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Minimization
Kinds of Minimization Terms modified by Minimization Selected AbstractsENGAGING THE VALUES-BASED ETHICAL DILEMMAS IN HARM MINIMIZATION: A RESPONSE TO WEATHERBURNADDICTION, Issue 5 2009CRAIG L. FRY No abstract is available for this article. [source] DILEMMAS IN HARM MINIMIZATION: A RESPONSE TO FRY & IRWINADDICTION, Issue 5 2009DON WEATHERBURN No abstract is available for this article. [source] DILEMMAS IN HARM MINIMIZATION: A RESPONSE TO MY CRITICSADDICTION, Issue 3 2009DON J. WEATHERBURN No abstract is available for this article. [source] ESTIMATION OF HEDONIC RESPONSES FROM DESCRIPTIVE SKIN SENSORY DATA BY CHI-SQUARE MINIMIZATIONJOURNAL OF SENSORY STUDIES, Issue 1 2006I.F. ALMEIDA ABSTRACT Six topical formulations were evaluated by a trained panel according to a descriptive analysis methodology and by a group of consumers who rated the products on a hedonic scale. We present a new approach that describes the categorical appreciation of appearance, texture and skinfeel of the formulations by the consumers as a function of related sensory attributes assessed by the trained panel. For each hedonic attribute, a latent random variable depending on the sensory attributes is constructed and made discrete (in a nonlinear fashion) according to the distribution of consumer-hedonic scores in such a way as to minimize a corresponding chi-square criterion. Standard partial least squares (PLS) regression, bootstrapping and cross-validation techniques describing the overall liking of the hedonic attributes as a function of associated sensory attributes were also applied. Results from both methods were compared, and it was concluded that chi-square minimization can work as a complementary method to the PLS regression. [source] Minimization of socioeconomic disruption for displaced populations following disastersDISASTERS, Issue 3 2010Omar El-Anwar In the aftermath of catastrophic natural disasters such as hurricanes, tsunamis and earthquakes, emergency management agencies come under intense pressure to provide temporary housing to address the large-scale displacement of the vulnerable population. Temporary housing is essential to enable displaced families to reestablish their normal daily activities until permanent housing solutions can be provided. Temporary housing decisions, however, have often been criticized for their failure to fulfil the socioeconomic needs of the displaced families within acceptable budgets. This paper presents the development of (1) socioeconomic disruption metrics that are capable of quantifying the socioeconomic impacts of temporary housing decisions on displaced populations; and (2) a robust multi-objective optimization model for temporary housing that is capable of simultaneously minimizing socioeconomic disruptions and public expenditures in an effective and efficient manner. A large-scale application example is optimized to illustrate the use of the model and demonstrate its capabilities ingenerating optimal plans for realistic temporary housing problems. [source] Diagrammatic Separation of Different Crystal Structures of A2BX4 Compounds Without Energy Minimization: A Pseudopotential Orbital Radii ApproachADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 12 2010Xiuwen Zhang Abstract The A2BX4 family of compounds manifest a wide range of physical properties, including transparent conductivity, ferromagnetism, and superconductivity. A 98% successful diagrammatic separation of the 44 different crystal structures of 688 oxide A2BX4 compounds (96% for 266 oxide-only) is described by plotting the total radius of the A atom RA versus the radius of the B atom RB for many A2BX4 compounds of known structure types and seeking heuristically simple, straight boundaries in the RA versus RB plane that best separate the domains of different structure types. The radii are sums RA,=,Rs(A),+,Rp(A) of the quantum-mechanically calculated "orbital radii" Rs(Rp), rather than empirical radii or phenomenological electronegativity scales. These success rates using first-principles orbital radii uniformly exceed the success rates using classic radii. Such maps afford a quick guess of the crystal structure of a yet unmade A2BX4 compound by placing its atomic orbital radii on such maps and reading off its structure type. [source] Discovery of New Green Phosphors and Minimization of Experimental Inconsistency Using a Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm-Assisted Combinatorial MethodADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 11 2009Asish Kumar Sharma Abstract A multi-objective genetic algorithm-assisted combinatorial materials search (MOGACMS) strategy was employed to develop a new green phosphor for use in a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) for a back light unit (BLU) in liquid crystal display (LCD) applications. MOGACMS is a method for the systematic control of experimental inconsistency, which is one of the most troublesome and difficult problems in high-throughput combinatorial experiments. Experimental inconsistency is a very serious problem faced by all scientists in the field of combinatorial materials science. For this study, experimental inconsistency and material property were selected as dual objective functions that were simultaneously optimized. Specifically, in