: In a period of 4 months, all used MDVs in Namazi Hospital were collected by the infection control nurses. Information was recorded about the medication, labeling of vials, storing temperature, wards, and dates of opening. Remained contents of each vial were also tested for aerobic bacteria. Microbial contamination was confirmed by microbiologic methods. Results: Bacterial contamination was identified in 36 of 637 (5.6%) of vials, with no difference in contamination among different wards in the hospital or the medication type. Most commonly identified organisms were part of the normal commensally flora. Gram-positive bacteria (88.9%) were more significantly involved than gram-negative ones (11.1%), with the highest frequency for Staphylococcus epidermidis (44.4%) and the lowest for Actinomyces viscosus (2.8%). Conclusion: Although the clinical significance is not resolved at this point, infection control practices should be emphasized considering this potential source of nosocomial infection.

- by Mehrdad Askarian
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- Nursing, Epidemiology, Control, Prevention

This study recommends changes to the U.S. Army's tactical orders process in order to increase the Army's ability to execute AirLand Battle at the tactical level of war. The thesis exarines the tactical orders process of the Wehrmacht. the Soviet Army and the U.S. Army. The tactical orders process is defined as the process by which a tactical level commander receives or deduces the mission, analyzes the tactical situation, prepares courses of action, makes a decision, issues an order, executes the plan, and adjusts to new situations in order to accomplish the mission. The methodology compared the current U.S. procedures with those of the Wehrmacht and the Soviet Army. The Wehrmacht employed a very decentralized, predominantly verbal, tactical orders process. The Soviet Army employs a very centralized, predominantly graphic, tactical orders process. Both aim at shortening tactical decision cycles and gaining a time advantage through a quick and effective orders process. Research revealed that many units in the U.S. Army do not conduct an effective tactical orders process. Current procedures are "orders intensive" and do not meet the requirements of agility and flexibility demanded by AirLand Battle doctrine. Changes to the orders process, the operations order format and a time linkpri rritpria fnr nrders are suggested , 14. SUBJECT TERMS Combat orders, operation orders, staff planning, 1s. NUMBER OF PAGES synchronization, commander's intent, co-mand and control, troop 227 leading procedures, warning orders, Auftragstaktik, maneuver war-16. PRICE CODE fare. attrition warfare. Soviet Troop Control , decision making.

- by John Antal
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- Control, Optimization, Vision, Tactical Warfare

The experiment was conducted at the Research Farm of the Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana in rabi seasons of 2005-06 and 2006-07 to study the efficacy of tank mix application of 2, 4-D, carfentrazone and metsulfuron with isoproturon in managing weeds of irrigated barley. Minimum weed dry weight was recorded in isoproturon 1000 g+metsulfuron 4 g/ha which was statistically on par with isoproturon 1000 g/ha, isoproturon 1000 g+carfentrazone 20 g/ha and isoproturon 1000 g+2, 4-D 500 g/ha during 2005-06. In 2006-07, minimum weed dry weight was recorded in two hand weedings which was statistically on par with isoproturon 1000 g+metsulfuron 4 g/ha, isoproturon 1000 g/ha, isoproturon 1000 g+carfentrazone 20 g/ha, and isoproturon 1000 g+2,4-D 500 g/ha. Highest test weight and barley grain yield were recorded in isoproturon 1000 g+metsulfuron 4 g/ha which were statistically on par with isoproturon 750 g+metsulfuron 4 g/ha, isoproturon 750 g+2,4-D 500 g/ha, isoproturon 1000 g+2, 4-D 500 g/ha and two hand weedings. The highest net returns of Rs. 29063 with isoproturon 1000 g+metsulfuron 4 g/ha and Rs. 39581 were recorded in isoproturon 1000 g+2, 4-D 500 g/ha as tank mix in 2005-06 and 2006-07, respectively.

