Mapping customer needs to engineering characteristics: an aerospace perspective for conceptual design

Designing complex engineering systems, such as an aircraft or an aero-engine, is immensely challenging. Formal Systems Engineering (SE) practices are widely used in the aerospace industry throughout the overall design process to minimise the overall design effort, corrective re-work, and ultimately overall development and manufacturing costs. Incorporating the needs and requirements from customers and other stakeholders into the conceptual and early design process is vital for the success and viability of any development programme. This paper presents a formal methodology, the Value-Driven Design (VDD) methodology that has been developed for collaborative and iterative use in the Extended Enterprise (EE) within the aerospace industry, and that has been applied using the Concept Design Analysis (CODA) method to map captured Customer Needs (CNs) into Engineering Characteristics (ECs) and to model an overall ‘design merit’ metric to be used in design assessments, sensitivity analyses, and engineering design optimisation studies. Two different case studies with increasing complexity are presented to elucidate the application areas of the CODA method in the context of the VDD methodology for the EE within the aerospace secto

Changes In Sexual Behavior Following A Sex Education Program In Brazilian Public Schoolsm [mudanças No Comportamento Sexual De Adolescentes De Escolas Públicas No Brasil Após Um Programa De Educação Sexual]

This paper describes an evaluation of possible changes in sexual behavior in adolescents who participated in a school-based sex education program in selected public schools in four municipalities in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The program is inserted within the context of reproductive rights, deals with risks involved in unsafe sexual practices and focuses on the positive aspects of sexuality. A quasi-experimental design with pre and post-tests and a non-equivalent control group was used to evaluate the intervention. A total of 4,795 questionnaires were included in this analysis. The program succeeded in more than doubling consistent condom use with casual partners and in increasing the use of modern contraceptives during last intercourse by 68%. The intervention had no effect on age at first intercourse or on adolescents' engagement in sexual activities. The sex education program was effective in generating positive changes in the sexual behavior of adolescents, while not stimulating participation in sexual activities.25511681176(2006) Promoting and Safeguarding the Sexual and Reproductive Health of Adolescents, , World Health Organization, Geneva: World Health Organization, (Policy Brief, 4. Implementing the Global Reproductive Health Strategy)Ross, J., Godeau, E., Dias, S., Sexual health (2004) Young People's Health In Context: Health Behaviour In School-aged Children (hbsc) Study. International Report From the 2001/2002 Survey, pp. 153-60. , In: Currie C, Roberts C, Morgan A, Smith R, Settertobulte W, Samdal O, et al., editors, Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe, (Health Policy for Children and Adolescents, 4)Kirby, D.B., Laris, B.A., Rolleri, L.A., Sex and HIV education programs: Their impact on sexual behaviors of young people throughout the world (2007) J Adolesc Health, 40, pp. 206-17Figueiró, N.M.D., A produção teórica no Brasil sobre educação sexual (1996) Cad Pesqui, (98), pp. 50-63Figueiró, N.M.D., Revendo a história da educação sexual no Brasil: Ponto de partida para construção de um novo rumo (1998) Nuances, 4, pp. 123-33(1998) Temas Transversais: Orientação Sexual, , Secretaria de Educação Fundamental, Ministério da Educação. Parâmetros curriculares nacionais, Brasília: Secretaria de Educação Fundamental, Ministério da EducaçãoPaiva, V., Pupo, L.R., Barboza, R., O direito à prevenção e os desafios da redução da vulnerabilidade ao HIV no Brasil (2006) Rev Saúde Pública, 40 (SUPPL.), pp. 109-19Hughes, J., McCauley, A.P., Improving the fit: Adolescents' needs and future programs