an attempt to search for promising phosphors with high reproducibility, luminance was maximized and experimental inconsistency was minimized using the MOGACMS strategy. A divalent manganese-doped alkali alkaline germanium oxide system was screened using MOGACMS. As a result of MOGA reiteration, we identified a phosphor, Na2MgGeO4:Mn2+, with improved luminance and reliable reproducibility. [source] Poly- l -lactic acid: a perspective from my practiceJOURNAL OF COSMETIC DERMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2008Neil S Sadick MD Summary Lipoatrophic sagging in the periorbital and cheek areas is a characteristic feature of the aging face. Soft tissue regeneration in these areas using a volumizer such as poly- l -lactic acid (PLLA) can help reduce the impact of these features. PLLA generates semipermanent correction, lasting for 2 years, and is a resorbable biocompatible device with a history of successful use in many clinical applications. This practice has administered many treatments of PLLA over the past 2 years with excellent results and with minimal complications. Minimization of adverse events and optimal cosmetic results are achieved when PLLA is diluted appropriately, injected in the proper plane and with posttreatment massage. The physician can fine-tune tissue volume correction with PLLA by spacing treatment sessions at least 4 to 6 weeks apart. Although approved for the correction of facial lipoatrophy in patients with human immunodeficiency virus, approval for the use of PLLA for cosmetic indications is currently pending. [source] Minimization of Nyquist ghosting for echo-planar imaging at ultra-high fields based on a "negative readout gradient" strategyJOURNAL OF MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING, Issue 5 2009Wietske van der Zwaag PhD Abstract Purpose: To improve the traditional Nyquist ghost correction approach in echo planar imaging (EPI) at high fields, via schemes based on the reversal of the EPI readout gradient polarity for every other volume throughout a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) acquisition train. Materials and Methods: An EPI sequence in which the readout gradient was inverted every other volume was implemented on two ultrahigh-field systems. Phantom images and fMRI data were acquired to evaluate ghost intensities and the presence of false-positive blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) signal with and without ghost correction. Three different algorithms for ghost correction of alternating readout EPI were compared. Results: Irrespective of the chosen processing approach, ghosting was significantly reduced (up to 70% lower intensity) in both rat brain images acquired on a 9.4T animal scanner and human brain images acquired at 7T, resulting in a reduction of sources of false-positive activation in fMRI data. Conclusion: It is concluded that at high B0 fields, substantial gains in Nyquist ghost correction of echo planar time series are possible by alternating the readout gradient every other volume. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2009;30:1171,1178. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] FLOOD STAGE FORECASTING WITH SUPPORT VECTOR MACHINES,JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 1 2002Shie-Yui Liong ABSTRACT: Machine learning techniques are finding more and more applications in the field of forecasting. A novel regression technique, called Support Vector Machine (SVM), based on the statistical learning theory is explored in this study. SVM is based on the principle of Structural Risk Minimization as opposed to the principle of Empirical Risk Minimization espoused by conventional regression techniques. The flood data at Dhaka, Bangladesh, are used in this study to demonstrate the forecasting capabilities of SVM. The result is compared with that of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) based model for one-lead day to seven-lead day forecasting. The improvements in maximum predicted water level errors by SVM over ANN for four-lead day to seven-lead day are 9.6 cm, 22.6 cm, 4.9 cm and 15.7 cm, respectively. The result shows that the prediction accuracy of SVM is at least as good as and in some cases (particularly at higher lead days) actually better than that of ANN, yet it offers advantages over many of the limitations of ANN, for example in arriving at ANN's optimal network architecture and choosing useful training set. Thus, SVM appears to be a very promising prediction tool. [source] Minimization of energies related to the plate problemMATHEMATICAL METHODS IN THE APPLIED SCIENCES, Issue 7 2009M. Fuchs Abstract We investigate the interior regularity of minimizers for an obstacle problem of higher order that can be seen as a model for the behaviour of a plate subject to a rather general constitutive law including nonlinear elastic materials. