Beyond Control-Flow: Extending Business Process Configuration to Roles and Objects

A configurable process model is an integrated representation of multiple variants of a business process. It is designed to be individualized to meet a particular set of requirements. As such, configurable process models promote systematic reuse of proven or common practices. Existing notations for configurable process modeling focus on capturing tasks and control-flow dependencies, neglecting equally important aspects of business processes such as data flow, material flow and resource management. This paper fills this gap by proposing an integrated meta-model for configurable processes with advanced features for capturing resources involved in the performance of tasks (through task-role associations) as well as flow of data and physical artifacts (through task-object associations). Although embodied as an extension of a popular process modeling notation, namely EPC, the meta-model is defined in an abstract and formal manner to make it applicable to other notations

Proximity Effect and Multiple Andreev Reflections in Chaotic Josephson junctions

We study the dc-current transport in a voltage biased superconductor-chaotic dot-superconductor junction with an induced proximity effect(PE) in the dot. It is found that for a Thouless energy $E_{Th}$ of the dot smaller than the superconducting energy gap $\Delta$, the PE is manifested as peaks in the differential conductance at voltages of order $E_{Th}$ away from the even subharmonic gap structures $eV \approx 2(\Delta\pm E_{Th})/2n$. These peaks are insensitive to temperatures $kT \ll \Delta$ but are suppressed by a weak magnetic field. The current for suppressed PE is independent of $E_{Th}$ and magnetic field and is shown to be given by the Octavio-Tinkham-Blonder-Klapwijk theory.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Reliability and validity of subjective measures of aerobic intensity in adults with spinal cord injury: a systematic review

Objective: To systematically synthesize and appraise research regarding test-retest reliability or criterion validity of subjective measures for assessing aerobic exercise intensity in adults with spinal cord injury (SCI). Data Sources: Electronic databases (Pubmed, PsychINFO, SPORTDiscus, EMBASE and CINAHL) were searched from inception to 1-1-2016. Study Selection: Studies involving at least 50% of participants with SCI who performed an aerobic exercise test that included measurement of subjective and objective intensity based on test-retest reliability or criterion validity protocols. Data Extraction: Characteristics were extracted on study design, measures, participants, protocols, and results. Each study was evaluated for risk of bias based on strength of the study design and a quality checklist score (COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments [COSMIN]). Data Synthesis: The seven eligible studies (one for reliability, six for validity) evaluated overall, peripheral and/or central ratings of perceived exertion on a 6-20 scale (RPE 6-20). No eligible studies were identified for other subjective intensity measures. The evidence for reliability and validity were synthesized separately for each measure, and assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). Overall, very low GRADE confidence ratings were established for reliability and validity evidence generalizable to the entire population with SCI and various upper-body and lower-body modalities. There was low confidence for the evidence showing that overall RPE 6-20 has acceptable validity for adults with SCI and high fitness levels performing moderate to vigorous-intensity upper-body aerobic exercise. Conclusions: Health care professionals and scientists need to be aware of the very low to low confidence in the evidence, which currently prohibits a strong clinical recommendation for the use of subjective measures for assessing aerobic exercise intensity in adults with SCI. However, a tentative, conditional recommendation regarding overall RPE 6-20 seems applicable depending on participants’ fitness level as well as the exercise intensity and modality used

Bilateral scapular kinematics, asymmetries and shoulder pain in wheelchair athletes

Background Shoulder pain is the most common complaint for wheelchair athletes. Scapular orientation and dyskinesia are thought to be associated with shoulder pathology, yet no previous studies have examined the bilateral scapula kinematics of wheelchair athletes during propulsion. Research question To examine bilateral scapular kinematics of highly trained wheelchair rugby (WR) players and any associations with self-reported shoulder pain during everyday wheelchair propulsion. Methods Ten WR players (5 with shoulder pain, 5 without) performed 2 × 3-minute bouts of exercise in their everyday wheelchair on a wheelchair ergometer at two sub-maximal speeds (3 and 6 km∙h-1). During the final minute, 3D kinematic data were collected at 100 Hz to describe scapulothoracic motion relative to each propulsion cycle. Instantaneous asymmetries in scapular orientation between dominant and non-dominant sides were also reported. Differences in scapular kinematics and propulsion asymmetries were compared across shoulders symptomatic and asymptomatic of pain. Results An internally rotated, upwardly rotated and anteriorly tilted scapula was common during wheelchair propulsion and asymmetries ≤ 14° did exist, yet minimal changes were observed across speeds. Participants with bilateral shoulder pain displayed a less upwardly rotated scapula during propulsion, however large inter-individual variability in scapular kinematics was noted. Significance Scapular asymmetries are exhibited by wheelchair athletes during wheelchair propulsion, yet these were not exacerbated by increased speed and had limited associations to shoulder pain. This suggests that propulsion kinematics of highly trained athletes may not be the primary cause of pain experienced by this population

Stability of the timing of food intake at daily and monthly timescales in young adults

