Use In Situations Research Articles

Problem restructuring for better decision making in recurring decision situations

This paper proposes the use of restructuring information about choices to improve the performance of computer agents on recurring sequentially dependent decisions. The intended situations of use for the restructuring methods it defines are website platforms such as electronic marketplaces in which agents typically engage in sequentially dependent decisions. With the proposed methods, such platforms can improve agents’ experience, thus attracting more customers to their sites. In sequentially-dependent-decisions settings, decisions made at one time may affect decisions made later; hence, the best choice at any point depends not only on the options at that point, but also on future conditions and the decisions made in them. This “problem restructuring” approach was tested on sequential economic search, which is a common type of recurring sequentially dependent decision-making problem that arises in a broad range of areas. The paper introduces four heuristics for restructuring the choices that are available to decision makers in economic search applications. Three of these heuristics are based on characteristics of the choices, not of the decision maker. The fourth heuristic requires information about a decision-makers prior decision-making, which it uses to classify the decision-maker. The classification type is used to choose the best of the three other heuristics. The heuristics were extensively tested on a large number of agents designed by different people with skills similar to those of a typical agent developer. The results demonstrate that the problem-restructuring approach is a promising one for improving the performance of agents on sequentially dependent decisions. Although there was a minor degradation in performance for a small portion of the agents, the overall and average individual performance improved substantially. Complementary experimentation with people demonstrated that the methods carry over, to some extent, also to human decision makers. Interestingly, the heuristic that adapts based on a decision-maker’s history achieved the best results for computer agents, but not for people.

The Image Gently Pediatric Digital Radiography Safety Checklist: Tools for Improving Pediatric Radiography

Transition from film-screen to digital radiography requires changes in radiographic technique and workflow processes to ensure that the minimum radiation exposure is used while maintaining diagnostic image quality. Checklists have been demonstrated to be useful tools for decreasing errors and improving safety in several areas, including commercial aviation and surgical procedures. The Image Gently campaign, through a competitive grant from the FDA, developed a checklist for technologists to use during the performance of digital radiography in pediatric patients. The checklist outlines the critical steps in digital radiography workflow, with an emphasis on steps that affect radiation exposure and image quality. The checklist and its accompanying implementation manual and practice quality improvement project are open source and downloadable at www.imagegently.org. The authors describe the process of developing and testing the checklist and offer suggestions for using the checklist to minimize radiation exposure to children during radiography.

The benefits of CROS aids for individuals with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss

Objective: Treatment of unilateral sensorineural hearing loss has improved after introducing the new generation of monoCROS with a wireless connection, an open mould and an improvement in sound quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the new generation of CROS, to identify the situations in which the CROS was useful to the patient, and to identify factors that can predict successful treatment. Study design: Retrospective information was gathered by questionnaire from patients treated with the Phonak Audeo Smart CROS hearing aid at Aarhus University Hospital. The information related to usage, perceived benefit, situations of use, sound quality, maintenance and operation of the device. Results: The CROS was most frequently used in the company of others in small or large groups of people even though participants considered the sound quality to be best in quiet surroundings. The device was rarely used for telephone conversations. Of the 45 participants, 42.5% used it more than 4 h per day, 32.5% used it less than 4 h per day and 25% used it occasionally. The group of patients who used it most frequently was the student group, who used it in educational situations. The quality of sound was generally evaluated as above average, and operating and fitting the device was considered easy. Conclusion: The new generation of CROS hearing aids are useful in the treatment of unilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Further research is needed to compare this device to the BAHA.

Durabilidade Natural da Madeira de Quatro Espécies Florestais em Ensaios de Deterioração em Campo

This paper evaluates the natural durability of four wood species, so that they can be indicated or not, in situations of use in contact with the ground, the use in buildings and frame structures, or even in other applicability where there damage risks caused by biotic and abiotic factors. For this, was used four wood species from the north of the state of Mato Grosso, based on their availability, and especially in the commercial interest of woods for outdoors structures . The species used were: Tectona grandis (teca), Azadaractina indica (nim), Inga sp. (inga), Bagassa guianensis (tatajuba). Samples of the wood were exposed in field trials over 18 months and at the end was evaluated the percentage of mass loss and index decay . Among the species studied the Azadirachta indica wood showed the best results , however , the Bagassa guianensis wood showed the worst results for both the decay index as for mass loss . The density is not the main factor that adds natural durability of wood , but the content and type of extractives are contributing factors .

