Quality Factor In Terms Research Articles

Plate waste study among hospitalised patients receiving texture-modified diet.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVESWhile plate waste has been widely investigated in hospitals, there have been minimal studies specific to the texture-modified diet (TMD). This study aims to determine the percentage of plate waste among patients prescribed with TMD and its contributory factors.SUBJECTS/METHODSThis was a single-centre study conducted in the university hospital on three types of TMD (blended diet, mixed porridge, minced diet) during lunch and dinner meals. Weighing method and visual estimation method assisted by digital photograph were adopted in this study. Face to face interview was carried out to investigate on 1) the food/food service quality factors in terms of patients' satisfaction level towards sensorial quality of food and food services provided and 2) the clinical/external factors including appetite, the provision of oral nutrition support, time taking the diet, the need for feeding assistance and the length of hospital stay.RESULTSThe mean percentage of overall plate waste of 95 patients receiving TMD was high (47.5%). Blended diet was identified as the most wasted diet (65%) followed by minced diet (56%) and mixed porridge (35%). Satisfaction level among patients was moderate. Patients on TMD in general had higher satisfaction level on the aspect of food service as compared to food quality. Substantial association between sensorial qualities of food and plate waste were varied according to individual TMD type. A multiple linear regression showed that only the satisfaction level toward the aspects of appearance and variety of foods were the predictors of TMD plate waste (R2 = 0.254, P < 0.05).CONCLUSIONSA significant relationship between the percentage of plate waste and the overall satisfaction level of patients receiving TMD suggests that vigorous strategies are needed to reduce the food waste of TMD which will lead to a better nutritional status and clinical outcomes among the patients.

All-Optical Switches Based on Multiple Cascaded Resonators With Reduced Switching Intensity-Response Time Products

The general nonlinear behavior of multiple cascaded resonators is analyzed by using the coupled-mode theory in time and then compared to a single resonator from the viewpoint of optical bistable operation. Our analysis reveals that from the perspective of switching intensity, the multiple resonator structure is more advantageous than the single resonator with an equivalently increasing quality factor. It is also shown that a switching intensity-response time product, suggested as a performance metric for optical bistable devices, decreases linearly as the number of cascaded resonators increases. The effect of coupling n resonators is equivalent to a single resonator device with n-time increased quality factor in terms of the performance metric. The coupled-mode theory analysis is confirmed by a numerical study of the bistable operation of one-dimensional photonic crystal resonator structures using the finite-difference time-domain method.

On the application of radio frequency voltages to ion traps via helical resonators

Ions confined using a Paul trap require a stable, high voltage and low noise radio frequency (RF) potential. We present a guide for the design and construction of a helical coil resonator for a desired frequency that maximises the quality factor for a set of experimental constraints. We provide an in-depth analysis of the system formed from a shielded helical coil and an ion trap by treating the system as a lumped element model. This allows us to predict the resonant frequency and quality factor in terms of the physical parameters of the resonator and the properties of the ion trap. We also compare theoretical predictions with experimental data for different resonators, and predict the voltage applied to the ion trap as a function of the Q-factor, input power and the properties of the resonant circuit.

Web-Based Applications quality factors: A survey and a proposed conceptual model

Web-Based Applications (WBA) are fast becoming more widespread, larger, more interactive, and more essential to the international use of computers. The most successful WBA companies are beginning to realize that key critical factors of success or failure of any WBA must be highly dependable on delivering on a high quality web site. To attain the desired quality of WBA, it is necessary to suggest a model that organizes and enables the identification of WBA quality perspectives. This paper addresses WBA quality model and categorizes its quality factors. The software is an essential part of any WBA. ISO9126 standard for software engineering product quality states that the main purpose of software quality evaluation is to provide quantitative reference for software products evaluation that is reliable, understandable, and acceptable. The main weakness point here is the lack of a formal specification of key factors for WBA quality. Traditional quality models are not adequate for WBA because they do not address all problems associated with the new features of WBA. Therefore, ISO9126 and different quality models of software were investigated and partially used as an initial step to identify a conceptual quality model for WBA. WBA have common characteristics with traditional software packages, and other distinct characteristics that are particular to WBA. In this paper a proposed conceptual quality model to organize WBA quality factors in terms of its sub factors was identified. In addition, the proposed conceptual quality model effectively reflects the main views of WBA based on the opinion of highly skilled professionals (visitor, owner, end user). The main goal of this paper is identifying, categorizing, and modeling WBA quality factors.

