A tool for helping operations research

This paper describes an integrated environment in which a student can acquire and test knowledge about Operations Research techniques. In this environment all the interactions with the users are performed by means of an appropriated graphical interface related to the problem and the algorithm chosen to solve it During a step-by-step problem solving session, the user makes the decisions and lets the system process the necessary computations. Moreover, this environment is able: (i) to check the correctness of the user's replies, (ii) to display warnings every time a wrong decision is taken, and (iii) to return to any previous step in order to give more flexibility to the teacher's exposition. The system is designed to include: Primal Simplex, Dual Simplex, Revised Simplex, Stepping-Stone Method for Transportation Problems, Hungarian Method for Assignment Problems, and Sensitivity Analysis

Utilization of ensiled metabolizable mixture of cassava peel and caged layers’ manure as energy source in broiler diets

An experiment was carried out in which dried cassava peel and dried caged layers’ manure mixed in ratio 5:1 (w/w) was ensiled for 14 days and the mixture used to partially replace maize, an expensive energy source in broiler diets in most developing countries at 0%, 25% and 50% dietary inclusion levels. The response of the birds to the different dietary inclusion of fermented mixture of cassava peel and caged layers’ manure (FCPCLM) as it affected performance, carcass cut-parts, serum proteins and enzymes was monitored in a completely randomized design trial. The study also evaluated the cost of feed and the suitability of FCPCLM as an alternative unconventional source of energy in broiler starter diet. A total of 90 day old chicks of Anark breed were divided into three groups containing three replicates each. There were ten birds per replicate. Each group of birds were fed each of the dietary treatment ad libitum for 56 days, divided into starter phase (0 to 28 days) and finisher phase (29 to 56 days). Feed intake, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR) protein efficiency ratio (PER), total protein, albumin, globulin, aspartate amino transaminase (EC 2.6.1.1.1), alanine amino transaminase (EC 2.6.1.1.2) and carcass cut parts were determined. Results showed linear increase (p<0.05) in feed intake, live weight, body weight gain, FCR, and PER for all the phases during the experiment. The serum proteins and enzymes were not (p>0.05) influenced by treatments. The eviscerated weight, wings, breast and large intestine length were higher (p<0.05) in birds fed 50% replacement of maize by FCPCLM. The cost of feed per kilogramme and cost per kilogramme flesh gained was lowest and best (p<0.05) in broilers chicks fed 50% replacement of maize by FCPCLM. Therefore, FCPCLM in broiler starter diet at 50% dietary level support good performance, enhanced gain in eviscerated weight and reasonable cost per kilogramme gain without any noticeable effect on the serum indices and enzymes hence can be recommended for use by poultry farmers on subsistence production.Key words: Fermentation, performance, carcass, cost, fee

Reducing Health Inequalities in Aging Through Policy Frameworks and Interventions

Lifepath, a European Commission Horizon 2020 programme of research adopted a life course approach to understanding the impacts of socioeconomic differences on healthy aging and considered the relative importance of lifetime effects by comparing studies on childhood and adult risks. A key component of the programme was the identification of policy relevant results and messages. Longitudinal European cohorts of over 1.7 million individuals from 48 independent cohort studies were harmonized and followed for the key outcomes of mortality and functional decline. Biological markers, allostatic load, and DNA methylation were also examined to help unravel the impact of socioeconomic factors including education, occupation, or income on aging. It is well-recognized that socioeconomic position affects behaviors such as smoking, high alcohol consumption, low physical activity, and a diet low in fruit and vegetables. Lifepath indicated that socioeconomic status is an independent risk factor for death and disease but that it also helps drive the uptake of these well-recognized risk behaviors. The evidence from Lifepath points to a suite of possible policies, some universal, some targeted but it was not possible to assess specific interventions, other than conditional cash transfers, or to explore how interventions might be effective in reducing health inequalities in aging. Nevertheless, it was clear that the timing of interventions is important as the consequences of early interventions may span the whole life course. These influences have important implications for policy making, since appropriate policies can reverse the embodiment of socioeconomic disadvantage, thus reducing health inequalities and resulting in healthier aging. Applying principles of proportional universalism as one approach to reducing inequalities should be considered