for sexual and reproductive health in developing countries (1998) Stud Fam Plann, 29, pp. 233-45Díaz, M., Mello, M.B., Sousa, M.H., Cabral, F., Silva, R.C., Campos, M., Et al., Outcomes of three different models for sex education and citizenship programs concerning knowledge, attitudes, and behavior of Brazilian adolescents (2005) Cad Saúde Pública, 21, pp. 589-97(1999) Projeto Educação Afetivo-sexual: Sucessos E Desafios Na Educação Sexual De Adolescentes Da Rede Pública Estadual De Ensino De Belo Horizonte - Relatório Da Avaliação Externa, , Centro de Pesquisas em Saúde Reprodutiva de Campinas/Fundação Odebrecht, Campinas: Centro de Pesquisas em Saúde Reprodutiva de Campinas/Salvador: Fundação OdebrechtCosta, A.C.G., (2000) Protagonismo Juvenil: Adolescência, Educação E Participação Democrática, , Salvador: Fundação OdebrechtAndrade, H.H.S.M., Marques, C.M., Gouveia, M.C., Gregório, Y.M., Atendimento ambulatorial de adolescentes: A experiência do PAIA/ABEB (1996) J Pediatr (rio J), 72, pp. 319-23Cronbach, L.J., Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests (1951) Psychometrika, 16, pp. 297-334Mello, M.B., Fruet, M.S.B., Diaz, M., Silva, R.C., Paiva, V., Avaliação preliminar de impactos de um programa de orientação sexual de longa duração (1999) Anais Do Vii Congresso Brasileiro De Sexualidade Humana, p. 74. , Rio de Janeiro: Sociedade Brasileira de Estudos em Sexualidade HumanaFleiss, J.L., (1981) Statistical Methods For Rates and Proportions, , 2nd Ed. New York: John Wiley and SonsBertrand, J.T., Magnani, R.J., Rutenberg, N., (1996) Evaluating Family Planning Programs: With Adaptations For Reproductive Health, , Chapel Hill: Carolina Population Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel HillHosmer, D.W., Lemeshow, S., (1989) Applied Logistic Regression, , New York: John Wiley and SonsGrunseit, A., Kippax, S., (1997) Impact of Hiv and Sexual Health Education On the Sexual Behaviour of Young People: A Review Update, , Geneva: United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDSKirby, D., (1995) A Review of Educational Programs to Designed to Reduce Sexual Risk-taking Behaviors Among School-aged Youth In the United States, , Santa Cruz: ETR AssociatesKirby, D., (2001) Emerging Answers: Research Findings On Programs to Reduce Teen Pregnancy, , Washington DC: National Campaign to Prevent Teen PregnancyAntunes, M.C., Peres, C.A., Paiva, V., Stall, R., Hearst, N., Diferenças na prevenção da AIDS entre homens e mulheres jovens de escolas públicas em São Paulo, SP (2002) Rev Saúde Pública, 36 (4 SUPPL.), pp. 88-95Magnani, R.J., Gaffikin, L., Aquino, E.M.L., Seiber, E.E., Almeida, M.C.C., Lipovsek, V., Impact of an integrated adolescent reproductive health program in Brazil (2001) Stud Fam Plann, 32, pp. 230-43Taquette, S.R., Vilhena, M.M., Paula, M.C., Doenças sexualmente transmissíveis e gênero: Um estudo transversal com adolescentes no Rio de Janeiro (2004) Cad Saúde Pública, 20, pp. 282-90Oliveira, F.A., Pfleger, V., Lang, K., Heukelbach, J., Miralles, I., Fraga, F., Sexually transmitted infections, bacterial vaginosis, and candidiasis in women of reproductive age in rural Northeast Brazil: A population-based study (2007) Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, 102, pp. 751-6(1999) Adolescentes, Jovens E a Pesquisa Nacional Sobre Demografia E Saúde: Um Estudo Sobre Fecundidade, Comportamento Sexual E Saúde Reprodutiva, , Bem-Estar Familiar no Brasil, Rio de Janeiro: Bem-Estar Familiar no BrasilAlmeida, M.C., Aquino, E.M., Barros, A.P., School trajectory and teenage pregnancy in three Brazilian state capitals (2006) Cad Saúde Pública, 22, pp. 1397-409Chalem, E., Mitsuhiro, S.S., Ferri, C.P., Barros, M.C.M., Guinsburg, R., Laranjeira, R., Gravidez na adolescência: Perfil sócio-demográfico e comportamental de uma população da periferia de São Paulo (2007) Brasil. Cad Saúde Pública, 23, pp. 177-86Baraldi, A.C.P., Daud, Z.P., Almeida, A.M., Gomes, F.A., Nakano, A.M.S., Adolescent pregnancy: A comparative study between mothers who use public and private health systems (2007) Rev Latinoam Enferm, 15, pp. 799-805. , (Spe

