Matching patient and physician preferences in designing a primary care facility network

Cataloged from PDF version of article.This paper introduces an integer programming model for planning primary care facility networks, which accounts for the interests of different stakeholders while maximizing access to health care. Physician allocation to health-care facilities is explicitly modelled, which allows consideration of physician incentives in the planning phase. An illustrative case study in the Turkish primary care system is presented to show the implications of focusing on patient or physician preferences in the planning phase. A discussion of trade-offs between the different stakeholder preferences and some recommendations for modelling choices to match these preferences are provided. In the context of this case, we found that using an access measure that decays with distance, and incorporating nearest allocation constraints improves performance for all stakeholders. We also show that increasing the number of physicians may have adverse affects on access measures when physician preferences are addressed

A deep generic to specific recognition model for group membership analysis using non-verbal cues

Automatic understanding and analysis of groups has attracted increasing attention in the vision and multimedia communities in recent years. However, little attention has been paid to the automatic analysis of the non-verbal behaviors and how this can be utilized for analysis of group membership, i.e., recognizing which group each individual is part of. This paper presents a novel Support Vector Machine (SVM) based Deep Specific Recognition Model (DeepSRM) that is learned based on a generic recognition model. The generic recognition model refers to the model trained with data across different conditions, i.e., when people are watching movies of different types. Although the generic recognition model can provide a baseline for the recognition model trained for each specific condition, the different behaviors people exhibit in different conditions limit the recognition performance of the generic model. Therefore, the specific recognition model is proposed for each condition separately and built on the top of the generic recognition model. We conduct a set of experiments using a database collected to study group analysis while each group (i.e., four participants together) were watching a number of long movie segments. The proposed deep specific recognition model (44%) outperforms the generic recognition model (26%). The recognition of group membership also indicates that the non-verbal behaviors of individuals within a group share commonalities

Effects of Prolonged Intravenous Flunixin Meglumine in Healthy Dogs

This study was designed to evaluate possible side effects on liver and kidney functions and haematological indices, associated with long-term intravenous (IV) administration of flunixin meglumine in healthy dogs. For this purpose, 12 dogs were divided into 2 equal groups. Group 1 was intravenously given flunixin meglumine at the dose of 1.1 mg/kg/day for 5 days and g-roup 11 received 2.2 mg/kg/day IV for 5 days. Blood samples were withdrawn before treatment (day 0), 2 h post injection on each day of treatment and one day after the last injection for biochemical (glucose, sodium-Na, potassium-K, chloride-Cl, creatinine, urea, alkaline phosphatase-AP, alanine amino transferase-ALT and total protein) and haematological (bleeding time, coagulation time, red blood cell, white blood cell, platelet count, differential leukocyte count, haematocrit and haemoglobin) analyses. Faecal and urine samples were collected on the same days as blood samples for the presence of any abnormalities. The results revealed a significant increase in bleeding (P < 0.001) and coagulation time (P < 0.001) and a decrease in platelet count (P < 0.001) in both groups. There was also a significant increase in the concentration of Na and Cl in group 1 and an elevation in AP (P < 0.00 07 ALT (P < 0.001) and glucose (P < 0.001) in group II. Blood in urine and faeces was also evident in both groups. The results may suggest that the dose of 1.1 mg/kg IV for 5 d does not cause any significant side effects provided that no bleeding disorder exists. and the dose of 2.2 mg/kg IV for 5 d should not exceed 3 d as liver enzymes began to increase significantly afterwards

Variation of almond yield, biometry, α-tocopherol levels, and antioxidant properties with nitrogen fertilization

A two years’ experiment (2015–2016) was set in a factorial design in which the effect of two application forms of nitrogen (N) (soil and soil + foliar spray) in different doses (0, 25, 50, and 100 kg N ha-1) on almond (Prunus dulcis Mill. cv. “Masbovera”) was evaluated. Kernel yield, biometric properties, phytochemicals, and antioxidant activities were assessed. The results showed that almond kernel yield increases with an increment in N rate doses and was positively correlated with kernel weight and thickness, and negatively with fruit weight. The levels of α-tocopherol and total polyphenol content were higher with lower N doses (25 and 50 kg N ha–1). The antioxidant activities were positively correlated with polyphenol content. Based on our results, excessive N rates over 50 kg/ha depreciate the levels of α-tocopherol, total polyphenols, and antioxidant bioactivities of kernels. Practical applications Almond is an important nut (dry) fruit that contains high levels of α-tocopherol, moderate levels of polyphenols, and high antioxidant activities, all responsible for their claimed health-promoting properties. Almond trees are known by their alternate behavior in which kernel yield and levels of phytochemicals and other compounds are highly variable between years. This article studies the usage of a sustainable nitrogen fertilization program toward a reduction of their alternate behavior, preserving and promoting their antioxidant properties and their levels of phytochemicals, particularly α-tocopherol and polyphenols. Our findings may provide a useful guide for adequate nitrogen fertilization program toward a better almond kernel qualityinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Structural and Optical Properties of Diluted Magnetic Ga1−xMnxAs–AlAs Quantum Wells Grown on High-Index GaAs Planes

We report on the structural and optical properties of Ga₁₋ᵪ Mn ᵪ As-AlAs quantum wells (QWs) with χ=0.1% grown by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) on semi-insulating GaAs substrates with orientations (100), (110), (311)B and (411)B. Atomic force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and photoluminescence (PL) techniques were used to investigate these QWs. AFM results have evidenced the formation of Mn-induced islands, which are randomly distributed on the surface. These islands tend to segregate for samples grown on (110) and (411)B planes, while no clear segregation was observed for samples grown on (100) and (311)B orientations. Results show that the PL line width increases with Mn segregation. XRD measurements were used to determine 2θ,d and cell parameters

