Hidden cusps

International audienceThis paper investigates a situation pointed out in a recent paper, in which a non-singular change of assembly mode of a planar 2-RPR-PR parallel manipulator was realized by encircling a point of multiplicity 4. It is shown that this situation is, in fact, a non-generic one and gives rise to cusps under a small perturbation. Furthermore , we show that, for a large class of singularities of multiplicity 4, there are only two types of stable singularities occurring in a small perturbation: these two types are given by the complex square mapping and the quarto mapping. Incidentally , this paper confirms the fact that, generically, a local non-singular change of solution must be accomplished by encircling a cusp point

Application of stochastic programming to reduce uncertainties in quality-based supply planning of slaughterhouses

To match products of different quality with end market preferences under supply uncertainty, it is crucial to integrate product quality information in logistics decision making. We present a case of this integration in a meat processing company that faces uncertainty in delivered livestock quality. We develop a stochastic programming model that exploits historical product quality delivery data to produce slaughterhouse allocation plans with reduced levels of uncertainty in received livestock quality. The allocation plans generated by this model fulfil demand for multiple quality features at separate slaughterhouses under prescribed service levels while minimizing transportation costs. We test the model on real world problem instances generated from a data set provided by an industrial partner. Results show that historical farmer delivery data can be used to reduce uncertainty in quality of animals to be delivered to slaughterhouses

Supply Chain Intelligence

This chapter provides on overall picture of business intelligence (BI) and supply chain analytics (SCA) as a means to support supply chain management (SCM) and decision-making. Based on the literature review, we clarify the needs of BI and performance measurement in the SCM sphere, and discuss its potential to enhance decision-making in strategic, tactical and operational levels. We also make a closer look in to SCA in different areas and functions of SCM. Our findings indicate that the main challenge for harnessing the full potential of SCA is the lack of holistic and integrated BI approaches that originates from the fact that each functional area is using its own IT applications without necessary integration in to the company’s overall BI system. Following this examination, we construct a holistic framework that illustrates how an integrated, managerially planned BI system can be developed. Finally, we discuss the main competency requirements, as well as the challenges still prohibiting the great majority of firms from building smart and comprehensive BI systems for SCM.fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed

Bladder cancer index: cross-cultural adaptation into Spanish and psychometric evaluation

BACKGROUND: The Bladder Cancer Index (BCI) is so far the only instrument applicable across all bladder cancer patients, independent of tumor infiltration or treatment applied. We developed a Spanish version of the BCI, and assessed its acceptability and metric properties. METHODS: For the adaptation into Spanish we used the forward and back-translation method, expert panels, and cognitive debriefing patient interviews. For the assessment of metric properties we used data from 197 bladder cancer patients from a multi-center prospective study. The Spanish BCI and the SF-36 Health Survey were self-administered before and 12 months after treatment. Reliability was estimated by Cronbach's alpha. Construct validity was assessed through the multi-trait multi-method matrix. The magnitude of change was quantified by effect sizes to assess responsiveness. RESULTS: Reliability coefficients ranged 0.75-0.97. The validity analysis confirmed moderate associations between the BCI function and bother subscales for urinary (r = 0.61) and bowel (r = 0.53) domains; conceptual independence among all BCI domains (r ≤ 0.3); and low correlation coefficients with the SF-36 scores, ranging 0.14-0.48. Among patients reporting global improvement at follow-up, pre-post treatment changes were statistically significant for the urinary domain and urinary bother subscale, with effect sizes of 0.38 and 0.53. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish BCI is well accepted, reliable, valid, responsive, and similar in performance compared to the original instrument. These findings support its use, both in Spanish and international studies, as a valuable and comprehensive tool for assessing quality of life across a wide range of bladder cancer patients

Asymptotic statistical analysis for model-based control design strategies

In this paper, we generalize existing fundamental limitations on the accuracy of the estimation of dynamic models. In addition, we study the large sample statistical behavior of different estimation-based controller design strategies. In particular, fundamental limitations on the closed-loop performance using a controller obtained by Virtual Reference Feedback Tuning (VRFT) are studied. We also extend our results to more general estimation-based control design strategies. We present numerical examples to show the application of our results. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.This work has been partially supported by the project GVPRE/2008/116 financed by Generalitat Valenciana (Spain). This paper was not presented at any IFAC meeting. This paper was recommended for publication in revised form by Associate Editor Guoxiang Gu under the direction of Editor Torsten Soderstrom.Esparza Peidro, A.; Agüero, JC.; Rojas, CR.; Godoy, BI. (2011). Asymptotic statistical analysis for model-based control design strategies. Automatica. 47(5):1041-1046. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.automatica.2011.01.0581041104647

Epidemiology and burden of acute otitis media in valencia (spain)

El objetivo consiste en estimar el impacto (incidencia, tratamiento y complicaciones) de la otitis media aguda (OMA) y la otitis media serosa (OMS) en los niños menores de 5 años de la Comunidad Valenciana (España).The aim is to assess the burden (incidence, treatment and complications) of acute otitis media (AOM) and otitis media with effusion (OME) in children younger than 5 years of age from Valencia, Spain.Medicin