Report from the PV 2007 Conference, DLR Oberpfaffenhofen, October 9–11, 2007

This is a report from the conference PV 2007, held at the German Remote Sensing Data Centre, DLR, Oberpfaffenhofen, on October 9–11, 2007. The PV conference is held every two years, and is concerned with the preservation of scientific and technical data, and the activity of adding value to the data to ensure it can be widely used and re-used. The theme for 2007 was ‘the Challenge of Heterogeneity’, not only in the data being supported but in the tools used to access and process the data, and in the uses to which the data may be put

Progress at the WITCH experiment

The WITCH-experiment will measure the energy spectrum of the recoiling daughter ions in $\beta$-decay to search for non-standard scalar and tensor type interaction. To facilitate this a Penning trap is used to store the radioactive ions. Thus the recoil ions can leave the source without any energy loss and their energy can be probed by the subsequent retardation spectrometer. The experiment is being set up at present at ISOLDE/CERN. The principle and the status of the WITCH-experiment will be presented. (12 refs)

Esquemas numéricos conservativos para flujo bifásico 1D no estacionario

[SPA] Esta tesis está dedicada al modelado de mezclas bifásicas no estacionarias de líquido y vapor. Esta motivada por la gran cantidad de aplicaciones industriales en las que podemos encontrar estos fenómenos. Los transitorios en flujo bifásico son un aspecto muy importante en diferentes aplicaciones químicas, nucleares e industriales. En el caso de la industria nuclear, el estudio de transitorios en flujo bifásico es fundamental, debido a la importancia que tiene prevenir accidentes con pérdida de refrigerante (LOCA), as como garantizar un buen funcionamiento del circuito del refrigerante. Mediante la introducción de algunos de los códigos más importantes desarrollados en las dos últimas décadas, así como las técnicas de mallado que utilizan justificamos el presente desarrollo que se ha centrado en la extensión de algunos esquemas explícitos conservativos para obtener soluciones aproximadas del sistema de ecuaciones en flujo bifásico unidimensional. Estos han sido esquemas centrados y "upwind" para resolver problemas con flujo multifásico, muchos de ellos basados en la solución exacta o aproximada de problemas de Riemann usando métodos tipo Godunov tales como "Approximate Riemann Solvers" o métodos "Flux Vector Splitting". Fundamentalmente hemos estudiado los esquemas TVD, TVD Adaptados y la familia de esquemas AUSM. [ENG]The thesis is devoted to the modelization of non steady two phase mixtures of liquid and vapour. It has been motivated by the great amount of industrial applications in which we nd these phenomena. Transient two phase ow is a very important issue in nuclear, chemical and industrial applications. In the case of the nuclear industry due to the importance of preventing loss of coolant accidents (LOCA) and guarranteing a good perfomance of the coolant system in power plants. By means of the introduction of the most important codes developed during the last two decades and their associated mesh techniques we justify the present development which is centred on the extension of some conservative and explicit schemes to obtain approximate solutions of the system of equations in one dimensional one pressure two phase ow. They have been Centred and Upwind Schemes to solve multiphase ow problems, most of them based on the exact or approximate solution of Riemann problems using Godunov's like methods such as Approximate Riemann Solvers or Flux Splitting methods. We have studied mainly TVD schemes, Adapted TVD schemes (ATVD) and the AUSM family of schemes.Universidad Politécnica de Valenci

Developing performance support systems for complex tasks: Lessons from a lesson planning system

There lacks coherent and persuasive rationales for the further development of computer-based, interactive educational materials, for tertiary settings. Indeed, educational software arising out of what might be coined the “multimedia era”, namely the mid and later 19902, has been marked by lacklustre products with an emphasis in development and evaluation placed largely on technological issues (such as the use of video, sound and animations). As such, the rapid increase in commercially available (usually CD based) products has generally met a cool adoption from academics and educationalists, with both these groups often bemoaning the paucity or non-existence of effective instructional design models for the use of “new media” in teaching and learning, based in clearly delineated constructs that derive their substance from theoretical models and research findings. This research programme was intended to explore one such rationale

Exploring Sparse, Unstructured Video Collections of Places

The abundance of mobile devices and digital cameras with video capture makes it easy to obtain large collections of video clips that contain the same location, environment, or event. However, such an unstructured collection is difficult to comprehend and explore. We propose a system that analyses collections of unstructured but related video data to create a Videoscape: a data structure that enables interactive exploration of video collections by visually navigating — spatially and/or temporally — between different clips. We automatically identify transition opportunities, or portals. From these portals, we construct the Videoscape, a graph whose edges are video clips and whose nodes are portals between clips. Now structured, the videos can be interactively explored by walking the graph or by geographic map. Given this system, we gauge preference for different video transition styles in a user study, and generate heuristics that automatically choose an appropriate transition style. We evaluate our system using three further user studies, which allows us to conclude that Videoscapes provides significant benefits over related methods. Our system leads to previously unseen ways of interactive spatio-temporal exploration of casually captured videos, and we demonstrate this on several video collections

Cenários comunicacionais baseados em IOT para a promoção do bem-estar físico, psicológico e social dos séniores