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Cost minimization in wireless networks with a bounded and unbounded number of interfacesNETWORKS: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, Issue 3 2009Ralf Klasing Given a graph G = (V,E) with |V| = n and |E| = m, which models a set of wireless devices (nodes V) connected by multiple radio interfaces (edges E), the aim is to switch on the minimum cost set of interfaces at the nodes to satisfy all the connections. A connection is satisfied when the endpoints of the corresponding edge share at least one active interface. Every node holds a subset of all the possible k interfaces. Depending on whether k is a priori bounded or not, the problem is called Cost Minimization in Multi-Interface Networks or Cost Minimization in Unbounded Multi-Interface Networks, respectively. We distinguish two main variations for both problems by treating the cost of maintaining an active interface as uniform (i.e., the same for all interfaces), or nonuniform. For bounded k, we show that the problem is APX-hard while we obtain an approximation factor of min for the uniform caseand a (k , 1)-approximation for the nonuniform case. For unbounded k, i.e., k is not set a priori but depends on the given instance, we prove that the problem is not approximable within O(log k) while the same approximation factor of the k -bounded case holds in the uniform case, and a min -approximation factor holds for the nonuniform case. Next, we also provide hardness and approximation results for several classes of networks: with bounded degree, trees, planar, and complete graphs. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. NETWORKS, 2009 [source] Generalized sampled-data hold functions for robust multivariable tracking and disturbance rejectionOPTIMAL CONTROL APPLICATIONS AND METHODS, Issue 2 2001Herbert Werner Abstract A new design procedure for a multivariable sampled-data output feedback controller with generalized hold function is proposed. The controller can be designed for different operating points simultaneously. The design of the hold function is carried out in two steps: first the closed-loop discrete-time behaviour is determined by choosing a suitable output injection gain; integral action is incorporated to guarantee zero steady-state error. In a second step this discrete-time behaviour is approximately realized by output feedback with generalized hold. Minimization of a quadratic performance index simultaneously for all operating points yields hold functions with good intersample behaviour. A practical design example and experimental results illustrate the proposed method. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Adhesion mechanism of salmon to polymer-coated can wallsPACKAGING TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE, Issue 6 2005Hans Dommershuijzen Abstract Minimization of the amount of salmon adhering to the can wall after emptying is one of the convenience requirements of consumers of canned salmon. In order to achieve this, the mechanism by which salmon adheres to cans needs to be understood. The aim of this study was to provide such knowledge for polymer-coated cans. The results indicate that gelatin, derived from salmon collagen, and myofibrillar proteins are the major proteins involved in sticking of salmon to the polymer-coated can wall. Furthermore, it was shown that mainly hydrogen bonds are formed between the salmon proteins and the polymer surface. Therefore, making the surface more apolar can prevent sticking of salmon to polymer-coated cans. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Use of simulation to compare the performance of minimization with stratified blocked randomizationPHARMACEUTICAL STATISTICS: THE JOURNAL OF APPLIED STATISTICS IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY, Issue 4 2009Robert Toorawa Abstract Minimization is an alternative method to stratified permuted block randomization, which may be more effective at balancing treatments when there are many strata. However, its use in the regulatory setting for industry trials remains controversial, primarily due to the difficulty in interpreting conventional asymptotic statistical tests under restricted methods of treatment allocation. We argue that the use of minimization should be critically evaluated when designing the study for which it is proposed. We demonstrate by example how simulation can be used to investigate whether minimization improves treatment balance compared with stratified randomization, and how much randomness can be incorporated into the minimization before any balance advantage is no longer retained. We also illustrate by example how the performance of the traditional model-based analysis can be assessed, by comparing the nominal test size with the observed test size over a large number of simulations. We recommend that the assignment probability for the minimization be selected using such simulations. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Soft protein,protein docking in internal coordinatesPROTEIN SCIENCE, Issue 2 2002Juan Fernández-Recio PDB, Protein Data Bank; ICM, Internal Coordinate Mechanics; RMSD, root-mean-square deviation Abstract The association of two biological macromolecules is a fundamental biological phenomenon and an unsolved theoretical problem. Docking methods for ab initio prediction of association of two independently determined protein structures usually fail when they are applied to a large set of complexes, mostly because of inaccuracies in the scoring function and/or difficulties on simulating the rearrangement of the interface residues on binding. In this work we present an efficient pseudo-Brownian rigid-body docking procedure followed by Biased Probability Monte Carlo Minimization of the ligand interacting