Receiving Operating Characteristic

A longline experiment consisting of 45 paired sets (90 sets total) was carried out to evaluate a technique which maintains target catch rates while reducing non-target catch rates. Control sets were compared to experimental sets which eliminates the shallowest hooks (∼less than 100 m depth). Researchers hypothesized that by eliminating shallow hooks, target catch of deeper dwelling species such as bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus) would be maximized while incidental catch of many other non-target, but marketable epi-pelagic species (e.g. billfish), bycatch (discards) of other fishes and elasmobranchs, and protected sea turtles and marine mammals would be simultaneously reduced. To control for differences in fishing power, gear, and deployment techniques; a single vessel was contracted to perform all 90 paired longline sets (45 experimental sets using no-shallow-hooks and 45 control sets using standard methods). Control sets consisted of longlines that were suspended by floats on typical 30 m long floatlines in catenarytype shapes that fished a range of depths, determined by temperature-depth recorders (TDRs) to be 44-211 m (27.5-11.2 • C). By contrast, elimination of shallow hooks in the upper 100 m of the water column (hereinafter referred to as experimental sets) was achieved by suspending the fishing portion of the mainline on 75-m long, 3 kg weighted vertical sections of mainline suspended by floats on 30 m floatlines. As determined by TDRs, this arrangement ensured that all hooks fished at depths >100 m (103-248 m; 24.8-11.3 • C). Thirty percent of hooks in control sets fished at depths less than 100 m while all hooks on experimental gear fished greater than 100 m. Because many factors influence catchability, longline sets are by nature multivariate, and statistical comparisons were made between the two set types using canonical discriminant analysis (CDA). Except for the depth of shallow hooks, operational characteristics between experimental and control sets were the same. The catch rates of bigeye tuna were similar on the two sets types but the catch rate of sickle pomfret (Taractichthys steindachneri) was significantly higher (p = 0.011) in the experimental sets as compared to control sets. However, statistically fewer wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri, p = 0.019), dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus, p = 0.008), blue marlin (Makaira nigricans, p = 0.001), striped marlin (Kajikia audax, p = 0.018) and shortbill spearfish (Tetrapturus angustirostris, p = 0.006) were captured on the experimental sets; thus longline interactions and impacts on these species were reduced with the experimental gear. The reason for the differences in catch rates between gear types is likely due to the vertical habitat preferences of the species involved; interactions with epi-pelagic species with shallow distributions in the uniform mixed layer were reduced by deploying hooks greater than 100 m. By logical extension, the experimental gear will also likely reduce interactions with sea turtles. Except for additional lead weights, floats, and floatlines, only slight modification of existing longline fishing gear and methods were required to deploy the experimental gear. The main drawback of this method was the increase in time to both deploy (≈0.5 h) and retrieve (≈2 h) the gear. Knowledge of species vertical distribution patterns can play an important role in modifying fishing gear to reduce bycatch and can also assist managers in regulating fishing practices with a higher degree of likelihood of predicting catch rates and species captured in different gear types.

Agile Enterprise and Agile Software Development are concepts with some considerable exposure in the language. Agility in the enterprise context usually refers to a system operational characteristic, while agility in the software context usually refers to a system development characteristic. Both are concerned with systems that must deliver satisfaction in an environment characterized by uncertainty and change. Our interests are not with either specifically, but rather with the general concept of a system life cycle, for any type of system, that must deal throughout with uncertainty and change. The work described in this paper began with the observation that Agile Development processes generally ignore the agility of the resultant system; yet they exhibit a solid foundation in certain generic architectural concepts that have been shown applicable across all types of systems that would be or are agile. The investigation established certain commonalities across a predominate variety of Agile Development processes, then cast these common concepts in the domain independent Response Ability architecture that grew from work at the Agility Forum, and finally modeled how this architectural characterization of development could be seamlessly extended throughout the remainder of the system life-cycle, consistent with observed characterizations of operational agility. The result promises a graceful transition from development into and through operational phases, with a single stable process architecture throughout.

This paper describes an integrated set of models for the estimation of the capacity of an airfield and the associated delays. The aim is to develop a decision support tool suitable for airport planning at the strategic level. Thus, the emphasis is on obtaining reliable approximations to the quantities of interest quickly and with a limited set of inputs. The models account for the dynamic characteristics of airfield capacity and demand, as well as for some stochastic aspects of airfield operations. They are sensitive to airfield geometry, the operational characteristics of the airfield and of the local air traffic control system, and the characteristics of the local air traffic demand for airport access and services. Through its integrated structure, the decision support tool can account for interactions among operations at different parts of the airfield.

Technology advancement, terminal user behavior and changes of service characteristics of terminal facilities all have great impact on airport terminal operations. Consequently, the adequacy of traditional airport terminal planning concepts and standards have recently been challenged and are worth being explored. To investigate the associated impact of environmental changes on terminal operations, a simulation model which takes into consideration air travel patterns, facility operational characteristics, flight delays, passenger behavior and needs, etc. is developed and verified. The simulation logic and results show that the model works well for the case of CKS (Chiang Kai-Shek International Airport, Taipei) operations. Also, the exploration demonstrates that passenger arrival patterns, numbers of group passengers, flight delays and load factors all have very significant influences on terminal space requirements. This result strongly suggests that local characteristics should not be neglected in planning terminal operations.

