bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatial distribution of enteroparasites among school children from Guarapuava, State of Paraná, Brazil
Authors: Buschini Maria Luisa Tunes , Pittner Elaine , Czervinski Tiago , Moraes Ivonete de Fátima , Moreira Mônica Monteiro , Sanches Hermes Francisco , Monteiro Marta Chagas
Published: January 2008

The most common infections in human beings are caused by intestinal parasites. They can lead to a number of harmful effects, which could include, among others, intestinal obstruction, malnutrition, iron deficiency anemia, diarrhea, and poor absorption. In Brazil, enteroparasites are one of the main public health issues. The present study aims at analyzing the distribution and frequency of enteroparasite occurrence in 635 children from seven community schools in the city of Guarapuava, Paraná (PR). In addition, we used similarity and diversity indices to analyze the parasite community. We found 475 samples with at least one parasite showing that 75.27% of children had enteroparasites. A smaller fraction (26.73%) of children harbored several parasites (multiparasitism), especially Giardia duodenalis (56%), and Ascaris lumbricoides (18%). Statistical analysis showed that three (out of seven) children communities had higher similarity in frequency and amount of parasites. Our results suggest that the children studied were highly infected by enteroparasites. These levels of infestation could be related to several factors, such as climate, social and economic conditions and characteristics of the parasites.
Voice Disorder: case definition and prevalence in teachers
Authors: Jardim Renata , Barreto Sandhi Maria , Assunção Ada Ávila
Published: January 2008

Several studies have shown a high prevalence of voice disorders among teachers. However, it is difficult to establish comparisons among the results found given the great variability among criteria and symptoms used to define the presence of vocal alteration, in addition to the variations in the composition of the populations studied (age, gender, origin, working schedule, profession, among others). This study aims to discuss the need for a standard definition of functional voice disorder and possible implications of the lack of such a standard definition on estimating the prevalence of functional voice disorders among teachers. A systematic bibliographic review on voice disorders in teachers was carried out as of 1990 in the Medline, Scielo, Ovid, Pubmed and Lilacs databases. Of the 3,186 citations, 15 fulfilled the inclusion criteria to discuss prevalence of vocal disorder in teachers. Nine articles defined vocal disorder based solely on the presence of vocal symptoms, which varied in relation to type, number, frequency, and reference period. Hoarseness and vocal tiredness were mentioned in all studies that evaluated vocal symptoms. Only three studies reported prevalence based on professional examination. Prevalence rates varied according to reference period and frequency of symptoms. The results ratified the importance of standardizing the case definition of voice disorder in order to better study and understand its occurrence and to compare prevalence obtained from different populations and along time in the same population. Standardized definitions should include laryngeal alterations observed in later phases of voice disorder as well as signs and symptoms present in phases previous to organic alterations, when they are potentially reversible.
Avaliação dos padrões de uso de álcool em usuários de serviços de Atenção Primária à Saúde de Juiz de Fora e Rio Pomba (MG)
Authors: Magnabosco Molise de Bem , Formigoni Maria Lúcia Oliveira de Souza , Ronzani Telmo Mota
Published: January 2008

Uma parte significativa da população brasileira apresenta padrões de consumo de álcool associados a alto risco de desenvolvimento de problemas. Por tal razão, é fundamental avaliá-los na população para traçar estratégias de prevenção primária e secundária ao seu uso. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar esse padrão de consumo dos usuários de serviços da Atenção Primária à Saúde das cidades de Juiz de Fora e Rio Pomba, Minas Gerais. Foi aplicado um instrumento de rastreamento -o AUDIT- a 921 sujeitos recrutados durante as consultas de rotina. Considerando os dados em conjunto, 18,3% das pessoas avaliadas encontravam-se na faixa de uso de risco, 77,9% da amostra faziam uso de baixo risco ou eram abstêmios, e 3,8% pontuaram na faixa sugestiva de dependência. De modo geral, os homens apresentaram comportamento de risco em maior freqüência do que as mulheres, sendo mais prevalente na faixa etária dos 38 aos 47 anos de idade.
Prospective environmental restoration/restoration up front: A concept for an incentive-based program to increase restoration planning and implementation in the United States
Authors: Stahl Ralph G , Gouguet Ron , DeSantis Amanda , Liu Jenny , Ammann Michael
Published: January 2008

