Analog device simulates physiological waveforms

An analog physiological simulator generates representative waveforms for a wide range of physiological conditions. Direct comparison of these waveforms with those from telemetric inputs permits quick detection of signal parameter degradation

Using Different Approaches to Evaluate Individual Social Equity in Transport

Inequalities not only exist in the field of economics in relation to income and wealth, but also in other areas, such as the transport sector, where access to and use of different transport modes varies markedly across population groups, and which provides the means to access everyday living activities. A key concern within the transport sector is that inequality has extended beyond the traditional measures of travel, and now covers a wide range of effects relating to social exclusion, freedom, well-being and being able to access reasonable opportunities and resources. In order to address the aforementioned issues, an important question to resolve is what type of methods can be used to measure inequalities in transport most effectively. Therefore, this study aims to apply different approaches, including the Capabilities Approach (CA) and a further six inequality indices, namely the Gini coefficient, the Atkinson index, the Palma ratio, the Pietra ratio, the Schutz coefficient and the Theil index, to the case study using the relatively migrant-rich lower-income neighbourhood of Tuqiao, in Beijing, in order to assess individual transport-related social inequity issues. The findings suggest that the CA is useful in assessing transport-related inequalities where there are significant barriers to the take up of accessibility, for example where there are high levels of disadvantaged groups and disaggregated analysis can be undertaken. The Palma ratio appears to have a larger effect than the Gini coefficient and the other inequality indices when measuring transport-related social inequity. In addition, we also found that most income inequality methods adapted from econometrics may be better suited to measuring transport-related social inequity between different regions, cities or countries, or within the same area, but at different points in time, rather than to measuring a single neighbourhood as a whole. Finally, we argue that to what extent politicians or transport planners can use appropriate management tools to measure transport-related social inequalities may be significant in terms of the progress that can be made in the fight against social inequity in the transport field

Car dependence and housing affordability: An emerging social deprivation issue in London?

This paper investigates the combined problem of high car dependence and housing affordability, in view of likely continued volatility in oil prices (and hence higher petrol and diesel prices), and rising house prices. Household budgets are likely to be stretched where there are high levels of car dependency and housing unaffordability – with little flexibility for rising costs in either or both of these. A composite car dependence and housing affordability (CDHA) index is developed, using indices of oil vulnerability related to car travel and housing affordability. Greater London is used as the case study, with 2001 and 2011 data analysed at the level of Lower Super Output Areas, and presented using Geographic Information System and R statistical software. The findings reveal that there are high levels of composite car dependence and housing price vulnerability in many suburban areas across Greater London, adding to the previous areas of social deprivation found mainly in East London. The composite CDHA index illustrates where the most vulnerable areas are spatially. Many neighbourhoods may become less attractive for those on median or even relatively high incomes. The areas most affected may become much more expensive to live in, potentially leading to much greater pressure on travel and housing costs as people could be forced to live further from the centre of London, including beyond the Greater London boundary, which has further implications for travel. Failing to consider these emerging affordability issues represents an oversight in terms of transport planning in London

Urban transport and social inequities in neighbourhoods near underground stations in Greater London

Social equity, and the contribution that transport planning can make to social equity, are increasingly attracting the attention of transport planners and researchers. This perhaps reflects the heightened levels of social inequity in cities and the concern over differential access to transport and participation in activities. This paper considers these issues by applying the Capabilities Approach to transport, in order to examine an individual’s opportunities to travel and engage in activities (capabilities) and their actual day to day travel and engagement in activities (functionings). London is selected as a case study using analysis from three Underground stations on the Jubilee Line Extension. The findings show that there are statistically significant differences in terms of capabilities and functionings across the socio-demographic characteristics of individuals, and also across different neighbourhoods in London. It is argued that unless local residents’ potential travel opportunities and actual activities, and the gaps between them, are better understood and responded to, the problem of transport-related social inequity is likely to persist in London. Therefore, we suggest that the findings from this research, including the multi-dimensional social indicators and understanding of the barriers to accessibility, could be used alongside existing approaches such as accessibility planning