Past suicidal behaviors including ideation and attempts have been identified as significant risk factors for subsequent suicidal behavior. However, inadequate attention has been given to the development or validation of measures of past suicidal behavior. The present study examined the reliability and validity of a brief self-report measure of past suicidal behavior, the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R). Participants included psychiatric inpatient adolescents, high school students, psychiatric inpatient adults, and undergraduates. Logistic regression analyses provided empirical support for the usefulness of the SBQ-R as a risk measure of suicide to differentiate between suicide-risk and nonsuicidal study participants. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses indicated that the most useful cutoff scores on the SBQ-R were 7 for nonsuicidal samples, and 8 for clinical samples. Both the single SBQ-R Item 1 and SBQ-R total scores are recommended for use in clinical and nonclinical settings.

Background and Purpose—The purpose of this study was to examine the performance of the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9, a 9-item depression scale, as a screening and diagnostic instrument for assessing depression in stroke survivors. Methods—As part of a randomized treatment trial for poststroke depression (PSD), subjects with and without PSD completed the PHQ-9, a 9-item summed scale, with scores ranging

To evaluate the correlations of the fluorescein clearance test (FCT) and the Schirmer 1 test with the severity of corneal epithelial and eyelid disease in normal patients and patients with tear film disorders due to meibomian gland disease (MGD) and/or aqueous tear deficiency (ATD). Methods: Nineteen normal control subjects, 16 patients with MGD associated with rosacea, 21 patients with noninflammatory atrophic MGD, and 43 patients with ATD were enrolled. There was a similar age and sex distribution in each group. Each patient completed a symptom severity questionnaire that consisted of 11 questions and then underwent a panel of diagnostic tests in the following order: assessment of corneal and conjunctiva sensation with the Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer, FCT, assessment of corneal fluorescein staining, Schirmer 1 test (5 minutes without anesthesia), and biomicroscopic examination of the eyelid margins and meibomian glands. The FCT was performed with a fluorophotometer by measuring the fluorescein concentration in minimally stimulated tear samples collected from the inferior tear meniscus. By studying the best area under the receiver operating characteristic curves, we developed a formula

Background and Purpose-The CAMCOG is a feasible cognitive screening instrument for dementia in patients with a recent stroke. A major disadvantage of the CAMCOG, however, is its lengthy and relatively complex administration for screening purposes. We therefore developed the Rotterdam CAMCOG (R-CAMCOG), based on the original version.

Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves provide a powerful tool for visualiTr ing and comparing classification results. Regression Error Characteristic (REC) curves generalize ROC curves to regression. REC curves plot the error tolerance on the xaxis versus the percentage of points predicted within the tolerance on the y-axis. The resulting curve estimates the cumulative distribution function of the error. The REC curve visually presents commonly-used statistics. The area-over-the-curve (AOC) is a biased estimate of the expected error. The R 2 value can be estimated using the ratio of the AOC for a given model to the AOC for the null model. Users can quickly assess the relative merits of many regression functions by examining the relative position of their REC curves. The shape of the curve reveals additional information that can be used to guide modeling.

High-power low-frequency ultrasound in the range 20-60 kHz has wide ranging clinical applications in surgical and medical instruments for biological tissue cutting, ablation or fragmentation, and removal. Despite widespread clinical application and common device operating characteristics, there is an incomplete understanding of the mechanism of tissue failure, removal and damage. The relative contribution of cavitation, direct mechanical impact and thermal effects to each process for specific tissue types remains unclear. Different and distinct mechanisms and rates of tissue removal are observed for interaction with soft and hard tissue types. Device operating parameters known to affect the interaction include frequency, peak-peak tip amplitude, suction and application time. To date, there has been little analysis of the effect of variations in, and interactions of, these parameters on tissue removal and damage for individual biological tissue types. Potential controllable damage mechanisms occurring in tissues include alteration in global biomechanical properties, histomorphological changes, protein denaturation and tissue necrosis. This paper presents a critical review of the literature on the clinical application, mechanism of tissue interaction, removal and residual tissue damage. It describes known mechanisms for distinct tissue types.

Infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) is an economically important disease in New Brunswick, Canada. Current regulatory control involves detection of ISAv in broodstock, hatcheries and marine sites through a surveillance program. Prior to recent assessments of operating characteristics of diagnostic tests, the efficiency of this surveillance program was difficult to evaluate. In order to determine the optimal testing strategies for various phases of production, a cost-effectiveness analysis was done for different strategies including single testing and multiple testing with results interpreted in series or in parallel. The lowest cost testing strategy, which would achieve a group-level sensitivity (GSe) of 95% and a group-level specificity (GSp) of 95%, was determined for each production phase. Our analyses showed that the most cost-effective testing strategy depended on the production phase. If sampling is to be carried out in a freshwater facility, then broodstock should be tested by VI alone, while pre-smolts should be tested with IFAT and VI used in series. For fish reared in saltwater, parallel interpretation of results from VI and RT-PCR, or testing with VI alone, are appropriate testing strategies for broodstock. For market-fish, PCR alone is a good screening option. If one assumes the prevalence of ISAv in moribund fish is at least 50%, then a maximum of 5 fish (at a cutpoint of 1 positive fish to designate a cage as positive) need to be tested at a cost of $220. If one desired to have a perfect GSp (i.e. no false positive cage designations), serial testing with IFAT and VI is a better option. However, for this strategy a maximum of 9 fish (at a cut-point of 1) need to be tested at a cost of $472.

