Two new approaches to spatial interpolation with inherent sidelobe suppression for imaging riometers

Absorption images as obtained by imaging riometers such as IRIS are usually created by interpolating between absorption values for individual beams. For IRIS, the locations of the beam centres serve as grid points for subsequent linear interpolation. Although generally producing good results, the fact that the actual shape of the imaging beams is not considered, potentially introduces errors and can lead to misinterpretations. In this paper, two alternative interpolation methods are introduced. Method A is based on measuring the similarity between simulated reception of individual point sources and actually received data. Method B uses a mathematical model of the sky brightness distribution parametrised by the received data. All interpolation methods are applied to power data, as opposed to absorption data, in order to avoid any errors that might be introduced by intermediate processing steps, especially QDC (quiet-day curve) generation. We apply all methods to synthetically generated test data as well as to three exemplary real datasets which are also compared to a calculated sky brightness distribution obtained from a skymap

TARGETED NETWORK ANOMALY DETECTION

Techniques are described herein for clustering network hosts based on their network behavior to create groups of hosts that behave similarly. An anomaly detection model trained on a single group of network hosts is more robust to fluctuations of the behavior of individual hosts when compared to the per host models. When comparing to the group all models that are trained using the behavior of all network hosts, finer anomalies (e.g., stealthy data exfiltration) that would otherwise be hidden may be detected by modelling diversely behaving network hosts

Goals of patients with rehabilitation needs in acute hospitals: goal achivement is an indicator for improved functioning

OBJECTIVE: To identify goals of patients with rehabilitation needs in the acute hospital setting using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), to examine association of goal achievement with improvement in overall functioning, and to examine whether ICF Core Sets for the acute hospital cover patients goals. DESIGN: Multi-centre cohort study. PATIENTS: A total of 397 patients (50 female, mean age 63 years) from 5 hospitals in Austria, Switzerland and Germany. METHODS: A semi-structured questionnaire was used to assess patient goals and goal achievement. Overall functioning from the patients' and health professionals' perspective was assessed on a numerical rating scale. Improvement in functioning was calculated using a residualized gain score. Association between goal achievement and improvement in overall functioning was assessed with logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 397 patients reported achievement of at least 1 goal. Eighty-eight percent of the goals were translated into categories of the ICF. Logistic regression analyses revealed significant association between goal achievement and overall functioning. CONCLUSION: The ICF might be useful to identify and structure patient's goals in acute hospital care. The association between goal achievement and improved functioning underlines that it is essential to involve the patient in the process of planning rehabilitation interventions in acute hospitals

On the Road Again – Using Rule-Oriented and Participative Leadership to Reduce Threats and Violence in the Construction Industry

Threats and violence are acute safety issues in many industries and effect a large proportion of the Swedish workforce. In the construction industry, more than half of constructions workers redirecting traffic at construction sites are subjected to threats or violence at least once a year. To help construction companies to systematically address and handle health and safety issues in accordance with the Provisions of the Swedish Work Environment Authority on Systematic Work Environment Management, an interventions method named Building Health has been developed by Gyllensten and colleagues. The intervention involved rule-oriented and participative leadership practise and was evaluated through a single case effect study in a middle-sized construction company. The results showed significant reductions in the one-year prevalence of threats of violence (pre-intervention = 35.0%; post-intervention = 19.0%; χ2 = 7.047; p = .008), feelings of being threatened (pre-intervention = 42.7%; post-intervention = 23.8%; χ2 = 9.188; p = .002), and conflicts with third parties (pre-intervention = 48.5%; post-intervention = 30.6%; χ2 = 7.913; p = .005). Combining rule-oriented and participative leadership when helping construction companies to improve their systematic work environment management for efficient handling of health and safety issues can have substantial positive effects on employees’ work environment

Influence of destructive leadership behaviors on the meaning of work and work productivity

This study aimed to determine the influence of destructive leadership behaviors on employees’ meaning of work and work productivity, using a longitudinal research design. Local government organizations in a municipality in Sweden were invited to participate in the study. Self-rated questionnaire data on employees’ meaning of work and work productivity was collected at four time points over a period of 18 months, and 582 employees responded to the questionnaire on one or more occasions. A 4-item Destructive Leadership Scale (DLS) was developed and used at the first time point to assess the destructive leadership behaviors of incoherent planning, assigning unnecessary tasks, ambiguous expectations, and autocratic behavior. Latent growth models were used to analyze the influence of destructive leadership on the change in employees’ meaning of work and work productivity over the 18-month period. The results show that destructive leadership has a significant negative influence on employees’ meaning of work (β = −0.44, p = 0.02) and work productivity (β = −0.46, p = 0.04). The effect sizes were greater than those identified in previous cross-sectional studies, indicating that the effects of destructive leadership may accumulate and become more important over time. Important destructive leadership behaviors include incoherent planning, assigning unnecessary tasks, ambiguous expectations, and autocratic behavior. These behaviors have a significant negative effect on employees’ meaning of work and work productivity. Proactive assessment of destructive leadership behaviors is warranted to improve future selection and training of managers

On Computing Morphological Similarity of Audio Signals

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Patient goals in post-acute geriatric rehabilitation: goal attainment is an indicator for improved functioning