The trans-ancestral genomic architecture of glycemic traits

Glycemic traits are used to diagnose and monitor type 2 diabetes and cardiometabolic health. To date, most genetic studies of glycemic traits have focused on individuals of European ancestry. Here we aggregated genome-wide association studies comprising up to 281,416 individuals without diabetes (30% non-European ancestry) for whom fasting glucose, 2-h glucose after an oral glucose challenge, glycated hemoglobin and fasting insulin data were available. Trans-ancestry and single-ancestry meta-analyses identified 242 loci (99 novel; P < 5 x 10(-8)), 80% of which had no significant evidence of between-ancestry heterogeneity. Analyses restricted to individuals of European ancestry with equivalent sample size would have led to 24 fewer new loci. Compared with single-ancestry analyses, equivalent-sized trans-ancestry fine-mapping reduced the number of estimated variants in 99% credible sets by a median of 37.5%. Genomic-feature, gene-expression and gene-set analyses revealed distinct biological signatures for each trait, highlighting different underlying biological pathways. Our results increase our understanding of diabetes pathophysiology by using trans-ancestry studies for improved power and resolution.A trans-ancestry meta-analysis of GWAS of glycemic traits in up to 281,416 individuals identifies 99 novel loci, of which one quarter was found due to the multi-ancestry approach, which also improves fine-mapping of credible variant sets.Diabetes mellitus: pathophysiological changes and therap

Soil loss risk and habitat quality in streams of a meso-scale river basin Risco de perda de solo e qualidade do habitat numa bacia hidrográfica de meso-escala

Soil loss expectation and possible relationships among soil erosion, riparian vegetation and water quality were studied in the São José dos Dourados River basin, State of São Paulo, Brazil. Through Geographic Information System (GIS) resources and technology, Soil Loss Expectation (SLE) data obtained using the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) model were analyzed. For the whole catchment area and for the 30 m buffer strips of the streams of 22 randomly selected catchments, the predominant land use and habitat quality were studied. Owing mainly to the high soil erodibility, the river basin is highly susceptible to erosive processes. Habitat quality analyses revealed that the superficial water from the catchments is not chemically impacted but suffers physical damage. A high chemical purity is observed since there are no urban areas along the catchments. The water is physically poor because of high rates of sediment delivery and the almost nonexistence of riparian vegetation.<br>Expectativa de perda de solo e possíveis relações entre erosão, vegetação ripária e qualidade da água foram estudados na bacia do rio São José dos Dourados (SP). Através de recursos de geoprocessamento e da Equação Universal de Perda de Solos, os dados sobre expectativa de perda de solo foram levantados. Para a área de drenagem total e a faixa tampão dos corpos d'água de 22 sub-bacias aleatoriamente selecionadas, analisou-se a cobertura do solo predominante e qualidade do habitat. Devido principalmente à alta erodibilidade do solo, a área estudada é altamente suscetível ao processo erosivo. As análises de qualidade da água revelaram que as águas superficiais das sub-bacias estão quimicamente não impactadas, mas fisicamente degradadas. A alta pureza química deve-se, possivelmente, à ausência de áreas urbanizadas ao longo das sub-bacias e as alterações nas características físicas são, possivelmente, decorrentes das altas taxas de transferência de sedimento aos corpos d'água e à quase ausência de mata ciliar