The Mekong Game: Achieving an All-win Situation

In recent years, there have been many quarrels among countries of the Mekong River Basin surrounding use of the water resources of that river. In particular, China’s behavior of constructing dams upstream has resulted in objections by many people in all countries downstream. Cooperative game theory has been applied to solving issues of building and utilizing dams on trans-border rivers. The central question is how to allocate the surplus benefits generated by the dams. This paper proposes to achieve an all-win situation in use of Mekong water resources through cooperation. A game named “The Mekong Game” was designed for those Ph.D. students and resource persons to play on the PROSPER.NET’s workshop in 2010. For a hypothetical case in Mekong Game, the Shapley Value Method’s results were given, which could be regarded as one of equitable results in theory, and the Mekong Game’s process and outcomes are introduced in this paper. Participants were divided into six groups representing the six involved “countries.” The process of meeting an agreement with an all-win idea was simulated through three round-table negotiations. For the hypothetical case, different set of results under different situations were compared and discussed, including no dam(s), dam(s) without cooperation, dam(s) with cooperation but without compensation and re-allocation, Shapley Value Method, and Mekong Game (bargaining and negotiation). The results reveal: although it is hard to get theoretical optimal aftermath considering other complicated factors than those can be calculated, the all-win situation is still possible through bargaining and negotiation processes, which should be much better than all-lose situation such as the current one.

When the Inference ‘p is true, therefore p’ Fails: John Buridan on the Evaluation of Propositions

Abstract For John Buridan, truth-bearers are assertions. This fact explains why the inference ‘p is true, therefore p’ may fail. On the one hand, the tense of the verb plus the time of utterance do not determine the time about which a sentence is intended to be true: the intention of the speaker is needed. On the other hand, since the meaning of vocal and written words is conventional, it may seem that they can be used with different meanings on each side of the inference. While the antecedent may talk about a situation different from the present one, this doesn’t make it the actual situation of utterance, and the words have meanings only in the actual situation of use. Although such situations are different, in both of them we are asked to see the importance of identifying features of which the disquotational schema doesn’t keep track and that can only be specified in the context of use.

Cobertura e adequação do exame citopatológico de colo uterino em estados das regiões Sul e Nordeste do Brasil

Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer among women both in Brazil and elsewhere in the world and can be averted through early detection of precursor lesions. Pap smear is still the most effective and efficient screening test. This study focused on the coverage and adequacy of Pap test and associated factors. The authors adopted a cross-sectional design with a sample of 3,939 women who had given birth in the two previous years in 41 municipalities (counties) of Brazil. Lifetime Pap test coverage was 75.3% (95%CI: 74.0-76.7), and prevalence of adequacy was 70.7% (95%CI: 69.3-72.1). Adequacy was positively associated with age over 25 years, schooling, prenatal care in the last pregnancy, and gynecological visit in the previous year, and was less frequent among primiparous women and those with lower socioeconomic status. It is thus necessary to strengthen preventive measures in vulnerable subgroups and maximize situations for use of health services.

Prevalencia y factores sociodemográficos que condicionan el uso de joyas (y la percepción del riesgo de accidentes que conlleva) en niños menores de dos años

Sociodemographic prevalence and factors that condition the use of jewellery (and the perceived risk of accidents involved) in children less than two years old Objectives: to determine the prevalence of jewels use (and the perception of risk involved) in children under two years old and establish the sociodemographic and cultural factors that determine it. Materials and methods: we designed an observational descriptive transversal study. We conducted a questionnaire to parents in the pediatric outpatient clinics of 4 health areas during six months. The descriptive variables concerning infants were age, sex, number of siblings, order and cohabitants. Pa- rents' variables were age, sex, educational level, occupation, country of origin, place of residence and religion. Relating to jewels: type, material, origin, use, time, subject and situation of use. We also asked about the associated risk of accidents perceived. Results: there were 319 questionnaires. People that gave jewels to infants were more often first-degree relatives (74.1%). The risks of potential injury attributed to its use emphasized strangulation by chains (63.7%) and choking by rings (19.9%). Forty percent of children, whose parents knew cases of jewels' accidents, used at least one. The older children had more jewels, although its use in the minors of 6 months predominated. The parents of the smallest and eldest children, within the studied rank of age, were those that perceived a major risk in the use of jewels.