Variations in load and temperature can cause a thermoelectric generator (TEG) to operate at a voltage that does not produce the maximum possible power for a given temperature difference. Therefore a maximum power point tracker (MPPT) is used to force the generator to a voltage that produces maximum power. This paper uses a digital signal processor (DSP) controlled boost converter to assess and compare the performance of several MPPT algorithms when used with a TEG. As a result, the fractional short circuit method has shown promise as a suitable MPPT algorithm for a TEG subjected to steady state conditions. I.

Since the early 90's a number of papers on "robust" digital watermarking systems have been presented but none of them uses the same robustness criteria. This is not practical at all for comparison and slows down progress in this area. To address this issue, we present an evaluation procedure of image watermarking systems. First we identify all necessary parameters for proper benchmarking and investigate how to quantitatively describe the image degradation introduced by the watermarking process. For this, we show the weaknesses of usual image quality measures in the context watermarking and propose a novel measure adapted to the human visual system. Then we show how to efficiently evaluate the watermark performance in such a way that fair comparisons between different methods are possible. The usefulness of three graphs: "attack vs. visual-quality," "bit-error vs. visual quality," and "bit-error vs. attack" are investigated. In addition the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) graphs are reviewed and proposed to describe statistical detection behavior of watermarking methods. Finally we review a number of attacks that any system should survive to be really useful and propose a benchmark and a set of different suitable images.

Several state-of-the-art binary classification techniques are experimentally evaluated in the context of expert automobile insurance claim fraud detection. The predictive power of logistic regression, C4.5 decision tree, k-nearest neighbor, Bayesian learning multilayer perceptron neural network, least-squares support vector machine, naive Bayes, and tree-augmented naive Bayes classification is contrasted. For most of these algorithm types, we report on several operationalizations using alternative hyperparameter or design choices. We compare these in terms of mean percentage correctly classified (PCC) and mean area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve using a stratified, blocked, ten-fold cross-validation experiment. We also contrast algorithm type performance visually by means of the convex hull of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves associated with the alternative operationalizations per algorithm type. The study is based on a data set of 1,399 personal injury protection claims from 1993 accidents collected by the Automobile Insurers Bureau of Massachusetts. To stay as close to real-life operating conditions as possible, we consider only predictors that are known relatively early in the life of a claim. Furthermore, based on the qualification of each available claim by both a verbal expert assessment of suspicion of fraud and a ten-point-scale expert suspicion score, we can

We sought to assess the added diagnostic value of peripheral artery tonometric (PAT) measurements, based on finger pulsatile arterial volume changes, to standard 12-lead stress electrocardiography (ECG), for detecting exercise-induced myocardial ischemia, using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) as the standard of comparison in a double-blinded, multicenter protocol.

Variable speed drives are growing and varying. Drives expanse depend on progress in different part of science like power system, microelectronic, control methods, and so on. Artificial intelligent contains hard computation and soft computation. Artificial intelligent has found high application in most nonlinear systems same as motors drive. Because artificial intelligent techniques can use as controller for any system without requirement to system mathematical model, it has been used in electrical drive control. With this manner, efficiency and reliability of drives increase and volume, weight and cost of them decrease. Due to the improved operating characteristics they give to the equipment control, electronic motor soft starters are increasingly widely applied. Escalators, pumps, elevators and conveyor belts all operate more effectively if they are soft started. However, it is not simply the ergonomics of an airport, process plant or shopping mall that are improved by soft starters. A major factor in the growth in popularity of soft starters is the reduced wear and tear that they place on motors and their associated drive systems. In turn, this reduces maintenance, conserves energy and plays a significant part in improving plant performance and operating costs.

Fish collected from the receiving areas of 12 Canadian pulp mills were examined, including sites receiving effluent from kraft mills using chlorine as well as sulfite mills. Field collections included sampling of receiving water for chemistry and toxicity testing, and sampling of local fish for organ weights, hepatic MFO (ethoxyresorufin-0-deethylase, EROD) activity, plasma steroid levels, and levels of liver dioxins. The main objectives of this study were to determine whether the discharge of effluent from pulp mills to sites other than Jackfish Bay was associated with physiological or biochemical disruptions in wild fish, whether there was any correlation between waste treatment and the presence of biological responses in wild fish, and whether there was any association between the use of chlorine as a bleaching agent and these responses. Although white sucker collected near bleachedkraft mills exhibited the highest EROD induction and dioxin levels, elevated enzyme activity was observed in fish from sites that did not use chlorine, and depressions in plasma sex steroid levels was not correlated with the level of EROD activity. The absence of chlorine bleaching or the presence of secondary treatment did not eliminate responses in fish, including decreascd circulating levels of sex steroids, decreased gonadal size, and increased liver size. This survey has shown that (a) induction of hepatic EROD enzymes and depressions of plasma sex steroid levels during gonadal growth are found downstream of several pulp mills; (b) these changes are seen at some mills without chlorine bleaching and at mills that have secondary treatment; (c) substantial dilutions of nontoxic effluent do not appear to remove these responses; (d) the dominant factor determining the presence or absence of responses appeared to be dilution level; and (e) lab toxicity tests on invertebrates, rainbow trout, and fathead minnows could not predict the presence of these responses in wild fish.