side-chains. The use of a soft interaction energy function precalculated on a grid, instead of the explicit energy, drastically increased the speed of the procedure. The method was tested on a benchmark of 24 protein,protein complexes in which the three-dimensional structures of their subunits (bound and free) were available. The rank of the near-native conformation in a list of candidate docking solutions was <20 in 85% of complexes with no major backbone motion on binding. Among them, as many as 7 out of 11 (64%) protease-inhibitor complexes can be successfully predicted as the highest rank conformations. The presented method can be further refined to include the binding site predictions and applied to the structures generated by the structural proteomics projects. All scripts are available on the Web. [source] BK-Virus and the Impact of Pre-Emptive Immunosuppression Reduction: 5-Year ResultsAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 2 2010K. L. Hardinger A 1-year, single-center, randomized trial demonstrated that the calcineurin inhibitor or adjuvant immunosuppression, independently, does not affect BK-viruria or viremia and that monitoring and pre-emptive withdrawal of immunosuppression was associated with resolution of BK-viremia and absence of clinical BK-nephropathy without acute rejection or graft loss. A retrospective 5-year review of this trial was conducted. In cases of BK viremia, the antimetabolite was withdrawn and for sustained viremia, the calcineurin inhibitor was minimized. Five-year follow-up was available on 97% of patients. Overall 5-year patient survival was 91% and graft survival was 84%. There were no differences in patient-survival by immunosuppressive regimen or presence of BK-viremia. Immunosuppression and viremia did not influence graft survival. Acute rejection occurred in 12% by 5-years after transplant, was less common with tacrolimus versus cyclosporine (9% vs. 18%; p = 0.082), and was lowest with the tacrolimus-azathioprine regimen (5%, p = 0.127). Tacrolimus was associated with better renal function at 5-years (eGFR 63 FK vs. 52 CsA mL/min, p = 0.001). Minimization of immunosuppression upon detection of BK-viremia was associated with excellent graft survival at 5-years, low rejection rates and excellent renal function. It is a safe, short and long-term strategy that resulted in freedom from clinically evident BK-virus nephropathy. [source] Calcineurin Inhibitor Minimization in the Symphony Study: Observational Results 3 Years after TransplantationAMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 8 2009H. Ekberg The Symphony study showed that at 1 year posttransplant, a regimen based on daclizumab induction, 2 g mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), low-dose tacrolimus and steroids resulted in better renal function and lower acute rejection and graft loss rates compared with three other regimens: two with low-doses of cyclosporine or sirolimus instead of tacrolimus and one with no induction and standard cyclosporine dosage. This is an observational follow-up for 2 additional years with the same endpoints as the core study. Overall, 958 patients participated in the follow-up. During the study, many patients changed their immunosuppressive regimen (e.g. switched from sirolimus to tacrolimus), but the vast majority (95%) remained on MMF. During the follow-up, renal function remained stable (mean change: ,0.6 ml/min), and rates of death, graft loss and acute rejection were low (all about 1% per year). The MMF and low-dose tacrolimus arm continued to have the highest GFR (68.6 ± 23.8 ml/min vs. 65.9 ± 26.2 ml/min in the standard-dose cyclosporine, 64.0 ± 23.1 ml/min in the low-dose cyclosporine and 65.3 ± 26.2 ml/min in the low-dose sirolimus arm), but the difference with the other arms was not significant (p = 0.17 in an overall test and 0.077, 0.039 and 0.11, respectively, in pair-wise tests). The MMF and low-dose tacrolimus arm also had the highest graft survival rate, but with reduced differences between groups over time, and the least acute rejection rate. In the Symphony study, the largest ever prospective study in de novo kidney transplantation, over 3 years, daclizumab induction, MMF, steroids and low-dose tacrolimus proved highly efficacious, without the negative effects on renal function commonly reported for standard CNI regimens. [source] Benzimidazole-5-sulfonamides as Novel Nonpeptide Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Hormone (LHRH) Antagonists: Minimization of Mechanism-Based CYP3A4 Inhibition.CHEMINFORM, Issue 11 2006Kentaro Hashimoto Abstract ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 200 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract, please click on HTML or PDF. [source] ChemInform Abstract: A Highly Regioselective Approach to Multiple Adducts of C60 Governed by Strain Minimization of Macrocyclic Malonate Addends.CHEMINFORM, Issue 36 2002Uwe Reuther Abstract ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a "Full Text" option. The original article is trackable via the "References" option. [source] Renin Inhibitors in Chronic Heart Failure: The Aliskiren Observation of Heart Failure Treatment Study in ContextCLINICAL CARDIOLOGY, Issue 9 2010FESC, FRACP, Henry Krum PhD Renin-angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) activation is a key