Statistical Modeling of the Radio-Electric Properties of Wireless Terminals in their Environment

This paper deals with the modeling of the statistical distribution of the effective gain of terminals. This incorporates both the characteristics of the antenna's radiation pattern in the situation of use, and the characteristics of the local propagation environment. A frequency-wise and frequency-correlated log-normally-distributed effective-gain model is proposed as a standard model of wide - although not universal - validity. This is done mainly for the sake of simplicity and ease of use. This model is tested in a few exemplary cases of measured and simulated terminals, using a subset of the WINNER channel model for the local propagation.

대학도서관 모바일 목록의 검색 인터페이스 설계 방안 연구

본 연구의 목적은 국내 및 국외 대학도서관 모바일 목록의 검색 인터페이스 현황조사와 설문지 조사방법에 의해 도출된 이용자 선호도를 분석하여 대학도서관 모바일 목록의 검색 인터페이스 설계 방안을 제안하는 것이다. 이를 위하여 기능성 평가 체크리스트를 통해 국내 대학도서관 82개 기관 모바일 목록의 검색 인터페이스 현황을 조사하였고, 국외 대학도서관 15개 기관 모바일 목록 검색 인터페이스의 기능 요소에 대한 시사점을 도출하였다. 또한 설문지법을 실시하여 대학도서관 이용자들의 모바일 목록 이용행태와 검색 인터페이스에 대한 선호도를 파악하였다. The purpose of this study is to present the design of search interface of mobile catalog of University libraries by identifying the current situation of search interface of mobile catalog of domestic and overseas academic libraries and users' preferences derived by survey, and reflecting the combined results. The investigation on current situation of search interface of mobile catalog of domestic University libraries was carried out by using checklist for functional assessment targeting 82 mobile catalogs. For overseas examples, contents and functional elements about 15 mobile catalog search interface of academic libraries in England and US were examined and analyzed. In addition, three domestic University libraries's mobile catalogs were selected as research targets and the survey was carried out to identify the situation of use of mobile catalog and preference on search interface.

공공도서관 영상저작물 관내열람의 공연권 제한에 관한 연구

현재 저작권법상 공연권 제한 규정의 개정 및 도서관의 영상저작물 사용에 대한 저작재산권 단체의 저작권료 지급 요청이 이루어지고 있다. 본 연구는 공공도서관의 관내열람 방식의 영상저작물 서비스가 공연권의 제한 범위에 포함되는지를 고찰하였다. 이를 위하여 공연의 개념과 저작재산권 제한 및 공정이용 판단기준, 공연권 제한규정을 검토하였다. 또한 영상저작물 관내열람이 공연권 제한범위에 포함되는지를 파악하기 위하여 경기도 K시의 6개관 이용자 121명을 대상으로 영상저작물 이용현황을 조사하였다. 그 결과 공공도서관의 영상저작물 관내열람이 공연의 개념에 포함되는지 여부가 모호하지만, 판례의 해석을 적용하면 공연으로 볼 수 있다. 그러나 공공도서관의 관내열람 방식의 영상저작물 이용자 대다수는 대출을 위하여 도서관에 방문하였고, 도서관에서 영상저작물을 이용하지 못할 경우 다른 곳으로 이동하지 않을 것이라고 하였다. 따라서 도서관에서의 영상저작물 관내열람 서비스가 저작권자의 경제적 이익에 크게 영향을 미치는 것이라고 보기 어렵다. 저작권법상 공연의 개념을 확대해석하여 도서관의 관내열람 방식의 영상저작물 재생도 공연으로 볼 수 있다면, 이는 6개월 제한규정의 적용을 받지 않는 공연권 제한 범위에 포함되도록 저작권법을 개정할 필요가 있다.

Continence aids in the management of urinary incontinence

SummaryUrinary incontinence is a common problem, more so in older people and those in residential or nursing homes. Guidelines promote a structure to the management of incontinence, recommending non-pharmacological measures (including continence aids) as first-line options. Anticholinergic medications are used widely for urge incontinence, and surgical measures employed in selective cases.Whilst other treatments are being tried, or where incontinence is refractory to treatment (about 30% of cases), it is important to promote continence or contain incontinence with continence aids in order to minimize psychological complications. What can be a bewildering array of aids is available and choosing the right type of aid requires knowledge of these. Here, we suggest a classification of continence aids, describing individual characteristics and appropriate situations for use.