A urinary copper (Cu) >25 micromol/24 h following penicillamine had a reported specificity of 98.2% and sensitivity of 88.2% in diagnosing Wilson's disease (WD). We have re-evaluated this test. Ninety-eight subjects were studied at presentation. Thirty-eight (19 girls, 19 boys; median age 10.3 years; range 5-16 years) had an ultimate diagnosis of WD. Sixty (24 girls, 36 boys; median age 10.1, range 2.3-15 years) had other liver disorders. Urinary Cu was estimated for 24h before (basal Cu) and for 24h whilst giving penicillamine 500 mg orally 12 hourly x 2 (post-penicillamine Cu). Both basal Cu and post-penicillamine Cu differed significantly between WD patients and controls (basal Cu: median 6.5 micromol/24 h, range 0.9-109 micromol/24 h, versus median: 0.8 micromol/24 h, range 0.1-19.5, p<0.0001; post-penicillamine Cu: median 36.9 micromol/24 h, range 1.98-219 micromol/24 h, versus median 12.35 micromol/24 h, range 0.5-49.8 micromol/24 h, p<0.0001). A post-penicillamine Cu >25 micromol/24 h was observed in 29/38 patients with WD and in 4/60 controls. 25/38 WD patients were symptomatic. Twenty-three of these and 6/13 asymptomatic siblings had a positive test. The test had a sensitivity of 76% (95% confidence interval [CI], 59.8-88.6%) and a specificity of 93% (95% CI, 83.8-98.2%). Sensitivity was better in symptomatic patients (92%, [95% CI; 74-99%]) than asymptomatic (46%, [95% CI; 19.2-74.9%]). This test is valuable in the diagnosis of WD with active liver disease, but is unreliable to exclude the diagnosis in asymptomatic siblings.

This paper is aimed to investigate the operating characteristics of a static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) integrated with superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) for high power applications in the transmission network level. The STATCOM controller topology comprises multi-level multi-pulse neutral-point clamped-type (NPC) voltage source inverters (VSIs) using the harmonics cancellation technique, and incorporates a SMES coil. An innovative twoquadrant multi-level dc-dc converter is proposed to effectively interface the STATCOM with the superconducting coil using a buck-boost topology with neutral point voltage control capabilities; thus enabling to simultaneously control both active and reactive power exchange with the high voltage power system. A detailed analysis of major system variables is presented, including analytical results and digital simulations using the MATLAB/Simulink environment. Moreover, a three-level control scheme is designed, including a full decoupled current control strategy in the d-q reference frame with a novel controller to prevent the STATCOM dc bus capacitors voltage drift/imbalance and an enhanced power system frequency controller.

Modern approaches to signal discrimination typically depend on digitizing an analog signal, and analyzing it with digital techniques, often in the frequency domain. This approach is untenable in severely power-limited applications such as Distributed Sensor Networks. We will attempt to design a completely analog sensor capable of receiving and analyzing seismic signals, delivering an output that is proportional to the

The analysis and the operating characteristics of a nitrogen pumped dye laser using four prisms as a beam expander are reported. Three configurations with different expansion values M v and incidence angles on the grating 00, corresponding to a constant total magnification Mp/cos 80, have been compared.