- by Hari Ram
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- Irrigation, Control, Pesticides, Weed Control
- by Ian Palmer
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- History, Military History, Control, Second World War

Introducción: Uno de los componentes más importantes en un sistema de control es el controlador, este recibe las señales de un medidor el cual está en contacto con el proceso monitoreando constantemente una variable a lo largo del tiempo, el controlador recibe estas señales y las compara con datos de referencia posteriormente produce otra señal que se dirige a un elemento final de control que regulara una variable de entrada con el propósito de que la variable que monitorea el medidor, llegue a un valor deseado. Para esta práctica el alumno estará en contacto con un controlador marca HONEYWELL serie DC1010, el cual es un controlador ideal para regular la temperatura y tras variables de proceso en diversas aplicaciones. Objetivos: 1. Identificar las partes del controlador, los tipos de señales que participan en él y cuál es la configuración básica para su uso. 2. Cotizar el controlador y proponer dos alternativas al presentado. 3. Identificar cuáles serían los comandos (botones) para introducir un cambio en el set point. 4. Revisar detenidamente el manual del controlador para la realización del diagrama de conexiones eléctricas en la próxima práctica.

- by Germaloni Ruth
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- Control

Bovine mastitis, which is an inflammation of the mammary gland frequently resulting from bacterial infection, causes the majority of economic losses to the dairy producers. The prevalence of mastitis in dairy cattle is relatively high. Bovine mastitis can be classified based on clinical futures as clinical orsubclinical. Both forms produce significant economic losses due to rejected milk, degraded milk quality, early culling of cows, drug costs, veterinary expenses and increased labour costs for the farmer. Moreover, subclinical mastitis is the main form of mastitis in modern dairy herds, exceeding 20 to 50% of cows in given herds. The cost of subclinical mastitis is very difficult to quantify, but most of the researchers agree that it can be up to 40 times more common than clinical mastitis. In India, the estimated loss due to mastitis is around Rs. 16,702 million per annum. Subclinical mastitis was found more important in India than clinical mastitis especially in cows (10-50%) and buffaloes (5-20%). The predominant causal organisms of mastitis are cell-walled bacteria, although mycoplasma, yeast and algae have also been reported to cause mastitis. Various predisposing factors like physiological, genetic, pathological or environmental may contribute to the emergence of mastitis in dairy cattle. Presently antibiotics are used for the treatment of mastitis. However, therapeutic success rate is poor due to indiscriminate use of antibiotics leading to development of multiple drug resistant pathogens. Besides this, major problems in bovine mastitis with intracellular pathogens like S.aureus because of poor cure rate. These facts highlight the need for completely newer strategies for treatment of mastitis.

- by Veterinary Medicine – Open Journal
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- Veterinary Medicine, Control
- by Carl Rhodes
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- Control, Satellite Communications, Investments, Strategy

Little is known about hand hygiene practice in the long-term care setting. In this study, we observed 459 hand hygiene opportunities in 2 long-term care facilities in Hamilton, Ontario. Overall hand hygiene adherence was 14.7%, with a mean handwashing time of 15.9 seconds. Adherence varied by activity performed and the presence or absence of a sink. (Am J Infect Control 2008;36:492-4.) Although significant research has focused on hand hygiene issues in the acute care setting, little is known about hand hygiene in long-term care facilities. Proper hand hygiene may be the single most important, and least expensive, means of preventing health careassociated infections and the spread of antimicrobial resistance. 1 Increasing hand hygiene and understanding factors associated with adherence are extremely relevant in the long-term care setting, where the demand for care is expected to increase significantly in the near future 2 and the patient population and environment promote both the development of infection and transmission of infectious agents. 3 One study of handwashing and glove use in a long-term care facility found that potential microbial transmission occurred in 82% of interactions observed and that handwashing was performed for every required instance during an interaction in only 4% of those interactions. We used direct observation methods to measure the adherence to hand hygiene among health care workers in 2 long-term care facilities in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. We also assessed factors associated with hand hygiene adherence.

- by Soo Chan Carusone
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- Nursing, Long Term Care, Control, Health Services Research

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) has the potential to revolutionize the retail industry, yet the linking of this automatic identification (auto-ID) technology to consumer goods has resulted in widespread concern over the potential privacy threats, primarily due to the aspect of traceability it could impose on consumers. As a consequence, privacy has come to be perceived as a barrier stopping RFID adoption in retail in its tracks. When investigating other complex information and communication technologies (ICT), it becomes apparent that consumers often sacrifice privacy in order to take advantage of some form of value afforded by the technology. This interplay between value and privacy is seen as a balance which must be favorable to the consumer to encourage acceptance. This study is focused on exploring this balance, with the addition of control as another important factor. The paper presents a review of literature, commencing with RFID technology itself and subsequently the value proposition that RFID offers retailers and consumers. It will investigate the privacy debate, looking at commonly expressed privacy concerns and the meaning of privacy. This will provide a basis for discussion of potential solutions that have been proposed.