Avaliação de desempenho acústico de um consultório odontológico

Este trabalho tem por objetivo a avaliação acústica de um consultório odontológico situado na cidade de João Pessoa (PB), considerando diversas situações de utilização do espaço. Foi realizado a partir de levantamento físico do ambiente, da identificação das atividades desenvolvidas, da identificação das fontes externas e internas de ruídos e da medição dos níveis destes. Estes últimos foram comparados com a NBR 10.152 (ABNT, 1987). Em seguida, foram realizados cálculos do isolamento acústico e do tempo de reverberação para a elaboração de soluções corretivas do problema encontrado. Constatou-se que o ambiente não atende aos parâmetros acústicos e que, apesar de os níveis de ruído medidos não causarem danos à saúde dos usuários, provocam desconforto.

Soccer-specific video simulation for improving movement assessment

The improvement of ecological validity of laboratory research studies has recently come to the forefront of technology with virtual reality scenarios. The purpose of this study was to assess differences between unanticipated and anticipated lower extremity biomechanics while performing a sidestep cutting task. A visualization software was developed for this purpose, which would recreate a soccer game situation for use in a laboratory setting. Thirteen participants volunteered for this study. Lower extremity biomechanical data were collected with a VICON motion analysis system and two force plates, under anticipated and unanticipated conditions while performing a sidestep cutting task. Paired t-tests were conducted to assess possible differences between conditions. Alpha level was set a priori at 0.05. We found an increased knee adduction angle (unanticipated: -7.2 ± 5.3°; anticipated: -4.0 ± 5.3°), and knee internal rotation (unanticipated: 8.1 ± 4.7°; anticipated: 5.2 ± 6.5°) when performing the unanticipated condition (p < 0.05). The methodological approaches for studies investigating the factors possibly associated with ACL injury may need to take into account the laboratory environment and how the task(s) are presented to the participants.

Development of an E-learning Resource on Mobile Devices for Kinesiology: A Pilot Study

[Purpose] Although the potential use of mobile devices as new e-learning tools has been reported in various educational fields, there are not enough e-learning resources for mobile devices in physical or occupational therapy education. This article describes the results of development and students' use of a resource for physical and occupational therapy education. [Methods] We developed an e-learning resource for mobile devices as part of a kinesiology course. It was designed to help students acquire knowledge of the musculoskeletal system. The e-learning resource was provided to second-year physical and occupational therapy undergraduate students (n = 41) for 6 weeks of a 15-week course in kinesiology. After 6 weeks, the situation of use, students' levels of satisfaction, and comments were surveyed by questionnaire. [Results] The e-learning resource was text-based, and had many quizzes and tests. Approximately 70% of the students who had mobile devices used the resource on these devices at least once. Of these students, more than 80% were satisfied with it. The students used the resource on mobile devices at various locations. [Conclusion] Our e-learning resource for mobile devices could be used as a support tool to provide knowledge about the musculoskeletal system.

El diseño de una lección multimodal: Recorridos de Lectura

Este artículo presenta un estudio sobre recorridos de lectura observados en alumnos de un curso de Lingüística en la modalidad a distancia. Su propósito es colocar en discusión la importancia de una “alfabetización multimodal” en las escuelas, considerando que lo verbal y lo no verbal tienen modos distintos de significar, aunque puedan ser complementarios. Para recoger lo que dicen los alumnos sobre sus modos de leer, se aplicó una consulta en forma de cuestionario, destinada a registrar decisiones que los alumnos toman en la situación de estudio de material que combina multimodalidades. Nuestro presupuesto de investigación considera que conocer rasgos de esos recorridos puede auxiliar a elaborar materiales más adecuados, así como preparar tutores preocupados con las necesidades de los estudiantes.

Linguística sistêmico-funcional para a análise de discurso um panorama introdutório

Este artigo apresenta um panorama da Lingüística Sistêmico-Funcional de Halliday (1994) e Halliday e Matthiessen (2004), explicando que é caracterizada como uma teoria social porque parte da sociedade e da situação de uso para o estudo da linguagem e também como uma teoria semiótica porque se preocupa com a linguagem em todas as suas manifestações. As três metafunções que abarcam os três significados realizados pela linguagem são explicados, enfatizando-se a relação que há entre texto e contexto. Cada metafunção é ilustrada com exemplos de trabalhos que analisaram corpus de diferentes contextos de situação.