This experimental research aimed at evaluating the accuracy of enamel demineralization detection using conventional, digital, and digitized radiographs, as well as to compare radiographs and logarithmically contrast-enhanced subtraction images. Enamel subsurface demineralization was induced on one of the approximal surfaces of 49 sound third molars. Standardized radiographs of the teeth were taken prior to and after the demineralization phase with three digital systems -CygnusRay MPS  , DenOptix  and DIGORA  -and InSight  film. Three radiologists interpreted the pairs of conventional, digital, and digitized radiographs in two different occasions. Logarithmically contrast-enhanced subtraction images were examined by a fourth radiologist only once. Radiographic diagnosis was validated by cross-sectional microhardness profiling in the test areas of the approximal surfaces. Accuracy was estimated by Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis. Chi-square test, at a significance level of 5%, was used to compare the areas under the ROC curves (A z ) calculated for the different imaging modalities. Concerning the radiographs, the DenOptix  system (A z = 0.91) and conventional radiographs (A z = 0.90) presented the highest accuracy values compared with the other three radiographic modalities. However, logarithmically contrast-enhanced subtraction images (A z = 0.98) were significantly more accurate than conventional, digital, and digitized radiographs (p = 0.0000). It can be concluded that the DenOptix  system and conventional radiographs provide better performance for diagnosing enamel subsurface demineralization. Logarithmic subtraction significantly improves radiographic detection. DESCRIPTORS: Dental enamel; Demineralization; Radiography; Diagnosis.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic accuracy of 2 cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) machines and periapical (PA) radiography in detecting simulated apical lesions created with the smallest dental burs available. Methods: By using mandibles from human cadavers, simulated apical lesions were created and then progressively enlarged in 16 roots by using sizes #1/4, #1/2, #1, #2, #4, and #6 round burs. Imaging was obtained after each enlargement with a Kodak 9000 3D (Kodak) CBCT, a Veraviewpocs 3De (Morita) CBCT, and intraoral digital PA radiography. Specificity and sensitivity at variable decision thresholds were calculated and plotted on receiver operator characteristic curves. The area under the curve (AUC) served as an estimate of diagnostic accuracy. Results: The overall AUCs for Kodak, Morita, and PA radiography were 0.767 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.743-0.792), 0.753 (95% CI, 0.728-0.779), and 0.584 (95% CI, 0.554-0.615), respectively. The AUCs for Kodak and Morita were both statistically significantly larger than the AUC for all corresponding simulated lesion sizes imaged with PA radiography. Between Kodak and Morita, there were no statistically significant differences in AUCs for any of the corresponding simulated lesion sizes. Conclusions: Both CBCT devices demonstrated poor accuracy in detecting simulated lesions smaller than 0.8 mm in diameter, fair to good accuracy when simulated lesion diameter was between 0.8-1.4 mm, and excellent accuracy when simulated lesions were larger than 1.4 mm in diameter. PA radiography, at best, demonstrated poor diagnostic accuracy for all simulated lesion sizes. (J Endod 2012;38:965-970)

Over the past 15 years, numerous pressure oxidation plants for pretreatment of gold ores and concentrates have been installed throughout the world. While this technology is now established, it suffers in terms of the complex engineering and operational characteristics inherent in utilization of high temperatures (i.e. up to 225 o C) and high pressures (i.e. > 3000 kPag). This paper outlines the application of an industrially proven pressure leaching methodology utilizing nitrogen species catalyzed pressure leaching and alkaline sulfide gold leaching. As such, it stands as an economic and engineering advancement in pressure leaching and non-cyanide treatment of gold ores and concentrates. In particular, the technology offers significant technical and economic advantages over traditional pressure oxidation and cyanide gold recovery in the treatment of gold bearing chalcopyrite ores and concentrates. An example of this will application will be delineated in this paper.

One of the most used components in the RF transmission devices mounted on satellite antennas are the ISP modules. They are designed by exploiting hybrid materials technology to improve their operative characteristics. In particular they are made up of a metallic carrier, a ceramic substrate, a metallic frame and a metallic cover. Inside the ceramic substrate metallic circuits and vias they are allocated to connect microelectronic components fixed on the external surface of the substrate of RF transmission modules. Metallic cover is one of the most delicate elements of the package because it must provide for the tightness of the assembly. The cover is welded to the frame by seam-welding technique. In order to assembly ceramic substrate and metallic frame a brazing process must be carried out. This brazing process introduces residual stresses at the end of the welding process. These residual stresses induced by the thermal cycles could cause crack growth and eventually a component fracture during the operating life of the satellite. In order to foresee their criticality, qualification tests, based on MIL standard, are mandatory. This MIL procedure establishes that the package must be thermally cycled with 500 cycles in the range of 223 Kr398 K. On account of this, thermal loads, associated to thermal cycles, may cause fractures in ceramic substrate and the failure of electronic components. In this paper a numerical approach able to simulate all the brazing process and to evaluate numerically all the stresses inside the ISP module will be proposed. Parametric studies on thermal loadings and on geometrical characteristics of the brazing subcomponents such as the metallic carrier, the ceramic substrate, the metallic frame and the metallic cover in order to evaluate maximum and critical stresses will be also presented. To perform such numerical analysis laboratory tests such as DMA have been carried out and detailed in the paper. The aim of these tests is to characterize the mechanical and thermal properties of all the material employed for the numerical simulations. Finally a comparison between numerical analysis relevant to a broken ISP module will be presented in order to validate the used approach.

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Traffic operational characteristics at all-way-stop-controlled intersections were investigated by using AWSIM, a microscopic simulation model. The effects of vehicle arrival distribution and traffic volume split on intersection operations were studied. Traffic operations were analyzed from delay, capacity, and queue length perspectives. Empirical models were developed on the basis of simulation results for delay and queue length estimations. It was found that longer delays and queues resulted from platoon arrivals. Higher intersection capacity or lower control delay can be achieved with even volume splits on all the approaches. A generalized form of the delay model showed a better correlation compared with those for exponential-form models used by other studies. A nonlinear relationship was found to exist between the 95th percentile queue length and the average queue length. An empirical model was developed on the basis of the simulation results for estimation of the 95th percentile queue lengths. The model proves to be reliable and easy to use on the basis of field studies, and it fulfills one of the major shortcomings in queue estimation, which is currently unavailable in the Highway Capacity Manual. FIGURE 7 Effect of vehicle arrival headway distribution on delay (vph = veh/h). FIGURE 8 Effect of vehicle arrival headway distribution on queue length (vph = veh/h).