Cross-sectional observations have shown that the timing of eating may be important for health-related outcomes. Here we examined the stability of eating timing, using both clock hour and relative circadian time, across one semester (n = 14) at daily and monthly time-scales. At three time points ~ 1 month apart, circadian phase was determined during an overnight in-laboratory visit and eating was photographically recorded for one week to assess timing and composition. Day-to-day stability was measured using the Composite Phase Deviation (deviation from a perfectly regular pattern) and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were used to determine individual stability across months (weekly average compared across months). Day-to-day clock timing of caloric events had poor stability within individuals (~ 3-h variation; ICC = 0.12–0.34). The timing of eating was stable across months (~ 1-h variation, ICCs ranging from 0.54–0.63), but less stable across months when measured relative to circadian timing (ICC = 0.33–0.41). Our findings suggest that though day-to-day variability in the timing of eating has poor stability, the timing of eating measured for a week is stable across months within individuals. This indicates two relevant timescales: a monthly timescale with more stability in eating timing than a daily timescale. Thus, a single day’s food documentation may not represent habitual (longer timescale) patterns

Articulation and Sharing of Distributed Design Project and Process Knowledge

The paper reports on the work in the case study of the AC-TIVE project on the use of the combination of knowledge process learning, articulation and sharing technologies for increasing the performance and decreasing the ramp-up efforts in engineering design projects. This knowledge is mined from distributed heterogeneous datasets, fused, and further used for visualizing design project plan information in a way that suggests optimized project plans and fosters collaboration on these knowledge structures in development teams. Software demonstrator architecture, implementation and validation are presented. Validation results indicate that the solution is effective in providing expert assistance to design project managers in performing their typical planning tasks

Hamiltonian approach to the ac Josephson effect in superconducting-normal hybrid systems

The ac Josephson effect in hybrid systems of a normal mesoscopic conductor coupled to two superconducting (S) leads is investigated theoretically. A general formula of the ac components of time-dependent current is derived which is valid for arbitrary interactions in the normal region. We apply this formula to analyze a S-normal-S system where the normal region is a noninteracting single level quantum dot. We report the physical behavior of time-averaged nonequilibrium distribution of electrons in the quantum dot, the formation of Andreev bound states, and ac components of the time-dependent current. The distribution is found to exhibit a population inversion; and all Andreev bound states between the superconducting gap $\Delta$ carry the same amount of current and in the same flow direction. The ac components of time-dependent current show strong oscillatory behavior in marked contrast to the subharmonic gap structure of the average current.Comment: 23 pages, 10 figures, LaTe

Sprint performance and propulsion asymmetries on an ergometer in trained high- and low-point wheelchair rugby players

The purpose of this study was to examine the propulsion asymmetries of wheelchair athletes whilst sprinting on an instrumented, dual-roller ergometer system. Eighteen experienced wheelchair rugby players (8 low-point (LP) (class ≤1.5) and 10 high-point (HP) (class ≥2.0)) performed a 15s sprint in their sports wheelchair on the instrumented ergometer. Asymmetry was defined as the difference in distance and power output (PO) between left and right sides when the best side reached 28m. Propulsion techniques were quantified based on torque and velocity data. HP players covered an average 3m further than the LP players (P=0.002) and achieved faster sprint times than LP players (6.95 ± 0.89 vs. 8.03 ± 0.68 s, P=0.005) and at the time the best player finished (5.96 s). Higher peak PO’s (667 ± 108 vs. 357 ± 78 W, P=0.0001) and greater peak speeds were also evident were for HP players (4.80 ± 0.71 vs. 4.09 ± 0.45 m·s-1, P=0.011). Greater asymmetries were found in HP players for distance (1.86 ± 1.43 vs. 0.70 ± 0.65 m, P=0.016), absolute peak PO (P=0.049) and speed (0.35 ± 0.25 vs. 0.11 ± 0.10 m·s-1, P=0.009). Although HP players had faster sprint times over 28m (achieved by a higher PO), high standard deviations show the heterogeneity within the two groups (e.g. some LP players were better than HP players). Quantification of asymmetries is not only important for classifiers but also for sports practitioners wishing to improve performance as they could be addressed through training and/or wheelchair configuration

Non-Equilibrium Quasiclassical Theory for Josephson Structures

We present a non-equilibrium quasiclassical formalism suitable for studying linear response ac properties of Josephson junctions. The non-equilibrium self-consistency equations are satisfied, to very good accuracy, already in zeroth iteration. We use the formalism to study ac Josephson effect in a ballistic superconducting point contact. The real and imaginary parts of the ac linear conductance are calculated both analytically (at low frequencies) and numerically (at arbitrary frequency). They show strong temperature, frequency, and phase dependence. Many anomalous properties appear near phi = pi. We ascribe them to the presence of zero energy bound states.Comment: 11 pages, 9 figures, Final version to appear in PR

Multiple Andreev Reflection and Giant Excess Noise in Diffusive Superconductor/Normal-Metal/Superconductor Junctions

We have studied superconductor/normal metal/superconductor (SNS) junctions consisting of short Au or Cu wires between Nb or Al banks. The Nb based junctions display inherent electron heating effects induced by the high thermal resistance of the NS boundaries. The Al based junctions show in addition subharmonic gap structures in the differential conductance dI/dV and a pronounced peak in the excess noise at very low voltages V. We suggest that the noise peak is caused by fluctuations of the supercurrent at the onset of Josephson coupling between the superconducting banks. At intermediate temperatures where the supercurrent is suppressed a noise contribution ~1/V remains, which may be interpreted as shot noise originating from large multiple charges.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figures, extended versio