Work in Progress

The purpose of this paper is to present the experimental device and the work in progress performed in search for objective organic correlation of damage to hearing, examining possible acoustic otofunctional effects on the cochlear epithelium of the rat due to exposure to microwaves (900 MHz). Two experiments using male Sprague-Dawley rats were carried out with a far-field exposure in a cubic chamber. No statistically significant evidence was obtained at both specific absorption rate (SAR) values. The exposure system and the diagnostic apparatus are extremely useful to investigate a potential effect on the auditory system: however, with the parameters applied in these experiments, no evidence was observed.

We consider a set of programs a family when it pays to look at their common aspects before looking at their differences. For commercial software developers the implications are twofold: First, making rational decisions about product-line processes and products requires the ability to answer the question: "Does it pay?" Second, whether or not something pays is ultimately a business (rather than software engineering) question. In short, making sound software engineering decisions requires understanding the business implications of those decisions, and vice versa. This paper describes work in progress to develop a product-line process model and common value metric that adequately link product value drivers (what it pays) with the software engineering decisions that affect those drivers. In it, we describe a systematic approach to quantifying the return on investment for both product and process improvements based on common software engineering principles and a common value me...

The architecture for Multi Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) is described in RFC 3031. A fundamental concept in MPLS is that two Label Switching Routers (LSRs) must agree on the meaning of the labels used to forward traffic between and through them. This common understanding is ...

Imaging plays an essential role for the detection and analysis of pathologic conditions of the brachial plexus. Currently, several new techniques are used in addition to conventional 2D MR sequences to study the brachial plexus: the 3D STIR SPACE sequence, 3D heavily T2w MR myelography sequences (balanced SSFP = CISS 3D, True FISP 3D, bFFE and FIESTA), and the diffusion-weighted (DW) neurography sequence with fiber tracking reconstruction (tractography). The 3D STIR sequence offers complete anatomical coverage of the brachial plexus and the ability to slice through the volume helps to analyze fiber course modification and structure alteration. It allows precise assessment of distortion, compression and interruption of postganglionic nerve fibers thanks to the capability of performing maximum intensity projections (MIP) and multiplanar reconstructions (MPRs). The CISS 3D, b-SSFP sequences allow good visualization of nerve roots within the spinal canal and may be used for MR myelography in traumatic plexus injuries. The DW neurography sequence with tractography is still a work in progress, able to demonstrate nerves tracts, their structure alteration or deformation due to pathologic processes surrounding or located along the postganglionic brachial plexus. It may become a precious tool for the understanding of the underlying molecular pathophysiologic mechanisms in diseases affecting the brachial plexus and may play a role for surgical planning procedures in the near future.

A work in progress of a tool designed to help sports coaches to analyze their players using an RFID technology connected to a 3-layer software is described in this paper. A few ranging techniques available in conventional RFID systems were studied to best fit this application scenario. Together with the RFID equipments, there is a 3-layer system managing all the data. The software bottom layer is responsible for the low-level communication between the software and the hardware. The middle layer is the system engine where all the calculation is performed. Finally, the top layer is the software part responsible for showing reports and the player analyzed. The system has 2 tracking modes, one for 2D player location in the field, and a 3D mode to capture players' movement in small area sports. It has 2 report modes also, one for real-time report displaying each player's actual location in the field; and the other to present reports with statistics of the player such as distance covered, a heat map of the field showing where the player is at a time interval and number of sprints.

This paper presents work in progress and continues a project devoted to developing shape modeling system for surface generation and enhancement. A local mesh enhancement based on statistical characteristics of an initial triangle mesh is proposed for mesh simplification. Experimental results are included to demonstrate the functionality of our simplification algorithm.

ABSTRACT. Today, the thematic layer is still the prevailling structure in geomatics for handling geographical information. However, the layer model is rigid: it implies partitionning geographical data in predefined categories and using the same description schema for all elements of a layer. Recently, Logical Information Systems (LIS) introduced a new paradigm for information management and retrieval. Using LIS, we propose a more flexible organisation of vectorial geographical data at a thiner level since it is centered on the geographical feature. LIS does not rely on a hierarchical organisation of information, and enable to tightly combine querying and navigation in a same search. In this article, we present a work in progress about the use of LIS model to handle geographical data. In particular, we detail a data model for geographical features and the corresponding querying and navigation model. These models have been implemented in the GEOLIS prototype, which has been used to le...