This article describes a concept variously termed prospective environmental restoration, restoration up front, or restoration banking. Briefly, the concept centers on the ability of an entity, public or private, to gain durable credits for undertaking proactive restoration activities. Once obtained, these credits can be applied to an existing liability, held in the event of a future liability, or traded or sold to others that might have need for the credits. In the case of a natural resource damage claim or response action, possessing or applying the credits does not negate the need for responsible entities to clean up spills or releases of hazardous substances or oil or to address their clean-up requirements under applicable federal and state statutes. Concepts similar to prospective environmental restoration/restoration up front include wetlands mitigation banking, conservation habitat banking, and emissions trading. Much of the concept and details provided herein stem from the practice of natural resource damage assessment, although that is not the sole driver for the concept. The concept could also apply where the credits could be used to offset other environmental liabilities, for example, to provide habitat mitigation where development is being planned. The authors believe that the concept, if widely applied, could reduce the time and costs associated with restoration and perhaps lead to an increase in voluntary restoration and conservation nationally. Currently, there are no state or federal regulations or policies that directly provide for this approach.
Risk assessment of pesticides for soils of the central amazon, Brazil: Comparing outcomes with temperate and tropical data
Authors: Römbke Jörg , Waichman Andrea V , Garcia Marcos VB
Published: January 2008

The risk of 11 pesticides to the soil environment was assessed in a 3-tiered approach at 4 sites located in Central Amazon, near Manaus, the capital of the Amazonas State in Brazil. Toxicity-exposure ratios (TERs), as routinely used for the registration of pesticides in the European Union, were calculated. First, the predicted environmental concentration (PEC) values in soil on the basis of real application rates and soil properties but temperate DT50 (degradation time of 50%) values were compared with temperate effect values (earthworm LC50s; median lethal concentrations), both gained from literature. Second, the risk assessment was refined by the use of DT50 values from tropical soils (measured for 7 compounds and estimated for 4) but still with temperate effect values because only a few results from tests performed under tropical conditions are available. Third, the outcome of this exercise was evaluated in a plausibility check with the use of the few results of effect tests, which were performed under tropical conditions. However, the lack of such data allowed this check only for 6 of 11 pesticides. The results are discussed in light of pesticide use in the Amazon in general, as well as compared with the registration status of these pesticides in other countries. Finally, suggestions are given for which kinds of studies are needed to improve the environmental risk assessment of pesticides in tropical regions.
Abandonment of Seabed Deposition of Drill Cuttings During Offshore Drilling
Authors: Paulsen J. E. , Dysvik Å. , Nilsen D. , Rørhuus T.
Published: January 2008

A new concept, which combines existing fieldproven technology with new innovative features, has been evaluated as an attractive technique for collection and retrieval of top-hole drill cuttings, excavated during offshore drilling. Simplified, the presented technique is based on using a collar that is thread on the drill string prior to the spudding in commences. The collar is fitted with a connecting hose and a pump that help suck the fluid and the excavated drill cuttings into settling and filtration bags. After collection of solids the bags are easily displaced. By its simplicity and efficiency the technology appears as an attractive solution for drilling wells in sensitive areas where a zero discharge regime of drill cuttings prevail.
Mental Simulation and the Achievement of Health Goals: The Role of Goal Difficulty
Authors: Greitemeyer Tobias , Würz Daniela
Published: January 2008

The present study examined whether performing mental simulation fosters the achievement of personal health-related goals. College students were asked to choose either an easy or a difficult health goal. In addition, they were either assigned to a process simulation condition (simulating the steps to the goal), an outcome simulation condition (simulating the achievement of the goal), or to a passive control condition. Results indicated that both types of mental simulation enhanced the achievement of health-related goals, and proved especially effective at difficult goals. Given an easy goal, it did not make a difference if participants had performed mental simulations or not. The effect of mental simulation on the achievement of difficult health goals was mediated by enhanced motivation.
The Influences of Learning Portfolios and Attitudes on Learning Effects in Blended E-Learning for Mathematics
Authors: Lee Chun-Hsiung , Yeh Dowming , Kung Regina J. , Hsu Chin-Shan
Published: January 2008

This study mainly investigates the factors affecting the learning effects in a blended e-Learning course for Mathematics. The research targets of this study are 48 junior high school students. After they had received traditional lessons in class as well as the accompanied e-Learning lessons, the influences of their learning portfolios and learning attitude on the examination scores were studied. Multiple linear regression analysis is employed to conduct data analysis. From the standardized regression model, it is discovered that the main factors affecting the examination scores of students in their learning portfolios are online test, number of hours of reading, and the learning attitude. Moreover, no significant difference is found between male and female students in the aspects of their examination scores, learning attitudes, and learning portfolios. The findings can be helpful for teachers to improve the instruction strategies in Blended e-Learning.
The Effect of the Texas Instrument Interactive Instructional Environment on the Mathematical Achievement of Eleventh Grade Low Achieving Students
Authors: Bos Beth
Published: January 2008