Transport, Social Equity and Capabilities in East Beijing

This chapter utilises the Capabilities Approach to assess different levels of social equity in relation to transport provision in East Beijing. The aim of the analysis is to explore the different levels of social equity relative to gender, age, hukou, personal income and car ownership, specifically in terms of capabilities and functionings, that is, we investigate how the perceived opportunity to travel and access activities as well as actual travel differs across population groups. East Beijing, and in particular the district of Guomao, is used as a case study, to illustrate features of a relatively wealthy area with abundant transport resources. The research analysis shows that capabilities and functionings differ according to an individual’s socio-economic characteristics. In transport planning, in China and beyond, we would argue that transport-related social inequity has been largely overlooked in developing transport systems and is not considered to any significant extent in project appraisal

Elliptical flux vortices in YBa2Cu3O7

The most energetically favorable vortex in YBa2Cu3O7 forms perpendicular to an anisotropic plane. This vortex is elliptical in shape and is distinguished by an effective interchange of London penetration depths from one axis of the ellipse to another. By generalizing qualitatively from the isotropic to the anisotropic case, we suggest that the flux flow resistivity for the vortex that forms perpendicular to an anistropic plane should have a preferred direction. Similar reasoning indicates that the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition temperature for a vortex mediated transition should be lower if the vortex is elliptical in shape

Protecting Intellectual Property in Taiwan—Non-Recognized United States Corporations and Their Treaty Right of Access to Courts

As global trade grows, intellectual property rights become increasingly important. United States corporations must often seek redress for infringement of their intellectual property rights in foreign forums. Taiwan has an international reputation for commercial counterfeiting. United States corporations with no presence in Taiwan are sometimes victims of infringement there. This Note describes the problems a non-recognized United States corporation presently faces in protecting its intellectual property rights in Taiwan and proposes a solution embodied in the United States-Republic of China (ROC) Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation (FCN Treaty). A criminal case instituted by Apple Computer in Taiwan illustrates the issues involved

A Phenomenology of Elementary Teachers\u27 Perceptions of Alternative Classroom and Behavior Management Strategies to Support Students Impacted by Parental Substance Abuse

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand how elementary (PreK-3) teachers in rural southern Ohio alter their classroom management strategies to offer behavioral support to students impacted by parental substance abuse. The theories that guided this study were: (a) Operant Conditioning (Skinner, 1938), (b) Family Stress Theory (Hill, 1958), (c) Social Learning Theory (Bandura, 1977), and (d) Social Development Theory (Vygotsky, 1978). The central question for this study was what are elementary teachers’ perceptions of how they alter their classroom management strategies to offer behavior support to students impacted by parental substance abuse? A purposeful sampling of 15 teachers from 10 elementary schools in four counties in rural southern Ohio was used for the study. Data was collected by interviews, a focus group, and a questionnaire. Data analysis procedures were conducted based on Moustakas’ (1994) modification of the Stevick-Colaizzi-Keen method

A Decision Tool to Evaluate Budgeting Methodologies for Estimating Facility Recapitalization Requirements

The purpose of this research was to develop a decision tool to assist in the evaluation of facility recapitalization budget estimation models to determine which model was best suited for a particular organization. Specifically, this thesis sought to answer an overarching research question addressing the importance of recapitalization and the best method to estimate the facility recapitalization budget using the Department of Defense (DoD) as the subject of the research. A comprehensive literature review revealed ten existing recapitalization model alternatives to consider for implementation. The methodology used to develop a decision tool was based on the Value Focused Thinking (VFT) approach. A panel of recapitalization program managers developed a value hierarchy to evaluate all potential recapitalization model alternatives. The results of the deterministic and probabilistic analyses of 15 alternatives found that the proposed DoD model scored well in comparison to other alternatives. With slight modifications to the model according to the value hierarchy, the DoD can improve the performance of their recapitalization models. The H-Model, created specifically for this analysis, dominated all other alternatives and is recommended for implementation