The main objective of this research is to design and validate IoT based social hybrid scenario model that has the potential to promote psychological and physical wellbeing among older adults. The main reason to design and validate the model is age growth, older adults face psychological, physical and social well-being problems that increase mild cognitive impairment and frailty among older adults. Thus, to overcome older adults' problems, the study proposes and validates an IoT-based social hybrid scenario model. The model's features contain passive communication in which Drs, caregivers, and family members can monitor older adults' physical data from long distances. The model's features also contained intentional communication in which Older adults can interact online by text, audio, video calls, sharing images, and online activities such as painting, exercises and cooking. Moreover, older adults can do outdoor activities by inviting peers, friends or family members; the activities can be location-based IoT games, city tours, groups gardening and dinners. The outcomes of model validation will indicate how IoT characteristics can promote physical, psychological and social well-being and provide an opportunity for older adults to spend their life independently. The research that embodies this thesis includes 411 senior Portuguese Universities which are located mainland and on the island of Portugal. Using descriptive research methodology, where quantitative results are analysed, the results indicated a holistic scenario of passive and intentional communication in the context of well-being promotion among olderadults. from here, the social hybrid scenario is outlined, a hybrid model that offers passive and intentional communication between olderadults, family and medical doctors in the context of well-being promotion. The design and characteristics of the model are based on the existing knowledg, and needs of older adults, family members and also medical doctors. Such as model is a compound of passive and intentional characteristics that helps to reduce problem-related mental and physical health. The Passive and intentional communication characteristics are capable to create an environment for older adultsto take care of their psychological and physical health without any intervention and also increase their social physical and online activities, these activities help to promote the well-being of olderadults andd improve the daily lifestyle.O principal objetivo desta pesquisa é projetar e validar um modelo de cenário híbrido social baseado em IoT que tenha o potencial de promover o bem-estar psicológico e físico entre os idosos. A principal razão para projetar e validar o modelo é o crescimento da idade, os idosos enfrentam problemas psicológicos, físicos e de bem-estar social que aumentam o comprometimento cognitivo leve e a fragilidade entre os idosos. Assim, para superar os problemas dos idosos, o estudo propõe e valida um modelo de cenário híbrido social baseado em IoT. Os recursos do modelo contêm comunicação passiva na qual médicos, cuidadores e familiares podem monitorar os dados físicos dos idosos a longas distâncias. As características do modelo também contemplam comunicação intencional em que os idosos podem interagir online por meio de texto, áudio, videochamadas, compartilhamento de imagens e atividades online como pintura, exercícios e culinária. Além disso, os idosos podem fazer atividades ao ar livre convidando colegas, amigos ou familiares; as atividades podem ser jogos de IoT baseados em localização, passeios pela cidade, jardinagem em grupo e jantares. Os resultados da validação do modelo indicam como as características da IoT podem promover o bem-estar físico, psicológico e social e fornecer uma oportunidade para os idosos passarem sua vida de forma independente. A investigação que dá corpo a esta tese inclui 411 universidades portuguesas seniores localizadas no continente e na ilha de Portugal. Utilizando metodologia de pesquisa descritiva, onde são analisados resultados quantitativos, os resultados indicaram um cenário holístico de comunicação passiva e intencional no contexto da promoção do bem-estar entre idosos. a partir daqui, delineia-se o cenário social híbrido, um modelo híbrido que oferece comunicação passiva e intencional entre idosos, médicos de família e médicos no contexto da promoção do bem-estar. O desenho e as características do modelo baseiam-se no conhecimento existente e nas necessidades dos idosos, familiares e também médicos. Tal modelo é um composto de características passivas e intencionais que ajuda a reduzir os problemas relacionados com a saúde mental e física. As características de comunicação passiva e intencional são capazes de criar um ambiente para que os idosos cuidem de sua saúde psicológica e física e também aumentem suas atividades sociais físicas e online, essas atividades ajudam a promover o bem-estar dos idosos e melhorar o estilo de vida diário.Programa Doutoral em Informação e Comunicação em Plataformas Digitai

Helping UNIX users : an assessment of the effectiveness of various forms of online help

The aim of online help is to make complex computer systems more usable and allow users to exploit more of the system’s power. To achieve this aim it is necessary to provide users with information needed to accomplish their currant task while also encouraging further skill development to facilitate the transition from novice to expert. This thesis investigates the relationship of individual differences to the use of computers and online help. An observational study of real users of UNIX showed that very few commands were used by users and there was great variability in the use of UNIX. “Field Dependency” was identified as a potential source of the variation between users. Two experiments were carried out to assess the effect of Field Dependency. The subjects were required to carry out a number of tasks with help provided via a human expert or an online help system. The help system developed could be configured to behave actively or passively. Two different user communities, computer science students and women trainees, were studied. Both experiments found Field Dependency to be correlated with the number of commands known by users: the more field -independent a user, the more commands are known. In the first experiment it was found that field-dependents were exposed to more help from the human expert than the field-independents. With the help system, the field-independents were exposed to more help. Field-independents were also found to benefit from increased flexibility of the system where both active and passive help was available whereas field-dependents did not.Conclusions are drawn about the effects of Field Dependency on user interaction with help systems and the effectiveness of two alternative access initiatives