Teaching and learning mathematics with technology poses a unique dilemma. If technology is to enhance mathematical achievement (NCTM, 2000), why do documented studies indicate that this may not be the case (Waxman, Connell, & Gray, 2002)? This study looks at the learning environment used when teaching with technology. What in the instructional environment actually maximizes technology's ability to increase mathematical achievement? The instructional environment used with Texas Instrument InterActive software is examined to determine its affect on the mathematical achievement of eleventh grade at-risk students when studying quadratic functions. The Texas Instrument instructional environment uses technology to manipulate mathematical objects to observe patterns, make generalizations, and test conjectures. Technology is used as a tool to perform action on objects and to problem solve.
Factors Influencing the Effectiveness of Note Taking on Computer-Based Graphic Organizers
Authors: Crooks Steven M. , White David R. , Barnard Lucy
Published: January 2008

Previous research on graphic organizer (GO) note taking has shown that this method is most effective when the GO is presented to the student partially complete with provided notes. This study extended prior research by investigating the effects of provided note type (summary vs. verbatim) and GO bite size (large vs. small) on the transfer performance and note taking behavior of college students working with a set of partially complete computer-based GOs. As hypothesized, a note-type by bite size interaction occurred on transfer performance. Large-bites GOs were optimal when containing summary notes, but not when containing verbatim notes. In contrast, small-bites GOs were optimal when containing verbatim notes, but not summary notes. Additionally, the type of notes provided to students affected the quality of their notes taken. The findings are explained from the perspective of cognitive load theory and the map shock hypothesis.
Science is not Sufficient: Irving J. Selikoff and the Asbestos Tragedy
Authors: McCulloch Jock , Tweedale Geoffrey
Published: January 2008

Professor Irving J. Selikoff (1915–1992) was America's foremost medical expert on asbestos-related diseases between the 1960s and early 1990s. He was also well known to the public for his media appearances on the burgeoning asbestos problem. Yet his reputation has been strikingly mixed. On the one hand, he has been portrayed as a mischief maker and irresponsible demagogue, who exaggerated the risks of asbestos and so destroyed an industry; on the other, as a pioneer in asbestos epidemiology, whose landmark studies of insulation (and other) workers demonstrated the severity of a modern occupational and public health tragedy. Drawing upon unprecedented access to the Selikoff archive at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, this article demonstrates that the most serious criticisms of Selikoff are either ill-founded or simply false. It also shows that Selikoff, in the highly politicized world of asbestos science, was a far more complex and conservative individual than previous studies have suggested.
“Cooking the Books”—Behavior-Based Safety at the San Francisco Bay Bridge
Authors: Brown Garrett D. , Barab Jordan
Published: January 2008

Practitioners of Behavior-Based Safety (BBS) claim dramatic reductions in worker injuries and illnesses through modifying workers' “unsafe behaviors.” This case study of a BBS program implemented by KFM, a giant construction consortium rebuilding the eastern span of the San Francisco Bay Bridge in California, documents how BBS was used to suppress reporting of worker injuries and illnesses on site. The key elements of KFM's BBS “injury prevention” strategy included: 1) cash incentives to workers and supervisors who do not report injuries; 2) reprisals and threats of reprisals against those employees who do report injuries; 3) selection and use of employer friendly occupational health clinics and workers compensation insurance administrators; 4) strict limits on the activities of contract industrial hygiene consultants; and 5) a secretive management committee that decides whether reported injuries and illnesses are legitimate and recordable. KFM reported injury and illness rates 55% to 72% lower than other bridge builders in the Bay Area, but the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) issued Willful citations to the consortium in June 2006 for failing to record 13 worker injuries on its “OSHA Log 300,” as required by law.
An Untold Story in Labor Health: Korean Women Workers
Authors: Kim Myoung-Hee , Kim Hyun-Joo
Published: January 2008

Very little is known about labor health among Korean women workers, who have been left behind by the occupational safety and health institutions. In this article, we examine, from a gender perspective, the occupational safety and health (OSH) statistics, institutions, and the struggles of women workers, and discuss how to make a society where women workers become and stay healthy. The problems Korean women workers face have both universal and unique aspects. On the one hand, they tend to be exposed to “invisible hazards” and to disproportionately suffer from neo-liberal policies, as do women workers in other countries. On the other hand, Korean women workers are still positioned under the strong patriarchy found in pre-modern societies. The examples of struggle presented here come out of this condition; those struggles by women workers and support from concerned specialists have played an important role in overcoming patriarchy and protecting health rights for women workers.
A System for Occupational Injury Surveillance in Piracicaba, Southeastern Brazil
Authors: Cordeiro Ricardo , Vilela Rodolfo Andrade Gouveia , De Medeiros Maria Angélica Tavares , De Oliveira Gonçalves Cláudia Giglio , Bragantini Clarice Aparecida , Stephan Celso , Varolla Antenor
Published: January 2008

