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Simplest Method (simplest + method)
Selected AbstractsDelay analysis of a probabilistic priority disciplineEUROPEAN TRANSACTIONS ON TELECOMMUNICATIONS, Issue 6 2002Yuming Jiang In computer networks, the Strict Priority (SP) discipline is perhaps the most common and simplest method to schedule packets from different classes of applications, each with diverse performance requirements. With this discipline, however, packets at higher priority levels can starve packets at lower priority levels. To resolve this starvation problem, we propose to assign a parameter to each priority queue in the SP discipline. The assigned parameter determines the probability or extent by which its corresponding queue is served when the queue is polled by the server. We thus form a new packet service discipline, referred to as the Probabilistic Priority (PP) discipline. By properly adjusting the assigned parameters, not only is the performance of higher priority classes satisfied, but also the performance of lower priority classes can be improved. This paper analyzes the delay performance of the PP discipline. A decomposition approach is proposed for calculating the average waiting times and their bounds are studied. Two approximation approaches are proposed to estimate the waiting times. Simulation results that validate the numerical analysis are presented and examined. A numerical example which demonstrates the use of the PP discipline to achieve service differentiation is presented. This example also shows how the assigned parameters can be determined from the results of analysis mentioned above. [source] Urinary tract cancer screening through analysis of urinary red blood cell volume distributionINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 7 2000Mamoru Wakui Abstract Background: Hematuria is differentiated between glomerular and urinary tract origins on the basis of urinary red cell morphology. We used this distinction in a program of mass screening for urinary tract cancer to achieve cost-effective and safe hematuria screening. Methods: Of a total of 21 372 adults (mean age 52.3 years; range 20,79 years) participating in a health screening, 912 (4.3%) had a positive dipstick for hematuria and were enrolled in the present study. Urinary red cell volume distribution curves (RDC), the simplest method of assessing urinary red cell morphology, were calculated and subjects were divided into two groups based on their RDC patterns. Group I subjects had a normocytic or mixed pattern and they were immediately investigated for urinary tract malignancy because of the associated risk for urological disease. Group II subjects had a microcytic pattern and, therefore, were judged to be at a low risk of urologic malignancy and were followed up 3 years later without urologic investigations. Results: Among the 38 subjects in group I (4% of all dipstick-positive subjects), one case of bladder cancer was detected. In the remaining 37 patients, 15 cases of benign diseases were discovered. Group II was composed of 869 subjects (96%). The inquiry into their health status conducted 3 years later revealed that 831 (95.6%) were healthy and, of these, 13 had experienced gross hematuria during the period but urological malignancies were ruled out by their urologists, two (0.2%) had died of diseases other than urological cancer and 36 (4.1%) were lost to follow-up. With our method, total costs have been reduced by 93.8% against a conventional setting of a full evaluation for all cases of hematuria. Conclusions: Microcytic hematuria, accounting for 96% of asymptomatic microhematuria cases in the present study, was not associated with a risk for urinary tract malignancy. Compared with conventional hematuria screening with a complete work-up of all cases of hematuria, investigating only subjects with mixed or normocytic RDC patterns was safe and cost effective. [source] COMPARISON OF SIX NON-INVASIVE SUPPLEMENTAL OXYGEN TECHNIQUES IN DOGS AND CATSJOURNAL OF VETERINARY EMERGENCY AND CRITICAL CARE, Issue S1 2004MH Engelhardt Objective: To determine the amount of time required to reach the highest concentrations of oxygen at the patient's face and to determine what these highest concentrations of oxygen were with various non-invasive methods of providing supplemental oxygen using a commercial oxygen content analyzer. Procedure: Three healthy cats and 3 healthy dogs were each individually given supplemental oxygen by 6 different means, each done at 2 rates (5 L and 15 L per minute). The methods tested were: 1) Plastic sheet over conventional cage door (PSCD); 2) Blow-by where the tubing delivering the oxygen was held 8 cm from the face (BB); 3) Large plastic bag covering the patient (BAG); 4) Anesthesia induction chamber (AIC); 5) Synder oxygen cage (SOC); and 6) Crowe Oxygen E-Collar (COC). Prior to the testing, the commercial oxygen content analyzer (Mini-Ox) was calibrated. Results: Significant repeatable differences were consistently observed between the 6 methods of oxygen delivery. Results of both 5 L and 15 L/min oxygen flow rates consistently indicated that the highest oxygen concentrations were achieved with the anesthesia induction chamber and large plastic bag with oxygen concentrations reaching approximately 95% and 90%, respectively between 5 to 15 min. The BAG method had the advantage of allowing additional room for patient manipulation and the ability to place intravenous catheters while continuing to give supplemental oxygen. The plastic sheet covering a conventional cage door provided oxygen concentrations of 50% and 60% at 15 and 45 min, respectively. The Crowe Oxygen E-Collar achieved oxygen concentrations of 70% in 1.5 min. Blow-by was found to be the simplest method. It increased FiO2 to 40% within 2 min. The Synder oxygen cage was able to achieve 45% oxygen concentration within 30 min with an oxygen flow rate of 15 L/min. It was able to achieve 60% at 45 min (similar to the plastic bag on the cage). Conclusion: The order of effectiveness of providing non-invasive oxygen supplementation, from the highest to the lowest concentrations, was AIC, BAG, COC, PSCD, SOC, and BB. The fastest to the slowest increases in oxygen concentrations followed the same order at both 5 L and 15 L/min oxygen flow rate and they were BB, COC, AIC, BAG, PSCD, and SOC. SOC was the most inefficient means of providing oxygen while AIC, BAG and COC were the most efficient. [source] Comparison of nutrient intake between different dietary assessment methods in elderly male volunteersNUTRITION & DIETETICS, Issue 4 2008Gunnar JOHANSSON Abstract Aim:, The objective of the study was to compare nutritional intake results obtained from the 4 × 4-day weighed records with those obtained from a food frequency questionnaire, repeated 24-hour recalls, a seven-day food record and a seven-day checklist in elderly men. Methods:, Seventy-five healthy men aged 55,88 years and living at home in Cambridge, UK, took part in the study. Energy and nutrients had means and standard deviations calculated. Misreporting was based on an evaluation of food intake level, calculated as reported energy intake divided by predicted basal metabolic rate. This was in relation to a plausible physical activity level, calculated as the ratio of energy expenditure divided by predicted basal metabolic rate. Statistical significance was assessed via one-way anova. Results:, The nutrient density was higher for protein and potassium for the group with low food intake level values in all dietary assessment methods. For some methods, this was also true for calcium, carotene, iron and vitamin C. All methods yielded similar results. Conclusions:, The present study indicates that selective underreporting exists. Surprisingly, the simplest method, the simplified 24-hour recall, performed as well as more complicated methods. [source] | ||||||||||