- by Katina Michael
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- Privacy, RFID, Control, Regulation

Healthcare-associated infection is a major safety issue affecting the quality of care of hundreds of millions of patients every year in both developed and developing countries. To meet the goal of ensuring patient safety across healthcare settings around the globe, the World Health Organization launched the World Alliance for Patient Safety in October 2004. Healthcare-associated infections were identified as a fundamental work priority and selected as the topic of the First Global Patient Safety Challenge launched by the Alliance. Under the banner "Clean Care is Safer Care", the Challenge aims at implementing several actions to reduce healthcareassociated infections worldwide, regardless of the level of development of healthcare systems and the availability of resources. Implementation strategies include the integration of multiple interventions in the areas of blood safety, injection safety, clinical procedure safety, and water, sanitation and waste management, with the promotion of hand hygiene in healthcare as the cornerstone. Several initiatives have been undertaken to raise global awareness and to obtain country commitment to support action on this issue. The new Guidelines on Hand Hygiene in Health Care, including the most consistent scientific evidence available, have been issued in an advanced draft form. An implementation strategy is proposed therein to provide solutions to overcome obstacles to improvement in compliance with hand hygiene practices, together with a range of practical tools for use in

- by Liam Donaldson
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- Patient Safety, Global Health, Control, Hospital Infection

An active end effector is developed to improve precision in robotic deburring. The design objectives are obtained from a dynamic analysis of the combined system of robot arm, end effector, and deburring process dynamics. The unit allows robot-independent positioning, over a range of-t-15 mm in two orthogonal directions with an accuracy of better than 0.01 mm and a bandwidth of 20 Hz. A combination of d.c. servo motors with linear bah screws achieves both high precision and a large mechanical advantage. A high quality chamfer is obtained by performing position adjustments normal to the part edge for constant cutting force. An extended discrete PID controller based on an ARMAX plant model is designed and simulated off-line prior to real-time implementation. In real-time force control tests, the active end effector system is shown to improve the precision of a PUMA-560 robot by an order of magnitude over the openloop case.

- by Gary Bone
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- Engineering, Robotics, Design, Control

We bring some market segmentation concepts into the statement of the ''new product introduction'' problem with Nerlove-ArrowÕs linear goodwill dynamics. In fact, only a few papers on dynamic quantitative advertising models deal with market segmentation, although this is a fundamental topic of marketing theory and practice. In this way we obtain some new deterministic optimal control problems solutions and show how such marketing concepts as ''targeting'' and ''segmenting'' may find a mathematical representation. We consider two kinds of situations. In the first one, we assume that the advertising process can reach selectively each target group. In the second one, we assume that one advertising channel is available and that it has an effectiveness segment-spectrum, which is distributed over a non-trivial set of segments. We obtain the explicit optimal solutions of the relevant problems.

- by Alessandra Buratto
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- Marketing, Advertising, Control, Multidisciplinary

Every organism is known to have different structural and biological system, specifically in human immunity. If the immune system weakens, the body is susceptible to disease especially pneumonia disease. Pneumonia disease is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumonia, and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), it is identified as the leading cause of death in children worldwide, which is about 16%, for those under the age of 5. Meanwhile, someone who is predicted to have pneumonia by a doctor is recommended for an X-ray. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) is an accurate method to help the doctor's predicted correctly. CNNs is divided into two important parts, feature extraction layer (convolutional layer and pooling layer) and fully connected layer. CNNs method is commonly used for image data classification. Therefore, CNNs is suitable to classify pneumonia based on lung X-ray in order to obtain accurate prediction results. And then, the results can be seen based on the graph of the accuracy value and the loss value. When CNNs method applied on the dataset, an accuracy rate of 97% was obtained. Based on accuracy rate, it shows that CNNs can be applied to image data (especially lung X-ray) for classification of pneumonia disease.