This article describes the experience of developing the Occupational Injury Surveillance System in the city of Piracicaba, in upstate São Paulo, Brazil. The system has the following characteristics: the information entered into the system is obtained directly, in real time, where the injured individuals receive medical treatment; the system has universal coverage, including all accidents occurring on the job in Piracicaba regardless of the worker's employment status, workplace, and place of residence; the health monitoring and promotion actions are activated in response to the identification of sentinel events; and the analysis of spatial distribution of occupational injuries is a basic tool for elaborating strategies for treating the injured as well as policies for accident prevention. The system began operating on November 1, 2003. 10,777 occupational injuries had been identified by October 31, 2005, corresponding to an annual incidence proportion of 3.8% in the city. We present a brief description of a detailed investigation of one of the injuries.
Tumors affecting the spinal cord of cats: 85 cases (1980–2005)
Authors: Marioni-Henry Katia , Van Winkle Thomas J. , Smith Sionagh H. , Vite Charles H.
Published: January 2008

Objective—To determine the prevalence of lymphosarcoma and other tumors affecting the spinal cord of cats and to relate specific types of tumors with signalment, history, and clinical findings.

Design—Retrospective case series.

Animals—85 cats with tumors affecting the spinal cord.

Procedures—Medical records of cats with histologically confirmed primary or metastatic tumors of the spinal cord or tumors causing spinal cord disease by local extension from adjacent tissues examined between 1980 and 2005 were reviewed. Data on signalment; clinical history; results of neurologic examination, diagnostic imaging, and clinical pathologic evaluation; and location of tumor within the spinal cord were obtained from medical records and analyzed by use of logistic regression models.

Results—Lymphosarcoma was the most common tumor and affected the spinal cord in 33 (38.8%) cats, followed by osteosarcoma in 14 (16.5%) cats. Cats with lymphosarcoma were typically younger at initial examination, had a shorter duration of clinical signs, and had lesions in more regions of the CNS than did cats with other types of tumors. In 22 of 26 (84.6%) cats with lymphosarcoma, the tumor was also found in extraneural sites.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Data for spinal cord tumors in this population of cats were analyzed by logistic regression analysis, which effectively distinguished cats with lymphosarcoma from cats with other types of tumors. Additional clinical information reported here will help to increase the index of suspicion or definitive antemortem diagnosis of spinal cord tumors of cats.
Evaluation of freshwater submersion in small animals: 28 cases (1996–2006)
Authors: Heffner Geoff G. , Rozanski Elizabeth A. , Beal Matthew W. , Boysen Søren , Powell Lisa , Adamantos Sophie
Published: January 2008

Objective—To determine clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcome in dogs and cats evaluated after submersion in freshwater.

Design—Retrospective case series.

Animals—25 dogs and 3 cats.

Procedures—Medical records were reviewed for signalment; causes, location, and month of submersion; physical examination findings at admission; results of blood gas analysis; treatments administered; duration of hospitalization; and outcome, including evidence of organ failure or compromise.

Results—All submersions involved bodies of freshwater. Fourteen animals were submerged in man-made water sources, 13 were submerged in natural water sources, and the body of water was not recorded in 1 case. Twenty (71%) submersions occurred from May through September. Cause was identified in 16 animals and included extraordinary circumstances (n = 6), falling into water (5), breaking through ice (3), and intentional submersion (2). Twelve animals were found submerged in water with unclear surrounding circumstances. Treatment included administration of supplemental oxygen, antimicrobials, furosemide, corticosteroids, and aminophylline and assisted ventilation. Respiratory dysfunction was detected in 21 animals. Neurologic dysfunction was detected in 12 animals, hepatocellular compromise was detected in 6 animals, and cardiovascular dysfunction was detected in 4 animals. Three dogs had hematologic dysfunction, and 2 dogs had acute renal dysfunction. Eighteen (64%) animals survived to hospital discharge, but all of the cats died. In 9 of 10 nonsurvivors, respiratory tract failure was the cause of death or reason for euthanasia.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggest that submersion is an uncommon reason for veterinary evaluation but is associated with a good prognosis in dogs in the absence of respiratory tract failure.
Biocontainment, biosecurity, and security practices in beef feedyards
Authors: Brandt Aric W. , Sanderson Michael W. , DeGroot Brad D. , Thomson Dan U. , Hollis Larry C.
Published: January 2008

Objective—To determine the biocontainment, biosecurity, and security practices at beef feedyards in the Central Plains of the United States.

Design—Survey.

Sample Population—Managers of feedyards in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas that feed beef cattle for finish before slaughter; feedyards had to have an active concentrated animal feeding operation permit with a 1-time capacity of ≥ 1,000 cattle.

Procedures—A voluntary survey of feedyard personnel was conducted. Identified feedyard personnel were interviewed and responses regarding facility design, security, employees, disease preparedness, feedstuffs, hospital or treatment systems, sanitation, cattle sources, handling of sick cattle, and disposal of carcasses were collected in a database questionnaire.