The lack of knowledge of the beam-flow angle represents one of the major sources of uncertainty in Doppler measurements. Not only are some new, appealing applications of the Doppler technique prevented, but some basic clinical procedures are made more difficult than desirable. This paper reports on the Doppler angle ambiguity problem and on the classic solutions so far proposed in order to overcome the related limitations. The main features of a recently introduced dual-beam method are described. Starting from the classic problem of measuring the true velocity in a single sample volume, the application to the measurement of full velocity profiles is discussed. Combination of this method with a new multi-channel multi-gate system is shown capable of contributing to arterial mechanics investigations by allowing the simultaneous measurement of wall shear rate and wall distension in major human arteries. Finally the feasibility of accurate volumetric flow measurements is discussed, and work-in-progress is reported

The paper addresses the conference themes - politics of planning and rules of the game - in a global context. It presents a case that globalization is changing planning cultures and that there is a need to "re-invent" planning for the 21 st century. Rapid urbanization and the urbanization of poverty fundamentally challenge many of the rules and routines of

Within the National Security domain there is a convergence of security responsibility across the national security agencies, law enforcement and private security sectors. The sensitivity of this environment requires individuals operating in the domain to be honest, trustworthy and loyal. Personnel vetting is a formal process used to determine an individual’s suitability for access to this domain. Notwithstanding this process, significant breaches of trust, security, and corruption still occur. In psychology, resilience is a well researched phenomenon that is considered a multidimensional construct where individual attributes, family aspects and social environment interact in aiding individuals to deal with vulnerability. There are many understandings and definitions of resilience based on theorists ’ different perspectives; however, most agree that resilience is represented by a minimum of two aspects. The first is adversity and second, how the individual deals with adversity that d...

We present work in progress on automated and ontology-guided discovery, extraction and mapping of information sources on the Semantic Web. It concerns an ontology-guided focused crawler to discover and match different data sources. We have developed an automated ontology-matcher embedded in the crawler that relates semantic web documents found during the crawl to an initial topic ontology that describes the domain of interest of the crawl. Similarity coefficients resulting from the matching process are used to guide the crawler to the information sources relevant to the modelled domain of interest. In addition, the matching process also provides links between the different data sources, which helps in the integration of this data at a later stage. In this paper, the overall architecture, the various modules and methods actually implemented are presented.

UniSim is a graphic tool that can be used to develop and validate portable automation software, which fully complies with the IEC 61131-3 standard. UniSim is based on a graphical editor and on a simulation engine which allows to perform off-line validation of the automation software. Its simulation engine can also be interfaced with off-the-shelf I/O boards, in order to fast prototype automation systems by using a personal computer. Hardware-in-the-loop validation can be performed interfacing the prototype with the real plant or with an emulator. Furthermore, UniSim adopts the new XML Formats for IEC 61131-3, which provides an open interface for data exchange among different systems. Thanks to this choice the code developed with UniSim can be easily ported among different commercial platforms, increasing software reusability. Although the current release of UniSim is a work in progress version, it is already available and it can be effectively used to develop small and medium automation size projects.

The Health Systems in Transition (HiT) profiles are country-based reports that provide a detailed description of health systems and of policy initiatives in progress or under development. HiTs examine different approaches to the organization, financing and delivery of health services and the role of the main actors in health systems. They also describe the institutional framework, process, content, and implementation of health and health care policies, highlighting challenges and areas that require more in-depth analysis. Undoubtedly the dominant issue in the Dutch health care system at present is the fundamental reform that came into effect in 2006. With the introduction of a single compulsory health insurance scheme, the dual system of public and private insurance for curative care became history. Managed competition for providers and insurers became a major driver in the health care system. This has meant fundamental changes in the roles of patients, insurers, providers and the g...

Inventory is a list of goods and materials believed and available in stock by a business. Inventory is also continued to take care of difference in appeal and lead time. In some cases, it takes care of cumulative price leaning of materials. Inventory control and management must be designed to meet the orders of the market place and care the company's strategic plan. The greatest important objective of inventory mechanism is to maintain a best level of investment in the inventory which diminishes the cost and to categorize the several constituents based on their value. The main objective of the study is to assess the efficiency of inventory management in Aringar Anna Sugar Mill, Kurungulam using the costing techniques like ABC Analysis, Inventory revenue ratio and Economic Order Size. The study was conducted for a period of five financial years from 2008-2009 to 2012-2013. The secondary data were collected from the inventory maintenance records maintained by the company for the past five financial years. From the analysis, it is indirect that the company should strictly follow the Economic order quantity for optimum purchase. It can also maintain safety stock for its components in order to avoid stock-out condition and help in continuous production flow. The company must implementation tight control on stock levels based on ABC Analysis and maintain high proportion in inventory turnover ratio for well-organized management of the inventory.