- by TELKOMNIKA JOURNAL
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- Control

Biofilms have been of considerable interest in the context of food hygiene. Of special significance is the ability of microorganisms to attach and grow on food and food-contact surfaces under favourable conditions. Biofilm formation is a dynamic process and different mechanisms are involved in their attachment and growth. Extracellular polymeric substances play an important role in the attachment and colonization of microorganisms to food-contact surfaces. Various techniques have been adopted for the proper study and understanding of biofilm attachment and control. If the microorganisms from food-contact surfaces are not completely removed, they may lead to biofilm formation and also increase the biotransfer potential. Therefore, various preventive and control strategies like hygienic plant lay-out and design of equipment, choice of materials, correct use and selection of detergents and disinfectants coupled with physical methods can be suitably applied for controlling biofilm formation on food-contact surfaces. In addition, bacteriocins and enzymes are gaining importance and have an unique potential in the food industry for the effective biocontrol and removal of biofilms. These newer biocontrol strategies are considered important for the maintenance of biofilm-free systems, for quality and safety of foods.

- by Ganesh Kumar
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- Microbiology, Biofilms, Control, Industrial Biotechnology

- by Soo Chan Carusone
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- Nursing, Long Term Care, Control, Health Services Research

O texto discute as imagens que derivam e podem ser projetadas sobre as cidades situadas na fronteira entre o Brasil e o Uruguai, relativizadas a partir dos conceitos de punctum e studium e da teoria situada. Essas imagens representam os trânsitos fronteiriços ora como uma indicação de costumes tradicionais, integração e paz, ora como um problema de segurança nacional e pública a ser controlado através da instalação de câmeras de videomonitoramento. Em 2013, uma portaria do Ministério da Justiça do Brasil habilita processos de instalação de câmeras de videomonitoramento no âmbito da Estratégia Nacional de Fronteiras. Através de trabalhos de campo, revisão de bibliografia e do acompanhamento das normativas, conclui-se que a violência presente na fronteira gaúcha, ligada a situações domésticas e familiares, não pode ser diminuída apenas com a instalação de câmeras. Assim, a imagem da violência produzida pelas câmeras não corresponde à verdade da violência nessas cidades de fronteira e amplia a estigmatização da região.

- by Adriana Dorfman
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- Political Geography and Geopolitics, Border Studies, Security, Control

Wir sind User. Früher waren manche von uns noch Surfer. Es gab den Einstieg und ein Ende dieser Aktivität. Vor allem aber handelte es sich dabei um eine Aktivität. Es ging mitunter darum, ein neues Gebiet zu entdecken, sich anonym zu begegnen, Pornos zu schauen, Wissen, Erfahrung, Bilder einzuholen und zu teilen. Es gab eine Zeit - und diese tickte in Minuten -, da wurde das Internet als Ort der Freiheit und demokratischen Gleichheit gefeiert, an dem Teilhabe theoretisch allein durch den Anschluss (den Computer, das Telefon, das Modem) gewährleistet war. Das Surfer-Subjekt schien darin befreit von den Normen und Normalisie-rungen, den Einschließungen und Repressionen des Alltags. Die Hoffnung war,

- by Anja Breljak
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- New Media, Control, Media and Democracy, Affect (Cultural Theory)

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between anterior knee pain secondary to suspected patellofemoral malalignment and tibial tubercle lateralization, patellar tilt, and patellar lateralization on magnetic resonance imaging. Methods: We compared the bony relationships of the knee in patients with anterior knee pain and patients with nonspecific internal derangements of the knee. We measured the lateral deviation of the tibial tubercle and the patella from the trochlea, patellar tilt, and patellar and patellar tendon length. Results: The symptomatic knees of patients with anterior knee pain had significantly (P Յ .01) greater lateralization of the tibial tubercle and lateral patellar tilt than did knees of the control group. Patella alta appears to be more common in subjects with anterior knee pain. Conclusions: Magnetic resonance imaging determination of tibial tubercle lateralization and patellar tilt correlates positively with the clinical diagnosis of anterior knee pain, suggesting that patellofemoral pain is caused by subtle malalignment. Level of Evidence: Level III, development of diagnostic criteria on basis of nonconsecutive patients.