Results—The survey was conducted for 106 feedyards with a 1-time capacity that ranged from 1,300 to 125,000 cattle. Feedyards in general did not have high implementation of biocontainment, biosecurity, or security practices. Smaller feedyards were, in general, less likely to use good practices than were larger feedyards.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results of the survey provided standard practices for biocontainment, biosecurity, and security in feedyards located in Central Plains states. Information gained from the survey results can be used by consulting veterinarians and feedyard managers as a basis for discussion and to target training efforts.
hnRNP-R regulates the PMA-induced c-fos expression in retinal cells
Authors: Huang Jia , Li Shu-Jing , Chen Xian-Hua , Han Yu , Xu Ping
Published: January 2008

This study focused on the function of hnRNP-R in the regulation of c-fos expression. We demonstrated that hnRNP-R accelerated the rise and decline phases of c-fos mRNAs and Fos proteins, allowing PMA to induce an augmented pulse response of c-fos expression. Then, we examined the role of the c-fos-derived AU-rich element (ARE) in hnRNP-R-regulated mRNA degradation. Studies with the ARE-GFP reporter gene showed that hnRNP-R significantly reduced the expression of GFP with an inserted ARE. Moreover, immunoprecipitation-RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that in R28 cells and rat retinal tissues, the c-fos mRNA was co-immunoprecipitated with hnRNP-R. These findings indicate that hnRNP-R regulates the c-fos expression in retinal cells, and that the ARE of c-fos mRNAs contributes to this regulation.
Door-Through-Door Transportation
Authors: Burkhardt Jon E. , Kerschner Helen
Published: January 2008

Door-through-door transportation offers a high level of service for travelers who have significant mobility limitations. Obviously a place exists for these services in a transportation network offering a multimodal family of services, but these services are too often overlooked in standard community transportation planning efforts. Thus, they typically become the last tier of services offered in a community. Door-through-door transportation services allow frail and disabled individuals to continue living in their own homes and still stay connected to the services and activities that they need for health and happiness. Door-through-door transportation services also provide real assistance to people who act as caregivers for seniors, people with disabilities, and others in need of highly personalized transportation services. These services are extremely important to the quality of life of the riders, their caregivers, and those who provide the rides. A project sponsored by the Administration on Aging explored the concept of door-through-door transportation services with the objective of providing insights and inspirations for people and communities that might be considering the implementation of door-through-door transportation services. Case studies were used to develop a list of characteristics of door-through-door services and to identify the factors that led to successful operations. It was found that such services operated with a wide range of program characteristics and that the most successful programs appeared to be those most closely tailored to the individual needs of their communities.
Revisiting the Use of Drone Radar to Reduce Speed in Work Zones
Authors: Eckenrode Ryan T. , Sarasua Wayne A. , Mattox James H. , Ogle Jennifer H. , Chowdhury Mashrur
Published: January 2008

Speeding through work zones is a major safety concern in South Carolina. Multiple traffic control devices aimed at reducing speeds in South Carolina work zones were evaluated. The majority of these speed control measures, with the exception of drone radar, were often found not to be practical for widespread, cost-effective implementation. The drone radar device has been tested for more than 20 years, though never before in South Carolina. The focus of this research was to determine the effect of drone radar as a speed reduction measure in work zones on Interstates and secondary highways during day and evening conditions, both for passenger cars and for tractor-trailers. One unique aspect of this study involves the use of a specialized detector to identify vehicles using radar detectors. Most documented research used visual inspection, which is not ideal for this determination, because many vehicles do not have their radar detectors in a visible location. The effectiveness of drone radar was evaluated on the basis of changes in mean speeds, 85th-percentile speeds, and percentage of vehicles exceeding the speed limit. Overall, drone radar caused mean speed reductions of 2 mph for the entire traffic stream. However, individual vehicles equipped with radar detectors reduced speeds ranging from 5 to 8 mph. Drone radar also caused 85th-percentile speeds to decrease between 1 and 5 mph, and a 20% speed reduction was shown in vehicles exceeding the speed limit.
Study on Improving Worker Safety at Roadway Sites in Japan
Authors: Hirasawa Masayuki , Takemoto Azuma , Asano Motoki , Takada Tetsuya
Published: January 2008