Objective: Despite high rates of co-occurring substance use disorder in people with severe mental illness, substance use disorder is often undetected in acute-care psychiatric settings. Because underdetection is related to the failure of traditional screening instruments with this population, the authors developed a new screen for detection of substance use disorder in people with severe mental illness. Method: On the

This study utilizes an arti®cial neural network (ANN) approach to predict the performance of equity mutual funds that follow value, blend and growth investment styles. Using a multi-layer perceptron model and GRG2 nonlinear optimizer, fund-speci®c historical operating characteristics were used to forecast mutual funds' riskadjusted return. Results show that ANN generates better forecasting results than linear models for funds of all styles. In addition, our model outperforms that of Chiang et al. [Chiang WC, Urban TL, Baldridge GW. A neural network approach to mutual fund net asset value forecasting. Omega Int J Manage Sci 1996:24;205±215.] in predicting the performance of growth funds. We also employed a heuristic approach of variable selection via neural networks and compared it with the stepwise selection method of linear regression. Results are encouraging in that the reduced ANN models still outperform the linear models for growth and blend funds and yield similar results for value funds.

In this paper new analytical travel time models for the computation of cycle times for unit-load double-deep automated storage and retrieval systems (in continuation double-deep AS/RS) are presented. The proposed models consider the real operating characteristics of the storage and retrieval machine and the condition of rearranging blocking loads to the nearest free storage location during the retrieval process. With the assumption of the uniform distributed storage rack positions and the probability theory, the expressions of the single and modified dual command cycle have been determined. The proposed models enable the calculation of the mean cycle time for single and dual command cycles, from which the performance of the double-deep AS/RS can be evaluated. A simulation model of the selected double-deep AS/RS has been developed to compare the performances of the proposed analytical travel time models. The numerical analyses show that with regard to the examined type of double-deep AS/RS with a different fill-grade factor, the results of proposed analytical travel time models correlate with the results of simulation models of double-deep AS/RS.

To validate Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM) and Pediatric Index of Mortality (PIM) score. All consecutive patients over a six month period were included in the study except patients with a PICU stay of less than 2 hours, those transferred to other PICUs, pediatric surgical cases, trauma patients and those dying within 24 hours of admission. The PRISM and PIM scores of all patients included in the study were computed and the outcome was noted in terms of survival or non-survival. Mortality discrimination was quantified by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Hosmer and Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test was used to calibrate the scores. Two hundred and thirty patients were enrolled with mean age of 40.6 months and male to female ratio of 1.2:1. There were 56 deaths (mortality rate 24.3%). The mortality in infants was higher (37.8 %) as compared to non-infants (16.2 %) (p = 0.011). The predicted deaths with PRISM score was 24.3%. The area under ...

The paper presents a study related to operational analyses of the apron road system of the São Paulo International Airport, in Guarulhos. The results of the study were considered in the updating process of the Airport Master Plan. The proposed method of analysis encompasses five steps, to say: determination of road vehicle operational parameters; selection of level of service criteria for apron road traffic operation; definition of alternative airport configurations and demand scenarios; designation of service and holding areas for apron equipment; traffic flow forecasting related to current and alternative configurations and scenarios. Special consideration had to be given to the determination of apron vehicle parameters, once they are not available in the literature, given their specific physical and operational characteristics. Field data was collected and treated to fulfill these needs. The paper presents procedures and results of the performed analyses, as well as the recommend...

12 pts). Group 2: FFRti.75 (44 pts). Results: In pts with reduced FFR (group 1) LAminr4.0 mm2 was obtained in 3 pts (25%). Moreover, LAminc4.0 mm'was present in 16 pts (38%) despite of FFRa0.75 (group 2). The comparison of QCA, FFR and ICUS parameters between the two groups is shown in table. Conclusions: ICUS assessment of the minimal luminal cross-sectional area has only a limited value in determining the clinical importance of intermediate coronary lesion. Other factors, such as lesion length may also influence functional severity of intermediate coronary lesion.

Super cut-off method as a well-known technique to reduce leakage power is investigated for its operational characteristics in the sub 100 nm technology nodes. Specially, the effect of the gate leakage in power consumption is considered and a design routine for optimizing the circuit in this regard is proposed. A right design methodology can improve the power and the circuit

Objective: To compare the validity of detecting panic disorder using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ), a screening question, and physicians' diagnosis, and to test whether modified evaluation algorithms improve the operating characteristics of these questionnaires. Additionally, patient and physician acceptability of the screening questionnaires was investigated. Methods: The total sample of 499 patients comprised 348 medical outpatients and 151 psychosomatic outpatients. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) was the criterion standard for the presence of a panic disorder. Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, and overall accuracy were compared for the different measures. The conditional test characteristics were calculated based on the observed prevalence of panic disorder in the medical and psychosomatic subsample, respectively. Results: Panic disorder was diagnosed in 4.3% of the medical outpatients and in 19.2% of the psychosomatic outpatients. The HADS, PHQ, and screening question achieved good operating characteristics. In contrast, physicians detected only 15% of cases with panic disorder. Modified evaluation algorithms of the questionnaires lead to an improvement of test characteristics. Of all measures, the PHQ had the best operating characteristics. The use of screening questionnaires was accepted by 96% of the patients and 97% of the physicians. Conclusion: The questionnaires as well as the screening question performed well in detecting panic disorder. Thus, the integration of these highly accepted measures into clinical evaluation is suggested. Recommendations for the selection of specific evaluation algorithms are given. D