neurohormonal contributor to the progression of chronic heart failure. Strategies that block this activation have consistently demonstrated major beneficial impacts on morbidity and mortality in this setting. Direct renin inhibitors (DRIs) present a novel opportunity to block at an additional or alternative step in this pathway, that being conversion of angiotensinogen to angiotensin I. Theoretical benefits of blocking at the level of renin include: inhibition of the reflex activation of plasma renin activity induced by conventional downstream RAAS blockers. Minimization of angiotensin II and/or aldosterone escape and blocking upstream at the rate-limiting step of angiotensin I production. Preclinical and early-phase clinical studies have largely supported this hypothesis. In the Aliskiren Observation of Heart Failure Treatment study, patients with systolic chronic heart failure receiving background angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers and ,-blockers benefited from aliskiren in reduction vs placebo of plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptide, the primary efficacy endpoint of that study. Large-scale outcome trials are, however, required to definitively determine the benefits of a DRI strategy additional to, or as an alternative to, conventional approaches such as ACE inhibitors in the systolic chronic heart failure setting. Copyright © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. The authors have no funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose. [source] Calcineurin inhibitor-sparing regimens in solid organ transplantation: focus on improving renal function and nephrotoxicityCLINICAL TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 1 2008Stuart M Flechner Abstract:, Background:, The calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs), cyclosporine and tacrolimus, have had a revolutionary effect on the overall success of renal transplantation through reduction in early immunologic injury and acute rejection rates. However, the CNIs have a significant adverse impact on renal function and cardiovascular disease, and extended long-term graft survival has not been achieved. The recognition of these effects sparked interest in CNI-sparing strategies. Strategies to limit CNI exposure include CNI minimization, avoidance, and withdrawal. We sought to review the impact of CNI-sparing strategies in kidney, liver, and heart transplantation. Materials and methods:, A PubMed search 1966 to August 2006 was conducted to identify relevant research articles, and the references of these articles as well as the authors' personal files were reviewed. Results:, Calcineurin inhibitor minimization using mycophenolate mofetil or sirolimus may be associated with a modest increase in creatinine clearance (CrCl) and a decrease in serum creatinine (SCr) in the short term. Despite improvement in CrCl or SCr, CNI nephrotoxicity and chronic allograft nephrotoxicity are progressive over time when CNI exposure is maintained. In kidney transplantation, the tubulo-interstitial and glomerular damage are irreversible. Mycophenolate mofetil may improve renal outcomes during CNI minimization more than sirolimus, and antibody induction may be effective to limit CNI exposure, but longer-term follow-up data are required. Use of sirolimus with mycophenolate mofetil or azathioprine to avoid CNI exposure de novo has improved glomerular filtration rate for at least two yr in most studies in kidney transplantation; however, experience is limited in liver and heart transplantation, and reports of delayed graft function and wound healing with sirolimus may have dampened enthusiasm for de novo use. Late CNI withdrawal has achieved variable results, possibly because withdrawal was attempted after the kidney damage was too extensive. Early CNI withdrawal, prior to significant graft damage, has generally improved CrCl and markers of fibrosis and decreased chronic allograft lesions, a finding also observed with sirolimus in most CNI avoidance studies. Successful withdrawal appears to be more effective than CNI minimization. Conclusions:, Calcineurin inhibitors are associated with significant nephrotoxicity and chronic kidney damage. Minimization is associated with a modest increase in renal function, but persistent damage is observed on biopsies as long as the CNIs are continued. Avoidance is hampered by lack of experience and possible sirolimus-induced side effects. CNI withdrawal may be the best option by delivering CNIs during the early period of immunologic graft injury and then converting them to less nephrotoxic agents before significant renal damage occurs. [source] Energy-Based Image DeformationCOMPUTER GRAPHICS FORUM, Issue 5 2009Z. Karni Abstract We present a general approach to shape deformation based on energy minimization, and applications of this approach to the problems of image resizing and 2D shape deformation. Our deformation energy generalizes that found in the prior art, while still admitting an efficient algorithm for its optimization. The key advantage of our energy function is the flexibility with which the set of "legal transformations" may be expressed; these transformations are the ones which are not considered to be distorting. This flexibility allows us to pose the problems of image resizing and 2D shape deformation in a natural