Work-related accidents at construction sites in Japan resulted in 1,001 fatalities and 44,886 injuries in 1996, but by 2005 the numbers had fallen to 487 fatalities and 27,193 injuries. In types of accidents at roadway work sites recorded between 1996 and 2000, traffic accidents ranked third. Since 2001, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport has sought to protect workers by mandating comprehensive improvements to uniforms of traffic control personnel, replacement of traffic control personnel with robots, more appropriate positioning of traffic control personnel, and placement of delta cushions. Research was done to contribute to safety at roadway work sites. Trucking companies and traffic safety contractors in Hokkaido were surveyed on their satisfaction with road safety measures. In addition, experiments were done at the Tomakomai Winter Test Track to evaluate the visibility of traffic control uniforms. For safety measures at roadway work sites, traffic safety contractors responded that items involving the upstream end of the work site (i.e., traffic control personnel placement and delta cushions) would most greatly influence their satisfaction. Trucking companies responded that ways of controlling traffic would most greatly influence their satisfaction. A portfolio analysis of customer satisfaction found that for both traffic safety contractors and trucking companies, ease of understanding of displayed construction information signs and nighttime visibility of traffic control personnel required priority improvement. Experiments on visual recognition of traffic control personnel identified the greatest recognition distances for fluorescent orange and yellow; the analytic hierarchy process identified the same result.
Online Estimation of Friction Coefficients of Winter Road Surfaces Using the Unscented Kalman Filter
Authors: Nakatsuji Takashi , Hayashi Ikuko , Ranjitkar Prakash , Shirakawa Tatsuo , Kawamura Akira
Published: January 2008

An innovation to a previously proposed method for estimating friction coefficients of winter road surfaces was achieved through the introduction of a relatively new algorithm, the unscented Kalman filter. Its use, instead of a generic algorithm, made estimating friction coefficients in real time possible while keeping the core vehicular motion model unchanged. The problem of estimating such coefficients was too complicated to apply conventional feedback techniques, such as an extended Kalman filter, because of the presence of not only a nonlinear algebra equation but also a set of multiple differential equations. The unscented Kalman filter did not require any explicit function of state and observation equations in deriving Kalman gain. This paper describes the usefulness of this new filter in solving the problem and describes numerical experiments that validated the effectiveness of the proposed new method in terms of computational efficiencies. The friction coefficients estimated with the new technique were in fairly good accordance with those measured in the field.
Information Sharing during Emergency Response and Recovery
Authors: Dantas André , Seville Erica , Gohil Dharmista
Published: January 2008

Road organizations are involved in a wide range of emergency response and recovery activities. Information sharing is a critical element in deploying road organization resources during such activities. This paper presents an information-sharing framework for road organizations. On the basis of a study of response and recovery activities, information needs were identified and a geographic information system-based information-sharing framework was created. The framework is applied to a desktop case study in the South Island of New Zealand to establish the magnitude of potential benefits. Results indicate that a reduction in time and cost of emergency response activities could be achieved if the conceptual framework was implemented through reduced response times, faster access to relevant information, and therefore enhanced decision making.
Implementation of Spatiotemporal Model for Infrastructure Reconstruction Strategy under Large-Scale Disaster
Authors: Lee Jong Sung , Kim Tschangho John
Published: January 2008

The reconstruction strategy chosen to repair damaged transportation network infrastructure after an unscheduled event is important in returning the disrupted economy to the status preceding the event. Furthermore, the strategy determines how fast the national economy will recover. Previous research has shown how damage to the transportation network has significant direct and indirect impacts on the national economy. The optimal sequence or priority for reconstruction of damaged links must be developed to restore the economy quickly. Common issues from the previous research on finding the optimal reconstruction strategy are (a) lack of consideration of the national economic impact, (b) lack of integration of the traffic flow and commodity flow models, and (c) lack of consideration of the spatiotemporal characteristics of the economy. To overcome these issues, this paper suggests a spatiotemporal model for finding the optimal reconstruction strategy after an unscheduled event based on an earlier model. The paper discusses the framework for finding the optimal reconstruction strategy by using the spatiotemporal analysis model for a posteriori unscheduled event (STAM-2).
Testing a Flexible Geographic Information System-Based Network Flow Model for Routing Hurricane Disaster Relief Goods
Authors: Horner Mark W. , Downs Joni A.
Published: January 2008

Recent weather events, particularly in the southeastern United States, have brought issues of hurricane disaster planning to the forefront of public policy. Efficient distribution of relief goods to populations after severe weather events is one of many challenges faced by governing bodies. This paper focuses on provision of hurricane disaster relief and develops a flexible network flow model that provides efficient transport linkages between critical elements of the relief goods supply chain. The model identifies accessible locations in which to place intraurban distribution sites for relief goods. Flexibility inherent in the model structure allows the pursuit of multiple policies, including the ability to trade off the costs paid for constructing various components of the goods supply chain. The model is linked to a geographic information system and can be used to visualize relief planning scenarios. The results of model tests with sample spatial data demonstrate how average population time to relief facilities (accessibility) varies substantially depending on the cost structure input into the model. Conclusions and several suggestions for future research are provided.
Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks
Authors: Kumar Santosh , Wang Lan
Published: January 2008

Although the Internet has penetrated virtually every aspect of our lives, many scenarios exist where an existing network infrastructure is not available. For example, a hurricane may destroy buildings where the critical networking equipment is housed or may cut the power supply to the equipment. In such scenarios, it is extremely important for people living in the disaster area, as well as relief workers, to communicate with each other using whatever networking devices they have, without relying on any existing infrastructure. Such an infrastructureless network is called anad hoc network, more specifically, “a network that is setup, literally, for a specific purpose, to meet a quickly appearing communication need” (1). In addition to supporting human communication, an ad hoc network may be used for other purposes, such as monitoring the physical environment and detecting events (as we will explain later).