Gait analysis studies typically utilize continuous curves of data measured over the gait cycle, or a portion of the gait cycle. Statistical methods which are appropriate for use in studies involving a single point of data are not adequate for analysis of continuous curves of data. This paper determines the operating characteristics for two methods of constructing statistical prediction and confidence bands. The methods are compared, and their performance is evaluated using cross-validation methodology with a data set of the sort commonly evaluated in gait analysis. The methods evaluated are the often-used point-by-point Gaussian theory intervals, and the simultaneous bootstrap intervals of Sutherland et al. The De6elopment of Mature Walking, MacKeith Press, London, 1988 and Olshen et al. Ann. Statist. 17 (1989) 1419 -40. The bootstrap bands are shown to provide appropriate coverage for continuous curve gait data (86% coverage for a targeted coverage of 90%). The Gaussian bands are shown to provide inadequate coverage (54% for a targeted coverage of 90%). The deficiency in the Gaussian method can lead to inaccurate conclusions in gait studies. Bootstrap prediction and confidence bands are advocated for use as a standard method for evaluating gait data curves because the method is non-parametric and maintains nominal coverage levels for entire curves of gait data.

There is debate over the mechanisms that govern the orienting of attention. Some argue that the enhanced performance observed at a cued location is the result of increased perceptual sensitivity or preferential access to decision-making processes. It has also been suggested that these effects may be the result of trades in speed for accuracy on the part of the observers. In the present study, observers performed either an exogenous or an endogenous orienting of attention task under both normal instructions (respond as quickly and as accurately as possible) and speeded instructions that used a deadline procedure to limit the amount of time observers had to complete a choice reaction time (CRT) task. An examination of the speed-accuracy operating characteristics (SAOCs) yielded evidence against the notion that CRT precuing effects are due primarily to a tradeoff of accuracy for speed.

We assessed the accuracy of voxel-based morphometry (VBM) using a three-dimensional T1-weighted MRI in discriminating Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the very early stage of amnestic type of mild cognitive impairment and age-matched healthy controls. We randomly divided these subjects into two groups. The first group comprising 30 AD patients and 41 controls was used to identify the area with the most significant gray matter loss in patients compared to normal controls based on the voxel-based analysis of a group comparison. The second group comprising 31 patients and 41 controls was used to determine the discrimination accuracy of VBM. A Z-score map for a gray matter image of a subject was obtained by comparison with mean and standard deviation gray matter images of the controls for each voxel after anatomical standardization and voxel normalization to global mean using the following equation; Z-score = ([control mean] − [individual value])/(control S.D.). Receiver operating characteristic curves for a Z-score in the bilateral medial temporal areas including the entorhinal cortex with the most significant loss in the first group showed a high discrimination accuracy of 87.8%. This result would open up a possibility for early diagnosis of AD using VBM.

Researchers have primarily focused on how IPO offering characteristics are related to the level of underpricing; however, the full array of prospectus information has not been related to long-term performance and subsequent outcomes. Using prospectus data, we compare firm and offering characteristics to subsequent performance and catalogue the most important variables. Generally, firm characteristics (size, research expenditures, free cash flow and leverage) are more significant than offering characteristics. We find that prospectus information is more useful in predicting extremely poor performers, firms that fail, and firms that reissue equity and less so for predicting winners. These results are robust to the choice of benchmark matched firm employed in measuring post-IPO stock return abnormal performance.

This paper presents analytical travel time models for the computation of travel time for automated warehouses with the aisle transferring S/R machine (in continuation multi-aisle AS/RS). These models consider the operating characteristics of the storage and retrieval machine such as acceleration and deceleration and the maximum velocity. Assuming uniform distributed storage rack locations and pick aisles and using the probability theory, the expressions of the cumulative distribution functions with which the mean travel time is calculated, have been determined. The computational models enable the calculation of the mean travel time for the single and dual command cycles, from which the performance of multiaisle AS/RS can be evaluated. A simulation model of multi-aisle AS/RS has been developed to compare the performances of the proposed analytical travel time models. The analyses show that regarding all examined types of multi-aisle AS/RS, the results of proposed analytical travel time models correlate with the results of simulation models of multi-aisle AS/RS.

A 100 kW fixed bed downdraft gasification reactor has been developed in a joint bilateral project between a Greek and a Romanian research team. The main purpose was to establish the main operational characteristics of the lab-scale unit and to examine the effect of oxygen increase in the gasification air mixture on the quality of the produced fuel gas, concerning