Analysis on the current use and trend of drugs for digestive system through comprehensive statistics index, in Hangzhou

To investigate the use and trend of drugs on digestive system in Hangzhou area, under the comprehensive statistics index (CSI). Using the analytical method related to the sum of consumption and CSI, the application of digestive system drugs of different manufacturers in Hangzhou from 2005 to 2007 was analyzed. Other than H2 receptor antagonist, the total consumption of digestive system drugs increased yearly, in terms of the total consumption, the first 4 leading ones were proton pump inhibitors, micro ecology medicines, antiemetic drugs and gastroprokinetic agents. The Laspeyres index of drugs on digestive system increased to different extent. The Laspeyres indices of proton pump inhibitors, probiotics, antiemetic drugs and gastroprokinetic agents were 1.396 50, 1.020 42, 1.728 90, 1.148 50 in 2006 while 2.081 10, 1.217 55, 2.223 50, 1.156 60 in 2007, respectively. Through CSI, the results showed the situation of use and trend of digestive system related drugs in Hangzhou. Factors as rationality, efficiency and costs of the drugs as well as the etiology of the disease were also explored to some degree.

A methodology of selecting a suitable garment for sports use

PurposeChoosing the adequate garment for sports practice in adverse weather conditions, either cold or hot, is an aspect of great influence on activity performance. The purpose of this paper is to describe how the Institute of Biomechanics of Valencia has developed a methodology which allows assessing the fit of the garment to the real situation of use by evaluating its influence in the thermoregulatory response of the human body.Design/methodology/approachUnder controlled environmental conditions and at fixed activity levels, two shirts are tested in the laboratory. Eight subjects performed a test which consisted of six phases of different activity level in two conditions (25°C/50 percent RH and 10°C/60 percent RH). Throughout the test, physiological parameters of the thermal response as well as work load indicators are registered. Skin temperature at three different locations (chest, arm, and thigh), microclimate variables in some areas of subject‐garment interface (in armpit and upper back) and heart rate are measured continuously. Six samples of sweat are also collected regularly from dorsal region during the test to estimate the sweating rate and the loss of salts. Weight loss is also checked before and after performing the test to estimate the dehydration level. Subjects will be asked during the test about humidity and temperature perception on the body as a whole or by different zones. The results allowed measuring a significant influence of the shirt in skin temperature. Therefore, the methodology developed for studying of the user‐product interaction through the assessment of the thermophysiological response and the subjective perception allows recommending the comfort ranges for each piece of garment as well as indicating those work load and environmental conditions for which the influence of garment on user's performance is optimal.FindingsThe user‐product interaction through the assessment of the thermophysiological response and the subjective perception allows recommending the comfort ranges for each piece of garment as well as indicating those work load and environmental conditions for which the influence of garment on user's performance is optimal.Originality/valueChoosing a suitable garment for sports practice in adverse weather conditions, either cold or hot, is an aspect of great influence on activity performance and this paper presents new results.

Ultrasound-Assisted Lipoplasty: The Ad Hoc Situation

The article by Roustaei et al. [1] about the safety and value of ultrasound-assisted liposuction (UAL) is somewhat too enthusiastic so that the results and their relationship to numerous previous evaluations should not be left without some additional remarks. The safety and relevance of UAL compared with conventional liposuction techniques has been studied and evaluated by various authors [2] over more than 10 years, mostly in the U.S. between 1997 and 2003 after the first reports more than 5 years earlier from Europe. The outcome of this Iranian study, where the UAL technique had not been available earlier, describes an extremely low complication rate even although a statistically relevant number of cases is evaluated. This desirable outcome may be due to the fact that only one surgeon performed the procedures. Such consecutive experience always provides useful insight in the critical evaluation of a technique and its reproducibility. The conclusions of the authors, however, do not adequately represent the actual situation of use of UAL by plastic surgeons in Europe or the U.S. Although the authors cited some of the most important publications on UAL versus other liposuction techniques, the results of these publications are not implemented completely. Among others in the cited article Blondeel et al. [3] conclude that ‘‘UAL is, therefore, probably more beneficial to the surgeon than to the patient. The financial investment in the device is justified for surgeons with large liposuction practices, mainly, and probably solely, because of the reduced physical strain for the surgeon.’’ The latest overview in liposuction techniques, including the various UAL devices, by Jewell [4] last year defines the actual state of the art in liposuction techniques and the need for further research and studies. The conclusion of the authors that ‘‘The additional benefits of the UAL technique combined with fewer local complications and no SAEs, compared with other liposuction techniques (TL and SAL), suggest that it may become a more widely used modality in liposuction surgery’’ does not meet these long-term goals and should be considered critically.