Characterisation and mechanical modelling of polyacrylonitrile-based nanocomposite membranes reinforced with silica nanoparticles

In this study, neat polyacrylonitrile (PAN) and fumed silica (FS)-doped PAN membranes (0.1, 0.5 and 1 wt% doped PAN/FS) are prepared using the phase inversion method and are characterised extensively. According to the Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis, the addition of FS to the neat PAN membrane and the added amount changed the stresses in the membrane structure. The Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) results show that the addition of FS increased the porosity of the membrane. The water content of all fabricated membranes varied between 50% and 88.8%, their porosity ranged between 62.1% and 90%, and the average pore size ranged between 20.1 and 21.8 nm. While the neat PAN membrane’s pure water flux is 299.8 L/m2 h, it increased by 26% with the addition of 0.5 wt% FS. Furthermore, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA) techniques are used to investigate the membranes’ thermal properties. Finally, the mechanical characterisation of manufactured membranes is performed experimentally with tensile testing under dry and wet conditions. To be able to provide further explanation to the explored mechanics of the membranes, numerical methods, namely the finite element method and Mori–Tanaka mean-field homogenisation are performed. The mechanical characterisation results show that FS reinforcement increases the membrane rigidity and wet membranes exhibit more compliant behaviour compared to dry membranes

Iso-osmotic regulation of nitrate accumulation in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)

Concerns about possible health hazards arising from human consumption of lettuce and other edible vegetable crops with high concentrations of nitrate have generated demands for a greater understanding of processes involved in its uptake and accumulation in order to devise more sustainable strategies for its control. This paper evaluates a proposed iso-osmotic mechanism for the regulation of nitrate accumulation in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) heads. This mechanism assumes that changes in the concentrations of nitrate and all other endogenous osmotica (including anions, cations and neutral solutes) are continually adjusted in tandem to minimise differences in osmotic potential of the shoot sap during growth, with these changes occurring independently of any variations in external water potential. The hypothesis was tested using data from six new experiments, each with a single unique treatment comprising a separate combination of light intensity, N source (nitrate with or without ammonium) and nitrate concentration carried out hydroponically in a glasshouse using a butterhead lettuce variety. Repeat measurements of plant weights and estimates of all of the main soluble constituents (nitrate, potassium, calcium, magnesium, organic anions, chloride, phosphate, sulphate and soluble carbohydrates) in the shoot sap were made at intervals from about 2 weeks after transplanting until commercial maturity, and the data used to calculate changes in average osmotic potential in the shoot. Results showed that nitrate concentrations in the sap increased when average light levels were reduced by between 30 and 49 % and (to a lesser extent) when nitrate was supplied at a supra-optimal concentration, and declined with partial replacement of nitrate by ammonium in the external nutrient supply. The associated changes in the proportions of other endogenous osmotica, in combination with the adjustment of shoot water content, maintained the total solute concentrations in shoot sap approximately constant and minimised differences in osmotic potential between treatments at each sampling date. There was, however, a gradual increase in osmotic potential (ie a decline in total solute concentration) over time largely caused by increases in shoot water content associated with the physiological and morphological development of the plants. Regression analysis using normalised data (to correct for these time trends) showed that the results were consistent with a 1:1 exchange between the concentrations of nitrate and the sum of all other endogenous osmotica throughout growth, providing evidence that an iso-osmotic mechanism (incorporating both concentration and volume regulation) was involved in controlling nitrate concentrations in the shoot

Workingage: providing occupational safety through pervasive Sensing and data driven behavior modeling

The aging of the working population calls for innovative approaches to monitor and support the changes of physical,physiological and psycho-social capabilities of workers over time, as well as to promote habits aimed at improving both health and productivity. This paper presents the WorkingAge (Smart Working Environments for All Ages - WA)project, which focuses on innovative Human Computer Interaction methods (such as augmented and/or virtual reality or gesture/voice/noise recognition or gaze tracking) to improve the users’ psychological/emotional/health state at workplaces. Based on Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and on data driven models of the users’ characteristics and behaviors, the WA Tool will monitor the state of users to automatically provide a set of suggestions promoting healthy habits in their working environment as well as in their daily living activities. The paper presents at the basis of the WA project, its hardware-software sensor architecture, and the elements of the ontology capturing the key concepts of the data collected to profile the users

A survey of performance enhancement of transmission control protocol (TCP) in wireless ad hoc networks

This Article is provided by the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund - Copyright @ 2011 Springer OpenTransmission control protocol (TCP), which provides reliable end-to-end data delivery, performs well in traditional wired network environments, while in wireless ad hoc networks, it does not perform well. Compared to wired networks, wireless ad hoc networks have some specific characteristics such as node mobility and a shared medium. Owing to these specific characteristics of wireless ad hoc networks, TCP faces particular problems with, for example, route failure, channel contention and high bit error rates. These factors are responsible for the performance degradation of TCP in wireless ad hoc networks. The research community has produced a wide range of proposals to improve the performance of TCP in wireless ad hoc networks. This article presents a survey of these proposals (approaches). A classification of TCP improvement proposals for wireless ad hoc networks is presented, which makes it easy to compare the proposals falling under the same category. Tables which summarize the approaches for quick overview are provided. Possible directions for further improvements in this area are suggested in the conclusions. The aim of the article is to enable the reader to quickly acquire an overview of the state of TCP in wireless ad hoc networks.This study is partly funded by Kohat University of Science & Technology (KUST), Pakistan, and the Higher Education Commission, Pakistan