- by Roberto Seijas
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- Orthopedic Surgery, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Control, Comparative Study

Estudo de coorte historica sobre infeccoes do sitio cirurgico decorrentes das 3.543 cirurgias de pacientes ortopedicosconstantes nos registros de banco de dados do Servico de Controle de Infeccao Hospitalar de um hospital geral,publico e de grande porte de Minas Gerais. Os objetivos foram determinar a taxa de incidencia de infeccao de sitiocirurgico e o tempo de manifestacao da infeccao, verificar a associacao entre infeccao e fatores de risco e identificar osmicrorganismos prevalentes. Encontrou-se a incidencia de infeccao de sitio cirurgico de 1,8%. As variaveis potencialde contaminacao da ferida cirurgica, condicoes clinicas do paciente (ASA), duracao da cirurgia e tipo de procedimentomostraram-se estatisticamente associadas a ISC. O tempo medio de manifestacao das infeccoes apos a cirurgia foi de96 dias. O microrganismo mais frequente foi o Staphylococcus aureus.(AU)

- by Flávia Falci Ercole
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- Epidemiology, Control, Biology, Brazil

This paper presents a self-contained aerial payload/sensor delivery system Blizzard and discusses its potential applications.

- by Eugene Bourakov
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- Control

A cross-sectional data set of 80 lakes and reservoirs in nine southeastern states was examined to specify and parameterize trophic state relationships. The relationships fitted are based on measurements of several limnological variables taken over the course of a growing season or year in each of the lakes. The trophic state models relate phosphorus and nitrogen loading to inlake phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations, which in turn are related to maximum chlorophyll level, Secchi disk depth, dominant algal species, and hypolimnetic dissolved oxygen status. Due to the empirical nature of the study, causal conclusions are limited; rather, the models are most useful for prediction of average growing season conditions related to trophic state. (KEY TERMS: reservoirs; trophic state; regression analysis; discriminant analysis; anoxia; blue-green algae.)

- by Ken Reckhow
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- Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Control, Water Pollution
- by Laura Dreer
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- Decision Making, Traumatic Brain Injury, Control, Treatment

This paper investigates stable suboptimal H ∞ controllers for a class of single-input single-output time-delay systems. For a given plant and weighting functions, the optimal controller minimizing the mixed sensitivity (and the central suboptimal controller) may be unstable with finitely or infinitely many poles in C + . For each of these cases search algorithms are proposed to find stable suboptimal H ∞ controllers. These design methods are illustrated with examples.

- by Hitay Özbay
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- Applied Mathematics, Control, Electrical And Electronic Engineering

Design a nonlinear controller for second order nonlinear uncertain dynamical systems (e.g., Internal Combustion Engine) is one of the most important challenging works. This paper focuses on the design of a robust backstepping adaptive feedback linearization controller (FLC) for internal combustion (IC) engine in presence of uncertainties. In order to provide high performance nonlinear methodology, feedback linearization controller is selected. Pure feedback linearization controller can be used to control of partly unknown nonlinear dynamic parameters of IC engine. In order to solve the uncertain nonlinear dynamic parameters, implement easily and avoid mathematical model base controller, Mamdani’s performance/error-based fuzzy logic methodology with two inputs and one output and 49 rules is applied to pure feedback linearization controller. The results demonstrate that the error-based fuzzy feedback linearization controller is a model-free controllers which works well in certain and partly uncertain system. Pure feedback linearization controller and error-based feedback linearization like controller with have difficulty in handling unstructured model uncertainties. To solve this problem applied backstepping-based tuning method to error-based fuzzy feedback linearization controller for adjusting the feedback linearization controller gain ( ). This controller has acceptable performance in presence of uncertainty (e.g., overshoot=1%, rise time=0.48 second, steady state error = 1.3e-9 and RMS error=1.8e-11).