An ad hoc network can be wired or wireless, but more research effort has been focused onwireless ad hoc networksas they are easier to establish and do not restrict the mobility of users.

Major research issues in wireless ad hoc networks include, but are not limited to, how to ensure connectivity among nodes in the face of unplanned deployment, controlled or uncontrolled mobility, and nodes leaving/joining the network (potentially as a result of failures/repairs); how to access efficiently the shared wireless medium in a distributed fashion; how to route packets to their destinations in the presence of topology dynamics (because of mobility and failures) and sometimes intermittent connectivity; and how to meet the quality of service (QoS) requirements with distributed resource management. These issues are made even more challenging by the limited resource availability that is typical of a wireless ad hoc network.
Capability Maturity Models (CMM)
Authors: Combelles Annie
Published: January 2008

Over the past five years, the progress of the wave of process improvement initiatives is very visible. Why have software organizations embarked on the CMM for more than a decade? Several answers to this question exist. Certainly it is all about competition and leverage advantage. The trend in the industry as a whole is growing toward higher maturity levels. Companies have started to realize that momentum is critical, the business climate and the software marketplace have changed, companies need to fight for new business and market shares, and customers expect excellence, operational performance, and professionalism. Outstanding companies certainly do not embark on Process Improvement because they collect “medals.”

The road to maturity has also demonstrated that a focus on software components is not sufficient. First, the environment within which engineering is performed has become increasingly complex. Efforts are larger, involve more people, cross corporation boundaries, are distributed far and wide, and must adhere to continually compressing implementation schedules to meet customer needs and heightened expectations.

Second, the way in which engineering work is performed has evolved. Cross‐discipline teams, concurrent engineering, highly automated processes, and multinational standards have all affected engineering practice. These changes in turn have caused modifications to the role of the engineering manager.

Third, the success of the Software Engineering Institute's (SEI's) Capability Maturity Model for Software has led to a proliferation of models, each of which addresses process improvement from the aspect of a particular discipline. Organizations have adopted multiple improvement models to address their critical processes. All of these changes highlight the need to integrate process improvement efforts. This need is at the root of CMMI constellation.
Data Compression Codes, Lossy
Authors: Kari Jarkko
Published: January 2008

This article summarizes the theory and main techniques used in lossy data compression. Topics covered include lossy information theory rate‐distortion theory, scalar and vector quantization, predictior‐based coding and linear transformations, including KLT, DCT, and subband transformations. Also the JPEG image compression standard is discussed briefly.
Distributed Databases
Authors: Liu Chengfei , Zhang Yanchun
Published: January 2008

In this article, we provide first a definition of a distributed database and then we classify different types of distributed database management systems (DDBMSs). Then, three fundamental tasks of a DDBMS, distributed database design, distributed query processing, and distributed transaction management, are introduced, respectively. After that, we address the problems in a federated database system. Finally, we discuss distributed database‐related research topics on the Web and XML.
Fault‐Tolerant Computing
Authors: Joshi Bharat , Pradhan Dhiraj , Stiffler Jack
Published: January 2008

This chapter provides an overview of fault‐tolerant computing. Fault‐tolerant computing can be defined as the process by which a computing system continues to perform its specified tasks correctly in the presence of faults with the goal of improving the dependability of the system. Principles of fault‐tolerant computing as well as various fault‐tolerant architectures are discussed. The article concludes by observing trends in the fault‐tolerant computing.
Genetic Algorithms
Authors: Gen Mitsuo , Lin Lin
Published: January 2008

Many optimization problems from computer science and engineering are very complex in nature and hard to solve by conventional optimization techniques. Since the 1960s, there has been an increasing interest in imitating living beings to solve such kinds of hard optimization problems. Simulating a natural evolutionary process of human beings results in stochastic optimization techniques called evolutionary algorithms (EAs) that can often outperform conventional optimization methods when applied to difficult‐real world problems. Among them, genetic algorithms (GAs) are perhaps the most widely known types of EAs today.
Hopfield Neural Networks
Authors: Fausett Laurene V.
Published: January 2008

Hopfield neural networks comprise a rich and varied realm of the overall field of artificial neural networks. Applications can be found in many areas of engineering. Continuing investigation into the theoretical and practical considerations governing the convergence properties of the networks provides a firm foundation for the use of Hopfield models and their extension to more generalized settings. Work continues on differences in performance that may occur when the networks are implemented with fully parallel (asynchronous) updating of the activations.
Machine Learning
Authors: Lai Chih‐Chin , Doong Shing‐Hwang , Wu Chih‐Hung
Published: January 2008

