Estimating underwater light diffuse attenuation with low-cost devices: optimal sensor configuration analysis using radiative transfer models

Peer Reviewe

A Risk-Based Model Predictive Control Approach to Adaptive Interventions in Behavioral Health

This brief examines how control engineering and risk management techniques can be applied in the field of behavioral health through their use in the design and implementation of adaptive behavioral interventions. Adaptive interventions are gaining increasing acceptance as a means to improve prevention and treatment of chronic, relapsing disorders, such as abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, mental illness, and obesity. A risk-based model predictive control (MPC) algorithm is developed for a hypothetical intervention inspired by Fast Track, a real-life program whose long-term goal is the prevention of conduct disorders in at-risk children. The MPC-based algorithm decides on the appropriate frequency of counselor home visits, mentoring sessions, and the availability of after-school recreation activities by relying on a model that includes identifiable risks, their costs, and the cost/benefit assessment of mitigating actions. MPC is particularly suited for the problem because of its constraint-handling capabilities, and its ability to scale to interventions involving multiple tailoring variables. By systematically accounting for risks and adapting treatment components over time, an MPC approach as described in this brief can increase intervention effectiveness and adherence while reducing waste, resulting in advantages over conventional fixed treatment. A series of simulations are conducted under varying conditions to demonstrate the effectiveness of the algorithm

On the relative efficacy of electropermeation and isothermal desorption approaches for measuring hydrogen diffusivity

The relative efficacy of electrochemical permeation (EP) and isothermal desorption spectroscopy (ITDS) methods for determining the hydrogen diffusivity is investigated using cold-rolled pure iron. The diffusivities determined from 13 first transient and 8 second transient EP experiments, evaluated using the conventional lag and breakthrough time methods, are compared to the results of 10 ITDS experiments. Results demonstrate that the average diffusivity is similar between the second EP transient and ITDS, which are distinctly increased relative to the first EP transient. However, the coefficient of variation for the ITDS experiments is reduced by 2 and 3-fold relative to the first and second EP transients, confirming the improved repeatability of ITDS diffusivity measurements. The source of the increased error in EP measurements is systematically evaluated, revealing an important influence of assumed electrochemical boundary conditions on the analysis and interpretation of EP experiments

Predicción del rendimiento académico en las nuevas titulaciones de grado de la EPS de la Universidad de Córdoba

En este artículo se describe una experiencia de innovación docente que tiene como finalidad predecir el rendimiento académico de los estudiantes de primer curso de grado universitario utilizando técnicas de minería de datos. La investigación se ha realizado utilizando información de los alumnos de tres asignaturas de introducción a la informática que se han impartido durante el primer cuatrimestre del curso 2010-11 en las distintas titulaciones de grado de la Escuela Politécnica Superior de la Universidad de Córdoba.SUMMARY -- In this paper, we describe an educational innovation experience about the prediction of the students’ academic performance during the first year of university degree by applying data mining techniques. The research has been carried out by using the information of students of three subjects about introduction to computer science during the first semester of 2010-11 academic year in the different degrees of the Higher Technical College of the University of Cordoba.Peer Reviewe

Public Health Considerations for PM₁₀ in a High-Pollution Megacity: Influences of Atmospheric Condition and Land Coverage

Restrictions apply to the availability of these data. Data was obtained from Red de Monitoreo de Calidad del Aire de Bogotá (RMCAB) and are available at http://201.245.192.252:81/Report/stationreport with the permission of RMCAB.[Abstract] This paper analyzes the PM₁₀ concentrations and influences of atmospheric condition (AC) and land coverage (LC) on a high-pollution megacity (Bogota, Colombia) from a public health viewpoint. Information of monitoring stations equipped with measuring devices for PM₁₀/temperature/solar-radiation/wind-speed were used. The research period lasted eight years (2007–2014). AC and LC were determined after comparing daily PM₁₀ concentrations (DPM₁₀) to reference limits published by the World Health Organization (WHO). ARIMA models for DPM₁₀ were also developed. The results indicated that urban sectors with lower atmospheric instability (AI) had a 2.85% increase in daily mortality (DM) in relation to sectors with greater AI. In these sectors of lower AI, impervious LC predominated, instead of vegetated LC. An ARIMA analysis revealed that a greater extent of impervious LC around a station led to a greater effect on previous days’ DPM₁₀ concentrations. Extreme PM₁₀ episodes persisted for up to two days. Extreme pollution episodes were probably also preceded by low mixing-layer heights (between 722–1085 m). The findings showed a 13.0% increase in WHO standard excesses (PE) for each 10 µg/m³ increase in DPM₁₀, and a 0.313% increase in DM for each 10% increase in PE. The observed average reduction of 14.8% in DPM₁₀ (−0.79% in DM) was probably due to 40% restriction of the traffic at peak hours.http://201.245.192.252:81/Report/stationrepor

Ternary cluster decay within the liquid drop model

Longitudinal ternary and binary fission barriers of $^{36}$Ar, $^{56}$Ni and $^{252}$Cf nuclei have been determined within a rotational liquid drop model taking into account the nuclear proximity energy. For the light nuclei the heights of the ternary fission barriers become competitive with the binary ones at high angular momenta since the maximum lies at an outer position and has a much higher moment of inertia.Comment: Talk presented at the 9th International Conference on Clustering Aspects of Nuclear Structure and Dynamics (CLUSTERS'07

A Model-Driven Approach for Wearable Systems Developments

This paper proposes a model-driven approach for developing high-level software interfaces that allow developers to interact with wearable devices easily. These components hide the heterogeneity of the devices interfaces and provide developers with a simple and homogeneous way to interoperate with these digital peripherals. The use of this approach also allows reducing risks and development efforts.This work has been partially funded by the Facultad de Educación, Economía y Tecnología de Ceuta under the “Contrato-Programa” of research for the period 2013–2015. This work has also been supported by Fondecyt (Chile), Grant no. 1150252. The authors would also like to acknowledge input from COST Action AAPELE (IC1303)

Scaling Up Psychological Treatments: A Countrywide Test of the Online Training of Therapists.

BACKGROUND: A major barrier to the widespread dissemination of psychological treatments is the way that therapists are trained. The current method is not scalable. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to conduct a proof-of-concept study of Web-centered training, a scalable online method for training therapists. METHODS: The Irish Health Service Executive identified mental health professionals across the country whom it wanted to be trained in a specific psychological treatment for eating disorders. These therapists were given access to a Web-centered training program in transdiagnostic cognitive behavior therapy for eating disorders. The training was accompanied by a scalable form of support consisting of brief encouraging telephone calls from a nonspecialist. The trainee therapists completed a validated measure of therapist competence before and after the training. RESULTS: Of 102 therapists who embarked upon the training program, 86 (84.3%) completed it. There was a substantial increase in their competence scores following the training (mean difference 5.84, 95% Cl -6.62 to -5.05; P<.001) with 42.5% (34/80) scoring above a predetermined cut-point indicative of a good level of competence. CONCLUSIONS: Web-centered training proved feasible and acceptable and resulted in a marked increase in therapist competence scores. If these findings are replicated, Web-centered training would provide a means of simultaneously training large numbers of geographically dispersed trainees at low cost, thereby overcoming a major obstacle to the widespread dissemination of psychological treatments