Background: The double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC) is the “gold standard” for diagnosis of food hypersensitivity. Skin prick tests and RASTs are sensitive indicators of food-specific IgE antibodies but poor predictors of clinical reactivity. Previous studies suggested that high concentrations of food-specific IgE antibody were predictive of food-induced clinical symptoms. Because the CAP System FEIA (Pharmacia Diagnostics, Uppsala, Sweden) provides a quantitative assessment of allergen-specific IgE antibody, this study was undertaken to determine the potential utility of the CAP System FEIA in diagnosis of IgE-mediated food hypersensitivity. Methods: Sera from 196 patients with food allergy were analyzed for specific IgE antibodies to egg, milk, peanut, soy, wheat, and fish by CAP System FEIA. Sera were randomly selected from 300 stored samples of children and adolescents who had been evaluated by history, skin prick tests, and DBPCFCs. The study population was highly atopic; all patients had atopic dermatitis, and approximately 50% had asthma and allergic rhinitis at the time of initial evaluation. The performance characteristics of the CAP System FEIA were compared with those of skin prick tests and the outcome of DBPCFCs or “convincing” histories of anaphylactic reactions. Results: The prevalence of specific food allergies in the study population varied from 22% for wheat to 73% for egg. Allergy to egg, milk, peanut, and soy accounted for 87% of confirmed reactions. The performance characteristics of skin prick tests and CAP System FEIA (egg, milk, peanut, fish) were comparable, with excellent sensitivity and negative predictive accuracy but poor specificity and positive predictive accuracy. The performance characteristics of the CAP System FEIA for soy and wheat were poor. For egg, milk, peanut, and fish allergy, diagnostic levels of IgE, which could predict clinical reactivity in this population with greater than 95% certainty, were identified: egg, 6 kilounits of allergen-specific IgE per liter (kUA/L); milk, 32 kUA/L; peanut, 15 kUA/L; and fish, 20 kUA/L. Conclusions: When compared with the outcome of DBPCFCs, results of CAP System FEIA are generally comparable to those of skin prick tests in predicting symptomatic food hypersensitivity. Furthermore, by measuring the concentrations of food-specific IgE antibodies with the CAP System FEIA, it is possible to identify a subset of patients who are highly likely (>95%) to experience clinical reactions to egg, milk, peanut, or fish. This could eliminate the need to perform DBPCFCs in a significant number of patients suspected of having IgE-mediated food allergy. (J Allergy Clin Immunol 1997;100:444-51.)

Stand-alone power system PEM Electrolyzer PEM fuel cell Lead-acid accumulator Hydrogen production Power management strategy a b s t r a c t A stand-alone power system based on a photovoltaic array and wind generators that stores the excessive energy from renewable energy sources (RES) in the form of hydrogen via water electrolysis for future use in a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cell is currently in operation at Neo Olvio of Xanthi, Greece. Efficient power management strategies (PMSs) for the system have been developed. The PMSs have been assessed on their capacity to meet the power load requirements through effective utilization of the electrolyzer and fuel cell under variable energy generation from RES (solar and wind). The evaluation of the PMS has been performed through simulated experiments with anticipated conditions over a typical four-month time period for the region of installation. The key decision factors for the PMSs are the level of the power provided by the RES and the state of charge (SOC) of the accumulator. Therefore, the operating policies for the hydrogen production via water electrolysis and the hydrogen consumption at the fuel cell depend on the excess or shortage of power from the RES and the level of SOC. A parametric sensitivity analysis investigates the influence of major operating variables for the PMSs such as the minimum SOC level and the operating characteristics of the electrolyzer and the fuel cell in the performance of the integrated system. ª A v a i l a b l e a t w w w . s c i e n c e d i r e c t . c o m j o u r n a l h o m e p a g e : w w w . e l s e v i e r . c o m / l o c a t e / h e

Rengachary J, d'Avossa G, Sapir A, Shulman GL, Corbetta M. Is the Posner Reaction Time Test more accurate than clinical tests in detecting left neglect in acute and chronic stroke? Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2009;90:2081-8. Objective: To compare the accuracy of common clinical tests for left neglect with that of a computerized reaction time Posner test in a stroke population.

I am greatly indebted to the Swaziland Electricity Board for giving me both the support and the resources that made this project possible. I would also like to thank my course supervisor, Professor CT. Gaunt, for his untiring support and guidance throughout the project. I would like to thank Dr. Laurence Musaba from the Southern African Power Pool Coordination Centre for guiding me during the project. I would like to thank Mr. Pat Naidoo of Eskom for his continued encouragement during this entire project. This project would not been possible without the involvement of the SEB staff, particularly the Transmission Department staff and Mr. Walter Nxumalo, the Transmission Manager, who understood the need for the initial investigation on power outages due to I ightning and the subsequent pilot project. I would also wish to thank my wife, Thembi, and our children for bearing with me at times when I had to work late, sometimes throughout the week.

In this work we present a liquid metal ion source (LMIS) geometry we have developed specifically for evaluating the potential of focused ion beams in nano-fabrication. The ion-emitter we present and detail hereafter was designed to use gallium and developed to improve both the directivity and on-axis current density of the emitted beam. In the case of a gallium beam, experimental test results are presented concerning emission stability, current voltage characteristics and in situ high voltage (1 MV) transmission electron microscope (HVTEM) observations of the emitting apex. We have developed a LMIS with unconventional operational characteristics: the threshold voltage is 17 kV (twice the normal voltage), and the on-axis angular intensity is 80 lA/sr (compared to 20 lA/sr normally). With this source we were able to demonstrate the possibility to realise nano-fabrication experiments close or below the 10 nm scale. The required ion probe properties would have been inaccessible without dedicated source development effort.