Machine learning is about programming a computer to improve a performance measure through experience in performing certain tasks. For this purpose, a computer program is used that adapts to its environment by gaining knowledge through experience. In this article, we try to discuss the machine larning from the following firections: definition and state, the learning process, learning methods, and other considerations.
Fiber‐Optic Communication Networks
Authors: Anand Vishal , Cao Xiaojun , Sheeshia Sami , Xin Chunsheng , Qiao Chunming
Published: January 2008

The tremendous growth of the Internet and the World Wide Web, both in the number of users (human enabled and communications‐enabled devices) as well as the amount of time and thus the bandwidth consumed by each user, has fueled the demand for enhanced and superior telecommunication networks. Internet traffic continues to grow vigorously, as it has done in the past 11 years. Optical networks offer the promise to satisfy the relentless need for more capacity in the network in addition to providing a common infrastructure over which a variety of services can be delivered. Optical fibers offer much higher bandwidth than other transmission medium such as copper cables and also have lower error rates and other undesirable effects. The use of multiplexing techniques such as time‐division multiplexing and wavelength‐division multiplexing also help increase the transmission capacity of a fiber. In this article we discuss various existing and future technologies (e.g., wavelength routing, optical circuit switching, burst switching, or waveband switching etc) that enable optical networking and make them promising candidates for the backbone of the Internet. We also discuss issues relating to control and signaling in optical networks and how the Internet Protocol (IP) layer can be integrated with the wavelength‐division multiplexed transport layer.
Pen‐Based Computing
Authors: Jassar Sandip
Published: January 2008

This article shows why the pen/stylus and digitizing tablet is a superior human‐computer interface to the more widely used keyboard‐mouse, in terms of the synergy between how the interface is used and the human cognitive system, and in turn explains how a human‐computer interface is evaluated. The article begins with an explanation of pen‐based computing from the user interface perspective. The major hardware component of a pen‐based computer (its digitizing tablet) and its major software component (its handwriting recognition (HWX) engine) are both analyzed in terms of how a user perceives, interacts with, and makes use of them. The performance of these two major components is also discussed in terms of what their contribution is toward providing the user with a virtual pen and paper experience, the way in which they do this, and how well current technology allows them to do it. The results of an experiment conducted in 1995 to investigate the relationship between HWX performance and user satisfaction are analyzed and found to suggest that the pen interface is more suited to pointing and dragging tasks than to text entry, and thus user satisfaction is application dependent. The reader is then taken through the development of a physical and device‐level cognitive model for pen‐based systems by introducing and adapting the existing keystroke‐level model (developed to evaluate the keyboard‐mouse), where it is shown how and why the pen is a better input device than the keyboard‐mouse in terms of execution speed. Finally, the results of an experiment conducted in 1991 to compare the performance of input devices in pointing and dragging tasks are analyzed and are found to support the proposal.
Rapid Prototyping
Authors: Luqi
Published: January 2008

Rapid prototyping is a method for reducing the risks of misunderstood requirements and stakeholder rejection of proposed systems. This article summarizes the approach, explains the relevant technologies, and assesses the current state of this area.
Speculation
Authors: August David I. , Vachharajani Neil
Published: January 2008

To execute instructions in microprocessors efficiently,speculationis often employed to guess information that is not yet available. Within the processor, execution continues to assume the speculated value is correct. The true value, however, is being computed in parallel, and when the computation is complete, it is compared against the speculative value. If the guess was correct, then twodependentparts of the program can execute in parallel. On the other hand, if the guess was wrong (misspeculation), the processor must take appropriate steps to recover, and the dependent program parts are executed serially, often with additional delay and with amisspeculation penalty. Speculation can be categorized into three groups: control speculation, value speculation, and data access speculation.
Asynchronous Transfer Mode Networks
Authors: Suda Tatsuya
Published: January 2008

Asynchronous transfer mode, or ATM, is a network transfer technique capable of supporting a wide variety of multimedia applications with diverse service and performance requirements. Its ability to support broadband integrated services with strict quality of service guarantees has motivated the ingetration of ATM and existing widely deployed networks.
Time and State in Asynchronous Distributed Systems
Authors: Garg Vijay K. , Mittal Neeraj
Published: January 2008

We discuss two fundamental problems that arise in distributed systems: first, how to determine the order in which various events were executed, and second, how to obtain a consistent view of the system. To address the first problem, we describe different schemes that implement an abstract notion of time and can be used to order events in a distributed system. To address the second problem, we discuss ways to obtain a consistent state of the system possibly satisfying certain desirable property.