- by FARZIN PILTAN and +1
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- Electrical Engineering, Robotics, Control Systems Engineering, Artificial Intelligence

objective The Brazilian National Hansen's Disease Control Program recently identified clusters with high disease transmission. Herein, we present different spatial analytical approaches to define highly vulnerable areas in one of these... more

- by Emerson Santos
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- Epidemiology, Spatial Analysis, Control, Tropical Medicine
- by Abubakar Mohammed
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- Engineering, Control, Electronic, Display

The present paper proposes a technical analysis method for extracting information about movement patterning in studies of motor control, based on a cluster analysis of movement kinematics. In a tutorial fashion, data from three different experiments are presented to exemplify and validate the technical method. When applied to three different basketball-shooting techniques, the method clearly distinguished between the different patterns. When applied to a cyclical wrist supination-pronation task, the cluster analysis provided the same results as an analysis using the conventional discrete relative phase measure. Finally, when analyzing throwing performance constrained by distance to target, the method grouped movement patterns together according to throwing distance. In conclusion, the proposed technical method provides a valuable tool to improve understanding of coordination and control in different movement models, including multiarticular actions.

- by Jeffery Summers
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- Control, Motor Control, Movement, Basketball

This prospective study examined bacterial colonization on writing pens touched by healthcare professionals and hospitalized patients with and without cleaning the pen with alcohol-based hand sanitizing agent after each patient visit. A significant reduction in potential healthcare-associated pathogens, especially Gram-positive cocci, was observed in the intervention group.

- by Shashank Ghantoji
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- Control, Prevention, Hospitals, Clinical Microbiology

Climate change may have profound eff ects on phosphorus (P) transport in streams and on lake eutrophication. Phosphorus loading from land to streams is expected to increase in northern temperate coastal regions due to higher winter rainfall and to a decline in warm temperate and arid climates. Model results suggest a 3.3 to 16.5% increase within the next 100 yr in the P loading of Danish streams depending on soil type and region. In lakes, higher eutrophication can be expected, reinforced by temperature-mediated higher P release from the sediment. Furthermore, a shift in fi sh community structure toward small and abundant plankti-benthivorous fi sh enhances predator control of zooplankton, resulting in higher phytoplankton biomass. Data from Danish lakes indicate increased chlorophyll a and phytoplankton biomass, higher dominance of dinophytes and cyanobacteria (most notably of nitrogen fi xing forms), but lower abundance of diatoms and chrysophytes, reduced size of copepods and cladocerans, and a tendency to reduced zooplankton biomass and zooplankton:phytoplankton biomass ratio when lakes warm. Higher P concentrations are also seen in warm arid lakes despite reduced external loading due to increased evapotranspiration and reduced infl ow. Th erefore, the critical loading for good ecological state in lakes has to be lowered in a future warmer climate. Th is calls for adaptation measures, which in the northern temperate zone should include improved P cycling in agriculture, reduced loading from point sources, and (re)-establishment of wetlands and riparian buff er zones. In the arid Southern Europe, restrictions on human use of water are also needed, not least on irrigation.

- by Martin Søndergaard and +2
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- Earth Sciences, Climate Change, Wetlands, Structure

The visual processing of text occurs spontaneously in most readers. Dyslexic persons, however, often report both somatic symptoms and perceptual distortions when trying to read. It is possible that the perceptual distortions experienced by those with dyslexia reflect a disturbance in the basic mechanisms supporting perceptual organization at the early stages of visual processing. Integration of information over extended areas of visual space can be measured psychophysically in a task that requires the detection of a path defined by aligned, spatially narrow-band elements on a dense field of otherwise similar elements that are randomly oriented and positioned. In the present study a contour integration task was used to investigate such perceptual organization in dyslexia. The detection of contours or paths composed of Gabor micropatterns was performed within a field of randomly oriented distracter elements in a 2-alternate forced choice (AFC) task. The stimuli were manipulated by ran...

- by Peter Bex
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- Computer Science, Control, Density, Dyslexia

Many industries often use different devices and controllers in automation systems. They all face the same difficulty how to exchange data between all those components. This paper proposed the implementation of OPC Server as software interface on communication between two different controllers, PLC Mitsubishi and PLC Omron. The main advantage of the method is the compatibility and solution for the factory difficulty problem because of using several driver controller. The compatibility among the different platforms of both controller, PLC Mitsubishi and PLC Omron, can be reached by use of KEPServerEx6 (OPC server) as a software interface. To test the compatibility amongst two different controllers, there was developed and implemented two field application devices, bottle unscramble and bottle filling station. This implementation shows OPC Server technology resolving data compatibility issues between different platforms and reducing development costs. It is envisaged that the method can be very useful to realize integration. Keywords: Data communication Different platform KEPServerEX6 OPC server PLC SCADA This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA license.