OBJECTIVE: To identify goals of older patients in geriatric rehabilitation and to measure their improvement in overall functioning. DESIGN: A prospective multi-centre cohort study. METHODS: A semi-structured questionnaire was used to identify patient goals and to assess improvement in overall functioning from patients' and health professionals' perspectives. Patients' goals were linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Using a residualized change score, we identified patients who improved more than statistically expected. RESULTS: A total of 209 patients gave 476 statements. Of these, 346 (72.7) statements were linked to 58 different ICF categories. More than 90 of the ICF categories were part of the comprehensive geriatric ICF Core Set. "Walking", "getting rid of pain", "autonomy" and "returning home" were the most frequently reported goals. Multivariable analysis identified shorter length of inpatient stay and goal attainment to be significant predictors for an improvement in overall functioning from the patients' perspective. CONCLUSION: The ICF can be used to identify and structure patients' goals in geriatric rehabilitation. The association between goal attainment and improved overall functioning underlines the necessity of considering the patients' perspective in the rehabilitation process

Identification of aspects of functioning, disability and health relevant to patients experiencing vertigo: a qualitative study using the international classification of functioning, disability and health

Purpose: Aims of this study were to identify aspects of functioning and health relevant to patients with vertigo expressed by ICF categories and to explore the potential of the ICF to describe the patient perspective in vertigo. Methods: We conducted a series of qualitative semi-structured face-to-face interviews using a descriptive approach. Data was analyzed using the meaning condensation procedure and then linked to categories of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Results: From May to July 2010 12 interviews were carried out until saturation was reached. Four hundred and seventy-one single concepts were extracted which were linked to 142 different ICF categories. 40 of those belonged to the component body functions, 62 to the component activity and participation, and 40 to the component environmental factors. Besides the most prominent aspect "dizziness" most participants reported problems within "Emotional functions (b152), problems related to mobility and carrying out the daily routine. Almost all participants reported "Immediate family (e310)" as a relevant modifying environmental factor. Conclusions: From the patients' perspective, vertigo has impact on multifaceted aspects of functioning and disability, mainly body functions and activities and participation. Modifying contextual factors have to be taken into account to cover the complex interaction between the health condition of vertigo on the individuals' daily life. The results of this study will contribute to developing standards for the measurement of functioning, disability and health relevant for patients suffering from vertigo

Patient goals in post-acute geriatric rehabilitation: goal attainment is an indicator for improved functioning

OBJECTIVE: To identify goals of older patients in geriatric rehabilitation and to measure their improvement in overall functioning. DESIGN: A prospective multi-centre cohort study. METHODS: A semi-structured questionnaire was used to identify patient goals and to assess improvement in overall functioning from patients' and health professionals' perspectives. Patients' goals were linked to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Using a residualized change score, we identified patients who improved more than statistically expected. RESULTS: A total of 209 patients gave 476 statements. Of these, 346 (72.7) statements were linked to 58 different ICF categories. More than 90 of the ICF categories were part of the comprehensive geriatric ICF Core Set. "Walking", "getting rid of pain", "autonomy" and "returning home" were the most frequently reported goals. Multivariable analysis identified shorter length of inpatient stay and goal attainment to be significant predictors for an improvement in overall functioning from the patients' perspective. CONCLUSION: The ICF can be used to identify and structure patients' goals in geriatric rehabilitation. The association between goal attainment and improved overall functioning underlines the necessity of considering the patients' perspective in the rehabilitation process

Functioning and health in patients with cancer on home-parenteral nutrition: a qualitative study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Malnutrition is a common problem in patients with cancer. One possible strategy to prevent malnutrition and further deterioration is to administer home-parenteral nutrition (HPN). While the effect on survival is still not clear, HPN presumably improves functioning and quality of life. Thus, patients' experiences concerning functioning and quality of life need to be considered when deciding on the provision of HPN. Currently used quality of life measures hardly reflect patients' perspectives and experiences. The objective of our study was to investigate the perspectives of patients with cancer on their experience of functioning and health in relation to HPN in order to get an item pool to develop a comprehensive measure to assess the impact of HPN in this population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We conducted a series of qualitative semi-structured interviews. The interviews were analysed to identify categories of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) addressed by patients' statements. Patients were consecutively included in the study until an additional patient did not yield any new information.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We extracted 94 different ICF-categories from 16 interviews representing patient-relevant aspects of functioning and health (32 categories from the ICF component 'Body Functions', 10 from 'Body Structures', 32 from 'Activities & Participation', 18 from 'Environmental Factors'). About 8% of the concepts derived from the interviews could not be linked to specific ICF categories because they were either too general, disease-specific or pertained to 'Personal Factors'. Patients referred to 22 different aspects of functioning improving due to HPN; mainly activities of daily living, mobility, sleep and emotional functions.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The ICF proved to be a satisfactory framework to standardize the response of patients with cancer on HPN. For most aspects reported by the patients, a matching concept and ICF category could be found. The development of categories of the component 'Personal Factors' should be promoted to close the existing gap when analyzing interviews using the ICF. The identification and standardization of concepts derived from individual interviews was the first step towards creating new measures based on patients' preferences and experiences which both catch the most relevant aspects of functioning and are sensitive enough to monitor change associated to an intervention such as HPN in a vulnerable population with cancer.</p