way and generate minimally distorted results. It also allows us to strongly reduce undesirable foldovers or self-intersections. Results of both algorithms demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach. [source] Applied Geometry:Discrete Differential Calculus for GraphicsCOMPUTER GRAPHICS FORUM, Issue 3 2004Mathieu Desbrun Geometry has been extensively studied for centuries, almost exclusively from a differential point of view. However, with the advent of the digital age, the interest directed to smooth surfaces has now partially shifted due to the growing importance of discrete geometry. From 3D surfaces in graphics to higher dimensional manifolds in mechanics, computational sciences must deal with sampled geometric data on a daily basis-hence our interest in Applied Geometry. In this talk we cover different aspects of Applied Geometry. First, we discuss the problem of Shape Approximation, where an initial surface is accurately discretized (i.e., remeshed) using anisotropic elements through error minimization. Second, once we have a discrete geometry to work with, we briefly show how to develop a full- blown discrete calculus on such discrete manifolds, allowing us to manipulate functions, vector fields, or even tensors while preserving the fundamental structures and invariants of the differential case. We will emphasize the applicability of our discrete variational approach to geometry by showing results on surface parameterization, smoothing, and remeshing, as well as virtual actors and thin-shell simulation. Joint work with: Pierre Alliez (INRIA), David Cohen-Steiner (Duke U.), Eitan Grinspun (NYU), Anil Hirani (Caltech), Jerrold E. Marsden (Caltech), Mark Meyer (Pixar), Fred Pighin (USC), Peter Schröder (Caltech), Yiying Tong (USC). [source] Using GIS, Genetic Algorithms, and Visualization in Highway DevelopmentCOMPUTER-AIDED CIVIL AND INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING, Issue 6 2001Manoj K. Jha A model for highway development is presented, which uses geographic information systems (GIS), genetic algorithms (GA), and computer visualization (CV). GIS serves as a repository of geographic information and enables spatial manipulations and database management. GAs are used to optimize highway alignments in a complex search space. CV is a technique used to convey the characteristics of alternative solutions, which can be the basis of decisions. The proposed model implements GIS and GA to find an optimized alignment based on the minimization of highway costs. CV is implemented to investigate the effects of intangible parameters, such as unusual land and environmental characteristics not considered in optimization. Constrained optimization using GAs may be performed at subsequent stages if necessary using feedback received from CVs. Implementation of the model in a real highway project from Maryland indicates that integration of GIS, GAs, and CV greatly enhances the highway development process. [source] A Multiobjective and Stochastic System for Building Maintenance ManagementCOMPUTER-AIDED CIVIL AND INFRASTRUCTURE ENGINEERING, Issue 5 2000Z. Lounis Building maintenance management involves decision making under multiple objectives and uncertainty, in addition to budgetary constraints. This article presents the development of a multiobjective and stochastic optimization system for maintenance management of roofing systems that integrates stochastic condition-assessment and performance-prediction models with a multiobjective optimization approach. The maintenance optimization includes determination of the optimal allocation of funds and prioritization of roofs for maintenance, repair, and replacement that simultaneously satisfy the following conflicting objectives: (1) minimization of maintenance and repair costs, (2) maximization of network performance, and (3) minimization of risk of failure. A product model of the roof system is used to provide the data framework for collecting and processing data. Compromise programming is used to solve this multiobjective optimization problem and provides building managers an effective decision support system that identifies the optimal projects for repair and replacement while it achieves a satisfactory tradeoff between the conflicting objectives. [source] Incontinence in the aged: contact dermatitis and other cutaneous consequencesCONTACT DERMATITIS, Issue 4 2007Miranda A. Farage Urinary and faecal incontinence affects a significant portion of the elderly population. The increase in the incidence of incontinence is not only dependent on age but also on the onset of concomitant ageing issues such as infection, polypharmacy, and decreased cognitive function. If incontinence is left untreated, a host of dermatological complications can occur, including incontinence dermatitis, dermatological infections, intertrigo, vulvar folliculitis, and pruritus ani. The presence of chronic incontinence can produce a vicious cycle of skin damage and inflammation because of the loss of cutaneous integrity. Minimizing skin damage caused by incontinence is dependent on successful control of excess hydration, maintenance of proper pH, minimization of interaction between urine and faeces, and prevention of secondary infection. Even though incontinence is common in the aged, it is not an inevitable consequence of ageing but a