- by TELKOMNIKA JOURNAL
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- Control

In dem Beitrag werden die Möglichkeiten und Erkenntnisgewinne einer transdisziplinären Verschränkung der analytischen Kategorien "Raum" und "Diskurs", insbesondere für die kulturwissenschaftliche Stadt- und Öffentlichkeitsforschung, ausgelotet. Ausgangspunkt dafür ist eine gemeinsame Forschungserfahrung der Autorinnen, die interdisziplinäre Ethnografie politischer Raumaneignungen in Mexiko-Stadt, bei der sich die jeweiligen Spezialisierungen (ethnografische Raumforschung bei WILDNER, semiotische Diskursanalyse bei HUFFSCHMID) kreuzten. Diese "Kreuzung" wird hier zunächst in ihren konzeptionellen Prämissen nachvollzogen und anschließend nach Lerneffekten für die analytische Praxis befragt. Ausgangspunkt dafür ist die Annahme der gegenseitigen Durchdrungenheit von Räumlichkeit und Diskursivität: kein Raum (im Sinne von LEFEBVRE) kann ohne seine diskursive Konfiguration gedacht werden, Diskurs (im Sinne FOUCAULTs) wiederum ereignet sich nicht im "luft...

- by Anne Huffschmid
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- Discourse Analysis, Cultural Studies, Ethnography, Discourse

In view of the desire to improve the water quality of the heavily polluted branches of the Shatt al-Arab River at the City of Basrah, it was proposed to maintain effective flushing as well as contracting sewerage system. The present study was conducted in order to examine the water quality of these branches in an attempt to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed flushing system. It has been found that their waters contained very low levels of dissolved oxygen and relatively high amounts of both COD and BOD5. The annual average water quality parameters for Basrah Branches were: dissolved oxygen 3.4 ppm; pH 7.67; hydrogen sulphide 1.4 ppm; ammonia 97 μg-at. N l−1; COD 15.9 mg l−1; BOD5 12.7 mg l−1; dissolved silicates 202 μg-at. Si l−1; dissolved reactive phosphate 13.4 μg-at. P-PO43− l−1; nitrate 10.4 μg-at. N-NO3− l−1; nitrite 2.1 μg-at. N-NO2− l−1 and chlorophyll-α 14.3 mg m−3. Based on our calculations, it has been concluded that the proposed system is effective, thus within a...

- by marwan alasadi
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- Chemistry, Water, Control, Water Pollution
- by Sue Barnes
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- Nursing, Patient Safety, Health Care, Control

Duration of the menstrual cycle was 48 ± 39 and 32 ± 7 days in girls with type 1 diabetes mellitus and controls, respectively. Oligomenorrhea (58.9% vs. 19.6%) and amenorrhea (10.7% vs. 1.8%) were more prevalent in girls with type 1... more

- by Maritza Jury
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- Obstetrics, Metabolism, Control, Adolescent

suspended particulate samples were collected at three stations in the Canadian Arctic between 1979 and 1984. The halogens, Cl, Br and I were determined, along with a comprehensive suite of elements and ions. As was previously observed in Alaska, Br was found to peak every year just after the Arctic dawn, reaching concentrations of two orders of magnitude greater than could be explained by marine, automotive and crustal sources. Chlorine concentration correlated closely with that of Na, indicating a marine origin. It was found to be strongly depleted relative to Na during periods of high sulphate concentration. Iodine was found to be enormously enriched relative to seawater by a factor of looCrlO,ooO. The enrichment was least during the early winter when marine aerosol concentrations were at their highest. At locations remote from open oceans I con~ntrations exhibited two annual peaks, one in the spring, and one during the early autumn. No clear correlations with other parameters could be found for these peaks. At locations close to open ocean, concentrations were higher than at the inland sites and did not vary seasonally.