Single-wafer-processed trench-sidewall integration and its application in a micro resonant detector for vacuum monitoring

A trench-sidewall technology is developed for single-wafer-based integration of micro sensors and actuators with in-plane lateral configuration. Piezoresistive sensing and electrostatic actuating elements can be integrated together onto the deep-trench sidewalls of in-plane microelectromechanical structures by sidewall boron diffusion. Adjacent sidewall elements are electrically isolated by previously formed SiO2-refilled trenches. Electric transference from the sidewall to wafer surface is performed via the overlaps between the sidewall-diffusion and previously doped p+ at wafer surface. As a versatile micro-fabrication process, the technology promises to be widely used. As a typical application, a cantilever-shaped micro resonant vacuum detector was formed with both sidewall piezoresistive sensing and electrostatic resonance-driving elements integrated. In addition to satisfactory electric principles measured to verify the trench-sidewall technology, the resonant sensor was used to detect vacuum by measuring the value change of quality factor in terms of vacuum pressure. The detector was successfully embedded into a glass-frit vacuum package to evaluate the vacuum-package performance. The packaged vacuum of near 20 mbar with satisfactory stability of two months was measured.

A Field Theoretic Foundation for the Representation of Quality Factor in Terms of Reactance-Slope Parameters for Electrically Large Three-Dimensional Arbitrarily Shaped Resonators

The use of reactance-slope parameters for the design of RF and microwave filters was drawn from lumped-element circuit representations. This paper provides a field-theoretic foundation for reactance-slope parameters based upon the treatment of arbitrarily shaped electrically large resonators comprised of electric and magnetic conducting enclosures. Traditional representations for these parameters in terms of the reactance for series-connected network elements and susceptance for parallel-connected network elements are related to electromagnetic fields. The resulting generalized expressions for reactance-slope parameters with utility for evaluating quality (Q) factor are developed for both electric and magnetic conducting resonators using strictly surface electromagnetic fields and sources. The generalized expressions are used to evaluate the unloaded Q for TE/sub 101/-mode rectangular resonators comprised of silver, copper, aluminum, and brass based upon two different standard rectangular waveguides with enclosed ends. Q results are also presented for TM/sub 011/-mode circular cylindrical resonators comprised of the same conducting materials. Results from the method here are compared to well-established results published in the literature. These expressions are useful for either analytically or numerically evaluating the reactance-slope parameter and Q factor.

Identifying the critical determinants of service quality in retail banking: importance and effect

Provides managers with an empirically derived framework to help them assess the likely impact of any service quality initiative. Categorizes quality factors in terms of their relative importance and their effect on satisfaction and dissatisfaction. States that the study is based on an analysis of over 200 customer anecdotes of incidents in the UK banking industry and 100 interviews. Research suggests that certain actions, such as increasing the speed of processing information and customers, are likely to have an important affect in terms of delighting customers, however other activities, such as improving the reliability of equipment, will lessen dissatisfaction rather than delight customers. Suggests that it is more important to ensure that the dissatisfiers are dealt with before the satisfiers. Also suggests that there are two areas where banks could achieve a distinct advantage, genuine commitment and attentiveness by front‐line staff. States that some other areas are not worth much attention and any time and money put into these areas might be better redirected elsewhere.

Determining software schedules

Improving software productivity, shortening schedules or time to market, and improving quality are prominent topics in software journals in both contributed articles and advertising copy. Unfortunately, most of these articles and advertisements have dealt with software schedules, productivity, or quality factors in abstract terms. Now we can measure these factors with reasonable accuracy and collect empirical data on both average and best-in-class results. We are particularly interested in the wide performance gaps between laggards, average enterprises, and industry leaders, as well as differences among the various software domains. The function-point metric lets us establish a meaningful database of software performance levels. A simple algorithm raises function points to a total to obtain a useful first-order schedule estimate.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

The change of width for a partially coherent beam on paraxial propagation

It is shown that for paraxially propagating beams of any state of coherence, the width changes along the propagation axis with the same law as that of a gaussian beam. A quality factor related to the rate of width change can then be defined. A formula expressing this quality factor in terms of the cross spectral density across the beam is derived.