disorder that can and should be treated. Appropriate clinical management of incontinence can help seniors continue to lead vital active lives as well as avoid the cutaneous sequelae of incontinence. [source] Low temperature powder diffraction and DFT solid state computational study of hydrogen bonding in NH4VO3CRYSTAL RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 9 2009. Smr Abstract The crystal structure of NH4VO3 was refined by the geometry optimization done by total energy minimization in solid state using DFT/plane waves approach. The lattice parameters were derived by the Le Bail technique from the low temperature X-ray (40-293 K) and synchrotron (100-293 K) powder diffraction data. The structure is formed by the infinite chains of irregular VO4 tetrahedra running approximately parallel to the c -axis, which are interlinked by the ammonium ions placed between them. The ammonium ions link to the [VO4], chains through one linear, one bifurcated and two trifurcated N-H,O hydrogen bonds. Considering their stability there are six distinct N-H,O hydrogen bonds: two strong with the N-H,O bond angles close to the straight, two medium with the bond angles of 123° and 148° and two very bent (105° and 107°) and hence weak hydrogen bonds. There is a reasonable agreement between the energies of the stretching ,(NH) modes estimated using the optimised N,O contact distances and those obtained experimentally. (© 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [source] Drug education: myth and realityDRUG AND ALCOHOL REVIEW, Issue 1 2001GRAEME HAWTHORNE Abstract Recently there has been an increase in Australian public funds for drug education. The accompanying rhetoric asserts that it is to enable abstinence among young people. This contradicts some State Government education guidelines endorsing harm minimization. A literature search of the key electronic databases, drug agency libraries, the Internet and reference lists identified evaluation research in school-based drug education. There is little evidence to support the new public rhetoric. The predictors of adolescent drug use are social and personal; schools can have little effect on these. Four models of drug education are described. Schools, however, mix-and-match activities from different models, and exposure is too slight for major effects on behaviours. Although methodological difficulties affect findings, none of the drug education models show consistent behavioural effects over time. There is a mismatch between the new public rhetoric and the evaluation research literature. Reasons for this are explored, including that there are two stakeholder groups, one with exaggerated ideological anti-drug messages and the other with more realistic perspectives about what schools can reasonably achieve. The paradox is that the rhetoric is needed for continued funding, yet this same rhetoric sets up criteria which doom drug education to failure. [source] Flow energy and channel adjustments in rills developed in loamy sand and sandy loam soilsEARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, Issue 1 2009Jovan R. Stefanovic Abstract The storms usually associated with rill development in nature are seldom prolonged, so development is often interrupted by interstorm disturbances, e.g. weathering or tillage. In laboratory simulated rainfall experiments, active rill development can be prolonged, and under these conditions typically passes through a period of intense incision, channel extension and bifurcation before reaching quasi-stable conditions in which little form change occurs. This paper presents laboratory experiments with coarse textured soils under simulated rainfall which show how channel adjustment processes contribute to the evolution of quasi-stability. Newly incised rills were stabilized for detailed study of links between rill configuration and flow energy. On a loamy sand, adjustment towards equilibrium occurred due to channel widening and meandering, whereas on a sandy loam, mobile knickpoints and chutes, pulsations in flow width and flow depth and changes in stream power and sediment discharge occurred as the channel adjusted towards equilibrium. The tendency of rill systems towards quasi-stability is shown by changes in stream power values which show short-lived minima. Differences in energy dissipation in stabilized rills indicate that minimization of energy dissipation was reached locally between knickpoints and at the downstream ends of rills. In the absence of energy gradients in knickpoints and chutes, stabilized rill sections tended toward equilibrium by establishing uniform energy expenditure. The study confirmed that energy dissipation increased with flow aspect ratio. In stabilized rills, flow acceleration reduced energy dissipation on the loamy sand but not on the sandy loam. On both soils flow deceleration tended to increase energy dissipation. Understanding how rill systems evolve towards stability is essential in order to predict how interruptions between storms may affect long-term rill dynamics. This is essential if event-based physical models are to become effective in predicting sediment transport on rilled hillslopes under changing weather and climatic conditions. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley and Sons, Ltd. 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