An investigation of labour ward care to inform the design of a computerised decision support system for the management of childbirth

Merged with duplicate record 10026.1/622 on 03.04.2017 by CS (TIS)Patient monitoring is a complex task, particularly during childbirth, where assessment of the baby's condition is inferred from the continuous electronic recording of the baby's heart rate pattern and maternal uterine contractions (CTG). Computerised decision support has long been advocated, as difficulties in the interpretation of the CTG have led to failure to intervene and unnecessary intervention. The problem is large, for obstetric litigation now accounts for 80% of the UK National Health Service litigation bill. The Plymouth Perinatal Research Group has developed a computerised decision support system for patient monitoring during childbirth and the UK Medical Research Council has agreed to fund a multicentre randomised trial. The work of this thesis was an investigation of the labour ward care system to inform the human-centred design of the decision support system for patient monitoring in childbirth, prior to the clinical trial. It was recognised that many decision support systems have failed to gain clinical acceptance, as conventional design models were inadequate. Lack of attention to the organisational context of the care system and the process of the direct patient care led to the design of inflexible 'expert' systems, which constrained working practices. A pilot ethnographic study of an existing decision support system, used for the analysis of umbilical cord blood samples, was undertaken to clarify the research approach required for the main study. It was found that barriers to effective use within the wider work system included inadequate implementation and lack of organisational support. A case study approach produced a more comprehensive account of the context and process of the use of the computer system. The main study combined qualitative with quantitative techniques to investigate the system of care in childbirth, both outside and within the delivery room, to provide a unique, holistic perspective. The organisational context of the labour ward was investigated by direct observation of clinicians over the course of their work for 220 hours. Observations were documented and transcribed to computer text files. Patterns of actions and events were coded using ATLAS(ti) data analysis software. The codes were counted and tabulated to model the main features of this labour ward care system, which was expressed in the form of a rich picture diagram. These findings were confirmed by a limited study of five other UK labour wards. The core qualitative categories, derived from the observation data, found a complex and problematic relationship between communication, decision making and accountability. Decisions were often made outside the delivery room and were subject to misinterpretation and bias. The organisational hierarchy made it difficult for junior staff to question clinical management decisions. A system of tacit practice, external demands upon clinicians and transient allocation of junior midwives to labour ward militated against teamwork. This increased the vulnerability of the care of mothers to error. The process of direct patient care, within the individual delivery room, of 20 mothers in labour was captured in a novel audio-video observation study. The 111 hours of first stage labour and 12 hours of second stage labour were recorded and digitised to computer files. Recurrent actions and patterns of behaviour were coded both quantitatively and qualitatively using ATLAS(ti) data analysis software. Midwives left the room on average every 15 minutes to be absent for 27% of the first stage of labour. Record keeping occurred on average every 10 minutes and accounted for 19% of midwives' time. Midwives had little time to talk with mothers and only sat down at the bedside for 15% of the time. Psychosocial support was not given priority. Parents were generally excluded from communication between clinicians yet 108 clinicians took part in the care of the 20 women. Pressures from medicolegal directives and task-orientated imperatives overshadowed meaningful interaction with parents and caused spurious care priorities. This work has revealed the need for a critical reassessment of the type of support that is required for monitoring situations in all areas of medicine. A range of functions, such as shared information displays and models, have been suggested to augment roles and relationships between clinicians and parents to support patient-centred care. The present work has revealed that a combination of computer-based technology and changes to working practice can support the parents, their individual carers and their various roles. In this way the system of care can be more aligned to the objective of a safe and emotionally satisfying birth experience for parents and staff. A further programme of research is required to follow-up the existing studies, develop these new forms of interaction between technology and clinicians, and evaluate their effectiveness. The research methods employed in the present work will provide a more comprehensive evaluation of the decision support system in the forthcoming multicentre trial. The methods of investigation have also been shown to be of relevance to patient safety research, service delivery and training.Plymouth Perinatal Research Group Postgraduate Medical Schoo

Occupant-Centric Simulation-Aided Building Design Theory, Application, and Case Studies

This book promotes occupants as a focal point for the design process

Forschungs- und Arbeitsgebiete des Instituts für Telematik

Dieser Interne Bericht gibt einen Ueberblick ueber aktuelle Forschungsarbeiten des Instituts fuer Telematik der Universitaet Karlsruhe in den Bereichen Hochleistungskommunikation, verteilte Systeme, Cooperation&Management und Telekooperation. Er ist in zwei Teile gegliedert. Der erste beschreibt die persoenlichen Interessensgebiete der wissenschaftlichen Mitarbeiter. Danach folgt eine Darstellung der Kooperationsprojekte des Instituts. Im Anhang finden sich die referenzierten Literaturstellen sowie aktuelle Eigenveroeffentlichungen der Mitarbeiter des Instituts. Der Bericht entstand im Rahmen der Klausurtagung des Instituts in Rothenburg ob der Tauber im Oktober 1996