El Raconet de música: un blog educatiu amb recursos per afavorir el desenvolupament de la competència musical en l’educació infantil

Treball Final de Grau en Mestre o Mestra d'Educació Infantil. Codi: MI1040. Curs acadèmic 2015-2016Són molts els autors que destaquen la importància de treballar la música a l’etapa d’infantil, ja que per un costat, a partir d’aquesta competència es pot afavorir el desenvolupament d’altres capacitats i per l’altre, l’educació infantil és una etapa molt important en el desenvolupament integral dels infants. Per una altra banda, en l’actualitat, les noves tecnologies de la informació i comunicació són una realitat molt present en tots els àmbits i per tant, els docents les hem de tindre molt en compte en la nostra tasca. És per això que aquest treball de fi de grau té com a finalitat, oferir un nou recurs digital, que uneix la música i les noves tecnologies a través de la creació d'un blog educatiu amb recursos per a treballar la competència musical a l’etapa d’infantil. Aquesta nova eina digital, s’anomena “El Raconet de música” i va dirigida tant als docents de l’educació infantil com a les famílies, ja que l’accés és lliure i les propostes es poden realitzar tant a l’aula com a casa. A més a més, pretén ser una alternativa motivadora amb recursos per tal de treballar la música, en el dia a dia de l’aula, no com una competència més sinó de manera globalitzada, podent partir d’aquesta per a treballar altres competències

Proximate composition and amino acid profile of rice husk biodegraded with Pleurotus ostreatusfor different periods

Native rice husk (NRH) was fermented with Pleurotus ostreatus for 7, 14 and 21 days to improve the nutritional values. The proximate composition and amino acid profiles were determined. The results showed that crude fibre (CF), nitrogen free extract (NFE), acid detergent fibre (ADF), and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) were significantly higher (p<0.05) in the NRH (with values 13.37%,42.93%, 17.45% and13.42%, respectively) while corresponding lowest values of 12.14%, 34.26%, 12.27% and 12.41% were obtained in the 14 days samples. Crude protein (CP) was significantly highest (p<0.05) in the 7 days fermentation (12.37%) but lowest in the 21 days (7.94%). The nitrogen free extract (NFE) values were similar and higher (p<0.05) in the NRH (control), 7 and 21 days fermentation that is 42.93%, 40.37% and 39.53%, respectively. The calculated metabolizable energy (ME) was similar and higher (p<0.05) for the fermented native rice husk at 7, 14 and 21 days that is 2289.19, 2308.77 and 2328.59 kcal/kg, respectively. Dry matter (DM), ash, calcium and phosphorous values were not influenced (p<0.05) by the fungi treatment of the NRH. Essential amino acids (EAA) values viz; lysine (4.94 g/100g), valine (7.34 g/100g), threonine (4.81 g/100g), isoleucine (4.83 g/100g) and phenylalanine (5.59 g/100g) were higher (p<0.05) in the 14 days fermentation with p. ostreatus while others that are non-essential amino acids (NEAA) in this group include alanine (7.06 g/100g) and tyrosine (4.12 g/100g). Glycine (6.02 g/100g), serine (5.18 g/100g), proline (4.85 g/100g), leucine (7.44 g/100g), glutamate (14.54 g/100g) and arginine (8.51 g/100g) values were higher (p<0.05) in the 21 days while aspartate (8.70 g/100g), histidine (2.37 g/100g), methionine (2.69 g/100g), tyrosine (4.20 g/100g) and cystine (2.09 g/100g) were higher (p<0.05) in the 7 days treatment. All the amino acids with the exception of glycine, alanine and aspartate had lowest (p<0.05) values recorded in the native rice husk. The total amino acids (TAA), total essential amino acids (TEAA), total non-essential amino acids (TNEAA) were all significantly higher in the 7 days fermentation (95.43, 45.01 and 50.42, respectively) and the lowest values in the NRH. Percent EAA followed the same trend while %NEAA was highest in the NRH. Fermentation of native rice husk for 7 days improved its nutritive value and consequently increased its usage as a component of livestock feed.Key words: Native Rice Husk, Fermentation, Proximate Composition, Amino Acid