- by Leonard Barrie
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- Methodology, Control, Sampling, Iodine
- by Ilan Hazout
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- Reference, Control, Lexical Semantics, Linguistics
- by Mark Schira
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- Psychology, Cognitive Science, Anger, Polymorphism
- by Teshome Gebre and +1
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- Microbiology, Surgery, Medical Microbiology, Health Education

An essential component of integrated schistosomiasis control as promoted by WHO is adequate clinical care for patients presenting at health care facilities. We evaluated the functioning of the Ghanaian health system for diagnosis and treatment of schistosomiasis by interviewing health workers from 70 health care facilities in 4 geographical areas in April and May 2000. Results from presentation of 4 hypothetical cases and a subsequent interview demonstrated that patients presenting with symptoms related to schistosomiasis have a small chance of receiving adequate treatment: often health workers do not recognize the symptoms, especially those of Schistosoma mansoni; patients are frequently referred for a diagnostic test or treatment with a large risk of non-compliance; and praziquantel was not available in 78% of the health care facilities with reported schistosomiasis in their coverage area. The overall cost of treatment is considerable: t~2.13 for S. haematobium and t~1.81 for S. mansoni patients, with drug costs contributing approximately 40% of the total cost. To better meet WHO recommendations for passive case detection as part of integrated schistosomiasis control, the Ghanaian health system needs to emphasize training of health workers in schistosomiasis case recognition and case management and increase the availability of praziquantel. Experience from other West African countries indicate that this is feasible.

- by Kwabena Bosompem
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- Microbiology, Program Evaluation, Primary Health Care, Health Care

The important pests of the three main tree genera used in afforestation in Israel are described. The pine pests are the Israeli bast scale, Matsucoccus josephi; the pine processionary caterpillar, Thaurnetopoea wilkinsoni; the bark beetles Orthotomicus erosus, Pityogenes calcaratus and Tomicus destruens, and the Mediterranean shoot moth, Rhyacionia buoliana thurificana. The cypress pests are the bark beetles Phloeosinus armatus and P. aubei. The eucalypt borerPhoracantha semipunctata is the sole significant pest of eucalypts. All of these pests, except for the last, are considered endemic species which maintained themselves in the natural relict stands. Routine chemical control operations are conducted only against T. wilkinsoni. Natural enemies are capable of keeping the other pest populations under good control if appropriate silvicultural measures and practices are in use.

- by Zvi Mendel
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- Plant Biology, Control, Biology, Biological Control

We examine the determinants of patients' accounts of their own mental illness. In particular, we examine the factors that affect the likelihood of attributing one's own mental illness to controllable factors rather than non-controllable factors. Our quantitative measure of attributional control is derived from the coding of in-depth interviews with people with severe mental illness seeking treatment for the first time (N ¼ 144). We find that those who occupy positions of social disadvantage (particularly African-American males and those who receive public assistance) are less likely to attribute their illness to controllable sources, suggesting that personal mental illness attributions are systematically related to a person's social location. We outline the significance of these findings for research on the psychological consequences of mental illness attributions. r

- by Erin Maher
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- Sociology, Anthropology, Mental Health, Control

Two formal validation studies of the Air Traffic Control Specialist Pre-Training Screen (ATCS/PTS), a 5-day computer-administered test battery, are described. The ATCS/PTS was designed to replace the 9-week U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Academy ATCS Nonradar Screen program that served as the second major test in the ATCS selection system. Review of ATCS job analyses suggested that predictor tests should assess cognitive constructs such as spatial reasoning and short-term memory, and require dynamic, concurrent performance. A proposed test battery was developed, consisting of 2 computeradministered information processing tests and a simplified radar-based air traffic control work sample. In study 1, predictive, criterion-related validation (N = 438) found that the proposed test battery explained additional variability in scores earned in the 9-week FAA Academy program, after taking into account student aptitude. In study 2, criterion-related validation (N = 297) demonstrated that the proposed test battery was as valid as the 9week FAA Academy ATCS Nonradar Screen for predicting progress in field training. Preliminary data from a third study conducted after validation of the ATCSIPTS seem to suggest that the abilities assessed by the new computerized tests reflect the abilities required on the job. However, implementation of the ATCS/PTS for actual employment decisionmaking in June 1992 was based on results obtained in the second concurrent, criterion-related validation study. The U.S. controller selection system since June 1992 has consisted of the 4-hour written ATCS aptitude test battery followed by, for those applicants earning a qualifying score and dependent upon agency manpower requirements, secondlevel screening on the ATCS/PTS. Additional research requirements as part of an aviation human factors research program are described.

- by Dana Broach
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- Management, Cognition, Control, Information Processing