Dynamic workload management for multi-RPAS pilots

This document describes a key aspect of NtoM, a concept of operations (ConOps) currently under development, which focuses on the awareness, productivity and safety of Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) pilots controlling several flights at once in non-segregated airspace. An explanation will be given of how the ConOps suggests capturing, representing, managing and predicting the workload of the pilots. To illustrate some of the features of the concept, it was necessary to define a representation of the workload associated to the tasks. A synthetic task environment that used the NtoM prototype was built and used to evaluate the requirements of time and attention of pseudo-pilots based on their performance while executing the tasks and task overlaps, determine the top threshold of workload allowed for a pilot and detect incompatibilities among tasks. These values served as a reference to design demanding test scenarios, which helped to reveal weaknesses and inspire improvements that were addressed in the following stage of development.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

NtoM: a concept of operations for pilots of multiple remotely piloted aircraft

The concept of operations proposed here pursues the feasibility, from a human factors perspective, of having a single pilot/aircrew controlling several remotely piloted aircraft systems at once in non-segregated airspace. To meet such feasibility, this multitasking must be safe and not interfere with the job of the air traffic controllers due to delays or errors associated with parallel piloting. To that end, a set of measures at several levels is suggested, which includes workload prediction and balance, pilot activity monitoring, and a special emphasis on interface usability and the pilot’s situational awareness. The concept relies greatly on the exploitation of the potential of Controller-Pilot Data Link Communications, anticipating future widespread implementation and full use. Experiments comparing the performance of the same pseudo-pilots before and after the implementation of part of the measures showed a decrease in the number of errors, oversights and subjective stress.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

A conceptual review of engagement in healthcare and rehabilitation

Purpose: This review sought to develop an understanding of how engagement in healthcare has been conceptualized in the literature in order to inform future clinical practice and research in rehabilitation. A secondary purpose was to propose a working definition of engagement. Methods: EBSCO and SCOPUS databases and reference lists were searched for papers that sought to understand or describe the concept of engagement in healthcare or reported the development of a measure of engagement in healthcare. We drew on a Pragmatic Utility approach to concept analysis. Results: Thirty-one articles met the criteria and were included in the review. Engagement appeared to be conceptualized in two inter-connected ways: as a gradual process of connection between the healthcare provider and patient; and as an internal state, which may be accompanied by observable behaviors indicating engagement. Conclusion: Our review suggests engagement to be multi-dimensional, comprising both a co-constructed process and a patient state. While engagement is commonly considered a patient behavior, the review findings suggest clinicians play a pivotal role in patient engagement. This review challenges some understandings of engagement and how we work with patients and highlights conceptual limitations of some measures. Implications for Rehabilitation Engagement appears to be a multi-dimensional construct, comprising both a co-constructed process and a patient state. Conceptualizing engagement as a co-constructed process may help clinicians be more aware of their role in patient engagement and sees the responsibility to engage shift from the patient to the therapeutic dyad. Challenges in engagement may be a prompt to reflect on how the clinician is working and whether different ways of working may be beneficial

Hope in People With Aphasia

Background: Hope is considered to be important for health, recovery, and rehabilitation outcomes in a range of healthcare populations. Little is known about hope in people following stroke, and even less is known about hope in people with aphasia following stroke as they are commonly excluded from research in this field. Aims: This study aimed to explore how hope was experienced by people with aphasia following stroke during the post-acute period of rehabilitation, and to identify factors influencing the experience of hope. Methods & Procedures: This study utilised an Interpretive Description methodology. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with five people with aphasia. Supported conversation techniques were used to facilitate full contribution of participants. Data were analysed using a number of approaches—coding, thematic analysis, narrative construction, diagramming, and memoing. Outcomes & Results: Hope was experienced in two ways. Simply ‘having’ hope was a broad but passive sense of hope which appeared to be the primary, constant form of hope. Actively hoping was an active, future-oriented form of hope that was experienced intermittently by participants. The experience of hope appeared dynamic and complex and seemingly influenced by three primary factors: uncertainty about the future; viewing hope as double-sided; and a sense of disruption. These were in turn influenced by a person's past experiences, present reality and perceived future. Conclusions: Hope is considered important by people with aphasia. It appears related to how people engage in rehabilitation and may be influenced by clinicians. As such, it is a concept that therapists should be aware of. Suggestions for how clinicians may consider and address hope are provided and discussed